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Long time ago, when mystical creatures still roamed the land, there was a village, surrounded by mountains where all its inhabitants lived. There was a King, a Queen, and a princess. The princess was a very dreamy girl, her head almost always in the clouds, dreaming of faraway lands and adventures.
Next to the village, in a cave in the mountains, lived a dragon. The King had reached an agreement with the dragon that each day they would offer him part of their cattle to eat, and this way the royal family would prevent the dragon from eating the villagers.
But there was a day when all the cattle ran out and the villagers, and the dragon,knowing this would happen, demanded the humans to come up with a solution or he would eat them all in one go.
Heeding the dragon’s warning, the King and Queen together with the villagers decided to make a raffle to choose a person to willingly surrender themselves to the dragon to be his meal.
And thus, a big raffle was created. A big sack where the names of all the inhabitants of the village were present.
Each day, a person was chosen, and thus the village numbers started to dwindle.
But one day, when they pulled the chosen piece of paper out from the sack, no one could believe it! The chosen to be the dragon’s next meal had been the princess herself.
The princess, accepting that it had been a fair choice and that she could not refuse it, said goodbye to her family and made her way to the dragon’s lair.
She was scared to death, but she pretended to be stronger than she felt she was to prevent her parents from being even more sad due to their loss.
But when the princess was already in front of the dragon’s lair, a young knight - named Sant Jordi - galloped from his white steed, and jumped in to defend her and slammed his sword into the sordid dragon.
The dragon, not long after, fell dead to the ground. And wherever his blood had touched the ground, beautiful red roses sprouted from its blood.
The knight took one and handed it to the princess while asking for her hand in marriage. The princess, happy to be alive thanks to the gentlemen, accepted and they were happily ever after.
Back in the village, all the villagers held a party to celebrate that Sant Jordi the knight had saved them all from their demise.
And with that, Satan finished retelling the legend to the rest of the student council and the exchange students.
Why? Because he had caught a certain human making plans to visit the human realm and partake in the festivities. After all, as much as León cared for and loved all those they had met in the Devildom, they missed their home, their culture and the stories and traditions they had grown up surrounded by.
And well, Satan wanted to see, if by sharing this legend with the others, if they all could think of someone to help alleviate their beloved human’s nostalgia.
To make sure the human wouldn’t walk in on this meeting, Satan had managed, with his brothers’ help, to send them on a wild goose chase. Making them run countless errands, buying whatever was needed for that night’s dinner, making sure there was enough for the eight of them while taking into account Beel’s nearly insatiable stomach.
“And that’s why, from that day on, roses signify the love they feel for someone else. And on Sant Jordi day, the 23rd of April, they give them to those we love the most. Normally it’s given to those one has romantic feelings for but, from the research I’ve done, people also buy them for their family and friends too.” Satan explained.
“Well, technically tradition says men get books, representing the legendary story, and women get roses, representing being saved from their fate.” he added, rolling their eyes at the gender roles humans added even to legends and traditions.
“I think it'd be a good idea to let them visit their hometown on that day. Participate in a tradition they did for years before they were suddenly brought here.” Satan suggested putting his plan in action, knowing if it was to make them happy no one would really be against it.
“Would it be possible to open a portal to the human world for them to go there?” Lucifer asked, looking at Barbatos.
The butler nodded, but looked at his prince before he spoke.
“I would gladly do so. But, I would only be able to do so and it not be against any rule if Lord Diavolo allowed me to do so.” he said, as polite and impeccable as always.
Barbatos knew that even if he hadn’t just said what he had, the Prince would get one of his outlandish ideas and ask him to open one either way, so better be prepared and let the Prince make it official.
And just as Barbatos had feared, upon hearing the butler’s words, a bright smile appeared on the prince’s face, his eyes practically lighting up the room.
“It’s decided then!” he exclaimed, clapping his hands once. “We’ll all go to the Human Realm and take part in this Sant Jordi tradition Satan has told us about!” Diavolo added.
If it also gave Diavolo a break from his dreaded paperwork? Well, that was just a double win situation. He got to visit the Human Realm and get a break from work.
But if it was also to celebrate the love they all shared for the human that had done so much for the three realms, Barbatos would let the Prince get away with this. He’d just need to pay for any late paperwork when they were back from the Human world.
And with that, it was all decided and the group went their separate ways to prepare.
April 23 was fast approaching, and the group, so far, had managed to still keep it a surprise.
Or so they all thought.
Because as careful as they were trying to be, León had caught them red-handed several times by now.
Like the time they went to bring Lucifer some Hell coffee and saw Lucifer reading about places to visit in Barcelona.
