𝑷𝑹𝑶𝑭. 𝑷𝑼𝑺𝑺𝒀 𝑷𝑶𝑷𝑷𝑬𝑹

❣︎🅕🅤🅒🅚 🅐 (🅑🅤🅣🅣)🅛🅔🅡 🅣🅞🅓🅐🅨!!❣︎ [Barbatos (obey me) centric acc]

[theunaveragepsychoticbitch]

I can hardly navigate my own blog, so if you wanna read more about Barbatos being loved on in various ways, we can both use my writing tag #unaveragewrites (don't worry it's in the tags on this too)

And unaverage unfinished are drafts that have been baking for too long !

[thisisrats]

begging on my knees for fem barbatos plsss omg

Served!

Ah I kinda imagine her with a tiny ponytail but this came out looking pretty elegant so I left it like this

[theunaveragepsychoticbitch]

Beauty Marks, or Moles?

[GN Reader x Barbatos. He kisses your beauty marks– or are they moles? Let's find out.]

One on the back of your left thigh.

Another, on your right knee.

Two on either side of your neck.

"...and one on the inside of your right wrist."

You look down, and sure enough, there it was: a tiny black dot you hadn't even noticed. How had he? Moreover, how did he remember them all?

"There's a saying about these, both in the human and demon realms..."

He holds your wrist with a familiar gentleness. As though it were only right, you lean into him as he pulls you close. You can feel his breath fanning across your face; and he, yours. Your gazes are locked, a visible representation of the bond between you two. There's a small, mischievous smile growing on his lips.

"Beauty marks are where your soulmate liked to kiss you the most."

Your heartbeat speeds up, your irises almost physically turning to hearts. What a sweet man you've found.

"Really? I always just thought of them as regular moles." Subconsciously, you sink deeper into his touch. Your opposite fingers curl around his other hand as your bodies magnetize to each other. His warmth becomes yours, and you hardly even notice the change. You're at home in his arms.

"Beauty marks, moles. The name doesn't change a thing; the love pressed into these tiny spots spans timelines."

He presses a kiss to the wrist he holds.

You return the flirt twofold, lowering your eyelids just so as you, with faux innocence, whisper, "Do you think you could kiss a new one into my skin, love?"

He smirks, still bent, gazing up at you through his lashes. "I could kiss you enough to cover you head to toe."

He rises slowly, never breaking eye contact with you. A small, shared smile grows on your faces. You challenge him, your voice low and alluring, "Wanna bet on that?"

His smile stretches into a grin, with a feral look in his eyes to match. "Of course."

-----

A/N: first time finishing an old draft in forever.

[delya-a]

it is SO cute to me that he has that little purple pin on his jacket. like that’s his favorite color. he just wanted to have a little splash of it on his outfit, for funsies, and i love him for it :C

[vinniyam]

[gluttiny]

💕 he likes it

based on this post sksksk

[theunaveragepsychoticbitch]

ME ASFF LMAO

[pipermca]

I got another spam comment today on AO3, and I want to share it as a PSA. But before I do, I want you to understand that you SHOULD NOT DO what this comment is asking. Ok? Ok.

See that bit at the bottom? Don't do that. Insert ParamedicGuy.gif going "Don't."

Other malicious spam comments I've gotten seemed designed to make an author question their writing, or outright encourage them to delete their stories from AO3. This one is different, in that it tries to get you to destroy the work on your own computer.

If you ran that command, it basically locates your Documents folder, then deletes everything in it, including all subfolders. It also does it without any prompt, so you have no chance to second guess your actions.

This is just fucking trolling.

Coincidentally, we just did training on a cyberattack similar to this, called a ClickFix attack. You can read about how that works here.

As a general rule, if ANYONE or ANY WEBSITE tells you unsolicited* to do anything in Powershell, CMD RUN, command prompt, shell command, or something similar, DON'T.

*There are legit reasons for running commands in PowerShell or the command prompt, but in those cases you are likely seeking out a solution to a problem you are already experiencing. Don't just run random commands on your computer as recommended by some unlogged-in guest on a fan fiction site.

Always think and consider before taking action, and get a second opinion from a trusted source. When I got this comment I was pretty sure what the command would do, and it took me about three seconds of googling to confirm it.

Be safe out there!

[devildomwriter]

“I love you.”

“My goodness… Why thank you. I’m honored you would say that, ___.”

