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"Get back here!" Azz chased after a laughing Clara and a panicked Iruma. They were playing outside yet again, a classic game of tag.
"No fair!" Clara yelled over her shoulder. "You only target me when you're it!"
Indeed, Asmodeus couldn't bring himself to tag Iruma. This only caused Clara to target the bluenette so it would be fair. And then Iruma didn't know who to tag, he just froze there hesitantly. Azz would then volunteer to be 'it' again to keep the game going.
The cycle kept repeating.
"Arghg... fine!" The pinkette acquiesced and spun around, madly dashing at Iruma. "I'm sorry, Iruma-sama!"
He was quickly gaining and it didn't help that he closed his eyes so he was running blindly.
"Azz! Wait!" Iruma stopped as he saw the hill behind him. His friend was about to slam into him.
"Don't fear!" Clara jumped to push Iruma out of the way at the same time Alice collided with them.
All three went tumbling down the hill. Rolling violently in the grass, they came to a slow at the bottom, grass sticking to their faces.
The only thing they saw was the cloudy sky above them, a muted gray.
They lay there for a minute before Clara started laughing.
Both boys joined in.
All three of their combined shenanigans led to this. There was no use in blaming anyone.
"Where did those clouds come from?" Azz pondered. An hour ago the sky had not a single splotch of white, now there wasn't a speck of blue.
"Is it going to rain?" Iruma asked worriedly. Looking around, they had managed to run quite far away from any shelter. The school was looming quite a distance away.
As if to answer his question, he felt a drop prick his neck.
Just as fast as the clouds blew in, the rain started to come down. Just a sprinkle at first but it was growing heavier every second.
"We'll get soaked if we try to make it back to school," Iruma stressed. Could they go under a tree or something? It looked pretty hopeless. There was only a future of a soggy walk home and a possible cold.
"Let's just fly back. It'll be faster. It's not allowed in school but we're outside so it will be fine." Azz said matter-of-factly.
"No!" Clara yelled surprisingly. "... um ... let's not."
"I agree," Iruma added quickly.
Azz gave a quizzical look. Why were both of them turning down the most logical idea? "Then make some umbrellas, idiot. Hurry it's coming down harder!" He was trying to cover Iruma with his jacket.
The girl huffed, "I promised not to make anything that I can buy!"
"This is an emergency," Alice stressed (it was not). "Can't you make an exception just this once?"
"No way!"
Fat raindrops were dampening their clothes. "Let's just hurry in our decision or we'll get soaked deciding what to do," Iruma said, trying to de-escalate the situation.
"Azz Azz! Use your wings!"
"What? Why? Use your own!"
Both his friends looked at him with those expectant eyes. There wasn't time to waste. He drew them out.
Large black glistening wings, three times the length of his body, spread from his back. They were a sight to behold, even to a demon.
Placing them together over his head he made a makeshift umbrella. Iruma nuzzled in on the right and Clara on the left.
They huddled close together.
The wind blew rain in past the edges of his wings and they were getting a little sprayed, but it was much dryer than being out there.
They stayed there for a while, listening to the rain and watching as it slowly drained down to a drizzle.
"Thanks, Azz," Iruma finally said.
"Yeah, not too bad Azz Azz."
The pinkette sighed. "I don't see why you two can't just use your own wings." He didn't hate what they were doing, he just couldn't understand it.
Both his friends grew silent. "... don't feel like it," Clara mumbled. She seemed distant.
Iruma didn't say anything either. If anything he looked a little guilty.
He felt his heart rate picking up in fear that his friend might keep prying. What was he supposed to say? Iruma hated having to lie, to keep the truth to himself. Azz shouldn't have to do this for him. It was just water after all.
Alice watched as both of them grew sullen. There were even some things that they couldn't say. Secrets that they kept to themselves. Azz had his own, he understood, but it felt odd not to be able to know everything about the demons he cared for.
"I guess, you each have your reasons... " Azz figured aloud. A breeze blew through and they latched onto his arms, snuggling in for warmth.
"Iruma-sama is always welcome under my wings." Iruma chuckled at the comment.
Clara looked at him, "What about me?" She looked down when he didn't answer right away. "It's fine, I know you like Iruma better."
