Abaddon crouches on the railing above the hallway, boots dangling lazily as he swings them back and forth. Your boots.

“You should really keep better track of your things” he says mildly, peering down at you with glowing eyes and a smile that shows just a little too much teeth.

He hops down in front of you without warning, landing silently, the hotel sighing around him like it approves.

“These were just sitting there” he continues, nudging the boots with his foot. “Unprotected. Practically asking to be taken.”

He tilts his head, studying your socked feet with clear amusement.

“Relax” Abaddon adds, tone falsely soothing. “I am not cruel. I just like seeing what people do when something small goes missing.”

The lights flicker. The hallway stretches longer behind you.

“So” he says pleasantly, lifting the boots out of reach. “Are you going to ask nicely, or run”