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The man shrugged. "It's okay." It wasn't. "Things happen."
Frowning, Micha traced the line of his jaw. "That doesn't make it any better. Being lonely...it's the worst kind of hell."
Spooky pushed himself up and gazed down at Micha. "Yeah? And what do you know about it?"
Micha stared up at him, his pink eyes searching Spooky's face. He thought for sure the angel would open up but then his expression crumbled and he simply shrugged. Spooky desperately wanted to know what he was about to say, but whatever it was, Micha had shoved it away.
"Why is your name Spooky?" Micha blurted out. "Sorry, I just mean is that your real name? Everyone calls you Spooky and I've always wondered why."
Spooky grinned. "No, of course, it's not. My real name isn't important. Porter named me Spooky and that's what I'll go by forever because he saved my life." He shrugged. “Besides, I like it. It’s different.”
He wouldn't mention to Micha that his last name had been given to him by his witch and how he had loved it dearly. Until the man abandoned him and he was stripped of everything he knew. All because he wasn't strong enough, not good enough. No one wanted a boring kitten familiar when there were dragons, wolves, and other terrible beasts to bind yourself to.
Cat familiars were old news.
"Are you okay?" Micha asked, drawing his attention back to the angel. "You looked so sad."
Spooky reached up and touched his own face. To his surprise, a tear rolled onto his fingers and he blinked rapidly.Shit. How had Micha pulled that out of him?Spooky no longer cried, ever. It didn't help. Not when you were hurt, not when you were alone, and not when you were dumped into a gutter and dying.
He quickly wiped away the tears. Or tried to. But Micha pulled him into his arms and he gave in. Spooky laid on Micha's chest. The beating of his heart soothed Spooky and he held onto his shirt tightly and tried to calm down. Why had he gotten so upset in the first place?
"I guess we can stay for a little while longer," Micha whispered. "At least until Arden kicks us out."
Spooky smiled. "I'd like that."
When they returned to the floor below would they be able to have more moments like this? Could they cuddle and hold each other just so they could combat the cruelness of the world?That's two. Eldon and Micha.They were kind of Spooky even when everyone else was short-tempered or rude.
It's not Arden's fault though. He hasn't been himself lately.
Arden was gruff when they met, but lately, he'd been getting worse. Something was eating at him, but he wouldn't open up about it.Something's been eating at all the hosts.It was like a storm was coming and that feeling hadn't left Spooky's gut for the past few weeks. It hung over his head like a cloud, gnawing at him.
"Are you okay?" Micha asked.
"Yeah," he said quietly, admiring Micha up close. "I am. Thank you."
The angel smiled and it was like the clouds parted. Micha looked so upbeat and carefree that it was easy to get sucked into his vortex of happiness. He loved that. Spooky laid down once more and dragged the blanket over their bodies. He wanted to cuddle with Micha just a little while longer.
* * *
"Get out."
Spooky blinked up at Arden, trying to remember what his dream had been about. It was right there, stuck on the brink of his memory.What was it about?He knew it was important, but it slipped through his fingers like sand. The only thing he remembered were two spots of jade and a warm, familiar feeling of being bound to a witch.
"Spooky, get going."
"I am," he groaned as he rubbed his eyes and glanced around. "Where's Micha?"
"He went back downstairs a little while ago. I was going to wake you too, but he begged me not to, said you needed to rest." Arden sat on the side of the bed. "Why do you need to rest? Are you okay?"
Spooky gathered the blanket and hid behind it a bit. "Yes, I'm fine."
He thought about how they'd fallen asleep and his body flushed. Right, Micha had witnessed him crying. The Nephilim probably thought that something was wrong with him and wanted him to recover. But the things that Spooky had gone through in his life would not be repaired by a single night of sleep.
Arden grabbed his chin and yanked it upward to look at him. "Are you sure? If you're unwell then you need to say that so you can rest and be back in peak form soon."
Spooky's heart raced. "No, no I'm fine," he whispered. "It was a strange morning, that's all." He glanced toward the windows and took in the orange glow of the setting sun. He'd stayed the day in Arden's bed again. "Where did you sleep?"
"I didn't," Arden said as he released Spooky and stood. "You two needed the space and I had paperwork to complete."
