She sat perched on a tree branch, tail curled around her paws, gaze fixed on the trio walking down the street below. A bald guy dressed like he'd just walked out of a thrift shop and two blonde chicks at his side, both looking around like it was their first time seeing sunlight in a year.
A Buddha, a daywalker, and a nun.
It sounded like the start of a typical bar joke, but…
When did they get a new Buddha?
Her ears twitched forward as she studied the baldy more closely. He walked with a hand in his pocket and a loose-limbed ease, flaunting that crazy qi like he was marking the territory in a mile radius.
Wasn't that kind of a big deal? And what the hell was he doing here of all places? Just playing house with a dhampire and some lost little lamb?
A quiet huff escaped her as she shook her head, whiskers twitching slightly. She never understood what went through these guys' heads. Enlightenment did funny things to the mind.
The half-blood walked closest to him, their shoulders almost brushing. The nun trailed half a step behind, her eyes bright and full of wonder.
As the trio passed directly beneath her branch, the dhampire's head swiveled towards the tree. Those red eyes locked onto hers, delicate brows knitting faintly.
Oh-ho?
She blinked slowly, then licked innocuously at her paw, tongue brushing over black fur as she pretended to be just a cat doing cat things on a tree branch.
Yup. Nothing to see here.
The daywalker's gaze lingered, lips pursing slightly. Then she finally looked away.
Interesting.
Her ears flicked back, then forward again as she watched the trio continue down the street.
More than just a pretty face, huh? She was perfectly concealing her presence, yet that girl still sensed something.
A low rumble started in her chest, bubbling up into a purr. Her tail swished to the side as she watched those three walk further into the distance, their figures vanishing around a corner.
Her fangs poked over her lips as she grinned.
Yup. This could be fun.
__________________________________________
I slumped forward in my camping chair, massaging the bridge of my nose as stars danced behind my eyelids. A sigh escaped me as I stared at the stupid golden cup in my hand, its smooth surface gleaming in the dappled sunlight from the canopy overhead.
Copying a Sacred Gear turned out a little harder than I expected.
The "focusing and visualizing" part didn't sound all that complex at first, but the steadily building, painful throbbing behind my eyes kinda got in the way.
I could only imagine what Valerie went through when using this shitty cup.
My grip tightened around the warm metal until my knuckles turned white.
I wasn't letting her touch this thing ever again.
My eyes flickered to the small clearing behind the tree line, and despite the headache, a small smile tugged at the corner of my mouth. Racket in hand, Valerie and Asia were bounding happily around the grassy field as they played badminton.
Valerie strode forward as the shuttle came her way, her ample chest bouncing in that frilly sundress as she swung.
I dragged my gaze back to the Grail, those tantalizing images lingering in my head like an afterburn.
I should've bought her a sports bra...
Thankfully, they didn't mind playing on their own for a while. I couldn't afford that kind of bouncy distraction right now.
I took in a slow, centering breath, shoulders dropping as I exhaled through my nose. Take three, hopefully with a little bit of extra luck.
This stupid cup better stop testing my patience, or Gabriel help me, I'd be the first to break a Sacred Gear.
I closed my eyes, shutting out the forest sounds and the distant thwack of badminton rackets, and pictured Asia's Sacred Gear as clearly as I could in my mind. Those twin silvery rings shaped like delicate flowers, and their green, gentle glow.
The Grail warmed in my hands, as if responding to my focus. A spike of pain throbbed in my forehead, making my jaw clench.
I ignored it, mouth drawing a tight line as I carefully tugged at that mental picture, as if peeling away a sticker and pulling it towards—
"Heya handsome~!"
A chipper voice suddenly came from behind like a jump-scare.
Sonnovabi—
My eyes snapped open, that image in my mind's eye rippling like a disturbed pond. Mittelt popped up from the side, her frilly black dress fluttering up her thighs as she twirled around on one foot. She leaned closer, glossy lips curled with a cheeky smile and blue eyes sparkling with mischief that spelled nothing but trouble.
"Whatcha doin'?"
I pinned the brat with the flattest look I could muster, fighting the urge to flick her in the forehead. "Working."
I was honestly starting to wonder when she'd show up.
"Oooh~? Playing with the Grail?"
The forest behind the church was a great spot to avoid the normies, but there was no escaping this tiny menace when camping so close to her backyard.
"More like, the Grail is playing with my patience." I gestured vaguely at the cup. "Bastard keeps giving me headaches."
Mittelt's playful expression wavered, something softer crossing her face before she could hide it. Her brows drew together the tiniest fraction, lips pressing thin. "I heard that using the Grail for big stuff can break your mind."
