SINIESTRO

Chapter Three

The next morning I awoke and I noticed Damian wasn't with me. I sat up and pulled my hair away from my face just for it to lay in the same spot as I looked around the room. A small plate of pancakes lay on the nightstand beside my bed and I got out of bed stretching. I walked downstairs to thank Zen and I saw Damian trying to punch him. I ran up to Damian and gripped his arm to try to stop him.
"D...Damain what the hell?!"
I heard a low growl escape from his clenched teeth and including an icy glare shot at Zen. Zen looked at me and growled.
"This asshole is trying to steal you from me!"
"N...No he's not Zen! Leave him alone!"
Zen gave Damian a dirty look as he pulled me into his strong embrace.
"Zen cut it out!"
I tried to push him away but I was too weak.
"Why'd you choose him huh?! I've known you for so long and this is who you choose?!"
"Hey leave her alone!"
Damian yelled and I started to weep while I looked at them both.
"Z...Zen I don't like either of you like a lover.... I think of you like my brother..."
He looked down like he lost a fight and let go of my small frail body. I ran over to Damian and whimpered, he wrapped his arms around me tightly.
"I understand.... I'll leave you to get pregnant by this asshole and you'll watch as he leaves you once he finds out! I'm moving out!"
"U...Uh... Zen...."
I looked down and felt tears well up inside me as I tried to make them subside. He didn't look like he seemed to care, he didn't notice the sad look on my face. He just trudged upstairs and started to pack his things, I pursued behind him as I felt my hands clenched into fists.
"Z...Zen...."
Damian was leaning against the door frame watching Zen's every move.
"What do you want Naoko?"
His voice seemed upset and aggravated.
"I...I'm sorry..."
Zen heaved a long sigh as he finished packing his items.
"Naoko I said it was fine now would you just shut up for once in your damn life! Stop apologizing! And stop bugging me! You just want me to feel sorry for your ass but I won't because I know how this is gonna end! DAMIAN IS GOING TO LEAVE YOU FOR SOME OTHER WHORE!"
I flinched from his outburst and whimpered as Damian pulled me into his cold grasp. Tears started to drip from my eyes onto Damian's shirt. I gripped his shirt tightly and continued to cry in his chest. I watched from the corner of my eye as I saw Zen walk downstairs and leave the small apartment. Damian was confused about the situation as he rubbed my back.
"Naoko you realize this isn't your fault right?"
"N...No..."
"It's my fault that he left because he was jealous. Of what we have."
"What do we have?"
I gazed up at him confused.
"Well we don't have a brother-sister relationship and he's probably just jealous about how easily you began to like me."
"I...I don't like you...."
"Well anyways do you want to go sketch in the park to get your mind off things?"
I nodded slowly and he smiled shoving my sketchbook in my face.
"Let's go, I like watching you sketch."
He took my hand and walked with me to the park. I looked down at him as he sat down and patted the patch of grass next to him. I sat down next to him and started to draw. Damian leaned on my shoulder and smiled.
"You're amazing at this."
My lips curl into a small smile as my face warms up from his comment.
"Thanks..."
His hand moved over top of mine.
"You're welcome, you sure have talent. But your drawings will never be superior to my looks."
I let a soft chuckle escape my lips before I heard a man clear his throat above me.
"Excuse me ma'am? Have you ever considered going to church?"
Damian gazed up at the priest and gripped my hand with fear in his eyes.
"I don't trust him Naoko.....we need to leave."
I glanced over at Damian and I could feel his pulse quickening with every word the priest spoke.
"I..uh.... No sir...I haven't b...but uh maybe some other time..."
Damian gripped my hand tighter and tighter and tighter as the seconds flew by.
"Oh well here you go ma'am."
He handed me a pamphlet as I saw a grin on his face.
"Service is today at one thirty, I wish to see you there."
He shook my hand firmly before turning and walking to other men in white robes.
"Damian what's wrong?"
He seemed on edge practically hugging my arm in fright.
"Damian....?"
He finally shook his head and loosened his grip on my arm.
"S...Sorry..I..I got nervous..."
I gazed up at him and rubbed his back to soothe him.
"You shouldn't be scared.... I'll protect you."
He gazed down at me and as our eyes met he gave me a gentle smile.
"R...Really?"
I gave him a soft smile in return.
"Yeah I mean why not? You're my friend now after all."
He sat there silently and stared at me in disbelief. I awkwardly cleared my throat to break the silence, just in that moment my eyes flickered and I felt him seize me in his arms, holding me in a tight hug. He parted from the hug after a while and sighed.
"It's almost one, do you wanna get going?"
"W...Wait you're actually going to church?"
