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“You’re goin’ crazy. Falling in love with a deity? You’re just asking for death here, bud. I’d say.. Keep yourself in those shadows. You’ll never get there.”
B. Zuka was an Inphernal like any other. He was 51, a veteran of war and a mainly darkly colored one. He had a dark grey peaked hat, a little bag just at his hip, two grey horns at the left and right side of his head. He had eyebags, sometimes losing sleep over time. He owned a shop now, named “ZUKAS SHOP N’ STOP”, selling gears, stickers, or any item of his choice that he felt like selling.
One day, he was sitting down by his shop. One of his elbows on the counter at the cashier, his hand resting on his cheek as he stared ahead into nothing. A customer stepped in, as Zuka fixed up his posture. The customer immediately walked over to the counter up to Zuka. She looked like a young Inphernal, around 14-15 years old, wearing a skirt with a baggy t-shirt. “Hi, sir. I just have a question to ask..”
She looked a bit curious yet her young eyes looked at him. He nodded in acknowledgement, before answering. “Yes. Ask ahead, kiddo.” The young Inphernal paused for a second, before then looking up at the old demon. “Do you love a deity..? Is it true?”
Shit.
Zuka froze in his spot. A bead of sweat formed at the back of his head. He sighed, multiple thoughts racing in his head all at once. With all of the thoughts racing in his head, he answered with a simple “It’s complicated.” The Inphernal nodded, the two dismissing each other goodbye. A sigh escaped Zuka’s lips, as he closed the door of the shop, locking everything and taking everything down before heading upstairs from the inside of the shop to his home. It wasn’t special but it was an efficient way of getting back home after work.
Once he was home, he sat down on his couch, finally getting some rest. He thought about all the rumors that were spread about him and Darkheart. He was blushing just at the thought of him, he felt like the worst idiot in the universe. Just as he was thinking about Darkheart, blushing, feeling all lovesick, he saw a distant shadow, which was oddly familiar to..
Darkheart’s. Great.
Darkheart then came, and walked over to Zuka. “Seems like someone is blushing? Did we come at the wrong time, dearie?”
Dearie. That nickname felt wrong in his mind, yet it felt so right.. It replayed in Zuka’s mind hundreds of times, spiraling around in his head as he zoned out with the memory of the word playing in his mind over and over like a goddamn broken record.
“Zuka?”
Darkheart’s voice broke Zuka out of his little zoning-out session, as they spoke. “Swords to Zuka, geez, do you zone out this often?”
No reply, just as Darkheart expected. But Darkheart decided not to say anything and keep quiet. The two stood together, the tension so thick you could cut it with a knife. “..So.” Zuka said, thinking about his words before letting them leave his lips.
“Are you gonna do something?” Zuka asked, lots of thoughts and opportunities racing through his mind, a frenzy of different ideas running through his mind. Some violent, some cutesy, others involving some other random thoughts. Darkheart stood there, tall, their 7 foot figure looming over the other demon, making them look more intimidating in a way. Zuka tensed a bit, his shoulders tight in worry.
Darkheart walked up to the shopkeeper, sitting down next to them on the couch and wrapping their arms around the other. “..You’re feelin’ bold today I see.” Zuka said, his shoulders less tense. He adjusted his position to let the deity sit on his lap gently, his strong arms wrapping around the slim deity’s figure.
Zuka looked away, hesitating to speak his thoughts for a moment, his heart starting to gradually beat faster and faster. It felt like he was thinking about the right words; usually he’d speak without hesitation, unafraid to speak his mind without any judgement because he stood with what he were to say. But it was weird. He didn’t know what to say.
“Dark.” He spoke, his tone careful.
Darkheart turned their head around. “Hm? Need something?”
Zuka paused for a moment, before taking a deep breath and pulling Darkheart closer. “What are we gonna do with our situation with.. The fact that we love each other without being supposed to?”
That made Darkheart pause for a second.
A careful thought roamed through Darkheart’s mind.
“It doesn’t change our love for you. What we feel won’t change, based on these stupid rumors.”
A pause followed, before the arms of Darkheart wrapped around Zuka’s waist. “We’ll still be together, dear.” They spoke, the cheeks of Zuka flushing a soft red now. A chuckle escaped Darkheart’s lips, as they gently poked their finger onto Zuka’s nose.
“What are you doing.” Zuka questioned bluntly and dryly, but there was an edge of softness in his tone, yet he never would have admitted it. Darkheart chuckled, before relentlessly booping the other demon’s nose.
“Ah, damnit-” Zuka muttered, before a little smile escaped right onto the veteran, and Darkheart immediately caught it at the corner of their eye, and they couldn’t help but tease him.
“Smiling now, Zukes?”
“Huh?! What, no I’m not smiling–” Zuka muttered, but it was weak. The smile was already plastered all over his face. “..Fine, fine..”
The two chuckled and teased each other for a bit before Zuka had a look of worry on his face.
“Zuka, what’s wrong.” Darkheart immediately stopped what they were doing and snapped their head to Zuka’s face, seeing the lack of energy and the worry on his face.
Zuka clutched the sides of his head, a small headache forming. “I’m fine, no need to worry ‘bout me, Dark.” He muttered, but he wanted the complete opposite of what he said. He just tried looking more tough, and Darkheart didn’t believe ONE word of what he said. “Bullshitting us.” They said, “I’m not-” Zuka muttered, but the more he spoke a single word, the weaker his defense got. He clutched on to Darkheart tighter, his eyes tightly closed.
“Talk to us, Zuka.” They muttered, grabbing his shoulders, and feeling the intense tension in them. Zuka took a deep breath. “I’m just worried someone will do something to me for loving you, I don’t want to cause anything bad for either of us.. I’m worried, Dark..” Zuka admitted vulnerably, before holding tighter onto Darkheart. Darkheart gently cradled the other in their arms.
“It’s okay, dear. We’ll be able to pursue it together, you hear us? They won’t get between us.”
“No one will.”