1x1 with icycycle - angelxdemon

[velasco]

𝕾𝖍𝖞𝖑𝖔 I ①⑦    &⃝ ①②⑦ I 𝕸𝖆𝖑𝖊

Letting out a slight giggle, Shylo's eyes met with Rei's. "You don't have to lie, my voice isn't that good." He smiled brightly. "I'm sure your voice sounds beautiful."

His cheeks grew a strawberry red as the classroom fell silent and Shylo continued softly humming. This angered his teacher, earning him some time after school. He sighed softly to this news, no more than slightly aggravated. He wasn't angry or fuming like most students would be, perhaps it was the angel in him, he was only looking at it as a slight inconvenience, because it meant spending less time with friends out of school - Especially Rei.

He adverted his attention to his paper that had to work on, doodling all over it. He wrote song lyrics, drew hearts and flowers, he even wrote a few words that he thought described Rei, but immediately scribbled them out afterwards, afraid she would see. Stunning, enchanting, respectable. Although he didn't put her name anywhere on the paper with the words, he was afraid she would catch on. Knowing she was a demon, he wasn't going to underestimate her intelligence or ability to catch onto things humans wouldn't and couldn't. Shylo found himself looking up at Rei as he scribbled the words out of the corner of his eye.

[icycycle]

Rei laughed to herself. Shylo was writing more in the margins than on his actual paper! She was shocked when the teacher snapped at Shylo to stay after school - his humming bothered nobody but her, apparently.

Rei pulled out a marker and set to work writing notes on the lesson. She wrote the title in an elegant, false-calligraphy style. It was still missing something. Rei grabbed a grey pen and drew soft, feathery wings surrounding the title.

Tuning out of the monotonous lesson, Rei continued drawing around the border of the page, alternating feathery wings with devil horns.

Soon, the lesson was over and the bell had rung. Rei jumped up, shoving all of her things into her bag.

"Shylo," she said. "I'm so sorry, but I can't stay. I really wanted to wait for you and then hang out a bit, but I have something to do tonight, okay?"

[velasco]

𝕾𝖍𝖞𝖑𝖔 I ①⑦    &⃝ ①②⑦ I 𝕸𝖆𝖑𝖊

Nodding, Shylo spoke. "It's okay. I didn't expect you to," he let out a soft chuckle accompanied by a smile that lingered after, "Hope your task goes well. I'll see you around."

Spending the majority of his night cleaning up after school was not what Shylo had planned on doing, nor did he find it enjoyable. He ended up getting distracted quite a lot, thinking of Rei and wondering what she was doing, if she was even doing anything at all, or if she didn't want to tell him she didn't want to hang out anymore so came up with a rather clever excuse. He made light conversation with a few of the other kids that got stuck cleaning the cafeteria with him, and ended up enjoying most of them and the vibes that they gave off.

After the cafeteria was nearly spotless, one of the other kids from detention came riding in on a bike, tire treads and dirt getting everywhere. This was one of the very few instances where Shylo grew frustrated. It was nearing 9pm, he usually had his shower and was ready for bed then. He let out a loud groan, swearing under his breath, and yelled at the kid. The kid began to argue with Shylo until it escalated, the guy punching Shylo.

They fought for a few moments before the after school detention staff came in and broke it up. Shylo was left with a black eye and a busted lip, not to mention he earned three more days of detention.

[icycycle]

Rei hurried home as fast as she could. She couldn't risk being late again. She was supposed to have returned last night in order to make tonight's meeting, but she had gotten distracted staying with Shylo that she had completely forgotten. Well, it was worth it, Rei thought to herself.

Unlocking her apartment door, she rushed inside and dropped everything to the ground. She ran into her bedroom and shut the door tightly. Reaching into the back of her closet, she pulled out a small hand mirror. Home, she said.

With a flash of red, Rei disappeared and the mirror fell to ground, landing on a soft cushion of discarded clothes.

~~

Rei landed in a room full of mirrors. The Transport Room. Looking up at a large digital clock, she sighed a breath of relief: She still had time. Rei walked through the open entry way into the maze of hallways and corridors of the Palace. It was more of a cave system than a palace, but nobody really questioned the name. As she walked, Rei's school clothes melted into a tight red bodysuit, tall black boots, and a billowing black cloak. She reached up and pulled the elastic out of her hair, letting it flow down. As it did, a streak of blood red colour snaked its way from her scalp to her tips.

Finally, she arrived at the meeting place where the High Court would be meeting. Two demon guards pulled open the double doors for her, and she walked through giving a curt nod of thanks.

"Sergeant Sha-Moon!" exclaimed Grifton, a medicine demon. "We have the Socablood all prepared, waiting for your arrival!" He thrust a golden goblet of red potion into her hands. Rei downed it in one go, her body instantly feeling revitalized. "Thank you," she nodded to Grifton, who saluted and slipped away.

"Mother!" Rei exclaimed as a tall, beautiful woman turned around, her glossy jet black hair swinging. "Darling!" her mother said in equal longing. The two embraced in a hug. "Oh, darling, you are looking too thin these days!" her mother said, poking Rei's ribs.

