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Engaging in combat with a demon was not how Petra expected to spend her evening, but if there was anything she learned over the course of her time on Earth, it was to expect the unexpected, to hope for the best and to be prepared for the worst. Hopefully, the latter wouldn't be something she needed to worry about, but she wasn't about to rule anything out. It was always better to be safe rather than sorry.
Petra flung herself behind a nearby dumpster, barely managing to dodge a particularly powerful blast of energy. Jesus Christ, what was this thing? How had it managed to skulk through the streets without anyone noticing? Had anyone noticed? Did this thing have a body count? How was she going to deal with it by herself? A barrage of questions assaulted her mind as she poked her head out from behind the trash receptable, eyes tracing every inch of the creature's physique in search of a weakness she could exploit.
It was colossal, easily several feet larger than her, with a wide frame, glowing yellow eyes and red, scaly skin. Spikes of various sizes protruded from its back and along the length of its tail, its claws were black and unsheathed, and its teeth were sharp and dripping with crimson. She hoped no one in the city had fallen victim to it, but judging by the freshness of the blood staining its maw, it had likely gotten ahold of someone before encountering her. She just hoped it wasn't someone she knew.
Dwelling on things she couldn't change would only slow her down, so Petra pushed her concerns aside and rose to her feet, allowing her form to fade from view. She was still learning to control her powers of invisibility, meaning she wouldn't stay that way for long, so she needed to figure out a way to land an attack devastating enough to put a stop to this thing—and fast.
Before Petra could move, the sound of approaching footsteps reached her ears. A feeling she was becoming well accustomed to swelled in her chest, alerting her of the presence of the last person she wanted to see right now.
Azure eyes landed on a familiar form—Pico, a man she'd been encountering a lot lately, stood at the entrance of the alleyway, having spotted the creature and naturally gained its attention with his footfalls. The ginger said nothing, simply staring up at the beast, gripping his weapons tightly in anticipation. It snarled in return and, after rearing its head, charged in the assassin's direction.
Before either party could strike, Petra flickered into view between them, delivering a surprisingly fierce punch to its jaw for someone of her stature. The scarlet brute stumbled back with a snort, shaking its head, momentarily dazed. Petra took this time to glance over her shoulder, meeting Pico's bewildered gaze. He spoke up first.
❝The fuck are you doin' here?❞
❝I could ask you the same thing.❞
Petra's gaze flitted back to her opponent, who had fully recovered from her attack and was one preparing one itself. It launched itself forward, claws outstretched and mouth agape. Rapid gunfire cut through the air, but did little to no damage to the beast, whose skin was like armor. Pico cursed under his breath, but Petra was undeterred, simply aiming another blow to its snout.
❝Why do you keep turnin' up like some kind of goddamn groupie? Whenever we cross paths, somethin' like this always happens,❞ Pico's tone was accusatory and severe, causing Petra to inwardly wince, but she let him say his piece, focusing more on the predicament at hand. He continued, sounding more annoyed as the words poured from his mouth. ❝Can't ever get a moment's peace without you dicking something up, can I? Don't you have anything better to do than trail after me like a goddamn duckling? I already told you to fuck off.❞
Petra narrowed her eyes, sparing the redhead a brief glance. ❝In case you were unaware, you stumbled upon me this time. I had no idea you were here until you stepped into the alley,❞ she retorted, hands finding her hips. ❝You're welcome, by the way. I could have easily decided against intervening.❞
❝Oh, fuck you, you sanctimonious bitch,❞ came Pico's rejoinder, and with it, a one-finger salute. ❝You think I need some alien bimbo's help? Fat chance. For all I know, this is your weird ass pet or some kind of family member of yours. The resemblance is uncanny.❞
Petra wasn't one to rise to insults or give into her anger. She rarely raised her voice and despised confrontation for multiple reasons, mainly preferring to solve disagreements diplomatically. Even so, she couldn't help but prickle at the hitman's disrespect, her mouth twisting into a rictus of disgust. His self-satisfied grin only added fuel to the fire. ❝Excuse me? We aren't related. We don't bear any resemblance to one another whatsoever,❞ she spat, crossing her arms. ❝I can't believe you have the gall to stand here and insult me to my face when I've been nothing but kind to you. Is there a reason you insist on being so hostile? I don't understand, I've never—❞
❝Not to interrupt your yap session, princess, but, uhh, heads up,❞ Pico sneered, nodding to the swiftly approaching lout. Petra turned her attention back to the creature a moment too late. It swatted her aside like a fly, sending her careening into the very dumpster she had taken refuge behind minutes prior. Pico winced, noticing the dent her body left in the metal. That must have hurt. A small part of him felt bad for her, but he suppressed it as quickly as he felt it, rolling his eyes.
