Reaper

Chapter 12 -Kouzen

He willed the shroud out, he at least could do that much. If anything he supposed he could scare the piss out of anyone in the house and get what he needed. Evander was enveloped with him, he could feel him stuck in the darkness with him, “f**k this is awesome.”

“Shut up, I’m concentrating,” Kouzen hissed at him. He pulled him towards the house with him and concentrated. He projected ‘be invisible’ over and over in his head as he tried the doorknob. The door was locked and he growled, he supposed he shouldn’t expect this to be easy, “Can you at least pick a lock?”

“No. I can steal DVD’s and other small goods if you have a need for that,” Evander shrugged.

“So super helpful. I thought you said you weren’t a criminal?” Kouzen tilted his head at him.

“I steal every now and again, doesn’t mean I’m a criminal,” Evander grumbled at him. Kouzen rolled his eyes and focused on the door. As he tried to figure out how to open the door his darkness creeped out of his fingers like vines again, digging into the door and unlocking it. He pulled it open and sighed, willing himself to be invisible again.

Evander squeezed his hand and they both walked in, Kouzen leading him into the living room. He looked around, cautious as he heard someone in the kitchen. The sounds of dishes being washed made him nervous and he quickly pinpointed the call, turning and going into a spare room on the main floor. An older woman sat in a wheelchair, staring vacantly out of her window.

Her head turned and she peered at them, expression still blank. She babbled nonsense and Kouzen tilted his head, freezing in hopes she wasn’t seeing them. The kitchen noises halted and he cussed, pulling Evander into the room and to the side. He tried to find a hiding spot, pressing them both into a corner as he prayed he was in full stealth mode.

The woman in the wheelchair was still looking at them as she babbled. A younger woman came in and sighed forlornly, stroking her hair and adjusting her blanket, “Mom, is everything okay?”

Another string of nonsense as her gaze stayed on them in the corner. The younger woman looked at them and he waited for her to scream and call the police. No screams came, she looked confused then at her mother before gently moving her chair so she was in the sunlight again, “Here you go. Your sun moved, I know how much you like enjoying the sunlight. I’ll be back in, in just a bit. I’m just finishing our breakfast dishes.”

She smiled and kissed her mother’s head, walking out. He doubted himself, how could he take this soul? It pinged his mind harder and as if sensing his hesitancy, Evander squeezed his hand again, “We can just go. You don’t have to do it, right?”

“No, we can’t. My brain is telling me I can’t,” He sighed and walked over, gently placing his hand on her hand, “Ma’am… it’s time to come with me. Are you ready?”

She babbled again and he smiled at her. He nodded as if understanding her, patting her hand even though he didn’t understand a word. He closed his eyes, he didn’t want to do this, “I promise I’ll keep you safe. Your daughter will be okay. It’s time.”

His darkness spiraled along her skin and her babbling got a little frantic. He tried to hush her, not sure how long he’d be invisible. Evander held her hand on the other side, stroking it with a bedside manner Kouzen was surprised he had. Her babbling stopped and he gently extracted her pearl, watching the life disappear in her eyes, “Good job, horns.”

“We have to take care of this one right here, I just have this feeling,” Kouzen held Evander’s hand tighter as he activated the pearl. The woman came out and smiled at them, taking his hand.

“Thank you, thank you. I can hear myself think again. Can I… say goodbye to Avery?” The older woman’s voice was soft and grandmotherly. Kouzen felt tears pool in his eyes at having taken her but he held strong and nodded. She cupped his cheek lovingly and left the shroud.

He quickly followed her to the kitchen and watched her hug her daughter. She whispered to her, Avery dropping the dish she was washing in the sink as if a realization hit her. She looked around curiously, still thankfully not able to see them. The older woman kissed her head and then returned to Kouzen. He smiled, “We will watch your memories and that will determine your resting place. Are you ready?”

She nodded, “Yes, dear. It’s time to move on.”

Her memories started as her daughter ran to the bedroom. They played quickly, Evander in complete awe as he watched the process. She had been an amazing woman: spent her time working with the church for many, many years; donated her time and efforts all around the city and many, many other good things. Avery called out for her mom tearfully as the memories ended and Kouzen looked to her, tears down his face.

“Don’t cry, you were right, it’s my time. I’ve not been well for a long time, honey. She will be okay,” Kouzen sighed, he was supposed to be comforting her, not the other way around. He nodded and smiled.

