Chapter Text
Iruma had not been sleeping well at all. All he wanted was to go unnoticed, it was safer that way. But after the Walter park incident he couldn't even walk to class without a hoard of people bombarding him with questions. So he was understandably stressed. He tried not to let it show to his friends or Grandpa. His long, tiring school days had turned even longer and even more tiresome. Azz and Clara helped a lot in that respect. Azz was great at carefully hustling Iruma out of public places and Clara was a wonderful distraction.
Not only was Iruma worried about his newly found – and daunting – fame, but the fact he was human and had to avoid even the people he cared about most discovering was slowly killing him.
Iruma wanted to tell them, to lay his heart bare – except that would maybe mean his heart would be eaten. Wasn't eating one's lover considered a form of devotion in some cases? He didn't like that thought at all. He knew Azz and Clara loved him, but would they understand his situation? He was worried about their reaction, their hunger and if they could resist eating him. Professor Balam had, so maybe they could?
No; that was the cologne Grandpa had given him. Opera has said it gave off a very specific scent – Iruma didn't know to be offended or complimented by that and had spent a few too many seconds sniffing himself.
So, without sleep he went. Despite normally being asleep in seconds flat after laying in bed Iruma found himself tossing and turning until his alarm went off in the morning. He would shower, get dressed, eat breakfast with Grandpa and Opera, and then walk to school with Clara and Azz after they met him at the front gate.
Azz and Clara. Such loyal friends. He felt guilty for lying to them for so long. But he couldn't tell them, not yet anyway.
So he went on like this for a full week and a half before Azz brought up his exhaustion.
“Master Iruma?”
Iruma jumped, nearly sending his third bowl of sin soup to the ground. Azz looked so attentive, his eyes sparkling but an undeniable look of worry was etched onto his face, “Yes sorry! what is it Azz?”
Clara echoed his reaction with a joyful “Azz Azz!”
“You look tired, is there anything I can do for you Master?”
“No Azz I'm fine, thank you!” He waved his hands, hoping that would be enough to satisfy Azz and his need for approval.
It wasn't.
“I insist Master Iruma! You were quite sluggish on our walk this morning and you've been dozing off in all our classes! If you need rest you should stay home!”
Clara began dancing around and chanting “sleep sleep Iruma-kins, sleep, sleep!”
“I'm fine guys I promise!” He tried to wave off Azz and Clara but Azz just tilted his head curiously.
“Master-” Azz started but then he stopped himself and paused for a long time, “how about we spend some time together! we have then next two days off of school after all!”
Clara tackled Azz from behind, hugging his shoulders, “Sleep over! Sleep over! Sleep over!” She chanted, shaking Azz as she swayed back and forth on her heels.
Iruma wanted to curl up in his bed and sleep for a thousand years – but he did enjoy hanging out with Azz and Clara and he did want to have them over his house more often.
He smiled warmly, “okay, how about my place!”
Azz beamed and Clara scrambled over the table to hug him. He was going to regret this.
That night Azz and Clara showed up at eight pm and Opera invited them inside. Iruma was still unsure of what to do when hanging out with freinds.
They played a rather violent game of tag with Clara, ate far too much food, played on the console Grandpa had gotten him, eaten more food, and inevitably snuck back to Irumas room some time in the night.
They all sat on his bed, in a small circle, quietly staring at eachother. Azz was seemingly determined not to go to bed until Iruma did and Clara was already nodding off, gnawing on a pillow in her lap. Azz quietly pulled the pillow away from her.
“we should- uhm- go to bed” Iruma suggested quietly.
Azz nodded vehemently, “Clara already seems to be incredibly tired, as am I. I have had much fun tonight Master Iruma!”
“I'm glad!” Iruma smiled and Azz beamed.
They all changed into their pajamas swiftly. Clara was the first in bed, scrambling under Irumas covers and burrowing all the way up to her head. He could only see the top of her hair and horns through the blanket. He found it sweet how unashamedly affectionate Clara was even when she was sleepy.
“Clara! that's Master Irumas bed!” Azz jumped forwards, shaking the blanket covered bump that was Clara.
“It's fine Azz, my bed is big enough for the three of us, I'm not gonna make you sleep on the floor after all!” He climbed into bed next to Clara who latched onto him so quickly He thought she had woken up again.
Strangely Azz hesitated before climbing into bed next to Iruma. It was comfortable. Clara snuggled up to him and Azz, stiff as a board, on his other side. He turned to Azz and poked him.
“Azz you can relax, look at Clara”
“I refuse to use her as an example.” Azz said, his voice tense and measured – more measured than usual.
Iruma laughed. He was exhausted probably to the point of delirium. He rolled onto his side – Clara dislodged herself and stretched like a cat – and held out his arms to Azz.
“join us” He smiled, from next to him Clara mumbled what he thought sounded like ‘snuggle cuddle puddle’ but he wasn't sure. Azz stared wide eyed at him before hesitantly shuffling forwards into his arms. Iruma closed his arms around Azz in a hug as he squished into his chest. He felt Azz jolt slightly before relaxing and returning the hug.
For the first time in days, Iruma fell asleep in seconds.