The warm fire was comforting.

He would be somewhat calm, were not for the fact that the small ball of fur kept nudging his leg. He gave the persistent rodent a nudge with the tip of his tail, to try to make him stop munching his clothes.

Alexis and Ayako paid little mind to Uriel’s panic when the rabbit decided to bite and hold on to his tail, causing him to react anxiously. The angel frowned; his eyes were fixed with pure focus, while he brushed a wet cloth over the human’s neck. She had wounds and cuts, not nice to look at, which still bled a little. His frown only grew when she tried to laugh and joke.

“Hey… Now we both will have scars! We will be able to brag around, don’t you think?”

She pouted when he only gave her a stern glare, disapproving of her dismissal.

“Just hold still already, dammit. At this rate, you are going to make the cuts open again, if you keep on wiggling.”

Ayako crossed her arms and stopped swaying with boredom; she let herself lean onto Lykaios’ fur. The lynx was sleeping at her side soundly; his own bleeding had stopped on its own, because a demon was always stronger. That did not mean that they would not check him, as soon as she was.

Alexis picked up the bandages at his side, which he had taken out from Ayako’s bag, always there for her travels. Uriel had insisted on taking measures; he had pointed at her neck and affirmed that they had to make sure they did not get infected. Alexis would have laughed at his unending overprotection, if he had not been as worried as him.

While Alexis bandaged her neck, Ayako glanced sideways at the horned demon. She watched how Uriel raised his tail, with a rabbit still holding stubbornly onto it, even if hanging now in the air. She did not need to worry, because Uriel did not whip his tail to throw him away. Instead of getting rid of the animal, he raised his claws slowly and held Abiel carefully; he began to give small nudges to his snout, for him to let go of the tip of his pointy tail. Abiel let out a grumpy huff, but he let go and let himself plop into Uriel’s hands. The demon smiled shyly and hugged Abiel close to his chest; his nails did not leave a single scratch while he petted him. The bunny just curled and stopped growling, clearly enjoying the attention.

Alexis did not seem to mind that Uriel held his pet. He did not seem to care either that Lykaios was near. The strangest fact was that he did not show fear while he sat near her, an angel hunter. There were predators all around him, yet he was unfazed.

Said angel smiled a little and moved his hands away, because he was done tying and securing the bandages around her neck.

“There we go.” He raised a finger, because he caught her raising a hand, with obvious intentions of nudging the cloths. “Don’t pull at them, Aya. Please. I know it itches, but you know damn well how this goes.”

That she took care of the sick perfectly did not mean that she looked after herself as much. She stuck out her tongue, with a small playful smile; while he just shook his head knowingly and stood up. He took the remaining bandages in her bag, and then went to sit at Uriel’s side this time.

Alexis was the only one who was not wounded seriously. The other three had soon cringed with every move they made, after the adrenaline had faded. As soon as he had rescued Abiel, he had made a fire, intending to bandage those cuts right away. He had not liked that Uriel had tried to leave at first, as soon as he had suggested that they rested. He found Uriel’s idea insane; he had a few broken ribs, his torso had multiple stabs, and there were a lot of bruises all over his body. His demon was good at hiding his pain, but not enough to hide it from him. Not even if the bleeding could stop on its own, it still hurt.

Uriel looked away when Alexis sat at his side, without hurry. After a long sigh, his angel began to display what he would use to treat his wounds.

“Alright…” Alexis snorted silently, because he noticed that Abiel was biting Uriel’s nails. “Abby, come here, don’t munch Uriel.”

Uriel opened his claws and let Alexis pick Abiel up. The rabbit managed to crawl up Alexis’ arm, even if he did not have his stilts; he slipped down his back to reach the ground. The angel gave a soft pat to the animal once he plopped near him by the fire. As soon as he was sure that Abiel would be quiet, he looked at Uriel again, with a serious frown.

“Vest and shirt off; I need to see those slashes and stabs.”

Alexis would have been amused in any other occasion by Uriel’s sudden jumpiness, but now it only annoyed him. His demon began to blush and fumble with his claws, while his tail curled away. Ayako had looked up as soon as Alexis had said that; and there was no way of not noticing that small smile and contained laugh on her face.

“I’d rather n-not.”

The angel leaned his head and gave the demon a look full of sarcasm and irritation.

“Oh… So you can bandage me when I’m wounded, but I can’t do the same?!” Alexis closed his eyes and crossed his arms, to use a much more mocking tone. “Fine, if you prefer to stain your fancy clothes even more, while you keep those cuts open, then-”

Ayako had to close her mouth to not laugh, because Uriel finally surrendered and obeyed, reluctantly. She saw him sigh tiredly and shyly; if it were not for his horns, tail and claws, she would ask herself if he was a demon at all. He looked more like a big gentle lion, with kind human features.

