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“I now call this family meeting to order.” Out of the corner of your eye, you see Lucifer sigh and shake his head at your awful impression of him. You’re all sat in the library, which has somehow become the go-to place for family meetings. “So, I’m sure you’re all wondering why I’ve brought you here.”
“We are.” Satan is tapping his finger on the book he was reading up until a few minutes ago, when you’d psyched yourself up enough to send a message to the House of Lamentation group chat. That confidence you’d built up was slowly beginning to dissipate with seven pairs of eyes on you (or six, since Levi wasn’t much of a fan of eye contact).
“Right. So, as you all know, Valentine’s Day is tomorrow.” As much as you’d like to continue to stall, there’s really no point in delaying the inevitable, so you continue. “And I know you’re all planning on giving me chocolate and all that.” Mammon opens his mouth to protest, so you shoot him a look and he promptly closes his lips, letting you continue.
“As much as I appreciate the thought, I feel like I should probably let you all know something.” You notice Beel attempting to subtly take a bite of a chocolate bar, which you can only assume he’d been carrying around all day just in case. Levi is starting to fidget - you were honestly surprised he’d even left his room for something unplanned, and it's clear he's wanting to get back to his games. You figure you should probably speed it up. “I… don’t like people. In a romantic way, that is. I never have.”
Chaos erupts, everyone having a different question. Lucifer raises a hand and makes a ‘zip it’ motion, which surprisingly works. “Please, continue.”
“Thank you, Lucifer. Now, as I was saying: I’m aromantic. I have zero interest in romantic relationships. In fact, the thought of being in one makes me wanna scream.” You think for a minute about how to continue. “With that being said, I’m… really not a fan of Valentine’s Day. Not that I don’t want the chocolate or anything, it’s just,” you trail off for a second before continuing. “Really stressful.”
Asmo raises his hand, and you stifle a laugh at the idea of you giving a college lecture on your own romantic orientation. “Yes, Asmo?”
“Why didn’t you say so sooner? I hope I haven’t made you uncomfortable or anything.” He looks up at you and you blink. You didn’t know what you were expecting, but it wasn’t that. No one ever thought about your comfort whenever you’d come out in the past.
“You haven’t,” you respond. “I mean, I don’t really mind your flirting that much, since I’ve found that it’s kind of just your way of expressing affection . Either way, it’s not exactly an easy topic to bring up. I mean, it feels like there’s never really a good time. Hence the family meeting.” Your cheeks flush at the thought that you’d really called a meeting to explain this. “Okay, I’m opening the floor for questions. One at a time, please.”
Levi speaks first. “So you’ve never wanted to date someone? Like ever?”
You shake your head. “Not once. When I was in school, I would pretend to have crushes, but I never really understood what those feelings were like. Honestly, for a long time, I thought everyone was just acting when they’d talk about ‘liking’ someone.” It was pretty weird now that you’re looking back at it, but from what you’d read online, you were definitely not the only aro who’d faked liking someone just to feel normal.
“Huh.” Is all Levi says in response. You notice he looks deep in thought about it.
He’s definitely not the only one. Mammon looks like his brain is going to explode if he thinks any faster. His leg is bouncing, and he’s trying to find something to do with his hands.
Before you can offer him a pen or something, Beel speaks up. “Makes sense to me,” he says with a nod.
“...Really?” You ask in disbelief. Yet another response you weren’t expecting.
He nods again. “I’ve never really cared about that stuff either. Usually I have other stuff to think about. Like working out. Or food.” He pulls out another chocolate bar, and you wonder how they haven’t melted yet. “I don’t know if it’s the same as what you’re talking about, but I get not really being interested in relationships.”
“No, Beel, that’s actually really close to how I feel!” You’re beaming - his explanation was so on point. You notice Belphie mumble something to himself. “Yeah, there’s so many things to focus on, it doesn’t really make sense to me why everyone seems so focused on romance. Not that that’s a bad thing!” You add on. “Just because I don’t understand the hype around relationships doesn’t mean there’s anything wrong with that being important to others. It’s just not my thing.”
“I guess I get it. Kind of,” Belphie says. “It’s hard trying to imagine not being attracted to people like that, but I understand Beel, so if you’re the same, then I guess I understand you too.”
“I’ll take it,” you joke. “I should say, it’s okay if you guys don’t understand this. Most people don’t understand. All I ask is that you respect it and stop lowkey trying to court me.” Surprisingly, no one tries to deny that.
Satan speaks up next. “When it comes down to it, all that matters is that you’re happy.” You smile at that. “If what makes you happy is avoiding romance like the plague, of course I’ll always have your back.”
You grin. “Thank you, Satan. I really appreciate you saying that.” Having so many people immediately respecting your identity is overwhelming, and you try to push down the emotions starting to well up in you.
“Seconded.” Your head turns to look at Lucifer, who gives you a smile - and a sincere one at that. “I - we - have come to love every part of you. That includes your attraction - or lack thereof.”
You look at the ground. “Thanks,” you answer, but it comes out as more of a whisper. Of course Lucifer had to come up with a sweet thing to say.
That leaves one person. “...Mammon?”
He looks up at you. “So ya really aren’t attracted to anyone at all.” He phrases it like a statement, although it seems like more of a question.
“Yup. Not romantically, anyway.”
He nods. “This means I don’t have to worry about some idiot gettin’ your attention then,” he says with a grin. “Good. You’re already a handful to watch out for.”
You snort. “Fair enough,” you answer.
“‘M your first man, right? That means you’re stuck with me, like it or not. Doesn’t matter if you’re not into romance, as long as I’m still your friend.”
You reach over and ruffle his hair. His face goes red, and he sputters in an attempt to say, well, anything. You grin. “Trust me Mammon, you’re not getting rid of me any time soon. I need your company just as much as you need mine.”
He looks down and tries to sink into the couch. “...Good.”
You turn back toward the group. “Thank you all for, well, not acting all weird about this. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been told that I’m a liar or incapable of feelings, among other dumb shit.”
“Idiots, all of them,” Asmo says, and everyone nods or hums in agreement. “You’re certainly odd, but romantic orientation has nothing to do with it.”
“Hey!”
You go to playfully hit him before hearing a “I mean he’s not wrong ,” coming from Levi’s direction.
“I take it back, you’re all the worst,” you say with a grin. “Oh, one more thing: I still expect plenty of chocolate tomorrow.”
“...Seriously?”