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"Samael."
Mephisto gave no notice that he'd heard the weak voice coming out of the darkness, letting the speaker stew in silence until he'd made his point.
He could practically feel the glare leveled at his back.
"Have you calmed your murderous intent towards Rin Okumura, yet?" Mephisto finally turned his attention to the body held aloft on cruel spears as he awaited an answer to his question.
Amaimon stared at him with his usual impassive expression, ignoring the rivulets of dried blood that had darkened his green hair into a sticky mat around his face and left flaking trails beneath his bruised eyes.
He'd taken to licking off the blood that he kept coughing up, a poor substitute for the sweet suckers and candies the earth king preferred.
"Yes, Samael. But-"
Brow arched, Mephisto patiently let him make his point. Amaimon wasn't the type to display his inner thoughts for all to see. Not to say that he was shy about stating said thoughts, but he took time to chew things over before speaking his conclusions--at least when he wasn't in a blinding rage.
While Mephisto never relied on anyone, he did enjoy some of the insights his favored brother could come up with.
"I can't understand why you coddle him so much." Amaimon shrugged, a few more drops of fresh blood escaped from the edges of the holes caused by the spears, spilling over the congealed old blood that had sealed them closed.
The few times he'd check in on him Mephisto had noted that Amaimon would occasionally re-open the wounds himself, the pain giving him something to do while he was in his time out.
He was something of a masochist when he was bored.
"And," Amaimon continued, scrunching his brows, the only sign of the confusion he was feeling, "I can't understand why you and Father are so entranced with him. He is so weak and oblivious, especially about his demonic nature, that it hurts to watch him."
A snicker burst out from Mephisto at Amaimon's confusion, not that he would be fully letting on what his plans were for Rin just yet.
"You'll just have to keep watching him then if you don't understand. And refrain from trying to kill him, please."
That brought a scowl from Amaimon and he let out an angry mutter that Mephisto caught but, proper etiquette required he press the impertinent demon to speak up.
"I said," Amaimon pouted, eyes shifting to look away from Mephisto, "I just wanted to play with him, not kill him."
Mephisto outright laughed at that, leave it to the earth king to say something so ridiculous.
"My dear Amaimon, I'm afraid your 'affections' may be a little much for our Rin at the moment."
His statement had Amaimon absently licking at the blood staining his fangs, contemplating his words before he responded, "So, when will Rin be ready for me to play with?"
Bringing his hand up to hide his satisfied smile, Mephisto hummed and answered, "Rin may have misunderstood your intentions and certainly isn't ready for your level of play just yet."
"It's as you've said, he is woefully lacking in demon etiquette," Mephisto shrugged, "never mind his atrocious manners as a human."
Amaimon ignored the grumbled last bit from Mephisto, eyes widening in interest at the first half.
"If I teach him etiquette will you let me play with him?" Amaimon looked as if he'd love to be chewing one of his long claws as he mulled over his words. Some new blood welled up along his pinned arm as he tried to move it towards his mouth. "And you'll come home with me to Gehenna then, right?"
"Is that a wager, Amaimon?" Mephisto drawled, watching with acid green eyes and a smirk that pierced Amaimon as surely as the spears did.
Head tilting, Amaimon blinked as if noticing the rapt attention suddenly paid to him by Mephisto.
A vicious, toothy smile lit up his pale face, gold eyes seeming to glow in their intensity, looking macabre in the darkness of Mephisto's prison.
"Yes."
Mephisto snapped his fingers and Amaimon found himself freed from the spears holding him up.
They were back in Mephisto's office at the True Cross Academy.
"Clean yourself up, it's impossible to get the bloodstains out of this carpet and I have a summons to attend to."
Holes closed that the spears had held open in Amaimon's body for, well, it was always hard to tell how long when Mephisto could mess with time like it was a toy.
Slowly, he hauled his aching body up, still not fully in control of his movements as ligaments and flesh knit back together. Already, a welling energy prickled in his veins at the hunt he was about to begin.
Probably better not to say that last bit out loud, Amaimon reflected. He didn't need Mephisto hearing him think about his task as some sort of target he was chasing down for sport. He was weirdly enamored with the half-breed.
Still, best get this over and done with as soon as he could. Amaimon was growing impatient waiting for Mephisto to tire of Assiah and come home with him to Gehenna.
The fascination Mephisto held with Assiah baffled Amaimon. Some things there offered a temporary relief from the endless boredom he suffered, but not enough to keep him in Assiah, not like it did Mephisto. Despite not understanding, Amaimon observed, learned, attempted to find the secret that kept him entertained because if he could find it, it might ease the pain of endless stagnation they all experienced.
It wouldn't arrive yet, though, but there were some things of Assiah he knew would help in an infinitesimal way.
He stopped at the door, turning back to Mephisto.
"Ah, Samael-"
A mild expression met him as Mephisto looked up from the things he'd already begun gathering to leave with. "Yes?"
He smiled then, realizing what Amaimon wanted.
"Of course, you don't deserve this but you have given me an interesting bet, so-"
Another breath and Mephisto appeared instantly before Amaimon, placing a bag of candies in his hand as he waited for him to get a grip on it before it fell. His arms were still healing, and he didn't need the candy scattered all over the carpet should his limbs give out.
At Amaimon's still anticipatory look-hard to tell apart from his other blank expressions but Mephisto had had a few thousand years to parse those apart by now-he sighed and leaned down, crowding him against the door and pressing a kiss to Amaimon's bruised mouth.
Amaimon eagerly returned the kiss, enjoying the way Mephisto seemed to be searching out the traces of his blood still on his tongue. And, well, a quick nip with sharp fangs to his bottom lip and he hummed in pleasure as he tasted blood other than his own.
His lungs burned when Mephisto pulled away finally, letting Amaimon pant as oxygen returned to them, still not quite up to any strenuous activities just yet while his body was healing.
One of those spears had gotten precariously close to said lungs and breathing was difficult.
Not that he wasn't willing to try, Amaimon licked his lips at the thought, but Mephisto was already returning to his desk to deal with his boring human duties, clearly expecting Amaimon to find his way out on his own.
Later then.
A rare smile tugged at his lips, Amaimon bringing up his clawed thumb to chew at the long black nail in thought.
Maybe after he proved he could play nice with their little Rin, Mephisto would be in a good enough mood.
He could be so fickle sometimes.
Rin sneezed, almost banging his head on the nearby bookshelves in Shima and Konekomaru's dorm where he'd been hanging out since he hadn't wanted to go home just yet. The dinner with Mephisto had rattled him and the thought of being alone in his dorm since Yukio had gone again was a depressing one.
"Hey, you know what they say, someone's thinkin' about you," Shima teased, popping his head up from around the corner of the shelves to Koneko's side of the small room.
Half-a-second passed as Rin gave that all the consideration it deserved. He snorted inelegantly, thinking about the few friends he had, only two of which were girls, the third girl being Shura who was basically like an older sister and didn't even count.
"Yeah, who?"
"Well, hopefully a cute girl you can take with you to the school festival coming up." Shima grinned slyly, elbowing Rin in the side and arching his brows.
"What? Seriously? A festival?"
Excitement had Rin practically vibrating as Konekomaru pulled up the event info and showed him all the cool bands that were going to be playing at the Mephyland amusement park.
And then they got to the part where only students going as couples could get into the last part of the event, the dance, and Rin felt his hopes dashed.
"So Shiemi won't be able to go with me since she's not a student," Rin groaned, tail drooping in his disappointment.
"You think Izumo will?" Shima said, grin becoming mushy at the thought.
Konekomaru sighed at his antics. "It's doubtful, she doesn't seem like the type to go, much less with you, Shima."
They snickered at Shima's exaggerated sounds of offense to the jab.
In the end, though, they would have to wait for classes to resume the next day to ask any of their available classmates-or one of the many poor girls Shima flirted with-to see if they could be convinced to be their plus one.
At least one of them would say 'yes,' Rin figured, and there was still a good amount of time before the deadline, so he put off rushing around to find someone like Shima was planning on to head back to his and Yukio's dorm for the night.
He knew Yukio wouldn't be there--and he'd been given a perfectly verifiable reason as to why--but the fact that it was becoming a recurring trend in their once-close relationship, that Yukio was spending more and more time out busy with seemingly anything he could find, was disheartening, to say the least.
His shoes scuffed along the pavement as he sighed and made his way towards the more secluded road to the dorm. Hanging out with Shima and Koneko had only been able to distract him from his thoughts for so long but now that he was on his own the worries returned.
That brief moment where everything had come together after the fight with the Impure King in Kyoto seemed so far behind already. He had the picture they'd all taken on the top of the Kyoto Tower framed on his desk and it never failed to cheer him up, but it couldn't distract from the increasingly false smiles Yukio was wearing.
Plus, there was the weird way Shura was acting, more and more using her brash actions and drinking as a way to cover up that she was antsy about something.
Izumo and Bon were also so focused on practicing for the upcoming tests they needed to graduate that they were impossible to get out anymore. Really, if he hadn't had Shima and Koneko--and hopefully now Godaiin, since he'd be getting the anti-demon-seeing eye wash for him--still acting normal he would be totally alone.
And Shiemi was hanging out with Yukio. A lot.
In fact, it seemed like, on the few times Yukio was home, he had to leave again to go see or had just been with her. Rin knew Shiemi had known Yukio first before he'd met her, and he saw how well she and Yukio got along, their personalities complimenting each other perfectly.
Somewhere in the back of his mind, though, he still hoped she might one day see him as more than a friend.
Things still didn't feel right. He felt like the world was holding its breath. Like they were on the brink of something big and there was just a short period of normality before everything imploded.
Mood officially ruined, his tail drooped until it dragged along behind him on the ground. It was bound to get tangled and it would be a total pain, literally, to brush out later. After the day he'd had he just couldn't bring himself to care.
Then his nose picked up the scent of dried blood in the air and Rin looked up at his surroundings, immediately tense.
"Hmm, you're getting better at this, though your awareness is still really pathetic."
"Gah!"
He twisted around like he'd been scalded, recognizing the voice that had come from right behind him without a hint to how it'd got there so silently.
"You! You're that demon, uh," Rin grasped at his memory of the name the demon had shouted at him right before he'd tried to kill him the last time he'd gotten said name wrong, "Amazon!"
That was the wrong thing to say.
Rin found himself flat on his back, air leaving him in a whoosh as he was kneed in the stomach and pinned to the ground with one black clawed hand around his neck and the other holding his tail to the side in a bruising grip.
"First lesson in demon etiquette," he snarled, claws digging into Rin's skin and hand yanking his trapped tail, "my name is Amaimon and I am king of earth, seventh strongest in Gehenna under Satan."
"You will remember it this time."
Gold eyes narrowed at the panic his words and actions had created. He could feel the heartbeat thundering through the artery under his hand and see the pinpricks Rin's pupils had become, totally focused on him after the glaze of shock had worn off.
But, that wasn't going to win him the wager against Mephisto so Amaimon let out a soft huff and loosened his grip on the half-demon underneath him, even being so kind as to release the exposed tail. He was nice like that.
Although he left his claws at Rin's throat as a warning not to move.
"Mephisto thinks you're finally good enough to talk with him," he started, tilting his head to regard Rin. "I don't see why. You don't look any stronger since we first fought."
Amaimon could see Rin gulp, bracing himself before responding. Although he doubted it was with an answer to the question he'd half-rhetorically implied. He already knew nobody really understood the reasons Mephisto did anything and certainly not their youngest brother, but it would be fun to witness the attempt.
"What do you want?"
Disappointing, but Amaimon had been prepared for such a basic question. "Mephisto gave me a task."
Not technically the truth but the little half-demon didn't need to know that.
A frown appeared and Rin scrunched his nose as he processed that, wriggling in discomfort until he must have realized he was still trapped under Amaimon. Not that he knew how it was possible to forget such a thing, but it was oddly endearing in any case, to see Rin so vulnerable.
He watched a blush take over Rin's face and his head tilted, lips twitching in his own frown. Amaimon was pretty sure he remembered Rin reacting a lot more violently the last times they'd interacted, which was always more entertaining but wouldn't really help him win Mephisto's wager.
Where had this sudden change of personality come from?
"Um," Rin stuttered, freezing as if to avoid touching Amaimon any further, not that it helped, trapped as he was, "can you let me up now?"
"Will you run if I do?" Amaimon asked, although from the lack of anger in the expression he didn't think he'd have to worry about that. He wondered what had happened-and how long it had been-since he'd been in Mephisto's pocket of time being punished that had changed Rin's attitude.
Mephisto had a nasty habit of speeding up or slowing time down in his pocket dimensions whenever Amaimon was stuck in them based on whatever he was being punished for at that point.
When Rin's gaze flicked to either side as if considering which way to run, Amaimon began to simply resign himself to having this whole conversation sitting on the foolish demon's stomach before he nodded and finally stopped looking so skittish.
"Okay."
Rin felt his racing heart finally start to calm when those dangerous claws slid away from his vulnerable throat and he was allowed to get out from under Amaimon.
He rose slowly, rubbing at where rocks had been digging into his back and tail twining around his leg as if to hide from being grabbed again.
Slit-pupiled eyes zeroed in on the movement, Amaimon's impassive face still somehow giving him the feeling of being watched by a coiled snake and Rin flinched, waiting for the strike.
But, he needed to find out why Amaimon was even here, released from whatever prison Mephisto had been keeping him in.
"Er, do you want to come back to my dorm so, you know, we're not in the middle of the road?"
Specifically so no one else saw Rin hanging out with one of the demon kings of Gehenna, like he didn't already have enough troubles. Rin grumbled internally, hoping Amaimon would take the bait. He'd just narrowly escaped a pending execution order for being the spawn of Satan and was on thin ice as it was without being associated with another demon like Amaimon.
At Amaimon's assenting shrug Rin steeled his nerves, turned his back to the possibly murderous demon, and led the way.
After the meeting with Mephisto, who was apparently really the immortal demon king of time, Samael, Rin wasn't sure about anything anymore. Nothing in his life made sense, and yet, at the same time, things were falling into place that had been up in the air since the disastrous day he'd discovered his heritage.
The thought of Amaimon being loose in the world was a terrifying one, but it was also an opportunity to get answers to things he was sure the shifty and vague Mephisto knew but was hiding.
Though he doubted that even Amaimon knew every secret Mephisto kept, Rin was betting Amaimon at least knew more than he did, and was much blunter than Mephisto, if also reticent with his words.
Of course, he just had to survive the encounter and whatever task Mephisto had given Amaimon that somehow involved him in it.
When his run-down dorm came into view Rin almost sighed out loud in relief. He'd been fighting with rising hackles and screaming instincts that said to keep him in sight at all times with the way Amaimon had been stalking behind him like a prowling big cat on silent feet.
He walked up to the door shuffling around his pockets for the keys, for once silently happy that Yukio was out because he couldn't imagine his trigger-happy twin would be okay with a demon king in their home no matter that he'd been invited by Rin.
"I thought Mephisto made it clear that a demon's tail should be kept hidden."
Rin yelped at the sudden question-said-as-a-statement that came from way too close over his shoulder.
At the same time he was pushing open the door, he felt his poor abused tail grabbed once again by Amaimon and given a short tug. Thankfully not as painful a tug this time, if only just, but he was getting real tired of people yanking on it like it was a leash.
"Hey! Let go!"
Amaimon ignored him, pulling the furred appendage up between them to fix an analytic look at the longer mussed strands at the end.
His lips pulled up over his fangs in a silent snarl and Rin glared as he prepared to fight Amaimon off his tail.
-and got a dismissive glance turned down at him, Amaimon clearly about as impressed as Mephisto had been when he'd gotten in his face too.
Luckily it didn't come to anything. Amaimon snorted and dropped his tail, pushing past Rin to enter the building like he owned the place.
The rudeness had Rin frowning, but he followed, shutting the door firmly behind him and watching as Amaimon surveyed his surroundings with an impassive face.
Although Rin was beginning to suspect that unimpressed was Amaimon's default expression regardless of what emotion he was actually feeling.
"Over here," Rin said, pointing to the hall that led to one of the many empty dorm rooms, not wanting Amaimon to see his actual room where Kuro was probably napping or intrude on the cafeteria where Ukobach reigned.
He let them into a random room, choosing the first of the larger suite-style dorms he could find. Anything to not be in what amounted to a shoebox with Amaimon like most of the dorms were.
Apprehension shivered through Rin at the click of the door closing behind Amaimon, but he had come this far and knew it was too late to turn back at this point. He'd just have to suck it up and deal.
Amaimon hopped up to sit on one of the built-in window desks, one leg crossed and the other dangling to kick idly against the wooden side, pulling out a bag of hard candies from a hidden pocket in his tattered maroon coat.
The movement of the coat and the enclosed space brought that strange scent of dried blood back to Rin and he took a deeper sniff of the air, realizing with alarm that the smell was coming from Amaimon.
Was it Rin's imagination, or were there suspiciously dark stains on the already dark material?
"Hey uh, are you okay?"
Rin cringed at his own ridiculous question. Of course Amaimon was okay, he'd just shown he was perfectly capable of sneaking up and incapacitating Rin without any trouble at all.
He was proven right when all he got for his question was a curious head tilt and no response.
"I mean, last time we, er, fought, you kinda' collapsed and now I smell blood on you. So, I just thought I'd ask, you know, how you were doing," Rin trailed off, feeling a bright flush take over his face at his sheer embarrassment.
Oh god, kill him now.
"You're very strange," was all he got for his efforts.
"Hey!"
Amaimon ignored his outburst, shrugging and pulling off his coat, much to Rin's bemusement.
What was he-? Rin was about to ask what the hell Amaimon was doing, especially when it looked like he was about to start stripping out of his shirt, too, when he saw what had been making the smell, suddenly stronger without the coat to keep it contained.
"Mephisto was upset at me for ignoring him when he told me to stop playing with you and he was especially mad when I hit him. So I was punished until I promised not to play with you again until he says I can."
"That's punishment?" Rin almost gagged at the ragged holes that had clearly been pierced through various points along Amaimon's entire body straight to the other side. Yeah, they were healing, Amaimon's demonic powers making what would be fatal wounds on a human body into simple hindrances instead, but the appearance was nightmare-inducing.
Instead of treating it like the horror show it was, Amaimon actually smirked at him, reaching down to his stomach with one hand to trail a clawed finger around the outsides of the torn fabric of his shirt and press into the lacerated skin underneath.
The sight made Rin flinch as Amaimon slowly undid his tie, unbuttoned the blood-stained gold vest, and pulled open the equally stained striped button up to reveal the several other deep wounds he had.
"You really were raised as a human," Amaimon mused, ignoring the horror of his own healing body in favor of watching Rin's reaction from beneath lowered lashes.
"What does that have to do with anything?" Rin said, still unable to take his eyes off the blood-encrusted torso in front of him.
"I have no idea why he insisted you be raised in ignorance," Amaimon grumbled to himself instead of answering before looking up to frown at Rin, "you're lucky you have me to help you now."
"Exactly, listen," Rin said as he snapped back to himself and quickly averted his eyes from the scene in front of him, "I was raised human. I didn't know demons and stuff like that even existed until this year! And everyone's expecting me to already know everything, but I don't!"
A loud crunch echoed as Amaimon bit down hard on the candy he'd been sucking on, glare over taking his features and causing Rin to shut his mouth because he'd clearly said something to piss him off.
"You are heir to the throne of Gehenna, inheritor of Father's flames, and you've had your mind poisoned against your own kin by those feeble humans," came the snarl, Amaimon turning his head to glare around the room as if cursing the humans and their influence in Rin's life.
"Eh, no, really, it's not that bad," Rin squeaked out, waving his hand in front of him to distract the building ire. "I mean it would have been great to know all this from the start, although life was definitely simpler before I knew I was a demon. But I've made some great friends now! And yeah, things are definitely not good with Yukio but he'll come around, he has to!"
Okay he was rambling, Rin knew, and it was doubtful Amaimon even understood half of what he was talking about, or cared. Somehow, though, his monologue had gotten the pissed-off demon to calm down and return to watching him curiously.
Not that everything he'd babbled wasn't true. For once in his life, he had real friends, something that hadn't seemed like it would ever happen to him when he'd been an outcast of a kid. Really, if there wasn't a suspended execution order over his head, his self-imposed mission to kill Satan for Shiro's death, and Yukio's weird behavior recently, he'd say life was pretty good.
Amaimon seemed to have concluded something while Rin waited with bated breath.
He flinched again as Amaimon slid off the desk and stalked into his personal space to stare down at him, bringing the scent of blood into his nose and causing his pulse to spike in his veins.
"Never bare your fangs, your heart, or your tail to anyone, especially another demon, unless you mean to."
"What?"
The seeming non-sequitur had Rin blinking, still distracted by the physical nearness and his own lack of a quick escape, backed against the wall as he was.
Amaimon sighed.
"You imply three things by revealing those," he continued, bringing up another candy to his mouth as he explained.
"Bared fangs will lead to a fight. It's a display of dominance and a threat rolled into one that lesser demons can't resist reacting to."
"You're lucky," Amaimon said, "I've seen you display them to Mephisto many times and he has been more patient than I've ever seen with anyone else who's threatened him like that before."
"He's killed for that offense in the past, you know." Gold eyes glinted as Amaimon narrowed them, watching to see the effect his words were having on Rin
Thinking back to all the times he had thoughtlessly growled, snarled, or otherwise shown his teeth to Mephisto had Rin gulping.
Granted he'd definitely felt the smarmy bastard deserved it at the time, but now he was rethinking things.
"Hmm, yes, you see now. He really likes you, I suppose."
He sure showed it in weird ways, Rin thought to himself, remembering all the vaguely threatening overtures every conversation with Mephisto tended to carry. Maybe that really was just another demon thing he had yet to understand.
"Your demon heart is equally as dangerous to display but for different reasons," Amaimon said after letting his words sink in, stepping back to examine his claws and allowing Rin to breathe more freely.
"Yeah, I got that after Mephisto let you out to fight me earlier," Rin mumbled, abashed.
That lesson had been learned the hard way. Painfully. Amaimon had almost killed him in one blow. Had he not overtaxed his human host body when he'd revealed his own demon heart and true power Rin knew exactly how that fight would have ended.
"You," Rin hesitated, coming to a realization, eyes widening as he took in Amaimon for what felt like the first time.
"You really were just playing with me when we fought in the amusement park."
Amaimon blinked at him, his turn to be bemused, "of course I was. I thought I told you that?"
The urge to smack himself in the face rose, Rin groaning out loud.
"Is that a demon thing? Just pick fights with people for fun?"
His questions just had Amaimon frowning, crossing his arms as if insulted.
"Well, what do humans do for fun?"
Oh boy, Rin thought, realizing with horror that there was a truly yawning gap in Amaimon's knowledge of humans and his own infinitesimal knowledge of demons had just made itself known for what felt like the millionth time.
They were going to be there awhile.
Amaimon was baffled.
After their first meeting, he'd known it was going to take work, getting their littlest brother up to speed on his demonic heritage, but he hadn't realized just how in the dark Rin was.
He wanted to go back and shake Mephisto for tricking him into doing the brunt of the work he was clearly too lazy to do himself.
As he sucked at the remainder of the latest piece of candy he'd been working on, Amaimon considered the conundrum that he'd just been presented with.
At least a thousand years had gone by since he'd been on Assiah in a human body and yet, as he'd been told by Mephisto, he hadn't even managed the mystery of human facial expressions, let alone their actual emotions and what they meant.
Not that human expressions were worth learning, or so he'd thought, but Amaimon had a sinking suspicion that getting Rin, who was so painfully human in his upbringing, to understand his role in Gehenna, he would have to do more than learn human mannerisms.
He just didn't know what that entailed yet.
"Um, well, we, I mean humans, like to hang out together. Like at the movies or the beach or going to get food or something."
Amaimon blinked, trying to remember what the conversation topic had been for Rin to start talking about human activities.
That's boring," Amaimon grumbled, picking the thread back up. "Where's the competition and how do you test your strength by 'hanging out'?"
"Well," Rin scratched at his dark hair, mouth cocked into a frown, "there's a bunch of fun sports to play, and we do have fighting competitions. But I guess the big difference is both sides know the other one wants to be there, and both already know the risks involved."
"Ah!" Amaimon exclaimed, comprehension dawning on him, "So if I had asked you if you wanted to play beforehand you would have?"
The small grin he got in return for his question was somehow rewarding, though he couldn't place why.
"Well, I mean, I didn't know who you were then-or what you meant by 'play,' so probably not," Rin responded, though seeing Amaimon's pout, quickly added, "But that doesn't mean we can't now, as long as you don't try to kill me."
Amaimon looked up, eyes widening at Rin's words. Did he mean?
"Not right now! I've still got questions and I'm kinda tired from all the crazy revelations I've been having today. But maybe later," Rin amended before Amaimon could take him up on his offer.
But if he wasn't up to that kind of play, and truthfully neither was Amaimon just yet, then he must mean-
A giddy joy welled in his chest and he leaned down to crush a kiss to Rin's mouth when he couldn't contain it anymore. He pressed Rin against the wall behind him, shivering at the heat of his body.
It wasn't often you got an invitation like that from another demon.
And here he didn't think Rin was ever going to agree to play with him so soon! He would have to thank Mephisto for allowing him another chance at Rin when he saw him again. This was turning out to be much more entertaining than he'd expected.
The mouth beneath his was slack but Amaimon smiled into the kiss, licking slightly chapped lips and chasing the taste of fire on Rin's tongue. He brought up his hand to trace over the rapid heartbeat in that chest, feeling the core of warmth the young demon prince exuded and delighting in the fledgling power he knew lay beneath.
Unfortunately, that was as far as he got before he was abruptly shoved back.
"Hey! What the hell?" Rin shouted, bringing a hand up to brush his wet lips and glaring in distrust, all the good humor from earlier vanished.
"I don't understand," Amaimon responded, an odd sense of hurt stinging at him as he held a hand to the wound in his stomach the other had just hit.
"Wuh, you don't understand?" Rin looked flabbergasted. "You can't just go around kissing people like that!"
"But you said we could play now that you knew me." Amaimon said, frowning.
Rin let out a strangled noise at that, much to Amaimon's ever-deepening confusion.
"Is that what you meant by play?" Rin yelped out, voice still choked and face reddening, "I thought you meant you wanted to fight again?"
Amaimon crossed his arms, the move defensive as he tried to understand the breakdown in communication.
"I'm too injured to fight," Amaimon said slowly as he worked out what he thought had been a simple sequence of events. "You said you were tired but still wanted to play with me."
Looking alarmingly red by now, Rin sputtered out, "And you thought that meant you should stick your tongue down my throat?"
In one sense of things. Amaimon chewed at his clawed thumb, the habit coming to him with the unfamiliar territory he had entered. "Actually, I thought we would fuck."
Was that steam coming out of Rin? Amaimon was a bit worried to see he appeared to be suffering some kind of breakdown in the corner of the room he'd suddenly retreated to.
The newest confusing events unfolded before Amaimon's eyes. He watched to see Rin's face now clutched between his legs, and for reasons he couldn't begin to explain, Rin faced the wall, tail lashing erratically behind his back.
If he broke Rin, Mephisto would skewer him again, Amaimon determined, knowing he'd have to fix this mess if he wanted to win the wager.
And, he realized, startled, he wanted to fix Rin because he had grown fond of the little half-demon now that he'd gotten the chance to talk with him and realized he hadn't meant any insult by refusing to play, he'd just been raised by the vapid humans Mephisto stuck him with.
He stepped unnoticed over to the crouched form, bending down to poke the bent shoulder and trying to ignore the incredibly distracting way Rin's tail kept sweeping just under his nose.
"Hey, what's wrong with you?"
When all he got for his efforts was a low groan, Amaimon sighed and joined Rin on the ground, leaning forward to rest his chin on his shoulder and draping the smaller form with his body.
"This is a human thing Mephisto is always warning me about, isn't it?"
That seemed to have gotten Rin's attention, tail finally slowing its movements except for a twitch of interest at the statement.
Although Amaimon was having problems focusing on what his plan had been up until that point. He was becoming increasingly fixated on nuzzling into Rin's neck and chasing the scent he found in that soft black hair brushing against his cheek.
"Why are you doing this?"
Amaimon let out a huff, delighting in the way it caused Rin to shiver when it went across his neck. Maybe they could get back to the part where they had sex. Amaimon would like that very much.
That was when he noticed the rumbling growl building up in the body beneath his.
He only had a brief moment to realize the hunched shoulders had tensed when he was knocked backwards, teeth clacking against each other painfully as the surprise attack slammed his jaw shut.
In a reverse of the way the encounter with Rin had begun that day, Amaimon found himself on his back.
He grunted as his breath cut off, Rin's hands clamped around his throat, and it wasn't his imagination that things were warmer all of a sudden, flickers of blue flame appearing in patches on the furious demon straddling his body.
"Stop messing with me!"
There wasn't enough oxygen to ask what Rin meant, heartbeat rushing louder in his ears with every passing moment he couldn't breathe.
"Nobody likes me like that!"
Wait. Amaimon blinked past the involuntary tears blurring his vision to realize Rin's eyes were also suspiciously wet. Was he crying?
"They all like Yukio, even Shiemi. I'm just the vicious, stupid demon," Rin delivered with a choked voice, eyes clenching shut and head bowing over Amaimon, repeating, "Nobody likes me like that."
Ah.
Finally, Amaimon understood and he had to wrestle with the urge to go rip that disgusting, condescending human twin to shreds for making Rin feel like he was somehow worth less because of his demonic nature.
Black spots made it hard to see but Amaimon ignored his body's instincts telling him to attack the cause, instead reaching up and placing a gentling hand on Rin's cheek.
"Huh?"
Amaimon traced at the jaw with his claws, brushing the few tears that had escaped away with the pad of his thumb.
The claws released from Amaimon's neck, Rin shocked out of his rage by the unexpected caress. Blue flames disappeared, leaving him looking small and sad, haloed as he was by the dorm's pale fluorescent lighting.
Gasping, Amaimon let out rasping breaths, chest heaving at the sudden return of air to his starved lungs. The hand he wasn't still holding to Rin's face clutched at his own throat as he tried to massage away the finger-shaped bruises that were surely there.
"Why?"
A strange fascination took hold in Amaimon, watching as his hand was gripped between both of Rin's, cupped against his face.
"You have been made to feel ashamed of your very nature," Amaimon croaked out, coughing until he could speak again. "Those simpering, weak-hearted humans have convinced you that you are evil and wrong simply for being who you are."
At the denial in Rin's expression and shaking head, Amaimon pressed on, needing him to understand the conclusion he had come to. "While they hide beneath their façade of vague morals and strangled societies, you, in all your raw power and strength of heart hold up a mirror to everything they refuse to face in themselves."
"I don't-"
Rin cut himself off, starting to shiver as the emotional rollercoaster he'd just been on fully hit him, leaving him stunned over Amaimon.
"In Gehenna, amongst your own kind, you wouldn't be punished for your nature," Amaimon said, firmly, to make sure Rin couldn't mistake his meaning this time. It was the truth of demons, that they were unchanging, but it also meant they were resolute, not lost in the shades of indecision humans operated under.
"They try to contain you, keep you weak and tamable, where you should be wild and confident in your position as heir to the blue flames of our Father."
Did Rin not realize he was set to become the strongest of the demons of Gehenna with power so absolute no other could challenge him if they had the rest of eternity to try? To even be in the same realm of that power was a heady experience and Amaimon remembered getting to feel it when he'd forced Rin to unleash the blue flames in their forest encounter.
"You should have hordes of demons lining up for the chance to be in your presence, let alone have the privilege of your affections."
There, Amaimon thought, he had said his piece. Let Rin do what he would then.
He found that Rin was watching him with wide blue eyes, still holding his hand as if it were a lifeline. He really was going to have to find Mephisto after this and ask what the hell he'd had been thinking when he left Rin to be raised in such a cruel way.
Maybe he would even punch him again. The punishment would be worth it this time.
"You-you really think so?" Rin sniffled when Amaimon just nodded in calm assent, squeezing his hand in silent comfort. It was all too human but he wasn't sure what other way a nephilim like Rin would respond to.
A breath passed before Amaimon had the breath literally and figuratively knocked out of him again when he found himself being kissed by an enthusiastic half-demon.
Not one to pass such an opportunity by, Amaimon pulled Rin more on top of him, coaxing the inexperienced and sloppy kiss into something deeper and wondering if Rin would object much if he brought his teeth and claws into play.
Amaimon didn't think he could handle it if Rin decided he wanted to stop again. He'd probably have to go find Mephisto and beg to be taken if that happened.
Instincts urged him to bring his hands up to card through the inky black hair, trying to map out the inside of Rin's mouth with a fervency that came out of nowhere to surprise him in its intensity.
Now that he'd started, Rin seemed desperate to touch every bit of Amaimon's exposed skin, sending jolts of pain-pleasure through his body every time those hands scraped past the finally almost healed wounds.
Purrs reverberated through his chest as he got the contact he'd been craving ever since he'd been locked away for so long with nothing but Mephisto's spears impaling him.
He felt himself hardening, rubbing up against the hips above his and trying to get more of that delicious friction despite the annoying clothes in the way.
The movement sent Rin gasping, breaking the kiss and arching above Amaimon, panting as if he'd just remembered he needed to breathe.
Amaimon was just about to pull him back down, and possibly tear off his obstructive clothing, when he was suddenly picked up by his neck and yanked back along the floor to smash into the wall behind him, a twin crash sounding from where Rin must have also been tossed.
A ferocious snarl tore out of his mouth at the bastard who'd dared interrupt him when he realized just who it was who'd interrupted.
Before him stood Mephisto, dangerous green eyes narrowed and slit-pupil-focused on Amaimon as if daring him to keep baring his fangs at him so disrespectfully.
Amaimon almost ignored the silent warning anyway when Mephisto began speaking.
"It seems you haven't learned from your punishment, Amaimon. I believe we agreed you would teach Rin demon etiquette, not seduce him."
There wasn't time to come up with a way to appease him as Mephisto began counting.
"Eins, zwei, drei. Kuchen Kuckucksuhr!"
One panicked moment hung in the air as Amaimon searched the room for Rin before he was swallowed up by Mephisto's damned technique and knew no more.
"Now then," Mephisto sighed, turning from where Amaimon had been, "I'm very sorry for his behavior. That was most certainly not what I had intended when I released him this morning. I assure you he will be put back in time out until he understands what he may and may not do without my say."
A crack echoed through the air and Mephisto had a strange moment when he realized it was because he'd been punched across the face.
He turned astonished eyes down to an enraged Rin, finding him wreathed in blue flames despite Kurikara still sheathed by the wall.
"Let him go!"
This was…most unexpected, Mephisto thought just as all higher reasoning began to leave Rin.
Rin hadn't looked this out of control since his last fight with Amaimon, teeth bared in a snarl and eyes appearing like the hottest part of a fire. Incandescent with rage.
"I'm not sure I understand," Mephisto said, knowing it was to an empty audience since the growling nephilim in front of him was hardly lucid, but he felt the surreal situation deserved it.
"Give him back to me!"
That last demand was more roared than spoken and Mephisto felt a sinking apprehension to see that Rin had given into his demonic instincts, no longer capable of conscious reason at all.
It must have happened when Mephisto tossed him into the wall. The surprise attack coupled with the state he'd found Rin and Amaimon in would have been enough to cause the change in the fledgling demon, still too new to his instincts to know how to counter them. It was bringing him back that would be the hardship.
There was only one solution he could see. Rin would have to be snapped out of it because it didn't seem like he'd be able to come back on his own until he eliminated what was causing his anger in the first place. Namely, it seemed, being with Amaimon and exterminating the intruding demon who'd come between them, Mephisto, in this case.
This was not the plan, Mephisto complained to himself inwardly, already summoning Amaimon back from his prison as it would be the quickest way to calm Rin, avoid property damage, and get some answers out of the two troublesome demons.
Not a moment too soon, Amaimon was spat back out from the cuckoo prison, looking exactly as bewildered as Mephisto was feeling.
Rin's focus zeroed in on Amaimon and he made to launch himself towards them as Mephisto went to stand at Amaimon's back, the implied threat halting Rin from advancing.
His appearance had Amaimon immediately going lax against his chest, knowing he had a lot of explaining to do and trying to placate his ire.
Mephisto brought his gloved hand up to Amaimon's neck to hold him in place, keeping his stare fixed on Rin.
"What happened?"
A shift and Amaimon tilted his head to look at him, although Mephisto didn't deign to meet his gaze. To take his eyes off of Rin with the way he currently was would only spur the feral brat into attacking.
He wanted his answers now and not whenever Rin would wake up after being knocked unconscious.
"He wanted to play with me," Amaimon said instead of answering.
Clearly, he wasn't just dealing with the one brat this evening. Mephisto sneered and tightened his grip on Amaimon's neck at the deliberate obtuseness. He had thought the temptation of winning a wager against him, however slim the odds of that were, would have kept the competitive demon in check. Especially knowing how badly he wanted him to come back to Gehenna.
Distracting Amaimon with teaching Rin a bit more about what it meant to be a demon was just the icing on the cake.
He hadn't counted on Amaimon deciding he liked Rin after all.
"We will discuss this later," Mephisto said, the future punishment for disobeying him implied. "Can you calm him enough to be rational if I let you go to him?"
"Yes, Samael."
They would find out. Mephisto shoved Amaimon towards Rin, admitting to himself he was, in truth, a little curious to see how this would all play out.
Rin instantly went from eyeing Mephisto like he'd love to tear his throat out to focusing his attention on the now freed Amaimon.
Amaimon stumbled forward before righting himself and moving the last few feet to curl into Rin's possessive embrace.
His arms wrapped tightly around Amaimon, pulling him back into his grasp in a mirror of the way Mephisto had held him earlier. The blue flames enveloped Amaimon but didn't burn him the way he'd been the first time he'd been introduced to their particular agony.
Clawed fingers ran down Amaimon's chest and under the part of his still open shirt as if seeking out the places Mephisto had been in contact with earlier to burn away the traces of his touch.
It was…a very nice sight, Mephisto decided, tilting his head to appreciate the way Rin tucked his nose into the crook of Amaimon's throat, still watching Mephisto with those dangerous blue eyes as if daring him to try to take Amaimon back from him.
He saw the moment Amaimon realized where his thoughts were heading by the way he made the rather salacious move to bare his throat to Rin, and by proxy to Mephisto as well, angling his head back to stare at Mephisto from beneath his lashes.
"This isn't helping, Amaimon," Mephisto said, hearing the way his voice had gone rough and watching the shiver it sent through Amaimon's body despite the way the flames licked up his skin with interest.
"You interrupted us," the absolute tease responded. A wide smirk formed on his face just before a gasp escaped him and his eyes fluttered closed as Rin ran his fangs over his jugular.
Right, Mephisto decided, snapping his fingers and transporting the three of them to his bedroom in a cloud of pink smoke. He deserved nice things every once in a while, especially after the day he'd had, and this situation had practically gift-wrapped itself for his pleasure.
Amaimon looked like the cat who'd caught several fat canaries as he found himself pushed down to the ground and crouched over once again by Rin, who'd immediately resumed snarling at Mephisto in surprise at the sudden teleportation. Thankfully the flames were gone, but he would have to act fast before they returned and Rin burned his room down in a fit.
That simply wouldn't do. Mephisto grinned, vanishing only to emerge in front of the two and yank Rin up off Amaimon, tossing him on the cushy pink king-sized bed. The shocked look on the little half-demon's face was adorable but he had to set a precedent or things would end up bloody.
Mephisto gave Rin no time to adjust, appearing over him to pull his arms over his head with one hand, holding them in an iron grip and straddling his waist to keep him from kicking.
Rage poured from Rin and he looked like he was about to combust until Mephisto leaned down to lock his fangs around his throat and growled, the sound echoing like a tiger throughout the room.
Immediately, Rin went slack under him, recognizing a bigger threat when he heard one.
His attention diverted as Amaimon chose that moment to climb onto the bed, having made the executive decision to remove the remaining tatters of his clothes. He was now naked except for the slim, lizard-like tail curled around his waist and Mephisto hummed at the sight, tongue laving at the throat still captured in his mouth.
Always the forward demon, Amaimon brought his hand to Rin's scalp, scraping claws delicately through his hair and bringing the trapped demon's attention back to him. Mephisto allowed it, breathing the mingling scents from Rin's throat and Amaimon's wrist before pulling back with a satisfied sigh, knowing Rin was unlikely to be a threat now.
Rin made for a very pretty sight, panting and wary beneath him, holding still in the place Mephisto had left him in as he waited to see what the dominant demon would do now that he'd made their positions clear.
"Well?" He turned to gaze down at Amaimon from where he sat over Rin, gesturing with a nod to both of their still clothed bodies. "You've been begging for this all day, it seems. Get to it."
Amaimon complied, reaching forward to carefully unbutton the suit Mephisto had chosen to wear that day. Mephisto watched with dark eyes as he slowly peeled off the layers of his clothes until all that remained were his gloves and his slacks.
Without warning, Mephisto dragged Amaimon to him, bringing his forehead down so that his hair framed his face and making sure he was looking into his eyes.
"I am going to let Rin take you and then I will take you," he breathed into the mouth under his. "Do you understand?"
He swallowed the involuntary moan that came out of Amaimon in a kiss that was all teeth and heat, crushing their bodies together over the still prone Rin.
Without looking, he snapped his fingers and Rin's clothes and his own vanished to reappear folded neatly in a nearby chair. The move caused Rin to jolt beneath him, hissing at the sudden exposure of his skin to the air and bringing his hands to Mephisto's waist as if to push him off. Mephisto put a stop to that by grinding down onto the bare skin revealed to him now and Rin arched back into the bed, eyes glazing over at the sensation.
For a moment, he allowed himself to revel in the feeling, dragging his hips over Rin's once more in a deliberate movement that sent electricity singing through his nerves before he forced himself off and to the side.
"Prepare him and yourself, Amaimon," Mephisto instructed roughly, realizing his fangs had lengthened and knowing that meant his eyes and ears had taken on their true demonic appearance as well.
Amaimon didn't need to be told twice, moving over to Rin's waist and leaning down to lick a long, slow stripe up his inner thigh while Rin panted helplessly, hair sticking to his forehead and flushed face as his eyes tracked the path Amaimon took.
Then he let out a groan as he was enveloped by Amaimon's warm mouth, thrusting up into the inviting heat.
It was a good thing Amaimon had no gag-reflex to speak of as Rin, out of his mind as he was, brought his hand to the head over him and pushed into it at a merciless pace.
A heated growl reverberated through Mephisto's chest. He knew Amaimon more than had the strength to hold Rin down and go at whatever speed he wanted to. The shameless demon was letting himself be used in such a forceful way.
However, if he let them continue the fun would be finished far too soon so he reached over and dragged a clawed finger down Amaimon's spine to end at the base of his tail, tapping it pointedly to remind him of his other task.
His breath caught and he inhaled sharply as, instead of pulling back from Rin like he'd expected, Amaimon slid his tail from the tight loops around his waist that he'd kept it wound in.
The tail waved in lazy, careless coils behind him, Amaimon knowing the sight would entrance Mephisto. Indeed, he almost moved to grab it as it made a pass near his hand but he managed to restrain himself, knowing his patience would pay off tenfold in the end.
He was rewarded to the sight of that tail skimming up Amaimon's leg before it reached his rim and began to tease at it, causing him to arch his hips back up into the blunt tip.
Amaimon moaned around Rin as he impaled himself on his own tail, pushing back onto it at the same time as Rin pushed his head down.
Long familiarity with Amaimon's ways meant Mephisto knew the masochistic demon wouldn't wait very long to get to the next step and was proven correct when Amaimon only thrust in a few times before finally disengaging from Rin and sitting up, much to his wordless frustration.
Gold gleamed as Amaimon looked down at Rin, eyes heavy with lust and mouth slick with saliva, bruised at the rough treatment he'd been at the mercy of.
Those eyes slid to the side as he looked over at Mephisto and his lips slowly lifted in a sly smile.
Before Mephisto could think of what that look could mean, Amaimon lifted his body over Rin's, bringing hardened length to his entrance and sinking down without warning, both of them shouting at the abrupt feeling.
Amaimon's tail was still in him, right alongside Rin now.
Mephisto hissed out a long breath at the sight, heart thudding in his chest and hands clenching in the sheets until they almost tore and he came back to himself, realizing what Amaimon meant for him to do.
Well.
Well, that was a far better plan than he'd had, and he wasn't too proud to admit it, either.
By then, Amaimon had bowed over Rin, elbows bent until his hair tickled at the chest beneath him when Mephisto finally took pity on him and shifted until he could kneel behind the two.
He dropped his head over Amaimon's spine, placing a scraping kiss onto one of his vertebrae and lined himself up, breath held as he watched Amaimon slowly slide his tail out of his stretched entrance to let it trail along Mephisto's heated skin in a smooth rasp of scales.
