Chapter Text
It took only thirty minutes to get Ko to his apartment. Connor was honestly amazed how quick that was, with how often he had to draw Ko’s attention away from streetlights and shop windows. It only took a few times before his new companion seemed to realise that, no, this wasn’t a stroll, they actually had to be somewhere, and he seemed to break himself out of his trances easily enough after that, but he still stared all around them, eyes wide, taking in what Connor assumed must be new things (including a fire hydrant, a post box, three stray cats, and a dumpster).
They finally stopped outside his apartment complex, which he dragged Ko through with renewed vigour, gripping his hand and tugging him up the stairs to the second story. Ko chirped curiously as Connor let go of his hand and fumbled for his keys, sliding them into the lock, and pushing the door open. He stepped to the side and gestured inside his apartment, which Ko curiously, with no sense of caution, it now seemed, explored. He clicked the door shut behind them both and let out a deep breath.
“Oh heck…” he mumbled, dragging a hand down his face, letting out a long sigh. What on earth had he gotten himself into? He’d gone off to clear his head, and now he had a strange… what, bird-monster-man thing in his house? He’d obviously done something to piss off the guy upstairs – sorry for being so flippant towards you Heavenly Father – and He’d sent him another test to be subjugated to. He’d be dragged down to hell for helping this thing, he was sure of it. A test.
Then again, Connor figured that bird-people was more in line with Angels than-
Connor froze, head snapping towards his new guest, who was currently staring, fascinated, at his cat. His wings shook, and confined in the jacket, his whole body followed, and his hair still seemed to shine from the inside out, like forming a…
A halo…?
There was no gosh darn way, he decided. That was a stupid idea. He’d never be blessed to walk in the presence of Angels. He shook his head, sitting on one of the stools in the kitchen, and observing some more. Ko seemed to have stopped bugging his cat in favour of inspecting the cushions on his couch. He leaned forward to take a stiff before then jabbing at them a few times. He must had found what he was looking forward, because he pulled one to his chest and lay down, chirping excitedly. He looked very happy, Connor decided.
He, however, sat stiffly at the kitchen bench, barely noting the confused chirp that his, what, guest? let out.
What on Earth was going on. This… this. What had he done to deserve this? His day was awful, he’d never be able to study for this test now, with this stuff going on, and what was he going to do with Ko tomorrow during class and work? This was a disaster. His breathing got shallow and he felt his mind begin to fuzz over. This was too much. Why did this shit always happen to him? His parents hated him, his sister had to sneak to speak to him, his work was tedious, school was hard, none of his classmates seemed to speak to him, and he was born broken-
A hand touched his shoulder, and Connor jumped back, almost falling off of the stool. It wobbled dangerously for a moment, before falling back into place.
Ko was staring at him, eyebrows scrunched and looking… confused? Worried? Connor didn’t know. Not happy. The place where Ko’s hand had touched him felt like it was burning, but it kept the world from swimming around him, and Connor allowed it to ground him.
Ko let out a confused chirp, followed by a low thrill, and his face scrunched up more and touching his shoulder again. Connor’s face smoothed out and he swallowed, his mouth suddenly dry.
“I-I… I’m okay,” he patted his companion’s hand gently, before shrugging off the touch and sliding off of the stool, “I’m okay, I just… ah, I just…” Connor stopped, abruptly flushing as he noticed Ko had shrugged off his jacket, which was now a heap on the floor. It was warm in his apartment, Connor thought, so it only made sense to take off a winter coat but by the Lord above there was a nude man in his apartment he was going to Hell-
Connor squeaked. Loudly.
Ko let out another confused chirp, head tilted innocently to the side.
Kokabiel decided that this place he’d Fallen into wasn’t nearly as bad as the stories warned it would be. It was dark, yes, but there were bright lights shining every which way, and any place that obviously worked so hard to combat darkness couldn’t be so bad. The creatures that dwelled here – if Connor was any indication – seemed friendly, no matter the strange lack of appendages, and this place which he had brought him – a nest of some sort, he supposed – was warm and inviting. He hugged a soft square to his chest and collapsed with a happy murmur, closing his eyes. The covering that Connor had gave him rubbed against his wings awkwardly, and he huffed in annoyance, before sitting up, removing it, and lying down again. Much better. Although the covering did help with the unnatural coldness of outside, it was warm here, and Kokabiel hoped that Connor would not take offence.
He furrowed his brow. He really hoped there was no offence to be taken. He was unsure of the customs of these creatures, but Kokabiel had his fair share of siblings that would get huffy if you seemingly didn’t appreciate a gift enough for their tastes.
Deciding that he wouldn’t want to risk it – Connor had been kind, after all – he sat up to try and attempt to convey the concept to him.
Connor’s eyes had gone glassy.
He felt his heart pump a little faster – surely he had not offended him! That was not what he had been hoping for at all!
“I-I’m sorry if I have offended you,” he said, eyes flicking around the room, “I meant nothing of it. I was just…” he trailed off. Connor wasn’t looking at him. He was blankly staring at the wall beside him.
“Co… Commmm, Connn, Con,” he stuttered the best he could. Oh Father this was ridiculous. He should be better at this. This tongue was so heavy, “are you alright?”
Connor didn’t respond, eyes just as glassy.
He slowly got up from the couch, making his way towards his new companion, reaching for his arm. His fingers brushed Connor’s shoulder, and his eyes refocused, before flinching back and almost toppling off the seat.
Kokabiel felt his face scrunch, “are you alright?” he asked again.
Connor’s face smoothed and he replied, sounding breathy but not unwell. He wasn’t sure what his companion was saying, but he was responsive. Connor patted his hand gently and moved away from the touch. At least he seemed normal enough now-
Connor froze again. Kokabiel felt his heart race-
-but this was different. His face had gone red, and he was looking Kokabiel up and down, before his eyes flicked to where the covering lay on the floor.
Oh gosh, he had offended him, hadn’t he? He thought to apologise, before he realised that Connor wasn’t looking at the covering anymore, but instead had his eyes on him, face getting redder – not in anger, but something else. Embarrassment? – and he let out a sound like a scared fledgling.
“Is something wrong?” he asked.
Connor jumped up from where he was seated and fled into another area of the nest, where Kokabiel could hear rummaging and thumping, before he emerged again, tossing something to him.
Connor gestured to his legs, pulling at the coverings there, and Kokabiel stared at what was in his own hands.
Ah, okay. If it made this creature happy…
He pulled on the coverings, ignoring that they were tight. If this was a personal covering of Connor, then it would be small on him, he supposed.
This thing was strange, Kokabiel decided. Who’d ever been so insistent on coverings? How bizarre.