He always enjoyed the night. He didn't know why, but he would always come outside and stare at the stars and moon ever since he was a child with his brother. Was it a peaceful atmosphere? The cold bite of a well-timed breeze? Or... The calm that enveloped over the scenery that soothes his internal agitation? At evening, he could unwind and let go of all his anxieties.
But this night .. was not one of those nights.
He knew he was making noise pacing back and forth on the stone mosaic of the balcony. At this point, he didn't care who woke up and saw him not while his mind was whirling from the words earlier that day. Angel simply huffed as he walked back and forth, he felt confined, like a tiger in a cage. One thought was ever present in his mind over and over, like a broken record.
Is this love? Or... am I leading myself into heartbreak?
He paused in the middle of the balcony his tail lashing in the crisp night air. Glancing up at the moon, his shadowy amethyst eyes glowed from his night vision but not as bright as the moon itself. He simply snarled in annoyance as he walked over to the banister, crossing his arms onto it and looked over the scenery. How could anyone sleep so calmly? Did anyone ever have his agitation? Things that could keep you up at night, never letting you sleep till you came to a resolution? A cold breeze came to tousle his white-purple hair and made goosebumps rise on his exposed chest and back. Damn, was it freezing! He shivered but made no attempt to go back indoors as his eyes examined the scenery watching the city he lived in and all the darkened homes of families. His eyes started to droop slightly, his body almost betraying his demand for sleep, if not for another cold breeze to jump him back to alertness.
Angel thought back to earlier that day when he talked to his brother, which had brought him to this moment.
Finding his brother was a challenge in itself. Especially when that same person had the powers of hiding and mixing in with the darkness to his advantage. He could be any shadow. In fact, he could even be Angel's shadow and he would never know till it was too late. For Angel, luck was on his side that day, he was told by one of the guards that did the afternoon patrol that his brother was at the training grounds, working with new recruits.
Walking up to the training area, he could detect his brother more sharply... He was surely here. His brother's scent was well-known, especially to his own family. Angel gave a small smile. His brother was sitting on a sunken part of a marble wall, his black wolf ears were perked up in attention, as he watched the beginners and every now and again, would give out advice, or snap when someone was becoming too, well, playful. Angel quietly gave a small chuckle to himself. Those poor fellows don't know what they got themselves into.
"I know you are there, brother." A low voice sounded in almost an echo which made Angel jump to attention. He glanced up to the sound of the voice as he saw his brother watching him in rapt amusement glowing in his one ruby eye, that wasn't wrapped in bandages. Angel simply gave a timid smile. He could never hide from his brother even as kids, he could count on his sibling to always find him. " Hey bro, your hard to find you know that right?" He sat next to his brother, cautious not to sit on one of his brothers seven black-red tails. One of those tails simply wrapped around his waist, it was always warm, no matter the season.
"That's the point, your enemy could be hiding and they would never give you any clues ... before you know it, you're dead." His brother's voice was comforting to Angel's mind as he leaned against his brother watching the training go down. Angel laughed a bit as he playfully pushed his brother's shoulder. He realized with a start that he wasn't donning his usual black shirt. He gave him a look, to which his brother answered." It was hot..". He simply left it at that. " Besides my choice of undress" Angel gave a shy squeak at that, to which his brother smiled." What brings you here, hm?"
Angel cleared his throat willing the blush to go down as he squirmed almost nervously. This was the first time he had asked anyone for love advice, especially his own kin. " How ... How do you know... " He stumbled over his words. He knew his brother was watching him probably amused, but patient to which Angel appreciated. " ... How do you know you found ur one and only soulmate? I mean I know I've been with Ruby for three years...But, how do you know ur still in love?" He didn't meet his brothers gaze as he waited for the reply. Another tail gently rubbed against Angel's neck as his brother was silent for a while. " Your soul beats for them ... aches for them... It breaks when they are away, hurt, or when yourself causes the pain. You always want to protect them from the dangers of the world, even if you get hurt to do so." His brother was smiling the whole time. Angel was speechless. He wasn't expecting that response, especially with that shadowy voice his brother adopted after his accident. Angel touched his crystal seeing it glow dimly at the mention of Ruby.
His brother had noticed as his red eye narrowed watching his movements. " But... that's not all, is it? There's more to it... Does it have something to do with that .. Incident.. between you and Ruby?" Angel winced. He remembered vividly. The incident was when Ruby touched Angel's crystal while they were kissing in her room, even then Angel felt something was off... He should have warned her. His crystal had flared to life and burned Ruby's right hand almost giving her second-degree burns. The shock on both their faces was in sync. That was the first time... His magic had ever acted up. He had apologized profusely to her, while Ruby comforted him saying it was ok; it wasn't his fault. But, really deep down inside... He felt numb to her pain which had shocked him further. He never mentioned it to her though.
