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“The Rejection Devil?” Angel mumbles as he stands in front of her.
She nodded as she kept a straight face. She had short red hair with black roots spewing from the top of her head while her bangs rested comfortably, covering her forehead. Her multi-colored eyes stared into Angel’s red ones. The dark horns on the side of her head were curved down and her hands were stuffed in the Public Safety jacket.
“Yes.” She said, calmly. “Ms. Makima told me to come and find you. The Angel Devil, am I correct?”
He hummed and nodded. “You are. I guess we should go patrolling then?”
“I believe that’s what we are supposed to do, yes.” She agreed and followed Angel as he walked through the halls, passing other Devil Hunters.
“I wonder… You can’t be my buddy, as I already have one.” Angel said, not stopping to spare a glance at her. Instead he continues looking forward down the hall.
She shrugs. “It is confusing for me as well. Ms. Makima didn’t didn’t mention anything about it.”
“What should I call you?” He asked and opened a door that led to the exit of the big building.
She tilted her head. “Ah. Is that what humans call ‘ names’?”
The Angel Devil shakes his head up and down. The two of them walk the streets, not bothering to avoid people as humans were already doing so. “I don’t care for them either. Aki calls me ‘Angel’ to shorten it and I don’t really mind.”
“Aki? Is that your partner?”
“Yes.”
She thinks for a moment. “Rejection is fine.”
“Pretty long name for me to call you by.” Angel says, trying to consider a shorter name. “What about Reject?”
She shrugs as she kicks a rock on the side of the street. “Sure. It doesn’t have any importance to me.”
-
Aki stared at Angel. “You and her have been close lately.”
Angel looked up at Aki, figuring out what he was trying to say. “Oh. Reject and I?”
He narrowed his eyes at the nickname. “Wasn’t her name Rejection?”
“It is. But It’s a long name to call someone by.” He walked on the edge of the building, expanding his arms so he could balance on it. “So I settled on Reject.”
“Mhm.” He tried his best to calm his nerves and push his anger down. “Why is she hanging around you?”
“Beats me.” When he almost falls off the side of the structure, Angel decides to step down and walk alongside Aki. “Reject said it was confusing for her too. Makima didn’t explain much to her.”
Aki knew he was being overprotective. Angel and him have been dating for a few months and while it was hard, they made it work. The Devil was afraid to be in a relationship with someone he could easily end his life with just a single touch. But Aki reassured him that they would find loopholes through it.
And they did. By kissing through masks, holding hands through gloves, other cute things like that. And Aki has never thought he would need to feel jealous when dating Angel because he would always isolate himself away from people, scared that he would touch them.
But now? With Rejection sticking around Angel like glue, he should have some reason to worry.
“Angel.” He said, clearing his overwhelming thoughts. “What’s Rejection’s power?”
He tapped his cheek with his pointer finger, “I believe she can repel any attacks that move her way and project it back to the enemy. Something like that.”
Why did he know her power? Why did Angel even remember it? It was stupid and not important so why? It made Aki feel icky and a pit in his stomach formed. “Angel.” He said again.
“Yes, Aki?”
“You love me, right?”
Angel blushed but kept his nonchalant expression. He stared at Aki for a moment before turning his attention in front of him. “Of course I do. I wouldn’t be dating you if I didn’t.”
Aki hums, feeling comfort in the words. He stops and grabs Angel by the wrist to cease the Devil’s walk.
Caught off guard, he throws Aki a worried look and tries snatching his arm back. Aki sighs. “Relax, I’m wearing gloves.”
“It’s still risky.” Despite his words, Angel finds his hand calming against his wrist. He looks up at Aki, his hand still gripped tightly on his wrist. “What is it?”
Aki shakes his head. He brought up his free hand to his lips with his pointer and middle finger connected, removing it to press it against Angel’s lips. “Nothing.”
He flushed against the warmth on his lips. It was indicated to be a kiss between them and no matter how many times they did it, Aki always enjoyed Angel’s red face when it happened.
-
“Angel Devil.” Rejection called out to him as she went to stand next to him. Her clothes were dirtied in Devil blood as she has finished killing her side of devils that were assigned to her.
He was watching Denji and Aki battle against a Devil, working together to defeat it. Angel turned to look up at her. “Reject. Something wrong?”
“No. There is not.” Her same bored expression continued. “I overheard humans earlier.”
This caught Angel’s interest as he peaked an eye at her. “Oh?”
