Penny sat on the opposite end of the tub as I let the shower soak my body. He insisted on joining me in the shower, fully clothed. He had been clingy throughout the whole day and it was only getting worse.

"Can you pass me that, pen?" I asked as I pointed to the body wash bottle next to him. He looked at it, picking it up slowly. He inspected before giving it to me.

"Your clothes will ruin" I said, sounding like a concerned mother. He didn't answer me, just staring at me blankly, obviously not caring.

I held back from rolling my eyes, trying not to annoy him. He had been in a pretty good mood lately and I didn't wanna ruin it. But even in a good mood, he still felt distant.

I began to wash my body with the soap, but Penny immediately stopped me. He grabbed my hands, bringing me closer to him. I shuddered in excitement and confusion as I felt his hands began to lather my body. I looked at him the whole time as his face went into concentration. The moment was filled with emotions, letting Penny take care of me.

He looked back up at me, looking deeply into my eyes. My hand made its way to his face, stroking it gently. The heat between us was strong, making the warm water feel cold compared.

"I accept you" I said as the water continued to fall onto us.

"All of you" I said as I placed my lips on his. He was taken by surprise by the romantic moment, but followed through. I felt him kiss back, his hands began to tangle into my wet hair. He got up, picking me up to meet his face. I felt him push me against the wall, the tile cold against my skin. My hands snaked around his neck, pulling him closer as my legs wrapped around his waist. We stayed like that for what felt like forever, in each other's embrace.

"You're all I have" I said trying not to cry as I realized he really was all I had. He looked back at me, not saying anything but I knew he understood.

He always did.

I heard the soft sound of his bells as he followed after me. I had changed into comfortable pjs, just wanting to stay in from the cold weather. I had been able to dry penny's clothes in my dryer, something he found interesting. He sat next to me, freshly laundered. We sat in front of the tv in my living room, watching whatever was playing but we weren't even paying attention. I looked down at Penny's hand, taking it in mine. He looked at me with a weird look, but I didn't care to explain.

"Forever" I whispered as I felt his hand twitch in mine. He looked deeply into my eyes, almost into my soul.

He hadn't been very talkative, but very affectionate and clingy at equal measure.

"We have to promise" I said as I shifted in my seat, facing him completely, hand in hand.

"Promise what?" He asked with a devilish look.

"We'll kill anyone who stands in our way" I said, not regretting my words. He looked a bit shocked at my willingness to kill, something I was really against before I met him.

"I accept all of you, remember?" I said as I squeezed his hand referring to the moment we shared in the shower.

"I'll kill" he said. I nodded my head, agreeing with his standards.

"Partners in crime" I said softly as we looked at each other. I was ready to ride or die for this damn clown.

I jumped off the couch, as Penny flinched at the sudden movement.

"Lets play hide n seek" I said, trying to hide the fact that I really just wanted him. I knew what happened when we played this game, and I wanted to lose.

"Go" he grunted and that was enough to send me flying out the door. I ran down the hall, holding back my laughter. I felt electricity shoot through me at the thought of Penny chasing after me. I decided to hide within the building, as it was too cold outside.

I ran down the stair case, planning to hide under them. Once I found the perfect spot, I sat with my legs against my chest, waiting for Penny to come find me.

It wasn't long before I heard the familiar sound of bells and the air thickened with his sweet scent. I closed my eyes, expecting him to grab me at any moment. I still felt nervous even though I knew he wouldn't hurt me.

I almost screamed in excitement as I felt his gloved hands grab at my skin. I opened my eyes, falling into his blue ones. He looked amused at the game, but something didn't seem right within him.

He picked me up, flinging me over his shoulder as he walked back to my apartment. I was surprised no neighbors walked out of their apartment to see a random girl being carried by a giant clown.

I bit my lip as Penny flung me onto the bed, ready for him to attack me. I looked up slowly after a minute of nothing.

I furrowed my eyebrows in confusion as Penny towered over me, motionless. He looked deep in concentration, almost sad.

"Penny?" I whispered, trying to grab his hand. He rejected my hold, walking backwards a bit.

"Honesty" he said as looked up at me.

"What?" I asked as I laughed nervously.

"Jordan" he said slowly. My eyes widened as he said his name.

"You cared for him" he said sounding angry and hurt.

"Penny it's over" I said trying not to grow frustrated. Why was he bringing this up?

"Next one, when ?" He asked as his hands balled up into fists.

"There won't be a next one" I said as I climbed out of bed trying to reach him. He moved out my grip, looking at me angrily. Mood swings.

"I'm yours, always will be" I said softly trying to reassure him.

"Forever remember?" I said softly, hurt prominent in my voice. He didn't look convinced, and I expected him to grab my throat and slam me against the wall as per usual, but he never did.

"Mine" he growled as he fought against touching me. I knew he didn't want to hurt me, like those miserable days in the Neibolt house.

I swallowed hard at his possessive words before nodding slowly.

"Yours" I said reaching for him once again, and this time he allowed me. I guided him to sit on the edge of the bed, sitting on his lap right after. He still didn't seem completely happy with how we worked things out, but it was a start.

