𝐢'𝐦 𝐚 𝐡𝐮𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐧𝐞.

Mal sighed and closed his eyes for a second. “I will talk to him. He can’t just straight up assume you hate him, I know you don’t hate him, I never thought you hated him. He just doesn’t understand what we have between us.” Everyone didn’t understand what they had. “You’re not going anywhere, Cos.” He told him firmly then got into the water to pull him into a hug.

𝐜𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐦𝐨 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐝, eyes staying fixed on the gentle movements of the water that surrounded him. “why would i hate him?” it made no sense ------ malachi’s happiness was one of the most important things in the entire universe to him and theo was a part of that. “i just tried to help him UNDERSTAND our nature. that a relationship requires compromises. that you are a team now.” did he really have to treat him with kid gloves to make him see that he was trying to HELP them as a couple? the blond did not even realize that mal stepped into the water, not until he wrapped his arms around him. “i can’t promise that.” he mumbled very quietly, though he returned his hug in an instant.

“No, I do.” She nodded. “I hurt you and I hurt myself, so yes, I do need to apologise for it.” Anna shrugged some. “I did some thinking about it and yeah, I should really have kept my head down that night, not worn that dress. I don’t know what I was trying to do.”

𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐞𝐲𝐞𝐬 𝐟𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐢𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐛𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫, giving her a nod so she would prefer his usual ------ but it was only an EXCUSE not to look at anna while he spoke. “we hurt each other that night.” and yes, he was sorry for it too, but he wanted to make it easier on her. “you were trying to get your answer.” and if they were honest with themselves, just for a second, they would have to admit that she got one. his JEALOUSY told so much more than words could say before things got out of control. “i can’t blame you for it. i DON’T blame you for it.” how was she supposed to know that he would react like that? hell, not even cosimo himself saw that coming.

“I wasn’t hiding, I was just trying to play it cool.” She set the menu down now. “And failing, clearly.” Anna sat a little straighter now. “I thought about coming to see you at the penthouse but figured with how things got left between us, it was for the best if we had some space.” At least she could admit that to him. “Look, I know I said some things and I want to apologize for it, I was waiting for the right time to so here it is, I’m sorry. I never wanted you to feel like I was leading you on or using you. I said some horrible things I only wish I could go back and not say them, but I can’t, so I’m apologizing instead.” 

𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐥 𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐧 𝐞𝐲𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐨𝐰 𝐚𝐭 𝐡𝐞𝐫, suppressing the urge to ask how on earth hiding behind a menu was playing it cool. she was right about the next part though: it was probably for the best that she didn’t show up at the penthouse. who knows if he would have listened to her? “ANNA.” he let out a sigh and shook his head at her. “you don’t have to apologize.” both of them acted out that night and neither one of them could take it back. that was just the way things were, no?

Malachi listened to everything Cosimo was telling him before he reacted by getting off the lounger and went to sit at the side of the pool next to him. “I know things have been rough lately, but you can’t let it get to you. Going back to heaven and facing your punishments won’t solve anything, Cos. I for one, don’t want to see you subjected to whatever torture they will throw your way.” He reached out and put a hand on his best friends shoulder and gave it a squeeze. “Think about the good things you have going here, there’s me, Rosie and hell, even Kaitlyn now. I know things are looking on the dark side, but I promise, I’m going to be there every step of the way with you through this. I got you. Call me selfish if you like, but I don’t care, I care about you and your well being.”

𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐞𝐳𝐞 𝐨𝐧 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝𝐞𝐫 was appreciated, but he stayed SILENT, allowing a few moments to pass. “their punishment would be severe.” but maybe it would be so quick that he would barely feel a thing before they ended his existence in this realm and sent him to the empty. “maybe i DESERVE it.” he whispered to himself, but he placed one hand on his best friend’s and gave it a squeeze in return. “i know, mal. and i know that you want to be there for me.” there was another long pause and the blond glanced over his shoulder, studying him for a second until his eyes fell to the water again. “your boyfriend came by. he wanted to know why i hate him. instead of listening to me, he nearly lost control. asked why i won’t propose to you.” he sighed. “i know what you want. i want to be there for you too, but... maybe it would be EASIER for you without me in the picture.” maybe it would be easier for everyone.

