Chapter 29
They ran down the street in a burst of adrenaline and laughter, Leviathan’s hand curled tightly around his as he led the way through the teeming crowd.
People turned to watch them as they ran past, but they ignored them–and the shouting of the security guard that followed them halfway down the block before it was lost to the sounds on the busy street.
Cullen inhaled the crisp night air, felt his eyes widen as they took in the glowing street lights and the teeming people–all of them giving off that strange aura of vitality, leaving him feeling a bit drunk on their souls.
He could smell fresh rain on the breeze, though no droplets fell yet, could smell the pastries in the nearby buildings–chocolate and strawberries and something buttery–and hear the quick thrum of his own heart. And Leviathan’s.
And the people around them–he could smell their blood and hear their pulsing–
He jerked to a stop and, to his surprise, the sharp movement brought Leviathan to a standstill as well, his hand curling so that his fingers twined with Cullen’s naturally as he turned to face him, his cheeks still flushed and his eyes still bright with excitement.
Small droplets began to fall from the sky and Cullen started at the sight of them.
They shimmered and glittered like diamonds as they fell; he lost track of how long he stood there, watching them slowly saturate Leviathan’s hair until it drooped down over his forehead, just brushing the top of his eyes…
Gorgeous. Utterly gorgeous in this diamond rain.
A soft smile turned Leviathan’s lips up–and Cullen started, realizing he had been staring at him.
At his mouth. He looked away quickly, his face heating under the icy raindrops.
Leviathan chuckled softly and brought a hand up to flick a drop from Cullen’s cheek–and Cullen ducked to the side, taking a firmer grip on his hand as he tugged him into the nearest building.
He froze just inside, his eyes widening at the long room full of arcade games.
“Shit.” He muttered, turning for the door again. “I didn’t mean to–”
“It’s empty.” Leviathan murmured, moving further into the room. His hand dropped to curl around Cullen’s wrist, drawing him after him. “Let’s stay a bit.”
Cullen hesitated, glancing around at the games before he turned his gaze to the single worker standing behind a glass stand full of cheap toys and trinkets. “We don’t have to–”
“Don’t be a spoilsport.” Leviathan murmured, letting go of his hand as he moved to examine a hunting game.
Cullen followed him warily, his gaze going to the worker again, who only offered him a half hearted smile before he turned back to his comic book.
He turned back to Leviathan, watching him as he moved through the place, looking for something pleasing.
“Do you have a favorite?” Leviathan asked as they wandered.
“Favorite arcade game? No.” He muttered.
Leviathan made a soft, irritated sound. “What would you like to try?”
He shrugged. Leviathan flashed him a quick glare and then darted his hand forward to pinch his arm.
“Ow!” Cullen hissed, yanking away from him. “Did you just pinch me?!”
Leviathan ignored him, stepping up to a claw machine full of small stuffed toys and pulling out a dollar from some deep magic place in his pocket. Cullen raised an eyebrow. “You’re going to play that?”
He threw him a quick, crooked grin. “Doubting my skills?”
“Doubting your old ass age.” Cullen muttered, half turning to examine some of the nearby games.
“Age comes with wisdom, you little shit.” Leviathan hissed, his eyes falling to the toys inside the machine. “That’s why I’m about to win you that doll.”
Cullen followed his gaze. “That thing is creepy.” It really was. It was a pea-soup green and had strange “hair” sticking up out of its head. The little doll seemed to stare right back at him with its beady black eyes. It looked like a stuffed voodoo doll and gave off the same creepy aura.
“You know you like it.” Leviathan scoffed, leaning over the machine. “Now hush so I can focus.”
Cullen shut his mouth, crossing his arms with an expectant expression.
Wisdom may come with age, Cullen decided a few minutes later, but it certainly did not help a demon lord win stuffed toys.
By the tenth time the small claw brushed uselessly over the little voodoo doll, Leviathan’s easy smile had vanished, replaced with a hard clench of his jaw and the sharp shine of his teeth as he snarled. Again and again and again…
Finally, Cullen took mercy on him, though he was biting back laughter at this point. “Do you want me to–”
“No!” He snapped, his voice loud enough that Cullen saw the cashier glance up at them.
“Maybe we could try something else for now.”
Leviathan slammed hard hands down on the machine and rounded on him, his eyes blazing with rage. Cullen winced, but hesitantly reached forward to touch the joystick. “Just let me show you how to do it. I won’t win the doll.”
Leviathan glared at him for another long moment, and then stepped away with an irritated scoff, crossing his arms in a truly extraordinary pout.
Cullen gave him a small, nervous smile and then turned to the machine, quickly moving the joystick a few careful times–over a different monster toy, this one dark blue with horns and wings–and quickly scooped up the tiny stuffed toy, bringing it forward and dumping it down the chute before he risked a glance at Leviathan again.
He could’ve sworn his eye gave the slightest of twitches, but he said nothing as he took the place in front of the machine again.
A nervous tension spread down his spine as he watched Leviathan copy his example, his lips pressing tightly together to hold in the relieved exhale he nearly gave when the little toy was scooped up.
Leviathan snarled softly, though his eyes flashed with glee as he darted down to retrieve the stuffed toys.
Cullen grinned despite himself when he stood and offered him the little voodoo doll, his hand moving forward to take it without argument.
Though the acceptance felt…somehow heavy.
“What are you going to do with that one?” He asked to distract himself as Leviathan examined the other doll.
He gave him a curious frown. “Keep it? What else would I do with something you won for me?”
He blinked. “I…I didn’t…”
Leviathan turned away before he could gather his thoughts, his hand curling tight around Cullen’s wrist as he moved through the arcade. “Let’s try another one.” He murmured.
Cullen fell silent and let him lead.