That was all the waiting Mephisto could take. He pushed into that tight heat, hearing the twin groans of the two demons beneath him at the added sensation, so much larger than the tail had been.
His hips jerked to seat himself in until he pressed flush to Amaimon's hips, but he didn't give them time to adjust, fucking up into Amaimon alongside Rin, the intensity almost too much to take at once.
For his part, Rin had given up, mind gone to the pleasure he'd never experienced before, hands scrabbling at the bed beneath him and head tossed back in a silent scream.
Amaimon couldn't do much of anything at all except take the punishing thrusts, body shuddering at the force before Mephisto hooked an arm around his waist, adjusting the angle to go deeper and pull him down at the same time.
The changed angle had Amaimon crying out as Mephisto hit that sensitive point inside him, tightening as much as his body could, being filled as it was.
That was when Rin finally gave out, coming in a hot rush that filled Amaimon's insides with a warmth that almost had Mephisto following suit had he not had thousands of years of practice in extending the experience as long as he could.
Without pause, Mephisto pulled Amaimon off Rin and threw him onto his stomach to the side, slamming back into the raised hips as he shouted at the rough handling.
He pressed Amaimon's face further into the mattress, delighting in the expanse of his exposed back as he raked his claws across shoulder blades to leave red trails that he dragged his tongue down, making Amaimon howl at the pain mixed with pleasure.
Mephisto could feel himself getting close and decided to up the ante, unwinding his own tail from around his waist and twining it with Amaimon's, gasping at the sparks that danced across his senses as he did.
His mind went hazy as he slid the two lengths against each other, the pleasure from both sources at once overwhelming until it was the only thing he was aware of at all.
Heat coiled tighter in his stomach and his edge approached, movements growing more erratic with every passing moment.
Time to end it, then. He brought both their joined tails up to his mouth and bit down, whiting out and coming with a muffled shout into Amaimon, who didn't last any longer after Mephisto brought the tails into play.
Slowly, he came back to his senses, luxuriating in the afterglow and a rumbling purr coming from his chest as he relaxed down onto the bed on his side.
Amaimon pulled away and slumped to the other side, panting as he, too, came down from the exertion.
The heaving flank invited Mephisto to scratch his claws lightly along Amaimon, enjoying the way his breath shivered through him, slowing down in increments as he relaxed into the covers.
He leant over to grab Amaimon's hair and place a rough, open-mouthed kiss on his lips, ignoring the tired grumble he received in return until he gave in and allowed him to have his way.
That was when a strange squeak sounded from where they'd left Rin.
Wonderful. Mephisto broke the kiss but kept his head where it was to look up at Rin with a smirk, murmuring, "I believe he's come back to his senses, Amaimon."
An acknowledging grunt came from Amaimon as he wiggled further into the covers, draping his tail over his jutting hip.
"Does that mean I have to go back to explaining things now?"
Mephisto scowled down at him, sniffing at the disrespectful tone. "I should make you, for so poorly following my orders. But I believe this time I'll let your punishment slide."
"Did we-did we just, uh," Rin couldn't complete his question, going back to the bashful youth he was instead of the dominant demon his instincts had turned him into. A beautiful sign of things to come, Mephisto was sure.
"Fuck."
"Have sex."
Rin squeaked again at their blunt words, pulling one of the many pillows he'd been laying on against his face as if to suffocate himself to escape the embarrassment he was feeling.
"What is wrong with him?" Amaimon groused, dropping onto his back and tilting his head to the side to consider the strange behavior.
"I believe he's suffering from the human condition. A tragedy but nothing we can fix right now, unfortunately," Mephisto said with a snicker.
At the teasing words, Rin gave a strangled yowl and chucked his pillow at where they lounged. "Don't laugh at me, bastards! This is your fault!"
A good natured sigh left Mephisto, running a hand through his sweat-drenched hair and tugging at the knots he found. He'd have to take a shower later.
"I thought you were supposed to be teaching me how to be a demon, not-not that!" Rin crossed his arms across his chest, hiding his lower half under the blankets.
His tail still waved behind him in his irritation.
Mephisto looked down at Amaimon, seeing that he was sharing the same thought he was.
"Didn't I tell you there were three things a demon must learn to hide?" Amaimon said, face as innocent as it had ever looked, which was to say, not at all. "We covered your fangs and your heart, but I never did tell you about your tail, did I?"
"Wuh?"
They didn't let Rin get a chance to puzzle that one out before he was pounced on and tackled back into the sheets.
"Hey! Ah-!"
Rin's voice trailed off in a shocked moan as Amaimon and Mephisto showed him a totally new way to toy with his tail, forgetting what he was supposed to be protesting as he was pulled into another round of play with the two insatiable demons.
He didn't get many chances to complain about his demonic heritage after that.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
This was how he died.
Rin wanted to sink into the ground and never come up.
Not because he was depressed or anything, although with the way his life was right now that could always change, but because the embarrassment was eating him alive.
Three days. Three days had gone by since the incident with two demons who shall not be named.
Every time he thought he was close to forgetting, some small thing would remind him and he'd become a blushing, incoherent mess, needing to hide somewhere he could calm his racing pulse.
Like now, when his tail had cramped up from being wound around his waist and he'd reached up his shirt to massage the pain away only to be brought back to the night Amaimon had run delicate claws over it while Mephisto sucked the furred end and-
Oh god, he was doing it again.
His head thunked down against the desk in his dorm, and Rin groaned at the unfairness of it all. Normally he'd be flinging himself into a cold shower to get over the feelings he definitely didn't want to feel or…taking care of the problem the old-fashioned way, trying not to think about any specific faces while he relieved himself. But, Yukio was coming home soon, and he did not need his younger brother walking in on that, which was the crux of his current predicament.
Plus, there was the fact that for the past three days he'd been being stalked by Amaimon.
The bastard had taken to popping up on the edge of his senses and Rin could practically feel the intense stare coming from somewhere nearby. The damn demon had been leaving traces of himself all over town, either his scent or various dropped candy wrappers and food that Rin just knew had to belong to the earth king.
He'd avoided Mephisto at all costs after the one time he'd seen him around campus.
Just catching a glimpse of Mephisto had transported his mind to that bedroom all over again and he'd squeaked and run the other way.
It especially didn't help that Rin had been fantasizing increasingly dirty scenarios every time he drifted off. He kept seeing the way Mephisto had claimed Amaimon's mouth, leaning over the smaller demon on the bed while Amaimon had just let him, slim green tail twitching along his hips.
So, Rin sat at his desk, consumed with his thoughts and becoming increasingly uncomfortable until the sound of the door latch clicking made him gasp in relief. He jolted upwards, keeping his expression bright and cheerful and hoping Yukio wouldn't guess at where his mind had just been.
"You look like you've got a problem, Rin Okumura."
"Gah!"
Rin shrieked as he realized the person at the door wasn't Yukio, or even a person, really, pushing back into his chair and hearing it screech across the floor until he was stopped by the leg of his desk.
"Amaimon!"
The demon king of earth stood casually against the open door, face in his usual impassive expression and sucking one of the many suckers he always seemed to have. Except Rin knew the bastard had to be hiding a smirk by the glint in his gold eyes and the cocky way he'd said his name.
"Oh?" Amaimon came closer, shutting the door. "You remember my name, finally?"
There was a catch somewhere in that question, Rin knew, and he gulped through a tight throat.
Sure enough, Amaimon curled his lips in a smirk around the sucker in his mouth, jagged fangs revealed. "It's a pity, I was going to teach it to you again."
He couldn't mean?
Rin's eyes widened and his breath caught, face blazing red.
"No way! I thought I told you bastards to leave me alone!" Rin yelped, crossing his hands in front of him to ward off the advancing demon.
"Hmm?" Amaimon stopped, hand on his hip as he considered Rin from a few feet away. "Why are you resisting? Didn't we cover this already?"
"What?" Rin said, trying to figure out what he could be talking about. "Cover what already? You can't just barge in here and expect me to do that stuff with you without warning!"
"Ah!" Amaimon exclaimed, dropping his fist into his palm. "I remember. You told me you wanted me to ask you beforehand if we could play together."
"Yeah, that's it," Rin said in confirmation, crossing his arms and nodding.
Wait…
"No, that's not what I meant!" Rin said, frantic as he realized that Amaimon had been recalling their conversation about play and how he'd totally misconstrued what demons considered it to be. Or rather, he hadn't realized they had two definitions for the word and didn't distinguish them very well.
"Rin."
And then Amaimon was on him, knee wedged between his thighs on the edge of the seat and hands on the desk, bracketing him in with nowhere to go
"Can we play now?"
Rin's breath stuttered to a halt, very aware, then, of how close Amaimon was to him and feeling the heat of his body right through his clothes.
The slit-pupiled eyes Amaimon set on Rin seemed to have a hypnotizing effect, pinning him in place with a heavy-lidded look like he was a mouse staring up at a snake.
"I don't-" Rin took a shuddering breath as he tried to formulate an argument. Something, something, there had to be something or he was going to be in a real awkward position when Yukio-
That's it!
"My brother's gonna be home soon! He'll kill us if he sees you here!"
Saved by the brother card. Rin sighed internally, adrenaline pounding through him at the close call.
"Then we'll just have to make this quick, won't we?" Amaimon grinned like a shark, taking his sucker out of his mouth and tossing it behind him to a random corner of the room.
Before he could protest, Amaimon slid onto Rin's lap, bringing his hand up to grip his hair and slipping his long, tapered tongue into his mouth.
"Mmf!"
Rin was overwhelmed by the sweet taste of cherries from the lingering flavor of the sucker and Amaimon's slick tongue winding against his.
He sighed into Amaimon's mouth, hands coming up to grip at his shoulders and feeling his eyes shuttering closed without meaning to.
This may or may not have been one of the many scenarios he'd been fantasizing about.
He couldn't help it! Rin moaned as Amaimon pulled him flush to his chest, trembling at the friction of clothes against skin.
Until that night with the two demons, the most action he'd gotten was himself, the shoujo romance books he hid under his bed, and the vague idea that he'd like to kiss Shiemi maybe someday.
Now, all he could think about was claws tracing down his hips, toying with his tail, while another pair of hands pulled at his hair and bared his neck to sharp fangs and a hot tongue.
Amaimon seemed to know where his mind was, having moved on from his mouth to nibble down his neck, each small nip sending electricity shooting south until Rin was writhing against the body above his.
The bold demon had already loosened Rin's tie and began unbuttoning his shirt to reveal his wound-up tail, which was shaking, though whether in anticipation or fear, Rin couldn't tell.
"Have you learned to keep your tail to yourself then?"
Rin blinked hazy eyes as he tried to register what Amaimon could possibly be talking about.
"You certainly haven't in that school of yours," Amaimon said against the point of his tail near his collarbone, heated breath teasing the furred skin and leaving Rin feeling weak.
"When have I what?" Rin couldn't remember when he'd shown his tail in school, too focused on the sharp fangs within biting distance of the sensitive appendage.
Instead of answering, Amaimon placed a soft kiss to the tail, sending heat straight to Rin's stomach, his body tensing in an effort to control himself.
"You brought it out to threaten that weak apparition bothering that human classmate of yours." Amaimon watched him, keeping his mouth within centimeters of Rin's tail so that every movement of his lips caused them to brush the short fur and sent waves of sensation through him.
"And then you brought it out again to show him to his face that you were a demon." Amaimon cocked his head, settling his hands on Rin's hips and gripping them tightly. "I almost came out to play with you right there in front of all your classmates and those miserable exorcists at your shameless display."
Rin would have liked to protest that ridiculous possessive statement except that Amaimon chose that moment to grind his hips down on Rin's.
"Ah!"
Oh god, it felt--Rin's head fell back on the chair, mouth gaping open at the delicious pressure Amaimon applied at an unyielding pace.
His pants were unbearably tight, now, and every movement of Amaimon's hips brought a mixture of pain and pleasure that prevented him from thinking past the next moment.
Amaimon appeared to have an actual plan, however, reaching down to undo both their pants.
He was helpless to do anything but watch as Amaimon stood long enough to free himself before returning to tug Rin out of his boxers and sit back on his lap.
Seeing himself lined up against Amaimon was almost too much to take and Rin let out a thin whine.
The noise attracted Amaimon's attention right away.
"That's a strange sound. Make it again."
"No way," Rin growled out, cheeks flushing and trying to keep silent in embarrassment at the sound he didn't even know he could make
"Oh?" Amaimon's eyes seemed to glow with an unholy light. "I'll just have to get you to make other fun sounds, then."
A soft click reached both their senses, then.
Brief, blissful confusion existed for a moment before Rin realized that click had come from the vicinity of the front door a few floors down.
"Oh god, Yukio's home," Rin yelped, hands trying to push Amaimon off as the panic hit his nerves.
Acknowledgment of the impending doom heading towards them came in the form of Amaimon grinning in a baring of extended fangs like he'd enjoy Yukio trying to stop anything. "We'll have to hurry up and finish, then, before he reaches us."
"What?"
Rin moaned, the sound escaping his mouth without his say as Amaimon gripped both their lengths in his hand and began to pump them together, using the pre-come that had been collecting there as slick.
"Better keep quiet, don't want that human hearing you all the way downstairs," Amaimon teased, voice breathless but no less sly.
There would be no coming back from the embarrassment, Rin knew, bringing his hand up to fist over his mouth to try to muffle the sounds he was making at each pass of Amaimon's clever hand.
His other hand seemed to reach out of its own accord to grip Amaimon's shoulder, needing something to hold onto while he came apart.
Amaimon ran a clawed thumb over Rin's and his slits with his free hand and Rin couldn't hide the groan that left his mouth when he brought it to his own lips, tasting.
The hand Rin held to his mouth ended up tugged away and his lips captured and he could suddenly taste himself mixed with Amaimon on his tongue.
He was so close, his body trembling and heat coiling in his stomach as his tail twisted around his torso, rubbing against the skin there with a mind of its own.
Amaimon released his hand and parted his shirt further, reaching around to the base of his tail and giving a hard tug.
A long keen escaped Rin as he clenched his eyes shut and came against his own chest.
Giving a few more pulls and Amaimon was soon adding his own come to the mess.
Rin wasn't given any time to relax, finding Amaimon already moving off his lap to crouch at his knees.
Then there was a warm mouth on his over-sensitive skin and Rin cried out, bewildered.
He didn't have any time to consider it before Amaimon set his lips to Rin's chest and mouthed the skin there too.
Staring down at the green head in his lap stopped all of Rin's higher processing. Amaimon was cleaning him off, licking the traces of their activities away with broad sweeps of his tongue.
Everything narrowed to the sight and Rin watched with glazed eyes, knowing this scene before him was going to be featuring heavily in his future fantasies.
Without any resistance, Rin found himself being tucked back into his pants and his shirt buttoned up, feeling like he was having an out-of-body experience.
Amaimon began re-doing his tie with brisk, no-nonsense movements. He tugged it into place, pulling Rin up and kissing him at the same time.
"Mmf!"
The spell shattered and Rin gasped at the sudden kiss, shocked out of his stupor as the past half-hour caught up to him.
Steps down the hall dropped Rin's heart into his feet and he broke the kiss, hissing, "Oh my god, go! He's almost here!"
His panicking just had Amaimon smirking, pulling Rin up against his chest and placing another chaste kiss on his head.
"Let's play again soon, Rin."
Then the absolute bastard was at his window, opening the shutters and hopping out without a backwards glance.
He didn't have any time to curse out the damn demon as the door opened and Yukio entered the room.
Act normal, act normal!
Rin turned and grinned with grit teeth, waving at his twin. "Hey, Yukio, long-time-no-see. How was your trip?"
Instead of answering him, Yukio looked around the room with furrowed brows. "Does it smell…musty in here, Rin?"
Oh god, he knew.
Both the brittle grin and the pulse thundering through Rin's veins failed to cover his sheer terror as he tried to think of a way to explain to his younger brother that what he was smelling was the scent of sex in the room because Rin had just been taken advantage of by the demon king of earth and oh, yeah, that wasn't the first time and he definitely hadn't tried to fight him off this go-round, either.
"Well, we should probably clean in here." Yukio shrugged, unknowingly sparing himself the sordid details. "Why don't you open the rest of these windows and we'll deal with this when we get back from remedial classes tonight."
"Oh yeah, sure. Good idea." Rin sighed in relief, feeling semi-hysterical giggles threatening to escape. Luckily, he kept it together long enough to grab Kurikara and his class supplies, heading to the door in the hopes of getting away from the scene of the crime before Yukio noticed anything else suspicious.
"Hold on, what's this?"
Dead. He was dead.
Rin gulped and looked around to see what damning evidence Yukio must have found.
"Rin, what have I told you about leaving your junk food around the room, why would you just toss this in the corner like that?"
Pinched fingers held Amaimon's sucker between them in disgust, Yukio probably unable to imagine why Rin would leave an unfinished piece of sticky candy to melt into the wooden floors, and didn't he know that's how you got ants?
"I was gonna finish that!" Rin yelped, grabbing the sucker out of Yukio's hands and sticking it in his mouth before he could think.
"Ew, Rin, that's so gross. Why would you do that?"
Yukio grimaced, shuddering at the germs that must be all over that sucker. Rin was aware.
Because it was evidence of the dirty, dirty deed that was done in this room, Rin thought wildly, tonguing the cherry sucker and tasting the hint of Amaimon still on it.
"Er, I don't like wasting food?"
He got a shake of Yukio's head at his admittedly very weird behavior but didn't question it further, heading out the door into the hallway.
Rin dragged his tongue over the sucker and followed Yukio, trying and failing to get his mind off of Amaimon.
He really hoped the remedial class was something distracting.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
Rin grinned in pride, clapping along with the rest of the guys for Izumo and Shiemi after they'd taken out the demon in the girls' restroom in an amazing display of teamwork.
His friends really were the best.
"What are you morons doing?"
Izumo tried and failed to hide her blush as she took in the outfits they had on.
The hands Shiemi held against her face to hide her own blush muffled her voice, words coming through her fingers, "Uh- um, thank you for showing support, everyone!"
"Anything for you two." Shima smiled, winking at them and twirling the pigtails he'd acquired to go along with the girls' school uniform he'd donned.
"Yes, well, we couldn't let you go in there alone," Yukio said, pushing at his glasses, now framed by the long black hair of his wig. "I'm sorry we weren't able to get ready in time to help out. Good work."
For his part, Rin tugged at his skirt, trying to get it to cover more of his legs and feeling really thankful he'd gone with the stockings to hide the rest.
It was…really drafty. He had no idea how the girls wore these things every day.
They called it a night and split up to change back and head home, yet another of the school's seven mysteries taken care of.
Rin pulled up his pants, happy to have something between him and the air again.
He and Yukio ended up cleaning the room when they got back and a tension he hadn't realized he'd been holding eased as he found no evidence of his earlier activities with Amaimon in the room.
A deep sleep captured him, for once not troubled by heated dreams.
The next morning came and with it the usual boring regular classes before he was released to go to cram classes and deal with another of the seven mysteries. It turned out to be a simple case of a possessed Mephisto statue that Rin took care of by beheading, which was much more therapeutic than he'd expected.
The trouble was the dreams were back that night. Rin had needed to take an extra-long shower just so he wouldn't embarrass himself with any weird noises in his sleep that Yukio might catch. He'd found release thinking about Amaimon's fanged mouth going down on him again and clenched his jaw shut to avoid crying out, wishing Amaimon was there in the shower with him and trying not to think too hard about the desire.
It was another quiet night after that, although Rin was a little concerned because Yukio was sleeping poorly and had woken late, looking shaken by something. Not, of course, that he told Rin anything about it, that being the nature of their relationship these days.
Rin sighed, depressed as he felt the gap between himself and Yukio widen ever further, no matter what he tried to do to repair it.
Hopefully, this next mystery would give him another chance to see what was eating at Yukio.
He found the meeting point to be a strange gallery room with framed portraits lining the oval walls floor to ceiling, far above their heads.
"So, which mystery is this supposed to be?"
Curiosity filled Rin as he looked along with the rest of the exwires. The portraits were seriously creepy, who even kept such weird things?
"Aw, are you lost doggy? How'd you get in here? So cute!"
Dog?
The soft coo coming from Izumo had Rin glancing over. He froze.
He swore Mephisto smirked at him before a cloud of pink smoke poofed into existence and Izumo found her chin gripped by the purple gloved hand of their headmaster.
"I always try to be ubiquitous, you know," Mephisto winked down at her shocked gasp
"Ah!"
His heart dropped into his shoes as Rin watched Izumo scurry away from Mephisto's clutches.
All that time spent avoiding Mephisto and now he was right in the same room as him? How was he going to be able to focus on the mission when he was right there? Smirking with those deadly green eyes and mocking him with every breath he took.
What was worse, Rin could smell him, the scent bringing him straight back to the dark room and that cushy pink bed he'd come to in after snapping out of his demonic state. He found himself licking his suddenly dry lips, zoning out as he thought of the dominant demon looming over him and pinning him to the mattress.
"Where's Professor Okumura?"
The question from Shima snapped Rin out of his memories.
"I'll be substituting today's lesson," Mephisto said, a guileless smile spreading across his face. "I'm afraid Mr. Okumura received an urgent summons from the Vatican and had to leave."
Was that a smirk? Rin scowled when Mephisto met his eyes, although he didn't acknowledge Rin any further, something he couldn't tell if he was upset or relieved about.
Rin tried to focus as Mephisto told them about their last mystery. Apparently, the other remaining two were Shiemi's house and a prank collection of Mephisto's so they didn't need to worry about them.
One thing was certain. He had to get this fight over with as soon as possible and get away from Mephisto before he said or did something he'd regret, especially with his friends around.
Immediately pulling out the Koma Sword and cutting the portrait that decided to attack them next wasn't his finest moment, but Rin wasn't in his right mind. It was good that Konekomaru was on top of things and managed to build them a battle plan to follow.
The whole time he kept feeling Mephisto's demonic presence like an itch at his back he couldn't scratch, trying not to squirm, though he was pretty sure he failed.
Most importantly, Rin made sure to keep his tail hidden the whole time, damn Mephisto anyways. He wasn't going to give him any reason to come after him about that again like Amaimon had done.
Their fight concluded, all the possessed portraits meeting a simultaneous end and the demonic entity fading with a shriek.
Rin panted at something more than the exertion, though he pretended that was all it was. It hadn't been a long fight so he was keyed up still and the adrenaline wouldn't let him relax yet.
He had to burn off all this excess energy.
Then he noticed the sound of clapping and shot a glare over to Mephisto, who'd been playing a video game on the staircase while he waited for them to finish the challenge.
"Well done, exwires!" Mephisto appeared in a pink cloud of unnecessary sparkles. "We should celebrate with some monja!"
"Ah-hem," Bon coughed in exaggeration. "Isn't there something you should tell us?"
"Of course," Mephisto smiled, "my thoughts are that it's nice to be young, still."
Rin stayed behind the rest of his friends as far away from Mephisto as he could get without anyone noticing something was up. Why were they still there? He fidgeted, shuffling from side to side and rubbing at his arms as the others chattered excitedly about going to get celebratory dinner.
He didn't want celebratory dinner, he wanted to get out of there!
Shaky relief poured out with Rin's sigh when the group turned to exit until a polite cough came from Mephisto.
"Rin, aren't you forgetting something?"
"What?" Rin squeaked out, blushing as his voice broke over the word. Mephisto never referred to his students in anything but a professional way, always calling them by their last names. Would his friends suspect something at the personal way he'd been addressed?
No, Rin exhaled. They knew Mephisto was technically his guardian after Shiro's death, so it was okay if he was informal with him, right?
"I believe there was a reward for your completing the seven mysteries for me?" Mephisto smirked. "Or did that student no longer need the eyedrops anymore?"
Before Rin could say anything to that, the smug bastard addressed the rest of the students.
"Please, feel free to head home to clean up and get ready to eat in, say, an hour. I have something I need Mr. Okumura for but I shall send you the details of the location soon."
Oh god, he'd been planning this.
Crying in frustration wouldn't help, but Rin wanted to. Mephisto had him cornered, again, and he couldn't escape without the anti-demon-seeing eyedrops for Godaiin. He damn well knew Mephisto could have gotten those drops for him right there without the fuss of holding him back.
Which meant Mephisto wanted him here, alone, for another reason.
A whimper stifled in Rin as he watched Bon close the door behind him and heard the conversation fade until there was nothing but the suffocating silence of the portrait room.
Was he going to do something here? Right in the middle of the school? Rin shivered at the thought, imagining being pressed down to the cool marble floor or held up against a wall, knowing Mephisto was more than strong enough to keep him there without trouble.
"Well? Come along then."
Rin gave a full-body flinch when Mephisto's voice echoed in the silent room and shook him from his spiraling thoughts.
"Where?" Rin managed to rasp out, turning in a jerky move and finding Mephisto's gaze burning into his, though he was already near the door at the other side of the room.
"Ah, it appears I left the eyedrops in my office, so we'll have to head there to get them," Mephisto said and, if it was possible, his gaze became even more predatory than usual.
If being caught in Amaimon's gaze made Rin feel like a mouse before a snake, then Mephisto's was like a great dragon eyeing down a pile of gold it wished to add to its hoard. And Rin was the unaware pile of gold without a knight to defend him.
"Can't you just…poof us there?" Rin hesitated at saying that. On the one hand, the sooner he got those eyedrops and got out the better. But on the other hand, that meant Mephisto could teleport him anywhere and he'd already been at the mercy of that technique twice now. Who knew where he'd end up if he went with him again.
"Hmm, in a rush, are we?" Mephisto called back over his shoulder as he led the way down the hallway. "We're such a short walk to the office from here I thought I'd stretch my legs. The life of a director means I so rarely get to leave my desk, you know."
Rin groaned in silence at the torturous path to the office, staying as far away from Mephisto as he could without losing sight of him in the halls.
It didn't help that, in the enclosed space, he could still smell Mephisto's distinct scent-something otherworldly, like the sky before a storm mixed with what must be expensive cologne-even amongst all the other fading scents of the students and teachers who'd walked the hallway earlier that day.
And the bastard wasn't even looking at him, or acknowledging him in any way!
Was it better or worse to have Mephisto's attention on him? Rin wondered in helpless frustration.
With Amaimon things were simple. He was very obvious about what he wanted from Rin, no diced words or hidden implications from that end except for the occasional cultural misunderstandings Rin was learning to preempt.
It made a sharp contrast to Mephisto, who was a complete mystery. Everything out of his mouth had a double or triple meaning and it was impossible to know what he was thinking at any given moment.
They had reached the doors to Mephisto's office without his notice and by that point, Rin was more keyed up than when they'd begun. His clothes felt too tight and he plucked at his tie, wishing he could take it off.
Once again, he found himself shut in a room with a demon king and no one around to hear his screams.
And this time there was no threat of someone walking in on them to keep the demon at bay.
His numb feet took him into the room and Rin waited near the front of the desk, refusing to meet Mephisto's face and staring with blind eyes at the miscellaneous papers scattered on the wooden surface.
"Now where did I put that?"
Mephisto dug around in his desk, tongue sticking out of the corner of his mouth in concentration.
Before Rin could think of a believable way to self-combust on the spot-hard to accomplish when he couldn't be hurt by his own flames-to put himself out of his misery, Mephisto let out a sound of triumph.
"Here we go," Mephisto shook a small glass vial in his hand but, when Rin reached out to snatch it and run, he pulled it away.
"Oh, come on," Rin groaned, face falling at the look of glee he received at his complaint.
Mephisto tutted, poofing the vial away and bringing what looked like a photograph out instead, though it was turned towards him so Rin couldn't see what was on it.
"I couldn't help but notice you exwires chose to solve one of the mysteries in a rather interesting way."
There was a point to this conversation, Rin knew, and he also knew he wasn't going to like it one bit.
"So what? We solved all of them."
It just had Mephisto smiling down at the photo in his hand, the look somehow sinister, before putting it face down on the desk and sliding it towards Rin.
"I quite approve of your methods, actually."
Rin held his breath as he flipped the photo over.
"Why do you have this?" Rin screeched, clutching the photo to his chest as if to hide it from sight. "How do you have this?"
It was a picture of their group dressed in the girls' school uniform, the same short skirt and thigh-high stockings Rin had been in the night before.
"Oh?" Mephisto vanished to reappear at Rin's back and he found his hand extended up to eye level so Mephisto could look at the picture over his shoulder.
"I think it's a lovely photo, one I'll cherish forever."
He blushed, Rin's face heating until he'd gone lightheaded, But, also, it felt really nice to be pressed up against Mephisto, his taller form enveloping Rin in that ridiculous cloak he wore.
"Did you know?" Mephisto said right next to his ear, breath tickling the pointed tip. "You still smell like Amaimon."
The photo wound up plucked out of his grasp to vanish into the air and Rin turned around to be crowded against the desk, the edge biting into his spine and tail in an uncomfortable way.
Of all the dumb ways he could have responded to that, all Rin could think to say was, "But I showered."
"You still don't think like a demon," Mephisto reprimanded, though he didn't seem very concerned with that, eyes trailing up and down Rin's body. "It will take more than a shower to wash away his claim on you."
Mephisto leaned down to breathe into the crook of his neck, sending shivers across Rin's skin.
"Any demon with half a brain could tell who you belonged to if they saw you."
He didn't know that, actually. "How do I get rid of it, then?"
That was both the right and wrong thing to say, and Rin found his chin tilted up to meet Mephisto's gaze. "Why, you replace it with another demon's claim."
"Oh, god," Rin whimpered out loud as he saw Mephisto raise his hand, knowing that when he snapped his fingers he wasn't going to like what happened.
The snap came and Rin flinched, eyes shutting in apprehension at what he would see when he opened them.
It felt drafty, all of a sudden, and Rin's stomach sank as he realized what that snap had done.
His eyes cracked open and Rin looked down, heart jumping at seeing a skirt in place of his pants, his shoes nowhere to be found, and those white, thigh-high stockings back on his legs. There didn't seem to be any boxers or anything to replace them, either.
"Yes, I like this look very much on you," Mephisto hummed, hand on his chin as he considered the sight before him with obvious delight.
Left without anything else, the only thing Rin could respond with was, "I knew it, you really are an otaku!"
A tsk and Mephisto shaking his head answered Rin. "I thought we've been over that already?"
Not really! Rin was about to argue that when a gloved fingertip on his lips silenced him and his heart stuttered in his chest.
"Now, no more talking."
Rin's legs were gripped and hauled up around Mephisto's hips, bringing them flush together as Rin yelped. He tugged the skirt that had threatened to slip up way too far, back down as far as it would go, which wasn't far enough at all.
All it did was make him very aware of their position. His hands were so close to where their hips joined and Rin froze, not daring to move lest he encourage Mephisto.
Not that he needed the encouragement.
Mephisto placed one hand on his hip, steadying him on the desk. The other gripped at the back of Rin's head, stretching his neck to better reveal it to an unerring gaze.
He was beginning to suspect that demons had a thing for vulnerable throats.
Squinting up at Mephisto showed avaricious green eyes, really not helping with the dragon comparison that Rin had applied earlier.
The rest of his thoughts were washed away at the slow grind of clothed hips on his bare skin.
Rin gave up on holding the skirt, letting it bunch up at the movements and instead bringing his hands to grab at the arms holding him in place.
He'd had this fantasy, too.
Well, maybe not the dressed in a skirt part, but the Mephisto's desk had featured in quite a few of his wet dreams.
Either Mephisto was reading his mind or Rin was just having a lucky day.
He'd given in to the temptation of Rin's proffered neck and licked at it as if searching for a place to bite into.
A gasp tore from Rin as Mephisto decided to start sucking at the skin at his collarbone instead, moving on to any other spots he could reach and eventually unbuttoning his shirt to get at even more of Rin's skin.
It hurt, but not really. Rin couldn't think of a way to explain the feeling, rubbing against the hips over his and arching his neck to give Mephisto more access. Every sharp suction sent an electric current straight to his stomach, building a steady pressure he ached to relieve.
The building torture ended without warning and Mephisto pulled back, surveying his work with a satisfied rumble.
An answering purr went through Rin's chest, surprising him at the sound he didn't realize he could even make. His hands had gone white-knuckled on Mephisto's arms, shaking at the sensations coursing through him but unable to do anything else.
"It's such a pity you'll heal those lovely marks away," Mephisto murmured, clawed finger tracing along the bruises he'd left like he was connecting stars into constellations.
Rin sighed at the caress, his heart thudding against his ribcage so hard he imagined Mephisto could feel it too, even through his gloves.
As if hearing the heartbeat, the finger tapped to his chest and Mephisto smiled at the soft sound Rin made, his face kind. Not that Rin trusted the look, but it was still nice to see, somehow.
"I suppose I'll just have to keep applying them."
Seeing the points of Mephisto's fangs peek just over his bottom lip and hearing the growled promise tensed Rin, nerves prickling with energy.
He watched, unable to breathe, as Mephisto slowly tugged his gloves off his hands with his teeth, pinning him with his eyes the whole time.
Another whimper escaped him as Mephisto stepped back to unlatch his cloak, letting it drop to the floor with a whisper of cloth and removing his shirt and scarf soon after.
More of Mephisto's skin revealed itself to his gaze, mesmerizing Rin until he stood before him in nothing but his tail.
It was...He wanted to touch but he didn't know how, ending up leaning back on his hands as tremors shook through his body and he drank in the sight.
"I think I'll be leaving that skirt on you," Mephisto said once he'd let Rin suffer long enough. "Remove your shirt, please."
Rin bit at his lips, blushing even though he'd kinda expected that order when he'd wound up in the skirt in the first place.
His hands moved to slip his shirt off, already halfway there thanks to Mephisto's earlier actions. The air made his bare skin shiver, though he never really felt cold anymore due to the fire at his core.
Throughout it all, Mephisto's eyes never left him, seeming to be waiting for some unspoken signal.
"You've become oddly quiet, Rin," he mocked, eyes shining with a merciless delight. "Cait sidhe got your tongue?"
"No," Rin said in a mutter, wondering what he was getting at.
"No?" Mephisto repeated. "But I've heard from Amaimon how insistent you were that he ask for your permission to play beforehand. I simply thought you might do the same with me."
"Does it matter?" Rin questioned, angry that Mephisto was holding his previous inhibitions over him, making him spell out his confused thoughts.
The sneer he got told him what he suspected. Mephisto was just doing this to tease him about his human hold-ups.
"Of course," the damn demon insisted, "consent is very important to us. How else could we possess bodies if not with their permission?"
"So. What do you say when asking for something? Hmm?"
Rin glowered but knew he had to answer if he wanted things to move forward, speaking the word through gritted teeth.
"Please."
That was all it took.
In the time he had to blink, Rin was flat on his back on the desk, feeling papers crinkling beneath his shoulders.
Luckily, he'd had the forethought to unwind his tail ahead of time so it wasn't trapped under him, instead trailing to the side and sweeping other important papers onto the floor.
Once again, Mephisto settled between his legs, hands at his hips in a firm grip, and Rin winced, waiting for the discomfort he knew had to come before the pleasure.
He'd missed that part of it the first time around, his mind gone to his demonic instincts then. But he was entirely lucid now and the anticipation of pain was all he could concentrate on.
Without him saying a word, Mephisto seemed to know the path his thoughts had taken.
"I suppose not everyone can be a masochist like Amaimon," he said, voice fond. "There's not much we can do about preparing you, that ever so useful demonic healing lessens the effectiveness of such measures."
"That's not helpful," Rin griped, shooting a glare at the smirking demon.
"You'll want to thank the clever inventions of humans, then," Mephisto said, snapping his fingers to summon a small bottle. "They've created such wonderful things to ease the way, so to speak."
Mephisto let the bottle float above his hand with his demonic powers, the cap unscrewing to release an unscented oil onto his waiting fingers.
His mouth went dry, Rin's throat clicking as he swallowed while Mephisto coated his length in the oil.
He couldn't help the needy sound that exited his mouth when Mephisto's hand disappeared under his skirt and touched his entrance, making him jump at the strange feeling.
The teasing didn't last for long and Rin whined at the uncomfortable sensation of being stretched, dropping his head to his chest and clenching his eyes shut in the hopes it would be over soon.
"Exquisite," came the dark sound of Mephisto's voice, rolling over Rin's pointed ears and making him shake at the desire he heard there.
Some strange power within Rin had him opening his eyes again, needing to see what happened next.
Mephisto was waiting for him, it seemed, only removing his fingers once he saw Rin watching.
Under Rin's heavy gaze, Mephisto brought his hands to his thighs at the bottom of the skirt to slide it upwards until Rin could see himself fully and he flushed at the sight.
That was nothing to the sight of Mephisto pressing against his entrance and he groaned aloud as the blunt head pushed into him, one slow inch at a time.
Rin's head dropped back to the desk and he brought his arm over his eyes, moaning at the fullness when Mephisto bottomed out, pressing flush to his skin.
His back arched and his tail coiled, trying to adjust to the strange feeling and unable to with the way his body healed.
When he looked again from under his arm it was to see Mephisto's ears had lengthened, his features taking on his more demonic appearance, a good indication he was letting his control slip.
Enough. Rin couldn't wait anymore, the tension killing him as the heat in his stomach built to overwhelming levels.
"Please, Mephisto."
Hearing him, Mephisto cocked his head like a predator considering its prey, voice coming out in a rough growl, "What was that, Rin?"
"Move!"
Rin's frustrated snarl broke off with a cry as Mephisto began pounding into him without warning.
"Hah-ah!" Rin lost himself in the rhythm, hands coming up to cover his eyes with his palms as he tried and failed to bring his hips up to match the brutal pace being set.
This was what he'd come to that first time, the sight of Mephisto slamming into Amaimon, and it had consumed his thoughts ever since.
It was so much more wonderful than he'd imagined.
His mind flashed back to what else they'd done that night and he eyed his thrashing tail.
As if sensing his thoughts, his tail moved to drape over his chest, writhing over his heated skin like another hand.
An animalistic growl snapped his attention to Mephisto only to find him focused on his tail as if hypnotized.
"You have no idea what you're doing," he said, guttural voice heightening Rin's senses and winding him up further.
One hand remained on his hips, keeping him from doing anything except lay there while Mephisto took him.
Rin bit his lip hard enough to draw blood as the other black-clawed hand came to stroke down his tail in a possessive move.
It just excited Mephisto further as he licked his lips, panting around a grin at the sight of the blood. He drew his hand up Rin's tail and Rin thought he was going to pass out at the heady wave rolling through him.
Conscious thought began to fail him and his mouth fell open as Mephisto swept a thumb over the already healed cut he'd made in his bottom lip, bringing it up to lick away the gathered blood with his own moan of pleasure at the taste.
He was harder than he'd ever been in his life and he hadn't even been touched there yet.
The thought had him whimpering again before he got an idea that made him sob even louder.
His tail traced along his taut stomach until it wound around his length and he had to bite off a scream at the new feeling.
Oh, god, that was such a good idea.
Any reason had long fled his mind. Rin was a mess, trying to bring his hips up into the coils of his tail and at the same time thrust back onto Mephisto and unable to coordinate enough to do both.
Looking up at Mephisto from beneath his sweat-soaked bangs, Rin gave up trying to hold back his moans. The way Mephisto watched him, more undone than he'd ever seen him before, Rin couldn't help do anything but reciprocate.
Mephisto finally brought his own tail into play, giving up on hiding it from Rin. It arched behind him and Rin knew the relief he must be feeling to finally stretch it out after having it wound up all day.
A sympathetic purr roll through Rin's chest as Mephisto winced at a kink he must have had in the tail.
His thrusts had slowed, Mephisto instead focused on bringing the tail to Rin's lips, a silent request, or more likely a command, considering who he was, for Rin to get to work.
Faced with the end pressed to his mouth made Rin hesitate, only having been the receiver of Mephisto and Amaimon's attentions when they'd last taught him about a demon's tail.
At the impatient look in Mephisto's eyes, Rin opened his mouth obligingly and dragged his tongue over the tip of the tail he soon found there.
The low hiss of appreciation from Mephisto told him all he needed to know about his technique.
Experimentally, Rin suckled at the tail, watching as Mephisto's eyes fluttered closed and grinning as he realized he had been the one to ruin his composure.
It didn't take long for Mephisto to adjust to the added sensation, shaking his head as he came back to himself and resuming his pace.
Rin's mouth was filled with tail and he had to resort to breathing harsh pants through his nose, feeling light-headed at the reduced oxygen.
He couldn't take it anymore. His own tail clenched around his length and his walls clenched around Mephisto as he came, screaming past the tail in his mouth and clawing at the desk beneath him, gouging rents into the wood.
A growl rumbled from Mephisto, the deep sound sending a thrill through Rin's veins, some primal part of him responding to it and making him release an answering growl until they mixed together, reverberating through the room.
He stilled over Rin and came, then, hands bruising Rin's hips as he filled him in a hot rush.
The buzzing in his ears slowly faded and he listened to their mingled panting, tail slowly unwinding from his softened length to drape, limp, over the edge of the desk.
Mephisto groaned as he slid out of Rin, trailing his release that Rin blushed to realize was now coming out of him without anything to stop it.
Right. Rin refused to deal with that reality, dropping his head back to the desk and closing his eyes, savoring the satisfaction that left him in a boneless heap.
Time passed in a blur. Rin didn't know how long he lay there for, breaths evening out and sweat drying on his flushed skin.
"Much as it delights me to see you spread on my desk like this, I believe we have a celebratory dinner to attend."
'Cele-what?" Rin grumbled at having to think so soon, opening one eye to glare at the smug face of the demon king standing before him, clearly not in any rush to leave, either, despite his words.
"Unless you want to go looking like that, you may want to shower. Not that I would mind, you understand, but humans have odd ideas about such things."
Now Rin was up and glaring, crossing his arms over his chest at the utter nerve and hissing out, "You're the bastard that told them to meet in an hour!"
When all he got for that reminder was a widening of Mephisto's lips in a Cheshire grin, Rin huffed and got off the desk, wincing at the soreness from laying on the hard surface for so long and the weird sensation of room temperature liquid running down his stocking-clad legs.
He stalked up to Mephisto, still glaring. "Okay, so where's your shower? Because I am not walking home like this and I'll burn your room down if you even think about suggesting it."
"Oh?"
Some of his flames pulled to Rin's hand, the control coming so, so easy to him with the proper motivation-namely, spite.
Mephisto held his hands up in mock surrender. "You make an excellent point."
A snap of his fingers came and Rin found himself transported to a luxurious bathroom, marble tiling and expensive fixtures telling him exactly whose room he was in.
Turning showed Mephisto leaning against the door, still looking like a giant satisfied dragon and still very naked.
"I am going to take a shower," Rin growled out, stabbing a finger at the smirk Mephisto wore, "and you are going to keep your hands to yourself because you deserve it after deciding an hour was a long enough time, you hear?"
"So cruel," Mephisto pouted, poorly hiding a smile at Rin's demand, "and here I was thinking you would be in a much better mood after I was so nice to you. Very ungrateful of you, Rin."
Rin offered him a final glare, turning on his heel to head to the shower and giving Mephisto one last order.
"And my clothes and the damn eyedrops better be on the counter when I'm done!"
The exwires watched in utter confusion as Rin spent the dinner eating Mephisto out of house and home in unholy retribution.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
"You're going to go with Shiemi to the dance, Yukio. And not just because I can't look her in the face after what I've done this past week but because I care about you and want you to be happy."
Is what Rin wanted to say to his stubborn twin if he knew he could get away without having to explain what, exactly, it was he'd been doing, or rather, who.
If someone had told him a week ago that Shiemi was going to join their group as a new student and thus be eligible to go to the couples dance at the festival that weekend and that Rin would for some reason not want to go with her, well, it would have sounded insane.
As it turned out, Rin thought he might be going a little crazy.
He loved his friend and his twin without reservation, though, which meant he wanted them to be happy at all costs.
Up until this point he'd had a colossal crush on Shiemi, still did, to an extent. But it no longer felt right, or even the same, as it used to. Thinking about it only made his head hurt, so he had decided to do what he did best and go with his gut. He'd analyze it later. Maybe.
So, the next best thing, he thought, was for Yukio and Shiemi to be happy. Together. If his two favorite people, who already liked each other but wouldn't admit it, could find happiness then Rin would be okay with that.
It was definitely the fault of a certain pair of demons that Rin had changed in such a way that he could no longer see himself with Shiemi, who Rin was convinced had no flaws.
Okay, that wasn't true. Shiemi was a human with all the flaws and perfections that came with being one and Rin was never the type to put someone on an untouchable pedestal. He liked her just fine the way she was and wouldn't change a thing.
That meant he had to be realistic, though. And realistically Rin was finding he spent more time thinking about Amaimon and Mephisto than Shiemi nowadays and it didn't seem to be changing any time soon.
Now he just had to help Yukio see the light, so to speak, and his brother was being ridiculous.
