Japanese: "(Speech.)"
Netherworld Common: "Speech."
Mutually understood words: "Speech."
TW: Blood, injury, a few swears, PTSD, murder, and uuuh…. That's all I can particularly think of atm..?
Warning for anime-only: Kalego's brother/his position mentioned.
xXx-xXx-spark-xXx-xXx
Asphalt burned and chaffed against skin as two demons landed in a struggle, the air changing from brisk with the tang of forest fire, to a salty humidity that was entirely foreign and cloyed at the back of his throat. Asmodeus hissed as he punched the skull of the one attached to his waist, annoyed that these foolish terrorists, the Six Fingers, were attempting to pull him into their ranks.
He had more reason to kill every last one of them than to join alongside them in dismantling the Netherworld's Order.
There were tall buildings around him, but he could smell some sort of foreign ignition agent, so he spread his flame in a wide arc while hoping and praying it would catch, and found his hope answered as one of the large shed doors blasted open.
His Mana was quickly depleting, but he managed to kick off his assailant in time for them to taste a face-full of flaming metal, while he just barely conjured enough of his own fire to shield himself from the blast.
Asmodeus pushed himself unsteadily onto his feet, surrounded by fire and molten metal, and quickly made his way into the shadows of the neighboring buildings.
If he had to guess, he was in some sort of industrial complex, but how he had gotten there was a blur. He'd been in the middle of a battle mid-flight, when he'd been dragged down through the canopy of trees, only to land in this strange new area.
Portal Magic wasn't an unknown concept to him, considering how some of the events held by higher society sometimes required an invitation, but this was entirely abnormal.
It felt like his Mana was being drained out of him by the air itself! It was exhausting, and he knew he wouldn't be able to run long-
A hand grasped his arm firmly while pulling him into a tight space, the unknown body of another pushing him behind them with a quieting hiss in warning.
Asmodeus' first response would have been to fight the offender off, but he didn't have the chance to as he felt them press him into the wall while throwing a piece of cloth over their heads.
"(Stay still.)"
Asmodeus couldn't understand the words, but the tone behind it was enough.
Both lowered their breaths, and Asmodeus heard the shouts of his pursuers, as well as new voices in both languages he did and did not know.
A piece of trash shifted as the gasping sounds of his initial assailant dragged themself into the area Asmodeus had run to.
His voice curdled in enraged agony, "If you think for one fucking second I'm gonna let you get outta this unscathed, you'd better think again-!" There was a wet cough, before the sound of Asmodeus' assailant dragged themself closer to their spot. "Something smells… particularly delicious over here~."
The voice was too close, and abruptly the sound of something impaling flesh was heard as wet splattered upon the cloth covering them.
There was a gurgle of curses, before the sound of a body dropped before them. The one shielding Asmodeus swallowed harshly as their body seemed to tense and shiver at the same time.
A sigh, the sound of another lifting a body before pausing, only to huff in annoyance before walking away.
The two stayed there, under that piece of musty cloth for several minutes longer, before the one shielding him threw it off, snatched his arm, and ran at an impressive speed towards the nearby outcropping of woods.
Asmodeus didn't even have the chance to pull away before they were rushing through a seemingly well-known path to the stranger, twigs and leaves trampling beneath them and mixing with the cacophony of several sirens in the distance.
Asmodeus, like many demons, normally fly. So to run for a particularly long distance at full speed was not at all within their usual stamina use. He wondered if he could even take another step before the one pulling him along finally slowed down, just in time for them to stumble out of the forest and greet the backside of a rundown apartment complex.
The hand left Asmodeus' arm as the other coughed harshly as they bent over to grasp their knees while trying to catch their breath.
Asmodeus leaned against a tree, feeling more wrung out than ever before while each and every wound on his body made itself known in a cacophony of pain.
Minutes passed before the other sighed softly and straightened before turning to him while tilting their head, "(Are you alright?)"
Asmodeus blinked several times before glancing towards the other, realizing he'd been spoken to. "...What?"
The other flinched at the sound of his voice, before rubbing their forearm. They seemed to be thinking, a slight frown marring their face, before they shrugged and moved to grab Asmodeus' wrist. The demon pulled his arm away before he could be caught, but the other was determined, and after a strange game of trying to keep out of the other's grasp, the stranger managed to snatch him and tug him along. "(I live here. Come on.)"
