Although he tried his best to keep their own pace, Chris loses sight of Matt and Dom in a matter of few minutes and the guy doesn't exclude the eventuality that they could have resorted to magic.
However, at the moment he has no intention to wander through more than two hundred and forty shops, and a bewildering number of floors, to look for them.
Quite the contrary, he decides to indulge for a while, spotting a jewelry not far away from him, where he can see from the window a pair of fine earrings pendants winking at him.
And, as if on purpose, there are very few days to Valentine's Day and it's almost a month since he and Kelly have been together.
So, thinking about his salary, but most of all about the just signed contract with the Hyper Music and all the stuff it will take him to, Chris decides that he can buy to his beloved Kelly something really nice.
Meanwhile, a few floors higher, a certain angel and a certain devil wander into a store that seems tailor-made for them, taking a look around as if they were two children in a realm of toys and sweets.
"Here, everything shines!" The brunet comments, in high spirits.
"And everything is covered by those enchanting, pretty spots!" The blond rejoices, ecstatic.
" Leopard-print. "
" Excuse me ?" Dom frowns.
"I mean, the pattern that you like so much. That's the way it's called." Matt explains to him.
"Oh, I see." Dominic mutters, before getting upset. "Oh, no! It's not that people kill leopards to do these things…right?"
"No, of course they don't. Unless you don't want a real fur." The other replies.
"Is there really someone who has such awful things?" The creature from Paradise asks him, in utter shock.
"Oh yes, there is those who create and those who boasts that stuff, but almost all of their souls then go to fatten our Circles" The creature from Hell informs him with a smirk and Dom finds himself smiling in deep approval.
"But coming back to your question, the pattern is based only on the mantle of the leopards and people recreate it in different fabrics and accessories." Matt informs him.
"Thank goodness! Leopards are wonderful creatures... not that the others are not, the Big Boss has done a great job with everything, but... you understand what I mean, don't you?" The blond grumbles, more relieved.
Matthew nods with a smile, and then he wraps one arm around the angel's hips.
"If it was necessary in order to create something that makes you happy, I'd kill even the rarest animals ever!" The devil states.
"Matthew! It's such a horrible thing to say!" Dominic replies horrified, and then his expression softens. " But I know that you just wanted to be nice!" He murmurs, giving him a peck on the cheek.
"Hey! I am not nice at all. Never ever!" The brunet growls, with his ego offended. "I just wanted to make you angry, because I know how much you love the animals, the rivers, the lakes, the mountains and all that shit! " He mutters, crossing his arms and staring at the ground, raising his eyes only when he hears the angel's crystal laughter.
"You know, you're even more adorable when you try not to be! " The blond whispers, ruffling his hair.
"But the slaughter of the chickens should be fun. Sooner or later I want to try." Matt plans out loud, pinching his chin thoughtfully.
"Blessed sky, Matt! You're impossible!" Dom rolls his eyes, deeply disappointed.
"But you know that... " his interlocutor is going to replicate, but he stops abruptly. " Uh! There's glitter there, in the corridor, that claims my attention!" He informs him, walking towards the area of his interest.
It's not at all an excuse to divert the issue, since a silver jacket, covered entirely in glitter, which is proudly displayed on a mannequin, has really caught his attention.
"It's beautiful, is not it ?" Exclaims a shop girl that seems to be appeared out of nowhere, causing him to wince slightly. "It 's a suit. We also have a coordinated trousers and there are various colors available: silver, what you see now, then black, blue, red!" the employee informs him.
"Did you say red?" Matt asks for confirmation, with his blue eyes that light up.
On the other side of the store, Dom flips through the clothing on display, among which there's a leopard shirt, less transparent than the one he already has.
"If you like this pattern, we have it available in several colours : blue, purple, green... which among other things would be fine with the acid green jeans you're wearing! " Another of the shop girls shows up, with the same ability to appear from nowhere found in her colleague before.
"Are you serious? " Dom asks her, with clear interest.
