Chapter 3

Riku sits on his porch watching Sora's attempts to hula hoop in amusement. He has to admit Sora has sort of grown on him, the endless enthusiasm doesn't even wear him out anymore….much. His yard is covered in various things, balls, bikes, a scooter, even roller blades, although that attempt was an awful mess and ended with both of them hurt. Not to mention the numerous games and movies piled up inside. Basically anytime they went out, whatever caught Sora's interest, he ended up buying. If he was a normal human working a regular job, Sora might have been considered a very expensive guest, fortunately he's not.

It's been two weeks and on top of all the stuff he has around now, Sora has taken to regularly sleeping in his bed. He didn't say anything about it the first morning, just acted like usual as if it didn't happen because he figured Sora might be a little lonely. But apparently that was an invitation to sneak into his bed every night now.

Riku can't decide if he wants to say something or not, but it's been two weeks, it's a little late now. Besides, Sora's pretty good about keeping to his own space at night anyway.

"Hey Riku!"

"Hmm?" He looks over to where Sora has apparently given up and dropped the hoop to the ground.

"Can I fly?"

"I….don't think that's a good idea. What if someone sees you?"

"They'll think I'm a bird!"

"I doubt that. Promise you'll stay in this area and won't go above the tree line?" Riku can shield him from prying eyes just barely if he stays close.

"But, that's no fun!"

"Take it or leave it."

"Take it!" Sora's wings materialize instantly and he immediately takes off landing on top of the roof before beginning to fly around in figure eights.

Riku recognizes the joy on his face and he'd love to fly with him, he doesn't do it often, but when he does the feeling of soaring through the sky is amazing. He can really only do it when Axel is around to shield him from humans though. As annoying as he can be, Axel really does do a lot for him, he would never have made it this far without him. Now that he thinks about it, Axel hasn't been around in a while, probably off stalking that human he's planning to steal.

Riku sighs, he hasn't seen his wings in weeks since Sora got here, but it's better that Sora thinks he's human, safer for them both. So, he resigns himself to watching.

After a while, it seems Sora's had enough and he comes to land in front of Riku, face flushed and cheeks glowing from excitement, "How was I?"

"Mmm, like a bird, pointed beak and all," Riku teases.

"Don't be mean," he pouts throwing himself in Riku's arms.

"You're doing it again."

"Doing what?"

"Invading my personal space."

"Sorry."

"If you were really sorry, you'd move." Riku sighs, Sora has been getting pretty touchy feely lately. He's not sure what to make of it, whether he's just getting more comfortable with him or missing the intimacy of his home, but sometimes he'd rather him not. Riku reaches up a hand to slowly stroke the underside of the base of one of Sora's wings where it meets flesh. Sora whimpers and squirms in his arms before pushing himself back, glaring at Riku with a red face.

"Don't do that."

"Do what," Riku smirks at getting the reaction he was expecting.

"You know what," he replies before dematerializing his wings and going inside. Riku continues smirking following after him, easiest way to get him to move.

Riku is halfway across the living room when Axel appears from wisps of darkness and he just knows this won't be good. Axel's eyes focus on Sora who tenses up in shock, "Well what do we have here? It smells like a seraph, trying to get in touch with the other half of your lineage, eh Riku?"

Sora snaps out of his shock and claps his hands together, "Stay back Riku! He's a demon, they'll steal your soul!"

"I am indeed a demon. The name's Axel, got it memorized?"

Sora ignores his words before opening his hands and pouncing on him, pressing his hands into Axel's flesh. The light that fills the room, the sound of something burning, and Axel screaming, Riku is horrified by how fast things went south.

"Riku!" Axel screams, voice filled with pain, "get this monster off me!"

Riku shakes himself out of it and wraps his arms around Sora's waist yanking him off Axel, taking care to avoid his light filled hands, who knows how the light will affect him. "Sora, it's okay. I know him."

"What?"

Riku sighs, "I know him, its fine. You don't have to like exorcise him or whatever the hell that was."

"Yeah! So, heal me seraph!"

"I'm not healing a demon." He turns to Riku, "Why do you know a demon? They're evil and they steal souls."

"Hey now! We're not all bad, some of us are pretty nice." He winks at Riku who rolls his eyes in response. Axel may be joking, but Riku can tell by his eyes that he's pissed.

"Come on," he helps Axel up carefully avoiding the singed flesh. "I think I have some burn ointment in the back." Sora goes to follow after them, but Riku holds up a hand, "Its better if you stay up here."

