windfall | what i desire most, what i fear most

Okay. [ Pause. ] Okay. [ Pause. ] Yeah, okay. [ …is what Denji answers with at any interval he can between Aki's instructions. Having noticed his distraction, Power uses the shoulder nearest to where he's speaking into the receiver as a chinrest, her jaw rolling back and forth, kneading painfully into the tendon. "Oi, oi, Denji, share my greetings and farewells with the likes of that topknot human! The Miraculous Blood Lapis Power demands it!" ]

Owww! [ Denji presses his entire full-sized hand against her face, shoving back. ] Stop that, Powy — and shut up, I told you that name was dumb! Your taste in anime is lame as hell.

[ An aggravated sigh. Then, back to Aki: ] Power says hi. And bye. [ He sucks on his upper lip, gnawing a little, before he finishes off with a — ] You too. [ — be safe, before ending the call.

The two of them mosey back to their apartment, which is probably some form of subsidized housing granted to them through lottery or whatever hoops Aki had to jump through. They make dinner, one plate using a single cup of soda (just one cup, the rest of the can placed back into the fridge) and the other plate with a cup of water (as was the proper way). Through a game of jan-ken-pon, the two of them decide who gets which and, perhaps as expected, Denji loses. He plugs the drain to the sink, and in the dishes go. He squirts the dish soap in the drawing of a happy face that quickly dissolves underwater, but Aki might still see the outline of it when he gets home.

Aki might also see Denji snoring face-first into his practice book at the table. He tried, okay? ]

[Aki listens to the two of them bicker, muttering his own hello to Power (he never calls her by those names, it was hard enough getting places to even accept Power) before finally hanging up. He sets his phone down and stares at it for a second, thinking.]

[Then finally shakes his head and pushes it away, turning his attention back to the student council paperwork. They'll be fine. He'll make sure he can go home with them tomorrow.]

[When he finally turns in the documents, there's hardly anyone left in the school but a few teachers. Aki heads home, exhausted, letting his head tilt on the train without fully falling asleep, and when he comes into the apartment and it miraculosuly doesn't smell like something burned, he's relieved. Though... There is some weird smell. He's not sure what it is. Kind of a sweet smell...? Nothing is on fire and he actually put soap in the water this time so Aki doesn't question it, tugging off his uniform jacket and dropping it with his bookbag in the bedroom. Power is playing with Meowy on the floor, cooing something or other about world domination and tax hikes. Normal, thankfully.]

[He'll let Denji sleep for a bit. First, dinner, which he heats up on the stove while downing most of the rice. One of the teachers warned him he might not qualify for the weight class to get into Public Safety so he's been trying to eat more. Not easy when Denji eats twice as much as him and still manages to look thinner every day. He sits down with his plate at the table across from him and reaches across to hit him on the head with his spoon.]

Tell me what unit you're on.

Hrk…!

[ Flinching awake with a snort, his head jerks, pulling up one of the pages with him. It clings to his cheek by a wrinkly imprint of drool that'd gathered there as he slept. A moment later, he brushes the sheet off. Glances down at his fingers, no ink, that's good, less embarrassing that way, then pinches at both his inner corners to clear away the last crumbs of sleep from his eyes.

When did he…? Is it already that late? ]

Welcome home. [ He says first, rubbing the spot Aki bopped him, staring down vacantly at the set of assigned problems. He still doesn't look all there. ] Dick.

[ Better. Normal. ]

And, um… I'm stuck on the stuff that's like a graph and lines and I gotta find the points, or something.

[When the paper sticks to Denji's face, he can see the problems and make out what he's working on. He mixes his curry together while he resettles and nods at the explanation. He gets it.]

[He's pretty good at getting through to Denji. Explaining things at a level that he can understand. Power wanders out to join them at some point and laugh at Denji's misfortune but she's useful in that they play against one another well. Aki can quiz them both or bet them on who can figure out a solution the fastest. Power isn't a genius (not by any stretch) but she seems to pick up on things once Aki forces her to think instead of barking out the first thing that comes to mind. And while they scribble out solutions he can eat his dinner. It all works out.]