“They were discussing a celebration.”
“Celebration?” He asked. Angel went back to stare at Aki’s movements. His heart rate quickened when he did so. “What celebration?”
Rejection nodded. “The New Years.”
“Oh.” He said. “Yes, that is coming close. Why do you ask?”
She shrugged and stepped closer to Angel because she was afraid that he couldn’t hear her. “Public Safety is constructing some sort of get together.”
He dodged a flying body part that was sawed off by Denji. “A party, is that what you meant?”
“I believe that is the term.” Reject said.
Angel hummed. “So? What’s bothering you about it?”
“Everyone is invited.” She spoke and looked down at him, failing to notice another limb soaring straight at her. Angel extended his wing, blocking the attack from hitting either one of them. “Thank you.”
He ignored the gratitude. “So what if everyones invited?”
Rejection looked back at the fight that now seemed to be finished. “Would that mean we’re also invited?”
Angel furrowed his eyebrow, “Yes?”
“Oh.”
Confused, he wants to keep the conversation going on how she didn’t get it. But Aki walks up to him. Angel fails to notice the glare he gives her. “Angel.”
“Ah. Are you guys finally finished?” Angel says and glances at Denji who’s slumped on Aki’s shoulder. “Did you guys know about the New Year celebration Public Safety is doing? Reject and I were discussing it.”
He nodded. “Yes, I did.”
“Oh. Are you going to it?”
“We’re going together, Angel.”
“We are?”
Aki rolled his eyes and stared at Rejection. “Rejection.”
She failed to notice the scowl in his voice as she bowed slightly to greet him. “Hello, Aki.”
Angel yawned, covering his mouth while doing so. “I’m tired. I’ll be waiting in the car.”
Aki laughs and watches Angel walk to the car. Denji soon excuses himself as well, limping to where Angel was. It leaves Aki and Rejection.
“Do you not like me, Aki?” She asked in a monotone voice. “I can’t help but notice the glare you give me whenever I am around.”
His eyes widened at the words that left her mouth. He coughs to clear up the atmosphere. “I don’t have a problem with you . I have a problem with you and my boyfriend.”
“Ah.” She said and turned to look at him. “Angel Devil is your.. lover, they call it?”
Aki nods. “Yes. I know I sound like a jealous and overbearing boyfriend but still.”
Rejection hummed, lost in thought. “I can’t lie and say that I understand your feeling of resentment-”
He winced at the word ‘resentment’. “I don’t ‘ resent’ you-”
She continued despite his talk, “-but I understand humans want to protect the things they love. A feeling of deep affection, is that correct?” She questioned for confirmation.
He nodded and blushed, “Th-that’s correct..”
“Hm.” Rejection said and sighed. “I should assure you that I have no romantic feelings for Angel Devil, your lover, that is.”
Aki didn’t expect her words to bring him some sort of reassurance. Afterall, she was the person he felt envy towards. She resumed when she saw Aki’s expression of comfort. “I can also assure you that Angel Devil doesn’t have any romantic feelings towards me either.”
He scratched the back of his neck, feeling doubt. “How do you know that?”
“I assumed it was obvious by the way he speaks about you.” She looked down and nudged an eyeball on the ground as she watched it roll. “The way his eyes light up whenever I bring you up. He smiles widely as well. A gesture he doesn’t do often, is that accurate?”
Slowly, Aki confirms. Hearing Angel speak of him so fondly made him feel warm. Rejection started talking again, “He loves you dearly. I’m not sure if a Devil he meant a few days ago can change that.”
A beat of silence passed between them.
Rejection removed her hands from her pockets and awkwardly patted his back, not sure what else to do. She started walking to the car, “Perhaps you should talk to him about this? I’m not sure about human emotions but I hear talking about it helps.”
He sighed and followed the Rejection Devil. “I guess you're right. Thank you, Rejection.”
-
Angel stared at Aki on the balcony. “Hi.”
“Hey.” He responded back.
Angel went to stand next to him, putting his hands on the railing. He looked up at the night sky as the stars shone upon it. “Fireworks, huh?”
Aki nodded. “It’s what you do to celebrate the New Year.”
The Devil looked down from the balcony. He saw people walking around with plates of food in their hands, talking, and doing other activities. “Do humans like traditions like this?”
He stepped closer to Angel, placing his hands next to his on the railing. Angel failed to realize that he didn’t have any gloves on at the moment. “They do. It’s mostly because of something else.”
