There was something soothing about the rhythmic drone of the copy machine. When it was working correctly, and not jamming as it was frequently wont to do, it was easy to lose oneself in the sound. Like the hum of a fan or the whirr or a dryer, it inspired an almost meditative state.

Kyle hadn’t even realized he’d succumbed to the mechanical hypnosis until he heard a door close behind him. Jumping, he spun on his heels, only to find himself face-to-face with Adam, who had the decency to look only slightly amused.

“It gets me every time,” Adam assured him. “I had to make a hundred two-page, double-sided exams and I think I fell asleep standing there.”

With a laugh, Kyle stepped away from the copier, grabbing his stack of hand-outs just as they finished printing. “All yours.”

“Thanks.” Adam started the machine back up before turning to lean against it. “So, I owe you a drink. Two, really.”

That caught Kyle off guard. But now he could tell Ryka was interested in their conversation. “Why?”

“I’ll tell you if you let me buy them for you.”

Kyle wanted to argue – he really had been trying not to be too friendly, but it was hard to say “no.” The arrival of another of their colleagues, Mr. Singh, stopped his argument. As if he’d walked in on a murder scene, the other man stifled a scream, jamming his hand into his mouth to stop the sound. Kyle tried to apologize, but Mr. Singh shook his head and backed out of the room, visibly trembling the whole way.

It had been a week since the pep rally. Except for the few students who had already known about Ryka - and Adam - no one else could even look at him. Some of his classes were improving, at least able to take their eyes off their desks now, but it had been challenging. Things were slower going with the rest of the staff.

Although he could tell Ryka was delighted by the unexpected snack, the other man’s reaction stung. Maybe, Kyle thought, he should take friendship where he could get it, especially if that person already knew about Ryka. Kyle worried for Adam’s safety, but somehow Adam seemed to know just how to act to preserve his health. As if he had some instinct for not angering demons.

“O’Rourke’s?” Kyle finally managed.

“I can meet you at six if you’re free tonight.”

“See you then.”

***

For a Friday night, the bar was much emptier than Kyle had expected. To his dismay, he was starting to recognize the regulars. Which meant he was becoming one.

Just enjoy your free drink. Shit.

Rolling his eyes, he sipped his beer. Across the table, Adam smiled at him and took a generous mouthful of his own drink. “So, why do you think you owe me this?” Kyle asked, setting the glass down.

“This first one is to again apologize for making you say something you weren’t ready to last time we were here.”

Sensing his host’s discomfort, Ryka growled, but only so Kyle could hear. He at least knew to wait and see how things progressed before inserting himself in the discussion. This was just to prepare Kyle for his possible involvement. “It’s fine, really. It’s not like I’m still in the closet. I just don’t advertise it.”

Not anymore.

Somehow, Kyle managed not to wince at the remark. Early on, knowing that solitude was safer, Kyle had removed his profile from a plethora of dating sites. This had required an explanation, of course, and only now did Kyle realize why the demon had been so happy to see him complete this task.

Idiot.

Shaking the comment, Kyle continued, “If you were worried about outing me, my cousin beat you to it by several years. So really, don’t worry about it.”

“Okay. If you’re sure.”

“I am. Now, what’s the second drink for? Or do I actually have to have it in hand?”

Adam laughed. “No, I’ll just tell you. That one’s a thank you for giving me Kate’s number.”

Even though Kyle considered this topic closed, he still felt Ryka’s surge of jealousy at the mention of the librarian’s name. With considerable effort, Kyle managed not to sigh. Maybe this was why it was better to keep people out – there was no need to juggle two conversations when it was just he and Ryka.

“Did you get to see her, then?” Kyle asked. Hopefully, if the answer was “yes,” that would be the end of Ryka’s unnecessary envy.

Beaming, Adam nodded. “We had dinner Friday night and did some shopping. Then ended up going to a winery Sunday afternoon and back to my place after to watch a movie.”

Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

“That’s fantastic,” Kyle told Adam. Ryka only seemed marginally appeased, he supposed because instead of being with Kate, Adam was currently with Kyle instead. He wondered if it would be beneficial – or just dangerous – for Ryka to learn to share his attention.

“She’s great. We’re getting together again tomorrow afternoon.”

“I’m glad it’s working out.”

“Me, too.” There was a pause while Adam finished his beer. “Is it okay to ask a question?”

“Depends on what it is ….” Kyle desperately hoped it wasn’t about his relationship with Ryka. Adam knew, but Kyle wasn’t willing to tell Adam more than he already had. Luckily, although demon-related, Kyle was spared having to go into details about his own love life.

“Well, we ended up watching ‘The Exorcist’ on Sunday.”

“Ah.” It had been many years ago now, but Kyle recalled having seen that movie at a sleepover in high school. And he could feel Ryka digging through his vague memories of the film.

“Is any of that even remotely accurate? Isn’t it supposed to be based on some true story?”