[He only forces it on them for an hour or so until he calls it for the night, sending them off to bathe while he cleans up. Does the dishes, wipes down the table, sticks Denji's books back in his bag... Removes all the trash from said bag and throws away. Spreads the beds out despite Meowy's attempts to lay on one the moment he rolls it out. This apartment is so small, he mentally complains for the thousandth time.]

[He waits for Denji to come out of the bathroom to call him over. Tells him to sit down while he sits across from him. Usually this is a set-up to scold him. But he has a different mission this time.]

I'm planning my trip again, up north. [He's taken them for the past few years. At first because he didn't trust them alone, now just for the company.] But you're old enough now. You should think about making your own trip. Back to your family's grave. We can save up for it - Yours is on the way, too.

[ Power swiftly occupies the bathroom with an impatient harumph as Denji rounds his way out, humming a jaunty tune and shaking the wet mop he calls hair like a dog tossing its fur; in other words, he splatters water all over the place. Which is good, because that signifies he's a little more invigorated after the bath, and after spending time doing his coursework with Aki and Power, too, that was fun, even if it was technically work — reminded him of how they'd gather around Aki at bedtime as he read them some silly picture book as kids. They haven't done that in a while. But the second Aki beckons him over, tells him about his upcoming plans, the song at his lips goes dead.

Suddenly, the compulsion to simply slip under the covers and go to sleep again is stronger than ever. In fact, he kind of does do that, Denji opening the flap to his bed to scoot inside and keep his legs warm. May as well get comfortable if he's gonna have a conversation he doesn't want to. ]

So that's your big plan?

[ For what it's worth, he's sitting upright at least through this. That should count as a win for Aki, in spite of the way he plainly appears disinterested in the topic, picking his pinky through his ear, digging out some earwax and flicking it somewhere. ]

Pass. We should save for something better — hey, here's an idea, whatta 'bout an all-day admission ticket to an amusement park? Something to liven us up after we finish eating at the cemetery? We always do the same ol' thing. Let's do fun stuff for once!

[Aki didn't expect an easy conversation about this considering how little Denji ever discusses his past - much less his family. All he knows is that his father had a lot of debts. But this reaction... It's not like it's unlike him, but Aki still looks a litle upset at the response.]

Fun stuff? [He repeats it with a clear disdain, frowning across at him.] I'm not talking about doing fun stuff. This isn't a vacation. [Even though Denji and Power treat it like one every year. And more than that - ] And you're not supposed to be eating during a visit, you're supposed to pray.

[...He forces himself to settle back. Every year he tries to keep them from eating all the offerings and every year he fails.]

You're in high school now - You should think about doing this. Seeing your parents' graves. You said your father has one, right? [He vaguely remembers that being mentioned once or twice.] It's important to pay your respects. You could - I don't know, you might feel better afterward.

Oh, yeah…? Is that how you feel every time we visit your family's grave? Better?

[ It's a ballsy question, could even be hurtful from someone meaning to cut with it. From Denji, though, it's mildly put, unmuddied by any hint of accusation or bitterness.

Because he's really not trying to spin this on him or be difficult. Rather, he wants to make this very, very easy — by not going. It's a big year for Aki, lots of new changes in store for him as he readies for the physical and practical examination, graduates, has the rest of his life to look forward to as a big damn adult. There's no need to be reflecting back on the past, let alone Denji's. He starts to slink further under the recesses of the blanket, laying down on his back to stare at the ceiling. ]

You should think about taking a vacation before you become even more of an old coot! Let's do karaoke, go to the beach, get girlfriends…

[ Speaking of. ]

I know ya got mad at me for takin' a peek at that letter you got this morning, but you should just go for it. Live a little, y'know?

[The vein on Aki's forehead pops at the words, his lips drawing thin. It's not the point, he wants to say. To feel better, or to check it off a list. The point is respect. And Denji should be respectful of the people in his life who have died.]

[...But he knows he isn't trying to insult him over this. Denji lays down and Aki sighs quietly. So much for that. He's not trying to be an old coot (despite every adult in his life telling him to stop and smell the roses) but surely Denji understands what he's getting at, right...? And then he has the nerve to bring up that stupid letter. He knew he should have just dumped it in the burnables trash but... Well, it seemed like they put a lot of effort into the confession.]

Denji...