Asmodeus growled lowly in the back of his throat in annoyance, but after a quick glare from the other, Asmodeus complied and allowed himself to be pulled along to the building before them.
A few bags of groceries were hung upon the handle of the door they approached, along with some hastily thrown bags. The stranger released him, picking up the downed bags before taking out a key and unlocking the door. He motioned for Asmodeus to enter, and while he had his trepidations, the aristocratic demon wasn't about to get himself caught out in the open in the shape he was in.
The stranger flicked on a light while following him in and shutting the door closed behind them.
Asmodeus flinched at the change in light, and he frowned as he heard a high pitched keen from one of the lightbulbs. Truly, a terrible abode with horrible structure.
"(Sorry, I don't normally have guests.)"
Asmodeus didn't need to be able to understand what the other was saying to get the gist from his tone. He must have been too obvious in his displeasure, and felt immediate shame that he was being rude to the one helping him. He turned slightly to finally get a good look at his helper, and blinked.
He was a wisp of a man, barely managing a proper diet of vitamins and minerals as he set down his groceries on the counter. Just above shoulder-length dark blue hair with a slight upward curl at the ends framed blue eyes. There were bruise-like circles under the other's eyes that clashed with his pale skin, but the other glanced at him and gave him a small unsure smile in an attempt at what he could suppose was reassurance.
Asmodeus looked around the apartment. A kitchen with a small division before spilling immediately into what could only be a living room and bedroom combo, while two other doors signaled the possibility of storage and, hopefully, a bathroom.
There was a folded futon in the corner, a small low table, and a rickety old television. A few knickknacks that didn't seem to have any correlation with one another, and a few hanging plants.
It was, simply, a place to live and not a place one called home… at least. Not in Asmodeus' mind.
The stranger rubbed his neck awkwardly before taking a few steps forward. He pointed to himself, "(Iruma.)" before proceeding to motion his hand toward him with a questioning tilt of his head.
Asmodeus took a moment to realize the other, Iruma, had given his name, and was asking for his. He supposed he could reciprocate the gesture and shifted to better face him. "Alice." It seemed to be the simpler option despite his misgivings about his own name.
Iruma blinked as he pulled back his hand in thought, while mouthing the name Asmodeus had given.
"...Arisu?"
"A L iss."
Iruma flushed lightly before nodding, "Alice."
Alice nodded happily and motioned with his hand in return. "Iruma."
Iruma nodded, before moving around him, "(I'm going to get a first aid kit.)" He opened what was, in fact, a bathroom, and pulled out a white box with some level of weight out of a storage space. He moved it over to the small table and then turned to him before frowning. Iruma hummed in thought, before returning to the bathroom and turning on the bath before coming back out and motioning at Alice's person cautiously. "(Uhm… I know it's probably really weird, but uh… I think before I patch you up you should get cleaned up. Your wounds seem pretty bad.)"
Alice couldn't understand a single word he said, but he glanced between the white box and bathroom before looking down at the state of his school uniform and decided he got the gist.
He felt grimy, and the cloth they'd been under left a lingering scent of mold that left something to be desired. Parts of his clothing could probably be salvaged, but there were tears and dark stains he had no hope of getting out. He sighed softly, before nodding.
Iruma seemed to loosen up a little at that, seemingly worried about offending him, before gasping in silent realization. He ran over to what turned out to be a sliding door, pulled out a large white shirt, and then went over to a dresser within the same space and pulled out some black drawstring pants that seemed too big for the other, but could perhaps just barely fit Alice's frame in length when cinched.
Iruma carefully folded the items and set them down in a spot that seemed good in the bathroom, as well as pulling out fresh new towels before shuffling out and waving him in. Alice nodded his head in thanks, and let himself into the bathroom, before closing the door shut behind him.
He realized there was what might be a lock on the door, and clicked it for good measure, before carefully peeling off his ruined outer jacket and beginning the tortuous process of getting undressed.
Alice abruptly realized his injuries weren't healing, and his Mana wasn't replenishing itself.
Just where the hell was he?
xXx-xXx-drop-xXx-xXx
The moment Iruma heard the door lock he felt incredible relief and nearly stumbled as he took a moment to breathe. He'd never brought anyone to his apartment before, and that was within good reason. It was shabby, and well… outside of work, he generally wasn't close to anyone.
