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Ten minutes earlier, Yuu's phone had begun to buzz frantically during a quiet moment in their Guidance Counselor Office at Night Raven College.
It wasn't abnormal, particularly since the majority of Yuu's former classmates made it a point to keep in contact and continue to text regularly in the group chats (particularly when they inevitably needed backup for whatever trouble they'd caused this time).
But even before opening their messages, Yuu's sixth sense – powerfully honed from all the overblots and world ending threats they'd had to deal with while being a student and even every now and then these days as well – told them that something was up.
It was Jade.
Which, again, wasn't unusual. They saw Jade and Floyd on a regular basis given the way Yuu was dating their boss, Azul. They'd also become quite close with each of the twins during their high school shenanigans – it was inevitable with all the life and death threats they'd faced together.
However, what was odd was the multiple voicemails Jade left was.
Very concerned, Yuu immediately opened up the latest one.
"Yuu, I must again apologize for interrupting your duties–" Jade's voice began.
There was the sound of something crashing in the background, as well as Floyd's loud, chaotic whining.
"–but we have an emergency at the main lounge," Jade continued, sounding less composed as he usually did. "A disgruntled customer – a rather volatile potion master – hurled an unstable transformation draft at Azul during a contract dispute. The culprit has been... dealt with. However, the potion's effects are quite severe. Given that Azul does not wish for others to know about his... current state, Floyd and I must personally collect and harvest the ingredients, with some of the key components only available from the depths of the Coral Sea–"
There was more of the sound of Floyd cursing in the background and– was that a child crying?
Then, the sound of a door slamming.
Yuu's confused and protective urges ramped up even more.
"–but we cannot leave Azul unattended in this state," Jade said, sighing at something on his side. "Your dramatic significant other has completely barricaded himself inside of his office. He will undoubtedly refuse to open the door for anyone, so our only option was to call you, Yuu. We have already informed Crowley of your leave of absence and transferred him the sufficient funds needed to 'excuse' your time off."
Yuu rolled their eyes at the reminder of their money-grubbing boss and adopted parent, but did not hesitate a moment longer.
Not even bothering to change out of their teaching uniform – personally designed by Crewel, so it was rather stylish – they threw their counselor's clipboard onto their desk, shut their laptop, and grabbed their coat.
After sending a quick text to let Grim know they likely wouldn't return to Ramshackle tonight, they rushed straight for the Hall of Mirrors.
o0o0o0o
Yuu stood directly outside the heavy, reinforced door of Azul's private office. Jade and Floyd had already left, having instructed the staff to let Yuu in but not go near their boss during this time.
While Yuu was already aware of Azul's obsession with always being in control and never letting others see him vulnerable, all the cloak and dagger was making them very concerned for whatever this potion had done to their boyfriend.
But whatever had happened, Yuu wouldn't shy away.
They would help – whether Azul liked it or not.
"Azul? It's me, Yuu," they said, knocking firmly on the door. "Jade and Floyd called me and told me you were hit with a potion. Please open the door."
A muffled, incredibly tense sound echoed from inside, followed by a heavy, trembling sniffle.
"G-Go away!" a voice cried out.
Yuu blinked. The voice and cadence unmistakably belonged to their boyfriend, but the pitch was... completely wrong. It was entirely too high, reeking of genuine tears, and lacked the smooth, baritone weight of the corporate manager.
"Azul...?"
"I said leave me be!" the high-pitched voice sobbed. There was the sound of what appeared to be ceramic rattling against the floor. "Do not look at me! Especially not you, Yuu! Return to the campus at once!"
Yuu's eyebrows knitted together in fierce determination. They didn't like to barge in uninvited, but it was clear that Azul was suffering. If Jade and Floyd truly thought it was a bad idea for Yuu to be here, they wouldn't have called.
Regardless of how flippantly or cruelly the trio acted or talked about each other at times, Yuu knew that they profoundly, fiercely close. They could claim all they want that they only stayed together because it was beneficial or entertaining and that they could leave at any time, but Yuu had stopped believing such things after the countless times the trio had literally stepped in front of a blast of magic for the other.
They'd followed each other since childhood, and would follow each other for a lifetime more.
They were family.
Undisputably.
...and being family sometimes meant calling out each other's bullshit.
In this case, blatantly pointing out how Azul was being too stubborn and terrified to open the door.
Regardless, there was no way Yuu would leave their lover to suffer in a dark room alone, so they would just have to make their own entry.
