Marley doesn't remember the cuffs going away. Doesn't remember getting up from his seat and stomping right out of the goddamn research building or whatever the hell this place is, it all looks the same. He has no recollection of storming out into the courtyard and down a random sidewalk.

He doesn't really care, though, honestly. Marley doesn't know what to do, so he decides to just walk around the institution until he cools down. He wasn't in there for long, so it's probably only like five thirty. Alright, four-ish hours until curfew. He should be fine.

Marley really doesn't want to lose his temper on anyone undeserving of it. He doesn't know a lot of things. Frankly, he's not all that bright, and he's aware of this. However, there's one thing that he's absolutely sure of. His fury is a force to be reckoned with.

This is most likely since Marley is forced to keep his cool constantly. He's had to be all proper his whole life, and he's generally pretty patient. He doesn't like to cause scenes or show intense emotions, which is something that has become quite a problem with the loss of his heart (and recent events). Still, he has managed. Marley's been able to deal with it because he had the hope that he'd be back to normal within a few days.

Evidently that was for nothing. That is why he wants to break something. Or someone. He doesn't need to be around people when he's feeling like this—the least he can do is reason with himself with the aid of false hope. He needs to stay away from anyone until he cools off. Oh god, especially freaking Nero. Marley says all the time that he's sick of Nero's attitude and whatever but he never does anything about it. He never really stands up for himself, the most he'll say is just some snarky comment.

Right now, though? With his adrenaline through the roof and his body beyond freezing cold? His blanket is gone so all he has is his hoodie and his sweatpants. He's cold and pissed off and he needs to keep away from people right now or he will lose his absolute shit.

"What's wrong with you?"

Marley had found a place beside the residential building, leaned against the wall. It's the place he'd called his mom the day he got here, which feels like ages ago. He'd been stewing in his own anger and planning the destruction of 1-A (god, he's going to personally demolish Rellik's office with a sledgehammer)

Marley looks over to see who'd said that, and nearly combusts on the spot.

"Why do you care?" Marley asks Eli, glowering. He can't hide his anger now. Nope, too late.

"I don't," God she's exactly like Nero. They're fucking made for each other.

"Then go away." The girl looks totally caught off guard by his rudeness. Marley feels bad that she's the one that's seeing him like this but she brought it upon herself for talking to him. Checking on him. Whatever. To Marley's utter shock, the girl doesn't move from her spot. Actually, she walks over and takes a seat in front of him. Afterwards, the worst set of chills yet wrack down Marley's spine and he curls even more into himself. His teeth begin to chatter as well, so he tries to close his mouth. It, again, doesn't help.

"I take it your Rellik visit didn't go well?" Why isn't she mad? She has the most patient expression Marley has ever seen on her face. Isn't this the point she'd be threatening him? What's going on?

Marley's attention is caught by some movement on her hand, so he looks down. Almost immediately, he jumps and huddles even closer to the wall. He totally forgot about her creepy power. Stupid of him, too, since there are at least five spiders crawling around on her hand. She doesn't even flinch. It takes Marley another moment to regain his ability to focus on the conversation and not her abnormality.

"No, it didn't," he admits. She gives him a look like he should continue, and when he doesn't, she rolls her eyes.

"You know, it's kind of your fault you're here. Actually, it's your fault any of us are here."

There's the problem. There's the reason he can't talk to this girl. She doesn't trust him and he can't trust her. His blood begins to boil, so he takes a deep breath before making dead eye contact with her. She has the darkest eyes he's ever seen. Shark eyes.

"Last time I fucking checked, Eli, I'm the one that's getting you out."

She raises an eyebrow, examining whether or not he means what he just said. He does. He's getting everyone out of here. He doesn't care what it takes.

"You're serious."

Marley just raises his eyebrows at her. She tilts her head. "What changed your mind?"

Nero.

"Nobody."

She squints at him like she knows exactly what he's feeling. Like she can read his freaking mind. "Rellik did something to your heart, didn't he?"

Just like that, Marley's back to pissed. Honestly, he's surprised at how easily he gives in. How quick he is to tell the truth. "He took it out," Marley replies, "he took my heart and he said he'd give it back today but he didn't. He says he thinks he'll find a cure for me or whatever and he's going to need it for weeks. Maybe a month, but how do I know I can trust that?"

A spider crawls up her arm and stops on her shoulder. "You can't."

Marley turns to glare at the ground. "When I'm king I'm burning this place."

"You should let me watch."

"Why are you being nice to me?" Or, nice for Eli. Compared to how she's treated him thus far she's being an absolute angel. She hasn't stopped glaring at him since he got here but she finds him stewing in his fury beside a building and now she wants to be chummy. Strange girl.

A spider crawls across her face.

Definitely strange.

She crosses her arms. "You looked mad. Also, I think Nero likes you. So I'll give you a chance."

Marley blinks. Is he hallucinating? "Likes me? What are you–he hates me. Are you crazy?"