She blinked and her eyes turned black like a void but when she blinked again, they were replaced with her usual brown hue as she sat in a cafe somewhere in the city, seemingly waiting and when the door jingled open, she pulled up the menu to her face, trying to make it look like she wasn’t watching him but the truth was she had been waiting for him to show up somewhere, having not wanted to just simply go to the pent house and get thrown out, so she bide her time, gave them space to think about things and here he was. It looked humorous though to an outsider.

When she thought it was all clear, she lowered the menu but got the fright of her life, jumping at the others sudden appearance. “Uh… hi?” Ugh, so much for playing it cool.

𝐢𝐭 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐠𝐨𝐝 𝐝𝐚𝐦𝐧 𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 to hide in the penthouse until the end of time, but sadly that was not an option. now that malachi and him were living with someone that NEEDED food, they had to go out and buy some. that was exactly what he went out to do, but he decided to make a little detour and take a break in one of his favorite cafés in the city. the angel went straight to the front to place his order, but something - no SOMEONE - distracted him. he turned around to look at her, just to sigh when he found her covering her face with the menu.

he was hesitant, but ultimately decided to approach her, a serious look on his face as she lowered the card and jumped from fright. “you don’t have to hide from me, you know that right?” they were stuck together. they were BOUND to run into each other from time to time and this kind of behavior would only make it harder.

“It may not do anything, but getting it off your chest is a good step.” Mal sat back on the lounger and drank a little more, he wasn’t going to push, but it didn’t make him any less concerned for his best friend.

𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐥 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐝𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐤, taking a sip while he waited for the silence to swallow them whole ------ but there was no point in that either, was there? he placed the bottle on the side of the pool, in between some of the candles, and he stared at the dark water while he began to speak. “do you ever feel like we had it WRONG when we broke heaven’s laws?” he took a deep breath, just to let it out. “i thought feelings would give our lives more quality, but they only bring pain.” cosimo clenched his jaw and finally glanced at malachi. “i am considering going back, mal. to heaven. to face my punishments. everyone i talk to gets hurt and i’m EXHAUSTED. maybe it’s time.” even if his return would most likely end with him slumbering in the empty for all of eternity.

she tried to get to her feet, but stumbled and ended up just sitting back down.  it was probably going to be a while before she would be able to walk again.  “i just…”  how would she even explain this to someone?  the best thing to do would be to tell the truth.  “i have been stuck in that form for hundreds of years.  starved and used as a weapon, because i am stronger in that form.  they would never let me gather enough strength to turn back.”  she truly felt bad for the man, he had thought he was getting a pet, and now here she was.  on the upside though, he did seem like he would be a better handler than the hunters ever had been.  “you could understand me, when i was a snake.  do you read minds?”

𝐜𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐦𝐨 𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐲 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐝 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐡𝐞𝐫 when she tried to get back on her feet just to stumble and sit back down. “woah. CAREFUL.” he tried to be gentle while he picked her up to place her on the couch and it was only then that he noticed she was not wearing anything. of course not. it would be odd if she shifted with clothes on. leaning over, the blond grabbed one of the cozy blankets they kept on the sofas and he offered it to her, just in case. “they sound like assholes.” and whether he wanted to admit it or not, the desire to CRUSH them was certainly there. “no. i can only read minds of those that are like me, if they grant me permission. but my kind is very capable of communicating with animals. i’m an ANGEL ------ will you tell me what you are?”

“Trust me, I won’t hold back but I don’t bite the hand that feeds me,” she reassured him, having learned over the years that pickiness would end up with her life growing more difficult. At his coaxing, she simply sighed, “a part of me doesn’t… doesn’t want this newfound family. I don’t know what it’s like to be a family.” She knew she was being unrealistic, and that this would only be for a short while but she felt so out of her comfort zone and she didn’t like being out of it. “You won’t, you’ve listened to my woes, it’s only fair . I listen to yours”

𝐡𝐞 𝐡𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐭 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐬 and continued to mix the ingredients until he paused to give her his full attention when she told him that a part of her did not WANT this family. “i understand. you have been through so much, you faced it all on your own. it becomes difficult to let people in, doesn’t it?” cosimo knew what that felt like. “you will learn. and as much as i get it, you should learn. if you push them away it will only get harder to let anyone in. you don’t want to be that bitter, trust me.” it would only make her want not to feel ANYTHING at all and there was nothing more dangerous than that. “it’s a long story and it involves a little bit of everything. family, relationships, life itself. it’s a lot.” and he could not expect her to listen to the chaos he created.

