bakerstreet | jan texts

jan texts

texting meme

You’ve got your TFLN, you’ve got your sexting, now here’s the meme for all those gen texts, phone calls, voicemails, pictures of your cats, and whatever else your little heart can come up with, because who doesn't like a little old fashioned friendly texting. (Or enemy texting, if that's more your bag.)

instructions: What it says on the tin! Leave a comment with your character, include preferences, a start, absolutely nothing or whatever you want. Run around and reply to others. Lather, rinse, repeat.

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[ angel's brows rise at both the first comment and the last, head tilting at the last as well, as if considering it as well even though this is very much not the case. most of the attention goes to the way aki seems almost to press their hands tighter together through the cloth. it makes him frown and pull his hand back, a little too fast as if burned and possibly unless aki catches it, the cloth will fall and land on aki's thigh.

it's possible even through the napkin that aki might have been able to tell a little: warmth like when a person is just starting to get warm after being incredibly cold for a long long time, soft deceptively so for someone who wields weapons -- but not that much obviously, since angel would still rather die than work given the chance.

when he sighs, it sends his bangs flying up. ]

It's not my fault.

[ of course that's what he says before sinking backward into his own seat, looking sidelong at him anyway, as if to say: obviously.

there's a faint hit of pink in angel's cheeks, but for the moment, he doesn't realize it himself. ]

Whatever.

[ tacked on for no reason, he sighs and actually shifts his gaze to the window. ]

Edited 2023-02-19 08:38 (UTC)

Ah-!

[ Aki ever so slightly gasped when Angel pulled back. For a moment then, he thought he'd been reckless enough to actually touch the Devil's flesh. But no, it was just the fact he'd apparently startled Angel? Frowning a little before carefully plucking the cloth from where it landed on his leg and meticulously wiping the melted ice cream remnants from his fingers, before moving on to the other hand. It would do for now but they were still a tad tacky to the touch.

His thoughts dwelled on the slight warmth and softness he'd felt through the fabric when their hands had pressed together. Rubbing the pads of his thumb and forefinger together as he pondered. Glancing over to the huffy redhead, just as he was told it wasn't their fault. ]

If you hadn't stopped for ice cream in the first place, I wouldn't have been tempted and none of this mess would have gotten onto me. I stand by my statement. It was your fault.

[ Knowing that Angel probably isn't even going to humor him with a response as they turn their head aside, Aki spots their reflection in the window and leans over, the handkerchief in hand. ]

C'mere. Hold still.

[ There was a smear of ice cream on the side of Angel's mouth and so, with the fabric still in hand, Aki gently pressed it against the strawberry mess. At least Angel was cleaner than Power, but it did make him wonder why Devils could be such gluttons at times. ]

I'll stop at a service station on the way so we can have a bit of a break. Grab something proper to eat too.

[ Aki spoke as he diligently cleaned Angel's cheek, enjoying the slight closeness. It made the Devil feel real to him like they weren't just a partner, a tool the Mis Makima has said to use to his benefit. ]

[ as aki expects, angel doesn't humor him, if anything is about to slump further down in the seat when he more feels than sees aki lean over. he half turns, which makes it inadvertently easier for aki to reach him -- not that with the difference in their size it would be hard, he supposes -- and he holds still albeit not out of sheer obedience as much as confusion. once he realizes what he's doing, he just blinks, a little owlish. aki is warm, and even though angel has warmth too, it's different. he's not used to being touched in general and it makes his nerves stand on end, not unpleasant but also unsettling.

he doesn't need to acknowledge the part of him that suggests it's not a bad thing to be looked after.

swallowing quietly, angel just shrugs at aki's words. he imagines as much as aki needs food, he might also just want to properly wash his hands. it's actually one of the things angel likes about him -- how clean he is. a funny thing too from a devil with ice cream askew on his face, but it is what it is.

slight color tinges his cheeks, and angel stays silent not just because he has nothing specific to say, but because with aki cleaning him off like this, there's no need to be careless. through the fabric he can feel aki's warmth and the weapon worn calluses. even this little bit of barriered contact feels...nice.

he tells himself to not think that, and mostly succeeds. ]

[ Aki can't help it. As cold as he comes across, as stern and strict as his tone of voice suggests, he acts out of kindness and care. Maybe it's part of being an older brother? Or maybe it's part of having to raise himself after his parent's tragic demise? Whatever it is, it doesn't match his face. Stoic expression and intense eyes as he carefully attempts to look after his partner.