Reaching deep into the pockets of their tailored coat – one of the newest ones that Azul had bought in his seemingly eternal need to buy them luxuries every other time they met; it used to be every time, so progress – Yuu pulled out a small, heavy leather pouch. Inside was a set of professional tension wrenches and magical lockpicks.
Back during their school days, Ruggie had gleefully taught Yuu the exact mechanics of bypassing high-end locks with Rook adding further notes on this "practical survival skill." In all fairness, the skill had definitely proven very useful during the various shenanigans and dangers that Yuu often found themselves in.
However, Yuu had never imagined they'd be using it on their own boyfriend's office.
...or well, maybe they had, but for more fun reasons than this.
Kneeling in front of the keyhole, Yuu inserted the lockpick. With a series of practiced, delicate clicks, they manipulated the internal pins – using the little tricks Ruggie and Rook had taught them on how to get past even a reinforced door like this.
Snap.
Click.
The heavy deadbolt gave way with a resounding thud. With a grin and a mental note to send Ruggie a nice gift basket and Rook tickets to that new stage play in the Coral Sea, Yuu slowly pushed the massive door open. They stepped into the dim, shadow-drenched office.
"Azul?" Yuu whispered, closing the door softly behind them to preserve his privacy. "Olly Olly Octo-free? Any money-obsessed Monopoly Men around? Mr. Capitalist of my Heart?"
There wasn't even a huff of laughter or exasperation at the quips, making Yuu's frown deepen.
They looked around the office. The grand mahogany desk was completely empty. The plush leather chairs for clients were devoid of octopus boyfriends too.
However, Yuu hadn't survived this long without developing a very enhanced sense of detective instincts and clue-finding skills. Their eyes tracked a small, wet trail of water droplets leading toward the furthest, darkest corner of the room. They walked forward, coming to the display of deep-sea artifacts.
There, tucked away in the deep shadows, sat a large, traditional ceramic octopus pot – an antique prop that Azul kept around for aesthetic flair, he'd said.
Yuu crept closer, their boots making no sound on the heavy carpet. They knelt down, gently leaning forward to peer over the round rim of the ceramic jar.
Their breath caught instantly.
Curled up tightly inside the jar was a merchild. He looked no older than eight years old, with pale, chubby cheeks, a round little tummy, and large, tear-filled blue-grey eyes blinking up from behind a pair of oversized, circular spectacles that kept slipping down his button nose.
His silver-lavender hair was a wild, curly mess. He was wearing an oversized, crumpled dress shirt that had eight thick, chubby black and light purple octopus tentacles sticking out from under it. The plump tentacles coiled around his small body, squeezing himself into a defensive ball.
He was, without a single shadow of a doubt, the most profoundly adorable thing Yuu had ever seen in any world they'd been in.
But the moment the little octopus boy realized he'd been spotted, a look of pure, agonizing horror crossed his round face.
Little Azul let out a sharp, choked gasp, throwing his tiny chubby hands over his face as his tentacles scrambled frantically to pull his shirt over his head – pushing himself down in a desperate to vanish into the ceramic depths of the pot.
"No! Dont look, Yuu!" the little child wailed, his small voice cracking as fresh, heavy tears spilled over his round cheeks. "I told you to go away! I'm hideous! I'm stupid, and fat, and slow, and–and I don't want you to see me like this!"
Yuu could almost feel the massive, deeply rooted hatred Azul felt for his younger self. It was bursting out in a violent, heartbreaking panic attack.
The truth was, even after Azul's overblot, Yuu seeing the picture of his younger self, and their subsequent relationship after getting together, Azul was still hypersensitive to his true form and childhood flaws. Even when visiting the Coral Sea, Azul would make excuses to avoid transforming back into an octopus – some particularly ridiculous whenever Yuu gently pushed.
No matter what Yuu said, it seemed that Azul was convinced that showing them the weak, unpolished version of himself would instantly destroy the adult empire that he had worked so brutally hard to build.
(As well as their relationship.)
So seeing him like this... at the time of his life where he'd hated himself most... there must have been no greater nightmare for Azul.
"Please, Yuu, please look away!" Azul begged, sobbing as his tiny frame shook violently within the jar. "I-I am nothing like the man you date! I, I'm just a useless crying monster from the sea floor! I'm sorry, I'm sorry–"
Yuu felt their heart shatter into a million pieces. Without a single moment of hesitation, they reached straight into the ceramic pot.
