Hazbin/Helluva Ink Edition: Book of Amore

In The Name Of Science (Ren X Baxter)

The anatomy of the imp always interested Baxter, especially since now, his romantic partner happens to be one. Ren was one hell of a doctor, but there were times he got into his own fair share of needing medical attention. One time after running into Valentina, Ren had come home covered in wounds oozing in black blood, but he shrugged it off as if it were nothing.

Imps were known for having remarkably fast healing factors, but not as quick as any of the Overlords, especially Bendy. He observed that every time Ren burned his tail on a bunsen burner, got acid sprayed in the eye from an unstable chemical reaction, or even cutting up his own hand from the scalpel while using it to play 'The Knife Game', he always either just shrugged it off or even laughed, like it didn't mean anything. 

Baxter not only wanted to find out why his imp boyfriend was like this.... He NEEDED to find out, to the point of obsession.

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One night, Ren shifted in his sleep as he turned his head to the side and creaked his eyes open a bit. Through the small space between his eyelids, he noticed a faint yellow light and an odd, grabbing sensation on his left arm. Opening his eyes more, he managed to find Baxter, still in his lab gear, as he had a scalpel to cut into his arm.

Ren: *sleepily* Bax...?

At the sound of his voice, the anglerfish stopped, eyes wide under his goggles and pulling back the blade as the long cut on Ren's arm began to bleed out. Ren groaned as he sat up, revealing his bare chest and stomach decorated with white streaks and exposing his black wings as he reached into his night stand and pulled out a box of wet wipes.

Baxter: Wait, you have wings?

Ren: My cousins and I are part succubus, but you're changing the subject. Why the Heaven are you cutting up my arm while I sleep?

Baxter: W-W-W-Well, I...... *sigh* I just wanted to find out how you shrug off injuries so easily.

Ren: ........ That's it? Baxter, you could've just asked me instead of dissecting me in my sleep like some somnophile. 

Baxter: Very well. Let me just get something first.

Baxter walked out of the bedroom and into the lab/medbay as Ren wiped away the blood with the wipe, revealing the skin underneath had already healed over, making a white line down his forearm. The fish demon returned, this time holding a journal and pencil in hand.

Ren: You've been keeping a journal of me?

Baxter: Not just of you, Ren. Of all of the Hotel's occupants. Mostly their biologies and their abilities. Your healing powers is where I'm stumped. Also, put on a shirt, man!

Ren: Hmm..... *smug smiles* Nah. Not feeling it, shorty.

Baxter: I'm not short!

Ren: Okay, let's just get this over with. You know what stem cells are in humans, right?

Baxter: Of course. When a human receives a cut on their body whilst near a blood vessel, the stem cells repair the lining of the skin and blood vessels in order to prevent further blood losage and infection.

Ren: Well, look at you. Big brain on the 'big' fish. Well, as you know a demon's stem cells are much more advanced than a mortal's. Whenever we receive such damage, it's healed within a few hours possibly minutes, instead of days or weeks. Imps happen to heal the quickest, since we are the lowest of Hell's ranks, but also the most sturdy. Though, our pigmentation is a bit unstable, hence why you see imps with multiple white splotches on their bodies whenever they aren't freckles or birthmarks.

Baxter: *writes in journal* Fascinating! But, why do the injuries not seem to bother you? Whenever Blitzo, Moxxtopher, Mildred, or Strikozolli seem to get hurt, they happen to feel the pain. You however play it off as if you don't feel it.

Ren: That's the thing, I mostly don't. See Baxter, I have this birth defect where my ability to feel things, even pain, turns on and off by itself at random. 9 times out of 10, I don't feel it.

Baxter: 9 out of 10?

Ren: Yeah, well incidents like the little battle with Alastor's group was when I could feel pain and... *groan* Oh Satan, I felt like such shit. Usually when that happens, my body kind of goes into shock so it can repair itself.

 Baxter climbs into the small cot with him, writing in the little book.

Baxter: So, that's why you seem to sleep about 11 hours of the day.

Ren: Yeah, and also I'm just pretty fucking tired after work. So, feel satisfied with your answers, my dear?........... Baxter?

Ren looked to his side to see the fish demon had fallen asleep next to him, curling up next to the imp as he snuggled close, the journal lost underneath him. Chuckling, Ren kissed his boyfriend's forehead and hugged him close as he closed his eyes.

Ren: Good night, my big, strong guppy.

THE END