Chapter Text
A2 strode alongside their friend, their eyes darting to and fro, taking in the scenery before them. Concrete buildings lined their view, only separated by a considerably small road. Yellowed streetlamps illuminated their path, and the one or two occasional passerby, their faces too busy fixated on their phones to even care about anything else.
As A2 and Kyo walked on, the streets seemed to get darker. The amount of light from windows in this residential area seemed to decrease every step he took.
He shivered, thinking about the deep abyss that lurked in every corner.
The demon lady in front of him steadily walked ahead, her teal hoodie blowing slightly against the cold autumn wind, her tail swaying next to her feet as Kyo plodded onward.
Pulling his jacket closer, he walks a little faster to catch up.
It was getting dark, and A2 trembled, it hurt to breathe.
But I need to catch up… A2 sucks in as much air as he could before continuing to walk.
Minutes passed, as the abyss stretched out farther.
“A2, we’re nearly there.” Kyo gestures at another turn. “So, w-“
A flash of red took over his vision. Jumping in surprise, A2 shields their eyes before peering out from between the cracks in his fingers.
Another human stood there, their chocolate wavy hair swaying in the wind, navy blue scarf wrapped around their neck, red eyes looking straight at theirs. Gasping in embarrassment, A2 averts their eyes, nervously stepping back.
A huff from Kyo brought A2’s attention to the demon, her previous kind expression warped by annoyance. “Rae. What bothers you so much you have to interrupt me and my…friend’s lovely walk?”
Rae raised an eyebrow “Walk? Isn’t that just you luring poor creatures to their unfortunate demise, Inventor?”
“Tch… speaking nonsense are you, Empress?” Kyo shoves their hands into their hoodie pockets.
Demise? Creatures?
“I speak only the truth, Kyo.” Rae turns towards A2, making him flinch. “Anyways, I’m not here for you, I’m here for him.”
A crimson scythe materializes in the lady’s hands. “So if you mind moving out of the way, Inventor, then I might not lop your head off today.”
Kyo scoffs “Hah. As if I’m letting you get your hands on my pr- friend.”
The sounds of blades clashing rang in A2’s ears, bringing nothing but a headache to the creature.
A2 could catch a few lines of dialogue, an insult thrown here and there, but the headache was getting stronger.
He just wanted the sounds to shut up.
A spark of gold flashes in his mind.
Something brushes against his hands, grabbing it, he hurled it toward the duo without thinking-
As A2 opened his eyes, the sight of blood made his gut sink.
“Augh… you…” Rae clutched the side of their abdomen, blood trickling out between her fingers, which dug into her gray shirt, now dyed red. Between her fingers lay a golden lance, puncturing flesh and glowing brightly with power, only tainted by dark red liquid now pouring out of her. The two feathers floating next to their head now pressing close to her hair from the pain.
A2 couldn’t explain why seeing the person who tried to attack him and their friend’s face contorted into an expression of pure pain made his gut twist uncomfortably.
“Rae, I suggest you leave us alone before I drive my blade into you too.” Hearing Kyo, A2 can’t help but sigh in relief.
The pit in their stomach grew, for reasons that slipped right through their fingers.
The hurt aggressor looks at A2 one final time, her crimson eyes boring into his soul, before looking away.
“Fine.” She spat, her eyes filled with an odd emotion, tone tinged with hurt…? “You’ve won this one, Kyo.”
A2 expected a vow of return, but the lady simply vanished into the night, their golden lance ripped out of her and fizzling into nothingness.
“Good job, now come on, let’s go.”
Ice cold hands grabbed his, digging into his palm.
He wanted to pull away.
“A2?”
“Ah,” A2 blinked “I’m sorry, I just spaced out.”
Kyo looked at him with a weird expression before dragging him along the path towards…
home?
Home.