Hey… angel and Demoms…. Gimme
Yes, tha'am
--
Roach ended up locating another demon that was supposed to have connections to Alex. Soap would admit to being impressed by that since he’d had nothing to go on but a first name. Apparently there weren’t too many demons who went by Alex. Which made sense.
Nicknames were more of a human and Angel thing. Soap… Gaz… Most demons just went by their full names. Which narrowed down the options considerably. Narrow that even further down to Alex’s who know an Alejandro Vargas? Bingo.
Roach found another demon by the name of Simon Riley. He was a fighter and he was… well, they didn’t actually know anything else. Apparently no one did. Simon Riley was elusive.
Soap stepped into the room, surprised to see a demon with a skull mask on. He looked over at Roach, who was wrapping his hands, raising an eyebrow. Roach shrugged and fluttered his pale green wings slightly. Soap shrugged and sighed, shaking his head.
The demon had watched him enter, his brown eyes following every movement. He looked… hungry, almost. Soap didn’t like it. “Simon-”
“No.” The demon shook his head. “Ghost.”
“Ghost?” Soap raised an eyebrow, tilting his head.
“That’s my name. Simon Riley is dead.” Ghost shrugged. “He’s been dead for a while.”
Soap hesitated, but he decided to cooperate. Hopefully if they worked with the demon, maybe things would go faster and smoother. Maybe. “Alright. Ghost. You know an Alex, right?”
“I know Alexei, yes.” Ghost nodded. “He’s my friend.”
Soap smiled. “Good.” He grabbed a chair, sitting down. “We’re not… here to torture you, you’re not being interrogated. We just… want to talk about Alex.”
“Mhm. And this has nothing to do with the little angel he’s been seeing?” Ghost’s eyes looked amused. Soap noticed that not much of his skin was on show and he was dressed a lot more casual than the other demons he’d seen. Black hoodie, black sweatpants. Soap wondered if Roach had grabbed him while he was sleeping.
Soap tried to think of the best way to answer the question. “That little angel is my brother,” he explained. “I’m just… trying to keep him safe.”
“And he’s not safe with a demon?”
“No.”
“Figures.” Ghost shook his head. “We help you but we’re still ultimately the enemy, right? After this war with the humans is over, you’ll go right back to trying to destroy us.”
“You’re not the enemy,” Soap shook his head. “I don’t think you are.”
“Does your friend?” Ghost nudged his head in Roach’s direction. “He brought me here.”
‘I have no enemies.’ Roach signed, coming to stand behind Soap. ‘There are only clients and targets.’
Roach had become a mercenary shortly after he and Soap… split. Soap didn’t really know anything else about where he’d ended up, after that. They’d barely spoken until now.
Ghost shrugged at Roach’s answer and leaned back in his seat, sighing. Obsidian black wings fluttered behind him before resting. “So, what are you wanting from me?”
“Make your friend leave my brother alone.” Soap sighed.
Ghost looked at him for a moment before laughing. “That’s cute. You think I have any sort of semblance of control over my friends. I tell them not to do something and they take it as a challenge. If Alex has found a fixation on your brother, there’s not much I can do about it besides assure you that he’ll treat him well.”
Soap clenched his hands into fists. “No. I need Gaz and Alex to never see each other again.”
Ghost shrugged. “Then tell your little Gaz to leave Alex alone.”
“I’ve tried, he-” Soap stopped and trailed off, embarrassed.
“He took it as a challenge?” Ghost finished, chuckling. “Seems like our friends are perfect for each other.”
Soap glared at him. “Can’t you do anything for me?”
Ghost’s eyes looked up and down Soap before he was chuckling again. “I mean… I could do… something for you.”
Soap’s brain caught onto the implication, immediately, and he found himself flushing dark red. “Demons.” He muttered. “One thing constantly on your mind.” He ignored Roach laughing behind him, since… well, Soap also had one thing on his mind. “Are all of you like that?”
“For the most part. You call us hedonistic, after all.” Ghost shrugged. “Come on. Untie me and I’ll show you what I can do.”
“No. Not happening.” Soap shook his head. “You’re staying in that chair until we’re done.”
“You’re no fun. Maybe your friend is more receptive to the offer?” Ghost looked over at Roach, who appeared to be considering it. Soap glared at him and both laughed. God, unbelievable.
Soap tried to consider another angle to go at this with, tapping his hands on his thighs. “Roach said you’re a fighter. What kind?”
“Boxing.” Ghost shrugged. “I used to be a soldier but… I got injured. Forced to stay out. Now I box to get rid of aggression.”
“You any good at it?” Soap tilted his head. He’d admit his curiosity was slightly piqued.
“I think so.” Ghost shrugged.
