#ariesshower

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"Night, we should-we should w-wait~" Host's last word came out as a shaky breath. He sat on his desk with Night standing between his legs. Host's pants were undone and shifted down just enough for Night to wrap his hand around his cock and start slowly stroking him.

"Are you sure you want to wait?" Night asked with a playful hum, Host's hands gripping his upper arms. "I just want a little taste~" He pressed his nose to Host's neck, scraping his teeth against the Claim Mark. Night had the biggest grin when that got Host to gasp, hand moving to the back of his head and fingers going through his hair.

"That's not playing fair." Host huffed but pulled Night closer to himself. He didn't have a meeting for another hour. He could spare a little bit of time for some self-indulgence.

"That's what makes it more fun." Night chuckled, working his hand faster and dragging his tongue across the mark this time.

"Sh-Shit." Host knew a mark was sensitive with how Mad had described it to him, but he never thought he'd love having it played with this much.

"We might end up with more than a taste with how you're reacting." Night teased. "How long do we-"

"Hey, Host. Could you check-" The questions turned into a squeak, and Host immediately knew that Mad had walked in.

"Good morning, Madrick." Night casually greeted while Host dropped his forehead to his shoulder, wishing he had the ability to disappear.

"I was-I just-my-um-I have some-something for-uh-" Mad sputtered as his brain struggled to figure out what to do, awkwardly waving some papers.

"Place those on the table there, and Host will read them when we're finished." Night flashed a smile, and Mad's red face just got even brighter as he quickly did as he was told and ran out of the room, closing the door behind him.

"He's going to tell Mare, who's going to tell Phantom, who's going to tell everyone." Host groaned.

"Just means we'll definitely be left alone." Night said.

"I should get back to work." Host didn't even get to move before Night began stroking his cock again.

"I still need my taste~" Night purred after getting a light moan from Host.

It was a peaceful evening, for the most part. Night had cooked a lovely dinner for Host, feeding him a rich chocolate cake for dessert with a smile, then curling up in the couch to just enjoy the other’s company.

He was just beginning to doze off, fingers threading through Host’s hair to keep the longer strands out of the bandages, when he felt the narrator tense up against him. Turning to look at Host, Night’s eyes widened as he watched blood seeping through the bandages around his own eyes, leaking out from underneath to run down his cheeks.

“What’s happening? What’s going on?” Night asked, losing his composure as fear trickled in his veins. Tugging a handkerchief from his pocket, he pressed it to Host’s cheek, feeling his hands start shaking when the blood seeped through the fabric instantaneously.

He’d never seen so much blood coming from beneath Host’s bandages before; helping to change them had made him believe his sockets were mostly healed. This seemed… different somehow. Despite his tense pose, Host seemed unbothered by the affliction, simply facing forward with his mouth forming unintelligible words.

“I’m going to get some bandages… warm water… cold water to drink…” Night trailed off as he left the room, heading first for the bathroom to get the first aid kit, then going to the kitchen to douse a dishcloth in warm water and fill a glass with cold water. He paused as the thought of calling for help entered his mind, then shook it off in favour of getting back to his partner.

--

Stepping into the room, Night stopped as he spotted Dark kneeling in front of Host, hands on his shoulders with his eyes trained on his mouth, carefully reading Host’s lips and muttering comments about the words. After some time, Dark leaned away from Host and noticed Night standing in the doorway. Clearing his throat, he stood up and motioned for the god to return to Host’s side.

“He’s fine now,” Dark said, seeming to sense Night’s concern. “When he’s had time to rest, ask him about his visions. I have a feeling they’ll be regular occurrences for you. Also please inform him I received his message and will act on the vision as soon as I am able.” With that, Dark left in a cloud of black smoke, leaving Night blinking at empty space before turning back to change Host’s bandages.

--

“Sorry about that,” Host said quietly as he leaned toward Night, tilting his face to let him clean the blood. “Sometimes I can control when I have a vision, but today it couldn’t wait. I’m alright, though,” he finished, reaching for Night’s free hand.

“Did it hurt?” Night asked, carefully wrapping fresh gauze around Host’s head. “Why didn’t you tell me sooner?”

