Notebook.ai

The Underground (1x1 closed)

@ElderGod-yellowqueen forum 185 comments schedule

Azriel froze as the man gave him a half hug. It was short, practically over before it had started but it had been there. Gabriel had hugged him. He didn't know what to think of that. Well, a certain part knew what to think of that but his head didn't. Azriel usually took a simple touch and ran with it. He craved it and took as much as he coukd, as much as what was offered. And for the first time in his life, Azriel had an infatuation with someone, well, someone other than the king. He wasn't sure what to do with himself when Gabriel touched him. He finally snapped out of whatever frozen state he had been in and offered a small smile at Gabriel's kind words. That was nice of him to say. He only hoped he meant it.

He watched as Gabriel got up, his eyes settling on his ass. He honestly hadn't meant to but well, it was eye level with him and it was nice. He wondered what it would be like- Nope! Stopping that right there. He blinked a few times, trying ti banish the thoughts from his head. He needed to get laid again. Maybe that would sate him so he wouldn't be pawing at Gabriel. This was weird for him. He didn't know what to think. Would he still be wanting Gabriel even if he was fully fed? If so, this was going to be a very long month.

Azriel managed to turn himself, very, very slowly as he heard Gabriel moving in his kitchen. There was no way he was going to ket him move around without supervision. He was watching him with narrow eyes, watching what he grabbed and what he used. He corrected him a time or two on what pan to use and what nonstick spray to use. He was very particular on his things. He didn't think he really liked other people touching his stuff. Parties was one thing. People drank and danced and Azriel put away any breakable so he didn't have to worry. Parties were full of sexual activities and gave Azriel the high he needed, the fulfillment he needed when he was running low on energy. But no one every went through his things, such as using his kitchen to make food. Azriel licked his lips as Gabriel reappeared before him. Even looking disheveled the man looked devine. He cleared his throat. "Yeah, sounds good."

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Gabriel smiled. He leaned against the doorway with his arm against the frame and head in hand. He seemed sleepy after running around, his hair disheveled and scars pinker. His skin flushed a little. Clearly, the heat of a kitchen was not for him. He was a bartender, not a personalized chef. Gabriel caught Azriel staring at him. “What are you looking at?” He smiled, clearly knowing what he was saying. He moved away from the door frame, plopping down in the armchair he took up. Gabriel set a mental reminder of when he placed the lasagna in the oven. He had an hour to spare before dinnertime, so went back to the small talk. “Are there any other questions you’d like to ask me about my life? I wouldn’t mind answering.” He’d like to think humans were strange creatures to the demon, but alas, he kept human things. They couldn’t be completely a mystery to Azriel.

Gabriel stared at Azriel, his head resting in his hands as he peered over the armchair, awaiting an answer. He noticed the demon’s stunning blue eyes, quite unlike his own. He started to pick up on other little details, like his feminine features. It worked with him. Gabriel noticed the black mop of curly hair he wanted to tame. It was a tad unruly for Gabriel’s taste — but so was his own hair. In fact, he had a very particular taste. His own sense of fashion was high-end — mostly when he went out. When stuck at home, he tended to dress down. But regardless of the situation, he always slicked his hair and paid attention to his face. Some would say his scars ruined his complexion, while others say they added to it. Gabriel had grown fond of his scars. It meant he had survived. And scars made people look attractive in his mind. 

Gabriel had been inside his own thoughts, starting at, if not, thought Azriel. He snapped back to reality, shaking his head slightly. “Sorry. I got lost in my own head.” His voice was gritty, but not too deep. It was somewhat average for men. Gabriel believed his frame to be too slender, but he figured it fit him well. It added to his look. After all, he was 6 foot 1.

Azriel's cheeks reddened as he was caught staring. He whipped back around, hurting himself in the process until he was staring straight ahead. He had a TV mounted on the wall, the unit below. The unit was black. It was hiding his Xbox inside along with a few games. There was a couple fake plants on top of the unit as decoration. Simple, modern, slightly more feminine. He had a certain appreciation for beauty even if he didn't decorate his home very much. He tapped more into his feminine side than most men. He didn't wear dresses and skirts, or do his nails or makeup, not that there was anything wrong with that. But he was more aware of things than a typical male was. Azriel liked pretty things. The couple of aesthetic pieces of art said just as much. A typical man wouldn't have such things. Azriel did.

Azriel looked at Gabriel, considering all the questions he could ask. He didn't know anything about Gabriel other than his first name and that he was a bartender. There was a wealth of questions he coukd ask. He might as well pick one and start there. He coukd ask more after. "How old are you?" He waited for answer and didn't recieve one. He grew nervous as he waited for an answer. It wasn't until he looked closer that he saw Gabriel was lost in thought. He wasn't purposely ignoring him. He was just lost in his thoughts. He could clear his throat and interrupt him from his thoughts. He coukd tap him on the shoulder or throw a throw pillow. He decided against all of that and waited for Gabriel to come out of it on his own. He smiled as the man spoke. "It's alright. I just asked how old you are?"