"I... Yeah .. My magic never did that before ... Why?!" He grasped his hair in his claws, the feeling of wanting to rip his hair out was there, and he so badly wanted to. His brother held his shoulder, and when Angel looked up tears forming in his eyes, he saw... sympathy? "The reason your magic did that ... It's telling you she's not the one." Angel was about to retort, but his brother raised a hand to stop him. " Your crystal is connected to your soul... It's protecting you from heartache ... It might be time .. To let her go, brother." No. No! His brother had to be wrong! But, he knew the argument in his head was pointless ... His kin wouldn't lie to him and seeing the pure sympathy in his brother's eye said so much to his soul. Maybe... It was time to let go. Angel didn't say a word, except for holding his brother tightly as his tears silently went down his face. Why was he crying? He didn't know... It just felt right... Maybe he was crying for the pain his soul had been going through this whole time and he never knew. He stayed with his brother until it was almost dusk and before they went their separate ways... His brother had whispered something in his left ear.
"Don't cry when the sun is gone, because the tears won't let you see the stars."
Angel looked at the stars again, the bright white lights seemed to twinkle without a care in the world, and it calmed him. He closed his eyes as he came to the conclusion that he had been trying to hold off for so long. He had fallen out of love with her, how does he tell her this? It will break her heart, but it would be best for both of them.
"Angel? What are you doing up?"
Angel started at the voice, his claws clenched on the stone railing making deep gashes without his knowing. He slowly looked over seeing Ruby standing there, rubbing her eyes out of sleep to which Angel thought was cute, and he saw her hand was wrapped up because of the burn.
"Sorry, Ruby .. I ..." What was he supposed to say? 'Sorry, I was thinking of ways to let you down easy?'. He knew that wouldn't end well in his favor. "I couldn't sleep ..." He almost tensed up when he felt Ruby's arms wrap around his middle and her face nuzzled in his neck. " It's alright Angel ... Is it the meeting that is keeping you up?" Her tone was gentle as she petted his white-purple tiger ears making him sigh.
Angel froze. The meeting... he had forgotten about that. The meeting was Ruby's idea to confront the Rebels. His soul ached for them. The things that Ruby told him about their crimes; stealing food, looting weapons, and -apparently- trafficking men and women even children into their ranks. The last one seemed far-fetched even to him. He remembered asking the guards about it and they had seen there was no sign of a struggle, blood, or anything to suggest abduction, even foul play. He wanted to contend with her about it, but he had kept his tongue. His current train of thought was interrupted by a hand that had reached down to his lower body and thing, which was currently being rubbed at. He murmured lowly at that.
"R-Ruby ..." He tried to appear calm, but he knew his defenses wouldn't work against her, as he felt the heated pool in his stomach and the burning on his face. His crystal had flared to life pulsing at the touch. " Didn't you say .. We had to go to sleep-AH!" He moaned loudly when she grabbed it more intently while rubbing. He felt his body getting weak, he always hated yielding to her touches. Not this time. No ... He would prove that he was the top one here. Her teasing tone reached his ears. " Well... You seemed anxious. I just wanted to help you out .. and it seems your friend here seems to agree." He gave a deep growl as an answer. This was a dangerous game. If she wanted to play .. Well... They will play this game his way.
Angel gave a wide smirk, which showed off sharpened canines, as his magic started to show itself in a purple aura. His right hand felt really hot; the magic had formed around it in a casting pose, he noticed the light made him look almost animalistic and manic. Angel knew he can't lose control... Or worse injuries will happen to Ruby, maybe even himself. The look of shock on her face gave him a sweet satisfaction knowing he got the element of surprise. " Awww ... What's wrong, sweetheart? You do know it's not nice to tease? " His tone had deepened dangerously. " I guess I would have to teach you .. to play nice."
Once the words slipped from his mouth, his crystal blazed again but this time brighter. Four purple tendrils had emerged from his back, giving a nearly see-through appearance. Before she could blink, Ruby had been bound up by two of the tendrils; one around her arms and another around her legs. "Angel... Come on I was just joking" He noticed how she was fidgeting, she wasn't making it easier for herself as his tendrils had contracted on their own accord. Angel kissed her hard as he bit her bottom lip using his canines to make her bleed, licking up the remnants in apology. "I know ... But, you still need to be punished." His smirk had broadened as his third tendril went under her shirt pushing it up to show her chest hearing her faint squeak. The same tendril wrapped around both of her breasts squeezing them like balloons. The moans were pleasant to his ears. " Ah! Wait! Not there!" Angel simply disregarded her pleas as he continued watching with half-lidded eyes which seemed to have darkened like the night. He saw milk had started to appear." Milk?" He gave her a look." Since when?" Ruby didn't say a word as her face flushed slightly. Angel didn't like her silence one bit. He made the tendrils bring her closer as he grasped her right breast from his tendril and started to drink almost ravenously. The flavor wasn't what he expected; It was angel berries. His eyes widened as he drank more at that his ears twitched at every movement he made, like a kitten drinking from their mother.
