Hellboys approval
The story of how Johann Krause won Hellboys approval to date his best friend Abe Sapien
Chapter one
Abe was reading some old he had chosen books relevant to his work, so many of the authors had chosen to remain unknown. The dog eared books held personal accounts on dealing with boggarts ghosts and ghasts, as well as wendigos and other miscellaneous creatures.
Abe grasped his chin in one webbed hand, what a curious factoid. The amphibian jolted in the water as a stony red hand banged on the glass. "Red don't scare me like that!" Abe blurted out, laying a webbed hand on his chest and breathing a sigh of relief.
Hellboy chuckled low in his throat " sorry Abe, just wanted to ask if you'd like to go out for a bit"
Questioned his friend amiably.
Abe's head tilted to one side sharply. "Out? Out where?"
Hellboy smiled "oh don't get all excited just yet, I just meant to the training rooms, out of this stupid glass room"
Abe pursed his lips, affronted " I happen to like my 'stupid glass room' " retorted abe.
Hellboy's lips twisted down, face frowning.
"But it keeps you in there, on your own"
" I disagree" retorted abe "it keeps people out"
Hellboy chuckled. This argument had been going on since Abe had made the tank his home years ago, and it didn't show any sign of resolving itself anytime soon.
"How's about it then? A little bit of training, stretch your gills?"
Abe did the closest thing he could to a smile, and twisted elegantly in the water, supple body gliding smoothly through it to the exit.
Hellboy admired how graceful his friend was, he hoped with training abe would be able to fight better, and use his flexibility and agility to do more than just evade attack.
-The agency only really cared if Abe could use his telepathy like gift, hellboy was the only one actively trying to give abe the skills to defend himself.
Hellboy didn't want a repeat of the troll incident, he hated that troll, it was only his confidence that Abe was tougher than he looked and the urgency of getting the princess to safety which stopped him killing the troll just for hurting his friend. He was still smug however that the bastard payed in the end.
It was pitiful in Hellboy's opinion, just because Abe was stronger than any human, and just because the agency held no little arrogance to the skills of their agents, Abe was left practically unprotected from monsters and entities much stronger than himself. Hellboy put his big brother instincts away, he needed to keep his distance, abe was a big boy, he didn't need or enjoy coddling.
In a few minutes Abe was suited and booted.
Hellboy smiled at his friend, and put a warm arm around his shoulder. " abe, what weapon do you want to train with today?"
Abe put a thoughtful hand across his chin, grasping it gently.
" im not sure, im not overly fond of knives, maybe a staff?" Questioned his blue friend.
A thought flew unbidden into Hellboy's mind, and without thinking he spoke it "do you want to train with me? Or should I ask Johann to help? I can't stand the guy but he seems to like you" Hellboy would never otherwise suggest it, but he was confident Johann would offer a different sort of challenge for Abe to overcome, and Hellboy was serious about getting abe trained for combat.
Abe only just stopped himself from choking, and started to blush, Abe couldn't be sure but he could have sworn this morning the German had been… flirting with him.
Abe had scarcely digested it at first, but could feel a growing attraction building for the man, which only added a second positive emotion to the admiration he held for Johann already.
- he tuned in once more a second later, to realise Hellboy hadn't noticed the green flush to his cheeks, abe forced his body to relax where his best friends arm was wrapped around his shoulders "and let's face it, I'm the better fighter, so it would be a good warm up" finished Hellboy.
Abe cleared his throat.
"No thank you red, Johann seemed rather busy this morning." Abe coughed into his hand.
Hellboy leaned away from where his left arm was draped across Abe's shoulders, looking into his face, the two still walking down the hall.
Although the two where different weights Abe was extremely tall, so this affair of walking with arms draped across shoulders wasn't as awkward as it sounded.
Hellboy's brows furrowed, and he looked puzzled ,he lit his cigar with his free hand, the brown cylinder already between his lips.
"So you two meet for breakfast now?" Abe averted his eyes, tensing up.
A beat later.
Oh fuck, thought Hellboy. Hellboy was trying his best not to be pissed off at Johann for taking an interest in his friend. He didn't trust the guy, but as much as he distrusted Johann Hellboy trusted Abes judgement, at least to an extent.
"No,no, don't get me wrong blue, I know you two get on, if you want to hang out with the guy and talk about books and artifacts or whatever I don't care" Hellboy's tail twitched exposing that he did in fact care.
Abe looked up slowly. That comment seemed extremely nonchalant. How much did Hellboy know? Abe was sure Hellboy would be more riled up if he knew abe had a crush on a guy he disliked and distrusted.
Hellboy was surprisingly protective of Abe in that way. Maybe Hellboy knew Johann wasn't a danger to abe, so didn't mind? Maybe he just didn't know... it wasn't like the two we're amphibian resisted the urge to remove his gloves and find out what Hellboy was really thinking.
Abe forced his runaway thoughts to still, and simply answered honestly.
"We do meet for breakfast occasionally, although he doesn't eat he delivered my egg this morning, he turns my pages when no one else has the time, and I help him with queries he has about artifacts, he had to rush off shortly after arriving today, something about a haunted painting."
Hellboy took a long drag of his cigar, and nodded once shortly.
"He's not a bad guy, I just happen to hate what an arrogant pri-"
Johann rounded the corner carrying a bundle of what appeared to be scraps of a demolished painting, he was singing something lilting and German, cheerful. He spotted the pair in an instant, but only had eyes for Abe.
"Oh Halo Abraham!"
The German waved a gloved hand happily.
"Hellboy?"
He added a moment later, if possible with no face appearing apprehensive. Said red man was glaring openly.
Hellboy simply pushed open the door to the training rooms and steered Abe inside.