— MC and Barbatos (Chapter 80-12)

[mspaintobeyme]

Are you a fan of hit mobile games Defy You: No Masters to Rule Any of Them, Defy You: Daytaker and Defy You: I Don't? 

Then this is the zine for you! 

Filled with 91 pages of incredible work, each painstakingly hand crafted exclusively in Microsoft Paint by our amazing contributors!

Please enjoy everyone's hard work for FREE, HERE!

And an additional extra big thank you to our beautiful contributors, this project would not be what it is without them!

If you see an artwork you really love, please be sure to find the artist and let them know!

[theunaveragepsychoticbitch]

Happy Valentine's I'll make it up asap

[ephie-om]

A Special Outing

Thanks to @pseudonymphomania for these prompts for the month of February! See my tags for more rambling ok

Barbatos had planned everything, down to the last detail. It would be a normal shopping trip on the surface, nothing out of the ordinary to dissuade you from accompanying him. He had told you that he needed your expertise in choosing ingredients the most similar to their human-world equivalents- but he had something else behind the scenes.

The trip was a thinly disguised first date. He would cook one of your favorite meals for you with the ingredients you'd bought after you two returned to the castle, pair it with a rich vintage demonus that he'd bought just because it had some of your favorite tasting notes, and sweep you off your feet in a private waltz. The romantic part wasn't exactly supposed to start before the two of you reached home, but if he laid some groundwork during shopping, who could fault him? He pretends to consider a pile of fruits, testing them for ripeness, like his nose hadn't already picked out the perfect one since before it had been in arm's reach.

You're a few paces behind him, eyes wide as you taken in all the unfamiliar sights. You have a habit of wandering off-course, drifting away from his side whenever something catches your eye, but he happens to find it unbelievably endearing. He listens for your footsteps, follows your eyes to find what you think is interesting. It helps him understand you just a little bit more.

Of course, there are still times where you manage to catch him off-guard. He's reminded of that pointedly when he turns to see you with your hands buried in a tray of edible seeds. “MC?” he asks curiously. 

“Yeah?”

“What are you doing?”

“I don’t know. They feel really nice on my hands. Wanna try?” 

Mentally, he notes that the seeds you’re playing in are human-safe. Not that you knew that, necessarily. It’s not for nothing that several of his phone numbers on speed-dial are related to human emergencies. “If you enjoy them that much, we could take some home.”

“It’s okay,” you pull your hands free and dust them off. “What are we looking for?”

“Supposedly, there’s a few varieties of vegetables distantly related to rhubarb. Their stalks are- what?”

You’d started to laugh, muffled, but in no way quiet. He turns to see you hiding your mouth behind a hand. “Rhubarb,” you chuckle.

“Yes, rhubarb.” You snort again, and he looks perplexed. “May I ask what’s so entertaining about rhubarb?”

“It’s like you,” you grin. “Rhubarb. Barbatos.” You laugh at your own joke, but your smile fades when you take in his expression. He must look just as confused as he feels. He almost feels bad for not being as delighted in your joke as you are, but you shrug noncommittally. “I thought it was funny. I can help you look.”

He briefly describes the vegetable, and you nod seriously, scanning your surroundings. Barbatos had spotted it in the midst of your giggling, but he elects not to ruin the joy of the hunt for you. You tap your fingers against your lips rhythmically, turning on one foot to look behind you. You perk up, eyes brightening at the sight, and dart off- in the wrong direction. Confused, he looks back to check that the vegetable he’s looking for hadn’t walked away. No, it’s still there, but there you go again. 

Maybe it’s your own boundless curiosity that’s become contagious, but Barbatos can’t help but try and see the world through your eyes. He abandons his mission for now and turns to follow you. There’s another mischievous smile growing on your face, and you snatch something from the stand in front of you. “Barbatos!” you call out, turning to meet him. “Look!”

You’ve scooped up a fish, a common Devildom variety, with a gray, flat face and prominent mandibles. He knows the type- he’s used it many times before. But you’re grinning like it’s just told you a joke only the two of you understand. 

“Yes?” he tilts his head, trying to play along.

You hold up the fish, and its face slumps along with the gravity, revealing a set of yellowish teeth as the mouth curves into an almost cartoonish frown. “Look,” you chortle. “It’s Lucifer!”

