#or should i just move back to chapter 3. it doesnt have fluff either but its a chill chapter for now | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

genuflectx · 2 years

Text

Giant Mantis/Reader CH6 Epilogue {SFW}

Chapter Length: 2,529

Main Themes: Giant bugs, fluff

Other Warnings: Internships, manipulative texts, mutual anxiety, children

So long for now, little alien bugs

Ch 1 - Ch 2 - Ch 3 - Ch 4 - Ch 5 - Epilogue (you are here)

(all images in aesthetic board are labeled for reuse with modification or are mine)

Chapter 6 - Return

The change was easier than you expected. The worst of it was when you had to fly back home and finish your affairs, waiting for Gladys to get confirmation that you could come on board as an intern to full-hire. The waiting, waiting, more waiting nearly drove you up a wall. You frequently sat staring out the gigantic apartment windows, out across the skyscrapers that rasped the polluted city air. Then you'd come back to Earth, remembering you needed to hurry and fill out all the tediously long pages of background check and security information.

As soon as Gladys called and gave you the a-okay you rushed to make calls of your own. Family took the news of your move relatively well when they learned it was for a job supposedly in your field- which of course it wasn't- albeit none of them were thrilled about the distance. They had been the simplest part. It had been your ex who gave you trouble; though they tried to place emotional pressure on your shoulders you refused to bend to their tactics.

Wednesday, 3:07pm

I can't believe you're doing this this is crazy!!

5:55pm

Youre just fuckin with me aren't you. Just trying to see if i'd care if you just up and moved away like it was nothing. We're still friends!! don't you think I would still miss you?

You so graciously responded to them, opting not to ignore their messages in favor of keeping the peace as much as possible. Even when you knew they were being manipulative, underneath it all you knew that they were just insecure and lonely. You didn't have to take it, but you weren't going to be mean either. This was it. This had to be it.

6:10pm

We'll be okay, you have nothing to worry about. I already got to know my new boss really well on vacation. She's really nice! I'm super excited to work with her and learn.

6:16pm

I don't care who your boss is I'm still not even convinced this is all real, you might be being scammed by some stranger on some randon fuckin island out there, for who knows how long doing what. Wha did they even hire you for?

You tried, and tried, but nothing seemed to ease their nerves. Eventually you stopped trying, but their texts continued, becoming increasingly more snide and panicked the longer you didn't say anything. It only solidified why you needed to be separated from them. Why, even trying to be friends, things just weren't working. As your phone buzzed in the early hours of morning you sleepily pictured Vervain back at the island, his arms spread and waiting for you to embrace him. Did he think of you, too?

Thursday 3:21am

if you do this we can't keep talking. I can't take it. Quinne mighttake me back. Yeah, bet you didn't know. She was always nicer to me than you were anyways and she doesnt like childish shite like stuffed animals or believe in things like art therapy. Yeah yeah I know your a “psychologist” but that just means you should know better what does and doesn't work- The text continued on, and you stopped reading. Somehow, despite everything they said, you had never felt more alive than when you hugged your pillow in darkness thinking of the island.

You gave your landlord notice. Finished out your sales job. Booked a one way ticket, no hotel room needed. Packing took the most out of you between everything, and you really cut it close. In the end, you even decided to give a good few things away to save on the amount of junk you'd be moving over.

When you stood stock still, surveying the horizon from your window one last time, you considered that maybe this was a mistake. If something went wrong where would you go? Eventually you planned to buy a home on the island, but that would be some ways off. Perhaps upon arrival things would change and Gladys would no longer want you there. You would have to use your savings to book a hotel in town just to have a roof; there would be no apartment to go back to, and you couldn't bare the stress of staying with your parents after so long of being on your own.

And Vervain? What if he no longer wanted you by the time you were again face to face? You imagined his mother finding him a more suitable mantis mate. Someone who fit better against his body. Someone who had his strong sense of smell, sense of sight, his craving for the occasional pound of fresh meat. You tired to swallow those fears down with the Dramamine.

