Chapter 20

The demon tangled with the darkness; the fury of beating wings and feral snarling filled all of their ears, but nobody could see him. Matthew jumped when Alfred hollered and dove to his side. Arthur managed a sharp take of air, probably to scream as well, but cut off as an enormous black blur crashed into him. The clump of shadow and light bounced and skittered against the grass, away from the brothers, before ripping itself apart.

"Alfred," Matthew tugged on his brother's hood, "I can't see anything! What's happening?"

"Uh, I see your glasses. Hold on!"

"Alfred, don't-!"

The darkness snarled, chasing the blur of light toward Alfred. He squawked and flattened himself onto the grass just in time for Arthur to sail over him. He grabbed Matthew's glasses and bolted, managing to avoid Ivan trampling over him within a mere second. "Mattie! I got them!"

"Are you all right?!"

"Uh, I think so!" Alfred handed over the glasses, and Matthew almost jabbed his eye while shoving them in place. "Are you? You're freaking wet, dude!"

"Yeah! Thanks for noticing! I don't know, I think Arthur did something that...ugh! I don't matter right now!"

"Well, what are we going to do?!"

Arthur suddenly stopped, and when Ivan let out a cackle of delight, he sprung into the air, flapping backwards and over his hunched figure. Nothing! "Do you really want to get in the middle of that?"

Ivan stumbled, obviously surprised, but caught himself on his palms before whirling around to see Arthur hold up a hand with an obscene gesture.

"We can't just sit here and watch!"

"What do you expect to do? Do you have any plans for breaking them apart?!"

Alfred puckered, but after a moment to steam his brain, he grinned, "Actually, it's funny that you asked that!" He shot to his feet and yelled, "Hey, numb-nuts! Stupid demon-thing! Arthur! Yo! Caterpillar-Brows! Stop fighting!" He snuck over his shoulder, "Mattie, come on, call off your demon, would you?"

It was the only idea on the table. Matthew grabbed his brother's sleeve and hoisted himself off the ground. He cupped his hands around his mouth and tried, "Ivan! Ivan, it's okay! I'm all right! You guys...ugh, Alfred, this isn't working."

Alfred stamped his feet in the grass and flapped his arms, "Hello! Stop fighting already, you're both going rip one another apart!"

Ivan, of course, laughed, like that went according to plan as he threw an elbow backward and smashed into Arthur's previously punched cheek (courtesy of Matthew). Arthur stumbled backwards, arms flailing, and tumbled onto his rear. He yelped from Ivan's eager and approaching figure and scrambled backwards. "St-stay out of this, boys!"

"For fuck's sake!" Alfred ran out of insults, so he lifted his leg behind himself and ripped off his sneaker.

"Alfred!" Matthew started.

Alfred flung the shoe across the field, and it bounced right off of Ivan's head. He stumbled, stopped from leering over Arthur, and turned his head with an extremely befuddled expression. Then, a smile slowly stretched across his face.

"Angel's boy!"

"Agh!" Alfred stupidly waved his arms, like an enormous and furious creature was not about to barrel into him. "Nice demon?!"

For crying out loud. Matthew yanked his brother's hoodie back and shoved in front of him. "Okay, you can stop, Ivan. Please! Alfred was just being stupid." His voice jumped to a frightened octave, "Don't come over here!"

A snort sent hot breath down Matthew's face. He peeled his eyes open to Ivan hovering almost against him with a threatening claw to his face. He stopped.

"Matthew." Gently, Ivan cupped one of Matthew's hands and brought it to his forehead, almost pleading in the middle of the battlefield, "I almost did it again. Don't look so scared. I won't hurt you."

You won't? Matthew clenched his jaw as Alfred clamped his hands on his shoulders. "That includes my brother, Ivan."

Ivan tipped his head, smiling a bit, "I am sorry, but I was in the moment and he threw something at me."

"He's an idiot."

Alfred said, "Hey!"

"Did the angel hurt you? You are soaked!"

"I'm not cold, surprisingly, but it's all right." Matthew hesitantly pressed his palm to Ivan's warm cheek. "I'm all right. Relax."

Ivan turned his face to brush his nose against his skin, and his mirth looked much more attractive now than it did when he tried to flay somebody.

