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“And you made sure there were plenty of extra Backward Crawlers in the front hall?” Ainosuke asked after Tadashi finished explaining all the upgrades and cleaning the demon castle staff had performed in preparation for the arrival of Prince Miya’s entourage. Ainosuke was seated in his throne in the chamber beneath the main castle, which was part of the active volcano the castle had been built on top of. Patches of bare rock on the floor worn away with time opened to pockets of magma, which glowed yellow and orange around them, and the air stank of sulfur. Ainosuke’s large, red, demonic wings were curled behind him, allowing anyone gazing up at him on his throne to focus more on his bright red armor and spiky blue hair, or his wide grin. He leaned his head on his left hand, as if he was bored.
Tadashi rested on the hot ground before the throne, facing Ainosuke while holding an obsidian clipboard where he kept notes in magical script, created by flicks of his fast, thin fingers. His thick snake tail rested beneath him, trained to calm after years of working for Ainosuke. Other demons often cowered in the demon lord’s presence, but Tadashi had known Ainosuke since they were both small. And while Ainosuke could still scare Tadashi as he wished, Tadashi knew the demon lord seldom wished to.
Ainosuke seemed a mixture of relaxed and excited just now: he was clearly looking forward to the adventurers arriving and traveling through the various traps and dangers of his home to face him, again, though Tadashi knew it was actually the elf, Langa, whom Ainosuke looked forward to confronting most, rather than Prince Miya. But it didn’t matter: Ainosuke would face all of them, more than likely. The traps were deadly to normal people, but the party of adventurers had shown their mettle time and again.
And Ainosuke, lord of the demon castle, wanted the fight. He was too bored with most things, and enjoyed the challenge, especially when Langa had repeatedly outwitted him.
Tadashi nodded and responded, “Yes, my lord.” He knew most mortals found the Backward Crawlers repulsive and terrifying, twisted creatures as they were. Adam liked spooking people with them, before victims were torn to shreds, as Backward Crawlers were fast and excellent hunters. Aiichiro, Ainosuke’s father and the former lord of the castle, had created the Backward Crawlers before Ainosuke put a stop to such barbarism, insisting other demons were serviceable. But the Backward Crawlers themselves were already there, and unable to be restored or otherwise put to rest without just being killed, so Ainosuke made use of them.
“It seems you did a near perfect job as usual,” Ainosuke said with a dangerous smile. “What do we even need me for?”
Tadashi didn’t know what to say to that. He’d been gifted to Ainosuke at a young age, when Ainosuke’s father had visited the slave markets. Ainosuke had kept Tadashi at his side ever since. They’d grown close as boys, until Ainosuke’s father had stepped in and demanded more discipline from his son, as befitted a demon lord. And Tadashi had simply followed his master’s wishes.
This had led to Ainosuke secretly plotting to murder Aiichiro, which was successful, though he never fully forgave Tadashi for backing down under Aiichiro’s orders. Tadashi was Ainosuke’s property, after all, not Aiichiro’s. And Tadashi had assumed he’d be discarded at some point, though he’d done his best to support Ainosuke all the same. Ainosuke had been his world, and that hadn’t changed.
But during the battles with Miya’s party as Ainosuke harassed them and was varyingly successful and unsuccessful against them… Ainosuke had changed. And one day, Ainosuke had come home and walked up to Tadashi, close for the first time in an age, and ran one clawed finger gently over the mark on Tadashi’s neck from the slave collar that Tadashi had worn for most of his life, placed there by the slave handlers who’d dragged him from the forest of his birth.
Ainosuke had removed the collar after he’d killed his father, as part of his promise to free Tadashi, made when they were younger. That night, he’d welcomed Tadashi to his bed for the last time, and fell asleep with tears in his eyes, wrapped up in Tadashi’s arms. And every day they grew apart, Tadashi clung to the memory of Ainosuke’s warmth, fleeting though it was.
It had been bitter, sticking around afterward, knowing there was a chasm of pain between them, but that Ainosuke continued to support Tadashi out of apparent obligation, and Tadashi felt the same, and couldn’t properly voice the longing in his heart. He knew Ainosuke considered it a form of punishment, too.
“You can leave my service if you wish,” Ainosuke had said as he touched the remaining scar, more recently, looking strangely sad. “The world is yours. I know you have the funds for it.”
Tadashi hadn’t known what to do, then. It was true, he could leave if he wished, though that had been true for years: Ainosuke valued Tadashi for his attention to detail, and Tadashi had dozens of opportunities over the years to flee if he really wanted. And Ainosuke had been actually paying Tadashi for his service ever since removing the collar, despite their growing distance. Ainosuke was just clearly opening the door, truly releasing Tadashi from any true further obligation.
But Tadashi didn’t leave, even in the chill of Ainosuke’s disregard. Because Ainosuke had been kind to him, and gave him trust and authority, enabling Tadashi to lord over an entire castle, while Ainosuke kept to his own amusements. Because Ainosuke was lonely and suffered under his father’s control. Because even when Ainosuke turned away from him, Ainosuke hadn’t abused him. Because when they were young, Ainosuke had written their names on a boulder in the practice yard where they trained their magic, and said they’d always be together, before surrounding their names in a pair of hearts.