But given it was around midnight, after a long day, and they had been feeling quite homesick, León just assumed they’d probably imagined it.
Or when Leviathan started talking about a new and special TSL edition that had made it to the human world that he was interested in getting. And how he’d try his best to get his hands on it, and that the two of them would be able to read them together.
While they didn’t surprise León, Leviathan being that excited about TSL was more than normal, it did make them suspicious when it was the second time they saw or heard about the Human Realm in a few days.
And what, finally, gave it away was when they went to the Royal Castle and saw Barbatos preparing a special type of food that was normally sold on April 23.
While they didn’t wander in, they didn’t want to spoil the surprise, they couldn’t help but take a quick peek inside as they walked in.
And what they saw, the three different doughs needed to make the bicolored special bread for Sant Jordi. The characteristic smell coming from the Majorcan sausage to make the red dough for the four red strips of the catalan flag.
It was a trip down memory lane, making León remember the many times they had enjoyed it.
But, yeah, they weren’t that stupid as not to put two and two together.
One thing were tourist traps, and books. Another, and way too specific to be a coincidence, was that specific bread.
Still, León decided not to make it known the fact they had discovered about their plan.
They thought it was very sweet what they were doing for them.
And while they weren’t the most romantic person around, they were a sucker for big gestures like this.
Not fond of surprises, but well… It, technically, wasn't a surprise anymore. But what the other didn’t know, wouldn't hurt them.
When April 23 finally came around, all of them were called to Diavolo’s Castle early in the morning.
León pretended to be surprised when they saw all of them gathered there.
What surprised them was to be blindfolded as Diavolo said they had all prepared a little surprise to celebrate a very special day with them.
Deprived of their sight, the rest of their senses tried to make up for it. Which was how they could sense when Barbatos opened the portal, the butler’s magic and power having a very specific feel to it. It felt as if something ancient and powerful was being unleashed all around you, every sensible part of your brain telling you to run while you remained frozen where you were.
Despite that uneasy feeling, they were more than sure that Barbatos wouldn’t harm them. Had he wanted to do that, he wouldn’t do it publicly either.
So as León stepped towards the portal, being guided towards it, they decided to make a revelation of their own.
“You know,” they started, a mischievous smile on their face.
“In my family, despite what tradition said, my father got a rose for my mom and his three children. before going together to the fair and choosing which books we wanted to buy.” they said, before disappearing as they crossed the portal, leaving everyone in various degrees of surprise as they realized that they had known about it all.
The day had been an absolute blast.
No matter in how many directions León felt they were being pushed, they made it work by giving each of their companions a set time, so no one could complain about being left alone or how some were hogging all of their time.
So, it all went well at the end, and they had an amazing time with each and all of their partners.
First on the list had been Diavolo, with an almost child-like wonder in his face as he took the atmosphere of the day and the events around him. Diavolo, who insisted on buying a rose in almost every stall until he had a more than sizable bouquet.
“You deserve all the roses, and all the flowers, in the three realms. But, while that’s yet an impossible thing for me to give you, I wanted to show you how much I’ve grown fond of you in ways I had never felt before.” the Prince said, as the two continued with their walk.
Bouquet that would have been way larger hadn’t Lucifer stepped in to ask for Leon’s time. Asking them to please accompany him to la Casa Batlló. They did, but not before they teased Lucifer about wanting to visit such a typical place.
Still, they took several pictures with Lucifer with the rose decorated façade, posting them to their Devilgram for everyone to see, ignoring all of Lucifer’s protests. He would never admit it, but he didn’t want others to see the sappy look on his eyes and the light blush in some of the pictures they’ve taken.
Not long after the pictures were up, Mammon came running demanding his time started now, declaring lucifer had had more than enough time with them already.
But before Mammon could take them away, Lucifer stopped them and gave them something.
“It’s neither a rose or a book,” Lucifer started, “but the song puts in words what I feel for you in ways I wouldn’t have been able to express, or even admit, some time ago.” he explained, taking out the vinyl of a Kiss from a Rose.
But Lucifer was cut short as Mammon took their wrist on their hand, practically dragged them back to the fair, walking around trying not to make it obvious how they were trying to give them something.
“You okay, Mams?” they asked, using the nickname they always used for the white haired demon.
“Yeah, everything's fine…” he answered, way too fast and looking everywhere but them, which gave it away that things were, in fact, not fine. But pressuring Mammon would just make the demon close even more nervous until he just refused to say anything.
So, giving the demon the time he needed, they walked hand in hand with him, until Mammon was ready.