Barbatos snorts, which makes you cackle even louder. He drops his eyes, trying to regain composure, but when he raises them again, he sees the fish’s face, and his mind unhelpfully superimposes Lucifer’s features on it. He laughs this time, placing a hand over his mouth, but his shoulders are shaking. “MC,” he says, trying to sound very stern through his wobbling voice.

You grin at him. “Yeah?”

“Put that down. We have shopping to do.”

“Right, right.” Your smile drops, face arranging itself into a hard, humorless mask. “We’re doing very important stuff right now. No time for meeting Lucifer.”

“Exactly,” his mouth twitches into a smile. “We need ingredients to make Barbatos pie- I mean, rhubarb pie.”

You burst into laughter, and he smiles affectionately at you from your side. Your giggles last until the two of you reach the vegetable stand he’d seen several minutes ago, and he just barely hears you mutter “Barbatos pie” under your breath, which sends you into another round of quiet chuckles. He places a gloved hand on your head. 

“MC?” You look up at him, tears in your eyes. “You really ought to go wash your hands. I don’t think fish secretions are typically healthy for your skin.”

[mercuryheadcanons-maybe]

hii !! i love your work so much!

i would looveee to see the brothers (maybe side characters too if you’re up for it!!) reaction to an mc who has a hard time crying because their body physically won’t let them but they still feel all the hurt feelings that would cause crying so they usually just mask it, act off because they can’t let their feeling out even though they really want to, or look like they’re about to but nothing happens

this is a bit self indulgent to me because i can’t cry when i need to and when i do, my body stops my eyes so early even though it’s not nearly enough to make me feel better

you can play around with the concept more to however you think makes it easier or fun to write / more fun to read !!

A/N: After almost a week I am back!

Obey me cast with a Mc who can't cry.

Lucifer:

Notices immediately when MC goes quiet-but-not-quiet.

Sees the stiffness, the forced composure.

Knows that control doesn’t mean absence of pain.

When MC says “I’m fine,” Lucifer doesn’t push.

He sits with them instead.

“You don’t need tears to prove you’re hurting.”

Gives MC space but never distance.

Lowers expectations without making a big deal out of it.

Makes it clear they are allowed to be affected.

Mammon:

Hates this. Hates it.

He’d rather see MC sob than hold it all in.

“C’mon… just yell at me or somethin’.”

Gets restless when MC masks too hard.

Tries distractions first—jokes, snacks, stupid stories.

When that doesn’t work, he gets soft.

Pulls MC into a hug without saying anything.

“Ya don’t gotta cry. Just… don’t be alone, okay?”

Leviathan:

Recognizes dissociation immediately.

MC reminds him of himself.

Understands the feeling of emotions stuck behind glass.

Lets MC ramble or sit in silence both are okay.

Sends messages later like:

“You don’t have to reply. Just wanted you to know I’m here.”

That means everything.

Satan:

Knows tears aren’t the only release.

Watches MC’s body language closely.

Notices clenched hands, shallow breaths.

Encourages grounding instead of crying.

“Your body is protecting you. That doesn’t make your pain less real.”

Offers quiet outlets:

Reading together

Walking

Controlled anger release

Never rushes MC.

Asmodeus:

Sees through the mask instantly.

The smile that doesn’t reach MC’s eyes?

Nope.

Validates emotions without demanding expression.

“You don’t have to cry to deserve comfort, darling.”

Gives affection freely, touch, compliments, reassurance.

Lets MC feel loved without having to “perform” sadness.

Beelzebub:

Notices changes in routine.

MC skipping meals or eating without appetite?

He notices.

Sits close.

Offers food quietly.

“You don’t have to talk.”

His presence is steady, grounding.

Makes MC feel safe enough to exist while hurting.

Belphegor:

Understands numbness too well.

Notices when MC is pretending everything is okay.

Calls them out gently.

“You don’t look fine.”

Doesn’t demand explanation.

Just stays.

Lets MC rest against him.

Pain doesn’t have to be loud to be real.

Diavolo:

Deeply concerned when MC seems “off.”

Doesn’t assume happiness just because MC is smiling.

Asks sincere questions.

“How are you really feeling?”

Accepts “I don’t know” as a valid answer.

Sweet boy.

Makes it clear MC is allowed to feel complicated emotions.

Barbatos:

Notices everything.

Sees the almost-tears that never fall.

Doesn’t push for emotional release.

Creates safety through routine and care.

