Page 49 of Hellfire & Bowties
Then another one.
Then another, until he was laughing so hard he thought he might actually pee his pants. If he still did that sort of thing.
“Wait…” he wheezed, bracing his palm against his knee. “You’re saying God… the actual, honest-to-god God, played matchmaker for us?”
Luc nodded, scowling as only the devil could. It made the shadows in the room shift and it sent Oren into another fit of giggles.
“What is so funny?” Luc demanded. Steam was starting to rise from him now.
“No clue.” Oren shrugged through his laughter. “This entire situation is wild.”
“Oren…”
“I died, Luc!” Oren said, his laughter sounding more desperate than amused. “I spent my whole life waiting to die, and then I died, and I came here. By mistake or divine intervention, I came here, and I feel like I belong for the first time. I have friends here. The twins are fun in a murdery way, and they talk to me. Zorun and Kassel spend time with me when you’re busy. I’m enjoying helping around here. I have Beast. And I… I have you.”
He trailed off, understanding he was kind of taking his guts and spilling them everywhere. There was no going back after this. He couldn’t stuff them back in. He took his glasses off and ran a hand over his face and through his messy hair. All traces oflaughter were gone, and all that was left was this overwhelming feeling in his chest.
“I fell for you,” he said, earnest and open. He walked over to Luc and placed his hands on his chest, raising his chin to maintain eye contact. “The moment I saw you, it felt right. You felt right. You still feel right to me. I thought you felt the same.”
“I do.” Luc said, lifting his hand to cover Oren’s where it lingered over where his heart would be were he human.
“Then I don’t understand, Luc.”
“You don’t belong in Hell, Oren.” Luc sighed. “You’re a good person. An innocent soul. G never should have messed with that and sent you here. This place… It’s dark and evil and not meant for someone who doesn’t deserve it.”
The puzzle pieces finally fell into place.
“What about someone who wants to be here?” Oren asked.
Luc frowned at the question. “What?”
Oren rolled his eyes. “Tell me if I’m getting this wrong. You’re dumping me because you think I should go to Heaven?”
“Yes, obviously,” Luc said.
“So it’s not because you’re bored with me or don’t want to be with me.”
“I already said it’s not about that.” Luc shook his head. “If it were up to me, you’d be staying here for all eternity.”
“Well I guess that settles it, then,” Oren said, tapping Luc on the chest twice before pushing himself away. “No more crazy talk.”
“Settles what?” Luc asked, jaw hanging open a little.
“This idea of me leaving,” Oren said matter-of-factly.
“Heaven is where you belong.”
“Heaven sounds boring.” He looked up at the ceiling and held his hands up. “No offense.”
“They can’t hear you,” Luc said.
Oren tilted his head. “Isn’t he the all-knowing?”
“Hardly.”
“Well, best to be sure,” Oren said, waving his hand. “I’m not going up there.”
“But—”