[He shifts onto his knees and moves to lean over him, staring down at him where he's covered up in the blankets. He knows when he's trying to avoid a conversation topic and it always takes a lot of effort not to trip in his pitfalls.]

Things will be easier starting next year. [It's a white lie. He doesn't know if things will be better or worse in Tokyo. If the pay really is that good. If he can even survive long enough to get his first paycheck.] I don't want you to look back and regret not doing something like this. [He pauses, eyes briefly flitting to the bathroom door, but it's still closed. He could actually use her back-up around now.] We'll both be there with you, you know.

[ Lie or truth, Denji's the very definition of gullible. The platitudes nearly work on him, especially whilst loomed over, Aki blocking his view of anything else and forcing Denji into tiredly resting his attention on him. Into placing his trust on the solemn set of his eyes, the same ones that filled with tears what feels like a lifetime ago, when he got lost on a field trip their caregivers took them on to the city once. When they found him, licking brown stains from his fingers over a half-eaten box of specialty chocolates in a souvenir shop, he'd smacked him. And then dragged him straight to the register to pay for the box with his own saved money.

He's always looked out for him. Could always look straight through him, too. It's so annoying. ]

I…

[ He can feel his resistance flagging in the face of the pressure being applied on him, his mouth curving into a deep frown as he blinks away. But then he hears, We'll both be there with you, you know, and he thinks — he thinks he's heard that before. Where has he heard that before? And why does it make his neck feel damp from more than just the condensation dripping from his still-drying hair?

Denji's expression shutters, something deep inside him slamming closed. Locking. ]

I said no! [ He pushes up, throwing his shoulder like a barrier keeping Aki at a distance, and twists inside the blankets, so that he has his back facing toward him. ] I don't want you both there — I don't wanna be there! So shove off.

[Aki shifts off of him quickly when Denji lurches up to shove him back, flipping over and snapping that at him. He stares at him in open shock - grateful for the turn of his back so that Denji can't see how embarrassing that must be to see. What the hell just happened? Why did that make him so upset?]

Why not? [Aki is incredulous at the idea. Why would you not want to visit your home again? Pay your respects? Sure, their situations are different, with the way Denji's father died, but... But it can't be that different, can it?]

Look - [He reaches to grab him by the shoulder and attempt to roll him over.] You should care about this stuff. That's your family, you know. You're supposed to pay your respects! You'll be an adult soon, this kind of stuff is what adults do! [That sounds childish, even to his own ears, but he hopes he'll think it makes it sound more important.] If you think it's scary, that's why us two will be there with you!

[ Ignoring the jostling at his shoulder, Denji heaps the blankets over his head, curling inward as tight as he can, his legs bunny kicking out at Aki. Noticeably targeted for his crotch because even when he isn't looking at him, his aim is impeccable. ]

Go away! Leave me alone! Stupid, dummy, shithead!

[ His heart is as loud as the percussion of pots and pans in his ears. Not even Denji knows why he's reacting so viscerally like this, why the idea manifests in a full-bodied rejection. ]

I'm not… I'm not gonna be an adult. [ It's a truer statement than he realizes in the moment he says it to Aki. Not just a refusal of the responsibilities that come with growing up, but a rare acknowledgement of his own limitations — that the milestone isn't his to have. Some people just don't get things in life, and some people just don't get long lives at all. That was true for both his parents. And every morning when he coughs up blood and buries the dirty tissues deep, deep inside the waste basket, he knows it's true for him, too. ] So I don't gotta do adult things! You can go on your stupid prayer trip, I don't care! So long! Hasta la vista!

[He very nearly nails Aki in the crotch but by this point Aki is used to his aim. He squishes his legs together as he feels him start to kick and pulls away before he can do more damage, opening his mouth to rebut all his stupid insults before he continues.]

[He knows he's upset, just venting at Aki and saying things he must not believe. But the wording hurts way too much. He still remembers the last time he found Denji curled over hacking up large globs of blood onto the bathroom floor. Sure, it hasn't happened since then (that he knows of), but it scared the shit out of him. And sure, he's stick thin and one of the school nurses suggested he might have a sort of anemia because of how he got so dizzy one day, but - But it's not that serious, he quickly tells himself. Denji doesn't mean that. He's just being stupid. Trying to rebut anything Aki says to refuse this. Maybe he really is scared to go back there, to open that wound again. Maybe he doesn't want to go on the trip at all this year. Maybe he's still upset about what Aki said this afternoon about leaving him here while he and Power went to Tokyo.]

