The Ways The Heart Longs
He's the Prince of the Devildom, the heir to the throne, someone who will have no trouble in bending others to his will. Diavolo can take everything he wantsâfrom treasure to a whole kingdom, there's nothing stopping him.
But the one thing he's craved for eons is companionship, love, someone who won't walk on eggshells around himâand you're the one whose captured his heart.
But Diavolo can't confess his love, for reasons more than one. He's doing it to protect you, but his heart is crumbling on the inside.
His throat feels crushed.
Diavolo sighs as he unbuttons the collar, finding reprieve in the way the pressure around his neck vanishes. Too tight, he had told Barbatos in the morning, when the butler was dressing him for the day. The demon had smiled faintly, and stated that the shirt was the right size for him, tailered to perfection.
And that having an appearance so unkempt would have not been suitable for the future Demon King.
Diavolo finds himself wanting to groan at that statement, Barbatos's words echoing in his mind. But there's no demon here to supervise him, and no subjects to admire him.
In the moonlight, he's all alone.
Mindlessly, his eyes dart around; the trees around the gaze, the languid ripples of water and the moonlight on them, that time when he, Barbatos and Lucifer had sat and planned a new design for the R.A.D. art room, the Prince having found that particular area too bleak to fit in with the Academy. Lucifer had arched an eyebrow when the golden-eyed demon had proposed that the room be filled with art pieces from the human and celestial realm. His right-hand man told him that Simeon couldn't possibly transport giant paintings from the celestial Realm, and that human world art would take some time to be fetched.
Barbatos had suggested that you be consulted on the topic.
A smile forms on the demon's face as he leans on the railing, a hand resting below his chin as he reminisces the joy on your face at having Lucifer and his brothers carry artwork from the human world to the Devildom. Satan had an arm full of cat paintings, looking particularly pleased with himself, at his own joy at the expense of Lucifer's dissaproval.
You had flashed him a warm smile, asking if the art pieces were to his liking.
The demon can still feel the warmth of your hands as you playfully played 'thumb war' with him. A game from the human world, and with his hands dwarfing your own Diavolo let you win.
Too slow, you had remarked on his thumb movements, but Diavolo was more engrossed in the feel of your skin, of you.
The demon's ears catch a sound, and his fingers work on his outfit.
"Out here all alone?"
"It was getting a bit stuffy inside." Diavolo smiles, the buttons of his collar reflecting perfectly in the moonlight. "Shouldn't you be inside?"
You huff. "Was getting stuffy too. Barbatos told me that a breath of fresh air would do me good. The perfumes and cologne of the demons in there was a bit too heavy for me."
His eyes trace over your figure as you move to stand alongside him on the gazebo, and the jewellery in your hair shines in the light. Diavolo's breath hitches as he realises that Asmodeus and Barbatos must have worked on your outfitâone to show and one to regulate.
"Do you not find Devildom scents to your liking?"
"It's not that..just..it became overpowering in the room, you know?" You murmur, setting a hand on his bicep. "And besides, your cologne is quite nice."
Diavolo gives you a wide grin, his golden eyes intense and lively. The demon tries to ignore how warm his cheeks feel.
"All compliments to Barbatos," He winks, and you both stay there, admiring the view the gazebo provides.
The silence is comforting, with your presence Diavolo can forget the whirlwind of thoughts in his mind and live in the moment, someone who will look at him as a friend and not the Prince.
"How's your family doing back in the human world?"
"Oh, they're faring well. I'm planning to meet them once I get back, Dia."
Again, the demon's heart catches in his throat at the nickname. Something inside his chest feels inexplicably warm, and it spreads to his whole body.
"What about your family?"
The illusion in front of him breaks in two at those words, and Diavolo blinks twice. He realizes something that leaves him bereft, and a sinking feeling takes its place instead of the budding warmth.
The expression on his face must have been something else, because now your eyebrows are furrowed in worry as words of apology spills past your lips. You're frantically trying to make amends, and for what, a question?
Diavolo shrugs his shoulders. "You don't need to apologise," He speaks, not able to find any solace in the environment, the delicate normalcy having been broken so suddenly.
"You spoke with good intentions, but..." He trails off, eyes observing the worried expression on your face in genuine concern, or from fear?
Diavolo might never know the answer.
"I'm just not comfortable sharing that aspect of me, yet."
You nod your head at that, not wanting to intrude into memories and information the demon isn't comfortable sharing.