"I don't have time to go to the festival," Yukio said, eyes narrowing, "I've got too many worries as it is to focus on that."
Rin crossed his arms, staring Yukio down from his side of their dorm room.
"You don't even have to stick around, just go with her so she has someone there she feels comfortable with, you know how shy she can be."
Yukio matched him, returning with, "Then why don't you go with her?"
Shit, why didn't he go with her? Rin hesitated at why the thought made him react with an automatic 'NO' in his gut.
"Er, I've got someone…already."
He didn't have anyone, why did he say that? Rin cursed his lack of brain to mouth filter because as far as he knew he definitely didn't know any girl classmate besides Shiemi who was available to go with him or would even want to, for that matter.
All he got was a raised brow from Yukio who knew all his friends and therefore knew he didn't have any other eligible partners in the group.
"You don't know her," Rin grumbled, averting his eyes from the judgmental look he was getting.
With how little time Yukio spent around him it might as well be true. Rin sighed, feeling the typical hurt that sprung up whenever he remembered that fact.
Something of the hurt must have shown on his face because Yukio blinked and studied him.
"You…really want me to go with Shiemi, huh? I thought you liked her?"
Rin scratched at his hair, trying to put his feelings for Shiemi into words.
"I do. But…not like that anymore."
A frown tugged at Yukio's lips as he tried to puzzle that out. "You've changed, Rin."
"Yeah, well, you too," Rin said, standing firm in the face of Yukio's hypocrisy.
"Fine," Yukio sighed, capitulating, "I'll go with Shiemi to the festival."
"You don't have to make it sound like a chore," Rin shot back.
His point got him a wry grin from Yukio before he gave some piss poor excuse to leave for the day.
But, Rin had gotten what he wanted, and he hoped Shiemi would have more luck figuring out what was wrong with Yukio. She always seemed like she understood him better than Rin ever had.
Once again, a depressing thought, but Rin contented himself with the fact that he had convinced his reclusive twin to join in the fun for once.
Now he just had to worry about finding his own partner for the dance. Somehow.
"Man, you still don't have anyone yet, Rin?" Shima frowned at him, having been forced to sign on as an usher just to get into the festival since he'd also been unable to find someone to go with.
Rin sighed, slumping into the bean bag chair in Konekomaru and Shima's room they'd gotten just for him since he spent so much time there now instead of at his own dorm. Their way of showing support so he didn't have to go home to an empty place.
"I thought Yukio said you did, though?" Koneko questioned. The lucky guy had joined a sutra club and was going with the club's president to the party.
That just made Rin sigh louder, closing his eyes and leaning his head back. "I just told him that to get him to go to the festival with Shiemi instead of hiding like he usually does."
He put up with the jostling and tears of support from Shima for 'sacrificing himself to the greater cause,' or whatever it was he was babbling about.
Koneko sent a sad smile his way, patting his shoulder in encouragement before changing the topic like the true friend he was.
Another day went by, another day closer to the festival.
It was hard not to get excited about the parts of the activities he'd be able to participate in besides the dance. The food stall was coming along perfectly, and Rin couldn't wait to do what he did best, which was cook an amazing meal.
Plus, he'd get to enjoy all the rides at the amusement park, which, after that one mission Amaimon had crashed, he'd yet to go back to.
So, in the end, Rin decided that even if he missed that part of the event it wouldn't be the end of the world and he still had a few more years at the school to try again.
The buzzing energy in the opening ceremony brought a wide grin to his face, watching when Mephisto made a ridiculous entry, parachuting out of the sky to land on the stage and make his opening announcement.
"Alright, who's hungry?" Rin cheered as he and Godaiin began taking orders and their stall opened for business.
Things went off without a hitch.
Then, through the chaos, his nose caught a familiar scent and he looked up, searching the crowd until he saw Mephisto striding past the various stalls, clearly enjoying himself.
Rin grinned up at him when he appeared in front of their stall, already handing him a bowl of the pork miso soup for him to try.
There was something instinctual in him that was very pleased at the thought of providing for the elder demon that Rin didn't think too hard about.
"This is magnificent," he praised, eyes crinkling in a smile and Rin felt his tail try to wag despite being hidden under his shirt.
"Tell me, Rin," Mephisto began, handing the bowl back, the slight brush of his gloved fingers against Rin's sending a shiver through him, "will you also be going to the dance tomorrow night?"
His question had Rin pouting, even Mephisto seemed to have noticed his dilemma and was teasing him over it, not that he expected any different.
"It just so happens my niece is joining the academy as a student in your year and I thought she might be your plus one to the dance. You can show her around, introduce her to her new classmates. It would be a favor to me, if you could."
Rin froze. A niece? How? And who? He stared up at Mephisto with an odd sense of betrayal that made him feel stupid because of course he had a million secrets that Rin would never know. But, for some reason, this one in particular really bothered him.
"Uh, sure, that would be great," Rin found himself mumbling. It would solve his problem for sure, at least.
"Perfect, I'll let her know to meet you at the entrance, then," Mephisto said, somehow not picking up on Rin's conflicted emotions despite usually being so astute about them.
"As for you," Mephisto indicated Godaiin and the rest of the guys from his class working the booth, "I must have this stall set up at the festival square tomorrow night, although you should add more girls, it's far too messy as it is now. Don't worry about equipment and so forth, I have the budget set aside for it."
With a shake of his head, Rin tried to scatter the disruptive thoughts and join in on the excitement now that they could all go to the dance.
"Hey that's pretty lucky, right?" Godaiin nudged him, adding, "I wonder what the headmaster's niece looks like. Somehow I can't imagine it."
"Yeah, me neither," Rin responded absently, staring at Mephisto's retreating form.
"But," Godaiin hesitated, "most of our classmates will be participating in the party so I don't know how we'll have enough workers."
"Don't worry, I'll go ask Izumo again," Rin promised, trying to cheer him up and hoping she would agree this time around.
"Awesome, you're the best, man!"
Rin smiled, rubbing his head at the praise, and got back to work.
"You're the only one I can trust with this, Izumo!"
Rin clutched his hands together, imploring Izumo while she blushed and sputtered at his words.
"Fine! I'll be there!"
Her irritated promise sent him beaming, he knew he could count on his friend.
"But I don't trust any of you!"
Befuddled, Rin watched as Izumo stalked off with the outfit he'd brought her for when she manned the booth. But, then, Izumo always seemed to keep a distance from the rest of the exwires and Rin hadn't been able to puzzle out why, yet.
It would have to wait for another day.
That settled, he ran home to get ready for the party, putting aside the mystery that was Izumo for the time being.
The moment he got back to his room Rin stopped, taking a heavy breath and feeling a purr try to force its way out. The room smelled like Amaimon.
Rin looked around the small space, hoping Amaimon was still there even though the scent was fading. He must have been by when Rin was out finding Izumo.
But there was something on the bed that hadn't been there before he'd left and he frowned, moving over to it.
He blinked, staring down at the folded suit upon which sat another one of those flowery-smelling cards Mephisto liked to use.
A quick slide of his nails cut open the envelope, Rin recognizing Mephisto's writing.
'Rin, thank you for agreeing to accompany my niece to the dance tonight. I've taken the liberty of procuring you a suit for the occasion. Please, wear it. Johann Faust V.'
Please wear it. Rin scowled at the note, its brevity and lack of explanation pissing him off, when usually Mephisto was too wordy.
Still, Rin brought the card up to smell it, scenting out Mephisto under all the perfume, though it made him sneeze. He tucked the card into his desk along with the first one he'd received from Mephisto. If Yukio ever saw the cards he'd really think something was wrong with Rin but that didn't stop him from hoarding them.
Card safely hidden, Rin went to inspect the suit.
It was really expensive feeling. Not that Rin knew much about that, seeing as he'd been raised in a church and had never owned an expensive thing in his life besides the heirloom Koma sword. But he could still tell that he'd have to be extra careful not to ruin the suit or he'd probably be paying off his debt to Mephisto for the rest of his immortal life.
Smooth fabric met his hands when they ran over the suit, careful to not catch his nails on it.
Although…
Rin brought the suit up to his nose and breathed in.
Yep, Amaimon had been the poor errand boy. Rin grinned, pulling away and unfolding the fabric to see what he'd be wearing.
Another few minutes passed and Rin finished buttoning everything up, adjusting the slim three-piece suit and admiring himself in the mirror.
As he slid his hands down his chest, following the tapered lines of the suit to tug at the bottom of it, Rin smiled, feeling oddly embarrassed.
He looked really good.
Like, this was definitely not his school uniform he was wearing. Everything fit perfect on his frame, hugging more like a second skin than the semi-baggy clothes he normally wore.
Could something be considered indecent if it covered everything?
Rin shook his head, banishing the awkward thoughts from his mind and going to try to tame his hair into a manageable form. If Mephisto's niece was anything like him, she'd be a stickler for presentation and proper attire.
Looking as good as he was going to get, Rin headed over to the festival entrance, trying to hide how self-conscious he felt every time someone looked his way when he passed them on the sidewalk.
The sounds of the festival grew closer until he was almost there when Rin realized it might be polite to get a flower for his date. He'd always been a romantic and, before, when he'd first heard about the festival and had thought he'd be going with Shiemi, he'd imagined tucking a flower into her hair and then leading her to dance.
Girls liked flowers, right?
His steps slowed and Rin glanced around, hoping to spot something.
There! A small flower stand was lined up along with a few other stands on the sidewalk, all selling things geared towards couples.
After a quick exchange, Rin came away with a clipped red carnation tucked into his chest pocket and an extra red chrysanthemum he'd just liked the look of for some reason, then went to wait near the entrance.
That brought him to his next problem. He watched the stream of happy couples heading through the arching gates, wondering how he was supposed to pick someone he'd never seen out in the crowd or if he'd even gotten there at the right time, seeing as he'd been given no information.
Hands came up to cover his eyes from behind him, a warm body pressing against his back and a chin resting on his shoulder.
"Guess who."
Rin breath caught, heart jolting in his chest.
"Amai-"
He found one of the hands wrapped over his mouth, cutting him off.
The purr going through the body behind him had Rin falling lax in the hold, joy welling through him to push past the confusion.
"You look edible," came the dark rumble by his ear.
It made him shiver as his neck was nuzzled into, feeling the hint of fangs scraping at the line of skin showing just over his collar.
Maybe he'd skip the party, Rin thought, shaking at what he could be doing instead.
Not able to resist anymore, Rin turned in Amaimon's arms only to stop short with a squeak, blush rising to his cheeks so fast he felt light-headed.
"Hi, I'm Ambrosia Faust. It's nice to meet you, Rin Okumura."
Was he dead? Rin gaped at what stood in front of him that had to be Amaimon, right?
Rin took a cautious sniff, wondering if his nose was playing a trick on him.
Seeing his confusion brought a smirk that was all Amaimon, however, and the scent matched the one Rin had grown used to; the ground after a rainstorm and deep pine forest.
What his appearance was telling Rin was entirely different.
Gone was the ragged maroon coat, the mis-matching patterns of his striped shirt, gold vest, green tights, and studded shorts.
In its place was an elegant black dress draping over Amaimon's lithe frame with a slit going all the way up to the jut of his hips on one side to reveal shapely legs. Had he shaved? Was he even wearing underwear? Rin wanted to find out, eyes traveling down to see that yes, Amaimon was taller, strappy black stilettos giving him another six inches to Rin's already average height.
Amaimon brought a gloved hand up to Rin's hair, teasing with the wisps that had escaped his attempts to tame them and letting him get his fill of looking.
A tasteful gold choker hid any hint of an Adam's apple and somehow-Rin was betting Mephisto had something to do with it-Amaimon's hair was up in a graceful bun, loose strands of hair framing a face perfectly made up to accentuate the sharp cut of his cheekbones and suddenly fuller-looking lips.
Rin swallowed, mouth gone dry and mind blank, unable to think past the fact that Amaimon made for a stunning girl.
He opened his mouth to say something but all that came out was a croak.
Instead of trying to find words that wouldn't come, Rin found his hand moving up his chest to grasp at the flower he'd put there.
Pupils slivered and Amaimon blinked as Rin shoved his hand forward, red carnation held before him like a peace offering.
His eyes had clenched shut so he only felt Amaimon pluck the flower from his hand, not knowing how he would take the gesture.
"What am I supposed to do with this?"
The question made his heart drop, Rin opening his eyes to see Amaimon examining the flower pinched between his fingertips.
"Ah, it's for-or it was supposed to be…" Rin trailed off helplessly, reaching out to take the flower back and tucking it into Amaimon's hair by his pointed ear instead of trying to explain human courtship practices to the demon.
Amaimon let him do everything with more patience than he'd ever shown so Rin forced himself to take a deep breath before he made a complete idiot of himself.
"What's going on?" Rin gave up trying to figure out what his life even was at that point, hoping Amaimon would take pity on him and explain.
The sly smile he got from Amaimon did funny things to his heart, especially seeing the hint of a fang indenting the dark red lipstick he wore.
"I know you're not very good at remembering names, so I'll tell you again."
Gold eyes gleamed, looking so much more intense with the smoky eyeshadow highlighting them.
"My name is Ambrosia Faust, niece to Johann Faust. It's a pleasure to meet you, Rin Okumura."
Rin whimpered, body weak as he realized what, in fact, was going on.
"Ah," he coughed, trying again to form a coherent sentence, "will you-are you ready to head in, then?"
Amaimon's lips curled, not even bothering to hide how much enjoyment he was getting out of tormenting Rin.
Still, he held out his arm for Rin and Rin scrambled to take it, tucking his arm in the crook of Amaimon's and shivering at their closeness.
The strangeness of being so close to Amaimon absorbed Rin the whole way to the gate. It wasn't that he hadn't been near him before then, but never in such a human way.
Every other time had been as a way for Amaimon to try to bring Rin's demonic instincts to the surface and do away with his human mannerisms. This was a complete one-eighty of the previous pattern of behavior Rin had grown accustomed to.
In other words, "Was this Mephisto's idea?"
He saw Amaimon look at him out of the corner of his eye, expression giving him no hints as to whether he was right or wrong.
"I didn't want those humans thinking they could put their hands on you."
Rin stopped, blinking up at him at that possessive statement. "Wait, are you saying you went through the trouble of enrolling in classes and dressing up like this because you thought someone might think I'm dateable?"
"You have no idea what you look like right now, do you?" Amaimon said, eyes narrowing.
What he looked like? Rin dropped his stare, a wryness that verged on bitter pulling his lips up in a humorless smile. "I thought I told you, nobody likes me like that. At least, not humans."
Claws found his chin as Amaimon gripped Rin and pulled up to meet his gaze, looking furious as he snapped, "And I thought I told you, they don't deserve you."
His ire just made Rin grin, reaching up to grasp the hand at his chin, bringing it away but not letting go. If the only beings on Assiah who thought of him that way were two immortal demon kings, then he thought he would be okay with that.
A tight squeeze of the hand in his solidified his decision, continuing to the entrance and pulling out his student ID to present to the usher.
"Rin?"
At the squawked shout, Rin turned, realizing he had forgotten something very important.
Shima and Bon were both ushering at the dance and they had spotted Rin with his date.
Tension shivered in Amaimon's taut arm and clenched fist, tight around Rin's. Though he knew it wasn't because Amaimon was nervous, more like murderous.
Rin scrambled to do damage control, tugging Amaimon over to his friends with a disarming smile on his face, making sure to keep Amaimon behind him to prevent any unexpected attacks.
"Hey guys, this is Ambrosia Faust. Mephisto's niece. She's a student here in our year now and I'm showing her around."
They didn't speak. Rin kept his smile plastered to his face in the empty silence that answered his introduction.
"Oh my god, Rin," Shima whispered, eyes bugging at what he was seeing.
Could they see through the ruse? Rin winced.
"You didn't tell me you were going with this total babe to the dance tonight!"
Bon still wasn't talking but a suspicious blush had started creeping up his face.
Turning to make sure Amaimon wasn't about to shred them apart at the disrespect showed him staring down at the two exwires with a contemptuous sneer on his pretty face.
Before Rin could figure out a way to get out of the conversation and get Amaimon away from Shima's flirtations, Bon spoke up.
"Is this what the headmaster called you away about that night we fought the family portrait demon? To introduce you to, er, Ambrosia?"
Headmaster. Family portrait. Mephisto. His desk. Rin blanked, mind short-circuiting as he went back to that night in Mephisto's office.
"Wait," Shima interrupted, looking like he was connecting the dots, "so you really weren't lying to Yukio about having a hot date to the dance. That's so cruel, man, holding out on us like that. Why didn't you introduce us before?"
Rin's brain stuttered back online, and he felt an oddly heated anger building up in his chest at the flirtatious tone in Shima's voice.
He realized he'd begun to growl when Bon looked at him funny and he cut himself off with a cough.
"Sorry, guys, I just didn't know how to bring it up."
"But," Rin stated, his tone booking no argument and glare firm to make sure he got his point across, "she's my girlfriend, so keep your hands to yourself, Shima."
So saying, Rin turned around to pull Amaimon into a kiss, hands coming up to frame either side of his face. He could taste the sweet gloss that had been applied to Amaimon's lips and was a bit surprised he hadn't licked it off himself yet.
Satisfaction sent a low hum through Rin as Amaimon placed his hands at his waist and deepened the kiss, glad his claim had been accepted.
Rin forced himself to pull away before things got awkward.
Well, more awkward than they already were.
It took all of Rin's willpower to turn from Amaimon and the hungry look he watched Rin with back to the stunned faces of his friends.
Shima was the first to recover, clapping and whooping in congratulations. "Yeah, Rin! Who knew you had it in ya'? I'm so proud of you."
A choked sound came from Bon, smiling despite the flush in his cheeks that had yet to subside. "Hey, man, I'm glad for you."
"And," Bon turned, a serious expression on his face as he reached a hand out to Amaimon to shake, "I look forward to getting to know you, Ambrosia."
The potential disaster had Rin gulping, hoping Amaimon recognized the gesture and heaving an inward sigh of relief when he deigned to reciprocate instead of tearing the hand off.
"Right," Rin started, taking Amaimon's hand again and making sure it was the one Bon had touched last to soothe his possessive instincts, "I'm gonna go introduce her to everyone else. I'll see you guys later. Bye!"
He led Amaimon through the crowd until they were out of sight and Rin sighed only to find himself tugged back into a firm chest.
Hesitant, Rin looked into Amaimon's eyes, unaware of how he'd taken that interaction.
"I didn't know how else to get him to stop flirting with you," Rin muttered, shy all of a sudden.
Amaimon gave a slow lick to his plush lips, gaze penetrating, and Rin held his breath while he waited for an answer.
"You staked your claim," his eyes narrowed, "I accept."
A moment passed where Rin didn't understand and then all of a sudden, he did, smiling wide enough to hurt as he reached up to bring Amaimon back into a kiss.
This time, Amaimon was the one to break it, keeping his lips near Rin's to speak. "I want you to fuck me tonight. Will you?"
Just the thought of what Amaimon asked for had Rin whining into his mouth, almost deciding to leave right then before forcing himself to stick to the vague plan he'd decided on the second he'd seen Amaimon in his dress.
"I still need to do two things with you, then we can. Please?" Rin asked, begging him for patience.
His request made a frown form on Amaimon but he acquiesced with a grudging nod.
Smiling, Rin led him towards the center where crowds of students danced together.
He stopped at the edge of the crowd and turned with his hand outstretched towards Amaimon. "Will you dance with me?"
"Do you know how to dance?" Amaimon quirked a wry smile at Rin, shaking his head but taking his hand anyway.
"Nope," Rin chirped, pulling Amaimon back into the thread of the moving crowd, "but I want to dance with you."
Without prompting, Amaimon leaned to tuck Rin's head under his chin, reaching down to move Rin's hands to his waist before placing his own arms around Rin's shoulders, swaying against him in an easy rhythm even Rin could follow. He let it consume him, inhaling into Amaimon's collar and content in ways he couldn't begin to explain.
"Mephisto knew you would," Amaimon said after a while, shrugging and bringing Rin back to the topic of conversation. "He made me learn."
Rin's breath hitched at the thought of the two demons dancing together.
"Is he here tonight?"
Instead of answering, Amaimon turned him around in his arms, directing his attention to one of the buildings with a balcony standing above the pavilion so that it overlooked the whole festival.
Rin searched until his eyes caught the gaze of the demon king of time. Mephisto leaned on his arms on the wooden railing, staring straight at them and grinning his Cheshire grin.
"Hey, why do you call him Mephisto, too?" Rin suddenly thought to ask. It was something that had been niggling at him ever since he'd learned Mephisto's true name.
"Samael goes by whatever name the humans decide to call him in the current century," Amaimon scoffed. "And he insists on us calling him by it so we don't trip up whatever game he's playing at the time. It's a waste of effort to argue with him."
It confirmed what Rin had been thinking, and he hummed. "So wait, does no one know who he is here?"
"No," Amaimon said with a sigh. "That's the sad thing. They all know his true name so it's pointless."
Mystified, Rin sent a look up at Mephisto. "That's so dumb and dramatic."
"Rin!"
Interrupted for the second time that day-although in this case Rin didn't mind as much as Shiemi fought her way through the crowd, pulling Yukio behind her and waving to catch Rin's attention.
He heard a low growl come from Amaimon and Rin smiled up at him, squeezing his hand in reassurance. "I'm yours, remember?"
Amaimon intertwined their fingers, growls subsiding as he watched the two humans approach.
"Who's this, Rin?" Shiemi asked politely, cocking her head in curiosity.
Yukio looked completely lost, eyes taking in the beautiful girl he'd had no idea Rin even knew, so divorced from his life that he'd missed out on the developing relationship.
In the face of Yukio's confusion, Rin felt a little smug, but turned to answer Shiemi.
"This is my girlfriend, Ambrosia. We met a few months ago but just started dating last week when Mephisto introduced us. She's his niece."
"O-oh," Shiemi gasped, a happy smile overtaking her face to see the obvious pride Rin took in 'Ambrosia' and blushing at the revelation.
"Mephisto's what?" Yukio narrowed his eyes, suspicion evident as he glared at Amaimon.
Tension sang through Amaimon's body at the challenge as he answered in turn, "That's right. I'll be joining the academy this year."
His response froze Rin and he could only stare. First of all because he could tell the conversation was only going to decline from there and second of all because the voice Amaimon had just spoken with was that of a girl's.
Was the thing about speaking in tongues something demons could actually do or was this a hidden talent of Amaimon's Rin had only witnessed just then?
"I see," Yukio clearly didn't see, "I didn't realize the headmaster had siblings he was particularly close to, to take in their children."
A headache began to build in Rin at the pointed jabs.
"In fact, my uncle does," Amaimon said, sneering at Yukio.
"Are you a demon or not," Yukio hissed, giving up the pretense of polite conversation.
"Why don't you come closer and find out?"
Curling lips showed Amaimon's fangs now jagged and bared in a snarl. Slit-pupiled gold eyes added to the effect as Rin remembered that bared fangs were a challenge for demons.
He stepped more in front of Amaimon, trying desperately to think of a way to calm both parties down.
"Yukio stop it!" Shiemi said, standing in front of him and glaring reprovingly.
"Shiemi," Yukio trailed off, seeming lost in the face of her stern reproach.
"Say you're sorry and that you're happy for both of them," Shiemi continued when she had his attention. Her sudden display of forcefulness shook Rin from the defense he'd been building, floor ripped out from under him and heart skipping.
Yukio looked helplessly towards Rin, who waited for the apology he wasn't certain would come.
"Rin. Ambrosia…" Yukio started, gaze flicking to Shiemi. Another second passed and he deflated with a sigh in defeat, pasting a smile on his face.
"I'm sorry for my behavior. I'm very happy for you two," he said, looking as thrown-off as Rin felt and unsure how to proceed. "Would it be alright if we talked about this tomorrow?"
That had been more than Rin could have expected. He gave Yukio a tired grin, accepting the peace offering for what it was and unable to deny his younger brother anything. "Sure, Yukio. We can talk."
Shiemi nodded, happy with the results before she turned to Amaimon and bowed to him, saying, "I'm very happy to have met you, Ambrosia. Rin is a good friend of mine and I hope we can be, too."
The hopeful glance Rin shot over his shoulder showed Amaimon looking a bit stunned, although it was hard to tell on his blank face. Rin thought it possible that Amaimon defaulted to the look when he didn't know how to deal with his emotions, though he would have to test that a little further to confirm it.
At a squeeze from Rin's hand, Amaimon nodded his head, disoriented in the face of Shiemi's kindness, and uttering a quick, "Thank you."
Rin and Shiemi beamed at each other, satisfied that everyone was getting along.
"We'll leave you two alone to dance. Bye, Rin! Bye, Ambrosia!" Shiemi said, waving and grabbing Yukio's hand to lead him away.
They fade into the crowd, Rin watching before he found himself wrapped in an embrace by a perturbed Amaimon.
"Can we please leave now?"
His question muffled to Rin's throat and he rubbed soothing circles on Amaimon's back, realizing the poor demon had had enough of the crowds and pretending to be human for the night. Even though they hadn't been able to do as much as Rin would have liked at the festival besides the introductions and dancing.
Beyond the crowd, the festival lights and sounds of people enjoying the rides tempted Rin to keep going, but another desire called louder and it had everything to do with the demon in his arms.
"Yeah, okay. Where do you want to go?"
Instead of answering, Amaimon raised his hand as if signaling someone and Rin had only a moment to wonder who before he was blinking and opening his eyes to an ornate room lit with a low golden light, the sounds of the festival muffled by thick red-wood walls and various silk-screen hangings.
"My, My, retiring so soon? I thought you would be out enjoying the festival for much longer."
Rin released Amaimon and grinned sheepishly at Mephisto as he approached.
The inane statement from Mephisto had Amaimon blowing at the stray wisps of his bangs, shooting a scowl his way. He'd already shed his gloves, tossing them to the floor and flexing his now freed claws.
Smiling back at the poor, put-upon earth king, Rin stepped forward and wrapped his arms around Mephisto, feeling him tense at the unexpected move.
"What's this?"
He snuggled his face further into the folds of the yukata Mephisto wore, feeling a contented purr rising in his chest when he brought a hand to stroke at his hair.
"Thank you." Rin inhaled, closing his eyes to better enjoy being enveloped by the scents of the two demon kings, a sense of safety and protection overcoming him as Mephisto returned his embrace.
A second pair of arms joined them and Amaimon set his chin on Rin's shoulder, annoyed at being left out. "He didn't do anything. Why are you rewarding him and not me?"
Grumbling about ungrateful demons came from Mephisto as Rin snickered.
"While I will credit you for the initial idea to accompany our Rin to the dance, I'd appreciate it if you recalled who it was that actually planned everything out."
"And," Mephisto pulled out of the embrace, stepping back to survey them from afar, "I am quite satisfied with my work in dressing the two of you for the occasion."
"Amaimon looks amazing!" Rin said in complete agreement, bringing his hands up to place them over Amaimon's arms where they were currently crossed around his chest.
Amaimon snorted, nudging Rin's cheek with his nose. "He meant you, too."
"O-oh" Rin stuttered, unsure how to take the compliment to his looks. "I didn't-I don't-um."
He practically felt the glare Amaimon shot at Mephisto, his arms tightening around Rin.
"This is your fault," he accused. "He's got self-esteem issues because you left him alone, thinking he was human for so long."
Black clawed hands raised in surrender from Mephisto. "In all fairness, this was hardly the way I expected events would play out when I set things into motion all those years ago."
While they argued, Rin became aware of a lump in his breast pocket, remembering something and gently unlatching Amaimon's arms from around him to take out the red chrysanthemum he'd put there earlier.
A small smile rose on his face as he held out the slightly damaged flower to Mephisto. "I got one for Amaimon. This one's for you."
"I still don't understand why," Amaimon grumbled behind him, not liking being ignorant of something that Rin seemed to find obvious.
By the delight in Mephisto's green eyes as he came forward to take the flower, Rin knew he understood the human custom.
"Did you know," he began, considering the thin red petals before him, "a red chrysanthemum signifies a deep, passionate love. And that lovely deep red carnation you've given Amaimon says your heart aches for his love. It's very romantic of you, Rin."
"Why give meaning to a plant? They don't care one way or another what your feelings are," Amaimon complained, plucking at the red petaled flower still in his hair.
Rin laughed, rubbing the back of his head. "I didn't know all that, I just wanted to give you guys something."
"I don't understand it," Amaimon stated, reaching to attach himself to Rin again. "And I don't understand love either."
Didn't understand love? Rin tried to puzzle that out, blinking, though he relaxed into Amaimon's hold anyways, happy to stay there as long as he could.
Seeing his confusion, Mephisto explained, "Love is one of those funny human concepts that never made it over to demons. It's quite foreign to us, another nebulous idea humans like to squabble over."
"But," Rin began, brows furrowed as he tried to conceptualize that, "you both like me, right?"
When he received a confirming nod from Amaimon into his shoulder and an 'of course' from Mephisto, he continued, "And you're both mine, and I'm yours, right?"
"Mm, mine." Amaimon nuzzled further into his shoulder in agreement.
Mephisto just watched him with hooded eyes, waiting for him to make his point.
"Then that's love," Rin concluded, voice firm.
"Ah," Mephisto said in a breath, a testing tone to his voice, "and what would you say if I told you that I am not and have never been one for monogamy. I've had many demons and humans alike in my bed in the countless years I've been alive, you realize."
That was an attempt to get a rise out of him if he'd ever heard one. Rin just shook his head and said, "Yeah, I remember you saying something like that when you told me about your real name. I didn't forget."
His answer broke the careful expression on Mephisto and he grinned, eyes crinkling at the corners and coming to press a kiss to Rin's crown. "Then that, as you say, is love."
"Are we done? Do I get my reward now?" Amaimon prodded, bored with the conversation.
"And what we have here is a sad lack of romanticism," Mephisto said with a sigh, running a hand through his hair.
Sad lack of romanticism or not, Rin didn't care, turning and bringing his arms to Amaimon's shoulders to press a kiss to his cheek, having to stand on his toes to reach since he still had his heels on. "Yep! One reward, coming right up."
"And what, exactly, did you have in mind?" Mephisto breathed into his ear, nibbling at the tip of it as Rin gasped and leaned back into the embrace.
"Amaimon said I could have him tonight," Rin said, voice cheerful, despite the slight flush to his face, still not up for any of the dirtier terms they used.
Still, he could see Amaimon's pupils dilate, staring, unblinking, into his eyes.
"And what if I decide I would prefer something else?" Mephisto said, hand reaching down to his waist and rubbing a clawed finger along the thin fabric over his stomach where his shirt tucked into his slacks
More testing, this the kind Rin was more than happy to test back on. He grinned at Mephisto, teasing. "Sorry, you're not allowed to this time."
Amaimon stopped from where he'd been kissing along Rin's throat at his statement, sharing a raised brow with Mephisto.
"How do you mean?" Mephisto said, head tilted at the curiosity of having been denied. It probably didn't happen very often, or at all, really.
"Well," Rin said, drawing the word out, enjoying having the upper hand for once.
"You said you'd owe me a favor for taking your 'niece' to the party and introducing her to the other students."
He glanced over his shoulder to see the effect he'd had on Mephisto. "I want to call that favor in."
Mephisto had that draconic look in his eyes again, but Amaimon laughed up at him, mocking. "He's caught you in your own game, Samael."
"That's an interesting request," Mephisto began, voice dangerously soft. "I'm surprised you realized what I was offering in that exchange. You didn't seem to notice it at the time."
"Actually," Rin said, mouth widening in a sly smile and blush returning, "my reward for Amaimon is separate. I wanted something else from you."
A rumble built up in Mephisto's chest, reverberating through Rin's back and causing him to shiver pleasantly.
Extricating himself from the two demons was the next step of Rin's impulsive plan, although Mephisto's arms tensed, reluctant to release him, Rin thought.
He went around so he was behind Amaimon, studying Rin over his shoulder with careful eyes to see what he would do.
Rin ignored them both to observe the way he trailed his finger down the open-backed dress before him, enjoying how Amaimon's breath hitched and Mephisto's eyes focused on the sound.
"I wanted to watch you two again."
Mephisto stopped breathing, eyes appearing incandescent with the heat in them, until his nose flared and his breath escaped him in a long hiss. "What did you say?"
"You heard me," Rin said, tone blithe as he pretended not to have noticed the effect he was having on the two demon kings, still running his finger over the suddenly tensed muscles of Amaimon's back.
"Yes," Amaimon hissed out, sounding animalistic as he shuddered in anticipation of fulfilling Rin's request.
Heat rose in the palm Rin planted flat against the center of Amaimon's back, letting it rest heavy there and feeling his heart thudding in his excitement.
He glanced up to see whether his proposal had been accepted, raising a brow in silent question.
"Why?" Mephisto growled out, still pinning them with unblinking eyes.
"Because I can't hurt him like you can," Rin said, making sure he held that unblinking stare and seeing those pupils become slivers, almost lost in the acid-green color.
"I don't like hurting people. I really don't know how," he continued, accentuating his remark with a light scratch of claws that had grown elongated and sharp at Amaimon's back as if to contradict that statement. "But you like to, and he likes being hurt."
"And," Rin said, feeling his fangs lengthen in his mouth to give his voice a guttural quality and his ears become just that much more pointed, "I like to watch."
Amaimon quaked at Rin's words, turning desperate eyes towards Mephisto.
"Please, Samael," he groaned, panting at how keyed up he was with anticipation.
"What a…rare breed you are, Rin," Mephisto said, voice a dark promise and eyes hooded. "I accept your proposal."
That was the sign he needed. Rin didn't wait any longer, shoving Amaimon forward and into Mephisto's waiting arms.
He turned his back to them to walk to a nearby chaise lounge, settling down onto it with his elbows bent on his knees and his face impassive beneath his brows.
Mephisto had Amaimon in his arms, head pulled back at a harsh angle while he placed one butterfly-soft kiss to his collarbone before sinking his fangs into the meat of his shoulder, eliciting a hoarse shout from Amaimon.
Claws scrabbled at the unmoving arms keeping Amaimon pressed against Mephisto, silk-black dress bunching up to reveal that he had, in fact, not been wearing underwear.
The point of Amaimon's green tail wrapped around the leg opposite the slit in his dress, answering where he'd been hiding it since he couldn't wrap it around his chest with such a low-cut back.
An answer came in the form of Mephisto biting deeper before he removed his teeth, cleaning the blood that trickled from the punctures and ignoring the way Amaimon writhed against him.
In the next moment Amaimon was unceremoniously shoved to the hard floor, made to kneel before Mephisto with a hand gripping the hair of the mussed bun on his head.
"Put on a good show, Amaimon," Mephisto commanded, staring down with haughty eyes.
Amaimon didn't hesitate, leaning forwards to tug the tie of the yukata loose with his teeth, letting the robe fall open to reveal Mephisto had also forgotten to wear anything beneath.
Lips parted as Amaimon swallowed the length in front of him, pushing forward until he'd taken the whole thing down and his nose brushed the dark curls there.
A beat and Mephisto glanced at Rin as if asking him whether he could move or not, letting Amaimon wait in agony.
Rin inclined his head, expression revealing nothing even as Mephisto began to thrust into the warm mouth over him, fucking into Amaimon's throat while he could do nothing except take it, tears pricking at the corners of his eyes and saliva running down his lips.
The red lipstick had smeared irreparably by the time Mephisto released Amaimon, pulling him off and turning him around.
While Amaimon coughed, his hands were bound behind him with the silk tie of Mephisto's robe and his arms pulled taut, forced to bow his back forward to touch his forehead to the ground
In a deliberate movement, Mephisto crouched behind Amaimon, gently pushing his arms up as far as they could go-much farther than a human body could bend-until Amaimon sobbed at the pain, face turned towards Rin on the floor as much as he could from that angle and staring with sightless eyes.
Relief poured out in Amaimon's gasp when Mephisto released the pressure, arms dropping with a thud to his back, though he remained bowed against the floor, waiting for Mephisto's next move.
He trailed his clawed hands over Amaimon's thighs, pushing up the black dress and revealing more and more skin to Rin's blank gaze. Amaimon's tail had unwound itself from his leg earlier, twitching on the floor beside him with every scratch of Mephisto's claws.
As if just noticing, Mephisto reached out with uncaring hands to grab the tail and yank. Amaimon yowled, trying to arch his back up but unable to with Mephisto's other hand keeping him still.
It ended and Mephisto ran a soothing hand down the abused tail, watching while Amaimon heaved gasping breaths against the floor, saliva pooling there as he made no effort to swallow.
His hands left the twitching tail as he spread them over the swell of Amaimon's ass, parting his cheeks and glancing at Rin once more before he went to the next step.
Mephisto froze as he was met with blazing blue eyes, like he was back in the overwhelming presence of Satan for the first time in years.
Rin's irises had become twin infernos, the pupils warping and glowing red as his control over his flames slipped just enough to reveal his true nature in his eyes.
But Rin did nothing except incline his head again, telling Mephisto to continue without words.
The directive given, Mephisto shuddered at the power from Rin, unable to stop himself from complying with his unspoken demands and thrusting into the waiting body.
Amaimon cried out at the abrupt entry, rim tearing and bleeding only to heal a few moments later, leaving him shaking on the floor.
There wasn't any time given to adjust, Mephisto slamming into the raised hips until Amaimon's cries of pain turned to cries of pleasure as he became accustomed to the force.
Every thrust sent Amaimon's knees sliding over the hardwood floor beneath him, leaving bruises that healed and formed and healed again.
A hand came up, Mephisto's next move as he clawed down Amaimon's back, once again taking advantage of the expanse of skin availed to him.
Sobbing replaced the cries from Amaimon as Mephisto ran a rough tongue over the wounds, cleaning the blood before it could reach the edges of the no doubt expensive dress
The taste of the blood sent Mephisto over the brink, releasing into Amaimon, who moaned at the feeling but didn't come, himself.
Mephisto panted, making to reach down and help Amaimon but suddenly found his hand stopped, gripped in Rin's, who'd made his unhurried way over to them while their attention had been absorbed.
His interruption brought a question to Mephisto's tongue but he was unable to speak at the look in Rin's eyes.
Rin broke his impassive expression to smile kindly down at Mephisto, letting his captured hand go to bend down and press a gentle kiss to his hair, tracing his flushed cheek with the backs of his claws.
"Thank you, Mephisto. I'll take him from here."
Silent, Mephisto found himself helpless to do anything but watch as Rin leant down and pulled Amaimon off of his softened length, undoing the tie from around his wrists and carrying him bridal style to the futon.
As feeling returned to his arms, Amaimon groaned, pins and needles running through them and body aching as he was placed on top of the soft duvet covers.
He stared up at Rin as if just seeing him for the first time.
Rin's smile was soft as he leaned down to tug Amaimon's hair out of its ruined bun and teased the knots from the strands, careful not to pull too hard at the ones he found.
"It's time for your reward now, Amaimon."
A sob gasped from Amaimon at Rin's words, achingly hard still and desperate for release.
Rin swallowed the sound with a slow kiss, running the warm pads of his fingers over Amaimon's face and massaging the strained muscles of his jaw.
Sighing into the kiss, Amaimon's eyes shuttered closed as his body relaxed into the touch, bringing his arms up to clutch at the fabric of Rin's suit over his shoulders.
The loose straps of Amaimon's dress slipped over his shoulders and down his arms, Rin lifting his hips to bring it off of him until he lay fully naked, skin glistening in the dim light of the room.
Next, he took the heels from his feet and traced the arches, a soothing flame easing the rest of the pain away while Rin hummed, pleased at the sight.
He turned to where Mephisto still sat, throwing the dress at him to catch on instinct, mesmerized by the scene before him.
Rin cocked a cheeky grin at him and went back to where he'd left off with Amaimon, nosing down his chest to lick at the salty skin there and feel the thudding heartbeat beneath his mouth.
At that point Amaimon had gone incoherent, tail slipping over the sheets in erratic coils and body trying to arch into Rin's above his.
Not yet. It wasn't time. Rin didn't let him, keeping a firm hand on his hip and reprimanding him, voice apologetic, "Sorry, Amaimon, this suit's expensive and I'd hate to owe Mephisto anything if I let you ruin it, so no touching, okay?"
His words registered and Amaimon whimpered up at him, eyes wide and pupils blown as he tried to reconcile this new dominant Rin with the blushing virgin he'd first corrected sloppy, inexperienced kisses for the week before.
Still smiling down at him, Rin let his hold soften to stroke his hand up Amaimon's flank and leaned down to draw him into another kiss.
He'd reached whole new levels of arousal, still untouched by either Rin or Mephisto and leaking pre-come onto his quivering stomach.
Perfect. Rin leaned back and gestured behind him to Mephisto. "Would you be able to get me that oil you used on me?"
It was worded like a request but at that moment Mephisto looked like he would have given Rin anything, bringing up a shaking hand to snap his fingers so that the bottle of oil appeared in Rin's waiting palm.
The smile Rin gave turned appreciative and Mephisto's heart fluttered in his chest, body limp with shock.
Juxtaposed to Mephisto, Amaimon gasped as Rin prepared him, not used to such care being taken with him and unable to do anything except lay there, stunned.
Then Rin found that point inside Amaimon and he cried out, length jumping and leaking more pre-come on his belly as he shuddered and writhed against the sheets.
That was the signal Rin had been waiting for and he removed his fingers.
With his hand not covered in the oil, Rin unzipped his slacks, pulling himself out and lining up at Amaimon's entrance, but not entering. The time stretched until Amaimon opened his eyes and stared, about to start begging if Rin didn't do something soon.
"Amaimon?"
His expression morphed to something helpless as Amaimon looked up at Rin, soundless pants leaving his throat while he waited for Rin to continue.
"I like you. A lot," Rin said, carefully not using the other 'L' word and knowing Amaimon and Mephisto understood him just fine.
Amaimon let out a low moan, unable to respond to that revelation at all.
Still, Rin didn't move, and he let out another frustrated sob.
"Are you mine, Amaimon?"
Rin tilted his head, unmoved by the desperate demon beneath him as he waited for an answer.
"Yes!" Amaimon cried out, voice wretched and looking utterly wrecked.
That was all Rin needed, finally pushing into Amaimon, who let out a long, relieved groan at getting what he'd been begging for.
But Rin didn't immediately start pounding into the tight heat offered to him, choosing to move in slow drags that had Amaimon sobbing in renewed frustration.
"Mephisto asked me this last time, Amaimon, and I'm going to ask you now. Okay? What do you say when you're asking someone for something, Amaimon?"
Though it didn't seem like Amaimon could even understand the question at first, mind lost to any forms of higher thought and just hearing his own name repeated in the rough tones over his body.
It took Rin slowing to a stop for him to shout the answer that came to him, anything to get Rin moving again.
"Please!"
"Thank you, Amaimon."
He cried out as Rin began pounding in earnest, finding his legs hiked over Rin's shoulders and pressed back into his chest as Rin deepened the angle, hands gripping into Amaimon's thighs for better purchase.
And finally, finally, Rin reached down and stroked Amaimon's untouched length and he couldn't last any longer, the touch sending him over until he was coming onto himself with a hoarse cry.
Rin kept moving.
Glassy eyes stared up at him, Amaimon hypnotized by the blue fire in Rin's gaze and mind blissfully clear.
Soon, it became too much, Amaimon's over-sensitive nerves screaming from the continued torment and muscles clenching at the merciless intrusion.
A guttural moan fell past Rin's lips as he tightened around him, growling at the added pressure before stilling and coming into Amaimon with a final thrust.
Amaimon couldn't do anything but tremble in the after-shakes, utterly debauched.
Chest heaving, Rin panted as he came back from the demonic head-space he'd found himself in, pulling out of Amaimon to his weak cry, and gingerly lying next to him on the futon.
He nuzzled into Amaimon's neck, breathing in the mingled scents he found there and humming in pleasure as he mouthed at the fluttering pulse to feel it pick up at the attention.
"You insatiable demon."
Hands at his shoulder turned Rin away from Amaimon's neck to stare up at Mephisto, having decided to join them.
Rin let a sated purr go through his chest, eyes drooping to half-mast while he waited for Mephisto to act.
"You astound me, Rin," he murmured, bending down to card his claws through Rin's sweat-soaked hair.
The ministrations were nice and Rin gave a sleepy smile, wriggling into the covers beneath him as he relaxed into the touch.
"I like you too, Mephisto."
An amused huff was Mephisto's response. He leaned down to place a kiss on the forehead Rin turned to him before sliding down and opening his mouth to lave the flat of his tongue over Rin's length, cleaning the mess there so it wouldn't ruin the suit.
When Rin released a lethargic moan, it nearly had him continuing his ministrations, but Mephisto left Rin before anything started again to move on to cleaning up Amaimon, too.
Almost unconscious already after his exertions, Amaimon gave a tired grumble.
