The Hunter And His Beloved Demon (BL)

Jaquer monotonously walked beside Venor.

His body straight, face void of any emotion, and his eyes crimson red.

After freeing Jaquer from the shackles, Venor took his hand and walked away in the same direction he came from.

A subtle smile played on his face, invisible under the dark side, but glowed under the lights from the tents.

It was a strange sensation for him to walk beside Jaquer and not receive any glare or bicker.

He glanced at the man walking beside him and without thinking, poked his nose. Jaquer, in response, did nothing but gently remove Venor's hand and mechanically turned towards him. 

Venor looked at him with teasing eyes before flicking Jaquer's head, while the latter yelped at the sudden pain and turned away from the former with a pout. 

Venor couldn't help but chuckle at him.

He resumed their walk whilst studying Jaquer's face.

Sharp bridge nose with a pointed end, emerald eyes that always look out for a demon, and black hair tied in a flimsy bun.

Removing his hand from Jaquer's wrist, Venor tentatively extended his right arm towards his hair bun and gave it a little squeeze.

The silky hair felt soft under his calloused skin.

"I wish to compel you forever," Venor sighed and patted Jaquer's head, "But that's just a dream."

Jaquer's emotionless crimson eyes steadily steal a glance at Venor before extending to his hand towards Venor's braid, which was resting on his chest.

Venor had long hair, but it was in a worst condition. Dry and frizzy with a few strands seeking out, but even with that appearance, he was bewitching to one's eyes.

Jaquer's fingers rubbed against the frizzy curls, and crimson eyes moved to the ground, monotonously.

"My hair is damaged, is it?" Venor asked, observing Jaquer's reaction with sheer attention.

Meanwhile, the latter, who didn't seem to have the conscious of the real world, nodded to Venor.

"Make. The. Bed," Jaquer's hypnotised voice made Venor remember their real deal.

He took Jaquer's hand again and hurried back to his chamber along with Jaquer, before the spell broke.

****

Jaquer was fumbled when he woke, kneeling on a makeshift bed, inside a crimson imperial tent, designed with circular celestial runes.

He looked around and saw Venor leisurely sitting on a makeshift chair with the same pattern as the tent, and resting his head on the top rail, eyes closed with a pleasant guise.

Even in contempt of several questions swirling around his mind, he closely observed Venor and slided down from the bed.

He wasn't sure what he was planning, but as soon as he saw his free hand and the keys dangling from Venor's hips, his idea was not to run but steal them at least.

With measuring steps, he neared Venor and knelt before him.

Tentatively extending his hands towards the latter's hips, he lifted his eyelids and confirmed Venor to be in a deep slumber.

Demons were heavy sleepers; they energised themselves through a week's length of sleep. That was what Jaquer knew.

Nevertheless, he held his breath and pursed his lips before slowly working on the knots.

The keys clanged against each other before and chimmed a soft metallic sound.

While, on the other hand, Jaquer lungs couldn't hold his breathless self and panged at his throat.

Finally, the keys came out loose from Venor's hips, and he grasped the metal before a mockery befall his ears.

"You look more beautiful while kneeling down in front of me,"

An instant shock came crashing into Jaquer's guts when he heard the man above him.

But instead of digesting his mockery, Jaquer bit with a different remark, "What am I doing in your tent?"

"Making my bed," Venor said leisurely before yawning and smacking his lips together to feel awake.

Jaquer cautiously inserted the key in his pocket before backing away with a disgusted expression.

"What were you doing kneeling before me?"

"Mind your business."

"You are my business now."

Jaquer was speechless, hence he decided to stay quiet while folding his hands in front of his chest while tapping his shoes on the ground.

"Were you stealing something?" Venor asked, not letting Jaquer ignore his question, "Or you were checking my sexual appeal before I consummate my marriage with your crush."

"..."

Fuck, what?

Out of all the questions, the latter was the least expected from Venor.

