He’s about her age, if maybe not slightly older, and he’s wearing a rather nice suit. He walks in, looking shy as he takes in the woman who is caring for his ailing father.
“How is he today?” he asks.
“Today is a good day, Mr. Adams.”
“Please, call me Patrick,” he replies.
Love is already pulling out an arrow. She’s quick, hitting Mr. Adams first. Then she quickly pulls another and hits Mama Lucia.
The result is nearly immediate in the way they look at each other. Like they’ve been dancing around this idea for so long, not knowing how the other one felt. Love’s arrows have simply made the realization clear. They both have feelings for each other, and now nothing stands between them taking the first step.
Mr. Adams cups her face and really looks at her. He looks at her like he has a reason for living, and she returns the look tenfold.
Love is clasping her hands against her chest in awe as she watches the older couple embrace each other.
“Do you like dogs?” she asks and I nod my head as I look down at the precious cupid.
I’m so completely fucked.
“You’re not what I thought a reaper would be,” Love says, as she lets the dogs run around her form. It’s always strange being around humans—earthly beings—but not being able to truly touch anything living.
It’s only when we’re in our respective realms that we can eat, drink, and fully touch things. That is, besides other beings that are also immortal and in the veil.
“What were you expecting?”
She shrugs and I can tell she really wishes she could touch the pug breathing heavily next to her. He’s hideous and sounds like he needs a puppy-sized oxygen tank, but she looks at him like it’s adorable.
“Mean, moody, not someone who wants a caretaker to find love.”
“Reapers have a bad rep.”
“I’m realizing that,” she says softly.
“I suppose some of it is self-isolation. Leaning into the fear that people have is easier than trying to change their minds. Not all reapers are the same, but we tend to be desolate creatures.”
“Why do you look so human? I mean, cupids are pink, angels are gold, ghosts are, well, ghostly.”
“Reapers take the form of whatever planet they’re working on. It’s less frightening for the souls when we look like them.”
She clicks her tongue and looks me up and down—dare I say hungrily.
“So is this your true form?”
I grin at her and smile. “Yes, I don’t look like a skeleton or carry around a scythe like the humans depict. I’m not even sure how that shit started. If you see a reaper, you’re not coming back to the mortal plane.”
“Huh, do reapers have an event like cupids do?” she asks, seriously eyeing up the dog, wishing she could pet it.
“We have an annual feast on Halloween, but other than that, no.”
“Well, if you need me to return the favor and need a date...”
“Are you already squeezing me for a second date, Love?”
She gasps and looks at me.
“I was just offering. Plus, I think it would be interesting to see your realm, and how other reapers compare,” she replies, and I swear her pink cheeks get even brighter.
“Oh, little cupid, they don’t come close,” I tell her confidently.
