Devil's Cavern

*Just a vodka. Skittles if you're in the mood to mix things."

Zlo started to mix her a skittles.

"It's Shade now. And."

"Apologies," Riad murmured, still glaring at Zlo as he continued to dig behind the counter.

"Is that a male I smell back there? I wasn't aware you swung that way Riad. Someone didn't tell me. Pity. If I had known sooner, we could have gone out and looked at cute guys, I could've found good meals that way."

Riad's eyes snapped to her, his face growing slightly rosy, and Zlo laughed, sliding Shade's drink to her. "Beware, Ri can get rather defensive when it comes to who he falls for."

Violet eyes flashed brighter a moment, flicking towards Zlo. "Yeah. Pity it was you who caused me to become so defensive about it, sweetheart." For a moment, his words dripped with poison, and Zlo laughed again. "You know, any other time I wouldn't mind you stopping by--"

"But when you've someone here, you're afraid of making me jealous," Zlo grinned, leaning against the counter and took a sip of his drink. Gesturing to the door, he added, "Why not introduce us?"

"No," came just as soon as Zlo's last words left his mouth.

"Awh, does he not know yet?" Zlo teased. "You told me the first night."

"After you drug the fucking shit out of me," Riad snapped back before catching himself, and he pinched the bridge of his nose, taking a deep breath. "You know what, help yourselves. Just make sure to leave a tab on how much you buy." He stalked back to the door.

"Awh, what, no freebies for a pal?" Zlo frowned playfully, raising his hands.

"Not when you're being an asshole," Riad murmured, stepping inside and slamming the door.

Words: WORDS Addressed WORDS Mentioned: WORDS

"You.. He.."

Zlo answered with a sip of vodka, "Yup."

"You cost us free drinks."

He choked on his drink, it sloshing onto his shirt and mustered a low growl from him.

"Why don't you come out and introduce yourself now sweetie? I promise we won't bite. Much."

"I'm more worried about him barking at me once he finds out I slipped out."

Zlo snorted, wiping his mouth. "He won't bark at you. Not based on his reaction by your mentioning, kid."

"But. Name's Carter. Mind getting me a drink man? That, and telling me what he allegedly told you your first night?"

His eyes slid lazily to him, a grin reappearing on his face. "Straight forward. I like it. Zlo. And as for that, well...." He paused, mind lulled by the alcohol and Shade's presence. He swirled his drink around, eyes flashing crimson a moment. "You believe in the supernatural, kid? If so, it won't be a surprise. If not, well, you're in for a treat, or bitter treat, depending on how you look at it."

Words: WORDS Addressed WORDS Mentioned: WORDS

Riad looked up only to find the room empty. His breath hitched and he turned back to the door, going to open it but stopped as he heard voices.

"Why don't you come out and introduce yourself now sweetie? I promise we won't bite. Much."

"I'm more worried about him barking at me once he finds out I slipped out."

"He won't bark at you. Not based on his reaction by your mentioning, kid."

"But. Name's Carter. Mind getting me a drink man? That, and telling me what he allegedly told you your first night?"

"Straight forward. I like it. Zlo. And as for that, well....You believe in the supernatural, kid? If so, it won't be a surprise. If not, well, you're in for a treat, or bitter treat, depending on how you look at it."

Riad's fist curled against the wood of the door, but fear kept him frozen in place. Silently, he begged Zlo not to do it, to be a good friend for once, but deep down, he knew it wasn't going to happen. His tail tightened around his thigh.

Words: WORDS Addressed WORDS Mentioned: WORDS

"I can't say, really. I guess I do, somewhat. It really depends on what kind of supernatural you're talking about I suppose. Why?"

"Because lover boy isn't human," Zlo said casually, downing what was left of his drink. "He's like us, or well, myself anyway. A demon. Though, now that I think about it, I shouldn't be telling you this."

Words: WORDS Addressed WORDS Mentioned: WORDS

Riad's muscles tensed and he squeezed his eyes shut, a shaky breath escaping. Fear flooded his veins, and slowly he withdrew inside himself.

Words: WORDS Addressed WORDS Mentioned: WORDS

"He's... a demon?"

"Yup."

"You're right, you shouldn't be telling me that. That should have been his job."