Stolen kisses and moments of intimacy over the years, while Ainosuke insisted one day he’d kill his father and they could live in peace, had only tied Tadashi’s heart harder to Ainosuke.
Ainosuke could be obsessive, overly determined, a bit manic, and harsh, but he was sweet and loyal to those he cared about. The castle thrived under his rule, which was seemingly one reason Prince Miya’s group had turned their gaze to it (along with Ainosuke harassing the prince and his party out of boredom).
If Tadashi were alone, he’d simply return to his forest and live out his days eking out a rather boring version of survival. No one would follow him. And Ainosuke might die on his own. The man thought he was invincible, when he very much was not, and had nearly died multiple times taking down his father, let alone his father’s and his own enemies. Tadashi had nursed Ainosuke’s injuries against Miya’s party, too, and worried whenever Ainosuke went out to face them again, if he’d come back whole.
Tadashi couldn’t leave Ainosuke alone.
So he’d stayed on, performing the same duties by and large.
And Ainosuke said nothing of it. Though he seemed… a little pleased. Mocking at times, but pleased all the same.
And… there were other considerations, since Tadashi had chosen to stay.
“You look cold,” Ainosuke said.
Tadashi bowed his head nervously. “Overseeing the sharpening of the icicle canyon took a while. Apologies.”
Ainosuke watched him with those bright eyes that seemed to scald him. “Come here.”
Tadashi tried not to move too quickly to obey, but still moved quite fast, slithering along the floor until he sat by the foot of Ainosuke’s throne.
Ainosuke gazed down at him for a while before gesturing with his right hand and saying, “Up.”
Tadashi breathed in deeply and pushed his torso up so that he could lean his body against Ainosuke’s but not crush him, and his hands moved to Ainosuke’s shoulders, between the grooves of Ainosuke’s sharp armor, where the scaly armor on Tadashi’s fingers would protect him. Tadashi’s face felt hot: Ainosuke was always so very warm as a fire demon.
Tadashi’s people ran very cold by nature, and gravitated towards heat sources. Ainosuke, just on a physical level, even ignoring his handsome features and power, was appealing just for that. And in this room, which was already quite comfortably hot, it was an extra bonus.
Ainosuke wrapped his arms around Tadashi’s scaled waist, pulling him close until their foreheads tapped. Until Tadashi’s scaled chest pressed against Ainosuke’s armor. It wasn’t painful, since Tadashi’s hide was thick enough to resist it, but it was overwhelming to be so close.
Tadashi tried to stay calm. Ainosuke had graced him with more gentle touches since Tadashi chose to stay, though he had yet to invite Tadashi back to bed. It had been some years since they’d grown apart, and Tadashi didn’t like letting himself hope. And the touches themselves were nice. This, too, was lovely.
Ainosuke used his raised his body temperature, chasing away the chill on Tadashi’s skin. His eyes glowed a little as he did it.
Tadashi hummed in pleasure and automatically leaned closer. Ainosuke’s magic smelled like the roses he decorated his armor with, and sometimes, he dreamed of the smell.
Ainosuke shut his eyes and pet Tadashi’s back. “You have such a beautiful voice. But I seldom hear you singing anymore.” He sounded a bit sad.
“…I haven’t found an excuse to,” Tadashi said, quietly. His singing could drive listeners to their deaths, though someone of Ainosuke’s skill could hold out against it quite well.
Ainosuke made an, “Mmm,” sound and then said, “Perhaps you could sing for me in bed tonight, after the adventurers depart.”
Tadashi’s eyes widened slightly in surprise.
“We could use a celebration,” Ainosuke said with a grin. His white and red mask typically hid his eyes, but this close, Tadashi could see them. They were gazing straight at Tadashi, bright as ever. Burning with magic and want.
Tadashi wanted to pull the mask off and cover Ainosuke’s face in kisses, but he didn’t dare.
Ainosuke’s right hand moved lower on Tadashi’s back, just below his waist. Where his legs would be when he transformed to his wholly humanoid form. Ainosuke’s caresses grew a bit stronger, then. “Well?” Ainosuke asked. He seemed cocky, then. But… there was a hint of something in his voice, like he was expecting Tadashi to say no.
Tadashi swallowed and smiled, “Yes, my lord. Of course.”
Ainosuke’s grin widened, and he pulled Tadashi closer then, pressing their lips together.
Tadashi shut his eyes for the kiss. It was warm and wet and Ainosuke's blue hair flicked against Tadashi’s brow. Here, together, it was almost like they’d never pulled away from each other. And Tadashi wanted to stay in this moment forever. So much more than they’d had in a long time.
Tadashi wasn’t sure how Ainosuke would fare during Prince Miya’s attack, but he’d do his best to protect his lord. He was looking forward to the evening, for the first time in a long while.