“I thought you were told to keep it clean?” Toji scolded the minute Hawk walked through the door.

Hawk shrugged. “I kept the blood off the new carpet.” He may have covered the walls and ceiling with blood and viscera, but he made sure not one drop hit that rug. He walked past the irate cat, his fingernail digging between his teeth. 

“At least now you’ll be in a better mood for a while,” Toji grumbled as he hopped off the arm of the couch and followed Hawk to the kitchen. “How was work?”

Hawk shrugged. “Fine, I guess.” He opened the fridge and pulled out a bottle of water. He stood there a moment, contemplating what he would say next. Toji wasn’t Charlotte; he encouraged more social interaction and didn’t use any friends Hawk did make against him. “I think…I made a new friend. Two, actually.”

He closed the door and opened the bottle, leaning against the counter as he sipped the water, his gaze far off, reliving that moment he held Hero’s hand.

Toji tilted his head. “You think you did?”

“Honestly,” he shook his head. “I don’t know what happened.”

“Tell me everything.”

By the time he was finished relating what had occurred between himself and Hero, Hawk was lying on the couch, one leg dangling off the side, his arm over his forehead. Toji was curled on his stomach, purring loudly. 

“That’s never happened to me before, Toji,” he said. “I don’t even know how to deal with it, not really. I mean, do I pursue a friendship, or should I run away, or chase him off? What if what happened is ultimately a bad thing?”

Toji didn’t answer for a long time and Hawk was starting to think the cat had fallen asleep. He sighed and closed his eyes, lowering his arm over them.

“I’ve heard of things like that happening before,” Toji finally said softly, “but never so intensely, and never with a demon.”

“What do you mean?”

Toji was quiet again, ordering his thoughts and weighing his words carefully. Hawk may have finally fed but that didn’t mean he didn’t have a naturally volatile temperament to begin with.

“Toji?”

“You made a soul connection, Hawk. Whether you meant to or not, your fate is now tied to that young man’s. Forever.”

It was Hawk’s turn to go silent, his body going so still, even his heart rate seemed to stop. Toji expected him to flip out, to yell and curse him, to explode in some way. Making permanent connections was something Hawk avoided at all costs, for his own sanity more than anything. Human lives were fleeting, their memories even more so. Hawk could leave today and everyone he knew would have forgotten about him within a year. It had taken him centuries to even make a friend, much less maintain a stable job for longer than a couple years at most. He made it a rule to never stay in one place for longer than a decade as people would start to grow suspicious about him since he never aged. 

He also tended to leave without warning, not wanting to cause himself any more grief than was necessary. He’d been spending so many years keeping people at arm’s length, the prospect of any form of connection was terrifying to him. He’d never taken a long-term partner, never maintained long lasting friendships, and tended to take jobs that didn’t involve a lot of interaction. That all changed six years ago when he started working at the store and met Jordan Franks. Whatever it was that drew him in, Hawk never looked back.

Now, he had formed a soul connection with another young man, something that was far more intense and permanent. Angels, created from souls, made connections similar to these all the time, leading them to become guardians over those they bonded with. When humans bonded in this way, they say that they had found their soulmates, which is not an unfair way to put it. 

But for a demon to make such an unconscious bond with a human was completely unheard of. Especially since it was well known that demons did not have souls. No matter what, Hawk would not be able to escape Hero, and vice versa.

“Fuck…” Hawk whispered. “What have I done…”

“It isn’t your fault, Hawk,” Toji said, sitting up and gazing down at his friend. He put a paw on his arm. “It’s a completely unconscious thing that fate decides, not us.”

“Fate’s a bitch.”

“Agreed. But we can’t fight it, only accept and adapt. If you can keep your connection with Hero to a friendship, or even a passing acquaintance, then it probably won’t be so bad.”

“What makes you think it would be more than that?” Hawk moved his arm just enough to reveal one amber eye. 

“I’m just saying to be careful, that’s all.” Toji stood up, arching his back as he yawned. “Can’t have you going completely batshit on me just yet.”

Toji jumped down as Hawk sat up and ran a hand through his hair. “What am I supposed to do now?” he asked, more to himself than anything. “I just met this guy and I’ve already cursed him.”

“It’s only a curse if you make it one,” Toji said, sitting before him. “Honestly, I wouldn’t worry so much. Who knows, maybe he didn’t experience it the same way you did.”

I know he did…I saw it in his eyes. Hawk stood and headed to the stairs.

“Either way, try not to dwell on it too much,” Toji said, heading down the hall to the den on the other side of the house. “You haven’t even had a real conversation yet, right? Start there before worrying about what may or may not happen later.” With that, he disappeared out of sight.

Hawk slowly ascended the stairs, heading directly to his room. Closing the door behind him, he walked to the wall of windows and opened the sliding door to the balcony, the fresh breeze buffeting his hair off his face. Leaning on the balcony railing, he crossed his ankles and sighed, staring off at the sky and the countless stars and galaxies that filled it.

I don’t make long lasting relationships because I don’t want to get hurt…he thought to himself. If this soul connection thing backfires, we could both end up getting hurt…then what?

A feeling of confusion washed over him, sudden and strange. He frowned, wondering where that even came from. Sure, he was confused but not to that extent.

