It was hard to believe that Mytho, the school’s heartthrob, could be anything but kind. Anything but unknowing, and blissful in his ignorance. A beautiful boy had to have a beautiful heart, right?

How disgustingly wrong.

He knew what he was doing - earning the shards of his heart as he played the poor, helpless victim. A darling in distress, even. Crying out in pain, sobbing that he was scared. It was an act fit for the stages. An act he’d seemed to perfect through years of forced - perfected - isolation. Who was he meant to be if not the “poor boy who knew nothing and could feel nothing if it were not for those that watched him?”

It was almost laughable how easy it was to sit and judge each person that dared ask for a shot with his hand, his heart. It throbbed, but not with love. Not with patience and adoration for the men and women alike that tried to love him. Because he did not care. In fact, there was not a caring bone in his body that would willingly ease itself once someone tried to convince him they loved him.

He wouldn’t believe such saccharine lies. Because he was well aware only one person was capable of loving him - loving him for who he truly is, and truly ever would be. That person, who unfortunately was too stupid to notice so much as a large, red painted sign that screamed caution, was you.

“What a stupid little thing,” he’d whisper, brushing silky threads of hair behind your ear. “What in your right mind would make you think so highly?”

Each word laced with poison seemed almost affectionate to any outsider. Because if he was being mean, it was likely deserved. After all, ’he had no harsh bones in his body.’ You were isolated. You were his, and his alone.

Are you too dense to see that? Nobody could ever love you like him. Nobody would ever be deserving to kiss at your skin, to hold you close in the dark of the moonlight. A raven has its fancies, and you unfortunately had made it clear that you were as shiny as a porcelain doll.

And he’d keep you like one, should it cost you everything. Your friends, your family and relatives. They’ll forget about you soon. Don’t you get it? He’s all you’ll ever need.