Angel Plumes

Chapter 6: I Hate You

First Chapter Art and ending Pochita by TOBYTOON
Second Chapter Art by macncherries on insta/tiktok/and tumblr

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It was entirely too early when a knock at the door woke Angel from his spot on the living room floor. The apartment was still a mess and he'd somehow rolled off his bean bags in his sleep. All he'd done last night was thought about cleaning it, gotten tired, and drifted off. He checks the time on his phone.

4 am. Friday. The sun hadn't even come up.

The knocking stops for a moment. Plopping his head back into the carpet of the living room floor, Angel closes his eyes again. He still had an hour before he needed to be ready for work and he wasn't giving it up to anyone for any reason.

The knocking comes again. Louder, more forcefully. Attempting to blink away the sleep, Angel contemplates if he could pretend not to be home. A call from his phone startles him before he decides. He declines the call immediately only to be called back again. More banging from the door and 5 subsequent calls later, he finally pays attention to the caller ID.

"Damn it!" Jumping to his feet, Angel grabs his oversized t-shirt from off the floor. Throwing it on, he shuffles to the door. "I'm coming!" he calls. The shirt was large enough to cover his boxers, making him just presentable enough for when he'd flung the door open.

"Rise n' shine!" Kishibe greets him. "I see you've made the place a home." He stares into the house. He didn't even have to lean to look directly over the devil.

Angel flips his wings up, flexing his feathers out so they completely block the doorway. "There better be a damn good reason you're here."

"As a matter of fact, there is." Kishibe confirms. "Here to give ya the day off."

Angel glares at him. "That...! That could have been a text!" he fumes. It was too early for a filter.

"Down boy-" Kishibe motions dismissively.

Angel's wings flap a few times, kicking up the dust in the entryway. He opens his mouth to say something else but just beyond Kishibe's shoulder he recognizes a familiar set of eyes and a sloppily done topknot. The devil freezes, his wings stiff in place.

"Angel?" Aki leans to look past Kishibe.

Kishibe steps out of the way, watching the two lock eyes. He'd almost forgotten what it was like to be young. "I'll give you two some privacy." Kishibe hums, taking his leave.

Both Angel and Aki watch Kishibe leave down the steps, but their attention quickly bounces back to each other.

"Hm..." Aki clears his throat. "I can come in, right?"

Angel opens his mouth to speak but he loses his words. His wings flutter briefly along with his heart. He looks over his shoulder, then at Aki. Not only was the apartment a mess but Angel was severely underdressed for this occasion.

The devil gives up trying to speak, stepping out of the way so Aki could enter. Angel stares at his feet. He'd only remembered to take off one of his socks before he'd fallen asleep. This was not how this was supposed to happen. The sound of the door latching closed brings his attention back up to Aki.

Aki was wearing black pants and a dark gray, long-sleeve shirt. Along his left arm was a sling, supporting what used to be the gun fiend's weapon. Aki's hair was in a messier knot than usual, several flyaways peeking out of the sides of his hair tie. It must have been a one handed job judging by the sling.

"Y.. You should sit..." Angel mumbles, keeping his head low. He could only occasionally steal a glance. He wasn't ready for this at all. Even if it was what he wanted, this didn't feel real. What was he supposed to do? What was he supposed to say? This was too frustrating. "Sit... Sit anywhere..." Angel manages to choke out, shyly gesturing to the beanbags, blankets, and pillows strewn about.