He knows it must be strange for Angel, a human, his work partner, fussing over him over something so small as a little ice cream on his face. Mindful of the fact Angel might not be comfortable, he's about to ask if he wants to do it himself when Aki spots the slight color in Angel's cheeks. Huh, that's not a stain from the ice cream, is it? Gently moving the handkerchief a little higher, delicately brushing over the flush to confirm it wasn't food. ]

It doesn't hurt does it?

[ His voice almost soft, if you could call anything about Aki 'soft' ]

Your skin. It's soft. The sugar and cream didn't irritate it, did it?

[ Turning his hand over in the cloth so that he could lightly brush the back of his fingers against Angel's cheek, daring to carefully brush an unruly bang of that red hair aside as it hung over Angel's face. ]

You need your seatbelt on.

[ Said like an afterthought as Aki lent further over them, a hand pressed into the side of Angel's seat, ever so slightly his wrist would bump the side of the Devil's thigh before reaching over them to pull the belt across and clip it in place before reluctantly shifting back into his own seat.

It -- !?

[ one of angel's eyebrows arches at that, lips parting to confirm that no, it doesn't hurt when aki brushes the covered backs of his fingers along his cheek, only making them flush darker. it's painfully obvious on angel's complexion, the sort of near transparency only a devil representing a fear of angels would carry. somehow it's aki brushing his hair out of his face that almost pushes angel to just leaving the car entirely. nothing in his expression shows it though, there's just a tension in his wings and thin shoulders. an animal poised to run. don't be nice, he thinks and knows aki can't help it.

then he blinks, dropping his gaze to the side, intending to not reply to that seatbelt comment at all when aki does it for him.

unconsciously he bites his tongue at the unnecessary nearness, the slight press of his body because it's a car and it's small and that's how it is when someone else reaches over you like that. as if it weren't enough, the bump however brief against his thigh nearly makes him jump. he wonders if aki is doing it on purpose and then immediately trashes the thought, because what would be the point?

chalk it up to aki's incurable kindness. nothing more.

still, when he swallows it feels a little sharp and the aftertaste of the strawberry wreathed in the scent of smoke that always lightly follows aki. as the devil hunter presumably draws back after securing him, angel stays carefully still, hands tucked under his own thighs, sleeves long enough they easily always cover his wrists. none of his clothes -- well he only has the bureau uniform and a plain white shift he arrived in when makima captured him anyway -- have ever fitted him but it doesn't seem to matter to anyone else and angel is too lazy and apathetic to mention it. ]

[ As forward and possibly annoying as Aki might come across with all his talking and questions and fussing, he just wants to make sure Angel is okay. Safe, even. Devils could die, a lot of them deserved to, but not this one. Angel was about as on the fence as a Devil could get when it came to their opinion of humans. Sure, Aki knew they disliked them, they were just too passive to actually do anything about it.

-But that was beside the point! They were partners, they had to work together, be in each other's company a lot of the time and Aki didn't want another new partner, he never wanted another partner for as long as he lives. He was sick to his back teeth of people dying before him now and so, he'd do all he could, within his power to protect Angel. No matter how annoyed they were by it.

So when he noticed the flush of colour and the way Angel tensed up, he withdrew. The leg touch and the way he leaned in close enough for Angel to feel his smokey breath weren't intentional either, Aki was just a tall guy, all arms and legs so maneuvering in the small space was kinda hard. ]

Alright. Let's get going.

[ Was all he said as he turned the key and held the wheel in one hand, feet moving from pedal to pedal and feeling for the gear stick as he started to reverse off the curb and slowly into the traffic. Once on the move, he glanced at Angel briefly a few times before talking. ]

I know you'd rather not be here with me. But the way I look at it, your head is on the chopping block for lack of participation as it is. It's better to be here with me, doing menial crap than be on Miss Makima's shitlist.

[ But the truth of the matter was, Aki actually enjoyed having Angel around. Even if they were a pain in his ass, in a fucked up sort of way, they gave him something to live for in his last years. ]

[ the exhale angel releases when aki withdraws is quiet but very palpable, like some anxiety has been either shelved again or undone. they lean their forehead to the passenger seat window, pressed so much to it that their eyelashes drag down it with every blink. aki isn't wrong. angel, if not for their very unique ability, would have been disposed of ages ago, or so they guess. some of it might be that the idea of dying doesn't bother them and makima knew that from day one.

angel finds it hard to remember the details of that day, though there is a memory of being wet and cold. empty.

they can't remember why.

another sigh leaves them, this one more ordinary and nothing to do with aki. rather, angel thinks of makima and frowns against the glass. it's obvious to them that aki likes makima, the way many of the hunters seem to for whatever reason. angel can't even get to the part of recognizing she's attractive because to angel, she isn't. so they settle for question marks, crossing their ankles under the dash and folding their arms across their chest, shrugging. ]

It's better to not have to do anything at all.

