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“Why can’t I see him anymore?” the Freelancer asked quietly, sitting on the floor of their apartment living room, their back pressed against the couch as they stared straight ahead of them. Gavin paused in the doorway, unsure what his partner was talking about. He had only just arrived home and hadn’t even gotten his shoes off yet when he found them.
“Deviant?” What are you talking about?” He asked, carefully sliding down to sit next to them. They turned to look at him, their eyes glossy like they had been crying.
“I can’t see him anymore,” they said, taking a shuddering breath. “I know he’s still here. I can feel him, but I can’t see him anymore.” Their eyes were welling back up with tears as they talked.
And then it all clicked into place. The way the Freelancer had been glancing around the apartment for the past week like they had misplaced something. How they would make an extra mug of hot chocolate and leave it out on the counter, even when the empathy demon wasn’t there.
The chorus had revoked the Freelancer’s ability to see Caelum.
“Oh Deviant,” Gavin whispered, tracing his thumb over one of their cheekbones to wipe away a stray tear as he gently cupped their face.
“I’m right, aren’t I? He’s still here?” They asked, watching Gavin hesitate for a moment as his eyes flickered to one of the empty armchairs not too far away before bringing his gaze back to focus on them.
“I…” Gavin trailed off before sighing and closing his eyes. “I’m so sorry Deviant.” Gavin pulled them against him, softly stroking the back of their head as they cried softly into his shoulder. They stayed that way for a while until the freelancer’s cries softened into sniffles and heavy breathing.
“I just don’t understand. Did I do something wrong? Was I not helpful?”
“Oh my poor Deviant. You were perfect, you always are. You helped Caelum so much. Much more that you could ever know. That’s just who you are, you help everyone around you. This just means that Caelum is growing up. And you helped him do that, my fantastic little Deviant,” Gavin soothed, kissing the top of their head. They sniffed and lifted their head up to look at him.
“I just miss him,” they said, their voice still scratchy from crying.
“I know, but he’s still going to look after you, and he loves you so much. We both do.” They put their head back onto his shoulder, squeezing their eyes closed as they focused on Gavin softly running his hand up and down their back as he hummed.
Exhausted from crying, the Freelancer eventually drifted off, their head still leaning against Gavin. He gently picked them up and carried them to bed, setting them down and pulling the sheets over them.
“Gavin?” A small voice called from behind him. He turned around to look at Caelum, who was hesitating in the doorway of the bedroom, looking between Gavin and the Freelancer’s sleeping form.
“Hey buddy,” Gavin said, bending down and holding his arms out. Caelum accepted the open invitation, rushing to hug the incubus and bury his head into Gavin’s chest. “How have you been holding up?” Gavin asked the younger demon, giving him a tight squeeze. Caelum didn’t say anything, just clung tighter around Gavin’s waist. Gavin bent down further until he was eye to eye with him. “Can you do me a favor Buddy?” Caelum sniffed but nodded, clearly slightly confused about what was happening. “I need you to watch over the Freelancer for a little bit, can you do that? I have to go somewhere really quick, and you’re the best demon for the job, alright?” Caelum hesitated for a moment before agreeing.
“Alright…” he trailed off, “but they can’t see me anymore. What if they wake up before you come back?”
“Then you can help them fall back asleep, just like you do with your other charges. I know you can do this Caelum,” Gavin said, sweeping a strand of hair from Caelum's face and standing and walking to the other side of the bed to where Gavin usually slept. He pulled back the sheets so Caelum could crawl in and curl up next to the Freelancer. He gave them both a kiss on the forehead to say goodbye before opening a rift into Aria, determined to make the Chorus take back the decision that was hurting his family.