Brings tea.

Adjusts the environment.

“You do not need to cry for me to understand.”

That sentence alone nearly breaks MC.

Solomon:

Knows the body can suppress emotional responses.

Explains it without pathologizing.

“Your emotions are there. They’re just… stuck.”

Helps MC find alternate releases:

Writing

Magic

Quiet rituals

Never treats it like something broken.

Simeon:

Gentle, patient, endlessly kind.

Sits with MC when words won’t come.

Encourages self-compassion.

“Tears are not the only language of pain.”

Reminds MC they are not failing at being human.

That alone is healing.

Raphael:

Struggles to understand at first.

Learns through observation.

Protects MC fiercely once he realizes they hide pain.

Stands guard quietly.

His way of saying: you are not weak.

Thirteen:

Notices mood shifts instantly.

Uses humor carefully never dismissively.

Distracts without minimizing.

“You don’t have to be okay around me.”

Lets MC feel messy without judgment.

Mephistopheles:

Pretends not to notice.

Notices anyway.

Adjusts behavior subtly.

Less teasing, more space.

Shows care indirectly but sincerely.

[bugwithakeyboard]

So it seems weekends really make it difficult for me to write. Maybe I oughta write double on the days before just so I don't miss it, 'cause I want to write everyday in January at least. We'll see how the rest of the year goes lmao. ——————————————————

Barbatos had been busy for as long as you'd known him. You can't remember a day in which he was allowed to just goof off, or maybe it's just that even in his down time, he found some kind of work to do. Once, while you two were alone, you'd worked up the courage to ask if he ever dreamed of a vacation, and he insisted that he enjoyed performing his duties as a butler- being in charge of Diavolo's schedule and well being gave him purpose and satisfaction.

At the time, you'd just let it go as the musings of the perfect butler. He'd seemed sincere enough in his words and you couldn't do much to alleviate his burden anyway, might as well feed into the idea and hope for the best right? That mentality is most likely the reason you ended up int this position in the first place, dressed as a butler and pouring another drink for one of the many guests at the fancy party that the prince was throwing. You wonder if the brothers are handling themselves well enough in their various service jobs as you bow politely to one of the fancy demons you can't pronounce the names of.

As they walk off, barley recognizing your presence, you let yourself relax a little into your weight. Barbatos can be seen by Diavolo's side, catering to him as he schmoozes with the various party-goers, and you're almost jealous for a second before his sharp eyes catch yours and he offers you a knowing smirk. You know the man is a powerful demon, capable of changing and knowing everything but sometimes, it's easy to forget. Not tonight though, it's obvious that everything happening in this party is by his will and you have to swallow with difficulty at exactly how vast the butler's domain really is.

You overhear a few guests discussing something that Barbatos had pitched to you a month ago. In passing, he'd mentioned increasing the city's budget by appealing to some of the more artistic and bougie natures of the Devildom elite. Now, as you pout another drink and bow in respect, you hear a conversation about what a fine idea the prince had and how nicely it would benefit so-and-so's house if they were to participate in these new art-revering initiatives. Barbatos had planned it, from Diavolo's talking points, to his direction, to the list of guests that would most welcome the topic of tonight's dinner. You swallow again and chance another look at the man.

Perfectly poised and ready for anything, the butler floats around the large banquet hall like he were on a rail and you find yourself mesmerized by him more than once. His grace, his elegance, in another world you wonder if he himself might have been a prince- when he catches your eye again, the endless knowledge and mystery in them confirms something in your chest that you can't quite parse. You hold his gaze a moment too long before the heat that fills them changes and you shift from awestruck to terrified. One of the brothers needs wrangling and it's your responsibility to handle it.

When Barbatos has brought up the request to you and your demons, they'd all demanded some kind of payment to perform as the wait staff for the event. Naturally, Barbatos has compiled everything they could have asked for, before they'd even uttered the words- but you were a different challenge for the man. When he turned to you, asking for your assistance, it was in private and away from the rabble. He'd been honest in his request, almost vulnerable and you'd felt that same feeling from the night you'd asked about his status. There was little you could do to alleviate his burden, but in this moment, there was something. Barbatos knew you wouldn't turn him down, and in asking at all had sealed your fate with the rest of the house.

