“if you call me, I’ll find you

wherever you are…”

“…i promised to hold you

even more warmly,

and protect you”

stray kids, “story that won’t end”

Monster,

Monster,

Monster!

The first time it happened, it was just a small cut on her cheek, the result of an accident from the slightest of miscalculations. Just barely a graze, yet it bled red down her face. 

I’m human. I bleed, can’t you see me?

“Come here,” Fern said, voice exhausted from the stress of watching over the lives of so many. The lives of the young, the safety of the old, the happiness of the masses, all seem to lay within her hands. She reached out to the Monster, hand against her cheek. A rush of warmth flows through the touch, engulfing the Monster with a healing sensation.

Too tired to notice, Fern looks away, missing the awed stare that the Monster gives her.

“Come find me, yeah? If you ever get hurt again, I’ll heal you”

She didn’t expect the Monster to remember, with so much on the minds of both of them, she dismissed it easily. 

Fern forgets the offer, but the Monster doesn’t.

“whenever you smile,

whenever you struggle,

i’ll always protect you…”

“… i can even jump across time

to go to you.”

stray kids, “story that won’t end”

The tears that run down your face,

if only I could take your pain away.

The second time it happens, The monster’s knuckles are bruised red and raw, arm slashed from a fight just this morning. She didn’t think it would hurt, all she wanted was to protect the lonely, crying child. Their pain reminded her- had such familiarity, it overwhelmed her.

“I didn’t think you’d get injured again so soon,” is all Fern told her.

“You said to come find you- but if you’re too busy-”

Before she can finish, a flash of light bursts before her, and with the blooming of flowers within her chest, once more the pain was gone. The blood was washed away as if it was never there to begin with.

“It’s fine, that’s what I’m here for.” Fern says easily, hand brushing against the unbroken skin.

And so the cycle continued, each time the Monster was hurt, Fern would heal her. The warmth of the touch contrasting against the cold emptiness of the world which hated her.

“in this beautiful place

all of the memories of loving you

will become a story that never ends…”

“…farther than tomorrow,

longer than forever,

i love you.”

stray kids, “story that won’t end”

Die Monster!

Die wretched being,

you’re not wanted in this land of angels.

“Why do you always do this?” Fern asked one day. She lost count of how many times the cycle had repeated. “Are you just playing around? I know you. This isn’t like you.”

This time, the Monster’s back is burned red and raw, blood trickling down her arms. The monster only wanted to protect the little old lady in the burning building, never did she fathom that the torches would be aimed at her. It wouldn’t have been a hard task, to simply get the job done and leave unscathed. But the warm memories of Fern’s touch, swayed her actions.

“If I never get hurt,” the Monster says, “will you forget that I’m human?”

She’s met with silence, as realization dawns on Fern. “No, I won’t forget.”

“But, the next time you get hurt,” She stops to look at the Monster, “don’t come find me.”

The monster does not understand. 

“close your eyes

hold my hands

let’s ride on the clouds

we can go anywhere…”

”…you can rest here, you can rest here

you can stay here, you can stay here”

stray kids, “you can STAY”

The monster stops getting injured.

“I hate that it was that easy,” Her trembling voice breaking, “I didn’t think it would be.”

Today, she returns, body unscathed and light. The adrenaline of stopping the boy from jumping rushes through her veins, but there is no blood which bleeds out from them.

Fern pulls her close, relief sweeps through her as the warmth engulfs the both of them. She wonders how she never noticed, this entire time; how there could be so many more broken pieces for her to put back together.

“I’m just glad you’re safe.”

You’re welcomed here,

in this home,

you are but a kind monster.

**Author’s Note: The ‘monster’ & fern both go by she/her; they are the embodiment of a “devil” and “angel” type species respectively, but with appearances akin to humans, living amongst humans.