A soft mumble echoed. It prompted Ayako to look up worriedly, out of care. She gave Lykaios a sharp glance, and only that was needed to make him understand. The demon padded away with a slight annoyed whine; he moved to a preventive distance, because Alexis was waking up, and the last thing she wanted was that he fainted again.

Inside the small cave, the angel shifted subtly on his nest, which was composed of a flat rock with some leaves on top. He could feel the sunlight on him. Due to it, he moved his head to a side, frowning as he breathed in, slowly coming to his senses.

Ayako was sitting at the mouth of the opening, nudging a small fire at her side so it would not die out. The angel’s eyes opened tiredly, to then stare sadly at her figure. He recognized her, even if she was a little far off, with her back to him.

“It was not a dream.”

He had hoped he would wake at home. Like every day single day after his plunge.

The girl smiled a little and looked at him over her shoulder, to then speak up cheerfully, far too much for his liking.

“Good morning!”

He wouldn’t say the same. A groan escaped him as he opened his wings a little, having been laying on them. Humans did not seem to know that putting weight on them was a very bad idea.

The young man rubbed his forehead, to then acknoledge her presence coldly, without looking at her.

“Why are you still here?”

She blinked and looked up to the sky, thinking thoroughly. He waited for a response, because her blue eyes showed pure focus, like if she was going to say the most reasonable of reasons. But she only ended up shrugging with a chuckle.

“Don’t know! Just thought it would be best to make sure you were alright after what Lykaios said. Sorry about that, by the way.”

Alexis’ expression hinted suspicion and exasperation. He cursed mentally while he sat up.

“Is he still around or-” He heard a feline-like call outside, and that made him sigh in a resigned manner. “Of course he is…”

Ayako bit her lower lip to contain a small laugh. Meanwhile, Alexis got up from his bed and patted his clothes.

He wasn’t coming out of his cave yet. Weariness was all he felt for the situation. Even if he knew that she would not do anything drastic; they could have hurt him while he was out cold.

“He is not going to eat you.”

The young angel huffed angrily and stopped looking at his clothes when he heard her mock his reluctance. Her words caused him to leave the cave at last, stomping his feet firmly and grumpily. He hinted his annoyance deliberately.

“Well, excuse me for thinking this way after hearing all my life that I would be killed if I ever saw one like him!” He moved away from her, muttering resentfully. “Considering my situation, it will surely end up happening.”

Those last words had been whispered, not intended for her to hear. But Ayako was the most curious soul that lived, and a hunter with very good hearing.

She noticed well his depressed expresion. He was now crouching near the small river, throwing some water onto his face to wake up fully. Something that was not working for him at all.

“What’s wrong?”

Alexis laughed cynically and quietly. He asked himself what wasn’t wrong. Things could not be worse. Or maybe they could. He just brushed off his thoughts to answer her shortly, without meeting her eyes.

“Does not matter.”

She pouted, making sure to hide her smug smile while she complained jokingly.

“If I’m going to be able to have some feathers, maybe it does matter to me!”

Alexis stopped looking at the water, to lean and glare at her instead. His voice sounded really annoyed, but still without a trace of anger.

“Oh, so it’s a matter of interests!”

She smiled sheepishly and nodded, rubbing her hands together like a villain.

“Yes! But…” She smiled kindly again and gave him a questioning look, truly concerned for him. “You seem scared.”

And she was not stupid; she knew well that it was not for her or Lykaios. Not entirely at least. Even if he was nervous about their approach, the fear she could see on his face could not be for them. He showed it each time he looked around him, at the distance, too fearfully to be simple anxiousness. Something scared him in a subtle manner, and he was trying to hide it. But she could see it clearly, having spent years dealing with people and their emotions. He only confirmed it when he tried to deny the fact.

“S-scared?” He scoffed, trying to sound sure of himself. “No. I just-“

His words were cut short. Both shut up, baffled, because a loud rumble echoed. It had come from his stomach.