(He didn't deserve to be close to anyone-)
He swallowed, took in a few calming breaths, and made his way back to the counter where his warming combini bento was waiting. He'd need to eat it quickly before it spoiled, considering it was already discounted.
He sighed lightly as he opened it, and made swift work of the contents, before pulling out a barely-warm steamed bun and munching into it.
Iruma glanced at the few groceries he'd bought, and hoped he at least had enough to offer his guest.
He'd have to run out to get some more food.
He swallowed with a wince at the hit his wallet was going to take from this.
However, instinctively, Iruma knew that Alice wasn't from around here. Ignoring the long tied back pink hair and heart-shaped ahoge, his ears were pointed, and his eyes were an intense magenta that definitely weren't contacts.
Some might think they are at first glance, but Iruma knew what to look for… and well, slitted contacts, unless they were weighted, wouldn't stay in place the way Alice's pupils naturally did.
There were also the fangs, but that was negligible. Iruma'd met or passed by enough people with that sort of preference or natural tooth formation to not be bothered.
However, the clincher for Iruma deciding the stranger in his bathroom was quite out of his depth, was his voice.
Iruma's heart had nearly stopped at the growlingterrorfear that spewed out of the unknown person's mouth that had been struck down. (Because Iruma knew the way bodies sounded when the life had left them, and he shoved that thought downdowndown along with the bile threatening to relieve him of his dinner.)
Alice had the same undertones- the echoing and the sense of foreboding… but Iruma's Danger Sense didn't trigger, and Alice's body language didn't speak of incoming violence.
That was simply how he and those like him sounded, and Iruma decided he'd just have to get used to it, and hope he could get past the echoing terror to not flinch in his presence.
It'd be rude, after inviting him in.
Iruma huffed lightly, set up his spare bento on the table next to the first aid kit, and quickly made his way back out to get some more supplies before the last stores closed.
He made it back in time to greet Alice as he finished eating.
(Iruma noted the ignored fish, and after a moment of hesitation, shoved the ignored food into his mouth while disposing of the trays and wrappers.)
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Alice wasn't particularly keen on having a stranger tend to his wounds, but it would be an otherwise annoying process doing so by himself. After Iruma had washed his hands, he settled before Alice with some courteous caution, and opened what in fact was a first aid kit, and took out varying supplies before putting on a pair of gloves.
Iruma motioned for him to give him his arm, and Alice complied with a grimace.
He had a lovely road burn from his entrance into this strange land, his upper arm and shoulder also sporting similar damage from the landing. Iruma was swift in his work as Alice clenched his teeth through the pain of antiseptic. It was annoying, but it did keep his thoughts from wandering too far.
Or thinking about how soft Iruma's voice was in comparison to his.
The other made soft sounds at times in sympathy, not at all bothered by the sight of his wounds.
Alice was somewhat surprised by this, since even he could get a little squeamish about sustained injuries.
(He wouldn't think about those weeks after Clara first came under his care- he wouldn't. Not now.)
Iruma wrapped each injury neatly and with familiarity to the process as he moved from one unhealing wound to the next.
That was, until Iruma frowned and glanced at where Alice more than likely had more injuries.
Alice cleared his throat and motioned with his hand to give him the supplies, and Iruma hesitated for a moment before leaving the rest of his care to himself before excusing himself to the bathroom.
Alice barely noticed as Iruma snatched his own change of clothes before closing the bathroom door shut with a click of the lock.
The demon took in a deep breath and sighed lightly, before shimmying his pants down to deal with the gash down his hip and thigh. It wasn't overly deep, but it would be a pain in the ass to deal with- most especially since his healing was dramatically hampered.
He made quick work of his more private injuries, swallowing down his worries, and most importantly…
His growing concern that he might ever make it back home.
xXx-xXx-drop-xXx-xXx
Iruma was half dozing in the tub after washing up, before he shook himself out of it and stared at his guest's discarded clothes.
They seemed particularly expensive, and mechanical oil stains were an absolute bitch to get out of white.
But Iruma had done it before, so he could certainly do it again.
He sighed lightly before pulling himself out of the bath and setting it to drain, before drying off and dressing.