A derisive scoff escaped me. "I'll break this fucker first if it tries that shit with me."
She gave me an odd look, head cocking to the side. "You can't destroy a Sacred Gear, silly. Big G made sure of that."
Yeah, right. That jobber could barely seal off Trihexa.
"I'm pretty sure you can break anything if you hit it hard enough." My fingers curled threateningly around the Grail. "And I'm this close to sending this cup back to Jesus."
Her lips twitched, a short, quiet sound bubbling up her throat. "I'm pretty sure there's some exceptions to that rule."
"I'm pretty sure we're gonna find out, if I can't finish this by evening."
"Whatcha trying to do with it anyway?" She leaned in closer, peering inside the cup like it might suddenly reveal its secrets.
"Copying that Twilight Healing."
Her eyes widened, blue irises flickering up to meet my gaze. "You're really following through, huh?"
"Did you doubt me?" A promise was a promise.
The brat gave a shrug, one shoulder lifting lazily. "Not really, but you gotta admit. This is too good of a deal, especially for someone like Raynare."
It was my turn to shrug. "It's just a Twilight Healing." And I was making one for Valerie anyway. Might as well make more.
Mittelt made a disbelieving sound, halfway between a scoff and a laugh. "It's just a Twilight Healing he says." She shook her head, her bushy twin-tails swaying with the motion. "Looks like someone's playing favorites here."
A half-smile pulled at the corner of my mouth. Funny she'd bring that up.
She couldn't be farther off the mark, though.
"I won't hold it to you if you did," she said with a nonchalance that didn't quite reach her eyes. Her gaze flickered away for a moment. "I know it's hard to refuse her."
My brows climbed up a fraction.
Was she jealous? Of Raynare?
"Nah." I shook my head. "I mean, sure, she's smoking hot, but all Fallen angels look great, so it's not like she's special."
If everyone looked like a supermodel, it just became the new average.
Mittelt's brows rose a fraction. "Oh?" The smirk instantly returned to her lips, smug and twice as impish. "Is that so?"
Eyes glittering with renewed mischief, she sauntered closer with deliberate steps and plopped herself down on my knee. A faint scent of strawberry and vanilla wafted to my nose while she shot me a playful look through her lashes, batting them with all the subtlety of a brat begging for correction.
The warmth of her body seeped through the fabric of her dress, spreading through my thigh.
"I'm trying to work here." My voice came out rougher than I meant.
Her smirk widened.
"And I wanna watch~"
A thrill shot up my spine at the way she purred that out, her breath tickling my face.
"I'm gonna spank your ass red if you keep this up."
That warning washed over her like lukewarm water. If anything, her smile grew a little wider, those cute fangs poking over her lip as she pinned me with a smoky look.
"Don't threaten me with a good time."
Her weight shifted on my thigh, pressing down as she wiggled her hips, shaking her butt in place with slow, teasing motions that sent heat pooling low in my gut.
My hand twitched in my lap, the other clenching around the Grail.
I could just flip her over and—
"Brat." I took in a slow breath through my nose. "If I fuck this up and have to start over because you distracted me, I'm gonna clap your ass like a bongo."
Mittelt cocked her head despite my pointed glare, a slow and deliberate gesture as she wiggled again.
"I don't mind it a little rough~"
I closed my eyes, a muscle jumping in my jaw as I fought for control. This little brat…
When I opened them again, I looked back at the golden cup, exhaling heavily through my nose.
My headache wasn't the only thing throbbing anymore.
I leaned back in my seat with a sigh, the camping chair groaning in protest. Mittelt kept watching me with the eyes of a hungry vulture circling a dying animal.
Guess I was taking another break.
"Calling it quits, big guy?" She arched a dainty brow, her honeyed voice teasing at my ears.
My last shred of patience snapped like a fiddle string.
"That's it, you brat." My voice came out with a growl that surprised even me. The Grail vanished into motes of golden light as I grabbed the jailbait by the waist with both hands.
A surprised yelp escaped her as I pushed myself up from the chair, lifting her along and holding her in the air like a misbehaving cat. The brat looked down at me with that cheeky smile of hers, blonde hair glittering like gold in the sun.
I flashed her a smirk of my own. "You know, I think you could help me with something."
"Ooh~?" She fluttered her lashes, playing the innocent maiden despite the wicked gleam in her eyes. "Like what?"
"Lunch."
Her smirk wavered, and she blinked owlishly. "Lunch?"
"It's getting close to noon, and I forgot to bring food. You can fly, so why don't you go grab some?"
"I saw you break the sound barrier," she said dryly.