He had to learn that not everything required for him to put his hands on me or slam me against the wall. I was still human with with human weaknesses and one day he was going to hurt me to the point of no return.

"Good" I said as I stroked his hair softly. I felt him purr against me, something he always did when touched or comforted.

"This is good" I said as I realized the progress Penny was making. Drool had formed in the corner of his lips, he was once again lost in his own thoughts.

I felt his purring grow louder as I continued to pet his hair. This creature had walked this earth for years and had never felt the comfort of a loving touch. It was all still so new to him.

"You need to be comforted" I said in a matter of fact tone.

"Let me do it" I said trying to push him back softly onto the bed. He looked at me disapprovingly but he still allowed me to fix his body. I crawled off of him and made my way above him. His hands laid neatly above his chest. I picked his head up softly, laying it neatly on my lap. I continued to stroke his hair as he looked up at me intently.

"Penny" I said as the silence in the room was too enveloping.

"How do you.. breed?" I asked hoping he would answer me, I was too curious.

"Like humans" he said quickly and emotionless.

"So sex?" I asked feeling stupid. It made obvious sense that was how they reproduced but for all I knew, it could've been different, given his true form.

"Yes.. sex" he said letting the words linger in his mouth longer than they should've.

"Then why haven't I.." I asked not finishing my question because I knew he knew what I meant.

"It takes more than that" he said letting me continue to play with his hair.

"Can we.. y'know?" I asked scared of his response.

"No" he said.

"Not yet" he continued as I felt my breath get caught in my throat.

"You're afraid" he said blankly, looking at me.

"N-no" I lied as I tried shaking off the feeling. Penny almost laughed at my attempt to lie.

"Okay" he said trying not to push the conversation any further. He must've felt how my body tensed because he climbed off of my lap and instead picked me up and sat me on his. A change of scenery.

"Is there more of you?" I asked as I played with the bells on his sleeve.

"Too many questions" he grunted in annoyance. I nodded my head, trying not to push his buttons but curiosity buzzed within me like a thousand bees.

"I have to hunt" he said getting up from the bed. I let my knees lay against my chest as I watched him leave the room. I sighed heavily at the silence around me. I looked around, looking for something to distract me while he was gone.

Penny was physically affectionate but not emotionally. Something he had still yet to learn. I grabbed my computer, my fingertips hesitating over the keyboard, wondering if I should or shouldn't.

My shoulders loosened when my fingers made contact with the small plastic letters, typing in what I was afraid to.

Shape shifting creatures

The laptop screen flashed with different links and images. I guess this was a popular search.

I clicked and looked at every link and image I could find, but nothing resembled Penny or any of his habits. It's as if he didn't exist. As if I was crazy.

After about an hour, I heard a sudden noise emerge from my living room. I snapped my head towards the interruption, not hearing anything after. I fixated my gaze back on the glowing screen, letting go of the incident.

The room began to smell like cotton candy. My eyebrows furrowed in confusion as I looked up from my computer screen, trying to locate the smell.

I held my breath when I saw Penny looming by the doorway. Even after all these months, his tall and eerie presence still raised goosebumps on the back of my neck. I looked at him in silence, letting my eyes do all the talking.

His once clean suit was now covered in that metal wine, soaked in it. I looked up, my eyes traveling throughout his whole body. Our eyes struck against one another, sending us into a passionate stare. But this time, it felt scarier and angrier than usual. He was always like this. He seemed angry and animalistic after every hunt. Those days in the Neibolt house made me realize many things. His habits and characteristics. The way his eyes shift apart from one another when in full concentration, like when he tries speaking in complete sentences or when he grows tired when he allows himself, it gives him a more human quality. After sex, when his chest is rising and falling heavily, he does it to mimic me, to make me feel connected to him as much as I can, not because he's actually tired.

His gloved hands strived with the maroon color. I took into notice that his scent had changed. It was the same scent he used to lure those poor kids, the same one he used to lure me in. My computer felt hot against my lap, and I shoved it onto my soft duvet to ease the sensation.

My toes curled as Penny continued to lurk in the darkness of my room, his gaze burning onto me. My lips parted, ready to speak but no words ever came out.

"You need to feed" he said abruptly breaking the silence into a million fragments. I just looked at him without saying anything, continuing the silence.

He walked quickly towards me, meeting my bed in milliseconds, thanks to his long legs. He picked me up swiftly, like a child, before setting me on his lap. He did the usual routine, opened his mouth and showed me the lights, feeding me. I once again was hit with a huge feeling of euphoria and bliss, like I always did.

I realized my body had stopped aching, and I felt way more alive. Penny seemed more upbeat as well. I guess we were starving but we were too distracted on everything else. I stood in between his legs now, our faces inches apart.

His hands laid neatly on his lap, not touching me. Even after the feeding, he still seemed a bit distant.

"Are you upset?" I asked softly, looking into his light amber eyes.

"I'm always upset" he grunted.

"At me?" I asked slowly, awaiting his cold answer.

I saw emotion flash through his eyes at my question. He grabbed my waist, a little too tight. I saw his face churn into emotion. His lips parting a bit, ready to speak.

"Partners in crime" he whispered, giving me the answer I wanted to hear.