And when both your eyes dart back towards the scenery, Diavolo finds that the waters no longer hold their charm.
The collar on his neck starts constricting his throat again.
Persevere, the demon tells himself.
"I didn't expect you to be here, Dia."
The demon in front of you smiles sheepishly. "Neither did I plan to be here, but Barbatos was very insistent on me finishing up my tasks."
You arch a brow at the demon. "And?"
"And I sneaked out from the palace."
Diavolo's eyes widen as he watches you burst into laughter in the middle of the street. Demons have stopped in the midst of their engagements to gaze upon the unbelievable sight of their Prince and the exchange student, who are cackling gleefully. The picture would be all over Devilgram by now, but Diavolo can't bring himself to care.
No, what the demon is only able to focus on is the sound of your laughter, and the amusement in your eyes as you cover your mouth with one hand in a feeble attempt to muffle your sounds.
For Diavolo, the world around him only consists of you in this moment.
And the Prince finds himself joining in, his own laugh contagious; and now you too are chuckling harder than before.
"HowâHow did you even manage to sneak past Barbatos?" You wheeze, taking in deep breaths to replenish the air in your lungs. "I'm convinced that he has eyes in the back of his head!"
The image of Diavolo, sneaking out from a window and maintaining silence by bribing a Little D is sure to elicit a giggle from anyone.
When a camera shutter goes off in the distance; only then is the demon reminded of where and who he is.
Diavolo lends out a hand to you. "Come on," He murmurs, "People are watching. Lucifer's going to be at our heels if he sees us here. Come." The demon offers.
And when you put your hand on top of his, Diavolo feels giddyâecstatic, like a child in a fair, filled with wonders and colors and joy.
He keeps his stride matched with yours; the demon aware that his long legs enable him to walk faster than most. And if he gets to hold your hand all the whileâwho's he to complain?
But when Diavolo sees his reflection on the glass window outside a store, the smile on the Prince's face flickers.
"And here we are!" Your voice breaks the demon out of his reverie, and Diavolo has to look around to observe his surroundings. When did you manage to lead him here, a small cafe on the boundaries of the Devildom forest?
The vegetation in this region makes for a perfect scenery to match the aesthetic of the structure. Tranquil and harmonious, with no nobility or high-class demons to grimace when the mud sticks to their shoes or complain about the chirping of the birds.
His eyes widen. "How did you find this place?" He mutters in astonishment, eyes darting around the walls and its few customers, whose expression mimic the demon's own. It's not everyday you see a Prince wander into a cafe.
"Lucifer took me here one time," You smile, eyes glancing around the chairs and the the tables, reminiscing how the black-haired demon and you talked over coffee and hellfire mushroom cookies. "He said he likes it because it provides peace."
Diavolo nods in understanding. "Given his rowdy brothers, I'm sure he requires some de-stressing, doesn't he?"
The demons in the cafe wisely place their attention back to themselves, on their plates and conversations.
You lead him to a table by the window, where all Diavolo sees is rows and rows of trees, of various Devildom species that Father insisted on him learning thoroughly the names from the book first when the child wanted to go out.
So little Diavolo went back to his books, and tried to ignore the cacophony of gleeful laughter that the Little D's made while playing in the courtyard.
"What do you want to drink?"
Diavolo glances at the menu provided, and his eyes flicker over the unfamiliar names of drinks he's never tasted, and confused eyes dart back to your face.
"Have you tried Shadow coffee yet?"
A shake of his head.
"Would you like to?"
Diavolo nods in affirmation, and guides you through the unfamiliar items in the menu, of ingredients which a human might find unsavory or particularly challenging to eat, like devil zebra.
After having placed your respective orders, it's only a matter of minute before your food and drinks arrive. Silence isn't necessary, and the two of you dart from one topic to another.
Diavolo doesn't know much about human culture, but you've informed him well about minion memes and slang used in the human world. It's not long before Lucifer or Barbatos receive a deep fried bean meme.
The table is too small for someone as huge as the demon Prince, but Diavolo manages to adjust. You've been gracious enough to let him lean closer to you, with his lower body awkwardly cramped together against your's.
Though, in this position Diavolo is close enough to talk in a whisper, and ensure that demons nearby aren't able to hear your conversation. They've been awfully silent, and the both of you know this is a incident which tomorrow might be on the papers, but hey, this means more material for Diavolo's fan club!
