Feast ~Kaneki x Reader AU~

The footsteps grow closer and closer, and my breathing grows shallower and shallower. And then, they appear. Just a tall figure clothed by a dark cloak, a mask I've never seen before concealing their identity. And aside from these two things, I can make no other observation of this stranger's features. However, I can make one deduction.

There is no way this person is from the CCG.

Just no way in hell. Not with the way they stand there, staring down at the man on the floor. Not with how they remain in silence, not uttering a word. Nothing about this person comes off as an investigator.

They stand and stare at the fallen man for a few more moments before shifting their attention to me. And it's instant. The moment they turn in my direction, my breath hitches, lodging itself into my throat. Which is ridiculous. I can't even see this person's eyes. Not with that mask. Still, whether I can see them or not doesn't matter because I know I can feel them.

I can feel them on me. Burning a hole into my skin, sending shivers to run the length of my spine. Whoever this person is, they have a powerful aura about them, and feeling their eyes fixate on me like this...well, it is unsettling.

Knees trembling, I begin to back away from the bars, still watching them as they do so to me. To be honest, I'm not sure what this person is doing or what they want. However, I truly thought they would have left by now, but no. They're still here. Still staring.

Then it happens.

A new appendage sprouts from them and before I can utter a single syllable, they swiftly slice the bars of my cell. And suddenly, there's nothing protecting me from this person. Just a gap and horror.

My eyes widen as I take another step back, feeling the stone wall behind me. I have nowhere to run. Nowhere to hide. In this chaos, I am a mere deer surrounded by wolves.

The person takes a step into my cell, slowly, all the while their concentration remains on me, then another and another. My chest grows heavy, laboring my breathing as a nervous sweat breaks across my brow. My limbs are trembling, my knees about to buckle from the dread. Then, they're there. Right in front of me. Looking down at me and I freeze. Even my breathing stops. Time stops. Everything stops. And I'm convinced that I'm about to die.

The person begins to reach for me and almost as if a reflex, I allow my knees to buckle, curling in on myself. I wrap my arms around myself, shielding my head from whatever blow they're about to deal, warm tears streaming down my cheeks.

All this time, I knew dying was a very real possibility. But actually coming face-to-face with that fact brings a whole new array of emotions. I might be able to accept that I might die, but that doesn't mean I have to be happy about it. I can still be scared. I am scared. Terrified, even.

My body quakes with so much dread, my own teeth digging into my lips to choke back my sobs with so much force that I think I taste iron. But I don't care.

I continue to shake, waiting and waiting for the worst when I feel a warm palm cuff my shoulder. And as if instinct, I glance up, meeting the blank stare of the mask.

"Don't be afraid," he – I can distinctly hear a male's voice – says, his tone soft and muffled. "I'm not here to hurt or harm you. I am here to rescue you."

My eyes widen, the tears still trickling down my cheeks, my breathing unsteady. "W-what?"

"I'm here to rescue you," he repeats.

I hear him. I understand him. But I am too stunned to reply. Just wrapped in a bubble of disbelief.

"You're...here to rescue me?" I ask, my voice quivering.

He simply nods.

"B-but who are you? I don't even know who you are. Why would you save me?"

He is silent. Not moving. Not stirring. Which isn't really the best response, whether his intentions are good or not.

"Your silence is unsettling." I try to laugh, though it's weak and half-hearted.

But it catches his attention, causing him to straighten his posture. "Sorry. I know that this is a frightening time, but please, believe me. I only want to help. I'm not here to hurt you."

I want to believe him. Really, I do. But...how can I? How can I really be expected to trust a literal stranger? Who's to say he doesn't have alternative motives?

I shrink, pulling my legs closer against my chest. "I don't know who you are. How can I believe you won't hurt me?"

He inhales. "You don't have to believe me. You don't even have to trust me if you don't want to, but know my intentions are good." He squeezes his hands into fists. "I must atone for what it is I did to you."

This piques my interest. "Atone...for what you did to me? What?"

He hesitates but begins to undo his mask as he speaks. "Yes. You might not recognize me from our last meeting, but my name is Mako Fujioka (random name)." He lowers his mask and immediately my eyes widen. "And I'm the ghoul that attacked you."

**Bello lovelies! Boom! Another cliffhanger. That said, we now know who the man is behind the mask and, surprise, it's not Kaneki. Don't worry. Kaneki will make his appearance in all this. I just gotta get through all this stuffs first. I know, I know. Boring. But this is how the story decided to be told. Hey, I'm just a passenger. Anyway, thank you so much for all your support! Y'all are the bestest! Wuv yous!! <3**

-Noel Ross

P.S. "Shivers" by Ed Sheeran (love this song and man).