He pulled the damaged clothing over and laid each piece out, choosing which would be easiest to clean and moving down to the most difficult.
The material was entirely unique in texture, so he supposed dry cleaning was more than likely the preferable option… but he could make do with what he had on hand.
He started with the easiest to clean, using spot cleaners and gentle brushes to smooth out any stains before making a gentle soap bath to soak the garment in for a short time.
He then moved on, tackling each piece, until the last was the most ruined. The outer jacket.
Iruma frowned at it before he finally noticed the time and winced, reluctantly setting down the garment, and finally finishing his nightly routine to go to bed for the night.
He quietly opened the door, only to belatedly realize his guest was still awake. Alice was still, almost like a statue, but surprisingly awake. Iruma rubbed the back of his head bashfully and set up his futon before motioning for his guest to use it.
Alice glanced between the offered futon as well as Iruma and tilted his head.
Iruma moved to the other side of his table, next to the small stand that held his television, and laid down on his back with a small wave.
Alice gave him a somewhat disapproving look, but Iruma simply plugged in his phone, turned on three different alarms to ensure he'd wake up in time for work in a few hours, and immediately fell asleep.
xXx-xXx-spark-xXx-xXx
Alice awkwardly settled into Iruma's futon, far too aware of the other's scent as he did his best to make himself comfortable.
He hadn't really noticed it before, but now while laying in what would normally be Iruma's bed, he began to focus on it.
There was something… delicious about Iruma's scent.
Alice frowned as he brushed the initial thought aside, and examined why he would think so.
'Am I in an entirely new Realm? Is this not just some foreign region I have yet to visit?'
The idea seemed preposterous… but there was his Master, Balam Shichirou, who was well known for having an obsession with studying mysterious creatures.
Humans most especially.
Alice rolled the thought around in his head before deciding that there may very well be some truth to his Master's fixation.
'So humans do exist… and I have somehow, possibly, found myself within their Realm.'
This… did not bode well. Seeing as his mother was a Thirteen Crown, he couldn't help but think about the two others who were also of her Rank that could hunt him down for breaking through their Borders… Even if it was by happenstance and not on purpose.
Azazel Henri and Naberius Narnia.
Alice rubbed his face tiredly. Water couldn't entirely quench his thirst which was in part due to his lack of Mana.
He turned away from his host, the human who had unwittingly aided him, Iruma, and pondered while resting on his good side.
There were no other direct contact scents within Iruma's glorified room. Not only that, but he seemed young- most likely similar in age to himself… yet not even the slightest touch of another lingered him. Neither in terms of acquaintance or family.
Was Iruma an orphan..?
Alice forced his body to relax and rest as he simply listened to the cacophony of sounds leaking in from the outdoors and other residents of the apartment.
He wouldn't be getting any sleep that night, that was for sure.
And then, there was a clink, and Alice opened bleary eyes to morning. There was a small beam of light just past his bedding, warming his face by proximity as he stiffly turned over on his back with a grunt.
"(Ah! Did I wake you up? Sorry about that!)"
Alice blinked for a moment before turning towards the sound of Iruma's soft voice as the other rubbed the back of his head bashfully. He was in the middle of lifting what he could only assume was a bowl of breakfast for himself, and Alice could only stare in incomprehension.
Iruma chewed on his lip for a moment before pushing himself up to take his bowl to the kitchen sink and rinse it out before setting it down. He glanced at a clock before gasping and rushing to pick up a few things.
Iruma paused, looked at Alice, and then pointed to the television. He pressed a button to turn it on, and then pressed one set of buttons to change the channel, and another to heighten or lower the volume before shutting it off again. He then motioned between Alice and the tv before making a two fingered hand sign and smiled awkwardly, before waving goodbye.
"(I have to go to work now, but I'll be back around seven this evening! Uhm, it's alright if you leave, I guess, just make sure to lock the door if you do..?)" Iruma seemed a little forlorn at the end of his nonsensical statement, before sighing softly. He gave Alice a slightly more genuine smile before bowing shortly as he left and locked the door behind him.
Alice waited as he heard Iruma's steps leave swiftly before seemingly entering the forest they'd run through the previous evening, before allowing himself to disgracefully flop back into his present bedding.