[But his chest hurts. Because he keeps thinking of his real brother. The one who should have gotten to be an adult, and his own actions that prevented that.]

Fine.

[He stands up and heads for the door. He'll wait for Power to finish her bath. He doesn't need Denji to see how red is face is right now. Let him throw a tantrum. See if he cares.]

[ When Aki disengages from his fit, going suspiciously quiet, Denji stops his flailing, peeking part of his face out from beneath the covers and catching his back as it disappears out the door. The middle of his brow twitches into a fine crease. ]

Hey, where are you —

[ Click, says the latch mechanism to him, cutting his question off. His blanket sifts, falling completely from him as he returns to an upright position, staring hard at the closed door — hoping a little that the handle might turn and Aki will come back. Come to his senses. Apologize for being a jerk. But it doesn't, the door stays closed like so many others in his life. Denji deflates, his neck bent forward and eyes fixed on his fists, slowly curling into the blankets. He doesn't think he's in the wrong for not wanting to go, nor for wanting to enjoy being a regular teenager while he still has the breath to be one. Aki's the person who's nuts here. Trying so hard to grow up, to leave their normal life behind, and for what? For who? ]

Fine.

[ A minute passes. Then, he hears a door open. With an immediacy typically reserved for pet dogs waiting for their owner to come home, his head perks up —

"Magical, and Miraculous, and Blood Lapis —" Power sings, hair artfully twisted into a towel, as she marches out from the bathroom, swishing a finger through the air like a conductor who has never experienced a single class of music theory. Her steps end abruptly, though, the second she catches sight of the rumpled blankets and the crookedness of their beds. "— Ohhh?! What insolence! You two wrestled without me!"

And then she dumps herself straight into his lap, not caring a smidgen about potentially hurting him or getting hurt from the suddenness of her landing. Denji makes a quiet oof sound, his arms automatically drawing up under her head so that she doesn't, like, knock her skull against the ground. Or his kneecaps. Before she can get any wild ideas, he exasperatedly tells her — well, complains to her — about how annoying Aki was, about the trip, about how he would rather go somewhere fun, and really, doesn't she agree with him on that? Shouldn't it be a vote? Isn't that how democracy works?

"Hm… I don't believe in democracy!" Power grins, cheek smushing up against the indent of one of his feet. "'Tis the destiny of the human species to live pitifully and under the iron fist of superior beings, like myself. If I had it my way, we would embark for one of the fine butcheries I own! Or a McDonald's! I also own those!"

Denji likes McDonald's. He wishes Power were in charge of this trip thing instead of Aki.

"Denji." Her fingers pincer at his cheek, pulling and squishing it. "You should tell Topknot why —" But I don't even know why, Denji tells her. "Then you should say that! Keep flapping your meat mouths until there's nothing left to say!" she tuts. "You lot are so pathetic. Can't do anything without guidance."

Which is how Denji finds himself getting dragged from bed by a cheery Power and shoved out the door with a stumble. Ugh, where the hell even is Aki out here? ]

[Their discussion seems to last just long enough for Aki to clean up and wash off, pulling his pajamas on as he dries his hair with the door open. He hears the commotion and assumes they're tussling and is privately glad that it means Denji might be snapping out of whatever it is that got him so upset, but instead the door opens and he sees Power shove him out into the hallway across from the bathroom. He stares at him from the doorway, towel still over his head, and slowly pulls it off.]

What? [Then, residual annoyance creeping in, he makes a guess.] She can't kick us out again, don't let her say there are boy-cooties on you. [The amount of times she's tried to keep the bedroom area to herself and Meowy is uncountable. Aki actually threatened to take her to the library to prove there's no such thing as cooties because the debates were so grating.]