What the hell did he mean by checking his sexual appeal?

Jaquer opened his mouth, but closed it again before speaking with a quivering voice, "What the fuck are you on? Or all demons tend to be like you?"

"I am making assumptions based on your act," Venor innocently tilted his head and continued, "But it's possible, on account of your love towards Princess Hader. Yet, I am not being a narcissist, but I am well-endowed if you are curious."

Jaquer's brows twisted into a furious line as he tried to digest Venor's words.

He need not required to digest them, but his fucking mind couldn't possibly let go of the words.

Well-endowed.

Jaquer bit his lips and stood in an awkward silence. His face turned red, not from shyness but from second-hand embarrassment.

But before he thought it couldn't get more embarrassing, Venor stated aloud, "Do you want to compare?"

"NO,"

Jaquer's reply came even before his brain could decode whatever Venor said.

He couldn't comprehend what Venor was up to. Initially, he made him his servant, now making sexual jokes.

Jaquer was quite aware that, unlike humans, demons tend to love any gender. Was he... hinting at Jaquer? But, no way, he was going to marry Hader...

Before delving deeper into the brain-numbing theory, Jaquer brushed off the thought and replied while rolling his eyes, "If you don't have other business with me, I will take my leave."

"Invite Hader to my chamber and serve us dinner, then you are free."

Jaquer reluctantly nodded his head before striding back towards the exist.

"Wait," Venor voiced out before he could step his foot out of the tent, "You forgot to return something."

"What?"

"My keys."

Venor snapped his and the keys flew out from Jaquer's pocket, directly to his hips and fastened itself on the thread in mere seconds.

Jaquer awkwardly lifted his chin, before his eyes cast downward, and he comically walked away from the tent with a 'humph'.

Princess Hader's tent was two tents away from Venor's.

Jaquer didn't have to enquire because among the other miscellaneous tents, her tent had a different font.

He approached the tent.

"Princess Hader, may I come in?" He hoped she would recognise his voice.

"Jaquer? Yes, Please." His heart skipped a few beats after hearing her voice.

From dreaming of marrying her, now dreaming of saving her, he had come a long way.

He checked his breath, cleaned his clear face, just in case, something stuck on it and entered the tent.

The tent was bigger indeed, but it didn't have an eating chamber like Venor's.

He stopped after a few strides as he stood before her.

He stole a glance at her face before lowering his head.

"T..the.." His voice stuck in his throat from anxiety as he had never stood this close to her.

"Pardon?" Hader asked gently, as if asking a child.

Jaquer looked at her again and was hypnotised by her, unable to look away.

From his observation, she looked sad, but not vulnerable. Maybe it was betrayal from the royal family that left her brokenhearted. But despite this, her face looked determined. She was ready to fight for whatever future befallen her.

And that was what made Jaquer fall for her in the first place.

Her invulnerability.

Clasping his hand in front of the noble bully, scolding them for bullying him, Hader became the hero of his life when she pulled that move, the time both were 16.

And that was what motivated him to become an elite demon hunter. To be strong and invulnerable like her.

But now, when reality struck, Jaquer's heart sank in realisation that he had returned her favor by putting her in a vulnerable position instead.

"I am sorry," He said.

To Hader, it was an abrupt statement; she looked confused before sinking in understanding.

"The royal family should be sorry to you," she said, her eyes cast downward on his torn shoes before landing on his face.

"It's my inability which pushed us to the this situation. The royal family did whatever they can to protect the citizens. But, ofcourse, sacrificing you was very wrong of them."

"You can speak your mind without filteration, Jaquer. None of us deserve to be here, especially you. You are an elite demon hunter. You protected the kingdom from several attacks and this is how they repay you. Just admit they are fools with a brain worse than that of a mutt."

"Indeed."

Hader glanced at the hunter before asking, "But what brings you here, you didn't come for just an apology, am I right?"

"Yes, the commander has invited you for dinner."