Work Text:
"I'm feeling an immense sense of evil emanating from that thing next to me," Kalego whispered to Balam as the three walked down the hallway. After finding out Opera had been the one causing him so much trouble, he obviously wanted to beat them around in order to teach them a lesson. Who did they think they were—messing with a Naberius?? They must have a death wish.
It turns out the hellcat was much stronger than he would've thought.
"Oh, come on Kalego-kun. They're not evil," Balam whispered back, wanting to keep his newly formed friend group. He was ecstatic at the thought of a friend, let alone having two.
"I beg to differ," He grumbled while crossing his arms. He winced at the initial contact and put his arms down, but kept his angered glare. He wanted to give Opera another piece of his mind, but he knew how that would go. Kalego never knew how debasing staying quiet could be.
Opera stifled a laugh, which Kalego picked up immediately. He felt his fists clench instinctually when he set his gaze on the taller demon. "What's so funny?"
"Just you."
"What???" Kalego nearly shouted, making Balam furrow his eyebrows in worry. He tried to get his friend to calm down, though anything he said was drowned out by the exaggerated yells of his classmate.
"I am not a joke, you delinquent!" Kalego had stopped walking entirely, jutting his body forward and facing towards a blank-faced Opera. He just couldn't let this go. He had to put them in their place, even if it meant another smackdown. "If anything, I'm a force to be reckoned, not toyed around with!"
The androgynous demon only sputtered further at his words, trying not to double over. "Who said you were being toyed with?" They pushed out, laughing silently to themselves. 'He is so stupid it's endearing.'
"Well, err, you, it, you-" He struggled, anger flaring inside his chest. He could feel his face flush, but tried to ignore it as he attempted to tell Opera off. "You're the one messing with me."
The aforementioned wore a large grin, relishing in each moment they could see Kalego so embarrassed. "How so?"
"Guys-"
"Don't act so smug, you miserable feline," He interrupted, cutting his helpless friend off. "You know exactly what you've been doing. Embarrassing me in front of classmates, looking like me—definitely on purpose, being a troublemaker, and whatever else you can do to annoy me. I shouldn't have to bow my head to you, even if you are older and stronger."
"Those are usually the main reasons you do bow down to someone," Opera noted, only making Kalego more furious. He began walking again, though much faster than before. The purple-haired demon would never admit to the slight limp he carried, nor the aching pain in his torso that reminded him why they'd been walking to the nurse's in the first place.
Opera smiled, watching the shorter struggle through sharp breaths down the hall. Balam was growing concerned, since it looked like Kalego had been hurt pretty badly by his upperclassman. Balam didn't know what do do, filled awkwardness and slight anxiety as he and Opera walked slightly behind Kalego. He was struck with even more dismay at what they said after.
"I can carry you, if you'd like."
"What? No, absolutely not." The second shortest demon huffed, not wanting to look back at Opera under any circumstances. In the back of his mind, he wanted to confide in Balam instead of hassling himself all the way to the nurse. It would be better than conversing with that other one. "Are you delusional?"
Opera pretended to consider Kalego's question, putting a hand on their chin. It was a full minute of Kalego's anger rising, Opera's grin widening, and Balam's worry deepening until they spoke again. "No, I wouldn't think so,"
"Guys-"
"Only someone with a death wish would ever make such a ridiculous request as to carrying me! I can walk just fine." Kalego fumed, turning around and stopping Opera in their tracks once again. 'Geez, how long is this gonna take us?' Balam thought to himself, though he knew he just wanted to get his friends to safety before anything else happened.
It was hard for Opera not to have a smile splayed across their face, it really was. "Sounds like someone wants to be carried."
"No, I already told you, I do not want to be—" He was interrupted by the hellcat swiftly picking him up and carrying him bridal style as they resumed walking. Balam was already planning on hosting a funeral for Opera, mourning their early death.
"Opera-senpai, don't you think this is a little over the top?" He asked, drowning in second-hand embarrassment.
The tallest shook their head, amusement clear on their face.
Kalego's face was flushed entirely as his heart practically beat out of his chest. "Why must you insist on embarrassing me?!" He screeched, making Balam wince. The biologist looked back up at Opera, trying to plead with his eyes. 'Please put him down, before we both die,' He spoke without words.
Though, his worries went unheard because Opera looked like they were having the time of their life.
"You said you were the guard dog of Babyls, right?" They asked, as if the three of them were having a normal conversation.
A grumpier-than-normal Kalego crossed his arms and diverted his eyes, mumbling something under his breath. It wasn't like he could ignore them anymore, thanks to the bright decision they'd made to carry him to the nurse. 'Cute.'
"Oh my? What did you say?" Opera teased, moving at a leisurely pace with Kalego in their arms. They could feel their own face begin to heat up, but didn't care if the other saw. "I didn't quite catch that."
"I said, I'm the guard dog of Babyls," He flushed. "So?"
Opera's smile seemed to stretch wider, from pointed ear to the other. Balam could swear the felt the dark energy emanating from them like Kalego had said. "I guess that makes me the guard cat of Babyls."
The demon sputtered, almost falling out of Opera's grasp. "You're what now? No, you're not. I am the guard of Babyls and-"
"Guys, we walked past the nurse's office," Balam interrupted, feeling embarrassed and threatened after Kalego shot him an icy glare. "I'm sorry, but now we have to go back."
Opera hummed, as if they planned this. "I guess this means we can talk more, Kalego-kouhai~!"
Kalego covered his hot face with his hand, feeling his ego deflate with each step—and twirl, for some reason—that his senior took. "Hey, can I pet you?"
"No."