[ at the same time, it's not denial. angel would rather be with aki than makima, and the times that they've done makima's bidding without aki was...what did makima call it?

nice.

kind?

angel doubts their own capacity for kindness. someone who's killed as many as they have probably doesn't count or have it in them.

but sure. maybe by not bringing aki when makima tells them to, it was their own version of...protecting? well. angel tries hard not to think about it, shrug it off like a coincidence. easier than admitting to anything else. ]

[ Aki didn't like the idea of Angel being disposed of. At one point in his short life, he could have cared less, in fact, Aki swore he'd never befriend a Devil and yet, he managed to live rather peacefully with a hybrid and a Fiend. Though when it came to his partner, it was a little more complex.

Maybe it's because Angel genuinely doesn't seem to be bothered if they die or not. It doesn't sit well with Aki. He's got two years left and when he dies, he won't just go to Hell or be reborn somewhere else. It's lights out. Angel takes it for granted, though Aki reminds himself, Angel is a Devil, not a human, no matter how normal they look. He wanted to understand why. Why they didn't care, why they'd rather die. And as for them having a poor opinion of Miss Makima? That confuses Aki, then again, he doesn't know the details of Angel's capture any more than Angel seems to know themself. ]

You don't have to do anything for hours now. It's going to be dark by the time we get to the job.

[ Looking over at Angel after talking, watching the way they were pressed up against the window. It made Aki feel like he was kidnapping them, like they couldn't stand being in the car with him. Maybe it was divine payback? For all the times he'd ignore his little brother when they wanted to spend time with him. Ugh, no, Aki don't start thinking about that. The last thing he needed was to feel depressed in a car with someone who couldn't care less...

Shaking his head and sighing, Aki rolled the window down while they were slowed by traffic, patting his pockets down and looking for his cigarettes. ]

Do you want your window down? I need a smoke.

I guess.

[ in reply to which? both probably. angel doesn't know what aki is thinking, and even if they did an answer likely wouldn't be forthcoming. once this devil ceases to be, a new one will incarnate. it won't be the angel devil aki knows, and so to angel themself, it is effectively a final kind of death. something ugly and desolate lives like dead roots at the pit of them even though they can't remember why or how. if they could, they might notice that it has something to do with that perceived apathy for life even though it isn't apathy at all; it's disgust.

some of the faces in angel's nightmares they doesn't recognize. but they all tell the same true story: that angel killed them, that they hold their years in a halo like a tyrant slaughterer. they don't think it is inaccurate but it doesn't make it any less jarring. and angel will wake in their cell, very still and perfectly quiet, hands folded over their stomach the way some humans arrange their dead in their coffins.

sitting next to aki now, angel knows they are both alive but sometimes it is hard to feel that truth.

once the window is open, they sit upright a little more, just enough to rest their arms on the windowsill and their chin as well, hair flying out with the wind. their eyes go skyward. it really will be very dark when they arrive. they sigh. why's it so far? angel bets they were given this one on purpose too, the punishment for working well together, in a way. they get the worst things, somehow. ]

[ Aki's taking that 'I guess' as a response to both comments.

Managing to fish his packet of cigarettes out of his pocket, he taps the box on the steering wheel to push one of them out the top, raising it to his mouth and capturing the cigarette by the filter between his lips. The pack is left out in the little compartment in front of the gears, where Aki plucks his lighter from. Sparking it up with his thumb and took a few draws to light the cherry. Ah, that's better.

Looking over at Angel as they rest on the open window, watching how their hair fluttered about and how the breeze caught some of their feathers, fluffing them up like a baby bird. Aki actually smiled a little then. His piercing blue eyes softened, that cold stun expression melting merely momentarily in the calm silence that filled the car.

Yea, he didn't want Angel to die. Against his better judgment, he liked them. Maybe that's why Miss Makima paired them together. Maybe she knew Angel would be made to work due to Aki's diligence and loyalty to the role, and that Angel in turn would not only drive Aki wild but tug on his heartstrings.

