"This is amazing Denji!"
Her mouth was stuffed with food as he watched her sloppily chew her salmon sushi. He was trying his own dish, eel with rice. The sauce was very delicious and the sweet and salty flavor coated his tongue as he felt the eel melting away in his mouth. A soft content smile graced his face as he slowly chewed on his meal.
The two were sitting were enjoying dinner after an intense and very sweaty game of wrestling. Obviously he didn't want to do it at first but Power was insistent on passing the time with that activity, so he thought "what the hell". They were both left with bruises and bleeding from a few bites, as Power loved to play dirty so he decided to return the favor. It was an activity that they both enjoyed in the end.
They both tried hard to make the pain of losing Aki go away, but it still lingered. He could still see glimpses of pain and hurt behind some of Power's expressions. Some moments she would be smiling and in an instant, a sad frown would appear. He knew then and there that she was thinking of Aki and in turn he thought about the man too.
On some nights, he just couldn't sleep. He'd have nightmares about him killing Aki again and again. Only a few days of sleeping separately and a few days of little sleep made him exhausted. Ms. Makima would question the bags under his eyes but he didn't want to worry her, so he shrugged off her concern. It was then that he started to seek comfort from Power.
Denji stared at the ceiling unable to close his eyes. If he did, he would feel the ghost of Aki watching him, cursing him for not saving him. It seems he still possessed some form of humanity, he just wondered how long he would feel this pain. How much longer would he go on with the little sleep he's having? It'll be just like those nights living alone with Pochita.
Denji sat up from his bed, grabbing his pillow and blanket. His eyes were heavy with stress and guilt. Before he had even realized what had happened, he entered Power's room. He watched as she was sprawled across her bed, her mouth open very slightly, her blanket covering only her bottom half. As he moved closer, he could hear the faintest rumbling sound from her, her soft snore. He moved to lightly grasp her shoulder before stopping himself.
'I shouldn't wake her, she's deep asleep.' Denji sighed. He'd be an inconsiderate jerk but he just needed someone to be close to him. Maybe Power's presence would help scare off the ghost that continues to haunt him.
Fuck it.
He lightly held her shoulder and shook softly.
"Power. Power." He whispered softly. This caused the fiend to stir from her slumber.
"Huh? Wuh? I'm the president, and don't you forget it, humans." She mumbled in a daze .
"Are you there?" Denji lightly tapped her left cheek a few times. Power rubbed her eyes.
"Denji? What do you want?" Power yawned slightly. Denji couldn't notice how cute she looked. Her almost pink blonde hair was disheveled and untidy. Her expression was drooping and he knew she obviously wanted to be conked out again.
"Power... um... can I sleep with you? I can't fall asleep."
That sounded wrong.
Power squinted at him, and the atmosphere felt tense for a minute. She then nodded and scooted closer to the wall, giving space for him to take. Denji sighed in relief.
"Thanks."
"Don't mention it. Just get some rest."
Only a moment later was he now laying on Power's bed. She faced away from him, completely silent. Denji got comfortable as he threw his blanket over himself. It didn't take long before he succumbed to exhaustion. The ghost didn't haunt him and he slept well after nearly a week of constant nightmares.
It became their habit, or rather his, to sleep with Power. Occasionally he would wake up sometimes to find her laying in positions that had her like a cross intersecting his body, or with her feet near his face. Other times she would have her arm wrapped around his chest, or clinging at his arm. He would on occasion wake up to find himself with his arm wrapped around her as well. Neither of them made a big deal out of it, nor speak of it. It was just something that happened and he realized just how comfortable they were around each other even more so now.
It reminded him of those days where she would come and sleep with him, when she was haunted by demons, or rather the Darkness Devil.
Aki was now his Darkness Devil and he needed Power just like she needed him.