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Stretch, yawn, chirp. Stretch, yawn, chirp. Stretch... yawn... chirp.
Those three actions were all Charlie needed to know that it was none other than Mating Season. Very rarely did Angel perform those three actions, and it was even rarer for him to do so with such fluidity. Unlike most would believe, Angel didn't stretch or yawn or chirp during a typical one-night stand; no, he only moaned, whined, panted, and occasionally growled. No matter how much Vaggie begged her to, Charlie refused to explain how and why she knew every sound that Angel tended to make. The princess wasn't one to indulge in porn, especially when it came to Angel. Not because she thought he was unattractive, but because she found the thought of watching her friend have sex just to pass the time to be... disconcerting.
"Anybody catch your attention this year?" Charlie asked as she ran her fingers through Angel's hair.
"I wish." Angel grumbled quietly, rolling onto his back on the couch and chirping once more. His fur was puffed up more than usual, pink spots were practically glowing, and a sweet strawberry scent was coming from his body. This was the same ordeal that had happened last year, and the year before that, and the year before that, and multiple years before that. Every Breeder had their own scent that was released during this time, yet no one had ever managed to attract or be attracted to Angel's. If anything, he was constantly driven away from others. "And nobody wants to be tangled up with the promise of smelling like strawberries three days later."
"That's not true! Your future mate is out there somewhere!" Charlie chirped, urging Angel to stand up straight. "Come on, let's get you interacting with others! Maybe Husk would like to talk to someone!"
"I want sex. I need sex. He's not gonna want t' talk t' me." Angel droned, slouching forward and walking with Charlie regardless of his sexual frustration. Talking while his body wanted to be pinned down and claimed really didn't seem like the best use of anyone's time, really.
"Sure, he will! Just... talk about something other than sex!" Charlie was now pushing Angel forward, groaning and whining when the spider came to a sudden stop. "Ugh! Angel, please! I just want to help!"
"I know you do! But pushing me around isn't gonna- hold on." Angel lifted his nose in the air and sniffed around to catch a sudden and enticing smell. Spices of all kinds, cinnamon, paprika, parsley, and even a bit of nutmeg. Along with that settled the heavy scent of blood and gore. "That's weird. The only guy who smells like blood and gore is... no! No, no, no! Charlie, kill me! Please kill me!"
"What? Why?" Charlie asked, squeaking as she was lifted up and shook back and forth. "Angel! Let me go!"
"It isn't fair, Cha-Cha! It just isn't fair! Why would he be my mate?!" Angel paced back and forth and bit at his claws nervously. "Al doesn't even like me! Well, like that, anyway."
"Hold on, Alastor? That demon is the least likely to want to have anyone under him!" Charlie shouted, gripping Angel's cheeks and waiting for him to purr. "Plus, I thought he was a Non-Breeder. He shouldn't be giving off a scent as a Non-Breeder!"
"Which means that he isn't a Non-Breeder!" Angel groaned, hugging the princess close and whining. "He's my fuckin' future mate, and I'm gonna be unbred for the rest of my afterlife."
"And what's worse is that I'm pretty sure you'd make beautiful babies." Charlie muttered, choosing to amend herself when Angel snarled. "Sorry! Sorry. I know how much you want kids."
Angel snorted, pushing Charlie away and storming over to the bar. He sat down on a barstool and wasted no time in slamming his face onto the counter. There was no denying the confused gaze that Angel was receiving from Husk, yet the spider refused to look up and acknowledge it. Next to him sat one of the newer patrons, who instantly yelped and raced off upon smelling strawberries. It was obvious that this demon was a Breeder, as only Breeders were able to recognize each other's scent.
"Let me guess: it's that time of year again?" Husk asked quietly, sounding as if he genuinely pitied his friend. Yes, he was willing to call Angel his friend, even after months of raucous behaviour and sexual offers.
"What gave it away? The frustration, or the fact that another Breeder ran away from me?" Angel grouched, making a sound of confusion when Alastor sauntered up to them both. "What's up with you?"
"I could smell you from the kitchen." Alastor replied gruffly.
"I could say the same to you." Angel sighed, feeling his fur puff up a bit. It was obvious to them both that they were drawn together for a reason, and neither of them wanted to acknowledge that.
