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It was cold with a glint of morning air wafting in the air. Her ears picked up a tweeting sound, buzzing in the corner of the room. She tried ignoring it at first, but then it kept ringing and ringing like an annoying fly that her eyes clipped open by themselves. It took a couple of seconds for them to jet completely fenceless. They took a little light at first, somber and muffled within the paltry hue of the room. She hadn't yet noticed the baby and grown-ass man laid beside her. Her velvet cardigan was stuck under the sheet and in the hands of a certain Alas Ramus. She smiled a little before a sudden surge of soreness invaded her back.
Oof…Tatami mats make me stiff, she thought, massaging her shoulders. We need to purchase at least a real futon for Alas Ramus…
The serene feeling ended when her eyes fell on the snoring man whose hips had invaded the majority of their sleeping place, snoring with his mouth agape. Wretched invader, I guess that does suit him…
She took the vitamin that Eme gave to her hands. It let out an odd smell, indescribable in human prose. She sneaked a peek behind the cap, it had this brownish complexion, but still, she needs to drink this. There's no telling when Gabriel will show up. She gulped it down and looked at Maou one more time, this is for Alas Ramus.
She stood up to wash her face. The bathroom was nowhere near luxurious. The water was collected inside a grey foot-high bucket that was located beside the squatting toilet, washed away by a putrid color. She just shook her head, what a mess, we can't let her stay in here for longer.
The sound of running water instantly woke him up. It must've been the cheapskate inside him wailing.
"Emi, you in there?" the man asked in a sleepy tone
Her face turned flushed, "Y-Yeah, and don't you there do anything weird!" she continued, the ongoing bustle of the water masked the squeakiness in her voice.
"Yeah-yeah…heard you loud and clear, can't say the same about this archangel though."
Emi's face turned beet red in an instant, "W-WHAT!?"
A short and petulant sound snapped back. From her side of the door, it sounded like a cough, but it kept coming back, like a cough that makes your mouth wider and wider, until the cough completely lost its deep tone. Ah, she gets it now, he's laughing.
"Just kidding! Just don't take too long. The water bill has been skyrocketing up our asses these few couples of months," he replied. The sound of his footsteps slowly lessened.
I'm not even taking a shower, she thought.
The moment she got up she was greeted by a slightly limp Maou, leaning all his weight on one leg. His hands holding two same-colored mugs. Despite the dim light, she could see the layers of smoke flitting up to the empty space.
He handed it to her without a word, the smoke stayed stable with the lack of circulation in the room. It was burning hot, no wonder the red mark stamped on his palm. It was a standard espresso, not quite her favorite but enough to get her through most days. She prefers a latte. This one's a bit too bitter for her liking.
But she thanked him nonetheless. Her from the past could never imagine uttering the word thank you to the man who killed her father. But times change, and the novelty in their relationship lost its touch. Now, more than ever, she sees him as a fellow human being, who ought to be treated as one. She still hasn't given up on slaying him though, but it seems like bigger troubles kept on coming after one another. Every time she has breathing space, to at least, think about confronting him, someone or something comes striking in. She just hasn't had the chance yet…or maybe…it's the other way around.
"The coffee will get cold man... Don't just stand like there confused like a bimbo, this is a big day for us, you know." he blurted, from outside her stream of consciousness.
"Sorry."
They stood side by side, leaning against the kitchen counter. Anxiously waiting for the inevitable fate, that they would have to confront, whenever that may be. The room is dark, the shot of espresso releases a violent smell into the ambient air, they don't know what they're doing. It's still five but Gabriel could come any time now, and they wouldn't have a clue what to do. They'll fight, sure. But how are they planning to fight a being that is stronger than them, even in their primes. How every clank of a blade, how every cast of a spell, how every twist of their tongues would even give them a modicum of chance. Because, despite their big talks and smirks, they both know, deep in their heart, that they simply do not stand a chance.
"Unghh…"
The vocal transcript had just shifted in its balance. A sudden voice, low, like a growl, a kitten's growl.
That alerted both of them. The grip on their mugs tightened, their hands slowly descending. Maou was the first one to move, he put down the glass of coffee and started heading towards the light switch. It's located right next to the door, so it's the farthest place from their current standing position.
"Unghhh…Mama…"
As they looked down at their feet, the little bundle under the blankets peeked out. Her hair was fair and luminous, messily scattered along the tatami floor.
"Papa…"
They immediately got down on the floor, Maou was squatting to the left of the sephirah while Emi sat down to her right.
"Is she calling for us?" the man asked, confused.
Emi replied by shrugging her shoulders. The majority of Alas Ramus's body was still covered by the fluffy sheet. Only half of her head was peeking out. She moved and rustled around for a bit, seemingly unable to find a comfortable position to fall back to sleep. They could see a visible trembling of the blanket. A little slope was formed due to her latching on to it from under. She's freezing.
"I think her nose is stuffed, it's not really cold though…" murmured Maou.
"No, I've checked, it's not that. I think she's just…cold." replied the hero, twisting her braids silently.
The baby called for her parents one more time. And upon seeing the harrowing look on her face, their heart just couldn't take it anymore.
With a slight redness on both of their faces, they lifted up the dormant blanket from the floor. Maou went in first, his slim stature fit perfectly to the small space, and the moment that she felt her father's scent, her frail fingers immediately palmed his Uniqlo shirt.
It was Emi's turn. And it seemed like, trying to fit through a small hole under a blanket wearing a set of "date clothes" was not that good of an idea.
"Don't you dare look," she muttered
Her fingers gently undid the golden lock of her belt, and with that, she felt free. Her hips weren't oppressed anymore, her red blazer fell off the easiest it had ever been, and most important of all, she could breathe, with all the capacity of her lungs and diaphragm.
She still wore her stockings to bed, unable to even imagine the embarrassment if Maou ever sneaked a peek of her bare thighs. Luckily, it was a smooth ride.
Feeling the sudden freedom of space, Alas Ramus placed her head on Mama's chest. Her arms twisting and fiddling with the weird shape of Emi's braids. She wasn't shivering anymore, and within a couple of minutes, light snores can be heard coming out of her mouth.
Emi and Maou stayed in their current position, not wanting to disturb her sleep. The snores' tones peaked and fell as the sound of the clock traveled through the wind. They are now back in this position. Sleeping side by side with only a baby between them.
"Look at her snoring, what a cutie, right?" Maou whispered
"Yeah…I guess we'll have to stay like this for a while…haha" she replied, unable to stop herself from smiling at a moment that would not be possible at any other time. But one that she will cherish, nonetheless.
"They're on me....on me...ON ME GODDAMNIT!" shouted the long-haired man.
Gabriel is currently sitting on a gaming chair in front of a monitor. Fully equipped with headphones, he has Falorant on with the sound pumped up to the max.
"Oi Greek! My store's opening soon! Get your ass out of here!"
His eyes travel to the clock hanging on the wall. It's eight thirty-five.
"Fuck" he muttered.