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Henry Claus Ceredig ([info]philosophos) wrote in [info]nevermore_logs,
@ 2022-11-24 14:52:00

Previous Entry  Add to memories!  Tell a Friend!  Next Entry
Entry tags:beezlebub, gabriel, henry claus, iestyn ceredig

WHO: Henry Claus Ceredig, Beelzebub, Gabriel, and then Iestyn Ceredig and maybe even Tinse and Merry
WHEN: Tuesday, evening
WHERE: BMCC Campus, and then a hospital and then maybe Casa Ceredig
WHAT: Just a demon having a Good Time and then having a Bad Time
WARNINGS: Mentions of past torture, some light violence (finger snapping, you know), and momentary assault, character death



It had taken a lot of courage for Henry to go back to his college campus after being abducted from there by Lucifer's minions. But after being reassured by Michael that they were all off limits to Lucifer, and a healthy dose of therapy, Henry had managed it. He'd made it almost a year, before a demon returned and necessitated a change of school.

Henry had finished his classes for the day by 2:30, but he had stuck around to do some studying in the library. He hadn't even realised he had been at it for five hours until his stomach rumbled and he glanced up at the clock and saw it was after seven. "Oh shit," he hissed, immediately gathering his things to shove them into his backpack. At least he had warned his husband that he was going to be studying so Iestyn wouldn't have been waiting for him for dinner or anything. He shot Iestyn a quick message to let him know he was coming home, and then he slipped his phone into his pocket and headed for the door.

The late autumn air was crisp and cool, and the sky was nearly dark when Henry emerged from the library. The campus lights had all come on, but as usual, the normal buzz the place had was gone and it was pretty silent and deserted as he made his way across the quad, towards the car park. He was humming to himself, some song that Iestyn had been practicing a lot lately, which was now stuck in his head. When he turned a blind corner, he felt someone grab him and he didn't even have time to react before he was being pulled back in between the car parking building and the admin building.

Henry let out a squawk, but he was spun around and a hand slammed over his mouth. And then he was looking into the face of Beelzebub. Henry's head swam and his stomach turned to ice. The last time he had been faced with Beelzebub he had fainted immediately. This time, even though the demon's aura was hideous and Henry sort of thought he might throw up, he didn't faint. He was, however, terrified beyond the telling of it.

"Don't scream, or I'll rip your vocal chords out," Beelzebub said. "Understand?" When Henry nodded, quick and terrified, Beelzebub pulled his hand back. He backed Henry up against the wall of the car park building and held him there, giving him a once over. Henry shuddered in horror, imagining all the terrible things that were about to happen to him. He had thought they were safe, but would they ever really be? God, he was going to die here- Would Iestyn ever know what happened to him? Would Merry and Tinsel ever be okay? Would Addy try to hurt herself again?

"Please-" Henry whispered to the demon, begging not just for him but for the well-being of the people he loved, "please don't hurt me." He was panicking far too much, at least at the moment, to snap himself out of the fear and get help. Begging was all his trauma brain had to offer.

Beelzebub smiled and he leaned back, loosening his grip on the young man. Henry stayed frozen in place anyway, sure that the second he made a move to run, Beelzebub would snap his neck. He was far too scared to try. "I got my cattle prod back the other day," Beelzebub said, as if this was just a normal, breezy topic for conversation. "And it made me think of your boyfriend. I lent it to Lucifer, see, and he used it on that welsh kid."

Beelzebub didn't know they were married which was a good thing, but just the mention of Iestyn in pain was enough to sap some of the fear. His breathing deepened from scared short gasps, to angry and heated, and his hands balled into fists. "Fuck you," he growled, finding his voice just a little.

"You could if you wanted to," Beelzebub said, chuckling a little. "Anyway, it made me remember the time I ran into you and you fainted like a feeb. I wanted to see if you would do it again. I'm almost sad you didn't, I was going to take you back to mine and try the cattle prod on you too."

Okay a little fear was back. His head was swimming and his heart was pounding and that aura was trying to snatch consciousness away, but he was clinging to it, and thank fuck.

"Lucifer would have a shit fit," Beezlebub carried on, "but I don't care what that fuckhead thinks anyway. "Would you scream as loud as your boyfriend, do you think? Hmm? Maybe we should get him here?"

Henry's head was beginning to clear, and though he was still terrified, the surprise had worn off. He could get himself out of this if he could find his fucking voice again. "You don't want to do that," he said, frustrated that it came out timid and trembling.

"No, I think I do," Beelzebub said, leaning in again. He reached out to Henry's pocket, though his hand took a side tour to grope Henry through his jeans because he was terrible like that. Henry whimpered and tried to curl in on himself, but a moment later Beelzebub stopped and went back to pulling out Henry's phone and holding it out. "I'll force you to watch as I burn him. Here. Call him. Call your boyfriend and get him here. Don't let him know I'm here. You alert him, you die. You call anyone else you die. Get him here now."

