Chapter Text
A pale, malnourished-looking boy ran out of the white building. He huffed and puffed as armed soldiers ran after him. 'I have to leave, I have to leave!' He frantically thought right before he collided headfirst into a tree. He groaned as he opened his eyes. One of the guards had their gun pressed against the boy's forehead. "You know the drill. Get up." A gruff voice said. After a bit of hesitation, he mumbled, "Fine..." The guard roughly yanked him up and started dragging him back. 'I only have one chance...don't screw it up.' He thought to himself. Right before he was dragged through the gate, he transformed into a bat. He quickly flew away, luckily avoiding the gunfire as he went back into the forest.
~♡~
The brown-skinned girl yawned as she finished sketching a sweatshirt. "Dahlia, your coffee's ready!" A pale-skinned man with floppy bunny ears entered the office with a coffee cup. "Thanks, Damian. Just put it on the desk." She replied. He put it down and pulled out a journal and flipped through it. "Let's see, let's see..." He gave it a little tap. "Lucky you, your schedule's not busy for once. All you gotta do is attend a meeting with Atlas Apparel at 3 PM and finish the new line for Empress Couture." He explained. "What was the new line themed as again...?" Dahlia asked. "A Harajuku-inspired line," Damian answered. "Thanks, see you later." Damian bowed and left her office.
Dahlia looked over at her sewing room right across from her office. "Might as well get started." She went over and got her materials. She worked on the clothes tirelessly until Damian brought her a snack. "Thanks." She mumbled. He nodded, put the cream cheese bagel on a nearby table, and left. Dahlia kept working, occasionally taking bites of the bagel. "Ms. Mercer! It's time to meet with Atlas!" The bunny boy called. She put down her stuff and left the office towards the meeting room.
~♡~
"Are you almost finished with the Harajuku line?" Damian asked as they both left the meeting room. "Yeah, I should be done in about 10 minutes," Dahlia answered. He nodded and they went their separate ways. Dahlia went to her sewing room and added the finishing touches on a rainbow dress with tulle under the skirt to make it puffy. She called Damian and told him to tell Empress Couture that the line was done. "Alright, see you tomorrow."
"See ya!" Dahlia packed her things and left the building. She got into her car and drove away. After about 45 minutes, she arrived at a very large mansion. Dahlia honked her horn until the gate opened for her. At the front of the house, a woman with light purple hair, darker purple horns, and a demon tail was waiting for her. "Hey, Anna!" Dahlia called. "Annathorath in public, remember?" She hissed as Dahlia got out of her car. "We're at your house, girl. C'mon." Dahlia waltzed in and her older sister followed with a sigh. They went to Anna's office and sat on the couch. "So, what are you doing here?" Anna asked. "I need relationship help." The angel answered, her white feathery wings drooping.
"Okay, go see a therapist."
"You're a therapist."
"Doesn't mean I have to listen to you."
"But, like, brownie points?"
"Whatever, just hurry up."
"I'm concerned about my vita amans...I dunno if I'm ever gonna meet him..." Dahlia looked at her forearm. After a few minutes, Anna said, "Wait, that's it? What's the point of bothering me, then?"
"I thought it'd make sense to come to you since you're married. So how'd you meet her?!"
"It wasn't some magical moment, we were just college friends. What does the mark look like?" Anna asked. Dahlia held out both of her forearms, which had faint hand prints on them. "That is worrying...but you're properly prepared, right?" Anna asked. Dahlia stayed silent. "Right??"
"Um...I dunno, I kinda, like, gave up a long time ago."
"You know how all this works, why'd you give up?!"
"I just haven't found him yet, so why should I keep hoping?"
"You're not even in your 30s! Stop being a pessimist." Anna scolded. "Okay, but what do I do?" Dahlia asked. "I don't know, just wait it out, I guess. If you're so desperate, go see a psychic or some shit." Dahlia huffed and mumbled, "Fine." Anna sighed and poured herself a drink. "I'm gonna go, see you later." The angel got up and left the mansion.
She got in her car and drove into the city. She parked in a parking garage and got out. 'I guess I'll take a walk.' She thought and grabbed a tazer. She looked at the various restaurants and stores as she walked down the street. 'Slushies, pizza, or ice cream? Oh, there's a churro place over there! And chicken, a Chinese place, soul food too! Damn, Miami, why do you have so many options?!' She thought, biting her lip. After a quick session of eeny-meeny-miny-mo, she decided on ice cream. She got a vanilla cone with sprinkles, gummy bears, and caramel on top and continued walking around.
When she finished, she went into an alley to throw away the small wrapper. As soon as she did, she heard a crashing noise. "Hello?" She mumbled, holding onto her tazer. Suddenly, a scrawny boy latched onto both of her forearms, making her drop the tazer. "Please, please, help me!" He cried out, tears streaming down his face. "They-They're gonna get me!"
"W-What are you talking about?!" Dahlia squeaked. The boy sobbed into her chest and she awkwardly patted him on the back. 'I probably shouldn't do this, but...'
"Would you like to come home with me?" She asked. "What does that word mean?" He asked. "My home. Y'know, where I live." She muttered. "I guess?" He gave her a confused look. "Let's just go." She brought him back to the garage and put him in the back seat. "Do you know what this is?" She asked, showing him the seat belt. He shook his head and she buckled him in and got in the driver's seat. She drove off and went to her apartment.
The boy looked up in awe as they approached the high-rise apartments. They drove towards one of the buildings near the beach. Dahlia talked to the security guard outside the parking garage and she parked. She guided the boy out of the car and up to her penthouse. "Wow..." He mumbled, looking around the large apartment. She guided him to a large bedroom and made him lie down. "Why are you so pale?" She asked. He averted his eyes and mumbled, "I'm a vampire."
"O-Oh."
"What are you?" He asked. "I'm an angel. But more specifically, a cupid." He gave her another confused look and she laughed. "Don't worry about it, just go to bed." He narrowed his eyes but decided to fall asleep.