Summary: No human has ever avoided Asmodeus's charm. Except for you.
Pairing: Asmodeus x GN Reader/MC
Warnings: None for this chapter, mild innuendo and suggestive content in past chapters.
“Sataaannn, we’re supposed to go to my room,” Asmodeus whined. “You said I could do your nails after the RAD meeting!”
“And you can, I just have to find the book I left in the common room.” Asmo was hanging on Satan’s arm as the two demons entered the room. Beelzebub trailed behind them, balancing a tower of scones and the largest teapot you had ever seen in one hand, and three family packs of sushi in the other.
“Please be quick. Solomon has been working me to the bone and this is the only time I have to unwind.”
Asmo looked near tears. “It's the worst!”
Satan shook his head, turning back to the bookshelf.
You and Mammon were already in the common room, just about to pick up the chess game you had started the night before. Neither of you were particularly good at the game but you played anyway. Mammon waved his hand over the chess board, removing the magic spell that had saved the game for you.
“MC,” said Asmo. You turned, catching his eye.
“Yes?” You asked expectantly.
Asmo looked you up and down, finally settling on your eyes. You felt your cheeks growing hot under his stare.
“You might want to fix your hair, Sweetie, it’s looking a little flat.” he simpered, turning on his heel in the direction of his bedroom.
It wasn’t the first time he’d given you “constructive” criticism. It seemed every day there was something wrong with your appearance according to him. He had offered to give you a makeover once but the way he’d said it, it felt backhanded.
You stood there for a moment, watching him disappear down the hall. You had seen the tightness in Asmodeus’s smile. The way his eyes narrowed almost imperceptibly when he spoke to you.
“I wish I could get a better read on Asmo,” You said quietly, sitting down at the chess table. “Most of the time it seems like he doesn't like me very much.”
He was very hot and cold with you. One minute he was wiping blood off your face using his own handkerchief, the next he was criticizing your fashion choices or telling you to improve your skincare routine. Once he’d teasingly invited you to the hot springs with him, knowing you wouldn't be able to stand the heat as a human.
“Wha’da’ya mean? Asmo loves everyone, maybe too much. It’s kinda his thing. Speaking of,” Mammon said, moving his knight forward two spaces and to the left one space. “If he ever touches ya in a way you don't like or tries to lead you into some dark corner alone, let me know. I’ll… I’ll murder him for ya.”
“Thank’s Mammon,” you said, genuinely moved by Mammon’s offer, especially since he looked a little flustered saying it. “But I think I’ll be fine. I don’t feel unsafe around him, it’s just sometimes there's like… a menacing aura.”
“Ain’t that the definition of unsafe?”
“Asmo wouldn't do something bad to MC,” Beel said between bites of scone. He’d already scarfed down the sushi and now the front of his shirt was covered in crumbs like snow.
“He did save my life,” you added.
“He’s a lech and we all know it.” Mammon scoffed.
“Maybe,” Beel shrugged, offering you a scone.
It’s not like you hadn't dealt with mean people before. Even in the devildom things hadn't been smooth sailing. You got weird vibes from Solomon and Barbatos (although you suspected the latter was because Diavolo was so often skipping his Demon Prince duties as an excuse to talk to you and play hooky). Leviathan had almost killed you once and now you had a pact with him. Lucifer was always formal, even standoffish at times, but you knew he had some sort of affection for you, even if it was miniscule
“You’re right, MC, he doesn't like you,” said Satan.
You, Mammon, and Beelzebub all looked up at him, you’d forgotten he was still in the room.
Satan leaned back against the bookshelf, crossing his arms. “He called you ‘Sweetie,’ Asmo only uses that pet name when he’s pissed.”
“Nuh-uh,” said Mammon. “Asmo calls me that all the time–” He stopped short. “Hey wait a minute! Next time I see that pretty boy I’m gonna punch his teeth in!”
Beelzebub took a firm hold of Mammon’s arm. “I’m not going to let you do that to my big bro.”
Mammon brushed him off. “Hey I’m your big bro too, ya know!”
While the other two argued, Satan continued, noting the dejected expression on your face. “If I had to wager a guess,” he said, sliding a leatherbound book off the shelf. “Asmo’s negative opinion of you might have to do with the fact his charm doesn't work on you.”
“But we only did it that one time, I hardly think that's enough to come to a solid conclusion.”
Satan shook his head, selecting another book and stacking it on top of the first. “He has tried it almost every morning at breakfast, from what I’ve noticed. And he tried it again just now.”
You gaped at Satan. This was news to you. “He– he has?”
“Yes and it appears it failed once again.”
No wonder Asmo hated you.
