Disclaimer: I don't own the devil is a part-timer!
Pairing: Maou/Emi
Rating: T but change to M in later chapters.
A/N: I'm sorry, readers. Don't hate me. In my defence: I had midterms. Thank you for the feedback, I really appreciate the response. There is a bit of Maou/Chiho but its pretty one sided, I just wanted to show that perspective because it would be out of character if I didn't. This is a slow burn so it's going to take a while before things happen. The reviews make me write faster! So tell me what you think and what you wanna see in the future. I promise it won't take so long to write the next chapter. Happy reading!
Maou caught up with Chiho just as her shift ended. He peeked at her from behind the door. She was gathering up her things from the break room, having already changed out of her Mcgronalds uniform.
"Hey, chi," he greeted softly, unsure of how to approach her.
"Maou-san," as she turned towards him, he couldn't help but notice that the usual happiness present in her greeting was missing. "What are you doing here?"
"I just wanted to make sure you were okay," Maou said.
Chiho dropped her bag on the table and looked down.
"Its okay if you're not, we can talk about it," he offered, approaching her as if she was a wounded animal. He wasn't good at comforting people but they had always understood each other.
"Why did you pick her?" She asked, making him halt. "Every time I asked about you two, you said it wasn't like that, was that some sick twisted joke?" She glared at him with teary eyes.
"Of course not!" Maou quickly grabbed her hands in his, desperate to comfort his friend.
"Then...why?"
He squeezed her hands. "It's complicated," he didn't want to hurt her any further. "If everyone saw something in us, we thought why not try it out? Neither Emi and I can afford anymore what ifs." He knew the most believable lies came from the truth. The sort of truth in this case.
Her eyes widened. "T-try? So you're not in love with each other?"
Maou shook his head. "No," before adding "not yet, at least."
Chiho quickly let go off his hands and wrapped her arms around his abdomen. "Then I won't give up. I'll make Maou-san love me before he can love Emi-san!"
He blinked at her. This was not how he thought this would go. It's not that he was unaware of her feelings, he just wasn't sure he reciprocated them. It was hard to sort out if his feelings were of strong friendship or something deeper.
Despite his discomfort at her confession, he patted Chiho's head gently. He was just glad she wasn't crying anymore.
They were almost at Emi's apartment. Like a good boyfriend, he was walking his girl friend home from work. The fake couple had grabbed some bottles of sake and Indian food. They were practicing date night.
Maou had just finished telling Emi about his encounter with Chiho two days ago, needless to say, she wasn't pleased.
"So now I'm Chiho's love rival?" Emi groaned. "Great, just great."
"You brought this upon yourself!" Maou defended.
"You know she's never going to forgive me," she watched the night sky, red locks hitting her face. "Even when you two start dating." Her tone gave away nothing as to how she felt about it. Not that he cared.
"I thought you said I couldn't date a high schooler?"
Emi swung their joined hands. He was slowly getting used to the physical contact. "I don't know, with the way she feels about you, she might get you to cave."
Maou laughed, opening the door to her apartment building. "I don't think love works like that."
She didn't answer. She was probably pondering it.
He was surprised they were silent. After all, they were famous for providing noise pollution to every room they entered.
"I think this is the longest we've gone without arguing," he observed. "I was sure you were gonna comment on how badly dressed I am or something." He was wearing sweatpants and the shirt of his Mcgronalds uniform.
"It would take too long to name all your flaws, I was simply saving my breath." She flipped her hair back.
"You're such a bitch," he frowned. "What are we doing today anyway?"
Emi unlocked her front door to let them both in. He placed the bag of food and drinks on the table and sat down on the couch.
She joined him and started stretching out the tensions of the day.
"Getting to know each other so there are no holes in our story."
A mischievous idea filled his head immediately. "I have the perfect way we can do this," he held up a bottle of sake and wiggled his eyebrows.
Emi's eyes darted from him to the sake for a few seconds before she finally surrendered. "What?"
"We guess something about the other and if the person guessing gets it right then the other person has to take a shot of sake."