"Well. I'm a succubus. Just putting that out there, since the demon has a loose tongue."

Zlo just shrugged, grinning. "Whoops."

Words: WORDS Addressed WORDS Mentioned: WORDS

Riad's jaw worked as his eyes remained closed, and he took another deep breath, fighting himself. What to do now that Carter knew, he didn't know. When the door opened, he started, jerking back sharply.

"Come on. Drink with me. Perk up."

Hesitantly and dazed, he followed him, though the surprise and confusion was written clearly on his face. His mouth worked like a guppy out of water, and after a few heartbeats, he regained his composure. "W-what-- you're not...freaked?"

Zlo chuckled lowly, pouring another glass. "You're welcome, pal," he murmured.

Words: WORDS Addressed WORDS Mentioned: WORDS

"I mean, of course I am, just a little. You're a demon, something I didn't necessarily believe in. But why should I run from you just because of that? Besides. You've done nothing but take care of me, despite what we're made out to believe demons are. Bad, vile, misleading. You've done nothing misleading to me that I can tell, so what's the problem. You may not be human, but you're a good guy, the first that's actually treated me decent."

Riad sat down beside of him and look down at his hands, arms resting on the counter. "In most places anymore, the bad rep gives us demons a bad name, and because of that, we aren't welcome to those who remember that we're here." He paused for a heartbeat.

"This day and age, I can lie about my eyes, tell them I have contacts or that I'm walking proof of that internet myth, and most of the time it works with people."

Words: WORDS Addressed WORDS Mentioned: WORDS

"Come on love. Let's leave them alone to talk."

Zlo poured both of them Riad's favorite drink and slid it across the bar, raising his shot glass to them before following after Shade, giving them privacy.

Words: WORDS Addressed WORDS Mentioned: WORDS

"In the world today, homosexuality is accepted, for the most part. And people wish to be swept away by vampires like in the books and movies. The world is too accepting. Which is fine, but on the other hand, I wish it had been this way already. It would have made it a lot easier on those of us who bare different, or impure, in society's eyes."

Riad nodded, staring inside his drink. "It's better than it was a hundred years ago, that's for sure." He threw the drink back before choking on it as something in the air shuddered, his senses on point. He coughed and set the glass down, eyes flicking towards the front door.

Words: WORDS Addressed WORDS Mentioned: WORDS

Zlo wrapped an arm around Shade's waist, watching the two males talk before he shivered, something shooting up his spine. He followed Riad's gaze towards the door, head rolling to the side. "I think someone has stopped by for an unexpected visit." Taking a swig of his drink, Zlo seemed to straighten slightly and his gaze cleared.

Words: WORDS Addressed WORDS Mentioned: WORDS

"Is something wrong?"

Riad stood slowly from his stool, eyes never leaving the door. "I don't know."

"Someone?"

"I didn't think he was still kicking," Zlo called towards Riad, though the joking tone that would normally be there was gone.

"It can't be him," Riad murmured, though when the door opened, he turned rigid and coiled.

Words: WORDS Addressed WORDS Mentioned: WORDS

Dozorce stood outside of the bar, uncertain for a heartbeat, but knowing that the worst that could happen was the rumors were false. But based on the shudder in the air, he knew they were true. What would he think after so long? Would he hate him? Welcome him? He didn't know. All he knew was that he was the best bet at learning the truth.

Without waiting another moment, Dozorce stepped in, dressed in a worn leather jacket and jeans, scruffy and hair long and pulled back into a small ponytail. His pale eyes flicked about the room, spotting Zlo and Shade before it settled on Riad, whose violet eyes were widened and disbelieving.

"Shiiiiiiit," Zlo breathed, gently lifting Shade from his lap and stood. "It is him."

Riad didn't move, and Dozorce didn't pay much mind towards Zlo. He struggled to find the words he needed, but none would come. Seeing his son grown, alive and well, was almost overwhelming, but he had to remember the task at hand. "Son," he murmured, taking a breath.

Riad was a guppy out of water, and couldn't find his voice for a few beats. "I-It's really you?" his voice was half cracked half whisper as his hand came to a rest on the bar, steadying himself.

Words: WORDS Addressed WORDS Mentioned: WORDS