Chapter Text
Arms full to the brim with snacks, Beelzebub paused at the door taking a moment to juggle the load he was holding before being able to successfully grasp the handle. Quietly padding into his room, he couldn't help but smile fondly at the sight of his lover sleeping soundly buried within his blankets. Setting the snacks down on his desk, he fished out his homework indulging the warmth blooming in his chest with quiet amusement - the girl had been working so hard on the tasks given to her by Lord Diavolo lately, it's recently become a common occurrence for him to find her passed out around the house (though most commonly in his room or curled up with Belphie on some couch) after coming home from his extracurricular activities, grabbing an afternoon nap. While it did slightly worry the gentle giant that she was working herself too hard (she was only a fragile human, after all) Beel had previously voiced his concerns to her and she had effectively put him at ease. As always. Shoving a whole protein bar into his mouth, the glutton swallowed it almost in one go, deciding to glance over his shoulder at the petite cutie slumbering in his bed one last time before settling down to start his essay.
Before he'd even laid his eyes on her, Beel felt a strange discontent stirring in the pit of his stomach. Assuming it was just his ever-present hunger, he batted it aside, surveying the figure lying beneath the sheets. A frown marred his features. She was so still - almost too still to be sleeping... and he should know after all, he was Belphie's twin. Striding forward purposefully he swiftly knelt down beside the bed, all the while mentally reassuring himself he was over-reacting. He loved her after all, and protectiveness was in his nature. His keen amethyst gaze bore into her torso and a cold terror slithered through his veins - why wasn't her chest rising and falling? His eyes widened, wheels clicking in his brain.
No, wait.
That can't be right.
He's just over-reacting.
Gently resting his curled knuckles beneath her nose, he waited with baited breath, focused - but no, he had been right. As seconds ticked by, he failed to feel a single trickle of warm air flitting across his cold skin.
She wasn't breathing.
Pure panic surging through him, Beel grasped the girl's shoulders giving her a hard shake, barking her name out. She was still warm, he thought, which means there was still time. She'd be okay, he just had to get help. However his cry for Lucifer died on his lips as her chocolate eyes snapped open and a startled gasp tore itself from her throat. Her disorientated gaze quickly focused, eyes sparking in alarm as she took in her lover's appearance. Quickly pushing herself up on her elbow, she cupped Beel's face with her hand, thumb dancing over his cheek to wipe away a stray tear - he hadn't even realized he was crying.
"Beel, Beel what happened?" She asked worriedly. "Is someone hurt? Did -"
Beel had never before been so happy to hear her voice. Relief flooding through him, he swiftly sat on the bed and pulled her into a deep embrace, more tears escaping his eyes as he felt her chest heave beneath his muscled arms. Chuckling breathlessly into her hair, he placed a soft kiss into the crown of her head before sitting back and sliding his hands up to cup her face, eyes scanning her frowning features worriedly.
"Are you okay?" he asked.
If she hadn't been confused before, the poor girl was sure as hell confused now.
She eyed him warily, grasping his wrists to rub them comfortingly.
"Of course, why wouldn't I be?"
"You weren't breathing," he informed her softly.
Her eyes widened in realization, before pooling with regret.
"Oh Beel, I'm so sorry," she apologized, pressing a soft kiss into his lips, the demon's hand sliding around the back of her neck to press her closer to him. "I'm okay, it's just sleep apnea, it happens to me baba - it's completely normal."
He frowned. "Sleep what?"
She pressed her forehead against his, sighing contentedly as he began massaging the back of her neck.
"It's this thing that happens to humans. I sometimes stop breathing in my sleep for a few minutes, but it's completely normal and harmless I promise."
"How is that harmless?" he pressed on, alarmed.
She shrugged. "It just is."
Nuzzling into his cheek, the human happily obliged as he once again pulled her into his chest, legs swinging up onto the bed to latch around her frame protectively.
"I'm so sorry baba," she sighed, turning her head to gaze up at him and smile reassuringly. Reaching up she gently wiped the tear streaks off his face. "I should have told you, I'm sorry I scared you."
A deep sigh reverberated through his chest, tension finally melting from his shoulders. Shutting his eyes the demon buried his face in her shoulder, humming happily as she soothingly ran her fingers through his hair.
"So you're okay?" he asked meekly, feeling her nod against his cheek.
"I'm okay," she replied. "Are you okay?"
"If you're okay then I'm okay."
Chuckling softly at his statement, the girl pressed a soft kiss into his hair, the two settling into a comfortable silence.
Beel focused on the comforting rise and fall of her chest, burrowing his head down (much to the girl's amusement) so he could hear her heart's steady pounding, feel it reverberate through her ribcage. It felt good.
"I thought you were dead," the demon admitted quietly, arms tightening around her.
The girl sighed, biting down on her lip guiltily. Gently pushing him away from her chest, she made him sit up and took his huge hands in her small warm ones, giving them a reassuring squeeze.
"I'm okay," she smiled, rubbing soothing circles into his knuckles. "I'm so sorry Beel, I should have told you."
He shook his head, frowning. "No, it's okay."
"No it's not," she countered, frowning herself. "But it doesn't happen often, okay? And I'm in no danger whatsoever when it happens."
"How much?"
She blinked.
"How much does it happen?" he clarified. "I haven't noticed it before."
The girl shrugged, grinning sheepishly. "As I said, not often - sometimes here or there my body forgets to breathe when I'm asleep, only for a few minutes though."
He looked up at her hopefully. "And then you start breathing again?"
She nodded. "And then I start breathing again."
"Okay," he said slowly, mulling the information over in his head. "So... if it happens again what should I do?"
Again, she shrugged. "I mean, you don't really need to do anything... if it makes you feel better though, wake me up."
Finally, a small smile stretched across his lips. "Yeah, I'd like that."
Shooting the demon a brilliant smile, the girl lifted one of his hands to her lips, pressing a soft kiss into the palm of his hand, dark eyes sparkling. Beel felt his own mouth curl into a smirk; God on high, he adored her.
Bonus:
Their tender moment was interrupted by a set of thundering footsteps running down the corridor. The door was thrown open to reveal a dishevelled Belphegor, his wide panicked eyes spying his brother.
"Beel, who's dying!?"