Chapter Text
You had squealed with laughter when Shichiro had adjusted his grip, bringing your legs up to carry you bridal style as he more or less marched swiftly from the Rite. When he extended his wings and took to the air as soon as there was open sky above, your laughter was mixed with delighted fear that roused something primal - instinctive - in him.
Granted, at this point that part of him was guiding all of his thoughts and actions. After all, you had said yes. Shichiro could still hardly believe it; his heart thrummed with excitement, feeling so powerful he was certain you could hear it from where your head was pressed against his chest.
You wanted to come to his home. To see his nest.
You loved him. You loved him.
His Intended, the one he wanted to bind himself to for all eternity, loved him.
Part way in the flight back to his home, a small quiet voice spoke from the back of his mind, asked a question that sharply brought his rationale back.
As much as he wanted you, what was he going to do once he reached his home? You were human, so weak and defenseless. He couldn't let instinct alone guide him, otherwise….
He could hurt you.
He could scare you.
He could kill you.
And if he couldn't let instinct take the lead, did he even know what to do? How to bring you pleasure? What if he messed this up? After all, you were human. While you had discussed human courtship rituals and such, it had never progressed into human mating rituals.
While he knew humans and demons could interbreed - according to historical documents, at least - all that meant was there was genetic compatibility. Nothing about if the two species were - well - aroused by the same things. After all, most of those accounts took place when demons were in their Origins.
Shichiro mentally shook himself. He was just overthinking this. You loved him. You enjoyed kissing despite his disfigurement - you seemed to like it when he allowed his hands to wander. He had sensed your arousal on more than one occasion.
It would be fine. It had to be fine. Right?
Oh Devi, what had he been thinking?
----
You doubted you would ever get used to the sensation of flying. Even though Shichiro was holding you tight against his chest - and you fully trusted that he would never drop you - there was still that flutter of fear as you watched the world blur beneath you, the wind making it too loud to talk.
Yet you couldn't even lie to yourself that it was the reason that your heart was pounding. You were so used to having to control yourself and refrain whenever things became just faintly spicy between you and your demon partner.
The thought that you could finally maybe have a chance to act on your feelings - to do more than quick kisses and mild petting - had you more than a little excited.
This was definitely the best birthday gift ever.
Dead wasteland suddenly changed into a lush forest beneath you; looking as wild and untamed as the jungle used for the Harvest festival. You couldn't see anything beneath the dense canopy, but Shichiro obviously knew where he was going. A slight shift was your only warning as he quickly descended towards the jungle, a magic barrier protecting you from the tree limbs as he dove through the canopy, the bright day becoming as dark as twilight.
Soft light broke the gloom, and soon you could see a rather picturesque cottage nestled in a small clearing and covered in vines. A bit larger than what you would consider small - but considering Shichiro's height, it had to be on the cozy side for him.
Of all the places you could imagine him living… This actually made the most sense. Out in the wilderness, where he could study to his heart's content, unlike the dorms the rest of the teachers lived in.
Shichiro opened the large wooden door easily despite still carrying you in his arms. Anticipation built as he carried you over the threshold; lights automatically flaring to life via magic, revealing a cozy sitting area, books cases lining the majority of the room, and yet more vines covering the ceiling - much like his prep room back at Babyls.
"...would you like some tea?" Shichiro asked as he set you down before awkwardly taking a step back, confusing you.
"I-uh, yeah? Sure?" You answered automatically; brain still trying to make sense of the sudden change. This wasn't how you expected things to go. Heck, it wasn't even normal compared to his usual behavior of not knowing what personal space was.
Before you could even think about approaching this odd behavior, Shichiro quickly disappeared into what you presumed was the kitchen, leaving you mentally reeling and alone. But you couldn't appreciate the coziness of the place, or how easily you could feel at home here. Not when you were trying to figure out what had changed.
