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Dave held his breath. Over the past few days, he’d grown so used to the constant red hue and the scarce lighting that he’d stopped wondering if there was even an outside, or if Hell was just a bunch of hallways and chambers.

He was about to find out, he guessed.

“Woof!” Gaz nuzzled him from behind.

“Okay, okay.” Dave swallowed before he forced himself to take a deep breath. “We’re going. But you still stick close to me, okay, girl?”

The outside was not what he’d expected—at least, it wasn’t once the sudden amber light stopped blinding him. Outside of the castle, Hell was bright. Suffocatingly hot, too. Dave guessed that had to be another reason for the demons’ lack of clothing. He thought he was too clothed already, and his crop top barely covered an inch past his nipples.

In her defense, Gaz stood watching him while he got accustomed to the outside light, and he took in every scorched tree and fields of…

Bones.

Probably human bones.

Dave shivered.

Of course that was where Gaz headed the second he moved. And, of course, Gaz grabbed one of those bones—maybe a humerus?—and brought it to him.

Because dogs played fetch. And they loved bones.

He was going to throw up.

“Uh…” Gaz looked so happy, though, wagging her tail and imploring with those stupidly big and round eyes. “Okay, fine, but please keep an eye out for me.”

Gaz tried to bark in response, which just sounded funny. She refused to let go of the bone. Dave guessed he could find it cute. He just had to ignore that what he was about to hold was an actual bone. It shouldn’t be too hard. He’d been ignoring many things since he’d arrived in Hell.

Adapting.

Dave took an invigorating breath and bounced on his feet. This was just something else to adapt to: human bones to play fetch with his new pet. It was funny how he was only starting to get the things he’d always wanted most now, when he was literally trapped in Hell.

Was he losing his mind if he was beginning to consider that maybe, just maybe, Hell wasn’t so bad?

Dave wrapped his arms around his waist after he’d thrown the bone for Gaz to fetch.

He had a warm bed to sleep in and someone that seemed to care about him. At least, Melchom didn’t want him to be too fucked up, and that was more than Dave had had in years. Now he had a dog, and clothes too. Fine, that was a bit materialistic of him, but… They weren’t just clothes to Dave. He thought Melchom knew, too. They were… expression. Identity. It wasn’t about expensive fabric or high fashion. It was about twirling in front of a mirror and seeing himself. All of him.

Gaz was not quiet when she ran back to him. This time, though, she didn’t take her bone to him.

“Tired, already?” Dave crouched down to give her better pets. Gaz couldn’t get enough of them. “Should we head back, then?”

Gaz tilted her head to the side. Dave guessed she must be confused. To be honest, he was, too. He should be trying to figure out a way out now that he had protection. But…

He wanted to go back, to be with Melchom. Dave wanted to tease him and push buttons until he was left trembling in fear, overwhelmed by everything that was Melchom.

“I know, I know.” He patted her head before starting to trace back his steps. “I should be running away, or telling you to attack him, but… Don’t do that, okay? He’s… He’s nice.” Dave frowned, the words not sounding quite right. “Well, he’s not nice, but… The way he makes me feel is? I think?”

The hellhound huffed, nuzzling him behind the knee.

“Okay, okay. We’re heading back.”

If Melchom looked surprised when the gate opened and both Dave and Gaz walked in, he didn’t mention it. None of them did. But Dave decided to take the chance and curl around him when he slipped into bed next to him. He’d tired himself out before he’d managed to tire out the hellhound.

Melchom didn’t utter a word, but Dave was sure he smiled when Dave forced himself to show fear, thinking about how the demon would react if he tried to touch his horns again. It wasn’t hard. His fingers itched to do it. The urge kept growing larger, for some reason. Dave didn’t want to think much about it.

“You’re going to be my demise, Dove.”

It was only a whisper, but it still made his heart skip a breath, still made him shiver.