"See what I mean, abe! that guy thinks he owns the place!"
"He only said-"
Hellboy removed his arm " look Abe, you can be friends with him, just don't ask me to stay in the same room as him anytime soon"
Abe smiled slightly despite himself.
Hellboy's dislike of Johann was irrational, but at least he wasn't going to stand in the way of Abe's budding friendship, or dare he say something more.
XXX
Three weeks later.
Johann carried the book carefully in both gloved hands, Abraham had been searching for it since as long as Johann could remember, and today was the perfect day to gift it.
Abe's tank was being cleaned, so the amphibian would be ready to receive the book any time today.
Johann gently pushed open the doors to the library. He tried not to stare when he spotted Abraham reaching for a book on a higher shelf, long legs extending, lean corded muscle tightening across his back, pert little- Johann stopped himself, they had only been seeing each other for two weeks now, and not in a sexual sense, as much as he desired Abraham he must not come on too strong, he did not want to ruin the beautiful thing that was developing between them
"Halo Abraham" greeted Johann.
The amphibian didn't reply right away, he simply stretched even further for the book, before giving up and climbing the ladder, before he could get it Johann released some ectoplasm and launched the book into his arms, swiftly hiding both books behind his back.
Abe turned with indignation, lip pouting in an endearing way, and lanky limbs folding in front of him. "Johann why must you be so mischievous?"
Questioned Abe.
If Johann had a face, Abe was sure he would be smirking.
"If you vant the book come and get it" sang Johann, waving the book slightly behind himself where Abe could see.
Abraham seemed to catch on Johann was flirting, but what he did surprised Johann greatly.
Abe walked right up to Johann, smooth strides having him pressed up against the other man, he could feel Abrahams lean taught body relax against his own.
Johanns metaphorical breath hitched, the beautiful amphibian resting his face in the crook of Johann's neck, placing his delicate hands on Johann's hips.
Without warning Abe made a grab for the book, but Johann placed a gentle but firm hand on Abe's lean chest, stopping him.
Abe huffed, looking at his wits end. Johann found it indering when Abraham sulked, but there was a little thrill of excitement thrumming through his containment suit, starting where Johanns hand rested on abes smooth chest and ending in the tips of his metaphorical toes.
"Really Abraham, you'll have to do better than that"
Teased Johann-although he was impressed by Abe's technique. He previously had no idea how sneaky Abe could be, and that he would go so far as to catch him off guard in such a way.
This time when Abe lunged for the book Johann simply made sure it was the much sought after book which had just arrived Abraham grabbed.
"Haha!"
Crowed the genius, waving the book in the air. Later adding "flirt!" In Johanns general direction. Really I'm the flirt? Thought Johann, after that?
Abe looked down at the book and was momentarily gobsmacked, this wasn't the book Johann had stolen, this was the bestiary Abe had been searching by for for decades!
Abe looked up at Johann and could tell the German was smiling, Johann opened his arms and Abe flung his arms around Johanns shoulders, kissing the side of the glass helmet and squeezing tightly.
" oh Johann, you big flirt!"
Johann chuckled.
Abraham was happy, so he was too.
Their hug was interrupted when the danger siren went off, and the red warning lights begun to flash, Abe's eyes flew open…
Over Johanns shoulder he could see Hellboy, harsh red lights casting shadows on his face, a hard expression on it, he was staring, but his gaze was not directed at Abe, he seemed to be glaring holes in Johann's back.
Abe let go awkwardly, letting his arms drop, and clasped Johann's hand. Johann turned and upon noticing Hellboy and looked a little uncomfortable, but raised his head finally in hesitant defiance.
Abe's chin tilted upwards as if daring Hellboy to say something. Abe was proud to be dating Johann, and he refused to let go of Johanns hand. Abe and Hellboy's gaze connected, and there was something unreadable in Hellboy's eyes, something softer… worry?
"Come on Johann, we have to prepare", said Abe, all but dragging a confused Johann along with him, long legs crossing the room in five steps. Abe didn't want to look at Hellboy anymore, if he had a problem with Johann he had a problem with Abe, friends or not, he wouldn't let Hellboy get in the way of what he and Johann had. Never.
Xxx
"But why didn't you tell me Abe?" whispered Hellboy, peeking over abes shoulder where the man they were talking about prepared instruments for use a few metres away.
"Well you hardly made me feel like it was something you would respond well to, and I don't need your permission red" bit out abe.
Hellboy looked a little hurt. Looking away. There where a few seconds of silence, where all they could hear what's the clatter of brass on Johann's metal table, and shuffling.
Hellboy looked up, right into Abe's eyes, a swirl of emotions catching Abe off guard.
" I just need to know if he's to be trusted, I don't know anything about him and-"
Abe couldn't stop himself from huffing and jutting his chin out.
"And whose fault is that?"
Hellboy glanced over his own shoulder at Johann, head snapping back to abe in a millisecond
" but abe, if he hurt you-"
Abe felt a puddle of anxiety wiggle in his belly. Abe thought he was doing the right thing keeping this from Hellboy, at least for a little while longer. He had no idea of his friends perspective on Johann, and what he could be thinking, the worries he would have.
The amphibian put gentle hands on his friends shoulders, looking deeply into his worried eyes.
"Trust me my friend, Johann is the last person who would cause me harm"
And despite himself Hellboy believed him… but again his big brother thoughts descended.'
maybe he was trusting Abe because Abe thought it was true, and Abe was just delirious with feelings.
Hellboy looked away, exhausted from all this worry.
"Well if he hurts you I'll kick his ass"
Grumbled Hellboy, he couldn't be sure but there seemed to be a small smile on Abes lips.