Work Text:
"Yup...this is something new..."
Andreas woke up at his usual time to his stomach doing flips and in pain, but there was no external cause to be found for why. His antennae droop and his face contorts as he clutches his stomach, buckling over his bathroom countertop.
A knock echoed from Andreas' main room door, partnered with a soft voice.
"Andi, are you awake yet?"
"Beel...," Andreas thought, "right...we stayed up super late and got food at a shady convenience store since it was the only place opened. I shouldn't be surprised that he's fine..."
Andreas, trying his best not to look too much in pain, hobbles over to his bedroom door. He opens it to reveal his orange haired friend who was already in his RAD uniform.
"Y-Yeah, I am. Sorry for making you guys wait," Andreas gives a closed mouth smile while his brain is screaming to not puke!
"It's okay-- wait, why don't you have your antennae hidden?"
Shit...
"Ah..."
"You only show them when you're having a negative emotions. Are you sure you're okay Andi?" Beel cups Andreas' cheek in his hand. The albino leans into it, the bridge of his glasses pressing into the bridge of his nose. His hand was almost like a pillow to the smaller male.
"Yes I am," he nods, "it's just--," He then feels almost the equivalent to a punch to the gut before ripping himself away from Beelzebub and beelines it towards his bathroom. He even surprises himself that he was able to close the door before letting his stomach empty itself into the sink.
Beelzebub, of course, was immediately concerned by the sudden turn of events and is now awkwardly waiting outside the bathroom door for the other. He could not exactly do much so he just stays by the door.
After what felt like an eternity for him, Andreas rinses out the sink, swishes some mouthwash, and cleans his long hair before tying it into a loose ponytail. He paws for his glasses which he thankfully finds on the same countertop and places them on before exiting the bathroom. He looks up to see Beelzebub while frowning a little, antennae reacting as such.
"Sorry...," he lowers his gaze, now not feeling comfortable after seeing the heavy worry in Beelzebub's eyes, "I didn't want to concern you..."
"Andi...," Beel leans down a little and slowly wraps his arms around Andreas' small figure, trying not to put more pressure on the other's stomach, "why would telling me be a bad thing? You're my best friend and my partner. I wouldn't get upset if you ask me for help, especially if you're sick."
Andreas nods, nuzzling his face into Beelzebub's shoulder. Beel responses by patting Andreas' semi-messy white hair; the antennae slowly disappearing.
"Would you like me to tell Lucifer you can't go to school?"
Andreas nods.
"Can I stay and take care of you?"
Andreas hides his face in Beel's shoulder and nods again.
"Okay. Do you want me to carry you back to bed?"
Andreas peeks out to look at Beel with a slight squint in his eyes. Beel gives him a small smile.
"Are you hoping I say yes?"
"That's your assumption."
Andreas squints his eyes more before he face plants into Beel's shoulder again.
"...yes please..."
It was Beelzebub's turn to nod before shifting the two of them so he could swiftly, but gently, lift Andreas up. Andreas leans into Beel's chest for the few seconds he was carried before being laid back into his bed. Beel pulls the blankets over the smaller demon's body before leaning his forehead onto the other's. Both of them close their eyes.
"Do you think you can stomach anything?" Beel asks just above a whisper.
"...If there's leftover soup from yesterday, I could eat a bit of that...," Andreas answers with the same tone.
Beel cups Andreas' cheek and smiles before placing a soft kiss on his forehead.
"I'll be back with it then, snugglebug..~," he chuckles a little before straightening back up and leaving the room.
Andreas opens his eyes when Beel moves away, and once the tall demon left and closes the door, he bursts out into a small poof of embarrassment. He buries himself into his blankets as best as he could to hide his overly pink cheeks from the world.
"Why does he have to do everything for me? While looking like that!?" He internally screams as he covers his face with his hands, thinking the sheets wouldn't do the job already as he blushes more. He peeks though his fingers before moving the blankets off with a huff and a moan of frustration before reaching for his DDD to fiddle with as he waited.