Matthew is committed to grab yet another piece of eccentric and flamboyant clothing, when Dominic, at the apex of enthusiasm, cheerfully trots in his direction.
"Oh, Mattie, is it or isn't it the most beautiful thing you've ever seen?" He comments, displaying an entirely leopard-printed belt, while the other arm is supporting a not insignificant amount of clothing.
"Save from you, little angel? Yeah, maybe it is." The charming devil softly murmurs, making the blond blush.
However, there is something that can't escape to Matthew's attention.
"You know, this way you keep calling me," the brunet whispers, playing with the belt loops of Dom's jeans, which haven't been honored by the presence of that belt yet.
"Yes, I know, I'm sorry. It's that I do it spontaneously, naturally. Who knows, maybe I like having a special way to call you on my own..." the embarrassed angel murmurs, with a half smile, busy as he tries to pull the zipper of Matthew's red blouse up and down.
"Don't apologize. I like it. "The devil confesses.
"Really?" The angel's jade eyes shine in amazement.
"Yeah, now tell me," Matt smiles languid. " Would you like if I called you Dommie?" He whispers, stroking his cheek with a finger.
Dominic is filled with a wonderful feeling.
"Oh, it's as if I bathed my feet in the Bliss river." The blond replies.
"Uh ? I don't understand." The other frowns.
"It's the largest and most beautiful river of our kingdom. It's made of milk and honey." Dom explains.
"It must be delicious! " Matt licks his lips.
" Are you nuts? It's strictly prohibited to drink its water or even just to touch it. It's a sacred river and you can just bask in its sight." The angel informs him
"What a fucking drag! How can you stand a realm where it is not allowed to do anything? " Matthew rolls his eyes.
"No, don't say so. There's other real happiness... "
"Come on, little angel, tell me a way you feathered guys can have fun." The devil challenges him . "I mean, a way that's not to entwine the damn garlands!" He anticipates, before the other could open his mouth.
"Well, sometimes we can... " the celestial creature attempts to answer.
"Or to skate on your lake!" the Mephistophelean creature cuts him off.
Despite the deep, silent brainstorming, Dominic doesn't know how to strike back and Matt grins victoriously.
"Anyway, what matters is what you did before! " The blond changes topic, brushing Matt's hand. "You made me try something forbidden, something electrifying. Do you understand what I mean?" He whispers, with a big grin.
- Forget bathing your pretty feet! With all the stuff I'm going to do with you, little angel, you'll have the feeling of swimming in your stupid, pathetic river! - The determined devil evilly plots, gloating.
" Well, are we going to stay here until sunset or do you want to try these clothes?" Matt urges him, pointing to the dressing room with his eyes, noticing that one of them is free. " Go in first." The brunet instructs the blond, resting his clothing temporarily on an unattended table.
"I think that I'll help a little bit." He adds, moving the curtain away and reaching Dom who has already entered but at the moment is busy admiring himself in the mirror.
"But... Matt, you can't stay here. We are not in the garage... this is a store full of people and... "the blond grows agitated, immediately figuring out his counterpart's very unfriendly intentions.
Moreover, the mischievous light in his blue ocean eyes is more than eloquent.
"Why, little angel? Do you really believe that no one has ever done that? Dressing rooms of the shops are made for this. The curtain is pulled and everyone out there is busy. Nobody cares about what we do. Do you really want to miss such opportunity?" the devil tempts the angel, blocking him with feline movements.
************** ( Meantime )
Chris has bought his gift for Kelly, finding also a perfect card for the occasion, but not without first having enriched it with phrases that come from his heart and not from prefabricated cards for mass distribution.
He decides that it's time to go in search of his guardians and a sign that towers over the map of the entire complex of shops gives him unequivocal clue.
- You can't escape now, my dear guys! - He ponders, while he walks towards the escalator.
************** ( Meantime )
"Come on, Matt.. at least let me loose a button.." Dom chuckles, while Matt is already attacking the angel's neck mercilessly.