❝Well, you've obviously got this under control. Good luck with your family reunion or whatever the fuck this is.❞
Without turning his back on either being, Pico made for the exit, keeping a tight grip on both of his firearms. Though he was certain this red lug was more focused on Petra than him, he wasn't about to risk letting his guard down until they were both far behind him. He whistled nonchalantly, doing his best to swallow down the guilt that nagged at his heart. He didn't know this girl, nor did he care to. Moreover, she was an alien. An alien-goddess hybrid, sure, but that barely made a difference. She was nothing to him.
So, why was there something urging him to go back for her?
Petra shuddered, panting with exertion as the monster closed in on her, ready to deliver the final blow. This brute was much stronger than her. There was no way she could defeat it on her own. Logically, this meant that this was the end of the road for her. Her chest stung with fear of what was to come, though it was dulled to an extent by the pain that encompassed her body. What would become of her if she died? Would she revive on her planet? In her father's domain? She wasn't sure she still had a home for her soul to retreat to. Did her mixed genes even allow her to possess a soul?
Petra attempted to pick herself up, but her arms buckled under her own weight, sending her face first back into the dirt. She gritted her teeth. What would her parents think? Would they even care? It had been months since they last contacted her. She missed her mother's smile, always aimed in her direction, but never truly at her. She longed for her father's approval, always just out of her reach. She had no friends, no other family members that would give her the time of day. No one would mourn her. No one would even notice she was gone. That realization hurt more than any physical wound ever had.
The fiend raised its fists, ready to bring them down upon her and reduce her to nothing. She closed her eyes, accepting her fate with dignity and grace. Nothing was all she ever was and all she ever would be, but she wouldn't allow this thing the satisfaction of seeing her frightened, if it was capable of relishing in such a thing. She doubted it, but stood by her decision nonetheless, bracing for impact.
The sharp pop of gunfire pierced through the tense atmosphere, bouncing off the creature's back. Petra's eyes flew open, a look of surprise crossing her features. Before she could do anything, Pico was at her side, a grin as wild as his hair stretching across his cheeks. He avoided her curious eyes, instead focusing his attention on his assailant, ready to put up as much of a fight as he could. The demon roared, but before it could even think to strike, Petra and Pico vanished.
Pico blinked, watching in alarm as their surroundings melted away. For a fleeting moment, everything around them matched his eyes—empty and white, with no end in sight. He opened his mouth to question the change in scenery, but just as quickly as it had appeared, the chalky expanse faded, the interior of an apartment taking its place. Pico looked to Petra for an explanation, distrust oozing from his tone.
❝Uhh, what the fuck was that? Where are we? What did you do?❞
Petra managed a weak smile. ❝Teleportation... m-my apartment, I brought us here,❞ she murmured, attempting to rise to her feet, but she didn't possess the strength to stand. She sighed, resigning herself to the floor, but Pico had other plans. Kneeling to her level, he gathered her in his arms with a surprising amount of consideration, crossing the room to place her in bed. He averted his gaze once he was sure he was comfortable, folding his arms across his chest.
❝Don't read into it,❞ he grumbled, feeling his face heat up under her grateful but perplexed regard. ❝I don't wanna hear a goddamn word out of your mouth. Just... shut up.❞
A cant of her head betrayed Petra's confusion, but she smiled faintly regardless, biting back a chuckle. She could see right through him, but she wasn't going to tease him for caring. She was thankful for his help, even if his sudden change of heart threw her for a loop.
❝You don't have to explain yourself,❞ she crooned, which only caused the red in his cheeks to deepen, not that she noticed. ❝I would surely be dead if not for your help. I appreciate it.❞
❝Didn't I say shut up?❞ Pico rasped, more embarrassed than anything else, but after taking a moment to ruminate on her words, he sighed, finally meeting her eyes. ❝It's... it's whatever. I don't leave this sort of stuff open, so... we're even.❞
Petra tittered softly, shaking her head. ❝I wouldn't have expected repayment for the mere act of defending you. It was unconditional.❞
❝Yeah, well, I don't trust like that, so there,❞ Pico snapped back, shifting uncomfortably under her scrutiny. ❝And can you stop starin' at me? Mother fuckin' Mary, take a picture, it'll last longer.❞
Petra blushed, allowing her head to loll to the side. She breathed a sigh through her nose, closing her eyes to rest. Pico stood there for a beat, watching her uncertainly. Still sensing his presence, Petra cracked open an eye, fixing him with a questioning look.
