#//agh TRUE!! They for sure had the red strings tied around their fingers!!

[thusaliar]

This might just be what humans call paradise—resting with Romeo, close to his warmth, feeling his gentle touch. Suddenly, all worries wash away, and there's nothing nagging at him anymore. P sighed softly, briefly closing his eyes, and relaxing into the King's touch. Romeo cradling his face like that must have been one of his favourite feelings, the safety and comfort that came with it wasn't possible to replicate.

Yes, to say he missed him was true, if not an understatement. Leaving the Hotel on his own, without Romeo by his side, almost physically hurt. P would always return to find Romeo back at the Hotel, but it didn't make things easier. Thinking about Romeo made him miss him more. Ah, but there was no point in worrying about that right now. Romeo was right there, holding him and he wasn't going to leave. P hummed softly and opened his eyes, hearing the other puppet talk. He loved to hear the King's laugh, the sound warming his Ergo at its very core. The sound never failed to make him happy, almost as if it was contagious. Though he didn't expect to hear what Romeo just said, P gave him a soft nod - truth be told, he wasn't sure what could he say to that. Still, that confession made his Ergo burn up, happy to hear an actual compliment, an honest affection, from someone who actually cared and saw him for who he truly was. Humans were barely capable of seeing him like that. Romeo was the only one to understand and accept him. ''Thank you.'' he said finally, the words escaping him almost unknowingly.

P had no reason to lie to Romeo, and even if he did, he wouldn't lie to him. Lies were what made P unique, defying the Grand Covenant from the very start. Many didn't get to hear the truth from him and many deserved the comfort of his lies. But Romeo? Oh, Romeo deserved the comfort of truth and it was exactly what P was going to give him. Yes, he missed him. He missed him so badly that taking another step away from him was almost impossible. He missed him so much that he could only think about returning to the Hotel and into his embrace. P missed Romeo with his whole existence.

Hearing that Romeo missed him too filled P with relief. Until now, he wasn't even aware he was afraid of not hearing it back - after all, why would the King miss him? He was just another puppet, like many of his subjects. But Romeo missed him and P couldn't be happier. ''I'm here now.'' he replied softly, enjoying the King's touch. It was warm and soothing. P noticed the swift shift of Romeo's gaze and instinctively, he knew exactly what the other puppet looked for. P chuckled softly and leaned in, granting the King his unspoken wish. With a soft hum, P pressed his lips against Romeo's, offering him a gentle, loving kiss. It lasted a few seconds, with P moving the hand that embraced Romeo to gently play with his hair. Once again, their Ergo pounded together in one steady rhythm, a perfect harmony.

Soon enough, P parted from the kiss, looking up at Romeo's face. He wouldn't continue unless the other puppet asked him to - after all, this wasn't why they were alone now. Though P wouldn't complain, he liked to talk with Romeo even more. It's how he got to form the connection with him and he appreciated every conversation.

P perked up slightly, hearing Romeo's offer. The puppet was right - it was a long time since the last time they left the Hotel together. While P was happy that Romeo stayed safe at the Hotel, he often wished for the King to be there with him. Fights were sometimes ruthless and tough, the King's help would be greatly appreciated. Not to mention, with Romeo by his side, a fight with some puppets might be entirely avoidable. They still loved their King, and their King was taking care of them if he was able to.

But besides the practical reasons, P often found himself in calmer and emptier places. Places he could appreciate for the sights and atmosphere. Krat was a wonderful city after all, and although it was now a ruin, some special places still remained. P wouldn't mind sharing those moments with Romeo. So, with that in mind, he didn't have to think of an answer for too long.

''I'd love that.'' he admitted, nodding eagerly. P wasn't that worried about Romeo's safety. While he would rather have him stay away from danger, P could never deny Romeo his skills and strength. He was much faster than P could ever get and his scythe could deal fatal blows - P had experienced that before. Romeo would be more than capable of leaving the Hotel safely.

''Come with me the next time I leave.'' He offered, reaching to take hold of Romeo's other hand, squeezing it lightly. P hummed and pulled it closer, pressing a few kisses to his knuckles a soft smile spread on his lips.

This will be good.

Romeo knew what it was like to miss someone. He didn't know what it was like the other way around. Whether it was during his life as a human or puppet, he was never its recipient. He was an orphan; he didn't have parents to miss him. He was a student at the Charity House; he didn't have any friends other than Carlo. Carlo passed away before he did; and he was the only one left grieving.

So, P saying he missed Romeo was a brand new experience for him. The kiss on the palm was like a neat ribbon tying it all together. If his Ergo was like a heart, he felt like it swell twice its size. Up until this very moment, he never realized how sad and alone he was. At one point, he even died alone, by P's hands. Going by this sequence of events, his life was a textbook tragedy. However, P taking his hand defied fate in and of itself.

