by J. J. Dean
She watches wide eyed as the X is visibly drawn in bright gold hues across my chest before fading through my shirt and into my skin. A faint light from where the vow sits etched into my skin is faintly visible underneath the thin white material, the color dimmed but there. I pay it no mind, however, when Luna speaks.
"I forgot we could do that," she whispers in awe. Her eyes linger on my chest for a few more seconds before she shifts her gaze until she's staring at me unblinking. "Why? Why did you do that?" She asks perplexed, her eyes narrowing slightly with suspicion.
"I'm not here to make you uncomfortable, so if using your given name does as much, then I want to rectify the situation. I'm not going to hurt you Luna, I swear it," I reply, honesty pouring into every syllable.
I hold her gaze. Her gray eyes watch me wearily, before she comes to the conclusion that I'm telling the truth. Her shoulders sink and her entire body relaxes, tension seeping out of her body like air out of a balloon. She sighs deeply before rolling her neck to unravel the knots that must have gathered as she slept awkwardly in the chair. I hadn't realized she'd been strung as tight as a violin, or else I'd have confessed and sworn sooner that I intended no harm to her.
"You said you only know me as Neveah. How? I'd have thought I'd be long forgotten by now," she asks, a wary guard falling over her face as though she needs to protect herself from me.
"You're the most known Angel in existence. Everyone knows who you are," I reply gently, feeling like I should likely tread carefully with my words.
She pauses while that sinks in, before her hand connects with her forehead. "Fucking A. Isn’t that marvelous. Just absolutely goddamn marvelous."
She takes a look around the room before deciding to ungracefully throw herself back into the chair she just left. She shifts and shimmies until she's comfortable before changing the conversation. "So... what brings you to Earth, Noah Samuels?"
With a scratch to my eyebrow, I tell her honestly, "Uh, I don't actually know. I've been here just over a week with no instructions or anything. I guess I'm playing a waiting game. I should find out soon enough, I should think."
Luna nods like she understands, but her eyes tell me she knows something I don't. It's like she already knows why I'm here but is testing the waters. It's peculiar, to say the least.
"So, you just got plucked from whichever side you came from and landed on Earth with no clue as to why you're here?" There’s a hint of suspicion tinging her words as she watches me carefully, trying to play it off as casual conversation.
"I was notified that I was needed here, but I wasn't given enough time to acquire the reasoning. I'm afraid I'm as clueless as you for the time being," I answer, skimming over her comment about which side I serve.
Luna tenses in her seat for a brief moment, and I cock my head to the left slightly. She knows more than she's letting on, that much is becoming more and more obvious. But what could it be? Does she know why I'm here?
I open my mouth to question her in return, but I'm too slow when she shoots out of her chair and wanders languidly to the wall of books at the far end of the room. Her hips sway with the movement, and my eyes are drawn to her pert behind as she walks. I must have zoned out as she made her way to the books, because I suddenly hear a clearing of a throat and an amused, "Noah, did you hear me?"
I shake my head and can feel the full body blush trailing up my body, racing up my neck and into my face. Great, I couldn't have been looking at something else? She surely thinks I'm a pervert now that she's caught me thoroughly eyeing her ass.
Embarrassed that I had been caught checking her out, I cough and stutter, "I-I'm sorry, what did you- you say?"
She bites her lip to cover the laugh, her eyes shining with mirth. I almost get distracted by her row of straight, white teeth sinking in to her plump bottom lip until she asks the question I'd missed before. "How did you end up at the library of all places?"
I take a look around at the grand library, beautiful on the inside, drab and unsightly on the outside, and smile a small smile. "I actually live in the apartment above. I've no idea how I got there and the library has been empty since I've been here, so I assumed the apartment was mine for my time here and I suppose I just claimed the library as an extension. I've grown rather fond of it."
"You like to read?" she asks, her eager expression lighting up like the stars in the night sky. My breath hitches before I cough into my hand to cover the hiccup.
