Chapter Text
"Is something wrong? Ainz-sama" Demiurge had been giving his latest report, when a sigh escaped between Ainz's teeth, it was nothing subtle and he soon regretted it when the demon's worried gaze was on him.
"It's nothing Demiurge, continue" Being an expressionless skeleton was advantageous at times.
"Forgive my intrusion, but you seem tired my Lord" He lowered the sheets where he was going over notes, hiding them behind his back "Is there anything I can do for you?" His attentive gaze, eager to fulfill any of his orders, was what had him so psychologically tired, yet even that wasn't the beginning of his stress.
"I appreciate your concern, but ..." What was he doing? Did he really have to carry everything by himself? The NPCs of his friends were there for whatever he needed and he always pushed them aside, no wonder the loneliness he had begun to feel "Tell me Demiurge, do you still consider me perfect?"
"Of course Ainz-sama!" His response was quick and without a hint of doubt in his voice "You and the supreme are the most perfect beings I have the privilege of serving" He bowed, however his tail wagged behind him, Ainz imagined it was of joy.
"You esteem me too much" He murmured to himself "What would you think if I said I made a mistake?"
"That would be impossible" Ainz looked at him feeling that shadow of guilt rise again.
"The impossible doesn't exist" His mere existence in the game proved it, he sighed again and looked away, avoiding the expression of Demiurge that was too bright to look directly at, too much faith in a single individual "I understand that Albedo is a succubus and her love for me distorts her behavior, but... " It was his fault, he knew he should take responsibility and yet the fear the overseer of the guardians caused him only grew, realizing that there were no limits to what she could do and as the only solution he found, was to reciprocate his feelings, or ignore her as he had done so far, but that only postponed the inevitable "I don't want Albedo to fall in love with me" He said it! He finally said it.
It really was liberating, as the guilt fell from his shoulders and now that he had started he couldn't stop.
"Ainz-sama ..." Even if it was a whisper, surprise and disbelief mixed in Demiurge's voice.
"It's my fault that Albedo is so crazy, I made her fall in love with me without her consent"
"Don't you want Albedo to be in love with you?" He seemed to be having a hard time understanding.
"No" The red orbs in their sockets found with those beautiful Demiurge jewels, he had never understood why, however, he considered them a success, on the rare occasions that Demiurge opened his eyes they shone splendidly, to the point of being hypnotics "Albedo mightn't love me, she might even hate me, but she thinks she does"
"And do you believe it? That Albedo would be able to hate you?" Demiurge returned to his usual calm, though his face was a little softer now.
"No, all of you shown me unmatched loyalty, I have no doubt that all of you trust me and appreciate me" Although sometimes he thought he didn't deserve such praise.
"We all love you Lord Ainz, you shouldn't doubt that either" A soft smile slid across Demiurge's lips and if Momonga had had lips too, he would have smile back.
"Thank you" Demiurge was able to notice the relief in his lord’s voice, but he was quick to hide his own.
"Now that we talk about it, Ainz-sama" He pushed up his glasses, still keeping his emotions to a minimum "If you still have doubts about Albedo, Shalltear would be more than happy to take a place by your side" The chill that ran through Ainz's bones it was more psychological than anything else, he loved Shalltear as much as a daughter, the daughter of his friend Peroroncino, but why did women have to be so terrifying?
If he had to choose he would prefer someone quieter, who didn't get carried away by his emotions so easily and ... He observed Demiurge waiting for an answer, the demon had never displayed inappropriate behavior, well, nothing remarkable, always acting like a gentleman.
"Shalltear…" Besides feeling bad because she looked like a child "You’re right, she would be an excellent wife" As he always had "But my feelings towards Shalltear are very different"
"I understand " Demiurge's tail wagged again, however this time Ainz didn't know what it meant, what could he have understood?, he was worried that the demon began to assume things on his own, again, but before intervening, the demon spoke "Ainz-sama, with all due respect, may I ask something?" That unusual caution from Demiurge didn't prepare him for the question "Does it have to be a woman who wins your heart?" Ainz felt his heart stop beating for a few seconds, even though he didn’t have one, that prolonged silence made Demiurgo ashamed and apologized.
