Thick Thighs Save Lives

Evening light was fading by the time Jarel trudged down the hallway toward their apartment, Quinn still comfortably perched on his back.

Before they reached the door, Sayang’s apartment opened and she stepped out as if she’d been waiting.

Jarel smiled.

“Thanks for coming out earlier than last time.”

She smiled sweetly.

“It’s easy when you have cameras everywhere.”

He decided, once again, not to question that statement.

“So,” she continued, “did you have a good time?”

Quinn nodded rapidly.

“We talked about everything! And we’re dating!”

Sayang giggled.

“That’s lovely, dearie. Congratulations. Now you can get married.”

Quinn nodded again, tail swishing wildly. Jarel pretended he wasn’t blushing.

“Did we come home too early?” he asked.

Sayang shook her head.

“No. Cooking lessons start tomorrow. I’ll pop over with the ingredients.”

Quinn beamed.

“Thank you.”

Sayang waved dismissively.

“Oh, this is entirely for my own entertainment. You’ve made my little old life very interesting.”

Unsure how to respond, Quinn simply rested her chin on Jarel’s shoulder and smiled.

“You’re welcome.”

Sayang took that as her cue.

“Go and rest. Tomorrow will be busy. Goodnight, dearies.”

And just like that, she disappeared back inside.

Quinn squeezed her legs lightly against Jarel’s sides.

“Let’s go.”

He nodded and unlocked the apartment. This time, it went smoothly. Within seconds they were inside.

He carried her to the couch and set her down gently before collapsing beside her.

“What a day.”

She hummed in agreement.

A quiet moment passed.

Then, softly-

“Can you get me a glass of water?”

He nodded, stood, filled a glass, and handed it to her.

She smiled, tipped her head back, and drank the entire thing in one go before passing it back with a satisfied sigh.

“Thank you.”

He placed the glass on the kitchen island and turned back toward the couch.

That was when she surprised him.

She shifted slightly and lifted the hem of her sweater just enough to free her legs more comfortably, revealing smooth, warm skin. Then she patted her thighs.

“Rest.”

His heart protested violently.

But he obeyed.

He sat beside her, turned, and slowly lowered himself until his head settled against her lap.

Her thighs were warm. Soft. Comforting.

And above him was her face - framed by soft hair, wolf ears twitching faintly, red eyes gazing down at him.

He tried very hard not to think about anything except her eyes.

She looked pleased.

But beneath that, there was something else.

Affection.

He saw it in the faint flush of her cheeks. In the way her gaze didn’t waver. In the quiet steadiness of her breathing.

It was real.

He smiled up at her.

“You’re cute.”

Her blush deepened.

“Th-thank you.”

She tried to play it off, but the tips of her ears flicked shyly.

He let the silence sit for a moment.

But the thought he’d been avoiding all day pressed heavier against his chest.

There was no better time.

“Quinn?”

“Mm?”

“You said earlier you could be recalled to Hell.”

She nodded casually.

“Yeah?”

He swallowed.

“Well…”

He held her gaze.

“What if I don’t want you to leave?”

She blinked.

“But I’m not going to leave.”

He drew in a slow breath.

“It’s not really your choice though, is it?”

She shrugged lightly.

“I don’t think I’ll be recalled.”

He wasn’t convinced.

“How do you know?”

“Well… because I’m lazy. Can I really be bothered to recall myself?”

He considered that.

“I suppose not. Unless you go rogue.”

She nodded, pleased.

“Exactly.”

He hesitated.

“But… wouldn’t falling in love count as going rogue? For a demon?”

Her confidence faltered.

“I… don’t know. That’s new.”

He sighed.

“Sorry.”

She shook her head immediately.

“No. That’s important. Because we can’t get married if I’m going to randomly disappear.”

She stared ahead, thinking hard now.

“Maybe… maybe we can disguise it as something else?”

He could hear the quiet edge of desperation beneath her tone.

“What do you mean?”

She shifted slightly.

“Like… maybe love is lazy.”

He laughed softly.

“It’s definitely not.”

“Well,” she countered, “do you have a better idea?”

He sighed.

“No.”

She smiled faintly.

“From my perspective, it looks lazy.”

He grinned.

“Maybe it does.”

Then another thought struck him.

“Wait. What else were you supposed to do on Earth?”

She frowned.

“Ruin your life?”

“Nothing else?”

She shook her head.

“My mission was to ruin your life. Once it was thoroughly ruined, I’d either be recalled or reassigned.”

He thought that through carefully.

“So… if my life isn’t ruined yet, you won’t be recalled?”

Her eyes brightened as the logic clicked into place.

“Oh! That’s true. You might be right.”

She leaned forward slightly.

“And since you’re happy being lazy… I’ll never finish the mission.”

He nodded - difficult to do with his head comfortably pillowed on her thighs.

“Hopefully.”

She beamed, pure relief.

He smiled back.

“Want some dinner?”

“Soon,” she said. “But not yet.”

He chuckled.

“I’m not complaining.”

She glanced down at him.

“Are my thighs comfortable?”

“Very.”

“Then I made the right choice.”

He closed his eyes.

“You did.”

She hesitated.

“What about my other choices?”

He opened one eye.

“How many choices did you make?”

She smiled nervously.

“All of them…”

He laughed and closed his eye again.

“They’re all very good.”

“Thank you.”

Silence settled gently between them.

Then-

“I love you.”

His eyes snapped open.

“You what?”

She refused to meet his gaze.

“I love you. I think.”

He could feel the heat in his own cheeks now. He closed his eyes again, smiling.

“I… love you too.”

She shifted slightly beneath him, clearly trying to contain her excitement.

They fell quiet again.

Soon his stomach would betray him with a growl, and she would laugh, and they would have to get up and make dinner.

But for now, he rested.

Amazed at how quickly she had grown.

And how quickly he had grown with her.