Angel noticed that she was breathing harder now, and something sweet hit his nose. Heh. She was already eager for him. He let go licking the remains on her nipples and his own lips. The calm was only hindered once in a while by pants from both individuals, but for different reasons. His last tendril went into her covered lower half and touched where the fragrance had come from, instantly getting a reply. " AH! Please ..." Her whimpers were not helping the fire in his stomach. Giving in to her pleas would have been his first impulse, but a darker side wanted her to beg for relief. " Beg." " Wh-What?" Angel's smirk widened more. " You heard me. Beg." He saw she was fighting with her pride inside as his tail simply swished calmly. The tendril rubbed against her area teasingly pushing her to answer. " Please..." " I'm sorry, what was that? Couldn't hear you." " Please! Mate me already! Make me yours!" He smirked in satisfaction. " See? That wasn't too hard was it?" Ruby pouted at that not meeting his gaze.
She suddenly moaned loudly feeling the appendage enter into her area in one go. " Wow...You took that easily didn't you?" His voice was a mix of surprise and amusement. " Well ... Let's get started, shall we?" The tendril-like appendage went fast into her area as he licked and kissed at her neck. " AH! P-please Angel... S-slow down! " He simply bit where her neck and shoulder met on her right side in response. " Why? Your body doesn't seem to mind." To prove his point, the tendril seemed to go even deeper, despite her protests that slowly turned into pleas for more. " See?" He licked at the blossoming mark that he had made on her neck. After a couple of minutes, he noticed the scent was getting stronger, and her area was getting wetter. " Heh ... Seems your close~" " Hah... ah ... Angel~" "Hmmm ..." He simply murmured. " I suppose I'll help you come." His tendril went harder and deeper into her till- "AH!~ I am..." He shivered feeling something wet go onto his tendril, part of him was lucky that his tendrils could act like the real thing. " Hah... " He simply panted as his tendril went faster." Wait! I'm-" He growled feeling his own completion coming closer, ignoring her pleas of her sensitive area. "Ah! Damn .. it .." His tendril released some type of water like substance, as his body started to slowly relax from the use of his magic which took its toll.
Angel panted softly as he noticed Ruby twitching every so often, but something caught his eye. " Why do you look so smug?" The only response was tired giggling, and he simply huffed when his tendril pulled out, making Ruby gasp feeling something come out. " Uh ... Oops?" He didn't feel sorry for it. " So full..." " Heh... Did you learn your lesson?" Ruby simply giggled. " Maybe, I should do it more often." " Maybe you should not." Angel retorted, but he still had a smile on his face as he took them both to bed. There was a sneaking suspicion that Ruby had planned this ... That sneaky brat. He covered them both in the covers after he used the last remains of his magic to clean up the mess left behind.
He sighed tiredly, feeling Ruby cuddle up to his chest wrapping his arms around her waist and his head on hers. When he was about to drift off, he felt a sudden pain on his neck. He groaned loudly. " Ruby... What the hell?" The giggle was his only proof she did it." Well, it wasn't fair that I got marked and not you." Guardians above, he so badly wanted to pinch those cheeks after she pouted up at him. " Fair enough" He shrugged as he laid his head back down. " Now... Get to bed princess~" The weak punch to his shoulder was worth seeing her flush bright red. Ruby had fallen asleep... But, Angel was still awake and restless. The crystal embedded in his chest didn't glow brightly with warmth and love for her as he hoped it would. His soul broke a little in disappointment. The sigh he gave was the only sound that broke the silence. I guess my brother was right ... My soulmate isn't here. Then ... where are they? The thought crossed his mind; if Ruby wasn't it.. then where exactly were they? He shook his head, his body was calling him to not dwell on his thoughts. He listened and slowly started to close his eyes to join his mate- can he even call her that now? - in the dream realm.
A lone figure watched from out of the shadows. It's pure white eyes- which seemed to be shaped like X's - stared at the sleeping couple. The only sound that showed it was there is the eerie sound of rusty chains rattling as it moved closer to the couple. A clawed hand held the male's shoulder as the figure leaned down to their right ear, whispering words of encouragement, before disappearing into the darkness of the night.
"You might have a broken heart now, but you will find someone else."