“Having the visions don’t hurt,” Host replied, curling back into Night’s side once he heard the click of the first aid kit closing. “Mostly, it’s just annoying. I was going to tell you tomorrow, because Dark needed me to experience a vision for his next job, but I guess the vision couldn’t wait.”

“Do you need me to help you in any way when this happens?”

“What you’ve done is more than enough,” Host said with a smile, shifting slightly to rest his head on Night’s chest, humming when Night draped his arm around his shoulders. “The visions don’t last long, but afterward I will need a bandage change and a lot of water. In rare cases a shower would also help.”

Night nodded, humming in acknowledgement before holding Host closer, pressing a kiss to the top of his head and relaxing more against the couch cushions. As he listened to Host’s breathing even out, signalling he had fallen asleep, Night couldn’t stop the swarm of thoughts and questions he had about Host’s visions.

With a sigh, he decided to ask them on their next date, opting instead to do some research into the illusion magic that was probably involved with Host’s visions. And what better way to research than to ask the illusionists born from chaos magic themselves?

Pulling his phone out of his pocket, Night sent a quick text out to a specific group chat, turning off the phone and closing his eyes after hitting send. Need to ask you two about illusion magic. Can it happen in the psychic threshold? Meet me at the cherry blossom tree tomorrow, noon.

--------------------------

Night may have an idea. Usually, at least one of them will come up with something by the time they arrive at their usual spot; if not, they brainstorm together. It was nice having someone who matched his energy perfectly and made everything feel so smooth and simple. While their lives were beyond simple, having moments of ease was welcome.

“Hi, Host!” Mad greeted him as he looped an arm through Host’s.

“Hello, Madrick.” Host greeted back. Mad was one of the few people in his life who had permission to hold his arm like that. He also was one of the few who was allowed to guide him away from his original path. 

“Good afternoon, Host.” Dark added in his own greeting so Host knew he was behind him. 

“Our bakery got a new strawberry-chocolate croissant, and I want to try it with you,” Mad explained as he continued walking. 

“I’m here as a favor to Mare to make sure Mad doesn’t go too overboard.” Dark had a chuckle with his own explanation. 

“That’s not too surprising, but where is Mare? Usually, he’s one to be doing that himself.” Host continued walking with Mad, not protesting the plan but his curiosity needed satisfied.

“Mare’s off doing some Demon stuff with Anti and Night,” Mad said. 

“Anti wanted to ask Night questions in regards to the little ones.” Dark expanded the answer. “Anti also wanted Mare to stick around to get more comfortable with them as well, being a godparent and all that.” 

“Sounds like Mad is using that as an excuse to eat some extra treats.” Host said with a tease in his voice. “I am more than willing to participate.” 

x~x~x

Night’s internal clock was right on cue, having him head for where he and Host started meeting nearly every day. He was still out of the habit of looking at the time, never needing it before, and was learning how Humans structured their days based on what hour it was. Mortality had some strange quirks. 

Night stopped walking when Anti suddenly popped up in front of him, a large smile on the other Demon’s face. 

“Hey, Gramps!” Anti giggled with his greeting. 

“I liked it better when you feared me.” Night stated and took a step to the side to go around Anti but was cut off again by him. “I have a meeting with Host.”

“Host, Mad, and Dark are having one,” Mare explained, having been standing off to the side. He found himself wishing that he had been able to stay with Mad and Host, but Anti wanted him to spend more time with the little ones, and Mad agreed. Mare also wished he knew how to tell his mate no more often. Dark had added that it would be easier for Mare to get Anti out of the way if he ended up annoying Night too much. Mare didn’t like all this responsibility. 

“Do you want to see Nyx and Eos while our Humans are busy?” Anti asked Night. Night raised a brow at Anti and then looked to Mare.

“Host is busy?” Night asked.

“For a few hours,” Mare confirmed. 

“Alright. I’ll go see the small hybrids.”

x~x~x

Dark used his fork to get himself a bite from the chocolate mousse cake he was eating. It was his second, and likely last, slice since he also helped himself to a chocolate cookie when they first arrived. While his sweet tooth was far from where Mad and Host were, he had his weak spot when it came to chocolate. 