At least Alastor had the mercy to look just as anxious about it as Angel was, though.
"So... does this mean we have to 'seal the deal' so to speak?" Alastor nervously inquired. "What with me getting you pregnant and producing offspring?"
"Fuck, you are so medical about everything." Angel couldn't help but let out a small giggle in response. "But yes. That's pretty much how it works."
"Right, right. And in order to do that we'd need to... copulate." Alastor cleared his throat and cursed himself out inwardly upon feeling his ears fall flat. "Under the princess' watch, considering our difference in power level."
"Yep." Angel stiffly replied. "That's what has to happen."
Awkward silence went on for five straight minutes, getting worse and worse the longer the trio of men stood next to each other. Their silence was broken when Niffty zoomed past with a bottle of air freshener, going on about how sick she was getting of the tension. Angel chuckled softly, glancing at Alastor with a calm smile. The smile was returned slowly but surely, and a gentle gaze started to connect their souls in a sort of cliche way.
"Okay, could you not get all lovey-dovey in front of my bar? It's ruining the drunken atmosphere." Husk muttered, flapping his wings to emphasize his want for the future couple to leave.
"Of course, our apologies." Alastor cleared his throat and cautiously grabbed Angel's hand, leading the spider towards Charlie. The princess was in her office, talking to Vaggie with clear fear. There was no telling how things would go, especially considering the completely opposite differences between personalities. "Charlotte? Could we speak to you for a moment?"
"YES!" Charlie yelped, shocking even herself with the sudden exclamation. She giggled with slight embarrassment before urging Vaggie out of the office and instructing her friends to sit. Their topic of conversation was as clear as day, especially since they were still holding hands without realizing it. "So, it seems like you two have accepted your fate."
"When you say it like that, things sound a bit more ominous than I think they should be." Angel snorted, grunting as he was elbowed in the side. "Either way I'm feeling nervous. Do you know how alien that is to me? I've never been nervous about sex! Even during my first time!"
Alastor grumbled and rolled his eyes, absentmindedly tightening his grip on Angel's hand. There went the possessiveness, something that Alastor felt somewhat embarrassed by. A silent apology was sent through a quick glance, followed by a low growl. Charlie's presence was now starting to become threatening; her intense power drove the Radio Demon mad with what seemed like jealousy. Funnily enough, this power would be what would help the process.
"Maybe we should try to get you both situated. Perform the pre-breeding ritual and let things take their own course from there." Charlie suggested. "Everyone has their own process, after all. The only thing I'm here for is making sure Alastor doesn't snap your neck out of blind excitement."
"Wait, what?" Angel squeaked, tearing his hand away from Alastor's in a flash. "Y'know what? Having a baby is probably something better suited as a dream for me! Besides, Al doesn't even like sex! What would be the point in making him go through that?"
"Angel, this is a tradition that's been going on since the discovery of Breeders vs. Non-Breeders." Charlie deadpanned. "Plus, this would only need to happen once, right? Your process could take days, even weeks for you both to come to terms! The breeding doesn't need to happen immediately, only when you're ready."
"But there's still the possibility of me getting my damn neck snapped!" Angel's fur puffed up at the very thought. Of all the men he's slept with, being murdered during sex was never a thing to worry about! Sure, Angel had a crush on Alastor, but that didn't mean that he was completely willing to die because of it! "Why don't we just cut our losses and stay friends, yeah? We don't even have to do the stupid ritual!"
"Mon cher, I am perfectly willing to do this." Alastor quietly admitted. "Though I would need some time to get used to the idea. As for the snapping of the neck or other body parts, I could always learn a few tricks in order to keep you safe."
"But why? Why would you do that for me?" Angel asked, his fur still standing on end.
"Well, having a child is your dream, you said so yourself." a heavy blush appeared on Alastor's face before he cleared his throat and continued. "If doing this means you end up happy, then I'm willing to push aside any discomfort and mindlessness in order for it to happen."
"Aww! That's so sweet!" Charlie squealed. "Ooh! I'll go get my ritual book and prepare a room!"
"Yeah, you do that." Angel chuckled, watching with slight worry as Charlie raced out of the room with an almost hungry expression. "Okay then, I guess this is a thing now."
Hopefully things would end up going better than expected.