Chapter Text
The soft aura of The Royal Library was a perfect place to study in. The warm yellow hue of the ceiling lights with the nostalgic scent of the books worn down but not teared filling the air left many in a soft but focused mood. It's the main reason why someone like Satan fit in, but Mammon did not. "I dunno what ya' expect me to do here, human." The loud voice of Mammon echoed within the small building, causing the few who were there to look over with irritated looks on their faces. Mammon stayed oblivious to it (or at least didn't mention it) as his blue-yellow tinted eyes frantically looked for the exit, earing a sigh from his human about his antics. He hesitantly glanced towards them from the door they just walked through, and then dipped towards the hand that held his own so tightly, causing pink to tint his face as he turned away to change the topic within his head. "I ain't readin' this many books." He declared loudly, earning another group of irritated looks that he ignored for his own sake.
"I didn't ask you to," the human let out another sigh as their head shook. "At least hear me out before wanting to leave? I'm doing this for you." They lifted their head, raising an eyebrow as Mammon's face changed as they adjusted the bag they brought with them that was hanging from their shoulder.
He turned his head back to them, beaming as he put his hands into his hips (almost crushing their hand in the process). "Well, why didn't ya' just say so?" He kept his smile on his face, "I knew ya' couldn't resist The Great Mammon! Wha'cha doin' for me? Actually! Don't tell me, I love a good surprise."
He didn't care as they forced him towards a free table that was furthest from the exit which left them closer to the counter. They sat him down in the seat nearest to the wall, sitting across from him as they glanced towards the counter where Mammon's younger brother, Satan, stood reading one of his books whilst waiting for any disruptions caused by someone other than Mammon. "We're studying!" The jazz hands didn't help soften the blow. So that's what the bag was for; the bag that now rest on the floor. Mammon's white eyebrows furrowed as his once bright smile fell almost instantly into a small pout, deciding whether to cause a scene or not from the revelation.
"No." He settled on, refusing to look them in the eyes as he began to stand. He rest a hand on the table, trying to make a point of his exit but it allowed him to be stopped. [Name] rest their hand on his, causing him to look to them and fall victim to their famous pout.
"Please?" They pleaded; their bottom lip stuck out as they pouted. "I made a deal with Lucifer, and I really need you to help me with this one." They put emphasis on the fact they 'needed him' to help them, knowing it's easy to sway his decision if it boosted his ego.
He melted, and he agreed. "Fine!" He sat himself back down, looking towards the shelves of books near him rather than them. "What do I gotta do with your deal though?"
They paused at his question, shuffling uncomfortably in their seat as they sighed for the nth time. "The conditions were that I would help you with you grades because Lucifer is so concerned over them."
Mammon slumped in his chair, "why'd he have to get you involved?" He rest his chin on his palm as he rest his elbow on the desk. "So," he hesitated, "what do I gotta do?"
The acceptance astounded them, but they digressed. "You just have to study." They revealed, smiling softly to the pouting demon in front of them. He lifted his gaze from the desk to them, suspicion lingering in his eyes.
"There's gotta be more than that?" He stared at them dumbfounded, "it can't be as easy as that."
"Mammon," they started softly, "at this moment of time, I want to help you with studying. I know you have a hard time with it, so I'll do my best to make it easier. I need you to try though."
"Why'd you have to choose the borin' place though?"
"Because, if this was your room or the House of Lamentation, you'd be more distracted of what's going around you." They pointed out, "like all the times before." They sat forwards, taking his free hand. "If it gets too boring, let me know, okay?" Once they got his confirmation, they dug around the bag that they had taken with them. "We'll start with some homework you have yet to do that's past the due date." They slid the paper towards him with a few supplies like a pen, pencil and an eraser.
"What's the point of doin' it if it's already late?" He complained, holding the pen with a small growl.
"So I can prove to Lucifer you're studying." They sighed, "Mammon, this'll be easier if you don't complain, okay? I promise, this will do you good later." Their eyes connected with his before he closed his own, blushing from the intense stare.
"Fine, b-but only because I wanna rub it in Lucifer's face, got it?"
"Affirmative, boss." They teased, earning a small huff in response. They watched him start working, scribbling of the pen echoing around the small corner they had. The pen rattled with each movement, and was visibly irritating Mammon as his eyes narrowed more and more as time went on. "Mammon?" He shot them an irritated look that soon faded; shame now visible as a soft apology escaped from him in a meek manner. "It's fine," they whispered to him, "is the pen annoying you?"
"Sorta," he half-heartedly admitted, trying to not make it seem like a big deal although it was obviously annoying him and distracting him. "'T's not a big deal." He murmured, glancing away as [Name] took in the new side of him. He glanced towards them as they began to rummage through the bag once more, taking the time for a break he felt like he deserved and whipped out his D.D.D which was quickly confiscated. "Oi!" He reached for it, but stopped as he saw them plug something into the device. "Wha'cha doin'?"
They didn't reply instantly, stirring up Mammon's curiosity. They soon typed something into his D.D.D to which he went to grab it back, wondering what they're doing. Soon, they placed it on the table and handed him wires that he soon noticed were earphones. "Maybe this can help drown it out." He glanced towards the screen, noticing the song paused was an instrumental. He read the title, glancing back up at them with a bashful smile.