❝If you want to snap a photo, you're more than welcome to,❞ she teased, chuckling at the stunned look on Pico's face. ❝All right, I apologize. That was rude of me. Is there something on your mind?❞
Pico huffed, toying with the drawstrings of his hoodie. ❝No, I just... don't understand. Why do you keep showin' up around me? Is it an alien thing? Are you stalking me or something? It's weird.❞
Petra frowned. ❝I'm not just an alien, you know,❞ she mumbled, gritting her teeth as she struggled to sit upright. ❝I'm a demigoddess, too. As for your questions, I'm not sure, but...❞
Pico blinked, tilting his head to the side. ❝But...? Spit it out. I'm not a mind reader.❞
Petra worried her lip, unsure of how to word her upcoming confession. ❝I... have this feeling around you, like I'm meant to be near you. It's like something in my soul is pulling me toward you. I don't appear around you on purpose. It just... happens.❞
Pico squinted, raising an eyebrow. ❝Yeesh, we barely know each other and you're tellin' me you like me?❞
An explosion of scarlet bloomed across Petra's cheeks. ❝What? No! That's not what I meant at all, I— I-I—❞
Pico cackled, sending a smirk her way. ❝You're not exactly helpin' your case here. Relax, I'm fucking with you. You just took a crazy ass beating. Don't overwork yourself.❞
Petra pouted, pointedly glaring at her comforter. ❝I'm serious, though. It's like something keeps bringing us together.❞
Pico searched her expression, concluding that she was, in fact, serious. He wasn't sure how he felt about this. ❝Soooo... are you sayin' you're my guardian angel or soulmate or whatever?❞
Petra shrugged, offering a sheepish smile. ❝I'm sorry, I know it's strange, but believe it or not, I'm not out to get you. In fact, I have this... instinctive urge to protect you.❞
Pico blinked, once again feeling warmth rise in his cheeks. He looked away, coughing into his fist before dipping a hand into the pocket of his jeans, retrieving a lighter and a pack of smokes. Without asking permission, he balanced one between his teeth and lit the end of it, taking a drag. ❝Mm, I don't need it, but sure. So, what's your name then, sweet cheeks? Can't keep callin' you alien bimbo.❞
Petra wrinkled her nose, not at the smell of smoke, but at the crude nicknames. Nevertheless, she offered a smile, leaning back into her pillows. ❝My name is Petra. What's yours?❞
Pico sized her up, trying to determine whether or not he felt comfortable disclosing that information. On one hand, if she wanted him dead, surely he wouldn't be talking to her right now, but at the same time, could he really trust her? He took the cigarette between his fingers and heaved a sigh, a wisp of smoke curling toward the ceiling.
❝It's... Pico,❞ he murmured in response, scowling. ❝Don't make me regret tellin' you that. Alien, goddess, I don't care what you are, if you give me even the slightest reason to believe you can't be trusted, I won't hesitate. We clear?❞
Petra nodded, the pain coupled with the weight of the day's events finally taking a toll on her. ❝Crystal. It's nice to officially meet you, Pico. Make yourself at home.❞
Pico gaped, slightly taken aback by her response. He wasn't exactly expecting fear, but she was awfully airy for someone on the receiving end of a threat. In fact, though their interactions were few and far between so far, Pico couldn't recall ever seeing her afraid, even when she had every reason to be. He couldn't tell if he admired that or if it annoyed the shit out of him. Maybe a mixture of the two.
❝Well, if you're offering,❞ he said with a shrug, hesitating before claiming a spot on the couch. He took another long drag on his cigarette, glancing over at her. ❝You want one? Might help you feel better.❞
❝Oh, I don't smoke,❞ Petra replied, though she'd be lying if she said she wasn't tempted. ❝I'll just... take a nap, I suppose. You can stay as long as you want. Wake me if you need anything.❞
A look of wonder fell over Pico's features. ❝You're just... lettin' me stay here? Just 'cause you know my name doesn't meet you should trust me, y'know. What if I loot your place?❞
❝I don't have many valuables,❞ Petra replied without missing a beat. ❝As long as you leave my cats and my plants be, I'm not really concerned with what stays and what goes. Besides, you wouldn't.❞
Pico quirked an eyebrow, narrowing his eyes. ❝Tch. Whatever. Don't act like you know me now or something. Shut up and go to sleep or whatever it is you're gonna do over there. I'll be out of your hair soon.❞
Petra uttered a soft hum in response, shifting slightly to get comfortable. It wasn't long before she was out cold. Pico stuck around for a bit, half tempted to make off with whatever he could find, if only to prove her wrong and wipe that smug smile off her face, but he eventually decided it wasn't worth it. Besides, like she said, she didn't have many valuables, and he wasn't about to successfully nab two cats in one go without resistance and a whole lot of noise.
It didn't make her right about him.
They weren't strangers anymore, but they weren't friends either. They were acquaintances at best. Pico still didn't quite trust Petra, but he wasn't as wary of her as he was before. She was weird, but as much as he hated to admit it, she did save his life, so that counted for something.
At least he returned the favor.
Like hell would he ever be indebted to someone like her.