Work Text:
1,017 years, just barely over 10 centuries, Chadon served loyally at his king’s side. Every order, carried out without questioning. It was shameful for his time period, how he ended up in this position. A time where Buddhism reigned in religion, and yet in his final moments, one who was afraid to die cried out to who he thought was the deity of the afterlife, of death, another heard him instead. The king of the demons, Gwi-Ma.
It was humiliating at the time. A soldier of war, sobbing and pleading as he kneeled over, one hand trying to stop the blood flow as it desperately rested over the fatal injury, the other pawing at the dirt covered battle ground, using the blood as paint as he tried to trace some kind of sigil, unknown even as destiny guided the trembling, soaked fingers. he sounded like a lost child in a dark hallway on a stormy night. Gwi-Ma had been the parent’s bedroom light flicking on, guiding him to safety. He had died, in the human world at least, but a grander life in the beyond waited for him. He swore his life, his undying loyalty, his everything if this deity simply let him live without the fear of dying again.
Their relationship did not form overnight. Chadon was obedient but resentful at first, feeling Gwi-Ma hadn’t upheld his end of the begging, but what followed was cultivated over many, many years to perfection. Chadon breathed proving his loyalty to the very one who answered his begs that fateful day. Gwi-Ma didn’t even have to torment Chadon to keep him in line, the demon king’s loyal knight did it for him. That was one of many things Gwi-Ma liked about his second in command, but the king could be cruel when he wanted.
The difference was, he could be cruel to anyone he wanted, but very few asked him to, very few broke so beautifully and willingly for their king. That was what made Chadon different.
Chadon stood stiff, prim, proper at the side of his king’s throne. His arms folded behind his back, eyes narrowed. He was obviously wary. The number of souls were not trickling in nearly as quick as he would’ve liked. Gwi-Ma could see it, he knew Chadon’s tells better than the demon himself. It was... sweet, Gwi-Ma decided, seeing how much the knight fretted for his master’s sake.
“My sweet...” the voice purred, filling the space between them with warmth, almost amusement. Chadon did not share the sentiment. Gwi-Ma saw it though, the reaction his voice provoked from his loyal second, the way his shoulders tensed, not from fear but the preparation to act the moment a word was uttered, suggested even. It made Gwi-Ma's humored smile grow further.
“Your shoulders are so stiff, my knight,” he continued, voice melting almost to a coo, “that can’t be comfortable... come now... closer to me, by my side, my pet...”
Chadon bristled now. He tried to remain professional, held together stubbornly, yet even he couldn’t deny how the voice of his king alone made his knees weak, threatening to buckle beneath him, “I am keeping watch, my lord...” he insisted, hoping that would be enough to put his king off from his playful mood. It, unfortunately, did the opposite.
“Mmnhmm... I see that...” he murmured, “but... I gave you an order... you are not going to disobey me, are you?”
Chadon took in a sharp hissing breath between his fanged teeth, it was soft and subtle, but Gwi-Ma still caught it. That was the inhale of a man debating fighting and giving in to his desires. Finally, gradually, Chadon turned to look at Gwi-Ma. He turned on his heel and marched closer to his side, closer to his line of sight, though the demon king did so enjoy watching him wander over to him. Gwi-Ma tilted his head in lazy entertainment, propping his head against a fisted hand, eyes roaming the body he knew just as well as he knew his own. A smirk displayed the enjoyment he found in the obedience.
“Your request, your majesty?” Chadon uttered, and Gwi-Ma chuckled.
“Even when closer to me, you’re still so tense,” he cooed teasingly, “not everything is an order.... but if that’s what you’re searching for...” Gwi-Ma trailed off, just to drag out the anticipation, mockingly so, “what kind of generous king would I be if I denied?” he finished, the smirk turning more wolfish, “But, of course, I am not a mind reader, Chadon. I’m going to need you to ask me for what you want... or, more accurately, I am going to need you.... to beg me.”
There it was. That swallow. The hesitation that came with knowing the words being said ran much deeper than what they sounded. When Chadon didn’t obey after a few more long moments, Gwi-Ma continued, reclining further back into his throne, as if his command was as basic as commenting on the weather, though the outcome would be significantly sweeter.
“Begging,” there was that word again, “just as you were when you first called out to me. The first time I saw you... oh it was such a beautiful sight, Chadon. Those heavy tears, shrill voice. I could’ve mistaken you for a child and not a fearsome soldier of war....” the king suddenly sat up a bit straighter and leaned in, chin resting in his hands, bottom lip pulled into a taunting pout, “you aren’t about to deny your master of the sweetest sound he ever heard... are you, Chadon?”
