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Evan was supposed to be waiting to get picked up. Even if he could drive now, he wasn’t always comfortable with it, and with the car getting serviced anyway, he was back to relying on being picked up.

Some nights were easier than others. Tonight, he didn’t want to walk all the way home, so Tobias was going to come pick him up, and Evan resolved to stay in a relatively well lit area so he didn’t have to worry about any trouble.

He hoped.

He had his bag in his lap--one hand on the henshin pen inside, the other hand on his cell phone so he could make sure he didn’t miss any messages.

He thought he was alone, and almost even seemed close to comfortable, but movement in the shadows nearby made him tense; he went rigid and sat up straight, directing his eyes to the area. He watched, like prey waiting for the predator, and held his breath. A part of him wanted to be quiet, still, and hope that no one saw him.

...The other part of him knew that he wasn’t one for luck, and he should go into this expecting the worst.

But. He hoped, anyway.

“...Is someone there?” he called, trying to keep an even ********, no. He still sounded scared, damn it. He held his bag closer and hated that he couldn’t even pretend to be ambivalent about whoever--whatever--was lurking in the shadows.

Please be a rat. Or an opossum. Or a raccoon. Please, please, please.

Evan felt a lump in his throat, and he wasn’t sure if his brain had dropped into his stomach or if his stomach was trying to float away. He knew the voice even before he saw Airi, and when he did it was like seeing a ghost.

A big, fluffy ghost, that for all his spikes and fangs and claws, Evan couldn’t find it in his heart to be afraid of.

He stared blankly for a few seconds as the thoughts in his head slowly clicked into place, and things came together.

“Airi!” he blurted, breathless and dizzy just from seeing him. He scrambled up, holding his bag awkwardly, and then seemed to lose his composure and took a few steps to hurry forward--froze, like he was doubting himself, and then hurried so quickly he tripped over himself just to get closer to him. It wasn’t a comfortable position by any means, but he knew what he wanted and he threw his arms around him, squeezing tightly.

“I missed you! I’ve been looking for you for ages! --Where have you been, are you okay?”

Evan's voice trembled, in the way that it did when he was too emotional about anything--excited, afraid, nervous. His emotions were turbulent and confusing, even now, but it was Airi! How could he not be elated to see him? How could he not want to throw his arms around him and hold him?

"I remember where they are," Evan promised, and just held him, as much of him as he could. "I know you wouldn't hurt me."

Like it was as simple as that. His heart was pounding--he shouldn't be this comfortable around a youma. But--this wasn't just any youma. This was Airi.

"I didn't even--Lysithea saw you? She didn't say anything. But it's been a little while." He wanted to talk to Airi like the old friend he was, not an enemy. He couldn't just power up into Malus, or say he patrolled with Lysithea, or say he lived with her, so he had to bite his tongue and just be glad that he got to see Airi now.

He relaxed against him and closed his eyes before just sitting on the ground so he could keep holding him. "Did she try to convince you to leave the Negaverse? I could, too, you know. Could tell you that you're not living until you've tried everything on my menu. I have a food truck, I wish you could come try it. I have a dog! I have--what did Lysithea tell you? --That we'd love to help you and would take care of you, and give you a family or something? --There are so many people here that would be your friend. It's so good to see you, Airi. I really--I was so worried..."

His voice softened, like he was trying to make sure Airi didn't hear the emotion in it, like he could hide the way his eyes had suddenly gotten wet and his breath had hitched.

Evan was a mess, trying to focus on one thing and instead going over everything. He pressed closer, eyes squeezed shut as he rested his head against Airi’s.

“...I worry a lot,” he said, but he knew he didn’t have to explain himself. “I always worried about you. Missed you. Thought about you often. --I’m sure Lysithea would have told me, if she’d known, but--it’s not like I hang around Senshi all day. I’ve been busy, maybe she has too. But--but it’s okay! Because I found you!”

