Chapter Text
You were a manager for quite some time in limbus company. You held consultations, you managed to stand up for yourself at times, and overally a lot of things weren't going as fucked up as they would in another mirror world.
You were much more concentrated and calm about situations, as well as having good intuition. You also had teasing playful side which helped you to get along with sinners who shared it. You also deeply wished to help all sinners and that desire helped you to motivate them.
One of the cases was with Sinclair. You noticed once he started feeling uncomfortable to return to his hometown. But you didn't just watch him panic. You invited him to your room almost every day and held him close. At first he was very scared to be touched by you, but quickly his heart melted from all kind words you said to him. Without realizing so earlier it was exactly what he needed to hear. He was both touch-starved and affection-starved. He desperately needed you to call him good boy or praise him. He needed you to hold and comfort him when he can't do it himself. Even after events, when Demian killed Kromer he still didn't get rid of that needy feeling to be loved by you.
So during one of the nights when you couldn't shut your eyes, he knocked on door.
"(Please please open... I want to see Manager so badly...)"
You got up and opened the door. You gently smiled at Sinclair.
"Hello little one... nightmares again..?"
He nodded solemnly. He didn't have nightmare yet but he couldn't sleep without you.
"Okay okay come in..."
His eyes sparkled and he eagerly came inside, while hugging your arm and clinging to you.
"T-thank you so much manager... I always feel so safe with you... I want to be with you all the time..."
He boldly hugged you from the side.
"Ngh... manager I love you so much... Please please tell me you love me too..."
You decided to play along. After all you didn't want to leave his affection unanswered.
"Of course!.. I love you lots too."
"Y-yay... M-manager loves me..."
"Mhm mhm. Now just try to rest alright? You are fully safe here..."
"Yes Manager... Goodnight..."
He leaned in before kissing you on cheek and wrapping him arms around you.
"I hope I'll dream about you..."
.....
In the morning Sinclair woke up first. He blinked a bit before realizing you were still hugging him.
(Mm... Manager's hugs are the best...)
He looked at your face carefully, not wanting to wake you. At the same time he started feeling needy, he wanted to kiss your cheeks so badly!!!
Carefully, he leaned in and pecked your cheek gently. You either pretended to sleep further or didn't feel it, which made him feel bolder. He left another one on your other cheek, making soft "chuuuu" sound. His cheeks became red at his own actions.
(I-I get to sleep with manager and then kiss their cheeks...? It feels...it feels too good to be true...)
He tried to hit himself, thinking it's a dream, which made a movement that caused you to finally move.
"... this isn't a dream little one... No need to hit yourself"
You patted his head, reassuring him it's all true.
"A-ah..? M-Manager...? How long have you been..."
"U-uhm... D-did you see me..."
"Hm..? See what?"
"...mm..uhm..."
He was so adorable when struggling to say something. You rufled his hair a bit more.
"Mm... Time to get up!"
"C-can I still stay with you...?"
You couldn't say no to him needing you. You stood up and took his hand in yours.
"Of course. Let's eat!"
You cooked something simple you both could enjoy. Maybe it was your favorite food or something people usually eat.
You put 2 meals, one for yourself and other for Sinclair, and sat right in front of him.
He took a bite and looked extremely pleased. You smiled back, feeling happy at seeing him so relaxed.
"M-Manager..."
"Hm? What is it?"
"...I... I really miss... eating with someone..."
"Huh...? Oh..."
You remembered... Sinclair really missed having meals with his family, before they got prosthetics. He always felt left out when he was the only one eating.
That's why he was observing closely how you ate. To "normal" person it would feel strange, but you understood everything.
You looked at him and you noticed his eyes started to water. That made you even more worried, even a single memory could cause him that.
You stood up, came to him at the other side of the table, and wrapped your arms around him.
He sobbed softly, feeling pathetic and weak at his own inability to resist crying, but it was too late. He put his head on your chest as it got slightly wet from his tears.
"I am sorry I am sorry I am sorry... I am so sorry I-I break down so easily... please f-forgive me.......nghh...uuuu...."
You softly signed and gently patted his back and head.
"Don't apologize... You are not a burden, alright?... Shh shh let it out..."
"M-Manager... I am sorry you have to always deal with me... I-I am so pathetic..."
"I-I am sorry I can't even eat with you... Uuu..."
He sniffles and feels disgusted at himself for needing you so much, but he still doesn't let go.
"... Sinclair you are wrong here."
"H-huh...?"
You decided to finally take your responsibility as manager.
"You are a good boy in many other things... You have a kind heart and loving soul. I know you care for me a lot and I really appreciate that..."
You patted his head.
"So it isn't hard for me to take care of you. Really."
"E-even right now...?"
"Even right now."
"O-okay..."
His neediness overtook his low self-esteem. He clung more to you.
"T-then... p-please hold me tighter manager..."
"Will do."
You held him tighter.
