“I really don’t think-”

“Shhh!”

Uriel kept quiet and stood awkwardly, because Ayako gave him a look that very well said: “Don’t argue or I will take measures”. His tail moved side to side, indicating his nervousness and shyness. He was not daring to let go of the bag she had thrown into his hold. He had to hold that bag, without question, if he wanted her to not throw a fit.

A few days had gone by since the demon and angel had come to terms, much to Ayako’s glee and relief. There was no more fear of being near. They had spent many days discussing their absurd situation.

However, with time, it became clear what problem they had to deal with now. Uriel still felt that ache, like Ayako had said and he finally admitted. He could not avoid staying at this clearing, and he was still nervous about it. Alexis as well; he felt slightly guilty for the fact that Uriel hurt, even if he was not to blame. Ayako’s crazy mind eventually grew bored. She kept coming for those feathers, only to find them both moping about it, every time, even if they got along. They were being forced to stick together, no matter what they thought or wanted. Alexis always scolded Uriel when he tried to keep a painful distance from him. Both stayed near this cave reluctantly, for a lot of days.

Here they were now. Ayako had grabbed all the feathers the angel had dropped through the week, and instead of taking them to the village, she stuffed them into a bag. Then, she told Uriel to hold it, firmly. Said demon now sighed, while Ayako turned around to look at Alexis, who was leaning lazily against the wall of the cliff. She spoke up cheerfully, determined.

“Ok, Alex. Go!”

The blond looked up and gave her a grumpy look, with his arms crossed.

“Don’t speak to me like you would to Lykaios.”

“I said go! Or I will stop bringing seafood and supplies!”

Ayako huffed in exasperation, because Uriel commented meekly.

“Actually, the other day I swam in the lake, and I managed to grab some shells from the bottom. It would not be necessary for you to bring-”

“You two better cooperate already! Or I will take away my cauldron! Let’s see if you can stand only having roasted meals again!”

Both angel and demon jolted and grew quiet. Uriel feared losing a way in which to entertain himself, and Alexis had grown too fond of Uriel’s recipes.

The hunter nodded with approval, because Alexis moved away from the wall. He shook his wings grumpily, and then raised them slowly at his sides. Uriel could not help but be amazed of how much they could outstretch. No matter how many times he saw it, those wings were mesmerizing, each time they opened fully. He watched in amazement how Alexis jumped and batted his wings down strongly, how he took flight easily. His wings did not stop moving once he lifted his feet off the ground. Ayako was not as entranced as Uriel, even if those golden glints were remarkable; she had seen multiple angels fly.

In a matter of seconds, Alexis bounced and landed onto the top of the waterfall. He did so with a little slip, because he was not the best of fliers, to be honest. Once he regained his balance, he glanced down, moving his hands up at his sides to give them a questioning stare from above.

Ayako waved a hand in front of Uriel’s eyes and called him, noticing he was not paying attention to her lead.

“Uri? Are you there?”

Uriel blinked and shook his head, out of his trance.

“Oh, sorry!”

He focused; he tried to do as Ayako had planned. She waited with high hopes while Uriel brushed his chest with the point of his tail, to not drop the bag.

Her hopeful smile faded slowly, because a frown gradually grew on Uriel’s face. His violet eyes were full of disappointment when he looked at her sincerely, not wanting to lie even if he felt he maybe should.

“Nothing. Not a single thing has changed.”

He handed the bag back to her, looking down with a sad look. Above, Alexis’s wings dropped down with disappointment; because he saw that it had not worked. Ayako nodded tiredly and frowned, even if her voice was kind.

“Sorry Uriel, I thought that maybe…”

He reassured her with a smile, no matter if he was sad too.

“It was a good idea, but I don’t think it can work out this way.”

They had thought that he could maybe stop feeling the pulse, if he had some feathers near his heart. Perhaps the more the better, possibly. Sadly, he still felt the ache when Alexis flied away onto the top of the cliff. They could only determine that it was their souls what was bound, not their bodies. No matter how many feathers they could shove into a bag, it would not work.

