We're on Day 3 in the Human World.

Possibly forgotten overall TW: Unhealthy relationships with food/discussions/realizations of possible eating disorders (but not super deep?) possibly in the future.

Blood Divine, Spilt Upon the Desperate Soul
xXx-xXx-crimson-xXx-xXx

Hours passed into a new day, and eventually it was decided that Iruma no longer needed to stay in intensive care. Asmodeus was a little lost on the information given to him, but a trip to a new floor with a new bed for Iruma as well as a cot for him (they could tell he wouldn't leave despite the specified visiting hours he'd already ignored), and he was settled once more next to his soulmate.

A nurse brought in some food for him and Iruma both, and Asmodeus thanked her for the strange looking meals with as much grace as he could muster before continuing his vigil.

A few minutes of silence passed before Iruma's brows furrowed and his eyes finally opened. He blinked before glancing to his side, "Azz-kun..?" His voice was hoarse from a lack of water combined with the strain of the previous day's panic.

Asmodeus sagged in relief, dark rings under his eyes as he'd refused to sleep the past two days despite the looks the nurses were beginning to give him. "Yes Iruma-sama. I'm here."

Iruma released a tension neither of them had noticed he'd had as he sighed to himself. He returned Asmodeus's hold on his hand, glad for the physical reminder of his presence, and that even though he was in the human world still, Azz-kun was by his side.

He hadn't gone crazy for over a year, he hadn't been abandoned.

Iruma was relieved.

He glanced towards the source of his awakening, and his eyes widened, "What time is it?"

Asmodeus glanced at the clock in the room and froze. He understood what it said, but he wasn't sure of how to say it.

Iruma noted the time as well and hummed, "Oh, so it's about noon, lunchtime?"

Asmodeus nodded, "Y-yes, my apologies."

Iruma shook his head, "Don't worry about it Azz-kun." He grinned, "I'm just happy you're here with me!"

Iruma's stomach did a nervous flip at the idea that Asmodeus was here, in the human world, for a prolonged period of time. He frowned as he pushed himself up, Asmodeus quickly moving to assist him in his endeavor to sit upright.

Asmodeus gave him a thin smile, "Hungry Iruma-sama?"

Iruma nodded, "I'm starving!" Or at least, he thought he should be. His mind couldn't decide if he actually was hungry yet, or if he was just desperate to comfort himself.

Nonetheless, Asmodeus moved over his side table and placed his hospital meal in front of him. Iruma immediately went to start on it, its portions far smaller than Asmodeus had ever witnessed him consume (other than his stint with the Student Council). Iruma notably ate at a much slower pace, chewing far more methodically, and sipping at his soup broth in an unusually controlled manner.

Asmodeus frowned with worry, and Iruma caught his shift in mood and gave him a bashful look before explaining, "Humans shouldn't eat too much too quickly after going without food for a while."

Asmodeus blinked, "Why's that, Iruma-sama?"

Iruma shrugged, "I've thrown up before by eating too much too fast. For some reason we just get sick. Must be some sorta shock response of the body or… something." He concentrated on his food again for a moment as he thought it over. "I kind of missed a lot of school, so I'm… kind of lacking in knowledge about stuff, even here."

Asmodeus's eyes widened before he became serious, "Iruma-sama… what exactly was it like?" Iruma tilted his head in question as Asmodeus cautiously pushed, "Living here, before you came to Babyls."

Iruma paused before setting his utensils down and folding his hands in his lap. He contemplated for a moment before deciding to simply spill his guts.

He'd hated keeping things from Azz-kun and Clara, so it was a little bit of a relief that he could speak freely, without having to worry about the wrong demon overhearing and wanting to eat him.

'I wonder if all of the humans here smell tasty to Azz-kun?'