Slowly the others who lived in the apartment left, leaving the building much more silent than it had before, and Alice allowed himself to fall back to sleep in an attempt to recover from his injuries in relative peace.
xXx-xXx-specter-xXx-xXx
Alice was fuming as he chewed on his thumbnail. It had been four days since Babyls went into lockdown after a somewhat disastrous Battler Party resulted in all of the students getting corralled into one spot, and some sort of destructive machinery malfunctioning rather explosively.
There had been chaos when one of the school's spires had exploded, and though only one of the students had been hurt, there had been an infiltration of the school which was the greater cause for alarm.
Four students had gone missing, and one of them had been Valac Clara.
Now, Alice wasn't a particularly big fan of hers, considering the childish antics she was prone to, however… She was one of his classmates. As notorious as the eleven (twelve?) Misfits of Babyls were for being a bunch of screwballs plus the top first year, himself… It did not change the fact that Alice was furious that Clara had been swept off of the school's grounds along with three of the guys who "played" with her on the regular.
Clara was one of his classmates, and it was unfathomable that they would dare take her.
But… on a more logical note, he did understand why.
Her Bloodline Magic, 'Toy Toy' was useful. She had initially showered her classmates with every snack food and drink available, and at first everyone had enjoyed the fact that they could get free food whenever they wanted.
…Until they realized she was doing it to make up for being an 'inconvenience.'
Sabro had been the first to realize what she was up to, and had staunchly rejected her offers, causing her to start loudly sobbing in front of the class. This, of course, made everyone else realize what was going on, and well…
Their class had become a little closer afterwards, as they realized she was generally fun to play with. Clara stayed close to Sabro a lot after that, but sometimes, despite how much she annoyed him, she'd cling to him as well and climb onto his back.
He had… accepted her place in the class, and by his side.
So in light of her kidnapping, the joy seemed to have been sucked right out of their classroom.
Dare he even say that colors felt more muted without her presence?
How preposterous! He merely tolerated her company!
And yet…
(And yet…)
Days passed, school reopened… and there was still no Clara.
No boisterous nonsense. No joyful giggles or "climbing mount Sabro."
Just… brooding silence.
(And Kalego-sensei was much worse for ware, then, too. Enraged as he was that one of HIS students had been taken, let alone one of his TREASURES. The teacher was most certainly nursing a Wicked Phase barely suppressed.)
On the thirteenth day of her absence, Alice had been in the middle of working on his homework when David burst into his room, "Alice-sama!" Alice jolted from his desk in the midst of working on his homework as he turned toward his flustered butler. "Your mother is returning with your missing classmate Valac Clara!"
Alice felt relief and shock all at once, "Mother found her?!"
David's demeanor changed as he pursed his lips, "She appeared in poor condition at the doorstep of the Lust Group, and after ensuring it was truly her and that she was safe to approach, she requested you, sir."
Alice couldn't help but feel surprise at that for a moment, before realizing-
He had been one of the students uninvolved with any Battlers and had been home when everything had gone down. His classmates had slowly begun to look to him for guidance-
And he had never shoved Clara away from his person, even when she was most intolerable.
Alice ran a hand through his hair in trepidation before nodding, "I understand."
She was his to protect.
The moment their eyes met while she huddled behind the tresses of his mother, her eyes filled with tears and she ran to him without hesitation, crying his name while covered in a plethora of bandages.
It was in that moment that Alice swore, while clutching Clara close to his chest with enraged tears in his eyes, that when he found the fools who had joined with those who had Fallen to Origins to take Clara away from him…
Well, one year later when he succeeded in his first chance at revenge towards the three who'd stolen her away and broken her spirit-
Ash was a kind way of phrasing the state of their bodies when he was finished with them.
xXx-xXx-spark-xXx-xXx
Alice awoke and groaned softly before pushing himself to sit up. He needed to move, or else the multiple bruises he sustained would immobilize him. He grimaced, wishing for some herbal tonic to alleviate his hurts, and cursing the fact his wounds were healing far too slowly for his liking.
He exhaled through his nose as he stood on shaky feet before refreshing himself for the day.
There was no point in lying in bed when there were things he could be doing.
He paused in the bathroom on his way out to stare at his hanging garments.
Iruma had painstakingly cleaned each piece.
Alice ran careful fingers over the cloth, feeling how the cleaning agents of this Realm had affected his clothing, and found himself surprised that most of their softness had stayed intact.