He owed a lot to the other puppet. He was the one who kept giving him second, third chances. While their lives were far from what one would consider in the realm of normalcy, they were learning together. Whether it was their feelings for one another that grew with each passing day, or navigating through their relationship as puppets dictated by human emotions. If there was instances of human and puppet relations, then theirs was another kind of unique case: a former human and a perfect puppet.

Since Romeo knew P liked hearing him chuckle, he did just that, with thumb caressing the other's cheek. "Y̷o̷u̷ n̷e̷v̷e̷r̷ c̷e̷a̷s̷e̷ t̷o̷ a̷m̷a̷z̷e̷ m̷e̷." The entire time, his Ergo pulsed as if he was taking leaps in the air on repeat. He might even consider himself a mix of nervous, giddy and happy all at the same time. If not for the memories and humanity regained throughout the timelines, he would never even know this was how his Ergo made him feel.

Even if the other had the ability to lie, he still decided to be honest. He didn't even hesitate to come to a conclusion, with only Romeo guiding him, but never saying that this or that was the right answer. Only P and his own mechanical heart knew what he himself felt, and not what he was supposed to feel. If this was how P felt, then Romeo couldn't be more elated. Now, Romeo finally knew what it was like to be missed, and the feeling of missing the other person back. For once in his life, the feeling was mutual.

"I̷ m̷i̷s̷s̷e̷d̷ y̷o̷u̷ t̷o̷o̷,̷ P̷.̷ S̷o̷ m̷u̷c̷h̷.̷" He moved his hand to caress the strands of P's hair. "I̷'̷m̷ g̷l̷a̷d̷ y̷o̷u̷ m̷i̷s̷s̷e̷d̷ m̷e̷.̷ I̷t̷ i̷s̷n̷'̷t̷ t̷h̷e̷ s̷a̷m̷e̷ w̷i̷t̷h̷o̷u̷t̷ y̷o̷u̷.̷" His eyes then glanced down to P's lips, until he realized he was actually looking at them. While his intentions were obvious, he looked as if nothing happened, meeting the other's gaze again. It was a neat feature to have being a puppet lacking to show any facial expression. Though, since their bodies were pressed against each other, he wondered if P felt the erratic pulsing of his Ergo.

The King figured that he might as well add the subject that had been on his mind ever since P got back to the hotel. It was practical, not to mention it might distract his own emotions trying to act up. They were here to relax together, and not get their Ergo into overdrive (or overheated) states. "A̷c̷t̷u̷a̷l̷l̷y̷,̷ I̷ w̷a̷s̷ a̷b̷o̷u̷t̷ t̷o̷ b̷r̷i̷n̷g̷ u̷p̷ a̷ p̷r̷o̷p̷o̷s̷a̷l̷.̷ C̷o̷i̷n̷c̷i̷d̷e̷n̷t̷a̷l̷ t̷i̷m̷i̷n̷g̷ a̷t̷ t̷h̷a̷t̷,̷ t̷o̷o̷.̷ S̷i̷n̷c̷e̷,̷ w̷e̷l̷l̷.̷.̷.̷ I̷ w̷a̷s̷ t̷h̷i̷n̷k̷i̷n̷g̷ t̷h̷a̷t̷ I̷ s̷h̷o̷u̷l̷d̷ j̷o̷i̷n̷ u̷p̷.̷ I̷t̷'̷s̷ b̷e̷e̷n̷ a̷ w̷h̷i̷l̷e̷ s̷i̷n̷c̷e̷ t̷h̷a̷t̷'̷s̷ h̷a̷p̷p̷e̷n̷e̷d̷,̷ y̷o̷u̷ k̷n̷o̷w̷?̷"

[demi-angel-novel]

Prolouge

In a forest on a full moon night a woman is trying to escape a creature cloaked in darkness, with its only visible features being it’s menacing reptilian eyes. The area around them shakes from the pounding thunder sounding overhead. The woman appears to be in her late 20’s maybe early 30’s,

      she has a brown skin tone with disheveled wavy black hair that reaches the middle of her back. In her hands she holds a bundle of white and gold cloth, housing a baby boy. She continues to run with her body crying out in pain from the intense exertion, but to protect her little angel, she would soldier on no matter what happens. The chase continues with the creature narrowly missing her with its jagged claws, inevitably, the monster closed the gap and spears through her with its claws, but barely hitting the child, and causing her to collapse with a searing pain ripping through her. The creature, obviously pleased with its work, grew a thin grotesque smile as it stalks its beaten prey slowly, only to increase their suffering, the once white cloth was now stained red with the woman’s blood. 

     The child begins crying as if sensing the coming death of him and his mother. The creature finally went to finish off them both but a bright light envelops the area and incinerates the creature.