Completely ignoring Azul's frantic, tiny protests, Yuu gently wrapped their arms around his soft, chubby torso and lifted him entirely out of the jar. He was surprisingly heavy for his small size, but also ridiculously soft and squishy. As Yuu pulled him flush against their chest, Azul's little suction cups instinctively clung to the fabric of Yuu's sleeves and body, making them want to coo even more.
But Yuu held it in, sitting down on the plush carpet. They cradled the weeping little octopus boy, placing them securely in their lap and rubbing his back soothingly.
"Azul, look at me." Yuu murmured, their voice dropping into that profoundly gentle, unshakeable cadence they'd used when addressing him after his overblot. "My love, please?"
But Little Azul kept his face buried in Yuu's chest, his tiny fists clutching their shirt as he continued to hiccup and cry.
"N-No... you'll leave me," Azul said firmly, squeezing his eyes shut as he shook. "You'll realize I'm still just a pathetic child–"
"Azul Ashengrotto," Yuu commanded softly, using a gentle hand to cup the side of his round face. They lifted their head until his eyes were aligned with theirs. "Look at me right now."
Azul trembled at the command, but slowly forced his teary eyes open.
To his shock, Yuu didn't look at him with disgust.
They didn't even look at him with pity.
Instead, Yuu's eyes were completely overflowing with an intense, unadulterated adoration.
As well as a fierce, protective love.
A soft, breathless smile broke across Yuu's face. They used their thumb to gently wipe away the heavy tears rolling down his incredibly soft, round cheek.
"There you are," Yuu whispered, their voice vibrating with pure warmth. "My absolutely, incredible, adorable lover."
Little Azul froze, staring at their partner non-comprehendingly.
"Th-That, n-no–"
"Yes," Yuu said firmly, not letting him speak. Not if it was to degrade himself. "Azul... I love you. Inside and out. No matter what you look like. But this?"
Their smile grew, eager to finally see the parts of Azul that he'd so desperately tried to hide from them. Hide from the world.
"Look at those curly little locks. This wonderful round face. These perfect, squishy tentacles..."
With every word, Yuu caressed the corresponding part, touch as light as a feather as they traced Azul's small body.
"–and your little round belly? It's so incredibly soft." Yuu's eyes shone brightly. "I love it. I just want to protect you forever."
"S-Soft?" Azul squeaked, his voice cracking as he tried to hide his midsection. "It's–I'm fat! An unathletic glutton! I'm–"
"You're perfect," Yuu interrupted, gently booping the tip of his nose. "You are a perfect, squishy, precious little octopus. I love your human form, Azul, but this form? It's a treasure. I want to hold you like this all day."
Their smile grew, eyes dancing with an unmistakable light.
"Azul... you're absolutely beautiful."
Perfect.
Precious.
Beautiful.
Azul's cheeks lit up. He stared, mouth parting in profound shock at the barrage of compliments. He couldn't compute any of it, his wide, watery blue-grey eyes blinking behind his lenses.
The logic-drive fortress of Azul's mind completely short-circuited. He had spent his entire life running from his past, believing that this round, hideous freak deserved to be buried in the darkest trenches of the ocean.
He'd done everything to get rid of the memory of this unworthy child... but it'd never felt like enough.
o0o0o0o
Years ago, after he had overblot, Azul had been mortified when Jade and Floyd revealed to Yuu and the others that the fat little octopus boy in the picture they'd stolen from the museum was actually him. He'd wanted to immediately erase their memories, or at least demand they also sign NDA forms swearing to never reveal this information.
But given the way he'd nearly... ended all their lives, Azul had begrudgingly accepted the humiliation of Yuu and their group knowing who he used to be.
At the time, it hadn't been as much of a big deal. The magicless Prefect of Ramshackle Dorm was... interesting, yes, and rather good at surviving given the three overblots they'd apparently handled by that time, but not someone that Azul thought he'd ever hold in high esteem.
And yet... things had changed.
It wasn't one particular thing or another, but given all the troubles that Yuu would find themselves in – whether it be from Crowley's request or by mere 'chance' that seemed to find Yuu no matter where they went (Malleus and Idia had teamed up to investigate if their resilient Prefect was cursed, but the results came back negative each time) – it was inevitable that they would repeatedly require Azul's extensive network of information and resources.
Over time, Azul began to... look forward to Yuu's visits.
To the way they'd sit in his lounge, sipping at tea and conversing with a fearlessness and blunt honesty that Azul had never seen in any other individual. Their every conversation was fascinating, particularly when Yuu would tell Azul about the various differences between their worlds (and Azul, of course, finding ways to monetize said info).