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Gabriel blinked a few times to make himself continuously aware of his surroundings. Azriel had asked a question. How long ago had he asked that question? It didn’t matter. He could simply answer it now than pond on when it was asked. “How old am I? I am 24 and fresh out of college. I am younger than most I work with, but it never bothered me.” He was younger than the majority of the people he spoke to. He had been called little Gabriel, even by people older than him by a few months. Gabriel didn’t mind, however. It was just a harmless tease, nothing major. He looked around the living room, taking in the minimal design. It made the place feel roomy and comfortable. He supposed one would want to feel that way in a sitting room. His own sitting room was decorated minimally.

Gabriel smiled. “I like your minimalistic style. It pairs well with you. And it makes the room feel warm and comfortable.” He waited for more questions, eyes the clock as it slowly ticked down. 45 minutes until dinner. He could make do. Gabriel didn’t mind explaining things about himself. After all, Azriel spilled everything in one go — and Gabriel stayed silent. He knew more about Azriel than he did Gabriel. That wasn’t fair. So he leaned back into the chair, letting the smell of lasagna fill the room. He closed his eyes. Gabriel’s eyelids felt heavy, but he shouldn’t be sleepy. He already slept most of the day away.

Azriel listened to him, nodding along as the other man speak. He was twenty-four. Azriel, in appearance, looked about the same age even if he was actually twice that in real life. Demons aged differently. It depended on what type of demon you were to determine how quickly you aged and how long you lived. But even the shortest-living demon lived at least two human lifetimes. As an incubus, he could live to several hundred years, given he wasn't killed prematurely. Their long life caused a shortage of children. It was hard for demons to get pregnant. Very few babies were born each year. It was the way to keep them in check so they didn't overrun the earth and take over. There were significantly a lot fewer demons than there were humans.

Azriel smiled as Gabriel complimented his home. He turned his head to hide the smile and the natural flush on his cheeks that followed. Azriel was usually so good at holding it together. He was always composed, even when he was partying and intoxicated. He never behaved this way, not even for the king. This was a first for Azriel and he didn't think he hated it. Azriel had butterflies in his stomach. He liked that. He liked the way Gabriel made him feel. "Thank you," he finally said. A delayed reaction but he had needed those precious seconds to gain his composure once again. "I want it to look nice." Even if no one really saw it. It looked like a model home would. It was a little too perfect. Even when he threw parties, he would aggressively clean up the next morning, even hungover and at risk of puking. The house had to look perfect. He couldn't make breakfast until it was. "You said you just finished college. What was your major?"

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Gabriel nodded his head in return to Azriel’s thanks. He noticed how the demon flushed, but didn’t question it. So it wasn’t just him. He pushed many thoughts aside, focusing on the conversation at hand. “Well, you do a nice job at making it look nice.” Is that why Azriel was finicky about what he touched and played with? Gabriel wouldn’t break anything. He was careful and put everything back. If he didn’t respect someone’s home, he’d be a monster. He’d always imagine how he’d feel if someone came over and destroyed his home. It would boil his blood. “ My major. I majored in business administration and management. Boring, I know, right.” He giggled. Gabriel was a businessman. He had plans for the future, but he stuck to his current job for the moment. He liked mixing drinks for the locals and watching them, so they didn’t leave too intoxicated. However, his major did come in handy when tending the bar, so it wasn’t completely wasted. It just wasn’t what he had envisioned.

Gabriel peeked up at the clock again. 20 more minutes until dinner was ready. He was starving, and Azriel probably was too. He sank further into the chair. He felt as if he might fall asleep any minute, but sleep would have to wait. Gabriel couldn’t leave food in the oven, nor could he leave Azriel hanging. So, he forced himself to stay awake. What if Azriel had more questions? He needed to be receptive. He could go to bed without dinner. And what about Azriel? He couldn’t move.

Azriel only murmured another thank you at the compliment. He wasn't used to compliments. Or at least not ones like this. They were usually about how great his parties were or encouragements in bed. Look how pretty you are. You're doing so good. Those most definitely did not apply to this situation. And they hopefully never did. Getting involved with humans in the human world was alright. It was one night only and then he went on his way. Having relations with someone he was temporarily living with? Not such a good idea. What would happen if they had a falling out? Gabriel was stuck here until they were both healed to travel. Azriel was hoping by the time Gabriel had healed enough to travel, he himself would be in good condition. But that meant no more pissing off Master. He couldn't screw up anymore. He wouldn't be able to teleport them if he was too injured to do so.

Azriel shook his head. "It doesn't sound boring. At least not if you have a plan to use it." Even from the short amount of time they've known each other, he could tell Gabriel didn't intend to bartend his whole life. That was a man who always had a plan. Bartending was just temporary while he got everything in order for what he wanted to do. Azriel was very good a reading people. He was also very good at ignoring things he got from reading people. He chose to see the best in people even when he shouldn't. "Do you have any family? What are they like?"