It had taken some time to travel here. Had… had he changed his mind? Did he rethink his decision during the flight, and decide that things had been progressing too fast? Did you make him feel awkward, somehow? Was he just nervous? After all - while he was always touching you in some way when you were in the same room, it was rarely anything that could be sensual. You had always been the one to initiate any other kind of affection, though he had seemed to eagerly consent and follow your lead, pushing boundaries once things had started
Obviously just standing there and thinking wasn't going to garner any answers, nor did you want to let the awkwardness fill the space anymore than it already did. Even if he had rethought things, avoidance wasn't going to do either of you any good. People always said that communication was key in relationships, and you fervently wanted this relationship to succeed.
So you gathered your courage and followed him through the vine-covered doorway; The kitchen matched the rest of the home, looking like the forest had somehow invaded inside. Shichiro had already placed a kettle over what looked like a clay stove, and with a slight gesture a fire sparked to life within the hearth.
But then he just stood there, staring at the flickering fire as his fists rhythmically clenched and unclenched. Not at all like his usual self, even when he was lost in thought - making your worry grow.
"Shichiro?" You voiced softly. It was easy to see his muscles tense further before he turned to face you, looking rather sheepish.
"I'm sorry. I didn't…" He mumbled as his hands fiddled with one another. "I'm not sure what to do."
You bit back a smile as you gave an internal sigh of relief. You quickly breached the space between you and reached out to wrap your hand around his arm.
"There's no pressure," You said quietly, offering a soft smile as he looked down at you. "I don't have any expectations. I just wanted to be with you, alone, so if things happen, they could… happen. But if you're uncomfortable and rather just hang out, that's fine by me too."
The color in his cheeks darkened as he glanced away. "It's not… it's not that. I've wanted this for so long that this feels unreal. Yet I'm also worried that I'll screw things up somehow. I haven't done anything like this before, and you mean so much to me."
You hesitated before you reached up and undid the clasp of his mask. It clattered against the counter nearby as you cupped his face, stroking his scarred skin gently with your thumb. He leaned into the gesture--as he always did, hungry to be touched, to feel affection. "I meant it when I said I love you," You reassured. "Nothing's going to change that. We'll just talk to each other if something's not quite right."
That seemed to soothe any lingering worries as he leaned down to kiss you. A series of soft, sweet kisses that were maybe a little on the hesitant side, but you counted it as a win. Especially as his hands took their preferred place at your hips, thumbs circling along the curve of your hips and waist.
You nipped lightly at his lower lip, trying to deepen the kiss. You were met with a soft, almost playful growl, his grip tightening as he obliged. His tongue brushed your lips, and you eagerly accepted.
You wondered if it was demons in general who seemed to have larger - almost prehensile tongues - or if that was just part of Shichiro. Just like his skinship habit, he seemed eager and needy to explore and feel whatever he could.
And when you needed a breath, his focus went to your neck. Large teeth gently scraped against the delicate skin, followed by ruined lips and tongue to soothe the slight sting. Your fingers dug into his shirt as you shifted to allow him easier access, barely biting back a whine.
There was something to be said about having a large, powerful demon who could easily hurt you... be so tender and loving.
The whistling of the kettle interrupted the moment, bringing you both back to reality. You groaned faintly, annoyed that even here you were being interrupted. "Were you interested in that tea, or…?" Shichiro asked, his voice husky as he continued with his attention to your neck.
"I'm actually more interested in seeing this 'nest' of yours," You answered honestly, and saw a spark light up in his dark eyes; the same one he developed when he found an interesting topic.
It wasn’t quite what you were aiming for, but it was still an improvement from the awkwardness of earlier.
"A demon's nest is a very… special thing," He started as his arms shifted to wrap around your waist comfortably. "A demon will usually build one specifically for their future mate's comfort in mind, since it's part of the courtship process. While I hadn’t created it with any mate in mind, I have tried to add things that I thought you would enjoy. I may not be quite a human expert yet, but I know you enjoy soft surfaces, warmth, and something to cuddle into."
You bit your lip as you smiled. He knew that much about you already? How did you get this lucky? "Well then?" You asked, hands drifting down his arms in what you hoped was a seductive manner.