‘He’s undefeated.’ Roach signed, amused. ‘His stats are impressive.’
“Undefeated?” Soap blinked, looking at Ghost, who only shrugged. “So you definitely are good at it. You fight in a club or-”
“It’s a club, but I don’t think two pretty little angels like you are going to want to go.”
“What is with demons and calling angels little?” Soap huffed. Little seraphim. “My true form would likely dwarf yours.”
“Yet your forms to blend into the humans are both shorter than mine. Hmm.” Ghost chuckled. “Anyway, the club is The Inferno. It’s pretty exclusive to get into unless you know one of the fighters.”
Soap narrowed his eyes. Was this an invitation?
Roach stepped forward, looking very interested. ‘Unless you know one of the fighters? And you’re one?’
“I am.” Ghost nodded, his eyes almost appearing to light up. “You want to come to a fight, sweetheart?”
‘I may consider it.’ Roach went around him and then he was trailing his fingers down the side of Ghost’s mask. He put both hands in front of Ghost so he could sign. ‘My friend may not take up your offer but I will. In exchange for something.’
“My offer of… what exactly?”
‘Showing me exactly what you can do…’
“Roach!” Soap exclaimed. “He’s a demon!”
Roach snorted. ‘So?’
Ghost looked amused. “Hmm… Maybe I should add the caveat that the Seraphim stays and watches. May be fun. What do you want in exchange?”
‘You tell us how to get your friend to stay away from the angel.’
Ghost sighed and leaned his head back to look at Roach. “As intriguing as your offer is and as much as I’d love to lie and give you a way… If Alex really does want your angel friend, it’s going to take the angel rejecting him for him to get off his tail. Alex is stubborn. Like I said, he’ll treat him right.”
Roach sighed. ‘No deal, then.’
“Damn.” Ghost shrugged and lifted his head back up. “Can I be released now?”
“You said The Inferno?” Soap tilted his head, knowing he was likely going to regret that. Ghost, however, just nodded, his eyes lighting up again. “Awesome. Roach, you can let him go.”
Roach untied the demon. “Find me again, sometime. Maybe I’ll have a better answer for you.” Ghost hummed and then he was disappearing.
Soap immediately turned to Roach. “He’s a demon. You know what they can do.”
‘I’m not going to let Rodolfo’s trauma keep me from having fun. What happened to your brother is unfortunate… even if it wasn’t necessarily the demons’ faults. But-’
“Oh, fuck off!” Soap glared at him. “You know nothing about that. Regardless, this isn’t about Rodolfo, it’s about Gaz. And the fact that demons are not trustworthy.”
‘Soap! Everyone knows everything! The whole fucking Angel world knows about the Seraphim who was damaged by two demons. It was a whole fucking scandal.’ Roach glared at him before softening. ‘I feel sympathy for your brother. I do… But Soap… Why are you letting his negative experience cloud your judgment?’
“You know nothing about it. You don’t see him day to day as he struggles. You didn’t watch him pass out from a brush with them.” Soap glared at Roach, stepping back as Roach moved to him. However, Roach only continued forward, stopping and putting his hands on Soap’s face. He didn’t wear a mask, but the bottom half of his face was always permanently distorted, unable to be seen.
But, the distortion cleared and Roach leaned forward, pressing a soft kiss to Soap’s lips before he was pulling away. ‘I don’t think you know everything, either. Regardless,’ Roach signed as he backed away. Pain struck through Soap’s heart, ‘I said I would help you. I’m not going to stop that. But, Soap… ask yourself. Why are we doing this? For who’s sake?’
Soap shook his head. “My brothers-”
‘Why? What good will this do for them? Gaz stops seeing that demon and then what happens? You three go back to lonely and bored? What did the demons do to Rodolfo that was that horrible?’
“They struck him. With a Devil’s blade.” Soap grit out. “During a fight.”
Roach paused. ‘What?’
“Yes. It left a fairly horrible scar.” Soap shook his head. “He’s been left permanently damaged by the poison. He had to stop being a warrior. His body will never be the same. All because they were having a petty argument. It was an accident, of course, but my brother was left permanently damaged.”
Roach’s face turned to an expression of guilt. ‘Soap, I’m-’
“Save it.” Soap rolled his eyes. “Thanks for the help, Roach, but I no longer need you.” He turned and left, shaking his head. Fuck that. He’d find help somewhere else.
-
Alex stared at his two friends. “You did what?!” Ghost and Alejandro were sitting with him at a bar and both had just been talking about their brushes with angels.
Alejandro cringed. “I- We want him back, Alex. We were willing to do whatever to do that.”
“And if General Price were to discover that you were trying to kidnap Rodolfo?!” Alex shook his head. “Fuck, what if you succeeded? You two are going to be the first two he looks at!”
