Work Text:
It had long become routine to him, ingrained deep into his mind and body, the longing in Degesu's eyes, the way he would slightly part his lips, asking. Of course, he never made him wait, not when it could cost him valuable time from his mission. That's what this was, after all, just another mission from his boss who wanted a better and more efficient way to spy on the king of the Demon Realm and his assistant. Sure, the woman could come and go as she pleased, but even then, they weren't dumb enough to not know what should and should be said in her presence- especially after that time she caught them watching the battle against Majin Buu.
So Arinsu plotted, and soon, he received the instructions.
“I'm sure that even you can make your way inside my little brother's heart, right, Glorio?”
He knew he couldn't reject this order, not when the scientist had such cold eyes.
So when Degesu asks for a kiss, he provides.
It had been too easy, to the point he felt suspicious, to get Degesu to allow him to get closer, all he had to do was listen to him complaining and praising him whenever he talked about his plans and ideas. It would only take a smile directed at the Glind, and without fail, each time he would notice his ears go red.
Making him get flustered was not a difficult task either, place his hand on his back, whisper right next to his ears as they stood as close as possible, kiss his hands as if he was his most loyal knight…Each and every single action done for the sake of worming his way into Degesu's heart.
And he reduces himself to a dog.
Sometimes, what Degesu wants is not to let him take all the control, sometimes, his eyes will take the same cold look they have whenever he's working with the king; he will put on a colder attitude (yet, Glorio knows all too well what truly hides in his heart) and will turn him into his most loyal devotee. Long ago, his boss had once trained him to obey each and every single order given to him without a trace of anything akin to disagreement. It seems that the taste for obedience is a trait shared by the siblings.
He’s all too aware of the way the people and soldiers whisper about Degesu, accusing him of being as meek and weak as the king, but that is in no way the truth; sure, he may not have the strength of a warrior, but he's not as submissive as they paint him to be. He may act like a coward, but he sees it in his eyes, the man hungers for power over others, to be the one ‘above’ everything, so he plays the role of the loyal dog and puts on his collar- a metaphorical one, of course, he left collars behind the day the doctor saved him.
In those moments, there's no need for words, not when he can see the way his eyes look at him, expectant. He knows that the man demands complete devotion, so he does just that. Letting the praises and words of love flow from his mouth becomes easy as he lets his gaze get lost in his target’s eyes.
And when Degesu sits on his lap, caressing his face with gentleness unknown to him, looking at him as if he were something precious, he allows himself to lean into the touch and sigh, pleased. As always, he then will hold Degesu by the waist with just enough force to say “don’t go” without uttering a single word. (He knows, oh he knows, that he will always stay. All according to plan.)
Someone else may have felt some resemblance of guilt, but he can't find a trace of it as he plays with his heart, not after everything the crown has done to the Third Demon World. This doesn't even begin to touch what they deserve. Even now, after all these years, he still fails to understand just what the idea behind their treatment was, but maybe he has given them far too much credit, their kind love to control those they deem ‘lower’ than themselves. The magic collars had just been another way to show their control.
Still, it’s weird to be so close to someone who does nothing to even oppose all these rules, but it's no different than working for Arinsu- she had been the creator, afterall. Sure, the scientist may have once saved him, but that doesn’t make up for all the demons who have suffered thanks to her invention.
(Once, he had believed that maybe, if he obeyed, the scientist would allow him the request of freeing the Third Demon World from the damn collars. And even though he knows better now, he can't help but to wish.)
Degesu leans into Glorio’s side as he reads over his notes of the last days, they sit in the couch of his office, as the red light of the First Demon World gives a red tint to the room. He lets his arm rest over Degesu’s shoulders, and without him noticing, steals glances at the notes; his boss will be proud.
To say that it’s complete hate would just be wrong, Degesu doesn't hate the king. When he had first approached him, he had expected him to be a complete loyalist to the king who wouldn't dare at all to go against his orders and ideas, no matter how foolish and who would praise him at any given chance. Later, he had thought that maybe, he was simply using the king as a stepping stone for some unknown goal, planning to discard him the moment he was no longer useful. That each order accepted with a bow, each praise given and each smile had been a lie.
But now, he has come to realise that Degesu is far more complicated. He isn't exactly a total loyalist of the king, neither is he the most backstabbing traitor, he has his own goals, but isn't quite as cunning as his sister; while the woman hides in the shadows, spending her time plotting and twisting her and everyone’s words, leading them to do as she wishes, Degesu is more simple compared to her. (And yet so difficult to understand.)
He doesn't spend his days plotting numerous and complicated ways to leave the king behind, but he can see the hunger in him. He has seen it before, the doubt that betrays his solemn face when the king walks by. Despite the ambitions of the majin, he’s far too easily swayed by the words and plans of Arinsu, and if Degesu so wanted, surely he too could mold the majin to his desires- using him for his own gains wouldn't be hard at all. But he never does, he lets the days go by as he obediently follows orders, and the hunger in his eyes never goes away.
