Dusk's Dawn

Dusk arrived as the stars trailed behind, bringing a new day. The next time they hung out, Uriel crashed Erin's place, uninvited, as per usual. That's how you know he's well in high spirits.

"Uriel, seriously. You need to alert me when you teleport!" Erin whined, not particularly wanting heart palpitations to become a routine.

"Erin, do you not go to school, or something? Why are you always here?"

A scoff came in Uriel's way after getting ignored. "Could ask the same for you."

"I told you, I got grounded for being an ass. You never told me though," Uriel jumped on Erin's bed, getting cosy under the thick covers.

"It's private," and none of your business, Erin wished he had said. Erin sat at his desk ready to reinvent his gear, redesigning his outwear with a few bits of fabric and paint.

"Hm. Bet you dropped out. No shame. I would've, too, if my parents didn't make me enrol," Uriel replied shortly.

For about half an hour, the room was in almost seamless silence, apart from Erin's silent humming whilst working away. It filled the dull atmosphere, creating a homey aura seeping through the cracks of every heart, gently moulding it back together. The soft melodies held Uriel in its arms, cradling him into somewhere between consciousness and a pacified sleep. Dulcet tones created a wordless rhythm, one that was slow, comforting, and quiet.

It was mellifluous, and Uriel dared to say he could listen to it all day. Though, he noticed, after a few minutes, the melody would repeat. Listening even closer to the almost non-existent voice, he flailed under the covers, jumping upwards.

"Oi, Erin. Isn't that the song by Elti?"

Catching Erin's attention, he was slightly embarrassed that he was listening, but didn't really mind. Turning away from his desk, he faced Uriel. "Hm, you know Elti?"

"You bet. Only fools would not know the masterpiece that are his songs," he proudly smiled.

Erin was a tad bit taken aback - not only was he was a small singer, but a classical one too, so he'd never peg Uriel as the type to listen to him.

"Wow, what a champ. I wouldn't have expected that from you," Erin breathily chortled.

"What? Why?"

"You strike me more as a Soundcloud rapper type listener, maybe even a hint of British Drill," he turned back around, sewing his top, to which Uriel dramatically scoffed with the entirety of his lungs.

"That is an insult. I'd much rather have my ears bleed than listen to the embodiment of Hell."

"Look at you using big words, I bet your grandmother's proud," he sarcastically sung.

"My grandmother's dead." he deadpanned.

Erin bit his lip, turning around hesitantly. "Oh, Uriel, I-"

"Kidding. She's alive and blossoming. I'm gonna take another nap," Uriel announced, falling back on the bed.

Erin simply shuddered, wondering how a person could do a one eighty in half a second.

"Though, hum again." Uriel's voice subdued through the blankets as he ordered the shorter.

Erin paused mid-stitch, as if it would help him hear better.

"Uh, why?"

"Your voice is nice. Roomy. I like it," Uriel mumbled the last part digging deeper into the covers.

"What does - What?"

"Just hum again, you dumb-ass," Uriel ordered, shoving his face into the pillow.

It was safe to say Erin resembled the surface of a strawberry, melting into a puddle at Uriel's unintentionally innocent words. He, in that moment, decided he erase the 2D baseless tyrant schema he created for Uriel, which at times he was (and maybe still is, who knows?), but there was more to him than that. It's a little grey, a little complicated, too early to judge such a layered character.

Uriel was in the same, ever-swaying boat as Erin. There was an unusual, terribly free flowing river of smiles and cries, and every nitty gritty emotion in between, undoubtedly created by their own hands. Even if they're venturing into the early, rocky, awkward stage of their friendship, there was no doubt a comfortable, ever glowing warmth. The type of warmth you'd stumble upon on a blisteringly cold night, a single, ever-flaming bonfire keeping the tips of your fingers warm and cozy. The rare type of warmth that keeps you going, doesn't swallow you whole, but never quite fizzles. It's the safe, consistent warmth like your breath in the cold, that is extra warm when you need it to be. It was the type of warmth Uriel scarcely experienced, the only warmth he feels being the blanket of money stiffly cradling him. He's entranced, almost internally pleading to all heavenly bodies above for this warmth to stay. No matter how rocky they started.

