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As far as “dates” in the Devildom had gone, getting glued to Mammon and promptly exploring a traveling carnival hadn’t been the worst – regardless of how things appeared to be wrapping up. You were actually quite entertained watching as Lord Diavolo dragged your partner in crime away for interrogation, choosing to be grateful that nobody seemed to be projecting any suspicion in your direction.
A laugh even escaped your lips as Number 2 scampered alongside the demon lord, teasing Mammon as they went. A similar, yet significantly deeper chuckle reminded you that someone had stayed behind with you.
Turning to your left, you peered up at Lucifer, the remnants of your humor just beginning to settle back into your resting expression. When he met your gaze, you felt the need to raise your hands innocently. “I knew nothing about an illegal casino,” you testified.
Lucifer only smirked in amusement. “Oh, I have no doubt that you unknowingly got caught up in another of Mammon’s schemes,” he said, seemingly assuring that you were off the hook. Though, after a moment of hesitation, he made a point to add, “again.”
With an honest smile, you said, “Would you believe me if I told you that he was actually trying to keep everyone else on track?”
Narrowing his eyes to peer at something over your head, Lucifer firmly responded, “No.” Your attempt at defending his younger brother ended there.
A silence hung in the air for a second as you fidgeted, wondering if you were reading Lucifer wrong, and he really was upset with you. Before your anxieties got a chance to settle, Lucifer quickly proposed you join him for a ferris wheel ride. Eager to not be standing around like a kicked puppy, and never one to turn down a rare moment with the eldest brother, you nodded and followed him across the fairgrounds.
The cart that the ride attendant ushered the two of you into felt a lot more snug than the one you shared with Mammon, but neither of you voiced any discomfort at the proximity. Lucifer actually seemed to relax into his booth across from you, his broad shoulders slumping back against the inside of the safety railing. You allowed your own tensions to ease, the insides of your knees nestling comfortably against his.
Though his disposition seemed calm, once you got a closer look at his beautiful features, you noticed the trouble that clouded them. You wanted to ask what was on his mind, but he posed a question of his own before you got the chance. “Seems like you were having quite a good time with Mammon,” he mused, his eyes burning into you, “You say you came here looking for Diavolo and me, but perhaps you two were just enjoying the carnival instead?”
His question caught you a little by surprise, but then again, it wasn’t necessarily out of the ordinary. They all seemed to get a bit sensitive about Mammon taking up so much of your time, but as of recently, Lucifer had been showing a particular amount of angst towards your friendship.
While you knew he would only flex his pride, you humored him anyway. “I don’t suppose this is you being jealous, is it?” you asked, nudging his thigh with your knee.
His eyebrows immediately raised, only to quickly flatten back into a nonchalant smolder. “You think I’m jealous? Of Mammon? Don’t be ridiculous,” he said with a small huff.
You tilted your head, allowing your expression to expose your disbelief. Noting your teasing gaze, Lucifer pressed back against your leg with his own. He held your attention sternly for a moment before suggesting, “Regardless of who else you might spend time with, you’re still mine.”
There was a beat, and then, “Isn’t that right?”
It was a rhetorical question, because his pride was presenting itself as a show of confidence that you were exactly that – his. The look on his face was insistent that he knew he had you wrapped around his finger.
But you saw the brief flicker in his eyes, and you knew him far better than he seemed to think. You knew, despite his unwavering ego, he held the same uncertainty that all of his brothers did. He needed you to be fully his, and while your pact might have made that a technical reality, he wanted all of you – and he needed to know if you were going to make him share.
Still, you nodded under his confident expression, a sweet smile curving onto your lips. When the clouded glaze didn’t clear from his expression, you acknowledged that his current unease had nothing to do with you.
So, in return to his question, you asked, “Will you tell me what’s bothering you?”
He examined your concerned expression for a moment before breathing a sigh. “Ever since you and Diavolo arrived to the student council meeting together the other day, there’s been something off about him.”
Noting your knitted brows, he explained, “At first glance, he seems to be his usual self. But something’s… off.”
Suddenly, you recalled staring at a lost-looking Diavolo standing in the center of the colosseum, mumbling something to himself about years past and possible regrets.