"I have to every once and awhile, so the angels know I'm ok."
I gripped his hand and stood slowly.
"Naoko n..no I can't go to church...I'll get hurt..."
"Like I said I'll protect you."
"B..But I don't wanna go to church! I..I'm a demon!"
"Oh shut up you'll be fine!"
I started to drag him to the church until he finally surrendered and walked with me. We took our seats and looked around, I saw the same priests from the park walk up and we talked before the service began and some priest began to lecture about how bad the devil was. I wasn't really listening half the time because I was more worried about taking a nap. Luckily since Damian was there he supplied me with a big shoulder as my pillow. Buckets were being passed around and when I got one it started to burn my hand, iron. I passed the bucket along and gazed around the chapel. I could sense Damian's fear and anxiety as other priests lined up and barricaded the doors with salt, holy water, and iron. I too started to feel a sense of anxiety and tightly gripped Damian's hand. The priest's next statement made my heart skip a beat.
"Damian come out please, we would love for you to join us."
Panic enveloped in me as my heart was beating in my ears, my leg started to shake and I gripped Damian's hand tightly.
"Miss Naoko please give up Damian Siniestro."
I took a deep breath to calm my nerves and looked at the priest with the most shocked look I could manage.
"W...Who's Damian?"
His lips curled into a smirk.
"Angels are terrible liars."
Movement entered the corner of my eye but it was too late, two priests slung iron chains around Damian, I heard his skin searing from the burning chains and whimpered as I begged him to stop.
"P...Please stop!"
I begged and pleaded as I heard Damian's cries of anguish.
"That's pathetic. An angel begging to stop killing a demon? Do you even know what he's done to people? He had burnt down orphanages for fun and laughed at people's misery."
"I..I know but that doesn't give you the right to hurt him!"
"Hm Damian why don't you show her your true form?"
He grinned and sauntered over to Damian teasingly lifting his chin. I then watched, frozen in fear, as he poured holy water over his body and tightened the chains binding him, the sound of Damian's howls of pain echoed through my skull.
"L...Leave Damian alone!"
I sprinted in front of him as my eyes were tear filled and I tried to loosen the chains binding him. He thrashed his head around butting heads with mine and I stumbled back.
"Damian let me help!"
"Oh he doesn't want your help, he's a demon, he's independent."
Damian's clear snowy eyes had tears falling from them and down his cheeks. I tightened my fists and tackled the main priest in a clear white robe. I was so angry I didn't realize my own skin was searing off, that's when I realized the priest had on iron armor under his robe. He gripped my throat as his glove instantly scorched my pale skin and I yelped in pain.
"G...Go burn in hell."
He smiled and nearly broke my neck before slamming me into a wall, I slid to the floor and coughed weakly trying to regain my footing.
"Let Damian go."
"No, I don't think I will."
I glared feeling my anger well up inside me and tore the other priests away from Damian. I loosened the chains around him even as they continued to sear my skin.
"D...Damian run."
He stared at me bewildered.
"Why are you helping me after I tormented you?"
I softly smiled as I covered him from getting stabbed with my own body.
"Cause that's what an angel does."
I started to cough up red and black liquid then wiped my mouth with a smirk pulling on my lips and shoved the head priest into a wall. I proceeded to battle the other priests as I turned to see Damian struck with an iron rod. I sprinted to him and ripped the spear out from his abdomen and watched as he shrieked in dismay.
"I'm so sorry..."
I assisted him up and ran out with him as he wheezed for air. In the distance, I heard a priest shouting in angelic tongue and saw Damian fall.
"D...Damian!"
He sobbed and shouted in pain. I started to panic until Damian mumbled a demonic slur and watched as the priests were sent into a plume of blue fire. Once they were nowhere in sight I carried Damian home.
....................................................................................
When I got home I scrambled to cut off his shirt and I gently placed my hands over his wounds and started to heal him.
"T....Thanks.."
He gave me a weak smile as he put his hand over mine which was on his chest.
"Y...Yeah let's just keep you alive ok?"
"But I can't die, I'm immortal."
He chuckled weakly and had a sly grin plastered on his face like the smartass he is. I finished healing his wounds and burns to the best of my ability and went to get bandages.
"Sit up for me please."