Like fuck. He couldn't do it to Iestyn and he couldn't do it to himself. He wouldn't survive. Not another few weeks of his body being starved and tortured. Neither of them would. "No," Henry growled, and then he gasped in pain as Beelzebub's hand shot out and snapped his pinky finger like it was a match stick. Beelzebub slammed his hand over Henry's mouth to muffle the yelp that followed.

"No screaming," Beelzebub cautioned him. "I'll snap your neck and make your body disappear. They'll never find you. Call your boyfriend."

Oh god, more pain was coming and Henry knew it. He shook his head quickly, and then his entire body tensed as he awaited it. Beelzebub snapped his ring finger and Henry screamed with his mouth closed to muffle the sound. Then another scream caught in his throat, when there was a painful tugging on his broken finger, as Beelzebub pulled his wedding ring off.

"Oh ho ho," Beelzebub said, a wide and happy smile on his face. "Well congratulations are in order, little feeb. I see you married that saint's son. Torturing a married couple is something I haven't done in ages," he said, a little wistfully. "Call him. Or I break every single bone in your body, one by one."

Shaking, Henry still refused. He would rather every bone in his body be shattered, than watch Iestyn be tortured. But god it hurt as he stifled another scream when Beelzebub broke his middle finger. His head was swimming, and he leaned back against the car park to take a breath. The pain was pulling him out of the fear. And Beelzebub holding his wedding ring was infuriating. When Beezlebub snapped his index finger, Henry found himself able to claw out of trauma brain and take steps to save himself. First, he fervently prayed to his guardian angel-

Gabriel, please! Beelzebub's here and he's threatening to take me somewhere- I'm at college. Behind the car park. Please help me.

Beelzebub snapped Henry's pinky and ring finger of his other hand, and Henry let out a furious growl. Once fear left him, he was the same man who had once rushed Wrath because he had thought she was a demon there to take Iestyn away. He had slammed his broken body into Lucifer - risking death - so Lucifer couldn't use him to torture Iestyn any worse that he already was. And now he had shoved Beelzebub away from him, bringing his knee up hard between the demon's legs, so Beelzebub fell to the ground.

"If you touch me again, do you know what my father will do to you?!" he screamed. He was still shaking with pain and horror, but he wasn't silent any more. "He'll turn your dick into a candy cane, you fuck." He didn't actually know if Nick could do that, but he'd seen Nick turn other things into candy canes, so it stood to reason- "He can get into anywhere. You can't lock him out. He's more powerful than you! You know why we're off limits to Lucifer? Because he's fucking afraid. Lucifer is afraid of my father. You think you're a match for him? You?! Don't you ever talk about my husband! Don't you ever think about him!" Henry was backing up because Beelzebub was glaring at him, his expression deadly. He just had to keep talking- Keep up the threats-

Thankfully, as Beelzebub rose to his feet and started to head towards Henry, there was a flapping of wings announcing the angel's arrival. "Oh yeah, and one of my best friends is an arch angel. You piece of shit," Henry hissed at Beelzebub, who immediately stepped back.



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[info]philosophos
2022-11-26 09:43 am UTC (link)
"No, actually-" Henry leaned back once Iestyn had finished doing up his necklace, and he watched his sisters face as he said this next bit. "Actually I think I'll transfer to a real college. With a four year degree. I applied for BMCC because I- Fuck. I didn't think I was smart enough to go to a four year school. But I've been in the top five percent of every class I've taken. I was going to graduate with my associate's and see where that led but I think- I think I am smart enough. I think I could do it. I could transfer for January. Safer being on a bigger campus anyway. What do you think?" Associate's degrees were fine, but the classes were pitched at a lower level. Getting into the field he wanted to be in would be easier with a bachelor's. Hell, getting into postgrad study would be easier with a bachelor's.

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[info]tinseltangled
2022-11-26 09:56 am UTC (link)
"I think that sounds amazing," Tinsel replied. "Of course I support you. And of course you are smart enough."

Iestyn was nodding along, agreeing with what she said. "Safer, yes. You should do it. I know you can. You are so smart. I've been watching you study and you've been so focused and worked so hard, you could for sure keep up."

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[info]philosophos
2022-11-26 10:00 am UTC (link)
Henry smiled at both of them and he nodded, "settled then. I'll put it all into place on Monday. I'm sure they will accommodate me doing the last three weeks of classes remotely, and we'll work something out for exams. This is the second time I've been attacked on their campus and I know its not their fault but they don't. And they fell all over themselves last time to help. I think they thought I would sue them. As if I had a single litigious bone in my body," he said, but then winced because he'd said 'bone'.