They remembered his favourite music genre. "You should be so proud of yourself, rememberin' The Great Mammon's music taste is no easy tas-!"
"It's R&B, it's not hard to know." He paused, dropping his egotistical facade for a moment.
"It's more th'n most." He soon cleared his throat, shoving in his earphones as his face heated up once again. They smiled, tapping the play button and watched their boyfriend finally work on some of his (really piled up) homework.
Time rolled on and (slowly but surely) Mammon got through almost a quarter of the homework due which was enough progress to call a day. In his free hand, he had one of his rings that he was rolling between his fingers whilst he worked. He glanced up and paused what he was doing as the music in his ear hit an abrupt stop, raising an eyebrow as he saw his significant other was the reason it stopped. He took out one of his earphones, opening his mouth to question as he lowered the pen that rest upon his lips. "We should call it a day," they explained, "it's getting late and if we don't leave soon then we might miss dinner."
"'Ight." He nodded, putting down his pen and pocketing his D.D.D and the earphones he wore (claiming them as his own with a poor stutter, but he still was allowed to keep them). [Name] shook their head at him, gently placing his hard work into the bag. They both stood up; Mammon stretching his limbs as [Name] waited patiently.
"Ready to go?"
"Yeah," he murmured once he shook off the numbness beginning to form. All of that hard work and no prize? No reward? No "you're amazin' Mammon! I love you so much! Take all my Grimm for this hard work!"? Such bull.
He walked behind them with a pout, looking everywhere but them as he huffed and made as much noise as he could without being called a baby. "You did well, Mammon." His lips perked up at the praise. Clearing his throat, Mammon walked with more bounce in his step. "I'm proud of you." His steps stopped completely as he stared at the back of their head; blood rushing to his face as he quickly caught up to them.
"R-Really?" He perked up; a smile threatening to rise as he awaited for a response eagerly.
"Of course," they turned to him with a smile. "How could I not be?"
He beamed instantly, holding his hands on his hips as he paused to show off. "N-not like I n-need any praise from a human," he cleared his throat as he lowered his arms. "The Great Mammon just takes everythin' that's available."
"Well, I have something else you can take when we get back, alright?" He caught up to them as he raised an eyebrow.
"A present? For me?"
"Yeah, but I gotta talk with Lucifer first or he'll have my head." They scratched at their cheek a little at the thought, "but after that I'll get it. Promise."
"I'll be waitin' then." He hummed, walking with them peacefully back to the House of Lamentation. Once inside, Mammon escorted [Name] to Lucifer with the excuse of "who knows what he'll do to ya'?" and that he has to "protect ya' from anythin' and everythin'!"
[Name] just held his hand the whole way which shut him up for the journey. He hesitantly wished them luck as they went into the office, obviously still shaken up from the previous times his brother tried to kill them. "He did almost a quarter of homework," [Name] spoke up as they showed off the work Mammon had done.
"So I'm aware." Lucifer spoke up, holding up his D.D.D to show the photo he had been sent. "I'm impressed." He praised as their cheeks flushed at the photo. It looked as if Satan, who was on shift, snapped a photo when the two weren't looking. In the photo, Mammon had his eyes trained on the paper with his pen resting against his lips as he seemed to be in thought. On the other hand, [Name] was just staring at him. Their eyes trained on his concentrated look with a small smile forming on their face at the time of the photo. Their eyes soft as they seemed to only see Mammon.
"Well, what can I say?" They laughed awkwardly as the eldest brother placed his D.D.D down. "All he needed was a small push is all."
"I see... I suppose I have to hold my end of the deal, no? What is it that you want?"
"Well..."
"Goldie! My beloved!" Mammon practically squealed as he saw his credit card in the hands of his significant other. "I love you so much!"
Their cheeks blazed, "Aww, I love-!"
They fell silent as Mammon swiped the card from them, kissing it and cooing. "It's been so long since I've seen you! I promise to spend double the amount with you!" They stared with dull eyes and an irritated look on their face as they waited for Mammon to get his pining for his credit card over and done with. "Oh, [Name]." They sent him a small glare, causing him to blink cluelessly. "Is this what you made a deal for?"
"Yeah," they answered flatly, staring straight at Mammon and blinking.
"Why are you lookin' at me like that?"
"Who knows?"
The two stared at another in an awkward silence before Mammon stood up straight, pocketing his loved credit card and making his way towards his significant other. "Thanks," he cleared his throat, averting his gaze. "Goldie means a lot to me, and so do you! D-Don't take it th' wrong way! I just haven't seen 'er for a while is all!" He glanced towards them to see if he was making it any better, sighing and sucking up his pride. "Listen to this once, 'cause I ain't gonna say it twice!" He cleared his throat loudly, trying to make a point. "You're very important to me. And no credit card, Goldie especially, can make me think differently." He closed his eyes, "so, I'll be takin' you down to Hell's Kitchen tomorrow for a date!"
"Alright," they chuckled. "Now go buy yourself something, you've earned it."
"Oh yeah! I actually did somethin'! I'll see ya' later!" He quickly ran off to spend some Grimm on something for his room, leaving [Name] alone. They soon took out their own D.D.D, sending a text to a certain blond brother.
'Send Mammon the photo you sent to Lucifer. And send me it, and more if you have any.'
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