Tom lay awake for hours. Ezra slept peacefully next to him, occasionally snoring softly, and rolling over to fold arms around him. Tom watched the shadows on his bedroom walls grow lighter and slowly distort with the rising sun.

The fair would start in three hours. Glancing at his watch, he knew the street would already be busy with stall owners and event organisers at 6am.

He didn't want to go. He wanted to run with Ezra as far as they could go and leave the dread of it all behind him. But he had to stay and find out what was really going on. After all, that was eating him up the most, and consuming his thoughts.

Ezra woke when Tom's parents started clanging around in the kitchen. He stretched an arm over Tom, and pressed his nose into his cheek, mumbling a tired, "Good morning."

Tom ran fingers through his black hair until Ezra opened his eyes. The sun caught the brown, a beautiful rich brown that often hid his pupils. He traced a thumb down the scar on his cheek, stopping at the edge of his mouth.

"Sleep well?" he whispered.

Ezra nodded and propped himself up to lean over him. "Did you?"

Tom nodded, but Ezra could tell that he hadn't. Instead of commenting on his bloodshot eyes, the bags under them, or the paleness to his usual flushed skin, he kissed his forehead and settled his body on top of him until Tom's parents yelled that breakfast was ready.

Tom could barely eat, and he could barely keep his mind back from thinking of the worst. Demons were meant to storm the fair today, disrupting the angels choir. Then what? Had they finally lost their composure? Were they finally fighting back in an unfair world? How far would they go? Would they burn their old village down to the ground like so many had dreamt about?

"Eat something," Ezra whispered, lightly nudging him. "Today is going to be a long one."

Instead, Tom drank the rest of his coffee and headed to the bathroom for a warm shower. He turned the water on, and stared at the water hitting the floor, and steaming the room. Tracing his own hands over his arms, he didn't want to be alone.

"Ezra," he whispered, knowing he had returned to the bedroom. A tall figure appeared in the doorway, and Tom motioned him over. Taking his hand, he pulled him into the bathroom, locking the door behind them.

Ezra stood silently as Tom took his own top off. The air was warm from the shower, but Tom felt a nervous shiver travelling through his body. He breathed a sigh of relief when Ezra took his t-shirt off too.

Ezra's demon mark went beyond his neck, wrapping over his collar and over his left shoulder. Tom reached up, tracing a finger over his collar bone. Ezra gently placed hands to Tom's waist, pulling them together.

"I want to enjoy one thing today, in case it all goes bad later," Tom whispered.

Ezra leaned down and kissed him. Their hands were quickly on each other, touching skin, caressing skin, grabbing skin. And then they were under the shower head, letting water flow between them as the lust took over.

Tom was mindful of how long the water was on. Ezra was mindful of Tom's peace of mind. He was gentle, attentive, and made sure Tom was the centre of his attention.

When they were done and changed again, with wet hair, Tom's anxiety had fallen silent. Especially when Ezra was looking at him with all the adoration in the world, and still grabbing at him, and offering soft kisses to the side of his face.

"You'll stay close to me today, won't you?" Ezra asked.

"I will. I just really hope everything stays civil. But I don't think it will."

"I don't think it will either."

They hugged- a long meaningful embrace that pumped Tom full of love and warmth. Ezra kissed his forehead and held him tightly, swaying him until they were content enough to pull apart.

In the pub below, Tom's parents were getting ready for what they assumed would be a flurry of visitors. The evening would be particularly busy when the stalls closed and the fair started to pack up, and everyone wouldn't want the fun day to end.

More tables were placed around the pub, and because the weather would be nice, more picnic benches were brought out onto the beer garden.

"Plastic cups only, for today," Declan said as Tom and Ezra finished bringing out all the chairs and stools. "We'll, have a lot of new people that won't be happy if any demons want a drink too."

Just like that, Tom's anxious thoughts crept back in. Their walk to the village was a quiet one. They kept glancing at each other. Ezra was just as nervous for the day ahead.

When they met up with the other demons, who looked just as troubled, Tom decided to pull himself together the best he could. They were a large group, and they couldn't risk being seen together.

"We'll split up," Kie said, "and make sure we cover all entrances, so we can see if other demons enter the fair. Try and stay in the shadows, we don't want them getting suspicious of us."

Everyone agreed, and one by one, they disappeared, discussing among themselves where they would stand. Tom and Ezra chose the alleyway down the side of the library, so they had a full view of the country road leading to the street, and the street itself.

Tom's family would be at the fair. He wanted to keep a close eye on them too.

He walked hand in hand with Ezra down the hill. The fair wasn't yet open, but the street was busy with everyone setting up. They passed an impressive array of pastries, a beautiful display of flowers, cute handmade keyrings, a woodcarving stall, and many that weren't yet set up. Tom would have liked to be a part of the fair this year, if they were under different circumstances.

They positioned themselves beside the library. A few stared, especially when Tom leaned against the wall, and Ezra stood closely in front of him, reaching out to cup his face for a quick kiss.

"It's going to be alright," Ezra whispered. "Okay?"

Tom nodded, though he wasn't too sure. How could they know what to expect? What if nothing happened, and Kie and his group of demons were setting them up? What if they had no source feeding them secrets, and they were making things up to get them on their side?

Tom wrung his hands together. "I really hope they're wrong about this, and demons don't storm the choir."

"All we can do is watch and wait."

And they did, for hours. The street grew busy, music was playing, people were laughing, and a lot of money was put back into the fair's fund. The locals were having a good time playing games, eating great food, and meeting new people.

Finn stood nearby, promoting the Glass Horns pub. Though he made sure to say that it was demon friendly, and most tourists turned their nose up. Some didn't mind, which Tom liked to see. One person even went into a deep discussion about how that was a very good thing for business.

"What time is the choir on?" Tom asked, shaking his legs to force the pins and needles out of his toes.

"Not long now. Are you hungry?"

"I am now."

"Do you want to go to one of the stalls while I keep watch?"

Tom glanced out onto the street. The sun was shining, and the overall mood was a safe and happy environment. He saw no trouble and had heard of no trouble since the fair opened. "I'll be quick, do you want something?"

Ezra sent Tom to the bakery stall, with an unfortunately long line of hungry people. A plump old woman stood with a baby blue spotted apron, grey wiry hair to her jawline, and a huge smile, until she saw Tom approach the queue. Her sunken eyes glanced around, searching for Ezra who wasn't usually far behind him.

Tom smiled at her when it was finally his turn to order, ignoring her wary expression, and the way she backed away from her display of food. He ordered two thick deli sausage rolls, and two custard tarts. She bagged them up and he paid in cash. She didn't take the money from his hand, and he had to put it on the counter.

"There's really no need to be like that," Tom said once he had gotten his change and taken his food in a brown paper bag.

"You are a troublemaker. Why else would you choose to spend your time with a demon?" she asked.

"Not all of them want to cause trouble. You'd know that if you gave one a chance." He walked away, feeling like he could have said more, but not wanting to rile his own mood up, not when he was already struggling to keep down the nerves.

Tom weaved through people who were having too much of a good time to care. He nodded his head at a few pub regulars, but suddenly stopped in his tracks. Looking towards the library, he couldn't see Ezra lingering.

Tom hurried through the crowd and stopped by the side of the building. Ezra wasn't there. He spun desperately, searching the many faces, and focusing on any tall figure, but he couldn't see him. "Ez!" he yelled, and nobody responded. A sudden churn knotted in his stomach. Had an angel summoned him for his soul stripper duties?

If so, they had picked the worst timing.