"Okay, that's set then. Can- Gabriel? Is there something we can do just- Just for a few weeks? To make sure I'm safe if I leave home? Please?" He hated asking. Henry wasn't great at asking for help, but he was terrified Beelzebub would want revenge for killing him.

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[info]tinseltangled
2022-11-26 10:13 am UTC (link)
Gabriel turned back from looking at the bookcase, and nodded. "I will speak with David," he said, "and later Michael. He should be kept informed."

Tinsel pulled a face, impressed at the seriousness of the situation. "Alright," she said. "I can get Mom and Dad in the loop, unless you want to go over it all with them yourself?" She thought he might find it hard to talk about, but maybe he'd be okay with it.

Iestyn leaned in against Henry's shoulder, just glad to have him safe and sound at home.

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[info]philosophos
2022-11-26 10:18 am UTC (link)
"No, I- I don't want to have to see the looks on their faces," Henry admitted. He'd watched his parents while he was recovering, and he caught their worried glances they tried so hard to cover. They had lost one son so suddenly and Henry knew his time in the hospital had reminded them of that. He didn't want to see them all upset and worried again. If Tinsel told them, then by the time he talked to them, they would have composed themselves. "Thanks, Tinse."

Henry leaned in to kiss Iestyn's hair and then he smiled at Gabriel, "and thanks, Gabriel. I really appreciate it. I don't really- I don't see myself going many places in the near future, but just in case. I want to make sure I'm safe. Today was lucky." And he knew it too.

"Okay I was serious about dinner, I'm starving. Babe, if we get Indian food, can you tear up my naan for me?" He could handle the dipping.

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[info]tinseltangled
2022-11-26 10:25 am UTC (link)
Gabriel acknowledged Henry's words, and glanced upwards. "I'll go now," he said, and immediately did.

Tinsel blinked and shook her head. Angels were... weird. Gabriel was a bit better than Michael, but he still had his moments. "I don't know if I'll stay to eat," she said, smoothing down her skirt. "I had a salad earlier. I might just go upstairs and fill Aderyn in on what's happened too, and see how she's doing. You don't mind if I leave you two to your own devices, do you?"

Iestyn nodded okay. "Just tell her we're both okay?" he asked, as he pulled out his phone to order something for just him and Henry. "She doesn't need to panic."

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[info]philosophos
2022-11-26 10:27 am UTC (link)
Henry rose before Tinsel could escape entirely though, and he reached his arms out to indicate he wanted a hug. He closed his arms around her, holding her close for a moment. "I'll alright," he promised her, and when he pulled back he was giving her a sad wee smile. "Love you. Give Addy my love too?"

Then he sat back down on the sofa and he was alone with his husband. "Fuck, Iestyn-" Henry groaned.

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[info]piu_fermata
2022-11-26 10:44 am UTC (link)
"Henry..." Iestyn rubbed his temples and looked at Henry. "I'm so tired, Hen. It's just... so tiring." The endlessness of it, the way the prospect of this sort of thing cropping up forever felt like an inevitability. They'd been told they would be left alone but it just wasn't true. "Are you alright? I mean, aside from... all the not alright part."

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[info]philosophos
2022-11-26 10:50 am UTC (link)
Was he alright? He'd stood up to a demon and lived to tell the tale. But he'd still been brutalised and assaulted. "I'm tired too," he admitted. "And my hands hurt like fuck. He wouldn't let me scream. Said he'd-" well maybe Iestyn didn't need to know what Beelzebub had threatened to do to him if he screamed, "so my throat hurts too, from trying so hard not to when he broke my fingers. There's stuff I didn't say. Not with Tinse there. But I don't want to make it worse for you."

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[info]piu_fermata
2022-11-26 11:07 am UTC (link)
Iestyn wanted to apologise again, for dragging Henry into this whole mess just by knowing him, but they'd had this conversation so many times and it just wasn't fruitful to drag it out. He merely sighed instead, his heart heavy from the pain of it all. "Of course they hurt," he said sympathetically, and he wanted to kiss them better but had to content himself with kissing the top of Henry's shoulder. "It's already so bad for me, seeing you like this. I'm torn between loving you for defending me and wishing I could have taken the pain to spare you from it."

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[info]philosophos
2022-11-26 11:14 am UTC (link)
"I think that's just how it goes when you love someone and they're in pain," Henry said with a sigh. "I would feel the same if our situations were reversed. But I will always defend you."

Back when he had been in the hospital, after Lucifer, Addy had expressed to Henry that she had been so worried he might be angry with Iestyn for bringing all of this on to him. She had been angry at David for bringing it on her, and Joey had been angry at Saint Patrick for bringing it on him. But Henry honestly hadn't even considered that. Hadn't even thought about that for a second. Of course none of this was Iestyn's fault. While it was true Lucifer wouldn't know about him if he wasn't with Iestyn, that still didn't make it Iestyn's fault. Iestyn was a victim too.