On the other side of the table, Mad and Host had already eaten some cake and a few cookies and were now eating and discussing the chocolate-strawberry croissants Mad had mentioned. They were just now getting to them since the bakery was working on a fresh batch when they arrived. 

“Mare would have stopped me two desserts ago.” Mad joked before popping a strawberry into his mouth. 

“Anti would have eaten everything we all had and then some.” Dark joined in. Host chuckled at the jokes, and then his brain suddenly shifted into different thoughts. All three of them were Humans with Demon partners, but Host was the only one without a Claim Mark. That thought had him curious about something. 

“What does it feel like to have a Claim Mark?” The question got Mad and Dark to pause since it was unexpected.

“It’s kind of like a hug. A warm embrace that’s always there.” Mad said.

“A reminder,” Dark added. “It’s a silent reminder that he’s always there, even when I can’t see him.” 

“I see.” Host hummed, helping himself to more of the croissant as his brain started turning again.

If that was what it felt like, maybe he wouldn’t mind if Night ever asked to claim him.

x~x~x

Night had a slight tilt to his head as he watched Nyx and Eos on the ground, stacking some blocks. Anti had said they were turning two in a few months. And they were so small. He’s forgotten how little children could be. Mare was on the ground with the two, helping them expand the base of their towers so it would be easier for them to stack up higher without it falling over too many times. 

Night was pulled away from his thoughts when he was handed two containers of applesauce by Anti. 

“Could you open those for me?” Anti asked, placing two baby spoons in Night’s lap as well. 

“Sure?” Night just went with it, peeling off the tops of the food while Anti and Mare worked together to get the children into high chairs. 

“Thank you.” Anti took the cups and spoons, placing one of each in front of Nyx and Eos. As soon as the girls had their spoons, they got to work eating. 

Night was back to watching the little ones again and could tell right away which parent the child took after. Nyx was slow and patient, wary of getting the applesauce on herself, and focused with an adorably stern face. Eos, on the other hand, was a mess. Just flicking away with the spoon, and it looked like more was on her face and hands than what went into her mouth. When they were beginning to finish, Mare stepped out and came back in a few moments with some wet rags in his hands. 

“All done?” Anti asked when Nyx sat her spoon down and started reaching for him. “Mare’s going to help clean you up real quick, okay?” Nyx looked at Mare, back to Anti, and then huffed before holding her hands out for Mare. 

“She certainly does take after Dark.” Mare joked as he cleaned off Nyx’s hands. 

“She’s the biggest cuddle bug once she likes you.” Anti chuckled. “Eos will let you clean her hands.” He explained the Night as he helped clean one of Eos’ hands, gesturing for Night to do the same. “But you got about three seconds to do her face, or she’ll yell at you.” Anti took the three dirty rags, giving Night the final one as Mare removed the tray from Nyx’s high chair and unbuckled her. 

Night stood there for a second before scoffing at himself for hesitating about a simple task and started cleaning off Eos’ face. He was overly cautious and took longer than needed since he was worried about accidentally hurting the small child. Anti wasn’t exaggerating when he said there were only about three seconds before the Eos started throwing a fit, crying, and jerking her face away while Night got the last bit of applesauce off her. 

Anti was reminding Mare of the best way to hold Nyx when Eos started crying and came over to help. Night held his hands up in the air and took a step back while Anti got Eos out of her high chair and held her, patting her back and playing up his voice.

“Aw, did Grampy take too long? He’s getting slow in his old age.” Anti grinned at Night while getting glared at by him. But Night stopped himself from giving Anti a verbal lashing when he saw the way Eos stopped crying as soon as she heard Anti’s light purr. Anti also seemed to calm as well, smiling as his body bounced and swayed. 

Night knew of Anti’s reputation, of the chaos he’s caused, the things he’s done to earn his title, and yet here he was, purring and cuddling with one of the small hybrids he gave birth to. It was a curious change. It had him glancing over at Mare, who was chuckling as Nyx studied his fingers, bending them and poking at his nails. Mare also got his title from chaotic means. Would having a child have the same effect on him?

