A Piece of me
Chapter 7: How it ends
I'm not a photographer, but I can picture me and you together.
'I'm a busy demon, Robert. I can perfectly leave if the Wonder Boys want to come over to have a heart-to-heart with their daddy'.
Bobby, who had just entered the house with a grumpy demon on his tail since the yard, threw an amused look over his shoulder, 'They just get here tonight. You can stay if you stop being stupid'.
Crowley didn't answer – he stopped by the kitchen doors, hands in his pockets and a hovering glare.
'Don't break anything', Bobby warned, serving himself some water.
'I need to vent out my frustrations'.
'What you need is to tell me what's the matter'.
'It's more practical to break something'.
'Talking like civilized folk may put me in the mood'.
If Crowley was a dog, his ears would have perked, 'Now you got my attention'.
Bobby took advantage of being with his back to the demon and grinned.
They had been together for months and sex was not the main feature of their relationship, anymore. Of course, it was very present, frequent and enjoyable for both, but they had been spending so much time together just chatting and sharing things that it had turned into one more element of their routine, not the focus it had been at the start.
What was good, once it could be used in negotiations like that.
'I'm all ears', the hunter said, turning with the glass in his hand, 'What has got the King of Hell's metaphorical guts in a knot?'
'I have guts, Robert. They are just unnecessary'.
'Stalling'.
The demon got serious and munched over what to say for some moments before speaking, 'I wonder what it means that your boys are thinking of retiring'.
'Who said anything about retiring?'
'Dean brought that girl to meet us… The one with a son who is probably his…'
'Lisa and Ben', Bobby nodded, 'They seemed pretty good, together'.
Crowley made a gesture of agreement, 'The Giant has been searching universities…', the demon ignored Bobby's surprised look at how much he really paid attention to the news about the Winchesters, 'It's a matter of time for them to settle'.
'Settling is usually a good thing for humans'.
'Don't get me wrong, darling. I cheer that their days of smelly motel rooms will be over…'
'But?'
Crowley didn't answer for a long time.
Bobby turned to the sink again to rinse the glass he had used, dried it and put it in its place.
And then he supported his back on the sink to face the other more comfortably.
'I hope you don't get offended, Robert, but I don't believe in happy endings'.
The hunter frowned in confusion, 'You mean for the boys? You don't believe they can get out of the life?', at the demon's hesitant nod, he added, 'Well, they're not. They still want to help Castiel, and they won't be shy if any monsters cross their way', Bobby leaned his head, 'The difference is that they decided to do something else, too, besides, you know…'
'Wrecking havoc and creating chaos amidst blood and gore?'
'Yeah'.
'I see', Crowley said, his eyes with a hint of sadness, 'But I was not talking just about them…', he pursed his lips, 'In my experience, there is no peace at the end of the journey. There is no end, in fact, just a new start where something is going to inevitably surge from the shadows to grab your legs and make you fall'.
'I get it that someone who has been living for centuries may find it difficult to accept that having peace for at least a part of the existence is worth believing', Bobby pondered, approaching Crowley, 'If we're lucky, we find someone to stay by our side for that'.
The demon stared at the man in front of him.
He seemed moved.
Bobby sustained the stare, and resumed, 'Castiel is taming the angels. You have a strong hold on demons. Why can't our poor souls have some years back to hunting ghosts and werewolves?'
'Those were simpler times', Crowley nodded, then sighed, 'I'm not really able to understand, but I can appreciate it'.
They exchanged gentle smiles, as it happened when they dropped the teasing and brought on their most personal issues – the ones they didn't confide on anyone else.
Suddenly, Crowley squinted, 'Why, Robert. If Dean wants a family and Sam, his studies, in order to achieve moments of happiness, I wonder what your ideas on that are'.
'What makes me happy is to know that I'm forgiven for any sin I have ever committed, thanks to enduring the King of Hell in my life for so much time'.
Before Crowley could protest at those words, the hunter grabbed his hips, making their bodies collide, and started assaulting his neck.
'And I thought you had just said that our liaison is what keeps the universe balanced…', Crowley tilted his head and started undoing his tie to give his lover better access.
'Self-centered bastard…', Bobby groaned between nips, then parted, 'Let's go up'.
'Where, love?', the demon smirked, 'Last time in your tube was great, but I don't think we can wait that much for it to…'
'My bedroom'.
Crowley froze.
Bobby's bedroom had been the only place of that house still off-limits.
They never discussed it.
The demon supposed it was Karen's room.
'Come on', Bobby grabbed his hand and pulled him to the stairs.
xxx
When they entered the room, Bobby locked the door behind them and let go of Crowley, walking to a side desk.
'What are you doing, love?', the surprised demon's voice sounded behind him.
'I need a knife'.
'We both know you're not into knives during sex, Robert'.
'I have a demon trap under the bed, idjit'.
'Must be this one I'm currently in'.
