Chapter Summary:
Wow, would you look at that, Rin has leftovers from the day. He shouldn't let those go to waste! Maybe a certain somebody might be interested as thanks for the earlier gift.
Meanwhile, Mephisto has a mildly concerning phone call, and there's a conspiracy afoot right under Rin's nose.
Notes:
I can't believe I've started another excruciating slow burn wtf 😂
Also another short chapter but it's nice that this one flew by so quickly and I'm finding my groove in this au lol Imma need it for nano bc I'm still like 3 k from where I should be for the month T.T
Song of the chapter: Give Me Something by The Man Who
A new day in the timeline dawned.
Not that Mephisto had slept the night before, the reasons including but not limited to: needing to complete the new dating simulator he'd been waiting on the release of for centuries, working through his thousands of emails from multiple business endeavors he refused to sort, the seventeen cup noodles he'd devoured, and-
Mephisto inhaled, snapping himself into his chosen suit for the day and summoning Belial.
-He had been considering blue eyes and striking, ink-dark hair over an impish smile.
Some kind of nephilim. He was certain of that, or he'd eat his tail. It was evident from the faint glow of red in the pupils and the clear points of needle-tip fangs flashing behind curled lips.
"Where to, sir?" Belial's question called him from his thoughts. He'd allowed him one day to "vacation" out of the goodness of his heart and now Mephisto thought he might be thankful for it because it meant he'd discovered a potential source of entertainment for the foreseeable future.
"I've discovered a new stop while you were out enjoying your time off," he said as he gave the address of that hole in the wall shop that nevertheless exuded a sense of warmth he'd be hard pressed to find in the more upscale places he usually frequented.
It was far enough away through city traffic that he had time for one important conversation.
The phone rang, and Lucifer answered, placid gaze staring back from the screen, "Hello, Samael."
"Lucifer, dear," Mephisto said in a drawl, "You've been a busy bee. Those price increases on foreign goods were cruel of you."
Annoying, more like. Ever since Lucifer had won his newest election, he'd been ruthless in his trade deals. Mephisto debated exploring the timeline he decided to run for leadership of the country his territory resided in just so he could enact similar annoyances.
"This is necessary for global prosperity for the humans," came the sanctimonious echo from the other end. How it worked to enthrall the humans would continue to be a mystery to Mephisto.
"Your ventures will recover in time as they always do."
Yes, yes, of course they would. And it wasn't like he was truly hurting, but it was the spirit of the matter! Their little competitions had only shifted once he'd solved Lucifer's vessel problem, cutting it off before the insanity set in. Now, with demons allowed ability to enter human elections once every hundred years after their last term, Lucifer had set his visionary goals on moulding humanity that way instead of his more destructive methods he'd employed in...messier timelines.
"It'll just come out of your birthday gift," Mephisto said instead. "Speaking of, I've been unable to reach Beelzebub, has he gone down one of his rabbit holes again?"
Lucifer's eyes narrowed, breaking from the apathy and telling Mephisto his answer before he spoke.
"No, but I assume his network would be in a buzz if something were amiss."
So did Mephisto, which was why he hadn't looked further into it, used to the frequent radio silence from the lowest amongst the Ba'al. Gossip though he was, his tendency to vanish made this far from unusual.
"Our busy bee must be burrowing for the season, then," Mephisto said, ending the conversation, though his mind wouldn't settle.
What he needed was a distraction. One presented itself as they turned the corner and idled in front of his destination.
"Wait here," he instructed, exiting the car and straightening his suit as he entered the coffee shop.
On entering, a dark head of hair raised, startled as vibrant eyes appraised him before the girl blurted a "one moment, please," and darted to the back room of what he assumed was a combination of small kitchen and storage.
A moment passed and two forms stumbled out through the curtains. His distraction had arrived.
Mephisto smiled, demure as he made his opening move.
"Guten morgen~" he approached the counter, smile broadening at the way those odd red pupils zeroed in on his face, "I'm looking forward to what you'll surprise me with today."
The chance that this was a one off and he'd need a new source of entertainment always existed, though he thought he would uncover a few interesting things before that happened.
As if to challenge his doubts, the endearing nephilim straightened under his stare, refusing to be cowed, though he must have felt his power, recognized him for what he was. The girl certainly had. His gaze slid to her and he saw her hide a flinch.