“Mare. Have you and Madrick ever considered having children?” Night’s sudden question had Mare choking on his breath, and Nyx giggled as Mare’s face went red, and held her up in the air to make sure he didn’t cough on her. “I’ll take that as a no.” 

“I am more than happy with just having Mad as my mate.” Mare spoke after finally getting air back into his lungs. Nyx was now whining and reaching over for Anti. “And his cat is more than enough for me to deal with.” He added while he helped Nyx get into Anti’s other arm. Anti’s purrs got even louder as he held both of his daughters. “He loves that damn thing so much.” Mare scoffed with a smile he couldn’t hide. “But, I have to confess, even if Albert annoys the hell out of me, it’s cute seeing those two napping on the couch together when waiting for me to come home.” 

“Dark definitely looks cuter when he sleeps.” Anti chuckled. 

Night was once again watching, this time focusing on the adults, watching how they talked about their Humans, about their mates, and his mind went to his mate. To Host. He found himself itching to see him again. To talk with him, and he also wondered how Host would react if Night asked to claim him. Did Night want to claim him? That thought made his canines ache, and there was no denying what that meant. 

Maybe he’ll ask Host about that tonight. He really wanted to know now.

x~x~x

“Why are we heading to the bar?” Host asked as he walked with Mad and Dark, assuming they had reached the front when they suddenly stopped. 

“You’ll get your answer soon,” Mad said with a chuckle. 

“Wait and see is not an answer to my question.” Night said with a huff as he neared the front with Mare and Anti. His annoyance faded instantly as soon as he saw Host, even forgetting about the others as he went right up to him. “How has your afternoon been?” 

“Let’s just say you wouldn’t approve of what all I ate at the bakery.” Host joked with a grin. 

“Why am I not shocked that was the meeting you attended with Madrick?” Night joked back, his ears twitched as he could hear that Mare was saying something similar to Mad. 

“The girls are asleep in their crib.” Anti filled Dark in. “Marvin’s watching them.”

“Marvin?” Dark stiffened a bit.

“Chase is with him too, don’t worry. Marvin would lose his head if I left him alone with two toddlers.” 

“I don’t know who would cry more, the children or Marvin.” 

“Probably Marvin.” Anti giggled before remembering his cue and knocked on the bar’s doors. It was only a few moments after the knock that the doors flew open. Night and Host got hit with the sight and smell of what the others had been planning. 

“Hello, you two!” Wilford greeted them with the biggest grin. JJ stood next to him with a matching grin.

“What is all of this about?” Night asked. “The bar is practically empty except for a table. I will admit the added decor is nice.” 

“We wanted to set something nice up for you. A little dinner date where we take care of everything.” Wilford explained. 

“Really?” 

“Really!” 

“Isn’t that kind.” Host hummed with a smile, and that got Night to smile as well, taking hold of Host’s hand and pressing a kiss to his knuckles. 

“Would you like to join me for dinner?” Night asked.

“Told you they’d get him to do it,” Anti said with a chuckle to Mad. 

“Did you tell them to ask me?” Marvin said.

“Nah. They mentioned it and I told them to ask. The worst thing you’d do is say to wait until after dinner. We’re doing the stuff anyway, the only thing that can change is timing.” Anti shrugged, using his thumbnail to clean out under his other nails on the same hand. 

“Happy birthday, Marvin,” Mad said with a smile. 

“Thank you. Are the others-” Marvin didn’t get to finish as Robbie and Blank returned, grabbed his hands, and tugged him to the living room where the other Egos were waiting. 

“Gifts! Gifts! Gifts!” The young Egos chanted, letting Marvin go and running over to the little pile of presents. 

“I think they’ll explode if we don’t let them share first.” Chase chuckled. “Go on, boys.” 

“Gift!” Robbie and Blank finished their chant with their loudest one and pulled out a thin gift. 

“Here you go!” Blank said as Robbie handed Marvin the gift. 

“Thank you.” Marvin made his way to his spot and sat down. He couldn’t tell what it was by feel so he was careful with unwrapping, remembering when Jackie accidentally ripped their drawing and almost cried with the kids since he felt so bad about it. Marvin had a feeling it was a drawing again since they made those often and was proven right when he finished getting the wrapping paper off and was greeted with a framed drawing of himself surrounded by green lightning bolts. 

