#written in loving memory of the house centipede that made me stay awake until 5 in fear

[leggerefiore]

Entomophobia

cw: bug fear and bug Death, Galvantula hybrid Emmet,

You screamed and hopped off the couch as the creature crawled out from behind you. Its distressing number of limbs carried it up the back cushions and scuttled on its way from you. The idea of it just existing in your apartment without your knowledge or consent sent you into a frenzy. You were still too horrified to move, however. Standing completely still, you pondered the best way to handle this situation. Killing it would be difficult, as would removing it. It was venomous, you knew. The Venipede crawled in your home without a care in the world.

What would it have even been eating here? Your home was definitely bug-free, thanks to your boyfriend. Where was he, anyhow? He could fix this! You were certain he would find this beast a meal. Its eyes suddenly cut back at you as you carefully tried to move towards his room. Maybe he was having a nap. He was nocturnal, after all. Opening the door, you made sure that the Venipede had not moved far. The Galvantula hybrid was, as you expected, asleep in his webs. As comfortable and cute as his sleeping face was (all his six eyes closed at once, while his fur and hair were tassled), you needed him awake.

“Emmet!” you shouted, watching as the Venipede tried to move from your line of sight. Panic surged through your system as you yelled his name again. He shot awake in a moment, scuttling from his web and to your side. Emmet's face was twisted with worry as he considered you carefully. There was no time. “Emmy, please, there's a Venipede, and it's big and creepy, and it crawled on me and-” you babbled out while pointing to the retreating bug. Emmet giggled at your reaction after he calmed down. His legs carried him with ease to the bug, who realised they had most certainly chosen the wrong home to invade.

You looked away as he injected his own venom into the bug, you struggled for a moment before going limp. The Galvantula hybrid moved the Venipede into his web, where he then began to cocoon it. You averted your eyes, uncomfortable by the sight. Still, you were relieved that the bug had not gone free to disappear into another part of your home.

“It's verrrry funny that you're afraid of bugs,” he commented as he joined you in the living room later, “How am I any less terrifying than that Venipede was?” You gazed at him for a moment. In a way, he was right. He was not any less terrifying than any other bug. One could even argue that he was more horrifying than other bugs due to how Galvantulas had the ability to poison and shock. Their fur could be shot off to paralyse you before they crawled over to you and injected their venom to completely immobilise you. Of course… Emmet was no simple arachnid, as shown by his human half. He was a hybrid, so he was both. Not to mention, he ate the bugs that frightened you.

It was easier to put with his goofy and occasionally smug behaviour than handling most bugs. Not to mention, you could sleep on his soft, fuzzy tummy and cuddle him for hours. He would talk to you as well. While not his forte, your conversations were fulfilling and interesting. “… For one, I sleep with you,” you replied, “For two… Well, I don't know. I know you'll keep me safe and have no plans to attack me. You're surprisingly clean, too, despite the webs everywhere.” He giggled again as plopped down beside you. His six purple eyes were clearly overcome with joy as his smile split his face. You could not resist giving him a sweet peck on his cheek. A strange purr-like sound escaped his throat as his arms came around you, pulling you flush against him.

Seriously, how could you be afraid of him? He was too much of a sweetheart to scare you, even at his more awkward moments. You had learnt most of the times in which he came off as creepy or intimidating was a by-product of him lacking proper human socialisation. (Which you and Ingo had been working with him on, but the progress did not really matter in the end. You were happy with him as he was, and Ingo saw no reason to further engage it unless he planned to enter the human world, which was far too dangerous for a hybrid like him.) You listened to the odd electrical humming in his body for a moment, before whining for a position shift. You both moved around until you were laying on the yellow fur of his abdomen. It was warmer down there…

“You kill the bugs that do scare me…” you yawned and nuzzled into the staticky fur, “I feel safe with you around. I know you'll protect me… And I'll protect you. I love you, Em…”

Emmet felt overcome with tender emotion for a moment. His precious mate could be so loving… He knew showing his strength in killing the intruder into his technical den would impress you. Though, he also enjoyed knowing that you would call for him whenever you were distressed or terrified. Being relied upon made him verrrrry happy. “I'll always protect my mate,” he cooed and relaxed his body, “I love you, too, darling!”