"Morning!" the bright reply didn't sound forced at all. So, the nephilim really wasn't afraid. "Yeah I've got something in mind, take your pick."
At the wide gesture to the display case, Mephisto hummed and leaned in. Really, he didn't need to, but it was one of those things meant to mimic human mannerisms and he enjoyed the performance more than most.
Although, where were his manners? "I realize I haven't asked your names yet."
If he was going to be frequenting this place he should get to know the staff, it was only polite.
"Izumo," the girl said as she shifted her long hair aside to reveal the name tag on her uniform.
"Wha-oh!" the nephilim gasped, patting at his shirt, "I forgot my name-tag again, dam-uh."
"It's Rin. Rin Okumura," he said while a blush reddening his cheeks and he rubbed at the back of his neck, "Er, and what's your name?"
What? Mephisto blinked, frown tugging his lips as he cocked his head.
"Rin," Izumo hissed under her breath and jerked her elbow into his side in a display of embarrassment for his social faux pas, though she tried to hide it from Mephisto's gaze, "I told you yesterday, are you kidding me?"
Oh, this was charming, and unexpected. Mephisto laughed and bowed, smiling up at Rin from beneath his lashes as he introduced himself formally, "I am Mephisto Pheles, or Samael, and you may call me Mephisto."
It was rare he discovered someone who hadn't at least heard his name before, let alone a nephilim-and in his own territory, too!
They'd have more than enough time to get acquainted.
"Now, what will you show me today, Rin?" he deliberately played with the name on his tongue, savoring the way it rolled off and made those pointed ears twitch.
The pastry selection was as good as any he'd seen in bakeries throughout both the world and time, if a little simplistic, in part, he was sure, because of finances and manpower needed to run a full bakery. It didn't stop the tantalizing scents from reaching him, all, he was sure, crafted by Rin, given the pride he took.
He'd discovered a gem in the current century. Now, he just had to hone it from the rough to reveal its true lustre.
Sound at the door pulled him from Rin's run-down of their menu to see another human enter.
"Hey, Shima!" Rin broke away to wave, "It's a slow morning, just a few orders scheduled in for an hour from now so you're good to hang out a bit, help Izumo."
Nervous eyes and a shifty expression marked the human. Hadn't anyone ever told him not to show fear in front of a demon? Mephisto smiled his way and enjoyed the spike of a pulse it caused.
"Uh, yeah, got it, Rin," Shima said, though his gaze wouldn't leave Mephisto as he went past, taking as wide a berth as the shop would allow. "'Scuse me, sir."
Sir. How cute. He nodded. This one most certainly recognized him, as the girl, Izumo, had.
"Right, so you want to take your chances on another random drink or do you want to choose this time?" Rin's question brought him from the little bout of intimidation he'd enjoyed to another of his favorite hobbies.
"I love a good bet, what will you offer this time, Rin?" There were few things Mephisto enjoyed more than his wagers, whether against human or demon. They entertained him between greater goals.
"Heh," Rin's sharpening smile said he also enjoyed the challenge. Wonderful. "I bet you're going to like this one more than the last, and if I'm right, it's another five bucks. If not, I'll have to keep guessing the next few days until I get it right."
Luring him like the best wil'o'wisp, a bright flame the color of Rin's eyes that tugged him in every time they flashed his way.
"I accept."
And he would be taking the apple tart he saw in the display, he'd decided, indicating it to Rin and settling back to wait.
Shima had gone into the safety of the storage room, but Mephisto could practically sense him peering from behind the curtain and it stretched the benign smile further on his face.
"So," Mephisto began the small talk, wondering what it would reveal to him about his new toy's character, "what brought you to create this enterprise?"
"Huh?" Rin blinked over his shoulder, then sniffed and dropped the plate with the heated tart onto the counter, nose turned up and scowling.
"Oh here we go," Izumo muttered, not looking up from the cleaning she'd started doing while Rin handled his order.
"I'm not a smart guy," Rin's careless wave of his hand and brisk actions had Mephisto frowning, guessing at where the plot was moving. "So college wasn't for me. I dropped out, took a couple jobs doing line cooking, didn't take orders well, got fired."