Uriel began to fumble with his claws and kept staring at them, because the pounding faded. Alexis was fast to jump down and fly towards them. His amber eyes were full of anger when he landed nearby; and while he stepped closer, he ruffled his blond hair in exasperation.

“Sorry, Uriel; it seems I really got you stuck, huh?”

“It’s not your fault.”

Both blinked and looked up from the ground, because Ayako spoke with her usual mocking tone.

“So, you two are just going to be cave-mates forever?”

Both gave her a blank stare.

“Cave…”

“…Mates?”

She snorted and pointed at the cliff and cave.

“Yeah! Like, I doubt that you can handle being away from each other, with that pounding and all that crap. And I also know that you won’t go mad and kill each other to fix it! So, probably, you are just going to be the first angel and demon that live together! Or even get along…”

Ayako contained her laugh for a full minute, while the other two just stared at her deadpanned, still trying to process her words. They finally dawned on what they had not even wanted to think for all these days. Both exclaimed with worry and nervousness.

“I can’t trouble him with my presence forever!”

“Uriel can’t be stuck living in a fucking forest!”

Ayako rolled her eyes up at the sky. It did not surprise her that the two now blinked at each other, instead of her. She calmly walked towards a rock to sit, because she knew what would happen. Indeed, Alexis pointed at Uriel with a finger and complained with an exasperated groan.

“You are not bothering me, Uriel! I am the one that has appeared out of fucking nowhere! I give you more than a simple headache! I hurt you by just being here!”

Uriel raised his claws to his chest and pointed at himself. He retorted firmly, while he leaned down to frown at him.

“You do not such thing, Alexis! Why should I feel entitled to your fate?! I should be ashamed of staying here, not allowing you to go on with your life alone!”

“Hey, I said already that I don’t mind! Actually, you two have only given me help! I would have nothing in this damn forest if I was alone! I would be still cutting wood with a sword! I am indeed the one that gives you problems; I force you to live in the woods!”

“Oh, so you are saying that you can stand living out in the wild, while I’m too weak to stay here?!”

“My wings keep me warm; they shield me from the cold and wind! I have everything I need! You go into panic mode every time you get a stain on those fancy clothes of yours! I don’t give a damn about living here, it’s good enough! Besides, it’s not like I can go to a human village, because I am not human!”

“For your information, I can stand being in this forest as well! I have claws! I have fire! I can climb, survive, and hunt! In reality, my body is more feral than yours! I am stronger!”

“But you are too squeamish! The other day, you woke up and found out that a snail had climbed onto you, while you slept! Do you wonder who almost got deaf, after you leaped in the air and hit the rocky ceiling with your horns?!”

“Says the one who almost ate belladonna, not so long ago! The one who stands doing nothing while wild rabbits munch his garden!”

“If I had not seen your fire and stared now at those horns, tail and claws of yours, I would not think you are a demon! After you drop your faked fury, you are more delicate than a feather!”

“If I had not grabbed those wings myself, I would say they are fake! Nevertheless, you really are an angel; because you are stubborn and thickheaded, like all the rest!”

Both halted when a voice interrupted them, laughing slightly.

“Guys, guys! You both are dorks, let’s agree on that!”

Amber and violet eyes narrowed. One glared at her, while the other glanced away. Ayako stood again with a cheerful jump. She swayed side to side playfully while she stepped closer to them, and then gave them a questioning look when she spoke, sure of herself.

“You both have to deal with this situation! You like it or not! Right?”

Both crossed their arms and answered grumpily, at the same time.

“I said already that he doesn’t bother me!”

“I really don’t mind staying in the forest!”

She raised her hands at her sides and gave them a sarcastic stare.

“Then where is the problem?! Neither of you mind being close, do you?”

Alexis and Uriel grew silent, because neither hated being near. They only hated that the other had to give something away, their freedom.