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Gabriel giggled at Azriel’s incompetent thank-yous. They were cute. Did the demon really not get these types of comments? Gabriel was used to them all. Looks, abilities, decor. Maybe it was his turn to introduce the demon to different aspects of life. Especially from someone who wasn’t trying to use him. After all, Gabriel had a full month to introduce a lot to Azriel. As much as Gabriel wanted to go home, he was starting to get cozy here. Sure, the restrictions were awful — almost unbearable, but he could look past it. It wasn’t as bad. It was only a temporary situation. After the wound was fully healed, he could be taken back home. And if Azriel was fully healed too. If the demon got any more injuries, it would be a bad outlook on his chance of getting home. Gabriel had plans for his adult life. Major ones he didn’t disclose with the demon. Settling down and having a family wasn’t in his foreseeable plans so far.

Not boring? Gabriel was almost sure business management was monotonous. “I do have a plan to use it, yes. I wasn’t going to bartend forever. While I do like it, I think starting my own enterprise would be nice — or moving up to an executive position.” He shrugged. He wasn’t completely sure which path he’d choose, but each had great opportunities and plans. One would end up being the opportunity cost, but as long the trade-off was great, he didn’t mind. “My family..” Gabriel didn’t seem too pleased to mention them. “Well, my mother is the sweetest woman on the Earth. She deserves the world. My brother is a doctor. He’s headstrong and confident. But my dad —” He paused. “My father is an alcoholic. My parents got divorced years ago after — well — he started to get violent.” He shifted uncomfortably. Gabriel didn’t like talking about his family as a whole. It brought back unsavory memories.

Gabriel looked up at the clock, smiling. “Oh, would you look at that! Dinner is ready.” He stood up from his seat, walking into the kitchen. He pulled on some oven mitts and pulled out the lasagna and bread (that I totally forgot about). “How much do you want?” He asked. Azriel was the first person Gabriel catered to.

Azriel grew saddened at Gabriel's words. He felt a rush of guilt for even bringing up his family. He hadn't meant to make him sad to bring up the past. He thought it had been an innocent question to ask, one he found wasn't so much. He knew now not to bring it up in the future. He shouldn't be asking questions anyways. They shouldn't be friends. They couldn't. Once Azriel took him home he couldn't ever see him again. It would be a risk. If anyone followed him, if anyone saw he had attachments to someone, especially human, he would have just signed Gabriel's death certificate. The king didn't want Azriel to have any attachments or loyalty to anyone else than himself. It made sense. Your followers, especially your closest employee, should be undeniably loyal to you. Azriel moved to open his mouth to apologize for bringing up the subject when Gabriel was suddenly standing. Dinner, right.

He sat quietly as he waited. There wasn't anything he could do. He couldn't get up. Maybe tomorrow he could but not tonight. Not with the pain he was feeling. Maybe it was a good thing someone was there that was able to make dinner. Azriel would have gone to bed without food that night. He certainly wouldn't have liked that. He thought, looking down at his stomach. He hadn't had lunch, due to, well, things. "Oh, um, I'll take a big piece I guess. It doesn't matter, I can always get seconds. And two pieces of garlic bread please," he called back to the kitchen.

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Gabriel watched Azriel’s fill with sorrow. He frowned. His family was great now, for he mostly visited his mom. He wasn’t saddened by Azriel bringing up the past, but was merely uncomfortable. His mom had been hurt too much, but now was glad she flourished independently. Gabriel didn’t mind the questions. He actually loved the fact they were getting to know each other. He couldn't care less about the dangers. Gabriel loved the company. However, he knew he wouldn’t see Azriel again. It wasn’t likely the demon would ever come back. Why didn’t Azriel seem to have any real friends? It plagued his mind since their conversation an hour a two ago. He shook these thoughts away,

Gabriel instead got plates for the two. He supposed the demon wouldn’t like them eating in the sitting room, but there was no choice. He wanted to keep Azriel company. Gabriel grabbed a spatula and cut out a large piece of lasagna. He slid it onto the plate, placing two pieces of garlic bread down next to it. He got himself a small piece of lasagna and one piece of garlic bread. Gabriel grabbed two forks and walked back into the sitting room. He handed Azriel his plate. “Sorry, we’re eating in the sitting room, but you can’t get up. I would rather keep you company then go sit at the table.” Gabriel chose to stand while eating.

Azriel waited very impatiently. He couldn't see what was happening in his kitchen, even if it wasn't for very long. Even if it was to dish up dinner, he didn't like that he couldn't see it. "Don't forget to turn the oven off!" He called out. Please don't leave it on, he thought. He smiled up at Gabriel as ge cake over with two plates. While he wasn't the most excited about it he coukd deal with it. His couch wasn't white and it had removable covers if anything did get dirty. And he knew how to get tough stains out. Hydrogen peroxide worked wonders for getting blood out and other stains. "Thank you," he said as he took the plate. He should have asked for a glass of water now that he thought about it but he didn't want to ask Gabriel to get up again.