Minutes pass before Beelzebub waddles back in with a warm bowl of promised soup with a spoon to match, a few books to catch up on homework, and a teddy bear that Andreas won for him in the past. He was also changed into a more comfortable outfit.
"You even brought Snickerdoodle with you?" Andreas expresses in a light tone as he reaches for the plush. Beelzebub hands it to him.
"You always cuddle him when we're in my room, so I brought him as company too," Beelzebub sets the books down on Andreas' vanity before sitting beside the other on the edge of the bed with the soup. He did hesitate giving the bowl to Andreas though, and he kept his eyesight away from the other. Andreas notices this right away.
"Beel, are you ok--"
"A-Andi...can I feed the soup to you..?" Beelzebub continues to look down at the slightly steaming liquid inside the bowl. Andreas blushes a bit at the sudden request, but the nervousness brushes off almost instantly with a small giggle.
"Yes you may Beel," Andreas sets Snickerdoodle down before he moves a little closer to Beelzebub so moving the spoon would be easier. Beel nods a little before wrapping his fingers around the spoon and scooping some of the thin nutriment from the bowl. Andreas leans forward a bit and opens his mouth before the spoon enters it. Closing and swallowing immediately after, Andreas smiles at his currently blushing partner as the said partner gets more soup, "why did you ask?"
"Because you aren't usually sick, so I don't get to do this often...," Beelzebub murmurs before offering another spoonful, which Andreas takes gladly.
"Well, you don't necessarily have to wait till I'm sick if you want to feed me," Andreas continues to giggle as he is fed more soup.
"I know but...I like the atmosphere of it."
"The atmosphere?"
"Helping out my cute boyfriend while he's sick and...," Beelzebub's blush becomes more red, "making sure you get all the love you want..."
Now that? That line makes Andreas' antennae pop out from sheer embarrassment.
"Did Beel really just say that?!" Andreas franitcally tries to calm himself down before Beel notices.
Beel settles the spoon into the bowl, "well, that's all of the--." As he says this, he turns his head and sees the condition Andreas was in, "oh, your antennae are out again. Did I say something wrong?"
Yup, he notices them.
"It...looks like they come out when I have a big enough emotion," Andreas nervously laughs, still trying to cover up that he was embarrassed. He quickly pats the antennae down, "s-see! It's all good!" But as soon as he moves his hand, the antennae spring back out anyways.
Beelzebub looks at him with slight confution. His head being tilted slightly with a small pout. A few seconds of awkward silence pass before an imaginary light bulb lights up above Beel's head. He smirks a little to Andreas' dismay.
"Did that make you feel embarrassed?"
Andreas shakes his head rapidly, face only growing more red.
"No no! No it did not!"
Beelzebub leans forward a little towards Andreas, slowly placing the empty bowl onto the other side of him on the bed. His small smirk never wavering.
Andreas' eyes go wide a bit, already knowing what Beelzebub's planning.
"Don't you dare."
"Why shouldn't I?"
"I'm sick! I'll puke on your shoulder!"
"I'll just shower after."
"Why are you like thiiiis...?"
"Because--," Beelzebub quickly picks up Andreas before standing up and spinning before looking down at the boy in his arms, smiling wide, "--I love you!"
Andreas, on the other hand, was trying not to get dizzy while clutching onto Beelzebub and his glasses, worrying he would fling right off. A small poof of pink paints his cheeks from the gesture but also a small fever from the head rush.
Andreas taps on Beel's shoulder.
"I-I love you too...but can I please lay down again...?" You could see small swirls in the small demon's clouded irises.
"Right, sorry," Beel slowly sets Andreas down in bed again, "I'm just happy that my snugglebug gets embarrassed by me still...~."
"You embarrass me a lot though...," Andreas hides under his comforter and mumbles the last bit of his sentence.
"What was that last part? I didn't catch that," Beel raises a brow, genuinely curious.
"...especially behind closed doors..."
"Ahh...well that's a given anyways," he smiles.
Andreas' face flushes so much more before realizing, since he was basically in an enclosed space, how bad his sweating had become from being sick and from being super nervous. He felt gross. He slowly pops his head out from under his heavy blanket, his embarrassment still plain on his face.
