Demons, Witches, and Toads (BoyxBoy) - Chapter 57: Chapter 57

Mulock awoke to the gentle crackle of the hearth and the feeling of at least several heavy blankets stacked on top of him.
His eyes slowly fluttered open to find Wheeler perched over him on the bed.
"You're awake," the boy breathed, relief seeping from his voice.
"Indeed I am. Thanks for that astute observation," Mulock mumbled. He moved to sit up and was instantly met with a horrible ache of pain from practically every inch of his body. "How long was I out for?" the demon asked, attempting to ignore the discomfort.
"Three days," Wheeler replied, his voice tight, wavering slightly.
"Only three? I supposed that's not too bad." Mulock paused, noticing the tears brimming Wheeler's eyes. "Hey, no need to worry, kid," he murmured. "It's totally normal. We demons just go into a hibernative state when we need to heal."
"I wasn't sure if you were ever going to wake up," Wheeler blurted, his voice trembling. "You were barely breathing, and the wounds seemed to just come out of nowhere. I tried to tend to the injuries as best I could, but I was afraid it wouldn't be enough."
Mulock glanced down, realizing his shirt had been stripped from him and replaced by bandages, neatly wrapped around his wounds.
Wheeler stared down at his hands. "I think the scratches on your back are going to scar permanently. They were just...they were so deep..." His voice caught, a small sob escaping him. "It's all my fault, isn't it?"
"Your fault?" Mulock gaped. "How could this possibly be your fault?"
"Because you got them for me, didn't you?"
A heavy silence hung in the air following his words. It only lasted a second or two, but it felt never-ending.
"Wheeler," Mulock finally said, his voice quiet. "No one has responsibility for my actions except for me." He reached up, gently wiping Wheeler's tears away with one hand. "And trust me, I have no regrets about it. I promised I'd protect you, didn't I?"
Wheeler's gaze seared into the floor. "Mully, I'm sure you must know how incredible I think you are. You're smart, and talented, and powerful and...and you should be serving someone just as amazing." He swallowed hard. "But instead you're stuck with me, all because I accidentally summoned you. I just...I feel like I'm not worthy of you."
Mulock shook his head. "Funny, I've always found myself the unworthy one."
Wheeler blinked, confusion flooding his gaze. "What do you mean?"
"You're a good person. Far too good for someone like me."
"That's not true--"
"Wheeler, I killed people." The moment he said it, the demon ripped his gaze from Wheeler, not wanting to see his reaction. "I thought I was doing the right thing by murdering them, but it turned out I was just driven mad over a love I destroyed in the process."
Another long silence followed the confession and Mulock did his best to ignore the nerves tearing at his gut.
Finally, Mulock forced himself to look at Wheeler, anticipating the expression he feared more than anything else. He'd pictured it countless times, what Wheeler's face would look like when he inevitably crumbled and told him the truth. Would he stare at him like he was an unrecognizable monster? Would he cry and beg him to get away from him?
The answer was none of these.
Wheeler simply sat there, his expression hardly changing.
And that's when the realization hit Mulock.
"You already knew," the demon said softly.
Yet another uneasy silence followed before Wheeler finally spoke. "Violet told us a story at the tower party about a royal advisor and a prince. I noticed the similarities to some of the things you told me so I checked a history textbook and um..."
"There I was?"
"Yeah." He swallowed hard. "I'm sorry. I should have told you. I just...I wanted you to tell me yourself whenever you were ready."
Mulock laughed dryly. "I don't understand you, Wheeler. You say such kind things to me, yet the entire time you've known I'm a filthy monster."
"You're not a monster," Wheeler said firmly, finally meeting his gaze. "You made a mistake. You thought you were doing the right thing to protect the person you loved."
"You don't need to make excuses for my actions," Mulock said, his voice low. "I know what I did was horrible and wrong but...he just...he wouldn't listen to me. I couldn't sit there and do nothing while they planned his assassination. I should have waited for proof but I just thought..." He sighed heavily. "What if the proof only came once they killed him?"
Mulock could recall that night so clearly, the raging fire engulfing the room as those traitorous bastards were consumed by flames.
If only he had understood then what the cost would be.
"Did you know," Mulock murmured, "when I was executed, Joseph couldn't even bring himself to look at me?" The demon remembered the disgust in his gaze more clearly than the pain of his own head being severed.
"I'm sorry," Wheeler said softly.
"There's nothing to be sorry for. I deserved it."
They sat in silence a moment longer before Wheeler slowly moved to grab something from the side of the bed. "Let me replace your bandages," he murmured.
Wheeler's hands were incredibly cautious as he tended to Mulock's wounds. His touch was gentle, wrapping the clean bandages around his back with the utmost care. Mulock found there was a strange comfort in the fact that there was no need for further words between them.
Wheeler's gaze was focused as he worked, and Mulock couldn't help but feel an ache deep within his chest at how kindly those eyes could still look at him even after everything he'd done.
"So," Mulock said, adjusting himself against the bed. "Does this make you my nurse?"
"I suppose," Wheeler replied. "I've been tending to you non-stop for the past three days, haven't I?"
Mulock's eyes narrowed. "How about your classes?"
"I skipped them--"
"You what?!" Mulock practically roared.
"Tending to you is more important."
"No, it's not!" Mulock snapped. "Oh God, are you behind on your homework too?"
The boy didn't say anything.
"Wheeler, answer the question!"
Wheeler swallowed hard, his gaze darting away. "Um...yeah."
"Uuuuugh, Wheeler."
"I'm sorry!"
"Get your textbook, we're catching you up immediately."
"Wha...but you're still hurt. You just barely woke up," Wheeler argued.
"So what? I'm fine," Mulock countered sharply. "Look, I'll get it myself." As he said this, Mulock attempted to stand up, ignoring his body's screams of protest.
Wheeler immediately pushed him back down onto the bed as gently as he could. "I'll grab the textbook," he said frantically. "Just please promise me you'll stay in bed."
"Fine," Mulock muttered, crossing his arms. "But if you try to skip another class, I'm personally dragging you back there."
"Then who's going to look after you?" Wheeler protested.
"Mister Pumpernickel is right here."
At the mention of his name, the toad sprung off the bed stand, landing with painful force against Mulock's injuries causing him to wince.
"I was obviously being sarcastic, you stupid toad," Mulock snapped.
Mister Pumpernickel croaked in protest.
"No, you can't take care of me. You don't have opposable thumbs, idiot."
"He could sing you a lullaby!" Wheeler pointed out. "He's been learning songs to add to his musical repertoire. He has an amazing variety."
"Wheeler, I would literally rather die."
Mulock was quite confident that no punishment the ancient demon's could give him would ever come close to Mister Pumpernickel's attempt at lullaby.