He shuddered, suddenly so tired and resting against him. “...I don’t want to feed you anything and make you sick. I’m sorry….about Fangite. I know what it’s like to have--to have that bond with someone, and--” he faltered, because he seemed to struggle with explaining himself now. “--I just don’t want you to be alone. I just want you to know that I want to be here for you too. And I’ll still take care of you if you want. Promise.”

He raised only one hand to tiredly brush at the fur on his face, closing his eyes as he tried to keep his emotions at bay.

Airi shifted slightly, settling into more of a laying down position. "I'm sorry for making you worry." Sorry for making them both worry. What kind of friend was he to do that to either of them, when all they were trying to do was make sure he was safe and okay.

He shrugged slightly, not wanting to jostle Evan to much. "It's alright... It is what it is. It was something he needed to do... I knew it was bound to happen. In a way... It was my own fault. I knew he wouldn't leave if I were still here. If I were partners. So.. I broke my bond for a second time, and pushed him away. As much as it hurt both of us. I knew it would be the final push he needed to just... go." Airi had a bond broken once before. Stomaching it a second time was no problem. But that hadn't made it hurt any less. He laughed lightly. "I've been alone for a couple years now, Evan..." Though his laugh turned into more of a snort as he gently bumped against the smaller human. "You take care of me? Wasn't it the other way around once upon a time?"

The sudden shout startled him. Airi jerked to his feet, fur on end.

Well s**t

He'd been careless. He had been so focused on Evan that he had failed to notice the powered signature that had been rapidly approaching them.

The massive youma growled, baring his teeth as he placed himself between Evan and the new arrival. He wouldn't attack unless absolutely needed. Priority was making sure Evan was safe. The growl suddenly stopped when the Knight spoke again. Wait... What? Airi turned his massive head, turning to look at Evan for a second before it clicked. The Knight was just trying to protect Evan, just as he was. He turned back, ears flatting against his head. "W-wait!"

Too late.

The arrow hit with a solid thud. The yelp that left him was unfamiliar, even to him as skeletal hands sprouted from the ground and grabbing him, anchoring him in place. The youma tried to shake his head but the hands held strong, leaving him barely about to wiggle. Airi whined, loud and painful as horrible images flashed by. Feelings he hadn't felt in ages rushing to the surface.

Bullseye. Lupu felt a wave of satisfaction go through him as he saw his magic strike the beast, and heard its wail. Good. It served him right for thinking he could hurt Evan of all people.

Lupu moved closer, intending to dust the monster and get Evan to a hospital if it were needed, but then the male moved. And spoke…and defended the youma.

The knight stopped in his tracks and swallowed, eyes fixed on Evan. “You…what?” His mouth felt dry and he didn’t...didn’t understand. Evan was afraid of chaos. Even now. Sure, he always tried to be kind to youma but this one…

“I thought he had killed you? You’re not hurt?” The words slipped out in some panic, and though he didn’t want to, he cut off the flow of magic, though kept his bow clutched tightly in his hand, ready to cast it again if he needed to.

“Come away from it, Evan. Come on. We have to go.”

Evan didn’t move, didn’t come away from him. He stayed, resolute, and just tried to hold as much of Airi as he could in his arms. He was too small, it wasn’t enough; he wanted to gather him up completely and protect him. Desperately, he looked up at the Knight.

“It’s Airi, he’s my friend, I knew him from--from before. He talked to Lysithea,” he insisted, and pressed his face against Airi.

“Are you okay? This is Lupu, he’s my friend too. He’s nice, he’s just trying to protect me. He knows I get scared easily. I’m sorry you got hurt, it’s okay. It’s over.”

Evan tried to brush at Airi’s face for him, to wipe away whatever was bothering him.

“I’m sorry,” he said again. “You’re better than most youma, I know that. You’re not like that. I wish I could take you home and take care of you. I’d make you macaroni and cheese,” his favorite, even if it just came straight from the box. “You could borrow my bed and just sleep. And not have to worry. It’s better than the Rift. I just. I wish I could be better for you. I wish I could do more for you. Lupu, come here, come meet Airi. Please. It’s okay. I swear,” he said, desperately.