Was this the first time they would be out after curfew? Usually, the non-human hunters had stipulations placed on them. What, with how dark it was getting, how late in the day they set off, they'd be out overnight. ]

They should have given this job to Kobeni. She's always after overtime.

[ Aki started to say, mostly out loud to himself but if truth be told, he liked talking to, or at Angel. he never knew when they would chip in and say something in return. ]

Wouldn't they be scared?

[ not to be mistaken for caring, angel just hasn't interacted with kobeni very much, only enough peripherally to notice she gets scared what seems fairly easy. well she would have her partner with her so there's that, angel guesses. but still.

the cool air on their face feels nice, and angel sighs as close to contentedly as they have been all day maybe, for all the world looking like they might doze just like that. they don't, tired but not able to sleep as it turns out, and without thinking about it, angel ends up saying something quiet enough for the wind to run away with it, ]

Guess it's curfew now.

[ angel has been out before, albeit with a partner or with makima herself which of course always gets carte blanche to act as she sees fit. never before with aki though, and it's that sort of sleepy thought that has them pushing up off the windowsill to turn a little and look at him again. the seatbelt has left a red indented mark across their neck where they let it bite into them, deciding being sluggish on the window was worth it. in hindsight, they think next time they'll just unbuckle. they only didn't this time because...well because aki... well.

it probably doesn't matter why. ]

Are we still stopping at a service place on the way?

Without a doubt. Yes.

[ He said in an almost amused tone, lulling his head aside to toss Angel a look, seeing as they were engaging him in conversation. He secretly appreciated the effort on Angel's part. Aki still had a healing scar on his side from Kobeni, mentioning her made him think of it and it started to hurt a little. Grimacing at the thought, he plucked the cigarette from his lips to tap the ash out in a used coffee cup in the driver's side door. ]

Hmm?

[ Hearing Angel speak but not sure he caught what they were saying. It wouldn't be long now until it was pitch black. Out here along a county road, twisting and turning with no street lamps or built-up areas. Aki flicked the headlights on a little earlier, just before they turned off onto an anonymous, long stretch of God-knows-where. ]

Yea. I'm hungry and I'll be tired by the time we get to the location.

[ Speaking of, Aki looked down at his phone, watching the little blip of a car on the screen, signaling how far they'd come along the trajectory already, only to notice the signal was buffering, no cell phone masts all the way out here apparently. ]

I'm surprised Miss Makima only wanted us out here. Feels like one helluva way away if we needed backup...

[ Looking at Angel again, as he stubbed out his cigarette but left the windows open for them. ]

Are you okay with this?

[ He meant was Angel okay with it just being them, out all night, searching for an unknown Devil. Then an amusing thought dawned on him, something he thought Angel might appreciate. ]

The car breaks down out here. Miles away from anywhere. The phone signal is lost and no one uses this route anymore. Just imagine. Shame you're stuck with me or I'd say that probably sounds like your idea of heaven.

[ for all of it angel remains silent except for one 'hn' after the mention of makima, which doesn't seem to tell anything anyway, just a sound that's noncommittal as hell. it's only when aki asks if they're okay with it that angel moves his gaze from out ahead at the road full of nothing, back to aki. ]

No such thing as heaven for a devil.

[ even the angel devil, or especially.

they know aki was joking, in a sense, but angel is drily serious, finally just undoing the seatbelt after all, which lets them pull their legs up onto the car seat, knees an easy perch for their chin. they do let their eyes wander back to aki though, elusively thoughtful. they wonder about how laid back aki is. their first meeting comes to mind, when angel said they were surprised by aki's willing to get so close.

as partners they really don't have a choice sometimes, but still...

the light from their halo gives a diffused glow right now, not too bright and not dim either, but the encroaching dark might make it seem brighter. ]

And even if I wasn't okay with it, I don't have a choice.

[ and that's the truth. they both know it. if angel more and more doesn't mind being partnered with aki, if they do more on the job to keep him safe, it's easy to chalk it all up to work. the free ice cream or meal here and there doesn't hurt either of course.

what angel would rather not look at directly: how recently, sometimes, alone in their cell, they wonder what aki is up to. they do their best to stop thinking about it almost in the same stroke, but some times are more or less successful than others. ]

[ With no traffic on the road either before or behind them, Aki feels safe enough to keep turning his attention back to Angel, seeing as they were engaging him currently. ]

I don't think there's such a place as heaven for cursed people.

[ Aki mused over the thought before. Making a contract with the Curse Devil felt like a one-way trip to a bad end. But it was okay, he'd accepted it a while ago.