After three months away from the island you were in jitters, both from excitement and that nervousness that plagued you since you left. It did not leave you even when the plane landed. Did not leave when you stepped upon the ferry. And when you finally planted your feet again on solid ground still the nerves persisted, even as Gladys hugged you tightly. You didn't know someone her age could be so strong. You choked, patting her back and laughing, until she pulled away.

“No time to dawdle, you have your work cut out for you as soon as we get back!” She declared, tugging you along to her truck.

You chewed your lip, dragging along a thick, heavy suitcase which was the only thing to ground you. The rest of your belongings would arrive later. “You uh, mentioned a surprise over the phone a few times?”

Gladys opened your side of the truck and stood in your way, beaming suspiciously. “Oh yes, many surprises, honey. Well. You ready to start your new career?”

More like my whole new life, you thought, and gave her an enthusiastic nod. You'd been ready for three months. A menagerie of greens and yellows overtook your thoughts as the two of you made the painstakingly long trip to the reserve. It felt longer than an hour. You wondered if she was driving slowly or if it was just your imagination.

The closer you got the more excitement overtook the fear. She opened the gate in the fence, drove through, closed it behind her. Tall pines and evergreens flew by in a blur and you bit your lip in an attempt to contain yourself.

There were no mantids around when she parked in her gravel driveway. You tried not to look disappointed. As if reading your mind, Gladys chuckled. You thought she would be so kind as to tell you were Vervain was, but when she didn't, dread again pooled in your stomach. Why wouldn't she tell you? You wanted to think it was part of the surprise, but after being away from him for so long there was still that fear that something was wrong. Again your brain whispered, maybe he didn't want to see you. Maybe he found a new suitor, one of his own kind, that he liked more.

“Let's get your things in your room. Picked one out for ya. You'll love it,” she patted her dashboard in punctuation then got out, and you were happy she at least took your suitcase for you. Your stomach was becoming too nauseous to wheel it along.

You walked behind her, dragging your feet. With her key in the door she glanced over, smirking. “Nervous?” She turned back, the door clicking as it unlocked. “Don't worry, I was, too, on my first day. Maybe there's something we can do to remedy that.”

The door slowly swung open, and you were shocked that it was dark inside. She had drawn all the blinds and turned out all the lights before she left, apparently. But something small shifted in the dark, and suddenly several lights were flicked on at once.

“Surprise!” Squeaked tiny, childlike voices.

You stood and gasped in the doorway, eyes wide as dinner plates. The joint living room and dining room were littered with little faces, all looking at you, all spindly legs and moss-green, wingless bodies. Only, one stood out. There, in front of the table with its chairs pushed away to the side, was a massive presence fidgeting with its giant barbed arms.

“Vervain!” You cried, unsure if you should give into the instinct to rush to him and hug him. “You... you all...”

Gladys slapped your back a little too hard. “Eight in total.” She sounded so proud.

The faces were children, now chattering and surrounding you, tugging at the hem of your shirt and prodding Gladys for access to the suitcase. You shot Vervain an astonished look. He stared back, but didn't say anything.

“Human.”

You turned your face down. A mantis with bright blue eyes had its stubby fingers clenched into the fabric of your pocket, digging around. You gently grabbed the hand and it hissed, forcing you to flinch away.

“Not nice,” Gladys crouched and scolded, wagging her finger.

The baby took its hand away, a fistful of lint apparently enough to satisfy it. It babbled something at Gladys, then threw the lint at her. She sputtered and shoved them gently. The child skittered away, clicking in its mouth.

“Don't worry,” she sighed, straightening. “They're sturdier than they look. You have to take an authoritative stance with the children or they won't accept you. Buuut that's work stuff, you can learn more about it later. For now,” she clapped a hand on your shoulder and looked fond. “Welcome home, [Y/N].”

A choir of baby voices echoed her. But the one voice you wanted to hear didn't speak up. That dread continued to gnaw at you. With the children distracted by opening your suitcase and rummaging, you took the opportunity to slip away towards Vervain where he still sat, fidgeting.

“Well they seem like... a handful,” you laughed awkwardly, trying to break the ice. “Whose are they?”

