So I do believe I'm going to turn this into an actual multi-chapter fic. Ideas are slowly coming to me, so might as well run with it. It'll be mostly interconnected one-shots that will diverge sharply from the canon story line after this chapter because I don't know what's to come with the canon story at the moment. So, since I'm expanding this fic, and turning it in the romance direction more, I'm upping the rating, too because I don't know what's gonna happen later on, ahahaha.
Anyway, this chapter came from a reviewer (maybe multiple) commenting on these two playing video games together. I thought it was a fantastic idea, so I went with it. Enjoy~
Disclaimer: I do not own Ao No Exorcist or the characters, they belong to Kazue Katō.
"You cheated!"
"A gentleman never cheats, Shura dear. I won fair and square, as should be expected. You're a hundred years too early to think you can beat me at my own game."
He loved the way she was growling as he smugly gloated over his most recent victory, the beautiful exorcist's face twisted into an angry sneer. It was a wonderful sight, one he relished seeing quite often that afternoon.
And then he heard a crack.
"Ahhhhh! That's a custom made Mephisto Special Pink controller! You're breaking it! You're breaking it! Stop that!" He hollered at the woman who had become so frustrated with her string of ten consecutive loses she was now gripping her controller as if it were his neck.
He had decided to visit Shura in the hospital again for a myriad of reasons. Not the least of which being that it annoyed her to no end when he showed up. He was also bored and finding it increasingly difficult to hide from members of the True Cross wanting to put him to work on the whole Illuminati situation, the best solution was to go where none of the exorcists would consider looking for him.
He placated her irritation by coming prepared again, his big screen flat panel tv now comfortably mounted on the wall, his own game console and stacks of games littering the room for their entertainment, and piles of snacks and beer the hospital had refused to give the bed ridden woman were now piled up around her. She was for once happy to see him…
Until he utterly destroyed her at his favorite fighting game.
"Ahhh! I just got this to replace the one Amaimon ate," he whimpered quietly after snatching the broken controller from Shura's hands.
"You did something, I know you did." Shura continued to accuse as he sat there watching the case continue to crumble in his hold. "Spill. What th' hell'd ya do to beat me like that!?"
"Hmpf," he sent her an unamused glare before snapping his fingers and replacing the broken controller with a new one. "I told you, I did nothing to alter the outcome of the game. It should be obvious that I am just far more skilled at it than you." He held out the new controller to her, his irritation still evident. "Now, if you don't believe me, then how about a rematch?"
She pointedly glared at the proffered controller, and then turned her gaze to him as she smirked, her finger pointing at the controller he had been using from the start. "Alright, but I'm not using that one. You might have rigged it, or somethin', so give me yours."
"So uncouth in your accusations, Miss Kirigakure, but fine, I shall be a gentleman and acquiesce to your demands." He smirked as well, and with a flourishing bow where he sat in his chair, he handed her the other controller. "Shall we make a wager this time?"
"Like hell I'd do that."
He chuckled at the refusal. Smart woman.
He leaned back in the chair he had pulled up alongside her bed, his boot clad feet stretched out to rest crossed on her bed, top hat sitting on her nightstand, and cape tossed over the back of his chair. He was quite at ease in her hospital room.
She had thrown a small fit earlier when he first made himself so comfortable, but that was what all the games were for- to calm her down. As fiery and uncontrollable as she could be, she really was quite easy to tame.
Or so he thought.
The renewed battle begun, and Mephisto was certain he would not lose. It was close, though, but this was his game, after all, and there was no beating him at it.
A concentrated hum that sounded suspiciously like a moan brought a tick to his eye, but he continued to focus on attacking her player. The shifting of fabric distracted him slightly, and he caught her stretching her legs out of the corner of his eye.
When had she shed her blanket? Was her robe always so short?
His eyes couldn't seem to help themselves as they traveled up the length of her creamy legs and up her body. Every now and then he'd dart his attention back to the game, just in time to defend from one of her attacks, or set off one of his own. To his annoyance his attack timing was off, not as perfect as it should have been, but he managed to land a good one that had her barely clinging to life.
A frustrated growl got his attention back to her again, and this time he felt his brow pull up appreciatively at the view he received. The top of her robe had slid off one shoulder, and as she moved to attack in a vain hope of using the last bits of her life meter to destroy him, she couldn't be bothered by the exposure she was giving him, even as it slipped open more and more. The only way the view could have been better would be if he were on top-
"Yes!" Her cheer cut off his train of thoughts, his eyes practically bulging as they snapped back to the tv just in time to see her character performing a special move that took his own out instantly. She had won. The vile woman had just defeated him, and he knew it was by no innocent chance.
"You are the cheater!" He growled at her, turning to sneer at her as she looked at him with such blatantly feigned innocence he wanted to strangle her on sight.
"Why whatever do you mean?" She blinked coyly, a finger hovering over her slightly parted lips. Oh yes, he really wanted to kill her for daring to humiliate him in such a way. As his eyes narrowed on her, she dropped the act, turning to look haughty and smug and that homicidal urge was only growing with her mocking tone. "I won fair and square. You're a hundred years too early to think you can beat me at my own game."