"Mother, I've been eating cookies and ice cream for the past two weeks!" Rei protested. Her mother was about to speak again when the double doors on the other side of the room burst open. Rei, her mother, and everyone else in the room sank to one knee, their heads bowed.

The King, flanked by his closest demons, had arrived.

[velasco]

𝕾𝖍𝖞𝖑𝖔 I ①⑦    &⃝ ①②⑦ I 𝕸𝖆𝖑𝖊

After cleaning the cafeteria for the second time, Shylo and the rest of the students in detention were dismissed. The boy that Shylo had a fight with was constantly glaring at him the whole time, but Shylo dropped it: he already knew that if any of the older generation saw his bruises, let alone the fight itself, he'd be punished. He didn't want to push it, he didn't want to risk being stripped the privilege of going to Earth. He'd held onto that privilege for one-hundred-twenty-seven years, and he wasn't about to let that be taken away. It'd be pried from his cold, dead hands. Or undead, dead hands.

He made his way home, and debated on knocking on Rei's door to see if she was home or up. Deciding against it, he entered his house, collapsing onto his bed. He wasn't looking forward to going to school tomorrow. Not prepared for Rei's possible judgmental looks as he walks in with a black eye and busted lip while the other guy walks into school practically scratchless. While Shylo enjoyed life on Earth, as well as the body he chose, he wasn't the strongest. He never thought he'd need to be - he was an angel, angel's didn't fight. That was unheard of, he was one of the first to even yell at someone, let alone fight them. He slept through the night, tossing and turning all throughout his sleep.

[icycycle]

After the usual formalities, the High Court took their seats around a round table. After the typical opening speeches made by the King, conversation passed around the table. Lieutenant Chellon-Ta reported strange animal activity in the River Styx. Second Lieutenant Gar-Shan advised that more patrols be sent to the various portals to The Underside. Finally, Rei stood to speak.

"Sergeant," boomed the King. "You have been our eyes on Planet Earth. Speak."

Rei shifted uncomfortably. She would need to lie very, very smoothly this time. "My King," she began, dipping her head in respect. "All is peaceful in the city. There have been no evidence of angel activity. I investigated all potential leads, but they led nowhere." She shifted again, the hair on the back of her neck beginning to rise. Nobody lied in front of the King.

The King stared into Rei, his eyes boring deep holes into her head. "Very well, Sergeant. I hope you are making good use of your unique opportunity on Planet Earth. You are not only a student; you are a spy," he said dismissively. "Perhaps you could enjoy a cup of hot peach tea to rethink your hunting strategies," he said, almost as an afterthought.

Rei felt her body go cold. How did he know that? She tried to tell herself that it meant nothing: She had often lovingly spoken about her favourite beverage. Yet something told her that she needed to be more careful.

"Court dismissed!" roared the King. The table stood and dispersed.

[velasco]

𝕾𝖍𝖞𝖑𝖔 I ①⑦    &⃝ ①②⑦ I 𝕸𝖆𝖑𝖊

As soon as Shylo awoke from a restless night of sleep, he was immediately reminded of the sad reality of his eye and lip. His bony fingers rose to them, touching them softly before retracing as soon as he touched them; It stung. Beyond belief. He slugged his way into the bathroom and fixed his hair and did the rest of his daily routine. After doing so, he walked out into his kitchen, grabbed his bag, and slung it onto his back. He cursed under his breath as he stubbed his toe trying to put his shoes on. This already wasn't going to be a good day.

He made his way to school, walking the whole way. Shivering, he continued to slowly trudge along. When he reached school, he lurked inside, looking for someone to talk to.

[icycycle]

Rei appeared in her room with a satisfying swoosh. Glancing quickly at the alarm clock, she realized that school started in TEN minutes. Not wanting to ruin her perfect attendance record, Rei dashed around the room gathering her things. The red streak in her hair faded to black, and her clothes transformed into a white t-shirt, black jeans, and a bomber jacket. She rushed into the kitchen and grabbed the first food item she could find: a jar of Nutella (which still had the lid off and a spoon stuck in it). Slinging her backpack over her shoulder, Rei slipped on her shoes and sprinted out of the building towards the school.

"Shylo!" She called as she spotted him rounding the corner in the hallway.

[velasco]

𝕾𝖍𝖞𝖑𝖔 I ①⑦    &⃝ ①②⑦ I 𝕸𝖆𝖑𝖊

Mumbling under his breath, Shylo turned around to face Rei. He waved directly in front of his face in an attempt to hide his bruises and cuts, mainly the black eye and busted lip with dried blood around it. He smiled softly as he always has, but winced in pain as he found that it spread the cut on his lip. Stopping, he opened his mouth to speak, but found that painful as well. He almost hid his lip and eye as he put his arm over his face nearly, and sucked up the pain. "Hey Rei."

[icycycle]

Rei stopped dead in her tracks. Shylo looked awful: his face was blotchy with purple and black bruises, and one of his beautiful eyes was surrounded by a dark circle. His lip was oozing fresh blood, and dark clots of blood barely held the cuts on his face closed.

She gently touched Shylo's arm. "What happened?" she asked, her voice breaking.