"There is no hurry. The only customer who waits for this dressing room to be free it's me and I assure you that I'll be very, very understanding." The brunet whispers, going up to his chin and once he's there he lands hungrily to the blond's soft lips.
"Stop it... " Dom murmurs against his lips, but the tone used is anything but an invitation to stop.
"Damn yeah, stop it right away, both of you! " The first shop girl, the one who has served Matthew, pulls the curtain, in order to catch them off guard.
Needless to say, she is not showing off anymore the friendly expression she had previously.
"I have been clever enough to keep an eye on you, as a matter of fact it it's as I suspected. Our dressing room is not a motel, shame on you! " She scolds them, urging them to get out.
" I beg your pardon with all my heart, we didn't mean to disrespect you or your shop, it's just that.." the blond rushes to apologize, dejected.
Matthew doesn't have at all the attitude of one who is going to apologize.
"Just tell me, brunette, does annoy you the most the fact that someone was making out in your dressing room... or that it's two boys who were doing it? " The devil puts her in serious trouble.
"What? But... " she hesitates.
"C'mon, tell us the truth, if we were a boy and a girl you wouldn't have said anything. Who knows how many of your friends have your permission to do stuff inside there or.. who knows how many times you isolate there with your own boyfriend..." Matt goes on, peering at her with his ice-blue eyes.
" But.. how do you.. ?" the girl betrays herself.
"Ah, can't you see? I guessed right!" Her interlocutor chuckles. " Tsk, tsk, this is not right, it's such a shameful sin not to be at least a tiny bit open-minded and tolerant." He comments with indignant tone.
"He's right, blessed lady, you should open your mind and your heart much more, rather than withdraw yourself into the barricades of hateful prejudices! You have so much gain if you change your behavior." The angel -who has finally recovered from the shock- advices her, showing off a warm smile.
"But the two of you.. who are you? " The clerk asks them, puzzled and frightened.
Matthew approaches her.
"When I say it is a big sin, I mean it for real!" Matt devilishly smiles. " So... see you in Hell!" He concludes, irreverent.
"OUT OF MY SHOP! NOW! "the girl thunders, since she has reached the limit of endurance.
"Be sure of it, but not before we have paid for our purchases. And I don't even need your stupid test service, I already know that these clothes will fit me to a T!" Matt strikes back, retrieving the clothes from the table and walking away with Dom
"Anyway, congratulations, my dear, you have beautiful stuff in this awesome shop!" The affable angel smiles ecstatically.
"Damn you, Dominic, you just can't always be so full of good feelings!" The brunet grumbles.
"Why not?" The angel asks him naively.
In spite of himself, Matthew smiles amused, shaking his head.
Waving satisfied their bags, the two otherworldly creatures find their protégée at the exit of the store, with an expression of annoyance and his arms crossed over his chest.
"I knew that I would have found you here!" He snorts.
"Chris, dear, it's nice to see you again!" The joyful Dom welcomes him warmly. "Do you want to shop here too? This one is on us!" He offers.
"It's just that we should wait outside. We are no longer welcome in this shop! " Chuckles Matt.
"I don't even want to know that what you've done that and, however, no, thank you, but I will not buy anything from a store called ' Glittery Leopard '!" Chris blurts out, disgusted. "And now, if it's not too much trouble for you, would it be so disgusting to come back home?"
" But, what, already? And the more than Two hundred other stores?" The blond pouts.
"Hey, Dom, one day you'll come back here alone and you'll can stay here as long as you don't be kicked out at closing time and, if he wants, Matt will be here with you; but now we have a plane waiting for us!" The human insists, being able to win it for once.
"Matthew, but... what does ' make out ' mean?" Dom questions Matt, intrigued.
The brunet smiles.
"I'll explain that later, little angel!"
************************** (Meantime)
"Hello T. .. " Morgan's pleasant voice greets Tom as soon as the archdevil accepts that call.
"Yes, I know already." Tom immediately stops the debate, while he's caressing his Showbiz who reciprocates with affectionate small pecks on his hand.
"They have not simply disappeared from Chris' sight, those two have resorted to magic to do that." Morgan comments.