Chadon swallowed again, heavily, but that last question was all it took to finally gain his compliance. He stooped, almost too quickly, like he couldn’t have kneeled quick enough for Gwi-Ma, were it anyone less durable their knees would’ve bruised under the hard thump of skin and bones meeting the hard floor beneath them, but that was not even on the list of Chadon’s concerns right now. Right now, his king needed pleasing, and it was his honor to do so. The position was familiar; it was like a sense of Deja-vu, like a memory that had long since been coated with dust. Just enough that Chadon recognized it. At least that meant he was doing it right. His knees dug into his stomach as he bent over them, his head hovering a few inches from the floor.
“Please...” the soldier finally whispered, “please, my king, let me serve you. Let me suffer for your pleasure. Please. Please... please, please, my king. I am yours. Yours to torment. Use me, your majesty, to your hearts content,” his words were soft, reverent, needy, “please, let me be yours, your all-great highness... only yours, remind me that I’m yours... there would be no greater honor for me, my king...”
Gwi-Ma smiled. It wasn’t as good as the first time he heard Chadon beg, but there was time to reach that point. They were only getting started after all. He’d have him in tears by the end of the night.
There were, in fact, tears. It took time, taunts, but Gwi-Ma eventually managed to reach the same sweet sounds that drew him to the pitiful, dying soldier of so many years ago. Begging Gwi-Ma, not for life this time, not in the same way he originally had.
No.
This time he begged for the life that was already in the palm of Chadon’s hands, the mercy Gwi-Ma already provived with the understanding it could be just as easily taken away if Gwi-Ma ever were so cruel, but the demon king did not foresee such a future, especially seeing how wonderfully his servant had begged for that was already granted to him. Chadon had been stripped, mocked, pressed all the way down by the simple bottom of Gwi-Ma's shoe. He’d been told to beg over and over and over until his voice was hoarse. Now, it was done.
Gwi-Ma had them migrate from the throne room to his own private quarters, and there was where the other side of Gwi-Ma was shown, a side reserved for only the most loyal, most obedient of his subjects. Chadon was draped in one of Gwi-Ma's own silk robes. It hung loosely off Chadon’s frame simply from the sheer size difference. Chadon was tall, he was wide in the shoulders, he was an ideal soldier, but Gwi-Ma was a king, standing a good foot taller than Chadon’s 6’1 size. It was precious, in the king’s eyes, it made Chadon the perfect size for the aftercare he had prepped.
Gwi-Ma was relaxed in the bed with Chadon curled up against him, face tucked perfectly against his neck. The tousled ends of Chadon’s dark, dull blue hair tickled Gwi-Ma's chin, his breath puffed against Gwi-Ma's collarbone, his chin resting comfortably against Gwi-Ma's shoulder. Clawed fingers bushed soothingly through the hair he was previously pulling and pushing on.
Another shuddering breath left the soldier and Gwi-Ma smiled at the fact, “Shhhh....” he crooned as sweet as a mother shushing her infant back to sleep, “you are fine, my jewel, you did perfect. So perfect. You were so good, so, so pretty for me,” he murmured, “you did exactly as I asked. You made me very happy, very proud. You may rest, my sweet beggar...”
Chadon shivered again, another wheezing exhale leaving him as he tried to breathe through the stuffy nose he now had. Gwi-Ma smiled in equal parts of amusement and fondness, “Shhh... I know... I know, my darling...”
“O-only for you, m-my king,” Chadon choked, a whimper edging his words and Gwi-Ma's smile grew.
“I know,” he soothed again, “I know, my knight. You were very brave for me. Embrace your spoils for being so good and obedient for me,” he coaxed, reaching for the water he had set aside, guiding it to Chadon’s lips, “here... here now, sip. You’re parched, I’m sure...”
Chadon choked on another breath, but carefully did as told, letting his head tilt back ever so slightly to follow the flow of the refreshing liquid. Another whimper spilled past the busy lips, feeling the coolness contrast the burning in his throat. The pitiful noise was only answered with another soft shushing.
“There, there, let this help you, my love,” he murmured gently, “would you like another honeyed fig?”
Chadon nodded meekly, still adjusting to being spoiled. There was no denying that he was the most spoiled thing within demon kind, but it was usually dismissed as practicalities. Being hand fed treats was not something he could so easily disregard. Even so, as soon as the slick, sweet food met his lips, Chadon melted, eyes fluttering in bliss.
“There we are,” Gwi-Ma murmured, “we’ll tend to your knees as well, my love. We’ll have you fixed up proper by tomorrow. How about a new dashing suit, hm? Would my treasure like that?”
Chadon shuddered and nodded, though the action seemed distracted. Eventually the second in command found his pathetic voice, still clinging to the faintest whimper within it, “May I stay here with you, my king, for tonight?”
“Mmmmnnn, an excellent idea. I don’t think you should be walking the rest of the night,” the demon king murmured, praise oozing from his tone. He pressed the most tender of kisses to Chadon’s brow, then confirmed more directly with the final words, “anything for you, my everything. You need just ask.”