He sighed and shook his head. “First, I just need to actually talk to the guy. Hopefully I don’t choke like an idiot like I did before…which was ridiculous to begin with. How did I let him affect me like that? He isn’t even that cute…” His words trailed off, betraying him.

Hero’s face came to mind almost immediately. His wavy blonde hair, red eyes, pale skin, small pointed nose and curved chin, his bottom lip slightly fuller than the top, his teeth perfect and white. His smile and laugh lighting up his entire face…the way he held himself…the way his hand felt inside his own.

He flipped his right hand over, staring at his palm. He felt a twinge of electricity shoot through his chest and he closed his hand, lowering his head onto his arms with a groan.

Goddammit…

-*-

Hawk resolved not to let himself get carried away and allow his emotions to get the better of him. He was practiced at being emotionally unavailable and distant so it wouldn’t be too difficult to behave any differently with Hero than he did with Jordan or anyone else. 

He just couldn’t touch him again, that was all. No physical contact, no feelings. Simple as that. He would attempt conversation at the very least, since they couldn’t talk the night before. He was still interested in this strange young man, the one with no major trauma behind his eyes. Nearly everyone he had ever met experienced something painful in their past; abuse, neglect, violence of some sort, and all to varying degrees.

Not Hero. Everything about him suggested he had never experienced anything like that and Hawk had to know why that was. What made him so special?

When he pulled up to work that night, his stereo blasting the music from Attack on Titan, he saw Jordan already parked and waiting for him. He was leaning against the front of his truck, phone in his hand, the light from the screen bright on his face.

Hawk shut off the engine and hopped down, Jordan walking around to meet him before they both headed in. 

“Guess who gave me her number?”

“I want a gift card to that new ramen shop that opened up near the mall,” Hawk said.

“That wasn’t the bet,” Jordan laughed. 

“Shoulda been.”

“I don’t catch girls that easily.”

Hawk gave him a sidelong glance and Jordan gave a crooked grin. 

“You’re just jealous ‘cause Hero hasn’t given you his number yet.”

“What makes you think he hasn’t?”

Jordan’s eyes went wide. “Wait, did he?”

“Didn’t say that, did I?”

“So, he didn’t?”

“Didn’t say that either.”

“Asshole, I hate it when you do that.”

Hawk laughed as they neared the building. He could see a few people already mingling by the door, smoking or just hanging out. They still had plenty of time before they had to clock in, so Hawk and Jordan joined them. Hawk stood just a bit off from the rest, leaning against one of the pillars, hands in his pockets, ankles crossed in front of him. 

That was the image that greeted Hero as he walked a step behind Elaine. A slight shock went through his chest and his breath caught in his throat. Elaine had been saying something, but whatever it was he didn’t hear it. All he heard in that moment was Hawk’s laughter, low and throaty.

The memory of the night before floated in his mind, and he gulped. How exactly was he supposed to talk to him now? He knew if he was ever to explore those feelings and that rush, he had to actually get to know this man. He also had to swallow down any feelings that had started to appear. Hawk was gorgeous, that was for sure. He probably had a train of admirers that ran after him and Hero was just another to jump on board.

“Hey, you came back!” Jordan’s voice cut through his thoughts as they neared the group waiting at the door. Hero knew Jordan wasn’t talking to him by the way Elaine seemed to start bouncing next to him. 

Hawk’s head turned in their direction and his eyes immediately fell on Hero. There was no denying that look in his eyes; he hadn’t forgotten that moment, either. 

Hawk gave him a small smile and raised his hand in greeting. Hero returned the gesture. “You came back,” he said, a little softer than his friend.

Hero nodded, grinning. “I don’t scare that easily.”

Hawk gave a soft chuckle. “Good to know.”

“So, what’s the plan for later?” Elaine asked. “Are we still going over to your place?” 

Hawk turned his attention to her and shrugged. “Sure, if you want. I live outside of town and it’s a little bit of a drive, though.”

“It’s about twenty minutes away,” Jordan said. “But the area is absolutely beautiful and the drive is worth it, even in the dark.”

“Fine by me,” Hero said. “I just can’t drive at night so I’d have to ride with one of you, if that’s okay.”

Before Hawk could say anything, a chill ran down his spine. A familiar, irritating chill. He glanced to the side and saw, walking toward the group, a tall figure with neatly combed silver hair and gray eyes. His perpetually serious expression and demeanor was enough to quiet even the rowdiest of crowds, and his self-righteous attitude made him even less friends than Hawk.

Alerik Albright.

“I thought he was off tonight,” one of the guys nearby said under his breath.

“He’s covering for Patricia, remember?” another guy said.

“Oh yeah, she’s out for the week,” Jordan added. “Forgot about that.” He turned to Hawk. “Well, damn.”

“Oh, I dunno,” Hawk said with a small, sly grin and a glint in his eye as he watched Alerik open the door and head inside. “This could be fun.”

Jordan groaned and put a hand over his face. “Aw, c’mon dude, you gotta be kidding me. Please don’t do this…”

“What’s the matter?” Elaine asked. Hero was staring at Hawk, curious at the intense look in his eyes. He also felt a strange urge to giggle but stifled it.

Hawk’s grin broadened as Alerik disappeared, his sharp teeth catching the light. “I’m in a good mood.”

-*-