[ Coming face-to-face with him so soon — this is awkward. He's not sure what to say to him after their last conversation imploded in on itself… It's not like either of them are gonna change their stances in a single hour. He faces away from Aki, reaching for the door. ]

What? She's not kicking us out…

[ A twist of the bedroom lock can be heard behind Denji, just as his hands touch the handle. Thanks, Power. ]

She kicked us out. [ …Well. Pointedly not making eye contact with Aki, he sighs, brushing past him to pad into the kitchen. She'll have to let them back in eventually, yeah? May as well rifle through the fridge until then. There's still that half-finished can of soda in there, so he'll help himself to that. ]

[Great. He's not going to try and guess the secret word. Aki watches Denji pass him into the kitchen and go into the fridge and...]

Don't drink that. You need to go to bed. [A sugary drink before bed is definitely not good for him. Aki steps out of the bathroom to stand in the path to the kitchen, watching him. Still silently annoyed. Why is he pretending like nothing happened ten minutes ago?]

Have you calmed down now? [He's never been someone who can just sit on a topic where he feels he's in the right. Denji should apologize to him, so he stares at him expectantly.]

[ Obviously, he bristles without missing a beat. ] Have you? [ And then: ] Soda before bed isn't gonna kill me. Chill out.

[ Denji wants to push past him, push him fully aside, just to show him he can. That even though his arms are too skinny, and the school nurse told him that his body mass index is below the average range for someone his age and height, he's not totally useless. But he knows that with the way Aki's been training like a hound from hell, he'd never be able to make it beyond a few steps. He'd be lucky to get away with only a couple bruises from the exertion…

His jaw stiffens. Like he's bracing himself, like he's willing to say screw it and make a run for it. ]

Can you move already? I'll even share it with you. So don't be annoying.

[Again he's so flippant about this stuff. Aki visibly tenses at Denji's wording and doesn't move an inch from his spot in the hallway.]

I'm the one being annoying? [He takes a step forward, reaching out to snatch the soda from his hand.] You're being childish. Throwing a tantrum because I suggest you visit a grave - Saying you'll never be an adult...

[He could pretend Denji just meant it in the subconscious way, that he'll never grow up. To imagine Denji as an adult is hard enough, but to think he'd be a Peter Pan about it would be more comforting than the alternative. But it's hard to pretend that was what he meant when he keeps saying things like this, like he doesn't know every time how much it rankles at Aki.]

Do you want me to leave you here in daycare while Power and I go on the trip? Is that what you'd prefer, if you're going to insist on remaining a child?

[ In a spike of movement, his footing alters, swinging Denji in the opposite direction away from Aki's reach, but it's not quick enough to prevent the tips of his fingers from glancing off the aluminum. Knocking the can from his grip, the cylinder clatters to the floorboards, carbonation hissing as it soaks into ground. Denji can only stand there, face red. His mouth suctions together, thinning with a barely suppressed growl. This is so fucking stupid. Aki makes him feel so fucking stupid. ]

Shut up.

[ The edges of his voice are tight and weary. Hurt, despite knowing that Aki threatening to leave him alone is simply tit for tat. He whips around to stomp toward the kitchen again to fetch a rag and wet it in the sink. ]

Get your head outta your ass. It's not just any grave, [ Denji says when he's back, standing the can back up. The joints of his knees crackle as he crouches. ] You don't know. [ He scrubs and scrubs, white-knuckled, using more strength in the motion than he has to. More so to erase how shaken he feels than to actually clean anything up. ] You don't know what door you're trying to open.

[He wants to snap at him for making a mess, call him a child again because he knows it's getting to him, but Aki stops when he hears that gravel in his voice. He stares down at him as he scrubs at the soda, the carbonation fizzled out and just a puddle of brown now. He doesn't know, he's right. But what does it matter? His point still stands.]

What do you mean, door? [He doesn't move to approach, standing his ground where he is in the hallway.] I want you to start thinking about these things. You're too old to brush them under the rug. It's time to start thinking about your future. [He takes in a brief breath of annoyance, something else coming to mind.] I heard what junk you put on your career planning form. Do you really think life is so easy that you can lay back and just dream about girls all day and night instead of anything that matters? [Maybe he should let off, but he's already speeding and if he's going to get pulled over, what's an extra few miles over the limit?] I need you to care about this stuff. For people like us - All we have is one another, and I can't take care of you forever.

[ Aki keeps needling, needling, needling, a thread poking in and out, like trying to hem a patch into the skin of an old doll to fix it. But all he's doing is making it obvious how broken and old and dirty it is. Denji is. Telling him that even the small, inexpensive things he wants don't have any value. He wants to stay home? That's wrong. He wants a girlfriend? Wrong again. He wants a soda before bed? Basically a criminal offense.

