Part 30

Huddled among the shadows and the damp darkness, Alex watched Angel enter the office and close the door behind him. They were alone in there together. Alex stood up slowly, and Angel could physically see his change. He was timid, frightened, and quiet, nothing like the confident, cocky, brave creature he was familiar with. "Alex!" He ran at him.

His speed made the lizard flinch and shrink into the corner. "I—" He stopped in front of Alex and slowly looked him over, then reached out, cupping the boy's cheek. Alex, again, flinched a little, but it was clear on his face that he was relieved. "Angie?"

"I'm here, darlin'." He kept his hand firm, wanting to lean into a kiss or embrace, but decided to respect Emily's warning and be gentle, a feeling Alex had yet to experience in hell.

There was a moment between them where they just stared at one another, and then Alex lunged at Angel and wrapped his arms around him, sobbing as the dam broke.

Angel gently wrapped his arms around the crying lizard, pulling his shaking shoulders close and rubbing his back. It took a second, but it was enough for Alex. The boys' sobs echoed, and Angel gently whispered in his ear to try and soothe him. He couldn't control them, and they bubbled through him and out in a stream that he wasn't expecting, every single memory and fear and trauma playing out in front of him.

There were times when Alex made no sound at all and just screamed silently, his jaw clenched tightly as he shook in Angel's arms, unable to make the sounds he needed to for release. He would sputter, take a breath, and then do it all over again. It broke the spider's heart, but he had no words and didn't need them to gently run his hands along his lover's spine and hold the back of his head. Just be with him as much as the boy needed. "I'm sorry, Angie."

"Awww sweetie, no-" the boy leaned back a bit, his grip firm and insistent on Angel's body, holding tight.

"I couldn't do anything. I just-" The lizard's breath was caught, and a surge of grief came across him, and his body wracked through it.

Angel held him tighter, as tight as he could. " You were brave, baby. You were so brave." He stroked the lizard's mane. "I am so proud of you."

The tears weren't ceasing. Angel was forced to brace himself for the weight as Alex's legs gave out, and he started to slip, but Angel followed him to the floor. He would never let go again. The tears were heavy and loud. Angel could not remember a time in his life when someone would have shed these tears over him or his well-being. If he were killed, it wouldn't matter. But all Alex had done was try to protect him. His life, safety, and happiness were not meaningless to this boy, and they gave him such a rush.

Angel didn't say a word, not one. Alex had to say whatever he had been bottling. "I s-should have waited. B-but I was angry a-and upset! And I n-needed-" he couldn't continue. The words were choking him, and his grief wouldn't let him form the sounds he needed. "He touched me!"

Angel felt his teeth clench. "It's OK." Alex finally spoke up. His eyes were bloodshot and red-rimmed. There were dark bruises on his eyes. His ordinarily blue and yellow irises seemed a shade darker, the spark in his eyes all but faded. But then Alex leaned up from Angel and looked him in those beautiful, wounded eyes. "I...I understand now, Angel. I u-understand w-what you go through." He grits his teeth so tight that he is afraid he is going to break his teeth. "That elevator...that studio...the smell, the feeling of those sheets..." Tears threatened, and he felt his gut flip. "It's like it's still on me. Like there's nothing else there."

He slumped a little. "Everything i-insides of me says 'I'm not safe here. This is too small. I need out.' A-And it feels like I'm trying to escape m-my body, and I want out, but no one comes!" He bit back his breath, sobbed, and wept, feeling Angel's chest. His lip trembled as he closed his eyes, forcing back the tears. His breathing became rapid, his entire being focused on trying to control it. He was falling apart at the seams.

"You're safe here. Take a breath, I got ya'." He continued rubbing circles around Alex's back. "Everything is going to be OK."

His eyes turned upward. "Angie, I...I'm happy I met you. I'm so glad you're ok." He pulled the demon into a tighter embrace.

He wrapped his arms around the quivering reptile; his clawed hands dug into his skin. He didn't want this to stop. Angel hadn't let go since they started talking, holding Alex. He had no intention of doing that ever. His grip tightened on the young reptile's shoulder, his other hand resting on his back.

The lizard's shaking slowed, and Angel felt something running up his back and toward his legs. When he looked at the wrapping around Alex's arms, the fabric beginning to curl around him, twining and embracing. They were warm, soft, and delicate. "Ya know you can't keep these wrapped around me forever."

"What if I could?"

"Then I would stay here till you can't."

The silence was warm and felt longer than it should have, and Alex turned his face up into Angel's neck. "I love you so much, Angie."

He didn't speak or need to, moving his mouth slowly against Alex's and smiling warmly. "Me too, ya overgrown salamander." Alex slowly slid his hands into Angel's hair, careful of the fabric, and buried his claws into it.

He couldn't wait anymore. There was no way for him to stop. As they kissed, the wrapping pulled around them both, pulling them against one another. They drank from each other, tight and warm, surrounded by soft velvet. All of his senses were saturated and drowning in this moment. Alex opened his eyes slowly. Tears formed again, but a small smile curled at his mouth as he leaned forward, pulling Angel's head back.

Their mouths broke from each other, but Alex pressed his forehead to Angel's. "I'm...really sorry I ran off."

"H-Hey..."

The boy gripped Angel's back, feeling the fur, the muscle, "I'm s-s-sorry. I...I...w-was s-scared! I'm really sorry."

"Hey, ya' didn't do anything, baby."

Alex nodded, "I made you worry." He trembled, pressing harder, his muscles loosening. "I did...everything wrong."

The boy's face was growing long and distressed, a look the demon was too familiar with. Angel was looking at himself from all those years ago, the first time with Valentino. He had to be gentle. "You did the best you could, babe. And you're safe. That's all that matters right now." Angel closed his eyes and gently rocked them back and forth in place.

He hugged the boy hard, closing his eyes. The boy's warm, soft fur brushed against Alex's scales as they slowly rocked together.

The fluttering of wings drew their attention to Emily, hovering just by the door, smiling at the two of them. "Look at the two of you..." she cupped her hands, "see? The Sutures are reacting." Angel smirked at the girl and her blush and realized how strange this might be for her. An angel seeing demons being...so sweet. But she quickly recovered, landing and bowing low to them, wings closing behind her. "How do you feel? Safe, Alex?"

"Yes...thank you for finding him. For finding me."

She rubbed her wrists, "Oh-don't mention it. I'm...kinda responsible for this, so...kinda need to fix it, yea?" Emily bit her lip and smiled awkwardly, rubbing the back of her neck. "So...we need to figure out our next steps..."