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Barbatos serving tea wasn’t an oddity, not at all. He’s a royal butler, so rather, it’s commonplace.
Well, not really for Simeon. He’s not a demon, and likewise, does not live in the Devildom. He doesn’t visit, at least very rarely, and aside from a few obligatory dinners or meetings with Diavolo since the start of the exchange program, he doesn’t often interact with Barbatos in a formal manner.
However, he does interact with Barbatos in a more intimate, domestic way quite often. Everything from cuddling, to quiet sweet nothings, to a simple hug. From bathing with one another (never—okay, well not never, but rarely—in a sexual light), to talking about one another’s days, to just enjoying one another’s presence when they couldn’t be alone together.
He doesn’t remember exactly when it started, the breakthrough from angel and demon, a guest and a butler, to anything more. Perhaps it was the very first time Simeon saw that part of Barbatos—something the butler refused (still refuses, though Simeon is an exception) to show anybody, for fear that he will be seen as unfit for his role. Diavolo would never, but he may encourage or require more breaks, and Barbatos expressed to Simeon once that he doesn’t want that. He quite enjoys his job, and he’s more than comfortable working out time for that part of him on his own.
His littlespace.
Rather than walking away that day, Simeon had decided instead to care for the child before him. While the angel wasn’t personally familiar with regression at the time, he’d heard of it. He knew what was happening. He.. had an idea of what to do.
And it was that decision that created everything that came after. From then on, they interacted frequently, in and out of the roles of little and caregiver. Over time, Simeon became quite fond of Barbatos, both big and little. And Barbatos became more willing to be open around the angel.
Simeon doesn’t know, either, when their relationship crossed the line from friends to more. There was no big confession, no ‘Will you be mine?’, just.. them. Of course, Barbatos did ask at some point, not one for leaving things in the air for interpretation. And of course, Simeon had said yes. So yeah, he doesn’t know when it really happened. He just knows it did.
Formality isn’t a thing either of them present around one another, not when alone. Of course, being an angel and a demon, they’ve always kept far from public in their affections. As far as anybody outside is aware, they’re just acquaintances. Not friends, not boyfriends, and certainly not a child and a caregiver. And that is how they wanted it, needed it, for more reasons than one.
So, yeah: Simeon isn’t extremely familiar with the butler that Barbatos was. He never served him tea, or sweets, or anything—never for Simeon. And that was fine, Simeon thinks he honestly wouldn’t like that, because it feels too formal for their relationship.
Until today, of course. It isn’t exactly the same as a butlerserving tea, but it’s.. close enough, Simeon supposes. He’s still acting out the part, he just.. isn’t a butler right now.
He’s a kid. It’s as simple as that. Serving tea at a tea party for his papa and friends (read: stuffed animals.) There wasn’t any actual tea, because Simeon isn’t quite sure Barbatos is old enough to have the coordination to not spill any right now, but he’ll pretend there is for the little’s entertainment.
“Here, papa!”
Simeon’s gentle smile was automatic, watching as Barbatos poured the cup of imaginary tea, smiling widely as he did.
“Why thank you, my dear,” Simeon praised, reaching out to gently pet the little’s head. He giggled.
“Mhm! An’ now.. Wis’ers!”
Next, he poured a cup for the black cat plush sitting right beside Simeon, head lolled to the side and staring blankly at the table. The angel tried a couple times to right him earlier, but it seemed Whiskers had other plans. That was fine though; Barbatos didn’t seem to mind, and if his baby was happy then Simeon was too.
This went around the table, Barbatos ensuring everybody had a drink, even doubling back when he thought some could use some more. From this, Simeon learned that, apparently, Stripes the tiger absolutely loved tea and could never get enough.
Noted.
Simeon doesn’t truly let up on his compliments even once, especially not when Barbatos brought out the sweets. (Nothing, again, but what the kid says goes.)
“An’.. a cookie!” Barbatos cheered, placing an imaginary cookie on Simeon’s small plastic plate. Carefully, the angel picked it up, taking a small ‘bite’ and humming in delight.
“These are quite good,” He told the demon. “You made them all by yourself?” Barbatos nodded eagerly, looking at Simeon with all the excitement in the world, hoping for more praise. It was one thing Simeon learned—even if he never asked for or outwardly showed his liking towards compliments, Barbatos always enjoyed them. He delighted in them, especially from Diavolo and Simeon (luckily enough, the two most likely to shower him in them.)
“Wow, that’s amazing.” Simeon complied, as he always did. It was worth it, every single time, for that smile of pure delight and pride. “What a big boy, to be able to make such amazing cookies all on your own!”
Barbatos pretended to set more down, and though Simeon would object—surely he cannot eat so many!---he honestly could not risk upsetting his sweet-hearted little. So he played along, pretending to eat each cookie set down with clear delight as Barbatos ensured that everybody at the table had what they needed.
And then the conversation lit up. Simeon played the part as a few stuffed animals, Barbatos ‘translating’ for others. It wasn’t much, just compliments to the butler, and topics such as ‘What really fun activity we should do tomorrow?’ Well, perhaps not tomorrow, since Barbatos wouldn’t be free (and even if, he would be big once more and likely prefer simple cuddles and conversation for the day), but his little self threw around the idea of a picnic through many stuffed animals, agreeing vehemently with them each time.
He thought he was slick, getting the idea into Simeon’s head through stuffed animals. That clearly the angel would have no idea at all who really wanted the picnic. A flawless plan!