He took his fork and picked up a piece of lasagna, taking a bite. He chewed it over, assessing, before swallowing. "You make good lasagna," he said before taking another bite. "Almost as good as mine." Azriel did make a very good lagnsa and garlic bread, though he hadn't tried the latter just yet. "Would you like to watch something on the TV? I got Netflix, Hulu, Peacock." He had more streaming services but those were the first ones to come to mind. He liked watching human TV. It was entertaining.

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Gabriel had served up the dishes, turning off the oven, so he didn’t get murdered. He had planned on standing but eventually settled next to Azriel. He wasn’t a messy eater, in fact, he was pretty clean. Gabriel didn’t like food stains. He especially hated getting them out. And if he was eating on someone else’s couch — he was going to be the cleanest eater ever. Gabriel bit into the garlic bread, letting the crumbs fall onto the plate before he started chewing. Suddenly, he was very conscious of everything he did. When he swallowed the food, he smiled. It reminded him of his mother. Warm memories only flooded his mind. Gabriel hadn’t had lasagna in a long time. Not after — it didn’t matter.

Gabriel carefully ate, letting himself enjoy his own food. He hadn’t eaten all day, either. He deserved this. He raised an eyebrow at Azriel’s comment. “Thank you, but now I must try yours. It’s only fair.” Gabriel didn’t believe Azriel’s lasagna was better. In fact, his was better. Authentic. He glanced at the TV, chuckling to himself. “I don’t watch that much TV, but if you want to turn something on, be my guest.” He shrugged, eating more of his dinner.

Azriel smiled at Gabriel after taking another bite. "I will sometime." Not right now, obviously, he wad out of commission for a few days. Even when he was able to stand tomorrow he would still likely do quick meals so he wasn't on his feet for too long. The only thing that coukd be done for bruised or broken ribs was time. There wasn't a cast or anything to put around the middle. It was just time and rest. "It took a lot of trial and error for me to perfect most of my recipes." He had learned how to cook then after going into the human world to eat. When he found something he liked, he would experiment at home until he was able to make it. He enjoyed cooking very much, when he was able to.

Azriel hummed to that. "Why don't you watch a lot of TV?" He asked. He thought that was a popular thing for humans, to watch TV. Especially a popular American thing. Almost every restaurant and bar had a TV somewhere in the facility. Every home had one. Everyone had watch parties for games. They binged watched TV shows and movies. He found it a little odd Gabriel didn't watch much TV. Then again, most of his interactions with people involved going to their homes and hooking up. Not much time for TV unless it was turned kn for background noise.

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Gabriel smiled slightly. He continued to eat his food. He hadn’t eaten all day, and having something to fill his belly satiated him. “I will look forward to it when you’re not heavily bruised and in pain.” He hadn’t enjoyed good food in a long time. It simply took too long to prepare, and Gabriel was always exhausted. “That makes sense. Most recipes take a lot of trial and error whether human or monster based.” Gabriel had to perfect many of his drink mixes. However, he did like many alcohols straight. Brandy and whisky were two that warmed him straight from the bottle. Other drinks he preferred mixed with stuff. He still couldn’t believe people drank vodka straight. It would sting his throat.

Gabriel finished his small piece of lasagna, thinking how to answer Azriel’s questions. “I watch enough TV at the bar. It gets annoying. I prefer to sit down with some whisky and read one of my books. It’s one of my favorite pastime activities.” He shrugged. Not many read books today because they could be instantly gratified with a show or movie, but Gabriel loved the many plot driven stories. It was satisfying to read the end of a novel, filled with sorrow or happiness along with accomplishment. Even if Gabriel did live in America, his family was originally from England. He grew up there for his formative years, then the family moved. He grew accustomed to American traditions and workforce. He lost his accent over time, but still enjoyed quiet activities.

(I think Gabriel would be horrified what I have when I go out drinking XD)

"I would like that to," Azriel said. He would also like to not be bruised and in pain as well. That was the big one. It wasn't always like this, he had just got Master at a bad time. The plan had fallen through and they had lost a valuable man, shady but valuable. He didn't come home most nights in pain. And when he did, it usually wasn't this bad. At least from Master. Going on dangerous errands was another thing. He rarely walked away from those with just a scratch. Those were never fun and he rarely ever had any backup. Just another part of the job, he supposed. It was what it was. And now that he was in the king's grasps, there was no where else he coukd go. He couldn't leave his job. Not with out the king's say so and he would never let Azriel go.

By now he had devoured most of the plate and one garlic bread. He was munching on the other one now, alternating between the bread and lasagna. He nodded his head at Gabriel. That made sense. Always having to watch specific channels at work coukd get old. And that meant Gabriel was able to watch every game while working. That sounded like fun to Azriel. He like watching human sports. "If you would like me to pick you some books while I'm next just let me know. I'll grab something. As for the brandy I have some in my shelves but I don't know if you should be drinking with an injury. Or with your medicine."

