Chapter 5

Five

The bell jingled as the three of them walked into the shop. Well, Gabe and Az walked in and carried Beel in his travel aquarium. It was dimmer inside than out, but the store was brightly lit and there were colorful aquarium decorations and displays all over the place.

Gabe and Az started walking back toward the live animal area, but Beel's eyes caught on a lovely tree branch decoration in the aisle they were walking through, and he ribbitted loudly at Gabe.

"You know the rule. One new decoration a month, and you already got that plant this month," Gabe announced.

"I see you two have a routine down for the pet shop," Az chuckled. "I don't even need to translate."

At that there was the rustle of a curtain from the stockroom area, which happened to be just ahead, and Jonathan came out. He was a slim guy who was a bit on the shorter side, and he had red hair and the most adorable freckles across his face. He was wearing the usual khaki colored jeans (which were deliciously fitted) and a polo, and he brightened up as soon as he saw them.

"Gabe! Mr. Frog! How are you guys? And who is your friend?" Jon asked, walking over toward them.

"Jon! This is Az. He's my… uh, my boyfriend?" Gabe stuttered. Beel would have chuckled if he could have. No, you could not introduce your demon soulmate as such to the mortals. You'd either end up frightening them or find yourself getting some psychiatric care.

Az glided forward and held out his hand, shaking Jon's. He thought Jon looked a little awestruck by the lust demon, and he croaked grumpily. Az pulled back at that, looking down and staring amusedly at Beel.

Fuck. You never wanted a lust demon to stare amusedly at you. Nothing good ever came of that.

Well, ok, so maybe some good orgasms usually came of that, but Beel was a frog, and so nothing good could come of it for him. And Az better not be planning any good orgasms for the shop owner cutie.

"You and Gabe don't do threesomes," he ribbitted grumpily at the demon. Az laughed at him, which caused Jon to focus on him.

"Ah! The adorable Mr. Frog!" Jon took the travel aquarium from Gabe and set it down, taking off the lid and lifting Beel out into his palm to gently stroke his back. Beel closed his eyes in bliss. "Who is the cutest frog ever? Hmmm? Such a pretty frog!" Jon murmured.

Beel opened one eye to give Az a look. "See? Cutest frog ever," he croaked out before settling down into Jon's palm more comfortably.

Az laughed again.

Beel felt motion as Jon walked toward the counter, but he didn't bother opening his eyes. Jon was a responsible pet store owner; there would be no dropping and squishing on his watch.

"You know, I'm still amazed by Mr. Frog's coloring. He has to be the most unique poison dart frog I've ever seen. I've looked him up and I haven't seen his match anywhere," he said to Gabe. Beel didn't mind being talked about, because the nice pets continued. "He's also closer to the size of a northern leopard frog. I've never seen a poison dart frog of his size."

"Hmmm, yes," Gabe murmured, avoiding answering anything, just as he normally did.

"He also isn't poisonous," Az pointed out, gesturing toward Jon petting his back.

"Yes, well poisonous dart frogs never are when raised in captivity. They're only poisonous in the wild because of their diet. With his coloring and characteristics he seems to fall quite clearly into that species, but as I've said, his size is distinctly larger than any poison dart frog I've ever seen," Jon lectured. He turned to Beel then, switching to his softer, cooing tone. "But that just makes you more unique and beautiful. Yes, you are the most handsome Mr. Frog I've ever met. And you just love your pets, don't you, Mr. Frog."

"We call him Beel," Az interrupted. Beel blinked his eyes open and stared at the demon, and he saw Gabe look over at Az with a questioning look.

The name change didn't seem to phase Jon, though. "Yes, Mr. Frog, I think we can be on a first name basis," the shop owner joked. "What a cute name for a cute frog. Ok, Beel, if I put you on the counter, no hopping off to find treats," Jon chastised, gently placing him on the counter.

Beel ribbitted his agreement. Really, it had only been the one time he had hopped off and had a bit of a feast. Not his fault Jon had left treats on the side of the counter and the two humans had gotten distracted looking through an aquarium catalog.

Jon leaned down on the counter though, sort of bracketing Beel with his arms while he chatted with Gabe and Az.

"So what can I help you guys with? You just bought a new plant for the aquarium, and you should be good on food. Don't tell me the heated rock stopped working. I remember how grumpy you both were the last time that happened," Jon chuckled, looking back down at Beel and continuing with the pets when he was done talking.