“Ever since my brothers’ fall from the Celestial Realm, Asmo has built his entire being, and nearly all of his power on his charm. And you, a mere human with no magical abilities, won’t fall for him. It must be tearing him up inside.” Satan did not relish in saying these words, something that would have surprised you a week or two before. Demons were supposed to be evil and, well, demonic. But the brothers all seemed to care about each other a great deal. Even the ones who were constantly fighting.
“Maybe I should try harder to fall under his spell.” You knew what you were saying was ridiculous. You just wanted Asmo to like you. He had such a warm presence when he was in a good mood. You thought the two of you could be great friends if he’d just give you another chance. And there was the matter of you needing to make a pact with him.
“I don’t think this is something you can just decide to try, MC,” said Satan. “No human has ever failed to fall for Asmodeus’s charm before. There are ways his charm is similar to hypnosis, but some people being more suggestible than others isn’t one of them. Your… condition is unprecedented.”
You leaned back in your chair, eying the chess board. “So does that mean there’s something wrong with me?” You sighed.
“Yeah there’s somethin’ wrong with you, alright,” Mammon said. “You actually want to be charmed by Asmo. That’s insane, you know that?”
“His symbol is the scorpion, you know. They’re venomous. Aren’t scorpions deadly to humans?”
“Not all of them.” You said.
“Yeah but they still cause ya pain, right?”
“I have to warn you as well, MC,” said Satan. “Asmo is not some fairytale prince with a heart of gold, no matter how physically handsome he is. He’s a demon who would eat your soul if he wanted to.”
You sat up straighter, “So you’re saying I’m no safer around him than I am around lower level demons?”
You raised an eyebrow. “Might I remind you, three of your brothers have already tried to kill me in the past few weeks and of those three I already have pacts with two of them.”
That seemed to quiet Satan.
“So?” said Mammon. “It ain’t like you’re collectin’ pacts with all a’ us, right? I think three pacts with the strongest demons in the Devildom is more than enough.”
Satan caught the way your eyes darted away from Mammon. “MC,” he said slowly, recapturing your attention, he raised a quizzical eyebrow. “Why do you want pacts with all of us?”
You looked away again, this time you made eye contact with Beel, who shrugged. You thought about the boy in the attic. Belphegor, Beel’s twin, whose only hope hinged on you making pacts with his brothers to free him.
“I want to earn Lucifer’s respect.” It was the same thing you had told Beel when he agreed to make a pact with you.
Satan laughed humorlessly, “As if he’s worth earning respect from.”
You shot him a challenging look. “And yet I still want to earn it.”
Mammon looked between the two of you, clearly expecting Satan to blow up on you, but he didn't. He just looked you over, appraisingly, a small smirk creeping up on his face.
“Why would you want someone to take your willpower away, MC?” Beel asked, he put one large hand on your shoulder. He looked truly concerned.. “Asmo’s ‘fans’... they’re like love zombies.”
Beel’s remark gave you pause. You had seen what Asmo had done to that demon at The Fall. He was like a doll Asmo could play with and manipulate to his own whims.
But you couldn’t falter, you had a mission to do. Squaring your shoulders, you answered Beel. “If him charming me is what will earn his trust, I’ll do anything I can to make that happen. Besides, I know you’ll protect me if I need it, Beel.”
“I don’t like this, MC,” said Mammon.
“You don’t have to like it. This is my decision.” You crossed your arms over your chest with finality. You would have the last word in this. “Mammon, Why did you agree to make a pact with me?”
“To get my baby girl Goldie back.” He smirked, patting his jacket pocket where his credit card, “Goldie,” resided, safely in his wallet.
“Would you have made that pact if you didn't trust me?”
Mammon thought for a long while. “I guess I wouldn't have made the pact if I thought you would be cruel to me. But I knew you were good for it.” His voice turned to almost a whisper. “And… there was one other reason.”
You cocked your head at him, waiting for his response. It was Beelzebub who spoke next.
“It can be easier to find you if you’re bonded in a pact. You can feel the other’s presence. And if the bond is strong you can sense when the other is in danger. It makes it easier to protect you.”
You nodded, looking away from Mammon’s blushing face. “Sometimes you have to give up a little for the people you care about. That’s why I’m willing to let Asmo charm me. I know he won't hurt me.”
“There’s gotta be another way.” said Mammon.
You shook your head. “He resents me because his power doesn't work on me. And it seems like he resents his pact with Solomon right now.”
“He’s always been a whiner. It’ll pass.”
“Maybe that’s true,” you said. “But I want to show him I’m willing to let him use me the way he thinks I’m going to use him. And the only way I can do that is if I let him charm me.”