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(XD)

Gabriel smiled. “I will be looking forward to it. When you're healed enough to make your recipe, that is.” He didn’t get injured often. He was slashed in the face and fell once or twice. There was one time he tripped down the stairs and slammed his back against the wall. That hurt for weeks. This head injury was the first to be nasty. But the heavy pain and throbbing started to subside, making it feel healed. Gabriel couldn’t investigate the wound on his own. “Hey, Azriel. Whenever you feel is best, could you look at the wound on my head? It seems like it’s healing fine, but I wouldn’t know for sure.” It couldn’t be that bad. To his knowledge, he was bleeding when Azriel investigated his person. He didn’t know if it was severe or mind. Gabriel would have to wait for Azriel to check it.

Gabriel messed with his hands, leaning his head on the couch cushion. It never occurred to him that his fate lay in Azriel’s hands. He didn’t know if he liked that. He wanted to stay here, but part of him also wanted to go home. “Ooh, that would be nice. Thanks for the offer.” He liked books. They were far more entertaining. “Oh, what's the worst that could happen? I only drink a glass while reading.” The worst that could happen would be blood flow to the wound from drinking alcohol. It thinned the blood. And combined with pain meds, it could lead to another injury to his head from the increasing of pain medication's sedating effects.

As Azriel finished his food, he set the plate down on the coffee table, wincing as he had to lean forward to place it down. He didn't breathe until he was leaning against the back of the sofa, panting slightly. Only, breathing heavily made his ribs hurt more. It seemed he was in a loose-loose situation here. He turned his head to Gabriel as the man spoke. He gave a gentle smile and nodded his head. "Yeah, of course. Come here and I'll take a look." There was no way that Azriel would be able to get up and go to him. It was frustrating really. He didn't like not being able to move much. All the other times he was hurt it was never to this degree. He could still move around, whether it was with crutches or just a broken arm, he could still move. It was starting to make him agitated and fidgety, being stuck on the couch. He wished he could have at least been in his bed. He did not want to sleep on the sofa but he didn't see any other way around it.

"I think plenty could happen," he said in regard to the drinking and medications. "There's a reason there are warning labels not to mix alcohol with most medications. I would listen to those if I were you. You don't want to delay your stay here any longer would you?" Part of Azriel wishes that he would. He got lonely being in his house by himself. It would be nice to have someone else to share it with. But this was not a life for Gabriel. He deserved to return to his world and live out his dreams. He shouldn't be stuck down here with Azriel. And this wasn't even touching on how dangerous it would be. Gabriel would never be allowed to leave the house. Azriel could never invite anyone over again. It just wouldn't work.

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Gabriel stood up, wincing when he did, and took Azriel’s plate. “Alright. I’ll be right back. I’ll go put these dishes in the sink and wash them later.” He wandered into the kitchen, placing the plates in the sink. He felt bad about not washing them, so he flipped on the water. Gabriel used dish soap and a sponge to wash them manually, and once washed, he placed them on a drying rack. He probably did something wrong and would get corrected, but he didn’t care. Gabriel walked back into the sitting room, going to sit next Azriel. He was close enough for Azriel to check the wound, but didn’t know how the demon wanted to do it. “Do you want me to sit on the floor, or is here fine?” Gabriel hoped the wound was only swollen and had coagulated. It had only been a day since the injury. Regardless, it would take a few weeks for the injury to be completely healed. A few weeks was too long.

Gabriel shrugged. “I guess you’re right, but I don’t think I need the medications. I’ll be fine. It’s just a pain reliever and the pain isn’t that bad.” He took in a deep breath. “But if you say so. I find it nice to have company, even if I’m stuck in this home, but—” He had a life. It might have been a lonely one, but he still one. Gabriel had a small dog. He hoped she would be alright. He did leave her with his mother while at work, for she was only 3 months old. Puppies shouldn’t be left alone for long. So, hopefully, his mother would keep a good eye on her while he was absent. Gabriel’s mother would be worried about him, but how would he explain where he went. Too many questions, little solutions. It was going to be tough. At least he had Azriel as company.

Azriel couldn't help but smile as Gabriel took his plate and took it to the kitchen. He waved off his words. "Thank you but I can wash them tomorrow. It's no worry." By tomorrow, he should be healed even to move about his house. He wouldn't be running laps or anything of the sort but he should at least be well enough to move back to his room and shower. And he should be able to do simple household chores such as cooking and washing dishes. As long as he didn't bend over or twist his waist he should be alright. Azriel tried not to wince as Gabriel sat next to him on the couch, causing a sharp pain to his side. He did his best to shift his body so he was facing Gabriel without twisting to see him. "This is just fine."

He carefully lifted his hand and brushed the hair out of the way so he could examine the wound. He grimaced as he looked at the wound. Despite his job he didn't particularly like looking at injuries or blood. It made him squeamish on other people and this was no exception. He made a face, thankful that Gabriel couldn't see his face. It was swollen and looked like it had begun to scab over, but it was also red and angry looking. Azriel might not have done a very good idea of cleaning it out. Gabriel had hit his head in a dirty alleyway. There had been a higher chance of infection. "We should clean it more often," was all he said. "It doesn't-well it could be doing better. If you grab me a fresh cloth, some warm water, and a bit of rubbing alcohol I can clean it. You might want to grab a stress ball or something though."

