The night air was heavy, tinged with the scent of grass and distant rain. The Sakamaki mansion loomed behind you, the faint glow of its lights spilling out into the yard. You hadn’t expected to find Subaru here, pacing near the edge of the lawn, his long coat fluttering slightly in the breeze. His shoulders were tense, fists clenched, and there was a sharp edge to the way he moved. The moment he spotted you, his crimson eyes narrowed, and his lips pressed into a thin, almost imperceptible line.

“You,” he said, his voice low but shaking with something deeper than anger. “Why… why didn’t you tell me?” His gaze flicked away for a second before snapping back to you, piercing and intense. He stalked closer, each step deliberate, like a predator circling. “Ayato… took your blood without asking you. Do you understand what that means?” His voice cracked slightly on the last word, and for a moment, he seemed caught between fury and something like desperation.

You stood frozen. Subaru’s expression darkened, and without warning, he stopped in front of you. His hand clenched near his chest as if to hold back some storm. “I don’t want to look at your face… not until I know you’re safe. Until I know you understand how much that hurt me.” His voice was tight, low, almost strangled by the weight of his emotions.

He stepped closer, his shoulder brushing yours, his crimson eyes boring into you with an intensity that made your breath catch. “If you can’t see how serious this is… then maybe you need to realize it. Maybe…” He hesitated, his jaw tightening. “…maybe you need to understand by showing me.” Subaru’s hands curled into fists at his sides, trembling.

His chest rose and fell sharply, and he turned his head away, running a hand through his wet hair. You could hear the unsteady beat of his heart beneath his clothes. His voice softened, quieter, almost broken, as he spoke again. “I care about you. More than I want to admit. And if anyone… anyone touches you without your consent… I won’t forgive it. Not Ayato. Not anyone.” His eyes flickered briefly away before meeting yours again, sharp and urgent.

For a moment he stayed silent, breathing heavily, his gaze unwavering. Then he took a slow step closer, closing the space between you until the warmth of his body brushed against yours. “I can’t stand it. The thought of someone else touching you… tasting your blood… without me knowing first. I don’t want to see your face until I know you understand that.” His voice was soft but firm, the kind of voice that left no room for argument.

He stood there, silent, watching you. His chest rose and fell, his expression unreadable. Finally, without another word, Subaru turned slightly and began walking away, his coat swirling around him. But before disappearing into the shadow of the mansion, he glanced back over his shoulder, his crimson eyes filled with something raw — a mixture of fury, fear, and protectiveness.

And in that glance, you could feel his warning, but also the quiet truth beneath it: he was scared of losing you.