Matthew almost missed Alfred's hands sliding off his shoulders, but jerked back as he yelled, "Uh, Arthur?!"

"What?!" Ivan spun around, lamely throwing a clawed hand out as Arthur lunged after him. However, the angel ducked under his startled attack and leaped to jut himself in front of the brothers.

Matthew shot an arm in front of Alfred as he backed away. "No, no, come on-!"

"Not so fast!" A snap of light sizzled from Arthur's fingers, producing...a stick. A thin black stick with a golden star sitting on top, yet he threateningly pointed it at Ivan's face.

Alfred snorted, "Is that a freaking dollar store toy?!"

Matthew thought the same thing.

Ivan tipped his head and pressed a fingertip to the pointy parts. "Is it?"

"Be quiet back there." Arthur swished his hand, and Ivan jerked from his 'weapon.' "Stay away from these boys, and I may just let you crawl back to where you came from in one piece! You can stop things from getting out of hand, before you or anyone else gets hurt."

A smile lifted Ivan's cheeks, but the gesture was all but friendly. "Me stop things? But I have not started anything! Matthew and I were just relaxing, and then, out of nowhere you popped up and stole him away!"

Matthew glanced behind himself, but Alfred kept a steady stare on the demon.

Ivan continued, "If you so kindly give him back, I will consider not plucking each and every feather from your wings, yes?"

Arthur sneered, "You think I am going to surrender any soul to the likes of you?"

"Why not?"

"W-why...I will not!"

"Oh, you must mean you cannot." Ivan performed a little circle with his finger in the air. Matthew took another step back as Alfred pulled on his shoulders. "You will get into a lot of trouble with the big wings if you do. That must be very annoying, not able to do whatever-"

Arthur hollered incoherently, and lashed his 'weapon' at the demon's face. Ivan flinched and cupped a hand over his cheek. His eyes widened, still for a moment before he started to scurry backwards, afraid over a children's toy. Except this toy began glowing as a much less imposing angel marched after him.

"You! I warned you. I warned you before, and I warned you again. Yet you did not listen. Your kind never listens! The only way you will ever learn is if you die!"

"Ha-ha, don't be silly!" Ivan's short lived (and obviously fake) laughter cut off as he oogled the strange wand siphoning its wielder's glow for its own to brighten and illuminate his face. "You do not believe that I did not come here looking to fight, but it is true! I only want Matth-"

A focused stream of light erupted from the stars' points, swallowing Ivan in its excruciating blight. A high scream of pain echoed across the meadow as Arthur stumbled back, almost into the brothers. Alfred and Matthew blinked like flickering bulbs, and making a move to catch him, but uncertain to do so. Ivan bent forward, grasping his head and collapsed to his knees.

"Ivan?!"

Alfred grasped Matthew's arm when he yanked forward. "Wait! Don't go over there!"

"Your boyfriend is hurting him!"

"He's not...ugh! That's not important right now! You could get hurt, and two people hurting is worse than one!"

"You asshole-!"

A battle cry stole both of the brothers' attention. Arthur recovered from his momentary daze, and lunged after Ivan. No, no! Leave him alone-! Ivan snapped his head up, and slithered to one side. He threw out an arm when wing beats set upon him, but Arthur bent backwards just in time to avoid getting something ripped off.

Matthew's eyes started to sting, and it was not pond water this time. They were talking! They were just talking! Why couldn't they-

Ivan caught the wand, and it splintered in his clutch with a satisfying crunch. He blindly threw out his other arm, but Arthur danced away from him.

"My wand!" The angel cried, at a greater lost than the demon, apparently. His wings snapped open and shut as an uncouth growl escaped his throat. "Disgusting abomination. Damn you to Hell and never come back!"

Ivan twisted to keep Arthur in his sight, whatever sight he had left from that holy blast, and pulled his lips back in a warning growl. Of course, Arthur did not listen, lunging to the side to jab a small fist into Ivan's waist. It did not seem to do much, and he reared backwards as Ivan swatted at him like a pest. Getting redder and more cross, he bent his arm back for a moment before he threw an upper cut below his left wing.

