Shoto opened his tired red puffy eyes with a small yawn. He could hardly recall anything last night. All he remembered is that he didn't get much of a great sleep at first but slowly began to feel more and more comfortable. Wait- why was he greeted with the warm scent of roses and wine making its way to Shoto's nose?
He peaked once more, this time squinting his eyes more than usual before realizing it was Vox's chest.
Wait.
He stared in disbelief and shock. Him and Vox- In bed? TOGETHER?
His face began to heat up to a flush red before he suddenly felt his whole body catch fire and warm extremely quickly. Why was he here?? Why is he being cradled in the arms of his boss!? What the fuck happened!!?
He cursed at himself, did Vox offer wine, maybe? No- He wouldn't be that foolish to drink alcohol before sleeping with a man he finds very much his type. Wait what? What was he even thinking!
He doesn't like Vox- It's just admiration because he's his boss. Pure respect, surely. Nothing serious or life altering because all their flirts were satire... right..??
He cupped his face with his hands and let out a small groan. This caused Vox to wake up and startle Shoto again. "..Mhgn..S.hoto..?" He called out weakly and tired. He must be a light sleeper if he was woken up by a squeel.
Shoto didn't know what to do. Should he reply? I mean- There's no hiding the fact he's being embraced by his boss and friend. "Hah- H-hey Hi, Vox. Morning." He chuckled awkwardly but Vox was still as a statue, calm and reserved in and out.
He didn't know if Vox was also spiralling into insanity because of the pickle they're in or did he just not bother to care at all? Either way, Shoto definitely needs answers.
He pulled on the other boy's black shirt meekly. Nudging him slightly as a form of indicator that he was panicking!! But Vox didn't get the fucking hint because he just stayed there fast asleep!
This day can't get any worse than this, right?? He hopes he doesn't jinx himself because he knows the gods are probably laughing at his misery right now. Are the gods obsess with fucking Shoto over or what!?
All the slayer could do is wait until the sleeping beauty decides to wake up, this time without a prince charming.
As if his prayers were heard and granted, an alarm buzzed that went off in the quiet silent room. It was your everyday run-in-the-mill type of alarm, it was birds chirping and cliche sunny beach music that your parents would listen to at a roadtrip. Soothing with every hint of annoyance if he had to hear it 24/7.
The demon grumbled and groaned in bed before he finally removed his 'tight' grip from Shoto. It wasn't all that tight but given the situation they're in, It's pretty fair for Shoto to feel like he was being suffocated in the arms of the man.
Now Vox had an arm covering his forehead and his eyes since he wasn't ready to bear the sight of blinding mornings. The other free arm was now resting on his stomach as he was sleeping facing up towards the ceiling.
Shoto on the other hand was still in the fetal position facing Vox, not daring to move an inch.
Vox was in misery and despair because he has work while Shoto was silently panicking on how to get by what just happened. Clearly very different priorities at the moment.
The demon lazily sat up with his back slouched and relaxed before he rubbed his eyes and yawned. HOW HAS HE NOT NOTICED SHOTO??
It was like his head was about to explode on how dense the other was in this situation!
"Oh, morning by the way Shoto." He finally spoke, voice still lazy and unused. He stretched before looking at the slayer with half opened eyes.
Shoto just stared at disbelief before also sitting up but much faster than Vox with the same shocked expression. "That's it?! Good morning? VOX- I'm in your bed-!" The pitch of his voice got higher at the ends of his sentence. Can this man really be this calm?? Did he know all along and decided to just fake being clueless???
Vox stretches once more, groaning at the relief of his tense joints. "Well, I know. No need to scream it at me, I'm well-aware, Shou." Calm and still tired, he finally looked at the waiter in the eyes. Not breaking eye contact to the indigo eyed male that had a flushed red face.
"Awww.. Why so flustered?" He teased, giving his iconic smirk but in a more fond manner. Who knew being half awake can make you look more genuine and soft.
"I am not!" Shoto snapped back. "What even happened last night..!?" Questioning whether he did something he might regret but Vox soon reassured him nothing intimate happened.
He waved a hand. "Don't worry, my little waiter. I know what things are popping in your head but rest assured, we didn't do that" Shoto opens his mouth before Vox cuts him off. "You had a few.. Nightmares and decided to come by me, that is all." He yawned after explaining to the frantic boy who's seemingly became quiet and sheepish.
Fiddling with his fingers and avoiding eye contact, he quietly spoke in an almost whisper manner. "Night terrors.." He ducked his head slightly more downwards to stare at his hands.
So that's why he was with Vox.. Because of his stupid trauma related shit. He cursed to himself before hurriedly looking at Vox in the eyes, hands still glued towards each other. "I'm so sorry, Vox- If I only knew better than to disturb you then I wouldn't have-" He apologized frantically. He genuinely didn't want to bother Vox- his boss with his things.. It was the one thing he didn't want to do!
Being vulnerable.. Ugh! He fucking regretted his actions so much.
He toyed with his hands, he always had the habit of doing so whenever he felt a strong sense of embarrassment and regret. They were shortly stopped when another pair of hands held his own.
Looking up, he saw the demon with such a soft look in his eyes. His golden metalic eyes that Shoto swears he saw a hint of cherry petal pink in the higher corners were all locked on his hands.
Feeling the intense gaze of his peers, he shivered unknowingly. "Shoto." The demon breath out. Hesitating before continuing whatever he had in end. "It's okay being vulnerable infront of me and others. I can forget that this whole thing even happened if that makes you all the more comfortable, okay big guy? It's alright to feel what you were feeling in the past, in the present and in the future." His kind gentle words were laced with a sweet loving nature that Shoto could listen on repeat for hours on end.
Why was he being so gentle to Shoto? Why did he feel like he was being held by an angel. Like he was communicating with someone who had seemingly the same experiences as him and was telling him the words he wanted so badly to hear.
Was Vox comforting from experience.?
His boss finally looking up to stare back at him, eyes filled with such love and determination to help Shoto. To help him heal.
The slayer's lips parted, he sighed. "..Thank you.. That really- Really means a lot, Vox!" He thanked, his voice sounding much more softer than he originally planned it to be.
A light smile escaping the other's lips, he ruffled the moonlight haired boy's soft locks. "Alright, big guy. We should get ready for work since you did volunteer being an early janitor." He teased even more which caused the other to pout.
"Free labor." Shoto scoffed, crossing his arms and rolling his eyes. Vox just smiled fondly, fond of the banter they always foreplay towards each other. It's like human nature, an instinct to insult and poke fun of the other.
"Of course It's free labor. My prince certainly can't be doing such dirty work if it wasn't from the kindness of his own heart." He cooed, making a heart with his hands before finally standing up from the comfortable mattress.
He turned back to stare at Shoto who was still sitting on his bed. "But would my prince like to take a trip back to his place?" Asking with a hand reaching out to grab the slayer's.
Gently taking it, he grunted from the force used to lift himself up with Vox's hand. "Yeah, if that's okay with you." He smiled which to Akuma agreed to drive him to his humble aboad.
The two proceeded to get ready before heading out once more.