The waiter comes swiftly, but his presence is not felt without an awkward cough, and you both instinctly lean away from each other, realising how close you both were.
Barely centimetres apart.
But Diavolo would never close that distance, even if he wanted to. Even if his heart begs him to, his mind doesn't let him.
"Dia, you haven't touched your coffee yet."
The demon blinks once, twice, then looks down at the mug in his hands. A heart-shaped design greets him.
"So," The demon tentatively takes a sip. "What was the 'me-me' you were telling me about?"
When Diavolo was little, he was scolded for staying up past his bedtime.
The star shower had lit up the Devildom night, and hoards of people had gone outside to witness the phenomena in person. Parents with their children, couples with intertwined hands and lone demons. Nobility and commonality, old and young, all out on this particular date.
But young Diavolo was all alone.
So who could blame him for wanting to sneak a peek from the giant balcony, where one could an eagle eye's view?
But Father was quick; Father was strong and strict, he was harsh and loving, maybe in a way that the boy wasn't familiar with yet.
Father was doing it for Diavolo.
And so little feet pitter-pattered back into the room, under the covers where it was warm.
But the child's heart was anything but warm.
Now, with Father in long sleep, who's there to tell him to not stay up late and not drink too much; to complete paperwork on time before going on vacation and and scold him for coming back at such an hour?
He's a prince, after all, isn't he?
But the Prince has a butler, the only other person Diavolo's known since his childhood.
Barbatos, speak of the devil.
"Young Master?"
In such moments, Diavolo is reminded of a mother scolding her child for coming back home late. The expression is not unlike Lucifer's when he catches his brothers shenanigans in the making.
But Barbatos has the ferocity of a mother and a butler, and a stare that could make the strongest tremble.
Diavolo awkwardly shuffles his feet, the shoes of which are caked with mud. There's nothing left to say, for the golden-eyed demon knows that news of the incident must have reached his butler's wary ears, having spread like wildfire.
About how the Prince and the human exchange student were found in public, cackling like lunatics and huddled together in a cafe, lips barely centimetres apart. About how an attack took place in the forest nearby, and how the screams in there fell silent.
Barbatos would have put two and together by now.
"I warned you, Young Lord, to mind yourself in public."
The butler's voice echoes in the demon's mind, and Diavolo sighs.
"I didn't know that it would lead to this, Barbatos. I thought MC was safe with me."
The demon butler takes out an handkerchief from one of his many pockets, and begins wiping the specks on Diavolo's face.
Barbatos's eyes bore into his own. "Certainly, no demon in the Devildom can compare to your strength. But have you forgotten that a king to be needs to be mindful of his appearances?"
Diavolo remains quiet. The butler continues after the pause, now having proceeded onto removing his mud-caked shoes. His voice is low. "News spread like wildfire, and there has been a missing report of a group of demons from the faraway districts."
Something in the demon's eyes darkens, and when Barbatos looks up from his position he sees that Diavolo's jaw is clenched.
"They had it coming, Barbatos. MC was in the way of danger, so I got rid of the problem quickly and efficiently."
Barbatos only gives a small smile.
"Did you get to the root of the issue?"
"I did."
Well, that explains the stains on the Young Master's clothes. It's going to be a pain to clean them up, but nothing some elbow grease can't remove.
"I've quietened down the rumours, my Lord. But I am afraid I can't prevent any more information from leaking."
Diavolo already knows what Barbatos's next words are going to be.
"I can't help it, Barbatos."
Silence.
A D.D.D. is shoved in his face. "You maintain a distance, and yet, you are close," The screen glows with a picture of you and him huddled in a corner. So close, yet so far.
Diavolo looks down at his clothes and removes the dirty jacket, depositing it on a chair nearby.
When Lucifer had opened the door, his expression said he was ready to overthrow the monarchy, probably the scariest face he's seen his friend make. And watching that same expression turn into surprise on seeing Diavolo, makes the demon giggle in his chair.
After apologising for not having responded to texts and calls, and having kept MC with him the whole day, Diavolo had taken his leave, but not before Lucifer gave him a knowing look.
Maybe he knew. Maybe there wasn't any harm in confessing. Maybe MC would accept him.
But the hope brewing in his heart hardened when his ears caught the ruckus Lucifer's brothers were making, and Belphegor's annoyance.
Staring at his dirtied uniform, Diavolo had headed home. He cannot take away their joy.
