"Heaven doesn't sound as good as everyone makes it out to be." Ajax shook his head slightly, sitting down across from Nathaniel with a small wince, doing his best to hide it. It didn't sound good at all. Being trained for battle as a mere child, being kicked out for no reason. He took a couple of bites of food, surprised by how good it tasted, and made quick work devouring nearly half before the spoke again.
"We're not so different, I guess then," Ajax said, resting his arms against the edge of the table, "I learnt how to fight from pretty young, too, lost my parents. I didn't have any siblings but all the same." He didn't know why he was speaking so freely about his past, but Nathaniel had a comforting aura to him, and Ajax didn't mind talking about it to him.
"It's definitely not good, no… not for the angels, anyway." Nathaniel started eating as well, occasionally glancing up at Ajax to see how he was doing. "I'm sorry to hear that… it's not good to hear that someone has something in common with my childhood." He laughed weakly.
"It's definitely different there than it is down here, for sure. The people are much different, as well. Angels actually age a little different after a while. I mean, it starts out at the same pace as humans, but it slows and stops somewhere between 20 and 30 years old, I would say. Then they stay around their prime until they get killed. Angels can't die of old age and stuff like that, so… y'know. I'm only 21, so I probably won't look much older than this."
"You look younger than twenty-one." Ajax was quick to finish off the rest of his plate, leaning back in the car with another small wince, "Maybe that's a blessing though, looking younger than you are." He was only two years older but comparatively, he looked at least five years, taking in height, too. Nathaniel was quite short, but he was taller than the average guy.
"No need to be sorry, it's life, I was born into the one I live, as were you. There's nothing I can do to change what happened." Ajax still missed his parents terribly, but he had some to terms with their death, even if it was only recently. He was just lucky he still had a 'family' of sorts, "Do you have anyone else down here? Friends? Surely you aren't alone all the time."
Nathaniel soon finished his food as well and picked up both plates. He took them to the sink so he could start washing them while he talked. His wings hung loosely from his back, in a relaxed position for the moment. He looked like he was a bit tired. At the question, he winced and tilted his head from side to side as he considered.
"Well… not really. I had a couple of boyfriends, b-but they weren't… great people. As far as friends… also not really. People like me well enough, but there's not anybody that I actively spend time with. I'm usually alone."
"Oh," Ajax moved to lean against the counter next to Nathaniel, grabbing a tea towel to dry their dirty plates and dishes after the angel has cleaned them up, "Is that by choice or…?" He assumed it was. Nathaniel was likeable, probably the most likeable person Ajax had ever come across, why anyone would want to either hurt him or not be friends with him was a mystery. He couldn't tell if that was down to Nathaniel being an angel, or just because he was a nice person. Either way, it didn't matter.
"Well… for the most part, yeah. I'm not normal. It's safer for me to be alone, but… I hate being stuck here all alone. That's probably why I'm spilling my whole life story to you." Nathaniel laughed weakly and soon finished with the dishes, leaning against the counter with a tired sigh. "I just wish it wasn't so dangerous for me down here. Makes me want to just… tear out my own wings. But that would hurt so bad, and I'm kind of a baby when it comes to that sometimes…"
Ajax got to cleaning the plates, placing them on the side so they could be put away later, "It's been a while since I met someone not trying to kill me, and someone nice," A shrug of his good shoulder, "I don't mind listening, and I've found I'm quite good at it when I want to be." He offered a small smile. Considering he has hearing better than the average person, Ajax took pride in being a good listener, "Your wings are… magnificent, even if they are broken." It was clear he was being honest, strange for him since Nathaniel was a stranger, "They're a part of you, I, nor anyone, really, would want to see you lose them just to 'fit it'. I'm sure there are people out there like you, it's just about finding them."
Nathaniel offered Ajax a small smile, not seeming entirely convinced. "Thanks, but that's going to be tough for me to do… even other fallen angels wouldn't be likely to want to be friends. Angels tend to be very proud, but also very sheltered. Many fallen angels die because a lot of them are very young when they're kicked out, like me, and we don't really have many practical skills other than fighting. The lucky ones get mistaken for homeless children and get taken in, or at least are put into foster care, and the rest of us grow up homeless and starving or die."
"Well, I'm glad you weren't one of those who died, if you had, I probably wouldn't be alive right now, anyway." There were too many possibilities of ending up at the wrong house, knocking on the wrong door, and being shot in the dead right there. Ajax placed the last of the dishes on the side, placing the tea towel on the side, too, before slipping his hands into his pockets, "But anyway, you look tired, and I might be a brute but I can tell you need rest, and honestly, so do I." The throbbing all over his body was getting hider to fight, and it was getting harder to stay standing.
"Yeah…" Nathaniel yawned and glanced over to Ajax sleepily when he mentioned that he looked tired. He flushed a bit and smiled sheepishly, rubbing the back of his neck with one hand. "Ah… y-yeah, it's been a long day… um… the couch is a foldout, so I can help you set that up before I go to bed." He put the last of the dishes away and hurried off to the living room to start putting together the foldout bed.