Your expression must have shifted, as Lucifer was suddenly asking, “Do you know anything about why this may be, MC?”
You thought your response over carefully. You had your suspicions about where Diavolo’s mind was, and you felt somewhat honored that he trusted you enough to let his guard falter around you. Regardless of how close you knew he and Lucifer were, it didn’t feel right to be airing out his personal troubles.
“I think he could use a friend,” you mused, suddenly finding it a little difficult to meet Lucifer’s intent eyes. When his brow raised, you continued, “I wouldn’t suggest pressing him on the subject, but I think he would appreciate someone else checking up on him for a change.”
Lucifer found himself very seriously listening to and retaining your advice. If there was one person in any of the three realms whose wisdom he valued, it was yours. He wanted to laugh. When it came to you, he always seemed to surprised himself.
“Thank you, MC. If you think that he needs support, then… I’ll speak to him directly,” he politely responded.
There was a moment of silence during which he stared earnestly down on you. His body had subconsciously shifted closer to the middle of the ride car, and thus leaning further against you. Affection glistened in his scarlet eyes for a moment before he seemed to catch himself. “I never thought I’d see the day that I’d be thanking a human. To think…” he trailed off, his expression faltering as he lost his focus in thought.
You felt a smile grow on your lips. You would never tire of the moments in which he allowed himself to display his affection for you. They were rare, but that’s what made them so special.
“I hope you know how honored I am that you value my advice,” you murmured earnestly. Your fingertips grazed comfortingly against the outside of his thigh, a movement that he quickly responded to by pressing up against your hand. He wasn’t usually one to value stray touches, but he seemed to be unusually antsy to be close to you.
You watched as his face grew red at your words, and for a moment, he turned away from facing you. When you regained his attention, he was holding back an ironic laugh. “I can only imagine what my brothers would say if they knew,” he joked, his tone somewhat deflective.
You wanted to tease him again for being jealous, but you also hated the fact that his brothers always seemed to come up in conversation when the two of you were together. You loved them all dearly, but there was nothing that killed Lucifer’s mood more than discussion of his brothers. You knew that, and he knew that, so why it always seemed to be a topic of conversation, you couldn’t figure out.
Intent on convincing Lucifer that you were focused on only him – and to get him to focus on you – you abandoned your innocent nudging and planted your hand on his thigh. He was already leaning towards you when your other hand rose to his chest, your fingers fastening around his tie. With a light tug, you directed his lips to yours.
Lucifer immediately caved into you, his hands running up the slope of your body until they were gently pressed against the bottom of your jawline. He kissed you deeply, until the ferris wheel began to turn again, leaving you one stop above the end of your ride.
You stared breathlessly at Lucifer, your lips swollen and pouted as you fought the urge to pull him in again. You settled for appreciating the flush to his cheeks and the light in his eyes. “I hate to admit how badly I needed you to do that,” he relinquished.
With a smile, you stretched to press a soft kiss against his cheek. While you maintained your renewed closeness, you murmured, “All you ever have to do is ask.”
You knew that was asking a lot of the Avatar of Pride, but you also knew that when he wanted to, he would. And for a moment, you figured his cool demeanor would return, and he would laugh off what had been a genuine comment.
But instead, he turned his chin towards you, his lips finding a home gracefully at the corner of your mouth. He didn’t say anything else as the two of you stepped down out of the ride cart, his arms around your waist under the guise of helping you keep your balance.
You made it about ten steps from the ferris wheel before his stride faltered, and suddenly you were being pulled backwards against his chest. When you turned in his arms in an attempt to get a good look at him, he was already looking down at you with an endearing expression.
Before you even had to ask what he was thinking, he made his intentions very clear. “I think we should go again. I need at least a few more moments of having you to myself,” he hummed, his fingers kneading enticingly at your hips.
You nodded, and though there was no possible way that you could say no to a request like that, Lucifer moved quickly so as to not give you a chance to change your mind. His hand held tightly to yours as he steered you back in the direction you had come. Your thumb brushed against his wrist, and you felt his pulse beneath his skin as his heart thumped peacefully. He only seemed to feel at ease around you.