"A-and... C-could you...keep telling nice things about me... please... It feels...it feels warm inside when you do..."
"Hm... Sinclair has been a very good boy... Slept well and nice..."
He made a sound close to a purr, clearly loving when you spoil him with attention and love.
"And... I liked feeding you today too..."
"Mm...!!!"
He blushed and got more flustered, rather than miserable.
He wiped his last tears and looked up to you.
"M-Manager... Can you uhm..."
"Hm..?"
"Can you...mm...f-feed me but..."
"...but directly...?"
"Ahh..! Like right into your ..cute mouth~"
"H-huh...? I-it's not cute M-Manager..."
"Every part of you is cute, Sinclair..."
"R-really...? Well...if you say so..."
Sinclair comfortably sat on your lap, opening his mouth eagerly as you fed him directly.
You fed him whole meal and patted his head. He giggled a bit, clearly feeling safe and happy.
"Alrighty... Time to start the work."
Sinclair hugged your arm and went directly with you like that.
"...hm...? Aren't you scared other sinners would see you like this, little one...?"
He quickly let go.
"O-oh...right..."
He looked bit sadder upon losing contact with you.
You pat his head gently, and went further and he returned to his duties.
Since then Sinclair grew much more clingy. He always hugged you when you two were alone, and eventually he started to feel bold enough to hug you in other sinners's presence. Hong Lu and Rodya found that super cute, it felt like little cheek not wanting to leave it's caring mommy. Outis found that distracting and weak, she thought that would cause Sinclair to be even less focused than he is already. Either way, some sinners did start giving slightly weird looks. After all he was being a bit too affectionate at times.
Sinclair also started to spend most of his time around you. It could be something mostly normal, like just wanting you to pat or praise him, but at times he just..stared at you for a long time. It was like he was observing every your move. You didn't mind it that much at first. You knew he felt safe and comfortable around you, so of course you let him stick around as much as he wishes. But he also started to distance himself from other sinners too... He used to interact with Don Quixote and Ryoshu, but since certain time he only payed attention to you. That caused even more rumors to spread, wasn't this going bit too far? Even you eventually felt like Sinclair's presence was overwhelming due to how much he is being around you.
You've decided to ask Don Quixote for advice (which is something you NEVER thought you would do), and on your way to her room you felt someone tugging you sleeve.
"... manager...?"
It was Sinclair. He looked at you with his curious eyes.
"Where are you going, Manager?"
"Ah, little one."
You gently patted his head out of habit.
"I need to talk with Don Quixote... Don't worry, alright?"
He pouted for whatever reason.
"...m..."
"Manager..."
"...you won't abandon me, right...?"
"...? Of course not. Why did you think that?"
"I know you must getting tired of me m-manager..."
You decided to not tell him harsh truth.
"Of course not little one... You can never overwhelm m-"
"No, manager."
He cut you off
"I know you are getting tired of me..."
His voice was full of confidence in that.
You decided to this it's probably due to his low self-esteem... surely he couldn't read your mind...?
"...you are just a little bit...mm...too clingy at times, Sinclair. I need some space too..."
"N-no problem Manager... I...I am sorry... That I am so needy..."
"Hm... Have you tried spending time with other sinners...? If I can't talk with you at times, you can stay with them"
"...n-no...I... I don't feel around them ...like with you, Manager..."
"Nobody can replicate feeling of safety you bring... Only you, Manager..."
He gazes at you with almost worshipful look. He quickly hid it though.
"I see... Well little one... We would need to work at that, alright..? I understand I am very important to you... But I can't spend all my time with you... But I don't want you to feel lonely, alright..?"
"I understand, Manager... As long as you don't... abandon me... I'll be fine, I promise."
He gave you shy smile. For you, that was convincing enough.
You smiled back, and decided to trust in Sinclair's self-control.
...
However, Sinclair has lied.
He needed you ALL the time. He couldn't handle moments he had to spend alone. He tried to escape it in dreams, only to be chased by nightmares there. He can't sleep in safety without you at all.
At times he also had to be alone around sinners. Everytime it was like that, he felt their gazes, as if they all knew how pathetic and needy he was. Even if it wasn't entirely true, he still felt like every single sinner must be despising him. He can't feel safe around others without you at all.
What has been a cute crush, turned into the whole obsession. All he could think of is when he can see you again. Even if you started growing more and more tired of him, he couldn't stop himself. Every moment he spent with you became more and more precious. Yet they also became more and more rare. During those he acted creepier than before, always touching you, always looking at your eyes with manic energy, as if wanting to take as much in his memory as he could.
That did creep you, but even more it worried you. You didn't want for Sinclair to be that dependant, he deserved a good life free of worries. And yet, you didn't know what to do...
The only idea was... To fully forbid Sinclair to spend time with you, so he would get more used to being alone. Yet that idea broke your heart, you couldn't force yourself to decline him this much.