Iruma shook his head of that stray thought and inhaled deeply before exhaling softly. "Growing up, once my parents decided to start traveling the world, let me live by myself in the woods. Just a tent, and whatever weeds I could boil, along with any scraps of food I could find." He smiled to himself in lament, "I burned whatever paper I could find. For some reason porn was the easiest to pick up-" Asmodeus's expression went flat at that as Iruma nervously continued, "A-and well, I got used to the bugs, snakes, and bears. Really, at least if I caught a snake I could eat it most of the time. Some bugs weren't too bad either." He laughed awkwardly as he rubbed the back of his head. "I worked a lot of odd jobs, sometimes bad jobs, now that I think of it. All because my parents asked me to help them earn money for their trips."

Asmodeus gripped his knees. He knew the Chairdemon would take care of them, but he'd love to dig his claws into Iruma-sama's parents himself.

Iruma-sama had deserved so much more than what he'd gotten.

Asmodeus reigned in his building fire and ground out, "And that's why you missed school?"

Iruma nodded sadly, "My classmates barely remembered I went. I managed just enough to not be held back a grade but…" He bowed his head, "I really did miss a lot. You and Clara… were my first friends in my entire life, y'know?" He felt tears prick his eyes as he took in a shaky breath, "I was so scared to assume we were close enough to even be acquaintances at first."

Asmodeus inhaled silently as he felt his own tears prick his eyes. He may not have been the most sociable of demons, but he'd at least had his (annoying) mother, David, and his extended family members. The comfort of a roof over his head and the finest education status could buy.

Iruma had been abandoned and used by his own mother and father, and they'd dared to try and take him back!?

He stood abruptly, startling Iruma, before he froze. He was halfway towards grasping Iruma's shoulders when he remembered the wound he'd gotten and lost his confidence. Asmodeus's outstretched arms lowered, and he felt the telltale signs of tears running down his cheeks as he stared at Iruma and wondered how stupid Clara would handle comforting their soulmate.

Iruma reached out towards him with his good hand, and intertwined their fingers as he clasped his hand gently with what little movement and strength he had at the moment. "Azz-kun… Do you hate me?"

Asmodeus jolted in surprise at the question, yet the insecure look on Iruma's face forced him to take the question seriously. "...Why in the world would I ever hate you?"

Iruma's lips wobbled before he answered, "Because I'm not a demon at all, but a human. I- I lied to you and everyone, and-"

Asmodeus's face crumpled with emotion before he carefully leaned over and gently caressed the back of Iruma's head with his free hand while burying his face into Iruma's hair. "I'm even more amazed by you then ever, Iruma-sama. It was already an honor to be considered not only your friend, but your soulmate. Now I know your deepest secret, and now so much of what's worrisome about you makes sense." He chuckled wetly to himself, "No wonder everything back home surprises you."

Iruma pulled their interlinked hands to his chest as he relaxed hesitantly into Asmodeus. "So you don't hate me?"

Asmodeus laughed weakly, "Never, Iruma-sama. Quite the opposite."

Iruma leaned into the strength of Asmodeus's front, "I can't wait to go back home to the others… so I can tell Clara about me, too."

Asmodeus nodded, "Can't be the love trio with only two, huh?"

Iruma chuckled lightly as he released Asmodeus's hand with one final squeeze, "Yeah."

Asmodeus sighed before he reluctantly pulled back and held Iruma's face in both of his hands while wiping away unnoticed tears from his far too squishy cheeks, "I'll make sure she isn't too rough with you at first. I don't want you to ever need to come back to this place again because she caused your wound to reopen."

Iruma smiled tiredly and nodded a little through Asmodeus's coddling, "Y-yeah, I've never been hurt this badly before, and I don't plan to ever be again."

Asmodeus nodded, resolute in Iruma's reassurance, before finally pulling away and turning to his own meal, giving it an awkward poke. Iruma chuckled at his caution, and Asmodeus decided that if Iruma-sama could eat demon food so willingly despite its appearance, he could at least manage one simple human meal for his sake.

It wasn't great, but the vast difference in flavor gave him an even greater respect for Iruma's palette.

He gently placed the plate of fish in front of Iruma with barely a tremor in his hand while refusing to look at it, much to Iruma's confused amusement.