Mephisto sat back with a satisfied lick to his lips but moved to begin tugging off Rin's suit, not wanting the fabric to wrinkle.
Rin fumbled trying to help until Mephisto sighed and batted his tired fingers away before he did any damage, stripping the suit off to leave him naked next to Amaimon.
Finally, snapping to neaten everything up, Mephisto collapsed next to Rin.
In another moment, Rin cuddled into Mephisto's chest, letting his tail curl around Amaimon's arm on the other side before settling and closing his eyes.
Giving one last analytical sweep of the room, the demon king of time, Samael, allowed himself to sleep.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
Mephisto jolted up from the futon, startling the other two sleeping demons beside him.
"Oops."
Rin blinked bleary eyes, trying to understand why he was awake just yet while Amaimon let out a dangerous growl and tried to go back to sleep.
A snap and all three were dressed in their usual outfits, Mephisto already standing up and adjusting his gloves to Rin and Amaimon's confused shouts.
"Everybody up! We're about to miss the main event of the night."
Kurikara had appeared strapped over Rin's shoulder and he glanced at Amaimon to see him watching with a suspiciously blank stare, a sure sign he was hiding turbulent emotions.
"Um," Rin figured he might as well ask and see if Mephisto would start making sense, "what main event? Is the festival over?"
Hesitation paused Mephisto for a second as he turned to look over his shoulder, mouth quirked in a small regret-filled smile that sent tendrils of unease through Rin.
"I'm going to have to apologize to you in advance, Rin, for what's about to happen."
Seeing the tired resignation in Mephisto's eyes and knowing he was warning him he wasn't going to like whatever the main event was stilled Rin. Judging by how quiet Amaimon was being, he was also aware of the situation and what Rin's reaction was going to be.
Inhaling, Rin closed his eyes to settle his thoughts before opening them and leveling a long stare at Mephisto.
"I guess we'll just have to wait and see how bad it is to know how you're going to make it up to me after."
Nodded his head, Mephisto accepted Rin's admonition and the consequences of his scheming.
Mephisto was right to worry.
Rin was furious.
There before him stood Shima, brandishing the black flames of a powerful summon-something Rin hadn't even suspected the laid-back exwire to be capable of-channeled into his staff and having delivered an unconscious Izumo into the arms of the Illuminati.
The Illuminati, who were apparently a real organization and not a conspiracy theory.
Words escaped Rin in the face of Shima's contrite smile, unable to understand where the betrayal had come from, only staring with searching eyes and dismay eating at his heart.
He'd just been introducing Ambrosia to Shima at the festival, been good-naturedly teasing him with Konekomaru in their dorm where they'd made him feel like family in the face of Yukio's absence a week ago, been going to classes and overcoming their trials to become exorcists for a year now.
Shima was his friend, one of the first and only ones he'd ever had, and Rin never expected betrayal from his friends.
To say Rin was shocked was the understatement of the century. The world had been yanked out from under his feet for the second time in his life.
They'd been teleported by Mephisto into a standoff, Illuminati with their helicopter ready to take off with Shima and the captured Izumo on one side, and the remaining exwires, Nemu Takara, and Yukio on the other.
Their entrance had come just as the blindingly bright forms of the Seraphs appeared to herald the arrival of Lucifer, king of light and the most powerful of the Ba'al.
Mephisto stood as a bulwark against the oppressive heat and light the beings gave off, his cloak creating a shadow to guard the defenseless humans.
The sudden appearance prompted surprised shouting from the others, especially seeing Amaimon again, though he completely ignored them without acknowledgement. There wasn't any way to sit down and explain why Rin had shown up in their company, so Rin just inched closer to them and kept his eyes on the enemy, hoping he'd have the chance to talk to his friends about it later.
A pulse of energy and Lucifer appeared, materializing out of the ray of blinding light to stand opposite Mephisto.
An elaborate hawk-like mask obscured his face and his blonde-furred tail swept freely behind him. Deceptively placid leaf-green eyes could be seen from the mask, piercing and terrifying and Rin couldn't have moved if he tried.
Rin flinched and his lips curled up in a defensive growl as Lucifer glanced his way until Amaimon moved to stand more in front of him, crossed arms and straight-backed defiance that let Rin breathe easier.
That terrifying gaze left him to move onto Mephisto.
Decay came off Lucifer in a sickening scent that reached Rin across the distance, and he picked out the rotting skin around his neck and hands that spoke of a body dying by inches. Lucifer kept letting out intermittent wet-sounding coughs, though his voice when he finally spoke was patrician and somehow Rin could sense that he was still totally capable of destroying them without even trying.
"Samael."
"Lucifer, it's been so long."
Growing rage filled Rin, listening as Lucifer laid out his goals: bring peace through total equality, which sounded nice until you found out that when he said equality he meant the destruction of the physical world until everything returned to the immaterial state that the universe had existed in at the dawn of time.
All so Lucifer would no longer have to suffer a rapidly degrading body that his overwhelming energy forced him to leave every ten years until he would reform and start the agonizing process again. Forever.
Rin almost sympathized.
"Samael, I will give you one more chance to join me and, if you will not, then I will consider you my enemy."
Despite himself, a piece Rin tightened in fear of what Mephisto's answer would be until his face twisted into a wide sneer, baring his fangs at Lucifer in clear challenge.
"Impossible! I love the chaos of this world too much to go back to such a pitiful existence."
Lucifer's eyes narrowed before he nodded his head, accepting the statement. "It appears we still disagree on things, then. Very well."
He paused and acknowledged the other king in the group and Rin's breath hitched, scared for Amaimon despite himself, knowing that, as strong as he was, he could never stand up to Lucifer should he attack. He wasn't sure even Mephisto could survive an assault.
For his part, Amaimon stood firm, appearing almost bored at being the focus of the powerful demon.
"What's this, Amaimon? Have you chosen a side in this war, finally?"
Amaimon sneered at Lucifer.
"Yes."
"Then you have sided with Samael after all."
Derision filled Amaimon as he snorted. "Fuck off, Luci."
He indicated Rin with his chin, eyes not leaving Lucifer's
"I've chosen to side with Rin." Rin's heart skipped, eyes widening.
What did he-?
Whatever Lucifer might have thought about the insult to his name, he gave no reaction, something in the back of Rin's mind wondering if he must have put up with much worse from his rebellious younger brother over the thousands of years they'd existed.
"And does Samael accept this?"
Fangs bared in Amaimon's own challenge. "Again. Yes."
Lucifer nodded, calm in the face of Amaimon's declaration.
"I see," Lucifer said, then paused, glancing at a stunned Rin, "congratulations, then. I'm very happy for you, Amaimon."
"And, Rin," Lucifer began as he turned to leave, "should you decide at some future point to join myself and my cause, you and Amaimon will always be welcome. It was a pleasure to meet you, finally."
"Welcome to the family."
Amaimon ignored the shell-shocked humans and their shouts to the retreating spy whose name he didn't care to remember. His attention stayed focused on Rin, watching to see how he was taking everything.
Unfortunately, that was when the explosions started. The Seraph stationed at the academy and elsewhere around the world at the different branches of the True Cross order suiciding in burning implosions of light, the real declaration of war Lucifer had appeared to deliver.
The barrier around the academy fell and Amaimon shared a grimace with Mephisto at the mess that would have to be cleaned up. Not, of course, that Amaimon would be assisting Mephisto's exorcists with anything.
But Rin would have to and Amaimon would help Rin.
A defeated and solemn group was left flat-footed to watch the helicopter bearing their friends away.
Fury spun through Rin without an outlet.
Well, not quite without an outlet. He glared at Mephisto, who was definitely responsible for at least half of this mess. He was still looking to the sky, following the path the helicopter bore.
But, and Rin felt like gnashing his teeth and spitting flames about it, he had been warned that he was not going to be happy so he at least owed Mephisto a conversation with a more level head before he decided what level of retribution he was owed.
Then he could yell at the scheming bastard.
The sound of a gun cocking snapped Rin's attention away from his thoughts and up to Yukio only for his heart to stop as he pointed his guns at Amaimon.
"Why is Amaimon here, Sir Pheles?"
"Ah, please lower your weapons, Mr. Okumura, we're all on the same side here," Mephisto said, hands raised and a placating smile on his face.
"No, please, keep your pitiful weapons pointed at me," Amaimon hissed out, claws flexing in irritation.
"Yukio!" Rin snapped, moving to stand in Yukio's path. "Back off, we've got bigger issues here."
Yukio looked like he was about to start spouting his own flames until Shiemi stepped forward to put a calming hand on his arm, eyes wide and bright with tears. "Please, Yuki, we have to go save Izumo."
Seconds passed where Rin almost thought Yukio would shoot Amaimon anyway, hating being backed into a corner. But, with a sigh, Yukio lowered his guns, though he didn't holster them.
"Fine. I'd still like answers. What was all that?"
The ball returned to Mephisto's corner and he scratched at his chin, contemplating the view of the city from the overlook they were on. "What you have just witnessed is the king of light destroying the main barrier."
Already, Rin could see lower and middle-class demons swarming the skies and moving in from the water.
"I suspect," Mephisto narrowed his eyes, "that the rest of the branches of the True Cross have experienced similar attacks."
He kept speaking, and Rin listened through a haze as he made his orders. They'd be going in alone, Yukio leading with that weird kid, Nemu Takara, who was apparently a third-party high-level puppet-master exorcist under Mephisto's employ and knew how to track Izumo until Mephisto could get back up sent in. Mephisto himself would be busy repairing the barrier.
That left one other.
"What about him."
Bon finally spoke, shooting a wary look at the idle Amaimon while Konekomaru trembled behind him at the remembered pain of his arm snapping like a twig with just a gentle poke of one of those black claws.
His question made Rin flinch, remembering his friends hadn't exactly gone through the same revelations about Amaimon as he had. The last time they'd seen him he'd been, well, a demon. Vicious, taking cruel joy in forcing Rin into fighting him, all so he could have his fun and get Rin to bring out his blue flames.
In truth, if Rin hadn't been through the last week with Amaimon, seeing all new sides to him and demons in general, then he would be just as suspicious as the others, if not more so. Up until now, he'd always hated whenever anyone reminded him that he was half-demon, the shame eating at him. It was only because of Amaimon that he'd started to overcome that feeling.
A growl tried to bubble up out of his mouth, caused by the instinctual need to defend Amaimon. Nobody would even be thinking about messing with him while Rin was there.
He was about to say so, stepping forward, when a warm hand came to rest on his shoulder. Mephisto smiled down at him, asking without words to let him handle things. Rin let out a shaky exhale that carried hints of the roiling flames in his gut, bowing his head to hide his eyes because he was still not anywhere near over his anger.
"Amaimon will also be accompanying you. Please try to get along, as I've said, we're all on the same side."
Rin shot a quick look over to Amaimon. He stood, bored expression back on his face while he let Mephisto do the talking. When Amaimon's gaze slid to meet his, Rin's heart twinged, wishing he could stand next to him but unsure if he could afford to with the tensions running so high in the group.
"What about Shima?" Shiemi spoke, turning worried eyes up to Mephisto as Bon and Koneko flinched at the reminder that their childhood friend had apparently turned traitor.
Green eyes flicked as Mephisto glanced at Rin out of the corner of his eyes before he spoke, "I can't say. We'll have to work under the assumption that he is indeed a spy until or unless new information proves otherwise."
Okay, now Rin was pissed.
"We don't know that," he hissed out, glaring with dark eyes up at Mephisto as his claws bit into his palms. "I'm going to drag him home and make him tell us what's going on. Then we'll decide whether he's a spy or not."
Mephisto answered him with a wry smile. "As you say, we must first retrieve him."
The urge to yell that it wasn't good enough pressed at Rin's lips, even though he'd suggested it. That there was no way Shima could have actually sold them out like he had, especially Izumo, who he'd always seemed to like the most.
He didn't, backing down and seeing the acknowledgment of his concession in Mephisto's eyes.
"I'll take my leave, then. Those barriers won't repair themselves."
Helplessness welled in Rin as he watched Mephisto turn to leave, emotions conflicted and his heart aching. He wanted to go back to the comfort of the futon where it was just the three of them and he didn't have to worry about the end of the world or Mephisto's possibly sinister plans and he could just be.
Turning his head showed Amaimon leaving as well, sending him one last blank look over his shoulder that made Rin want to scream with how frustrated he felt. He was trapped between wanting to go to Amaimon and shake him until he talked or hide in his arms until the world made sense again.
And he couldn't do either because he had to maintain appearances for his friends and his brother, who had no idea he was even having this problem.
Instead, Rin turned away and began the long walk back to his dorm to get ready for the mission ahead, heart heavy and soul-weary.
"Rin. Why did you appear with Mephisto and Amaimon? We couldn't find you after we left you with-" Yukio slid a suspicious frown at where Rin walked beside him, having left the other exwires behind to head back to their dorm- "Ambrosia."
Rin winced, tired and worn after the emotional rollercoaster he'd just been on. He knew Yukio wouldn't let it go about Ambrosia.
"I," he sighed, repeating the prepared lie Mephisto had given him for this exact situation, the words feeling like ash in his mouth, "went to go drop Ambrosia off at Mephisto's after we danced. She's Amaimon's daughter. I talked with him. We hashed things out. It's cool now."
"Pfft! That mad dog has a daughter? Who's the unlucky woman?"
His eyes widened, pupils narrowing to slivers.
Rage welled up in his heart at the insult. His thread-bare emotions were already so close to snapping, having taken one too many hits that night.
And he was just. So. Angry.
"Say that again."
Yukio stopped laughing, turning shocked, fear-filled eyes to him at the dangerous growl and Rin realized he'd let his flames burst out in patches over his body, something he hadn't let happen around Yukio since he'd gotten control over them during the Impure King mission.
His fangs had elongated in his mouth and Rin ran his tongue over them, letting out a shuddering breath as he forced himself to calm down.
"I'm sorry." Rin closed his eyes, anger evaporating and leaving him even more drained than before. "I'm just tired. Can we not talk about this?"
"Sure," Yukio mumbled, wide eyes not leaving Rin even as they reached the dorm and Rin pushed past him to head to their room.
They packed in silence until a curious and worried Kuro asked them where they were going.
"An important mission, no idea when we'll be back," Rin responded.
Something in the way he answered must have sounded off to Kuro, who determined he would be going with them. It made Rin feel a little better to know he'd be in the company of his familiar.
He slept in fits, waking up to a pale watery dawn and feeling no more rested than when he'd gone to bed.
An even quieter group greeted them as they met up with the rest of the exwires at the train station and Yukio conveyed their marching orders while on the way to the airport.
Rin perked up a bit when he found out they'd be taking a plane to the Inari Shrine in Shimane Prefecture, which also turned out to be Izumo's and Paku's hometown. The fact that Izumo had been taken back there by her kidnappers was an unusual coincidence that no one had an answer to but was worrying regardless.
Still.
"I've never been on a plane," Rin gasped, a mixture of excitement and anxiety running through him at the thought of being so high up. He shared an apprehensive look with Shiemi who'd also never flown.
They made it on the plane and Rin was just settling down when he realized he still hadn't seen a sign of Amaimon.
His heart dropped, disappointment eating at him, although he hadn't even been sure he'd wanted to see Amaimon until just then. Kuro gave him a worried look, purring in an attempt to comfort him.
Looking at his friends and the rest of the humans on the packed flight, Rin could imagine why Amaimon had found his own way, probably by one of Mephisto's transportation keys.
It would have been a special kind of torture to have to sit next to Amaimon on a flight and not be able to touch him or talk to him the way he wanted to. To have to pretend to be strangers within inches of each other and deal with his friends' suspicions the whole flight would have killed him.
So, he spent the time going over what information they had on the situation, trying to plan as much as they could with so many unknowns, and gagging down one of Shiemi's thoughtfully prepared-but so, so nasty tasting-bento boxes she'd made for everyone.
Then they arrived and Rin found himself scanning the crowd for a hint of Amaimon, scenting the air and hoping he was there.
Nothing. Rin crushed the bitter disappointment before anyone could notice and tried to get excited as they decided to walk from the airport to the shrine, apparently the quickest way to get there.
The peaceful fields of golden rice and the pleasant sunny weather made the walk pretty nice, actually, and at least he was able to talk some sense into Bon, the serious guy still not handling Shima's betrayal well at all.
Their path took them to the road leading up to the gates of the Inari shrine and Rin's heart leaped.
"Amaimon!"
"Where?" Konekomaru squeaked out, looking around for the dangerous demon.
A beat, and the rest of the group, except Takara, who was just so weird, jumped as Amaimon appeared next to Rin, contemptuous glare on his face and his usual sucker in his mouth he held between the points of his fangs.
It took everything Rin had not to burrow his face into Amaimon's chest and just breathe. Even so, he turned a brilliant smile on Amaimon only to see him flinch, turning Rin's smile into a confused frown.
"How did you know he was here?" Shiemi questioned, head tilted as she overcame the fright of his sudden appearance.
"Ah," Rin grinned, rubbing the back of his head, "I smelled him."
Kuro, who'd been hiding in Rin's arms when Amaimon had arrived, blinked up at him. His eyes widened as if he'd had an epiphany and Rin winked down at him, wondering if he could sense the claim on him as Mephisto and Amaimon kept telling him other demons could do.
Luckily, Kuro was discreet, though the way he kept glancing between Amaimon and Rin with a happy smile on his little cat face told Rin he approved of his choice.
"Yes, well, as fascinating as that is, we should head in and scope the area out," Yukio interrupted, narrowed eyes beneath his glasses as he turned to lead them up to the gates.
Rin didn't care about his twin's attitude for once, breathing in again to take in Amaimon's scent, feeling settled in a way he hadn't since the day before.
But Amaimon still wouldn't look at him, staying a few feet away with his hands shoved into the pockets of his coat. Rin noticed the tensed way he carried himself, something he doubted anyone else would have. Something in the sharp angle of his shoulders and the way he stalked forwards as if heading into a battle made Rin start to worry and once again he cursed that he couldn't get Amaimon alone to find out what the problem was.
Their arrival to the shrine entrance paused his worries and Rin could only gape as they were greeted by the sight of a complete tourist trap, filled with crowds of, well, tourists. He heard Amaimon let out a soft growl and Rin winced as he remembered how little he loved crowds of humans, wishing he could comfort him in some way.
And of course, that Takara guy disappeared on them the second their backs were turned, although Rin couldn't say he missed him much.
The flow of the crowd swept them up until they walked past stalls almost exclusively selling delicious smelling foods that had Rin's mouth-watering, having not eaten except for Shiemi's attempts at cooking.
"Guys, can we please get something? It smells so good!" Rin said, eyes roving over the many options and stomach growling.
"I don't see why not," Yukio said, acquiescing easily, probably just as hungry.
"No!" Rin jumped as Amaimon spoke up for the first time, glaring at the food around them like it was insulting. "Are you stupid or something?"
"Hey what's your problem?" Bon snapped out, coming to Rin and Yukio's defense. Although given that Amaimon was only glaring at Yukio, Rin didn't think he had included him in the insult.
Amaimon grit his teeth but answered, "We're in my brother's territory, can't you morons tell there's something wrong with this food? This whole place?"
Eyes widening, Rin took a closer look at the food in a nearby stall, even smelling it to see if he could sense what Amaimon was talking about, though he couldn't pick up on anything.
Still, he trusted Amaimon to know Lucifer best and edged away from the tempting food.
"What do you mean?" Yukio demanded, not trusting Amaimon at all.
Gold eyes narrowed at the mobs of people around him, as Amaimon explained, "Nothing here is natural, it's a trap for blind humans to happily walk into. And I doubt they ever leave."
"This is a tourist trap, to be sure," Konekomaru hesitated in saying, "but everyone just looks like they're enjoying themselves."
Amaimon snorted. "They're manic, high. The food is a drug."
A long breath exhaled through Yukio's nose but he took a level-headed approach to the information. "Alright, no one eats the food. We need to search the area. I'll be heading up to the shrine, everyone else, take it by sections. Head to the shrine when you're done with your section."
"And Rin," Yukio flicked his eyes between Rin and Amaimon, frowning at his next words, "you take Amaimon with you. Don't let him out of your sight."
"Sure," Rin agreed, torn between being pissed about the tone Yukio took and thrilled he'd finally get some alone time with Amaimon.
The exwires split but Rin didn't pay them any attention, eyes boring into the back of Amaimon's coat as he waited for the moment they were out of sight.
They rounded a corner and Rin reached out to grab Amaimon's arm, shivering at the excitement of getting his hands on him after the torment of holding off like he had.
Amaimon vanished.
Panicked confusion stung at Rin's heart, watching the path Amaimon took over the roofs of the buildings as he fled.
Then he got angry.
Frustration that had been building for the past day exploded in his chest and a furious snarl shook its way through his teeth, startling the people around him who heard it, as he took off after Amaimon.
Like hell he'd let him escape without any kind of explanation.
Rin tore through the streets, eventually taking to the rooftops after the bolting form.
Every time he lost sight of Amaimon, he'd catch his scent and be on the trail again, hunting him down like a dog after a fox that had scented blood.
How dare he run.
A burst of flame at his feet and Rin dropped down into an empty side alley, slamming Amaimon into the brick wall behind him as cracks erupted from the impact, Amaimon grunting in pain.
"Don't run from me!"
He saw himself reflected in wide eyes. His fangs filled his mouth in a ferocious snarl, ears elongated into points, irises a warped blue, and pupils gone red. He looked out of control and pissed. He felt it.
His claws gripped into Amaimon's coat, tearing holes in the maroon fabric until his knuckles whitened and creaked as he panted in fury.
Amaimon immediately tilted his head back, baring his throat and letting out a soft whine. The sight had an instant effect on Rin and he found his fangs around the presented jugular, growling and pressing his teeth in until he was sure Amaimon couldn't escape without doing serious damage to himself.
They stood like that-Amaimon frozen in place and Rin growling into his neck-until Rin came back to himself with a huff.
He breathed against Amaimon's throat, feeling his fangs shrink back to their normal pointedness as his adrenaline left him and he could speak. Rin licked at the throat once before pulling back, glaring as a warning for Amaimon not to take off again.
"Why are you avoiding me?"
The question made Amaimon look down, averting his eyes until a soft growl from Rin jerked them back up.
"He said you'd want space."
"What?" Rin hissed out.
Amaimon flinched. "Mephisto. He said you'd be angry and would want time to yourself. That I should let you have it and not pressure you before you were ready."
Inhaling, Rin took a shaky breath, another, bringing a hand up to lay it on Amaimon's chest, feeling the thudding heartbeat there and letting it calm him more.
"I don't want space." Rin made sure Amaimon was looking him in the eyes, deadly serious.
"I. Want. You."
He watched Amaimon's eyes widen and he couldn't take it anymore, crushing their lips together and shoving his knee between his legs, giving him no space to move except forward into his body.
Amaimon moaned against his mouth, bringing his arms up around Rin's shoulders and pressing closer to him, grinding against his leg, and Rin hummed his satisfaction at the response.
Instincts drove him to deepen the kiss, feeling a hint of fangs scrape against his lower lip until a sharp pain hit him and he tasted his own blood in Amaimon's mouth. His pulse rocketed, somehow the flavor heightening his senses to a fever pitch and he bit at Amaimon's lips until blood welled up and mixed on their tongues and Rin groaned into the kiss.
They broke apart, a line of faintly red saliva trailing between their mouths, and Rin wiped it away before bringing his teeth to Amaimon's neck again to nip at the racing pulse there.
"You're not mad at me?" Amaimon panted out, hand clutching at the back of Rin's head to bring him closer to his neck, arching up into his body like he was trying to meld the two of them together.
At his question, Rin growled again, closing his eyes and inhaling into the crook of Amaimon's neck.
"I'm furious."
The pulse beneath his tongue skipped a beat.
"You said you were mine, and then you ran."
Rin brought his narrowed gaze up. "Like a coward."
Teeth grit as Amaimon sucked in a sharp breath at the label.
"If I'm angry at you, I'll tell you and we can work it out. And you do the same for me," Rin stated, gaze softening.
"Just," Rin said. He smiled, pressing his forehead against Amaimon's, bumping their noses together, and speaking against his mouth, "Don't run from me again. Okay?"
A shuddering exhale fell from Amaimon, eyes closing at Rin's request, and he nodded silently.
"Thank you, Amaimon," Rin murmured, leaning in the last few centimeters to meet his lips again, a sense of relief washing over him in a wave.
Amaimon settled, no longer wary of him, and he brought his hands up to card through Rin's hair, savoring the unhurried kiss.
Then Rin found himself flipped and pressed to the wall with the rough brick scratching his back through his jacket.
He blinked up at Amaimon, finding him smiling, and was about to question him when a clawed finger tapped at his bottom lip in a request for silence.
"Mephisto is dumb sometimes. I told him you wouldn't be happy at being ignored."
"Yeah, well, I'll let him know that when I see him again," Rin laughed, glad to know Amaimon was of the same opinion about meddling demon kings.
"I'm going to apologize to you now, okay?"
The casual promise stopped Rin's breath in his lungs, a prickle of sensation rolling across his nerves as he watched with heated cheeks as Amaimon knelt down to the ground of the alley in front of him and began undoing his belt.
His breath stuttered free as Amaimon nuzzled his face into the jut of his hips, staring up at him with a sly smile and dark eyes.
Rin bit his lip until it bled as Amaimon slowly unzipped his pants and pulled his length out, grasping it in his calloused hand right next to his fanged mouth.
Whimpering escaped him as Amaimon trailed the tip of his tapered tongue over his head, knees going weak at the sight. He'd seen what Amaimon was capable of with Mephisto and it was the only thing he could think about now, staring into gold eyes.
It was all he could do to stay standing. Rin gripped at the surface of the wall, pressing back into it as he tried to hold himself up while Amaimon teased him mercilessly with light licks of his tongue, not giving him the pressure he needed.
Clawed hands gripped his hips, the thumbs massaging warm circles into the skin beneath his untucked shirt and he shook as he held himself back from moving into Amaimon's mouth.
"Amaimon, please," Rin gasped at a lick to his sensitive slit, hitting his head against the brick wall behind him at the suddenness of the sensation and seeing stars.
"Anything for you, Rin."
And then Amaimon opened his mouth, letting his fangs peek from under his lips and his long tongue loll out, winding around Rin as he worked his way down until he'd swallowed him to the root.
Rin let out a helpless groan and he felt his claws gouge at the bricks behind him, trying to stop himself from grabbing Amaimon's hair.
When he began sucking, Rin couldn't hold back the keen that left his mouth, throwing his hand up to muffle the sound, suddenly very aware that they were in a public alley where anyone could just walk in.
But Amaimon's mouth was stretched around him and he'd never felt anything like it before.
It became obvious to Rin within moments. Amaimon was really, really good at giving head.
He panted, chin tucked towards his chest as he found his eyes glued to the sight of Amaimon's lips moving along him, cheeks hollowing and tongue flattening to the underside of his length to apply delicious pressure.
Then Amaimon pulled Rin's hand away from the wall and placed it on his head and Rin felt his heart slam to his ribs until he grew dizzy, realizing what he was asking for. He flashed back to the way Mephisto had taken Amaimon's mouth just the night before and Rin moaned at the thought, fisting his hand into dark green hair.
Amaimon hummed around him, the vibrations tightening Rin's stomach as heat coiled through and began to overwhelm him.
His vision had gone hazy, hypnotized by what Amaimon was doing. He hesitated before pushing at the slowly bobbing head, watching his eyes shutter closed.
Rin tried a few experimental pushes until Amaimon flashed him impatient eyes and he gave in to the urges he'd been resisting.
He shoved into the tight heat, finding no resistance, bringing Amaimon all the way to his stomach, pulling him back until he was almost off, and then bringing him back again.
The sight entranced Rin, thrusting into Amaimon's mouth at a faster rate and still finding no resistance.
Fully giving in, then, Rin gripped Amaimon's hair harder, bringing his hips to meet the waiting mouth, his own thrown open in a soundless gasp as he felt himself nearing completion.
Blood rushed in his ears, everything else muffled, and the world narrowed down to just the two of them in the alley.
Adding to the sensations consuming him, Amaimon slid his hands up Rin's heated sides, scraping his claws along his skin. The light pain sent electricity through his nerves until Amaimon found the base of his tail and squeezed.
Rin came with a shout, pushing Amaimon's head to his stomach and holding it there as he released into his throat.
The hot mouth around him swallowed, Amaimon taking Rin down without any hesitation as Rin groaned at the sight.
His legs trembled, strength leaving them until it was only Amaimon and the wall holding him up, totally spent.
A few, breathless moments passed before Amaimon drew back to lick at his bruised mouth, lips stretching into a satisfied smile as he surveyed his work.
Rin gave up and slid to the ground beneath him, legs coming out to frame Amaimon's kneeled form.
Shuddering breaths heaved out from him, Rin staring up with wide eyes at Amaimon. His gaze traveled Amaimon's until he saw how tight his pants were and realized he still hadn't come.
That wasn't right. Rin pushed himself up, bringing his hands to Amaimon's hips and enjoying the way he leaned into his hold, hands coming to wind around his shoulders.
"Thanks, Amaimon," Rin grinned, resting his cheek against the trembling stomach and pressing his mouth to cloth-covered skin. "I forgive you."
He brought his hands up to Amaimon's belt, quickly undoing it and his pants until he was presented with his length and hesitated, not knowing how to proceed.
"Just be careful with your teeth," Amaimon offered, appearing calm but for the way his pupils were utterly focused on the sight of Rin's mouth centimeters from touching his length.
"Kay," Rin agreed, opening his mouth and taking Amaimon in, trying not to let his fangs anywhere near the sensitive skin.
Amaimon was a heady presence on his tongue and Rin took as much of him in as he could before he had to stop, not having his lack of a gag reflex. He could feel Amaimon trembling, knew he was forcing himself not to move, to let Rin take his time figuring out what to do.
So Rin tried an experimental suck, tonguing at the underside of Amaimon's head and tasting the pre-come that dripped out into his mouth at the move.
Was he doing ok? He glanced up then froze at the hungry look in the lidded eyes and flushed cheeks.
A light trail of the tip of his tongue became Rin's next move, watching to see the reaction on Amaimon's face and purring at the shudder it sent through his frame, deciding he really liked seeing the different ways he could make Amaimon react.
The vibrations his purr sent through Amaimon made him release a low gasp and Rin realized he wanted to hear him make louder sounds. He thought he understood why Mephisto and Amaimon always tried to get him to make those sounds, himself, now.
Well, Rin narrowed his eyes, determination taking over, he had a mission now.
He reached his hand up, grabbing the base of Amaimon's length and squeezing at the same time as he began sucking in earnest, bobbing his head over him as best he could.
Rin kept his eyes on Amaimon's the whole while and let him see as he brought his other hand up to pull at the tucked-in shirt, sliding inside it to find his tail.
Running delicate claws over the smooth scales at the base hit Rin with a feeling of satisfaction as Amaimon finally let out a moan, hands clenching at Rin's jacket as he bowed his body over his head.
When a throb of Amaimon's length in his mouth came, Rin knew he was close and increased his pace. He dragged his hand over the tail while at the same time dragging the flat of his tongue over Amaimon's slit, his eyes closing to half-mast as he concentrated on his task.
Shivering went through Amaimon's body, nearly quaking where Rin held him still. He'd begun panting against him and Rin knew he was doing everything in his power not to thrust into his mouth. The thought seared its way into his head, seeing the way Amaimon had let him do so earlier and imagining what it would look like the other way around.
He would learn to do what Amaimon could if it took him a thousand years, Rin decided before he gave a firm tug to his tail and felt him stiffen in his mouth, only to cough as Amaimon came, releasing into him with a long groan.
Even trying, Rin couldn't swallow, feeling the hot liquid escape the edges of his lips to trail down his chin, and finally pulled off to cough to the side, eyes squeezing shut as tears pricked at the corners.
Amaimon slumped back on his legs and Rin licked his lips, looking to see how he'd done.
Clawed hands gently turned his jaw, bringing him forward until Amaimon licked at his face, cleaning the trails of his release off.
His eyes closed, Rin relaxing into the ministrations as another soft purr left his chest.
A brush of claws drifted over his cheeks, running up and tracing at Rin's brows as Amaimon pulled back, satisfied with his efforts.
Rin forced himself to open his eyes before he got too comfortable, the sounds of the crowd finally filtering their way into his senses.
"I'm glad you came here with me, Amaimon," Rin said, breaking the silence and moving to kneel over Amaimon's folded legs to bring him into a hug.
"I told Samael and Lucifer," Amaimon spoke over his shoulder in a voice Rin couldn't parse, wrapping possessive arms around his back, "in this war, I've chosen you.
They cleaned themselves up and made their way to the shrine, not bothering to search their section. The rest of the group was already there, even Kuro, who'd made his way on his own after Rin had ditched him to chase after Amaimon.
Kuro shot him a look, clearly guessing at what he'd been up to and Rin really hoped no one else suspected that he'd been neglecting the mission in favor of making up with Amaimon.
That was when Takara popped back up, a new puppet in his possession that turned out to be one of Izumo's fox-demon summons, Mike.
Rin listened in distressed silence as he learned about the horrible past Izumo had struggled through. His teeth grit in rage at the manipulations of the Illuminati into conducting experiments on her mother as the host of the Inari fox-demon, with her and her little sister set aside as replacements, to create an elixir for Lucifer. And now Izumo had been kidnapped to replace her mother as the host of the Inari demon as her mother's body was giving out after the years of abuse.
He suddenly understood why she kept such a distance from them the entire time they'd know her. Why she had trouble trusting them despite their attempts at friendship.
None of that would matter, Rin decided through the red haze of his anger. He vowed to make it up to her once she was rescued and safe at home.
Through it all, Amaimon remained silent at his side, blank-faced as he listened to Lucifer's crimes. Rin wasn't sure what he thought about it all, whether he felt any pity for the humans whose lives had been ruined.
Although Rin could see some of the wary looks his friends kept sending Amaimon and he just wanted to tell them to stop, but he knew his friends would have to take their own time to trust Amaimon the same way they'd done for him when they realized his true nature. And, Rin grimaced, shooting his own look to Amaimon, he would have to learn to like his friends, or at least tolerate them, too, so they could all be in the same place without threatening violence.
Yukio telling them their destination distracted Rin out of his daydreams of all his friends and Amaimon getting along. An underground lab with an access point in the Inari Stay With Me Mall where the brainwashed people would enter and never leave, used in whatever elixir experiments were being conducted there.
Still, Rin allowed himself to brush his hand against Amaimon's as he prepared to enter the lab. He didn't know what they would find in there, if they'd be able to rescue Izumo and get Shima back with them, if Lucifer was somewhere in there, waiting, and how or even if Rin would be making up with Mephisto when he made it home.
But he had Amaimon next to him as a steady presence and his friends in front of him and he was going to push forward until things were right in the world.
He took a deep breath, got out the Koma sword, and went to storm the base.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
"Amaimon!"
Rin cried out as he was separated from the others, grasping at air as he fell into the literal hole that had opened in the floor beneath their feet. The last thing he saw was Amaimon's face, a mixture of fear and anger in the snarled roar that followed him down.
He landed with a dull thud, choking a cough out at the impact, body stunned and disorientated by the total darkness of the room he'd found himself in.
A blink, and his eyes shifted into their more demonic slit-pupiled form as they adjusted, blue flames appearing on his head to give him a better idea of where he was.
Where he was looked like a cell and a sinking sensation settled in his gut that had nothing to do with the fall he'd taken.
The cell lit in a blinding light and Rin hissed, covering his eyes at the shock as he raised Kurikara in defense of what he couldn't see.
Black spots cleared from his vision in a flutter of lashes and Rin froze.
Because there was Lucifer, demon king of light, standing just a few feet away and Rin knew how outclassed he was.
"Hello, Rin."
His voice was perfectly genial, and his face Rin now saw without the hawk-like mask from before looked like it could have been from a painting, but Rin sensed something lurking just beneath the placid expression that told him to be extra cautious.
"What do you want?"
When his question got him narrowed eyes and a slight frown from Lucifer, Rin swallowed.
"I see you take more after Amaimon than Samael in your manners," Lucifer sighed, coughing, and Rin winced as his hand came away with flecks of blood staining it.
Still.
"Huh?"
Those green eyes pierced him and Lucifer examined him as if from under a microscope.
"You carry both Samael's and Amaimon's claims on you," Lucifer continued, causing Rin to flush because, once again, his relationship was apparently out in the open to any demon that cared to look and he still couldn't sense what they were talking about at all.
"Amaimon's loyalty is hard to come by, yet he has given it to you." Each of Lucifer's words was stated as if he was accusing Rin of something. He just couldn't figure out what, yet, and the sense that he was being cornered grew.
"Did you know he has remained neutral in the countless years I and Samael have had our opposing sides in our conflict despite every effort on both our parts to sway him?"
Rin widened his eyes because no, he hadn't known that about Amaimon and his mind flashed back to him telling Lucifer in no uncertain terms where to shove it, because Amaimon had decided to side with Rin, whichever path he chose.
"Yes, you see now." Lucifer frowned at him with what looked like disapproval heavy in his gaze. "I hope you show the care that loyalty demands."
Many had given Rin that look before, the one that said they were disappointed with him, found him lacking in some integral way he just couldn't figure out no matter how hard he tried. He was more than used to it. Rin glared, hackles rising at the implication in Lucifer's words.
"I didn't force him to join me," he snapped, "or manipulate him into it. Maybe that's where you guys went wrong."
"It's in our nature," Lucifer said as he cocked his head, apparently unable to understand why he shouldn't apply force and manipulation to get what he wanted.
"And," he said before Rin could speak, green eyes narrowing further, "Samael does nothing but manipulate. Assiah, Gehenna. Both worlds and every creature on them are his toys. His to choose whether they are destroyed like vermin or kept like amusing pets."
The reminder about Mephisto's ways made Rin flinch, though he found himself grinding his teeth around a welling anger at the way Lucifer talked about him that wouldn't calm.
"Yet he shows worrying tendencies towards you that I can't understand." The first signs of actual emotion appeared on Lucifer's face. A confused disdain at whatever 'worrying tendencies' he had seen in Mephisto when they'd interacted that he was for some reason attributing to Rin's influence.
"Alright, that's it," Rin growled, unable to take any more of the backhanded comments whose purpose he still couldn't understand, "I didn't exactly throw myself at those two. I didn't ever ask them to interfere with my life."
"But," Rin's eyes twisted into flames, baring his fangs at Lucifer to make sure he got his point across, "Mephisto and Amaimon are mine and I don't give a damn what you think about it."
Lucifer reared his head back and Rin thought he was about to get demolished for pissing him off, but wracking coughs began to overtake him until he knelt to the ground, blood splattering the tiles beneath his feet.
"I see." Lucifer panted around bloodstained teeth, shaking at the pain his body was in but still sounding calm and Rin had to marvel at the control he showed.
"I'll take my leave, then. Thank you for speaking with me."
And Rin was left alone in an empty room, Lucifer vanishing in a sudden absence of light that had him blinking to adjust.
He didn't have time to contemplate the weird exchange for long. The lights turned on and he was besieged by the twisted remains of one of the experiments and he had to escape the cell so he wasn't forced to kill the poor tortured human.
Then he didn't have the luxury of worrying about anything except the mission, putting the conversation out of his head to think about later.
Izumo was safe. They'd managed to save her from her body's rejection of the Inari fox demon's possession, is what Rin kept telling himself.
The bitterness of defeat still ate at Rin. Because Shima was a confirmed spy, had almost gotten Izumo killed for the organization he'd been a part of before since he even joined the cram school, having been a spy the whole time Rin had known him.
He watched their backup move in to secure the area. His part of the mission was over and now there was nothing left to do except head home and back to classes.
Izumo was safe.
That would have to be enough this time.
After the chaos died down, Amaimon had gone, not wanting to be around a bunch of annoying exorcists. His words, not Rin's. He'd been frantic in Rin's absence, tearing up parts of the base to find him until he'd escaped from the cell. But once everything was over and he was assured Rin was okay he'd left using a transportation key.
Things were out of Rin's hands now and all that was left was to head back to the academy.
Then another breath-stealing punch came when they were approached later by Shima's family.
Apparently, they'd been approached by Mephisto himself to enlist Shima as a spy in the Academy in the hopes he'd be picked up by the Illuminati so the Order could keep an eye on their movements.
In other words, Rin felt like screaming, because when Mephisto had said they'd be operating under the assumption that Shima was a spy, he'd known full well that he was. His spy, in fact.
Yukio eyed him from his bed when Rin curled up in his own under a piled-up mess of blankets.
"You...okay, Rin? It's only nine o'clock. It's a little early for you."
His question just made Rin curl up tighter, mumbling something about being tired, and Yukio didn't pry. He drifted off into a fitful sleep, wondering how his confrontation with Mephisto would go.
Rin yawned, sending a sleepy 'good morning' over to Yukio as they got ready for classes.
They separated, Yukio to teach and Rin to head to his first class of the day, not looking forward to seeing anything related to math or its problems but forcing himself to go anyway.
He'd just reached the hallway to the classroom when his heart skipped a beat.
Amaimon.
His scent came from somewhere nearby, and Rin couldn't help the excitement that raced through him at the thought of catching sight of him around school.
It seemed to come from his first class, and as Rin walked into the room, he almost fainted, giddiness overwhelming him and a grin making his cheeks ache.
"Ambrosia!"
Because there was Amaimon, sitting cross-legged on the desk in front of the one Rin was assigned to and making his way through a bag of chips.
And he was dressed in the girls' school uniform, short skirt, black tights and all.
Instead of the horn he usually had on his head, his hair was back up in a messy bun, choker around his neck, and make-up applied to mask his masculine features without being as heavy as it had been on the festival night.
Rin remembered, then, that Amaimon was now signed up for classes as Ambrosia Faust, niece to Johann Faust, and would be joining Rin. The thought sent another rush of happiness through Rin, suddenly looking forward to classes the rest of the year, no matter what subject they were.
At his entry, Amaimon looked up, and Rin saw the faint un-tensing in his eyes and posture at no longer being alone, surrounded by humans. Not that anyone else would be able to pick up on it, Amaimon exuding an air of menace that kept the other students in a wide circle from him, terrified at the obvious danger.
"Ah, Rin!"
The call of his name made him glance up, a little surprised that his professor was talking to him with such relief evident in his voice when usually he addressed Rin with resignation at his terrible grades or irritation when he caught Rin sleeping in class.
"It seems you know our new student, Ms. Faust." The man trembled as Amaimon's eyes snapped to him at being mentioned and he hurried on, "Why don't you sit next to her and make sure to answer any questions she might have."
When he caught the professor's muttered, 'so I don't have to,' at the end of his request, Rin's eyes narrowed.
But Rin just smirked, loving how having Amaimon here was already having perks. It all worked out in his favor to be responsible for him in class. He definitely wouldn't be complaining and hoped it was the same in all his other classes.
"Sure thing," Rin chirped, turning his back to the professor to head over to Amaimon, lips widening at the answering smirk on his face. "I'm happy to help Ambrosia with anything she needs."
Amaimon's pupils slivered at Rin's light words, clearly imagining what he could help him with as Rin walked up to where he sat on the desk.
"I'm so happy, Ambrosia," Rin repeated, standing so he was almost touching the crossed legs on the desk, enjoying how everyone seemed to be holding their collective breaths as he got so close to the dangerous new person in their class.
The ball stayed in his court as Amaimon propped himself back on his hands, staring up at Rin as if asking him what his next move would be. So Rin smiled down at him and leaned over to claim his mouth in a kiss.
He thought one or two people may have collapsed at the sight, the professor sputtering something about PDA in school, which Rin happily ignored to keep kissing Amaimon.
A last slide of their tongues together and Rin pulled back to see Amaimon's pupils dilated in pleasure at having Rin stake his claim in front of everyone. That accomplished, Rin brought a hand up to Amaimon's shoulder, giving it a reassuring squeeze before moving to sit at his desk like things were business as usual.
Once the professor was able to begin teaching again, the rest of the class passed in a blur. Rin spent the time tracing his eyes over Amaimon's body in front of him, feeling a low purr going through him and knowing he could hear him by the way his pointed ears twitched back at the sound.
Finally, the end-class bell rang and Rin was already up and moving to Amaimon's side, hooking his arm through his and pressing against him as they exited the room ahead of all their petrified classmates.
Purring began in Rin and he nosed at Amaimon's neck, closing his eyes as he inhaled, happy to let him lead them to their next class. Well, Rin felt a laugh try to bubble up, who knew if he was in all his classes, or if he even knew where to head next. Rin was okay skipping the rest of the day if it meant he got to spend it with Amaimon.
Actually, now that he had Amaimon there-Rin opened his eyes as he made his request, careful not to use Amaimon's real name in case there were any nosy exorcists were around.
"Hey, I've been thinking, Ambrosia," Rin watched gold eyes flick down to meet his, "can we play together sometime? Like I thought you meant the first time?"