Without any warning, Shichiro picked you up as if you were nothing, his large hands cupping your backside as you automatically wrapped your legs around his waist. Your cry of surprise became laughter as he carried you back through the sitting room to another doorway, this one leading to his bedroom.
More bookcases filled with books, but also a desk filled with art supplies and an unfinished picture book. But the bed - his nest - took up the majority of the room.
It was indeed a nest; a circle of branches chaotically woven together in a circular shape. Except it was large enough to easily fit a couple of people his size - with room to spare. But despite it being so different from what you considered to be a normal bed, it still seemed inviting as the center was piled with plush blankets and pillows. You noticed a lot of your favorite colors and patterns among the blankets, making you smile.
He really had been paying more attention than you thought.
Shichiro slowly lowered you so you could stand on your own before he took a step back to silently encourage you forwards. You didn't hesitate before stepping closer to taking a better look, noticing long silver strands of hair and green feathers among the woven branches, filling in gaps and holes to keep it warm.
You bent to feel the piled blankets, but the corset-like vest of your dress dug into your stomach - reminding you of its presence. You probably could find a way to kneel down, but… well, you were feeling impish.
You stood up, and without looking towards Shichiro, tried to reach around to the fastenings of the corset-like binder that were tied in the back. A sharp breath informed you he had noticed.
"Would you help me?" You asked as you looked over your shoulder towards Shichiro, whose face had turned red.
"H-help?"
"It makes it hard to bend over to see if it's as comfy as it looks," You explained, possibly with a bit exaggerated innocence just to tease him. "Plus this thing has been getting rather bothersome."
Shichiro offered no words but you could see him swallow thickly before silently stepping closer. His large hands spread across your back as he studied the intricate pattern Opera had assisted with earlier that morning, his breath ghosting over your neck. Despite how lightly Opera had tied the binder, there was still a sense of relief as he slowly undid the loops and loosened the laces.
You raised your arms, and he obliged the silent request to pull the binder off. While you were still fully dressed, there was a decided lack of support to your breasts as well as the rest of the curves of your body, making you feel rather exposed. There was no denying the warmth pooling in your lower stomach as you stretched purposefully before stepping into the nest. You lowered yourself to your knees before falling into the pile of softness that awaited.
It was better than even the plush bed Sullivan had gifted you. Soft, warm, and smelling like Shichiro himself-- like the thick woods, old books, and a fair bit of musk. You could easily imagine snuggling underneath a few of the covers, feeling warm and secure as you fell asleep.
But - there were other things on your mind.
You rolled onto your back, grinning at Shichiro who was still holding your garment, face a deep red color while his eyes were nothing but dark pits as he watched you intently. "Join me?"
Shichiro didn’t even hesitate before dropping the garment and yielding to your request. His towering form hunched carefully over yours, making you feel pinned. "What are your thoughts?" He asked, his voice a deep rumble as his hands carefully cradled your head, his fingers mindlessly playing with your hair.
"I highly approve,” You answered, closing the distance between your lips and his for a small kiss. "One-hundred percent."
That apparently was the right answer as he chased after your lips and captured them for an eager and almost demanding kiss. It easily stole your breath as he parted your lips with his tongue, delving into your mouth and pulling yours back into that instinctive dance.
There were no students mulling about, no impending bells or classes to oversee. No well meaning but daunting fathers or Opera lurking nearby. No kettle’s whistling to break the moment. Which meant you could fully lose yourself, eagerly meeting his kisses.
Kissing Shichiro had always been different, but you had quickly adjusted to his large fangs and ruined lips. But - you belatedly realized your previous kisses had been tame, where he had purposefully been soft and gentle.
A hungry, lust filled Shichiro was very different as he bit you with those same oversized fangs that usually were so careful. Not enough to seriously hurt, but enough it stole your breath and made you more viscerally aware of how powerful - how dangerous - he truly could be.