Taking them to a more secluded area, Mammon left for a few moments, coming back a hand behind his back and an obvious blush on his face.
“It ain’t a bouquet like Lord Diavolo’s but i wanted ta buy and give ya a rose.” Mammon said, looking away, as if ashamed he couldn’t one up the Prince.
And that was the perfect excuse needed to give Mammon a soft kiss of thank you. Making the demon blush even a deeper shade of red, and making him splutter, was just an added bonus.
Not long after, Leviathan came, as excited as he was nervous, taking them away to a book stall he had found that sold comics he had been looking for.
There, they talked about the volumes they saw and the theories they had for the upcoming stories and plots.
After that, Leviathan bought them a special edition of TSL, made into a graphic novel, making them promise that they would read it together. To which León agreed, knowing this was Levi’s way to have their needed time together in a space and place he could control and be comfortable in.
It hadn’t been five minutes from that when they came across Simeon, alongside Luke.
Simeon, seeing Levi’s gift, offered to sign it as a way to say thank you to his two devoted fans for liking his story that much, almost making Leviathan pass out after hearing that.
Needing time to recover from that shock, Leviathan left the angels with León.
The three talked about what they’ve been doing, what they’ve seen. The youngest angel made it obvious he was displeased with the fact he couldn’t get León anything.
To make up for that it was León who offered to get Luke something instead.
Taking him by the hand, they went to a candy stall and bought a rose shaped candy, giving it to the young angel, whose eyes lighted up, and León could’ve sworn he could see the angel’s halo with how bright his smile seemed to be.
While the two had been doing this, Simeon bought a special kind of rose, a white rose.
Giving it to León once they came back.
“While I’m not as pure or as innocent as the color would indicate,” Simeon started “I wanted you to know that my love of you is real and true, and that I’d do anything for you, for I am the one blessed every moment I spend with you.” the angel said, leaving the human stunned and a blushing mess, which made him laugh at their honest and bashful reaction.
After that, angels and human continued their time together, enjoying the fair together in each others’ presence.
That was until, from a distance, Satan spotted them and asked for León’s time and off they went.
With Satan taking the lead, the two visited several stalls, as they talked about the many books they saw and were interested in.
And well, to no one's surprise, the demon ended up buying way more books than he could fit in the single bag he had brought with him.
Still, that brought a smile to the human’s face. Watching Satan was literally like seeing a kid being let loose on a candy store.
Not that they would complain, though, as Satan insisted on buying them several books as well, telling them they’d read them all together in their regular book dates, and they’d talk about them all over coffee or tea and pastries.
And the two would have continued their book spree hadn’t Asmodeus suddenly taken León away, deciding they had waited enough and that they wanted their daily dose of attention and they would get it one way or another.
Not that Asmodeus hadn't had any attention, if the several roses they held were any indication. Still, Asmodeus said those roses meant nothing as none were from León, and that the only human they wanted a rose from was now in front of them.
And what Asmodeus wants, Asmodeus gets, simple as that. No need to be charmed when they already owned their heart.
And so, the search for the perfect rose started, not satisfied as Asmodeus themselves gave the O.K to the roses chosen, each giving the other one.
And, unable to resist the perfect opportunity, Asmo snapped a selfie of the two holding out their roses and quickly posted it on Devilgram for all their followers to see.
Much to Asmodeus' chagrin, and they did complain when the time came, after some time spent with them, Beel called for León’s assistance when they found him.
But before they could leave with Beelzebub, Asmodeus left a bright red lipstick mark on the human’s cheek for everyone to see.
With that done, Asmodeus deemed the other two free to go on their merry way, having done all they wanted for now.
With Beel, the two browsed around the fair, Beel telling all he had seen, the different foods he had been able to taste, amazed about the many different types of food he had been able to find around.
That gave León an idea, taking Beelzebub’s hand on their own and taking him to a bakery, buying several entire pans de Sant Jordi for him to eat, as well as one for themselves.
“Go on, try it!” they exclaimed, once outside the shop, taking a bit of their own “I want to hear what you think about it.” they added, in between bites.
Giving Beel the time to eat some, his face already gave them some of the answer, but they wanted to hear what he thought.
“I like how there’s several flavors in it,” Beelzebub started. “You get a different taste in each bite and they all go perfectly with the others.” he finished.
Not a demon of many words, but the speed he continued eating the food, was more than an enough add-on to his answer.
While they continued eating, Belphegor seemed to find them and decided to join them for a while.
But, spoiled as he could be, he asked his twin if he could have some solo time with the human just as he had just had, to which Beel agreed. Youngest sibling that uses good arguments logic.