Amaimon stopped, a visible shudder going through his body as he turned, eyes dark with excitement, on Rin. "I thought you didn't want to?"
Just seeing his clear excitement sent energy buzzing through Rin as he quickly responded, "As long as we're not trying to kill each other I think it would be fun. We should today after school before I have to go to cram classes."
A wide, toothy smile met him, Amaimon obviously approving of his idea before he looked away to glare at their surroundings.
"How much longer do we have to stay here? I'm already bored."
His scowl had Rin giving him a dry grin. He'd wondered how long it would take Amaimon to start complaining about the tedium.
"You can always just do what I do to pass the time and sleep through the boring parts."
It didn't seem to make Amaimon feel any better as he let an irritated puff of air escape his mouth to move the stray strands of hair in front of his eyes.
"Rin! Ambrosia! Hi!"
Interruption came in the form of Shiemi. Rin turned to smile at her as she approached alongside a frowning Izumo, who'd probably been dragged up to meet them, though, given the way she kept glancing at Amaimon, Rin wondered if she might have come more willing than her frown suggested. For curiosity's sake.
"Hiya, Shiemi. Hey Izumo. What's up?" Rin said once they got close. Amaimon was back to watching with a blank expression.
"I saw you with Ambrosia and wanted to introduce her to Izumo since she didn't get a chance to meet her at the festival," Shiemi said, her smile bright in the face of Amaimon's expressionless face and Izumo's scowling one.
"Great idea, Shiemi." Rin turned his own grin to Izumo, leaning back into Amaimon. "Izumo, this is my girlfriend, Ambrosia Faust. She's Amaimon's daughter and Mephisto's niece. Ambrosia, this is my friend, Izumo."
Amaimon didn't change his lack of expression and Izumo didn't lose her scowl, both of them giving each other suspicious looks before nodding, apparently deciding that was good enough.
Long-suffering looks passed between Rin and Shiemi before they giggled at the other two's ridiculousness, giving it up as a lost cause before heading to their next classes. He found Amaimon did, in fact, share all the same classes as he did and wondered if he would thank Mephisto for the meddling before or after he got his retribution.
Finally, the bell rang to let them out for the day and Rin shared an excited grin with Amaimon as they took off to find somewhere to play.
Rin let out a whoop, laughing as he sent another swath of blue flames into the boulders Amaimon brought up to stop him.
He fell through the air to cut the stone into rubble, already launching himself at the retreating form of the other demon.
It made perfect sense why Amaimon had wanted to play with him like this now.
Getting to let loose on the careful control he kept on his flames, to be able to fling himself into a fight knowing his opponent could more than keep up, was exhilarating.
Kurikara came down on Amaimon's claws, sparks flying when the two forces met and Rin found himself flung to the side with a heave of his arms.
His torqued body mid-air to land in a crouch, and Rin bared his fangs in a wide smile as Amaimon came at him again.
A fist slammed into the ground and Rin didn't react in time, stumbling on the shaking surface and slipping down when a gaping crevasse opened beneath his feet.
Before he could react, Rin fell, hand reaching to grab at the wall when instead he felt his descent stopped with a sharp jerk on his arm, looking up to see Amaimon had caught his hand in his to keep him from dropping to the bottom.
At the look on Amaimon's face, Rin gave a sheepish smile and Amaimon hauled him back up to safety.
Rin found himself flat on his back with an excited earth king trying to burn the rest of his adrenaline another way.
Moaning broke from Rin as Amaimon ground their hips together, already hard over him, and his mouth was claimed in a rough kiss.
Another exchange of breath and Amaimon brought his teeth into things, Rin discovering his fangs elongated in response, hissing as he tasted blood and letting a growl rumble through his chest.
They didn't waste time, Amaimon freeing Rin and himself from their clothes to get the needed contact.
He panted into Amaimon's mouth as he moved their hips together in a rhythmless slide of heated skin, bringing his legs up around the waist over his to encourage Amaimon to press harder.
Rin came with a low cry, head dropping back as Amaimon kept going for a few more moments before finishing too.
"Mmh," Rin sighed as they lay next to each other on the hard ground, winding down from their exertions until they could breathe normally.
The uncomfortable sensation of cooling liquid on his stomach made him sit up, grunting at the effort of moving just then.
His movement had Amaimon squinting up at him as if wondering why he was moving already before he brought his fingers up to snap and Rin found they were both cleaned and clothed.
Huh. Rin blinked down at himself, tugging at his clothes before a thought occurred. "Wait, you can do the same thing Mephisto can?"
"We all can," Amaimon sighed, letting his head fall back to the ground as if it were old news he imparted on Rin. "Mephisto just adds too much flash for the humans. He thinks it's funny."
"Oh man, that's so cool," Rin grinned, contemplating his own hands. "Hey, do you think I can do it too?"
Amaimon shrugged. "No clue."
Ok, he'd asked for that. Rin pouted but realized Amaimon probably really didn't know, considering Rin was a bit of a unique case as far as half-demons went.
"Wait," Rin shot up, "What time is it? Yukio's gonna kill me if I'm late again!"
"Who cares what he thinks," Amaimon said in a grumble.
At Amaimon's put-upon look, Rin just grinned, knowing he was annoyed at having his fun interrupted.
Still, they headed back, Amaimon pressing him against the side of a building to drag him into one more heated kiss before they reached the school proper and he left to do whatever it was he did with his free time. Rin was a bit curious about that, figuring he'd ask Amaimon later.
They had time, after all.
His legs practically floated Rin into class, a good mood making him feel like he was walking on clouds and he found himself smiling at nothing in particular.
"Woah, you're in a good mood, Rin."
He turned his smile to Bon, who'd been the first to acknowledge him when he'd entered the classroom.
"It's because his new girlfriend is in all his classes," Izumo huffed in irritation from over where she sat next to Shiemi, who beamed, saying how happy she was that Rin was getting to spend time with Ambrosia.
"Really? That's great, man," Bon gave him a thumbs up.
"Who's Ambrosia?" Konekomaru asked, being the only one who hadn't met her yet.
Rin gave the explanation he'd given to everyone else, watching Bon and Koneko's eyes widen as they learned about Ambrosia being Amaimon's 'daughter.'
It made Rin feel a ridiculous amount of joy just to talk about Ambrosia with his friends, already thinking about the day he could clue them in on who she really was so he wouldn't have to hide.
A voice interrupted.
"Oh, man. Can't you guys tell? Our buddy, Rin, is glowing over here because he's getting some hot demon tail, obviously. Congrats on beating me to the punch on that, by the way, Ambrosia's a babe. A bit short in the chest department but boy does she have legs for days if you know what I mean."
The conversation fell into silence as Rin turned at Shima's entry into their class.
"Hey guys," Shima grinned, rubbing the back of his head, "miss me?"
What followed was a serving of holy retribution heaped on their friend turned spy, no mercy shown as he felt the brunt of their wrath.
"Ah, please, let's not bully Mr. Renzou any further, everyone."
At the request, Rin jerked around from where he'd been apologizing to Izumo for getting a bit carried away with his flames and burning all Shima's clothes off, vengeance forgotten the instance he heard that voice.
Mephisto sat in dog form in front of the downed Shima before poofing back to himself to address the stunned group.
Conflicted emotions tore Rin apart, his mind scrambling to figure out what he should feel towards Mephisto. He didn't know what he felt, given what little he knew about Mephisto's true intentions and future schemes. The talk with Lucifer had shaken Rin, and he couldn't ignore it any longer.
Despite it all, there was something about being in Mephisto's presence that soothed him and Rin had to resist going over to bury his face in his chest and surround himself with his scent.
Getting to work things out with Amaimon had gone a long way towards calming his anger towards Mephisto, too, but he knew he still needed a chance to talk with him alone before he could feel settled.
Judging by the glance Mephisto sent him, he already knew what ran through his head.
Rin blushed when that look turned into a sly smile as Mephisto took a deep breath through his nose, realizing he must have been very aware of how he'd spent the past hour with Amaimon.
"I've got a troublesome guest from the Vatican waiting for me and unfortunately I'm going to have to cut this reunion short so I can take you all to meet with him."
In a blink, Shima was snapped awake and re-clothed by Mephisto and another blink found them in his office.
Yep, he was blushing again. Rin found his eyes glued to the infamous desk he'd become intimately acquainted with the last time he'd been in Mephisto's office. He could even see the claw marks he'd left in the wood.
The heated look in Mephisto's green eyes from where he stood just a foot away from Rin, a hint of a fang showing in his smirking mouth, told Rin he knew exactly where his thoughts were.
"Holy shit! Sir Pheles' abilities are always so dramatic. Like magic!"
An unknown voice coming from the door behind sent Rin jerking around. A second later the smell hit him and he wrinkled his nose in disgust. Did this guy not shower?
"Hi, I'm Lewin Light," the man said in introduction, hand coming up to scratch at his dark, tangled hair. "Nice to meet you all!"
At his friend's exclamations, Rin learned the unkempt foreigner was actually an arc knight known as Lightning, right hand to the Paladin and an unparalleled expert in chants and summoning. Bon seemed taken with him already and Rin was reminded that his friend was an aspiring aria, making Lightning something of a celebrity in his eyes.
"Wow!"
-And Rin found his nose assaulted as Lightning got in his face.
"Are you Rin Okumura? Satan's kid?"
A deep shudder went through Rin as his personal space was invaded, Lightning rubbing his stubbled cheek against Rin's like a lion marking its territory, taller body shoved hard over his and hand coming up to grab the back of his head so he couldn't escape like he very much wanted to.
"I've always wanted to meet you."
There was something weird about the way Lightning said that, Rin decided, and, now that he was up close, he could see under the shaggy fringe to a penetrating stare that made Rin feel like he was being dissected alive.
His body and mind recoiled at the assault. A whimper escaped Rin's mouth and panic began to well up as he tried to extricate himself from the hold and couldn't, Lightning's strength more than his without bringing his demonic powers into things.
Why is he-?
Through the white noise rushing in his ears, Rin caught the sound of a low growl, too soft for human senses to pick up on, and he found himself tugged back and behind Mephisto.
He fought through the strange inability to breathe, chest squeezing around his lungs until Rin grew lightheaded. Lightning just looked up with a suspicious smile on his face, studying the way Mephisto had reacted with unusual interest even as he was met with teeth bared in a grin that only just pretended at being friendly.
"Why don't we try to stay on track, hmm?"
Rin could have kissed him right there for getting him away from Lightning, edging further away behind Mephisto.
"Ah, right, right," Lightning gave a laugh, the sound artificial somehow. "Take a seat, everyone."
They complied, moving to the couches and chairs set around a coffee table in the center of the room. Although Rin sent a distressed look to Mephisto at having to leave his protection and sit anywhere near Lightning again.
By the way Mephisto grit his teeth together through his smile, eyes darkening as Rin went to join the others, Rin could tell he wasn't happy about the arrangement either.
"We're here to discuss whether or not Shima can be trusted. And you, as his close friends will determine that," Lightning began, voice cheerful despite the topic of conversation.
"And, if he isn't," the smile on his face turned cruel, "then we torture him to find out what he knows about the Illuminati."
A shocked silence met Lightning's statement.
Rin let out a heavy exhale, looking at the nervous grin on Shima's face and not knowing how much of it was real.
"That's obvious," he said, leaning with his elbows on his knees to stare Shima in the face, seeing the hopeful expression there, "we can't trust him at all."
He ignored all the gasps at his declaration from the other exwires, ears perking as he heard from the one voice he was waiting for.
"Oh? That doesn't sound like you, Rin."
His flat stare turned to Mephisto. "It's your fault he's not trusted. He is your spy."
Mephisto's mouth twitched in a smile. "Very astute of you."
Rin pushed a long breath through his nose, feeling a headache coming on.
"He's got a point!"
The outburst had Rin blinking up at Izumo as she began her tirade against Mephisto. He'd apparently kept the secret of her little sister's location from her when he'd known about it all along, only revealing the location to her after the last mission.
With Izumo's accusations, the floodgates opened, each of the exwires declaring the ways in which Mephisto had manipulated events in their lives, including the impure king mission, and all the way back to asking Yukio to test Rin with the hobgoblin attack on his first day of class.
Then Yukio leveled the greatest charge, looking almost manic as he shouted at Mephisto.
"And the biggest mystery is why you allowed the bastard son of Satan to survive!"
Bastard son of Satan. Rin's heart dropped at the way Yukio phrased his demand for answers, words ringing in his head, an echo of the day he'd discovered what he was.
It hurt.
He knew Yukio wasn't the biggest fan of demons, had taken becoming an exorcist as almost a punishment, but this was just another one of the many times Yukio directly included Rin when he spoke about demons like they were a curse word.
Evil.
Wrong.
Rin dropped his gaze from Yukio's accusatory face, barely hearing as Mephisto described how they were his precious pawns, essential in the fight against Lucifer.
Yet another thing to bring to the table when he cornered Mephisto later.
Because…
Heat burned in his chest and Rin scowled, seeing how Mephisto caught his gaze, though he didn't bring any attention to it.
He did not like being thought of as just a pawn in Mephisto's games.
"Ahaha I can see why Sir Pheles isn't trusted around here!"
The laughter grated at Rin, transferring his irritation back to Lightning, whose voice was starting to bother him now, though he had no idea why it would.
"But we've digressed from the point. Which is whether Shima can be trusted."
"Please, guys!" Shima turned panicked eyes on them and Rin still couldn't trust a single word out of his mouth or even the expression on his face but…
"I trust him."
Rin watched Bon stand to stare down at his childhood friend, leading the charge as the rest of the exwires declared their trust in Shima.
Finally, Rin sighed, giving his answer, "I won't let him get tortured. I trust him too."
That was the signal Lightning was waiting for. Laughing and standing as he let them know he'd been planning on letting Shima leave the whole time. He let himself out with a cheery reminder that he would be sending confidentiality agreements for them to sign based on Shima's situation.
His breath left on a shaky exhale at Lightning's departure, glad he was gone and feeling his body relax by a hair.
"Well, that was a delight, as always, from Mr. Lewin," Mephisto said in a humorless twitch of his lips. "Professor Okumura can I count on you to tell Miss Kirigakure about the matter discussed here?"
Yukio nodded, that dangerous, unhinged, look still in his eyes that scared Rin to see, ramping up whatever was causing the tension in his limbs until it shivered out of him in intermittent spasms.
"You're lucky to have such friends, Mr. Renzou," Mephisto continued, smiling at Shima.
"Oh yeah, that was a pretty rough situation, huh guys?" Shima laughed, hand rubbing at the back of his head in exaggerated relief.
"I'll leave you all to get reacquainted with each other, shall I?"
With that, Mephisto waved the exwires out the door. "Except you, Rin. I'd like to request a word with you."
"About what?" Yukio asked, the glance he shot between them as pointed as his voice.
The look in Yukio's eyes made Rin wince, but he waited to see what excuse Mephisto would use this time to keep him behind.
"Ah, I'd just like to ask Rin how my favorite niece's first day at school went," he said with a slight curve of his mouth in the face of Yukio's suspicion.
Rin perked up at that one, realizing he could use the excuse himself if he ever wanted to escape to Mephisto's place, then realized what escaping to Mephisto's place required, namely, his forgiveness. Or acceptance, more like.
"Sure." Yukio narrowed his eyes, though in the end he was forced to accept Mephisto's words.
"See you later, Rin."
"Yeah, see ya."
His steps faded after the door clicked shut and Rin slumped into the couch, rubbing his hands over his arms in an effort to comfort himself with the touch. The whole encounter had left him unstable and panic still squeezed at his heart, finally able to acknowledge it now that everyone had left.
It took several long moments of Rin staring at nothing before he came back to himself in the room. The silence continued until Rin looked up, seeing Mephisto waiting in his seat at his desk for him to make the first move.
There were a million ways Rin could open with, starting and ending with all the things he was angry at Mephisto about.
But…
"I really hate that Lightning guy," Rin muttered, head bowing down again as the memory of being touched sent a wrenching pain through his chest, revulsion making him shake as he gave a choked off sob, not understanding why he was so affected by what had happened, just knowing that there existed a deep sense of violation that wouldn't leave.
He turned, desperate, back to Mephisto.
"Please get him off of me."
Rin closed his eyes as he was folded into a protective embrace, bringing his arms up to clutch at the suit Mephisto wore and letting out a shaky exhale, finally releasing most of the tension in his body.
"If he wasn't such an important piece in my plans I would have killed him where he stood before he could have even entertained the thought of touching you."
Instead of the horror such a statement might have caused, a piece of Rin recognized that it comforted him to hear Mephisto threaten violence for his sake. Rin pressed his forehead harder into Mephisto's chest, breathing deeply as he came down from the panic he'd been in and allowing himself to just exist, cocooned in his presence.
But a strange scent hit his nose, then, and he pulled back, frowning.
It smelled like the scent of decay and he was brought back to his interaction with Lucifer.
"Mephisto, why do you smell like you're rotting?"
A hum left Mephisto and he just continued to stroke at Rin's hair, setting his chin down on his head.
"There's nothing you can do to help with that particular problem, I'm afraid."
At the avoidance of the question, Rin frowned, but parried with one of his own, "I met Lucifer at the Inari Shrine again."
Mephisto tensed at that, pulling back to watch him with narrowed eyes.
"What did he say?"
"Tell me and I'll tell you." Rin quirked his lips up at the twitch his words caused.
Turnabout was fair play, after all.
"Well played, Rin," Mephisto said with a rueful smile. "Alright. There is an artificial Gehenna Gate that the Illuminati is trying to open. I have stopped time around it to prevent it's widening further, however, it is only a stop-gap and my body is paying the price. There are a few months before I will be forced to release it and demons will flood the land."
"Now, your turn."
Rin stared at the revelation he'd just been handed. The insight into one of Mephisto's ever-spinning circles reminded him that the stakes were never higher in the games being played.
"He told me Amaimon's been neutral the entire time you two have been at war and that I should show his loyalty the care it demands," Rin offered, keeping his eyes on Mephisto in the hopes that he could clarify what Lucifer had been getting at.
"He also said you were showing worrying tendencies and for some reason, it sounded like he was blaming me for them."
The confusing words from Lucifer still frustrated Rin, a growl fighting to rise as he admitted, "I don't know why he told me, or what he meant by any of that."
He startled as Mephisto began to laugh, chest shaking against his and Rin glared, not seeing what was so funny.
"I'm surprised you didn't recognize what was happening, it's most certainly a human tradition, not a demon one." Mephisto grinned down at him.
"What was happening?" Rin said with a pout, knowing he'd missed something obvious.
"You've just had the dubious honor of receiving the first shovel talk ever given in demonic history," Mephisto laughed again, "and by Lucifer himself!"
"Shovel what?" Rin asked, not enjoying being laughed at but liking hearing the sound from Mephisto.
Actually, Rin narrowed his eyes, this may have been the first time he'd ever heard Mephisto laugh. Not snicker, not cackle, or mock, but laugh with real humor not hidden behind a facade.
Rin determined to make Mephisto laugh like that again as many times as he could.
"I suppose you've never been on the receiving end of one before," Mephisto chuckled, pressing a kiss to Rin's head. "Our dearest older brother was merely threatening you into taking care with my and Amaimon's hearts. Very dutiful of him, I must say."
"That's what he was doing?" Rin yelped out. "I thought he was insulting you guys or something. It made me really angry!"
"I told him I didn't give a damn what he thought, you and Amaimon are mine," Rin growled at the remembered exchange, gripping at Mephisto tighter as if to make his point.
His declaration just made Mephisto laugh harder, tears pricking at the corners of his eyes.
"Oh, I can only imagine the look on his face," he said between gasps, bringing his head down to Rin's shoulder. "It must have been beautiful."
The reaction had Rin grumbling at Mephisto, but a twin smile formed on his face at the contagious quality of his laughter.
"Yeah, well, it's none of his business anyway," Rin resolved, tilting his head up to let it rest on Mephisto's shoulder as he glared at the ceiling.
"Ah, I can't recall the last time I had such a good laugh. Thank you, Rin," Mephisto said, beaming down at him.
"I think I'm the one who's supposed to be getting cheered up, not you," Rin huffed out, realizing his anger at Mephisto had evaporated.
He was pulled into a soft kiss, Mephisto carding his claws through his hair to massage the areas of tension Rin hadn't realized were still there.
"You're right, Rin. Please allow me to make it up to you."
That sounded good. Rin hummed his pleasure, leaning into the soothing touches, though a worrying thought made its way to his mind. "Are you okay though? Isn't your body in pain from holding the gate closed?"
Mephisto pushed him back on the couch, nosing at his throat. "This body of mine is in constant pain. I have only slowed my degradation, as being the king of time allows me to do. Were it not for that ability, I would be in the same state as Lucifer."
His revelation saddened Rin as he brought his arms up around Mephisto's shoulders.
"But wait, is Amaimon degrading too?"
One of Mephisto's fingers wound up at his lips, a request for silence.
"Amaimon has found and possessed his perfect body, he will no longer suffer degradation. But hush now, you're not supposed to be worrying about these things while I'm trying to apologize to you."
Rin laughed, pulling Mephisto up into a kiss.
"Okay, I won't worry about you two right now. No promises about after."
"Good."
A sigh left his mouth as Mephisto ran warm hands down his stomach, reaching to unbutton his uniform and expose his chest.
Mephisto trailed his tongue over the revealed skin and Rin shivered at the pleasant tingles the action elicited, head falling back and eyes closing to get lost in the sensations.
A snap of Mephisto's fingers and their clothes vanished to reappear folded on the chair next to them in a cloud of pink smoke.
"Amaimon says when you do that it's because you're being flashy for humans and he doesn't get why you bother," Rin pointed out, opening his eyes as he teased Mephisto.
"Amaimon will get what's coming to him next time I see him," Mephisto promised, a smile on his face and growl in his voice and Rin almost felt bad for the Amaimon-but not too bad, at least, not if he got to watch them again.
He let out a breathless moan as teeth scraped over his chest and his body was weighted down by Mephisto's, hands coming up to grab at his hair and press him closer. Rin arched into the hips above his, trying to increase the friction between their bodies and whining when Mephisto pulled away instead.
"Humans believe patience is a virtue, you know," Mephisto teased back as Rin growled at the lack of contact.
"Lucky I'm a demon, then," Rin responded, reaching to grab Mephisto's hips in his clawed hands to try bringing him back to his previous position.
"Ah," Mephisto tutted, not allowing himself to be moved, "I believe you'll want to wait for this."
Rin pouted again but settled back down to see what Mephisto would do.
His patience paid off and he was treated to the sight of Mephisto's tail unwinding from his waist before it disappeared behind him and Rin felt his mouth go dry as he realized what he was doing.
"Do you know?" Mephisto panted as he thrust his own tail into his entrance. "Amaimon is the one who showed me this. He's quite creative, that one."
There wasn't anything Rin could say in response to that, letting out a strangled sound as he watched Mephisto shudder over him and a flush rise to his pale cheeks.
By the time Mephist finished, Rin had begun shaking almost as much as him, the anticipation of what his reward was going to be sending his pulse skyrocketing.
A helpless groan left him as Mephisto grabbed his length and positioned himself above it, sinking down until Rin was completely enveloped in the tight heat and fighting not to immediately begin pushing up into it.
Mephisto smiled down at him, enjoying the look on his face.
When he finally decided to move Rin found his hands at the legs straddling him, claws biting into the skin of Mephisto's thighs as he rode him in slow, teasing motions of his hips.
The way Mephisto's hips circled over his was hypnotic, stomach stretching and shifting in a mesmerizing play of muscles that had Rin panting at the sight of.
As his gaze roved Mephisto, Rin could see the blood-stained patch of gauze on his shoulder where he was rotting and he frowned at the sight, rubbing soothing hands over his thighs and wishing he could do more.
"I believe I told you not to worry about what you can't change, Rin," Mephisto said, accenting his words by picking up the pace and causing Rin to moan, throwing his head back at the suddenness.
"Ah! Why can't you just-hah-ah-" Rin tried to get his thoughts in order, finding it almost impossible with the ever-increasing speed and thrusting up to match it as much as he could.
"-Just let the gate open?" Rin groaned, hands tightening on Mephisto's thighs and drawing blood.
"What?" Green eyes widened in surprise and then the pupils dilated as Rin brought his bloodstained claws to his mouth to lick the blood off them with the point of his tongue, his own eyes half-mast as he focused on tasting Mephisto.
"Why not?" Rin demanded, then, holding Mephisto's gaze. "There's already exorcist schools around the world that know how to handle the bad demons. If they teach everybody else then it won't matter if everyone knows about demons. We wouldn't have to hide."
"And you won't have to rot like this," Rin finished, bringing himself up and wrapping his arms around the body over his as he glared into Mephisto's stunned face.
The changed angle hit the sensitive point inside Mephisto, shocking a groan out and making him shudder against Rin.
Rin didn't let him respond, flipping Mephisto onto his back on the couch and thrusting into him, hands at his hips to keep him there until Rin could bring his tail into play.
Glazed eyes tracked Rin's black-furred tail as it slipped around his length. Rin held it there, loose, not giving him the pressure he needed, only teasing him with the sight as Rin looked down at him with the same impassive face he'd worn while watching Mephisto take Amaimon just a few days before.
But Rin waited for something and Mephisto groaned again when he realized what the it was Rin wanted from him before he would continue.
"Please, Rin."
Good. Rin smiled and Mephisto didn't get a chance to think anymore as the tail tightened and stroked at the same time as Rin thrust into him, pushing him into the couch with the force of his movements.
Seeing Mephisto come undone was one of Rin's new favorite sights, he realized, right next to watching Amaimon, even better when it was him doing the undoing.
The tight pressure, heat, the muscles clenching around him as Mephisto let loose all those delicious noises Rin had been hoping he'd make, had Rin groaning his release into Mephisto, head dropping as he worked his tail over him until he followed suit with a shattered gasp.
Mephisto's chest heaved, hair mussed against the pillow he laid against and eyes dazed as Rin slid out, making a mess on the couch cushions beneath them.
It took Rin's attention and he laved his tongue over the mess on Mephisto's stomach to clean him as he'd done for Rin the last time, returning previous favors and enjoying the twitches every pass of his tongue elicited.
He didn't get as far as he'd like before Mephisto recovered, pulling him away and into a heated kiss.
"You are a treasure, Rin," Mephisto panted against his mouth, green eyes capturing Rin's as he looked at him with something like awe.
"I always thought you were a little draconic." Rin grinned into the possessive kiss he found himself in again.
When he was finally freed, Rin settled over the body under his, relaxing and knowing Mephisto could take his weight, though he was careful not to touch the area around the gauze. He nosed at Mephisto's neck, breathing in their mingled scents and dragging his tongue over the pulse, enjoying the hitch of breath in his ear.
"But seriously, why can't you just let the gate open?"
Mephisto brought a hand up to run through his hair and Rin purred at the feeling, letting his eyes close to the ministrations.
"You'll have to trust this is another part of my strategy that I will have to maintain to keep everything moving as planned," he admitted finally, pressing his hand to Rin's head.
His answer made Rin glare into his neck, holding his hand over his heart to feel its reassuring beat.
"Fine. I don't have to like it, though."
At his grumble, Mephisto let out a quiet laugh. "No, you don't have to like it."
"And," Rin said, propping himself up to look down into Mephisto's eyes, "I want to cook for you."
Mephisto blinked at his out-of-the-blue request.
"You want to what?"
Ducking to replace his hand, Rin laid his head back down on Mephisto's chest, letting the heartbeat he found there echo through his ear. "I want to cook a meal for you. It's what I do best and it's something I can do for you, even if I can't help any other way."
Understanding came to Mephisto, then, and Rin found himself pressed further against his chest in a hug, "I see. Although, trust me when I say you do many other things outside of your formidable cooking abilities that I find quite helpful."
"Hmm," Rin didn't bother responding to the compliment, snuggling further into the embrace as he began to doze off.
"I suppose we'll discuss how Amaimon's first day of class went at a later point, hm?"
"It went awesome," Rin mumbled, closing his eyes and giving up on staying awake.
Mephisto smiled, letting the heat of Rin's perpetually warm body blanket him and coiling his tail around Rin's where it draped over the side of the couch as he, too, drifted off to sleep.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
Rin settled into his seat while he waited with the other exwires for Yukio to arrive for another day of cram classes.
At some point during the week, Shima must have talked with Bon and Konekomaru because they weren't ignoring him anymore and he sat with them in his usual spot. Things were almost back to normal amongst the group.
"Rin," Bon said as he leaned back in his seat to look over, cocking his head at him, "I hear Ambrosia's been terrorizing all the professors in her classes and sleeps through the rest of them."
"Everyone's talking about her." Izumo rolled her eyes at having to relay gossip, although the slight pinking of her cheeks made Rin think maybe she was more interested than she was letting on.
"Oh yeah," Rin said through a wide grin, resting his chin in his hands on the desk, "she's great. I don't even get yelled at in class anymore since they're too scared to say anything with her around. I can sleep without them bothering me now!"
"Hey! How're you supposed to learn anything if you're both sleeping in class, huh?"
He ignored Bon's complaints, back to daydreaming about a certain demon king.
A vacant smile pasted itself on Shima's face, taking the conversation in as he thought about the force of nature known as Ambrosia.
"You know," Shima began, leaning his cheek on his fist as everyone focused on him, "it's amazing how she stays so thin. It's gotta be a demon thing because every class I have with her she's going through entire bags of those suckers like they're, well, candy."
His grin turned deviant as he leered at Rin. "I think your girl's got an oral fixation, man. How does that translate in bed, hmm?"
How it translated? Rin glared at Shima. "How about none of your business?"
"Ehehe I'll just keep that thought to myself, then," Shima backtracked, waving his hands to pacify Rin.
"But it's kinda funny," he continued, apparently not having any real survival instincts to speak of as Rin narrowed his eyes further, daring him to keep talking. "It took me a while to place it, but she eats the same brand of cherry suckers that her good old demon dad does."
Rin froze, not sure he liked where the conversation was heading. "So what?"
"I couldn't help noticing she's also the same height as Amaimon, too," Shima said and smiled even wider, leaning back in his seat and turning his face to the ceiling in contemplation. "Same hair color, same eye color, same face shape, nose, lips, the way she walks-you get to noticing these things when your job is observing."
"They look more alike than you and your brother, and you guys are twins."
Horror welled in Rin's belly and his lips began to curl over his fangs with his dread as he realized Shima knew about Ambrosia and Amaimon somehow.
"Oh my god."
The exclamation made Rin flinch to look over at Konekomaru and felt his heart plummet into his stomach when he saw the dawning understanding in his eyes.
"Rin, he can't mean?"
"Mean what?" Shiemi looked lost, but she was the only one.
Say something, he had to say something. It was all unraveling so fast and he couldn't react. Rin opened his mouth to speak, seeing the shocked expressions on Izumo, Bon, and Koneko's faces as they each realized the same thing.
"Ambrosia really is pretty flat-chested for a girl, huh?" Shima pressed instead of coming right out with it. "But for a guy, I'd say she's exactly flat-chested enough."
Any explanation he might have come out with withered on the sound of the door opening, not that Rin even knew what he could say.
"Okay, everyone, I'm here. Sorry, I'm late."
Yukio blinked in confusion as he took in the stunned silence instead of the usual chorus of greetings he got.
"Ambrosia is Amaimon!"
Heart stopping, Rin jerked his head towards Bon at his exclamation, the truth blurted out right in front of the one person least likely to take it well.
"What?"
His eyes stayed on Yukio, ignoring Shiemi's puzzled outburst as Rin waited to see how he would react.
"Yukio, I-" Rin cut himself off as a cold gaze turned on him, shrinking back into his seat.
"He's right, isn't he?"
The icy question made Rin wince. He'd known Yukio wouldn't be happy.
"Rin!"
Yukio's angry shout jolted him, and he nodded, averting his eyes to avoid witnessing what his confirmation would do.
"I can't believe this," Yukio hissed, and Rin wanted to curl in on himself at the disgust in his voice. "Are you insane? He's the demon king of earth, a maniac without a leash. He attacked us for fun. Twice!"
The rest of his friends were silent in the face of Yukio's accusations and Rin had no idea what they could be thinking, finally giving in to the urge to curl up in his chair as if the physical action would protect him from further abuse.
"He's not like that," Rin found himself muttering into his chest, wishing he could come up with a better defense. But he'd always had problems confronting Yukio.
"If the Grigori find out you've been fraternizing with a demon king they may decide to lift the suspension on your execution," Yukio pointed out with bitter efficiency, ignoring the way Rin hid his head.
"You're going to stop seeing him."
Something in Rin snapped.
Or maybe that was the surface of the desk in his hands when he'd gripped it too hard.
Rin stood up, releasing the shattered pieces of the desk from his clawed hands and listening as the sound of them dropping to the ground echoed in the classroom.
Gasps came from the rest of the exwires and Rin turned hollow eyes down to his arms to see them lit by his blue flames.
He brought his gaze back up to meet his twin's and saw Yukio recoil at whatever he saw in the expression.
"Yeah, Ambrosia is Amaimon," Rin began, voice coming out frost-bitten despite the fire he was surrounded by, "and I don't really care that you think you've somehow got a say in whether I see him or not."
A glower took over Yukio's face as he came back to himself and snapped, "How can you not see how crazy it is? Did you forget what that demon did? To Konekomaru, to Bon and Shima?"
And, playing his trump card, "Did you forget what he did to Shiemi?"
Rin reared back, snarl bubbling, furious, to his lips at the way Yukio tried to use Shiemi to manipulate him as if he'd ever forget the realities of who and what Amaimon was.
"Yukio! Leave him alone!"
The sharp cry jerked Rin towards Shiemi, eyes widening as he took in her tears and the way she'd stood, hands gripped on her desk and expression imploring, to defend him against Yukio.
"You shouldn't say those things about Rin, or Ambrosia!"
Silence followed Shiemi's words, Yukio too stunned to answer and taken aback as she yelled.
"Can't you see how happy Rin's been? I've never seen him this way before," Shiemi gestured, flinging her hand towards Rin as she continued, "You're his brother. You should be happy for him too, not hurting him like this!"
"Shiemi-I didn't mean," Yukio trailed off, unable to respond in the face of Shiemi's emotional rebuke.
"Hey, I get what you're saying, teach'," Rin flinched again, this time at Bon as he spoke up, "Rin's not known for his intelligent decision making."
Bon narrowed his eyes down at Rin, crossing his arms as he came to a decision.
"But Shiemi's right, too. If Rin's happy then we've got to support him, no matter what."
"Who cares if he's dating Amaimon, anyway? Personally, he could be dating a rock and I wouldn't care. It's none of our business," Izumo sniffed, turning her nose up at the thought.
His flames dissipated in wisps of blue and Rin could only stand in frozen silence as his friends came to his defense, a trembling smile trying to come out.
A shaky breath came from Konekomaru, the last to speak up. "Amaimon is terrifying. And dangerous. And a demon-one of the eight kings of Gehenna, in fact."
"But Rin is the literal son of Satan and we're his friends."
He turned a bright smile on Rin, who felt his breath catch in his lungs as he waited for his final pronouncement. "If we can put up with Rin I don't see why Amaimon's got to be any different."
Bolstered back from the ledge he'd been about to go over, Rin finally turned back to Yukio, waiting to see how he would react now that he'd been backed into a corner.
"I'm just trying to protect him," Yukio stammered, unable to understand how the tables had turned.
Rin stalked up to him, though he didn't bother meeting his eyes, looking over his shoulder to the door as he spoke, voice hard, "If you care so much, take it up with Mephisto."
That said, he brushed past Yukio, knocking into his shoulder on the way by but stopping at the door to quirk a small smile at his friends. "Thanks for having my back, guys."
"Except you, Shima, you're a jerk."
The wounded exclamations from Shima followed Rin as he left the room, knowing he'd never be able to focus in class with how hurt and angry the fight with Yukio had made him feel.
He wanted to see Mephisto, Amaimon, too, if he could find him, wishing he had a way to contact him that he'd never thought to ask for before.
Direction decided on, Rin made his way towards Faust Manor, hoping Mephisto would be there, and if not, that he'd be able to hide in his bed until he didn't feel like crap.
Again, his mind repeated that he'd known Yukio would be upset, furious, actually. Yukio barely seemed to tolerate him these days, having gone back to his routine of skipping dinner to-as the excuse was this time-work on some secret exorcist training he wouldn't tell Rin anything about.
Rin found himself at the gated entrance to the long driveway up to Mephisto's place without noticing, blinking as he tried to remember the journey he'd taken to get there and finding he felt too tired to bother fighting through the haze.
A leap of the gate and another blink and Rin arrived at the door, knocking and waiting, listing to the side on dead feet.
The one who opened the door wasn't Mephisto and Rin stared up at the dark-haired demon, suited up like a butler, blank-faced in his surprise.
"Ah, Master Okumura, please come in. Sir Faust isn't here presently, however you're more than welcome to wait for him in the meantime."
Rin was led into the mansion, curiosity pushing through the haze as he realized he'd never actually seen the rest of Mephisto's home.
It was almost exactly what Rin had expected of the eccentric demon king. Oddities were perched on cluttered shelves right next to expensive-looking furniture and artwork in the massive rooms that worked like a maze and Rin knew that if he were to wander off he'd find himself lost in seconds.
"Would you prefer to wait in one of the guest rooms or perhaps the entertainment room?"
At the question, Rin shook his head, feeling his cheeks pink at the request he was about to make to the stranger.
"Could I go to his bedroom, actually?"
The demon very carefully didn't react to that, something Rin was eternally grateful for as they headed up to Mephisto's room.
He stood awkwardly to the side as the demon opened the door to let him in, gesturing with a spread arm. "Please, make yourself at home. I shall let him know when he returns that you are here."
Task accomplished,the demon turned to leave but paused as Rin called out, hesitant, "Thanks, uh."
"Belial, Master Okumura."
"Thanks, Belial," Rin finished, watching the way Belial cocked his head to consider him before leaving in silence.
Finally.
As soon as the door closed behind him Rin was already stripping off his outer uniform and shoes until he was left in just his boxers.
Another second and he scrambled beneath the plush pink duvet covers on Mephisto's ridiculously comfortable bed, burrowing his head in the mounds of fabric and surrounding himself with the scent of the elder demon.
Rin realized he was shaking, then, unable to remember when he'd started but finding he was unable to stop now that he'd noticed.
Was Yukio right to be mad at him?
When was the last time he'd spent around Yukio that felt like it had any real meaning to it? That wasn't just the two of them going through the motions, pretending to be brothers but as close as strangers?
The tears started then, hot trails down his flushed face as he bit off any whimpers that might escape.
Was it the start of his year at the academy when he'd been teasing Yukio about being too serious, the way his twin organized his multiple pairs of glasses or had problems finding a way to tell his many admirers he wasn't interested but was too polite to manage?
When? Rin curled into a ball, knees clutched to his chest and tail wrapped tight around him in a poor mimicry of a hug to comfort himself as he realized he couldn't think of a time when Yukio hadn't been hiding from him.
From the moment Yukio had begun exorcist training with Shiro at seven years old, and even before that when he'd been able to see demons because of the temptaint he'd gotten from Rin in the womb, and never revealed either of those things, Yukio was cutting himself away.
A sob gasped out of Rin, clutching a clawed hand to his chest as if he could tear into his ribcage and remove his heart.
He winced as he found he'd accidentally dug his claws into his skin, the pain and scent of his own blood making everything seem worse somehow and he wished Mephisto would hurry up and get home.
Rin fell asleep to the thought, exhausted and hoping he'd wake up, all the revelations he'd just had forgotten, and that he could go back to thinking things were better than they were between him and Yukio.
"You've got a visitor, sir."
"Rin Okumura."
"He smelled…distressed."
"Yes, he's in your room."
He woke to a warm hand rubbing through his hair and sighed, pressing into the comforting motion, finally feeling the tension in his stomach unknot.
"I can smell your tears and blood, Rin. Is there someone I need to eviscerate, and do you have their name to make it easier to hunt them down? Or must I search them out on my own?"
Rin didn't answer, instead choosing to uncurl himself from the cramped ball he'd been in and wind his arms around Mephisto's waist, burying his head in his robed lap.
Settled into the position, he stayed like that, letting Mephisto's presence soothe him until he thought he might drop back off to sleep.
"They found out about Amaimon and me," Rin mumbled, the sound muffled from where he had his head hidden in the folds of fabric.
"Ah, I see."
"Yukio was so angry at me," Rin managed to force out, hunching his shoulders and feeling trembles returning to his body. "We fought. I left. I had to before I did something stupid. Like I always do."
An immediate answer didn't come. Instead, Rin found himself pulled up and adjusted, secure, in Mephisto's lap, his head brought to tuck into his neck.
His steady pulse brought a deep inhale from Rin, body shaking as new tears started to wet the material under his cheek. His tail wound itself around Mephisto's back where he was propped against the many pillows on the bed, needing to get as close as possible and finding nothing was close enough.
"Well, I can't eviscerate your brother, unfortunately," Mephisto commented, rubbing a hand over his back, "although I may have to lock Amaimon up to prevent him from making the attempt."
Rin let out a huff of air, the humor distracting him from his spiraling emotions.
"I just realized," Rin sighed, voice heavy and his eyes closing as he nuzzled further into Mephisto's neck, "I don't know anything about Yukio-if he even likes me at all. I think I spend more time with my friends now than I do with him. He's gone most days, so I only see him in class and in the mornings, and sometimes not even then."
"Your brother is rather repressed."
Understatement of the year, Rin snorted.
"I'm not sure there's any advice I can give you to handle him. He's very single-minded."
The probing statements from Mephisto moved Rin back to quirk a small smile at him, rubbing at his flushed cheek with his palm to wipe away another one of the tears that escaped. "That's okay. I didn't want advice. I just needed to be here."
He found his hand pulled away and Mephisto's tongue tracing along the tracks his tears had taken, cleaning his face.
Rin let him, eyes closing at the ministrations.
When Mephisto moved to his chest, Rin blinked his eyes open and realized he had five bloody patches over his heart where he'd gouged his claws earlier, wounds long healed but skin stained with dried blood.
"At least now I don't have to pretend with Amaimon anymore," Rin tried, brightening as the revelation came to him and smiling down at the head at his chest. "And besides Yukio, my friends didn't care, they're okay with it!"
Mephisto sat back up and brought Rin's hand to his mouth, cleaning the blood he'd gotten on his fingertips, too.
Shivers at the light sensation went through Rin, something about the way Mephisto traced his tapered tongue over the pads of his fingers and down to the sensitive skin between them making him flush.
"I wish I didn't have to pretend with you, either."
"It would certainly make my life easier," Mephisto said against his hand, pressing a kiss to the palm. "At the very least I would have the freedom to keep that grubby worm of an arc knight away from you."
Rin's hands drew to the purple hair that framed Mephisto's face, bringing him into a soft kiss.
It lasted until Mephisto broke away to study him, draconic green eyes luminous in the darkness of the room as Rin's pulse picked up.
"Ignoring the reason you ended up here in the first place, I find I enjoy coming home to discover you in my bed."
At the dark rumble that went through Mephisto, Rin flushed, realizing he was already almost naked, and he doubted Mephisto had anything on under his robe, either.
"If I could, I would never let you leave it."
And Rin was on his back, head against a pillow and pressed into the thick mattress by a clawed hand on his chest.
He grinned up at Mephisto, his furred tail moving up so that it brushed against his clothed back from where he straddled Rin.
"I knew it, you're definitely some kind of dragon," Rin teased, smile impish. "You wanna hoard me like one of your weird collections of otaku stuff."
"I'll have you know that those collections are all rare, limited additions, and worthy of being collected," Mephisto said in a sniff of affront.
"Much like yourself, actually," he continued, gaze covetous, as he let his eyes wander the way Rin's body splayed over the covers of his bed.
Rin let himself be coaxed into another kiss, shivering at the loose friction of the silk robe rubbing over his bare skin.
"If you say so," he sighed, relaxing into the covers as Mephisto drew his claws lightly down his neck and traced at his collarbones.
His tongue followed close behind, leaving wet trails to cool on Rin's skin in the air of the room.
He watched, eyes hooded as Mephisto made his meandering way over his body, teasing as he avoided moving where Rin really wanted him to.
The slow torture continued until Rin became a writhing mess on the bed, trying to arch up into Mephisto's mouth only to have him pull away, or hold his hips down to keep his touches just short of ticklish.
A litany of pleas left his lips, Rin barely aware of what he said as long as it convinced Mephisto to stop teasing, dammit!
Mephisto just licked at the jut of his hip bone, smiling like he didn't know exactly what he was doing.
Swallowing, Rin's throat went dry as his boxers were tugged down and his length released to Mephisto's heavy gaze, though he left his own robe on.