"Uh, yeah. Love it, actually. It's my favorite thing to do. I'm not really a people person," I respond bashfully.
I can feel my cheeks grow warm again, feeling out of sorts around the beautiful Angel who's given me more sweet smiles than I've received in all of my long life. She has a strange effect on me, one I'm not familiar with. I feel compelled to protect her, look out for her, like I did when that burly stranger came into my normally empty library asking about her. I don't know what made me do it, but I lied and told him I'd never seen Luna, when I'd actually caught her sleeping peacefully, her face smoothed out and content, making her already beautiful face even more so.
"Me, too. I'm always reading." She grins in my direction and there goes my breath again.
I'm intrigued, thoroughly so, by the Angel who fell so long ago. Her hard-outer shell hides a gentle soul, if her soft smiles in my direction are anything to go by. Her tattoos and crass mouth a disguise for softness and vulnerability. I'm finding myself unusually drawn to her, and I can't for the life of me place my finger on why.
"Well, I really should be going. I don't need the caveman finding me, so now is as good a time as any to leave," she tells me, twisting her body so she stands directly in front of me instead of facing the plethora of books behind her.
I feel a sudden surge of panic, and realize that I don't want her to leave yet. I mean, that's absurd. I've only met her and know nothing about her, but my suddenly accelerated heartbeat and clammy palms don't seem to believe in logic when the prospect of the Angel leaving and never seeing her again settles quickly in my brain.
Before I can think better of it, I blurt, "You're always welcome here should you find yourself hiding from anymore scary looking men."
She laughs heartily before responding, "I'll be back regardless of any scary men. I'm pretty much in love with this building. I think I found my second favorite place on Earth."
She gives me another toothy grin and makes her way to leave again. I don't stop her this time, letting her strut away from the book wall and towards the entrance where the front door is. I twist to follow behind her out of the room, focusing on not looking down to where her hips are no doubt swishing as she walks. I do not need to get caught twice.
Just as she reaches her hand out for the obnoxious door handle on the front door, I stumble over my question, tentatively asking what I've wondered since the giant man came barging into the library asking for Luna, "I, uh… can I just- why were you hiding from that guy before?"
"I wasn't hiding," she's quick to point out. "I was… laying low. And I'm not sure you want the scoop on that particular story."
With a wink that paints my cheeks pink again, she's pulling the door open and walking out of the building before I can further question her, leaving me utterly intrigued, more so than before. I stop the door from closing fully and step outside to watch her walk towards the cracked steps that lead to the pavement. As she's leaving, however, another body is walking up the steps towards the front door.
A man with white blonde hair and sharp features strides up the steps and only briefly pauses when Luna passes by his side with a polite smile. I can see her body stiffen a fraction when she properly looks at the man as she's passing, something akin to recognition flashing in her gray eyes, but she shakes it off quickly and resumes her walking, albeit a little faster than before. She hurries down the steps and calls out, "In a while, crocodile," before looking back, waving in my direction, and speeding off back to wherever she came from.
The newcomer reaches the top of the
steps and stops before me, holding his hand out and asks, "I'm assuming you're Noah? Noah Samuels?"
I nod in confirmation and reach my hand out to shake his. When my hand connects with his, his eyes flash a bright peridot before fading to a light green. He nods before letting go of my hand, no doubt acknowledging my eyes doing the same, flashing their bright gold.
"Can I ask who you might be?" I query, tucking my hands into the pockets of my black jeans.
"Devon Crowe," he answers swiftly. He then walks around me and into the building, leaving me with nothing but his name and no idea as to who he is and what he's doing here.
I find myself following him into the library and, as soon as the heavy door shuts, I push further, "What can I do for you, Mr. Crowe?"
He stops at the entry desk and places a large duffle bag I hadn't noticed before onto the surface before turning to face me and answer my question.
"I'm here to give you a mission, assuming you have no idea why you're here." I shake my head in the negative, so he continues. "I didn't think so. The man upstairs sent us both here to retrieve something of great value to Him. We'll be working together so I'll be staying with you for the time being."
