Chapter Text
Spring arrived quickly, the sun not yet at its full power still thawed the first vestiges of snow. It was a warm, cloudless day and Fina woke up slowly, staring at the canopy above her bed.
Her phone buzzed with a notification that she ignored as she dragged herself out of bed and to the bathroom. She pretended not to see the glowing eyes just outside the property line of her home. They waited. Her kin if one could consider her that.
She would deal with them later.
She didn't think too much about her muddled origins– they weren't important to her as they might have been to someone else. She learned to simply not question anything regarding her birth and what she was– her mother always shut those questions down with an icy “stop asking.” Crucifixes sometimes shined too brightly in her eyes, holy water was spicy, that's all she knew.
Her legs were stiff from yesterday's workout and burned when she sat on the toilet. When you feel pain, you know that you are still alive– that's what Bruce Lee said, and the master was never wrong.
She washed her hands and washed her face quickly, omitting brushing her teeth because she knew she was about to go downstairs and absolutely demolish some orange juice.
Fina jogged down the marble staircase, steps light and entered the kitchen, the cool tiles shocking her into a state of wakeness that she loathed for such an early hour. Grandma sat with her glasses low on her tiny nose at the dinner table, books and rolled up parchment scattered across it.
“Half the day is gone, Serafina.” Grandma said, voice craggled and husky with age.
“Children should get eleven to twelve hours of sleep a night– that's what the doctor says.”
Grandma lowered the paper she was holding to meet her granddaughter's eyes. “You haven't been a child for many moons–”
“Eh,” she huffed, taking the orange juice from the fridge and chugging it. “I'm a child at heart.” she burped, locking eyes with her mother who appeared on the other side of the fridge. She looked at her disdainfully, mouth upturned in disgust at the smell of morning breath and orange juice regurgitated into gas.
“Excuse me.” Fina said softly, slowly putting the cap back on the orange juice and sitting down, lowering herself to her mother's gaze. Lucia was not amused.
“You're up early. Special occasion?” She asked, taking the orange juice from her hand and putting it back in the fridge.
“I'm meeting Oz for lunch at noon. Then errands after.”
“Looks like you're going to be late, it's fifteen past.”
She winced, running upstairs.
She threw on a tank top, shoved her legs into shiny leather pants burning her thighs in the process, slid on her bracelets and rings, ruffled the top of her hair and clipped her twin swords Silencer and Bleeder to her back.
She flew down the stairs again and stepped into her boots, tying them hastily.
“Here.” Mom said, handing her the package. “Don't forget to go to the library, yes?”
“I won't.” Fina said, holding the heavy box with one arm.
She left the house under her mom's watch and started the walk off the grounds. She carefully stepped over the salt and brick dust barrier that marked the perimeter of the home.
Her hand was already on Silencer– she didn't have time for playing today plus her mom would throw a fit if she made a mess on the grass again.
“Bleeeoood of Spaaadah…”
She wiped her mouth with the back of her hand, spinning the wrist of her other hand. She threw the package into the air, Silencer vibrated through the air, felling the demon instantly with a flourish, just like its namesake- silent.
She caught the package, arms burning with exertion from the weight of it.
She sheathed the blade with a tinny schwing! before the demon could turn to dust and float away on the breeze.
She arrived at the restaurant after a quick demonless bus ride. Oz was waiting outside, leaning against his car. He saw her immediately, eyes lifting to lock on hers. His gaze was as unsettling as it was beautiful.
“I'm so sorry! I woke up late!” She apologized, hugging him and giving him a quick kiss. He towered over her, honey blond hair, topaz eyes, a cute button nose. He was a huge individual standing at six foot five inches. Solidly built and crazy strong.
“I knew you would. We got here at the same time.” He said, smiling softly, voice jovial out of excitement to see her. “If you say meet me at noon– I know to show up at twelve forty-five.” He teased as they walked into the restaurant.
“You've got it all figured out. So there's no reason for me to change, huh?” She asked, grinning at him.
“Oh yeah, I love it when you're rude and dismissive about other people's time.” He leaned over and kissed the top of her head.
They were sat at a booth and given menus that had been wiped down with a rag that was too wet. The sunlight outside was drawn to him, his outline bright white making him a beacon of perfect goodness. She liked the way the air crackled when they were together, a child of Paradiso and a child of the Underworld. Neverminded his true respect and in turn unconditional love for her.
And she loved him too– there were some angels who were taught to love the flaws of lower beings and she was nothing if not flawed. He didn't care if she was still trying to figure out what to do with her life at twenty. He was sweet and considerate, an all around green flag, but damn, there was something about the way the heavens wept when her thighs were hugging his face or how he whimpered in worship when he fucked her.
“My guardians are hellbent on me going to Rome this summer.”
“You like to travel.” Fina said, half paying attention as she read over the menu.
“I had other plans.” He said and she could hear the pout in his voice. “Maybe they think you shouldn't hang around me all summer long. I'm a bad influence.”
“I was thinking we should move in together.”
Fina let the menu slap to the table. Then a nervous huff of laughter. “Huh?”
“Aren't you tired of having sex with an audience?” He joked. Her face was unchanged but his was earnest. She responded best when he was plainly truthful with her– especially when she was feeling unsure of herself. He knew it wasn't about him. It made sense because one of them was always at the others house– they rarely spent a night alone. In her mind he really could do so much better. But to him she was the best he would ever have and he never doubted it for a second.
“I wanna wake up next to you and make egg sandwiches and stuff for breakfast. And we can stay up late watching 36 Chambers. We can work out together early in the morning and then shower together after. And we'll decorate– you can do it whatever way you like but no band posters–”
“Ozerov– have you seen my room?”
“Ill help you clean up! No– you don't even have to clean! I'll do it all.” He replied quickly, his eyes bright and beaming.
The waitress arrived to take their order.
Steak and eggs for her and eggs benedict for him. Coffee all round.
Three years of dating and it wasn't something she had even thought of. It was about time for that next step right? What if he decided she was too much of a slob or too ambitionless? All the space between them– the little left that existed would be gone. That meant farting in front of each other, learning the other's bathroom habits– would he get mad when she left toothpaste on the sink? Or didn't rinse her dishes? Topaz met aquamarine as they looked at one another. Warmth bloomed in her chest at the love and adoration in his eyes. She shook her head with a smile. “You shouldn’t enable me.”
“Want me to beg?” He asked, smirking mischievously. “Yeah, you can beg a little.”
The coffee cups were sat down with cream and a dish of various sugars. She snorted, offering her cup to him to drink so she could fit the copious amount of cream and sugar she liked.
“It’s a yes, but can I have some time to be super sure?” She asked.
“I like when you're super sure.” He said, sliding the coffee cup back, beaming at her.
They ate and they went together to tackle the first errand of the day.
- Get new boots
- Return package at post office
- Pick up green stars from Pat
- Grab The Demonic Codex: Redgrave Edition at the downtown Library
- Get blades sharpened