My Angel (AkiAngel Chainsaw Man)

Chapter 3: Bribery

WC: .6K (Sorry for being short again, it's midnight and it's my birthday. I'm tired AF)

Warning, there's a mention of self-harm near the end.

"What was it about that fucking devil?" Aki asked himself as he parked at the Public Safety building, stuffing his keys into his pockets before entering the complex.

He had been thinking about his new partner all night; most of the words rattling in his skull involved confusion. Why had he chosen that disrespectful piece of garbage as his partner? Dealing with Power and Denji was hard already, but adding another devil like them, he feared, would be poor for his mental state. 

Aki continued down the long hallway, fidgeting with the key to his new partner's cell. The whole thing seemed surreal; never in his career as a devil hunter did he ever think he would have to work with a devil. "Whatever," He thought as he rounded the corner, "Not like I actually have to get along with it."

Aki banged his fist on the bars of Angel's cell, "Get up, I don't have time to deal with a disrespectful bitch today."

Angel was curled up in the same corner as he was the other day, lifting his head slightly to look at Aki before standing, "Why did you pick me as your partner?"

"It wasn't really a choice; all of you are insufferable."

"So, what do I have to do?"

Aki unlocked Angel's cell, "We're gonna walk along our assigned route and look for devils to exterminate."

Angel rolled his eyes, "Sounds too hard."

"I'll get you ice cream as long as you behave after I do."

"Really?!" Angel's eyes lit up.

"Yes, I'll get you ice cream," Aki sighed, "Just don't be insufferable for the entire patrol."

Angel nodded, following Aki obediently outside of his cell and out on patrol. Much to Aki's delight, after giving him a few ice cream cones, Angel shut his mouth enough for Aki to do his job. Aki couldn't help but find the devil's taste for ice cream weird, but he figured everything is weird with this devil. Even if it cost him a few thousand yen every day, buying him ice cream was a small price to pay compared to having to listen to it complain.

However, much to Aki's distaste, he realized that his new partner would definitely not be willing to fight any devil they may come across. Aki gritted his teeth after killing the third devil of the say by himself as he watched Angel lean against the wall, simply observing. He should've figured; he didn't fight a single zombie the other day. 

"At least the other ones actually work," Aki clenched his fists, "And this one has the fucking nerve to act like this is a joke."

Aki had had enough.

He grabbed angel by the tie and slammed him against the wall, "Listen here asshole. You're here to work, not to watch me do all of the work. Do your fucking job before I make Public Service exterminate you like I just did to that devil."

Just then, there was a look in Angel's eyes that Aki hadn't seen before. It wasn't his usual, bored expression; it was a soft, melancholy look, similar to puppy-dog eyes. 

"Please do. I don't wanna be here."

Aki paused for a minute. Of course, it wasn't the first time Angel had made a comment similar to that, but the words still didn't resonate well with him. Aki thought that he was simply making a comment like that to aggravate him, but after how chill he had been all day, Aki started to wonder if he truly meant it. Either way, it made him sick.

"I don't care what you want. You're here to do a job, damnit. Now, do your job before I have you taken out."

Angel sighed and looked down, "Just let me go."

"Only after you promise to work."

Angel muttered something under his breath.

"What was that?" Aki tightened his grip on Angel's tie.

"Whatever, I'll work."

"You promise?"

"I promise."

With that, Aki let go of Angel and watched as he crumpled to the floor, choking from the force Aki exerted on him.

"Get up. You promised to work, so let's get back to it."

Angel staggered to his feet, "Whatever."