It was late at noon when the friends decided to conclude their late-night chat. Talking through sunrise, they could have gone until sunset if they wanted. 

The day seemed to be moving slowly, with few pedestrians passing by and even fewer paying attention to anything beyond their endeavors, especially not to the demons gathering outside of the bar that were readying their farewells.

"Here you go." Azazel said, handing over to his friend a dark red box adorned with a sleek, sparkly bow. "Not the most exciting cake you’ve ever seen, but who am I to judge, right?" He added with a sly smile, inhaling heavily on his cigarette,

Asmodeus looked at him with a deadpan expression. "So sorry for being bland. Next time I'll make sure I request something fun and challenging for you to make." 

On closer inspection, the box had a soft leaf pattern over the corrugated cardboard and a goat logo imprinted right at the center. Despite the sarcasm, Deus had to admit it was cute.

Aze smiled, tapping the box. "Try not to get into trouble. It’d be a shame if I lost my star-crossed lover from East Devil High School to another fake death."

"East Devil what?" Raphael asked, appearing out of nowhere by the fox's side and making them jump. 

"Carrot! Stop doing that, I almost dropped my Baumkuchen!" They protested in annoyance, hugging the box to keep it secure. "You did that on purpose, didn't you?" 

The archangel shrugged, though his smug smile gave his intentions away, Asmodeus grumpily glaring at him and looking at Azazel as if to ask for vindication.

Instead, Aze blew out some smoke before addressing his husband, "Hello, darling." 

"Hi, love!" Raphael did a quick run to hug his demon and gave him a peck on the lips. "Just wanted to let you know that I have all the flowers ready."

"For what?" Aze raised his eyebrow 

"The flowers.”

“…”

“The flowers for Pablo." 

"Oh! Right, right. Let me get some snacks for him."

"Wait-" 

Azazel went through the door before either one of his companions could protest.

So Asmodeus and Raphael were left there at the door.

On their own.

Standing on the sidewalk.

Next to each other.

Awkwardly listening to the street's sounds.

And a cough.

One bird chirp.

And a single car with a noisy exhaust pipe in the distance.

"You know…”, Asmodeus decided to break the silence. “He’s not usually the forgetting type."

"It’s one tiny detail, no need to make a fuss about it”, Raphael replied, trying to keep a tone of indifference, but started fiddling with his wedding ring as he did. He didn’t want to admit they were right on the money. If it were anyone else maybe he wouldn’t be so stubborn, but with them? Never.

Asmodeus' eyes went down, the rapid hand movement not lost on them. The angel’s body language was so telling. "He told me what happened, so stop and be frank with me." 

Raphael stopped his jittering, looking to the other side a bit embarrassed that they of all people knew. "This doesn't concern you."

"My best friend just got hexed because my adversary had some kind of prediction but sure, it doesn't concern me.” Asmodeus laughed bitterly. When Raph didn’t answer, Deus shook their head. "Fine. Ignore me. But whatever you've got planned better fix this and soon, Healer of God." 

That finally got Raphael to face them again. "What are- Do you think I'm enjoying this?! I know what my damn role is, you think I’m not doing everything to stop what’s happening to Azazel?" A frown fell on his face, "This is not some stupid task that Heaven sent me out to do! I would rather cease to exist than ever hurt him.”

Asmodeus frowned back, averting their eyes. "If any harm comes to him, I swear to God and Sa-" 

"And I swear to God and Satan that I'll find a solution! No matter the consequences.” He interrupted them in a harsh tone with a sense of finality.

"So let me do my thing and stay out of this if you don't have anything to offer but your annoying quips." 

"I'm going to visit him more frequently from now on and you won’t stop me from doing it”, Asmodeus was about to talk back more when they noticed Azazel coming back. “And calm down, your eyes are shining." They added in a loud whisper.

"Fine!" 

Raphael was pissed off, but couldn't deny that Azazel had been acting more like himself after the hangout. Asmodeus might be a bitch who makes poor nuns have mass psychogenic illnesses just to make Raph’s life harder, but they've always been there for Azazel.

Was that a... good opinion?

Raphael shivered at the thought. He closed his eyelids and took a deep breath through his nose. His eyes went back to normal as soon as he exhaled.

"Look at that. You two didn't kill each other." Aze pointed out as he reached them, holding a tiny bag of snacks and a sunhat in his hand while chewing on something… probably the cigar.

"There weren't any fish around this time." Asmodeus said with a tight smile.

Raphael didn't respond back because, god, he really wanted to slap them with one right now.

Before anymore homicidal thoughts filled either of their brains, a car parked across the street and honked its horn.

"That must be my ride." Deus announced, looking back to face Azazel. "Come here, you." 

The demons hugged and gave each other two strong pats on the back.

"See you soon, Fox."

"See you soon, Goat."

Asmodeus let go, a smile on their face when looking at their friend which immediately dropped when turning to the archangel. 

"Goodbye to you too, I guess." They said bumping shoulders as they passed him, heading to the vehicle, doing a lazy back wave.

"A total pleasure." Raphael flatly mumbled through his teeth. That fox had a talent to get on his nerves faster than anyone on the planet. Maybe even the universe.

Asmodeus opened the door into the car, getting half way inside before pointing at the goat demon. "If you need anything, I’m a summon away. You still remember how, right?" 

"Mhmm. Noted.” Azazel waved.

"Good." Deus finally closed the door, the driver immediately starting the car and making a hard drift on the street that got a few other cars honking, the fox waving their hand out the window. “Byeeeeeee!”

The occult couple watched as the car drove away in a flash. They stood there for a second before the demon put the sunhat on Raphael's head.

"You never garden without it." He said as he brushed off the top from invisible dust. 

"Oh, thank you." Raphael gave him a kiss on the cheek. "My knight in shining armor"

The blush on the demon’s face betrayed his usually unchanging neutral expression. “Better get a move on,” he mumbled, scratching at the scruff around his neck. “Pablo’s a busy raccoon.” 

Raphael chuckled as he watched him head to the record store. That goat had a talent of making his days better faster than anyone on the planet. It’s as if he could pierce through the gloom that hung over his mind and bring forth a ray of light without even realizing. That’s why he had to figure this out.

Right, back to work!