Something sweet as sugar & slightly nonsensical
Short o8: The one with Pocky
"Yeah! We did it, we did it, ihihihi!~"
It was more typical for Battler to stab a finger dramatically at his foe when he spoke in that over the top manner… but there was a small problem with that. Ronove was no longer Battler's enemy. If anything, Ronove was now his partner in crime. So, contrary to his usual actions, Battler held up the palm of his hand.
Ronove looked at it in confusion.
"Is that gesture some form of congratulations? Could we not shake hands instead?"
Battler stared. "Oh, come on. You don't know what this is?"
"…I believe that would be your right hand, Battler."
"Ha, ha. Very funny," said Battler, voice deadpan. "I mean- this is a high five, right? You're meant to slap your hand against mine. It's what people do when they've accomplished something incredible."
Ronove's face remained blank.
"… …But why?"
"I-I don't know, okay, it's just a thing! Don't make such a big deal out it! I just hoped we could celebrate this victory together, you know. Geez." Battler rolled his eyes. "Do you have to be so picky?"
"Aha, well… I don't see the point in this, and I far prefer traditional gestures, but... I wouldn't want to 'make a big deal' out of 'things', as you so charmingly put it- so I suppose I could acquiesce to your demands on this occasion, pu ku ku~"
And with that, Ronove slapped one gloved hand against Battler's proffered one.
Battler's expression brightened considerably at this for whatever reason.
"Ihihi~ Finally. But, um… don't talk to me like an 19th century novel anymore. It gives me bad memories of studying literature at school… …"
"I'll try and keep that in mind, if it bothers you."
"Nah, it's okay, it's just… weird." Battler scrunched up his nose. "Then again, everything about you is pretty weird, what with your… effeminate hair, and that monocle- so, maybe it's fine."
"Oh, you do wound me so. I thought we were celebrating our victory, not insulting each other needlessly?"
"Aha, yes! That's right!"
The grin spread across Battler's face once more; making his eyes light up. It was so easy to get Battler riled up, thought Ronove with amusement, that it was no wonder Beatrice took such an interest in him. Energetic humans like this really were interesting.
If given the chance, Battler probably would probably get along quite well with Lady Lambdadelta. Their over-the-top personalities seemed to align with each other's perfectly.
If Battler's latest exploits were anything to go by, Battler had the same sweet tooth as the pink-themed witch as well…
"Ah, we really are awesome, aren't we?" said Battler; a silly smile on his face as he reminisced over their adventures.
It was weird. Battler had always found Beato's butler incredibly aggravating- and, to be honest, he still was… but it was still fun talking to him from time to time; even despite his slightly mean-spirited love of making Battler blush and stutter like an idiot. Maybe it was because they were both guys, and Battler had been trapped in a sea of big-breasted magical girls (though the last time Battler called Beato that she'd kicked him) he wanted some company from a fellow man. Besides, Ronove was decidedly less stab-happy than the seven sisters, or Beato- and Battler didn't feel in danger of his life when he spoke to the demon butler rudely.
To that end, Ronove made a pretty good ally.
Besides, without him, Battler… probably would have been dead by now. That last mission was something Battler couldn't have done alone.
"Mm… I'm doubtful whether stealing Miss Beelzebub's food can be considered commendable behavior or not…" said Ronove thoughtfully, one hand under his chin. "However, I did have fun with you regardless, pu ku ku~"
"And having fun is all that really matters, riiight? I mean, who cares about other people?"
Ronove raised a brow and chuckled. "Oh my. Somebody has evidently been spending too much time with Milady... That's a rather frightening thing to say, pu ku ku~"
"Well, Beato is my wife."
"Indeed. But, please, don't become as selfish as Milady is. I quite like the considerate side of your character…~ And I truly hope you would never contemplate feeding me to Milady's goats if I happened to irritate you."
"Like I'd do that. If I fed you to the goats every time you annoyed me, there wouldn't be any of you left- even if I tried to ration you out carefully~ Ihihi~"
"How cruel! You say this even though I, despite my moral principles, decided to help you so much earlier? Do remember, it was I who helped you break the magic seals of Miss Beelzebub's bedroom, all so you could steal her 'secret' stash of junk food. I did help you quite a lot~ Why, without me, I'm sure the numerous traps set up around that girl's room would have reduced you to a pile of scrap meat…"
"Ihihi, s-scrap meat, is it…?" Battler laughed, rubbing the back of his head. "Tch. She looks so cute- but she's a really nasty girl. I thought her traps would be pretty brutal."
"Indeed. Miss Mammon triggered them once whilst attempting to do the same thing we just did. The end result… was not very pretty. Poor Miss Mammon couldn't use her right arm for two weeks…"
"Ooh, that Beelze is really scary… Damn. But I kind of like girls like that. They keep you on your toes?"
"Miss Beelzebub certainly does, given she always steals your breakfast in the mornings. I can't condone such actions, but I imagine chasing her is very good exercise, pu ku ku~" said Ronove, with a small laugh.
Battler grinned. "Heh. Well, that just pisses me off. But the danger of stealing her food just makes the reward even sweet~"
"Mm. That is how magic works as well. And gambling. The greater the risk, the greater the reward. You really will make a fine sorcerer, Battler."
"Heh~ Thanks very much. You're not a bad demon butler yourself."
"Words of praise indeed! Pu ku ku~"
Perhaps you are slightly confused by the above, rather friendly exchange- and, if that is the case, then allow me to elaborate.