Arthur yelped as soon as his fist made contact with a wall of muscle. Ivan turned to the sound of pain, and clamped a hand over Arthur's wrist. He yanked up, plucking Arthur from the ground to seethe in his face, "Disgusting abomination? What a simple-minded creature you are!" A giggle got the best of him when the angel wreathed and yelled from his aching clutch, "Do you want to play with me so badly? We could play! How about I say, 'Go!' and you run?!"

"Oh, God!" Alfred freaked. Those claws could easily tear apart a creature. Arthur's limbs were so thin next to Ivan's-

Matthew latched an arm around his waist and yanked on his hoodie, "You told me not to go over there!"

"I-I know, but-!"

Arthur flailed and planted his heels against Ivan's stomach, blasting his face full of light and kicked off of him. He collapsed to his hands and knees, holding his shoulder as Ivan stumbled backwards and clawed at his eyes. "Bastard," he spat in the grass before stiffly pulling himself to stand. "What is it that you're after?"

"Oh, ha-ha..." The brothers exchanged a look. Matthew was not sure to be relieved or irritated.

They circled, fingers curling and uncurling as they panted and snarled at one another when they grew too close. Ivan nipped at the air when Arthur feinted toward him. "I think you already know. That is why we are here, is it not?"

"To steal and devour one of our souls? How typical. And you call me simple-minded." Arthur lifted a glowing hand, but flinched as the night sky howled and poured around Ivan. Whatever he meant to do, flimsily ricocheted. "Ugh, what in the world?"

Ivan's cheeky face emerged of the clump of shadows, suddenly so close. Arthur leaped backwards with a flustered flap of feathers as sharp claws of night reached for his light. "You ask me that question, but you will not believe me when I tell you!"

"Hmph!" Arthur's sandals quickly swished in the grass as Ivan stalked after him. The brothers hovered in their direction, ever worried. "Try me."

Ivan stopped, and gave his arms a little shake from reaching out in murderous intent, like he did not know what to do with them anymore. "I think I do not want to kill you!"

"Ha!" Arthur's wings stood from his back as he slowly scooted around Ivan. "Why the sudden remorse, creature of Hell?"

"Because, if I kill you, I think I will be lonely again." Ivan turned his head toward the brothers. "Yes, I think...it will be a bad thing for all of us if I kill you." A low growl escaped from his lips as Arthur took a menacing step forward, "However, people and things should avoid provoking me, so I will not want to kill them!"

Arthur threw his head back and cackled, "Oh! Ha-ha-ha!"

Ivan uneasily smiled, "Ah, funny, yes?"

"Ha, sorry, abomination, I can't help you there." Arthur raised his hands again, smirking, "If I don't kill you, well, let's just say things will not be as sunshine and roses like you think they would be."

Shadows rushed in front of Ivan, useless as a shock wave bursted from Arthur's palms. Ivan flew backwards, arms flailing for a moment before he collided into the ground, bouncing and rolling until he stopped several leaps away.

"Seriously?!" Matthew called. "Stop! He wasn't doing anything!"

"I told you to stay away from these boys!" Arthur stalked after Ivan's figure lying in the grass. "You do not listen, so you brought this on yourself!"

"Fuck, dude," Alfred whistled. "At this point, I think we should grab Arthur before he does something drastic."

"Like he hasn't done something drastic already?" Matthew snorted and swished a hand in the air.

"Look, I don't think he will actually...wait, what are you doing?"

Ivan picked up his head, groping at a horn, and pulled his hand away to stare at splotches of blood on his fingertips. "Oh." He smiled as caught movement behind the angel raising his palms again, "You are simple-minded in regards to pleasing people that do not care about you, just what you do."

Alfred jumped against Matthew's side as darkness shimmered from across the field, and Ivan poured out of the night to tackle him to the ground. "Mattie!" He ripped his remaining shoe off, poised in a threatening stance, but Matthew shook a hand at him.

"No! It's all right!"

Ivan wound an arm around Matthew's waist, pressing his face to his chest and sighing happily as the angel let out a horrified scream. "Matthew, the mean little man told me I need to die. I do not want that. Do you?"

Matthew pulled from the grass, and patted his shoulder to hiss, "Of course not, dumbass. Stay down!"