"Hey Beel...?"
"Yes?"
"...could you help me take a bath...?"
"Sure, I'll set it up now. Which colour of towel this time?"
"Pink please..." Beelzebub nods before entering the side bathroom.
Andreas closes his eyes and sighs a little while a smile creeps onto his cheeks.
"How could I deserve a boyfriend like him...? Anything I ask, and he does it. Even though I don't ask for much, he's still there to make sure I'm happy."
Andreas' eyes then move to Snickerdoodle the bear, who was sitting beside his head on the other pillow. He reaches a hand for him before cuddling the stuffed toy close to his chest.
"He's the best boyfriend I've ever had..."
He yawns a little before slowly falling into his dreamscape for a second time as he hears water running.
--------------
Andreas was then shaken awake by Beelzebub who had just finished prepping the other's bath only to find him fast asleep.
"Andi...~, sorry to wake you, but your bath is ready. We can take it together if you would like?" Beelzebub moves his hand to softly pet Andreas' messy hair, made even more messy because of his strewn ponytail. Andreas reaches his hands up to Beel, his eyes looking more glazed over than they already were. Beelzebub chuckles a little at this, "now you want me to carry you?"
"Gently this time...," Andreas pouts.
"Okay, I got you princess." Cheesy nickname aside, Beelzebub pushes the blankets away before delicately shoving his hands under Andreas' weak figure and pulling him towards his chest. He starts to walk towards the bathroom before asking, "do you need help with your clothes?"
Andreas shakes his head, "but I will need help when my glasses are off..."
Beelzebub nods, "I figured..."
He sets Andreas back on his feet before backing up a little to start stripping as well. Each soft piece of fabric hits the chilled tile with a soft thump before being pushed to the side. Andreas undoes his ponytail, setting the tie on the sink counter before reaching for his glasses. Beelzebub watches him as he takes them off and sets them with the tie. Once he does Beel walks over and gently takes one of Andreas' hands. Andreas does not flinch from the touch since this has happened so often. Beel slowly guides Andreas to the steaming water while asking, "can you step in on your own?" Andreas nods before sensing the side of the tub. His cloudy irises tilt down as he lifts one foot and sinks it into the water before following with the other. The whole time, Beelzebub keeps his hand in Andreas', just in case. He knows the other has gotten more confident with himself when he's blind, but Beel still worries for the pale demon. Especially with the many purple splotches that decorate his skin.
As soon as Andreas sits down, Beel lets go of his hand and follows him, sliding behind the other. He slips his hands around the weak figure and places soft kisses on the back of Andreas' neck. Andreas purrs under his breath before leaning closer to him.
"I love you...so much...," Andreas murmurs right by the other demon's ear, a faint blush on his cheeks. Beel turns his head before he lifts one of his hands and grazes Andreas' cheek with the back of it. Small droplets of water race down Beel's arm, returning to the main body below. Again, Andreas does not flinch at the sudden touch as he turns his face towards Beel. Beelzebub leans down and places a gentle kiss on Andreas' lips, eyes closing as he does. Andreas faintly smiles.
After a few seconds, Beel pulls away before placing another kiss on Andreas' forehead.
"I love you too...you don't know how much you've done for me that I can never pay back..."
Andreas lets his words ring in his ears for a second before smiling more.
"You pay me back with staying by my side every day, making sure I'm always my best self. No one has done that for me except for you." He reaches a hand up and cups Beel's cheek before kissing the other cheek, "even just before this, when you confessed to me that you always wanted to take care of me if I was sick."
Beel, feeling his face heating up, snuggles his face into Andreas' shoulder, "I know you're being super sincere, but how about we save it for after? We can cuddle while we talk more..." He picks his head up and places his chin on Andreas' shoulder, "I want to speak from the heart that yearns to stay with you..."
Andreas nods and lets go, turning back around.
--------------
More minutes pass before Andreas was now sitting in front of Beel on his bed, a comb precisely sliding through long white strands. There was a sound silence between the two figures, but it was comforting. Neither have to speak a word to the other to justify themself being there. They could sense each other, that was enough.
