#shard avarest

     “I take it I’m ‘pretty boy’?” Loch asked from the doorway he was leaning in. Asher swung round, not having heard him approach. “Hm. Not the worst name you could have picked, I suppose.” He smirked as Asher gaped at him, and he pushed himself off the frame. He walked up to him and gave him a quick kiss, then turned to the freezer and grabbed his sorbet. Asher watched stiffly as he sat opposite Shard and they stared each other down.

     Asher glowered at the small demon sat at the dining table. She glared back at him, clearly bored of waiting.      “Is it official?” Asher asked without preamble.      “Yep. Angel said she’s sorry, but couldn’t trust your brothers with me.” Shard grinned. “I guess that’s nice, huh? That you’re the only one mummy dearest trusts with the big bad demon.”      “Shard, you’re five foot nothing and haven’t ever done anything evil in all the time I’ve known you,” Asher scoffed. “‘Big Bad Demon’ you are not.”      “Hey, I resent that!” Her smile hadn’t left though. “So, let me guess, rule number one, stay away from pretty boy upstairs?”      “Something like that,” Asher said, crossing his arms. “You stay out of my room unless there’s an emergency. And you don’t do anything to scare him, got it?”      “You could be more specific than that. Boy looks like a stiff wind might scare him, poor thing.”      “His name is Loch,” Asher hissed through gritted teeth.      “Oh, I know who he is.” Shard sat up, a crooked grin on her face. “Loch Karaish, third-generation Karaish, the first generation born in Grey’s Harbour. They’re a very fascinating family, and a good choice. You picked a pretty one, too. I was always disappointed when your mum married your dad, a boring human, and no offence, not much of a looker either. Though I guess you might not have genetic kids, so kind of a wasted choice, really. What?” she asked as he stared at her, trying to make sense of anything she said. Like always, she rambled away, only half explaining thoughts as they came to her.      “Loch is human,” was the only thing he could pick out to contest.      “Mostly,” Shard said enigmatically. “But I’m getting ahead of myself, anyway. Not likely you’ll have kids, so it doesn’t really matter.”      “What happens to you, then?” Asher asked, pushing away the upsetting thoughts that her statement brought up. “If I don’t have kids, who do you go to?”      “The nearest relative, so in your case, one of your brothers.”      “So why didn’t you just go to one of them in the first place?” Asher snapped.      “Not my choice,” she said with a nonchalant shrug. “Though honestly, I’d rather stick with you for now.”      “Why?” he huffed.      “Because.” She snorted when he rolled his eyes at her one-word answer. “Cheer up, Ashy, it’s not all so bad. I’ll stay out of your way for the most part. And I promise to leave pretty boy alone,” she said in a mockingly immature tone, and Asher growled under his breath.

     “I like him,” Shard said eventually, breaking eye contact first and smiling to Asher. “He can stay.”      “I didn’t realise that was up for debate,” Loch said, raising an eyebrow as he ate his first mouthful of sorbet.      “It wasn’t,” Asher grumbled, glaring at Shard. “She’s winding you up.”      “Ineffectively,” Loch scoffed.      “Oh? Guess I’ll have to try harder.”      “You can try.” Loch shrugged, unfazed, and continued to eat his frozen breakfast. “But you can go ahead and give Asher back his phone now.”       Asher looked at them both, then patted his pocket where his phone should have been.       “She took it when she left your room.”      “He is a quick one, isn’t he.” Shard stood up with a snicker and held the mobile out to him. “Here.” She smirked when Asher snatched the phone from her and hastily shoved it back into his jeans. “Just trying to keep you on your toes.”      “And why do I suspect you’re lying?” Asher asked wearily.      “Demon,” she replied jovially with a wink. “Well, I’ll leave you loverboys to it. See ya around!”       Asher had to admit, he was impressed when Loch barely even blinked when she disappeared without a sound.

     “SHARD!” Asher burst through the door, shouting as soon as he saw the small girl in the room. “Get. OUT!” He pointed out the door furiously, but she just rolled her eyes at him.      “Oh, don’t shout Ashy. I was only introducing myself.”      “Go downstairs, do not leave the house. I will deal with you in a minute. “      “Alright, alright. Jeez.” She turned back to Loch and gave him a silly wave. “Bye, Lochy, was nice to meet you!” She looked back at Asher, who was glaring at her, his breathing deep and angry. “I’m going!” She petulantly poked her tongue out at him as she left. Asher slammed the door behind her, and Loch watched as he tried to calm himself before turning to face him. Loch must have looked scared because he deflated almost instantly.      “I’m sorry, I didn’t realise she’d be around,” he said in a forced calm tone, taking a step towards him. “Please, don’t freak out.”      “I’m trying my best,” Loch replied, his voice a little wobbly, though he was surprisingly calmer than he’d normally expect. Something about the girl’s demeanour had made him nervous, but also defensive. He realised what it was; her exaggerated childishness and fake, sugar-sweet tone reminded him of the way Sky could sometimes act. It must have caused his usual stubbornness to show no weakness to somewhat kick in. “Who the hell was that?!” he finally burst out; Asher had no sisters, he wasn’t attracted to girls in the slightest, so he knew he had no reason to worry there, and his brothers didn’t live here anymore, so no girlfriends; that took away any answers that made sense.      “Okay, um, maybe you should sit down?” Asher suggested, and Loch wasn’t sure if that was because what he was going to say would be so shocking, or because he was worried Loch was on the verge of losing it. Loch took a steadying breath and sat down on the edge of the bed.      “I’m okay,” he assured, and Asher sat down beside him, running a hand through his dark hair, clearly trying to work out how to start explaining.

     “So you’re the guy Ashy’s been shtupping!” An unexpected female voice behind him as he did up his cardigan buttons made Loch yell out in surprise. He spun around, and his mouth opened and closed soundlessly in shock at the petite, dark-haired girl behind him. He hadn’t heard the door. How long had she been stood there? Better question, who the hell was she?! “Oh, did I startle you? Sorry, I forget you humans can be so easily spooked.”      “Wh-who the hell are you?”      “Family friend... More or less. The more important question is who are you?” She tilted her head at him like she was trying to read him. “OH! You’re a Karaish, aren’t you?! Finally! All though... damn. You’re both guys. That’s not helpful...” She sighed like something had let her down. Loch was still in too much shock to process any of the nonsense she was speaking.