The familiar hum drifted across the room, balcony welcoming the light air that was always present to caress their skin. Uriel grinned in satisfaction, nuzzling into the pillow a tad further.

Meanwhile, Erin had redesigned his attire completely. He felt lifeless in his old gear, so he switched it up a little. He was always gifted in the crafts, but only got better when completed a quest to collect wool from the most dangerous creatures in the game, where he earnt a generously high crafts skill.

A loose white button-up was tucked into fitted dress pants, with a black trench-coat layered and fastened on top. A small red rose was pinned to his chest. It was simple, on the more chic side. He looked in the mirror and pursed his lips in concealed glee. He felt boyish, a little more like his brother, and a little more like Uriel. Modern.

Or, what he thought was modern nowadays.

"Woah, that's good. You're good at that," Uriel commented, suddenly wide awake. With a shy smile, Erin thanked him, moving back to clean up the sewing equipment. Though, a little unsettled at Uriel's sudden awakening. "Wait, make me something too!" Uriel hurried, shifting the covers off him as he sat up.

"I don't know what you like, or your measurements," Erin stated as he briefly looked back.

"Well, I'll tell you. Something sleek, but not over the top. Simple. Masculine. Dark colours," Uriel briefed.

"And your measurements..?" Erin raised a brow.

"Uh, isn't that your job?" Uriel tilted his head, whilst Erin sighed at his bratty nature. Signalling for him to stand up, Uriel launched upwards kicking the blanket off, dashing to face Erin.

"Okay, don't move. Keep your breathing consistent, too," Erin's lips formed a straight line, pulling out his measuring tape. "If you even know what that means," he murmured.

It was too close to consider it comfortable, as Erin kneeled down to unspeakable areas whilst measuring his hips. Peering upwards, Uriel's unwavering gaze lingered on Erin's face. He gulped, going back to recording the measurements. Raising up to his waist, he moved his shirt up slightly, wrapping the plastic tape across his waist.

Cold.

His skin was cold, causing Uriel to slightly shudder beneath Erin's delicately warm gestures. He was so meticulous, and calm, it almost felt like Erin wasn't even touching him. That's just how light he truly was. He stood on his feet, measuring his chest, breath fanning over his collarbone, and Uriel hated it. He hated the touch, he wanted to hate it, but couldn't. Maybe, he wanted to believe he hated it. Maybe he's been so deprived, it's easier to believe he didn't want it in the first place. He just dropped it, not wanting to give it any extra thought.

Uriel was always one to do, not to think. To simply just be.

"Can you extend your arm, please?" Erin asked, fully focused. Silently, he raised his arms, as Erin circled back around, placing the tape against his arm.

Cold.

Out of nowhere, his arm bent inwards, locking Erin into a tight grip, both of them facing forwards. "Uriel, what are you-"

"Shh, just let me have this," he whispered into Erin's ear, wrapping his other hand around his waist, sealed into a back hug. Erin felt almost drowsy, sinking into the embrace as he sighed.

An hour had passed.

"These are really neat, thanks, Rin," Uriel ogled at the mirror, quite enjoying his new image. He wore black suit pants with a buttoned up dress shirt that went under a tuxedo vest, black and satiny, hugging his waist well, but just wide enough for comfort. A small, red rose accompanied the vest, pinned with a safety pin, much like Erin's.

"Rin?" Erin's reply lagged.

"Deaf? Or a parrot? Oh, to choose or not to choose."

"Don't be so rude. My grandmother was a parrot," Erin trailed off, earning a hearty chuckle from the latter.

"What's it with you and grandmas?" Uriel shook his head, breathy laughter escaping his throat.

"You mean, me with your grandma," Erin cheekily winked.

"Wow, so you can actually joke around, sour sauce," Uriel poked.

"Spicy sock," Erin retorted.

"Bitter bitch."

"Whiny wiener."

"Don't you dare talk about my wiener!"

"Yeah, no. Doesn't compute. You sure you have one? I don't think I detected anything whilst measuring," Erin scratched his head in falsified deep thought.

"No homo bro. Six feet apart, come on now," Uriel grinned.

They broke out into light laughter, at peace with each other.

"You know, if you had black eyeshadow on a single eye, you'd look really cool, artsy," Erin suggested.

Uriel nodded aloofly, humming.

"Maybe. Maybe I would."