"And it's not your fault," he said, knowing that Iestyn might be feeling guilty without him saying it. "Beelzebub-" Henry sighed and he wished he could take Iestyn's hand. "He said he- He got back the cattle prod. The one Lucifer- It was Beelzebub's. He wanted to use it on me. He wanted to use it on us. Make one of us watch while he- He said he hadn't tortured a married couple in ages," Henry closed his eyes, wincing at the thought of it again.

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[info]piu_fermata
2022-11-26 11:24 am UTC (link)
Iestyn felt queasy at the mention of the prod, and he rubbed his mouth. The mention of watching someone he loved in pain was bringing back memories of seeing Addy tortured, and it made him shudder. "That's sick," he muttered. "Oh god, Henry, I- I wish-" If wishes were horses, Ma used to say; and when he was very young, Iestyn used to wish on horses when he saw them because he misunderstood the aphorism.

All he could do was gesture helplessly, because he didn't have the words to describe how he felt.

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[info]philosophos
2022-11-26 11:30 am UTC (link)
"And that's why I couldn't let him- That's why I wouldn't have stood there and let him break me before I brought you into it. It was the shitty but somehow still way less shitty option. And now I'm going to need so much help. God, I'm sorry. I won't be able to shower myself, cut my own food, type- Fuck." God, thank everything they had invested in a little bidet when they had moved in together, just to keep things clean. Because they had only been married less than a year, and Henry really didn't want Iestyn responsible for wiping his ass.

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[info]piu_fermata
2022-11-26 11:33 am UTC (link)
Iestyn looked at Henry sympathetically. "Of course I will help you. Anything," he said, because it was the very least he could do after everything. As if he would refused to help after Henry took that pain for him! "I'm your husband. It's what I'm here for. For better or for worse, right?"

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[info]philosophos
2022-11-26 11:36 am UTC (link)
Henry gave Iestyn a sweet, sad smile. "For better or worse," he nodded. "For the next wee while, I'm going to stick to home or going places only if I have an angel escort, okay? I want you to still be able to do your rehearsals and performances and not worry about me too much. Is that okay? What do you think, honey?"

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[info]piu_fermata
2022-11-26 11:49 am UTC (link)
"I am going to worry about you no matter what, but I might worry a touch less that way," Iestyn replied, nestling against Henry's side. "I won't turn my phone off, ever. I love you so much." So very, very tired, but at least they had food arriving very soon. That would help.

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[info]philosophos
2022-11-26 11:56 am UTC (link)
Henry sighed, and he curled up beside Iestyn, breathing him in. "I love you too," he whispered. "God, so much. You're everything to me." Not that that was likely in any doubt, right now.

"We're going to be okay," he whispered. He had to focus on hope, rather than horror and the throbbing of his hands. "This is just a- It's just a blip. Gabriel and Michael and my Dad will make it okay. Dad will threaten him and we'll be safe again. I won't be able to give you foot rubs for a while though," Henry lamented. "Or...hand jobs." Yes, trying to change the subject maybe. "Though I am sure I can figure out ways to make you happy without my hands."

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[info]piu_fermata
2022-11-26 12:11 pm UTC (link)
"It's a blip," Iestyn repeated, and sighed. They were just very lucky to know the right sorts of people. When Henry started talking about sex, he glanced up at him with his brows raised. "Well- well yeah- we'll figure something out. The two of us, together. You are very inventive sometimes." It was a half-hearted attempt at levity, and Iestyn wore half a smile.

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[info]philosophos
2022-11-26 12:17 pm UTC (link)
Henry was going to take literally any attempt at levity he could get. He leaned in and kissed Iestyn's cheek, and that was when there was a knock at the door announcing their food had arrived.

It was a tedious affair, trying to eat with just two fingers and a thumb. Iestyn tore his naan bread into small pieces so he could dip it into his curry, though, and he managed the rest with a fork. It was too difficult for him to lift a glass, so he had to bend down to take sips out of a straw, but they worked it out.

While Henry usually took a shower before bed, he didn't want to make Iestyn wash him. Not today, after everything. They could deal with that tomorrow. Iestyn still had to help him get changed, however, and Henry thought he would feel a little humiliated but he didn't. Iestyn just made it so easy. He was careful and gentle and Henry felt his chest warm with love for his husband. God, he was lucky.

They crawled into bed, and Henry curled up at Iestyn's side. "Thank you," he whispered. "For being so wonderful. For helping me. For being my safe place."

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[info]piu_fermata
2022-11-26 12:36 pm UTC (link)
"You are the best thing to me," Iestyn murmured back, carefully wrapping his arms around Henry. He wanted to keep Henry safe, as much as he could, and curling up together in the warm sanctuary of their bed was reassuring and relaxing. Henry was alright, Iestyn had to keep reminding himself. He was hurt but it could've been a lot worse.

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