Beelzebub places the comb down before making three sections and starting to overlap them with one another. He's not trying to tie them too tight, just enough so it doesn't fall apart. Andreas starts to hum softly, filling the space with a slow song. Beel closes his eyes, focusing on the gentle melody for a few seconds before opening his eyes to focus on his task. Andreas' song comes to a close when Beelzebub ties the end of the braid with the same tie Andreas used before. He gives a satisfied nod before hugging Andreas from behind, his chest heating the other's cooled off back.
The small demon leans into the hug, keeping his already closed eyes from opening again. A few moments of silence pass before he opens his eyes again, tilting his head back to look at the taller demon behind him.
"This is why I only allow you to touch my hair," Andreas smiles before leaning up and kissing the crook of Beel's neck, "you're always so gentle."
Beel moves the comb to Andreas' nightstand before slowly leaning back, laying them both on the soft black sheets. He pulls the blankets over them both. After he does, he keeps his arms around Andreas, spooning him, while peppering his dusted pink neck with gentle kisses and nips. Each receives a soft moan and giggle from the smaller demonn.
"You're too cute for me to deserve you...," Beel mumbles as he continues, "when I first saw you, I knew you were the one..."
"And I think," Andreas turns himself to face Beelzebub, "that you are an amazing person. I'm very happy to call you my boyfriend." He smiles before snuggling his face into Beel's chest, giggling to himself.
"I was going to get to that, but I guess you beat me to it," Beel chuckles before hugging Andreas more than he already was before yawning a little. Andreas follows suit with a small yawn, which makes Beel laugh more. "I guess that means nap time, huh?"
Andreas slowly nods before removing his glasses which Beelzebub takes and sets down on the nightstand. Andreas, once settled into bed with Beel, claps twice. This results in the lights turning off. He soon goes back to snuggling into Beel's chest, heaving a big sigh before letting his brain slip into dreamscape once again.
"We'll always be there to lift each other's spirits...~,"
---BONUS SCENE---
Hours pass and the rest of the brothers come back from their school day. As soon as they open the doors however, their chatter about the day stops. The House of Lamentation seems...eerily quiet. Even when Lucifer closes the door, it spooks the rest of them.
"O-Okay, I'm going to be the first to say it," Leviathan pipes up, "this is weird."
"Yeah..~, don't you think we would at least hear Beel in the kitchen or something?" Asmodeus follows behind Satan, who had a bit too much of a sparkle in his eyes.
"Is there a mystery afoot--"
"No, there isn't...," Lucifer quickly cuts Satan off, "rather than standing around, I'm going to check Andreas' room." Lucifer starts to walk up the stairs, getting halfway before shouting, "like a normal person!"
Lucifer hears Mammon make a snarky remark as he rounds the right corner and strides over to Andreas' room door. He knocks twice.
No answer.
He knocks again.
No answer.
He decides to finally speak, "Andreas, it's Lucifer. May I come in?"
Still nothing
Small fears do creep into his mind but he brushes them off as he turns the doorknob. A thin stream of the hallway light grows larger on the carpeted floor as Lucifer slowly opens the door. He pokes his head in to see two lumps on the bed, soft breaths echoing the sound of sleep. Lucifer nods before gently closing the door.
He sighs with small relief as he walks back to the foyer. The rest of his brothers were still there, except for Leviathan who probably had something more important (in his own eyes) to do.
"So is everything okay?" Asmo looks to Lucifer who was descending the stairs.
"Yes, so please stop with the foolish assumptions."
"So does that mean I can go talk to him--"
"No you may not Mammon. We have important business to discuss, remember?" Lucifer's face wore a dark smile that creeps into everyone's spines, Mammon's the most.
"C-Come on! It was only a small pocket watch."
"That pocket watch was a student's grandmother's heirloom for 7 generations." As he keeps this smile, he grabs Mammon by the ear and drags the demon, kicking and screaming, into his study. The doors closing firmly behind him.