I lifted her a little higher, a grin settling on my face.
"Bet you could break it too with a bit of help."
Mittelt's eyes widened, her legs kicking slightly at the air.
"You wouldn't."
She squirmed in my grip, twisting left and right, but to no avail. My hands clung to her lithe waist like a steel brace.
"I dunno." I shrugged one shoulder, keeping my expression carefully neutral. "Between this headache and your teasing, I'm having a pretty hard time thinking straight."
"Sorry?" The word spilled out, sounding more like a question, as her lips quirked back in that stubborn little smirk.
Thought I was bluffing, was she?
I stared at her for a long moment, letting out a drawn-out hum.
"I'll forgive you for some McDonald's."
A beat of silence hung in the air, broken only by the distant thwack of rackets.
Mittelt jerked her head in a tiny, wooden nod, and a smile worked its way onto my face.
I lowered her back to the ground with exaggerated care, like setting down fine china.
She looked up at me, oddly quiet for once, and cheeks dusted a hint of red.
Not that quick on the back-foot, huh?
I shoved a hand in my pocket, grabbing a fistful of cash, and pushed it towards her. "Here."
She made no move to take it. Just stared at the money, then back at my face. "I can pay for it."
I shoved the money back inside my pocket with a shrug. "Suit yourself."
"Really?" Mittelt cocked an eyebrow, that cheeky smirk creeping back onto her lips. "Not even gonna insist a little?"
I sat back down on my chair and fixed her with a flat look. "This is not a tv drama."
"Yep." She nodded sagely, crossing her arms under her bust. "It's more like a weird mix of romcom and action comedy."
I blinked owlishly, lips pursing. Huh. Now that she pointed it out…
A smile twitched on my face. "The daily life of one punch man."
Mittelt blew a loud puff of air through her nose. "One punch man, huh?" She tapped a finger on her chin. "I dunno. Maybe one slap man?"
"Very funny."
She grinned. "First impressions matter."
True. They probably still had some leftover Freed on the walls even now.
"Well?" I cocked an eyebrow at her, waiting. "About that McDonald's?"
Mittelt rolled her eyes, blowing another huff. "Demoted to food delivery now."
"The tragedy."
I blinked and almost missed it.
A pair of wings sprung out of her back with a swoosh of displaced air, unfurling behind her like twin shadows. A glossy black that seemed to absorb the light.
For a moment, I just stared, fingers twitching with a brief impulse. They looked soft and smooth, each feather perfectly aligned.
"You can touch them if you want." Her voice tickled my ears like a soft purr, a smirk dancing on her lips, emboldened by my staring. She gave her wings a little flutter.
"Maybe later."
Her smirk grew the tiniest bit wider. "So. McDonald's, right?"
"Yeah."
"Gotcha, boss." She gave a cheeky salute, two fingers to her temple, and then, with a powerful flap of her wings, took to the skies.
I watched her ascend through the gap in the canopy, growing smaller until she vanished beyond the forest. My gaze drifted down to my lap, lingering there for a moment. Then, with a golden shimmer of light, the golden cup appeared once more in my hand, smooth and cool against my skin.
Take four. Let's go—
A sudden thought struck me like lightning, and I froze.
Moments later, my face broke into a grin.
__________________________________________
Koneko stepped through the glass doors, her nose twitching at the smell. Grease, fries, and sizzling beef, with a sweet and savory blend that made her mouth water in seconds. Until she saw the two lines stretching all the way to the middle of the room.
Her left eye twitched.
Friggin' queues…
She shuffled towards the left one, shoulders hunched and hands shoved in her jacket. Her stomach rumbled as she counted the people ahead.
Six.
She'd already spent a good chunk of her lunch break getting here, and now she had to wait even more.
Ugh.
What was the point of owning half the school if they couldn't have McDonald's at the cafeteria?
We cAn't sErVe tHaT fOoD iN OuR PrEsTiGiOuS AcAdEmY.
Bitch please.
Stupid four-eyes and her stupid rules. She was getting some extra-large anal beads on the next secret Santa. See how she liked them apples—
Koneko sniffed at the air, her nose twitching.
She sniffed again, a pungent scent tickling at her nostrils. Something bitter and burnt like the air after a lightning strike.
Her gaze swept sideways to the other queue, settling on a blonde shrimp with bushy twin-tails, dressed like she's jumped out of a fetish goth magazine. A black dress with puffy sleeves and too many bows and frills for anyone trying to keep a low profile.
Koneko blinked owlishly, brows knitting.
A crow? Here?
The hell was this? The start of a shitty joke?