Especially as his mouth moved to target your neck, reminding you how small you were in comparison to him. Soft moans and whimpers escaped your lips as he dragged his teeth and tongue along the sensitive skin. You didn't even think before your fingers dug into his back, making him freeze. It took a short moment for you to realize why before you quickly release your grip. "Shit, I'm sorry," You apologized quickly as he sagged against you.
You were well aware wing bases were delicate, but had completely lost yourself in the moment.
"It's fine," He reassured, meeting your worried gaze with a smile before kissing you softly. "It just surprised me, that's all."
The soft sweet kisses soothed your own worries, teasing you back into the mood. Gently - purposefully - you traced your fingers up and down his back, and could feel him groan against your lips.
Wing bases - after all, were very sensitive areas. Easily injured, but also easily teased and toyed with. Not necessarily erogenous zones, but close to it.
Or according to the books Raim leant you; ones that you hid from everyone else in the manor but had been reading quite extensively in private.
You tugged at his shirt in a silent question, your mouth too occupied to voice anything as it meshed with his, but Shichiro quickly complied. His lips parted yours just long enough as he pulled his shirt off over his head, tossing it aside carelessly.
Thick, hard muscles pressed against your hands as you explored the exposed skin. It always amazed you how strong - how large he was; his arms alone were easily twice the size of yours. But what you hadn't been expecting was the tuffs of soft downy feathers along his chest and abdomen where a human man would have hair.
It made sense, of course - but you still hadn't expected it.
There were more small feathers around his wing base between his shoulders. You gently played and combed your fingers through them, teasing the sensitive skin beneath and feeling the muscles twitch and ripple in reflex.
Shichiro swore your name, causing a cheshire grin to cross your face. There was a dangerous look to his dark eyes as he met your gaze, which only deepened as he realized you knew you had been purposefully teasing him.
"My little minx," He growled, nipping once more at your neck, making you gasp in surprise and pleasure as his lips soothed the small mark. He continued, alternating between soft bites and soothing kisses along both sides of your neck until you were squirming with a desire for more.
You wanted those rough lips and gentle fangs teasing other parts of your body; your breasts, your stomach, thighs….
"How fond are you of this dress?" He murmured huskily. It took your mind a long moment to function enough to piece together his question into something meaningful - especially as his hands on your thigh slipped beneath your skirt to explore your bare leg. Even with his gloves still on, you could feel his sharp nails as he stroked and squeezed, hand nearly encompassing your whole leg.
"I mean, it's rather pretty," You answered distractedly.
"Beautiful," He agreed, sounding just as distracted. "Devi, you looked so beautiful today. Everyday." He traded the nips for a harsher bite and sucking the skin, making you gasp and arch into him, your fingers digging into his shoulder, this time more conscious of where.
In a quick series of movements - before you could barely register what was going on - Shichiro pulled away and shifted into a sitting position, before pulling you up from your back to sit on his lap, your legs straddling his wide lap. His lips met yours once more, and you were hazily aware of his fingers working on fastenings in the back of your dress before he helped pull your dress over your head, forcing your lips to part with his.
You were eager to resume kissing, but his hands gripped your waist lightly, his eyes focused on your body as he drank in your mostly-nude form; both the pieces you appreciated as well as the flaws. A sliver of self-consciousness settled in your heart as he continued to stare, his gloved hands carefully running over your skin.
Did his gaze linger on your own scars like yours did when you looked in the mirror, or did he quickly accept them just like you accepted his? Did he secretly disapprove of your body weight that you struggled with, or did he love it as much as you love his thick form?
His hands cupped one of your breasts, ending your thoughts and making you bite your lip to stop the pleading whine from escaping. Your nipple quickly stiffened more as his thumb lazily drew circles around it, taking great delight in studying both your body's reaction as well as the expressions on your face.
You couldn't restrain the instinct to arch you back, body aching for more. "Feel good?" Shichiro asked huskily, the deep scratchiness of his voice only adding to your desire.