Alexis blushed, cursed and snarled at once. One of his hands rested onto his belly, slowly and shamefully. Ayako spoke carefully, seeing that he was ignoring his own needs, doing nothing but look at the water.

“You are hungry.”

He rolled his eyes and laughed sarcastically, with a mocking snort.

“I know, right? Doesn’t take a very sharp mind to notice…”

She raised an eyebrow, not doubting to reply with the same snarkiness.

“Well then, aren’t you going to do something about it? Because that is what a person with common sense would do.”

Alexis could not eat. He should not, not yet. He only had an apple left, and some small fruits. Almost nothing. It would not even be a snack. That was why he told her off, cagedly.

“Mind your own business.”

“Ok!”

Alexis blinked, because Ayako faced the fire again, leaving behind the matter without hesitance. She ignored him all too happily. He was left baffled, seeing her take her satchel. She smiled knowingly, because she felt how he stared at what she took out from it. Lykaios came back to her, lured by what she had at hand now: two fishes, some chicken and bread.

The blond snarled silently, watching angrily as she put the uncooked meat and fish by the fire on sticks, with slow and calculated movements, almost mockingly. He could see the contentment on her face.

“Can’t you two just leave already?”

He would never admit that he hated to be alone, but this was far worse. Someone was waving food around, right at his face. It was humiliating. Now he was really tempted of eating the damn apple. The smell of the food was making it more difficult to control his hunger.

When she spoke again, he wanted to throw some water onto the fire with his wings. He did not miss the hidden laugh in her words either.

“Need to have breakfast first!”

If she had not appeared yesterday, maybe he would not be so hungry and exhausted now. He would have explored, maybe found more fruit.

But no, she had to come here and-

Another loud rumble echoed. His stomach again, begging for food. It made him grow quiet and still, in mind and outwardly.

Ayako knew that the angel was now glaring at her, resentfully. Pure annoyance. Lykaios snorted, amused by the fact. He could only roll his red eyes while the angel sneaked behind them, not as subtly as he believed. He was making too much noise, dragging his wings along. He was still keeping his distance while doing so.

Ayako’s closed her eyes, knowing well that Alexis was leaning behind her to peek at what she had. And she knew he was too stubborn to ask for anything. And so, when her arm moved backwards suddenly, Alexis yelped and stumbled, caught right there behind her. He took a few seconds to recover from the scare, because he was still unsure of her intentions. His heartbeat slowed down when he saw she was only handing him something with a smile, not pointing a dagger at him.

“Want some? You should really eat something.”

He did not answer her question. He was too busy staring at the bread she was holding. She could see the glint in his eyes, even if he was doubting about taking it.

He made up his mind soon enough. He snatched it like if it was going to disappear, swallowing his pride as well. Lykaios scowled, because Alexis literally devoured the bread. He sat at her side in order to do so, without second thoughts.

“And he calls me beast.”

Alexis ignored the demon’s comment. He focused on the food, trying to ignore the hunter, who looked at him with extreme wonder. He tried to hide his shame, not having eaten anything but fruit since he plunged to this world.

“He really was hungry…”

The blond ignored that deadpanned remark. He soon gulped and snarled tiredly, seeing that there was no more bread in his hands. It was gone fast. Too fast. It barely satiated his hunger.

He averted his gaze to the ground, because the other two were staring at him worriedly and curiously. He was not in the mood for a chat, so he only let out a short whisper.

“Thanks.”

She nodded calmly, and then looked back at the meat and fish by the fire. She would have liked to offer him some of it, really, but she had heard angels did not eat meat. And sadly, she had no more bread.

Alexis sat there, near the warmth of the fire. It was comforting, soothing. He did not know if to move, stay there, or leave. No clue.

He chose to stay. But the only thing he would do was stare angrily at the fire. After all, this was his… home? Perhaps; something like that. The ones who had to leave were them. This place was his hideout, his only chance of surviving.