The rain filled the silence. Glancing up she saw Azz's face was red. "We're not... We're not the love trio without you." And he continued, strained to admit his thoughts, "My loyalty is to Iruma, but I like both of you. Spending time together. Even with you... Clara."
Clara bubbled up a laugh and a smile. "I knew it!" She yelled like she hadn't been sad about it a second ago. "You're just too embarrassed to admit you like me. Right, Irumachi?" She slapped Azz hard on the back.
"Yeah... I like you too." Iruma responded.
"We all like each other!" Clara yelled for the world to hear.
"Shut up, you idiot! Others are going to hear you!" Alice said sourly. Defeated that he admitted his true feelings.
"The sound of the rain will cover it." She reasoned.
Azz took back his arm and gestured outward. "If you hadn't noticed, the rain stopped a while ago."
Indeed, only Alice had noticed. All the trees and flora around them dripped with water.
She laughed sheepishly. Iruma started to giggle.
"What's so funny?" Asmodeus asked.
"I don't know!" Iruma said between breaths.
Alice sighed, "Let's go get our stuff." He started to shake off his wings like trying to get the water off an umbrella before you bring it inside.
"Wait!" Clara whined. "What if it rains again?" The sun was shining now and it seemed very unlikely.
"Yeah!" Iruma added. "Let's just stay like this until we get inside, just to be safe."
They grabbed his arms practically hanging on for dear life.
"Let go! Stop hiding under my wings! What's wrong with you two?" He strained as they put their full weight on him. "What are you doing?" He could barely walk forward, pulling them like children throwing tantrums.
"If you walk slower we can stay here longer!" Clara said, her feet dragging in the wet grass.
"Well, I'm putting my wings away!"
"Noooo!" Both of them cried, striking a chord in Asmodeus. Their pathetic faces looked up at him. Why were they so dramatic? Clara was definitely rubbing off on Iruma.
"Okay, okay! Fine, but just till we get to the school. We can walk slow so get up off the ground." They cheered and remained under the makeshift umbrella. "What's so great about it anyway?" He mumbled.
Clara and Iruma just smiled at him. They liked seeing his leathery wings. How he looked like the majestic and graceful demon he was. They liked having to huddle close underneath them. The close proximity with the warm fire demon. It was cooler after the rain, and it was true that Azz always did feel quite warm.
Or maybe it was just being together. All three of them. Whatever it was they hadn't the words.
They just smiled, unable to put their feelings into sentences. Azz flustered and they went on together.
Maybe it wasn't so bad, he thought.
"What are you three doing?" A critical voice rang out.
They had run into Jazz. After making it back to school, they were standing outside the door to the royal one with Azz's wings still above their heads.
Jazz had stayed late for club activities, but he was about to leave.
The love trio froze. Alice looked embarrassed. "Well— I... they i-insisted! I'm not sure why."
Jazz chuckled at their antics, quite the odd contraption. It wasn't even raining anymore.
"It's super comfy under here," Iruma remarked.
"Here," Clara darted out and pulled Jazz in. His face smushed into Alice's chest.
"Hey! Wai— " The noirette retorted in surprise but his expression softened. "Woah, Azz you're really warm." The pinkette glared at the intruder who could tell he was intruding.
Jazz stepped back sheepishly, both his and Asmodeus' faces a little flustered. He turned to Clara, "You could have just said so. I would have taken your word for it! Well, see ya!" He left with a wave.
"Why'd you do that, idiot Clara."
"I wanted to show him how great this is!"
Azz huffed, "Well from now on, it's reserved for only you two." He said softly.
Instantly, two glowing pairs of eyes peered up at him. Huge toothy grins were on both his friends' faces.
"Don't make me regret saying that!"
Clara clapped her hands together, "From now on you're our permanent umbrella!"
"I didn't say that!"
With a snap, he swept his wings away, folding them back under his clothes, and crossed his arms.
It took much longer than needed for the short walk to school and now they could finally grab their bags and start home.
Alice grabbed both of their hands. His were warm and both Iruma and Clara enjoyed it silently. They squeezed back.
Smiles just bounced on their faces as they walked. Asmodeus still couldn't understand what was so great about it. Where did all the boundless excitement come from simple hand-holding?
"You're both idiots..." Asmodeus mumbled, but he felt the exact same way.