Exploration of an Odd Relationship

    "Leviathan, sweetheart, are you in here?"

  The great serpent didn't bother to open his eyes. If he was quiet maybe Asmodeus would go away and leave him to die in peace. Asmodeus was fickle like that, he lost interest easily. Which is why Leviathan couldn't quite wrap his head around why the pretty demon was still poking around with him.

  The quiet clip of hooves on stone paused briefly. "There you are." There was a sigh like he was relieved. "Here let me light your candles, you always forget."

  Leviathan did not bother to protest or explain that he purposely left them unlit, Asmodeus wouldn't have any of it. The candles weren't even really his, Asmodeus had brought those too.

  Leviathan flinched and thrashed as he was startled by a hand on his shoulder. "Don't touch!" He hissed, bareing rows of wickedly sharp teeth. All his eyes were open now, glaring, watching. Why had he not opened them before, he didn't trust people, and yet here he was letting such a powerful demon waltz into his home unchecked.

  Asmodeus had his arms raised in a placating gesture, he was unarmed but Leviathan knew he could be just as deadly without a weapon in hand. "Calm down baby, I just want to look at your wound. Something needs to be done with it or you'll bleed out."

  The long wide tail covered in eyes curled to encompass the both of them and Leviathan took in the sight of his own body for the first time since it happened. There were some smaller bruises and cuts here and there but they were likely more from his escape than anything else. And then there was his arm, or the little bit that was left of it. The stump poured blood, a color that was more pink than red, it splattered and pooled everywhere and the sight made him vaguely queasy. He flopped back over, resting his head on the stone floor.

  Asmodeus apparently took this as permission and leaned forward again. "When I saw Amos with this color on his claws I asked what happened. He told me there was a disagreement, that he roughed you up." The lust demon wrinkled his pretty nose up and managed to have it remain just as pretty. He pulled off his shirt exposing more creamy pale skin. "This is going to hurt, hold still." Leviathan did as he was told, suppressing the hiss of pain as Asmodeus pressed the cloth into the exposed bloody flesh. "This isn't just roughing someone up." Asmodeus continued with his earlier thoughts. "Next time I see that bastard I'm gonna bite a hole in more than just his arm."

  Leviathan grunted softly, he could tell that the other demon was being serious. "Do not fight him. Amos is strong."

  Asmodeus's lips quirked up into a half smile, they looked soft. "Are you implying that I couldn't put him in his place? Are you sure you know me as well as you think, darling?"

  "You are too pretty to be like me." Rather than smile at the compliment, Asmodeus's face fell and he placed a small hand on Leviathan's cheek.

  "Sweetheart, you can't really think that you deserved this somehow." Leviathan felt guilty for making this perfect being sad, for making him dirty his hands, for being alive to take up the attention of such a captivating creature. His eyes closed, he didn’t want to see anymore. Asmodeus gave him a meaningful tap on his side and the eyes opened back up obediently. "You listen here and listen well. Whatever horrible things your brain is telling you right now, tell it to shut the hell up. I'm right here looking at you, covered in your own blood, and you know what I think?" Asmodeus turned his head from looking at Leviathan's face and fixed his gaze on one of the large green eyes along his tail. "Look at me." Leviathan wasn't sure he wanted to, but Asmodeus could command a room so easily, he stood no chance. "I think you are strong and beautiful."

  Leviathan opened his mouth to protest and Asmodeus pressed a finger to his lips. And then he pulled it away and whispered something about going to fetch real help for his wound.

  When Leviathan opened his eyes again he couldn't remember actually closing them in the first place. His residual limb was wrapped up and his head was pillowed in Asmodeus's lap. He was warm and soft.