Far sooner than he would ever admit, Azul found himself making excuses to approach them.
He'd 'coincidentally' bump into them in the cafeteria or after class, even offering free advice on whatever problem Yuu was facing this time or in anticipation of future discomforts. Whether it be information on a new monster in the forest, hints for the latest Potions Exam, or just guidance on how to find the most cost-effective tool for Ramshackle's latest repair, Azul always made sure that they showed Yuu most useful and attractive side.
...or at least, he tried.
Some of their 'adventures' left Azul looking... rather foolish, but somehow, Yuu didn't seem to mind. They even seemed happy when Azul wasn't actively giving something, as if somehow glad to count their presence among their many, many companions.
In many ways... it was frustrating.
Azul preferred to look at every interaction as a business negotiation. Everyone wanted something. Power, beauty, grades, status... everyone had a price they were willing to pay, and Azul prided himself on being able to supply the things they so desperately needed.
But Yuu?
They constantly broke Azul's calculations.
A magicless outsider from another world shouldn't have been able to survive a single overblot – nevertheless so many, and all the far worse dangers that came in the years afterwards.
Azul truly expected Yuu to come knocking on his door eventually – to ask if he could make a deal for Yuu to gain magic or at least the weapons needed to more safely fight the dangers that always found them.
He even had multiple drafts of the contract prepared, tweaking them slightly every night after Yuu had yet again found themselves in life-risking danger. The price for each draft hadn't even been that high – a discount on account of the fact that Yuu had helped to save his life on many occasions.
And yet... Yuu never knocked on their door.
Or, at least, never knocked on the door with the expectation for Azul to solve all their problems.
Yuu came for advice, yes, but in truth, they never asked much of Azul.
(In all truth, Azul was always left wishing Yuu would ask for more.)
The real trouble began when Yuu started dropping by for reasons that had absolutely nothing to do with solving problems Whether they were visiting just to chat, venting about their chaotic classmates, or sharing culinary recipes from their original world, they began to just... linger around him.
(Naturally, regarding the recipes, Azul had immediately drafted a formal compensation contract and royalties fee. It had been downright insulting when Yuu had initially offered them up for free – had they truly learned nothing from him!? Especially when their excuse for a home was literally falling apart most of the time!)
Azul kept waiting for the shoe to drop. For Yuu's hidden agenda to be revealed. While Yuu was an... extraordinarily – ridiculously – compassionate and strong individual, the terrors they were forced to regularly face would drive any person to desperate lengths before long.
It would only make sense for Yuu to one day snap, to hold the past over Azul's head, and demand a high-priced contract in their favor.
Azul wouldn't have even minded.
It seemed like a small price to pay in return for their continued presence.
And yet... the days turned into months.
The months turned into years.
But still, Yuu never made any demands.
Just remained their same, wonderful, perfect self.
Before Azul knew it, he was graduating.
On one hand, Azul was entirely ready to conquer the business world outside of Night Raven College – to prove to all those who'd ever looked down upon him that he wasn't that pathetic, useless child anymore.
What he wasn't prepared for, however, was leaving Yuu behind.
Leaving the only person who had never truly asked for anything they weren't willing to give back tenfold.
(Azul could live a thousand lifetimes, and still he would be in debt for all Yuu had given him these few years.)
After graduating, Azul had... begun to flounder. To drown once more without Yuu's constant guiding presence. They kept in touch via text, of course, but so did everyone else.
Azul was just... another number on Yuu's phone now.
He threw himself into his work, fueled by a fierce, consuming determination to make a massive name for himself. He needed to build an empire out here in the real world. To prove to everyone – to Yuu – that he was someone truly powerful and not just a schoolboy schemer.
(To prove that he could be a partner completely worthy of Yuu's attention and trust.)
(Someone capable of providing Yuu with absolutely anything they could ever dream of.)
But as the months ticked down toward Yuu's own graduation, Azul's focus shifted. He began to anticipate Yuu's inevitable request for Azul to find them somewhere new to live after leaving Night Raven College.
After all, it only made sense they'd need permanent, proper housing – admittedly, Ramshackle was looking quite fixed up these days due to the hardworking efforts of Yuu and the countless gifts from their many wealthy and well-connected friends, but it was still a temporary home and school property – and Azul had made it a point to be well-connected to many top real-estate agents who'd be able to handle any need Yuu and Grim could possibly think of.
It only made sense for Yuu to reach out to Azul to make a deal.
