Work Text:
Your thumb traced the slope of his nose.
“What? Dirt on my face?” Mammon asked, eyes crossing in an attempt to get a look at what was the reason for your touch.
“Yeah. You're always filthy.” You smiled, pinching the bridge of it, right below where his sunglasses often sat.
“Ow. Watch it!” He growled weakly, huffing but not pulling away. As if he even could.
You merely tilted your head, smiling crookedly, a turn off your mouth. “No.”
“This is so unfair.” He complained, sounding nasal because of the clamp of your fingers.
It only made your amusement grow. “It isn't. You're just a crybaby.”
As if proving you right, he whined lamely, rocking in place, his arms tightly pressed against his sides. “Noo…You're just a bully…”
“You know, I've never asked you this…” You stepped back, admiring the sight of Mammon hanging from the ceiling, thick rope wrapped around his torso in a strict embrace. “Doesn't your blood go to your head when Lucifer leaves you like this?”
You watched him spin on the spot, just barely, the way a spider dangles from its web, casual by now, used to it. He tried to shrug, but then again, the restraints were snug to his frame. “Eh. I can take it. Demons are built out of more resilient stuff than frail little humans.”
You arched a brow, unimpressed. “Hm. That's funny. Is that why you beg me to help you down every time? Cause I'm so small and meager?”
Your hand gave his hanging form a quick tug, making Mammon twirl uncomfortably like a spinning top. He groaned loudly, squirming further. “Hey! No! Yer just as bad as Lucifer!”
Your mouth spread into a little grin, imagining he was dizzy by now, or at least a bit woozy. The circulatory system of a demon was a mystery to you, but you figured it must be somehow similar to a human’s. “I wouldn't go through all the trouble of doing this to you. But that doesn't mean I don't enjoy this.”
Mammon whined, lip jutting out defeatedly. “You wouldn't even tie me up? You'd just torment me like a cat with a mouse? I'm no mouse!” He protested, eyes narrowed into deep blue slits. But his discontent never felt like anything beyond the complaints of an ill-mannered child. You offered a quick pinch to his cheek.
“Then stop squeaking like one…” You retorted fondly, sitting back near him, brushing some hair away from his face. A soft chuckle left your lips as you were reminded of a movie series from the human world. A trilogy of superhero flicks. “Do you you know who Manspider is, Mammon?”
He looked up (or down?) at you with curiosity. “Mm. That weird guy from the movies that shoots stringy goo like spiders?” You huffed at his description. He made it sound so much lamer than it really was...
“Sure. If you want to put it that way.” One of your hands slipped into his hair, scratching at his hair. The reaction was immediate, his gaze shutting quickly, face relaxing into a blissful expression. “There's this famous scene, where he's suspended upside down using his powers, and him and the girl he's into have an iconic kissing scene…”
Mammon's eyes flicked open as soon as kisses were mentioned, that previous curiosity now intensified. “Uh, and like…is it steamy?”
You roll your eyes but there's some concession in them. “Many people consider it steamy, yes.”
It wasn't hard to work out how the gears had started to turn inside Mammon's head. He was always quick to orchestrate situations in his favor, after all. He tried to suppress a little smile. “You could show the Great Mammon…You know. Sharing your human culture, an’ all that…”
You pretended to think about it, brushing a couple of fingers against your chin. Your free hand still toyed with Mammon's surprisingly soft hair. “I don't know…you've been a real pain lately.”
He struggled against the rope, grunting softly. “Let me down and show me!” Mammon insisted willfully.
You only laughed, steadying him with a palm against his chest. “If I were to untie you, I couldn't show you. You gotta be in this position…”
The insolent demon made another disgruntled noise, glaring at you through his white lashes. The path of his pupils quickly making its way towards your mouth. “Well, I don't care. Gimme some, then!”
“Some what?” You played dumb, stroking his cheek, which only calmed his eagerness momentarily. His warm, tan skin tingled under the pads of your fingers.
“Um. You know…kisses. Kissing.” He mumbled, his cheek turned towards your touch, as usual. “Give the Great Mammon some sugar.” He finished lamely, shooting you a toothy grin.
You huffed, shaking your head. He was incorrigible. “Is your blood pressure dropping? Do you need something sweet?”
Teasing him was one of your many daily tasks. A neverending one at that, since he gave you reason to repeat it every couple of hours. Each lingering look and declaration of grandeur seemed to renew your desire to knock him down a peg. Or two. Or three.
Still, it was hard not to indulge on the soft spot you tried so hard to hide. Even harder was abstaining to reward his good behavior. Like when he admitted some wrong doing or showed sincerity…
He coughed unceremoniously, clearly trying to get your attention again. In that, he succeeded, as your eyes flicked back to the present. “I'd like that kiss you were talking about…” He cleared his throat, gaze adverted. “Please.”
The last word was said so softly that you could've dismissed it as a draft casting a window open, or Beel rummaging through the kitchen. But no. Your eyes had read his lips in time. And your own accommodated a smile in turn.