…Simeon said nothing. He did mentally note down the idea for a later date, though.
And then things began to settle down. The stuffed animals slowly finished their drinks and food and conversation, one by one leaving to ‘go home.’
“Come on, get in the car, Fluffy.” Simeon coaxed, looking at the small stuffed lamb. Barbatos looked between the two.
“S’e wans me come wid.” He decided. Simeon raised an eyebrow.
“Oh, does she now? Okay, hop in.” He replied, turning and kneeling. Barbatos giggled, rushing up to jump on Simeon’s back with Fluffy in hand, earning an ‘oof.’ Barbatos giggled.
Simeon had an idea.
“Oh, no,” He mused. “It looks like the car’s low on fuel.”
Barbatos frowned. “Huh? How Fluffy get home, den?” He questioned, wrapping his hands tight around Simeon. The angel grinned.
“Well, we’ve gotta refuel! And do you know what this car’s fuel is?” He asked. Barbatos paused, titling his head, before shaking his head.
“Mh-mh.”
In one quick movement, Barbatos had been thrown off Simeon’s back, landing on the bed as Simeon turned to kneel over the edge.
“It’s the giggles of children like you!” He declared. The sentence wasn’t even halfway through before his hands were on Barbatos, tickling him on the ribs and under his arms. Immediately, the demon erupted into giggles and yelps, squirming to escape the hands but smiling all the same.
“P-Papa! No’ f-fair!” He called through his laughter. Simeon chuckled in response, hiking the other’s shirt up to blow a playful raspberry on his belly. Barbatos shrieked, continuing to giggle as his caregiver tickled him to the point of near-tears.
When that came, Simeon slowed, eventually stopping and placing a gentle kiss on the little’s nose.
“I think that’s plenty to get us to our destination.” He said, reaching under the little to sit him up. Barbatos gave a soft laugh again, before climbing onto his caregiver’s back as the angel turned around once again.
They ran around the room once or twice, tumbling on the bed at the end in a fit of laughter. Simeon did take notice, though, that Barbatos’ laughter seemed to be much softer than it was at the start. He was tiring.
So they cleaned up. Of course, with a few more games—like a toss to see who could make the most stuffed animals in the bin (spoiler, it was Barbatos; Simeon failed on purpose), or another round of running around the room, or a race between Bella the horse and Stripes (It was Stripes who won, though Barbatos piloted both stuffed animals, Simeon watched.)
And at last, all was cleaned. The toys were put safely back into hiding, and Barbatos.. well, the little was sitting on the edge of the bed, kicking his legs and yawning. Yeah, it was definitely time for a nap.
“Come here, love.” Simeon coaxed. The demon perked up, hopping off to join his caregiver. Meanwhile, Simeon took two pajama sets from the closet. One was a simple two-piece turquoise set, while the second was a onesie with moons and star patterns on it. “Which one?”
Barbatos thought for a moment, before pointing to the plain one. Simeon nodded, putting the onesie away and handing Barbatos his clothes.
“Can you change yourself?” The angel asked. Barbatos nodded. “Alright, love. While you do that, I’m gonna get your paci, and Scales, alright?”
“Bince S’ales.” Barbatos corrected. Simeon smiled, gentle and mirthful.
“Yes, my apologies. Prince Scales.”
With that, Simeon turned back to the closet. While Barbatos changed, Simeon collected the desired items—a black, plain adult soother, a dark red dragon plush, and a black pacifier clip. When he turned around, Barbatos was pulling his head through the shirt, stretching his arms and smiling towards himself as though proud of the accomplishment. He probably was.
Simeon attached the pacifier clip to Barbatos’ collar, the other end already clipped to the pacifier. It was popped in the little’s mouth, and Prince Scales was handed to his loving owner. Or, err, butler.
Most of the time, Barbatos was old enough he didn’t need a pacifier. Four or five was his regular range. However, it always seemed to calm him—so Simeon was more than fine with him sleeping with the pacifier in his mouth. He looked utterly precious when he did, anyway, which was a perk.
Simeon led his little to the bed, moving the sheets and letting Barbatos crawl in. He tucked him in tightly, and Barbatos reached one hand out—one to hold Prince Scales, and one to hold Simeon.
The angel complied.
“S’in?” Barbatos requested. Simeon smiled; who was he to deny?
“Of course, my beautiful boy.”
“Heart beats fast, colors and promises.
How to be brave?
How can I love when I’m afraid to fall?
But watching you stand alone,
All of my doubt suddenly goes away somehow.
One step closer
I have died everyday waiting for you
Darling, don’t be afraid,
I have loved you for a thousand years
I’ll love you for a thousand more.
. . .
Time stands still, beauty in all he is.
I will be brave, I will not let anything take away
What’s standing in front of me
Every breath, every hour has come to this
One step closer
I have died everyday waiting for you
Darling, don’t be afraid,
I have loved you for a thousand years
I’ll love you for a thousand more.
And all along I believed I would find you
Time has brought your heart to me,
I have loved you for a thousand years
I’ll love you for a thousand more.
. . .
One step closer
One step closer
I have died everyday waiting for you
Darling, don’t be afraid,
I have loved you for a thousand years
I’ll love you for a thousand more.
And all along I believed I would find you
Time has brought your heart to me,
I have loved you for a thousand years
I’ll love you for a thousand more.”
Barbatos was fast asleep before the song was even over. Simeon smiled softly at the now so peacefully asleep figure of his lover, his little.
Yeah.
This was—they were—in every way, perfect.