Perhaps Degesu wouldn’t have such hunger had the king not been that much of an idiot. He had told him once that it was in his nature to strive for more powerful positions, to always search to go higher, so if the king had been more capable…would the man have been more content with mindless following?
He knows it now, the glind will not go out of his way to betray the king, not like Arinsu who plots, but if the opportunity ever presented itself, he is sure that he would take it with his own hands if it means getting what he wants. Perhaps it's a good thing that Degesu lacks strength, such hunger is dangerous in people like him.
But despite all the ugly feelings, the ambitions and dreams, Degesu remains at the side of the king…and that is the reason behind all this. Had the ‘loyal assistant’ been someone else, would Arinsu still send him to do all this? The question is forgotten once they are in Degesu’s chambers, and as always, he plays the role of the understanding partner; Degesu sitting on his lap, his head resting in his shoulder, he listens as he tells him about his plans and ambitions, his grievances and accomplishments, of what ‘King Gomah’ has said. And the next day, Arinsu smiles pleased.
Degesu loves cuddling, loves to be held, loves to be ‘between his strong arms’; he knows they are nothing impressive, just the normal muscles for his labour, but he can't help the smile that creeps upon his lips after hearing such words. Their shared nights are always the same, listening to the man ramble and then cuddling as they sleep; tonight is no different.
He sits on the bed, with the glind lying on his side next to him. The other has his eyes closed, but in his breath he can feel he’s still awake, but sleep will take over him soon; and with a slow, tired voice, Degesu mumbles.
“…I love you.”
And he knows he has won.
Degesu is far more complicated than what he had once thought. He demands devotion, yet his eyes are always so soft. He is perhaps the most loyal person to the king, but he knows damn too well that if push comes to shove, he will take everything the majin has. Acts as much of a fool as the king, but his eyes are always calculating, as if trying to see more than what the king perceives and only the assistant knows if it is to protect him or to condemn him.
What he may lack in smarts and strength, he makes up with determination.
Together, they walk through the halls of the palace, something so common that now the guards would be more surprised if they were to see them without the other. Too lost in his thoughts, he fails to notice that the king approaches them, Degesu bows and he follows.
“Degesu,” he greets before looking at him, and with unhidden disdain in his voice he adds, “and his dog.”
He feels the anger in his throat, the urge to bite back, his nails pierce his palms and they will surely leave a mark; he knows the king doesn’t like him. Is it because he has gathered the brains to be suspicious of him? Or perhaps it's just the hatred and disgust the demons of the First World have been taught to feel towards the ones from the Third World. It's foolish of him to expect Degesu to defend him, and yet he does, but the man only stares with an emotion he can't decipher at the king and announces that they have to go.
He was not meant to know, otherwise why would Degesu wait till he could see the king alone? But he’s a spy, it’s his job to listen specially to their ‘secret’ conversations; so he hears in full detail the way Degesu asks- rather, demands the king to stop using such names to refer to his ‘partner’. The insults stop shortly after.
Time goes by as he completes more missions given to him, yet this ‘lie’ is still his most important task. Back before this had even started, he caught King Gomah and Degesu watching the battle of the earth warriors against Majin Buu; he remembers the way Arinsu had planted seeds of doubt in the king’s mind, who then came up with a plan to make sure his imaginary enemies won’t attack him. But not a single sign of the plan being carried on appeared. The idea of making the earth warriors weak was forgotten and instead the efforts of the ruler were placed on finding the Third Eye.
He reports as much to Arinsu, who sighs, annoyed.
Whether the king even remembers the earth warriors doesn’t concern him, but…his mind still replays the smile of the man who defeated Majin Buu. Everyone in the Demon Realm has heard of the legendary strength of Majin Buu, taught to feel fear at the very mention of the name, and yet that man defeated him and ended everything with a smile. Somedays, he allows himself to wonder just what would happen if the king’s fears came true, if the man were to make his way into their world; would he truly be a threat to Gomah? Would he be willing to help the people of the Thirld World?
There's nothing to gain with such thoughts, spending his time wondering about such scenarios does nothing to change reality. All that truly matters is that, right now, the Third World still is mistreated.
Having completed yet another delivery for his boss, he makes his way back to the palace. Flying might have been easier, but he has no energy to explain why he was in his aircraft in the first place; so he enjoys the walk.
And when an old demon stops him, trying to convince him to buy something, he notices that between the things being sold, there's a box of Degesu's favourite candy. Before he knows it, he has already bought them, and he smiles imagining how happy he will be once he gives them to him.
The box, now with some missing candy, sits on the desk in the room as the two of them sway to a beat that exists only in Degesu’s mind.
In the night, when Degesu caresses his head resting on his lap, he can't help but to feel the warmth that takes over him.
And maybe, he too had lost long ago.