While he tried to quiet down his own thoughts, Ayako took the meat stabbed on the sticks; two pieces, one for Lykaios and one for her. Alexis did not pay any attention to those, like if they did not exist, as she suspected. He ignored the food, even if he was still hungry.

Her surprise came when she also took the two fishes back from the fire. She blinked and looked sideways, because she caught how Alexis glanced at them nervously, like if he felt wonder. He was failing miserably in trying to hide it. She looked back and forth between him and the fish, confused.

“You guys don’t eat meat, right?”

Alexis was startled by her question. He did not expect her to speak again about food; she already had given some, after all.

“Huh?” He finally reacted, seeing her nod to the chicken and fish. “Oh, right. I don’t. Never.”

“Then why-?” Alexis kept on staring at the fish, almost in a trance. “You eat fish?”

Ayako had never heard of such thing, not from an angel. As well, she had not expected one to refuse a fight, but that was another matter.

Alexis scratched his hair, not sure himself about the food. His insecurity was obvious while he tried to explain.

“Where I come from, we don’t need to hunt or- We have enough food from our crops. We don’t try to fish either. I have never tried… these.”

They smelled delicious. Far too much. It was tempting, but he did not know if he should even think about it.

Ayako bit her lip and looked up to the sky, pondering for a moment. She soon grabbed one of the fishes and handed it to him quickly, not failing to startle him again. Her movements were always fast and impulsive.

Alexis leaned slowly to look at the food, once he overcame his surprise. He narrowed his eyes at it, because eating meat was forbidden for his kind. However, this was not technically meat, but fish. He had never heard a law that barred them from eating fish, because they never traded it or even obtained it.

Is it ok to…?

He made up his mind, because Ayako was giving him an annoyed stare, looking him up and down while holding the fish in her hand. And so, he found himself grabbing it with a small and nervous nod. His eyes met hers without shame or hostility, all too grateful in their anxiousness.

Ayako began to munch idly on her own food, while Alexis just held his, staring at it. He only managed to whisper something, reluctant to take a bite.

“It really does smell good.”

“Cooked, yes. Raw, not so much.” Ayako sighed, because Alexis was still sitting there, without daring to eat. “It’s not poisoned, you know? Just try it!”

He had begun daydreaming about eating them, as soon as she took them out her bag. He would have maybe eaten it raw.

Lykaios finished his own food, so he plopped at her side to sleep. At the same time, Alexis took a first fearful bite. A bite so small, that Ayako wondered if he would be able to taste it at all.

Alexis’ bright amber eyes opened sharply. Suddenly, he dashed forward for a second bite, much more decisive and fast. She worried when she saw his shoulders tremble and his head bow a little.

“Are you ok? Is it not-?”

She leaned backwards in surprise, taken aback by Alexis’ next reaction. He raised his head sharply, with a smile and a half muttered curse she did not hear. As if the fish was the most delicious thing he had ever eaten.

“This is fucking delicious!”

She would never understand him.

————————————————————

 

The clearing was calm. Not a single noise echoed. For now.

Alexis stood still at the edge of his waterfall. He felt the water brush his bare feet while he glared down, intently. His amber eyes seemed to sharpen a little, as he followed the trail a fish was making below while it swam.

He had only managed to catch one fish. One. Since he arrived here, to this clearing between dense forests, the fishes had not deemed his presence dangerous. But the day after Ayako had left, he caught a fish with his own hands… And now, when he tried again, all fled quickly, deeming him a predator.

Now he had enough food. He had found more fruit; he had explored more these woods. But…

The young angel licked his lips, because he could not stop remembering the taste of the fish she cooked.

Why the heck have I not tried this at home? Sure, no other angel has ever tried, and my home was not exactly near water… But damn, should I have at least wondered about it.

“Just you wait.”

He flapped his wings strongly, flinging himself off the ground and over the edge of the waterfall. He turned in the air calculatedly, to hover down to the river, a few meters below. His eyes locked onto the fish, and he never looked away while he floated down.