"Do you think I didn't get it? I happened to see very well your stupid one-hundred-feathers' blue light, that carried away my little bastard and him. " Tom replies, annoyed.
"Yeah, indeed. You know, my dear Dominic had never ignored his tasks before!" the archangel mumbles worried.
"Well, at least Matthew respects my ban of magic." the brunet notes, pompously.
"Uhmm.. " Morgan ponders out loud.
"What's wrong?"
"Let's recap. Dominic has changed because he demonstrates to be less responsible now; while Matthew, if I'm not wrong, he has always been a little bit rebellious, right?'" the blond comments. "C'mon, spit out, what's the point?" Tom questions him, bothered, starting to caress the majestic raven with a little too much emphasis.
"I just say, that Matthew, showing that he's so willing to obey, is in turn proving to be changed a lot. Even him." the insightful archangel states.
"Damn it! I hadn't thought about it!" Tom snaps, before Showbiz show his displeasure croaking and flying away of being a sort of Tom's anti-stress.
"Do you know why they both keep isolating from Chris? Because they actually want to isolate themselves from us! They know that in this way we cannot see them." Morgan goes on.
"Dammit! We have to stop to allowing them to do what they please, we should remind them what are their priorities." replication Tom, angrier and angrier.
"And how do you think we can do that?" His Nemesis questions him.
"I don't know, I have the feeling that even if knotted five times in a row Matt's tail it would be useless." the brunet mumbles.
"Well, maybe I can do something about ..."
"Hey, Morgy, are you really saying that under that immaculate attitude you hide the soul of a sadistic torturer?" The gorgeous archdevil sneers.
"Let's just say that Dominic needs to expiate his guilt and, if necessary, the expiation may also be painful. And of course, this will cause more harm to me that to my pupil." The merciful archangel murmurs saddened.
"Uh-uh." Tom chuckles. "So what are you exactly planning?"
-
Once they're back in Teignmouth, for Chris there's just the time to make a quick side trip to Kelly's house, in order to acknowledge personally his girlfriend of the great news and to receive her congratulations. After that, he returns to his house, too tired to do anything else.
Dominic and Matthew are reduced in the same condition, extremely exhausted and, looking at the reappeared bed as if it were an oasis and they were dying of thirst in the desert, the two guardians lie down the mattress, taking off their shoes, their overcoat and returning to their natural state.
"Ouch!" Dom complains, s soon he makes his halo and wings reappear.
"What's wrong with you?" Matthew demands absently, seated on the bed, while he smoothes his tail.
"My wings! They seem... sort of glued to each other ... I can't ... ouch!" The aching angel explains.
Lifting his gaze toward him, Matt realizes that he's telling the truth: Dom's wings are all pulled back, stuck to every inch, pulling the skin of the angel's back at both ends.
"What did you do? Did you roll in molasses, little angel?'" the devil teases the other.
"It is not fun, Matt." The angel strikes back, surly. "I have not done anything and ... ouch!" Dom whines again, since the pain becomes more and more excruciating.
"Well, up to two minutes ago you were fine, why don't you make your wings disappear again?" Matt suggests him, with air of sufficiency.
"You're right." Dom smiles, enlightened, focusing on that task, but he turns towards his Nemesis a few minutes later, deeply upset. " I can't take them off, they don't vanish anymore." he explains, disheartened.
"Oh." Matthew replies, surprised. "You know, it almost seems a sort of ... "
"Punishment." Dom anticipates him. "I have got to pay for my sins. It is right to do so. Even Morgan must have understood that in the last few weeks I haven't been exactly a model student." Dom comments, with a weak smile that turns in the umpteenth grimace of pain.
(End I )
I know, I know, poor sweet little angel .. :(
But.. trust me, will you? ;P
hope you liked it ^^ Pleasee let me know :/
There's more oh so much more to come.. among half chapters there's something like 20 updates (counting this one) to reach the same point I reached in Italy… which it's not even remotely the end.. you're scared, aren't you?