Discreetly, you remove silverware from Mammon's pockets- under threat of pact violence- you wonder how long Barbatos has known how to manipulate you. You've been in the Devildom for years now, so surely it's almost second nature to him. He's known you a long while and with his time-spanning powers, you wonder if he's known you longer than anyone could really know. He could probably convince you into anything, should he want to and while wrangle a plate of appetizers out of Beelzebub's hands, you wonder if you've ever willingly done something for the butler without his spinning the thread.

There's no time to really think about it when you're bouncing between the brothers, saving some poor sap from becoming Asmo's plaything, then soothing Satan after a noble demon mentioned they found dogs cuter, you had your work cut out for you. The only saving grace of the evening was that Lucifer would step in to help whenever he wasn't acting out his role perfectly. You breathe a sigh of relief when Diavolo takes the stage to thank everyone for their attendance and wish them all a good night. You're so tired that the minute Barbatos closes the large entrance hall doors for good, you collapse onto your back and groan loud and childlike.

The brothers are off like lightning once you've loosened your grip on their leashes. With the brunt of the work done, the brothers begin to disperse. Asmodeus grabs Satan and rushes off to get dressed- a glamourous evening with one of the aristocrats who'd attended- who happened to know the blond. Beelzebub gets to work finishing off every bit of food that hadn't been eaten by the guests, Belphie asleep on the table next to him. Leviathan and Mammon disappear, though you'd heard the greed demon make a deal to listen to the other man's grievances in exchange for an extra set of hands- and when you relay that information to Lucifer, he sets off to look for the trouble makers. That leaves you and Barbatos in the front hall to bid Diavolo a good night.

Once his master has left, the butler calls for one of the little D's, the imp rushing up with a plate of food and a tall bottle of water. You feel yourself salivate and realize too late that Barbatos had requested it for you, mentioning that he'd seen you go without food for the entire party. "Come sit with me on the balcony, I promise it's a much nicer view than the ceiling." You take his hand up and let him lead you to a comfortable chair with a great view. The thought that he'd orchestrated everything down to the T comes back to you once you're not as ravenous.

"Sometimes, it's hard to know if I'm even making decisions at all." You make the comment in jest, but Barbatos' expression reads as shock. The longer you stare at him, the more it morphs into unease, and then finally, anguish. You feel guilty for having said it but it's hard to feel like you're in control when you can see every string he pulls, and how easily he can pull the things attached to them. "Sorry Barbie, I didn't mean that to be offensive. You're just too smart and capable." though the compliment does little to ease his displeasure.

"Please" he says in a soft voice, one almost foreign from the effortlessly perfect demon, "Please know that of all the things in this world, you are the one I have no domain over." The words are a strange confession that leaves you feeling almost untethered. He says your name and leans closer to you over the table "In every universe, in every time, you are the single most perplexing thing I have ever encountered" This is starting to feel less and less like a compliment. "You are an enigma to me, and I enjoy every new moment in your presence." You swallow your food and stare at him for a moment, trying to sift through your emotions.

"You're probably more powerful than Diavolo is." The words spill out before you can hear them. "I know that you're comfortable in his service but- well… Barbie, you've got a vice grip on reality." You feel the memory of him literally saving your life flutter through your head as you continue. "It's weird, to know that immensity of your powers- but not even just the time stuff. You're just…" You put down your silverware as you consider your phrasing. "You're so clever- so aware and in control and it's just- it's a little scary I guess." Your honesty seems to help soothe the misery on the demon's face. "Barbie, you're just- you're so amazing. I'm not upset if you do play me like a fiddle. If you have- I don't even notice it at all."

He straightens up in his chair but turns his head to face the table. "I scare you?" There's a pause but you nod and he whispers your name like a secret, "You terrify me." The raw way he says it shoots straight to your core and you blink at him like you're waiting for the punchline. "I have never known someone as unknowable as you. You plague me, with every motion, every choice- The only way I can learn you is to be with you and it's become the most fascinating mystery" Teal catches your gaze and you swallow the lump forming in your throat at his intensity. "I am not accustomed to being so ill-prepared." His voice sounds almost like a threat, and you feel a cold sweat build on your palms.

For a moment, you think he might eat you. His gaze is so intense, his eyes like a predators as they core into you where you sit. He faces you fully now and the sheer intensity of his presence makes your breath catch in your chest. Opening your mouth to speak feels impossible but you still manage to squeak out a response somehow. "Would you like to know me, Barbie?" And if you thought he was staring before, the look in his eyes now flays and debones you. Your hands tremble and for the first time in years you feel fear in front of a demon. Though, there's a heavy thrill and excitement around the edges of it.