He was going to snatch it, by falling right onto it. He would grab it, right between his hands. A new try after many others along the days. All had failed.

He had attempted to get some fish in multiple ways. He had tried to wait at the side of the river and let them get close, but he was ignored and avoided. He had also tried to stand at the edge of the cliff and waterfall to grab them as soon as they passed by, but he only ended up tripping and falling into the river below, soaking his wings in the process. He had to rest below the sun for hours.

It was different now. He would dive down onto them without being seen, unexpected. He wouldn’t let some fishes humiliate him.

Some days had gone by since he met Ayako. He expected to be alone once more, to never see her again, because she had left with one last laughed apology. Little did he know that while he soared over the water, a hunter was making way towards his nest. A hunter who wondered if he would be there at all.

She asked herself if she would see him while she headed towards the hidden clearing. She knew he was here for a reason, something he had to do. And she knew he was distrustful towards her, maybe even angry.

Yes. Alexis surely went on his way already. He-

Ayako’s thoughts halted, like her steps, as soon as she set foot on the clearing. She moved away a branch, and she did not even know how to react for what she saw. She literally saw an angel move like a fish in the shallow water of the river, while a real fish thrashed in between his wild hands. Alexis was cursing and growling, flapping his soaked wings without managing to catch his supposed prey. He moved like a cat to catch the fish. Like a useless wet cat.

In the end, the fish leapt and slapped his face with its tail, managing to escape into the water, making his predator plop face first into the river after the hit.

Alexis gasped for air, sitting out of the soft flow. He looked up slowly and glared below his soaked hair, hearing a loud laugh. A laugh he did not find funny at all. He saw her there, laughing her ass off, nearing the river and him. His next hiss was barely heard between his teeth, as exasperated as his greeting.

“You again?”

She stepped closer and rubbed her sleeve on her eye, trying to stop laughing. Not an easy task, not when he tried to stand and almost tripped down again; his wings weighted a lot if damp.

“What were you even trying to achieve, Alex?”

Alexis pushed his long black hairs off his face, to then give her a baffled look.

“Alex…?” The angel leaned slightly away from her, not amused at all. “Are you seriously giving me a nickname? After only knowing you for-?”

“That’s not how you should fish, silly!” He wanted to smack her with a wing, more than anything, because she straight out ignored his complaint. He needed a lot of patience and control to not push her away, because she nudged one of his wings with a finger, mocking him. “I don’t want you to damage those golden feathers!”

Alexis’ eyebrows shook as much as his patience faded. His feathers puffed subtly, reflecting his state of mind. He barked at her with an acussative and irked whisper.

“Because you want them for yourself, you damn-“

“And because they are pretty!”

Alexis heaved, almostt falling backwards as he backed away. Ayako was smiling like a fox, seeing him blush nervously.

“W-what the hell-“

He could only wish to fade from existence when she grabbed one of his wings, laughing while she raised it on her hands. He was unable to do anything but freeze like a statue, because no one touched the wings of an angel but the angel himself. She had no second thoughts about people’s space, and she was inspecting his wing without much worry.

“I mean, I have never seen golden ones! They almost look like real gold! All I have seen were brown, white, black or grey. Yours are beautiful, weird! I wonder if they are even more special; maybe they heal more! I wonder-“

Ayako sneezed suddenly, because Alexis swatted the tip of his wing at her nose. He took her surprise as his chance to bounce away, out of reach. He then hugged his wings like a treasure, with an annoyed grimace.

“Stop w-wondering things! I’m not something you can inspect!”

Ayako pouted and sighed, slightly disappointed. Alexis began to move and pressure his wings to dry them up as much as he could.

“Just leave me alone, would you?” Ayako blinked and stopped pouting, because she saw him raise his left wing and point to his cave. “You have some feathers there. Take them and piss off.”

