“Ok, well, it isn’t really practical to keep pretending you’re just a frog. You’re not, and I know you’re not. I know now, at least. We’ll still have horror night, I’ll still keep your warm rock and aquarium, and now I won’t feel so bad giving you chips and ice cream. So it’s a win-win for you,” Gabe assured Beel.
Only Beel kept staring at him. Az almost chuckled at the stubbornness of the lesser demon.
“Ok, fine, I’ll play dirty. No chips, no ice cream, no horror movies unless you talk to me. Got it?” Gabe demanded.
Beel ribbitted once, although Az heard definite attitude in it.
“Ok, so, Az is a demon like you, right?” Gabe started.
Beel ribbitted twice.
“Ok, so notquitelike you. He’s, like, a big shot, right?”
One ribbit.
Gabe sighed. “I really like him. I really,reallylike him. He’s funny, and kind, and really sweet. I kind of think I’m falling for him.”
Az had to stop himself from stepping forward. Heshouldlet Gabe know he was here. Heshouldtell Gabe what he had figured out about his sexuality and find him someone compatible. Heshouldwrap up his business here and head back to the underworld so that Gabe didn’t get hurt.
He wasn’t going to do any of those things, though. The very thought of leaving Gabe made an ache bloom in the center of his chest.
Beel croaked, and Az heard a definite reprimand aimed toward him in that croak. Beel knew he was there since he was facing Az, even if Gabe didn’t realize it. Az still wasn’t going to cut Gabe off, though.
“I know!” Gabe cried out in reply. “I know it’s a terrible idea. Only you can’t help who you fall for. And he’s really sexy. I can’t stop thinking about… well, stuff. I think I want to do more, only I don’t know quite how to ask for it. I’m also afraid that if we do even more, I’m going to really fall for him.” Gabe stopped and sighed again.
Beel croaked, giving Az a dirty look that Gabe didn’t notice. The lesser demon was definitely protective of Gabe, and Az couldn’t fault him for it.
“Yeah, ok, so my question for you: you’ve stayed here for almost twenty years. You went and came back. Do you think Az…” Gabe started.
Two firm, loud ribbits.
“But you didn’t even hear…”
Two even louder ribbits.
“Wait! Just listen! He could at least visit, don’t you think? I can summon him every so often…”
Two loud ribbits.
“You know what? You are NO help whatsoever!” Gabe fumed. “You are MR. FROG! You are supposed to be my loyal pet who listens and doesn’t judge and HELPS ME! What happened to that, huh? You were NEVER this judgmental when I used to pour my heart out to you!”
Beel hunkered down a bit, croaked grumpily, and waved his foreleg in the air in a ‘carry on’ gesture.
Gabe sighed before continuing. “I just really like him. I can’t stop thinking about him. And sex. I can’t stop thinking about Az and sex. Like full-fledged sex—sucking and fucking and anything else Az can think of, because I bet as a lust demon he’s got a lot of ideas. And the more I get to know Az, the more I feel like I’m always horny. It’s a very weird feeling for someone who has gone years at a time without thinking much about having sex with someone else. What the heck am I supposed to do about that?” Gabe grumbled.
“Well, you could start off by actually talking to Az about it as opposed to an unhelpful lesser demon,” Az cut in, leaning against the doorway with a smirk on his face.
Gabe squeaked in surprise and turned around to see Az, his face blooming red.
Gabe turned back to Beel, who looked relieved that Az had finally spoken up. “I’ll remember this on horror night. Or should I say… romantic comedy night,” Gabe threatened.
Beel croaked grumpily and hopped off to a corner, Az laughed, and Gabe hunkered down on the floor, looking like he was doing his best to become one with the hardwood. Az walked over, reaching his hand down to help Gabe up.
“Come now, none of that. I’m a lust demon. There’s no feeling ashamed of what you want.” Az winked as he said it, his hand still held out.
Gabe eventually grabbed onto it, and Az hauled him straight into his arms, where Gabe blushed again.
“You weren’t supposed to hear all that,” he muttered. He then looked up, his brows drawing together. “Exactly how muchdidyou hear?”