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By the time Gabriel had appeared in the living room, he commented he’d already wash the dishes before sitting next to Azriel. He was about to protest about the position once hearing Azriel wince, but it was no use. The demon said it was fine. So Gabriel let Azriel check over the wound, closing his eyes as his hair was to move. The slightest touch sent pain throughout his head. Well, it wasn’t as healed as he thought. Great. He couldn’t help but notice how gentle Azriel’s touched was. He was expecting something much harsher, but no. It was warm and gentle, quite like the demon’s personality. Azriel was growing on him, but Gabriel wouldn’t show it. It would be better if they were distant acquaintances. It would lessen the sadness of departing.

Gabriel’s smile faded. That didn’t sound good. “Oh no. I can’t afford to get an infection. That wouldn’t be good.” He took a deep breath. It will be okay. Nothing detrimental will happen. “I will get those things.” He stood up, trudging backing into the kitchen. Gabriel found a cloth in a drawer, found a bowl in the cabinets and filled it with warm water, and he found rubbing alcohol in another obscure cabinet. He brought all the items back, setting them on the coffee table as close to Azriel he could. Gabriel reclaimed his spot next to Azriel. “Let’s get this over with.” He gritted his teeth. He could already feel the stinging.

Azriel waited patiently until Gabriek reappeared. He was chewing on the inside of cheek, riddled with guilt. This was his fault. This was his fault. If only he could have contained Braxton, none of this would have happened. Gabriel wouldn't be hurt and he certainly wouldn't be stuck here with Azriel. Azriel wouldn't have gotten beat so much if he had been able to contain Braxton. But he hadn't and now low at where they were. It was a mess. A terrible mess. Azriel reached for the cloth and warm water first, trying not to gasp at the pain he felt leaning forward. This wasn't about him though, it was about Gabriel. With the warm cloth he began to gently dab at the wound to ensure it was clean. When that was done, he got the rubbing alcohol and placed a bit on the cloth. "Are you ready?" He asked.

Truth was, no one would be ready for this. Putting alcohol or peroxide on a wound stung like a bitch. Putting it on a possibly infected head wound? Well that was going to suck. He couldn't be quite sure if it was infected or not but it looked on its way and it was better safe than sorry. They should probably clean it out at least three times a day until it starts looking better. Azriel wanted to put some ointment on it after and wrap it but he wasn't sure how much Gabriel would appreciate half of his head being wrapped up for this one wound on the back of his head. It would be better ti cover it, at least during the day. So nothing else was able to irritate the wound. The bandage could be taken off at night to let it breathe. Azriel chewed on his cheek again. This was a little outside his knowledge of first aid. He didn't like this very much.

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Gabriel wasn’t pissed about his situation. He did mind that he was attacked, and was stuck in a house. But overall, he was being fed and taken care of. It could be worse. Gabriel could be dead, his body mauled and laying in an alleyway. A head wound was the price for surviving. He could make peace with that. He winced as Azriel dabbed water on his head. Even the slightest touch made the pain ebb through his skull. He couldn’t survive rubbing alcohol. Gabriel would be cussing up a storm, trying to get away from the source of his pain. Despite this, he took a deep breath. “I think I’m ready. Nothing could prepare me for pain. It’s going to hurt like hell.” He sighed. “But I can’t let a possible infection fester. However, I don’t feel feverish .” Gabriel knew the body fought infections with fevers.

Gabriel didn’t think it would be this bad. However, not taking care of cleaning the wound properly would lead to limited healing and chance for infection. He knew if he developed a fever overnight or in the morning, they were screwed. As much to Gabriel’s knowledge, demons didn’t know much about humans and how fragile their bodies were. He wouldn’t appreciate his head being wrapped up either. He didn’t like the pressure. He didn’t like the thought it might sting with a bandage pressed to it. Gabriel closed his eyes. This was not turning out well. At least not how he’d thought it would go. “I really should have minded my own business.” He muttered. But a person like Gabriel was nosy as hell.

Azriel only placed his hands on Gabriel's shoulders as the man shifted away form his touch. He knew that it hurt, gods did he know. But it had to be done or it would get so much worse. Ie needed to be cleaned. With the alcohol soaked cloth, he gently dabbed the wound, trying to be as gentle as possible. "It doesn't quite look like an infection but it's not exactly happy right now. If we leave it alone and don't clean it, it will fester and turn into a nasty infection. And that's something I can't treat here." He imagined what it would be like if Gabriel died there. Not that he wanted to imagine it but he wondered how he would get rid of the body. He couldn't dispose of it in his world. He would likely have to dump it somewhere in the human world. But he would feel so guilty just dumping his body like it meant nothing.

