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Red Son sat in front of a multi-paneled vanity. Bull Clones and demon servants rushed around him. Some argued over what clothing he should wear, others discussed the best ways to paint his face. None of them asked for his opinion. They knew he didn’t care, and he knew it didn’t matter what he wanted. If his desires mattered, then he wouldn’t be in this room right now.
A shout of surprise caught his attention. It had come from the entrance to the room. His attendants swarmed around him in a manner that seemed almost protective. He stood from the vanity, trying to see what was happening over the crowd of servants.
“Out, out with you!” An older, blue skinned demon was yelling. Red Son had forgotten their name —he’d been in such a fog all day— but he knew that they were the one in charge of directing everyone else. They waved their clipboard at the dark figure who was trying to push past them. “Don’t you know it’s bad luck to-!”
The figure laughed. Red Son felt his stomach twist.
“Relax,” Macaque said. “I’ve died before, I doubt my luck can get much worse. As for Sparks here-” They caught each other's gaze. Macaque was grinning. Red Son balled the flowing fabric of his outfit into his fists. “Well, I think he’s in the same boat as me. Why not test fate?”
The blue demon whacked Macaque with their clipboard, catching him off guard. Red Son smirked at the way the monkey glared at his attendant. He needed to remember to give that demon a tip.
“I don’t care what you think!” The blue demon began to push Macaque out the door. “His parents gave explicit orders, you are not to see him before the wedding.”
For a dreadful moment, Red Son was afraid Macaque would just teleport behind him and kidnap him. The monkey certainly seemed to be considering it. Instead, Macaque shrugged.
“Fine. Have it your way! He’s mine, whether I see him today or tomorrow.”
Red son heard the telltale sound of Macaque disappearing into a shadow. He let his shoulders fall and dropped back into his seat. He went back to staring at himself in the mirror, but was soon interrupted by the blue demon approaching him. He turned to them. They seemed to be struggling to find their words, so he spoke first.
“Thank you for keeping him out.” He said. “I hate him. The longer I go without seeing him, the better.”
The blue demon seemed surprised by the admission, then they sat on a stool next to him. They remained silent for a long moment.
“What is it?” Red Son asked. Usually, he’d be more snappy. But he was deflated now, too exhausted by the situation he’d found himself in to be annoyed at the other demons' hesitation.
“In my time I’ve seen many… unwilling weddings.” The blue demon started. “I think you’re handling this situation admirably, with much more grace than should be expected from you. I know it doesn’t mean much coming from me, but I wanted to offer my condolences.”
Red Son blinked. After he’d explained the claiming bite to his parents, they had immediately told him what needed to happen. He was a royal demon, he couldn’t just go around marked and unmarried! It would be unbecoming of them. Since that day, he’d felt his heart crack more and more. Every night he’d wish to never wake up, and every morning he’d dread getting out of bed. He hadn’t considered that anyone would be on his side. If his own parents were willing to sell him out for the sake of demonic customs, who could have possibly cared about what he wanted? He was just doing his job. He was just being a good son.
Red Son looked at the blue demon. It was always hard to tell demons ages, but they were clearly old. Older than him, at least. Their white hair was tied up in an ancient style Red Son didn’t even know the name of. To think, out of everyone who could have stood up for him, it was the very demon preparing him to be sent away. They were a shepherd, weeping over the lamb they brought to the slaughter.
He wondered if they were remembering any of the other demons they’d helped prepare for a life of misery.
They were right that it didn’t mean much. But it was the only condolence Red Son had received.
He didn’t have the words to thank them.
Red Son was going to hold onto every little slice of defiance he could grasp. His parents could force him to get married. They could force him into gorgeous robes and paint his face and invite demons from afar to see him put on display, but they couldn’t force him to smile.
When Red Son had seen Macaque the day of the wedding, he was struck by how disgustingly handsome the monkey was. Dark, soft fur with deep purple flowers woven into it. A playful smile that never left his face. Gorgeous, glowing eyes framed by a red mask. It made Red Son queasy.
They approached each other. Macaque said something snarky, but Red Son was barely even there. He felt as if he was floating somewhere just to the side of his own body. They went through the motions, gave praise to whoever it was they were supposed to praise. Red Son lost track of time.
He could only recall the most minute details. The glare on his mothers face. The bright red decorations. The way Macaque’s tail occasionally poked at him, trying to get a reaction. Then he felt hands gripping him. He was being changed from his fancy, decorative robes into a much simpler, pure red wrap.
Still, it was mostly a blur up until the scarring ceremony. He felt like he’d been doused with water the moment he stepped into the decorative box. Finally back in his body, he felt miserably sweaty and uncomfortable. Nobody was allowed to see this part, though they would request evidence it had happened.