Battler and Ronove had, in just a handful of minutes, performed one of the most daring acts of burglary ever recorded in any kakera that had ever existed. They had successfully infiltrated Beelzebub's stronghold- and walked away, unscathed (well, Ronove did have a black eye, but that was only because Battler punched him for saying something vaguely flirtatious afterwards), with handfuls of her much-prized snack foods. Beelzebub guarded her food jealously, just like a dragon protected its treasure, and breaking into her bedroom was no easy matter. Several of the curses she'd strung up were powerful to reduce the human body to stone, or ashes- or even shower down spears upon their heads. But, combining their skills, Battler and Ronove had done it.
They had won.
Maybe stealing food from a young girl wasn't very gentlemanly behavior… but Beelzebub deserved it, she really did. That girl was a monster; a demon (literally).
There was a point where a guy had to put his foot down and say enough was enough when a certain blonde, twin-drill'd demon kept stealing their breakfast every morning.
Especially when Ronove's croissants were delicious.
Unfortunately, the only bits of food Battler had been able to lay his hands on before the numerous traps reactivated themselves were some cheap boxes of Pocky not even Beelze liked very much- but it was still worth it. Beelzebub counted all the items of food she had in her room every morning and every night before she went to bed, so she would definitely notice some of her snacks had gone. That was enough for Battler.
Aaah, revenge really did taste sweet~
"I don't even like Pocky all that much- but knowing we stole them from Beelze makes it taste so much better, ihihi~" said Battler, grinning; voice indistinct, as the stick of Pocky hung out of his mouth. Proffering the packet to Ronove, he asked, none-too-politely, "you want some?"
"Ah… It's rude to eat your mouth full," Ronove chided. "And, no thank you; I'll have to decline. That wasn't the kind of payment I was hoping for when I joined you on your quest…"
"Oh?" Battler raised a brow. "What was, then?"
Ronove smiled mischievously as he surveyed Battler; gloved fingers under his chin as he pondered.
The end of the Pocky stick was still hanging from Battler's mouth.
"Mm, well, I wonder…" said Ronove. "Maybe, I would prefer… something like this, for example… …?"
"H-hey, what are you- u-uu…?"
Battler didn't get to finish.
Ronove leant forwards; cupped Battler's cheek gently with his fingers- and, less than a second later, a very soft and warm feeling pressed against Battler's lips.
It was a kiss.
Ronove was kissing him.
That demon butler was… so suddenly, and so shamelessly, h-he was… Ronove had even closed his eyes- and Battler could only stare, frozen in shock, unable to even move his fingers, as he experienced one of the strangest moments of his short little life.
He'd been kissed before by girls a couple of times, sure- but not by a guy.
D-damn it… damn that demon butler…
He really liked screwing around with Battler's head, didn't he? This… probably didn't mean anything much- it, doubtless, didn't mean anything at all, and still…
Still, it made Battler's insides flutter slightly.
Then… there was a small crunch.
A snapping sound.
It wasn't very loud, and Battler most likely only heard it because his senses had suddenly been heightened and kicked into overdrive at that unwelcome kiss- but Battler got the feeling he knew exactly what it was.
When Ronove broke this chaste kiss mere moments later (he couldn't have been like that for very long), Battler soon found that his incredible hypothesis had been correct.
It was the stick of Pocky.
Ronove had snapped the remainder that hung from Battler's lips in that quick kiss- and had, quite simply, claimed it for himself.
That damn demon butler was smiling a small, self-contented smile; gloved fingers pressed against his lower lip, a completely unabashed and shameless look on his face. He looked exactly like Battler had felt after he'd successfully conducted that raid of Beelzebub's bedroom- but significantly more controlled about his emotions.
Even so… it was impossible to deny there was some amount of happiness in that expression.
Triumph, too.
D-d…
Damn it…
Battler's eyes widened. So did his mouth- and the broken bit of candy he'd been sucking fell onto his lap; sticky with his own saliva.
His face turned light pink.
"T-that… T-that was a dirty move…"
Ronove's smile widened slightly.
"But I thought you made the offer that we could share?~ Besides, stealing a kiss from Battler sounded like more fun to me than stealing Miss Beelzebub's food... With a far, far greater risk… pu ku ku~"
Battler's face turned redder and redder.
"Hm… Surprisingly enough, even subpar food like this tastes rather sweet… when served in a certain way…" Ronove smiled, and elegantly pulled another stick of Pocky from the box held in Battler's slack fingers; placing it in his mouth. Slightly indistinctly, he offered the question, "Would you like to return the favour?"
Battler glared- or at least, tried to glare, beyond his heated up cheeks and horrible burning embarrassment.
"S-shut up… …"
"Oh?~ Is that all?" Ronove tilted his head to one side quizzically, taking the piece of junk food from his mouth. "You aren't going to punch me, or something of the sort…?"
"H-ha, no- I-I bet you're into that kind of thing, too," Battler retorted; forcing himself to retain some calm, any calm, that he might once have possessed. "I-I'm not going to hit you… s-since, a-ah, I… I-I… guess you do need some form of repayment… a-and I'm trying to be a 'gentleman' about it… b-but… But! N-no more, okay?"
"Hm…? No more…? Well, that is quite a pity, certainly, but…" Ronove smiled. "I suppose I was lucky to even receive this much. Do forgive me."
And with that, he placed the piece of Pocky in his mouth, and bit down.
It didn't taste as delicious being consumed this way at all…
How disappointing.
a/n: Yay self indulgent fluff because because because
I think there might be 10 stories in this collection… not sure though ^^;;
~renahhchen xoxo