"No, it's fine, it's a valid question" Of course, he liked women, however… Maybe once or twice he would have thought that some man was attractive, perhaps most NPCs with more human characteristics, and perhaps after being turned into a skeleton gender seemed less important than before "No" He remembered some species of the game that didn’t even have a gender like the Slimes, deep down he had to admit that he was open-minded "It doesn't have to be a woman" Demiurge started to look nervous and his spiked tail curled around his leg, it was an unusual image of the demon.
"Do you wish me to communicate that to the other guardians and butlers of Nazarick?"
"No!" Ainz cleared his throat "I prefer discretion Demiurge, I wouldn't like if any of you started behaving differently with me, like Shalltear or Albedo" The demon nodded, he could understand that easily, Ainz was still embarrassed to admit it.
"I thank you for trusting me" Demiurge once again bowed showing his respect. "I'll leave you alone to rest" He had barely turned on his heel when Ainz stopped him, raising his voice over the silence of the throne room.
"Demiurge" This one turn ready for anything "What about you?"
"Excuse me?"
"After this conversation, didn't you think about the possibility of being the one who serve by my side?" He threw the hook and waited, however Ainz hadn't really thought about what he would do after getting the answer he wanted, Demiurge made no sound as his face flushed to the tip of his ears and he stared at the floor in in shame.
"All I wish is to serve you my Lord" He knelt on the ground.
"Stop Demiurge" He felt a twinge of guilt for having pushed him to confess something that he obviously wanted to keep secret, although for Demiurge it was easy to read he sometimes as an open book, this wasn't bidirectional. He gestured for he to get up "Come closer" The demon reminded him of his youthful years, when he had fallen in love once or twice, but it had been a silent and unrequited love, seeing him like this itched his empathy bones.
He thought about asking him, since when?, but the answer was painfully obvious, instead he asked the second most obvious.
"Why didn't you say anything?"
"I didn't deserve such an honor" Demiurge for his skills had a comforting voice, but Ainz hadn't heard things like insecurity in this, even when it came to expressing his own opinions, he wasn't so shy, he found him cute, no, he shouldn't to think that of a man as manly as the devil.
"Nonsense" He should have more self-confidence, Ainz waved his hand in the air, he couldn't imagine anyone saying otherwise "You deserve that honor and any other" Although he was proud of his words of encouragement, like a father raising his son's self-esteem, he realized very late what he had really said.
"Ainz-sama?" Demiurge had noticed it too, he seemed to be excited for a moment, could he compete with Albedo for the great god before him?
He couldn't take it back, he thought of Demiurge finally confessing his not-so-platonic love, he was surprised not to find the idea unpleasant at all, what did that mean?
Demiurge climbed the last steps until he was standing in front of Ainz, but immediately knelt down before him, Ainz raised a hand as a reflex to stop him, at that moment he didn't want the archdevil to kneel down, it was still difficult for him to assimilate his new and permanent role, but his hand was caught and held by Demiurge's, it wasn't a kiss, but he pressed his forehead against the bones of his lord's hand and closed his eyes, not knowing what to expect.
A punishment for his daring, rejection, an opportunity…
"I love you Momonga-sama" He used his old name, making his words have a more intimate effect.
Why wasn't that strange effect when his emotions got out of control working? Demiurge was still kneeling and he was paralyzed not knowing how to respond, something warm spreading inside his bones, it was easy to move his hand that wasn't held back to his jaw and lift his head to look at him, how would a leader act?, regardless of the answer, all his actions must to be firm and full of confidence.
"I accept your feelings" He leaned down to press his teeth against Demiurge's lips as close as it would be to a kiss, they were soft and warm "I want to talk to you tonight, in my room" He admired his puzzled expression before leaving, though the word flee would be more correct.