Chapter Text
Kobeni could immediately feel her lip quivering. Her eyes stung as she tried (and failed) to hold back tears in front of her boss. Her golden spiral eyes staring deep into the poor girl's soul.
How do people talk to her so easily?!? Kobeni questioned, as the woman constantly gave Kobeni chills.
"W-what do you mean this boy is gonna be living with me?!?" Kobeni choked out before she started hyperventilating, tears trailing down her cheek.
"I understand this comes as a surprise Miss Higashiyama, however, I truly believe you are the best choice to board our newest devil hunter." Makima explained as she became distracted by the pile of paperwork on her desk.
"B-b-but there must be someone better… Miss Himeno! She trained me, I'm sure she'd be happy to have a new trainee! She'd enjoy the company as well!" Kobeni quickly suggested, one last Hail Mary to keep this boy outside of her final bastion of peace.
"Miss Himeno was last seen at a bar outside of the city yesterday, it's not expected she'll turn back up for a week… another one of her partners passed a couple days ago." Makima rebuttaled, signing the form that would file and banish this boy, Denji, to her apartment.
Whyyyyyyyyyyyy! Kobeni screamed in her mind. She solemnly turned to the boy, giving into the universe.
"My name is Kobeni Higashiyama, I will be your trainer and boarder, please follow me." Kobeni muttered before softly grabbed the boy's wrinkled sleeve and walked towards the door in defeat.
"Wait, I'm not working with Miss Makima!?" Denji asked, clearly distressed. Kobeni started to tear up once again and tried to clear things up.
"Miss Makima generally stays here, doing paperwork, I-I-I'm sure she'll be happy to help you with paperwork if you need it!" Kobeni stuttered, trying to keep the boy calm. She noticed how the boy looked at her for a moment before surrendering and following.
"Kobeni, did I mention that your care of Denji will come with a pay raise? His care will not only be paid for, but will also come with a bonus for you." Makima added, and suddenly Kobeni's eyes widened as she looked towards the blond boy, with a quivering smile.
Maybe it'll get mom and dad to leave me alone for a few days if the next check comes with extra…
Despite being the trainer, Kobeni was slouched behind Denji, directing the boy down the route. Telling him when to turn and to constantly look around. Kobeni had now been at this job for a year now, quite lucky for someone in Public Safety, but that was probably due to her contract. Kobeni was snapped out of her daze when the boy decided to ask a question out of the blue.
"So, do you know if Miss Makima has a boyfriend?" Denji asked as he turned his head to look at the cowering girl behind him.
"M-Miss Makima? Honestly I-I don't know much a-about her. She sorta… creeps me out." Kobeni answered with a squeak.
"Ok, what's with the crying? Is somethin' wrong? You sound like you're aboutta shit your pants." Denji bluntly asked, his eye brow raised. He didn't seem annoyed, just genuinely wondering…
This however did not calm Kobeni's nerves.
"Ahh ahh. Um. I- Well. I just-" Kobeni broke into gasps as she began to hyperventilate once again. Her eyes began to blur, even more tears spewing from her eyes.
"Oh uh! Um. Hmm." She could hear the boy sound confused and his steps come closer as he looked around her. All of the sudden, she saw a yellow blur appear infront of her face, and felt Denji grab her hands and bring it to the blob. She couldn't exactly see what it was.
it's so soft. Really tangled though… Slowly, Kobeni's mind began to calm down, and her eyes became clearer. That is when she suddenly realized what she was petting, was the boys hair. She quickly pulled her hand back, as if his hair were a hot stove.
"Why'd you make me do that!" Kobeni questioned as she began to rub her hand. She watched as Denji flinched and his eyes squeezed shut.
"Sorry! Sorry! When I used to cry, petting Pochita made me feel better, and I just didn't wanna see a cute girl cry! I'm sorry!" Denji quickly apologized, before turning straight forward, stiff.
He looks like an abused puppy… wait did he call me cute?
"Oh… Well. I-I mean it sorta worked you know! I-I just wasn't e-expecting it." Kobeni assured as she quickly sped up, walking right next to the blonde. Her face, dripping in sweat, and heart beating like a drum. She tried her best to finally look the boy in the eyes for the first time.
He looks so tired? Kobeni quickly recognized the look in his eyes, as it was one she was far too familiar with.
"Oh well, that's cool... So how's it being a devil hunter? I'd never think you'd be one, honestly." Denji had finally asked a question that wouldn't send Kobeni's heart rate to the moon.
"Well, I'd rather do anything else, but it's the only thing my family would let me do that kept me my dignity." Kobeni muttered, and turned her head down staring at the side walk.