This girl has gone insane. Last time Marley checked, he has his father's eyes, why would Nero have any friendly thoughts about that?

She just shrugs. That's it. This is a weird conversation.

Eli is on drugs. That's the only explanation.

"I'm gonna go inside," Marley states. She seems to resort back to her impassive self.

"Well, curfew is in like 10 minutes."

What? They've been out here for four hours? More like Marley's been internally ranting for four hours. This conversation lasted ten minutes at most.

Marley blinks. He stands up, and realizes that Eli is already walking away without a goodbye. He's a little confused, but he decides that he's had enough today and he doesn't want to think about this totally confusing conversation any longer. She goes out of sight, and he decides to head inside as well.

He doesn't see her again, the whole way to his room, which he's thankful for. He's ready to curl up in his covers and find a way to get to sleep in his current state. His body seems to be getting colder and colder. Once he reaches his room he turns the light on and catches sight of the clock, which reads 9. Nero is in bed and Marley realizes that this is the longest the guy has gone without sneaking out and staying somewhere else at night, like he used to do.

There's no way they're sharing a bed again. Nero is not about to deal with this for a whole month. That's just wishful thinking. The guy doesn't move from his spot. That is, until Marley starts layering his clothes again and shivering the whole time. Nero rolls over.

"Why do you still look dead?"

How come everyone is so concerned for Marley? They can fuck off with that, he has no patience to keep explaining himself.

"Why do you still look like a lamp?"

Marley's at least 90% sure Nero actually growls when he says that. The sound sends another set of tremors through Marley's body, but he doesn't know if it was the cold that time. "I thought he was putting your heart back."

"Me too."

Marley sits on his bed and starts wrapping his legs in blankets. He also puts another set of socks on his arms. He cut off the ends so he could fit his hands through, though. There is very limited movement when he can't use his thumbs. Marley's about to settle in and probably pray for rest, when he hears,

"Why are you over there?"

Marley looks up. "It's my bed."

Nero responds, "and you have no body heat."

Is Nero getting at what Marley thinks he is? It almost sounds like he's about to invite Marley over to his side, which has been forbidden. Maybe Nero's on drugs. Marley thought they were supposed to be enemies or something. He thought there was a feud. Started by Nero, obviously.

Nero pulls his blankets from one side of the bed, leaving it empty. Okay, so Marley's finally gone crazy. There is no way this isn't a hallucination. This isn't happening. "Take it or leave it. I'm not getting up again."

Marley blinks, "but... the rules?" That's all he can manage. So far they've only shared Marley's bed. This would be totally new territory. Holy shit.

Nero rolls his eyes and cuts the lights out. "I'm not asking you again. Suit yourself."

Marley just sits on his bed in total shock. Eli's crazy, though. There's no way Nero likes Marley. Nero hates him! They-They hate each other, of course. That didn't just happen. Marley can't believe it. Aren't the rules there for a reason? Doesn't Nero hate his guts? Do enemies do this?

It doesn't help that Nero sleeps on the left side of his bed, the right is against the wall and there's a dresser at the end that would prevent Marley from getting on it from the bottom. He'd have to crawl over Nero, and that's no good. He felt weird enough just waking up on him a few days ago. Imagine climbing over him? Marley would have a mental breakdown. He couldn't handle that. Absolutely not.

He's so cold, though; and if he keeps Nero up all night again, he'll make Marley wish he could die. According to Nero, of course.

Marley frowns, conflicted. He stays like that for a few more minutes, his coldness building up and his blankets being useless. The longer he sits there, panicking over being in bed with the guy that could electrocute him at any second, the longer the cold sleeps into his bones until he can't find it within himself to care anymore.

Marley sighs, louder than he meant to since it echoes through the room. He hopes he doesn't do anything stupid.

He crosses the room, feeling like his invisible heart is in his throat. Each step feels like he's closer and closer to crossing a boundary. He hits right next to Nero's bed, trying not to do anything to set the guy off. Marley leans over and rests his knee on the other side, straddling Nero temporarily until he's finally crossed over.

Victory.

Marley still doesn't feel better. Nero's sheets are soft. They're a dark blue color, but they look purple in Nero's red glow. Marley leans back, resting his head on the pillow. Nero's pillow, his stupid mind decides to remind him. He stretches his blankets over himself, feeling a bit warmer just from being near the man. It's not enough to sate him, and he takes notice of the shifting beside him.

Nero's holding out his hand.

Up until now, Nero would just grab his forearm and be done with it, then Marley would put up a boundary and hope he didn't embarrass himself the next morning. This is definitely strange.

He doesn't want to mess up Nero's blankets today, though. He wouldn't feel comfortable with it. So, he lays flat on his back and reaches over to take Nero's hand. A shock runs through him when he laces them together, something he can't blame entirely on Nero's power, before they drop their joined hands onto the comforter.

Marley closes his eyes, ignoring a thought that crosses his mind. One that he should never think again. One that implies that maybe, possibly, perhaps... there could have been some truth to Eli's words.