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Beelzebub walked on patterned pavement as the skies mourned the fall of the sun. A bouquet felt heavy in his hands—a spiral beauty of petals Belphegor helped him buy—and for the first time in a while, nervousness drowned in his stomach. Was he sure of the gesture? Would he even accept it?
No, he shook those voices away. It was important for him to be firm in his decision. He already talked to Belphegor about his thoughts. He wasn't going to back out of this one.
The donut store back there looked so good though—
No! Beelzebub put one step forward, and another, and before he could linger on the incoming hunger that would haunt him, he already made it in front of the Demon Lord's Castle. The doors sculpted of golden honor striked a spike of fear in his heart and, for a second, nausea targeted him like how a needle would stab a cloth.
He reeled it back in. Beelzebub could do this. He just had to knock on the doors, and the play of conversations would depend on who answered—
"Oh, Beelzebub. Good to see you, it's a beautiful day. What are you doing here?"
That friendly and genuine tune. He couldn't be mistaken. By a flip of a coin, the Demon Prince appeared in a gust of wind, his hand holding the doors open. Lord Diavolo was a blessed presence to have, as Lucifer always worshipped the ground he walked on, but he wasn't there for him. Beelzebub held back a sigh and mustered the bravery to confess.
"I'm here for Barbatos."
Strangely, something in his face changed, and before Beelzebub could comprehend the quiet ripple in the lake, the Demon Prince turned his head back and shouted.
"Barbatos, someone's here for you!" Lord Diavolo then tuned his attention to Beelzebub and smiled. He stepped out wholly from the castle's inner structure and closed the doors behind him, facing Beelzebub in his mighty glory.
This was awkward.
He hid the bouquet behind him but as he did so, it made noise and while Lord Diavolo's eyes didn't move, Beelzebub knew he noticed it. He closed his eyes and waited for critical judgment but none came. He released a breath to the air heralded by nearby gardens and waited for
"—Barbatos? Are those flowers for Barbatos?"
Oh.. Beelzebub looked away, but he knew that he had to answer to Lord Diavolo. With honesty. His head fell and he looked at the ground as he responded with unintended trembling.
"Yes. Will he come soon?"
Beelzebub looked back after his voice died in his throat, and relief washed over him when he saw a grin. The Demon Prince still had a smile plastered to his face, and merely nodded. He brightened up upon his response and clapped. Beelzebub didn't quite know how to react to that.
"I'm glad. He's been busy lately—make him take a break, please? Thanks!" Then Lord Diavolo took off on a run. Beelzebub was a bit worried—did he say something wrong? But his dwelling was disturbed by someone opening the golden doors, and his mind fixated on the person who appeared.
The butler stared at him with coldness, and he looked like a statue for seconds that stretched before green stars rose in his eyes. Barbatos stepped out with silent grace and bowed slightly in front of Beelzebub.
"Do you need something?" Here goes nothing—his hand swung from its position behind his back to show the bouquet to the butler. He didn't expect anything, but radio silence didn't feel comfortable with his eyes closed. Did he mess up the flowers? Did he hold the stems too tightly? Did Barbatos hate the arrangement, did he buy the wrong colors, did he come too late—
"Ah. You're courting me." Involuntarily, his eyes snapped open and he saw the butler with blush dusting his cheeks. Barbatos looked at Beelzebub with wide eyes and faux-coughed in his palm before stepping towards him. They now stood in front of each other with mere inches serving as an air of separation between their bodies.
Oh.
"I accept your invitation of courtship." The butler's eyes flickered and turned away before looking up to Beelzebub in eagerness. He held out his hands, and Beelzebub stared at his face in love before he realized that he was supposed to give the bouquet. He carefully placed it on the open palms of Barbatos, ensuring that it fit well in his grasp, and the butler observed the flowers in awe.
"Thank you." Barbatos stepped back, not too far to be taken as rejection, and hugged the flowers to his chest. He smiled and embraced the bouquet, and Beelzebub looked at him with wonder. The sight made his heart fall all over again, and he resisted to hug Barbatos. After all, he was still courting him.
"I'll see you. I still have work to do but.." Barbatos mumbled as he fumbled with the flowers in his hands. "Thank you. Again. I didn't expect this." Then his lips turned upward again and he retreated back into the castle with the bouquet. Beelzebub only had the awareness to walk away when he heard the gentle click of a door closing.
---
"Love, are you awake?"
Barbatos stretched his arms as he settled warmly in Beelzebub's long-sleeved polo. The butler had gotten more casual after 2 years of courting, and 8 years of relationship. Beelzebub's eyes met cold light, and he turned to his lover next to him on his bed. He smiled and anchored himself on his hand to get closer to Barbatos. He lowered his head over Barbatos, and captured his lips in a sweet passionate kiss.
They pulled apart from each other, and Beelzebub leaned back a bit only to hook his arms under Barbatos' shoulders and pin him down gently on the bed. The butler laughed and wrapped his legs around Beelzebub's figure, raising his arms to cup his lover's face. Beelzebub looked up and kissed him again, brief pecks that had Barbatos letting out weak peals of laughter in between. Then, for the last time, he lazily pulled on Barbatos' exposed thighs and they both lounged back on the bed.
Beelzebub leaned comfortably on an array of pillows whilst Barbatos settled on his lap as he massaged the muscles of his neck and shoulders. As the warm glow of atmospheric dust floated in the room, Beelzebub hugged Barbatos, wrapping his arms around his waist, and the latter hugged him back. They stayed in that position for a while as morning showered their fate in unconditional love.