Ayako stood baffled, unbelieving. She had been joking when she said she would come back for some feathers. She thought that he had been offering one single feather that night. One, not more. She only came back to see if he was still around, maybe try to prove to him that she had no ill intentions. She did not even bring Lykaios back with her, knowing he intimidated the blond. Truly, she had no intention of hurting him to take his wings, she did not even wish to ask for anything. And yet…

Ayako stood mouth agape, because there was a small flat rock by the mouth of the cave. And on it, laid five smooth feathers, which glinted under the sun.

Alexis finally averted his gaze from his humid wing. He raised an eyebrow, seeing her falter for the first time. The human was always expressive and energetic, but now, she was frozen.

“What?” She finally reacted when he waved a hand in front of her eyes and called worriedly. “You alright there?”

“I- Yes!” She looked at him in pure wonder, not getting why he acted this way. “I did not think you…”

He frowned, scoffed and then gave her his back. He walked back towards the water with an offended comment.

“You did not think that I meant it? Who do you take me for?”

She was honest, serious in her answer.

“An angel. You guys adore your feathers. You hate to lose them or give them away.”

Alexis snorted sarcastically.

“They may be useful, but sometimes annoying as well. Do you know how careful I have to be while walking between trees? I always have to remember not to lay on them! And then you have to comb them, brush them, and keep them from getting messy. It’s chaotic. It’s… It’s just a bunch of feathers! Why would I want the ones that drop naturally?” Alexis raised a finger suddenly, to warn cynically. “Of course, don’t go pulling at the ones I have. Those I need.”

He may need them any day, to help him flee.

Ayako pondered again, about what she had wondered. Her eyes fixed on him intently when she voiced her question slowly.

“You don’t want them to…?”

“For what? I have no use for-“

“To lure your demon.”

Alexis lost all emotion on his face. Ayako worried when he tensed and his wings puffed subtly again. His voice trembled as much as his feathers.

“L-lure?”

She leaned her head, confused by his strange reaction.

There was silence for a while. A tense silence, very painful for him. She did not know why, but Alexis just kept staring at the water, giving her his back.

She began to think she had offended him; no human should ever question the traditions and motives of an angel. He could be angry, because she dared to question his way of dealing with his enemy. She thought so, until he answered her, so quietly that she almost did not hear him.

“I don’t want to find it. Neither that… it finds me.” She could see his wings tremble. “I am hiding. “

The hunter still did not truly understand the angel.

“But you must-“

“Kill it?”

Her blue eyes narrowed sadly when he finally faced her again, slowly. She saw the fear and resignation, no hope in his amber eyes. He mourned angrily and tiredly.

“I can’t kill it. Did you not see already how cowardly I am? I am no soldier, I never wanted this. I was forced to fall.”

Ayako raised a hand, because Alexis bolted for his nest hurriedly. He swung an arm back to wave her off and make things clear, without meeting her eyes.

“You better take as many feathers as you can, because when that thing finds me, you won’t see any. Do me a favor and stop reminding me I’m a dead man walking.”

Alexis pushed away some leaves, which he had hanged on the opening as makeshift drapes, to enter his hideout. She was sure that he had the idea of placing them there after her attack. But those leaves could not conceal his figure much. She could still see him, there, sitting grumpily on a rock. He let his chin rest against his hands and his elbows onto his knees.

He just sat there, waiting for her to leave. She didn’t. So he let out a growl when he saw her approach the cave instead of letting him be.

“Are you deaf? I told you to scram, human!”

Ayako’s head peeked into his nest through the lush stalks, to look at him with a frown.

“I thought all angels were soldiers.”

It seemed that she could not stop making questions, which he found stupid. Due to it, he brushed his fingers against his eyes, too tired to curse. She felt sympathy, because he agreed to talk, even if he did not feel like it.

“No, not all. I was only a damn worker, like many others! The trained fighters, the ones you always have seen, are the ones chosen, always. For some stupid reason, I was sent this time. And as you can see, I am not exactly thrilled about it. I might be the only one with a trace of common sense, because all would be-” He raised his hands and quoted mockingly. “Honored! Every single one, even the most humble of artisans. But not me, I don’t see things that way. The bastards could have not picked another one. It had to be me.”