Her eyes narrowed as she studied the Fallen more closely. Around the same height as her and a bit on the skinny side, except for that plump chest.
Koneko's brow twitched again.
How did a skinny five-foot bitch have tits that big? There was really no justice in this rigged world…
The Fallen seemed oblivious, staring at the menu board overhead like it held the secrets of the universe, her foot tapping an impatient rhythm against the tile floor.
Koneko kept staring.
Maybe a bit of recon wouldn't hurt. Rias might want to know about this.
As if on cue, Blondie's head swiveled around.
Blue eyes met hers in a cursory glance, before looking away. A moment passed. Then another. The Fallen's gaze snapped right back, eyes wide as she blinked like an owl having a seizure, her jaw going a little slack.
Koneko felt a smirk twitch at the corner of her lips. "Sup, crow. Running low on funds?" she said, voice dry.
The Fallen turned fully towards her, a cheeky smirk stretching across her face. One of her fangs poked out, small and sharp and irritatingly cute.
"Aint'cha here, too, brat?"
Koneko's eyes narrowed. On second thought, maybe she'd just punch this stupid hag, consequences be damned. "You're here 'cause it's cheap. I'm here 'cause I like the food," she said, ignoring the glances from the normies. "We're not the same."
Blondie's smirk widened into something particularly punchable, all teeth and mischief. "What a coincidence." She tilted her head, twin-tails swaying. "I happen to like it too."
Uh-huh. Bet.
Koneko rolled her eyes, fingers curling tighter in her pocket. The line moved forward half a step, and she moved with it, keeping the crow in the corner of her vision.
"So long you don't make a scene, we're cool."
The crow lifted a shoulder in a lazy half-shrug. "Not planning to."
"Cool."
They lapsed into silence, the ambient noise filling the gap. Someone's kid was having a meltdown at the play area, a register beeped shrilly, someone shouted something at the back, and the fryers kept hissing.
Blondie took a closer look at her, a gleam in her eyes. "Shouldn't you be at school?"
Koneko's mouth twitched.
The audacity of this hag.
"Shouldn't you be at church?" She quirked a brow, drawing an amused huff from the crow.
"Fair enough—"
"Next, please."
A polite voice interrupted their exchange, and Koneko's attention snapped towards the wage slave at the register. Finally. She stepped forward, closing the gap, and waved a hand lazily over her shoulder without looking back.
"Cya, hag."
"Hey, who the heck are you calling 'hag,' you little tur—"
Koneko tuned the angry chirping out, letting it fade into the background noise as she fixed the guy behind the counter with a flat stare.
"Two double cheeseburger, two McChicken, one Big Mac, extra fries, two large cokes, and two Oreo McFlurry."
The cashier's fingers blurred across the screen. "Cash or card?"
"Cash."
She grabbed a fat wad from her jacket and peeled off the exact amount showing on the screen before dropping it on the counter with a soft slap.
The guy swept the bills up and quickly counted them before disappearing towards the back.
Koneko pocketed the rest of the cash, shifting her weight to one foot as she settled in to wait. She covered a yawn with a hand, her gaze flickering sideways.
Blondie was rattling off her own order to the other cashier, leaning forward on her toes with her hands clasped behind her back, acting all cute and bubbly despite being older than everyone in this place.
Shameless hag.
Koneko slipped her hand back inside her jacket, fingers curling around her phone. Her gaze drifted up to the large poster at the front, scanning idly through the menu while tapping a foot against the floor.
She should report this to her boss, even if it wouldn't do much. She'd have an excuse to ask for more pocket money, at least—
A hurried shuffle of feet drew her attention back to the counter.
That guy reappeared from the back, his arms loaded with the food and drinks. He set it all on the counter before flashing her a dead-eyed, customer care worthy smile.
"Here you go."
Koneko's nose twitched as the greasy, deep-fried aroma washed over her in a wave. "Thanks," she said as her mouth watered.
She slipped her hand out of her jacket and snatched a fry from one of the containers, popping it in her mouth. Piping hot and perfectly salted. She chewed slowly, savoring the crunch and the burst of salt on her tongue.
Meh. She'd tell Rias after lunch.
__________________________________________
Mittelt landed with a flap of wings, dirt and dried grass kicking up around her feet as her dress poofed up and fluttered around her thighs. She adjusted her grip on the McDonald's bag, the paper crinkling under her fingers as she did her best to keep the drinks upright.
She looked around the clearing, squinting against the afternoon sun filtering through the canopy.
The nun and the vampire were still busy playing their silly game on the other side, rackets swinging as the shuttle flew back and forth.
