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One year after one of the most strange years Malakai had ever experienced, and things for him were directly contrasted to a year before. Back then, he didn't have Aleksandr, believing him to be dead. He constantly feared his mother would be captured by Raziel and taken away from him like she had been all his childhood. He had to see his eldest daughter, Shaun and Ryka go through hardship and trauma through missing Phoenix, and Malakai also hadn't been on great terms with Zayne. Sure, they had gotten on towards the end of that year, but before that, things had been bitter - hell, Malakai had slept on a mattress that often caused him back trouble. That in itself epitomised the nature of their tumultuous situation.
A year on, however, and Malakai could hardly really believe how much things had honestly changed. Aleksandr lived at home (albeit, also bringing his wife and girlfriend with him, which hadn't entirely pleased Malakai...). His mother was safe from being targeted by Raziel now, instead being happily dating the strong angel and living in the cute cottage. Phoenix was finally allowed to return home and, despite also still having to work in Heaven, it was just a job now. He worked a few hours then returned to live with his fathers and, of course, visit Natsumi at college, often making random, spontaneous trips to surprise her. Lastly, Malakai's relationship with Zayne had vastly improved, though was complicated. In fact, it was similar to how it had been all those years ago when Natsumi was born: the two were sleeping in the same bed, acting like a couple for Echo's benefit and... well, they had sex frequently, but they weren't officially dating. However, Malakai adored the situation - it was much better than being hated and mistreated.
Which was where the man currently was, laying in bed beside Zayne and awkwardly trying to avoid eye contact, instead focused on the television as he calmly smoked a cigarette. He had things to do, of course, mostly getting himself dressed and making an appearance for dinner, given he wasn't actually
at his home at the moment. Rather, he was at Edwin and Lakota's grand mansion to celebrate their wedding anniversary. The family was all there, though the demon had snuck off to his designated bedroom with Zayne, even in knowing that it would look suspicious.
"Just... tell them we were... unpacking our suitcases or something," he quietly mumbled as he finally braved glancing at human, despite blushing the second he did so. "My mother obviously won't fall for it, but ignore her little comments, you know what she's like... I, uh... yeah, I'll get dressed," he awkwardly laughed as he slid from the bed and tugged on his crumpled clothes, having thrown them off in heated passion.
"...I just needed to get away from them, it's so fucking tense," groaned Malakai, rolling his eyes as he tugged on his leather jacket - he had had it since he was a teenager, after taking it from Zayne, and the fact he was wearing it again showed he was definitely back to himself, and the same old Malakai that he had been when he first met Zayne. So much so, he didn't even get any urges anymore for blood or to do anything murderous, which he would do a year back in tense situations. And why did he feel tense? Because of all the chatter and talk downstairs between the family and their situations - it was loud and joyful, and Malakai had never really done well with coping with so much excitement.
He understood why they were so loud, though. Edwin and Lakota had eight children, four of whom were still very young, so of course it was going to be a little crazy. Add into the equation Edwin's newest pregnancy, and the rabbit's chattering wasn't a surprise. He and Lakota were, of course,
filthy rich, so having so many children really didn't affect them much... and if it made them happy, who was going to judge? Besides, they had cause to celebrate nine months ago, when Edwin, after years of being in a wheelchair through the intense pain he had in his legs, had regained movement and, slowly buy surely, began to take small steps. Now? He could walk, albeit with a walking stick, and that was the day he conceived again, undoubtedly through him and Lakota celebrating. If Edwin was excitable already, he was five times so when expecting, as Malakai found out.
"And my mother will be here soon with Raziel, and I can't stand that man," he continued bitterly after puffing out the rest of the smoke. He would hate Raziel, obviously. The man had taken Phoenix and kept Aleksandr all those years - how his mother could not only forgive him, but begin dating him honestly disgusted the demon, and despite her pleas, he was far from accepting it... even if she was, like Edwin, days away from giving birth. Her pregnancy, though, was far more worrying, given her and Raziel's infamy and status, and that the child would be a target if anyone ever found out about her or him.
Flopping back onto the bed to grab another cigarette, he reached over Zayne for the lighter, cheekily grinning at the closeness between them again. "Come on, lazy. Get up, we gotta go back down before Echo comes to find us or somethin'. You aren't even dressed yet, hurry up~"