Ayako leaned onto a wall and began to think with her arms crossed. Alexis knew that she was stubborn, and that she would not go away, not even if he screamed at her. So he decided to focus on his resources and ignore her. She spoke again. Much to his annoyance.

“So, you are really scared. That demon knows you are here, and will eventually…” He purposely ignored her, still giving her his back. So she took it as an obvious yes. “You are one of a kind. Truly, a weird angel.”

“A dead one.” Alexis let out a sharp feigned laugh, full of bitterness and sarcasm. “Hey, it might actually be better if you kill me! After all, you would be precise, and I would at least help you out. I can’t know how that demon will deal with me. I can’t know what that beast will do once he finds me. Maybe he bites my throat out; maybe he tears me to pieces! Or maybe he tries to boil me alive, seeing that I am not much more than a weak wimp!”

“Alexis…”

“Or maybe he wants to have fun, chase me around… Until I fall, so tired I can’t fly or run! And then keep me alive for as long as possible, locking me away to have multiple meals! Maybe-“

“Alexis!”

He stopped lamenting and yelling blindly, because Ayako shouted too. She had shaken him gently, now at his side. Her hands were on his shoulders, careful of his wings. She was giving him a scolding stare, begging him to not lose it. He only glared back, letting out an angry huff.

“What? Is it not true that some demons are like that? Dare say they don’t exist! Your pet is an exception, and only because he obeys you! All I said could happen! I have the right to worry! He will find me eventually! Leave me alone already, for fucks sake!”

She shook her head, refusing to move away. Her hands pressured a little, trying to show kindness.

“Look, I can’t know how your demon is, ok? Maybe he really tries to end you, given that you are bound.”

“Well, thanks! That really helps me see the good side of-!”

“Let me finish, silly.” He shut up, noting the firmness in her gaze. Ayako could be intimidating even when friendly. “I can’t know… And so, I will try to help you. I will keep an eye out for demons.”

He stared at her, not understanding her at all. She thought her words would help him feel better, but to her surprise, he cursed under his breath. She couldn’t avoid feeling hurt when his wings pushed her away from him. He did not push her roughly, but he did hurt her emotionally when he stood and began to accuse her angrily.

“Only to keep having a supply of these, huh?!” He batted his wings at his sides, displaying the tips clearly, showing off angrily and pridefully. “That’s what it is about! Keep business going! You only-“

“You idiot, I did not say it out of greed!”

Alexis flinched and stopped, because she took a step closer, angered. Her sudden rage took him aback, now seeing that she was not someone to mess with. She was someone who would face anyone twice her size. He had forgotten it due to his worry for his demon: he forgot her profession. Her friendly demeanor could hide well that she killed his kind. He tried to be as small as possible, little by little, with each scream she let out.

“I may have a use for the feathers, indeed! I would be lying if I said the idea of having more is not one of the reasons!” She pointed at him with a fist and a finger, inches away from his face. “But that does not mean I didn’t feel any sympathy! I am not a heartless greedy human like you all think we are! I’m not even paid money for them!”

While she yelled, Alexis hid gradually below his wings, clutching them for dear life. He only let go of them when Ayako let out a long breath and calmed down a bit. Her tone was still angry, but now more tired and sad.

“I just thought you would need a friendly hand in this hostile place, someone to help you out.” She threatened, not with her own actions but the ones of others. “I hope you know damn well what could happen if you go near humans. And that demons are not to be trusted lightly. If you really prefer to be alone… So be it.”

Alexis peeked below his wings, because he heard her stomp her feet and leave. She almost broke his drapes when she dashed out the opening. He mumbled nervously, with a hand raised in pure bafflement.

“I- I… H-huh-?”

She was almost out of the clearing, and she only halted to scream one last thing.

“By the way! You suck at fishing! You are meant to use a fishing pole or net, you fool!”

He could only sit there while she walked away. She finally left him alone.