Chapter 27

Noel laid there on the bed with Jade's arms wrapped tightly around him. Warmth radiated from his body that made Noel feel like all his emotions were swept away. His body wanted to shiver slightly at the feeling of Jade's breath against his neck as he listened to soft sounds of his sleep. As he gazed up at that peaceful expression on his face it was like everything else in the world melted away in that moment. At a closer glance at those reddened eyes that seemed as though he hadn't slept well in months he wondered what he was going to do.

"This ain't fair, Jade." He muttered under his breath as he slowly reached his left hand upward. His fingertip softly placing against his skin just below Jade's long eye lashes so that he could feel the soft tickling sensation from them.

"Mn.." A slight sound came from Jade's mouth as his sleeping face turned more into the pillow. His arm that held Noel hostage tightened ever so slightly as if his body was afraid to let go.

"I don't care if you sleep here, but I can't sleep like this.." Noel's face blushed deeply at the fact that he was so close to Jade. Though he was asleep it still made him feel as if his heart was going to burst from his chest. It only made him feel more flustered at the fact that Jade was asleep and had no idea what he was even doing to him.

If you're this miserable.. Why do you even go out and do those things? Noel thought to himself as he pondered over why the man in front of his face would put himself through so much each day when it was clearly affecting him badly. It seemed as though he never had a decent sleep and was always collapsing from exhaustion or getting injured.

His hand began to slide its way up into Jade's long black hair carefully so he would not wake him, fingertips slowly brushing their way through his hair. It felt soft as silk and gave off a scent that seemed sweet and almost entrancing. If a person's scent could become a drug Noel was certain it would be something just like this. Everything about this man made him want to know more about him, be closer to him, and yet at the same time he felt so infuriated with him at every turn that he could not understand himself.

The night was already getting late and Noel was beginning to feel tired. He wanted to get himself to the living area to sleep but his arm was not going to release Noel any time soon. Pushing lightly at the arm that held him captive he began to try and free himself from the hold on him. Firmly pushing the arm away from himself he could feel himself beginning to get free but it only lasted a moment before his body was once again interlocked in Jade's.

Jade's arm tightened once again around him causing him to mumble under his breath a few swears in the man's name.

"If you're going to curse me at least do it to my face." Jade's half asleep tone muttered out just above Noel's head causing him to look up and see that pair of green eyes staring downward at him with a look as though he was inspecting him.

"You're awake?!" Noel blurted out with a face flushed red from being caught in the current situation. Unsure of why he was nervous when it was Jade who was holding him hostage on his own bed he wanted to swear at the man even more but held it in.

"You woke me with your constant moving." He yawned as his head was still resting against the pillow as if he had no care in the world.

"Well you're awake now so let me back up, now." Noel spoke sternly in hope that the man would let him go so that he could go rest. He was not sure how much more he could take being so close to him.

"Right.." Jade simply said the one word as his arm released itself from Noel. He watched as Noel slowly sat back up on the bed and prepared himself to stand up.

"Can I ask you something?" Noel spoke as he sat there, ready to get up.

"Has that ever stopped you before?" Shutting his eyes calmly it was not obvious whether or not he was trying to ignore the question or if he was simply listening in wait.

"Very funny.." Noel sighed slightly at his come back. "Why do you push yourself so much? Do you even really enjoy what you do?"

"Of course I do." His response sounded cold and empty as if there was no emotion behind it at all.

"It feels more like you're just forcing yourself to believe what you want to believe about yourself.." Noel's thoughts were blurted out loud without him thinking. It was as if his emotions could not be held in on the subject and he could feel his eyes stinging slightly at the fact that his heart was aching over the thought that he could one day find Noel not only collapsed and wounded.

Jade could see the pained expression on his face and he knew that but at the moment he did not care. He wanted to understand him more. He wanted to understand clearly why he would put so much effort into something when he knew it was slowly killing him. Out of the corner of his eye he could see Jade's figure slowly sitting up on the bed behind him. A slight grunt from pain came from Jade's throat as his single black wing burst forth from his back. Black feathers rained around the room as the wing stretched out wide before folding back against Jade.

"I am a devil. My life ain't a pretty one but it's mine. I wont live it for another. I live it for myself and myself alone." Jade's words caused Noel to go silent. Those jaded green eyes of his looked as though they were determined to believe in his own words. He was proud to be called a devil among the city.

Ah.. A devil.. But why is it in my eyes you look more like.. simply.. a fallen angel? Noel bit back the words he wanted to speak and held them close to his heart. To him the man in his eyes was no devil but simply someone who'd lost their way somewhere along the way. He wondered what could push a man so far as to throw away everything about himself. It felt obvious to him that Jade was hiding who he really was somewhere inside himself afraid to let himself free to the world or let anyone close to him.