Alex was still lounging at the edge of the forest, tinkering with the Grai—
Her brows shot up as she saw the two pairs of rings floating above the cup, glowing with that distinctive green light of a Twilight Healing.
Holy crap, he made two of them? Why?
Why'd he go that far—
Her eyes flew wide, heart picking up inside her chest. Oh?
Was one for her?
A smile worked its way onto her lips, heat blooming in her chest like a flame. She'd have to give him a nice reward. Something reeeally nice. Her mind immediately wandered to a few things that made her thighs press together.
Smoothing down her dress with a hand, she folded her wings back inside and sauntered up to him with a spring in her step.
Alex had picked up the Sacred Gears, each pair of rings deposited in a palm. He studied them for a moment, turning his hands over like he was weighing fruit at a market. Then, with a grin that screamed "bad idea", he spread his arms apart as wide as he could, muscles rippling like steel cords.
The hell was he up to—
She froze mid-step, breath catching in her throat.
The world seemed to slow down as she watched him bring his hands together in a mighty clap.
"Wait! Don't—"
A blinding flash of light washed over the whole place like a bomb going off.
What the heck?!
She squeezed her eyes shut on instinct, but the brightness went through her eyelids, leaving dancing black spots swimming in her vision. She blinked rapidly, clearing the afterimages from her eyes.
Alex was staring with a frown at his hands, those two Twilight Healings lying there in his palms, still glowing softly and thankfully still intact.
"What the heck are you doing? Are you crazy?!"
Heart still racing, she stomped towards him, the paper bag crinkling in her grip.
He looked up, meeting her glare with a casual shrug that made her want to kick him in the shin. "I wanna see what happens if I smash these together." What. "Guess I gotta try harder like with the Grail."
What.
She stared, her mouth agape. "You can't just mess with Sacred Gears like that."
Everybody knew that. Ever the big boss was super careful with them.
"If you're worried, I can do it somewhere else." He gestured vaguely at the forest around them, completely missing the point.
"That's not the point, dumbass." Her voice came out close to a hiss, a note of genuine fear creeping in. "Who knows what could happen? What if it kills you?"
The words hung in the air between them, more vulnerable than she'd meant them to sound.
I'm touched, Mittelt, but don't worry about me. I got this," he said, flashing her one of those sexy, self-assured smiles that lit a fire in her belly even when she wanted to throttle him.
She shuffled in place, biting her lip. "Uhm." She lifted the bag with both hands, giving it a light shake. "The fries are getting cold."
She held back a cringe as soon as the words left her lips, heat creeping up her neck. God, that was so lame—
Alex snorted, a smile settling on his lips. "I'll try one more time, and then we can eat. That okay with you?"
"Yeah." She gave a tiny nod.
Nothing happened the first time, so it should be fine.
"Cool. Get back a little, just in case."
Her mouth twitched with a grimace, stomach doing an uncomfortable flip. That didn't sound very reassuring.
She took a few steps back, a twig crunching under her feet, and moved behind a nearby tree. The bark felt rough against her palm as she gripped it, poking her head out to watch.
Alex spread his arms out wide again, the smile vanishing from his face. His expression went flat, focused, and something about him shifted, like back then with Freed, right before he turned the guy's head into a smear, and—
He smacked his hands together with a deafening sound like a thunderclap.
Her ears rang, a high-pitched whine drowning out everything else. Another blinding wave of light made her screw her eyes shut, dark spots dancing behind her eyelids like fireworks. An instant later, a wave of holy energy slammed into her like a physical force, and her wings went stiff. Her skin prickled all over and the hair on her nape bristled.
What the heck? What the heck?! What the heck?!
She braced herself against the tree, opening her eyes despite the spots still swimming in her vision, and—
She blinked; once, twice, her jaw going slack.
Holy crap…
Was that even allowed?
Her lips pressed tight as she stared at the single pair of glowing rings. They floated there above his palms, silver filigree blooming on one side like a rare flower. A bright green light radiated from them in gentle waves, and they pulsed with a holy energy that must've reached halfway across the town.
No way…
He'd smashed two Sacred Gears together, hard enough to fuse them…
Her gaze drifted skyward, through the canopy to the blue expanse above.
Was Big G even okay with this? He wasn't going to smite them, was He?
She waited for a while, but nothing happened. A relieved breath escaped her. Shaking her head, she looked back at the glowing rings hovering in the air.
Alex gave them a light poke with one finger, a wide grin plastered on his face.
She stepped out from behind the tree and walked closer, gaze fixed on the Sacred Gear.
What even was that thing?
Twilight Healing Plus One?
__________________________________________
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