“I helped them put it into a frame,” Jackie explained with a weak laugh. 

“It’s very lovely, thank you.” Marvin sat the drawing on the end table beside him and smiled when Blank and Robbie giggled happily and took off to sit with Mare and Chase. 

“The Ipliers all chipped in for this collection.” Wilford scooped up an armful of the boxes and dropped them all on top of Marvin. 

“Thank God none of this is heavy.” Marvin laughed, picking the first gift he could reach and unwrapping it. “Oh! I’ve been needing this flower.” He unwrapped several other gifts and discovered that they all had various flowers and plants that were often difficult for him to collect. 

“Took a while to get that one,” Illinois said with a prideful grin. 

“Thank you all.” Marvin laid the boxes on the ground, already having them somewhat organized for his collection back in his room. 

“Our turn.” Anti bumped Illinois away and Mad handed Marvin a gift. Marvin could tell right away with the feel of it that it was a book. He tried to think of what kind of book Mad and Anti would get for him. It would be easy to guess if it was only one of them but the two of them together was hard to predict.

“Holy shit!” Marvin blurted out when he saw the book. “How the fuck did you two get this?”

“There’s apparently a lot of lore to that book.” Jackie laughed.

“This book has only one copy and is kept within a magically secured location that no one knows where it is aside from the author and the author is dead.” Marvin started flipping through the pages. “There is no way this is real.”

“It is.” Anti grinned.

“What did you two do?” Chase asked.

“Don’t worry about it.” Mad and Anti said together. 

“That makes all of us worry more.” Dark sighed as he pinched the bridge of his nose.

“Happy birthday!” Anti laughed as the others tried to figure out what the book was and why Marvin was so excited about it. But the only response they could get at the moment was;

Don’t worry about it.

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Call after call about Demon activity had everyone trying to put their heads on straight and figure out how to handle everything. Demons have never gone about like this. Sometimes groups would cause chaos together but several groups causing chaos in several locations? That was unheard of. 

The only place that wasn’t filled with noise was Host’s office, but the tension was still thick in the air. Host sat in his chair, elbows on his desk with his hands together and held up to his face. Dark sat on the corner of the desk while Mad stood in front of it. Mare was in the office as well, refusing to leave Mad’s side. He glared and nearly hissed at anyone who got anywhere close to the Human. 

“So, what happened?” Dark asked Mad.

“Before all of…this happened. I was making my way to the library. I heard that a new series of books came in and I wanted-”

“Main points, please. We can discuss little details later.” 

“Sorry,” Mad said softly, hugging himself a bit. He gave Mare a quick smile when he felt his hand on his back. Mare stepped a little closer to Mad and that helped him continue his story. “I got separated from Mare when other Demons started trashing the streets and that was when I ran into a different Demon. He was very…different.”  

“Different how?” Host asked. 

“I don’t know. He felt like a Demon beyond the rankings like his entire being was-it-I-I can’t think of any other word but different.” Mad was hugging himself again, clearly not liking that he couldn’t explain anything beyond that. 

“It’s okay, Madrick. What happened after you ran into this Demon?” Host spoke calmly. 

“He stared at me for a bit, almost like he was reading me. Mare showed up not too long after that and…” Mad’s voice trailed off. “He told me to send the leader of the Hunters to The Twins’ spot.” Host could tell that Mad was leaving parts of the story out. Likely, as Dark had put it ‘little details’. 

It wasn’t hard to get those details from Mad and he could ask about them later if anything seemed wrong. Host didn’t have too many worries about Mad’s safety with Mare being his partner but he still had some. He had his worries for everyone who worked for him, regardless of their rank. 

“Why would he want that? What would he gain from that?” Dark asked.

“He’s Night,” Mare answered. 

“Night?”

“The creator of Demons.” 

“What!?” Mad’s anxiety was gone and he looked at Mare. “Why didn’t you tell me!? I have so many questions.”