(...particularly since Azul had already carefully curated a selection of prime housing properties – all located near his most-frequented addresses, of course – and quietly slipped the information into Yuu's physical mailbox at Ramshackle.)
Unfortunately, that stupid bird of a headmaster went ahead and offered Yuu to stay at Night Raven College as their Official Guidance Counselor.
It was an incredibly transparent ploy to continue exploiting Yuu's hardworking efforts for ridiculously low compensation, but Yuu had seemed so profoundly grateful and elated to be able to remain at the place they'd truly made their own.
Thus, Azul had no choice but to spend an evening quietly shredding all of the housing contracts he'd prepared, nursing an entire bottle of expensive Briar Valley wine that he'd originally planned to send as a gift to a very lucrative investor.
(What was the point of investing if Yuu wasn't going to be there to see what he'd made?)
Feeling lost once more, Azul had once again thrown himself completely into work. NRC had been ruthless, but it was nothing compared to the heartlessness of the corporate world. Amongst the exhausting sea of restaurant expansions, tedious tax codes, necessary backroom deals, and high-society schmoozing, Azul found himself longing for the past. The simpler days of those ridiculous 'school adventures' – back when the world was small and he didn't have to go far to see Yuu's smile.
I'm in love with them, Azul realized abruptly one day, uncaring as he ruined the documents he'd been carefully penning a moment earlier. I'm in love with Yuu.
What had started as an... annoyed fondness and grudging respect has somehow transformed into a quiet dangerous devotion.
It was a vulnerability that terrified Azul far more than any corporate rival or guard raid ever could.
Almost as terrified as Azul had been when Yuu abruptly showed up one day, saying that the twins had called them about Azul overworking himself and how they needed a certain NRC Guidance Counselor to come take care of him.
"...I missed you," Yuu had said finally, not quite looking at them. "I didn't want to bother you. I know how much focus your new empire demands, but–"
A part of Azul wished that he'd heard the rest of whatever Yuu was going to say.
Instead, Azul had lunged forward, capturing Yuu's lips in a sudden, breathless kiss that drowned out the rest of the world.
Of course, the moment Azul realized what he was doing, he'd forced himself to back away. He'd tensed, stammering as he tried to explain himself and plead for Yuu's forgiveness–
Only for Yuu to interrupt this time. They pulled Azul back into their arms, cutting off any words he could've attempted with their kiss.
After that, the rest was history as the saying goes.
Even though Yuu had flatly rejected Azul's proposal for a legally binding, mutually signed relationship contract, the two of them had been nearly inseparable since that day.
Of course, their relationship had its ups and downs like any other, but Azul... gradually... grew less and less concerned that Yuu would suddenly leave one day, block his number, and refuse to speak to him ever again.
After all, this was Yuu.
The Prefect of Ramshackle Dorm.
The one who had faced down the overblots of the strongest students at Night Raven College.
The one who had, even if only a few were aware, saved their world – taking the burden of all their lives on their magicless little shoulders more times than Azul could possibly count.
Even if Yuu... one day decided they were no longer in love with Azul, he knew they wouldn't just abandon him.
Yuu would explain with every kindness in their heart and still be... friends afterwards, if nothing else.
(In many ways, it was more terrifying than comforting to have a lover so humble, kind, and unconcerned with the material world. If riches, power, and glory could help Azul keep Yuu, he'd be far less worried.)
(But then again... being obsessed with those things just wouldn't have been Yuu, would it?)
And so, Azul continued to strive for perfection – to never give Yuu any doubt that he was the best partner that they could ever find.
Sure, there were those who may boast of being more powerful, smarter, and perhaps even more attractive – especially when considering their irritating friend group – but since Yuu had been the one to choose Azul above superior mages, princes, and ancient entities, then the former Octavinelle Housewarden would simply have to ensure that he remained a prize worthy of that choice, no matter the cost.
...which led to this current situation being even more unacceptable.
Returning to his eight-year-old form was a nightmare worse even worse than when he had lost hundreds of his contracts and overblotted. Despite logically knowing that there was a simple enough cure to that assailant's potion, Azul had completely broken down.
The deep-seated, insecure horror of his childhood swept over him like a tidal wave.
He was this round, helpless freak all over again.
Slow, clumsy, unpolished–
Later, Azul would be grateful for the fact that he'd been having this meeting in private, and that Jade and Floyd had quickly apprehended the culprit, but his logic-driven brain had completely shattered.
