Work Text:
“And it turns out he was staring at me all day because I had sprinkles in my hair!” Luke whined. “Why wouldn’t Barbatos tell me that so I could get rid of them?”
MC laughed lightly. “He does like teasing people, so that’s probably why.” They paused in their steps and the laughter died. Luke stopped walking and turned to look at MC. He tilted his head at seeing MC’s eyes widened and their lips formed a thin line.
“MC? What’s wrong?”
“Did I have sprinkles in my hair yesterday?!” MC cried out. “He was staring at me then when we went to meet with Diavolo.”
Luke sighed. “No, you didn’t.”
“Was there something on my face?”
“No.”
“In my teeth?”
“No, MC,” Luke grumbled and shook his head. “He stares at you a lot. Have you not noticed before?”
MC stiffened. “He does?!”
"Seriously? You’ve never noticed?” Luke crossed his arms and pouted. “I used to try and fight him off, but…”
“But what?”
“Barbatos isn’t that bad…For a demon,” he mumbled.
"What are you talking about? What does that mean?”
Luke huffed and stamped his foot. He looked out the window as he started rambling, “Barbatos likes you, MC! He’s always staring at you. He always spends more time on desserts he makes for you. He always asks me how you are.” He glanced back at MC. They hid their face behind their hands. Their body shook. “Ah! MC? Are you alright? I shouldn’t have told you! Barbatos’s still a demon, after all!”
“Why is me being a demon a problem?” Barbatos sounded directly behind Luke. Luke screamed and turned around, stammering as he tried to come up with a reason. Barbatos chuckled lightly at the child’s expression before his emerald eyes flicker to MC. “It appears you broke MC. For an angel, that’s not very kind.”
“I didn’t break them!” Luke protested. “You did!”
Barbatos tilted his head curiously. Slowly, he approached MC and peeled their hands away from their face. They hesitantly met his eyes when they couldn’t slap their hands back over their face. “Are you alright, MC?” Barbatos questioned trying to act as though he was concerned, but he was more amused than anything.
“Do you stare at me often?” MC asked quietly.
Barbatos hummed as he never broke his gaze away from their face. “Yes, I do.”
MC’s lips pressed together tighter as they tried to contain their embarrassment…Or was it joy? “Why?”
He chuckled lightly. “Because I’m rather fond of you.”
MC tried to get their hands back but whimpered when Barbatos wouldn't let go. Instead, they moved towards him and hid their face in his chest. His eyes widened slightly at the sudden gesture, but soon his shock melted into a warm laugh. He let go of MC’s hands and instead opted to wrap his arms around them, holding them closer to his chest.
“M-MC! Get away from him!” Luke protested. He looked up at Barbatos with a frown when his arms tightened around them, not allowing them to escape even if they wanted to. They didn’t. “You demon!”
Barbatos shook his head. “That’s what I am, Luke. I don’t know why you sound so surprised."