"Y-yeah," You replied as he pressed more firmly, squeezing your breast rhythmically in time with his thumb teasing your nipple. Your own hands settled against the firm muscles of his abdomen, teasing the downy feathers peppering his skin. "I-I like that."
Shichiro pulled you closer, shifting both of you so he could reach your nipple with his mouth.
The noise that escaped your mouth was obscene, fingers digging into his shoulder and hair. While his scar prevented him from latching on and really sucking, the way he played and rolled the sensitive flesh with his teeth and tongue quickly compensated for that fact.
The hand that wasn't teasing your other breast trailed down your spine, tracing the groove down your back before finally cupping your backside, squeezing and massaging the supple flesh there.
Between his mouth and hands, you were soon rutting against him, feeling the large bulge in his pants becoming firmer as you whined in desperation.
His fingers slipped between your legs, rubbing against the fabric of your panties against your core, making you gasp both with pleasure - and at the realization of how wet you were.
"Please," You whined. "I-I want more."
His fingers slipped around the moist fabric of your underwear and dragged between your folds, teasing your clit. "Like this?"
"Mhmm." You bit your lip as you rubbed yourself along his large fingers, any sense of self reservation lost. His two fingers alone spread your lower lips wide apart and felt like heaven when they teased both your opening and clit.
"Even with my gloves on I can tell how wet you are," He groaned, lips moving to your neck and shoulder. "It'd be so easy to slip a finger inside."
Your walls clenched at his words. "Devi, please Shichiro."
He teased for a moment longer, causing you to be on the verge of begging again before he finally relented.
And oh, devi - your dreams of this couldn't compare to how full and thick just one finger felt, gently dipping and stretching your entrance. Even as wet as you were, there was a slight bite of friction as he pressed inside.
Shichiro grounded out your name. "Fuck. You're so tight and wet. I never thought…" He trailed off, but you were too lost as he started to move his finger, slowly pumping it in and out, each time going a little deeper. "Would… can I add a second?"
Fuck. "Yes, devi yes," Was your breathless reply.
And yes, the stretch did hurt a little; but damn if the feeling of being so full didn't help soothe the pain, his thumb pressing and rubbing against your clit really did. He didn't press any deeper, but held his hand still and allowed you to essentially fuck yourself with his hand so you could take the combined girth at your own pace. All the while murmuring about how good you were, calling you a good girl for taking his fingers so well despite being so tight.
Which was nice and all until you had spread yourself open enough that the pain had eased, leaving only hot need in its wake. Then the lack of movement on his part was growing frustrating.
"Devi, Shichiro," You whined as you lowered yourself all the way until his knuckles were flushed against your lower parts. "Please. I need you so bad."
"I don't want to hurt you," He admitted, voice betraying his own want; both husky yet tight with need. He had stopped kissing your neck and had simply pressed his face in the curve of your shoulder. "I want… I want you so bad, but you're so small and tight and perfect but I…"
Despite the torture of his fingers just resting inside you, the lack of friction causing your body to scream out with need, you paused and gently guided him to meet your gaze.
His eyes were so dark, lust and an almost feral look in them that he seemed to be struggling with. "You're not going to hurt me," You reassured, petting his face softly. "I'm not as fragile as you think I am, and Devi, I want you, Shichiro. But, if you don't want to take that step…"
The hand that had been bracing your back gripped tighter, his eyes flashing with some warning look that disappeared as quickly as it appeared. "No. I… Are you sure I won't hurt you?"
You smiled triumphantly. "I'll tell you if you do, okay?"
That seemed to ease his worries, though to your dismay also meant he removed his fingers from your cunt, making you whine despite yourself.
Though watching him lick the moisture that stained his gloves was arousing in its own way. You could taste yourself on his tongue as his lips caught yours shortly afterwards as he laid you back into the nest, his hands easily slipping your underwear off.
What you didn't expect was his kisses to trail downwards, licking and kissing a winding path down your body. He easily shifted your hips, throwing your legs over his wide shoulders as he buried his face against you.