"But," Rin whirled in a flurry to present Mephisto's drink with a daring grin, "I went to visit my brother at school, found out he was living off the nastiest, pre-packaged, reheated, no soul-"
Coughing from Izumo had Rin shaking his head from his rant he'd gone on to stand back with straight shoulders and confidence. "Anyway, I figured if that place could stay open and make business, anything I made was gonna be leagues better and I put money down on this place and here we are!"
"I see," Mephisto took the drink, enjoying the pleased tilt to Rin's jaw as he brought it to his lips. He drank, eyes shuttering as flavor exploded on his tongue, and a low hum of his own pleasure welling up when he could find the discipline to not drain the entire thing like some sort of savage.
His eyes opened on Rin's outspread hand, laid out over the counter and cocky grin saying he knew the answer to their wager.
Very well, he wouldn't be going back on his word. He was an honest demon, after-all.
"That's two out of two for our little bets," Mephisto said anyway, he could be gracious when he was getting what he wanted. "Will you be so lucky the next time?"
"You're on," Rin said without hesitation.
"Good." Mephisto hid his purr and summoned his losings to his hand. Then, keeping his gaze on Rin's, placed it in his open palm and, before he could pull away, pressed his fingers until they curled around the money. He made sure to keep the weight and heat of his hand over the one he'd captured, watching to be sure he'd landed the desired effect-there, a pinning of Rin's pupils, hand twitching beneath his-and released his hold.
"Thank you, Rin," Mephisto said, satisfied with a play well made as he left for the rest of his day.
That had proven the exact distraction he'd needed.
Shima grabbed Izumo as soon as she made it through the curtains into the back room, speaking up at the same instant she did as Rin took the next customer who'd come in after a certain demon king of space and time left.
"Holy shit, Izumo-"
"-I know!"
His hands came up to plead with her, "Please tell me we have a betting pool going. Can we start one? Here."
He dug into his pocket and came out with a couple coupons to his favorite food stand and the remainders of his last paycheck. Shima would be getting paid today, anyway off the delivery tips, this was way more important.
Luckily, it looked like Izumo was game as she nodded. "My bet's on Rin not even realizing he's being flirted with, even after he's told from multiple sources, until he's given up on for hopeless a few months in."
"That's so harsh, dude," Shima muttered, feeling for their poor boss and his romantic prospects if he kept assuming people were just being nice and not the blatant flirting everyone around him could see it for.
"Yeah?" Izumo sniffed, one of those previous blatant flirters, much as she refused to admit it when Shima teased her. "So, what's your bet, huh?"
Crossing his arms and smirking at her disgruntlement, Shima slammed his bet on the small staff-room table by the back window. "I think this gambler's not going to take a challenge lying down, did you see how happy he was when Rin just straight told him to his face he was going to lose? He lives for the thrill of it, he's probably never lost a real challenge in his entire existence!"
"So," Shima said and pointed his finger with drama and poise towards an unimpressed Izumo, "Rin's going to last six months of the most painfully obvious, top-tier demonic seduction techniques anyone has ever witnessed before he falls and hits his head on a clue and they live happily ever after. No question."
"Six months? You know we're just a hole in the wall coffee shop and this guy is probably looking at us like we're less than ants, right?" Izumo rolled her eyes, crossed arms of her own as she put her own bet down-actual money and not the rumpled bills Shima had dug from his pocket. "He was around at the dawn of time, there's no way someone who doesn't show interest is going to keep him around when he's gonna have way more things to distract him in his life."
That might have been the more realistic option but, "Come on, Izumo, where's your sense of romance? I know I saw those shoujo titles on your phone that one time, you can't hide it."
"Shut up! I did not, those were just the newest novels out!"
He patted her shoulder, ignoring the hissed swipe from her and getting the bet jar out to drop theirs into, setting it down in a firm statement, confident in his chances this time. He knew a character when he saw it, there was no way he was losing.
"See ya' Izumo, got my deliveries," he said, waving as he left. "Go protect lover boy from the other customers, ok? I want to collect on this one."
They just had to get the others in on the bet and he'd really have something to take home when this was all over.
"Hey, Rin," and there was the adorable blink of those baby blues that sunk so many hearts that walked into their shop. Shima hid a fond sigh, shaking his phone, "you got those orders?"
"You're good to go, man," Rin said with his usual bright cheer, nudging the bagged orders on the counter.
"Cool, see ya'," Shima's grin went wicked as he went to the door, calling out, "Try not to let any more demons fall for you while I'm gone, ok?"
