(PS, I just launched a story with a crapton of oneshots you should go check out! "Many Doors" )
The pair kept walking, on and on. After some time, Strife noticed the demons perk in her step faded. "Not excited to be movin' in with lil' old me, eh?"
Sam glanced at the rider, seeming to be pulled from a daze. "Hm? Oh, no, actually I am kinda excited to spend some time with you. I think you understand me a lot. Maybe even more than... him." Her voice trailed off and she crossed her arms in front of her as she walked.
He could feel the air growing uneasy as he searched for a topic change. "Well," he chimed "my place only has one room. Do you want the bed or the couch?"
"Couch."
"You sure 'bout that? I don't mind." He questioned her with an eyebrow raised, nudging her with his elbow.
"Yeah, I don't expect you to make changes like that for me when I just sorta popped back into existence I guess." Sam chuckled softly, sighing in relief.
"Nah, don't worry. I could use the spice up in my life." Sam glanced at him to see him smiling, but staring ahead as they walked.
The two now trotted together in silence, many angels giving stares at the sight of Sam. She didn't care, and she knew Strife loved the attention so it worked out. The houses they passed looked elegant and beautiful, each having their own style of chiseled detailing. The front yards all in perfect condition, sporting small gardens and fountains.
Until they got to a row of 4 very different houses at the end of a road. Each one painted a different color, one red, purple, green and grey, each building having a black roof. The yards seemed well kept but no personal touches to the grass.
"I wonder who owns these houses." The demons comment earned a laugh from Strife, as they walked up to the green home at the far right side. Beside his was purple, presumably Furys, then red, possibly War, and last was grey, leaving Death.
"You can figure out who owns which house." The rider grinned at her as he popped open the door for her, dramatically gesturing her to enter first as he held the door.
She let out a giggle, walking in and looking around. She wondered up to the coffee table in the center of the room, the walls were mostly bare save for one or two photos of his family. The large tv on one side of the room, the black love seat on the other. She noted the stairs, and the hallway to what is assumed to be an unused kitchen and possibly a restroom.
"I'm gonna make a run and grab something for you, would you like anything while I'm out?" He remained outside, poking his head in.
"No, I'm alright. Do you mind if I watch tv while you're out?"
"Of course, go ahead. This is your home too now, remember that." The rider closed the door, as Sam turned to the couch and plopped right down.
Sam was still channel surfing, unable to find anything she thought of decently entertaining in the slightest when the front door opened again. "Tv sucks ass now. Humans had such good taste in entertainment."
Strife chuckled, carrying a large box and closing the door behind him with his foot. He walked over and sat beside the demon as she moved over to give him more room, setting the box on the table in front of them.
"What's all that?"
"This," he pulled off the lid to the box, "is your clothes, shoes, a whole bunch of cards from people I believe, and anything else we recovered that was specifically yours. We thought it best to keep your things together in case you came back to us."
She stood, leaning over the large box and pulling out item after item. Couple hoddies, one torn in the stomach. Few pairs of jeans. Shoes, piles of cards, a small ball. "Danm, I forgot about this thing." She smiled, throwing it lightly at the wall expecting it to bounce back, only for it to somehow have hit the wall hard enough to break a hole in the drywall. The demons gasped, turning to Strife and frantically apologizing. "I'm so sorry! I didn't even throw it hard! Are your walls made of paper?!"
The rider bellowed a loud laugh, waving dismissively at her. "No, no you're fine, maybe ya' forgot how to control your strength, hm?"
"I hope not, I'm still sorry." She plopped back on the couch, gently pushing the box away.
There was a moment of silence broken by the rider. "You gonna change? I can't imagine you actually liking that dress, though I ain't complainin'." He leaned back, smirking and leaning the back of his head into his hands.
Sam shrugged, leaning back aswell. "I don't know. I don't feel like moving. Or existing, but here I am."
His smirk faded, he put one of his hands in his lap and placed the other on her wrist as he turned to face her. "I know we ain't as close as we were when we were younger, but I'm here to listen to ya' should you need it. Alright?"
The demon smiled, nodding to him. "Yeah, I figured. I appreciate it a lot. Thank you, Strife."
"I ever tell you I like it when you say my name?" He gave her a smirk, raising a brow.
She chuckled, snatching away her wrist and standing. "Looks like I gotta' come up with an unappetizing nickname for you then." She picked up the cleaner looking hoodie, tanktop, and jeans.
"You saying my name itself is appetizing?" He laughed "bathrooms down the hall by the stairs."
She walked off, holding back a laugh. She stripped in the bathroom, looking in the mirror. She froze. Her stomach had a massive scar, from her naval to just below her ribcage. It was several shades darker than her skin, but smooth and not lumpy as most scars are. She looked at her neck, remembering the mark she once had thanks to Death. It was gone. The only mark she bare on her stomach, and she didn't even know where it came from.
She changed into the jeans and top, carrying the dress and hoodie over her forearm. The demon stepped back into the hallway, immediately making eye contact with the rider on the couch. She set the clothes in the box, then moved the box to the floor. Strife was still leaned back, sitting comfortably while Sam leaned on the arm of the couch opposite of him. They sat in silence as they watched some kind of documentary of The Creator.
Sam didn't know too much about him, but she enjoyed learning. It didn't seem like an appropriate topic to question, or go out of her way to know about, so she normally kept distance.
"Did you want to go see the records for the battle? And maybe catch up on what's happened since?" He spoke, turning his head and giving Sam a serious look.
"I don't know. I think I need to just process what I already know for a minute, if that's okay?" She kept her eyes glued to the tv.
"Yeah. Sure, I understand. I'm here to answer any questions you might have too, y'know." He smiled at her, but she wasn't moving. After letting out a sigh, he stood and stretched. "I think I'm gonna retire for tonight. I'll see you tomorrow, yeah?"
"Yeah, I can't see myself leaving tomorrow though, not alone at least." The demon shrunk further into the couch, hugging herself and pulling her legs up onto the couch against her.
"I'm free, I'll go with you if you need it." He reached over to give her a pat on the shoulder only for her to flinch, the rider was shocked, taking a moment to watch her and she hugged herself tighter. He made his way upstairs, glancing back at her before making his ascend. The room was dark, the white light of the television brightening up just enough to see the outlines of the furniture and her features.