“You did so many good things. You had an amazing life. Where is your heaven?” She kissed his forehead, patted his head and then waved as she was pulled into the light. She didn’t answer his question but he knew he’d sent her where she wanted to be.

“This is the other half of it? Kouzen… I don’t know what to say,” he was speechless and Kouzen realized he needed to get out before his emotions messed with their little mission too much. He pulled Evander towards the door, listening to Avery try and call someone to save her mom. He couldn’t stand knowing she was gone already, there was no hope.

Avery was running around and paused as she seemed to look right at him, her tears heavily streaming down her face. He cleared his throat, “Avery, she’s gone… but she loved you. She could talk and walk again. She’s in a good place, I promise. I sent her myself.”

She dropped to her knees, confirming she could see and hear him now. He turned and pulled Evander out the door and rushed him to the park, the shroud falling off. Evander swept him up once he was done running and held him, “So brave, little prey. Don’t cry again, I literally have no idea what to do when you’re in distress I didn’t cause. I’m very used to punching you, but I don’t think that’s the right response.”

“Definitely the wrong response right now,” Kouzen laughed a little as he let Evander hold him. He picked him up in his arms like he’d carried him the day before, walking him to a bench and sitting down. He wouldn’t have imagined being so emotional but how could one remain neutral to the situation?

“This is a lot for a twerp like you to carry, I’m glad you showed me. I’d feel like s**t beating you up while you were dealing with this,” Evander admitted quietly. He looked at him and rolled his eyes, wiping his tears, “You’re kind of a mess right now, you barely cried the entire time I f****d with you.”

“Maybe that’s why my bully was supposed to find out what I’m supposed to do alongside me,” He rested his head on his shoulder.

“Alright, alright. You really did a good job though, horns. I mean it. I don’t want you to take my mom but I’d be happy knowing that’s how she went. Ya know?” Evander glanced around again, just making sure no one was coming after them. Kouzen nodded and tried to get up but found himself curled in arms too strong for him to break free of.

He fought for a moment, a rumble from Evander coming out to tell him to stop. He frowned, the look melting into a pout as he just collapsed against him, giving up, “You’re real bossy, you know that?”

“Gotta be bossy when your prey is a little obnoxious asswipe,” Evander smirked at him.

“Gotta be an obnoxious asswipe when your bully is the biggest asshole you’ve ever met,” He shot it right back at him, proud of himself.

“Hey, I have a question. When we saw the hospital, you got really tense and tried to claw at me. Why?” He stroked his back.

“So many sick souls, so close to needing me… it was just an overload. It’s like when you go to the wrong website with the pop-up blocker off. All the ads that pop up and take over your screen… it felt like that in my head. I didn’t realize I scratched you,” he sighed.

“No, tried to scratch. It’s cute you think you could hurt a dragon,” He chuffed, putting Kouzen to the side after realizing he’d calmed down.

“Want to ask my scythe if it’s cute? Pretty sure I could do some damage,” He smirked, calling the shroud and producing the scythe. Evander stared at it then looked at him, unsure what to say. He laughed and made it all go away.

“Such a f*****g pyscho,” He scowled.

“Your f*****g psycho, apparently,” Kouzen goaded smugly. His dragon rumbled again gleefully making him yank him over for an affectionate headbutt. He was happy, this is what happiness felt like. Even if it was f*****g Evander, the terrorist he’d been dealing with since first grade. Maybe this is what they’d felt the whole time but they were both too pyscho to recognize it.

Evander was the first to stand, checking his own phone for the time, “How do you plan on balancing school with this?”

“I don’t know. It feels like it’s a full time job. I am already getting more pings around us,” Kouzen admitted quietly. He stared up into deep oceans of concern as Evander rubbed his chin softly.

“There’s online schooling so you could graduate at least. It’s kind of shitty but you can always come to the clubhouse to see me,” Evander started pacing and he rolled his eyes. He hadn’t even considered dropping out of school, he needed to talk to his dad. He frowned, his dad who thought he was insane. Evander’s hand gripping his chin lightly brought him out of his thoughts, “Why’d you frown like that?”

“Gods, you’re crazy. What’s wrong with frowning? I was just thinking is all,” He pushed Evander’s hand away. Evander didn’t move, all business as he studied his face, “Calm down, I was just thinking about how my dad thinks something’s wrong with me.”