Ayako seemed to be the only one who saw clearly.

“Well… you two will figure things out. I hope.” Neither was able to speak up when she began to leave. She began to head south, towards her cabin. “See you both in some days!”

Uriel let out a long sigh and let down his claws in impotence. Alexis’ wings gave a sharp flap, to then fold again on his back, clearly not in the best of moods.

Both had no idea of how to stop the spell, and neither had a clue of what to do.

——————————————————

The sound of an owl was the only thing heard in the night. From time to time, its howl reached their ears.

Uriel’s eyes glowed in the dark of the cave, because he was unable to sleep. He couldn’t rest, no matter how comfortable he was on the wooden bed, which he and Alexis had made when it became clear he couldn’t leave. The angel had insisted on crafting it, because he didn’t want him to sleep on the floor of the cave.

Said angel was awake as well on his nest; he was facing the rocky wall, staring at it with thoughtful eyes.

Both were fully awake, even if it was pretty late. Any human would feel tired and exhausted at these hours; any would fall asleep, no matter how worried they could be. But not them.

Neither had spoken since they argued in the morning. Both were bitter, even if this was better than a fight to the death, like it was supposed to be.

Uriel was looking at the night sky with longing eyes. His bed was near the mouth of the cave, far from where Alexis slept. He could see the moon through the leafy curtains.

Alexis raised his head a little when he heard him whisper.

“Do you trust in me?”

Uriel did not move while Alexis turned on his nest and parted his wings, so his eyes could glance at him. He waited patiently, because the angel did not answer right away. He took his time, but he did answer.

“…Yes. Why?”

Uriel closed his eyes and took a deep breath. His tail relaxed and laid down on the edge of his bed, in order to not show his anxiousness.

“I was thinking…” Alexis waited as well, calmly. Uriel seemed to be pondering deeply if to talk or not. Luckily, after some minutes, he let it out. “I was thinking that maybe… Maybe you could come back with me to my manor. B-but I only say it because, maybe, it would be better than to be in the woods. I would really not mind staying here, I don’t want to force you to leave this place; it’s just an idea. It’s just…”

Uriel stopped talking; he stared intently at his own claws, and he seemed to shy away more where he lay. He feared offending Alexis; it would not be strange that he had unpleasant memories of his manor. Alexis could consider the woods to be better than that place, because he had control over it, he had an advantage there. He feared angering Alexis by suggesting the idea, because he could think that he wanted to go back out of selfishness. He was only suggesting it out of care. He only wanted to make things right.

Alexis frowned and looked subtly at his bracelets. He had already pondered about that manor. But he had not dared to speak about it himself. He had not wanted to sound like he wanted Uriel to go away, because they both were still struggling to show they did not hate each other. It had not been easy to talk and establish something similar to an agreement. He did not want to sound like he wanted to mess with his manor either. That manor was not his home, it was Uriel’s. He still did not understand much the fact that they were sharing the cave; he was still baffled by how things had ended. He had not felt like he had much choice or bargain.

However, now that Uriel told him himself, and he saw that the manor was a valid option…

“I would not have to stay in that cell, would I?”

Alexis had been joking when he made that question. But Uriel did not seem to get it, because he sat suddenly, giving him an anxious look while he stuttered.

Alexis sat up as well and gave him a nervous smile; he apologized with his gaze while he moved his hands up to calm him down.

“Relax, I was only joking! …Though to be fair, I would not really mind to be in that cell.” It was more like a room than a jail. It only seemed like a cell because the door was thick and made of iron. “As long as I am not locked in it, of course.”

Uriel relaxed somewhat, seeing that it really had only been one of those sarcastic remarks he made from time to time. He was still not used to them. Alexis let his hands down when Uriel sighed and lied down again. His demon spoke faintly and stared at the ceiling with a tired look in his eyes.