“I can’t imagine it is; it’s pretty far off the mark. I mean, I definitely can’t turn my head all the way around.”

“That would be useful in class, though.”

Kyle laughed into his drink. “Seriously. There is a lot of puking, but that’s either because I’m hungover, or because Ryka’s gorged himself, most likely on foods that don’t mix well. He really likes beer and ice cream. Both in large quantities.”

Adam grimaced, looking nauseated at just the thought. “Fun.”

“You have no idea. What else? Oh, as far as I understand it, there’s nothing any priest or whoever could do, besides probably pissing Ryka off. An exorcism wouldn’t work.”

I’d love for someone to try.

That made Kyle’s eyes go wide, and he quickly tried to think of something else to set straight about the movie. But somehow there was only one other scene he could remember. And no wonder, for having been surrounded by other hormonal teenagers at the time. “Uh, I’ve certainly never been tempted to use a crucifix like that ….”

Now Adam was struggling not to choke on his beer, and Kyle could feel his face getting hot.

And I highly suggest you don’t try that, kinky as it sounds. Because even I’m not that much of a masochist.

“What? What do you mean?” Kyle replied, unable to stop himself this time.

I mean I like it rough.

“Not that, I know what that means.”

I’ll explain later. But the short version is please don’t touch crosses, never mind fuck yourself with one. And definitely not a priest’s.

“Noted. Anyhow.” He cleared his throat, but Adam was still smirking at him. He’d probably guessed at part of the conversation. “What else was there?” Kyle continued, hoping to move on from the subject of crosses. “Um, well, he can talk without needing to be summoned. And he does swear a lot ….”

“Hmm. Well, I mean, that little girl looked like shit. Pale, greasy - basically a zombie. You definitely … don’t look like that.” This didn’t seem like a safer subject, not with Ryka back to growling. But Kyle didn’t get a chance to warn the other man before he continued. “What I’m saying is celebrities pay dearly for skin and hair like yours.”

“I’d say my price was quite high as well,” Kyle replied, attempting a joke. When Adam just goggled at him, Kyle continued. “You know, my soul.” Now Adam looked horrified. Instantly, he was sputtering apologies, and Kyle was trying to stop him. “It’s fine, it’s fine. I was, well, kidding. Trying to. If I can’t laugh about it once in a while ….”

Apparently, aside from Ryka, Kyle was the only one that found his impending damnation an appropriate subject for a joke. The worst kind of gallows humor, he mused. He wants to laugh about it, he can join you, Ryka warned. So apparently better that Adam had been too shocked to do more than stare.

“What I guess I was going for is that there are benefits. At least for now.”

“Right.” Adam took a sip of his beer, and Kyle could see that the other man’s hands were trembling.

“I promise it’s fine.”

Says you.

“Honestly, the worst part is that he never shuts up. I’m looking forward to the comparative peace and quiet of Hell.”

At that, Adam turned abruptly away, shoulders shaking.

Is he laughing at me?

“It’s not all about you, you know,” Kyle murmured. That thought didn’t seem to please Ryka, who answered only with another growl. Kyle just ignored him. “You okay?”

Adam nodded and turned back to face Kyle. “Yeah, sorry. I just thought of something else, and ….” Although he had appeared collected moments earlier, Adam was fighting back laughter, lips pursed as he attempted to regain control of his emotions.

“What is it?”

“‘Captain Howdy?’ That’s not a very … dignified name.”

Even Ryka snorted, so Kyle had to assume he wasn’t offended. Though he did take the opportunity to demonstrate one of the few things that had been accurate. “It’s Pazuzu.” Although Kyle’s first instinct was to cover his mouth, he stopped himself. They were in public, and since no one had seemed to notice the demon’s deep voice, he knew it was better to carry on as if nothing unusual had happened.

“Who?” Adam ventured.

This time, Kyle was expecting it when Ryka answered. “Pazuzu. He was considered a god a while back. But he was never a parasite.”

“Do you know him?” Since Adam now seemed too scared to ask, Kyle took over questioning.

In passing. He knew his name got used - maybe not even in the movie - but wasn’t exactly happy with how. It didn’t get him any new worshippers, and didn’t really get anything about him right. This, Kyle kept to himself. There were rules, he’d learned, about what other mortals could and couldn’t be told. And he always preferred to err on the side of caution. He didn’t need to inadvertently damn someone while discussing movie trivia.

“I see.”

And Adam really was too good at this, focused on the TV behind the bar while he sipped his beer, and completely ignoring that the man next to him was deep in conversation with his parasitic demon. It wasn’t until he felt Kyle’s gaze that he peeled his from the screen.

Of all the things he could have asked then, all of the ways he could have risked his health or afterlife by prying, he instead managed to allay Kyle’s fear. Turning back to his colleague, smiling broadly, Adam simply inquired, “Ready for that second round?”