Not that it really mattered. Red Son had no plans to fake it, and he suspected Macaque would actually enjoy it.
The shadow demon entered through the other side of the box. They stared at each other in as the soft click of latches and the hum of silencing runes filled the air.
Macaque leaned towards Red Son and poked the fire demon in the nose.
“Long day, huh? I didn’t know you royal demons took this stuff so seriously!”
Red Son rolled his eyes. He wanted to step back, but there wasn’t a lot of room in the box. There were benches on the walls of the room, which made the space even more cramped. If he tried to get away, he’d just corner himself further. Better to stand his ground.
“Y’know I had no idea your parents would be so supportive of us, Sparks!” Macaque teased. “If I knew this was how it was gonna go, I would’ve marked you a long time ago.” He plucked a strand of hair from his mate's perfectly styled head.
“You know they don’t actually lik you, right?” Red Son sneered and jerked away from the monkey's reach. “This is a formality, you idiot. It’s for the sake of appearances.”
Macaque laughed. “You and I both know that doesn’t make this any less official.”
Red Son had had enough of talking. He rolled up his sleeve.
“I’m going first.” He smirked. “This might sting.” and without further warning, he shoved his hand down the front of Macaque’s robe. The monkey yelped. Red Son took immense pleasure in having caught Macaque off guard.
He couldn’t keep from smiling as his hand began to heat. The smell of burning fur filled the small room. Macaque screamed, but didn’t move away. Red Son dug his hand in further, feeling the monkeys raw, bubbling skin burning underneath his palm. He hadn’t felt this in control since before that night, when Macaque had found him and claimed him.
The scarring ceremony was supposed to be a show of trust. But to Red Son, it was more of a venting of frustration and hatred than anything else. He poured his fury into the fire. His grief, his lost hope. He burned Macaque with every emotion he hadn’t been able to feel since the demon had plunged his fangs into his shoulder.
Then he pulled back. Snatching his hand away as if he was the one who’d been burned. A disgusted sneer twisted his face as Macaque crumpled to the ground. The shadow demon gasped, screwing his eyes shut in concentration. His fur was frizzy and disheveled, and more than one flower had fallen from his head.
“You know something funny?” Macaque wheezed. “I invited Monkey King to our little party. He never got back to me, but, wow! What a shame! I think he’d get a real kick out of this.”
Red Son watched Macaque on the floor for a few more moments. It didn’t last. The monkey stood, a bit wobbly at first. His teeth were bared and his eyes had a wild glint to them.
“Alright, Firecracker, let's see if you can take it as good as you give it.”
Macaque grabbed Red Son by the shoulders and spun him around. He pulled the younger demon's robe down until his upper back was entirely on display. The unmarred flesh was a perfect canvas.
“Sorry, Sparks. This might sting.”
Macaque didn’t even leave time for his mate to tense in preparation. He dug his claws into the boy's back, dragging down meticulously slowly. He tore through skin and flesh, his hand coming away coated in blood. He was making this take much longer than it needed to, but it was his wedding day, right? Why not treat himself?
Red Son shuddered, trying to hold in his cries. Oh, no. Macaque thought. No, that won't do.
With one hand, he continued carving the shape he’d set out to create. A set of deep gashes that would heal in the shape of an M. With the other, he dug his claws into the fresh, bleeding wounds he’d already made. Red Son shrieked, unable to hold it in any longer. He collapsed, but Macaque held him up with his tail, pressing the younger demon against him.
Red Son’s sobs made a sweet, enticing heat pool in Macaque’s groin. He ground against his mate, soaking up the wails of pain the smaller demon was letting out. If he’d had his way, he would rip the clothes off his mate and breed him right there.
But no. He could fuck the little demon later, they had a ceremony to finish. He shushed Red Son, not because he thought it would work, but because he liked to be kind of a dick.
“Aww, don’t worry darling. I’ll take care of you.” He dragged his claws through Red Son’s raw skin, shredding the already torn body beneath him.
He finished carving his initials into his mates back. Stepping away, he released Red son and let him fall to the floor. He hummed, appreciating his handiwork, then bent over and licked the wounds clean. Or, as clean as he could get them before Red Son regained enough control over himself to push Macaque away.
Macaque smiled down at him. He offered the sobbing, collapsed demon a hand. Red Son tried to stand on his own, but couldn’t. And so, swallowing his pride, he took the bloody hand being offered to him and rose to his feet.
The two of them emerged from the ceremonial scarring box leaning against each other. Eyes red, drenched in sweat, and more than a little bit bloody. A chorus of claps and whoops met them. Macaque laughed and whooped as well, giving his new husband a kiss on the cheek.
Red Son didn’t even pretend to be happy. His body was numb and shaking. His consciousness was somewhere else, off in the corner of his brain, licking his wounds.