It directed Rin's attention to the fact that he'd let his own control slip, then, ears and fangs elongating, and knowing his eyes had taken on their slit-pupiled form by the way he could see things so much more clearly in the darkness of the room.
"Mephisto."
The way he'd growled his name got an arched brow from Mephisto, letting his pointed tongue loll out to hang centimeters away from Rin so he could feel warm breath brush over his skin, leaving goosebumps in its wake.
At the first touch of that tongue to his length, Rin gave a low groan, watching as it wound around him, Mephisto swallowing down until he was fully covered.
Rin realized he shared the same oral capabilities Amaimon had displayed and found himself heating, renewed determination to learn the technique hitting him, and it was the last coherent thought he had as Mephisto started sucking.
He lost himself to the feeling, hand coming down over Mephisto's head and trying to push up into his mouth only to find his hips being held down as the torture continued.
Understanding reached Rin as he felt how frustrated Amaimon must have been for the way he'd teased him during the festival.
His slow torture continued until Rin went back to begging, panting out Mephisto's name while he ignored him to apply just enough pressure to torment and not enough to come until Rin thought he might die there, held on the edge.
Glassy-eyed, Rin watched, meeting the smirking green ones holding his gaze as Mephisto opened his mouth to let Rin see the way his tongue wound around him, fangs bared in a playful threat over the delicate skin there.
Rin had enough.
A thought and his tail shot up to wrap around Mephisto's neck, squeezing there as he narrowed his eyes and growled again.
"Mephisto, stop teasing."
Instead of responding, Mephisto tilted his head back, letting Rin see the way his tail pressed his throat in as he increased the pressure around his neck, and a dark thrill ran through his body at the sight.
"The way you use that tail of yours is so…inventive," Mephisto said instead of complying with Rin's demand.
Rin squeezed harder, tracking how the action forced a gasp from Mephisto as his air was cut off with sudden interest.
When he tugged his tail towards his body, Mephisto followed suit, allowing himself to be led until Rin had his head back at his length.
"Stop. Teasing."
His command sent a shudder through Mephisto, panting without air as Rin still hadn't released his throat from his tail.
Finally, when his eyes began to glaze over, Rin loosened his noose, seeing dark bruises had formed around Mephisto's neck to replace the coils of his tail.
Mephisto gagged, heaving as air returned to his aching lungs and tears pricked at his eyes until his healing kicked in and the bruises started to fade. Rin narrowed his eyes, almost tightening his tail again to stop them from disappearing.
Once more, understanding reached him as he realized why Mephisto had been so taken with the bruises he'd sucked into his skin that day in his office.
"Such a demon you make," Mephisto gasped out, a vicious glee in his voice at what Rin had done to him.
Rin glowered at him for continuing to talk instead of act until Mephisto swallowed him down, answering his unspoken demand.
Finally.
He threw his head back as Mephisto stopped teasing and began sucking in earnest.
A moan came from around him and Rin looked to see Mephisto twisting his hips into the coils of his own tail in lieu of using his hands so he could focus on finishing Rin.
It added to the sensations running along his nerves with each long pull of Mephisto's mouth. Rin could feel himself moving into his throat through the loops of his tail still curled around Mephisto's neck, could see the way those lips stretched around him with each thrust, and he came, then, feeling Mephisto swallow around him until he was spent, collapsing to the bed with a silent moan.
He kept his eyes on Mephisto, watching him bring himself off with his tail and shuddering above Rin when he finally came.
Panting, Rin un-wound his tail from Mephisto's throat, letting it drop to the bed in exhaustion. Mephisto crawled the last few feet to lay next to him, bringing his teeth to nibble at the tip of Rin's pointed ear as they both recovered.
"I believe I'll be using that technique on Amaimon the next time I see him."
The thought of that, delivered in a breathless voice next to his ear, brought a low moan from Rin and he turned his head to press his teeth to Mephisto's neck, tasting the salt of his skin.
"Not without me there, you're not," Rin grumbled, not wanting to miss out on seeing his two favorite demons together.
"He'll be displeased to know he missed out on the fun this time, to be sure." Mephisto smiled to imagine the irritation Amaimon would definitely feel once he heard.
They lay like that, enjoying the afterglow until Mephisto shifted, looking down at him. "I was going to offer your exwires this as a reward for all the recent troubles you've experienced. It seems you'll be needing the bonding time more than ever, now."
"Offer what?' Rin blinked up at him.
"Tickets to a rather nice bathhouse," Mephisto shrugged, "That brother of yours surely needs to relax."
"That's if Yukio even decides to go," Rin said, knowing the likelihood of Yukio actually going out with his friends to be slim-to-none.
"Ah," Mephisto said with a grin, pressing his nose to Rin's hair and inhaling as he ran a clawed hand through the mussed strands, "but if I give the tickets to Miss Kirigakure, who's nicely recovered from Lucifer's attack on the Grigori now, he'll have no choice but to attend. She won't let him hide."
"Hah!" Rin snickered, feeling vindicated. "Yeah, she'll kick his ass out of the house if she has to."
"Good, it's decided then." Mephisto settled further against him at his answer. "Why don't you go back to sleep. I imagine you'll be having an interesting day tomorrow at the bathhouse."
"I know I will," Rin responded, voice haughty, "because I'm going to bring Amaimon."
He tilted his head back to see how Mephisto liked his idea. By the toothy smile on Mephisto's face he figured his proposal had gone over pretty well.
"I may have to be a fly on that wall when you show up together. Tomorrow is looking very promising."
Rin slipped his tail over both their hips, letting the furred tip brush down the small of Mephisto's back. By the glint in his eyes it almost prompted another round, but Rin just nestled further into the bed and allowed himself to drift into a dreamless sleep, his worries finally chased away for the moment.
Rin awoke for the second time in Mephisto's bed to the mattress dipping and a warm body draping itself along his back. He smiled as, a second later, he was enveloped by the scent of petrichor and pine, turning in the bed so he could see Amaimon and finding himself faced with a sulking pout.
"Mephisto told me what happened."
"Sorry, Amaimon. I would have tried to go to you, but I don't exactly know how to contact you so Mephisto was my best option," Rin said, guessing at the reason for his mood.
Amaimon narrowed his eyes before digging into one of the pockets of his coat to drag out a pink cellphone that had been a gift from Mephisto he forced him to carry.
He dropped the phone next to where Rin's hand curled by his chest as Rin blinked.
"Add your number," Amaimon ordered, his blank face still somehow conveying his impatience.
His demand brought a beaming smile from Rin, quickly doing as ordered and handing the phone back.
"Hey, uh, where is Mephisto?" Rin realized to ask.
It was morning now, light streaming in through the wide veranda windows to reveal it was just Rin and Amaimon in the room.
Shrugging, Amaimon moved closer to pull Rin to his chest. "He left to go deliver something to his exorcists. I didn't pay attention."
That perked Rin up. "We're going to the bathhouses today!"
"You're coming with, right?" He turned imploring eyes on Amaimon.
Amaimon frowned against his hair, tightening his arms around Rin as he considered the request.
"Your humans are going to be there, aren't they?"
Instead of answering, Rin shoved at Amaimon until he was on his back, moving until he straddled him and grinning at the interest that flashed through his eyes. "They figured out who Ambrosia really was. I don't have to hide you anymore."
So they had. Amaimon's interest sharpened, seeing as Rin was still fully naked except his black-furred tail wagging in the air. He tracked its movement with his eyes until Rin leaned down, pressing his hands into the pillow on either side of Amaimon's head and catching his gaze with his.
"It'll be fun. Trust me," Rin said, smile playful as he hinted at something Amaimon couldn't guess at.
The door opened before Amaimon could answer.
"Well, isn't this a lovely sight."
Rin sat back up, smiling over his shoulder as Mephisto closed the door and leaned against it, taking in the scene before him.
"Mephisto! Did you give them the tickets? When are we going?"
"It's as I suspected," Mephisto began, walking over to the bed with a smug smile on his face. "Miss Kirigakure gave your brother little say in the matter and has contacted all the exwires to let them know to meet in half an hour."
The confirmation brightened Rin even further, and his tail began to wag harder in excitement. Amaimon wanted to grab it.
"I used to go all the time as a kid. I can't wait!"
He blinked as Amaimon shifted to push himself up, finding his usual blank expression in place, and hesitated, asking again, "You're going with me, right, Amaimon?"
"They won't turn the water into holy water, will they?"
Rin snickered, leaning his forehead down to rest on Amaimon's chest. "That would really suck. I don't think so though."
They would have to see. Amaimon never put it past humans to go back on their word, not after the years seeing it first-hand. Still, Amaimon settled his arms around Rin's back and shrugged.
"I'll go."
"Yes!" Rin cheered, rubbing his cheek against Amaimon's with an affectionate purr and returning his embrace.
Before Amaimon could do anything else, Rin disengaged, hopping off his lap and out of the bed with a little wobble as he almost tangled himself in the sheets.
"I'm gonna go get ready!" Rin ignored Amaimon's pout and searched until he found where his clothes had been folded, grabbed them, and ran off to the bathroom.
Amaimon twitched his now empty clawed hands, shooting a glare over at Mephisto as he poorly hid a laugh behind a cough.
"You interrupted us."
"The early bird gets the worm, as the humans say, Amaimon," Mephisto smirked, mocking as he took in Amaimon's irritation. "You should have gotten here sooner. He was beautiful."
"I don't like human sayings," Amaimon glared, "and I don't like humans, especially exorcists."
The statement just brought a sneer from Mephisto down at him from where he stood at the corner of the bed, crossing and tapping a pointed black claw against his arms. "You'll be seeing quite a few of them soon."
He didn't like where Mephisto was going with that.
"I hope you'll be able to manage with so many in the same room as our dear, vulnerable Rin, who'll be in a state of complete undress."
Each word hit Amaimon like a spear through the chest, and his eyes widened even as Mephisto's narrowed with his spreading grin.
"No doubt he'll have his tail out and on display for all to see. He's got quite the inventive streak, so he may or may not even realize what he's doing to you."
Dawning horror at what he'd just gotten himself into filled Amaimon as he jerked a frantic look back at the bathroom Rin had disappeared into before returning to glowering at the smug expression Mephisto wore.
"How long will it be?" he hissed, clenching his claws in the sheets as he tried to resist the urge to strangle Mephisto.
Mephisto hemmed and hawed, head tilted in exaggerated contemplation until Amaimon's rising growl prompted an answer, "Oh these things can go all day-that is the pass I got them, you see. But I doubt they'll stay that long. Perhaps two hours?"
"You've tricked me into two hours of torture!" Amaimon was growling loudly now, imagining the suffering he was walking into.
The bathroom door opened and Rin bounded out, freshly showered and smiling with unfiltered joy, unknowing what he'd just disturbed.
His heart plummeted, Amaimon knowing he'd be unable to back out now without hurting Rin-he'd rather tear off his own tail, actually-and began, instead, to gather his defenses in preparation at what was ahead.
One thing was certain. Amaimon was going to kill Mephisto.
Later, he decided, staring into gleeful green eyes and gritting his teeth as he got out of the bed. He made sure to let the fastidious demon see him get his dirty shoes all over the covers and smiled at the aggravated twitch he got in return.
Rin was oblivious to all of this.
He wanted to devour Rin to get rid of the ridiculous feelings welling up in his chest at the sight of him pulling Mephisto down by the long strands of his hair that framed his face for a sweet kiss.
Amaimon frowned, chewing at his clawed thumb. Where was his?
As if summoned, Rin appeared in front of him and Amaimon accepted his own kiss, vindicated.
Sending a narrowed-eyed look to Mephisto, Amaimon deepened the kiss until he had Rin panting and glazed-eyed in his arms with parted, spit-slicked lips Amaimon drew his tongue across to send a shiver through his body.
There, that would do it. He smirked up at Mephisto when he decided he'd taunted him enough. Not, of course, that it made up for what he was about to head into but at least he felt better for the moment.
The fanged smile pasted on Mephisto's face that promised pain later was worth it as Rin recovered, a pretty blush staining his cheeks and grinning up at Amaimon with an adoration that he could get used to.
Maybe they wouldn't have to go? Amaimon turned hopeful eyes on Rin, wondering if he could distract him enough to forget the bathhouse--but he'd already escaped.
"Thanks, Mephisto," Rin called out, dashing Amaimon's hopes as he ran to the door and smiling back at him when he didn't move fast enough. "Come on, Amaimon, we're gonna be late!"
"Have fun, you two!" Mephisto said, voice cheerful.
Amaimon hid a sigh and shoved his hands in his pockets to follow Rin out the door, brushing past Mephisto on the way.
A clawed hand at his nape stopped him in an iron grip and he froze.
"Do take care not to kill any of those exorcists, Amaimon," Mephisto breathed against his ear, sending a thrill down his spine at the danger in his voice. "Rin would be very upset with you."
He nodded his understanding, not knowing what the punishment for upsetting Rin would be but suspecting it would be the worst he'd ever felt from Mephisto.
"Good."
Before he could react, he found himself pulled into a rough, possessive kiss that left him breathless when he was released and shoved unceremoniously towards the door.
Annoying. Amaimon shot one more scowl, rubbing at his lips, at Mephisto before catching up to Rin and exiting the mansion to head to the bathhouse where the humans would be waiting.
Something of his reluctance must have shown in his body language because Rin began looking at him with a slight frown, eyebrows drawn in concern.
"Hey, I won't let them bother you, you know," he started, intertwining his hand with Amaimon's and bringing it up to toy with his clawed fingers. "They really were ready to get to know you when they found out. And I'm sure they talked to Yukio after I left so he shouldn't bother you either."
Amaimon tightened his grip, trying to hide the tension he was feeling from Rin. "I don't trust exorcists."
His statement just made Rin laugh, shaking his head in self-deprecation and rubbing his thumb over the back of Amaimon's hand. "Yeah, I didn't trust them in the beginning either. But so far they've proven themselves to me. Just give them the chance to prove themselves to you. Okay? And if they don't, then that's okay, too. As long as everyone tries."
"Except Shima. The spy. Don't trust him," Rin added, glaring as he thought about the traitorous human in their ranks.
A snort and Amaimon nosed against Rin's hair as they neared the bathhouse coming up at the end of the road. "Trust one of Mephisto's spies? Never."
And there was the group of humans, standing and chatting as they waited for Rin's arrival before heading inside.
He watched them freeze in the distance as they recognized Rin wasn't alone, a few of them closing ranks as if preparing to defend themselves. Amaimon almost gave them a reason to before he looked and saw Rin's nervous smile, clearly trying to put up a brave front, and calmed himself.
If only for Rin's sake, he'd try to get along. Or, at the very least, avoid killing anyone to avoid Mephisto's punishment.
Then Rin tensed and Amaimon looked up to see what could have caused the reaction, narrowing his eyes as he wondered if he'd get to kill something or someone after all.
"Uh oh," Rin muttered, eyes fixed on the red-haired female exorcist shooting a dagger-filled smile straight at Amaimon, "I forgot Shura never got introduced to you as Ambrosia and I never told her about us dating. Yukio must have filled her in and I'm pretty sure it wasn't nice."
It was too late to back out, they'd reached the group.
Amaimon sent them a dead-eyed stare, hoping they wouldn't make things difficult. He tightened his grip on Rin's hand, pulling it towards him, and saw the humans' eyes lock onto the movement as if in sync.
That seemed to be the catalyst needed to start things off.
"Rin! You're finally here, kid!" That red-headed exorcist cheered, though Amaimon could see the grin hid teeth as she glared him down from where she stood next to Rin's human twin.
"Here's the tickets. Why don't you head inside with your friends, I gotta have a little chat with Amaimon here so we can straighten some things out, and then we'll join you."
He hissed under his breath as the woman's arm came around Rin's shoulder and she led him away into the waiting group of humans watching the proceedings with wary eyes. He almost didn't let Rin's hand go, but, seeing Rin's anxious smile at him made him after one last tight squeeze, hoping to get this encounter over with as soon as possible.
The hatred in the human twin's eyes as he turned to follow the others inside made Amaimon's hackles raise, wishing he could answer the brat's challenge but knowing he was another untouchable piece in Mephisto's and Lucifer's plans.
There wasn't a chance to respond anyways as the woman stepped in front of him, blocking his view, arms crossed over her ample, scantily clad chest, though there was nothing seductive about the look she gave.
"You've got some nerve."
Amaimon growled, flexing his claws, but kept them at his side, trying for a calm he didn't feel. "I don't have to answer to you."
"No, I guess you don't." She narrowed her lavender-colored eyes, the striking hue accented by the hard way she examined him, and he remembered, then, having faced the brunt of one of her powerful attacks in the forest.
She was one of the more troublesome exorcists his brother had.
"Let's just make one thing clear, then."
A sword wound up at Amaimon's throat, snarl rising through his chest and his lips pulling back over his fangs in surprise at the bluntness of the attack.
"I don't know how you weaseled your way into his heart," Amaimon froze as the blade drew a line of blood from his neck, "but I'll be watching you. And if you make one wrong move, I don't care if you're the seventh or the first of the demon kings of Gehenna. I'll kill you."
She quirked a cruel smile at him, pushing her sword further to emphasize her point before pulling back and flicking the blade to remove his blood.
Blood trailed from the wound as Amaimon brushed his finger across the line where it healed, bringing it up to lick it away and eyeing the woman in contemplation of her words.
Already, she turned to walk away, a bold move considering who she'd just attacked.
"What's your name."
His question stopped her, cocking her head back at him over her shoulder with her own considering look before she quirked a wry smile.
"It's Shura Kirigakure. Nice to officially meet you, Amaimon."
Amaimon nodded and followed her in, the humid scents of the bathhouse hitting his nose as he searched out one particular scent.
They turned a corner and there was Rin standing at the edge of his group of humans. Amaimon could see the way he tried to hide his tension and heared the exaggeration in his laugh at something someone had said.
At their arrival, Rin turned around first, nose flaring as he must have scented them out, and Amaimon could see the obvious relief on his face.
"Okay, guys," Shura announced, stretching her arms over her head and rolling her shoulders, "who's ready to get our relaxing on?"
He ignored her and attached himself to Rin's side, feeling his own knot of tension ease at having Rin nearby.
By the shaky smile Rin gave, the feeling was reciprocated. A frown replaced it, then, and Amaimon narrowed his eyes, wondering what the problem was.
"Shura!" Rin hissed, hand reaching up to tug Amaimon's collar down to expose his neck. "Did you cut him?"
Shura shrugged, cocking a hand on her hip as she surveyed Rin's glare. "We reached an understanding, kid. No reason to get fussy about it."
The response turned Rin's frown into a scowl and Amaimon tilted his head back as Rin brought a thumb up to swipe away the rest of the blood on his neck that he'd missed, bringing it to his mouth to suck it away without thinking.
"Ew, Rin, did you just lick his blood?"
Amaimon shot a withering glare over to the human who'd spoken, the one with the ridiculous dyed-blonde mohawk he vaguely remembered as being polite at the festival.
"Er," Rin swallowed, flushing as he realized what he'd done. Not that Amaimon knew what the big deal was.
"Okay, kids," Shura clapped her hands, getting their attention, for which Amaimon was surprised to find himself grateful, "now's not the time for figuring out weird demon quirks, now's the time for getting into the nice hot water. Come on, ladies with me, fellas, head that way."
"Oh thank god," Amaimon heard Rin mutter. Strange for a demon to say and yet another one of those human habits he hadn't broken yet.
The human twin led the group and presented their tickets without looking once at Amaimon, maintaining an icy air of politeness while still ignoring the earth king. Amaimon was perfectly fine with that, content to walk beside Rin and glare holes into the back of the spy ahead of them, enjoying the way he shivered in fear.
"You are okay, right, Amaimon?"
Glancing at Rin, Amaimon found him looking with worried eyes and sighed, letting a small smile form on his face before he leaned to leave a kiss on his head. "We reached an understanding, as she said."
Worried melted from Rin and he grinned as they entered the changing rooms.
That was when the torture actually started.
His heart plummeted as the humans and Rin started stripping, setting their clothes in lockers without a thought. And there was Rin's tail, out on display, swaying with gentle movements as the oblivious tease of a demon grabbed a towel and didn't even use it leaving it draped over his shoulder instead.
Amaimon could have cried in frustration as Rin just smiled, clueless, at him from the entrance to the heated pools.
"It's okay, Amaimon. You can wear a towel if you want. I'll be out in the pool area when you're ready."
And then Rin left and Amaimon let out a hiss of breath, once again cursing Mephisto, as he grabbed two towels and forced himself to undress as quickly as possible. He could have expended energy to conceal his tail, but Mephisto had said it would be two hours, and he wouldn't give him the satisfaction of knowing he'd hid.
The damn towels were barely big enough to cover anything and he had to wind his tail up in a tight, uncomfortable loop around his hips so he could cover it fully.
But it would have to do.
Exiting the changing room brought a new wave of frustration and Amaimon may have let out a whimper.
Because there Rin stood, body caressed by the clouds of steam rising from the bath waters beneath that just licked at the juts of his hipbones. His tail danced over the surface of the heated pool, long, ink-black fur at the end rippling like fire in the slow currents.
The unknowing tease turned in the water, body glistening as drops sluiced down his taut stomach and tapered waist and grinning over at Amaimon when he noticed his presence.
Amaimon forced himself to move towards the source of his pain.
"Isn't this great?"
Dimples. Rin's smile had dimples. Amaimon wanted to bite them to show how he was feeling because he didn't know how he should answer that question.
Damn Mephisto.
"What are you supposed to do here?" he asked instead, chewing at his thumbnail as he noticed the still wary way the other humans were watching the exchange.
"Hmm? You just relax in the water." Rin smiled, cocking his head before he gestured behind him to another pool with a large slide beside it. "Or you can go down the slide, that's awesome, too. Wanna go?"
Water rushing down the slide when Amaimon looked. Then he tried to imagine how he'd keep his tail hidden while on it and couldn't, shaking his head and sinking down in the water up to his nose to 'relax' as Rin suggested, hiding a pout under the surface.
"Okay, I'm gonna head over. I'll be back in a bit!"
And Rin was off, tail trailing behind him and sending tiny droplets of water to hit Amaimon's face and Amaimon was going to die before the two hours were over.
Yes. There Rin went, heading towards the slide and taking the last of Amaimon's sanity with him as he lightly splashed at the water with his tail. It arched behind him, water running down the length of it to leave the soft black fur shining in the light and Amaimon wanted to follow that water with his tongue.
He sunk lower into the pool until he'd covered his nose, letting out a burst of bubbles as he sighed in agony.
Amaimon stewed in his own misery for another minute before he realized he wasn't alone.
"Uh, hey, uh, Amaimon."
The human who'd spoken flinched as Amaimon lifted his head and turned his attention at hearing his name, arching a brow as he wondered what he could possibly want from him and when he would leave.
It was the mohawked human from before.
On the far end of the pool sat the twin, pretending to relax and still ignoring Amaimon, and the spy was at the far wall that separated them from where he assumed the human females were, judging by the sounds and smells he caught from that side.
Trailing behind the human who'd approached him was the bald one who carried a distracting level of anxiety that made Amaimon want to shove his nose back under the water as his predatory instincts tried to tell him to kill the easy prey.
"Stop being anxious, it's annoying," he ordered, hoping that would solve things.
The bald one only flinched and Amaimon sighed. At least Rin was enjoying himself, his laughter as he went down the slides soothing Amaimon's rattled nerves so the urge to climb the walls was reduced to simmering instead of immediate.
"Hey, you're the one who broke his arm last time you saw him." The human crossed his arms, eyes narrowed. "I think it makes sense to be a little cautious."
"I wanted to play with Rin," Amaimon explained. Although, his eyes drooped, given how everything had started with Rin not understanding what he meant by 'play' he realized he'd probably be explaining himself further to these humans.
"Yeah, we got that now," the human said, voice doing its best to imitate a demon's growl and failing.
"I didn't know Rin was so naïve to his demonic nature then," Amaimon tried. "I thought he understood what I meant by play. He knows now."
"So, you weren't trying to kill him that time in the forest?"
Amaimon turned his attention back to the bald one, who'd gathered the courage to speak to him, it seemed.
"No," he offered, then added what he thought might help, "or the rest of you. Including Shiemi."
"Hey! Why do you know her name and not ours?"
Another stupid question from the mohawked one. Amaimon glared as he clarified, hating having to explain his thought process. Why was this such a difficult concept to grasp for humans? "She is Rin's good friend. He cares for her, so I remember her name."
And she got the human twin under control, Amaimon added to himself. He'd enjoyed the way she'd shut the condescending brat down and defended Rin that night at the festival. It also didn't hurt that she sometimes brought him, or rather Ambrosia, candy during the classes they shared.
"Hey, we're his good friends too, okay? I'm Ryuji 'Bon' Suguro and this is Miwa Konekomaru, though you can call him Koneko for short, so remember it this time."
Amaimon sighed again, realizing he'd have to if he was going to spend time with Rin, and he was definitely going to spend time with Rin, whether his human friends liked it or not.
"Okay."
"Cool, we'll let you enjoy the bathhouse, then. Nice talkin' with you, Amaimon."
He sank back into the water, eyes searching to see where Rin had gone off to, only to find him by the spy, the sight making him growl into the water, not liking Rin being anywhere near someone who'd trade his life to the highest bidder.
That was when he sensed the demonic presence that appeared in the bathhouse. Right over the heads of an unsuspecting Rin and the spy.
Before he knew it, Amaimon was up and running, startling the humans around him as a snarl left his throat.
The spy was already under the thrall of the demons, spouting something inane about wanting to see the breasts of the human females on the other side of the bath and making to climb the wall.
Rin shouted at the spy to get down, not realizing what was happening, but turned, shocked, as he noticed Amaimon coming towards him.
Then Amaimon watched as Rin fell to the thrall of the demons and he was greeted by a hazy smile, Rin's inhibitions leaving him as he began to tell the truth.
"Amaimon! I'm so happy you're here."
He found his arms full of an incredibly distracting ball of squirming Rin, fighting down the urge to respond in kind, especially when his tail wound itself around his leg, running up under his towel to find his own tail as if to coax it out of hiding from his waist.
"Hey, get your hands off him, we're in public!"
That damned twin, once again assuming things about Amaimon that had him snapping a glare his way.
"Mine," Rin moaned as he happily ignored his outraged brother to begin sucking bruises into Amaimon's neck, tracing his tongue between them and repeating the task every time the bruises healed as if determined to make them permanent.
"Are you blind?" Amaimon gasped, neck arching back and eyes shuttering as Rin bit into his shoulder, licking at the blood he'd drawn.
The effort it took not to react to the bite was monumental.
"He and that spy are under a demonic thrall. Look up, they're on the wall," he explained, voice a rough groan through suddenly elongated fangs caused by the way Rin had begun laving his tongue at his throat.
"He's right, those are truth demons!"
Amaimon was never so thankful for the bald one-Konekomaru-for not being as useless as the other humans.
"Mmm, Amaimon, play with me," Rin whined in his arms, nuzzling against his neck, leg shoving between his and bare hips grinding against him with only Amaimon's towel between them and not helping at all!
The twin looked like he was about to go apocalyptic, torn between attacking Amaimon or attacking the demons causing the whole mess and clearly wanting to do both.
"Teach' we gotta get those demons before I'm traumatized for life," Bon yelped, arm across his eyes as Rin got even more handsy. He'd begun running his claws along the edges of Amaimon's towel, reaching down the back of it and grabbing at his tail.
He had to fight off the long moan that tried to escape his mouth, body trembling and knees weakening until it was him being held up and not the other way when Rin's claws traced the small of his back just over where his spine turned into his tail.
"Amaimon why won't you play with me?" Rin whined again, tears rising in his eyes and lips wobbling until an idea seemed to hit him.
"It's okay if you don't want to right now." He pouted, pressing a kiss to Amaimon's cheek before pulling back and smiling up at him, announcing, "I'll just go and play with-mmf!"
Amaimon ignored the cries of horror coming from the humans as he cut Rin off with his mouth in a rough kiss to keep him from mentioning Mephisto.
This had to end before Rin revealed things he would regret once he escaped the thrall. That brother of his and his friends had broken from chasing the demons around the pool area to shriek at them for kissing, showing, once again, how useless they were.
So, keeping Rin distracted with a tongue in his mouth, Amaimon lifted his hand and snapped watching the three truth demons explode in a mass of blood and bone over the heads of the humans beneath them and onto the floor, leaving a deafening silence in their wake.
He felt the moment Rin came back to himself, freezing in his arms and squeaking into his mouth, muffled by the tongue he had twined with Amaimon's.
Rin pulled back, trailing a line of saliva between their lips and face erupting in a reddening blush that he proceeded to hide against Amaimon's chest so he didn't have to face what had just happened.
"Oh my god, kill me."
Amaimon just tucked his face further into his chest with a hand on his head, looking around to survey the damage.
The three blood-covered humans were still standing, stunned, over by the wall and that just left the spy who was…
"Holy shit, Rin, get it!"
There.
His growl echoed in the silent chamber over the muffling sounds of the water as he pinned a glare on the spy who'd also recovered from the thrall but was somehow just as annoying as before.
"Eaugh! Oh my god, I'm covered in blood," Bon gagged, dancing on tiptoes and shaking his arms as he tried to get the gore off of him and only spread it further.
"I need to wash this off, oh man this is so nasty," Konekomaru said with a groan, shuddering as he looked down at his body.
"Couldn't you have killed them somewhere else?"
Amaimon scowled over at the ungrateful twin. "No."
The twin just narrowed his eyes, sneering, "Of course not. I'm going to shower this mess off, please let go of Rin and make yourselves appropriate by the time I'm back."
That just made Amaimon tighten his arms around Rin. How dare that human tell him what to do.
He'd been about to snap away the mess but decided against it as he realized it would get the others out of the pool area so he could deal with Rin, who'd started shivering against him at the humiliation.
Three gore-covered humans left, trailing bloody footprints behind them on the wet floor.
Then it was just the spy who hadn't gotten the hint.
"Get out," Amaimon hissed, baring his fangs when the spy just gave him a wide smile.
"Ha, sorry, sorry," he rubbed at his wet hair, sheepish, "I'll leave you two lovebirds alone then. Don't have too much fun!"
They were alone, then, and Amaimon leaped over, clutching Rin to his chest, to where Rin had left his towel by the slide.
He pulled the towel over his shaking shoulders, rubbing at his back to try to calm him until he felt Rin's heartbeat steady.
"What just happened?"
Amaimon glanced down at the whimpered question. "Truth demons. You and the spy were affected. I killed it before you revealed anything about Mephisto."
His answer brought a groan from Rin. "This was supposed to be a fun, relaxing day. Now I just wanna curl up and sleep for a month until I forget this happened."
That sounded promising to Amaimon.
"Can we go now?"
"Oh god yes, get me out of here," Rin said as he stuck his face in his hands, pressing his palms into his eyes.
Perfect. Amaimon nodded and snapped his fingers, their clothes piling near them on the wet tiles, while another snap brought them back to Mephisto's bedroom, not wanting to waste time with doing things the long way.
When they arrived, it was to find Mephisto missing and Amaimon frowned, untying the annoying towels from his waist to drop them to the floor, glad to be done with them as he stretched out his cramped tail. He'd hoped Mephisto would be there so he could yell at him about what a distracting tease Rin was and how he was never going to the bathhouse again, dammit.
Oh well. Amaimon turned and pounced on the unsuspecting brat, tossing him to land with a gasp on the bed before appearing to straddle his bare hips.
"Amaimon!"
He swallowed the protest in an open-mouthed kiss, already grinding down on the hips beneath his.
"Ah! Amai-"
"Never again," Amaimon hissed against the parted lips, tugging Rin's head back by his hair so he could run fangs down his throat the way he'd had done to him earlier.
"Wha?"
Amaimon glared into that tempting face, fighting the rising urge to utterly consume Rin and biting at his collarbone instead.
"You had no idea what you were doing to me, did you?"
A squeak came from Rin at the feeling, or possibly the question, though he rose to meet Amaimon anyways prompting a satisfied rumble for his response.
"Doing what?"
Doing what, he asked? Amaimon shoved a knee between Rin's thighs, hoping it would jog his memories of what he'd just subjected him to at the bathhouse.
"Teasing," Amaimon said, glaring as he punctuated his words by gripping Rin's hips and pressing him to his leg with each detail he added, "with your tail. At the bathhouse."
Awareness entered Rin's eyes. Then he surprised Amaimon with a small, wicked quirk of his lips that had him completely reassessing his previous thoughts about Rin's naivety.
"Ah, I didn't know it would be that bad for you," the devious little nephilim revealed, watching Amaimon with lidded eyes and that impish smile still on his face. "I couldn't tell if I was doing it right or if you even noticed. I'm glad you did."
He groaned, dropping his head to Rin's chest as he realized Mephisto had been spot-on about the possibility that Rin knew exactly what he was doing when he teased.
"I wish Mephisto had been there to see it too."
Amaimon shuddered at the innocence of that statement, imagining what the effect Rin's teasing would have had on Mephisto and knowing he didn't know what he was asking for.
Well, he had his answer. Amaimon raised his eyes, chin resting on Rin's chest as he considered what the cost of such actions towards him would be.
"I'm going to fuck you now."
Rin had a moment for his statement to register before Amaimon had him flipped onto his stomach, hips tugged into the air and lashing tail caught in a clawed grip.
Before he had a chance to do anything, Amaimon was already preparing him, ignoring the surprised moan that escaped Rin's mouth to focus on his task.
He kept the writhing body where he wanted it with one hand on Rin's tail, not allowing him to move as he searched out the sensitive point inside.
By the unrestrained cry that came out of Rin's mouth after a moment, he'd found it, rubbing there until the little demon was sobbing into the pillows, still unable to move as he wanted. Amaimon drew out his torture, bringing Rin to the edge and then letting him hang there until he came back from it and Amaimon began the whole process over again.
"Ahh!" Rin cried out, leaking into the sheets beneath him, mind gone to the pleasure Amaimon wrung out with each deliberate press of fingers, when he finally took pity on him and buried himself in the tight heat of those raised hips.
The first thrust sank deep and Rin let out a delicious mewl, arching back onto him, legs spreading further apart to give Amaimon as much access as he could.
Hissing escaped Amaimon as he settled and found his arm captured in the coils of Rin's tail, the length attaching itself to him instinctually in an effort to bring him closer.
He didn't hesitate any longer, pushing Rin down into the mattress as he fucked into him and delighting in the overwhelmed expression and mindless sounds each thrust elicited from that sweet face.
His claws left red lines in Rin's hips where he held him while he pulled rough strokes along the trapped tail, the cries each pass drew from Rin a heady pulse along his senses that only made him slam all the harder into the half-demon.
Amaimon whipped his own tail around, bringing it to Rin's open mouth and pushing inside until he was forced to start sucking, sending sparks across his already frayed nerves at the artless form.
Already wound up from the teasing, his release hit him like a tidal wave and he curled forward to latch his teeth into Rin's shoulder, the taste of his blood making him snarl into the torn skin as he reached down, helping Rin find his own completion until he came with a muffled shout around his tail.
Shivers joined his panting, Amaimon still feeling like he wasn't getting enough air as he slid his tail out of Rin's mouth to allow him to breathe again.
He almost decided to just collapse where he was but, seeing Rin's flushed cheeks and bruised lips made him pull out and slump to the side so he could lick at his mouth, swallowing the gasped breaths that tried to escape.
The dazed look in Rin's eyes slowly faded as he came down from the edge while Amaimon watched, satisfied he'd gotten his retribution for what he'd put him through that day.
"Will you tease like that again?" he prompted when it looked like Rin would be able to comprehend his words.
Rin surprised him with a sharp, fang-filled grin, his blue eyes slit-pupiled and demonic as they bore into his gaze. "Hell yeah."
His eyes narrowed, Amaimon not sure if he was okay with knowing he would be continuing his torment, or not.
But…
"Good."
Amaimon twined their tails together over their hips, settling into the covers to enjoy the rest of the day with Rin until Mephisto returned so he could see if he could get his compensation from him, too.
With the proper amount of payback, he thought it might be worth it, in the end.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
"Well, looks pretty good, huh, Kuro?"
Rin stood back, hands on his hips, to see how the kotatsu fit in the room, glancing down at his familiar to see how he liked it.
"It's missing a futon, isn't it?"
Kuro peeked under the low table as if searching for the blanket that was supposed to go over it.
"Yeah, but it's not cold enough yet so for now we'll just use it as a table."
"Then I love it!"
Happiness filled Rin with his curbside find that he'd hauled home on the way back from Mephisto's the other night.
"We'll have a party with everyone here, so we can break it in," Rin decided, getting excited at the thought of cooking for his friends and inviting them all to his dorm for a get-together.
The door clicked, and Rin tensed, wary, as Yukio came into the dorm.
His presence halted Yukio, who hesitated at the entryway, hand on the doorknob as if he couldn't decide whether he was coming in or leaving now that he'd seen Rin.
They stared, neither knowing how to break the silence after the day before.
Yukio's eyes flicked towards the new addition to their place and he seemed to steady himself before speaking.
"It looks good, Rin."
A shaky smile stretched at his mouth, Rin recognizing the peace offering for what it was.
"Yeah, I can't wait until it's cold enough to put the blanket over it."
He twitched as Yukio set his bag down on the hallway countertop, still waiting for the shoe to drop as he came more into the room.
"Listen, Rin," Yukio muttered, not looking him in the eyes, "I'm sorry about the last two days. Shiemi was right."
What? Rin's heart skipped a beat. Yukio never admitted when he was wrong, hating to be seen as incompetent or feel like the loser in any situation.
"It's okay," Rin managed to reply, although, really, he wasn't sure if it was. He just couldn't stand arguing with Yukio, feeling like he was attacking himself when he did.
By the way Yukio furrowed his brow and frowned, Rin could see he knew it, too.
"I just. Don't think it's healthy, being in a relationship with Amaimon."
And there was the shoe.
Rin steeled himself, crossing his arms in a silent gesture for Yukio to continue. He'd let Yukio explain himself, at the very least knowing he definitely needed to get some things off his chest once in a while, seeing as any other time was like pulling teeth to get him to talk.
A slow draw of breath came from Yukio, adjusting his glasses in a nervous habit before he spoke.
"He's a notoriously violent demon king, not that the rest of them are much better, and he's at least over a thousand years old with a known track record for being child-like, cruel, and impulsive."
That was...Rin grimaced. Yukio was off to a good start, it seemed, and it wasn't like he wasn't very aware of each and every one of those points. His first introduction to Amaimon had been a casual display of all his negative traits, and the second meeting hadn't been any better-actually, it had been worse.
"I'm just worried he's using you, or that he's manipulated you into a relationship. It's not like you have any kind of experience being in one," Yukio said, looking as worried as his words implied. Although-Rin narrowed his eyes at the sting of being reminded he'd never had a date before the demon king. Ouch, Yukio. Low blow.
"And that's it. I guess. I already told you what I thought the Grigori might do if they found out about this," Yukio trailed off, the ball back in Rin's court.
Rin sighed, shifting to lean on his other leg and bowing his head before he decided on what he would say.
When he raised his head, it was with a small smile that Yukio looked taken aback to see.
"Thanks for worrying about me, four-eyes," Rin teased, voice light to show he didn't mean it cruelly.
"I don't know how to explain it so well." He scratched at his cheek, turning his eyes to the ceiling in contemplation as he tried to put what he felt about Amaimon into words. "It's like, all my instincts push me towards him, which, I guess would be the demon thing I don't really know much about-but I feel good around him. Comfortable, happy."
Seeing Yukio looked like he would interject, Rin raised a hand, asking for silence. "I know everything you said about him is right, too. I'm dumb, not blind, y'know."
"But," Rin said with a smile, a quirk of his lips, "would you believe I think it's actually me who's been manipulating him into a relationship and not the other way around?"
At Yukio's puzzled frown Rin hurried to explain, not needing his reminder how naïve he could be or how low the likelihood of him manipulating anyone was like he was some kind of kid.
"You know, I don't think they do the whole relationship thing in Gehenna? Most of the time I'm the one teaching Amaimon things, or he has to go to Mephisto because at least he's spent enough time here to recognize why we do things the way we do here."
"It's kinda like I'm teaching him human stuff and he's teaching me demon stuff and we're both learning to compromise." Rin thought the smile he wore might be a little goofy, thinking about his relationship with Amaimon, even if the poor demon king would be totally confused by what he'd just said to Yukio.
Rin shook his head, focusing back on the conversation because he really only had one thing to say to any of Yukio's arguments.
"I know you're worried, or just trying to watch out for me even though I am the older twin and it's my job to look out for you, in case you forgot," Rin said in a huff of a breath, smile turning wry at Yukio's grouchy look at the reminder. "But, even if things don't work out, for now, I'm happy and I'm staying with him. So, you're going to have to suck it up and deal. Okay?"
He could see the moment Yukio gave in, reaching up to rub at his nose under his glasses, eyes closing as if to ward off a headache and shoulders slumping in defeat.
"Okay, Rin," Yukio sighed, flashing him a tired smile, "I don't like it, but, like I said, Shiemi is right, I should be happy for you. So. I'm happy for you."
At his answer, Rin stepped over to pull his grumpy twin into a hug, another one of those things that didn't happen as often as it should, but he'd work on that.
"Thanks, Yukio," Rin grinned, glad they'd settled things for the moment. "So, are you gonna be here for dinner? I'm cooking right now so it should be done soon."
His content mood abated as Yukio shook his head. Rin frowned, something helpless curling in his gut.
"Sorry, I'm just going to be taking a shower and heading out again. I'll miss dinner tonight and it's probably going to be like this for a while so it's alright if you just do your own thing."
Rin could only watch as Yukio left, what little progress had been made that night dwindling with the other's fading footsteps down the hall to the shower.
A shared look with Kuro showed him just as worried, and Rin mumbled, "You see it too, huh? He is acting weird."
His mood plummeted as Kuro nodded in confirmation of his fears and he sighed as he went to finish dinner for just the two of them.
Again.
Rin tried his best to push his worries for Yukio out of his mind, choosing instead to focus on the joy of getting to see Amaimon during classes for the day.
He squeaked when Amaimon, as Ambrosia, surprised him in the hallway, appearing behind him to tug him back against a warm chest, nuzzling at his neck with a contented purr that Rin melted into.
"I still can't believe you decided to sign up for the academy," Rin said as they walked to their first class of the day. "I didn't think you could stand being around a bunch of humans this long. You know we've got another month and a half before the year is up and then three years before I graduate, right?"
Amaimon snorted, glowering at said humans around them and watching them scatter under the brunt of his ire, "I can't believe you're here, either. What's the point?"
The irony of why he was even a student at the academy in the first place hit him and Rin laughed. "Well, I was just planning on getting a job out of high school before all this happened- Yukio's the one set on being a doctor, not me. But I kinda told Mephisto I would kill Satan and he said the only way to do that was to become an exorcist and the only way to become an exorcist is to take the regular classes, too. So, here I am."
His explanation made Amaimon tsk, glowering at nothing now. Although Rin suspected it was because the object of his irritation, namely Mephisto, wasn't there for him to glare at.
"You're in one of Mephisto's schemes, then," Amaimon said, exasperated and chewing at his clawed thumb as they sat down in class before letting out a long sigh. "As are we all."
"Yeah, I kinda figured that out by now," Rin cocked a wry smile at the thought. He'd assumed he'd been real smart, choosing a third option when the demon king of time had confronted him at Shiro's funeral, but he couldn't be sure Mephisto hadn't known, suspected, or at least planned that he would take that route. He wouldn't put it past the devious demon.
They were forced to stop talking when their nervous professor began teaching. Amaimon promptly went to sleep, and Rin tried to pay attention to the lecture and not spend the whole time watching the way Amaimon's back rose and fell with every slow breath he took.
They made it through the rest of the day, though it dragged on since Rin was attempting to pay attention again, seeing as finals were arriving and he really didn't want to repeat a year.
"Your humans are outside. There," Amaimon mentioned, as they walked past a door Rin hadn't been through yet, though he'd passed it multiple times that year.
Rin shot him a grateful look, going to open the door and see what his friends were up to.
He found Bon and Izumo out on a long veranda he'd had no idea existed at the academy, which, cool! He wondered how many students actually came out there, especially since winter was fast upon them, and whether he could sneak some time with Amaimon in between classes without worrying about prying eyes.
Eyeing the roof, Rin calculated the effort it would take to get there from the balcony, eyed Amaimon, remembering that he could, in fact, fly, or float, or whatever it was he did that enabled him to stay airborne, and saved the thought for another time.
"Hey, guys! How'd you even know this place was here?" Rin said, coming over to the two exwires. He saw them shoot looks at Amaimon when he came out, too, not liking being left alone in the hallway with a bunch of humans and no Rin.
Bon twitched and Izumo's cheeks were definitely pinker than could be excused by the winter air as Amaimon stopped behind Rin, looming like a crow over his shoulder and taking out a sucker to entertain himself with while he waited for Rin to finish his interaction.