"Oh, do not tell me twice."

Matthew slipped from the demon's embrace and leaped over him to crouch with his arms out from his sides. Arthur skittered to a stop, his soles sliding on the wet grass. Too bad he did not fall on his rear end.

Arthur's mouth pulled down to an expression of vague disgust and shock. "What are you doing?"

"That's enough, don't you think?" Matthew's voice did not come out as daunting as he liked, but he matched Arthur's glare one-on-one.

"Nothing is enough until that demon is dead."

"Dead?!" Alfred squawked from behind Matthew, "But! But!"

"Why? He didn't do anything to harm anyone or jeopardize his identity. I'm not even brainwashed as you claim I am. Why can't you leave us alone?"

Alfred let out a worried groan.

Arthur slowly lowered himself to kneel before Matthew and pointed to his own cheek. "Do you see what you did to me when I tried to help you? Yet you are claiming that you know you have done it completely and utterly on your own will? Without influence?"

Alfred blurted, "Whoa! You did that?"

Arthur clamped a hand over Alfred's face, and sent him dramatically flopping into the grass without looking away from Matthew. "Well, Matthew?"

What do I have to say for myself? Matthew thought sarcastically. "Yeah. I thought you were trying to drown me. You didn't exactly say you were 'cleansing' me or whatever you call it."

Ivan put in, "You did not need it in the first place. My Matthew is very clean-"

"Be quiet, demon," Arthur held out a palm at Ivan, keeping his eyes trained on Matthew. "It may have not done anything to you yet, but it is mandatory to take care of these things when they arise. I forgive you, and I hope you forgive any urgency I may have had. You are a kind spirit." A half-smile brightened his injured face as his eyes flickered to Alfred. "I know you boys cannot resist to help someone you believe is in need, but I insist that you no longer roam with a demon, or...whatever you have between yourselves."

"Ugh! Forgive you? He's not just a demon, you know. He's my friend!"

"Uh-huh. Sure. Why would you want to suffocate amongst the fires of Hell when you can join us, and nurture and praise life as you know it? This is what we do, Matthew. I am not aiming to harm you in anyway, but I must cut the weeds choking your roots if it means for you to grow."

Ivan nudged Matthew and laughed in his ear, "You will be grown and nurtured into a nice juicy soul for the angels to devour, or to fertilize their garden! Whatever it is angels do in their free time."

The image of a devil and angel on his shoulders did not seem so ridiculous to Matthew now. "Ivan, hush, you're going to make him angry...more angry." Matthew turned back Arthur, who visibly clenched his jaw and gazed to the sky. "It's a nice offer, but I...I want to help Ivan. We're just going out and having fun. No eating souls, and no...jabbing people with pitchforks!"

"I don't need pitchforks! I use my fists!"

"Ivan."

"Sorry, Matthew."

"Help..." Arthur scoffed. He shook his head, and affixed his tight-lipped smile. "All of God's children eventually return home. There is no need to rush." His voice grew gentle, "These things take well-needed time."

Matthew glanced behind himself with a big smile of relief. Ivan's dark expression lifted to one of pleasant surprise.

However, Arthur's tone suddenly sharpened as his wings slowly unfolded from his back. "But Matthew, those...creatures are no longer considered children of God. I cannot, and will not turn the other way while it continues to prance around!"

"Ugh!" Alfred put a hand to his forehead. "Arthur, really?"

Honestly! Matthew snapped, "You'll let me go after this, but Ivan has to suffer because of my choices?"

"Shut up, Alfred." To Matthew, "It is its own being, too, with its own choices. I warned it many times to back off, and yet it still stayed. A demon's temper brings innocent people at risk. I am doing this for the safety of everyone else!"

Alfred squalled, "Stop being stubborn, would you?"

Matthew pushed to his feet when Arthur did. "He isn't doing anything wrong!"

Arthur jabbed a finger at Alfred, "I said! Shut up!" He snapped to Matthew, "And you! You're putting all of your bets on a creature that may not love you tomorrow?!"

Matthew opened his mouth, but his tongue decided to do something stupid at the worse time and fumble uselessly in his mouth.