You cursed as you gripped the bedding beneath you, back arching as that long thick tongue penetrated you, his fangs pressing and rubbing deliciously against your clit. His name was repeated like a mantra as you grinded down on him, feeling pressure build in your loins from the impending climax.
Shichiro took one of your hands, gently prying it from the blanket and guiding it to grip his hair instead. The groan of pleasure vibrated from his mouth to your center, making you shake even more. You could tell you were close - so very close - and Shichiro must have noticed as well as he pressed even deeper, slipping his fingers inside, curling them as if he knew exactly where to press.
You were vaguely aware of screaming as your body spasmed, unable to really comprehend anything but the bliss and pleasure coursing through you. That, and Shichiro still between your legs, hungrily drinking every drip of moisture he could find.
Just when you thought you might have to beg for him to stop, he pulled away; that long tongue of his licking the moisture that glistened in the light. And the way he was looking at you, as if you were the most beautiful thing he had seen.
He- he was the most beautiful thing, in both earth and the Netherworld.
Shichiro called your name, causing you to realize you had been staring. "If that was too much…"
Oh hell no. While yes - that climax had proved to be the best in your life, you were far from satisfied. You refused to be satisfied until he had felt the same bliss he had given you.
"No," You quickly assured him, pulling him back to you so you could capture his lips again in a deep kiss. "Just couldn't help but admire the view."
He huffed a faint laugh, though any argument was cut short as you wrapped your legs around his, pulling him closer. Shichiro groaned as you grinded against the hard bulge in his pants, his hips moving of their own accord in time with yours.
"Are you sure?" He managed to ground out between gasps and moans. "You're--Devi-- so small, and I-I don't want to hurt you."
"I haven't been so sure of anything in my life," You whispered back, feeling the tension of arousal building once more.
His grip left your hips, followed shortly by the rustle of fabric. You broke the kiss and looked down in anticipation, need mixed in with curiosity. Your gaze was met with his very large and pronounced member. It looked human in nearly every aspect except the soft scales like his forearms. But then you noticed his thick hips and thighs were covered in the same deep green feathers as his wings.
You had imagined he had feathers just from the times you had brushed against his pants in mostly-innocent situations, but it was still a surprise to see your imagination hadn't been far from the mark.
Shichiro's hand grazed his cock, bringing you attention back to it. It was as large as you expected to be; both thick and long, with precum leaking from its tip. "Are you still sure?"
You loved him more than the Netherworld, but he was so hesitant at times when he thought he would hurt you despite your insistence you weren't glass.
"You have no idea how badly I want you, Shichiro," You growled as you grabbed him and pulled him back down to you. "I will find a way to push you over and ride you if I have to, I swear to Devi."
He groaned against you, either from the mental image or just the feeling of his cock rubbing your lower lips. "You'll tell me if I hurt you?"
Instead of answering, you reassured him with a kiss while your hand slipped between you, easily finding his member and helping it slip between your folds and finding your entrance.
Even after all the preparation he had given you, you knew the first time he entered would probably be akin to being split wide open. You bit your lip as he penetrated you, refusing to let an ounce of discomfort show as he gradually entered.
You took a few breaths, letting your body relax. "That's my little vixen," Shichiro murmured, pressing small kisses to your neck. "My perfect little human, letting me have you like this. I want to make you feel as good as I do."
He slowly started to move as you returned his kisses, becoming more certain himself as your soft gasps were tinted with pleasure and not pain.
You quickly forgot about the momentary discomfort as you began to rock your hips in time with his slow thrusts. His girth easily dragged along every sensitive spot, and soon the room was filled with moans and the slick sound of him becoming quicker and less gentle with his thrusts.
His fingers dug into your hips as he quickly started fucking you in earnest, soft growls and groans rumbling from his chest. You couldn't even spare a thought, too lost in the bliss of his cock pounding into you. You could feel your own orgasm quickly approaching once more and dug your fingers in his shoulders as you simply tried to hold on.
