The Devil's Playmate

THIRTY-ONE

   There's an unspoken question between the demons in Hell. Something about Benjamin has changed, and they wanted to know why.

At first, no one had noticed until Benjamin once came to a council meeting a little flushed with pretty pink cheeks, eyes that were still tired but now somewhat at ease. And there was an obvious mark that bruised the side of his neck.

He's been like this for days now.

They were in disbelief and were so stunned that no one could say anything. But Beelzebub turned red in anger and jealousy as he tried to keep quiet on his throne. He figured Benjamin had went back to that pathetic human from before, had tossed all of them away and thought of them as nothing but something to pass the time with.

And then they knew what was happening when they saw Belphegor and Benjamin together, holding each other closely. The demon of Sloth pulled him in, kissing Benjamin deeply with a smile on his face. The way he looked at Benjamin with overt fondness and affection had momentarily took Benjamin aback, though he merely ignored it and continued to kiss Belphegor despite knowing there were eyes on them.

And then the inhabitants of Hell fell into a frenzy knowing that Benjamin was desperately searching for something, rather someone, to take his mind off of his problems from up above.

Nearly all of them were offering themselves up, eager to snatch the human in their hands with no intention of sharing with the others.

Benjamin noticed, but kept silent. He was only focused on Belphegor until Beelzebub had been the one to snag him up, demanding some sort of question as to why he never went to him instead. Beelzebub kept ranting, kept asking and persisting for his attention,  knowing full well that even though he wanted Benjamin to be his alone, Benjamin would never agree. Because he was still too hung up about one filthy human from his school.

And just when Beelzebub was close to forcing Benjamin to only stay with him, Benjamin murmured something so softly that it made the demon freeze and fall silent.

"Belphegor told me that he's willing to share. What about you? Are you not willing at all?"

Of course, not. They're demons. Obsessive, damning creatures that don't do something so simple as sharing. Even Belphegor doesn't do that shit, so why was he so willing to hand Benjamin over to others when he's clearly the same as him? That he's unwilling and relentless in having Benjamin without anyone getting in the way?

But... Beelzebub chews the insides of his cheek and hangs his head a little. He nods in the end. Benjamin gives him a shy, uncertain look but kisses his cheek and mutters out a gentle thanks that makes Beelzebub have to inhale deeply.

He's already scared Benjamin enough. He could tell by the nervous looks the human gives him. Beelzebub doesn't want Benjamin to be reminded of Marcus, so he chose to keep quiet and reluctantly watches the other members of his council getting handsy and whispering praises in Benjamin's ear.

They didn't expect Benjamin to be seeking out help from them like this, but no one was complaining. In fact, they're all quite happy.

Though Benjamin's still a little wary of them, sort of unsure on how to handle everything, so he preferred only Beelzebub and Belphegor touching him. But soon enough, he got used to their attention and needs, settling himself with more ease at how he was... well, theirs now. At least, only the majority of Beelzebub's councilmen.

Some weren't as willing as others. Like Dagan, for example, had outright told Benjamin that what he was doing was a mistake. That whatever he was doing, he needed to put a stop to it and go back home.