"I just know I'm going to regret this but bring it on."
Emi gulped down a shot of sake.
"You lost your virginity to that fuck boy? God Emi, you were the damn valedictorian." Maou was doubled over in laughter, lying on her couch.
She would reprimand him but she was unfortunately a happy drunk.
"It was graduation," she defended. "I'm not always a stick in the mud, y'know."
He just smirked, taking a bite of his curry and rice.
"I bet you've been arrested at least 4 times before," Emi guessed.
"Only three times! I bet you watch corny soap operas when you're sad."
"I hate you," she took a shot. Corny soap operas made her feel better. "I bet you got arrested for pissing in public."
"Nope, it was noise pollution." He boasted as if that was something to be proud of. "I bet you did dance or a sport as a kid."
She drank proudly. "I did gymnastics and martial arts."
"Damn," He raised his eyebrows, impressed. "No wonder you can kick my ass."
"You know it. I bet you can't cook to save your life."
"I can cook," he protested.
"Mcgronalds doesn't count."
He took a shot. "I bet you always wanted to be prom queen or something stupid like that."
"I didn't, its a superficial title meant to make women compete with one another. I bet you gave the prom queen your virginity." There were rumors that he and Ami had done it in the girls bathroom at prom.
He drank up.
"Oh my god-"
"She was hot," Maou shrugged. "I bet you want bigger breasts." He was a bold drunk it seemed. But happy Emi was a honest Emi.
She quickly took a sip.
"You know some guys like-" She glared at him, daring him to continue. "I'm gonna shut up now."
"I don't care what some guys like. Some guys suck."
"Aye, aye captain." He saluted.
She giggled, saluting back.
Maou sat up, moving close to her until their shoulders were touching. "You should laugh more, princess." Emi turned to look at him to find him already watching her with hazy but intense eyes. The look in his eyes made her swallow.
"I would look too much like a peasant. Princesses are supposed to be snotty," she teased, trying to normalize the situation but she was feeling more lightheaded. But in a good way. This was the most fun she'd had in a while. College life had not been kind to her.
He snorted, his head slipping onto her shoulder. "Feels like we're friends," he mumbled against her hair.
She shivered at his breath against her neck. It was a testament to how drunk they were that physical closeness was being allowed.
Emi rested her cheek against his hair. "It does." Her eyes drooped, sleep taking over.
Maou raised his head a little, "do you wanna be friends?" the words were mumbled against her jaw line. It tickled and she forced herself to contain her giggles. She wondered if the drunk part of him was saying what the sober part couldn't say.
She was about to nod or say yes, just agree overall because it was fun being friendly with him. Well, as friendly as they could be. But her mind betrays her almost instantly.
"Daddy, wait!" a 8 year old Emi called out, reaching for her father.
"I can't, baby. I'm sorry." The police officers dragged him away.
No matter how much she screamed, they didn't let him go.
Daddy, come back. Come back, please.
Her eyes flew open.
What was she doing? Befriending Sadao Maou was a crazy idea. After everything that had happened, she couldn't afford to trust anyone. Not when the past was so fresh in her mind.
"We can't," Emi got up from the couch making him fall face first into the couch cushions.
Maou glanced at her, confused. She pretended she didn't see the look and started cleaning up the plates and shot glasses.
He reached his hand out for her. "Emi-"
"I'll get a blanket." She interrupted, escaping into her room.
Emi checked up on him in the middle of the night, the sleep that burdened her before was gone. She felt wide awake.
Fortunately for her, he was fast asleep. He was falling off her couch, the blanket covering his bottom half only.
She tugged the blanket back into its place and sat on the couch across from him.
Emi knew this was a bad idea when Rika had suggested it but it was just hitting her just how bad it could be.
She looked at him, really looked at him. He was an idiot. The biggest idiot she had ever met. And she had a bad feeling like he was about to change everything she thought she knew.
A/N: So this is the last chapter before they take their trip to the beach house and we meet Emi's guardians and everything is official. So let the games begin! Review, Fave, follow but mostly enjoy.