How very odd that someone so young could take care of such expensive fabric while living in such deplorable conditions.
Alice tilted his head slightly in thought, before allowing his hand to fall away while he moved out towards the kitchen.
He scratched lightly at his bandages before opening the fridge.
He stared at the emptiness of it. Certainly there was some food, but… it was barely even half full.
Alice felt a pang of guilt that he was taking up precious resources from his savior-
Alice frowned before closing the refrigerator door.
Iruma was his savior, wasn't he?
Alice sighed softly, glanced at the half-soaked bowl of Iruma's breakfast, and promptly made himself useful by cleaning the bowl and spoon before placing them on a drying rack to dry.
Alice then proceeded to let himself go through Iruma's cupboards, only to find more scarcity.
He did, however, find a fresh box of breakfast bars, so he opened it with an ignorable pang of guilt, took one, and moved into the living room towards the television.
Alice turned it on, and after flipping through some channels and lowering the volume for his sensitive ears, he settled on what seemed to be a children's program.
If there was one thing, outside of boredom, that was going to grate on his nerves while stuck in the Human Realm… it would be the inability to communicate with Iruma.
It was in this that he realized all Humans sounded soft like Iruma.
This… unsettled him as he sat down and began to eat through foreign textures and flavors of his chosen meal.
Soon enough he was enthralled in the colors and pitches, as well as the lessons being taught.
If only he had a notebook and pen! It would be easier to review and study the Human tongue if he had such tools!
Alice would have to memorize everything the old fashioned way.
Hours passed, and then, the children's programming came to a close, leaving him with only loud nonsense he didn't bother with, and turned the blasted thing off.
Alice flopped back onto Iruma's futon and mentally reviewed the things he'd learned as the sun continued its descent into early evening.
xXx-xXx-drop-xXx-xXx
To say that Iruma was surprised that Alice was still there when he returned was a bit of an understatement.
Yet, that was not to say it was unwelcome, because he quite nearly cried when he stepped through his door and was greeted softly by the smell of food and the (less scary) voice of his guest.
"Welcome home, Iruma."
Iruma blinked a few times to try and push back tears as he smiled with a small nod. "(I'm home,) Alice."
It was then that he finally realized that Alice was cooking.
Iruma set down a few bags of items he'd picked up for himself and Alice and tilted his head as he tried to make sense of what was being cooked.
Alice minded the stove, while casting glances his way before raising an eyebrow and pointing at the rice cooker. "Rice." And then to the pan, "Tofu."
Iruma smiled, before pulling out a few extra ingredients to add in.
Alice brightened at the sight of carrots, soup stock, and leeks. He nodded to himself, and after a questioning glance, Iruma motioned for him to take them to do with as he pleased.
Alice was swift in implementing the items into his meal, and Iruma pulled out the other items he'd picked up along the way.
A second set of clothes he hoped would fit Alice better, a few extra cleaning supplies, and a small sewing kit. He had better sewing needles already as well as white thread, but he needed some of the items from the kit, and it made more sense to buy it together than separately.
Iruma went into the bathroom and began the careful and laborious process of cleaning Alice's outer jacket.
He finished getting out the first difficult stain just in time for Alice to knock on the door, and sign to him that dinner was ready.
Iruma didn't even feel embarrassed as he cried into his food, and thanked Alice for making it, to the point of making the other turn bright red for being over gratuitous.
Alice eventually huffed lightly, brought a hand up to his chest in an offensively dignified manner, before thinking better of it and settling back into his seat. "Tasty?"
Iruma nodded, "(It's delicious.) Thank you."
Alice nodded happily, and they finished their dinner in companionable silence.
xXx-xXx-iniquity-xXx-xXx
Whether his eyes were opened or closed didn't matter much within the protection of his tent. There was only a sliver of moon left, leaving much in the way of light to be desired.
But Iruma knew his eyes were wide open as his Danger Sense screamed him awake from his death-like sleep.
Nauseating alcohol laced breath leaned above him as a hand found its way to his throat. There was a trace of the man's shadow as he grasped the hand pinning him down in an attempt to choke him.
