Jaydick Week, Day 6: Angels/Demons
Red Hood looked up from the dramatic glower of the oni mask to the winning smile on Nightwing’s face. “Hell no.”
“I didn’t say anything.”
Red Hood remained unimpressed. “Like it’s not fucking obvious what you’re gonna say.” He shot back because exhibit one – roasted beans on the table. Exhibit two – the mask itself. One needn’t have to be a detective to put two and two together, especially when exactly a year ago to the day the good people of Komori Village, legitimately believing Red Hood a demon, commenced a relentless bean-throwing assault at him.
It was the Setsubun festival that day and the villagers were enamoured with the idea of Red Hood doing the oni part in their traditional rites again. So much so, they enamoured Nightwing with the idea too.
“Eian asked for you specifically. With how much he had helped us out, it would be rude to refuse.” Nightwing pointed out with a fine touch of a guilt trip.
Red Hood crossed his arms over his chest, unimpressed.
Raising to the challenge, Nightwing brought out the big guns. He cocked his head to the side, biting down on his lower lip in a way that he knew for sure made Red Hood feel a bit crazy. A coy look was translated somehow even through his domino mask as he said, “Please, Jay?”
And Red Hood, like a weak, weak man that he was put the blasted mask on his face.
“Aren’t you a handsome demon,” Nightwing cheered, revealing in his victory. “Devils out, fortune in!”
“Oh, something is goin’ IN tonight, pretty boy.” Red Hood retorted and to his endless satisfaction, the growl and the promise put a hot blush on Nightwing’s cheeks. Roasted beans fell uselessly to the tatami mats from between his slackened fingers.
“Now, if you’ll excuse me,” he pushed his mask to the side, to give Nightwing a cocky smirk. “Gotta chase last year’s back luck out of the village.”
*Setsubun – last day of winter in Japanese lunar calendar (February 3). On that day, people traditionally throw roasted beans at a person wearing an oni mask (or at the door of their homes) while shouting “devils out, fortune in” to drive the bad luck away.