You don't remember the last time you'd seen him smile with teeth, but the way his lips pull back makes you think of a snake baring it's fangs before it strikes. The sensation shoots through you like fire and you hold your breath until you hear a soft, small "If you'll have me" leave his lips. He leans in closer to you, his eyes sharp and searching and for as polite as he is, and as in control as he insists you are, you can't help but feel like you never had a choice in the matter. When he leans in close enough to kiss you, the soft press of your lips together and the lightning that shoots through you makes you think that it never mattered at all whether you chose him or not, so long as his lips don't stop moving with yours just like that.

[orochinazu]

「If I believe I can be of service to you, I will do anything.」

[devildomwriter]

"You have many desires. Of which the most remarkable is to spend a relaxing time in my room? Well, for you, my room is always open. Why not come and spend the night?"

— Barbatos to MC (Mont Blanc of Desire Special Dialogue)

[bugwithakeyboard]

I need more people using Barbie as a nickname for this ancient, eldritch horror demon. Please. I just wanna give him baby girl treatment, everyone join me on my quest.

Barbatos x Gn!Reader! Required feelings, reader is thirsty as sin, that’s okay tho, cause so is Barbie hehehe rated T for laboured breathing and bad community theatre.

—————————————————————

Maybe it was out of fear for your safety, or maybe it was out of consideration for him, but never in a million years would you have imagined yourself carrying Barbatos bridal style, out of the demon king's castle. His lithe body curled into yours as you walk him carefully though the threshold, offering soft words of encouragement as you make the trip. The most powerful demon (arguably) in the devildom, wrapped around your neck and buried against your shoulder as he fights to control his breathing. The sensation of his soft shudders against your chest, the way his nails dig into your back, the way he pulls himself ever closer to you- all reminders that this was not your imagination at all.

Trying to keep yourself in check as you comfort your friend is proving difficult in its own right. Barbatos is mysterious, reliable, and so effortlessly perfect that you can't help but think about him often. He plagues your thoughts regularly, but seeing him like this, vulnerable and dependent on you is going to fuel your nights for years to come. It's difficult to rein in your own wild fantasies when you'd been the one to pick him up in his moment of weakness, but you make a valiant effort all the same. He needs you in this moment and you swallow down your own desires to focus on keeping the butler safe and out of harm’s way. Or, out of rat's way.

One of the little D's had decided that it would be easier to throw garbage into a 'compost hole' after you'd talked to them about responsible waste management. You'd, of course, never meant that as an easy way for the little guys to get lazy in their chores but clearly it had backfired all the same. The whole thing was only made worse when No.6 had asked you about taking responsibility and you'd insisted it was the right thing to do. How could you have known that he'd meant taking responsibility for the small rat colony that had built a home in the garden of the palace and had slowly begun infesting the house. In part, your willingness to care for Barbatos during his time of crisis is because you feel responsible. The other, much larger part, is your rampant desire for the man.

Dutifully, you carry the time demon back to the house of lamentation, glad for the short distance between the two estates. While you aren't weak, Barbatos is dense muscle and that makes carrying him long distances a bit taxing. Though, you decide in this moment that maybe you'd better work on getting stronger- How could you carry him home on your wedding day if you can hardly make the trip now when you're just saving his life? Putting away the fantasy a moment, you manage to get Barbatos through the threshold of the house but in hearing the racket from the shared spaces, you choose to bring him somewhere private so he can recalibrate himself before making an appearance.

Your bedroom is simply the best choice to grant him privacy and calm. As you lay him down on your bed and press your foreheads together, you insist that it's only meant to help ease his mind. You are his friend and confidant in the moment over all else. Everything you do is for his benefit- or you continue to tell yourself that when he doesn't release your neck and instead insists that you lay down beside him. "Your heartbeat is reassuring" and you take that comment like unholy testament as you scramble onto the mattress with him. His warmth is so close to you that you're not sure where your body ends and his begins and if it weren't for the fact that he was in distress, you'd be on cloud nine.

