The Prince of Demons

Luna

I was staring at the densest idiot to ever walk Tenebrae panic on the piano bench. Because I love you; I hate it when you're all anxious and want to make you happy instead. AAAAAARRRRGGGGHHHH! How?! How did this dork say the most romantic things by accident?! I was torn between my desire to strangle him for letting it slip out as he focused on playing the song I liked and kissing him. Nil was in full panic mode as he had no idea why I was so red. I knew we've been dating for a few years, and have been doing well, but he hadn't even kissed me yet! Because I love you; I hate it when you're all anxious and want to make you happy instead. DORK! WHY DO I LIKE YOU BEING SUCH A DORK?! I took a composing breath as Nil was spewing several guesses at why I was crimson and called him a giant dork. His obvious concern was so cute. YOU DON'T PLAY FAIR! HOW ARE YOU SO HELPLESS AND CUTE?! I needed some quiet to think for a moment, and Nil panicking was not productive. You know what? I know which feeling is going to win. I grabbed Nil, pulled him close, and kissed him. He originally tensed before relaxing immensely before I pulled back. Lords, I wish we weren't kids. That was fun.

Nil froze after doing a few slow blinks. He looked like a statue staring into space as he was now an appropriate shade of red. Good. Now I had a few moments to think. I liked Nil, he was a good boyfriend, he struggled at times but always tried, and was so sincere. Because I love you; I hate it when you're all anxious and want to make you happy instead. WHY ARE YOU SUCH A DORK?! AAARRGGGHHH! Why did it keep repeating in my head?! I knew he meant it; Nil undeniably meant it because whenever he focused like that his unfiltered thoughts came out. My face felt like it was scorching beneath the sun at the moment. I took a few deep breaths, trying to calm down. My heart was absolutely pounding in my chest, almost fluttering up my throat. I replayed the last few moments in my mind. We went from discussing his ridiculous tubot idea whatever it was to unintentionally telling me he loved me. Only Nil. Only Nil could somehow be so romantic and ridiculous at the same time. What are the tubots even for?! The first time Nil told me he loved me, and it was right after discussing him trying to cheer me up with forling tubots. I looked at Nil, seeing his normally bone colored skin was blood red from how much he was blushing. Good. What even connected cheering me up with tubots?! What went on in that stupid, dorky head of his?! Because I love you; I hate it when you're all anxious and want to make you happy instead. WHY?! WHY ARE YOU LIKE THIS BRAIN?!

What should I say? Should I say it back? I immediately felt my heart leap into my mouth as my body got really flush at that thought. How did he manage to say it so casually? Just thinking about it made me feel like my heart was about to burst. My face felt even hotter as I debated saying I love you back to Nil. Nil was looking at me with his beautiful amber eyes with the black backdrop while stammering with odd noises; his brain was clearly processing being kissed still. Why are his eyes so pretty? I kind of wanted to say it back. Form words. I could say three simple words. I tried to start saying something, but I think my brain melted for a few seconds as all that came out was a long ehhhh sound. Dork. Stupid, idiotic, regal dork. Because I love you; I hate it when you're all anxious and want to make you happy instead. STOP REPEATING IT BRAIN! YOU ARE NOT HELPING! Nil was beginning to blink wildly as his breathing got rapid. He kept trying to form some sentence, but his face was so flush as he was struggling to say words. We were just sitting on the piano bench, staring at each other while we were both too flustered to say anything.

"T-t-thank you." Nil finally managed to state in a squeaky voice.

"Y-you're w-welcome!" I snapped back at him. We both sat staring for a few more moments. Why was it so sweltering in the room?

"Um. Uh. C-c-c-could we?" Nil stammered as his face got an even brighter shade of red.

"What?" I asked, not grasping what he wanted.

"D-do it again?" Nil requested as his voice resembled a door hinge. Give me time to find the courage to say it back, you dork!

"S-sure." I consented. How did he find the spine to ask? Nil clearly looked ready to leap out the window if need be.

Nil slowly inched forward and kissed me again. The two of us closed our eyes as we hugged each other, kissing a bit deeper than last time. We held it for a few moments until there was a loud throat clear from the door. We both leapt from the bench, headbutting each other as Nil winced from slamming his knees into the piano. I unfortunately tripped on the bench and fell onto my back. The two of us scrambled to our feet to see Emperor Azzeck standing at the door with a conflicted expression. Somehow, the two of us got even redder. At least it was harmless kissing. It's innocent. He knows we're mentally order. Why did I feel so embarrassed then? Nil was stuttering, looking like his brain exploded from trying to explain what we were just doing. Emperor Azzeck went from looking conflicted to smiling at his son.

"I just wanted to let you know Nil that tomorrow I arranged for you to be able to take Lux, Ikol, and Luna to the Imperial Botanical Garden. You should also be able to get fresh tubot there." Emperor Azzeck informed Nil.

"Thank you, father. I appreciate you coming personally to tell me this news." Nil responded, stiff as a board.

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"Would you like to explain what I walked in on?" Emperor Azzeck teased his son.

"We were overjoyed by the romantic nature of tubots." Nil answered. I hope he's lying to his dad and doesn't think that's the actual answer. The sad part was, there was a nonzero chance he was serious.