The wedding was officially over, thank the gods.
But that didn’t mean there wasn’t more of this hell to get through.
Macaque and Red Son were to be shipped off to one of the Demon Bull Family’s vacation homes immediately. The idea of being alone with Macaque for weeks on end made Red Son feel nauseous. He went to say goodbye to his parents as servants and Bull Clones dragged suitcases and carried boxes onto the vehicle they’d be taking to the vacation home.
Red Son’s mother seemed reluctant to let him go. She’d hated this whole idea, though she’d agreed to it the moment the Demon Bull King suggested it. Both his parents knew they couldn’t let him stay claimed but unmarried. It wouldn’t befit a demon of his status.
Red Son said his goodbyes and joined Macaque in the transport. He didn’t know when he’d see his parents again. A bitter part of him hoped this would be the last time he’d have to face them. An even more bitter part wished they’d just killed him.
And a sad, small part of him wished they’d chosen him over their reputation. They could have rejected demon tradition. How hard would that have been? Maybe Red Son was selfish for even thinking that, though. He’d been the weak one, his mother and father had made that abundantly clear when Red Son had tried to argue his way out of this wedding. Their family shouldn’t suffer because he’d failed to protect himself.
His parents had always made a point of explaining the consequences for weakness. This was no different.
Macaque didn’t waste any time getting comfortable. He practically dragged Red Son to the master bedroom, leaving the servants and Bull Clones to unpack for them. Once he’d closed and locked the door, he’d practically ripped the shirt off Red Son’s body. He’d barely given the younger demon a moment to react before shoving him onto the bed they were supposed to share.
He set to work leaving little bite marks all over Red Son’s neck and shoulders. He forced his tongue into the boy's mouth, kissing him intensely while grinding his cock against his new husband. Red Son remained uncharacteristically silent, but Macaque supposed that was to be expected. The kid had to resign himself to this eventually.
He grabbed Red Son by the shoulders, flipping the demon onto his stomach and pinning him under his weight. Macaque let himself explore Red Son’s body further. The kid still had the scars from their first night together. He ran his hands up and down the fire demons' sides, then stuck a palm between his mates legs and rubbed gently. He flushed at the quiet whimpers Red Son let loose.
There was something truly adorable about how desperate Red Son was to not enjoy this.
As abruptly as he’d started rubbing, Macaque stopped. His eyes focused on what he’d been the most excited about, the bandages that wrapped around Red Son’s back. They’d been applied quickly after the scarring ceremony, and were already showing signs of blood soaking through. Soon, they’d need to go to a servant or Bull Clone to replace them. But for now, it was just a fun little target for Macaque.
He wound his hand back and brought it down on the bandaged area with an unnecessary amount of force. Red Son yelped in pain. Macaque felt his cock stiffen. The fire demon was no doubt still aching from the way he’d torn into him. Macaque didn’t feel too bad about it though, since his own hand shaped burn still hurt as well. He leaned down and whispered in his husband's ear.
“Can’t wait to see what your back looks like all healed up. You’ll be so handsome with scars.”
Red Son was breathing hard, no doubt trying to regain his composure from the sudden assault on his back. He barely fought when Macaque grabbed his waist and yanked him against his hips. He ground into his mate, cock throbbing with need. Every whine and indignant growl sent another thrill of excitement through Macaque.
That was enough teasing. Macaque kept one hand on Red Son’s waist to hold him in place and used the other to yank his pants down. His tail did the same to Red Son, eliciting a startled mewl from the newly exposed younger demon.
Macaque had been waiting to breed his mate since he saw him that morning. Since Red Son had stepped into view, hair flowing, covered in shimmering gold and red. And the glares, the flushed expressions, the humiliation that radiated off the younger demon during the entire wedding just made him harder. Every sigh of defeat from Red Son’s lips had confirmed what Macaque already knew. He’d made the right choice in claiming this demon, and he was going to enjoy breaking his little Firecracker.
To everyone else, Red Son already belonged to Macaque. But that wasn’t enough. He needed to convince the younger demon that he belonged to him as well. He would make Red Son believe it, even if he had to fuck the little brat every day to remind him.
He bent over Red Son, rubbing the tip of his cock against his husband's wet cunt. Red Son shuddered beneath him.
“W-wait!” The little demon squeaked.
Macaque paused. Red Son hadn’t spoken since they got on the ship together. He was curious what his mate had to say.
“Aren’t you going to, ugh, prepare me first?”
Macaque smiled. He hummed, as if he was actually considering the question. In reality, he’d already made up his mind.
“Nah.” He said in a bored tone. “It’s more fun when you scream.”