Unfortunately, he is in distress, and you're a good (enough) person that you can't just relish in the moment while he anguishes right next to you. Bringing a hand up to his shoulder, you try to soothe him with the soft circles and a firm pressure along his arm and back. He lets out soft and after a moment of complete silence, save for his breathing and your soft words, he manages to peel himself off the pillow and sit upright. There's the sound of rustling clothes as he adjusts himself, fixing his kerchief and smoothing out his coat before turning to face you with a soft, embarrassed expression. "My deepest apologies for my embarrassing behaviour." His words come out in their usual, even tone, but you can still hear the slight wobble in them. It makes your chest tight in the best way.

Sitting up yourself, you move to fill his eyeline. Despite his red face, he still offers you a practiced smile and a soft bow that you simply can't tolerate in this moment. He's being strong for his own pride, but you've just had a taste of his vulnerability and you want more- no, you want to ensure your friend isn't simply pretending to be alright (yeah, that works). Leaning in closer still, you place one of your hands on his chest and offer him another sweet smile. "Barbie, it's okay to rely on me in moments like this. I'm here for you, here to help." While he does seem to relax a little, his eyes look clearer now. The usual sharp, clever teal returns to him, and you mourn your little moment of bliss.

Barbatos stands from the bed, and you assume he's going to step out and organize an extermination with the brothers. He does not, however, go towards the door, but instead carefully removes his jacket and shoes, placing them by one of the chairs at the table in your room. He undoes his kerchief and then comes back to you, crawling onto the comforter and then laying himself where he'd been when you first placed him there. Your eyes wander helplessly along his elegant form, drinking in every curve and arch of his body but before you can say anything, ask any question about his wellbeing or actions, he tugs at your collar. "Forgive me, it seems I'm still in a state of unease" he says, with the easiest tone you've ever heard.

No further delays are needed though, he's made it clear he wants your attention, wants your considerations and you intend to provide. Laying back beside him, you bring an arm up to caress his shoulder and upper arm. This appears to be the wrong answer when Barbatos instead takes your hand, and scoots close enough to you that you’re forced to drape your arm over his side in a pseudo hug. Breaths overlapping, he lets his eyes flutter shut and leans into your warmth- the position equivocal to a cuddle. The position equivocal to your fantasies and absolutely making your head spin between the two of you and the dark of the room. When his eyes open, the teal nearly startles you against the dark and he speaks your name in a soft chuckle. "Thank you for taking care of me. I cannot imagine how I might have made it out of there, if not for your courage." the words ghost across your face, and you can smell every letter on his peppermint breath.

The distance between you two makes you loopy and you feel the way your body aches with his proximity. You try to flex your hands to keep yourself in control, but the action only reminds you how your arm falls across his side, feeling the texture of his expensive shirt. Fluttering beneath your own, your heart beats loud as a clock tower in your ears and you fight every urge to lean in and close the distance between your lips. When your foreheads meet, you realize you're losing the battle and jerk backwards like you've been burnt, your face red enough that you might have been. You expect Barbatos to chuckle or perhaps make an innocent comment about not having noticed. Instead, you hear the dissatisfied little huff before his eyes open back up to stare at you.

For as ancient and powerful as he is, your own novice behaviour is probably irritating to him. Here he is, trusting you with his anxiety and you just blink at him with your mouth hanging open because he's hot and laid out in front of you? Surely, you're better than this! You decide to prove that you are, so you lift yourself up on your elbow and put on your best concern before petting his hair the way you might pet Lukes. Barbatos is important to you, and you won't be disappointing him if you can help it. Except, when you look down into his eyes, your obvious shift in demeanour puts an unhappy expression on his face. You blink down at his straight line of a mouth and unimpressed eyes. Even his eyebrows press together slightly, and you feel yourself sweat a little as you contemplate what you did wrong. "Are... are you feeling better, Barbie?" You offer out in a parental tone.

"No. Truly I am plagued by my own anxieties. If it is not too much to ask, could I trouble you to hold me? I'm simply too frightened to move." it feels like he's reciting lines to a play he wanted no part in and you're not sure if you should laugh or cry. Here you were, fighting back your base instincts to just touch him and enjoy his warmth and now you're basically being told that that’s exactly what he'd like you to do (it can’t mean the depraved way you’d wanted though). He almost seems totally different than he had been at the castle- and you're realizing that he's been playing up his fear (You can’t bring yourself to hope it’s for more physical contact). Blinking down at the demon you try to offer a different, supportive tone, but he lifts a gloved hand, placing it against your mouth. Shifting his expression into the type of smile that acts as a warning, he repeats himself. "If it is not too much to ask, could I trouble you to hold me?" It seems second time's the charm.

