Her two roommates were incredibly serious about her suing the store. Both were alarmed that she would even consider going back after what happened and they prepared an argument for her to stay back, rest fully, and let them take care of things.
"I'd like to show you how strong a case we have before you decide." They were seated at the dinner table after having eaten and she had only just taken her pills.
"All right," Elly gave in. "I'll look. I know I'd like if I didn't have to go back... and they <i>did</i> hurt me."
Shota coughed lightly. He clothed himself in a puff of smoke with the snug-fitting suit he wore the other night and slipped reading glasses out of a pocket to put them on before pulling his phone out. Hizashi absently adjusted his own red-rimmed glasses and frowned a little.
"I've tried cases before just like yours, mistress. Look -" He began showing her articles and stressing that she was telling the complete truth, so this wasn't anything to be ashamed or afraid of. No one would likely hear of it outside of the inner circle that would testify, and he could get it pushed through much, much faster due to "having friends in the business".
Hizashi listened for a little while but then got up to clean. Elly looked up and reached for him as he grew close, but he smoothly moved away at the last minute, bending to get her cup instead. She sat, defeated, and watched as the handsome angel cleared the table. He was quick and efficient, and even giving it a wipe with a sponge when he was finished.
Shota was smiling at her as he explained further, happy that she was seemingly accepting of their idea. It would have been a peaceful moment but for the guilty twinge she felt whenever she looked at the blond angel. He was definitely avoiding her, and she knew why.
She was tainted now, impure from accepting a demon's touch. He must see her as disgusting, though he did admit it was the right thing to do at the time and had even encouraged it by leaving them alone.
Had she not made out with the incubus the other night he might still love her. She knew he couldn't now; it was impossible. Her throat squeezed tightly shut as she fought back tears. It was ridiculous to think an angel had fallen in love with her at any rate. He'd probably meant it in a different way. And why did she care? He was an <i>otherworldly being</i>, not a man. It wasn't as if they could have a real relationship.
Which, of course, meant she couldn't really have one with Shota, either. Her heart dropped as she rationalized everything in the worst possible manner. Trying to think through the incoming fresh haze of medication was not helping, and her depression was in full play due to the stress. She jerked to her feet, the chair she had been sitting on clattering to the floor.
"Whoa, you okay?"
"Mistress?"
Elly heard nothing. She stumbled as fast as she could out of there into the safety of her bedroom, where she slammed the door shut behind her.
Shota and Hizashi stared dumbly after her.
"I think you'd better go comfort her," the angel said at last.
"Me?"
"Yes, you." Hizashi's lips thinned. "Don't be coy. You're a - a, I don't know... just go."
He shrugged and left to find her sniffling softly to herself. "What's wrong?" He hopped onto the bed and sat next to her.
"Oh, I'm being weird."
He scoffed. "You are not. Is it Mr. Holy Sunshine out there? He's been treating us both different after that night."
Elly twisted a handful of sheets and nodded. "But we ...you know, made out. He's <i>right</i>. He's just a friend, and you're becoming more, and that's scary. But it turns out I still want him, too!" She blurted this out last, holding her hands before her eyes. "I'm turning into a - a whore!"
Shota repeated himself, more firmly this time. "You are not." He helped her sit up and shook his head, his dark hair swinging about his scruffy face. Elly scooted away and he sighed.. His eyes glowed faintly in the dark room as he tried to persuade her to face him, but she remained steadfast with her back to him. "Look, I know you think I'm going to say it's okay because I'm a sex demon. But that's not the truth. Let me show you <i>why</i> you're not a slut." He paused, and as he picked up speaking to her again his voice began to change from his low baritone to a very familiar tenor.
"You see, I <i>could</i> imitate him." She turned around and Hizashi was sitting there, watching her closely with those beautiful eyes of his. Elly gasped and he caught her chin in one hand, gently caressing it to coax her toward him. "C'mere, little one, and let me kiss you all over." His voice and shape was perfectly duplicated, and for a long moment Elly shivered, confused and <i>wanting</i>.
Then she heard the angel bang a drawer or something in the other room and choked, jerking away in horror. This was not Hizashi! "Shota, <i>no</i>!"
She must have been louder than she thought, because Hizashi barged into the room at her cry. He almost fell when he saw himself on the bed, his wings bursting from his back in shock and his eyes glowing gold.
Shota reverted his form, holding up a hand to get the other's attention. "I know this looks bad, but I was showing her that she's not -"
Hizashi's voice was loud in a different way as he pointed a furiously shaking finger at him. The words rattled the small apartment but Elly's ears didn't hurt; it was as if he was speaking with a different power. They shook her very soul as he screamed in rage, "<b>Get thee gone, demon</b>!"
Shota coughed once, startled, and a small gout of fire erupted in the air where he previously was seated.
Elly stared stupidly at the dip in the bed where he had previously sat, then at Hizashi, standing there glowing with his wings outstretched and fire in his eyes. She did the only thing her tired, medicated body could do and passed out.
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