Their strange reactions had Rin blinking back at Amaimon, wondering why they were staring when he realized it maybe had something to do with the fact that Amaimon was still Ambrosia, something they wouldn't know yet since they were both in upper-level courses and didn't share any classes with him since he was in Rin's.
"He knew, I just saw him coming here." Izumo shook her head, recovering from Amaimon's presence fastest to indicate Bon. Though Rin wasn't surprised, seeing as she hadn't been there during the Bathhouse Incident™ like Bon had been.
"Yeah, uh, I wanted to wait and see the assembly that's happening since maybe it'll explain why our exorcist exams have been moved forward," Bon explained, shifting his gaze to the stage below them where exorcists were already gathered.
"I'm gonna go get everyone else. They should see this too," Bon was quick to add, shooting another look at Amaimon before heading back inside.
"What's his problem?" Amaimon muttered around his sucker, leaning more against Rin and draping his arms to hang over his shoulders as he settled in for the long haul.
"Ah," Rin sighed, guessing at what Bon's issue was, "I'm pretty sure he's still traumatized after what he saw at the bathhouse."
Now Izumo was definitely blushing, glaring at the two of them and admitting, "I heard about what happened from Shima in vivid detail. Vivid. Detail. You know we had to cut our spa day short because they shut the place down to clean the mess you guys left, right?"
Amaimon grunted, burying his nose into Rin's hair. "Who cares? That exorcist should have dealt with things before I was forced to. I'm not a babysitter."
"Sorry, Izumo," Rin tried, hiding further against Amaimon in embarrassment because that meant Shiemi and Shura knew about what had happened, too, and Shura was not polite enough not to tease him about it. "I couldn't really control myself until after Amaimon killed the demons."
"Yeah, I got that part from Shima, too," Izumo said, arms crossed as she tried to calm her blush.
Thankfully, they were interrupted by Bon and the others returning.
A nervous laugh bubbled from Shima at the two sharp looks he was subjected to as Amaimon and Rin turned to glare at him on sight.
The still very not trusted spy was saved by Shiemi coming up to them with a smile. "Rin, Ambrosia! Isn't it so nice out here? We're so high up!"
"I know, right?" Rin grinned, glad that at least one other person thought the place was super cool.
"Er."
Rin turned to see Bon looking nervous and wondered what the guy's problem was this time.
"Shiemi, I thought we covered this, that chick's Amaimon, demon king of earth?" Shima said, flicking his own tense look towards Amaimon, though the demon just leveled a blank expression back.
"O-oh, I'm sorry, Amaimon." Shiemi flushed, bowing towards Amaimon at her perceived blunder.
He just watched as Amaimon sighed, tossing his finished sucker to the side and pulling out another one, "I don't care. Use whatever."
"Hey, the assembly's starting, guys," Konekomaru called from the railing where he'd been watching the proceedings from.
As Mephisto made his grand entrance, Amaimon snorted while Rin snickered at the theatrics he employed every chance he got.
"Do you think he can see us up here?" Rin asked, leaning over the edge and letting his pupils change to their demonic form so he could see Mephisto better. He'd poofed out a microphone decorated with one of his pink polka-dotted silk scarves he liked to wear tied in a bow around it.
"He knows we're here," Amaimon confirmed as he joined him, clawed hand coming up to grip the back of Rin's jacket as if worried he would fall off the ledge somehow.
Okay, he had a building record of falling while in Amaimon's presence so maybe it was warranted, and, Rin decided, snuggling closer under his arm, he wouldn't be complaining about the physical contact.
Then they heard why their exam dates had been moved up and Rin shared a grimace with Amaimon. The increase in demonic activity throughout the world, which Rin now knew to be caused by the artificial Gehenna gate, though that fact wasn't announced, meant the Vatican wanted as many new exorcists in the field as possible.
"The start of next year? That's only a month and a half away!" Izumo shrieked down at the stage and Rin could imagine why with the intense way she and Bon had been studying, the pre-exam anxiety would be hitting them hard.
"Could this be related to the Illuminati?"
Rin hid a wince even as the other exwires shot suspicious glares over at Shima, their resident Illuminati spy, to his yelped denials about any involvement.
Not that Rin believed him either, but he also didn't care to press Shima all that much.
They returned to watching as Mephisto answered some of the worries of the exorcists until he revealed that they'd be getting a powerful addition to their ranks sent from the Vatican to their branch of the True Cross Academy to help, as well as work as a cram class professor.
A beat passed and Rin flinched violently in Amaimon's hold as Lightning came onto the stage, breath freezing in his lungs at the sight of the arc knight.
"Oh no, not that guy."
For once, Rin agreed with Shima. His vision started to tunnel as Lightning dealt with a swarm of hobgoblins that had "mysteriously" attacked at just the right moment to allow him to impress everyone with a high-level summoning whose lengthy invocation he'd truncated to almost nothing.
"That guy is amazing," came Bon's awed whisper.
Rin began shivering.
A low growl reached his ears and he found himself drawn away from the railing by Amaimon, realizing his body was numb as he tried to walk and stumbled instead.
"Hey, where are you guys going?"
He blinked, eyes heavy for some reason, and tried to bring himself back to answer Bon's question.
"Away," came Amaimon's short answer for him when he couldn't get his mouth to work.
"We've got cram classes after this, though. You'll miss them if you leave. Lightning'll be teaching us, too, now. I can't believe it! This is great!" Bon continued, excited and unable to understand how anyone could knowingly skip class, especially one taught by Lightning.
Amaimon just sneered at Bon before hefting Rin into his arms bridal style and leaping to the eaves of the nearest roof, jumping until they reached an alcove hidden away as high as they could go.
The wind muffled any sounds from the stage below and Amaimon pulling him to his chest muffled even that when Rin started hyperventilating into his embrace.
He's here he's here why is he here whyishehere!
Time fled in the rapid pulse rushing in his ears. Rin didn't know how long he panicked for, only coming back to himself because of the steady beat of Amaimon's heart in his ears and being surrounded by the earth king's scent until he could breathe normally.
Something in his body language must have let Amaimon sense that he'd calmed down enough to talk, his question coming out in a dangerously soft voice over Rin's head, "What did that exorcist do to you?"
"I don't know!"
His voice came out weak, but Rin really didn't know why just seeing Lightning was affecting him like it was and it made his body's reaction even more confusing and that just made everything worse.
His face was hot, his head hurt, he kept hiccupping and his eyes were wet and he hated feeling like this.
"You weren't there," Rin bit out as Amaimon waited for him to elaborate, warm clawed hand pressed to his back as a solid comfort. "It was when Shima came back and Lightning was there to figure out if he'd be tortured for information or stay with us as a spy."
He shivered but made himself tell Amaimon what had happened, trying not to let his claws put holes in his sweater where he had them gripped.
"All he did was say he'd always wanted to meet me and rubbed his face really hard against mine. But he wouldn't let go and his hand was in my hair and his body was on me and he smelled awful and-"
Rin began hyperventilating again, heart pounding as he relived the simple encounter in Mephisto's office.
The hiss that came out of Amaimon's mouth was serpentine as he snapped his fingers to summon his coat and wrap Rin in it, cocooning him in the dark of the maroon fabric.
"I'll gut that human like the repulsive creature he is."
It took everything Rin had to force himself to grab Amaimon's arm, bringing his head up out of the coat to stop him from leaving to do just that.
"You can't," he gasped out, voice thick as he tried to get his tongue to function right. "Mephisto wanted to kill him, too, but he said he needs him for some plan, so he didn't."
"I don't give a damn what his plans are," Amaimon sneered, tense under Rin's as he visibly held himself back from enacting his immediate vengeance. "That human knew exactly what he was doing. He was using our body language to mimic a demonic claim."
Rin's breath stuttered in his lungs.
"He must have guessed at Mephisto's claim on you."
His eyes widened in horror. "How?"
Wait.
He flashed back to the day in the office when he'd been so distracted by remembering the time Mephisto had taken him on his desk, and then the rest of Shima's interrogation and what happened after that he'd forgotten an important detail.
"He saw my claw-marks I left in Mephisto's desk. I don't know how he guessed from that, but that's gotta be it," Rin grit out, dropping his head at the shame of letting something so private out to someone like Lightning
The growl that came out of Amaimon echoed in the alcove, frightening a flock of resting birds into panicked flight and Rin flinched again, clinging tighter to his taut body.
"Please don't do anything, Amaimon," Rin begged, trying for calm before his erratic emotions led Amaimon into beginning a massacre, and then Mephisto would probably kill Amaimon or punish him again and Rin would have been the cause.
"Just. Don't worry about it," he said, voice leaving him in an exhausted exhale as he went limp in Amaimon's arms, coming down from the adrenaline rush he'd just been through. "I can deal with him and it's not like he can do anything in class. Now that I know what he was doing I'm not letting him touch me again, even if I have to use my flames. I just won't hang around him alone anywhere."
It was hard to tell if his words were having any effect on Amaimon, but he hadn't left him to go murder Lightning yet, so Rin hoped he'd begun to calm, despite the ferocious snarl still on his face.
"I'm not leaving you in a room with him," Amaimon hissed down at him from a fang-filled mouth, teeth lengthened in his rage.
Rin could only sigh, weighted down and heavy as he curled up further, wishing he could hide from what he had to do and knowing he couldn't. "You can't come with, though, right? Won't you just get attacked by the exorcists if you go into cram class with me?"
"I can do whatever I want," came the immediate declaration through clenched teeth, Amaimon not quite answering whether he could be around exorcists without them getting out the pitchforks and torches.
"If you can, I," Rin hesitated, realizing what he was asking would bring a whole host of complications whose consequences he wasn't sure would end in his, Amaimon's, or even Mephisto's favor.
But, "I want you there, with me. Please."
At his quiet request, the growls that had been rumbling through Amaimon's chest slowed to a stop, losing the dangerous tension coiled in his body and letting his demonic features recede with a shuddering roll of his neck.
"Okay," Amaimon said after a while, leaning to press his cheek to Rin's hair and bringing a clawed hand up to pull him into an undemanding hug.
In the quiet, Rin brought his arms around Amaimon, dropping his head to his neck and breathing, letting his body relax in preparation for what was to come.
He'd already missed the first of his cram classes by the time they made it off the roof. Amaimon had snapped his fingers, makeup gone and his hair out of the messy bun, back in that strange point at the top of his head. The school uniform he'd been wearing was replaced with his usual get-up, donned like a battle-armor,
Rin's phone had a flurry of texts from his friends wondering where he was and letting him know that Lightning's lecture had started.
...and that it was packed, students from other classes and years, and even exorcists, all attending the famous arc knight's first lesson. Rin almost ran the other way. But, knowing Amaimon was going to be with him let him open the door, taking a shuddering breath and entering to the attention of a room full of exorcists, exwires, his friends-
-and Lightning.
They'd arrived to see Lightning had been drawing what looked like PlayStation controller symbols on the chalkboard but, at their entrance, stopped. He had a wide, cheerful smile on his face, but his eyes were that same penetrating gaze that made Rin feel like he was being picked apart under a microscope in a lab somewhere deep, where no one could hear him scream.
The class was still silent.
Rin realized he'd frozen when he'd locked eyes with Lightning until Amaimon stalked past him, each step precise and heavy, his boots sending the ground rumbling beneath him as if something much larger walked towards the front of the room where Lightning was.
Lightning didn't seem to have any sense of self-preservation.
"Amaimon? Demon king of earth and seventh in Gehenna? In my classroom? Holy shit! I didn't know my first lecture was going to be this exciting or I would have prepared better."
Amaimon was upon him.
"I'm a huge fan, I-!"
He was cut off as Amaimon slammed his fist down on the desk between them, splitting it down the middle with a deafening crack that sent splinters into the air and fractures spreading through the floor beneath it.
Letting his fist stay where the surface of the desk had been, Amaimon fastened his eyes onto Lightning's, each word of his next sentence coming out like a row of tombstones dropping to the ground.
"If you touch him again, I will bury you."
Breath held in his lungs, Rin waited for the answering storm from the Lightning, not knowing how he would respond to Amaimon's threat.
"Ahaha who knew Rin Okumura, our very own illegitimate son of Satan, had acquired such powerful allies," Lightning laughed, carefree in the face of the very real danger Amaimon presented.
"Alive," Amaimon hissed out, sending a venomous glare at Lightning before heading back towards Rin and grabbing his hand to pull him over to where his friends sat in stunned silence.
Rin found himself pushed into his seat, the poor random exwire from another class that had been using it shoved aside to make room for him and Amaimon sitting on the desktop to block his view of Lightning.
"Continue your lesson, exorcist," Amaimon commanded, leaning back on his hand and pulling out a sucker, dropping the wrapper to the floor like a challenge.
The room got a lot emptier as, all of a sudden, a stampede for the door happened until it was just them and the rest of Rin's friends still there.
"Ah, where did everyone go?" Lightning scratched at his stubble, leaving a smear of chalk dust on his face as he shrugged and smiled at the ones who'd remained.
"Well, does anyone want to tell me what these symbols are on the board? How about you, Rin?"
"What?" Bon yelped out, snapping out of the shock he'd just gotten and turning wide eyes on Rin from where they'd been locked on the desk Amaimon had destroyed. "What the hell was that, Rin?"
His question had Rin flinching and reaching out for the back of Amaimon's coat to steady himself before he could start trembling.
"Um, Rin," Shiemi said, voice soft with her worry, "are you okay?"
"Hey! Amaimon, what gives? I can't see the board!"
"What did he mean by 'touch him again'?"
"Yeah, man, wasn't the only time that happened during my whole interrogation thing?"
Each question from his friends made Rin bow further into his seat until his head pressed into Amaimon's back next to his clenched hand, staring into the weave of the fabric with unseeing eyes. He could hear the growls starting up and knew he had to get them off the current topic before the Amaimon got really mad.
"Can we just forget this, guys?" he managed to grit out, heart beginning to race again. "Please. Just drop it."
Something in his voice must have registered how very much he didn't need their attention, however well-meaning it was, right then, because they quieted. The room fell into awkward silence until Rin could pull his head back from Amaimon with a shaky exhale.
"They look like PlayStation controls," Rin began, answering Lightning's question.
"Close!" He wasn't close at all, the symbols being short-hand summoning circles, however that worked. Rin could imagine the cheery smile on Lightning's face and he hoped the glare he knew Amaimon would be giving him was vicious enough.
The lesson continued, though it only proved to showcase how far beyond them Lightning was, being a truly awful teacher who couldn't explain how he got the results he did, just that 'the rest is omitted!' Like that answered anything.
"And I guess that's it for today." Lightning dusted the chalk off of his hands, beaming at them, continuing with, "I have something I need help with if any strong guys feel up to the task."
Rin was already up and out of his seat, hearing Amaimon drop to his feet off the desk to follow behind him as he left the room.
He walked a few feet away until he had to lean back against a wall, letting the bricks cool his heated body through his uniform.
"Can we go to Mephisto's?"
A silent nod answered Rin and Amaimon raised his hand to snap, depositing them in Mephisto's bedroom.
Exhausted, Rin smiled at Amaimon before shedding his clothes and crawling into the bed, curling into Amaimon's chest when he followed suit.
In an effort to get as much contact as possible, Rin twined his tail around Amaimon's, sighing as a black clawed hand ran through his hair.
He drifted off to sleep.
"I can't believe you let that filthy exorcist live to come back to your school! And how could you not tell me what the creature did to Rin?"
"Simply put, Amaimon, because I knew this is how you'd react. As for letting him come back to this school, I'm afraid that was out of my hands. He was sent by the Vatican, although I suspect he requested Angel, the current Paladin, to send him here for his own purposes."
Rin awoke to Mephisto and Amaimon arguing in the room, though when he sat up they stopped, staring with twin, slit-pupiled eyes and waiting for him to make a move.
"Please don't be mad at Amaimon," Rin croaked out, mouth dry after who knows how long he'd been sleeping for. "It was my fault. I asked him to go to class with me."
They shot each other glares before both moved to climb into the bed on either side of Rin, Mephisto snapping his fingers to summon a glass of water and Amaimon dropping his head on Rin's shoulder, curling an arm around his waist.
He sent a grateful smile up at Mephisto for the water, letting him vanish the glass when he'd finished.
"So, am I in trouble?" Rin asked, hesitant, and picked at the threads of the duvet over his lap. "Yukio said the Grigori wouldn't be happy if they found out I was 'fraternizing' with a demon king and that they might lift the suspension on the execution order."
"Ah, you're in luck, Rin," Mephisto said as he traced his claws along the veins of Rin's arm and over his hand. "Because of the looming threat of the Gehenna Gate opening, the machinations of the Illuminati, and the encroaching demon horde, the Grigori have realized how short-staffed they are. They can't afford to execute you now, not when they need all the fire-power they can get."
"Oh."
Inhaling, Rin tilted his head to lean it against Amaimon's, pressing his face to his hair. The relief he expected to feel at no longer having an execution order over his head was shadowed by the other issues Mephisto had brought up and he didn't know how to feel about it.
"I would have killed them if they tried," Amaimon muttered into his neck, arm tightening around Rin's waist.
A smile twitched at Rin's lips. "Thanks, Amaimon."
"Will you be alright around Mr. Lewin during your classes with him, then?" Mephisto asked, though Amaimon growled at the question.
"Yeah," Rin placed a calming hand over Amaimon's where it rested on his stomach. "I told Amaimon, if he tries anything again I'll use my flames on him. I'm not afraid."
"Good," Mephisto nodded, squeezing his hand, "however, never drop your guard around him. He lacks many of the moral hang-ups most humans have and there are no limits to what he'll go through to get what he wants. I'm honestly surprised he wasn't born a demon."
Amaimon sneered. "Don't lump us in with that worm."
"Yes, well," Mephisto sighed at that, "never mind that there's also his strange obsession with us, demons, that is, and I'd rather he not be mucking around in my school."
Rin let the two keep talking over him, the back-and-forth of their bantering lulling him into sleep. His last impressions were of being tucked further against a warm chest, another draping itself along his back until he was surrounded, protected, on both sides.
"Hey, Rin."
Rin looked over from his seat at the table he, Bon, Shima, and Konekomaru were studying at, waiting to see what Bon wanted.
"I'm not sure what's up with you and Lightning," at Rin's twitch when he mentioned Lightning, Bon's eyes narrowed, exhaling through his nose before continuing, "but I just want you to know I've decided to try to become his apprentice."
"No way! Really?" Rin blinked up in shock at Bon, not being able to see him as anyone's apprentice. He could see Koneko and Shima were just as surprised, putting their books down to look at their hardworking, genius of a friend.
"Did you ask him already?" Koneko asked after he and Shima got over their exaggerated freak-out over Bon finding a mentor.
"Yeah," Bon sighed, "he said 'no' but I'm not going to stop until he accepts me, even if I have to do his menial tasks he keeps finding for me. As long as I can learn from him."
"So," Bon breathed, facing Rin, "I just wanted you to know."
Rin gave him a shaky smile. "Hey, it's okay, Bon. Don't let me stop you. If you want to learn from him, then that's what you'll do."
They finished their study break and Rin headed home. Finding that, once again, Yukio wasn't there. He had a subdued dinner with Kuro, despite his attempts to cheer him up.
The next few days proved hectic. Exorcists were in higher demand than ever and exwires were being called on to handle easier missions so the tougher ones could be dealt with before they got too dangerous for the unaware public.
He even had a joint mission with Shiemi, the two of them clearing a decrepit house in the middle of two skyscrapers of a rot demon that had settled in and started causing trouble. They'd been able to have a long talk about their worries for Yukio, though, in the end, neither could think of a way to reach him.
Then, while they headed back to the academy, Rin got a call from Mephisto.
"Rin, if you could come to my office. I've got something pressing that you'll need to hear."
"Sure." Rin blinked, sharing a confused look with Shiemi before they parted ways.
When he opened the door to Mephisto's office he froze, seeing Yukio before him looking a little rough, like he'd just come back from a mission.
And Amaimon was there, lounging against the wall behind Mephisto's desk, chewing a sucker and eyeing Yukio down in a menacing way.
"Rin, come here, please."
Mephisto leveled the both of them with a knowing smile that Rin wasn't sure he liked as he came to stand before the desk, hands shoved in his pockets.
"Miss Kirigakure has been missing for two days. Do either of you know where she is?"
"No," Yukio replied, hands behind his back in a parade rest and a cool expression on his face as he resolutely ignored Amaimon.
Rin watched as Amaimon's eyes slid to meet his and he wondered at what he was thinking.
"Rin?"
"No, I don't know where Shura is," Rin answered, forcing himself to look away from Amaimon and back at Mephisto's suddenly impish smile.
"Well, I do."
Quirking an exasperated grin at Mephisto, Rin sighed, "Seriously? Then what do you need us for?"
"I need you two to go to Aomori prefecture and bring her home-she's missed two days of work, you know."
"Why Aomori?"
He was curious about that too, so he waited to see how Yukio's question would be answered.
"Miss Kirigakure is from Aomori. We tracked her phone gps to her last location at the Hachinohe train station. It's a little concerning that she's vanished like this, so I'd like you two to go retrieve her."
That made sense. Rin nodded, accepting the information until Yukio's next words stopped him flat.
"Does this mission require both of us? I'll be able to handle it on my own and it'll be much quicker without Rin."
What? Rin's teeth grit, trying to contain the hurt he felt, because he hadn't seen Yukio in what felt like weeks outside of class and here he was, already trying to get rid of him like he was some excess baggage that would 'weigh him down.'
A shift from Amaimon showed Rin he had eyes intent on how the situation was playing out.
"Mr. Okumura," Rin shot a startled look at Mephisto, hearing the danger in his voice and seeing the lack of the usual mirth in his face.
"Don't argue. This is an order."
"But-"
And then Rin's stomach dropped as Mephisto spoke again.
"One of my sources tells me you've been engaging in some dangerous training. Please don't endanger your life." Mephisto smiled, a hint of fangs in his mouth as he pointed at Yukio while Rin kept trying to understand what he meant by dangerous training. The way Yukio had an instant denial on his tongue just made Rin all the more suspicious.
"Overwork is poison to the body, why don't you use this mission to blow off some steam, hmm?"
With how Yukio grit his teeth Rin could tell he'd found himself backed into a corner and wasn't happy. But, ever polite, he gave a curt nod. "Understood, Sir Pheles."
Rin had one more question for Mephisto, "is Amaimon coming too?"
A slide of Mephisto's gaze and he eyed Amaimon from his peripherals, though he remained facing Rin.
"No. Not this time, Rin."
He could see from Amaimon's expression that he wasn't happy about the situation either, crunching through his sucker and pulling out another to replace it.
The door shut behind Rin and he flinched, Yukio having left without any sort of acknowledgment at all.
In this one case, it was okay. He needed to talk without Yukio around, anyway.
"Is this another one of those things you're going to have to apologize for in advance?" he said after leveling a long look at Mephisto.
"It is," Mephisto replied, steepling his hands in front of his face as he watched for Rin's reaction.
Rin just let out a sigh, rubbing at his hair. "Okay."
Still, he sent them a dry grin. "Maybe I can drag whatever it is that's eating at Yukio out of him since he can't escape me now."
Snorting came from Amaimon, rolling his eyes at the wishful thinking. "Good luck with that."
His response made Rin smile, the irony of the ever reticent Amaimon looking down on Yukio for not being forward with his emotions was not lost on him.
He turned towards the door to leave, then hesitated, looking back from under his bangs. "I'm not mad at you guys, yet. Though I think I will be if you don't say 'goodbye'."
Amaimon reacted first and he had his arms full of earth king, raising his face to accept the kiss dropped on his mouth with a pleased smile.
Next, Mephisto appeared, drawing him into an unhurried kiss that he savored, knowing he'd more than likely be wanting to strangle him when he saw him again.
It had to end, though. Rin pulled back, heading out to go deal with Yukio and prepare for a long mission up to the snowy mountains of Aomori.
Amaimon shoved his hands in his pockets, watching the door Rin had exited through before turning his blank gaze to Mephisto.
"He's too forgiving."
Mephisto sighed, leaning back on his desk, tracing a clawed finger over his lips as if still feeling Rin's kiss. "And I'll be taking advantage of that forgiving nature of his for a while yet."
"Unfortunately, the worst is still on the horizon, and we're fast approaching it."
The mission went…about exactly as Rin expected it to.
Well, he'd never expected Shura to have such a strange and tragic past, although considering she'd been rescued by Shiro as a kid on one of his missions, maybe he should have.
But, Amaimon had been right. Yukio had played tone-deaf the whole time, distracting and parrying every attempt he made to find out what Mephisto had meant by 'dangerous training.'
Never mind that the way Yukio had rescued Shura from the dragon demon she'd been contracted to by her ancestor had been…worrying. He'd seemed a little too keen on getting ahold of the demon's immortality and strength for Rin's tastes, even if he played it off as a strategy afterward.
Everything about the mission had been worrying, actually. Especially Shima's appearance at the end that could only mean the Illuminati was trying to get their claws into the immortal dragon for his regenerative properties.
Besides Shura, who, after Rin had shaken sense into her about valuing her life a little more had gone back to her usual blunt self, Yukio and Shima had walked around like facades. Every word out of their mouths shallow mimicries that Rin was almost depressed to think they thought they fooled anyone with.
Not that he really cared whether Shima was false, long having decided to never trust him again.
Still, he'd tried his best to at least let Yukio know Rin knew he was hiding things from him and that he was there should he decide to talk.
The hug he'd received from Shura at the end of the mission and her thanks for giving her a new reason to live would be enough for him to call things a success, this time.
Now, with Yukio recovering in the hospital from the broken bones he'd received in their fight, Rin found himself back at the academy and making his way up to Mephisto's office.
He blinked in surprise to see a now short-haired Shura walking out of the office, sans sword, which she could no longer use to the same effect without the demon that had been inhabiting it.
"Oh, hey, kid." She came up to him, grinning and ruffling his hair like he was an actual kid.
"Shura! Ow, cut it out!" Rin grumbled, trying to dislodge her hand.
"Ahh, that makes me feel better," she said, ignoring his protests.
"What does?" Rin gave up, letting her hook an arm around his shoulders and lean on him with a sigh.
"Just enjoying my new lease on life. Freedom feels great!"
"What does that have to do with being in Mephisto's office?" Rin almost didn't want to know, especially seeing the way Shura's grin turned demonic.
"Oh, you know," she dragged out, voice sing-song, "it's just great that I can now say I've reached an understanding with two demon kings about you."
Rin froze, heart stopping as his mind went back to the only other demon she'd reached an understanding with. That demon being Amaimon and the understanding had been her threatening him over his relationship with Rin.
"Understanding?" Rin squeaked out, hoping he'd heard wrong.
"Yup," Shura grinned, adding an exaggerated pop to the end of her affirmation.
"Like you did with Amaimon?" Rin needled, feeling slightly desperate as Shura's grin only got more wicked.
"You know," she said instead of answering, "I never did get to tease you about what went down at the bathhouse. I think you've been avoiding me, Rin."
He groaned, dropping his head. He'd thought he'd escaped that punishment, but he should have known Shura had a long memory and would never pass by the opportunity.
Shura just let out a loud wolf-whistle, slapping his shoulder and cackling. "Oh man, kid. I can't believe it. Here I was, thinking 'wow, Shura, it sure is nice to get to enjoy a peaceful day at the spa. But gee, it's kinda noisy on the guy's side of the building. Sure hope Amaimon isn't causing any trouble.' And what do I find, but the troublemaker is you! Taking advantage of him!"
"It's not like I meant to!" Rin shrieked, stepping back to point his finger at her.
"That little perv', Shima, told us all the steamy details." She batted her eyes at him, clutching her hands to her cheek. "You should have seen poor Shiemi and Izumo's faces. They were so red I thought they were about to explode right there when they heard about the way you were all up on the earth king."
Rin thought he was about to explode too.
"OOOH Amaimon, play with me!"
"I'm gonna go see Mephisto now, leave me alone, you hag!" Rin yelped, dodging past her and making for the office to flee the mortifying situation.
He yanked open the door, bolted inside, and closed it, shutting off the sounds of her retreating cackles and slumping against the door, having narrowly escaped her clutches.
"I see you've had the pleasure of witnessing the new and improved Miss Kirigakure, too, Rin."
His breath exhaled in a whoosh, opening his eyes to send a flustered smile at Mephisto from where he was sat at his desk.
"I think I'm gonna have to put slugs in her bed if she keeps bringing up the bathhouse thing," Rin said, mouth twitching at his irritation.
Mephisto gave him a wry smile, leaning his head on his fist and tapping a gloved hand against his desk. "That may only encourage her. She's not one to fall from a challenge."
That directed Rin's attention over, and he noticed the new hole in the chair Mephisto sat in shaped suspiciously like a blade. Then he saw Shura's now empty sword leaning on the wall by the window and Shura's words about reaching an understanding came back.
"Please tell me she didn't figure out about us," Rin found himself whimpering as he eyed the sword. "She said she reached an understanding with you about me like she did with Amaimon."
The answering smirk was absolutely not helping and he glared until Mephisto laughed.
"No, I think her reaction would have been quite a bit more extreme than the talk we just had," Mephisto answered, rubbing a gloved finger over his cheek where the sword must have cut him on the way into the chair behind his head. "I'll live for another while longer, it seems."
Rin came forward, standing before the desk with a hand on his hip as he considered what he'd say.
"You and Amaimon were right. Yukio didn't budge," he began, watching for Mephisto's reaction.
At the conversation change, Mephisto inhaled through his nose, shifting back in his chair as he waited for Rin to continue.
"I'm guessing you know exactly what kind of training he's doing and it's probably a lot worse than either of you guys are letting on, for you to have a spy on him."
Rin shook his head at Mephisto's narrowed eyes, cutting him off before he could speak. "I don't want to know. At least. Not from you."
"Oh?" Mephisto cocked his head and Rin frowned, looking away.
"Yukio's gotta come clean on his own or I might as well get my own spy to keep an eye on him." Rin gave a self-deprecating laugh at the situation, unable to believe his relationship with his own twin brother had fallen so far.
"Yes, that would cut into your rather limited funds," Mephisto teased, examining his fingers.
"Maybe if you weren't such a cheapskate with our allowance," Rin hissed, hands twitching with a renewed longing to strangle the bastard-and not in the fun way.
Said bastard only raised his hands in surrender and Rin huffed out a breath.
"So then, I'm wondering," Mephisto said, face neutral, "what's your verdict. Have I done something unforgivable yet or?"
"Oh," Rin blinked, "that's what you're worried about?"
He grinned at the puzzled frown on Mephisto's face. "Nah, I think Shura handled that for me. Honestly, I expected a lot worse from you with how serious you guys were. I already knew Shura had some weird stuff going on with her, Shima's still a sketchy guy, you still seem to know everything about everyone, everywhere, and Yukio is an ongoing issue, so nothing new there."
"You should be careful what you wish for." Mephisto dropped his head into his hands, groan leaving him at Rin's carefree answer. "As I told Amaimon, the worst is yet to come. You may find yourself wishing Shura had aimed just a little bit more to the right."
Rin bent over on the desk, mirroring Mephisto's position by propping his chin in his palms in front of his bowed head and smiling at the poor demon.
"You were worried I'd be mad! Was Amaimon, too? This whole time?"
The teasing words brought Mephisto's head up, eyes narrowed in his irritation at reading Rin wrong. Or being wrong in general, Rin suspected.
How could he resist that? Rin leaned forward to kiss his nose, smiling at the cross-eyed look he got. "That's sweet. No one would ever believe me if I told them."
"I'll show you 'sweet'," Mephisto growled, making to rise and grab Rin over the desk only for Rin to bounce back out of reach of the hand just brushing the ends of his hair.
"Nuh-uh," Rin sang, "if you really want to be punished so much, I'll leave. I've got classes to get to, you know."
"Forget your classes," came the petulant grumble from Mephisto at having his prey slip his grasp.
He snickered from where he was at the door, one hand on the knob as Rin looked back at the disgruntled expression he was receiving. "You're the one who led me on the path to higher education. I could have been working a part-time job somewhere with loads of free time. Reap the consequences of what you've sown, Mephisto."
One more dig should do it, Rin decided, twisting the door and opening it a small crack.
"I'll just go spend the day with Amaimon, now. Maybe we'll play again before cram classes start. That was loads of fun last time."
The door was slammed shut and Rin found his hand covered by Mephisto's gloved one, body pressed hard to the door at his back and the fang-filled grin looming over him.
Rin smiled up at Mephisto, pleased at having gotten his way.
"Forget. Your. Classes."
"Amaimon's not gonna be happy," Rin said, trying to contain a laugh. "I'm gonna tell him you were the reason he didn't get to play with me when I see him next."
A knee wedged between his and a hand wrapped in his hair, Rin letting out a gasp as fangs bit at his throat and Mephisto growled against him, making him go limp in his arms with a responding purr.
"Did you come to my office with this specific purpose in mind?" Mephisto growled the question against his throat as Rin ground down on his leg and pressed into the teeth scraping his neck.
"It might have been one of the reasons, yeah," Rin admitted, panting as he brought his arms up over Mephisto's shoulders to his head, flexing his claws in the purple hair there as Mephisto groaned at his response.
"Amaimon was right, damn him," Mephisto said and glared into his eyes, expression peevish, "you are an incorrigible tease."
Rin gave a breathless laugh as he was hauled into the air and his legs wrapped around Mephisto's hips, continuing to grind onto the hips below him once he'd settled.
"You know," Rin let out another gasp as he was brought away from the door only for his shoulders to be slammed against the wall next to it, "that night on your desk, I was kinda hoping we'd do this first before I realized what you were planning instead."
Moaning came from Mephisto, both at Rin's continued movements and what he'd just revealed as he panted out, "Even then, hmm? That I ever considered you innocent is a mystery."
He snapped his fingers before Rin could respond and he shivered, finding himself naked against the still clothed body. A moment later and he was being held up with one arm as Mephisto reached down to free himself from his pants, nudging his length at Rin's entrance.
A whine escaped his lips as Mephisto brought his tail up, too, toying along his spine and coiling with Rin's tail to shoot delicious sparks across his senses and he arched his neck to press his head to the wall when he couldn't handle it anymore.
So good. Rin shuddered against the feeling, concentration splintering between Mephisto's teeth at his neck, the way his gloved hands pressed into his hips to grind their lengths together, and the pleasure being wrung out of his tail.
He'd begun leaking on his stomach, vision tunneling, and body heating so much he thought his own flames were consuming him when Mephisto took pity and began preparing him, though that only added to the fire coursing through his veins.
By the time Mephisto had determined him to be ready, he was a shaking, needy mess, pushing back against the wall and down onto the gloved fingers like they were the only things holding him up.
And finally Mephisto pushed into him with a long groan at the side of his neck until he bottomed out.
Rin hissed at the feeling, bringing his arms up to Mephisto's shoulders as he tried to adjust. A second later Mephisto moved, every thrust shoving Rin into the wall behind him and Rin couldn't stop the cries from leaving his mouth.
Heat twisted in his stomach, winding tighter as Rin tried to keep up with the pace being set. He found his hips held still in one hand while Mephisto brought his other one up to his shoulder, keeping him in place and unable to do anything except take.
But his tail was still free.
At the thought, Rin dragged his tail along Mephisto's where they were wound together, sending sparks shooting through his senses and knowing it was the same for him by the uncontrolled sounds he'd finally started letting out.
He managed to get one of his clawed hands into the mussed purple hair and the other at his collar and tugged, slipping out of Mephisto's hold to latch his fangs into the bared shoulder until he tasted blood and Mephisto stilled, coming into him with a growl that reverberated through Rin's body.
And then Mephisto had a gloved hand around his length, the feel of the soft leather dragging over him in rough strokes unlike anything he'd ever felt before and he came with a cry, clenching around Mephisto, his body freezing in his release.
Rin slumped, boneless in Mephisto's arms, drawing his fangs out of his shoulder and panting into it when he couldn't be bothered to lift his head.
Still, Rin let out a happy purr, smiling as he nosed into Mephisto's neck and wrapped his arms in a tighter hold around the lightly shivering body.
"Incorrigible," Mephisto repeated, pulling out and letting Rin get his wobbling legs under him until he got used to standing again.
"Mm, yep," Rin agreed, reaching up a finger to catch a drop of blood he'd missed to bring it to his mouth.
He quirked a teasing smile at Mephisto, enjoying the way he watched him trace his tongue to his finger. "I'm gonna go to class and see if I can convince Amaimon to leave early."
Mephisto's pupils slivered at his words, looking more than a little demonic as the realization of what Rin was about to do to Amaimon hit him.
"Clean me up?" Rin raised his arms, indicating his still naked body as Mephisto groaned again, dropping his face onto a hand and raising the other one to snap Rin back into clothes.
"That poor demon doesn't know what's coming," Mephisto sighed, already imagining the sheer torture Rin was going to be inflicting on an unsuspecting Amaimon.
"Even better," Rin said, grinning and reaching up to pull Mephisto in for one more long kiss before darting out the door as quickly as he'd entered in the first place.
He had an earth king to seduce.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
Bon was acting weird.
Rin smiled as he held out the lunch they'd saved for the ever-studious exwire that Godaiin had brought for him.
He wouldn't have noticed except that, besides standing in the rain, staring at their group like a creep before they'd called him over, Bon smelled like Lightning and Rin was hyper-aware of him anytime he sensed his presence.
A glance showed him Amaimon-as Ambrosia, since they were in the middle of a break between their finals for regular classes-sending Bon a glare of his own from where he was slouched against Rin's side at the table. He hadn't been happy that Bon had chosen to become Lightning's apprentice, but Rin had been able to convince him to leave it at judgmental glaring and not physical retribution, something he wasn't sure Bon fully appreciated.
It had been interesting to introduce Amaimon to his human friend who wasn't also an exorcist in training. Luckily, Godaiin, with his new and improved lackadaisical attitude towards demons, took everything in good stride and Amaimon managed to not be too annoyed at having to remember yet another human's name.
Something registered to Rin, and he blinked to look just as Yukio came over, arm still in a cast, despite being scheduled to be released from the hospital the next day.
Rin forced himself to go along with the pleasant tone Yukio used, though given the topic was their upcoming finals that week and exorcist exams after winter break, nobody in the group was really all that happy to hear it.
Then, "Rin, can I talk to you for a sec'?"
Finding out one of the three exorcists who'd practically raised he and Yukio had just died of a heart attack was not a fun way to end lunch. Yukio told him the day the funeral had been planned for before heading back to the table.
"Hey," Rin returned to Amaimon, distracting him from the contemptuous way he was eyeing Yukio, "we're all gonna be studying the rest of the day. I know that's probably not the most fun thing for you, so you don't have to come if you don't want to."
"I'll just sleep." Amaimon shrugged, pulling Rin back towards him and into his lap so he could rest his chin on his shoulder, content to stay there while waiting for the group to finish eating.
Whether it was the winter atmosphere or the festive mood everyone was slowly getting into, there was something warm and companionable to the group study session that evening in the student lounge.
Rin thought he got more studying done with Amaimon sleeping with his head in his lap than he had any other time in his life. Maybe it was that he got to fidget with his hair whenever he found the words on the pages too distracting, running his hands through the green strands and listening to the soft purr that came from Amaimon at the absent touches.
Even his friends seemed less wary around Amaimon then, probably helped along by how non-threatening he appeared in his sleep, curled like a cat in Rin's lap.
The ambient sounds of other students studying around him, the warm mugs of tea Shiemi brought to share, the pile of junk food they'd pooled together to give them the energy to focus, all gave a sense of coziness to what would otherwise have been a painful night of cramming for finals by himself.
They didn't stay all night, though the lounge was open twenty-four hours, and Rin eventually woke Amaimon to head home.
"I don't know why you don't stay with us," Amaimon grumbled when he dropped Rin off at his dorm.
"I know you probably won't get it, but I can't leave Yukio," Rin sighed, leaning against the pouting earth king, "even if he's being kind of an ass right now, he's my brother and I'm not giving up on him."
"He doesn't deserve you either," Amaimon said as he glared up at the window to their room, tightening his arms around Rin.
"Yeah, I wish someone would tell him that." Rin huffed a deprecating laugh out, watching his breath trail away in the cold night air.
Amaimon left him with a kiss that warmed him to his toes, and he went inside to try studying again, although without him there Rin ended up falling asleep at his desk within the hour.
At some point Yukio must have come in because he woke with a crick in his neck and a blanket over his shoulders.
"I've decided not to be an exorcist!"
"Wah?"
"But weren't you just saying you were going to last night?"
"Hey! Don't let your mom discourage you!" Izumo shrieked at Shiemi's sudden announcement, "I'll go back and explain to her that you should be allowed to do what you want!"
Rin watched in utter confusion as Shiemi, who'd just the day before been full of determination to become an exorcist, delivered the news that she'd be dropping out of cram school. She'd still be taking regular classes at the academy but was going to take over her mom's exorcist shop, after all.
"Thank you, Izumo," Shiemi bowed before her irate friend, "but I've decided."
Kind eyes turned to Rin, and he blinked when Shiemi spoke. "Sorry for breaking our promise, Rin."
He mumbled something about how it wasn't important, still blindsided by her decision, and wondered if maybe she was dying or something to make such a drastic change overnight.
"Ah, but I agree with Shima," Shiemi continued, smile bright with her excitement. "We should celebrate everyone's birthdays and have a Christmas party at the same time when winter break starts!"
When Shiemi had run up to their group, they'd been discussing the realization that no one had been able to celebrate their birthdays that year, forgetting them in the hectic pace of their lives. Everyone had been ready to stay at the academy over the holidays, and although Bon, Izumo, and Koneko had all wanted to spend the time studying, Shima had called them crazy for not taking advantage of the break for a party.
Of course, he'd been shot down, but when Shiemi had suggested it, suddenly it seemed like a great idea.
Rin turned to Amaimon, who'd been ignoring the conversation he had no interest in. "Hey, do you have a birthday?"
"A what?"
Everyone turned to Amaimon, having heard Rin's question.
"You know, the day you were born," Rin tried, wondering how that'd even happened since he realized he had no clue how demons even came to be.
"I wasn't born," Amaimon said, brows furrowing and chewing on the sucker he had in his mouth as he became the center of attention.
"What, did you just pop into existence one day?" Izumo wondered, crossing her arms as she tried to understand.
"Yes," Amaimon turned blank eyes at her, not knowing why this made the humans look even more weirded out.
"Give it up, Rin," Koneko sighed, shaking off the matter. "Besides, I don't think you want to celebrate something like the birthday of the person whose body he's possessing, either, which is your next option."
"Er, yeah," Rin said in a shake of his head, that would be too weird, not to mention slightly amoral.
"Why don't you make his birthday the day you became a couple," Shiemi piped up, hands clasped in front of her face at the sheer cute factor of the idea.
His cheeks pinked as he glanced at Amaimon. Would that be the night of the festival or the night Amaimon had kneed him in the gut and told him he'd be teaching him demon etiquette?
And did that include Mephisto, too?
"That is disgustingly cute, Shiemi," Shima grinned at her in apparent approval.
Bon had been suspiciously quiet up until then, and Rin almost said something about it, especially since he kept sending tense looks at Amaimon. But ever since that night they'd studied in the lounge, Rin was almost hesitant to bring up what was bothering his friend. He didn't have a good track record for getting people to open up to him, anyway, if Yukio was anything to go by.
Speaking of Yukio, Rin shot a glance at where he watched the conversation, wondering what his thoughts were on how demons came to be and the concept of Rin's anniversary of his relationship with one. Although, based on the cool expression on Yukio's face, Rin was betting it wasn't favorable.
"So, it's agreed then, right? Winter break birthday-Christmas party for everyone is a go?"
Rin shook himself out of his thoughts. "Count me in!"
A round of agreements came from everyone, even if Shima pouted over the fact that nobody had wanted to when he'd suggested the idea.
"You students need a break, it'll be a good way to celebrate your hard work," Yukio finally said, and Rin tensed, noticing he made no mention of joining the party, himself.
"No! You have to come too," Shiemi shouted, surprising everyone with the force from her normally polite person. "I insist!"
On the one hand, Shiemi had just shocked Yukio into going. On the other hand, Rin winced, she was dying, or something. Right? He shared a freaked out look with the rest of the group.
Shiemi walked off before Rin could think to say anything, taking Shima with her and gathering Paku when she saw her further ahead to start planning the party. Still, the others were there.
"Guys, you don't think she's…dying, do you?" Rin cast a paranoid glance around.
A chorus of equally-as-paranoid agreements and alternative suggestions followed, nobody understanding what was wrong with Shiemi until they were all nearly hysterical.
Amaimon snorted. "She's not dying."
Sniffling, Rin turned wet eyes on Amaimon, waiting for his reasoning.
"I would have smelled if she were sick."
Adjusting his glasses with a sigh, Yukio said, "And I was going to add that her health check came back perfectly fine last time she was in."