"Ugh yeah, that's how I got into devil hunting too. It's the best paying thing me and Pochita could do… before he died…" Denji seemed to choke up a bit, before grunting, and looking forward searching for something to distract him. "So are there many devils in Tokyo or is it just boring today?"
"W-well for your first patrol, I chose an easier route… And honestly I didn't want to fight anything too d-dangerous. This is mostly to get an idea of your personality a-and work ethic." Kobeni answered, before she heard a screech. A devil. Quickly Kobeni's mind went silent.
She turned her head upwards and to her right. Before she even realized it, her arm swiftly moved to the knife sheathed on her belt, and swiped at the small dog sized devil that jumped from the street light. It had looked like a whistle, with a single pair of tiny little arm/legs. Well now it was bissected cleanly down the middle and its guts spilling out. She turned to Denji and immediately as if a switch were flipped, her mind began racing.
Oh, he probably thinks I'm so fucking crazy for just killing that devil on reflex like a psychopath. He probably thinks I'm gonna sneak into his room one day and slit his throat. Oh no, that's right this boy is living with me now. WHERE IS HE GONNA SLEEP! I mean I have that office…ish…. thing. But it's more of a closet! There's the couch… yeah! Yeah the couch could work! Please don't be mad at—
"Holy shit you killed that devil, dude! You got such good reflexes! That thing probably woulda grabbed onto my face!" Denji exclaimed as he flashed Kobeni a peace sign with a sharp toothy grin. Her face immediately warmed up.
Ba-bump.
"Uh um. Y-yeah, so what you d-do now is you find a phone, and call this number," Kobeni pulled out her Public Safety ID, and pointed at the report number, "and report the devil, and do your best to identify what devil had just been n-neutralized. This seems to be the W-whistle devil." Kobeni explained as she averted her eyes, disguising it as searching for a payphone. After just a moment she saw one they were right next to and pointed to it. Denji immediately walked towards the devil's body and lifted each half as if they weighed nothing. Then he made his way towards the phone booth began punching in the number.
Kobeni immediately slouched and began catching her breath, barely avoiding a panic attack. She looked back at the boy. Getting a better look at him, he had messy blonde hair, sharp teeth, and a slight slouch.
So far, he seems good. Atleast a level head in rough situations and mentioned he's had experience. Could be worse…
"So you think you two can get along well?" Makima asked with a thin smile. It sent chills down Kobeni's spine. The way she looked in Kobeni's eyes made her feel as if the red head had known everything, always.
"Y-yes ma'am. Denji seems to have a level head in high stress situations, has had previous experience, and seems pretty strong." Kobeni quickly gave her assessment, Denji at her side seemed to be glowing from the praise.
"Well that's very good. I do also think it is necessary to inform you, Miss Higashiyama, Denji is a special case," Kobeni turned to the boy with an eyebrow raised, "Denji is a human who is able to turn into a devil. If he were to misbehave in any way please, treat him as a devil.You two are free to head home now." Makima waved them off. Kobeni quickly took the sign and bolted out of the room, terrified of what Miss Makima had just informed her of. Denji followed pretty quick behind her, also clearly shook up from what his new boss had told Kobeni to do. They made their way to the subway in silence and got onto the next line that went towards their apartment. The train was packed from end to end. The two grabbed onto a pole and Kobeni leaned against it, and closed her eyes, trying her best to rest from the stressful day.
Then the whole train shook.
Suddenly Kobeni's face was buried in something soft. She knew very well what it was and her face was practically on fire from the embarrassment. She looked up and was met with a soft blush on Denji's face as well. They both quickly found things far more interesting in the train car… surely.
Once they got off the subway, it was a short walk to the small apartment. Denji looked like he was in heaven. He slowly walked into the apartment.
"Damn! This place is like four of my sheds!" Denji exclaimed before he dropped onto the couch. "And this is so comfy!" His toothy grin once again returned.
Ba-bump
"Y-yeah. Why don't you take a shower or something while I make something to eat. Does cup ramen sound alright?" Kobeni mumbled.
"Oh yeah yeah yeah! That all sounds good! I'll get right on it Miss Higashiyama!" Denji did a dumb little salute and began to search for the bathroom, though, it did not take long as there were only a few rooms in the apartment. Kobeni found the last two cups of ramen and solemnly put them in the microwave.
I guess tomorrow we'll have to go shopping, atleast Public Safety is paying for him. Seems like a solid guy atleast…
Kobeni left Denji's hot cup of ramen on the counter and dropped herself onto the couch and finished her food, before turning on the TV and watched a relaxing sit com. Her eyes slowly got heavier and heavier, and the tv got drowned out by singing from the bathroom. Kobeni leaned to her side till she was laying across the whole couch and fell softly asleep…