Seeing as Angel took their seatbelt off and tucked their knees up, Aki slowed his driving down a little. There was no rush and if they crashed for whatever reason, he didn't want Angel getting hurt. Though Aki had no problem in getting close to Angel if he needed to, he's outstretch his arm and hand in a heartbeat if it meant holding them back from hitting the dashboard in an emergency.

The way Angel's halo dimly illuminates the car catches when remnants of Aki's smoke had yet to be blown out of the window, making a pretty, fog that danced above their heads. Aki adjusted his windscreen mirror accordingly to avoid any glare, even though they were the only car out there. ]

... And if you did have a choice?

[ Aki was just as curious about Angel as they were about him. He'd seen the cells the Devils were kept in. Some of them were monsters, nothing more than hissing, evil things that could only be housed in a cell but Angel? Angel was more normal than Denji and Power and those morons lived with Aki for crying out loud. It wasn't fair. Angel deserved better, regardless of what they believed. ]

We should be coming up on the turn-off for the service station soon. Keep an eye out for me.

Who knows.

[ it doesn't even sound like a question because to angel it isn't one. they have a sense that when aki reaches his end, his true end, he will go to heaven and, to be honest, they don't even know why. no bullshit about being a good person or not because there's no way for them to know the truth of it, and really they aren't sure that they believe anyone is good in the world. a person can be kind without being "good", but then that would leave heaven empty. objectively, they know someone goes up there.

no idea who though.

angel's eyes also catch on the little cloud, reaching up to draw invisible nothings through it, gaze remaining there even after it disperses.

if they had a choice?

eventually their eyes close and they fall back against their seat, shrugging, all but crushing their wings behind them but the way they are, they're soft and pliable when need be, bulletproof at other times. tilting their head up to stare at the roof of the car instead, they kick their feet absently under the dash, not touching the floor. ]

I'd leave.

[ and go where? it doesn't matter. it sounds final because it would be for angel. they would disappear in the truest sense of the word. they find themselves weirdly grateful for the change in conversation, even going so far as to listen to aki, half nodding and going back to leaning out the window.

for a second angel isn't in a car.

angel is in a small fishing boat, leaning out over the side, their pale fingertips making a sparkling trail through the blue water that looks like a clear sky.

then they blink.

it's night, a dark sky above and their fingers are trailing through nothing but air, their body a little too far out the window to be considered normal.

what was that?

as angel frowns, they also see the turn-off and say quickly, ]

We're here.

[ if they sound sort of confused...it's because they are, even if they couldn't explain why. ]

Yea... Who knows.

[ Aki repeated Angel's words, trying not to think too hard about it. He didn't think he was a good or kind person, particularly. He also didn't know the criteria to get into Heaven if there even was such a place either. So it didn't matter. Though, he found himself thinking about that sort of thing more these days, seeing as he didn't have long left and all.

Angel was refreshing to watch. There was just something about them that calmed and relaxed Aki, when they were just doing their own little thing that is, when they were needed for something work-related, they infuriated Aki most of the time. But now, just making shapes in the smoke and even the way they swung their legs under the dashboard, Aki found himself watching Angel more than he was watching the road. ]

I thought you'd say that.

[ Said with a fondness in his tone. It tracked that Angel would just want to vanish into obscurity. Aki hoped they'd at least say goodbye if they ever had the chance to leave. Despite himself, he'd miss them.

Huh, daydreaming are we? Watching Angel as they hung out of the window, Aki reached out and gently took hold of a baggy part of their sleeve. ]

Careful. C'mon. Stop messing around. You could fall out.

[ There was worry clear in his tone. A mild panic that they were just going to take flight and disappear. He wouldn't put it past them, especially with what they were just talking about. Thankfully, they didn't have to worry for long. Aki let go and took the turnoff that had been pointed out, the faint light of the station services in coming up on their left. ]

[ the tug on their sleeve surprises them, angel glancing over owlishly just as aki lets them go. they stay quiet for the rest of the time it takes to pull up and park at the service station, and even once the car is no longer running, they make no clear move to get out.

as far as angel knows, it's not like devils are ever welcome anywhere and it's not as though they need anything. they don't especially care about upsetting others but the attention is annoying and fielding any need to convince local authorities they're 'safe' would also be a waste of their energy as far as they're concerned.

their hair is a wind tousled mess, fluffy and wild and threatening to tangle. all from hanging out the window of course. but angel makes no effort to fix it or even touch it at all, instead looking over at aki for a while before saying, ]

I wasn't going to fall.

