Pip woke up to find himself in a strong embrace with Damien, who was still fast asleep. They were covered with a thick quilt and a crimson silk blanket. Damien's arms were locked protectively around Pip's body, who still had his arms wrapped around Damien's neck.

It was hot and sticky beneath all the sheets and their soft clothes, but it was the most pleasant sleep Pip had ever had. He looked up at Damien and smiled, nuzzling his cheek against Damien's. He had almost forgotten all about his foster parents and his real home and although he didn't forget, he still didn't think about it.

Why would he let anything ruin the moment?

It was Sunday morning and Damien was sitting with his back turned to Pip on the bed, waiting for him to get dressed. They had spent Saturday lazing around in their (or rather Damien's) pyjamas, but today Damien insisted that Pip borrow some of his clothes so they could go out for the day.

"Are you ready yet?" Damien asked eagerly.

"U-umm… I think," Pip looked at himself unsurely in the tall mirror before him.

Damien turned around and stood up from the bed. He smiled, although it was almost a grin, "See, I told you you look good in black."

Pip turned around to face him. He was wearing a tight black top with long, fishnet sleeves that very nearly showed off his bellybutton and black skinny jeans that were covered just below the knee by a pair of black New Rocks with silver buckles lined down one side on each.

"I'm not sure, Damien…"

"Relax, you look great," Damien smiled, "but you forgot one thing."

Damien walked over to his dressing table and grabbed something, taking it behind Pip. He placed it around his neck and buckled it at the back.

"There," he announced, turning Pip around to look in the mirror.

On Pip's neck was a pretty black choker, with a silver letter "D" in the middle. He blushed slightly, feeling like he was wearing a dog collar and Damien was his owner. He looked up at Damien, who wrapped his arms around his waist.

He smirked cheekily, "You look good enough to eat."

"Damien!" a call came from downstairs.

"Hmm… I wonder what dad wants. Come on," he released Pip's waist, but took his hand, "let's go see."

Damien led Pip out of the room. As they came to the top of the stairs, Damien halted to see his father standing at the front door, with Officer Barbrady standing outside.

"What's going on?" Damien asked, tightening his grip on Pip's hand.

Satan looked up at the pair in remorse. Officer Barbrady turned immediately to Pip.

"There you are! Alright now Pip it's time to go."

"Excuse me?" Damien butted in.

"Pip has to go back to his family."

Damien walked further down the stairs, bringing Pip with him, "No he doesn't."

"Don't be silly, of course he does. His foster parents called and said he didn't go home on Friday."

"There's a reason for that," Damien snarled, pulling Pip closer to his body.

"Well I'm sure that's something Pip can discuss with his foster parents, they're waiting for him now."

"No!"

"Damien behave yourself!"

"I'm not letting him go back to them!"

"Now now, no need to make a fuss. Pip just has to come with me, no questions asked," Officer Barbrady droned in his moronic tone.

Pip stepped helplessly towards Officer Barbrady without a word, but Damien held him back.

"Pip is staying with me," he growled.

"Damien let him go now. We're going to have a very serious talk about this."

"Make me!"

In an instant, Satan pulled Damien towards himself, causing him to let go of Pip with the sudden force. Officer Barbrady indicated for Pip to come with him and Pip obediently started to walk out the door, looking back at Damien vulnerably.

"Pip don't!"

Satan covered Damien's mouth and waved Pip off, "It was nice having you, Pip," he smiled, struggling to keep Damien under control.

Soon, the door slammed shut. Damien became more violent in his attempt to break free of Satan's grip. He bit his hand ferociously, causing Satan to let out a yelp of pain and let go of Damien's mouth. Damien ran for the door, but Satan was too quick and he beat him to it.

"What the fuck are you doing? I need to get Pip back!"

"Damien Abaddon Satan, don't you dare speak to me like that!"

"They're going to fucking kill him! How could you do this?"

"I didn't do anything Damien, you're the one who kidnapped your classmate without telling me!"

"I was protecting him!"

"Stop it now. You're grounded," Satan refrained from yelling, but kept his tone stern and harsh.

"You can't ground me!"

"I just did," Satan folded his arms across his chest, "and I'm taking your powers from you."

"What?" Damien was furious, but there was nothing he could do about it.

"I am extremely disappointed in you, mister."

"Me? What about those bastards that you just sent Pip away to? They're going to beat the shit out of him!"

Satan's expression softened, "Baby there's nothing we can do about that…"

"Yes there is! And I was doing it until you ruined everything!"

"Little Horn… I'm sorry, it's none of our business," Satan reached out to place his hand on Damien's head in an attempt to comfort him.

Damien pulled back angrily, "Get away from me," he muttered.

"Damien…"

"I hate you!" Damien shouted as he turned and stormed his way back up stairs.

Satan stood and watched in awe, forlorn and hurt.

Damien dashed into the school first thing on Monday morning. He had been sure to get up early without hitting the snooze button on his alarm clock, going straight to the bathroom where he already had his uniform all laid out and grabbing a peanut butter sandwich wrapped in tinfoil he had made the night before to eat on his way to school. He had to see Pip.

He burst into their tutor room and looked around frantically, but no one was there. Not even the foul smelling Kel Galway had shown up yet. He threw his bag recklessly beside his desk and tried to think.