“ I don’t even want to know how rich you must be, I’d probably cry. ” Greta laughed. Sometimes she forgot everything that would go along with being an actual angel. “ I’m more than happy to follow you. I don’t even want to imagine what would happen if I tried, ” The redhead laughed, taking his hand to lead him back toward the door. She was still slightly nervous to dance in front of anyone, especially Cosimo, whose opinion mattered more to her than nearly anyone’s. “ Just remember — if I end up embarrassing us, you are stuck with me. ” 

𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐝 𝐣𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐨𝐧 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐥𝐚𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐞𝐫, a light grin on his lips. “you probably would.” he teased. “but you are in LUCK, i am very willing to share if you need anything.” cosimo gave her hand a squeeze as they walked outside. “oh, come on. i am not going to let you embarrass me. or YOURSELF. we can do this, greta.”

nothing for now.  she tried to tell him, her body stretching out to it’s full length, but there was something else.  the not so familiar stretching of her shift.  shit.  that thought was more to herself than anything else, but she’s sure the hiss had come out.  she hadn’t wanted to shift in front of him, or in front of anyone else for that matter, but she couldn’t stop it from happening now.  her body twisted, tail turning into two legs, arms shifting from her sides, and before she knew it, she was sitting on the floor in her human form.  she pulled her knees up to her chest, wrapping her arms around herself, just staring over at him, unsure of what to say.

𝐜𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐦𝐨 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐠𝐥𝐚𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐢𝐭, but he narrowed his eyes in confusion when he heard that simple word. SHIT. his lips parted and he wanted to ask her another question, but there was no time for it. all words got stuck in his throat as she began to shift ------ and for a minute or five he could not do anything other than STARING at her. for the first time in a VERY long time, the angel struggled to speak, but he had to say something. “i...” oh, wow. that was going well. “what... care to tell me what the HELL just happened here?” he had never seen anything like this before and that was something unspeakably rare. no wonder he was this speechless.

Malachi watched his friend carefully then sighed some. “Cosimo, what’s the matter? And don’t say nothing or try to avoid the subject, you know stuff like that doesn’t work on me.” He took a sip of his water. “It’s me and this is a safe space.”

𝐦𝐚𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐢 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐜𝐨𝐫𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐭, this was not NOTHING and he would fail miserably if he attempted to fool someone that knew him so well, but the angel shook his head anyway. “talking about it won’t do anything.” he murmured, allowing his body to sink a little deeper in the water. “but i appreciate the offer. i really do.” it was simply POINTLESS to take him up on it, wasn’t it?

She couldn’t help the slight smile at seeing Cosimo.  A mental note was made that if she ever needed to find the angel, this bar was a good place to start. “It is rather familiar isn’t it?  At least this time we’re on far better terms.”  The nickname alone left her feeling glad for the progress their relationship has made.   “Evening Cosi.  A bit tired, honestly.  But other than that things are good.”  

Celeste took a seat next to him, noticing his body language.  “I’m taking it the same cannot be said for you?”  She waived down the bartender, asking for a glass of rose.  “Do you want to talk about it?  If not I’m happy to simply provide some company.”

𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐬𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐠, nicknaming him, made him smile ------ no matter how SMALL it was. “sit down then. have a drink. a bite to eat, maybe.” it would be on him, the cupid deserved to relax if she felt exhausted.

he hummed at her guess while she ordered her wine. it was tempting to claim that he was fine, but he nodded his head. “things are difficult.” cosimo took a deep breath, turning in his stool to face her now that she sat. “i know i keep saying that, it just never STOPS.” and it drained him of his energy, in ways he never thought possible. “i don’t know if that is a good idea.” he admitted after she offered to listen. “whenever i say something, it looks like shit only gets WORSE.”