“I might have been less than pleasant when I first saw you… and I admit it, I behaved like a beast. I kept you locked in a dungeon, just like other demons would have. I behaved like if the fact that you’re my angel means that you are mine to control. I swear, now I would not do such things. I know better.”

Both remained silent, without stopping looking at the wall or ceiling. There was only noise in their minds, which had too many thoughts at once.

How strange things are…

Uriel spoke again after a while; he was smiling sadly, he was almost whispering to himself.

“I could always go back home alone. I could stand this pulse, I’m sure that I could, after some time. I would get used to it. After all, I was able to wait for you to find me. You can stay here; I would not trouble you anymore. I would not-”

“I kind of miss having a real roof over my head.”

Uriel blinked when he heard Alexis interrupt him. The angel let out a short laugh and hugged his wings, with a bitter and nostalgic frown.

“I miss my room back at home. I had what any human would have: A real bed, a fireplace, furniture…” Angus… “I even had a job; not the best one ever, but it was still something. I could get everything I wanted or needed, there was a market. Here, I only have rocks over my head, the air runs into the cave, those curtains I made are just leafs. Even if I’m not cold, I am living in a hole at the feet of a cliff. I don’t need what I had, but it was kind of nice. I had my kind, even if most acted like mindless jerks. Now, I can only speak with her. She’s much less of a jerk, sure, but not quite the large community I had around me, you know?”

Alexis closed his eyes and smiled tiredly. He shrugged, with one last comment.

“So, I guess it would really help me out if I took your offer.”

Uriel did not know what to say. He stared at Alexis while he turned and covered himself with his wings again. The angel rested, like if he had said nothing.

Neither of the two managed to sleep. They stayed awake until morning, in silence. But at least, they had an idea of what to do now.

————————————————

 

Ayako was sitting on the chair. She was looking at the two, her eyes full of surprise.

“You are leaving?”

Both were looking down to the ground, nervous of how Ayako could react.

They had waited to tell her. Because they both would hate to leave without doing so, and because if they did not tell her, she could freak out, and then wreck everything on her way until her worry faded. She would probably call Lykaios to help her find them, not doubting to bother the lone lynx. Summarizing, they had to tell her either way.

Uriel nodded at her question, unsure as how to elaborate on his explanation.

“Yes, we thought it would be for the best. We are both in this mess, together, so…”

Ayako frowned. For the first time, Uriel saw another kind of worry in her icy blue eyes. However, she was good at hiding it; if he did not know how she was, he would not notice it in her voice and smile. Both Uriel and Alexis noticed it well while she talked.

“That’s great. It will surely be better than being out here in the wild.” She laughed a little and raised an eyebrow at Uriel. “You will not lock him away, right?”

Alexis coughed to muffle the snort that escaped him, while Uriel just sighed.

“Not you too…”

Alexis glanced at her with a caring smile, having known the hunter for enough time to know what worried her.

“Hey, you know where the manor is, Aya. Besides, I’m sure Uriel would not mind at all that you paid a visit from time to time! I can still give you the feathers I drop.”

Alexis had put emphasis in two words, and that did not fail to make Uriel blush red and fidget. While the demon looked at everything but her, Ayako pouted and gave Alexis an annoyed look. She did not doubt to complain.

“So, you still think I would only bother to visit for those?”

“Nah, but you could give them a better use than I would, right?”

It was not something usual that she was the one to get surprised. But so it was this time. Alexis’ eyes were glancing at her sideways, with a grateful look. He was trying to show he really knew she cared. He also wanted to show he cared too.

He would miss her. She would miss them both. It was funny… They were probably the first ones of their kinds to ever behave like this.

Alexis and Uriel smiled when she did. Her blue eyes filled with relief and that cheerfulness they knew well.

“Well, I’m not saying goodbye then!”

Ayako did not miss how Uriel blushed more and fumbled again with his hands, having to look away to hide his shy smile. Alexis just laughed, amused by how his demon behaved.

He had thought he had lost everything when he fell. And maybe he did. But he at least had found other things. He couldn’t complain.