'Monday… Monday… what's Monday?' he paused for a moment before the light in his head flashed on brightly, "Choir!" he exclaimed.

He ran back out of the room, heading for the music rooms. He paid no attention to the few teachers who had called after him, instructing him not to run in the corridors. He pushed past the odd early bird nerd until he skidded to a halt before a door with "Music Room 1" written on it.

He stood in silence for a moment, listening to the sound of boys and girls singing (but mostly girls) and a piano backing them up.

Holy, Holy Spirit

Holy, Holy Spirit

Breathe on me

Breathe on me

He cringed, but pushed the door open slightly and peeked in. He searched the rows frantically, still trying to keep cover. Soon, the chorus of voices stopped and only one rang throughout the large, echoing room. Damien's eyes were caught on Pip, watching beautiful music soar from his mouth and completely entice Damien, despite the song.

Clear the shackles from my mind,The veil is torn and I'm not blind,Walk with me into the Holy of Holies,Let me find that peace and joy,All my fears and doubts destroy,Keep me from sin,My heart is open,Come on in.

Damien shook his head, bringing himself back to earth. He looked again as the rest of the choir burst into chorus once more.

'Ok… well Pip's here…' he thought, slowly trying to process what that meant, 'He looks ok… at least he doesn't have a black eye. But what if there's worse under his clothes? How am I supposed to know for sure?'

He watched as Pip's eyes strayed from the teacher that was conducting the choir, with her bingo wings swaying back and forth as she waved her arms in the air, until their eyes locked. Pip blushed slightly when he noticed Damien, finding it hard to continue singing. Damien smiled at him in an attempt to encourage him, causing Pip to look down at the ground embarrassed but with a tiny smile.

As the song continued, Damien felt himself become more and more fascinated by Pip's beauty, not to mention his enchanting voice, but at the same time he became more and more aware of the song that was being sung.

He waited until Pip glanced over at him again before blowing him a kiss and leaving. Pip giggled to himself, but kept his focus on singing, thinking about what Damien must have thought about it.

Pip and Damien sat together at their usual table in the cafeteria, chatting away with their usual conversations. For once, Damien hadn't bothered getting a school lunch. He decided that considering he didn't eat them anyway, there was no point in getting one. However he didn't make sure he had brought a packed lunch either, so he stared at Pip's hungrily.

Pip looked up at him, hearing the sound of Damien's stomach rumbling like an earthquake in an empty house.

"I suppose you want something from me?" Pip giggled.

Damien nodded quickly with pleading eyes.

"Lucky for you I brought in shortbread today," Pip smiled as he opened up a neatly folded bundle of tinfoil.

Damien looked to see that there was a thick layer of strawberry icing spread on top of each of them. He grinned, "Aww, you must have known I'd be starving."

Pip laughed and took a piece of the shortbread in his hand. He held it front of Damien as if to tease him. Damien held his mouth open wide so Pip gave in and popped it into his mouth, however Damien held it in place and gave Pip the puppy dog eyes.

"What?"

Damien pointed the other end of the shortbread at Pip until he got the hint. Pip giggled and leaned in slightly, taking a bite off the end of it. Damien bit it in half.

"You were supposed to take more than that," he whined as he popped the rest of Pip's half into the blonde's mouth.

Pip giggled as he swallowed the sweet, sugary snack. He felt a warm hand resting on his own and looked up at Damien who was staring at him with entrancing eyes. Pip blushed and smiled at the handsome boy, feeling him entwine their fingers together. Damien's look turned serious as he tightened his grip on Pip's small hand.

"I'm sorry, Pip…"

"About what?"

"I got you into more trouble with them, didn't I?"

Pip turned away, shaking his head, "Not… not really."

"I'm sorry," Damien whispered as he pulled Pip against him and hugged him tight.

"It's ok Damien, really," Pip pushed back from the embrace slightly so that he could look at Damien, "I had fun spending time with you."

"I'm going to find a way to help you, Pip."

Damien stroked Pip's hair in a comforting manner as Pip sighed contently against his neck.

"Damien… promise me you won't do anything drastic," Pip murmured.

"I can't, my father confiscated my powers."

"Well that's good," Pip admitted as he was gradually released from Damien's hold.

"No it's not. They deserve the worst that I can do to them, Pip."

Pip shook his head, "But you can't… just please don't Damien."

"Alright," Damien sighed, giving in to Pip's pleading, "I won't."

"Thank you," Pip leaned in and placed a soft kiss on Damien's cheek. Neither of them noticed, nor cared, about the people who were currently staring at them. It's not like any of them would have the guts to say anything considering Damien was there.

Damien reached out and placed his hand on Pip's cheek, brushing his hair back slightly, "Can you come back to my place at any time?"

"I can ask."

"It'll have to do for now," Damien looked into Pip's innocent eyes, "but I swear to you Pip, it won't have to last."

"Damien you don't have to do anything."

"Here," Damien said as he took a CD case from his blazer pocket and pushed it into Pip's hand.

Pip looked at it confused, the CD was blank apart from the "DxP" that was written on with thick, dark blue marker.

"I made it last night when I was thinking of you," Damien smiled at Pip, "Listen to it when you're missing me. I'm sure that's often enough," he joked.

Pip didn't disagree, "What's on it?"

"You'll see," Damien winked.