Work Text:
"Alice, it's an honour we can't refuse," his mother said, the secretive smile Alice hated plastered on her face.
Alice had fought and begged for the right to deny the Sullivan household's summons. Lord Sullivan was known to be rational and dignified—surely he would not force this upon him!
Yet his mother did. Despite her frivolity and constant gallivanting, she was still the head of Alice's household.
And despite being the top of his class, undefeated among his peers and unparalleled in magical aptitude, Alice would be reduced to a spoiled demon's plaything.
"This will be good for you, I know it," his mother continued, giggling. "You'll be so much cuter, dear!"
He fought the urge to burn their entire mansion down, himself included.
"Young master Asmodeus," Opera greeted, inclining his head. "Lord Sullivan was called to a meeting of the Thirteen Crowns, but rest assured he welcomes you with much gratitude."
Indeed, only Lord Sullivan's security demon was there to greet him, no Iruma nor servant in sight.
Am I not even considered a distinguished guest?
"I'm honored to be accepted into his home."
"Let me lead you to your quarters—"
"Please, Opera," Alice interrupted. "I would like to meet Iruma as soon as possible."
The sooner he met the demon, the sooner he could be over this farce. You see, it wasn't even guaranteed that Iruma would accept him as a gift. It would be humiliating if he settled in only to be kicked out soon after.
More humiliating than selling himself out—no, at least then he would have some dignity. He was offering himself for free, like a piece of meat you'd throw to the strays.
"Are you sure?" The demon remained expressionless, so Alice did not know (or care, really) whether the concern was real.
"Please."
"Then, let me lead you to his bedroom."
Straight to it, then.
Iruma had an intimidating air about him. Locking eyes with him was like locking eyes with a crow that could see straight into your core.
Alice was not one to be intimidated.
He cleared his throat. "Young master Iruma, I am—"
"Opera, I need more hell grey tea."
Mouth open from his cut-off introduction, Alice felt his flames start to ignite under his skin as he watched the security demon instantly whip out a cup and set it beside his young master, who didn't even deign to look up.
"And who are you?"
You'd know if you didn't interrupt me! "Asmodeus Alice, heir of the Asmodeus line."
Iruma finally looked up from the notebook he was writing on… homework, maybe, based on the scattered papers and pens around it. It was known that Lord Sullivan had his precious grandson home-schooled.
He sighed, as if he were the one put upon. "What do you want?"
Eyebrow twitching, Alice called upon what little patience he had in him. "Your household requested my aid in your current predicament."
"So nosy, that old man," Iruma muttered under his breath. He raised a hand and made a shooing motion. "You can leave now."
"Excuse me?!"
"Gramps is going too far. You can go back home," Iruma reiterated before returning to his work.
Without thinking, Alice snatched one of the notebooks and it burst into flames in his hand.
"Well," Iruma said with mild interest.
"You. Do. Not. Disrespect. Me." Alice was fuming. "You do not have the right to send me away without even acknowledging me and my merit. I'm your only hope right now and you will listen to what I came here to say."
"You're here to say that you can break me out of this evil cycle. I've listened to randos talk about it for years." Iruma turned away. "I'm not interested anymore."
"The Asmodeus line is well-versed in fulfilling desire. Demonic aggression has been proven to decrease significantly after…fornication."
"You're here to fornicate my evil cycle out of me?"
"Don't mock me! It's a tried and true method—I'm surprised you haven't attempted it yet." Alice crossed his arms. "Regardless, an Asmodeus will be the most adept in this matter."
"And I suppose you just volunteered, then?" Iruma asked wryly.
Alice sniffed disdainfully. "I was chosen because I am the best." That was simply the truth. Regardless of Alice's…avoidance of his mother's domain, his excellence in other magical fields was enough guarantee. "And if you had any etiquette in you, I would expect at least an offer of marriage in exchange." That is, he had no such expectation.
Strong hands grabbed the front of Alice's cloak and pushed him against the nearest wall. Alice barely stopped himself from attacking, his hand frozen by Iruma's head, prepared to ignite.
Iruma leaned forward until they were close enough to be exchanging warm breaths.
"Let's be honest, Asmodeus," Iruma murmured, eyes wicked. "You have no desire to be here." He pulled away, putting adequate distance between them, enough for Alice's instincts to start calming down. "And I have no desire to force myself on anyone."
Leaving Alice agape, Iruma turned around and walked towards the bedroom door.
This was an out.
This was the ideal outcome.
This was what Alice wanted.
He blasted a fireball in Iruma's direction.
"I told you not to disrespect me!" he yelled at the arrogant demon, who was startled but managed to dodge. Alice had never felt so out of control in his life. "You think so low of me? You assume that I won't succeed? I am the heir to the bloodline of one of the Thirteen Crowns, I am not someone to be doubted!"
Iruma's eyebrows furrowed. "I'm not doubting—"
Alice stalked forward and grabbed Iruma's lapels the same way he was grabbed earlier. It was unbecoming of a dignified demon such as himself, but—! "Furthermore, I didn't merely inherit my standing, I worked very hard to feed my ambition. Any goals I set for myself are always exceeded!"
Iruma's eyes were so wide that Alice could clearly see his pupils dilate.
"If you consider me unfit as a bedmate—you're sorely mistaken. And that's far from the only use you'll get out of me—every Asmodeus is a master of lust and destruction, you fool."
Releasing the other demon, Alice found himself panting. Sure, he didn't want to serve Iruma in any capacity, especially now that he'd seen how infuriating the demon was, but he disliked being dismissed even more. He had his pride as an accomplished demon, thank you very much.
While he tried to catch his breath, something strange occurred.
The crow feathers that seemed to make up Iruma's aura shifted to…flower petals? Slowly, dark hair lightened to a blue that was just a touch deeper than the Babyls school uniform... Shadowed eyes became more open... The previously confident, uncaring demeanour turned… soft.
What?
Alice took a cautious step back.
The demon before him shook his newly fluffy head as if to clear it. Alice stared at the jiggling same-but-different cowlick, almost hypnotized.
The–normal? –Iruma faced Alice and…grinned sheepishly. Innocently. As if he could do no wrong.
What??? Alice's face flushed with annoyance at the sight, but his heart may have also skipped a beat or two.
Cocking his head to the side, Iruma gave Alice the brightest smile ever worn by a demon. "In that case, I look forward to being destroyed by you, Azu-kun!"
WHAT ???