Denji isn't even cleaning anymore, just blinking hard at his hands, cold and pruning from digging into the wet rag. ]

Then it's a good thing you won't have to forever, right? You must — [ The words close up in his throat, too hoarse and dry from the intensity of his breathing that he has to cough to clear away the feeling of having something lodged in it. ] Must be happy as shit to get to start over somewhere new. You won't have to come home as often once you're a big adult, no need to see us, yeah? 'cause you'd rather stare at your stupid fucking future —

[ Denji's eyes squeeze as he soars to his feet, hurtling the rag at Aki. Rushes for the entryway, twisting the lock and wrenching the door open hard enough for it the bang against the wall. Doesn't even look back as he takes off running, pitching himself through the dark of night. ]

Just go! Go on your trip, go to Tokyo — I hope you never come back and visit my grave!

[It's a stronger response than one he's gotten from Denji in... years, Aki thinks. The rag snaps him in the face and he moves out of the way in shock, wiping it away just in time to see him rush out the door. He starts to call after him, his voice pitching with anger and frustration, but he stops. Stares after him for a moment, forcing himself to stay in place.]

[Fine, he thinks. Let him run. Let him run off and go cry behind a dumpster. See if he cares. If he's going to act childish then Aki will be an adult about this. He takes the rag into the sink and wrings it out, dropping it over the edge of it and staring down into the basin. He shouldn't care. He never said anything wrong. He wants Denji to do the things he was grateful he had done earlier. The moment he was able to return home to do a grave visit, he did. It didn't matter that he had to save up for two extra tickers, it was worth it. And it would be worth it for Denji, too. So what if he didn't have a close relationship with his family, if that's the case? They're still family. He should respect them. If Denji died - ]

[Aki grips the basin tightly. His teeth clenched together behind lips pulled thin. He squeezes his eyes shut, willing the thought to leave his head, but it's always there. It's never not there. If Denji died, if Power died. He's always scared of that. He thinks about how the last thing he said to his parents was an annoyed snap. How he called his brother stupid rather than his name when he came running after him. If this was the last time he saw Denji, how could he go on if the last words he heard him say were that he hoped he wouldn't visit his grave?]

[He bangs on the bedroom door until Power unlocks it so he can tell her to stay inside and not to let anyone in, but to keep the door unlocked. She offers to come with but Aki tells her to stay - if Denji comes back, somoene should be here. She starts to argue but he's already pulling his shoes on and hurrying outside, repeating for her to stay put even as she insists she can smell him from a mile away and wouldn't he like to use her ultra-sensitive wonderful nose? Aki doesn't respond and just rushes outside, pushing the door shut behind himself. If he's not immediately visible, he starts to hurry through the streets, calling his name loudly into the night.]

[Devils aren't nocturnal things. They could be out no matter what time it is. But it doesn't matter. The pounding fear that Denji will run right into the maws of one keeps him yelling his name until his throat aches.]

[ He used to be able to run for longer than this. Longer and faster. So fast his mom would yell at him over the sounds of cicadas blaring their call, slow down, what’s the rush, hardly able to keep up, as his dad followed from the very back, reminding them both to be careful going uphill. Watch your step. I don’t want you to hurt yourself, Denji, that's what he said, yeah. Yeah, he’s pretty sure that's the phrasing he used, pretty sure that’s how the memory went, and then when they reached the top of the view, they would lay a checkered blanket down on the ground, help each other arrange the food from the basket…

Right? Was this a memory or was it just some dream he adopted as one? If not, was his dad already dead by then? Was his mom? He thinks she died young, but how young, he can't really parse out, not unless he finely picks his memory clean from beginning to end, crust to core, page to page.

And he can't do that while his feet hurt so bad, dirt and pebbles stabbing into the bottom of his feet like shrapnel. About three minutes into his run, Denji's velocity drops into a walk, his chest heavy, his lung twined with what feels like a pack of rocks. After he manages to catch his breath, he picks his pace back up again. Keeps on like that for a while, slowing and racing down the street, ignoring the blisters starting to bubble in his skin. Dumb of him not to wear shoes, he knows. But he was mad. People do things when they're mad. Like throw stuff: words, rags, beer bottles. You don't mean to hurt anyone or see anyone get hurt, it just happens.