He didn't think about his multi-million business expansion. He didn't think about his legal prowess or corporate contracts or even that he was supposed to be meeting an investor from the Scalding Sands that Jamil had recommended in a few hours.
Driven entirely by a primal, deep-sea survival instinct, Azul had rejected Jade and Floyd's attempts to calm him down, tentacles flailing and overturning tables as he dragged his heavy, uncoordinated body into his private office.
He'd had some sense to lock the door behind him before nearly flinging himself into the ceramic octopus pot that he always kept in each of his offices. Even though his adult form wouldn't fit into such a thing anymore, seeing it was a... comfort. An irrational assurance that, if need to, he could hide his disgusting self.
Even in his eight-year-old state, the pot had been cramped, cold, and dark, but far better than exposing himself to the world outside of it.
Azul wasn't sure how long he was in there, waiting for Jade and Floyd to find a way to fix this damn situation, but before he knew it... there was the sound of Yuu's voice.
The utter betrayal that Azul felt at Jade and Floyd – the only ones who could've possibly told Yuu and have them arrive so quickly – was immense, but not as great as the fear that took ahold of him even further.
Yuu may have seen that humiliating picture all those years ago, but to see the physical manifestation of that worthless child?
To see their outstanding lover looking so flawed, weeping, and vulnerable?
They'd leave him for sure.
Azul had screamed for Yuu to leave, and yet, in a move that wasn't surprising in truth, Yuu forced their way in. It took no time for them at all to find Azul, using the practiced ease that came from fighting for survival and stability for so many years.
Azul braced himself, but was still in no way prepared as they saw Yuu peering over the rim of the ceramic edge.
Trembling, he waited for the sharp sting of silence, the unbearable weight of pity, or the quiet, heavy disappointment of a partner finally realizing they were tethered to someone entirely different than they thought.
(They're going to leave–)
(They're going to leave–)
But instead of fleeing or understandably laughing, two warm, entirely confident hands reached straight into the ceramic pot.
Completely ignoring his terrified, tiny protests, Azul felt Yuu's arms gently wrap around him. His tentacles clung to their body, scared they'd disappear while desperately wishing they would just go.
Azul tried to keep his eyes closed, to pretend this wasn't happening until Jade and Floyd got back with the antidote, but once again... Yuu refused to let him hide.
But even knowing everything he knew about Yuu, Azul could've never imagined the depth of care and adoration in their eyes as his lover looked upon him in this form.
They called him perfect.
They called him adorable.
They called him beautiful.
To hear Yuu – the person whose respect and affection he valued and feared above all others – look at his most imperfect childhood self and declare it beautiful was a concept that even his brilliant brain couldn't begin to calculate.
"You... you don't think I'm a disgusting beast?" Azul whispered, hiccupping in the most embarrassing matter.
Almost as embarrassing as how his chubby tentacles cautiously looped around Yuu's wrists and arms – seeking them out like a steady rock in this emotional storm.
A ship to its guiding lighthouse.
A man to his lover and best friend.
A person he could've never imagined or came up with no matter how wild or ambitious his dreams could get.
(And now that Azul had a taste... nothing and no one would be ever enough.)
(Only Yuu.)
"Never." Yuu smiled fiercely, a familiar expression they wore whenever they felt like their loved ones were in danger in any way. "I love the brilliant corporate manager who buys me overly fancy coats and jewelry while also getting ink stains on his face when he's been working too many hours. I love the silly and selfish high schooler who tried to steal my dorm, overblotted, and spent most of our time together second guessing my intentions. And I love this sweet, wonderful little octopus boy in front of me just as much."
Yuu leaned down, pressing a soft, lingering kiss directly onto the top of his curly, silver-lavender head, and then on both of his chubby cheeks.
"Why?" Yuu smiled playfully, but with determination. "Because it's all you. All of those parts of you are what led to the person you are today. To the entire empire that you built from nothing. To the one I fell in love with. Seeing more sides of you... it just means more for me to love, Azul."
Azul stared up at them, his chest heaving with a final, shaky breath.
Slowly, the crushing terror of rejection drained from his tiny body. In its place was... a cocktail of emotions and feelings that he couldn't even begin to decipher. A bright, rosy, pink flush as he shyly buried his face back into Yuu's neck, awe beginning to bloom past all the other emotions.
"I love you, my treasure," Azul whispered. "My pearl. My guiding light. My rock in the storm. Words... words cannot say how much you mean to me."
Yuu's arms just wrapped around him, holding his small body close.
"I know, my beautiful boy."