“Something else?”
“You’ll see later.”
Angel exhaled and chuckled. “You're impossible.”
Despite his insult, the Devil was smiling with devotion. Aki grinned. “You love me either way.”
It was quiet before Angel’s reply. “I do.”
His eyes glance up to the digital clock that was counting down. He pointed at it. “What’s that for?”
Aki hummed, following Angel’s finger. “Oh. It’s a countdown until the New Year.”
He scoffed at the absurdity. “Why do they need that?”
“I don’t know.” He shrugged.
No one spoke this time. The only sound that was heard was people below them and the wind in the air. It was one of the silences that both Aki and Angel enjoyed, just being in each other's presence was something they needed after a long day. Even if they couldn’t touch, they could always show love in other ways.
Aki was the first one to break it. “Angel? Can I tell you something?”
Angel nodded, looking back up at the stars again. “Anything.”
“Promise not to laugh?”
“Of course, love.”
He took a deep breath in, gaining the courage to confess. “I was jealous.”
Confused, he furrowed his eyebrows, tearing his gaze away from the sky to stare at Aki. “Jealous? Of what?”
“Of you.” He said, not daring to look at Angel’s expression. “Of you and Rejection.”
“Me and-” His eyes widened once he realized what Aki said. Then he smiled, and that smile turned into a laugh.
Aki blushed, embarrassed. “You said you wouldn’t laugh!”
He waved his hands around, trying to dismiss his giggles. “I-I’m sorry! Just— Reject and I? Seriously, Aki?”
“Shut up, Angel.” He groaned, regretting telling him any of it. Aki kept his head low as he spoke, “I just thought you should know.”
Angel chuckled and brought his gloved hand to cup Aki’s cheek, lifting it up. “Yes, thank you for telling me, Aki. But you have nothing to be jealous about. I wouldn’t choose you over Reject, or anyone for that matter.”
Aki’s lips curved into a smile as he held Angel’s hand that was placed on his cheek. “I wish I could touch you for real.”
He hummed and removed his hand, letting it rest at his side. “Me too.”
“Ah.” Aki made a noise of realization as he stared at the countdown that read ‘5’ “It’s happening soon.”
Angel didn’t have time to say anything as everyone started to chant down the numbers.
“Five!”
“Angel, look at me.” Aki said quickly.
Obeying, he turned his body around, getting lost in his eyes.
“Four!”
“What?” The Devil asked.
“Three!”
“Two!”
“One!”
Aki leans in smoothly and connects their lips with nothing to protect them from Angel’s curse. His lips are everything Aki thought they were. He sinks into the feeling immediately as he feels Angel kiss back.
“Happy New Year!”
The kiss only lasts three seconds before the two pull away. Angel takes a moment to take in what happened before he stumbles back, covering his lips with the back of his hand, blushing madly. “Wh— why did you!-”
Aki shrugged. “It’s something you're supposed to do when the countdown ends. Kiss your lover.”
“Why couldn’t you kiss me with a mask on or something?!” He yelled, flustered.
He smirked. “What’s the fun in that? Besides, tell me that you didn’t enjoy it too?”
“I!-” The Devil paused, discovering Aki was right. He stuffed his face in his hands. “You have to stop doing this.”
He tilted his head, “Doing what?”
“Touching me like you can’t die doing so!” Angel shouted in disarray. “You.. kissed me. And lost three days when you did. I could kill you.”
Again, Aki shrugged. He hadn’t even thought about how much time he would lose because of it. He just really wanted to kiss him. “Worth it.”
“What?!” He cried out, frustrated. “Stop it! Stop throwing your life away because of me!”
“I would throw away my life over and over again for you, Angel.”
He sighed and removed his hands, staring at Aki. “You're the worst.”
“I love you, Angel. I really do.” Aki walked closer to him. Angel has the urge to move away and leave. Leave and never come back. Instead he keeps his head down, missing the warmth on his lips. “Spare me another kiss?”
Rolling his eyes, he looked up at Aki. “No, Aki.”
“Please?” He begged, wanting to feel the heat off of Angel’s lips again. “It’ll be quick. And you can pull me away at any time.”
Sighing, he finally gives in. “Fine. Make it quit, no more after this.”
Aki doesn’t say anything else as he pulls Angel in to give him a quick peck. “How much did I lose?”
“Seventeen hours.”
“That's it? How about another one?”
“No.”