Eventually, he arrives at a playground. It's an older one; the three of them used to wile their time on the swings here back as junior high students. He and Power would always insist on standing on the seats, competing for who could arc to the highest height, and yelling bribes down at Aki to push one or the both of them, or even to join in the competition. Now, though, Denji walks past the swing set, crawling inside a dome shaped like a lady bug, its holes entrances for young children to hide inside during games. He's not sure what compels him to. Maybe he just wants to feel enclosed, wrapped inside something, the way you might with a hug. In there, collapsed on his back, he's finally able to breathe, let the weak, yet still pumping, artery in his chest rest.

His eyes close — it's late, he should be more conscious of his surroundings, sure, but who the hell cares if there's something hiding in the shadow? He might even have more in common with whatever's there than who's waiting for him back at home.

So when Denji hears a dark snarl, all teeth, he doesn't even flinch when he turns his head to look. ]

[He doesn't know why he comes to the playground, just that it seems like somewhere a kid would go when running away. He's seen it in movies and anime, children hiding in the slide tunnel or under the cover of the raised paths. He remembers going here with Denji and Power some years ago, thinking this felt normal, felt good. It wasn't long after he had gotten approved for school housing with them so it felt especially grown up to be able to take them to somewhere in their new neighborhood. Somewhere nice and safe and friendly. Then, he was passing by the ladybug patterned dome and spotted a child crouched there, dirty and skinny and dead in the eyes. Not the first nor the last kid he had seen like that, but in that moment it struck him. He took the two of them home and insisted on making something big for how much energy they let out. Secretly, selfishly, telling himself they'd never turn out like that kid.]

[So maybe that's why he goes to the playground, and maybe that's why he passes the swings and goes toward the ladybug. Power liked that spot more, liked the red color and the spots, but when he gets close and hears a snapping sound Aki freezes up, immediately thaws as he backs away. He knows where all the police call boxes are in the area (because of course he does) but the nearest one is at the entry to the playground. Too far to get to if something is chasing him. He starts to creep towards the call box in the hopes whatever it is won't hear him but when he moves toward the swings he sees a flash of what looks like blond. When he does a double take, he's sure that's exactly what it is.]

[There's no time to second guess that and there's no time to wait for a devil hunter. Aki has been preparing for this his entire life, he tells himself as fear ripples through him. This is what he's going to do. Save people. Protect the family he does have. Pulling up to his full height, he marches forward with nothing but his body to defend himself and yells out with equal parts rage and fear in his voice.] Hey! Devil!

[ This is what Aki will see, peering into the husk of the ladybug: Denji quietly stroking the head of a rotund, and noticeably injured, creature, blood glossing his tawny fur. Calming the poor thing as his fangs jab into his arm, not hungrily, not ravenously, not even deeply — frankly, he's so weak his teeth barely manages to sink through his skin and draw out enough to drink. Almost careful to avoid running his chainsaw into him. The pain is more of a prick, a paper cut. The twitch that flutters through his expression offers a momentary glimpse of pain but nothing past that.

And judging by Denji's the widening of his eyes as he very slightly jerks to regard Aki, his bellow is more startling to him than the devil teething his forearm. ]

What, he found me already…? [ The devil groans weakly in reaction to the new presence, threatened by him for obvious reasons, prompting Denji to refocus. Trying to soothe him, to hush his whimpering, he murmurs, ] Oh, don't worry about him, boy, Aki doesn't bite.

[ …Actually, maybe he shouldn't promise that. There's a reason why Aki is so dead set on passing the Public Safety hiring exam, after all; he can't discount the possibility that Aki may hate devils enough to bite one, even one that's injured and unable to protect itself. So he follows up his statement with a correction. ]

I won't let him bite you.

[ If he knows Aki, he'll probably be stomping up soon to bully him some more. Drag him back home. It'll be more painful for both the devil and Denji if he's wrenched away in the midst of him gulping down his blood, so he gently pries his jaw open to release his arm. In a louder voice, he goes: ] This devil's a good boy, so don't hurt him, Aki. I'm being serious. I'll bite you.

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