Uriel let out a small fiery exhale and gave them his back, somewhat uncomfortable. Alexis focused and became serious again, unnerved by the wounds he was seeing. The demon tensed when the angel took the wet cloth and neared to clean the cuts, without a word. Alexis kept his eyes on the task, he did not stop, not even if Uriel grimaced and hissed from time to time. He ignored the fact that those claws clenched or twitched, he was not intimidated at all by his reactions. Ayako could not avoid staring at the scars. Her eyes narrowed, feeling sad for all that Aeronwen had done to him.

But that was not all… Uriel shuddered, when he felt that she was looking at the big old scar on his right side. That scar had been left there by the very same sword that could have killed him today. He ended up moving his head to not look at her, to not let her see the subtle slash on his cheek, where sharp rocks had cut.

“Devils heal quickly.” Both angel and demon sighed when they heard her speak worriedly. “But that can’t have been done by her, that scar is healed already. You two have been through a lot, haven’t you?”

Alexis just nodded without looking at her, trying to look uncaring.

“Long story short… A lot of things happened, too much to tell.” He raised an eyebrow at her as he took bandages; the wounds were clean now. “You have had to go through a lot too, for that thing to chase you. Am I right?”

Ayako smiled sheepishly and tugged her cowl closer to her chin.

“A long story, yes.” She shrugged, not really knowing how to take all of this. “I’m sorry for getting you into trouble, both of you. I don’t have enough words to thank you; you did not need to defend me. I am human, and… a hunter.”

Uriel snorted and hit the ground with his tail, clearly anxious.

“You don’t need to be grateful. That beast won’t cause any more trouble; nobody will have to deal with her. So, things are how they should be. We only did what we had to.” Uriel finally looked at her, with an apprehensive glance. “You say you’re human, like if that is a bad thing. Look at me, I am a demon. He does not fear me, even if we are what we are. I have seen you both work together too, and I highly doubt that you will try to hurt or kill him now. If he does not hate me, why should he hate you?”

He had been creeping around them, watching. They knew, and they did not care, not when Uriel had only been helpful.

Ayako frowned, and whispered with a tone of doubt and remorse.

“He has reasons to do so, I have-”

An angel cut them both off, tired of the argument. Which he had already went over in the past.

“If one thing I hate is your stubbornness. Stop worrying and thinking that much. The three of us are weird, and that’s it. An angel, a human and a devil; maybe with a lynx in between. Strangely, none of us will do anything against the others’ lives. The odds of that happening are almost nonexistent, but it happened. There is no sense in trying to understand how or why, it just did; I don’t want to go through an existential monologue after almost getting mauled. I’d rather rest.”

Uriel noticed how Alexis secured the last bandage on his arm. All his cuts and stabs were now covered, all over his torso. His violet eyes narrowed and glinted darkly, under the dim light of the dusk. He remembered his promise.

He would never dare to hurt them, in any way, never again. He would keep his word.

Alexis gasped when those claws lowered to the ground; his demon began to try to stand, to leave.

“Don’t…!”

Uriel had to halt in a crouch, because he felt something latch around his tail when he moved slightly away. He looked back with a frown, and was not surprised to see that it had been Alexis who had grabbed him. His angel was showing worry and anger while he held his tail, which was the first thing he had at reach to stop him.

The demon gave the angel a scolding and annoyed glance, with his head bowed down.

“I have to leave, let go. I won’t keep on bothe-”

“You won’t fucking move, you idiot!” Uriel was left deadpanned when Alexis pulled strongly at his tail and forced him to sit again. His angel began to yell at him, angrily. “Your home is far, and the gashes hurt like hell; don’t you try to deny it! If you think that I’ll let you go on like that, like a moron, think again! I have not bandaged your wounds so you can go on a silly walk; you know damn well that the wounds will open! Stay and rest! At least for a night, goddammit!”

Uriel’s eyes opened more when Alexis began to mouth words without speaking, with a look full of yearning. Ayako could not see his face, because he was giving her his back while he faced him. The angel begged silently, while his lips trembled.

She misses you… You do have a meaning.

He missed Uriel as well. His demon was dying inside while he refused to approach them, and it was not for that spell he suffered. He could not stand to see him like that.

Alexis let go of Uriel. His hand moved away, because his demon was finally looking at her. Ayako was giving him a look full of worry. Those red eyes had been closed, but now were looking subtly, and as well, they were speaking without word.

Her beautiful icy eyes were piercing his very soul. He could see the depths of her consciousness in her eyes, in that glance full of wonder. He could see the loneliness and yearning. He could see the fear, the guilt… and her care. She needed to heal. The only reason for him to leave was his own remorse and shame.