[ in fact, angel isn't sure of that, spaced out as they were, but they assume they would have caught themself on their wings if nothing else, perhaps perched on top of the car instead of getting back in, and, lacking power's mischievous streak, done nothing else at all. ]

[ Once parked up, Aki unclips his seat belt, picks up his wallet from the glovebox, and grabs his cigarette packet before opening the door. ]

Yea well, make sure you don't. I don't wanna run you over or anything.

[ He asks, as he slips out of the car, ducking down so he can look at Angel as he talks. God, just look at them. Their hair is a mess, they look like an abandoned puppy or something. Aki sighs lightly and shakes his head. ]

You staying in here? Want me to get you anything?

[ It doesn't look like they have ice cream at least, so there's no chance of repeating the mistakes from earlier. Walking around the hood of the car, coming back by the passenger side as he ducks back down to appear at the window. Aki reached in and very carefully went to touch Angel's hair, stopping himself at the last moment, despite the urge to do so. ]

It's gonna tangle. Just... Don't get it caught in the door or belt or something, okay? I won't be long.

[ Standing up straight, Aki walked off and shouldered his way through the stiff door. If Angel were to watch, they'd see him through the long windows, vanishing momentarily to the rest room then back out to peruse the few aisles, an arm-full of supplies as he finally came to stand at the counter. Every now and then he looked out towards where the car was parked... Part of him worried that Angel would just up and take off without him there to stop them. ]

[ tilting his head at that, angel shrugs. they don't think aki would run them over mainly because they would probably move out of the way fast enough, but then angel considers the alternative and decides not to say anything at all. their eyes dilate very slightly when aki reaches out, breath held and then slowly exhaled as he doesn't touch him after all. even if their hair is safe, it's not something angel can get used to. they can't afford that luxury because, more often than not, it's nothing less than a slow death sentence.

so they tell themself they're relieved when aki's hand withdraws.

much of their communication to aki seems to be found in slight movements of their wings or a shrug of small shoulders. now is no exception, but they hum slightly to themselves, peering up at him through the open window and adding, ]

I'm not in a rush.

[ if they don't have ice cream, angel can't think of anything to ask for. eating is a hassle second only to work. most people don't mean it when they say they want to do "nothing". but angel is a devil. they want exactly that, and more and more they're fairly sure it'll never happen.

this mission in and of itself fills them with quiet dread that's not all to do with a persistent dislike of work as a rule.

sighing, angel watches aki move in and out of sight, growing bored enough eventually to tug themself into the back seat for the sole purpose of lying down. like this, it would be difficult to see them from outside the car, especially at aki's distance. ]

[ Aki took his time while in the services, asking about the directions he'd been given, seeing as there wasn't a phone signal to keep tracking their journey with the app he'd been using. The guy behind the counter was helpful enough and even threw in a little map he drew on the back of Aki's receipt.

Glancing out of the window again as his items were packed into a paper bag for him, Aki couldn't quite make out Angel's shape in the car, then again, it was pretty dark already now, and he'd parked under the shadow of a fairly large tree, the solo streetlamp that hung beside it, only added to the glare, making the black of the cars paint job reflects the light in a dazzling way.

Making his way back towards the car, cradling the bad in both arms. He knows Angel said they didn't want anything, but there was a deal on the homemade Bento boxes, a nice Yakisoba one for Aki, and a smaller one with some hot dog octopi in for Angel. He figured they were soft and small enough that it wouldn't take Angel much effort to eat them. Lastly, an iced tea for himself and he grabbed Angel a vanilla ramune soda that was also packed away in the bag, along with a packet of various flavored salt water taffy should Angel want then and some gum, y'know, something to chew on while he drives. ]

. . .

[ Pausing as he approaches the car, narrowing his eyes upon noticing he can't see Angel in the passenger seat. ]

Shit! Are you kidding me?! Angel!?...Fuck!

[ Dropping the bag on the bonnet of the car, he rushed over to the driver's side, quickly glancing at the seats before rushing a glance in the back. Due to their black bureau regulation uniforms, Angel blended in perfectly with the interior of the dark seats in the back, causing Aki to completely miss him laying there as still as a corpse. Unfortunately, the one light that shone down on where the car was parked, had the same dull glow as Angel's halo, which didn't help determine the Devil in the dark.