Wisteria or Ginkgo, you thought silently, though you only recalled Wisteria mating all those months ago. You looked up at Vervain expectantly, a small polite smile on your lips.

Vervain stared, mouth parts chewing. Their small dark pupils slid to the ground.

Well. That wasn't a good sign. You swallowed thickly, feeling a lump form in your throat. “Things must be crazy around here now,” you continued, crossing your arms. He still didn't say anything. “It's okay, you know. If you're not excited to see me. I guess I... I understand.”

His eyes slid back up and he stopped fidgeting, becoming a big green statue. You eyes fell in turn.

“I've thought about it a lot while back home. Er, at my old apartment. Don't want to make it weird but,” you exhaled shakily. “Let's just get it out there and be done with it? Okay? Because before I left things got intense and I know, maybe you were just happy a human wasn't scared for once. And that after I left, you would have had time to calm down and think, or change your mind, and... I don't regret coming back. But I just. Want you to know I understand. If you didn't miss me as much as I missed you.”

You looked up at him again, heart exposed, and weren't sure what you were looking for. But the drooping of his antennas and expression of utter grief (one you realized you could only ascertain after growing accustom to their minute facial details) was not it. You yelped, suddenly crushed against him between two strong forearms, the barbs pressing softly into your back.

“V-Vervain?” You peeped, palms against his smooth shell.

He loosened, but only just-so. “I was afraid. That it was youwho would not have missed me. I have missed you so much.”

That percolated, and then you felt silly. A strangled laugh escaped your tight throat and your vision blurred, threatening to release a deluge of embarrassed and relieved tears. You pushed against him slightly, and he let go so you could look up into his purple eyes.

“I think... I think we're both sorta idiots, aren't we?” You smiled softly.

One of his claws scraped into the floorboards, just enough to scratch. “I am glad you are here. Gladys let me into the house to surprise you. There is cake. Do you like cake?”

You laughed with more of your body now, grin wide and stupid. You nodded.

“Hey! Bastard!” Gladys called from where she'd been supervising the children. “Quit scratching my floors up!”

Vervain brought his arms back to his chest but otherwise did not seem apologetic. You sighed, then went in for a second, much less constrictive, embrace, feeling warm all over and exactly where you were supposed to be.

Before cake Gladys shooed all the babies out of the house, citing that they would absolutely decimate the cake if not careful. The three of you sat around the table, all warm smiles and hopeful thoughts, and as you took another bite you groaned and voiced regret.

“Too much!” You griped. “But I almost never eat cake, ugh, I want to finish this!”

Vervain, who was licking small bits of cake off of one sharp claw, made an amused sound in his throat. You suddenly felt sheepish. Luckily, Gladys broke the tension with her loud voice.

“A picture. How about it kids? You still got that camera?”

You looked at her a moment while chewing, then realized what she was asking. You stood and nodded, moving towards the contents of your suitcase which were still strewn about the joint rooms.

“Yeah! Hold on, it's... around here somewhere. Should be in a blue- here it is!” You gathered it from a protective bag that had been left on a loveseat. “I got all my pictures from my trip here printed out too. When I was printing I realized I didn't have any of you, Gladys.”

She leaned back at the table and smirked. “But plenty of Vervain.”

“Yes. [Y/N] liked making photos of me,” he said, unhelpful to your case.

Your face warmed. You decided not to comment and instead brought it to the table and held it up. “It has a timed mode.”

“Here,” Gladys got up and took it.

The camera was set on a small side table Gladys had moved over, and the two of you bracketed Vervain. He brought one possessive forearm around you, drawing you closer, and you felt flush all over. This new job was going to be the death of you. It felt like grade school, like first love, something that made you kick your feet into your mattress and scream into your pillow. But it was also exciting and new, and you were so ready to begin.

“Okay! Get ready folks,” Gladys warned, leaning and pressing the button. As soon as the first second ticked by, she asked: “So, when will you two have a clutch of your own?”

Your jaw immediately dropped, head snapping to shoot her a flabbergasted look of shock and confusion, then the camera flashed.

#terato #exophilia #giant bug #giant insect #monster romance #art

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