16: “I’m sorry, I don’t remember you.”
Ineffable bureaucracy angst... hoo boy.
Beelzebub walked into the kitchen of the cottage. When had they gotten back to the cottage? Everything was bathed in a warm light, they basked in it.
In the kitchen, of course, was Gabriel, attempting to cook something- no doubt something one of the kids had tried to teach him how to make. Somehow they’d known he’d be here. They felt a smile cross their face as they moved forward. “Dove.” They called out. He didn’t respond- he hadn’t heard them. “Dove!” They called louder, but still he didn’t acknowledge them. He must be very focused on cooking.
Smiling fondly, they walked up behind him and wrapped their arms around his waist, resting their forehead on his back. A familiar action. “Gabriel.” They scolded teasingly. “Stop ignoring me.”
He stiffened in their grip. Had they surprised him? That wasn’t surprising, but he didn’t relax afterward. Maybe he didn’t want to be touched right now. They could respect that so they pulled away, only a little disappointed.
He turned to face them and he looked confused. Had he not expected them home yet? No, that wasn’t the kind of confusion in his eyes. There was... there was a lack of recognition there.
“Gabriel?” Beelzebub asked. Now feeling nervous.
Suddenly, the warm light in the cottage faded. They felt their heart began to race. “That isn’t funny.” They snapped.
“How did you get in here?”
“Stop.” They hissed. “Gabriel, I’m serious, don’t mess around like that.”
“I’m not joking.” Gabriel glared at them. “Who are you?”
“I’m- Gabriel, you know me.” Beelzebub half begged. This was too familiar. The walls of the cottage began to melt around them, the rain that was suddenly pelting the windows seeming to melt it.
There was some pity in Gabriels eyes now and he shook his head. “I’m sorry, but I don’t remember you.”
Beelzebubs heart pounded in their chest, louder, and louder, and louder, until it was all it could hear-
Their heart still pounded as they stared at the dark ceiling of the base, breathing coming too quickly. They sat up, looking to their side immediately. And sure enough, there he was, Gabriel himself. The real one, snoring peacefully with his arm slung over their lap. They had shifted quite a bit in their sleep.
Beelzebub stared at him for a moment. Wishing he’d open his eyes, but dreading seeing that lack of recognition in his eyes. Fuck. Fuck fuck fuck.
They considered getting up and going for a walk, but distance from him wouldn’t help them. Not with this. So, despite their better judgment, they leaned over and shook Gabriels shoulder. “Gabriel.” They whispered, voice cracking slightly from lack of use (and that was all, it was not because they were going to cry. They refused). “Gabriel. Wake up.”
Gabriel slowly awoke. Eyes fluttering awake. “Mm? Wh’s goin’ on?” He asked tiredly. “Buzzy?”
Beelzebub let out a sigh of relief. But now they just felt like an idiot for waking up Gabriel over a damned nightmare. “Nevermind. Go back to sleep.”
Gabriel frowned, joining them in sitting up. Rubbing his eyes so he could look them over better. “No, is something wrong?”
“Just... a nightmare.” They muttered, looking away.
Did they want to talk about it? They weren’t sure. They knew this topic, Gabriel forgetting them, always made him feel terribly guilty. And it wasn’t something they liked to broach either. They glanced up and saw the concern in his eyes, and decided to go for it.
“We were in the cottage, but... you didn’t know who I was. At all.”
There was silence from Gabriel for a moment, and Beelzebub bit their cheek. They shouldn’t have said anything. But then, his arms wrapped around them and he kissed the top of their head.
“Your name is Beelzebub. You like all things sugary but your favorite food is pretzels. You prefer coffee over tea and warm over cold. You have five kids who worship the ground you walk on, and an archangel who does the same thing. You used to be someone else that I loved too, but I fell in love with you as you are, even if I miss them sometimes.” He took a shaky breath. “Your favorite color is purple and you have four siblings. I remember you, Buzzy. I’m not going to forget.”
Beelzebub didn’t realize tears were forming until their eyes burned and they wrapped their arms around him tightly. Burying their face in his shoulder. “Thank you.” They whispered.
“Anything for you, the love of my life.” His arms tightened around them. “And, I’m...”
“If you apologize for that past nonsense again, I’ll hit you.”
Gabriel chuckled wetly and kissed the top of their head. “I’d probably deserve it.”
(( @askarchangelgabriel @ask-asmodeus-infernal-sib @ask-warlock-dowling @ask-pepper-galadriel-moonchild @ask-the-rose-n-snapdragon @ask-the-bringer-of-storms @ask-the-ineffable-being have some cuties -Mod))
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