DoomPet

Chapter 73

"I'm hooommee!" The Slayer stomped into their apartment and took off his helmet, looking around for Crüe. When the demon didn't come out to him he assumed he just must have been sleeping and quietly removed his armor, setting it down in their haphazard little pile. He walked around the place, looking around. It was eerily silent.

He cracked open the door of the bedroom and peeked inside to see Crüe sitting on the side of the bed, facing away from the door. "Hey I'm home."

Haru, Daisy, and her kids, who were all sitting by Crüe, turned around immediately to look at him, but there was a long pause before the marauder finally seemed to acknowledge his presence and nod, "Hey, Slayer."

He walked inside, shutting the door behind him. "What happened?"

"There actually was something hidden in my chest plate... I want you to keep it. I can't keep looking at it." He got up and handed the Slayer the photo. All he wanted to do was hide his teary eyed face and not have the Slayer ask any questions, but his puffy eyes and hollow cheeks revealed him in an instant.

He was staring at Crüe's face trying to think of something to say, but when he looked down the words were taken out of his mouth. Why would Crüe want him to take this? He couldn't even get anything out before the demon hurried off into the bathroom, declaring he was going to get a bath. As much as he wanted to stop and ask Crüe, he just took the photo of his family and tucked it into the tool belt on his armor, vowing under his breath to keep it safe.

He was definitely glad that he got a shower after his mission down at the wall's barrack locker rooms before he came home instead of in the apartment, because the marauder wasn't coming out anytime soon. He gathered a blanket and pillow and made himself a nest on the couch, watching the open bedroom door, waiting for Crüe until he finally fell asleep.

The morning still had an oddly tense feeling lingering in the air. Crüe made toast, ate it standing at the counter, and retreated back into the room. The Slayer pretended to sleep, as he listened to the demon shuffle about. He couldn't even fathom what Crüe was going through. A photo of his family that was right under his nose the entire time? It was heartbreaking. The Slayer couldn't stand it any longer, he stood and walked into the bedroom. Haru was curled up next to the marauder, who was laying down, while Daisy was on the floor quietly keeping her kids occupied. He knelt down by the bed and touched Crüe's face, watching him slowly open his eyes. "Are you gonna be ok?"

He nodded, "I'm just thinking about a lot of stuff... did you hide it?"

"Yeah it's hidden, you won't find it, don't worry." He ran his fingers over the demon's shoulder and upper arm, trying to rub some life and joy into him. "I just wanna make sure you're ok."

Crüe thought for a moment, "Can we go somewhere today?"

The Slayer, who was willing to do anything to appease the demon, was instantly nodding his approval, "Where do you want to go?"

"I just want to get out of bed and out of the apartment." He shrugged, "We could just walk around."

The Slayer helped Crüe get dressed and ready, giving him little touches and glances of encouragement.

It honestly felt nice, but it wasn't pulling Crüe out of the pit he had been placed in. He hoped the man didn't hate him for not smiling back.

They walked outside and all around the city. It was a sunny, warm day, but it had a cool breeze that would blow through every so often. Daisy scurried along beside them. She sprinted up ahead on the sidewalk and grabbed a shiny bottle cap. Running back, she presented it to the marauder like it was a jewel. "LOOK it such a pretty... thing!"