Slenderman x Zalgo oneshot!

Overworked!

Slenderman had never expected to find himself here.
He could practically feel the demon king looming over him from behind, and he struggled not to panic as he eyed his surroundings.

Slenderman was in hell, or at least- an approximation of it. He hadn't been aware he was able to die until a player had gotten the better of him. He must have been overworked- being tired always impeded his abilities. It had just... never cost him his life before.

Though it was only temporary, Zalgo was going to relish every sweet second of it.

"Slenderman~" He purred from his second mouth, his body crackling as his spine twisted around the ancient being. "Fancy seeing you here. Shit outta luck?"

Slenderman turned his head away from the demon, forcing himself to move forward-- Zalgo was kind of tugging him that way anyway. He saw no harm in following.
"You could say that." He replied, letting the words linger in the air for a moment. "Or you could say my good fortune is... on holiday. I'm sure it'll be fine when I get back."

Zalgo cackled, cupping his claws over his first mouth as he raised his eyebrows.
"Come on, Slendy. Who said I'd let you go back so soon?"

~~~

It didn't take long for Slenderman to find himself seated at Zalgo's private dining room table. The demon had insisted-- "It's been so long since we last spoke!"
It seemed all he wanted to do was talk, Slenderman realized, as he watched the third hour tick by.

"Are you interested in something to eat?" Zalgo hummed, squatting down next to his minifridge. Slenderman gave a hesitant nod.
"I'll take anything. Oddly hospitable, aren't you? Do you treat everyone like this?"

Zalgo shook his head, pulling out what looked like a human stomach stuffed with breadcrumbs.
"Of course not. You're a special case. Both powerful, you and I- it's... new."
He glanced away, pausing. "Different, too. Enjoy!"

~~~

"Do I really have to sleep here again?" Slenderman grumbled, pulling at the red velvet bedsheets apprehensively.
"It's not like I can control how fast you'll be ready."
"... Didn't you say you were keeping me here?"

Zalgo smiled, shrugging.

"It's been days. Enough is enough, Zalgo." Slenderman snapped, his jaw set firmly and his fists clenched. "I have a family- a mansion to manage. You, on the other hand, have your own duties to attend to."

Zalgo seemed thoroughly disinterested, though perhaps it was an act. Regardless, he glanced at his claws before looking back up at Slender, cocking an eyebrow. "I never said I had anything more important to do. Presumptious, aren't we?"

~~~

It was a full week before Slenderman finally settled down somewhat, sitting next to the demonic overlord on the sofa as they watched Netflix together. By this point, Slender had well accepted that he wasn't going home anytime soon- for better or worse. He was sure the mansion could manage without him for a bit.
"You know what you need, Slendy?" Chimed that ever-too familiar voice.

Slenderman sighed. "What."

"Stress relief. Here, let me just--"

Slenderman startled as Zalgo pulled himself off the sofa, stepping behind it and planting his claws on Slenderman's shoulders.

"... Is this good?"

He sighed as Zalgo began to knead into his shoulders, shrugging loosely. "I guess so."
Furrowing his eyebrows, Zalgo worked his knuckles down a little lower, earning a shiver from Slenderman. Now he felt like he was getting somewhere.

~~~

"... Hey." It was midnight before Slenderman brought it up again, staring blankly at the ceiling. "Why did you... massage me earlier?" He asked, feeling stupid for even saying it.

Zalgo paused, glancing to Slenderman's bed before rolling back over. "You're tense, Slendy. All the time. It wouldn't hurt to loosen up once in a while."

Slenderman would have grinned if he could have. "... I suppose you're right. I don't relax nearly enough..."

"See?"

"And it is... much easier to without Jeff around."
Zalgo nodded emphatically.

~~~

Slenderman couldn't take his eyes off him.
It had been two weeks, and he was beginning to wonder if he'd ever be set free. Then again-- this wasn't the worst place to be trapped, was it?
He'd taken to reading with Zalgo-- he didn't think Zalgo was the type to read, but he'd been proven wrong when the demon promptly vocally regurgitated the contents of four encyclopedias at him.

He supposed he should have expected as  much, given how long he'd lived.

Either way-- every day, Zalgo made his every meal. He'd grown so used to cooking for everyone, sometimes skipping meals himself to make sure everyone's needs were met. It was a relief to have his own needs catered to, at last. That was why he had no qualms with growing closer and closer with Zalgo-- he'd even found a way to call back home in the meantime.

"... What do you mean, you're doing fine??" Demanded Slenderman, his undetectable glare hardening.

"Well, uh..." Jeff scratched the back of his head. "We've been alright? I don't know what else to say-- uh... Zalgo's been showing up since a couple of weeks ago to... cook and shit, so..."

Slenderman paused, slumping back in his chair. "... Oh. Oh, I see."
Of course- Zalgo had been so helpful to him down here in hell-- why wouldn't he be helping the other pastas too?

~~~

"... Why are you keeping me down here, anyway?" Slenderman finally asked, three weeks after he had first been trapped.
Zalgo paused.
"You... needed to relax. You're getting there, but... how about a bit longer, yeah?"

Slenderman chuckled. "That sounds good to me."

Zalgo leaned slightly too close to Slenderman's face, leaving the cryptid puzzled.

~~~

Even though he had only stayed a month, Slenderman was anxious about leaving. He knew the time was coming any day now, but he couldn't help but feel that there was something he had to do. Something he had to say.
He thought over the events of the past month carefully, but was interrupted by none other than Zalgo himself, grinning at him with six of his seven mouths.

Slenderman couldn't help but feel enamored.

He hesitated, stepping closer as Zalgo's expression fell to confusion. He pulled Zalgo's head down, pausing as he traced his thumb over one of his horns.

"Oh. I see what you were trying to do now." He stared for a few moments longer, and he wished he could roll his eyes as Zalgo spoke up. "... What was I trying to do- what was I-"

Slenderman leaned up, pressing his cheek to Zalgo's lips as he clung to his cape, raising his eyebrow ridges slightly.

"There is nothing more attractive than a man who can take care of my kids, Zalgo."

~~~

Slenderman leaned into Zalgo's hold as the mansion's TV buzzed away in the background. The demon had dozed off almost an hour now, and yet it was only now that he found it worth it to move. He pulled himself off the couch, pressing his lower face gently to Zalgo's forehead before pulling away altogether, rolling up his sleeves.

It was time to return the attention. Zalgo deserved a holiday of his own after how well he'd treated him, and Slenderman was happy to deliver. Plus, as long as they were together--
The kids would be less hellish to deal with.
That was definitely the best part of the whole affair.

~~~

A/N: I'm tired so if it sucks, it sucks.