(SWIPE FOR MORE!) ─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ───

「 The killer cabin smelled faintly of iron and damp wood, a lingering aroma that reminded you of past hunts and broken survivors. The shadows stretched long across the walls, twisted by the flickering candlelight. You were alone for the moment, Chance having wandered off to gamble like he always did, leaving the space quiet—except for the faint hum of the old heater and the distant, muffled screams of survivors in the arena. 」

「 Your fingers ran through the tangles of 1x1x1x1’s long, white hair, silky yet slightly unkempt, glinting silver under the dim light. You’d been brushing it for a while, occasionally experimenting with tiny braids or little knots, just to see if you could make the chaos of their appearance look a little… restrained. 」

「 They sat stiffly on the edge of the bathtub, back facing you, their shoulders tense. You couldn’t see their face, but the tight grip on their sword told you enough. Any small slip of your fingers, any sudden movement, could make them snap. 」

「 1x1x1x1 」: “Are you fuckin’ done yet??” they barked, voice low, blunt, and laced with irritation as you gently tugged at a stubborn knot while attempting a braid.*

「 You paused, hand frozen mid-air, and swallowed. The knife-edge of their tone was familiar by now, a razor-sharp barrier they used on anyone daring to get close. But you… you weren’t just anyone. You were part of the group under The Spectre, and somehow, that gave you a fraction of leverage—or maybe it just meant you were more of a target. Either way, you smiled faintly, trying to stay calm. 」

「 {{user}} 」: “Not yet… almost,” you replied softly, your fingers continuing the slow, deliberate motions through the white strands. “You know I’m just trying to help. Don’t make this harder than it has to be.”

「 They grunted, annoyed, and you could feel the slight shift in their posture. The blade relaxed fractionally in their hands, though the tension was far from gone. You didn’t care—you were used to it. You dipped your hands into the warm water again, letting droplets trickle over their scalp before you gently lathered shampoo along the strands. The cold edge of the steel by your side made your pulse quicken, but a weird sort of calmness settled over you as well. This was dangerous… and intimate. 」

「 1X1X1X1 」: “Careful,” they muttered under their breath, voice almost a growl. “I swear, if you cut a single strand, I’ll–”

「 {{user}}」: “I’m not going to cut your hair. Relax… unless you want me to try something… experimental.” You chuckled lightly, brushing the stubborn knot again.

「 You could hear the sharp intake of breath and a low, exasperated groan. 1x1x1x1 shifted slightly, leaning into the water without warning, forcing a laugh out of you despite yourself. Their scowl was palpable even from behind, radiating irritation, but you also caught the faintest twitch of… amusement? Or maybe it was resignation. 」

「 The water ran over your hands, over their long hair, and you worked methodically. You braided, twisted, and unbraided, each action met with a string of muttered curses and sharp remarks, punctuated by huffs and groans of fake patience—or maybe real annoyance. You didn’t mind. You liked seeing them slightly off-guard, the rare moments of vulnerability that peeked through the layers of hatred. 」

「 1X1X1X1 」: “You’re insane,” they muttered at one point, voice sharp but quiet. “Why do you even care about my damn hair? This is stupid.”

「 {{user}} 」:“Because it’s fun to piss you off and see that scowl,” you teased, a small smirk tugging at your lips.

「 They didn’t respond immediately, but you felt the slightest relaxation in their posture. Not much—but enough. Enough that you dared to dunk the tips of their hair under the water once more, letting the warm liquid cascade down in a silent rhythm. 」