Angel Plumes

Chapter 4: Contractual Obligation

It had been hours since Angel was thrown from Aki's room. For now he was seated in Kishibe's office. It was dusty and small. He'd expected it to be nicer given the Mad Dog's status. He wasn't exactly expendable. Or maybe he liked the chaos. It hardly mattered.

Kishibe studies Angel where he sat in the chair across from his desk. "Take it." Kishibe slides a shot glass across the table, a little liquid spilling over the rim.

Angel lifts his eyes to the glass resting on the desk in front of him. Given his height and poor posture, he was nearly eye level with it. The liquid inside was a deep amber color. His gaze falls back down to the floor with a sigh. He didn't want to be here. He didn't want to be anywhere.

Kishibe waits for a moment but the devil makes no effort to drink.

"You should take it. It'll make ya feel better."

Angel exhales through his nose. His breath was slow. Caving to Kishibe's influence, he reaches for the glass. The liquid jitters with his hand as he holds it to his lips. The glass was cold against his skin. It reminded him of Aki. He didn't want to feel this anymore. In a second he downed the alcohol. It burned. It wasn't pleasant at all like a floral sake would have been. He coughs once, swallowing a few times in an effort to relieve the itch in his throat.

"I didn't know you could revive people." Kishibe directs the conversation. "Could have been useful to know that."

"I didn't either-" Angel defends himself. "I've never done anything like this." His voice was pathetic.

Kishibe notes his defense. "You didn't used to be afraid of me. What changed?"

Angel freezes, not daring to look him in the eye. Absently, he touches his own mouth. "I found something to live for."

"Something of a guardian angel, are ya?" Kishibe leans back in his chair, refilling his flask with a bottle from his shelf.

"You could say that," he concedes, setting his glass back down on Kishibe's desk.

The two sit in silence for a while, giving Angel room to further compose himself. "Master Kishibe... I understand my position as a devil very clearly. I know I can never be free, but give Aki to me."

"Hm? And do what with him?"

"Please... Give me an apartment. An ID- Anything- Let me be in the world and be ready for him to live. Grant me this and I'll give you anything I can."

Kishibe doesn't respond right away, rolling the words in his mind. Truth be told, he was already fairly 'fond' of him. Of the devils he'd worked with, Angel was the most docile. No doubt that if what he was promising was true, he could offer a lot to Public Safety. Especially with the stunt he'd seen with Aki less than an hour prior. Even if he didn't particularly like the Angel Devil, he was curious about his potential.

Angel panics to be left in silence after his request. He knew he was completely out of line but he couldn't stop himself. "Please! I'll work for Public Safety. I'll make good contracts! I'll do anything you ask- I'll let... I'll let you tame me." Angel's mouth waters from nausea, the world spinning around him as saliva drips down his chin.

Kishibe drinks from his flask, then screws the lid back on. "I suppose I could arrange something. Denji's already occupied his old residence. No point in disturbing the kid if Aki doesn't pull through."

Acid pushes into the devil's throat and he begrudgingly swallows it back down. "How could you-" he curls into himself bitterly. Despite his pain he was still aware of who he was speaking with. "Don't... Don't say things like that..." he corrects himself, his tone more timid.

Kishibe sighs to himself. This was going to be one hell of a case to file.

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