It’s been a few months since the angel living on the hill had seen the tall demon. Not even Nkauj Ntsuab came knocking at his door. It was odd. He most definitely, was not thinking about it. Not even a little bit. He enjoyed the peace and quiet he’d been hoping to get since he came to Midland. Going through the motions as usual, he began making dinner, when his phone began to go off. He glared at it for a moment before picking up. It was Nkauj Ntsuab, he wanted a peaceful night and sent it to voicemail. As he continued cooking it began to ring again causing a sigh to escape his lips. Picking it up, intent on snapping at Nkauj Ntsuab he saw the caller ID. His eyes widened and he felt an internal turmoil build.
Should he answer or let it go to voicemail? He only had a few more rings left and felt himself panic a bit before finally clicking the green icon. “Hello?” A deep voice sounded on the other end.
“Yeah?” He answered as his heart steadied. “What do you want?”
“Oh um...I was...I was uhhh.” Zed heard the demon take a breath. “Nkauj Ntsuab’s throwing a karaoke party. I was calling to see if you were coming. We haven’t seen you in a while…”
“No.” He responded plainly, he wanted a quiet night.
“Oh, I just...I just didn’t want to be the only person who didn’t know anyone. Alvis and Nkauj Ntsuab have the same friend group...I’d feel like I was intruding.” Nestrio spoke softly.
Zed felt his irritation rise at the mere mention of the satyr. However, he felt his heart pound a little faster at the thought of Nestrio inviting him out. But it ebbs a bit when he thought about the possibility of Nkauj Ntsuab asking Nestrio to because last he checked, Nestrio hated him. Zed was confused, his mind was muddled with thoughts of the demon and the mixed signals he was receiving.
“Well, I guess that’s it...I’m hanging up now.” Nestrio spoke.
“...” Zed listened to the line click before chucking his phone to the soft across the room, “Goddamnit!” He swore as he turned off the oven and headed to his bedroom to change.
At the party, Nestrio was sitting off to the side. Nkauj Ntsuab had a lot of friends and he felt out of place. He’d really hoped Zed would cave and come out with them so he’d at least have someone to complain with. He sighed and felt someone sit next to him. Alvis wrapped an arm around his shoulders and grinned, “Come here often stranger?”
Nestrio rolled his eyes but smiled all the same. When he looked up he saw Zed walking in. He was definitely over dressed. Tight skinny jeans that hugged his hips perfectly, a clean white t-shirt with a leather jacket and boots, he looked ready to go clubbing. His signature scowl in place as his eyes were glued to his phone. He looked up briefly and their eyes met. He rolled his eyes and glared before taking a seat across from them. Nestrio was taken aback, unsure of what he’d done to deserve the glare.
He was there, sitting next to him. Zed thought in annoyance. He’d only come to make an appearance is what he told himself. “Excuse me miss, can I get a raspberry cosmo?”
“Of course! Anything else?” The server asked cheerfully.
“No that’s it, thank you.” Zed replied, eyes returning to his phone.
Throughout the night, Zed sat across from Ness and Alvis and drank to his heart's content. Every now and then he’d look up and see Alvis flirting with Ness, and it pissed him off. They were currently having a very deep conversation about zoo’s in the area and the differences between them and the few in the demon world. Zed ground his teeth as he finished another drink. Nkauj Ntsuab was nowhere in sight. He thought about leaving and heading home.
His time spent here felt pointless. He ordered another drink, only to look up once more to see Alvis leaning in. Zed stood up suddenly knocking many glasses over as his anger overflowed. He took a step forward but his head rushed and he realized how intoxicated he’d become as he fell.
Nestrio hopped up quickly to assist the angel and Nkauj Ntsuab joined them quickly. “Aw Zed you’re a mess!” Nkauj Ntsuab exclaimed. “Why’d you let him drink so much Ness!”
“He only had like 5 raspberry cosmos! How would I have known he was such a lightweight?” Nestrio responded annoyed.
“Ugh, I just want to go home already.” Zed groaned as his head spun.
“Ness do you think you could take him home?” Nkauj Ntsuab asked with a smile.
“I’m not flying up that hill carrying him.” Nestrio glared.
“Fine, let him stay at your place then!” Nkauj Ntsuab smiled wider. That was all Zed heard before his world turned black.
A few streets away, above the pet shop. Nestrio deposited the intoxicate angel onto his bed and left to change. When he came back with water, the angel was sitting up and holding the stuffed animal he’d given to Nestrio a few months before. “You still have this?” he asked.
“Yeah, why wouldn’t I?” Nestrio asked, passing the water to him.
“Well, I just figured that….never mind.” Zed pouted on the bed.
Nestrio observed the angel go in and out of sleep on the large stuffed animal until he finally spoke, “What do you mean?” Nestrio sat next to the angel with his bare back facing him. The angel drunkenly observed the markings on the demon’s back. “Zed?”
“What?” He asked.
“You didn’t answer me.” Nestrio reminded him of their conversation.
“Answer what. “Zed asked curiously, tilting his head reflecting his confusion.
Nestrio found it extremely endearing; but decided to dismiss it for the better, “What were you going to say?”
Zed was quiet for a bit, “I didn’t think you’d keep it...cause you hate me.” Zed flopped backwards onto the bed and sighed, “I guess it’s reasonable with our species history and all that.” Zed looked at Nestrio’s back, he felt like the demon was too quiet. “And I meant we didn’t have the best of first encounters, and…..you always hung out with Alvis and never really paid attention to me unless you were laughing at me or Nkauj Ntsuab made you…” He sat up once more, “Nestrio…”
“I don’t dislike you.” Nestrio said suddenly, shocking Zed, who’s heart began to pound.
There was a long pause, “You don’t?”
Nestrio looked behind him, Zed was blushing but he couldn’t tell if it was from drinking or not. Before he knew what he was doing, Nestrio had leaned in to capture Zed’s shocked lips. Zed’s eyes widened exponentially. When Nestrio pulled away and met his eyes there was a short pause before….poof...Zed’s large wings made themselves known, feathers were everywhere and they looked as ruffled as Zed was flustered. “W-what…?”
Nestrio leaned in again to make sure the angel understood his intentions. He could see how flustered the angel was but excited when he returned the kiss. He too had assumed the angel disliked him quite a bit with the way he glared at him. Nestrio wasn’t ready for the way the drunken angel attacked him. He knew the angel was intoxicated and hoped he would remember in the morning. Eventually he was able to settle with the angel in bed allowing the angel to stroke and play in his long hair. It was soothing and they fell asleep to the sound of each others calm breathing.
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