With a snap of his fingers, every little treat and toy vanished from the room. Her startled look eased his mood a bit as his lips pulled up in an arrogant smile as he stood from his seat. "Then I think you have had enough fun and games for the day, my lady. I should bid you ado."
"Ah! Wait, that's not fair, ya sore loser!" She argued. "Ya won plenty, and now you're throwing a tantrum and refusing to share your toys the second ya lose once. Hard to tell if you're a centuries old demon or a toddler."
"If you think such base insults will convince me to return everything, then you are mistaken, my dear."
"Then you're just a coward who can't handle a little challenge when it comes your way. " She met his blank stare with an expectant one of her own. "How 'bout I even make a little wager with ya?" Her offer piqued his interest, he raised a brow signaling she continue. "Best out of five. I win, you leave all the stuff for me to play with while I'm stuck here. You win…."
"I win," he continued as she trailed off in thought, his smirking widening into a grin, "then you will owe me one favor in the future that cannot be refused, no matter the circumstances."
Her jaw dropped at what he wanted; no doubt her mind spinning around what the favor could possibly be, especially coming from him. He honestly didn't have a clue himself, but it was always good to be prepared. Softening her up to him wasn't doing anything to get her in his pocket, so might as well use the opening to his advantage.
"If you don't wish to owe me a favor, then I suggest you take this battle seriously." Another snap of his fingers, and everything returned. He took a moment to rake his eyes over her form one last time, getting his fill now so he might focus better during the game while also setting her on edge, and then promptly reclaimed his seat, his feet propped on the bed again as he smirked at her. "I know I will be."
He watched her growl at his low, suggestive tone, his smirk only growing before he turned his attention to the game, signaling they begin. With a huff, she picked up her controller and the battle was on.
It was close, and as much as he hated to admit it, she was a worthy and entertaining opponent. Going into the fourth round, they were both sitting up straight, Mephisto on the edge of his seat, and Shura in the middle of her bed, legs crossed and leaning forward as she grit her teeth. It was one of the most heated battles he'd been in in decades, it was enough to make his adrenaline fueled blood thrum happily through his veins. He might have underestimated her before, but now he couldn't because it might very well spell death.
Her elated cheer had him biting back a curse.
They were tied now, going into the fifth and decisive battle.
There was no time to gloat, no time to posture; there was a fight to be won.
His frown was dark and threatening at the sound of the anime tune he had set as his ringtone that suddenly pierced the tense atmosphere of the hospital room. What a horrible time for an interruption.
"This is Mephisto," he answered coldly, not hiding his ire as Shura watched him curiously. His annoyance only grew at every word from the other end, eyes narrowing into a glare on the woman that she knew wasn't truly aimed at her. "Yes. Yes. I understand."
He ended the call without ceremony and stood up to reclaim his hat and cape, glowering the entire time. He hated when his fun and games were ended by inescapable duty.
"What the hell's going on?" Shura asked, as he knew she would.
He huffed then took a deep breath to calm himself again, a somewhat more serene smile gracing his face when he turned to her again. "It seems I'm being called in for a meeting," he took a step toward her to take a hand in his, his mood lightening at her annoyed glare at the gesture. He bowed low, raising her hand to his lips. "Unfortunately I have to cut our date short, my lady."
"Pull my hand any closer, Mephisto, and I'll tear yer mouth off with it," she warned lowly.
"Hmmm, that gives quite the invigorating thought." His smile widened, unabashed amusement glinting in his eye as he dared to brush his lips over the back of her hand, nothing more than a taunt. She could threaten all she liked, but they both knew who truly had the upper hand. He stood straight when she jerked back her hand, growling under her breath at him. He chuckled at her sour mood as he waved a hand toward the television and games. "I shall leave you with these for now. We will finish our battle another time, so you might wish to practice while you have a chance. I will not go easy on you."
"Hmpf, I should be sayin' the same to you," she taunted back, sending him a haughty smirk as she turned to play the game by herself, dismissing him entirely.
With another polite bow, he sauntered out the door, umbrella twirling in his hand as he headed for the hospital exit.
Oh, right, there was one more thing he needed.
Without warning, Shura found her game interrupted as Mephisto's far too happy face came onto the screen causing her to shriek in surprise.
"I almost forgot, but I need you to recover as quickly as possible," he explained. "The Vatican may call us in for questioning on the Illuminati, I will need you to give an accurate debriefing surrounding Takara-kun, Shima-kun, and Izumo-kun while I deal with the matter of my older brother declaring war on True Cross. So it would be prudent of you to help the students make it back safely in time for any trial. Ciao~!" With a wink, he popped off the screen, just in time for Shura's character to be destroyed by her opponent.
He chuckled to himself as he walked out of the hospital, his grin wide even as he heard her window slam open suddenly.
"Mephisto! You bastard!"
He really should have been more prepared for the Mephisto Special Pink controller that slammed into his temple a second later.
Also, random note on the end of this chapter and Mephisto's remarks on Lucifer: I re-read the festival chapters, and realized Shura's gotta know Mephisto's real identity at this point considering Lucifer was communicating with all of True Cross through the Seraphims, so she likely heard their conversation, also I suspect she at least knew Mephisto's status as a Demon King before since she knew he had some influence over Amaimon. At least that's what I'm going with at this point.