(Hey im so sorry for disappearing! school is back in and apparently, senior year is important)
Ajax followed, albeit slower than he would have liked. The pain was subsiding a little, but the throbbing ache that seemed to work its way into every spot in his body wasn't at all fun. He wasn't a stranger to fold-out beds and uncomfortable mattresses, but right now he would take anything, even the god damned floor, "Thank you, again, for helping me, Nathaniel."
(Np! I get it lol)
"Yeah, of course! It's no problem, really!" Nathaniel insisted as he pulled out the couch into a bed. His wings fluttered as he hurried to fetch the blankets and pillows for it from the closet, and soon returned to get them situated. "Um… r-right, well. I hope that this is suitable for the night, and… ah… I suppose I'll see you in the morning. Goodnight." He dipped his head politely, his wings stretching out for a moment before he left the room to head to his own bed.
(Feel free to time skip to morning if you'd like ssfhjk)
(ahhah mmmhmm)
By the time morning arrived, Ajax was still and sore and in a lot of pain, again. The bed itself had been more comfortable than he had thought it would have been, but the number of injuries he'd received put a block on any chance of a good night's sleep. The sun streaming through the window had him groaning. Whatever time it was, it was too early for him, but there wasn't a chance he was getting back to sleep now.
Soon, Nathaniel shuffled into the room, yawning and rubbing at his eyes sleepily. He really wasn't much of a morning person, to be honest. He was still wearing the clothes he'd slept in, which were just a pair of shorts and a t-shirt that was much too large for him. He waved to Ajax before heading into the kitchen to start making something for breakfast for the both of them.
Ajax wouldn't deny that when Nathaniel walked into the room he gave the angle a once over when his back was turned. He might have been a small thing, shy thing, but it didn't stop him from being cute. Groaning, he pushed himself slowly off the bed, being extra careful as to not anger his wounds any more than he already had by simply standing, "Mornin'," He said, voice gruff from just waking up, "Sleep okay?"
Nathaniel glanced over his shoulder at the question and nodded. "Mhmm. I slept fine… you? Hopefully your wounds didn't disturb you too much." He replied with a tinge of worry in his voice. "I can get you some Ibuprofen or something. I-I don't have anything stronger than that, but… it's better than nothing, right?" He smiled sheepishly and then turned to fetch the pills from the cabinet.
Ajax offered a small smile, moving the rest of the way into the kitchen, "Ibuprofen would be great, thank you." He'd get some stronger pain killers on the way home, or maybe he could call Max to grab some and pick him up somewhere close by. Definitely not right outside Nathaniel's place. After helping him Aj was determined to not get him killed or wrapped up in any of his gang life. He seemed too sweet for that, "I'll get something stronger when I'm out of your hair."
Nathaniel nodded and headed over to the cabinet, standing on his toes so that he could reach the bottle of ibuprofen, which he then handed over to Ajax. "Here. Take what you need." He smiled softly before going back over to continue making breakfast. Hopefully he doesn't mean anything illegal… Nathaniel yawned and ran his fingers through his hair. "You can stick around as long as you need, though, okay? I don't want you to get hurt because you're wandering around with an injury."
Aj was grateful for the pills and was quick to swallow a couple to relieve the pain as fast as possible. Leaning against the counter, he watched Nathanial hurry around to make breakfast, simply watching him for a moment before he spoke up again, "The quicker I'm outta here the safer you are," A small shrug, "After you lending me a hand, I wouldn't want you getting hurt because of it." As long as he wasn't followed out of the meeting, and wasn't seen heading out of Nathaniel's place, he would be fine, but Aj wasn't planning on taking any chances.
"It's important that you're okay. I can handle myself if I need to." Nathaniel smiled tiredly. Something in his eyes implied that he wasn't just bluffing; he had enough experience with fighting to handle an issue if it arose, but that didn't mean he was looking to fight all the time. "Getting shot is a significant injury, and you'll need to heal up a bit." He pulled the food off of the heat and separated it onto two plates. "And what better way to start than some breakfast, hmm?" He offered one of the plates to Ajax, looking up at the taller man with a friendly, curious expression.
Ajax tilted his head ever so slightly. Strange, for someone who seemed so timid, to now be wearing such a friendly expression. Maybe it was just because his line of work had him being cautious and analysing but Aj pushed it away and took the plate from Nathaniel gently, the barest hint of a smile gracing his face, “Thank you, for cooking again.” He ended up saying. Something told him Nathaniel wasn’t lying about being able to take care of himself, and even though reason told him to leave now, it was already too late for that.
Nathaniel nodded in return and sat down at the table with Ajax. "No problem. I don't mind." He smiled softly before he began eating, and was quiet for a while until he eventually spoke again. "I… um… I suppose it's nice to have company after so long." He laughed nervously, keeping his eyes firmly on his plate. His cheeks were tinted pink with embarrassment. "I don't get to properly talk to people very much. That's kinda why I would want to try and get rid of my wings… they prevent me from being able to finally be free of my old life and… I dunno. I just wanna be able to talk to people and… and not always be afraid of getting experimented on or something."
“Is there anyway you could get them removed? If they make you so sad?” Aj couldn’t help but frown softly. Nathaniel’s wings might have been broken, but to him, they were still as beautiful as the rest of the small man. He understood not being able to talk to people. The closest thing he had to a friend was Max, and sure, the rest of his men were the only family he had now, but that didn’t mean he longed for a friend outside of it all.