“Well, you’re a freak for one. f*****g horns for proof. He’s not wrong something’s wrong with you, it’s just that what’s wrong with you I’ve learned isn’t that bad,” Evander smirked at him while he got angrier. His expression softened at the end, finding it to be endearment instead of all teasing.

“Are you done, asshole? We need to get back to school,” he finally stood up, dusting his pants off. He stared in the direction of the house, not sure how he was going to deal with he rest of the day after that.

“I am never going to be done wanting to tear people apart who hurt you, but I’ll at least stop imagining punching your dad for right now,” Evander grinned and Kouzen shoved his shoulder. He barely moved. This had been his problem his whole life, Evander Alfson was a wall of pure muscle with a skull so thick you could drop him 3 stories and it still wouldn’t crack.

Evander raised an eyebrow at him as his thoughts swirled in his head. Without provocation, he started walking away from him and when there was a confused little noise and Evander took his first step towards him he whirled around and charged him, headbutting him in the chest as they collided. He let out a battle cry and Evander let out a shout as he toppled to the ground with an armful of demon.

“What are you doing?! f**k,” Evander wheezed, trying to pull air back into his body as he pushed Kouzen off of him. He laughed, rolling onto the ground holding his belly. His legs kicked a little as he laid in the grass, completely filled with glee.

“I knocked you over! For the first time I, Kouzen Tarasov, ME, I knocked YOU over! ALL BY MYSELF, no powers,” He continued laughing, wiping tears from his eyes. Evander sat up, rubbing his chest as he glared at him. He did not care how mad he was, he was having the time of his life giggling on the ground like a lunatic.

“Come here you brat!” Evander grabbed for him and he rolled away, laughing harder. Evander did grab him after a couple rolls, glaring down at him with honest anger. He raised his legs up as he tried to pin him, using his knees to keep him partially separated from him, “Someone’s going to think I’m trying to f**k you in this position.”

“Ew, stop,” He was calming down but the giggles still came at odd intervals. He laid his legs flat and let himself be pinned, “I think it looks worse like this. Get off me. I want to go back to school.”

“You’re the worst, I take it back, don’t come to the clubhouse. I remember why I hate you so much,” He grumbled, trying to get up. Kouzen smirked and grabbed his face, pecking his lips before shoving him just enough to roll out from under him while he was confused.

“No, I think I will keep going to your clubhouse. Just so I can remind you, every single f*****g day why you hate me so much. Let’s go, Lizard d**k,” He smirked as he got up, pulling grass off his sweater. He grunted as he was tackled back to the ground, twisting to pound on Evander’s chest, “Ow! You’re actually hurting me with your big ass body, get off!”

“My what? I can’t you hear you through all of that whining,” Evander smirked, leaning down so they were nose to nose. Kouzen scowled at him, arms attempting to push him off. Evander laughed at him making him frown more. The frown was gone as he claimed his lips, pushing down into him. He was squeezing the life from him but he didn’t care in the moment, his arms stopped pushing and instead cupped his cheeks. He blushed as Evander’s hips dug into him, panicking and pushing him away frantically.

Evander reacted quickly, realizing it wasn’t playful resistance anymore. He was thankful for that as he got up, helping him up too, “Still think it’s a Lizard d**k, horns?”

“Smallest lizard d**k I’ve ever seen,” Kouzen gave him a grateful smile despite the sass.

“Oh, so you’ve seen some lizard d***s then, huh?” Evander smirked back, rubbing his shoulder with affection. His whole body turned red and Evander laughed at him, heading towards a secluded area so he could shift again to get them back to school.

“If you fly us, is the whole world going to see your pathetic red rocket as we go through the sky?” Kouzen tried to catch the clothes that came flying out of the brush he’d chosen to strip in.

“I don’t speak stupid, horns. You’re going to have to translate that into English for me, I think I heard something about my massive c**k making you jealous someone else was going to see it,” He shifted and Kouzen rolled his eyes at him. He shoved the clothes back down into his sweater and got on Evander’s back once he was shifted.

“You’re insufferable. I’d rather be in gym class right now. Take me back, Falkor,” Evander stomped, snorting smoke over his shoulder in his direction. Kouzen kindly placed a kiss to his neck and he stopped, grunting in defeat before taking off.