Back in the shelter, Angeleva's eyes fluttered open, disturbed by the low, agonized groans that echoed through the room. At first, she scowled, assuming it was just Safari's usual restless sleep. But as the sounds grew louder, she sat up, her ears twitching.
Angeleva: (muttering)
"Stupid devil, even groans annoyingly."
She crossed her arms, about to turn away, but something shifted in her expression when she listened closely. Safari's words weren't just incoherent muttering - they were filled with unmistakable pain.
Safari: (groaning)
"No... please... don't leave me. I'm sorry... I didn't mean to..."
Angeleva froze. The trembling in his voice wasn't the tone of the arrogant devil she knew. It was... desperate. Vulnerable.
She leaned closer, her annoyance melting into concern. She could see the sweat beading on his forehead, his fists clenching the thin sheets beneath him. His breathing was ragged, every gasp choked with suffering.
Safari: (whimpering)
"I'm sorry... I failed... please forgive me..."
The words struck her. He wasn't just tormented by Nate's death. He was haunted by what he did to her. The burden of guilt he carried, the regret that clawed at him - it was unbearable.
Angeleva bit her lip, the memory of her own torment still raw. But now, for the first time, she saw just how much Safari had been hiding beneath his reckless facade.
Angeleva: (softly)
"You idiot... even your nightmares are stubborn."
She hesitated, then carefully placed her hand on his trembling arm. His body jerked at the sudden touch, but her fingers remained steady.
Angeleva: (gently)
"Wake up, Safari. You don't have to apologize, anymore."
Her voice, though faint, carried warmth. The warmth of understanding.
With a sharp gasp, Safari's eyes shot open. He bolted upright, his chest heaving as he struggled to catch his breath. His eyes darted around the room, the crimson nightmare still lingering in his mind.
But then he saw her. Angeleva.
Her violet eyes met his, filled with an unfamiliar gentleness. Safari's trembling hands clenched the sheets, the guilt washing over him once more.
Safari: (voice cracking)
"I... I'm sorry."
Angeleva stayed silent for a moment, her gaze unwavering. Then, to his surprise, she reached for a cloth, gently wiping the sweat from his forehead.
Angeleva: (softly)
"I know."
The simplicity of her words struck him. She didn't yell. She didn't condemn. She simply acknowledged the weight he carried.
Safari: (brokenly)
"I saw... everything. You hated me. Zack and Jen left me. I was alone."
Angeleva: (whispering)
"It was a nightmare, Safari. But the real nightmare was thinking you had to face everything alone."
Safari swallowed hard, the ache in his chest tightening.
Safari: (voice trembling)
"I didn't want to lose you... any of you. I- I thought I didn't care. But I do. You, Zack, Jen - you're all I have."
Angeleva's eyes softened.
Angeleva: (gently)
"And we're still here."
Tears welled in Safari's eyes. He quickly turned away, unwilling to let her see the cracks in his usual facade. But Angeleva saw through it.
Angeleva: (smiling faintly)
"You really are a stubborn devil."
For the first time in days, Safari let out a shaky chuckle.
Safari:
"And you're still an annoying fairy."
Angeleva nodded. But this time, there was no hatred. Only the beginning of fragile understanding.
_ _ _
The next day arrived, and the tension in the shelter had eased considerably.
The morning sunlight seeped through the cracks in the walls, casting a soft glow over the small space.
Safari, though still weighed down by the guilt of his actions, felt a strange sense of resolve. Today, he would face what he had been avoiding.
He stepped towards Zack and Jen. Angeleva stood a little further away, though no longer bearing the distant emptiness she had the day before. Zack glanced up as Safari approached.
Safari: (clearing his throat awkwardly)
"I... need to say something."
Zack and Jen exchanged curious glances, but neither interrupted. Angeleva crossed her arms, raising an eyebrow.
Safari: (firmly)
"I was wrong. About everything."
The words came out rough, as if they had been stuck in his throat. He avoided their gazes, guilt pressing down on him.
Safari: (continuing)
"I was an idiot. I let my own pride get in the way. I thought if I acted like nothing mattered, I wouldn't feel the weight of it all. But the truth is..."
He clenched his fists, his voice trembling.
Safari:
"I can't do this alone. I don't want to be alone anymore."
The admission was met with silence at first. Zack's expression softened, while Jen's eyes welled with quiet relief. Angeleva, however, held her gaze steady, waiting.
Safari: (softly)
"Zack, Jen - I need you. As my siblings. I can't beat the next demon generals without you. You're my strength. My family."
Zack nodded slowly, stepping forward.
Zack: (calmly)
"We never stopped being your family, big bro. We're with you."
Jen smiled warmly, though tears streamed down her face.
Jen: (sniffling)
"Big brother, we've always believed in you. And we still do."
Safari's chest ached, but this time, it wasn't from guilt. It was the warmth of acceptance.
But there was still one more person he needed to face. He turned toward Angeleva, who hadn't moved an inch. She stared at him with an unreadable expression.
Safari: (genuinely)
"And you... I have no excuse for what I did. What I put you through-"
Angeleva cut him off, her voice calm yet sharp.
Angeleva: (firmly)
"You broke me. You laughed when I needed help. And I hated you for it."
Safari flinched but didn't look away. He knew he deserved it.
Angeleva: (softening)
"But... even after all that, you saved me in the end. You stayed when I thought no one would. And that stupid nightmare of yours? It showed me something."
She stepped closer, her violet eyes piercing through him.
Angeleva:
"You carry more pain than you let on. And somehow, even after all the crap you pulled, I don't hate you anymore."
Safari blinked, surprised.
Angeleva: (cheeks flushed)
"I guess... I depended on you more than I realized. And that's what made it hurt so much."
Her words lingered, the realization hitting both of them. Safari felt an odd flutter of embarrassment - something he wasn't used to. Angeleva, now visibly flustered, quickly tried to mask it.
Safari: (smirking, trying to lighten the mood)
"So what you're saying is... I'm still pretty important to you, huh?"
Angeleva: (snapping)
"Oh, shut up!"
Despite her protest, a small smile tugged at her lips.
Safari then crossed his arms, his expression becoming more serious.
Safari: (firmly)
"But listen. If you ever get into trouble again, and I find you stuck with creeps like that, I swear I'll beat the crap out of them. No one messes with my annoying fairy rival. Got it?"
Angeleva's cheeks turned a deeper shade of pink.
Angeleva: (grumbling)
"You're so dramatic."
Safari: (grinning)
"And you can always rely on me if you need help. Not that I like admitting it."
Zack and Jen couldn't help but laugh. The warmth of the moment washed over them all, a true sense of unity forming.
For the first time in a long while, Safari didn't feel like the reckless devil who fought only for himself. He felt like a leader. A brother. And strangely enough... a friend.
Safari: (smirking playfully)
"Alright, enough of this stuff. We've got more demon generals to crush. And I'm not planning on losing."
Zack: (grinning)
"We wouldn't have it any other way."
Angeleva: (rolling her eyes, but smiling)
"Try not to mess it up this time, devil."
Safari laughed heartily. For once, he felt ready.