 “Begone demon”. A masculine voice says.

 “You damn angel, grr know this when this child reaches his 15th year I shall return!”

      The only sound left was the pelting rain. The light subsided revealing a man in a white and gold robe with giant white wings. Shakingly,the woman says R…Ramiel “Elizabeth, I’m so sorry,” his voice was deep and rich that seemed to bring hope to any who’d hear it l. With the angel speaking the child calmed himself.

 “I should have been here for you and our son.” 

“Don’t be, “cough”, please take our son and take him somewhere safe … were he can grow up, please hand me Thomas so I can speak my final words to him.“ He nodded and scooped up Thomas and handed him over to her.

 "T-Thomas I want you to grow to be a good man and know that me, your father, and the Lord shall always be with you.”

 She kissed his forehead “goodbye my son”, she whispered as Ramiel grabbed Thomas again.

 “Goodbye my Elizabeth”, with saying his last respects he flew off.

 “Ti Amo tanto.” ( I love you both ) she whispers as she waits for death to take her. But it never comes as an unknown figure drags her away. The child in this story is the child of an angel and a human his name is Thomas Di Angelo and he is a Demi-Angel. Ramiel leaves him at the door of an orphanage, “I am sorry my son I cannot raise you. I hope you will find happiness here.” He knocked on the door and disappears. “Goodbye my son” echoes behind him as a woman with greying black hair and a pair of glasses that rest on her hooked nose walks out and sees the child “a baby?"sigh."come let’s get you cleaned and warmed up”.

     8~years later. Thomas has grown to be 8 years old he now has brown skin with messy black and grey hair with storm grey eyes and a faded raggedy oversized grey shirt and old black pants with a patch on his right knee, and right now he is getting chewed out by the same caretaker from earlier. 

“I can’t believe this we take you in out of the kindness of our hearts and this is how you repay us with this foolishness! Do you have any excuses, hm, 

“like I told you he made fun of my parents and stole my book,

 “and that’s it!” “But he attacked first.“

 "Still it doesn’t mean you fight and your parents they were deadbeats who left a baby on a doorstep. They were probably addicts or murderers,” 

“no, no you're wrong,” I muttered

 “what was that?” She asked with her voice becoming deadly quiet. I said your wrong. My parents’-

“ your parents didn’t love you, they left a baby alone on a doorstep and this book I don’t know why you try your gonna become nothing and accomplish nothing bad if I ever see you do this kind of foolishness again there will be severe punishments. Now do I make myself clear?!” I grew a smile 

“sure you old hag.” Her face immediately showed pure rage.

 “I see so that’s how it is well, time for a punishment” 

     she grabbed my wrist and tore off my shirt and grabbed a whip and struck my back agh “are you crazy?!” She struck my back again my cries echoed across the whole orphanage with each strike I looked in her eyes and I swear I saw a flash of red reptile eyes. After 3 minutes of being whipped, she said

 “now think about what you’ve done and I expect no further disturbances.”

      She says as she exits. I feel warm liquid on my back as it screams out in pain with a metallic scent filling the air. I felt a liquid roll down my cheek,

 "I’ll promise you this old hag I’ll prove you wrong no matter what. Just you wait.”

      2 years later~ “ so you guys ready?” He said to the two people beside him one of them being a girl and the other a boy. “Alright let’s go Thomas runs to the bell labeled EMERGENCY ONLY!!! The others are prepared with a sack and a bucket, with a strange liquid spread on the floor in front of the door John Indica 

"you both ready?” They both gave him a thumbs up signal. Ok, he mouths as he rings the bell “HURRY HURRY FIRE FIRE!!!”

      The caretakers burst out the door and rush down the hall slipping and sliding John acts first and splatters them in glue. After this, India throws the sack as a mass of feather exit out and cover them as they finally crash into a wall in front of the rest of the kids who immediately laugh them, the three kids meet up. “Good job ! You guys,” 

“ heh, we should thank you, Thomas.” John says.“

 "Yeah your the one who came up with it”. Indica said.

 “ true but it was a team effort now let’s see how’re the chickens!”

      the head caretaker was so furious she could make a red chili pepper be jealous by how red her face was. Through a strained voice, she says,

” who did, this? Someone fess up now or you will receive punishment.“

     Every child’s face paled, 

” Thomas, what do we do? I don’t want to be punished. “ John said shakingly,mhm Indica agreed.

 "Go I’ll handle it.” 

“But Thomas, you’ve been whipped more than any of us!” 

     I winced. 

“We can’t let you do it alone.”

 "Listen you two, I’ll be fine Just go, I promise.”

 “We’ll be praying for you,”Indica said, 

“heh thanks”. 

"Well speak!”

 the caretaker said still fuming

 "wow, I didn’t know chickens could talk,”

 “YOU!” She cried. “ did you do this, hm? You heard me! "Oh, I’m sorry I don’t speak chicken.” 