"The doubtful expression from Luna makes that answer even more convincing than it sounds." Emperor Azzeck taunted. Nil had his eyes forward as he was still an impressive shade of crimson. It at least gave me a moment to compose myself as I took some deep breaths.

"It is the only logical explanation." Nil insisted. Emperor Azzeck looked like he was thanking the Lords for this turn of events. Nil, you are such an idiot sometimes.

"Oh really? Tubot has suddenly become the symbol of romance?" Emperor Azzeck challenged. His lips were twitching as he was clearly fighting for his life to keep a straight face.

"Dad, please. I swear to the Lords, tubots are actually highly romantic." Nil tried. I closed my eyes and took a deep, deep breath now.

"Luna, would you like to weigh in?" Emperor Azzeck checked. Nil is so useless sometimes. I fought the urge to let out a sigh.

"I was swept off my feet by the overwhelming passion and fervor conveyed through the humble tubot." I added on. Emperor Azzeck finally lost his composure and began laughing.

"You are not in trouble Nil. I would recommend being discreet, but you two are currently in a somewhat isolated music room that I barged in on, so you get a pass this time. It better not go any further than what I walked in on. Have a nice rest of your night you two." Emperor Azzeck informed us between chuckles.

"Thanks dad." Nil told him.

"Thank you, Emperor Azzeck." I added on, glad he was being understanding and not overreacting.

"Thank you for backing up his ridiculous tubot answer; you have the patience of a Lord. Good night you two." Emperor Azzeck retorted as he vanished in a <Warp>. Nil immediately began looking at the ceiling away from me.

"Nil." I quipped walking closer to him.

"Yes Luna?" Nil asked, refusing to make eye contact. He was noticeably beginning to sweat as his face was obviously panicking. That's the Nil I know. I could feel myself smiling.

"The romantic nature of tubots?" I inquired. Nil was remaining an adorable shade of red.

"Yes. They are apparently quite romantic." Nil answered, nodding his head like he wasn't lying for his life.

"Someone didn't just, stating another witchcraft guess here, say something in the moment without realizing what they said and the only answer they could come up with is it had something to do with tubots that he didn't know?" I teased him. Nil's face gave me all the answer I needed.

"Preposterous." Nil squeaked, looking really embarrassed. I hugged him, nestling myself against him a bit.

"Someone said something quite romantic in the moment as he was focused on not messing up the song. You did excellent on all fronts." I complimented him. Nil shifted a little as he debated his next words.

"R-really?" Nil checked. I wrapped my arms around his chest a bit more, feeling how hard his heart was pounding.

"Really. I've actually really enjoyed tonight." I told Nil. His heart was still beating so fast.

"Can I ask you something?" Nil inquired, looking so red. I leaned my head on him.

"Of course, Nil." I reassured him. I suspected he was about to ask me what he said.

"What did I say that made you blush so much?" Nil asked. Called it.

"Because I love you; I hate it when you're all anxious and want to make you happy instead." I answered. Nil looked like his brain ascended to the heavens as his ears turned so red.

"Um. Uh. I…uh." Nil stammered. My dorky prince; he is so endearing.

"It's okay Nil; I love you too." I told him. Nil completely froze again.

He was going to need a minute to process that, so I just hugged him a bit tighter and nestled up a little more. Nil was taking some composing breaths as he thought of what to say or do. I was smiling so hard my face was hurting because I managed to say I love you back to him. Because I love you; I hate it when you're all anxious and want to make you happy instead. He was such a romantic dork sometimes. Why was I getting so anxious about the events I remember occurring? So much has changed from them. I was curious as to what Nil's surprise tomorrow was going to be; there was likely a deeper meaning I was going to greatly enjoy and appreciate. I was oddly happy that our first time saying I love you and kissing was so mundane and in the moment. Knowing Nil, he would've tried to plan it to be perfect. His genuine feeling and being there in a moment with me just made it feel so special. I hugged him even harder. My dork. I just stayed there, waiting for him to calm down enough.

"Was it romantic enough?" Nil checked after a solid five minutes of deep breathing exercises.

"Yes Nil. I enjoyed it immensely." I informed him.

"I do mean it." Nil quipped as his face was slowly getting less red.

"I know you do. I like when your unfiltered thoughts leak out. It's cute and I enjoy being in the moment with you." I reassured Nil as he was looking me more in the eyes now.

"Okay." Nil said as he turned and hugged me back. After a few moments, he began humming the song for the foxtrot.

"Yes, I'd like to dance." I told him, leaning back to poke him.

"I'm glad." Nil replied as we hummed the song together while dancing.

The two of us were holding ourselves closer to each other than usual as we leaned against each other. Nil and I were doing the foxtrot gracefully around the room as the red moonlight cascaded into the room from the large windows on the side of the music room. Our dancing echoed slightly in the room, augmenting the song we were humming together. We were moving so gracefully along the floor as Nil and I slowly danced around. Nil was definitely planning something unique for me. I straightened up, looking Nil directly in his eyes; the matte black truly made the amber shine in the light. He felt so warm and pleasant as we danced so close to each other. My lips were hurting from how hard I was smiling at him. Nil's face was radiant as the sun as he was looking back at me.

"I really can't wait for tomorrow." I informed him after we danced for a solid ten minutes while smiling and looking at each other.

"Neither can I." Nil agreed as he wrapped his arms around me a little more. I hugged him back, setting my head under his.