"Dammit, get out of here," Rin's curse echoed behind him as he let the door shut on his cackles.
Rin heaved a breath once he'd finished chasing Shima off, scrubbing at his hair and shooting Izumo an irritated stare she stared back at with complete unrepentance.
It definitely wasn't like that, no matter what they kept teasing him about. Demons were simple, when it came right down to it. They liked poking for weakness and testing everyone around them until they got an interesting reaction. His mom had cheerfully gotten that into his head, and she was the best demon tamer he knew.
Izumo subsided as the normal lunch crowd poured in, the both of them busy all the way up until it came time to switch their shifts.
For some reason, though, as Rin packed his stuff, taking some the pastries from the previous day that hadn't sold with him, Izumo had dragged a confused Bon and Godaiin to the back.
The curtain snapped behind their retreating forms, but Rin gave up wondering.
A loud meow broke him from concern for his friend's antics.
"Kuro!" Rin knelt to bring his familiar into his arms, inhaling into the soft black fur between the pointed cat ears that flicked at the sensation as they started their walk to the station. "Decided to pick me up, huh?"
"Yeah, who knows, one of these days you might get lost without me, Rin," Kuro said with a haughty purr as Rin kept up the petting.
"Hey, if that ever happens take care of Shiemi for me, you know how worried she gets," he laughed at the affronted glare and paw batting at his fingers for the suggestion that he might actually get lost in his own city.
"Shiro told me to protect you," Kuro grumbled to his chest when they made it to their seats on the train home.
"Aw man, seriously? He still acts like I'm fifteen," Rin said as he propped his chin into his palm. "He doesn't do this to Yukio."
"Yukio works all day, I wouldn't get to see him, anyway."
They both sighed at that, knowing Yukio's schedule wasn't unusual in his field, but wishing he had more free-time than he did.
His gaze went to the window, hand idly rubbing at the fur over Kuro's shoulders where he curled into a ball in his lap to spend the ride, the twin tails twitching against his legs. It freed him up to take in how close to home they were.
Familiar scenery, not that it hadn't been before, but especially so after the day before, focused Rin as he bit at his lips.
"Hey, Kuro," Rin tapped the little shoulder, gaining Kuro's sleepy attention, as he made an impulsive decision, "Let's get off here real quick."
"What's here?" Kuro voiced his confusion, hopping to Rin's shoulder and glancing at the window.
"Just a shop I checked out with Shiemi yesterday."
"Oh yeah, you told me. The dangerous flower shop? I didn't think you liked plants," Kuro said and peered down the road to the town once they made it off the train.
He knew, technically, the demon whose name he hadn't gotten was happy with his form of payment, but Rin never liked feeling like he had debts to others.
"Yeah, but I thought it might be fun to show you it, it's a demon shop."
The dusty road to the shop appeared as Rin shrugged off the question from Kuro, happy he somehow remembered the way. In such a small town, it wasn't like it was too difficult.
"Uh, Rin," Kuro said when they came to a stop. "I think it's closed."
A door stared back at them, dark through the windows of the shop beside it, and signs of life limited to the green plants he could see on the doorsteps. As if to make an even clearer point, a sign on the door written in bold red lettering on black slate repeated Kuro.
"No way," Rin yelped, walking up to the sign and huffing to send his bangs out from his disbelieving scowl, "It's like, middle of the day! Who closes this early on a Tuesday?"
"I don't think this demon keeps a set schedule, Rin," came the wry response from Kuro to his rhetorical question.
"I guess not," Rin sighed, giving up as he realized he probably shouldn't expect the typical nine-to-five store hours for a shop that only appeared in Assiah every couple centuries or whatever Shiemi had said.
"Come on, guess we'll have these pastries to ourselves today."
"You were going to give those to someone else?" The betrayal in Kuro's voice had Rin laughing. "What's that demon done to deserve them, anyway?"
"Just thought I'd pay him back for the cool rock he gave me, besides, you get pastries every day."
"And every day they're good!"
Rin continued the banter with Kuro and let it push back the strange disappointment.
Next time, the shop would definitely be opened next time.
Notes:
Do you sense the coming storm on the horizon? Mephisto is thinking Rin is just the cute "mortal unafraid of the eldritch monster" otp ship dynamic. Thinks~