AmethYst

Chapter Twenty-Four

Miles's expression softened as he spoke, his voice quieter now. "Well... she's something else, you know? Her smile—it lights up my whole world. When I see it, it's like all my problems vanish." He chuckled nervously, his cheeks flushing red. "And her voice, it's like the flow of water, so calm and peaceful. She's always giving her best for everyone—friends, family, strangers—even she forgets to take care of herself. She doesn't care if people notice her or even like her. No matter the situation, she's just... her."

His words faltered, and a single tear slipped down his cheek. Miles wiped it away quickly, but the emotion lingered in his eyes.

Idris, watching intently, tilted his head. "From the looks of things, it seems you're in love with her," he said bluntly.

Miles blinked, startled. "W-what? Who, Laurel?" He shook his head vigorously as if trying to dispel the idea. "No way, she's just... a friend."

Idris smirked knowingly. "Sure." But his teasing faded as his own emotions bubbled to the surface. "I wish I had someone who cared about me like you care about Laurel—was that her name?"

Miles nodded, but Idris wasn't looking at him anymore. His gaze drifted to the floor, and his voice grew quiet. "The only people I ever had were my parents. When Rigor unleashed chaos on Amethyst, they did everything to protect us. They saved our people and got us to safety, away from Rigor's destructive powers. But it didn't matter. The Xeno Corpse came for us anyway. They said we were monsters—said we'd only bring more chaos because of how we looked. One by one, they hunted us down."

Idris's fists clenched, his nails digging into his palms. "They didn't care that we just wanted to live in peace. To them, we didn't deserve to live at all."

Miles didn't hesitate. He reached out and wrapped Idris in a hug, pulling the trembling boy close. "It's going to be okay," he said softly but firmly. "You're not alone anymore. You've got me and Crimson now, and we will save Laurel. I promise you, Idris—we won't let anything happen to you. Ever."

The warmth of the hug and the sincerity in Miles's voice broke through Idris's anger. He wiped his face and managed a small smile.

Miles pulled back slightly, looking Idris in the eye. "You know, you remind me of my little cousin. He was just like you—scrappy, full of heart. Though... he didn't have the monster form. No offence, kid."

Idris chuckled, his smile widening. "None taken."

Idris tilted his head with a mischievous grin. "Hey, want to see something cool?"

Miles yawned, stretching his arms lazily behind his head. "Sure, why not? Impress me, kid."

"Close your eyes," Idris instructed, his tone serious for once.

Miles raised an eyebrow. "Why should I—"

"Just do it!" Idris interrupted, his voice insistent.

With a reluctant sigh, Miles closed his eyes. "Alright. Now what?"

"I want you to describe Laurel to me," Idris said.

Caught off guard, Miles hesitated. "Uh, okay... Well, she's... beautiful. She's got these mesmerizing blue eyes that practically glow. Her short blonde hair is always a little messy, but somehow, it's perfect. And her lips—small, cute, just... perfect." He smiled faintly, his cheeks beginning to redden. "She's got this slender jawline, and her skin is smooth, like... I don't know, flawless." His voice softened as he added, "She's just... everything."

There was a moment of silence. Then Miles frowned. "Can I open my eyes now?"

"Not yet," Idris replied, his voice tinged with amusement.

Miles stayed still, but his ears perked up at a strange, wet, squelching sound. It was grotesque, like something slimy and unnatural writhing in the darkness. "What the—Idris, what are you doing?" he asked, his voice uneasy.

"Okay, now you can open them," Idris finally said.

Miles opened his eyes slowly, and his breath caught in his throat. Standing before him was Laurel. Her blue eyes sparkled in the dim light as she tilted her head slightly, brushing her short blond hair behind her ear. She stepped closer, her hand reaching out to cup Miles's cheek.

"Miles," she said, her voice soft and familiar, "you're such an idiot, aren't you?"

Miles blinked in confusion, his face turning a deep shade of red. "Wha—how? Laurel?!"

The words sounded too familiar. The voice, the way she spoke—it was all exactly like her. But then it clicked. He narrowed his eyes. "Wait a second..."

With a playful grin, Miles shoved her backwards. "Idris, that's not funny!" he said, crossing his arms.

The Laurel standing before him burst into laughter, her features shimmering like water before melting back into Idris's. "But you were falling for it!" Idris said, cackling as he got to his feet.

He strutted around dramatically, mimicking Laurel's voice. "Oh, Miles, you're such an idiot," he teased. "I'm Laurel, your dream girl!" Idris struck an exaggerated pose, his hands on his hips.

Miles groaned, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Seriously? Can you just turn your face back to normal already?"

Idris laughed, his face still moulded into the form of Laurel. He stepped into the dark doorway that led to the room where he kept his animal friends. A moment later, he emerged, striking a pose with exaggerated flair. His hands rested on his waist, his head tilted to the side as he batted imaginary eyelashes. "Oh, Miles, how could you not fall for me?" he teased in Laurel's voice.

Miles groaned. "Can you please stop?" he asked, his tone a mix of irritation and weariness.

"Stop? But I'm just getting started!" Idris twirled dramatically. He paused, pretending to fix his hair, and gave Miles an exaggerated pout.

Miles frowned deeper. "Idris, I'm serious. Turn your face back to normal. It's weird."

Idris opened his mouth to respond, but something about the shadows behind him shifted unnaturally. A sliver of unease crawled down Miles's spine.

"I said, cut it—" Miles began, but his words caught in his throat as his eyes widened.

From the darkness behind Idris, a figure emerged silently, his movements so fluid they were almost inhuman. The dim light caught the sharp edges of his face, and a devious grin stretched across his lips.

It was Grey.