“That is exactly why I didn’t tell you. Our creator is unpredictable. We don’t even know what he wants. He’s been gone for so long and none of us know why he’s back. Chaos literally follows him wherever he goes.”

“Why is that?” 

“We don’t know.”

“I can find out.”

“No, you are not.”

“But-” 

“I’ll meet with him.” Host cut the argument short. 

“I think myself and the other high-ranking Hunters should handle this,” Dark said. “It sounds dangerous to see him alone. If chaos follows him, then he should be dealt with.” 

“I will meet him.” Host repeated and stood up. “I will take care of this. If this ‘creator’ wishes to call me out. Then he will not make me look like a coward and I will face him.” 

x~x~x

Dark parked the car under a streetlight a block away from the spot. He chewed on his lip as he listened to Host unbuckle his seat belt. 

“I still think I should go with you. Facing the creator of Demons on your own does not sound safe.” Dark said. 

“I know what I’m doing.” Host opened the car door before pulling out a bat from under his seat. His bat. “Wait here. That is an order.”

“Yes, sir.” Dark gritted his teeth and had a firm grip on the steering wheel, hating all of this but knowing it was best to do as Host said. 

“I will come back. Don’t worry.” Host patted Dark’s shoulder, feeling him relax slightly but was still fairly tense. “I will come back.” He repeated and after a quick reassuring squeeze, he got out of the car. 

Host took a moment to take in a deep breath of fresh air, he wasn’t outside as much as he wanted, always busy with answering questions, organizing patrols, and ensuring the safety of others that the most time he gets outdoors is walking across the street from his office to his home. If only his time outside wasn’t for a meeting with the most powerful Demon of them all. 

Using his bat as a cane of sorts, Host walked. He knew there wouldn’t be other Humans or Demons around, something telling him it would just be only himself and Night. Soon there was the echoing thud of metal against his bat. The park bench Mad described. Metal structure with wooden seating. 

Host stood behind the bench, waiting for company to arrive, trying to see if he could hear or feel Night or if he was going to be different with that as well. 

“Hello.” A voice spoke next to Host, showing that his thought of Night being different was true. But now that he knew where he was, he could work with that. 

“Night.” Host greeted flatly. 

“I have to admit, you’re not what I was expecting for the mythic leader of the Hunters.”

“And I was expecting the creator of Demons to have a more intimidating aura.” 

“Oh? I retract my previous statement. I now really understand how you’re the leader.” Night softly chuckled. 

“What do you want?” Host got to the point. The longer he was here, the more Dark would worry and when he worried, he got impatient and when he got impatient, he made rash decisions. Dark’s rash decisions always ended with blood. 

“I just have some questions is all.” Night’s voice was laced with fake innocence. “For starters, what’s your name?” 

“You don’t need to know my name.” Host stated.

“I mean, you have a fair point that it’s not a ‘need’ but it is a want and I always get what I want. If you’re unwilling to share your name with me, I’m sure that curious one of yours would be willing to share. Mad, correct? I bet it would be so easy to get answers from him. Plenty of methods would work on such a small fellow.” Night’s grin could be heard. Host stepped aside and aimed the tip of his bat toward the Demon.

“Leave. Mad. Alone.” Host spoke harshly, his threat filled with a promise of violence. 

“Understood.” Night said. “It’s good to see a leader that cares about his people. I can tell it’s not just Mad you worry about. You left your other Hunter behind, insisted he stayed, and came to meet me alone despite there being no requirement for that. Care like that is a rarity amongst the other Humans I’ve met, especially from other leaders.” 

“If you’re waiting for a thank you to the praise, you’ll be waiting for the rest of eternity.” Host said.

“I’m simply just studying you, making sure to get a good look.” Night had a playful hum this time. 

“Don’t get comfortable doing that.” Host said, lowering his bat. There wasn’t any dangerous energy coming from him. No anger, no malice, nothing that would set off alarms. The more he tried to read into it, the more the energy reminded him of when Mad would rattle off question after question when he was excited about something new. When his curiosity was peaked. 

“May I know your name now?” 

“Host.” 

“Host?” Night echoed and he walked around him, staying close, fingers just barely brushing past Host’s shirt as he went to the front of the bench and sat himself down. “Unique name, I like it.” 

