Minos despised parties.
Limbo itself wasn’t so bad. There were quieter, more reflective areas, and he had visited those quite a few times over the millennia. Pandora was also correct that no one had music like they did. All the best musicians were in Limbo, and few chose to move on. He enjoyed that aspect of things.
It was just the crowds. He hated the throngs of people closing in on him. He realized as he stared at the writhing masses that it wasn’t only people—quite a few demons were mixed in. Pandora hadn’t lied about the upstairs crew either. Oh, they tried to hide their colorless natures with outfits and masks, but Minos could still pick them out. Pandora really had made her party section of Limbo the place to be.
Adam and Pandora were getting along like they were middle school best friends. Yes, Minos knew quite a bit about middle school. You’d be amazed how many souls he judged had started their cruelty at that age.
It occurred to Minos that it might be worthwhile to make a section of the labyrinth into a middle school. He thought reliving those years for eternity would be quite a fitting punishment for a lot of people. His musings, however, were disrupted when a demon and human almost bumped into Adam and Pandora. He growled low in their direction and they veered off with somewhat panicked looks on their faces. Good. No one needed to be bumping against his Adam. Except him, of course.
Adam and Pandora carried on, oblivious to the near collision. Despite their rocky start, which Minos knew had been mainly his fault, the two of them were now arm in arm, giggling and whispering in each other’s ears, laughing loudly from time to time. Minos simply trailed behind, content to be near Adam, even if the crowds did annoy him.
He did like Pandora; he would almost count her as a friend, now that he thought about it. However, when she had entered the room, he had experienced a flare of anger that he hadn’t even recognized for jealousy at first. She was a beautiful and charismatic woman, and he was a grumpy demon, and he had wondered if Adam would be better suited with someone like her. Then, when she had called Adam his pet, he had grown even angrier. He was afraid to even speak lest he say something he’d regret. However, Adam seemed to have the situation well in hand, as he so often did.
It wasn’t until Adam started his ‘snark,’ as he called it, and decided to be mad at Pandora just in case Minos was, that Minos had fully let go of his jealousy. Adam showed zero sexual interest in Pandora, and Minos realized he was being petty. It was not something he was proud of, and he realized it was utterly absurd. He wasn’t some century old demon to be acting like this. Besides, it would be good for Adam to make friends.
Minos knew his own shortcomings. He was grumpy, quiet, and reflective. He did not giggle or gossip or bounce about. Adam seemed to like him as he was; Minos knew Adam wasn’t lying about that, because he literallycouldn’tlie when he was close to Minos.
Nevertheless, someone as vibrant as Adam would need a lot of interaction to thrive. Minos simply wasn’t equipped with that much energy and enthusiasm. He planned on keeping Adam. Forever. In order to do that, he would need to put Adam’s needs first. He enjoyed having Adam at judgment with him, and he relished the time they had spent alone, but Minos knew enough about human nature to realize that only interacting with him would not be healthy for Adam.
So here they were, at a party in Limbo. Minos wouldn’t be cheery—he had no desire to try and change his very nature, and obviously Adam liked him as he was. However, he could be grumpy amongst all the people here, and he really didn’t want to be separated from Adam. He could also make sure no one bothered his little human.
Case in point—Minos watched as a human began gyrating his body in their direction. Was that supposed to be dancing? The human looked utterly ridiculous. He also looked constipated. Was that supposed to be a sexy face? Being made at his Adam? Minos growled and flashed some fang at the human, who squeaked a little and possibly wet himself a bit. Oops.
Minos looked at Adam and Pandora, but they hadn’t noticed. They were still gossipping and laughing, and Minos put a hand on Adam and steered him toward some seats out of the way. Pandora naturally trailed along, the two continuing to chatter away with one another. Adam obviously needed a keeper, and Minos was more than happy to accept the job.
As they sat in the comfy chairs, Minos noticed a tall, dark-haired, sexy, gorgeous human heading toward them. It only took him half a second to realize that the human wasnota human; if he were, he wouldn’t be heading towards them. Most of the demons and humans were steering clear of their corner of occupied space, although Minos could tell that everyone wanted to speak to Pandora; she was quite popular. Minos’ presence stopped anyone from approaching, however, which was fine with him.
Even if the bravery of approaching hadn’t given it away, he would have recognized that nature anywhere. It was held in tight control right now, but Minos still knew exactly who was heading for them. And perhaps the lust wasn’ttotallyin control, because Adam smoothly slid onto Minos’ lap, leaning into him languidly, even though he continued to talk to Pandora.
“Asmodeus,” Minos greeted, just barely nodding his head toward the demon.
Pandora stopped talking immediately, looking at the being who had joined them. She did not look pleased, but she also wasn’t naive enough to show outright displeasure.
“Asmodeus,” she echoed. “How kind of you to join our revels. Is there something I can do for you?”
Before Minos could speak again, Adam jumped in. Minos was sorely tempted to slip his hand over Adam’s mouth, because Az was not a demon to be trifled with. Before Minos could complete that thought, he dismissed it. He would not stifle his little human’s nature. If Az caused trouble, then Minos would deal with it.
“O-M-G. You are fuckinghot,” Adam said, looking the demon up and down. Before Minos could even formulate his growl in response, he felt Adam’s hand patting his thigh.
“I mean, not as hot as Mr. Sexy Broody over here, of course. But holy hell”—he stopped, looking at Minos—“can I say that? Holy hell? I mean, oxymoron or whatever, but if the g-word doesn’t matter, that’s ok, right?”
Minos chuckled and nodded at Adam, who then turned back toward Az. Minos also looked at Az, who was looking at Minos with a somewhat perplexed look on his face. Minos set his “resting bitch face,” as Adam would call it, back into place. He’d have to remember to keep the chuckling to a minimum around other Kings of Hell. Unless he was discussing torture, of course. That always deserved an evil chuckle.
“So holy hell,” Adam continued, “you are so fucking sexy. And damn, just looking at you makes me wanna ride Minos like a cowboy.” Adam fanned himself a bit at that before continuing.
“I mean, I’ve seen his dick,” Adam whispered conspiratorially towards Az. “That will be one hell of a ride. And I haven’t riddenanyonein way too long. My ex wasn’t really into penetrative sex. He was SO BORING. No giving or receiving from that asshole. I think he found it all rather messy and distasteful. Like, hello, shouldn’t sex be messy? That’s half the fun.”
Az smirked, and Minos pulled Adam back into him. Adam almost sounded a wee bit drunk. Asmodeus could have that effect on some people, and he wasn’t surprised that his little human was one of them.
“Aren’t you simply delightful,” Az said to Adam. He then turned to Minos. “I didn’t believe the rumors circulating. The Judge of the Damned, enamored with a former mortal soul? Not just any former mortal soul, either, but a bright light of a soul? I scoffed at the lesser demons who brought me such news.”
“Adam is mine,” Minos stated simply. Best to establish parameters with Az from the start.
He laughed, and heads turned, staring at him with looks of raw hunger. “Adam? What a delightfully perfect name. How very fitting.”
Az turned serious again then. “Don’t worry, my old friend. I have not come to poach your territory.” He stopped and smirked at them both then. “Although I will admit that I would gladly join the two of you. If you prefer, I could simply watch and not participate. You know how much I enjoy watching.”
“No,” Minos said firmly without giving Adam a chance to answer. You could not give Az an inch, because if you did, the next thing you knew you were in a full blown orgy with twenty people, bottles of oil, and gold dust that you’d find sticking to your skin for days afterwards, even after bathing. Repeatedly. Not that Minos was speaking from experience on that. Of course not.