The barest hint of a glinting knife raised before his eyes-
Iruma doesn't quite remember everything that followed those few split seconds- trauma and night blindness blurred his memories, but what he recalls next…
The man's wrist is turned at a harsh angle beneath him, as Iruma's shaking hand shoves downdowndown with adrenaline. There's sticky wet he doesn't want to think about- can't think about beyond the pain afflicting his front, before he throws himself backwards and tumbles out of his tent.
His limbs don't want to work- dirt is sticking to his skin and clothes and wound- he runrunruns to the nearest police office and collapses in the doorway as tears blind him as he hyperventilates.
"There was a man-and he- and I-"
He vomits, making a mess of himself and the floor, as his body trembles harder while trying to catch up to what had nearly happened, as well as what had happened.
His eyes roll back-
When he wakes up, thankfully cleaner, but handcuffed to a hospital bed.
An officer approaches him with a grim look on his face.
Iruma learns he'd stabbed the man thirteen times after being slashed deeply across the chest and stomach. His parents, once they were finally located, immediately feigned ignorance of ever being related and disappeared to who the hell knows where-
The only good thing he learns is that he was lucky enough to avoid picking up any diseases from the man he'd killed, and his fever was simply an infection from his wound.
Iruma closed his eyes, and surrendered himself to his fate.
xXx-xXx-drop-xXx-xXx
Iruma's eyes snapped open with a gasp as sweat laced his skin. He stared at the ceiling unseeing, until he finally acknowledged the still body settled beside him.
Alice was sitting on his legs, his hands clenched into his pants, while he observed Iruma with blatant worry.
Iruma vaguely noted that his table had been moved. "...Alice?"
Alice nodded before cautiously shifting to offer Iruma his hand. His voice was soft and void of any of the usual terrifying undertones, "Iruma."
Iruma took in a sharp breath and hesitated, before shakily taking Alice's hand. The other gave him an affirming squeeze, before pulling Iruma up and into his lap.
Iruma startled at the action, but Alice simply shifted and made an annoyed chuff when Iruma tried to fight him.
Iruma sighed and gave Alice a confused and distressed look, but Alice flashed his fangs at him before fully settling.
Iruma was embarrassed to say the least, but he quickly realized the other's chest was reverberating with a very low… purr-of-sorts. The tone was oddly calming, and Iruma reluctantly relaxed into his hold.
Alice nodded, a look of satisfaction crossing his face, before Iruma felt him carefully comb his fingers through his hair, while looking ahead at nothing.
Iruma belatedly realized Alice was trying to comfort him and turned his face towards his chest as he felt his face warm. An unusual feeling rushed through him as he realized-
Never once had anyone tried to comfort him through his night terrors.
He'd been fine on his own, alone-
Until he wasn't, and his parents discarded him without a second thought.
Iruma gave up his family name at the age of fourteen to protect himself from his eventually declared murder in self-defense. Thus, Suzuki Iruma died at the age of fourteen-
-And Nishi Iruma was raised within the confines of stone walls and jail cells, until he was released at eighteen to rejoin society as a legal adult.
He knew he was secretly sponsored by one of the Officers that had dealt with his case. They had made his present living arrangements, and gotten him into the factory job he now worked at by the pier he'd run across Alice in.
Iruma felt himself nod off once more, as the memory of his awkward journey to get a high school degree behind bars stumbled into his dreams.
He missed the cooks and janitorial staff a little.
He'd made a good name for himself, helping with the upkeep around the prison…
-And then he awoke with a jolt in his futon, discombobulated as Alice settled nearby with his phone blaring its third alarm.
Iruma gaped at it blankly before the time registered and he swore under his breath, snatching the device from Alice, and running around getting ready before grabbing the front door.
Alice pulled back his arm, and Iruma nearly snapped at him for it, except the other shoved a bento box and a cereal bar into his chest and let him go.
Iruma balked for a second, before shaking himself out of it and running hastily out the door. "Thanks Alice-kun!"
He missed Alice's small amused huff as he finished closing the door while locking it.
xXx-xXx-spark-xXx-xXx
A/N: I hope you enjoyed the first chapter!
It is my own silly little headcanon that without being summoned into the Human Realm, demons of the Netherworld can't easily sustain themselves there. I kind of implement it into any fics pertaining to the Mairuma cast entering the Human Realm… but I figured I'd make it somewhat clearer here, I guess.
Anyways, please leave a comment/review! I'd greatly appreciate it!