“You say that as if your opinion on my name matters.” Host scoffed, remaining where he was. He wasn’t expecting the kind of laugh Night made, soft and…joyful?

“So, Mr. Host, how long have you been in the Hunting business?” Night got comfortable on the bench, crossing his legs and lounging. 

“I don’t know.” Host shrugged.

“You don’t know or you don’t want to tell me?”

“I don’t know. I’ve never kept track, after the first year, I just did my job. Who cares how long you’re doing something if you’re not focused on it.” 

“Poetic.” Night commented. “What got you started into this? You don’t just become the leader of the Demon Hunters without some story.” 

“Doesn’t matter. I am who I am now and the past affects nothing.” Host heard Night sigh. 

“Give me something to work with here. I’m trying to get to know you. Come, come, sit with me, and gossip a bit. Complain about ex-partners or a current one.” 

“There is no current partner.” 

“Oh? That’s interesting. Why’s that?” Night patted at the spot on the bench beside him, making sure to do it hard enough that the sound could be heard clearly but still holding back to make it not sound aggressive. 

Host decided to let Night have some control and he sat on the bench as well, trying to keep as much distance between them as possible. Apparently, Night had the opposite in mind as Host felt the bench shift and soon something was pressing against his leg. He assumed that it was Night’s own leg, it made the most sense and it told him that they were now sitting next to each other with no space between them. 

“Just don’t have one.” Host stated.

“Such a shame. You are a fairly attractive man.” Night nearly purred his compliment. 

“Well, for a reason that should be obvious, physical appearance isn’t really a factor I worry about.” Host gestured toward his blindfold. There was a pause for a breath before Night started laughing.

“That is more than a fair point in that regard.” Night said between his laughs. He had an oddly kinder laugh than Host expected. Not that Host was planning for a cartoon-witch laugh, but not something he’d hear from someone at the Hunter’s Headquarters. A laugh one could even mistake for Jackie’s or Wilford’s, strong and boisterous. 

“Is this all you wanted? To ask me questions about myself?” Host pulled himself out of that thought, getting back to business. 

“To be honest with you, my original plan was to kill the Hunter’s leader. Make a point, show everyone what I can do, but it would be a shame to let someone as fun as you go.” That hint of a purr in Night’s voice came back and Host could tell that he was closer to him than before. Host stood back up and pressed the head of his bat on the ground between them, creating a wall of sorts with it. 

“What do you want now? Since you no longer wish to kill me, what are your plans?”

“I’ll figure it out with time.” Night shrugged, not moving from his own spot yet. “My main goal with the chaos was to let everyone know that I have returned and now I just don’t want to be bored. Boredom causes messes, I’m sure you understand that. Although, I’m sure I can find something or someone to keep me entertained to prevent more of that previously mentioned chaos.” 

“Will you stop the chaos that’s happening now? The abundance of attacks that are causing endless stress for my people?” Host asked. 

“I can and I will if you agree to see me again. See me again without that bat of yours. I don’t feel safe with it in your hands.” Night exaggerated a ‘fearful tone’ with his last part. 

Host chewed the inside of his lower lip as he thought. The idea of having to be around the creator of Demons even more didn’t sound the most pleasant, but at the same time, he could use it to his advantage to get information about Demons from him. He seemed to not mind speaking openly with Host, maybe after some time, he’ll become more open and give away hints and clues about how to beat him if the need arises. Madrick had been sent on a similar task when it came to The Twins and it worked out very well for himself and others with their quest of learning anything and everything about Demons. But with The Twins, they’ve had years worth of research into their psychology, more sure than anything no harm would come to Mad. With Night, they knew nothing. If anyone was going to work with him, Host would rather it be himself than risk one of his people doing it. 

“I’ll meet you again, but I want my bat. I don’t feel safe without it in my hands.” Host used that same ‘fearful tone’ as Night and that got some more laughs from the Demon. 

“Alright, I’ll agree to your terms. I’ll use our good pal Mad to let you know when it’s time to meet again.”

“Don’t-” Host didn’t bother finishing when he felt the shift in the air and a light swing of his bat proved that Night was gone.