Beel practically shuddered at the memory. That had been awful. He had croaked and ribbitted and grumbled until Gabe had figured it out, and yes, he might have kept Gabe up most of the night complaining, so they had both been rather grumpy when they'd come in the next morning to get a new rock.

Beel did not like being cold. It was the one downside of being topside. Thankfully, there were heated rocks for demon frogs.

"Well," Gabe started, "we're actually here because Mr. Frog really needs—"

"A frogsitter!" Az interrupted.

Gabe and Beel both looked at Az in confusion, but Jon didn't break off from staring at Beel and petting him.

"You guys going away? I'd be happy to watch Mr. Frog for you," he stated, then he switched to his soft voice to talk to Beel. "Yes, we'll have such a good time, won't we? Gabe said you guys have movie nights and treats, and I'm sure I could rustle up a nice heated rock for you. Mmmhmmm, you'll have your own little vacation."

"Uhhh," Gabe started, but Az cut him off again.

"That would be lovely! Just an extended weekend away, and you seem like you know exactly what you're doing. Beel is a very special pet frog, as you can obviously tell. We're sure you'll give him all the love he needs," Az grinned.

Beel looked up at the demon. Az was up to something, but Beel didn't know what. Gabe was also staring at his soulmate rather suspiciously.

"I'm not sure if that's a great idea," Gabe muttered.

"Oh, don't worry, I don't have any pets upstairs in my apartment, so you don't have to be concerned about any other animals messing with Beel. Any animals I have up for adoption stay down here. I could use the company anyway, so it's really no problem. I'm honored you guys would ask me," Jon beamed. "We'll have a wonderful time, won't we, Beel Frog?" Jon cooed.

Hmph. Well, it could be far worse.

Beel ribbitted in agreement. Much better to hang out with the pet shop cutie than end up with an unwanted aquarium mate.

"Trust me, love, this is a perfect idea," Az assured Gabe, who still looked unsure. "I'm sure we can leave Beel here now, in fact," he added.

Gabe started to disagree, but Jon cut him off that time. "Oh yes, that's perfect. I have all the equipment and food I need here, so you don't need to lug your stuff here. Like I said, I could use the company anyway."

Jon seemed a little sad when he said the last part, and Beel reached a froggy leg out to touch his hand, which made Jon grin at him and start pets again.

Az giggled.

It was highly disconcerting. And worrisome. Gabe even looked at Az with both eyebrows up.

Az then did some motion with his hand partly out of sight, so Beel had no idea what exactly it was, but it looked like a rune drawing.

"You'll be protected just fine," Az assured him, but Beel did not trust the lust demon on that one. He was up to something, and hopefully it was just an early start on sexy times with Gabe. Beel would have sighed if he could have.

"You ok with that, Mr. Frog?" Gabe asked.

Aww, he loved his human so much. Gabe always thought of him. He ribbitted in assent, knowing Gabe could tell. Yes, he would be just fine. He could let the new couple go have their sexy fun times. He knew Jon would take good care of him.

"See, my love? It's the perfect solution. Thank you so much, Jonathan, for watching our Beel. He really is a very special frog," he reiterated. With that, he reached out and shook hands with Jon, who looked a little bemused at the action. Beel noticed that Az used the same hand that had made the rune.

He hoped Az hadn't just put some lusty thoughts in Jon. He did think the shop owner was cuter than hell (and hell had some very cute demons), but he didn't know how he'd feel about the guy having random hook ups in front of him.

Now, some self-pleasuring… Beel would not complain a bit if he got to watch that.

Az winked at him, Gabe gave him a goodbye back pet, and then Az put a hand on Gabe's back and led him from the store. Gabe hesitantly walked out, calling out instructions to Jon the whole way, with both Jon and Az reassuring him.

After Gabe's last comment about Beel's favorite snacks and a parting farewell from Az, the shop door jingled at their departure. Jon leaned down, eye to eye with Beel.

The man sighed. "You really are the cutest frog ever. And it will be lovely to have someone to talk to who can't yell at me."

Beel croaked grumpily at that. Who on topside was yelling at his favorite shop owner?

"Now let's get you set up with a nice aquarium and heated rock," Jon finished, holding out his hand so Beel could hop into it.

Beel had to admit that he was kind of looking forward to this weekend now. Oh, he loved his human, but this would be like a little vacation from the apartment. Beel was sure they would have a nice, calm, uneventful weekend while Gabe and Az were away.