I blame it on Luna when confusion pushes its way into my head. Man upstairs? I'm the man upstairs. No one else lives in my apartment. "I think you may be mistaken. I'm the only person who lives in the apartment upstairs," I tell him.
Devon looks at me as though I'm a few sandwiches short of a picnic. He rolls his eyes when he realizes I'm genuinely confused. "I meant Him. You know? The great Creator. God. Him."
"Oh, of course. Sorry," I mumble, feeling my face grow red once again. I internally cringe, sure the man must think he's landed himself with an idiot for a partner. Had I not still had Luna on my brain, I'd have known that.
"And what might it be that we're here to retrieve?" I question, ignoring my flaming face and the way Devon is side eyeing me as though I'm going to say something else equally ridiculous.
He turns to face me fully now that I'm focused and he has my full attention. His eyes flicker to the front door before quickly meeting mine again.
All color drains from my face when he replies. "A Fallen Angel."
Luna
I take my time strolling back to Frenchie's, basking in the last of the sunlight that's slowly fading into darkness. I tilt my head back and watch the sky turn from shades of bright orange and yellow, to various shades of purples, pinks, and blue.
I go back to thinking about the guy I saw walking towards the library as I was leaving. The color of his hair caught my attention easily, and I know I've seen it before, but I can't remember where. He felt familiar to me somehow, but no matter how much I wrack my brain, no memory comes to me, so I'm left to wonder who the hell he is.
It takes me no time to reach the store due to my steady pace. I hadn't realized how close that library was to Frenchie's. That makes things convenient for me when I decide to visit the Tardis library again.
I reach my hand into my sheer lace bra and pull out the key to the coffee shop that I remembered to tuck in there before leaving my apartment for the day, pleased with myself for deciding my bra was the best place for its safekeeping today. I reach the locked door to the store and let myself in, flicking the lock when the door closes securely behind me.
I shuffle my feet a few steps into the room but come to a sudden stop when the lights flick on. All thoughts of the stranger with incredibly pale hair vanish from my mind when I land face to face with the giant I escaped earlier, the man standing directly in fucking front of me. I scream like a raving banshee from the scare and clasp my hands over my chest where I can feel my heart thundering in rapid succession. I make a move to turn and run, only to get caught around the waist by a different set of arms that don't belong to the angry looking Angel who's now behind me.
"Now, where do you think you're going, Flower? We've been waiting hours for you," comes the amused voice of the Angel I quickly realize is the redhead from before, the one with the killer smile, drop dead gorgeous looks and used that exact nickname before I figured out he, too, is an Angel. Damn it.
"You shouldn't have. Really," I sarcastically retort, wriggling my body in hopes that if I move the right way, he'll lose his grip on me. No such luck when the asshole rights my body, moving me like I weigh next to nothing. He places me on my feet, body facing Asher the Angry Angel and wraps his toned arms around my waist, pulling me flush so his entire body suctions itself to mine. I mean, literally his entire body.
Repeating 'it's a torch, he's not happy to see me' repeatedly in my head as not to get distracted by the bulge I can distinctly feel pressing up against my ass, I focus on the Angel before me. The Angel who still looks like he wants to throttle the shit out of me. Damn. Weren’t two orgasms enough to calm him down? Maybe I should give him another.
I inhale ready to start singing again, when the man lifts a beefy hand and points at me, grinding out, "Don't you fucking dare."
My breath leaves me in a whoosh of air, and I feel the redhead's body vibrate behind me with suppressed laughter. I accidentally crack a smile when the man snorts when holding his laughter fails miserably, and Asher’s eyes narrow dangerously on the two of us.
I elbow the Angel who's still holding me snugly to his chest and loud-whisper, "Don't laugh at Asher the Angry Angel. Clearly two orgasms did nothing to tame the beast. Don't want anything to happen to that pretty face of yours."
The redhead openly laughs harder at his friend's expense and Asher’s eyes narrow even more so, enough that I'd be surprised if he can even see anything out of them.
