Strike A Match ✓

FOUR

Not to his surprise but to his utter disappointment, Taehyung finds himself in front of a familiar royal board the next day with a heavy heart─ staring away at the fact that he downgraded a rank.

He doesn't wonder how it happened, he already knows. First of all they failed their job, the humans he was supposed to retrieve are still down there. Secondly, he was holding one of Jeongguk's feathers yesterday, although he still fails to understand how it had gotten in the clutch of his palm.

That also reminds him of the fact that Jeongguk pushed Namjoon. And even though that wasn't the angel's fault, they still made some sort of physical contact which is strictly forbidden.

Lastly, he had spoken to Jeongguk. He didn't intend on doing that, since he knew he wasn't allowed to talk to anyone or anything down there. He can't even put Satan's or God's name on his tongue because he isn't the same rank as Namjoon yet, but the devil caught him so off-guard it just managed to slip out.

With a heavy and dreadful sigh, he tears his eyes away from the ranking and forces himself to exit the hall.

The moment he walks around the corner he could see an angel guiding an elderly human through the main gate, welcoming her into heaven.

His lips tug up in a wide smile at the sight.

He proceeds to stare at the interaction for a while, feeling happy seeing her get reunited with old aquintances, sharing memories and laughter.

That got him thinking. Yesterday's events were bothering him to the max, and the fact that he downgraded a rank managed to rile him up all the way further.

So, what comes only naturally to him, is the intend on fixing his mistake.

He didn't know when his feet exactly started moving into a certain direction but they did─ and now he finds himself staring at a familiar, small golden gate.

It was when he actually stepped into the tunnel and cascaded down at the speed of light─ finding himself standing all alone in the darkness, that reality dawned upon him that he perhaps should've thought this through.

Insecurity and anxiety washes over him but he takes a deep breath, putting on a brave façade and continues to walk ahead into the red hue without much of a plan.

The thinking was simple; retrieve the humans that they were supposed to come back with yesterday and get out. He'll have fixed his mistake and he'll get his rank back.

So that is exactly what he is going to do.

How he is going to put that into action, he isn't sure of yet.

The moment he steps into the burning pits of Hell he gulps, his braveness faltering ever so slightly. Especially when demons start to pick up on his presence.

"Did you leave one of your pretty feathers behind?"

Taehyung hastily turns around, the demons Yoongi and Hoseok coming into view.

"I─I'm here to retrieve Mister Whitlock and Miss Elrod." He states somewhat confidently, yet can't help but let his fingers fiddle with his right wing for a second.

"I don't know about you, but I'm experiencing a déjà vu." Hoseok grins, directing his words at the demon next to him who snorts.

"Right," Yoongi laughs, sighing loudly after. "You're completely overstaying your welcome. But since you're already here, I shall take you to them. What will happen once you're there is not up to me. And truth to be told, I don't give a care in the world."

Taehyung swallows dryly, nodding.

With that he trails after him, trying to avoid any form of eye contact or any sorts of interaction with anyone else the best he possibly can.

"I─I thought you were taking me to the humans I requested to see─" He tries.

"Oh I will, if I get permission to do such a thing." Is all he gets in response.

"Permission?" His hands start shaking a little and he starts to doubt whether this was actually a good idea or not.

But before he got the chance to reconsider and speed far away, Yoongi signs at him to wait around the corner and spoke up, but it wasn't directed to him.

"Sir, we find ourselves in a bit of a pickle. You see we have a rather unwanted guest who is highly adamant on taking those two humans with him."

A groan is the next thing Taehyung's ears pick up on.

When Yoongi reappears from around the corner, he gets signed to show himself. He wasn't sure what to expect when he glanced up, but it certainly wasn't Jeongguk sitting on what looks like a throne in his full glory.

The man's eyebrows raise up in surprise, a stupid and most of all terribly annoying attractive smirk finds its way to his lips as he locks eyes with the white haired, innocent boy.

"Didn't I tell you to never step foot in this place again, little angel?" The devil voices authoritively, his words ever so dangerous yet his tone caused Taehyung's heart to skip a beat and a crimson blush made its appearance on his cheeks involuntarily.

Or maybe that's because of the way he had adressed him.

The angel feels small and shy under the male's intense gaze, it all feeling so utterly wrong. Yet somehow a deep, hidden part of him didn't mind the devil's prying eyes on him, didn't mind the way he was staring at him as if he was trying to read into and steal away his soul.

"I─I know you did, b─but I'm here to retrieve those two humans we came for yesterday. I promise that if you hand them over, you won't see me or us here again." He courageously said.

Not until other souls are misplaced, at least.

It was a promise he knew he couldn't guarantee, but at the same time a part of him told him the other was already aware of that, too.

He could only helplessly watch as the devil stands up and heads towards him, clutching onto his wing out of instinct.

The undeniably ─but never admittedly─ captivating handsome male stops right in front of him, slightly bending down towards him.

Somehow Taehyung is too thunderstruck by his appearance, at complete loss of breath. It's as if every small detail of the taller is trying to lure him in, trying to keep him hostage.

"My my, aren't you brave, little angel?"