Arthur slowly shook his head. "Look at you. You know it deep down, don't you?"

"Shut up, Arthur!"

"You ignorant little boy. I was beginning to understand the drive of your feelings, assuming your soul still needed to grow, but this...! Who do you think nurtures and takes care of your spirits when you pass on? That's right. I do. After you damn your soul for the rest of its time on this flimsy hope...well, that's your choice."

Matthew flinched when Arthur stamped a foot on the ground and held his hands out. "Lord, I tried." He let out a strange mix of a snort and a scoff, as if he was calming himself down, but something told Matthew it was not like that at all. "No matter how much we try to nurse some souls, they let themselves be seduced by the darkness too easily. Like they don't want us. Almost...pitiful."

The angel's glow began to brighten, and he lifted his hands up. Matthew took a step back, caught onto Ivan, and tumbled on top of him. "No, please-"

"Artie, no!" Alfred leaped over Ivan, shoved pass his brother, and threw his arms around Arthur's figure.

"What in the world are you doing?!" Arthur stuck his hands to Alfred's face and tried pushing him away. The intense light snapped back to 'normal.' Matthew blinked stupidly, still alive.

Alfred squeezed his eyes shut as his glasses dislodged from his ears and dropped to the ground. "Mattie, go! I got him!"

Matthew gaped at their legs stomping in the grass, at one another, "Are you sure?"

"Yep! Urgh!" Alfred shouted over Arthur's squabbling and wreathing, "We got stuff to talk about anyway!"

Matthew did not need another moment's hesitation. He flipped over, urging Ivan, "Can you stand?"

"Ah, yes, but...would you help me up, first?"

"Of course. Come here." A strong arm snaked around Matthew's back, and he leaned into the heated body, sweet relief to his waterlogged limbs.

"Oh, you are cold!" Still, Ivan did not let go. "What about your foot? Does it not hurt anymore?"

"No. Let's worry about you right now, all right?"

"Matthew..."

"No, you don't!" Arthur clamped onto Alfred's ears, yanking them in all kinds of directions. "Let go of me!" He shouted after them, "Get back here, you two! Ugh! You are not siding with that demon!"

"I'm siding with my brother!" Alfred screeched just as noisily, and plucked Arthur from the ground so he could not easily escape. "I just want him to be happy! If he's chill with staying here, and if he keeps the demon dude in place, then let him!"

Matthew's eyes watered as they hurried away from the bright bickering in that cold, dark field. "Come on, Ivan."

There was a loud thump, followed by the sound of Arthur furiously screaming at Alfred. Ivan flinched against his arm. "The angel-"

"Alfred's stalling him. Hopefully, he can knock some sense into him because neither of us sure the Hell couldn't."

Ivan let out a weak noise of amusement as they reached the dead end leading back to the suburbs. "To think a human boy would be enough to detain a heavenly being."

"Not just heavenly beings, Ivan," Matthew reached up and tugged on the demon's ear, earning a soft 'Ow!' "Come on," he urged again, "before we turn into walking popsicles."

"Too late," Ivan giggled. He piped down with a soft groan, and stayed quiet for a few limps.

This is bad. What are we going to do? What if Alfred isn't able to get Arthur to chill out? He's going to come after us with a vengeance...

"Matthew," Ivan murmured, "he said...he said that..."

Matthew sniffled, but trained his eyes forward as Ivan turned his head to gaze down at him. "I know."

"Yet you are-"

"Yes."

"Matthew, why?"

"What," Matthew couldn't keep the edge to his voice, "do you think I should have just let him slaughter you? In front of me? In front of Alfred?"

"No," Ivan managed to keep his tone soft, "but perhaps he should have."

Matthew almost stopped in the middle of the sidewalk. "What?!"

"I am a heinous creature, Matthew. There are...reasons why people do not like me. Reasons for why I came here to look for something different. Something...someone that doesn't know-"

"No!" Matthew croaked. "No, I am not going to listen to this. We're going to my place and getting your injuries taken care of. That's what matters at this moment."

"Matthew, I am glad. So, so glad that you think that way, but please, I do not know who I will be in the future. I do not want to ever hurt you. The angel might be right-"

"Then don't. Now, be quiet and keep walking."