Later That Evening
"Selvynee, stay here. I'll be back in a few hours."
Selvynee, lazily draped under a blanket, froze and peeked out from beneath.
"Can I come with you? She muttered, her tail swishing curiously.
"No need. I'm going to visit the clothing shop we saw earlier," Sirus stood by the door, looking back.
"I'm going to request tailed pants and shoes. And visit the mayor."
And with that he closed the door behind him
Selvynee's ears dropped.. Her tail stilled.
"Come back soon." She murmured, eyes lingering on the door.
…
"Hopefully she hasn't closed up." He muttered, quickening his pace.
An older woman with round glasses was just approaching the shop door to lock it for the night. When in the corner of her bleary eyes, crimson eyes pierced at the window, startling her.
She narrowed her eyes, peering through the glass, then opened the door.
"Pardon my intrusion at this late hour." Sirus said gently as she slipped in and closed the door behind him with a soft thud.
"Make yourself comfortable. I'll make some tea." The old woman said, wobbling off to the back room.
"There's… No need–" He blinked as he reached out with his clawed hand, but she had already vanished.
Left alone in the dim shop, lit only by a few flickering candles, he looked around before settling on a stool.
"Why is she so casual with a stranger in the middle of the night? Much less someone like me…"
As a few minutes passed by in silence, his nose twitched, a strong herbal aroma. She returned with a tray with two cups.
"Let me give you a hand," He said, awkwardly taking the tray and placing it on the counter.
Looking back at the old lady, he raised a brow.
"There's really no need to go out of your way. But thank you.." He inhaled the scent of the herbal leaves and took a sip.
The woman calmly took a sip of her cup and spoke.
"My grandmother once told stories about meeting demons when she was young… an adventure back then." She replied in a low-dry voice, as if she was reminiscing about the past.
Sirus raised a brow, but let her speak.
"She didn't tell me much about her days of adventuring. But she did often talk about the demons she saw,"
Taking another sip, she looked up at the demon, his eyes faintly glowing red, like two spools of blood soaked eyes.
"And now, here I am. A demon walks into my shop past midnight… and doesn't gobble me up." She said dryly.
Sirus took another sip, silently absorbing her words.
"So… you let me in because you wanted to find out for yourself what a demon really is?"
She nodded.
"Well… take me as you see fit," he replied, finishing the tea, placed it on the tray and stood up, his gaze drifting down to his hind legs and his clawed bare foot.
"I want to request a custom tailoring from you, for my legs and feet you see."
The lady examining his lower figure, as a few minutes goes by in silence. She spoke.
"Certainly something I have never seen before, but. I shall do my best," She said with a tired smile.
"I can only take measurements for your feet. But I'll need to work with a shoemaker. I don't craft shoes."
"Thank you." As Sirus watched the old lady taking his measurements.
His thoughts drifted to Selvynee.
"My companion-the demihuman I came with earlier-she'll need pants with a tail cutout."
As the lady finished taking his measurements. Now behind the counter, asked.
"First thing first. Do you have a design in mind for your pants?"
Sirus paused as he glanced around the shop. Looking back at the old lady.
"I'll need something durable, that is priority. A tight but stretchy material, high-waist suit pants."
The old lady closed her eyes as she leaned against the counter.
"I will have to work with others to complete it, it will just take longer than if it was regular plain pants. In the meantime, I also measured your top half, so. What you're looking for."
"A long suit that drapes down to my knees. Ah, everything in black mind that–" As Sirus explained his desired outfit.
Sirus gave a short nod of thanks, then turned toward the door.
It being past midnight, decided to see the mayor tomorrow.
…
He eased the door open and stepped inside, closing it behind him with a soft thud.
"Ashfang…?" Selvynee's voice trembled from under the blanket.
"Still awake?" Sirus muttered, brow raised in mild surprise.
"I… I can't sleep when I'm surrounded by humans." She sat up slowly, her tail covering her mouth.
Sirus slipped off his jacket and laid it across his lap as he lowered himself onto the edge of the bed.
"I got my measurements all done. I'll see the mayor tomorrow after breakfast." he said absently.
Beside him, Selvynee lowered her gaze. Her tail shifted restlessly beneath the blanket.
"You okay?" He asked gently. Sensing the tension.
Selvynee looked towards him, eyes wet.
"You left me alone… I didn't realize how much I needed you here." She muttered softly, so soft she wasn't sure she said anything at all.
An awkward silence passed between them.
Sirus hesitated. Then, without a word, he pulled her gently onto his lap.
"Wha-what you d-doing–!?" She yelped, startled.
Sirus ignored her and brushed her hair with his clawed hand.
"You're like a little sister who can't sleep unless her big brother's near," he murmured, teasing.
Selvynee blinked, blush forming on her cheeks.
"I'm… sorry. You've helped me so much. And yet all I've done was get in your way."
"I never had any siblings," he said quietly. "I'm an only child. Raised by two good loving parents…" He looked down at her. "I… I don't mind being your big brother. If you want."
Selvynee tail stilled, she turned her head up.
"You're teasing me again, aren't you?" She muttered, staring back down at the floor.
With a gentle shake of his head, he replied.
"I'm serious… Something to ground me. Something worth protecting."
Selvynee didn't reply at first. The silence stretched. Her ears twitching as Ashfang ran his clawed fingers through her hair like a gentle lullaby.
Her eyes flickered-not with doubt, but something harder to name. A need. A hunger to belong somewhere.
Her voice softly muttered.
"...You mean it?"
Ashfang didn't hesitate. "I do."
For a breath, her tail tense-stilled. Then, slowly it curled gently around his waist-tentative. Seeking. Trusting.
"I don't want to be a burden," She whispered. "Not again."
"You're not," Sirus said simply. "You never were.
Selvynee looked up again, her unmatched eyes searching for cracks, for irony, for some dismissive flicker.
But there was nothing but tired sincerity–and maybe. A quiet longing of something.
"I don't know how to be… someone's little sister." her voice a faint tremble.
He gave a faint smile. That's good… we can both learn how to be like… siblings."
A silence settled over them once more, but this time, it was companionable. Heavy, but warm in its own awkward way.
Sirus leaned one clawed hand behind him for support, the other still gently brushing her hair, careful to not graze her ears. His fingers moved in a slow, thoughtful rhythm.
"My mother insisted on playing with my hair every night," He whispered, a soft chuckle coming out.
"So I guess… I'm trying. I'm not sure how a brother is supposed to comfort his.. Sister."
Selvynee smiled faintly, her voice laced with trust.
"You're doing fine… I think so…"
He didn't reply, his breathing softened, evened out. His body no longer tense. And for the first since he left his village. He wasn't on guard. He was at peace.
Sirus let out a quiet breath, unsure if he was relieved.
The past clawing at his mind again, voices and faces long gone. But for now–for this time–he had something real to anchor him.
Someone to protect
Someone seeking his warmth.
His crimson eyes bleary, the haze of sleep overtaking him. Gently, he eased down onto the bed, letting Selvynee's tail curl over his arm like a silent vow.
His chest raised and fell with calm. His silver hair sprawled over the bed like silks of moonlight.
Selvynee shifted beside him. She raised her head slightly, looking down at the demon who had, piece by piece, become her shelter.
His expression was soft. At ease. And in some strange, disarming way… endearing.
She draped the blanket over him, then let her head settle beside his. Her gaze lingered on the rise and fall of his breathing, until her own began to match it.
Drowsiness tugged at her like a lullaby.
"…Goodnight… brother…" she whispered, her voice fading into sleep.