In a panic, Aki rushed a few paces away from the car, looking out into the darkness, searching for any sign of his partner. There was nothing. Not a footprint, not a faint glowing halo in the distance. Nothing. Frustrated, annoyed, and feeling slightly offended by the thought that Angel had just fucked off, Aki came back around to the front of the car, leaning against the bag he'd dumped and sighing as he shook his head. ]

Real nice, Angel... Just, real fucking nice.

[ Pulling a cigarette from the packet and sparking it up, his shoulders and head hung a little as he slouched, deflated, and hurt. It was bound to happen sooner or later he guessed, Angel would take off, and Aki would be alone...Again. ]

Um.

[ the way angel had been tucked, even their wings were sort of under them, and the halo blocked by the edge of the front seat. still, they find themselves surprised when it becomes clear aki thinks they aren't there anymore. without thinking too hard about it, they pull themselves up to a sitting position, absently resettling their wings, slightly ruffled from the impromptu nap. ]

Did you get me anything?

[ no 'sorry' no anything, just angel blinking like a cat in the dark, perfectly positioned in the center of the backseat, their body twisted to angle towards aki. their halo illuminates but there's a softness to its diffused light, and angel rubs at their eyes, staring dolefully as an eyelash clings to their knuckle.

they wonder if it's imagined, the panic in aki's voice and....is that...disappointment? why? arguably aki could have a better partner, a less lazy one for example. angel still has no clue why makima paired them and sometimes sees aki with power and denji and thinks: babysitting. hardly the job he's signed up for, but aki would do anything makima asked of him. angel is fairly sure.

isn't sure, however, why that bothers them.

it's none of their business.

shoving that thought away, angel finally deigns to crawl, also cat-like, over the console and...into the driver's seat, peering at aki through the open window now, head tilted to the side in a way that has their hair spilling softly over their shoulder. their eyes catch on the curl of smoke from the cigarette, on its path to nowhere. ]

[ At first, Aki simply assumes he's imagining things. The sound of Angel's voice coming from behind him, a faint, soft little 'um', and nothing more.

Angel is so light, that when they crawl from the back to the front of the car, they hardly move it at all. Which in turn furthers Aki's assumption that he was just hearing things. It's not until that soft, little voice speaks again, from closer behind him now, that Aki's piercing blue eyes grow wide. ]

Angel! Don't do that to me again, y'hear me! I was worried sick!

[ Turning on his heels and moving towards the car door, dropping his lit cigarette on the ground as he knelt down. Aki set his hands on the rim of the open window, a concerned and yet strangely elated expression twisted over his face, the smell of smoke on his breath, a hint of colour in the apples of his cheeks.

Part of him wanted to shake the Devil, or maybe backhand them for making him panic, but it wasn't Denji or Power he was dealing with here, for some reason, Aki couldn't even contemplate raising a hand to them, just look at them!... Far too innocent and oblivious to what they'd done. Aki knew they were a Devil first and Angel second but at that moment, he couldn't help but think they looked so angelic and sweet.

Shaking that thought from his head, no, he should be pissed with them! If he'd lost his partner, a Devil at that, Miss Makima would give him the biggest telling off of his short life, which would no doubt result in him having to put Angel down when they found them again. Not like he could mind you. Despite himself, and for whatever reasons, Aki had found himself rather attached to Angel.

Reaching in, this time he had no intention of pulling back, as he pressed his hand against Angel's cheek, collecting plenty of that tumbled red hair in his palm to act as a barrier between their skin. ]

... I thought you'd left. And yea, as it happens, I did get you something. So c'mon. Shift your ass over and I'll give you it.

[ It was faint and it was fleeting, but there was a hint of a smile on Aki's face then, the kindness and relief in his tone, unmistakable. ]

[ because it's angel, they just shrug their shoulders at what aki says first. they really can't understand human beings sometimes. why worry? well they guess it would effect aki's job, wouldn't reflect well on him and may get him in trouble with makima. there's a sigh on the tip of their tongue that never makes it, shocked into sitting very very still as aki touches their cheek. with hair acting as a divide between skin and skin, angel can feel that aki is safe, doesn't register any life draining out of him.

it still unsettles them, eyes a little wider and giving the impression of a panicked animal.

they aren't panicked quite, but it tiptoes close to that feeling.

cavalier as angel acts, they care more than they ever wanted to. they say they want humans to die in pain and they offer consolation with a kiss to the hand. they say they don't mind or matter what aki says but they find themselves feeling a little...something about scaring him after all. not bad. not really. but they don't intend to do it again. exceptions exceptions.