“Di Angelo!” 

“Anyone hear what it’s squawking about cause all I hear is bawk bacawk bawk!” 

     I say as I imitate a chicken though that’s probably an insult to chickens everywhere for me to compare her to them. 

“You..oh I’ll give you one hell of a punishment.” I gave a cocky smirk. 

“Bring it on chicken witch.” She whipped me until night. I walked up to my bed and sat down. “Thomas your back” John said.

 “Yep. What happened? Did it hurt? ” no it was a tickle fight what do you think I thought 

“nope” that’s a straight lie, my back feels like the devil just burned my back with the flames of hell. John still looked worried. “Listen I’m fine. Go to sleep John, alright?” 

“Night Thomas”. The next day~. 

“Hey Thomas John said” 

“hey I said without looking up from my book

 "how come I always see you reading during free time?”

 One I love reading. And two it’s tied to a promise. What’s the promise? "It’s involved in a promise I made a few years ago about how I would become something of myself and prove that witch wrong about me. That I would rise up and become something great.”

 “Heh, when you do , promise you won’t forget about us.” Heh I laughed, I promise, and I’ll tell you this, I never break my promises.“

 "Can I get back to my book now?” 

“Sure” 

     5 years later~ I had a dream right before my 15th birthday. I was in a clear grassy field with a storm raging overhead. Out of the storm cloud an eagle and a hawk flew towards me, and flew in circles around me like they were chasing each other. Between them was a string of electricity. Suddenly, the field caught ablaze and through the flames I saw a figure rise with a dark laughter that sent shivers through my whole body. I felt my head a distant memory, I hid, along time ago. The flames dashed towards me, and I woke up in cold sweat and I felt uneasy like something is about to change greatly. 

     I’m now 15 my hair has grown longer my hair became wavy but just As disheveled as always I think I’m about 5,10 my grey eyes now have hints of blue in them. Now I wear a baggy black shirt with baggy blue jeans and a pair of hand me down sneakers. 

“John,wake up” I shook him. 

“Hm, huh? What?” 

“Get up, Indica you too. She grumbled and threw a pillow in my face.”

 “ what, Thomas?” She said groggily. 

“Today’s the day for a fifth level. They both instantly woke. 

"What!” They yelled in unison. 

“Shhhh.” I said as I held my ears “I’ll tell you the details now”. 

“Thomas are you sure about this John warned” John is also 15 he has brown hair that’s combed to the side, with pale skin and green eyes with 4 freckles on his cheeks he’s wearing a button-up shirt with brown suspenders with brown pants. 

“Yes, i am.  No need to worry,” 

“he’s right Tom,” Indica said. She now has long blonde hair with blue eyes with fair skin and a blue shirt with a black skirt.

 “This could really get you kicked out this time.” “I know, trust me, okay?” “We trust you” 

“good now let’s get to work”. I held up my fingers, “ready?” They nodded. “3…2…1… go!” 

    They rang the bell the caretaker ran out but I set a trip wire this sent her down the stairs in the path of a clown costume then on the next flight make up and a wig on the last flight was a hat and a red rubber nose but that’s not the end. After that, there’s a stopping device that launches her to a mini tricycle that crashes her into a wall, then after that as she tries to lift herself up I t releases paint that paints the whole place in poka dots, and finally she turns around to see everyone with a cream pie. 

“Fire!” I call out and so they relentlessly threw hordes of pies at her. And to deliver the final insult I walk towards her and personally push a pie in her face with happy birthday on it. As the pie falls off her face. 

“This is my best work, thank you being my willing volunteer. ” 

“you,” she grabbed me by the collar, so you like jokes do you? Then be a jester away from me.“

 She drags me to the door and literally throws me out of the orphanage I fall on my butt, ow, for an old hag she sure can kick I hear the door slam shut. Oh crap, i thought.

"Hey old hag can’t you take a joke? I at least gave you breakfast, that had to count for something! Come on let me back in!"She stuck her head out her face was obviously furious her now fully gray hair was covered in a rainbow Afro the many wrinkles on her face were covered in clown makeup with a big bright red smile but her face was scowling. Her hooked nose now had a red rubber nose on it. 

"After this? No way in hell”.

 “Oh before you close the door can I tell you something?” 

“WHAT!” I grabbed her nose and squeezed it. 

“Honk! Honk!“

 She instantly slammed it in my face and I heard a click after it. Heh, I might have went overboard. Well. I dusted myself off I might as well visit the baker. I think they’ll let me stay a little. I said to my self as I started walking. Unbeknownst to the boy there are two people watching him a girl on the roof and a demon in the shadows Chapter 1 FIRE! FIRE! (Yes I’m serious this time)