Taking advantage of the fact, León was sat in a bank, Belphegor decided to use their lap as a pillow.
And while he rested his eyes, he took a book he had bought and gave it to them.
“It’s about human world astrology.” Belphie said “I know it’s not much, but this way you can have a piece of home when in the Devildom.” he said.
“And this way we can also see the differences between our night skies, too.” he concluded, looking at them from where he was laying, a tired yet fond smile on his face.
“You’re lucky you're cute, you know?” León answered, pinching the demon’s cheeks. Which was their way of telling the seventh born that they did appreciate his gift.
After that, Belphie’s breath didn’t take long to even out as he fell asleep.
It could’ve been minutes, it could’ve been hours, León did lose track of time as they rested their feet, but at some point Solomon decided to make his appearance, an easy smile on his face. And just because of that, the sorcerer’s apprentice knew they were about to be victim of their master’s teases.
“Do you have space for one more in there, or is that a demon exclusive service?” Solomon asked.
“Neither. It’s a Belphegor exclusive service. Don’t you have your own demons to bully?” the answered, matching Somolon’s words, enjoying the way Solomon chuckled at their response.
“But, you know, none of them are just as cute as you can be. And their laps surely don’t look as comfortable.” Solomon answered, adding a pout for added effect. Not that that would work on his apprentice, and the two knew that.
“Now, seriously, I got you something. Could I have you, alone, for a moment?” Solomon said, and for the shift on his voice, now he was being serious for the time being.
And so, León decided it was time to wake Belphie, to tell him they needed to go. Not that Belphegor wanted to let them go, but a very well-placed ”Don’t make me use Stay right now, please.” did the job in between complaints.
With no demons in between them, Solomon took León to a more secluded area, somewhere where no one from their group would find them.
There, he took what he had got for the other.
A single red rose.
Or so it seemed at first glance. Because it had an obvious magic trace, and it definitely felt like Solomon’s magic.
“I knew I wanted to give you a rose. But I wanted it to have my own twist and flair.” Solomon started, handing it to the other.
“For starters, it will never wilt. And secondly, it‘s been enchanted to open up whenever I’m thinking of you.” Solomon explained, as León looked at it with amazement, not knowing what to say.
Sometimes actions spoke louder than words so they just did what first came to mind. And that was to grab Solomon’s face and kiss him to tell him all they wanted through it.
Kiss that Solomon returned without any kind of complaint, knowing his student was someone who showed their emotions better through actions. And also, because he would never ever complain if he other human ever wanted to kiss him.
Or to do whatever they wanted to and with him.
And, as if sensing Solomon was having a great time, Barbatos appeared, clearing his throat to let the two separate.
“At this point , I have a sneaking suspicion you do this on purpose.” Solomon said, looking at Barbatos, while not showing any intention to leave his current position.
“It’s always a pleasure to be a bother to yours truly.” the butler answered, as poised as always, even if his pleasant smile did not reach his eyes.
Their banter would have continued hadn’t León laughed, that they tried to disguise as a cough, cut it short.
What could they say? It was always a free comedy show whenever those two were together. Even if they were the only person who thought that about Solomon and Barbatos’ interactions.
“Sorry about that, there are some pests that get on my nerves.” Barbatos said, now facing León.
“Yeah, he tends to have that effect on others.” they answered, while an offended Solomon made their presence known, while the other two continued to ignore him and the butler used the opportunity to steal León away.
“I’m aware I’m the last of all of us to give you something.” Barbatos started, “But I still wanted to give you a little detail of my own.” he continued, as he took some packages of a bag that he hadn’t been holding a second ago.
Inside were two things.
A perfectly home-made pa de Sant Jordi and a baking book.
“I’m aware you’ve probably eaten by now, but this is more to prove I can now make this whenever you’re craving a piece of your homeland.” Barbatos explained, even if he still was more than pleased when he saw León start eating what he had baked and the delighted expression on their face as they enjoyed it.
“That ties with my second gift.” the butler continued, “It's a baking book with traditional recipes from your nation. And I’d be more than delighted if you allowed me to help whenever you feel like preparing some of this.” he finished, as they grabbed their hand and kissed it before giving them the book.
The sun was already setting when the group made their way back to the Devildom.
And, there were no words León could say to describe what they were feeling.
Because the group had wanted to help them with their homesickness and make them feel loved and appreciated.
And they did that and then some more.
But as they tried to find words to thank them all, for now, it seemed their satisfied smile, as exhausted as it was after the day they just had, was more than enough reward and acknowledgement that they had achieved what they had wanted to have and feel.