I shimmy some more, tugging to get away from the Angel holding me hostage, but it's a futile attempt when he pulls me even tighter to his body. His laughter tapers off and he leans his head down, his mouth lightly touching the shell of my ear. I suppress a shudder of desire from racking my body, not willing to give him the satisfaction that he's affecting me. The redhead whispers, "I'll let you go only if you swear not to try another attempt at running."
I huff and stand straighter, deciding it's the least I can offer if it means I won't be restrained further. Lifting my right hand, I draw a cross that visibly shows in a brilliant silver light and vow, "I swear I won't try to run away."
The bright X sinks into my skin, the light fading to a soft glow under the surface of my skin. It's enough for the Angel behind me when he reluctantly releases me from his hold. I move to the side so both Angels are in my sight but not close enough to touch. It's then that I realize I haven't seen Ms. Frenchie yet. My guard instantly goes up and my stance turns rigid, my hands clenching at my side.
"Where the fuck is Francis?" I ask carefully, pronouncing each word slowly.
The two Angels look at each other but don't answer. I feel my panic rising and with it comes anger. They better hope on their pretty little wings that not a hair on that old woman's head has been harmed.
When the assholes do nothing but keep staring, I growl again, "Where the fuck is Francis?" My eyes flash a blinding silver, my anger getting the best of me, and I catch the redhead flinch and his eyes widen a fraction. He moves a step backwards, eyeing me wearily as though he's preparing for me to lose control of my temper.
Asher is quick to calm me down with his next words, "The old lady is upstairs, if that's who you're referring to. We didn't touch her. She actually let us stay until you arrived, locked up after the last of the customers left and went to her apartment. Said she knew you'd be back for the cookies."
My anger flees as quickly as it arrived, my eyes instantly going back to their muted gray and my entire body sags from the relief that the old bat is okay. My fists unclench and I rub my thumb over the indents my nails left in my palms. It then registers that Asher said Ms. Frenchie let them stay. Oh, I'm really stealing her horse-dog this time. Meddling crazy lady.
Now that the adrenaline from too many scares in one day is dissipating as quick as candy floss in water, exhaustion slams into my bones f
rom every direction. I rub my hands over my face, careful not to smudge my carefully applied makeup and throw my hair up in a messy high ponytail.
I ignore the Angels who are still watching me carefully and go in search of the aformentioned cookies. I spot them on the counter immediately and tuck into the deliciousness that is double chocolate chip.
I finish my second cookie before turning to face the two incredibly good-looking men, and ask, “What the shit are you two doing here?"
Asher and his friend quickly look at each other before Asher answers my question. "Waiting for you."
Not one to mince words, is he? I roll my eyes and face his friend, the Angel I still don't know the name of. I raise my eyebrow and lean back against the counter, asking the question again.
"I'll tell you if I can have a cookie. I'm fucking starved from waiting on your pretty little ass to get back here," he responds dramatically, rubbing a tatted hand over his flat stomach. I give him another eye roll, but when he pouts, I hold the plate out for him, biting the inside of my cheek to stop myself from smiling at his antics.
He steps closer and picks a cookie off the plate. I seem to be in a generous mood, so I pick another one off the plate and hand the second cookie to him, before snatching one for myself. I have no idea why I’m giving the jackass who scared ten years off my life – snort - more of my precious goods, but the thought of him being hungry when I have a plate full of cookies doesn’t sit right with me. Weird seeing as though I never share my cookies. Ever.
His face shows his surprise before it morphs into a panty melting smile, and two of the most glorious dimples make an appearance. Why did he have to have dimples, too? They're like my kryptonite. I'm being punished, I just know it.
The handsome asshole cheerily says his thanks and, instead of shifting back to where he stood, he settles himself right next to me, leaning his body on the counter beside me where his arm brushes mine. I give him a confused side eye, but decide my cookie needs more attention. Asher, however, feels differently, obnoxiously coughing until both Redhead and I look up from our treats.