“Hm? Did you just say please?” Your fingers busied themselves, playing with the rough rope that kept him in place while your eyes coyly met his. Not only coy, they even seemed a little proud.
Mammon whined, already wanting to take the words back. But when he registered the encouragement behind your teasing, he stopped his weak wailing. “Uh. Perhaps. Don't get used to it.”
After talking, he gave an interested look your way, which he tried to conceal as a casual glance, with no success. Your gaze hadn't faltered. “I like it when you're polite like that. It's attractive.”
His eyebrows raised up so high that they got lost under his messy hair. Mammon blinked in surprise, feeling an extra dose of blood blooming under his skin. “Y-yeah?”
“Mhm. It makes you seem so serious and…manly.” You lied, biting back a trifling smile as you thought about how gullible and cute he was. Although the idea of finding him endearing still unsettled you a bit.
“I am! I super, totally am!” He shook in place as he exclaimed and insisted on it loudly, trying to break from his restraints again. His eyes were bright and eager. “I can show you! I'm very polite. The politest of them all!”
“Really, Mammon? If you asked for things nicely, I think you'd get what you want more often.”
He seemed to consider that, those rusty gears hard at work again. “So, if I just say please…”
“Well, it won't always work. Especially if it's about money. But it might work with…other matters.” You chose to keep it vague, just in case he was inclined to immediately run up to his brothers asking for a new loan.
You could already imagine the disapproving stares afterwards if Mammon were to tell them you gave him the idea.
“Will it work on you?” He inquired, quieter than before. In response, you gave him a non-committal hum.
“Maybe.”
“Please…the Manspider kiss. Please show me…” He begged softly, his lip curling down into a small frown. It made you soften, much to your dismay. You poked the corner of his mouth with your index finger.
“So silly. But you are being nice.” Your frame slotted up slightly, aligning your face at the same height as his. Your hands curled around his shoulders, so he wouldn't dangle around. “Are you sure?”
“Yeah.” He rasped out. His head and chest were pounding, probably thanks to his punishment, but Mammon knew deep down the galloping in his chest had really started for other reasons.
You didn't dare drag it out any longer, and in the blink of an eye, his lips were pressed against yours in a soft, languid kiss. Your mouth moved slowly, capturing his own between subtle sighs.
His kiss, on the other hand, was more hurried. It was as if he were fighting some sense of composure just like he had fought against his bound state. He moaned quietly, eyes fluttering as you softly sucked on his lower lip.
When he tried to deepen the kiss further, you pulled away. You were still in the main hall, after all. If Lucifer had strung Mammon up in his own room, there's no telling what might have happened, but the public nature of the kiss had you cutting it short.
Mammon frowned deeply, the most genuine show of discontent until then. He seemed actually upset, perhaps worried he had done something wrong. “Why'd you stop? I asked nice like you said…”
“Someone might see. And you're on time out, remember?” You murmured, sneaking in a quick nuzzle and kiss to his cheek, which caused him to pipe down, nuzzling back as best as he could.
“Mm. Feels nice, though. I wish we could keep going…” He lamented longingly, eyes half-lidded, disposition sweet. “That Manspider definitely knew his stuff.”
“I'm just glad to be of service educating you on human culture.” You chimed aloofly.
“But I have so many doubts left. I need more lessons! I need private ones! And tests, and punishments!” He began, eyes squeezed shut as his tone got louder. So loud, in fact, that he didn't notice a set of steady footsteps approaching down the hallway.
Lucifer's head quirked to the side, his deep voice cutting off Mammon's speech as he settled beside you, standing tall. “Private lessons? Tests?”
His deep red eyes settled on you, pleasantly surprised but also skeptical. “Good job on him. We might be finally inculcating some discipline into that thick skull.”
Mammon's mouth clamped shut, his face blanching. He gave you a long-suffering stare before directing it at his older brother. “Yes. I'm being good right now. Nothing else is going on. It's just that good, human influence running through my veins.”
Lucifer's doubt became palpable as a result of Mammon's suspicious words. That is before he decided to give him some grace, narrowing his eyes at him but ultimately continuing his path towards the library.
Mammon's shoulders mirrored your own, dropping in relief as you were left alone after some scrutinization. “Could've gone worse.” You whispered.
“I dunno about that. Now Lucifer thinks I'm a goody-two-shoes who wants to stay up all night with his nose buried in some book.” He spat, face pinched in irritation. If his arms had been free to move, you imagined they would've crossed over his chest.
“No. He must've thought I put a curse on you or something.” Your plush mouth brushed against his temple fondly.
He giggled, before trying to disguise the sound with a grumble. “You would do somethin’ like that to poor ol' me…”
“Only when deserved. So, most of the time, yes.” Another kiss to his cheek. A wobbly smile from him.
“I could get used to some forms of punishment…” He said dazedly, soft enough that an untrained ear would miss it.
Good thing yours were expertly tuned.