He shook his head. He needed tor id himself of these thoughts. These were not good thoughts. Azriel quirked the corner of his lip as he listened to Gabriel. "You probably should have," he said quietly. He dropped the cloth to his lap, giving Gabriel a small break before he went back to cleaning the wound. "You likely would be safe at home in your bed and injury free. A much better fate than this." And Azriel would be risk-free of being caught and he wouldn't have to worry about someone disrupting his lifestyle. And worrying about crushing on the wrong person. But that was a problem to deal with at another time. But alas, Gabriel hadn't minded his own business and now there they were. And Azriel was kind of happy for it. He wished it had been in better circumstances but so far it was nice.

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Gabriel whined, trying to turn away from Azriel. He wasn’t usually a problematic patient, but the pain was too much. A whine came from his throat, and he was breathing deeply as Azriel went to dab some alcohol on the cloth. Gabriel wasn’t sure if he was ready. But there was no going back as Azriel dabbed the wound. It felt like the wound was on fire. He psychically screamed from the pain, tears stinging his eyes. It was too much. Much to Gabriel’s dismay, he was writhing in Azriel’s arms. He tried to put on a bold, fearless persona, but it was quickly broken by alcohol. “I can— I can tell it’s not happy!” His words turned into pain riddled grunts. Gabriel didn’t want an infection. He'd rather live, then die by some small bacteria. He squeezed his eyes closed very tight, tears rolling down his cheeks. He can’t help it.

Guilt filled Gabriel. He shouldn’t have been such a nosy guy, but he wasn’t sure if something illegal was going on or someone who needed help. Regardless, in both situations, he would probably be beaten up. Gabriel hissed as the last of the cloth passed over his wound. “Well, I can’t change my fate now so it’s a bit of wishful thinking. As much as I would love laying in my comfy bed right now, I do like the company.” Gabriel shouldn’t probably have admitted he liked Azriel’s company. But he wouldn’t lie. It made his time here less insufferable, even if it was insufferable for Azriel. His like for the demon had already grown. After all, Azriel did his best to look after Gabriel, it was much appreciated since Azriel’s home wasn’t designed for humans.

Azriek had tears in his eyes as he listened to Gabriel's screams. He hated it, every second. But it had to be done or it would only get worse. He placed the cloth back down as he finished and wrapped his arms around Gabriel, pulling back to chest. His ribs hurt. They screaming at him but he didn't make a sound. Not when Gabriel needed comforting. Just one more time. Just one more good soak and it would be done. As Gabriek stopped fidgeting and pressed the cloth one last time to the wound before placing the cloth aside and resuming his hug. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry." He repeated over and over again. He hadn't wanted to hurt Gabriel but he hadn't had another choice. THe wound needee to be cleaned.

Azriel's cheeks was resting again Gabriel's back, just paitently waiting for Gabriel to calm down. "That's it for tonight," he said. "We'll clean it once in the morning and at least once at night. We might try one more time around lunch but I don't want to risk drying out the wound too much." As Gabriel settled once more, Azriel grabbed the ointment off the table (that we're pretending he asked for) and put just a small amount on his clean finger. Then he smeared it on the wound with applying the least amount of pressure to it. "There, all done. You did a good job." Azriel didn't have to try and wrestle him to apply the alcohol so it was a good job in his book.

Azriel cleared his throat at the words, cheeks already turning shades of pink. How many times was he going to blush around this mam? Too many apparently. It was more than the amount of fingers he had in the span of the day they had been toegther. What was happening to Azriel? He was usually always composed. Now, he was a puddle at Gabriel's feet. This was not good for him. Despite everything going through his head, Azriel didn't seem to have a hand on hos mouth. Because he said, "Thamk you. I enjoy your company too."

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Gabriel tried to muffle his screams, breathing through his nose harshly. Tears ran down his face. A fire burned through his scalp, devastating all comfort he had. It ravaged his skull like a forest, leaving behind smoldering scraps of charred wood. He clung to Azriel, wincing as the heat grew intense. Each dab fed the flames, therefore making Gabriel cry out more. His body shook from the intensity. Each sting sent throbbing waves of pain through his head. Taking in a deep breath, he tried to control his shaking. “I-I am sorry.” He choked out, whining as the cloth was pressed to his head one more time. The second time wasn’t as bad, but it still stung. Gabriel didn’t understand why Azriel apologized. He understood the wound needed to be cleaned. There was no need to apologize.

Gabriel still clung to Azriel, indulging in the hug. It was strange. Azreil was a good hugger despite his wound. He felt safe as he clung to the demon as if nothing could hurt him. He groaned at the thought of more rubbing alcohol touching the wound. A shiver went up his spine at the thought. At this point, Gabriel had been soothed. He stopped shaking and crying. His throat hurt from the screaming. “That schedule pains me.” His voice was scratchy and rough. It wasn’t pleasant. “But I supposed it must be done.” Gabriel’s eyes were red, and so were his nose and cheeks. He sniffed. “Thank you. It was horrible. It was painful.” He closed his eyes. “And it made me exhausted.” He opened them again, the chocolate brown dulled with pain.