angel knows aki told them to move over but they find themselves frozen, debilitated by the warmth from aki's hand through their hair, the way aki doesn't fear getting close to them even if he really really should. angel's eyes close and the dark helps a little, not having to breathe in aki's scent and see him and feel him all at once. at the same time, it makes it worse, the feeling of his hand amplified by his blindness.

it takes a second but then angel opens their eyes, carefully moving back as they were told to do, the lithe way they move backward more animal than human despite their looks, settling back into the passenger seat once again with their knees hugged to their chest, chin perched on top. they choose to face aki rather than forwards like a normal passenger. ]

[ Angle's skin was about as cool as Aki thought it might have been. Feeling the softness of it, just a hairsbreadth away from his palm. It's tempting, to brush the pad of his thumb back and forth, only, that would be too risky and Aki isn't looking to cut his short life any shorter than it already is. So, he's content to just feel the softness through those cherry strands for as long as Angel allows the contact.

Falling silent as Angel closed their eyes, it gave Aki a moment to look at his partner without those big, owlish eyes staring at him, making him feel uncomfortable about looking at them as anything other than a Devil or the unique abilities he can utilize from them.

Leaning there, through the window as Angel finally started to scoot back over to the passenger seat, just watching the way they moved and regarding their silence. It was nice, watching them do as they're told without a cheeky response, it made Aki feel as though there was a modicum of Angel that actually liked being good, for their partner at least. That and well, it seemed as if Angel wasn't as scared this time when Aki touched him. Baby steps.

Standing up and moving to retrieve the paper bag from the top of the car, Aki soon pulled the door open and slipped back into the driver's seat. Tossing a glance over at Angel, at the way they sat there, facing him, looking at him. ]

I dunno what you even like and I guess if I'd have asked you, you'd say nothing so... Here, if you don't like it, you can have mine.

[ With that said, Aki handed them the bento box and soda, slipping the taffy and gum into the little built-in tray of the console for later. By now, a few people who were staying in the services had stopped to look across at them, seeing as how Aki had only moments ago been yelling and looking for someone. He didn't want any more attention on them before people started to ask what Angel was and why they were all the way out here, so with his own food and drink on his lap. Aki turned the engine on and drove them off a little ways away from the station before parking up in the grass just off the side of the small winding road. ]

I'll eat up, see if I can't get a message back to head office then we might as well hunker down for the night. I'm pretty beat and all the excitement of thinking I'd lost you was kinda stressful.

[ even if part of them likes being good, there exists such a strong belief -- fear -- from those responsible for angel devil's existence, that in a way it feels futile. still, it doesn't erase the resonance, the brief feeling that obeying even small things results in strange gratification. angel will excuse it as taking orders being easier, that he doesn't feel like thinking or making active decisions even though that's objectively untrue based on his other actions.

angel's eyes widen at the bento and soda, taking them carefully with their hands dedicatedly on his own side of the bento, or in the soda's case, around the bottom of it rather than the neck. then they settle back against the door as if it is a seat itself, dangerous maybe but they won't fall even if the car is faulty, which they already know it isn't. they draw their knees down so they're folded up under them, criss-crossed, and balance the bento on their lap while of course opening the soda first. it's sweet and pleasant, the bubbly sensation, a pleased flush in angel's cheeks highlighted by the light of their halo.

aware of the people watching, angel doesn't seem bothered but it's not entirely true. it is more that they have had time to desensitize themself to it. they ignore the stares and the growing sense of suspicion and dislike, grateful when aki pulls the car out and drives them far enough away it's a non-issue.

in the meanwhile, angel wonders why aki bothered to get them anything, not complaining for once but curious as they drink more of the soda, seemingly reluctant to let the bottle go even as they use their other hand to lift the plastic lid of the bento, plucking out one of the little octopi. popping it in their mouth, it might be a little comical as the curls of the "legs" stick out as they peer over at aki, listening.

only after chewing and swallowing do they reply, wiping their mouth with the back of their hand, ]

Probably can't get any signal out here.

[ angel has been out this far on other missions. it's half the reason they get sent, because often there's no chance of backup and at the end of it all, angel has a power strong enough to handle most things even if they themself aren't very strong at all. with a soft tilt of their head, they peer at aki for an uncomfortable amount of time by human standards before adding, ]

What did you get?

[ not "give me some" but the way angel lowers their gaze at whatever aki is eating implies as much. a glutton after all, albeit a sometimes well behaved one. ]

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