"But, he's a demon, he could steal your soul," Sora protests.

"I'm not going to steal his soul and I don't want you anywhere near me, you glowing freak!"

Sora opens his mouth to retort, but Riku beats him to it, "Seriously its fine. I'll be fine, just relax. I'll be back in a few."

Sora frowns, but steps back and Riku leads Axel to a bathroom in the back and shuts the door. Immediately Axel rounds on him, "Who the hell is that?"

"That's Sora, I found him being attacked by demon hounds a few weeks ago."

"And you let him stay? What's wrong with you? That thing nearly killed me!"

"Give me your arm." Riku began running his fingers over Axel's arm, letting his magic do its work slowly healing the wounds. "I would think a big bad demon like you could protect himself."

Axel glares over at him, "Not when a seraph attacks me out of nowhere and starts burning my flesh off! Seriously, what's wrong with you?"

"His wings were half torn off and he needed to heal, then he wanted to stay and see the human world, that's all. I've kept him discreet…for the most part. I didn't even know he could do that."

"Well, yeah, thanks for the warning."

"Axel, I haven't seen you in weeks. Ever since you fried my computer," Riku squeezes a little harder.

"Ouch, shit, okay, I get it. Though, I still think it was a really bad idea to let him stay."

"It probably was, but what was I supposed to do with him?"

Axel shakes his head, "I don't know, but if you get captured by seraphs, don't expect me to come save you."

"I won't, considering how you just got your ass handed to you."

"He. Caught. Me. Off. Guard."

"Uh huh. Anyway, it should be fine, he thinks I'm human and he won't be here too much longer anyway."

"Your funeral."

Riku doesn't respond and instead reflects on how their positions are reversed, yet the same as in the beginning. Now, Riku is the one helping Axel, but Axel is still the one giving him advice. He smiles inwardly, thinking back on how they first met.

~~~~~
"You're not going to last long if you keep leaving a trail."

Riku instinctively jumped back brandishing a fireball, "Who are you?"

"Put that away. I promise you, it won't hurt me, but it may get you hurt. As for who I am, well that depends on your next answers."

"…."

"Where did you come from?"

"I don't know what you mean."

"Come on, you're a Halfling whose managed to last this long, however unbelievable that is. Where'd you escape from?"

"Nowhere, I've lived in the same foster house my whole life."

"Foster? As in among the humans?"

"You say that as if you aren't."

"I'm as human as you are, which is to say not at all."

He scoffed, "Right, so what am I then?"

"You can't possibly believe you're human. Look at yourself, you were holding a fireball a moment ago. I'm not positive what you are, but I have a clue. I've been watching you these past few months, keeping the other demons off your scent, you should be thanking me."

"And why exactly have you been helping me?"

"I'm…..interested, you could say. You have potential and I'm curious to see where that'll lead."

Riku gave him a skeptical look.

"Let me summarize it, you're part demon wandering around without a clue. Without someone helping you, I guarantee you'll be dead soon. It's in your best interest to cooperate with me before someone less pleasant finds you."

"Part demon," he scoffs. "I may have been wielding a fireball, but that's a little too farfetched."

"Look kid, believe what you want, but you know you're not human and you're going to need my help if you want to stay alive."

"And who exactly are you?"

"The name's Axel. Got it memorized?"

~~~~~
Yeah, Axel's been a good friend. He taught him Riku everything he knew about being a demon. And honestly, Riku would not have lasted much longer without him, once Axel made him aware, he did notice that he was being watched more often than not. He was never really sure of Axel's motives, but he's never steered him wrong yet.

Riku finishes healing him, bandages him up and they head back out to the living room. Axel is still glaring daggers at Sora, making sure to keep his distance and Sora's body language is none too friendly either. "I'll see you around Riku," Axel says before vanishing.

Sora immediately starts questioning him about why he lets demons show up in his house and if his plan all along was to sell him to the demons. After reassuring Sora that no, that was never an option or a plan and Axel is literally just his friend, Riku puts a stop to all other questioning. If he keeps answering questions, he may end up revealing too much. Besides, all the excitement's exhausting him.

Riku yawns, "I need a nap, you two are exhausting."

"I'll stay up here in case he comes back."

"You know he could appear anywhere in the house he chooses, right?" Riku shakes his head at Sora's surprised realization, "You may as well come with me. You and I both know you'll just sneak into my bed later anyway."

Sora flushes knowing Riku's right, but takes the hand extending toward him anyway and follows after Riku.