Bobby turned to look and, yes, Crowley was already on the bed.
Naked.
'Yeah, that one', the hunter licked his lips, 'What are you…?'
'I've been wanting to offer myself to you like this for a long time', Crowley started moving on the bed, 'No better opportunity than when you decide to open the doors of your bedroom to me'.
The demon spoke and got on his fours, his ass proudly in the air.
Bobby's heart was pounding.
No, he hadn't expected it.
It was too good to be true.
Crowley had put himself inside a demon's trap, no fight and no resistance, was naked and with his back turned to Bobby in his own territory.
Breathing deeply to control his excitement, Bobby took off his clothes as quickly as he could and climbed on the bed, kneeling behind Crowley's thighs.
He caressed, he prodded, he said soothing sweet nothings in the other's ear, taking away any doubts and suspicions that may still be lingering in the demon's mind.
He started slow and kept like that until the creature under him begged and squirmed.
And then he was rough and went deep and pulled hair and enlaced the other's waist with his strong arms.
The uncontrolled arousal made them move against the other until they came together.
Crowley let his meatsuit fall on the bed, pulling with him Bobby, who had planted his lips on his back and didn't seem ready to let go.
'That was wonderful, love', the demon spoke, a level of softness in his voice that he just used with that being currently on top of him.
'Yeah', Bobby agreed, sighing, 'It was'.
The hunter spoke and moved off the bed.
Crowley turned his head to see what had changed for the man to get off so suddenly.
Bobby went to the closest window, lifted the curtains, listened for a moment, then went to the table he had previously tried to reach, when they entered the room.
He opened a drawer to pick something up.
It was an angel's blade.
The moment Bobby closed the drawer the sound of the Impala was heard outside the house.
Crowley tensed, 'Didn't you say they were not arriving until the night?'
Bobby didn't raise his eyes from the blade, 'They must have changed their minds'.
'Yes', Crowley gulped down, the grip of fear getting him, 'It must be it'.
So, this is how it ends, the demon thought, With a trap.
Crowley considered himself lucky he didn't need breathing, because he couldn't do it, then. He didn't even start moving or planning an escape.
He had been proven right.
There was no peace and no happiness, for him – just the succession of hurt and loneliness.
That is why he had never let his guards down.
That's why he always kept in mind that no one had ever cared for him.
Because sooner or later he would be betrayed and abandoned. That was what Fate had in store for him since he was just a boy and his mother left.
It hurt like nothing had hurt before, because this time he had really believed that someone who knew what he was still loved him.
Crowley gathered some inner strength to sit on the edge of the bed and pull the sheets around him for some dignity.
He stayed in silence, hands joined on his lap over the bundle of cloth.
He didn't have a soul. He shouldn't feel like something deep inside had been crushed, but that was exactly how he felt – empty and resigned.
Bobby's voice sounded closer than expected, 'What do you want to do?'
His head snapped, 'Pardon?'
'You want to wait for me here while I talk to them? Those idjits have no sense of time or space…', the human scoffed unhappily, kneeling beside the bed to lift the rug and start carving, 'Or you prefer to go to Hell – no pun intended?'
Crowley gulped down to find his voice, eyes wide at the man at his feet, 'You will… let me?'
'I want you to stay, but I understand if- Wait', Bobby's hand froze, and he lifted his eyes to stare in disbelief at the demon, 'You thought I was keeping you in the trap?'
'You weren't?'
'No!'
Bobby had been emphatic in his answer, but then he threw the blade away and got up, joints cracking and, still, indignant, 'Why would I leave you stuck here?!'
Crowley didn't answer.
He seemed scared to death, and that was a lot to say about him.
'You paranoid bastard…', Bobby was visibly disconcerted, 'You thought I had brought you up here to fuck you in my bed and do what? Give you to the boys? Attack you with a blade?'
'Sorry, love', the demon managed to say.
'We exchanged vows!', Bobby scolded, 'Do you take me for someone who says something in the face and then put blades in your back?!'
The King was at a loss, again.
Not that same empty feeling that everything was meaningless.
This time he was overwhelmed by something that could be relief but was much, much stronger and deeper than that.
'Yeah, I know. You never could trust anyone like this', Bobby said, gesturing in understanding at the voices of the boys downstairs and starting to get his clothes, 'But you started this. You wanted to give me good things. Now you find a way to cope with this attachment'.
Crowley didn't answer.
Bobby, busy with his pants, started grunting something under his breath about a demon who didn't lend him a hand on putting his own clothes just because he liked ogling him.
And then he heard the demon, 'I love you, Robert'.
The hunter stopped fussing (now with his shirt) and stared at the demon.
Crowley was looking back at him, completely clothed and standing close to the door, as if ready to bolt at any moment.
'You already said it', the King resumed speaking, and it was obvious that he was having trouble not flinching, 'You promised your love in our new deal. And I am aware that we reached the point where we currently are because you insisted there was more to our trysts than I wanted to admit…'
The King shuffled his feet, uncharacteristically shy.
