Chapter Text
tatsumi stares at the greenery. a warm breeze ruffles his mint hair, soft against his skin. rays from the sun - as bright as what these angels once called their heavens. a glow over viridescent strands of grass.
he walks over to the hedge that parts two worlds, summer flora crunching under his step. the noble was sure he’d seen something, a small glimpse of life within the thorns and leaves.
another rustle.
tatsumi’s lavender gaze snaps to where the border last shook. A small yelp from the hedge ruptures the tranquillity around him, “is there someone there?”
nothing responds.
not a sound.
curiosity piqued, tatsumi tries to look through the many sticks and branches, barely making out a broken silhouette scampering back into the forest scenery.
he comes back every day, mind drawn to the world beyond his, where supposed demons - rabid beings to be exterminated upon sight - lived in their own kingdom.
trees as tall as giants tower over him from the other side. he stands like a flower nymph compared to them.
-
on one particularly dark night, tatsumi finds himself desperately chasing the blurry figure. he instinctively spreads open his perfect white wings, cold wind sweeping between his feathers as he pushes into flight.
the creature of darkness glances back and trips onto its face, purple hair spilling across the ground. he stops abruptly over it as it lays unmoving before it suddenly sits up with tears dribbling onto the dirt path.
tatsumi lands gently beside the smaller being, cautiously kneeling at its side, “... what are you doing here?” it flinches away from his voice and curls in on its quivering frame.
the angel frowns, unsure of what to do, “i won’t hurt you..” his soft tone lures the entity from its ball of defence. the shadow looks up, revealing a breath-taking pair of glassy morenci eyes.
a sniffle escapes from its trembling throat, hand shaking over the red scratches over its knee, “oh. that doesn’t look so nice, why don’t we get you patched up?” tatsumi offers a hand to which the demon jumps away from.
slowly but surely, it reaches for his palm, holds it tenderly as if it were the purest gold it had ever laid its eyes on.
the angel curls his finger over the other’s and relishes the coolness of the leather; soft, flawless skin protecting rough, calloused gloves. he pulls him up, looping their arm over his shoulder.
they walk together in a suffocating silence. he feels the dark being’s fear as clear day in its shivering gaze and tense posture. tatsumi decides to break the lack of conversation; “um… my name is kazehaya tatsumi.”
he notices the pair of horns peeking from under tufts of lilac hair, “are you… a demon?” they yelp, frightful gaze snapping further from him. “p-please don’t- don’t hurt me! i know a lowly creature such as myself deserves nothing more than death! i’m sorry for bothering you, i’ll-”
they try to move away from him, but stumbles when their leg gives up under pressure. tatsumi barely catches the other. “it’s alright, i was simply curious. i could never turn someone down when they are in need of help.”
“but…” they hesitate, a hand hovering over bloody patches on their leg, “the angels would… kill me on sight” their aqua gaze shakes, hands hugging themselves in a weak grip.
tatsumi ponders his options, a small hum escaping his throat. an idea pops into his mind as a smile blooms on his face, “we could go to a human doctor. humans are welcoming of angels and demons, or so i’ve heard.”
the two walk towards the village, along a paved path of dirt.
“ayase… mayoi” tatsumi almost loses the whisper in a short howl of a breeze. he looks to the demon for confirmation, “is that your name?” they nod shyly, eyes trained on the swaying grass.
“fufu, it’s beautiful.”
“eh?!” mayoi’s cheeks redden, a flustered expression on their face, “... no one has ever said that to me…” their lips curve into a small smile, one that tatsumi already adores at first glance.
“really? that’s a shame. i think it’s quite fitting for someone as pretty as you.”
the angel’s words fill their mind in a pleasant haze, heart fluttering in joy. their knees buckle under the load of the kindness, tatsumi’s words frying their brain. the mint haired angel just about catches them in his arms, “mayoi-san?!”
the dark creature mumbles a few incoherent words, pale skin flushed a rosy pink. with a clement touch, he scoops the demon into his arms, and walks off.