Lowering yourself against him, you pull Barbatos into your arms and he immediately reciprocates. He drapes himself around you and the cuddle that ensues makes your heart hammer and your face flush. You can't believe that he wanted this as well, basically put on a whole performance for you to just get to this point (though, it’s probably platonic) and you can't help but wonder when it started. When the sensation isn't immediately flooding your system with endorphins, you manage to ask. "So, the rat thing in the castl-" he bumps his forehead against yours hard enough to derail you. Clearly, he doesn't want to speak about it, so that's proof enough that the whole thing wasn't a lie. You remove a hand from his waist to nurse your brow, and he sighs a little against your chin.

As per his request, you keep silent, holding him against you while your entire body overheats and putters out. It's the closest thing to heaven as you can find in hell and while you wish you could confirm his intention, you also just want to take the chance to revel in this sensation a little longer (who cares if it’s platonic for him, this is awesome). He's so warm and you can feel his muscles, compact in his lithe frame. Holding him like this, smelling his breath and feeling it against your face makes your stomach flip around like a gyroscope. Willing yourself to calm down takes forever, but after some time you do manage to calm enough to pass out in his arms. You wake a short time later as he shifts to stand from the bed.

Watching him retrieve his things and adhere his necktie feels like an invasion of his privacy. His deft fingers work easily around the knot and as he readies himself to return to the rest of the world, you can't help but stare (like always). Barbatos is so gorgeous. His shoulders, not too broad but manly, his thin waist, perfect to wrap your hands around, his sleek build, elegant and inviting- you feel like a pervert and need to bury your face into the pillow to stop from audibly groaning. He hears you all the same and returns to the bed, kneeling beside you. The sensation of his fingers against your head is what make your eyes open to meet him and when they do you feel yourself melt all over again, but not enough to stop your question. "Why play up the damsel in distress act?" You mumble into your pillow, unwilling to break eye contact with the beautiful demon.

Barbatos' chuckle shoots through your bones and you let out a pathetic noise as he pets your head, dragging his thumb along the shell of your ear. "Please forgive my earlier deception. I had intended to push passed my distress and return to the castle immediately, but your face was so determined, and your arms were quite inviting- I found myself wanted to play the damsel quite desperately." He strokes from your ear to your cheek and puts on a devious little smile. "Since you were so eager, both today and every time you lose yourself staring, I could not help myself." Peppermint is all you can smell as he leans into you, turning your head with the hand on your cheek and whispering your name against your lips. "I wanted you to spoil me a while." He leans in the slightest bit more, letting his lip rub against yours in a soft press but no real kiss. When he pulls away, it's with a coy smile and an amused expression. "My sincerest apologies, darling." You're sure he's never been less sorry for anything.

Teal roots itself to you as he stands back up, straightens his posture and clothing and then turns to the door. His eyes drop from you when he turns, and you feel breath in your lungs again. You're almost dizzy on his aura and you hadn't even noticed when grabbing the sheets until your hands ache from squeezing them. Before he closes the door, Barbatos offers you one last look over, his eyes trailing your prone body and that same satisfied expression etched into his sinful features. Once he's out of sight you melt and groan. There isn't a soul alive who could stand up to the time demon when he wanted to seduce someone- that was clearly him trying to seduce you right?

Exhausted and exhilarated, you stare up at the ceiling as you play with your lip. The sensation of him in your arms, against your body, pressing your lips together (your first proper kiss would be way better than that), it all leaves you thrumming and excited. Barbatos has plagued your thoughts for as long as you've known him, and while you would never have assumed anything a week ago, it's clear your constant desire for the man had become not only obvious, but welcome as well. It would be a waste to not seize the opportunity and fantasize about the man with his clear approval. So, for the rest of the night (and month), you recall every touch of his fingers, his lips, the way his forehead had knocked yours and how his body had pressed against you. It all swirls in your mind in a smog of peppermint and teal and as you fall asleep that night, the only sound you can hear in the quiet is your own laboured breathing and the way he'd chuckled around your name before asking you to spoil him.

[lyr1s]

Nine whole hours of work just to realize the timelapse wasn’t recording right at the end :’) Anyway, enjoy Barbie pouring you some tea 💕