~demon slayer oneshots~

You weren't sure how it happened, but somehow, you'd ended up stuck in a cave with none other than Zenitsu Agatsuma, who was currently freaking out over a bat.

"A DEMON BAT, Y/N!" he screamed, clutching your arm like it was his only lifeline. "WHAT IF IT SUCKS OUR BLOOD THROUGH OUR EYES?!"

You blinked. "Zenitsu, it's just a normal bat."

"That's what they want you to think!" he cried, burying his face in your shoulder. "First it's a bat, then it turns into a demon spider with a flute and I'm dead in the dark and no one even remembered to bury me with flowers-"

"Zenitsu," you interrupted, gently prying him off you. "You've killed an Upper Moon before."

He sniffled, "By accident."

You couldn't help it-you laughed. It bounced off the stone walls, light and echoing. Zenitsu froze, staring at you like he'd just heard music for the first time.

"What?" you asked, wiping your eye. "Was I too loud?"

He shook his head, dazed. "You're... really pretty when you laugh."

You paused. He blinked rapidly, as if realizing what he'd just said.

"I MEANT-I-I mean-you're always pretty, not that I stare or anything-well maybe a little-but not in a weird way! I just-you're amazing, okay, and-"

You leaned closer with a sly grin. "Zenitsu."

He squeaked. "Yes?!"

"You're cute when you panic."

He looked like his soul left his body. His knees nearly gave out. "I-I'm gonna die. I'm actually gonna die here. This is how it ends."

You rolled your eyes fondly and reached for his hand. "C'mon. Let's keep moving. There's a draft that way, so maybe there's a way out."

You didn't expect him to actually grip your hand back so tightly. It was warm, trembling slightly. Despite his endless panic, there was something steady in it. Something real.

"I won't let anything happen to you," he said suddenly.

You looked at him. The cave light wasn't great, but even in the dimness, his golden eyes burned with something fierce and honest.

"You say that now," you teased. "Until another bat shows up."

He smiled, but there was a seriousness behind it that lingered.

"No, I mean it. You can laugh at me, or think I'm a coward... but if anything tried to hurt you, I wouldn't run. Not even for a second."

You blinked.

"Even if I was scared out of my mind," he added quietly, "I'd protect you."

That silenced you.

Zenitsu fidgeted. "Is that... dumb?"

You squeezed his hand.

"No," you said. "It's really not."

He went quiet for a beat. "So... does that mean I can hold your hand even when we're not stuck in a death cave?"

You smirked. "Maybe. If you survive the bats."

He gasped. "I'LL DEFEAT THEM ALL FOR YOU!"

You laughed again, louder this time, and somehow-despite the cave, the cold, and the lingering fear-you felt safe.

Because Zenitsu may have been dramatic, loud, and a little too honest for his own good...
But when it came to you, his heart never wavered.