“ you don’t have to apologize. I know it’s not your fault, you would never leave me, I knew that. I wish I had been here earlier, it’s been hard without you. ” they had never been separated that long, especially not after what happened to Malachi. she smiled as he pulled her back in, clutching the back of his shirt as she held onto him. “ well it seems like we’re stuck in this train-wreck of a city, so I don’t think that will be as problem. ” Rose offered, a small laugh slipping from her lips. 

𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐡𝐚𝐝 𝐛𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐝 without him made him sigh, but he just kissed the top of her head and repeated his words. “i’m here now.” it did not undo the months that they spent away from each other, but he would do EVERYTHING in his power to make it up to her. “that is not what i meant and you know it.” he corrected in a serious but gentle tone and he gave her arm a gentle rub while he pulled back. “what is this place?” he asked, eyes flickering past the open door now that he was certain that his daughter was alright. “oh, rosie. you did not plan on staying HERE, did you?” that was unacceptable ------ and not just because they were used to italian luxury.

“Got it, just a bit then,” she chuckled, watching him in awe as he gathered the ingredients. “I’ve flown once and I’ve been alright, so I’m not too concerned” she reassured him, appreciating the fact that despite them having a fallout he seemed to still care. “They all know me, even if it was for a few months and I know none of them. It’s just…” she stopped, clearing her throat and beginning to help him. “Anyways,” she said, deciding to change the subject, “what about you? Anything interesting?”

𝐡𝐞 𝐧𝐨𝐝𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐝 at her reassurances. “don’t hesitate to tell me if something is NOT alright, okay?” dove did not deserve to be in pain, their last argument did not change anything about that. “it’s just what?” he asked, giving her a gentle nudge with his shoulder while he began to mix the ingredients for the sauce. “you can talk to me. if you want to keep calling me your guardian angel, you gotta make me work for it.” the blond coaxed, although he would let it go if she really wanted to change the subject. “too much. i don’t want to DEPRESS you.” and frankly, things were nothing other than depressing.

thank you. the hiss came out soft, before she moved up, gently taking the mouse from between his fingers.  she wasn’t quite as hungry anymore, but still needed the strength.  it took her a bit longer to swallow the mouse down this time, but when she was finished, she looked back up at him, no more.  full now.  the tip of her tail twitched slightly, signalling that she was content, before stretching out once more.

𝐜𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐦𝐨 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐚𝐭 𝐡𝐞𝐫 when she thanked him. “there is no need for that. you are part of this FAMILY now.” her well being mattered to him, just like it ( probably ) would to malachi. “alright. is there anything else i can do?” he asked, though he was glad to see those signals of contentment. believe it or not, he truly wanted her to be happy. he would never buy a pet just for the sake of owning one.

Mal went back into the penthouse, got some drinks and took them back outside, looking at Cos in the pool so just put his on the side near him so he could swim to it if he wanted before taking a seat on one of the sun loungers. “Do you think she’s trapped like that?” He asked, glancing back into the house at Kaitlyn. “Or is she a Familiar? She doesn’t feel like one though.” 

𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐥'𝐬 𝐞𝐲𝐞𝐬 𝐟𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐥𝐞 when he placed his drink in his reach and he muttered a quiet “THANKS.” although he did not swim toward it straight away ------ he felt too exhausted to move right now. “i don’t know.” he admitted, averting his eyes again. it felt like he didn’t know ANYTHING right now, so why bother talking? his words could only do harm anyway.

“So just a little bit then,” she joked, unable to help but laugh at her horrible attempt at a joke. “Nope, I will eat anything, I have no room to judge,” she replied, hands raised before tilting her head at his comment. “Why would you want to take a look at it? I like it, it reminds me that I’m not completely untouchable,” she smiled before shrugging. “It’s… It’s weird, to have a family. I don’t know how to be a family”

𝐜𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐦𝐨 𝐠𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐚 𝐬𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐞, whether it was a lame joke or not. “in the light of the duration of my existence... yes, just a little bit.” he nodded his head at her answer and started to gather some ingredients for them. “i think it’s fine, as long as it doesn’t have an IMPACT on you when you fly.” the angel murmured. “i wish i could say something smart, but honestly? i don’t know either.”