Alejandro shrugged. “We would deal with that when we got there but Alex… He’s not okay! He’s dying and it’s our fault, but we can fix it!”
“Let him die!” Alex slapped his hand against his forehead. “And Valeria just went with this?”
“Enthusiastically. We both want him back. We’re willing to do anything.”
“Including potentially bring down the wrath of the entire Angel Army down on you both?” Alex glared at him. Alejandro just shrugged in response.
“You’re one to talk, Alex.” Ghost laughed. “They kidnapped me to get me to have you leave their brother alone. Your little angel that you’ve been obsessed with for how long now? He’s practically General Price’s son. What happens if he finds out you watch him sleep?”
“I’m not-” Alex shuddered. “I’m not watching him sleep, I’m just… trying to keep him safe.”
“Right.”
“Fuck off.” Alex huffed. “It’s different.”
“No it’s not.” Alejandro leaned back in his seat. “You think you can do a better job protecting him.”
“I know I can do a better job protecting him.” Alex glared at Alejandro. “What, you think you and Valeria can keep from stabbing yours this time?”
“Fuck you,” Alejandro hissed, having to be held back from lunging across the table at Alex. Alex only glared at him. “Yes! We do think we can keep from stabbing him.”
“Yeah, well a lot of good it did you.” Alex shook his head. “He got away. Does he know we both are friends? Because he could put my connection with Gaz in trouble.”
“You are a hypocrite!” Alejandro exclaimed.
“Maybe.”
“Go fuck yourself.” Alejandro glared at Alex.
Ghost shook his head. “Both of you. Enough. Look, I think I could keep the ones who grabbed me distracted. That takes weight off of both of you. But I can’t do anything about General Price. We need to find a way to keep him… distracted.”
“He should be plenty distracted, soon.” Alex shook his head. “The humans have been upscaling their attacks on one of the far continents.
“That’s not good. What if he takes our angels with him?” Alejandro sighed. “We’re fucked.”
“He won’t.” Ghost shook his head. “Safest place in any angel territory is the garden.”
“Yeah, well that’s the second problem. The most secure place is the Garden.” Alejandro furrowed his brows. “How are we going to get in?”
“And what??” Alex questioned. “Kidnap our angels? That’s a stupid idea.”
“Don’t act like you’re not tempted.” Alejandro rolled his eyes. “If he finds out what’s through one of your mirrors, he’ll never want to see you again. If you kidnap him, he can’t leave.”
“And he’ll hate me forever.” Alex shook his head. “I’m not risking that.”
“So you’re going to risk him one day deciding not to see you, ever again?” Alejandro raised an eyebrow.
Alex shrugged. “If he chooses that… so be it.”
“Liar.”
Alex winced. “Look, I’ll cross that bridge if I get to it.”
“He already knows about the hallway. It’s a matter of time before he gets curious and starts to explore. That’s what angels do.” Alejandro sighed. “They’re more curious than they should be. They know how to get in trouble. Especially angels like ours. Even Seraphim… They’re sweet, little things, and they get in way too much trouble. He’s going to find that room. And he’s going to leave you. What are you going to do?”
Alex was silent for a moment, staring down at his glass of alcohol. “The first time he met me, he was being raped by a human. If I kidnap him, he’ll feel violated again. I will be no better.”
“We’re not better.” Ghost sighed. “We’re demons. They won’t ever consider us better. I’m not sure I agree with Alejandro’s idea to kidnap him, but… no matter what you do, someone is going to make you the villain. Might as well go with the easiest option.”
“Fine. Even if I do kidnap him, even if he’s somehow okay with it, the full wrath of General Price will be on all of our backs.” Alex glared at them both. “Maybe I’m not willing to deal with that.”
Alejandro cringed and then went silent for a moment. “I can’t let Rodolfo slip through my fingers, again. I’m willing to bear whatever I have to, to get him back.” He shook his head. “If I have to spend the rest of eternity in hiding… If I have to let him hate me for eternity, I will get him back.”
“For one little angel?” Ghost tilted his head.
“He’s not just an angel. He’s… my greatest dependency. He’s our vice. We need him.” Alejandro glared at the table. “And I’m going to get him back. Whether you both help me and in return, I help you with whatever you need or… we do it alone and you both fuck off, wash your hands of us. Valeria and I are going to get him back.”
Alex went silent and then he sighed. “Fine. What’s the plan? If you even have one.”
Alejandro blinked and then looked at Ghost, who shrugged as well. “Do you have a plan?” Ghost asked.
Alejandro then grinned. “No, but I bet Valeria does.”
“Oh, great.” Alex shook his head.
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