I said as I stepped back in the room. He did as directed and sat up as the rest of his burnt and tore shirt slipped off his strong arms. I walked over to him hesitantly and gently pressed my hand on his chest and tried to heal his remaining burns, despite how tired I already was. He winced at my touch but I soon noticed him leaning into my small hand. His chest was cold, in fact, his whole body was a frigid ice box, to me it felt wonderful but I guess when you're living in a cold body all the time it makes you believe you're a cold dead corpse. After a few minutes I saw most of his burns subside, I removed my hand and I started to gently bandage what I couldn't heal. I felt his eyes almost piercing though my skull as I tried to finish. I have to say, for a clumsy demon, he had some sculpted abs. I shook my head to get that last thought out and refocused. I inspected the rest of his body for injuries and I saw his nose bleeding. I grabbed a washcloth and sat in front of him and gently clutched his face as I softly wiped his nose. I felt his hand wrap around mine and he chuckled, probably because there was written confusion on my face. He stared at my hand and gently kissed it.
"Damian... n...now's not the time.."
"Then when is? I know I'm irresistible, no woman can resist my good looks."
He gave me another one of those sly grins and I felt my heart beating in my ears. I started to get dizzy and I fell unconscious in his arms. Damian started to panic as he snatched the dressings and lifted my shirt, he struggled to bandage me up. He then picked me up and gently laid me down in the plush comforter of my bed. His cold lips pressed against my knuckles as he held my hand. I felt his frigid hand brush against my cheek as he tucked some loose strands of my hair behind my ear. I started to slowly regain consciousness and I gazed up at him.
"What happened to you wanting to kill me?"
An odd smile appeared on his face.
"You're intriguing, plus I shouldn't kill a young lady with such gorgeous looks."
I felt my face heat up and I turned away from him, I felt him grip my hand again.
"Please go put a shirt on, you're distracting."
He chuckled and simply crawled into bed next to me completely ignoring my request and pulled me close to him.
"You're warm..."
I felt his icy chest on my back and shivered, then he nuzzled into my shoulder.
"D...Damian I have to make dinner ..."
He didn't respond, he just hugged me tighter.
"Stay right here.. with me..."
I turned to him and gently hugged him.
"Can I cook us dinner now?"
I said almost at a whisper.
"Y...Yeah...I guess..."
He said softly pouting. I slipped out of bed and pulled the covers over Damian and left him with a kiss on the forehead. I went into the kitchen and got out some ingredients. I pulled salmon from the fridge and started diligently working on cooking dinner. I didn't notice Damian came downstairs until he wrapped his arms around my waist and put his chin on my shoulder.
"Smells incredible..."
He leaned on me as he practically drooled over the food.
"Thanks, it'll be done in a few minutes, could you set the table for me?"
He nodded and looked around opening every cabinet in the kitchen till he found everything. He set the table and I served up dinner. Damian was already licking his plate clean by the time I sat down and picked up my fork.
"There's more in the pan on the stove if you want more, you're allowed to have as much as you want."
He smiled and gladly went to get seconds. I ate dinner quietly and once I finished eating I trudged off to the sink and started washing the dishes. Damian finished eating and put his plate in the sink then sat on the counter, watching me work.
"Damian could you open that cabinet over there?"
I pointed to the medicine cabinet and he nodded, he pulled on the handle and saw it wouldn't open, he proceeded to rip the door off its hinge and smiled.
"Got it."
"......Thanks.."
He smiled and set the door down near the cabinet and watched me dry my hands and grab pill bottles and opening them, setting one med each on the counter.
"What are those for?"
"One is for antidepressants, another is for antianxiety, another for ptsd, and a few others I was told to take to make my frown turn upside down."
I gave him a small smile as I began to take my meds, chasing them with water. I cleaned up downstairs and made my way upstairs. Damian followed me and sat on my bed, I grabbed some old baggy clothes and changed into those.
"Why do you wear such big clothes for your body size, you're so petite."
"I have a bigger chest than most women and a bigger uh...butt and thighs... so I kinda have to wear bigger sizes...plus im insecure..."
"Insecure? About what? You're pretty."
I nervously chuckled and I sat in bed with him staring at me.
"I'm insecure about everything on my body... my eyes, freckles, arms, chest, thighs, butt, waist, scars, stretch marks. Everyone used to tell me I was never pretty enough, they told me my eyes were horrific and freckles didn't make me look cute...so I started to hate everything about myself."
"But you're not ugly or horrific, I'd kill to have your eyes, even though your looks could never be as fantastic as mine."
I saw his gaze locked on me and I looked down feeling a blush form on my face.
"M..Maybe we should get some sleep..."
"That sounds nice."
I laid down and Damian flopped on top of me.
"Oof...Damian you're heavy..."
He ignored me once more and nestled close into my chest and hugged me gently. A smile tugged at my lips and I pulled the blankets over top of his cold body. I watched his back rise and fall as I found myself running my hands through his ebony locks of hair. Just after a few minutes, I managed to make him drift off to a slumber.