"Are you close?" He growled after a moment between thrusts, and it took a moment to decipher what he meant before you fervently nodded your head, the ability to form words lost. "Good. I want you to come as I fill you up. Can you do that?"
You would do anything for this demon, with coming on his cock the easiest of feats. Hearing him ask despite the new harsh growl to his voice paired with sharp quick thrusts sent you over the edge, making you dig your nails into him as you screamed his name.
His thrusts became even more wild and erratic, sending you even higher until with one last thrust - your name a swear on his lips - he came inside you, quickly filling you to the brim with his seed.
Full. You felt so full you swore you felt some of it leak out as he moved to pull out. You were too lost in bliss to really care about the mess you surely were, your mind unable to hold on to a thought for more than a moment. You had imagined this moment so many times; but once again, reality triumphed over your fantasies.
You came back to reality with Shichiro whispering little sweet nothings in your ear between soft, lazy kisses; his fingers threading through your hair as he held you close to his chest. Gingerly, you moved to face him, meeting his dark eyes and tracing the strong edge of his jaw.
You… you could really see yourself being with him for the rest of the foreseeable future. It was like when you realized that the Netherworld was more of a home than Earth had ever been. Or when it hit you that Sullivan, Iruma, and Opera were your family.
Shichiro was a perfect complement to you. A life with him sounded like heaven - even if you were in literal hell.
----- Short ----
The Demonic Rites eventually ended late in the evening, leaving Iruma exhausted as he flopped back on his bed. Celebrating his birthday with you back on Earth had been more than he could have asked for as a child; but today - celebrating his Demonic Rites with both his new family and friends - had probably been one of the best days of his life. It had served as a huge reminder of how much his life had changed.
He had a family that dearly loved him, and would do anything to make him happy. All they expected from him was for him to be him. To do his best at school, sure - but there was no pressure either for good grades.
Which made him strive even harder.
And then his friends, his classmates… he never had the chance to make bonds with others his age before, so it was still rather hard to believe. Especially with friends like Az and Clara, who truly felt like they were his soulmates; he couldn't imagine being without them.
Just like he couldn't imagine his life without you in it. Yet he wasn't oblivious or innocent; not when his classmates were all too happy to gossip about the circumstances leading to Balam carrying you away.
And he was happy - elated - about you two being together, and maybe even making a family together. And you had reassured him in the past that no matter what happened, he was going to be a part of it.
But the reality that it could still upset how his life was now still weighed on him. There was the very real possibility you might want to live with Professor Balam - which meant moving out from grandpa's mansion... Which meant not seeing Grandpa and Opera everyday.
Or… would Balam be agreeable to moving? In the human realm - from what he could remember - that wasn't typical, but what about here?
He should ask Az and Clara; they would know, right?
His phone pinged several times in quick succession, drawing him out of his thoughts. He picked it up while new messages kept showing up, all of them from you.
//I am so sorry about leaving without saying anything!!!!//
//Happy Birthday! And I'm sorry I missed your real birthday!//
//I'll remember next year, promise!//
//Anyways, I'm going to stay the night with Shichiro//
//but//
//I love you and I am thankful that you're in my life. Being your adopted mother is one of the greatest joys of my life. No matter what, I will always be proud of you//
//goodnight!//
There were several kissy emojis, making Iruma smile. Change… wasn't necessarily bad. Just because things were great now didn't mean they still couldn't be better.
He remembered how stressed you had been back on earth to try and care for him. How you tried to be like a mom, yet not call out how horrible of a mother his real one was - since back then he hadn't been able to recognize how terrible his birth family was. Whenever someone tried to point it out, he made excuse after excuse to rationalize how he had been treated.
But now he had realized the bitter truth. The woman that gave birth to him literally hadn't cared at all about his wellbeing.
You did, you always had. You followed him into hell because of how much you loved him.
And you deserved to have the same happiness he felt. Of finding a place to belong. And if Professor Balam brought you that happiness and sense of belonging, Iruma was elated.
Whatever came, he'd support you just as much as you supported him.