'I wanted to say it to you because…', he looked away for a moment, then back at Bobby's face, '…the love of a demon may be twisted and uncomfortable, but… that's what I have to offer, and I hope it's enough for a human with a soul like yours'.
Bobby was silent for some moments, his mouth open in something akin to shock.
Then, he put his hands on his hips, huffing, 'You decided to declare yourself to me when the boys are just some steps away?', he gulped down the emotion, 'I'd have to hate you if I didn't love you so much'.
Crowley disappeared from his spot by the door and reappeared on Bobby's arms for a tight hug.
The human sniffed, 'And don't be an idjit. There's no such thing as the love of a demon. Demons can't love. Just you', he pressed the other against him with more force, 'You're special. You hear me?'
Crowley nodded against Bobby's shoulder.
They heard Sam and Dean calling Bobby's name.
'Bollocks. Now we're both emotional to face those morons'.
'It serves you well'.
'I can always go to Hell and deflect the situation'.
'Don't you dare', Bobby chuckled, 'No kisses for you for a week if you leave now'.
'You wouldn't be able to resist my lips'.
'Try me'.
xxx
Crowley didn't disappear on Bobby.
He not just stayed, but exchanged civilized greetings with Sam and Dean.
And if he was fidgeting a bit, it was because had had to keep a façade of serenity while his insides were screaming at the fact he and Bobby had just crossed a new frontier in their relationship.
They didn't even have the time to discuss if they would speak clearly about it to the Winchesters.
(Castiel already knew about them, not having any idea of privacy and appearing in the yard at some very ill-timed situations.
They often wondered if the angel had mentioned it to the Winchesters.)
The conversation was nice. The humans drank some beer, the demon conjured his scotch and they exchanged news on the younger men's last hunts and future plans.
Dean was moving in with Lisa and Ben.
Sam was studying ways to clear his name in Police records and enroll in an University as close as possible to Dean's home, so they could keep in touch and, when the occasion arouse, hunting together.
Crowley made them promise to visit Bobby, reminding them how much they owed the older hunter and making clear if it was for his own preferences, they could disappear forever, but that was not the case, once 'Robert, for some undecipherable reason', liked them.
They promised to visit, and they even teased Crowley on being possessive over Bobby.
(Would it be possible that Castiel had told them?)
They said their goodbyes in front of the house, with hugs among the humans and nice claps on the shoulder for the demon.
And then Bobby grabbed Crowley's hand and kept it in his.
The King of Hell was comically wide-eyed at the gesture.
Dean raised his brows.
Sam smiled as if he had just seen the cutest thing ever.
It seemed their relationship was not exactly a surprise, then.
Maybe they were not as subtle as they thought they were.
(Or Castiel had told the boys.)
The Winchesters bid their farewells and went to their car.
When the Impala disappeared, Bobby and Crowley stayed side by side, looking at the now empty yard, hands still joined.
'You're gonna break it', the human warned.
'Oh, sorry, love', the demon realized he had been grabbing the hand in his with a bit more of force than necessary, 'May I take us inside?'
'Zapping us?'
Crowley nodded.
'Why?'
'I want to get back into that trap as soon as possible'.
'Really?', Bobby raised a brow, 'You enjoy risky games more than you should for my piece of mind, demon'.
'Damn it, Robert', Crowley used his free hand to adjust his pants.
'You have a boner, again?', the human was amused, 'What did I do, this time?'
'You outed us to your boys in the cutest way possible. You just said my recklessness worries you…', Crowley huffed, 'So many things that I can't quite explain…'
'Told you I have a superpower, Princess'.
Bobby spoke and grinned one of his rare self-satisfied grins.
'Yes, my Prince, you have'.
The demon, contrary to the roles they had just mentioned – and their status in real life –, Crowley lifted their joined hands to brush his lips on Bobby's knuckles, as the perfect gentleman he could be.
'Thank you for trusting me like that', the hunter said, moved by the delicate gesture.
'Thank you for teaching me it can go both ways'.
'You're welcome', Bobby smirked, 'But don't get too comfortable. I'm thinking of getting new traps around the house to surprise you'.
'Oh, Robert', the demon's eyes shone, 'I wouldn't have it any other way'.
'You're just going to get trapped on purpose, aren't you?'
'There's no limits to what I'd do to make you happy, darling'.
'Balls', Bobby bithis lower lip in sudden arousal, what made Crowley's mouth open in surprise, 'Just take us inside'.
'Really, Robert?', the demon chuckled, raising his free hand to snap his fingers and blink them away, 'You have a boner for my affections?'
Bobby didn't answer.
He pulled Crowley for a kiss so deep they disappeared from the yard without any dramatic gestures.
His demon still had a lot to learn, and the hunter had all the intentions of teaching him.
The End