He dug his claws into Red Son’s flesh, and pushed into his husband. He went in slowly but completely dry, savoring the choked gasps of his mate. Red Son spasmed, straining to get away from the intrusion. Macaque let out a half chuckle, half moan.
“Tight as ever. Not that I doubted you, darling.”
Red Son’s body squeezed around Macaque as he screamed and sobbed. Macaque spared no time rutting into his mate. He needed every hiccup and whimper he could milk out of the younger demon. He kept hammering away at Red Son’s pussy, not bothering with his venom this time. Red Son was too exhausted and dazed to properly fight back, and he wanted his mate to be fully conscious for this.
“Aww, don’t cry baby, daddy’s got you.” Macaque purred, nuzzling into his crying husband's neck. “How ‘bout you thank daddy, hmm? Say ‘thank you daddy.’”
Red Son refused to speak. Macaque slammed a fist on the bandages covering his husband's back. A sob escaped the fire demon.
“Say it, Sparks.” A threatening edge entered Macaque’s voice. “Say it, or I’ll leave you with more than just a marriage scar.”
“Th-thank you, Daddy.” Red Son choked on the words. It sounded like it hurt him to even speak. Good.
“Mm, Good boy. Now tell me, my adorable little Firecracker.” He pulled out to the tip of his dick, then slammed back in. “Do you think you deserve this?”
Red Son hissed. “No!” He practically spat the word. Macaque guffawed, making sure to dig his claws in especially deep on the next thrust.
“Oh, really? You think you deserve better?”
Red Son didn’t respond, only dropping his head to the sheets as he continued to weep.
“That’s what I thought. Now be a good boy and don’t make this any harder than it has to be.”
Macaque nipped at his mate's newly healed claiming bite. To his utter surprise, Red Son arched his back and let out a quiet, pathetic moan. The action was simple, almost inconsequential, but it was a clear sign of submission.
And it drove Macaque crazy.
He grabbed Red Son’s hair, yanking the smaller demon’s head up and putting him in an undoubtedly uncomfortable position. But Red Son was his to play with, his to fuck and hurt however he wanted, so Macaque didn’t really give a shit if his little Firecracker wasn’t very comfortable at the moment.
He saw blood seep from under the bandages on Red Son’s back. His cock pulsed at the sight. He’d done that. He’d done all of this, he’d reduced a once proud and powerful demon to this sniveling, pathetic mess beneath him. He felt his knot swell at the thought.
He’d raped this respectable demon, fucked him in his own bed, in his own home. And in response, his parents had practically given Red Son away. Like he meant nothing to them, like he was just an embarrassment now. It was hilarious, ridiculous, and just about the most arousing thing Macaque had ever done. The more he broke Red Son down, the harder he wanted to breed him.
He pounded the smaller demon's cunt, sure he had to be hitting the boy's cervix by now. Not that it mattered. If he hadn’t gotten his mate pregnant before, he was going to make sure it stuck before the end of this honeymoon.
Raped, abused, and carrying his child. What more could Macaque ask for in a mate?
He shoved himself in as far as he could go, his knot swelling to its full size as he came inside Red Son. Surprising his mate once again, Red Son let out a deep moan and ground back against Macaque’s knot.
“Looks like somebody enjoys being filled more than he wants to admit, huh?” Macaque teased. Red Son’s body shook uncontrollably.
“Good boy, good boy.” He growled. “Now take it darling, you can do it, good boy.”
Red Son slumped. He had nearly passed out from exhaustion. Face streaked with tears, the younger demon was barely holding on to consciousness. Macaque was far more gentle with the boy now that he’d come. All that pent up arousal from the wedding had been spent. He grabbed Red Son’s waist and rolled onto his side, snuggling against his husband's neck.
Red Son tried to pull away, but gasped in pain when his insides caught on Macaque’s knot.
“Nice try.” Macaque huffed. “But you’re gonna hurt yourself if you keep that up.”
Despite his warning, Red Son didn’t stop struggling until Macaque grabbed him by the chin and kissed him. The fire demon froze. Macaque kissed him until he could feel the little demon squirm for air. He pulled away, smiling at Red Son. Then he reached a hand up and began to run it through the younger demon's hair.
“Good boy.” He murmured, repeating the petting motion. “Don’t worry, you did good. Daddy’s so proud of you.”
This time, Red Son didn’t pull away.
Sure, his body ached all over. His voice was raw from screaming. His eyes stung, and he had a headache from crying. But there was nothing he could do about all that. So he pretended, just for a moment, that Macaque wasn’t mocking him.
He pretended he’d done a good job. He pretended he was being held by his mate, one he’d chosen to be with, one who was genuinely proud of him. One who recognized his genius and adored him.
Macaque might have taken everything from him, his family, his dignity, his chance for a real mate. But he couldn’t have this fantasy.
He couldn’t take this quiet little dream.