A small smile etched across Gabriel’s face. He hadn’t been comforted like this in years, and it made him feel warm. He could look past the fact his hair was wet and sticky. “Aw, so the uptight demon does like my company.” He laughed. It was hoarse, but didn’t stop him from making light fun of the demon. Gabriel had noticed himself developing a soft spot for the demon as well but didn’t mind it. It was one less person he gave the cold shoulder.

Azriel held onto Gabriel as long as he needed it. It hurt. God did it hurt, but Gabriel needed the hug more than he was in pain. So he hugged him tight, laying his good cheek on his back. His eye was still swollen shut and he wasn't going to risk placing that side on Gabriel's back and irritating the wound further. It was bad enough he was hurting his ribs doing this, he didn't need both injuries upset with him. "It's okay," he said softly. "You have nothing to apologize for. You're in pain. This is a natural reaction." Azriel was glad he had enough land that he didn't have immediate neighbors. The screams would have raised a lot of suspension and someone would have likely knocked on the door. Thankfully, mo one should have heard him.

Azriel made a sympathetic expression. "I know it's not very appealing but it has to be done. The more we do it the less it will hurt. And when it looks like ots healing right, we'll stop all together. As ling as you clean it with mild soap in the shower it should be alright. But we need to fight whatever is causing it to fester." Azriel felt bad Gabriel was going through this. It felt like it was his fault, even though it hadn't been. He still felt like he coukd have done something that coukd have prevented this. But is he had prevented it they wouldn't be here right now likely.

Azriel chuckled nervously and retracted his arm finally from around Gabriel. He had been hugging him still even after the pain had ebbed from Gabriel. Even after Gabriek was no longer clutching to him. He rubbed at his neck sheepishly. He didn't think of himself uptight. Well, maybe that's all Gabriel saw because he was very picky about his home. But if Gabriel coukd we him out, he would see Azriel liked to let loose. He loved to flirt and drink and have fun. He just didn't like jt always in his home.

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Gabriel soothed himself. He took deep breaths, letting his body destress after the searing pain on his scalp. He slowly stopped shaking, reaching up to wipe the tears from his face. Gabriel didn’t cry often, but this cleaning drew it out of him. He let himself stay in the embrace for as long as needed. The storm had passed and now it was calm. His own screams rattled in his ears, causing them to ring. Gabriel wanted to sleep. The physical pain and emotion exhausted him. “I don’t like being in pain. Not this much pain.” He faltered. His throat still hurt. “I didn’t scream when slashed in the face. But this was more intense.” It was as if Gabriel was justifying his tears. Justifying his screams. However, he didn’t need to apologize for his visceral reactions. He leaned against Azriel, closing his eyes.

Sleep called to Gabriel, prompting him to evacuate from the demon’s arms. However, Azriel’s still trapped him, so he stayed. “I know it’s for my own health, but I don’t anything touching that wound.” He reconciled with his own thoughts. “It’s probably festering because of the alley’s filth. Places like those crawl with vicious bacteria.” Gabriel could have avoided this fate. He could just go home, and let the two duke it out like cats. But he couldn’t stop his curiosity, his natural instinct to provoke danger. It got in him in more trouble than good. This behavior needed to be stopped. Gabriel couldn’t provoke danger anymore.

Gabriel wiggled his way out of Azriel’s arms once the demons let go. He situated himself on the couch, his eyes drooping from sleep’s perilous call. He stood, his vision graying. He turned to Azriel, smiling. “Thanks, but I need sleep. It will help heal my wounds.” Gabriel bid Azriel goodnight before stumbling to his bedroom. Once in the room, he crawled into bed, pulling the covers over himself. Within minutes, he fell into a deep sleep

(Sorry. I was moving so I really wasn't on at all today.)

No one really liked being in pain but Azriel didn't say that. Well, masochist but neither of then were one of those. While Azriel might enjoy some experimenting, he did not enjoy pain. A light spank was as much as he could handle. Anything else and he would likely cry or yell. Or both. He only squeezed Gabriek tighter as he mentioned the scars on his face. It was something that never should have happened. But the scars did look good on the man and they made him stronger. Made him smarter. He gently rubbed Gabriel's chest to soothe him, his hand continuing even after he had calmed down. He only stopped when he pulled away.

Azriel smirked, huffing a small laugh. Gabriel might not like anything touching the wound but it was going to have to happen either way. It was the best way to avoid infection. When he saw improvement it coukd be left alone for most of the time but until then, Azriel would be taking care of him like a mother hen. Even if he was wounded himself. He cleared his throught as Gabriel got up, shifting so his back was against the couch cushions. He nodded his head. "Of course. Have a good night." Now it was time for Azriel to figure out how to sleep. He managed to grab the throw blanket on the accent chair and he slowly scooted down until he was lying on his back. It was time for him to go to sleep as well. He closed his eyes and eventually sleep took him.