Uriel closed his eyes and tried to hide his tears, while he heard her speak.

“Alexis is right. I would not want you to get more hurt. I don’t think that resting here together is a bad idea.”

A small smile grew on Alexis’ lips, because Uriel ended up nodding and surrendering. He faced the fire with his eyes closed, and contained a sob and his tears.

The angel looked down at his own hands, while the three of them took deep breaths. They focused on the warmth of the flames in the night.

A while went by; Uriel and Ayako did not say anything when Alexis stood up silently and headed towards his cave. He came back after a minute. He sat and took out three fishes from a bag. He began to clean them up, to cook them for them, because he knew that it had been a rough day. They had been trying to just stay alive.

Ayako could only smile; because she saw Uriel’s claws move subtly. After a moment of doubt, they neared the hands of the angel, and began to help him with the task. In an hour, three bowls were laid on the ground, near the fire. Alexis looked down at them with satisfaction, as he had not eaten anything made by Uriel in a long time. Ayako was surprised to see Alexis hurry to eat his food, without second thoughts; his bowl was empty in a minute. Uriel was not eating much; his claws were holding his bowl reluctantly, only because he knew that his angel would scold him if he ate nothing.

She took the third bowl in her hands, with curiosity. She was leaning against the soft fur of Lykaios; she made herself comfortable while the demon slept. She raised the bowl to her lips, and took a first slow sip.

“This…”

Uriel let out a raspy breath and looked at her sideways, nervously. He saw her frown, directed to the food. He was quick to apologize, thinking the worst already.

“I’m sorry if it’s not-”

“This is really good!”

The demon blushed and looked away when he saw her smile like the angel had done.

She had reacted like this before. Yet, she did not remember; she was showing the same surprise and emotion that she had when she tasted his recipes for the first time. He did not know how to feel about it.

The food soon disappeared. The three did not move away from the fire. They tried to ignore the ruin around them, the chaos of withered plants. It would be scary if they were alone, because all was surrounded by broken thorns and ashes. All that had been caused by a vengeful demon.

None of them said anything for a long while, because none knew what to say. And with time, the night went along… Those blue eyes were closing more and more.

Why… Why does this feel so peaceful?

An angel kept staring at the fire, with a thoughtful expression. A demon hugged himself, still dreadful. The human finally succumbed to her tiredness. They could not feel or smell fear when her head leaned sideways slowly and her figure slumped onto the big lynx’s side.

Ayako fell asleep under the moonlight. Uriel waited a while. He was hesitant, but he decided to express his anxiety and doubt at last.

“Do you really think…” Alexis met his gaze, a sorrowful one. “It is wise to let her see me?”

Alexis leaned his head onto his hand, to think for a moment. He spoke, because he knew that Ayako could not hear them; she was exhausted, defeated by the tiredness that always afflicted humans.

“She did not remember anything when she saw my scars. Not even the sight of your eyes gave back what you stole from her. I don’t think she will ever remember, not on her own. I think it’s safe.”

Her eyes, her tears, and the blood he made her spill; it all haunted him.

“After what I did… I just-”

A third voice echoed, softly.

“Do not leave her.”

Both angel and demon blinked, then they looked sideways to those red eyes, which had opened again. The lynx had never been asleep, like he had pretended to be. He had been deadly still, even with her figure against him.

“She needs you, both. Even if she only has a slight idea of it.” Lykaios ruffled his mane against her cheek, with a sorrowful look in his eyes, like if she were a treasure to him. “She will heal. And I hope that you will as well, with time.”

Lykaios said no more. He cradled her with his paws, not being able to do so with his tails anymore. He did not really care about that.

Uriel snarled and clenched his teeth, clearly torn. He did not trust this, but he did not leave. Meanwhile, Alexis grabbed Abiel and hugged him close to his chest, while he lied down to the ground. A few minutes went by until his amber eyes closed and he stopped looking at the fire. He closed his eyes, because he felt safe. He did not hesitate to fall asleep with Uriel and Ayako nearby.

While the angel and human slept soundly… the young demon let his tears fall at last, knowing he was not being stared at. He looked at both of them, shaking, because his mind kept whispering every dark act he committed.

He was guilty. And yet…

His lips moved up painfully, with the faint trace of a smile. His fangs scratched his lip in his hopeful grimace, but he did not care. He cried silently, but he chuckled as well, not quite managing a sob. He laid his claws onto his chest, and wept to his heart’s content, without waking them up.

He did not feel the spell, there was no pain. His heart ached with shame, but it kept beating hopefully. He did not dare to stand. He stayed.

An angel smiled next morning, when he saw a demon rest, asleep under the rising dawn.

He was not gone, because he felt at home.