His thoughts are interrupted when a cup of tea is placed in front of him.
Father said a king must make sacrifices, that the happiness of his subjects comes first. Such is Diavolo's duty too. Looking down in the cup, the demon glances at his reflection, and takes a resolute sip.
But what about his heart? What about his happiness?
"My lord, where does your happiness lie?"
Diavolo keeps his gaze fixated outside the window, where the trees stand still, perhaps staring at the sky in worry.
"In my people, of course."
Barbatos chuckles, a low sound that the golden-eyed demon remembers hearing for the first time when he had grabbed the fabric of his trousers and demanded the demon to tell more stories of the area outside the Palace.
"You are speaking in shoes of a king to be. Young Master, forgot your titles and power for a moment, and try again."
Diavolo furrows his eyebrow, trying to think of an answer suitable enough to satisfy Barbatos, but his heart already does.
"I am the future king of the Devildom, Barbatos. I cannot afford to follow my heart when the fate of the three realms is upon me," The demon rises to his full height, teacup abandoned on the table. But Barbatos has grown used to it.
The butler places a hand on his chest. "Then why did you agree to go to the cafe with MC and sneak past me? Why did you greet MC in the hallway with a hug? Was it all a facade, my Lord?"
Diavolo falters.
"IâI went becauseâyouâI!"
A chuckle spills past Barbatos's lips. "Lucifer sent me the picture of you and MC laughing in the streets. He seemed quite fond and tired, probably from MC having snuck past Asmodeus, who was busy choosing new outfits."
Diavolo keeps mum, mind already conjuring Lucifer's reaction when he calls him tomorrow morning. He's not going to be very happy at having been made to stay up late.
"My Lord, in the process of keeping your subjects happy, maybe you're abandoning your own happiness?"
But so does Diavolo.
The Prince looks at the demon as if he's been told the secrets of the universe. Yet, there's no denying that what Barbatos has spoken is the truth. But wasn't a duty of the king to ensure his subjects happiness? That's what he's been taught and fed since his childhood.
"There are several consequences if I chase my heart, Barbatos." Diavolo admits, his shoulders sagging as he speaks. "Some of the demons tried to attack MC, and that just proves that there is still bad blood between the realms, and there's no doubt that some of the Council Members will gossip about them and me tomorrow."
"Let them gossip."
Barbatos speaks bluntly, as if he has not asked the Prince to go against one of the principles he's been made to follow. Diavolo's jaw hangs open wide.
"Rumours always brew. If you're going to deny those photos that are printed in the newspapers but still be caught on outings with MC, then you're going to have a hard time, my Lord."
Diavolo settles back down on the couch, the plush sheets sinking under his weight. "And what if I choose to follow my heart?" He questions, tracing patterns on the fabric.
Barbatos smiles. "You'll be happy."
"And what if my love is not returned?"
"Then you can live knowing that you had confessed your feelings, regardless of whether they were returned or not."
A fitting argument made by his butler. But even if he follows his heart there are several consequences, countless things that could go wrong, relations that could break andâ
Diavolo doesn't want that to happen.
He sighs. "Lucifer won't accept it so easily, nor would his brothers."
"MC is a part of their family," Barbatos begins, moving forward to grab the now-cold tea. "The brothers want to see them happy, just like you."
Diavolo finds his lips turning upwards at that.
"And if MC's happiness lies with you, they won't interfere."
Before Barbatos can blink, the golden-eyed demon has wrapped his arms around the butler, effectively lifting the demon up in the air.
"Thank you," Diavolo murmurs, his voice quiet. "Thank you."
Barbatos smiles as he looks down at the Young Master, one hand awkwardly patting the head while the other balances the tea tray.
Diavolo feels giddyâwarm, after that conversation. He probably won't be able to get a proper rest tonight, but tomorrow's going to be an eventful day. Regardless of whether or not his feelings are reciprocated, he will live happily knowing that he had confessed.
This time, he'll hold your hand first.
This time, he will take you to a nice spotâprobably the fair that's going to come up soon or perhaps the secluded spot in the Devildom forest where the black-tailed canary is found.
This time, he'll close the distance between you two.
This time, Diavolo will voice his heart's longing.
~
I am quite worried about how this fic turned out. It's barely 3k words, but it's a start for me practicing writing long fics! I hope to improve on writing dialogues and scenes with practice, and I promise the next work is going to be better!
@henry-and-the-seven-lords I hope you like it!