"Still," Rin said as he looked over to where Shiemi was organizing roles for getting ready for the party with Shima and Paku at a table down at the room at the end of the hall, "I'm gonna go ask her what's up."
Another chorus went up, this time to tell him 'No' as he was held back from going to Shiemi.
Rin broke out of their holds to go hide under Amaimon's arm. "You guys are dumb. Amaimon, back me up."
"You're all strange and I don't understand humans at all," the confused earth king responded instead, though he still folded Rin into his arms anyway, at least understanding that much.
His response brought a laugh from Rin, nuzzling into Amaimon's neck before heading over with the group to the table to receive their marching orders.
Not surprisingly, Shiemi had already organized everything, her natural talent showing. Rin and Konekomaru were given the food to handle, and the rest of the tasks divided amongst the other exwires. Although apparently, Paku had dates lined up that night and the next with that guy she'd gone to the festival with, the two going steady still.
That still left-
"Um," Shiemi hesitated, turning to Amaimon, "Ambrosia, would you like to help me with getting the tree set up and decorated?"
Rin blinked, looking to Amaimon and wondering how he would take that.
For his part, Amaimon appeared lost at having been included, although that just meant his eyes were a little more widened than usual and his mouth was quirked in a slight frown.
"Ah! It's okay if you don't. I can do it by myself, too," Shiemi was quick to add, waving her hand in front of her face and blushing in embarrassment at the growing silence.
"Yeah, it's okay," Rin bumped his shoulder against Amaimon's. "You can come with me and get food. Or you can just go do your own thing, you don't have to join us for the party if you don't want to."
The jostling jolted Amaimon out of his shock and he frowned as he considered Shiemi's request before saying, "I'll help with the tree."
He seemed even more blindsided when Shiemi and Rin turned beaming smiles on him, frown deepening at the attention.
Rin left him with a kiss, rewarding Amaimon for good behavior, though he wasn't going to let on that that's what he was doing.
That accomplished, he turned away, heading out with Konekomaru, and feeling a deep sense of contentment that things had come so far that he could trust the demon king of earth with someone as gentle as Shiemi.
"Hey, Rin?"
Looking down at the call of his name, Rin hummed at Koneko from where he collected things off shelves for the party.
"What's up?"
The smile Konekomaru gave him was sheepish. "I can't believe I'm saying this, but I think, despite the occasional weird and slightly horrifying demon stuff, Amaimon is actually pretty cool. We've definitely come a long way since the start of the year because I would have thought I was crazy if I'd told past me that. Not to mention being friends with the son of Satan."
"Hah!" Rin shared a laugh at the irony of the words. "I was just thinking that myself. Seriously, thanks for having my back after everything."
"No problem, oh son of Satan," Koneko teased, "Your humble servant is happy to be of assistance."
"One of these days you guys are gonna get tired of those jokes."
"Doubt, it."
"Get the fire extinguisher!"
"No! Nee, stop rolling over!"
"Protect the food!"
"Forget the food, get the cake!"
Rin gaped as their hard work fell apart within seconds of Shiemi's familiar, Nee, rolling over in its sleep and taking the tree growing out of its belly down with it. The chain reaction ended with the cake destroyed, half the tables toppled, and the other half covered in fire extinguisher foam.
"I worked really hard on that food," Rin mumbled, a little heartbroken at the destruction.
Although.
The sheer randomness and absurdity soon had everyone in tears, Rin clutching at Amaimon's shirt as he doubled over in laughter. Though, by the blank look on Amaimon's face, he was once again lost as to why everyone seemed happy their party was ruined.
"Hey, not all the food's destroyed, there's still a lot here! At least enough to make for a potluck."
"We can move the rest to our place and have the party there!"
And that's how everyone ended up arriving at Rin and Yukio's dorm, filling the large suite with conversation and the smells of food.
Right as Rin turned to Amaimon where they sat around the kotatsu, finally covered with the blanket, a cloud of pink erupted nearby, startling Yukio and Shima, and suddenly Mephisto was there.
Without thought, Rin smiled brilliantly at Mephisto, almost getting up in his excitement when Amaimon tugged him back into his arms and Rin remembered he definitely couldn't let his friends know there was something going on between the three of them.
He pouted but settled back into Amaimon's hold anyway, content to at least know Mephisto was there, eating the food he'd prepared and enjoying the festive atmosphere.
Already, Mephisto snapped his fingers to summon another table to fill the small space in front of the kotatsu at the other end of the room and seated himself at it with the bowl Rin had held up for him.
Rin had a moment to appreciate the pleased smile on Mephisto's face before his attention was drawn back to the other demon king in the room.
"Rin," Amaimon breathed into his ear, causing a shiver to go down his spine.
The look in his eyes when Rin turned to him was devious.
"You like to tease, right?" Amaimon murmured, nosing at his neck and wrapping his arms around him where he was sat in his lap. "And he can't do anything about it here."
His pulse picked up at what Amaimon was getting at, shooting a look towards where Mephisto was across the room at the table with Shura and Takara, who'd both popped up to join the party just then, too.
A green-eyed gaze flicked to his from where Mephisto concentrated on pouring the wine he'd poofed into existence for whoever wanted some and Rin knew Mephisto would be watching the whole time, even though he'd be pretending not to.
"He's going to be so mad," Rin breathed back, delight staining his tone at the idea.
He turned in Amaimon's arms, looping his own over his shoulders and grinned. "I'm going to take out my tail, I want you to comb it out for me."
Amaimon's eyes widened even as his pupils slivered at the request and he purred out his response, "perfect."
"Look at him, Amaimon," Rin leaned forward to whisper in his ear, watching it twitch at the sensation and pressing his head to Amaimon's shoulder so he could muffle the conversation they were having from the rest of the room, "now take my tail out so he can see you doing it."
An answering smile slid over his throat and Rin could feel fangs in it. "Your innate ability to know exactly what will affect us most is astounding."
Clawed hands reached under Rin's plaid button-up to untuck the shirt beneath it, another shiver going through him when those hands found his tail, trailing feather-light claws over it before unwinding it from his chest.
"Did he notice?" Rin asked, letting the tip of his tail twitch back and forth behind his back.
"He almost broke his wine glass," Amaimon answered, and Rin could hear the smirk in his words.
Awesome. Rin sat back, reaching into his pocket for the small plastic comb he kept there, but when he tried to hand it over, Amaimon sniffed and poofed a nicer boar-bristle brush into his hands.
"No wonder your tail is always ratty if you're using that on it." Amaimon snatched the comb out of his hands, vanishing it with disgust. "Keep this one."
"Rin," Bon spoke up, breaking Rin's attention from tormenting Mephisto, "would it be alright if Lightning came?"
'No,' was Rin's instinctual reaction, followed closely by 'hell no' and by the soft growl from Amaimon, he agreed.
But his actual ability to say 'no' to his friends was next to zero, so, "Sure, Bon, I don't mind."
"Thanks, Rin." The grateful smile from Bon was almost enough to make him not regret his words.
Bon cocked his head at Rin's tail, then, frowning.
"Also, you're not gonna get your fur all over the food, are you, man?"
Amaimon snorted, glaring at Bon. "What's it to you?"
"Sorry, Bon," Rin smiled, "My tail's been cramping pretty bad all day from keeping it wound up like this, plus the fur's getting kinda knotted and Amaimon said he'd comb it out for me so I'm just gonna knock out over here until he's done. You guys just do your thing, don't mind us, okay? I'll try to keep it away from the food."
"Glad I don't have that problem," Bon muttered, going back to the conversation he'd been having with Shima and Koneko.
"He wishes he had that problem," Amaimon growled into his ear, causing Rin to laugh because, uh, yeah, having a tail was awesome.
At the first pass of the brush over Rin's fur, he turned into a boneless heap, slumping into Amaimon's chest with a purr.
The slow path Amaimon took over his fur was almost a kind of torture for Rin, too.
Then he felt the brush reach the end of his tail and Amaimon begin to tease the long fur there, each tug sending sparks down Rin's spine that he had to fight to keep from affecting him too much, considering they were surrounded by his unaware friends.
"He's furious," Amaimon said, low voice conversational as he carded his fingers through the fur next to lightly break through the knots there, each tug sending another sharp shock of pleasure through Rin. "I can see his fangs from here and his ears are pointing just a bit more than they should be."
Rin wriggled in his lap, looking over his shoulder to see for himself just how affected Mephisto was.
There sat Mephisto, laughing at something Shura had said.
And then those acid green eyes caught Rin's and he froze, breath stuck in his lungs at the look he saw there. Mephisto's mouth definitely had more fang than it should, smile just a bit over-extended and wider than was possible for a human mouth to be.
His eyes gleamed with the promise of punishment.
The dangerous gaze slid back to Shura, and Rin could move again, letting out a small gasp and hiding his face in Amaimon's shoulder. "Oh man, he's so pissed."
Amaimon shuddered beneath him, arms winding around his back, and the voice that reached Rin was full of dark excitement, repeating, "Perfect."
Anything Rin might have said caught in his throat. He couldn't respond as Amaimon resumed his ministrations over his tail, pulling the brush up in long, sweeping movements that had Rin flushing.
He hid his face against Amaimon's chest, letting his bangs fall to cover his eyes and hoping nobody tried to talk to him because he wasn't sure he'd be able to form a coherent sentence then.
A knock came at the door, Rin's heart stopping, and Lightning entered, dressed in a festive Christmas sweater, and smiling that smile Rin was sure hid something horrible. Shivers went through Rin he fought to hide at the scent invading his territory. Rin tightened his arms around Amaimon, curling further into his hold and feeling arms tighten over him in turn.
"Wow, this is great! Thanks for inviting me, Bon!"
"Sure thing, grab a plate!"
Rin hunched his shoulders as Lightning sat on the other side of Bon, spooning himself some of the stew in the center of the table. He had a moment to hope Lightning would ignore him and Amaimon before he felt that penetrating stare hit him and linger.
"Woah, I don't think I've seen your tail before, Rin," Lightning eyed the tail in Amaimon's hands. "Most demons keep it hidden, you know."
Rin wound his tail around his waist, trying to hide it from the over-interested gaze and glaring. "Yeah, so what? It was cramping up."
"Ah, yeah, I can imagine," came the cheerful response.
Somehow, Lightning decided making Amaimon his next target was a smart move.
"Say, Amaimon, what's your tail look like." Lightning leered with a deviant smile that made Rin cringe in revulsion. "I've always wondered. Is it like Rin's, here, with that pretty black fur at the end? Or is it green, like your hair? It's really eating at me."
"None of your damn business, exorcist," Amaimon hissed, claws digging at Rin's back through his shirt as he trembled in rage.
"Ahaha my bad, my bad," Lightning laughed, "I didn't know it was a sensitive topic. I'll head on over to the adult table. You exwires have fun now!"
"How's he gonna call that the adult table when Shura is definitely way less mature than we are, and that weirdo Takara is over there," Rin grumbled.
"As long as he's not at this table, I don't care. Mephisto can deal with him," Amaimon said, still glaring daggers at the retreating form of the arc knight.
Rin sighed, relaxing back down and dropping his chin to Amaimon's shoulder again. "He's going to be extra mad with that guy over there. Can we go back to the fun stuff now?"
"It serves him right," Amaimon growled, voice low so he didn't disturb the humans at the table. "Letting that creature continue to live is his idea, let him handle it."
"Normally I wouldn't agree with you on that stuff, but right now, yeah, he totally deserves it," Rin muttered.
Amaimon grunted his agreement with that statement before bringing his hand up to rub at Rin's back.
"You know," he hummed, tapping a claw to Rin's spine in thought, "now Mephisto really has to control himself with that exorcist sitting across from him."
"He can't let any hint show that he's watching us," Rin breathed, eyes lighting up with glee at the realization that the Mephisto torment could continue with even higher stakes.
Excitement had Rin bringing his tail back out from where'd he'd hid it around his waist, letting it sway in a lazy pattern.
He flipped it forward to brush against his cheek, a light pass just by his mouth, and peeked out the corner of his eyes to see a jagged smile plastered on Mephisto's face as he poured wine for Lightning.
Just like before, Amaimon used his claws to trail along it, the movements set to look deliberately absent, like he wasn't even focusing on his task
The initial excitement dwindled as a slightly firmer press of fingers along the length of his tail had much more of an effect than he needed to be having at a holiday-birthday party. Rin had to bite his lip, fighting the slow-burn heat that was coiling in his belly as Amaimon scratched through the short black fur and stuck his hands up under Amaimon's shirt to hide how they'd begun to twitch.
"You know, this might not be such a good idea," Rin let out, finding his voice breathless. "I don't know how I'm going to stand up and get out of here without everyone noticing."
"Hmm, that does sound like a problem," came the sly response and Rin's heart stuttered as he realized Amaimon didn't seem to care about his current state of distress.
Rin bit off a moan of surprise as he stopped with the light teasing and dragged his hand up in a solid tug, heat shooting straight south and making him jump at the sudden attack.
"Amaimon," Rin hissed, digging his claws hard into his back, "if my friends notice I will literally die of embarrassment."
He'd forgotten for a crucial moment that Amaimon was a masochist until all his painful reminder did was cause Amaimon to shudder under him, a low purr coming from his mouth and leading to another drag of his hand up Rin's tail.
It sent Rin collapsing to Amaimon's chest, vision going hazy as pleasure rolled through his trapped appendage. He bit his tongue until it bled to stifle the moan that tried to escape once again, feeling his pants getting uncomfortably tight.
Then Shiemi appeared next to them and terror gripped him, in no way being presentable enough to get up if she needed him for something.
"Look up, you two!" she said instead, smiling and blushing as she held her arm above them where they were sat.
Rin looked up and blinked through the haze of panic taking over his mind, seeing her with Nee in her hands, the little familiar having grown a bundle of some kind of plant with white berries on it.
"What's that?" Amaimon dead-panned, not liking his fun interrupted-Rin didn't know whether he was happy or not for it, either, despite the torture he'd been undergoing.
"Mistletoe! You have to kiss now," Shiemi said, voice cheerful. "I saw it in a Christmas movie that Izumo showed me!"
Oh no, Rin gulped at his naïve friend. She had no idea how literal Amaimon could be.
"I like this human tradition," Amaimon said, pulling Rin into a deep kiss before he could react to tell him she didn't mean a full-on make-out session.
A tapered tongue traced at his lips, taking advantage of the shock that had parted them, then slipped into his mouth to lick at the blood that remained from when Rin had bitten himself earlier.
"I so called it," Shima piped up from where he had been playing cards with the other exwires, who, of course, were all watching the display Amaimon and Rin were putting on with varying levels of red faces. "His tongue's, like, a mile long. Rin's so lucky, man."
Shura's drunken 'whoop' and Lightning's obnoxious laughter from the other table were not helping.
Rin pulled back, mortified, to glare at Shima, feeling his pupils slit into their demonic form. "And I told you, it's none of your business, dammit!"
Any further retribution paused as a ring of his phone saved Shima.
"Ah, hey, Juzo! You seriously just saved my tail, man, you have no idea. What's up?"
His eyes narrowed at having his vengeance interfered with but Rin watched with curiosity as Shima put the phone on speaker so his brother could address them.
"I have news! Mamushi and I are gonna have a baby!"
The frown on his face broke into a grin at the news, Rin cheering with the rest of the exwires at Shima's new uncle status.
"We're having an official wedding ceremony at Toraya, although we're already married on paper."
Mamushi was put on to speak next, asking Koneko to attend the upcoming wedding. Rin could see Bon looking down, hesitation in his voice as he said he was a little busy only for Lightning to speak up and let him know it was fine to go be with his family for the new year ceremony they were having.
Rin found himself invited too and blinked in surprise, not realizing he'd left on such good terms with the family after the impure king mission.
He hid a wide smile against Amaimon's shoulder, happiness welling up in his chest at being included in something so amazing. He'd never have imagined, growing up, being invited to something like a wedding, except in some vague future at Yukio's, who he had been certain would get married before he did.
Although, Rin glanced at Amaimon, did demons even get married? How would that work? Yukio was still likely to get married before he did.
"Great! I'll send the invitation details later. Bye, everyone!"
"Hey, let's open gifts, guys!"
Relief swept through Rin, so, so glad he'd been able to calm down during the phone call as he got up to exchange gifts with everyone. He shot a glare at Amaimon, who just sent a smug, fang-filled smile back at him and pulled a sucker out to wrap his tongue around, sucking it into his mouth as Rin flashed back to Shima's very accurate comment from earlier.
Still, Rin was back to smiling at the joy of the realization that he finally had friends to celebrate with, unable to believe how much had changed since just a year ago, when he'd been a loner without any real future and no one but his twin and the exorcists at the church to call family.
A little while later, and Shiemi presented everyone with her gift of a bottled four-leaf clover she'd grown herself as a luck charm for their upcoming exorcist exams.
"Okay, that's it, you're not dying or something, right, Shiemi?" Rin burst out, not liking the wistful smile she'd been wearing as she'd told them about her gift.
Shiemi just laughed, "I'm not going anywhere, everyone. I'll be right here, at the exorcist shop, I just can't fight by your side."
That didn't help Rin's confidence much, but he couldn't think of a way to press the issue further without ruining the mood and so was forced to wave goodbye to his friends as they headed home for the night.
It was just he and Amaimon outside, Yukio having wandered back in to get out of the cold.
Before he could decide whether he would head over to Mephisto's to continue where he and Amaimon had left off, Shura poked her head through the front door and called out.
"Hey, you two love-birds, I need to borrow Rin for a minute," her slurred voice turned teasing, "I promise you can have him good as new so you can give him your gift after I give him my gift."
"That doesn't even make sense. You're drunk, Shura," Rin hissed, stomping back into the house as Amaimon huffed in irritation behind him and went to wait under the nearby lamppost.
He found Lightning had wandered off without him noticing, thankfully, and Mephisto had vanished too, less thankfully.
Yukio was waiting in the kitchen, already starting to clean the dishes, although at least they didn't have to worry about putting away leftovers, the food having been demolished.
"So," Shura drawled out, reclining on the kitchen island as Rin joined Yukio in cleaning, "I, uh. I met your mother."
Rin stopped moving, eyes widening at the revelation.
"Just once."
When she was met with silence, Shura huffed an annoyed breath. "So? You wanna hear this or not?"
As he'd known would happen, Yukio nearly shouted at her to tell them, his desire for any information about their birth and mother something he and Rin had always shared a point of contention on. Rin just muttered an 'I guess' as he watched Yukio get that intense look in his eyes he'd seen in him when he'd been interrogating Mephisto. It still scared Rin just the same.
But Shura continued with her story anyway, of Shiro bringing her to their mother when he hadn't known how to take care of the little spitfire of a girl that Mephisto had tasked him with caring for, trying to pawn her off on Yuri.
Yuri.
They had a name to go with their faceless mother now. Rin wasn't sure what to do with that knowledge.
"Your mother was bright and kind and beautiful," Shura finished, her smile wistful as she thought back to the memory. "She had kind eyes like yours, Rin. And lots of cute little moles on her face like you, Yukio."
The story had drawn Yukio in, leaning over the counter while Rin just dropped his eyes at the fond look Shura wore.
"Well, the story's over, that's all she wrote!"
Shura hopped off the island with a wobble, walking over to the door before turning back to smile at them again.
"Happy birthday, boys."
With that, she was gone, back to her room, which was apparently on the second floor of their dorm, something Rin definitely hadn't known, or he'd have been way more careful about bringing Amaimon over.
Thinking about it left him as unsteady as Shura. So, he didn't. Anyway, he had to get through the last few dishes quickly before Amaimon grew impatient. Rin shrugged and got back to cleaning, only to notice Yukio staring down at a plate in his hand, eyes serious.
"Rin, what do you think about what Shura said," Yukio began, hands clenching around the plate.
"Er, what do you mean?" Rin watched with wary eyes as Yukio's grip tightened further.
"Don't you want to know about our birth, Rin?"
"Not really," Rin hesitated, "it's probably not a very nice story, considering."
He turned to face Yukio, twitching his lips in a small smile, and hoping it would do something, anything. "We just learned she was kind and pretty. That's enough for me."
It wasn't. He flinched as Yukio smacked the plate down on the counter, the harsh clack echoing in the kitchen as he shouted, "How can you say that? You're always rushing into things like this!"
A burning gaze confronted Rin and he stared at the fanaticism he saw there.
"Who's being the weak one, now?"
His breath caught, heart stuttering in his chest at the anger in Yukio's voice.
"Listen," Yukio leaned his hands on the counter, a wild look in his eyes that had Rin wanting to step back, "I've checked. There's so much missing data on her, even though she's the mother of the sons of Satan. But you know who'd have all that information? Someone who was in charge back then and who's still here now."
Rin's stomach dropped as he realized who fit that description.
"You're with Amaimon," Yukio threw like a dagger, "you can ask Mephisto and he'll probably tell you!"
You're with Amaimon.
You can ask Mephisto.
The words hit like a punch to the gut and Rin grit his teeth against the anger that bubbled up at the idea that he would use his relationships as a way of manipulating and information gathering.
"I won't."
The short words made Yukio draw up, mouth gaping open.
"What? Why not? How can you be around them, knowing they hold the key to your entire past and not demand answers?" Yukio spat out, fists clenching at his sides.
Now it was Rin's turn to draw back, fangs itching to fill his mouth and biting down a furious growl that tried to erupt.
"If Mephisto wants to tell me, that's his decision," Rin hissed, losing the battle with himself and feeling his fangs drop down. "I'm not going to be the one to ask him anything like that."
"How can you trust anything they say when they won't tell you something so important?" Yukio breathed, staring at Rin like he was an alien wearing his brother's skin, unable to recognize him or the things he said.
"I trust them just fine, actually, and I'm not going to be pressuring them for information like some kind of spy! So, drop it, Yukio."
Yukio looked like he wanted to argue that.
He'd had had enough, turning away and heading to the door. "I'm going to be with Amaimon tonight. I'll see you later. Good night."
Unable to speak past the rage filling his mouth with fire, Rin left his stunned twin in the kitchen, stalking to the exit, heart pounding and feeling like he was about to combust at any moment.
A moment later and Rin left the warmth of the dorms into the bitter winter winds. He stomped forward into Amaimon's waiting arms, dropping his head to his collarbone and quaking against him as he tried to cool his rage.
"I," Rin's voice shook, and he cleared his throat, trying to steady it, "am going to be staying with you guys for the next few nights, I think."
"Doesn't deserve you," came Amaimon's muttered reply, snapping his fingers to replace the cold outside air with the familiar smells of Mephisto's room.
Just as Rin began to pull away from Amaimon, he became aware of a burning presence in the darkness. Amaimon tensed against him as he sensed the danger, too.
They turned their attention to the deepest shadows to see two luminous green eyes staring at them and Rin was abruptly reminded of just who it was they'd been tormenting all night.
"Eins. Zwei. Drei."
"Kuchen Kukucksuhr."
And they were pulled into the cuckoo prison.
Rin awoke to darkness, blinking his eyes rapidly to try adjusting only to find it absolute, even as he activated his demonic eyesight.
He tried to bring his hand to his face to rub his eyelids and see if that helped only to realize they'd been bound, jerking against whatever was holding them in place and discovering it to be impossible to break.
A whimper escaped his mouth and he summoned his flames, wincing at the blinding blue light and trying to burn the bindings at his wrists. In the light, he saw his ankles were bound, too, body spread eagle in the suffocating void, not attached to anything but the black tendrils holding him up.
And he was naked.
"You won't be breaking those, Rin."
The words that came from the darkness made Rin freeze, his flames guttering out with a hiss in the suffocating silence and his heart fluttering in his chest.
"Mephisto?"
"Hmm."
Rin jolted in his bindings as the voice came from right next to his ear.
"It would be better to call me Samael, for now, I think."
"Samael," Rin managed to stutter, chest heaving in short, panicked breaths as he subconsciously kept tugging his wrists in the ties.
"Where's Amaimon?"
"Ah, you want to see him?"
The way Mephisto, no, Samael, phrased that question made Rin think maybe he didn't want to know where Amaimon was.
But he nodded, a sharp jerk of his chin as words failed to come.
Fingers snapped, loud in the vast space.
A form molded out of the darkness until Rin could see it clearly.
Amaimon was bound, too, but much differently than Rin.
Another whimper escaped his throat.
Solid black spears pierced through both Amaimon's arms and legs, blood sliding down to trace the contours of his body as he was held up like a mirror a few feet away.
"Amaimon!" Rin gasped out, straining against his bindings even more to try to reach him, his wrists bruising from the force until he had to stop or risk fracturing something.
The pupils, when Amaimon raised his head to meet Rin's, were blown in his irises until the gold of them was just a thin ring around the black, shining like an eclipse in the dark.
"Now," Rin bit his tongue when Samael's voice came again, seeming to reach his senses from every direction, "which one of you little teases came up with that idea at the party?"
It was Amaimon, Rin remembered, but, looking at what was already happening to him, he didn't want to add more fuel to the fire. He dropped his head to the side, opting for silence.
Amaimon screamed and Rin jerked his head back up to see his tail pulled taut above him, the sight making Rin recoil as he realized it was being yanked at an angle that meant bones would be grinding against each other.
"Silence is not an answer, Rin," came the voice over Amaimon's screams.
"But you don't like other's pain, though you are perfectly willing to throw your own life under the axe, so I can only assume you didn't answer to save Amaimon from suffering."
By the time Amaimon's tail was released and he was allowed to collapse on the spears, Rin shook, new blood welling up at the pressure until it was the only thing he could smell.
"Of course," a clawed hand traced along Rin's throat, one finger running over the artery there as Rin broke out in a cold sweat, knowing how easy it would be for that claw to slip, "you'll be forgiven this time, as you could hardly have known what you were doing when Amaimon asked you to be a part of his little plan."
The claws left his throat and Amaimon's head was jerked back by his hair, releasing a choked-off gasp.
"Amaimon, on the other hand, knew exactly what he was asking for. So, I won't be holding back from delivering."
Rin didn't have time to comprehend the weight of that promise before his tail was being yanked and a shocked cry ripped from his throat at the suddenness of the pain.
"I have a strong suspicion, however, that you are the architect behind the decision to use your tail as bait, so to speak."
A hand smoothed over the abused appendage as Rin trembled, the touch soothing the ache until it was no longer pain sending shocks through his body, but pleasure, and a low moan escaped his mouth.
Something clamped over the base of his tail and Rin yelped at the cool feeling of metal pressing into the furred skin there.
"I think you'll remember this little device," Samael murmured, tapping the metal with a claw to let the noise ring in Rin's ears.
"Shura put one on you to stop you from releasing those blue flames of yours."
He swallowed around a dry throat, remembering the pain the metal control could bring, breath coming out faster at the anticipation of its use.
Amaimon jerked in his restraints and Rin flinched to look at the sound.
"I've just put one on Amaimon, too," the voice hummed at his ear, warm hand rubbing at his hip bone and Rin realized he was hard, waiting for Samael's next move and not knowing when it would come.
A snap came again, and Rin was freed from the ties at his ankles only to find his arms pulled back behind him against his lower back, head pushed to what passed for a floor in the void, and his hips raised.
His eyes found Amaimon's from where he was still held aloft and another thin moan left him at the hunger he saw there, Amaimon watching as he was pushed into his current position as if he were the one doing it.
"How long was it that you two kept up your teasing? Such a blatant display in front of all those oblivious human friends of yours and not a one of them noticed you all but fucking Amaimon a few feet away from their card game. I didn't take you for an exhibitionist, Rin."
"Ngh, I did-I didn't," Rin tried to explain, vision hazy as his tail was mercilessly toyed with, hips twitching with every pull along the length, leaking on the ground already and beginning to feel the edges of desperation hit him.
"Didn't what, Rin?" The hand stopped, and Rin almost thought he was being given a moment to collect himself.
The metal around his tail bit into it, electricity jolting through the nerve endings until his body felt on fire and he screamed against the ground, coming in a rush at the sudden sensation.
His hips were still held in the air, even though he was trembling in the hold, and he'd be unable to keep himself upright even if he tried.
"Didn't what, Rin?"
Rin let out a sob, feeling his saliva as it pooled next to his open mouth where he'd been panting into the floor, but he forced himself to answer the question, scared to find out what would happen if he didn't.
"I didn't know Amaimon was going to go that far!" Rin cried out, turning tear-filled eyes up at Amaimon. "I thought he was just going to brush it."
Seconds later, Amaimon screamed, muscles twitching as if he was being electrocuted and Rin realized he was witnessing what he'd just been through exacted on his body.
Despite the agony, Amaimon was hard, too, though he didn't have the added benefit of Samael's touch on him like Rin did so, when the torment of the tail clamp ended, he was left suffering in his bonds, head dropping to his chest and gasping heaving breaths.
"I believe Amaimon has taken advantage of your trusting nature, Rin, to get what he wants."
Samael stroked his hand down Rin's shoulders along his tensed muscles and Rin froze as that hand made it to the small of his back, just over his trapped tail, waiting for the pain to come again.
His wide eyes were locked on Amaimon, almost pleading with him, though he didn't know what for, exactly. Amaimon, for his part, writhed against his restraints, uncaring about the blood that the movements kept pulsing out of the holes in his limbs as he watched the way Samael toyed with Rin.
"I'm going to be kind to you, Rin," Samael spoke, brushing a clawed hand over Rin's flushed cheek to clear his sweat-soaked hair away from his face.
He let out a whine at the gentle caress, trying to push up into it, only to find the hand at his spine prevented him from moving anywhere.
"But not too kind."
Again, Rin screamed as he found himself impaled; his legs spread until they ached as Samael shoved into him without warning.
Something tore, pain throbbing out in a hot wave from his entrance and Rin unable to do anything about it as hips slammed into his, pushing his face into the ground.
His demonic healing kicked in and he moaned when his tail was grabbed. The rough pulls Samael gave it had him hardening once more as the throbbing agony became tendrils of pleasure twisting into tighter and tighter knots inside him until he was trying to rock back onto the hips over his to no avail, still held in his position by an unforgiving hand.
He felt himself getting close for the second time that night, back arched to get Samael as deep as he could take him, each thrust rubbing against the sensitive point inside as his body shook with the force of them.
Rin was just peripherally aware of the sounds coming from his mouth, too focused on what Samael was doing to him to try to control his cries and pleas, though what he begged for was lost in the whirlwind his mind had become.
The tail clamp activated again.
Any ability to speak had fled, Rin's voice gone, unable to do anything except gag at the pain in a silent scream. Still, he came, feeling himself tighten around Samael even as he continued to move in him without slowing.
Amaimon screamed again, too, and Rin turned watery eyes up to see his tail clamp had also activated. His head had snapped back at a harsh angle, ears and fangs extended into their more demonic forms.
Even with the continuous stimulation lancing through his body, Amaimon hadn't come, though he was leaking against his stomach and canting his hips to try to get any kind of friction, only to fail with an animalistic moan.
There wasn't time to feel sorry for Amaimon as Samael picked up the pace, movements becoming erratic until Rin hissed, the overstimulation snaking through him and burning up along his spine as he writhed on the ground to escape and couldn't.
"Samael, please," Rin choked out, hands clawing in their bindings and arms sore where usually he'd be scrabbling at the surface of whatever Samael took him on and the fact that he was unable to now had him keening in frustration.
Teeth latched to his shoulder and before he could do anything, they sunk in, the sharp flash of pain followed by a hot rush as Samael shuddered his release into Rin, growling as he worked his tongue over the ragged holes in Rin's skin and pressed bruises into his hips until he'd finished.
It ended with Rin a mess on the floor of the void, eyes sightless and over-heated body shaking in uncontrolled bursts as if he was still being electrocuted by the tail clamp.
Through the haze, Rin found his body turned to lay on his back, whining at the pain of resting on his still tied arms and clenching his eyes shut as if he could escape that way.
A clawed hand ran through his mussed hair, tugging it away from where it was plastered to his forehead and he felt Samael lean over him, heat emanating from his body in a heavy blanket, to trail his long tongue over the streaks of tears on Rin's blotchy face.
His jaw was pressed into until he opened his mouth further and Samael's tongue slipped in, swallowing Rin's ragged gasps until he moaned into the kiss, wishing he could bring his arms up to pull Samael closer.
Rin's breath stuttered out of him when Samael finally withdrew, licking at his wet lips with a satisfied hum before bringing up a calloused thumb to slowly brush them dry.
"Will you leave Amaimon to his punishment, then, Rin?"
The soft question brought Rin's attention to the wretched sobs coming from the still trapped Amaimon and Rin shivered to realize the tail control had been left on while he'd been coming down from his release.
When he managed to open his eyes, the only part of Samael he could make out in the darkness were slit pupils surrounded by pools of acid green and the hint of a fanged smile.
"Please, Samael," Rin whimpered again, pushing his chest up against Samael's in a full-bodied glide of skin, trying to appease him any way he could, "let me help him."
"Well," Samael nosed into his throat, inhaling a deeply satisfied breath that had Rin quivering and arching his neck back to present him better access, "since you begged so prettily for me, I suppose I can allow it."
He snapped his fingers and freed Rin's arms, making him gasp at the relief of it, pins and needles buzzing through the weak limbs as he laid under Samael until he could even move to roll over.
Getting his feet under him took the work of a solid minute, though seeing the agony on Amaimon's face was enough to have him taking a first wobbling step, body shaking at the effort until he'd made it to his trapped body.
Amaimon looked at him but Rin didn't think he was even aware anymore, eyes glazed and body still dripping blood from the spears in his arms and legs.
Somehow, despite everything moving as if through miles of water, Rin brought his hands up to Amaimon's hair, carding his claws through it as he groaned, head lolling in his grip.
His lips pressed in a firm kiss to Amaimon's sweat-drenched crown before kneeling in front of him and taking him into his mouth, hearing the weak keen come from abused vocal cords.
He brushed a soft hand over Amaimon's tail, the clamp having stopped its torture to leave the appendage twitching from overstimulation as Rin tried to soothe it.
It took almost nothing at all from Rin before he came into his mouth, release trailing down his lips as Amaimon moaned over him and slumped in his restraints.
Rin pulled back, resting on his legs as exhaustion hit him and he swayed where he sat.
He wavered too far and felt himself start to fall, only to be caught in the warm cage of Samael's arms and brought to his chest where he dropped his head to nuzzle into the embrace.
A snap of his fingers and Amaimon was released, though he didn't drop, Samael keeping him floating where he'd fallen in the void.
Another snap and Rin blinked when his eyes saw light again, though it was the light of a night-lit room, bright after the total darkness they'd been in.
The snap found Rin cleaned of his exertions as Mephisto laid him down under the cool duvet of his bed, Amaimon coming to rest beside him next.
Instinct more than conscious thought turned Rin to snuggle further into Amaimon, who gave a sleepy murmur, already drifting off.
Rin brought his eyes to search for Mephisto, frowning when he noticed him standing at the end of the bed, watching them and unmoving.
"Mephisto," Rin complained, unable to form a complete sentence just yet, but knowing he wanted him to not be so far away.
"So even that hasn't scared you away," came the soft voice, said more to himself than to Rin, though he heard it anyway.
Smiling, Rin's eyes shuttered without his permission as sleep dragged at them, though he fought it.
"I needed that," Rin found the energy to say, fingers twitching as he tried to beckon Mephisto over when he still hadn't joined them in bed.
"I was so angry. I wanted to destroy something. Everything. You helped," he admitted, sighing in disappointment when Mephisto remained where he was.
His eyes had closed, and he'd resigned himself to not getting what he wanted, by the time he felt the mattress sink as Mephisto slid under the covers beside him, his warmth eclipsing Rin.
A content purr drifted out of him and he wrapped his tail around Mephisto's arm where it lay over his stomach, finally allowing himself to settle into the warmth of sleep.
"Amaimon is right," he caught just before he went under, "we don't deserve you."
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
Rin was more comfortable than he'd ever been in his entire life.
His mind was still waking up in increments, but his body instinctively knew where he was, surrounded by the familiar scents of Mephisto's bedroom and knowing he and Amaimon were nearby somewhere.
The covers were warm, and Rin wriggled further into them, content to drift back off before he fully awakened.
Something traced along his jaw and his nose twitched at the sensation, turning his head into the touch with a sigh.
A wet heat slid down his neck and Rin shivered when it cooled in the air, brows furrowing as he began to pull himself out of sleep.
Another moment and the warm cocoon of blankets he'd been wrapped in were tugged off. Rin reached out with a clawed hand to drag them back with a tired grumble only to find his hand gently pushed aside.
That wet heat mouthed down his chest, and Rin fought against the lethargic undercurrent keeping his eyes closed as awareness pressed with increasing insistence.
He managed to crack one eye open just as he was enveloped, warm suction sending a jolt of adrenaline right to his heart and he came awake with a gasp, trying to shoot up in the bed only to find himself held down to the pillow under his head.
Rin's eyes fluttered as an inadvertent moan left him, back arching as he tried to push into the mouth over his length and discovered he couldn't move his hips either, left to pant at both the surprise and pleasure winding through his body.
"Are you awake now, Rin?"
His eyes opened fully, Rin having clenched them shut without noticing, and looked up to see Mephisto smiling down at him.
"Wha-?"
Speech failed him, his mind still not caught up and a flush rising to his cheeks as he stared at Mephisto without comprehension.
"Not quite yet, then," Mephisto said, his smile turning sly as he leaned over to tease Rin into a slow kiss, running the pads of his fingers along Rin's jaw to follow up to the points of his ears and back down again.
"Mmf!" Rin tried to question around the kiss, hips twitching in the hold on them as another slow pull over his length sent a shudder straight through him he whimpered at.
By the time Mephisto released him Rin had gone breathless, limp against the bed and staring, openmouthed, up into green eyes.
Mephisto let his gaze slide away in a deliberate move from Rin's to skim down his body and Rin followed, clenching his teeth together to cut off the squeak that wanted to come out when he saw what had woken him up.
Amaimon paused in his ministrations when Rin met his eyes from where he'd been leisurely tonguing at his length to smirk at him, licking his lips and watching the way Rin tracked the movement with smug pleasure.
"Amaimon is going to apologize for the way he tricked you yesterday, Rin," Mephisto said against his cheek, his hair tickling where it brushed at Rin's skin.
"Oh," Rin croaked out, unable to look away as Amaimon drew his mouth up along him in a measured drag against his skin that had Rin trembling in anticipation
His heart pounded in his chest and his stomach tensed as Amaimon took him down just as slowly, mouth stretched and tapered tongue winding in twisting patterns of pressure and he still wouldn't let Rin move like he wanted to.
Rin whimpered, shooting a helpless glance back at Mephisto only to find him focused on what Amaimon was doing with possessive eyes as if he was contemplating jumping him where he lay.
The thought of seeing the two together sent a shuddering breath through Rin, drawing Mephisto's attention to him and making Rin lick his lips, finding he really wanted Mephisto to kiss him again.
"Mephis-"
The request cut off and Rin smiled into the kiss Mephisto dropped onto his mouth, reaching up to bring him closer as a purr rumbled in his chest.
He gasped into Mephisto's mouth as Amaimon decided to stop teasing, pulling away to moan and falling back to the mattress, body weak at the intense sensation.
Mephisto shadowed him down, sucking bruises into Rin's chest until Rin could figure out how to move his arms again and brought them to his hair to fist there.
His tail convulsed under where it was stuck beneath his body and Rin groaned in frustration when he tried to lift his hips to free the trapped appendage and Amaimon still wouldn't let him move.
"Amaimon, please," Rin managed to beg, unable to see Amaimon with Mephisto in the way, though somehow that just made what he was doing all the more intense, the shameless noises in the otherwise silent room teasing his ears and making him blush at how dirty it all sounded.
A pause, Amaimon holding in place over him, and desperation began to burn in his bones, biting at his cheeks to cut off the frustrated whine trying to force its way past his lips.
The sound broke loose anyway when Amaimon let a deep purr rumble through his mouth, vibrating around Rin and sending electricity singing along his nerve-endings until Rin tensed, body pulled taut like a string, and came into his throat with a long groan.
Mephisto untangled Rin's fingers from his hair, letting his hands fall limp to the bed as Rin trembled in the afterglow.
Through the slivers of his eyes, Amaimon withdrew from his position, mouth leaving Rin with a wet pop that had Rin blushing again, doubly so when he gave a satisfied lick to his lips, eyeing Rin from lowered lashes.
Like a predator striking prey, Mephisto pounced on Amaimon, hauling him into a domineering kiss and pressing their bodies flush together next to Rin's legs.
Mephisto growled into the kiss as Amaimon bit until he drew blood, rubbing his chest against the silk robe Mephisto wore in a sinuous glide of his body.
Buzzing built in Rin's ears, mind going numb as he propped himself onto his elbows and watched the display.
The scene unraveled before him as Mephisto got his hand around Amaimon's length, running a tight grasp over it until Amaimon moaned into his mouth and reached forward with his own hand to tug Mephisto out of his robe to reciprocate.
His mouth went dry, breaths coming fast and shallow in Rin's chest as the two fell against each other, their kiss turning sloppy and erratic and their movements becoming more frantic with every passing second.
"Ah!" Amaimon was the first to give out, coming with a cry in Mephisto's hand, his own stuttering its pace until he could recover enough to resume, twisting around his length with renewed focus until Mephisto followed suit with his own cry, slumping to rest over the smaller form and shuddering there.
Rin's mouth moved wordlessly as he tried to think of a way to convey exactly how hot the sight of the two together was and failed to think of anything, wishing he had a way with words like Mephisto did, or at least Amaimon's blunt approach to things.
"God, I could watch the two of you forever," Rin mumbled, eyes wide as he imprinted the way they intertwined with each other into his memory.
The sound of his voice had Amaimon opening his eyes to glance at him out of the corner of them, gold glinting as he registered the words.
Recovering next, Mephisto drew his head away from Amaimon's shoulder to give Rin a considering look.
Rin just sent them a wide smile, eyes crinkling closed, before dropping back to the bed with a whump. "Thanks, guys. Apology accepted."
He was joined a moment later by Amaimon, turning his head to nuzzle into his neck with a contented sigh.
"Going back to bed already? And after Amaimon worked so hard to wake you up?"
Cracking an eye open showed Mephisto cocking his head at him, arms folded in mock exasperation.
"It's winter break," Rin delivered, closing his eyes again and moving more firmly into Amaimon's arms. "I'm not getting up unless someone forces me out of this bed."
"Mmm," Mephisto breathed against his neck as he settled along Rin's other side, "I think I can live with those conditions."
With Mephisto's blessing, Rin got back to enjoying his well-earned lazy day.
The days he spent with the two demons went a long way in allowing Rin to cool his anger towards Yukio.
It was still an awkward affair when he made it to the train station to meet with the rest of the exwires to go to the wedding happening the next night and Rin was sure everyone noticed the way he and Yukio weren't really acknowledging each other.
He didn't want to ruin something like a wedding for his friends, though, so he forced himself to smile until he'd tricked his mind into a better state, spending the train ride catching up on how their breaks were going.
"Ah, Rin," Shiemi turned to him, frowning as she looked for something that wasn't there, "Ambrosia isn't coming?"
Rin shot a glance towards Yukio, darting it away before he could notice and smiling at Shiemi. "Nah, he didn't want to be somewhere surrounded by so many people for so long. It makes him uncomfortable. Plus, I'm not sure how well they'd take another demon showing up, I'm still surprised they like me enough to invite me."
Bon snorted from where he sat across from them, saying, "They like you fine, idiot. Although you're probably right that the wedding isn't a great time to introduce Amaimon to them."
They made it, heading up to Bon's home, the inn being the only place that had any space available for them with the number of family members already arrived.
Someone caught sight of their group and Rin didn't have time to worry anymore, swept into the chaos of helping prepare food and other miscellaneous last-minute tasks, the energetic spirits of the people around him doing wonders for his mood until he was genuinely happy.
It felt like no time at all until he collapsed in his seat beside Konekomaru, Bon, and Yukio, dressed for the wedding and watching Mamushi be led down the aisle.
He wasn't the only one not hiding tears at the beautiful ceremony.
When it was over, Rin looked around to find Yukio, blinking to notice him already gone. He found Shiemi instead.
"Hey, uh, you see where Yukio wandered off to?"
Shiemi bit her lip, frowning as if considering whether she would speak or not. "Um, Rin. Is there anything wrong between you two? It's just, I haven't seen Yuki talk to you once this whole time and…"
"Ah." Rin flinched, dropping his chin, of course he'd been noticed, though hopefully it had just been Shiemi and not the others, too. "We had…an argument after the party. I was staying with Amaimon the whole time until I saw him again at the train station."
Sad eyes overtook Shiemi at his answer, reaching forward to draw him into a hug that Rin found himself shuddering against, not realizing how badly Yukio's avoidance was hurting him until just then.
"I don't know how to reach him anymore, Shiemi," Rin whispered, voice breaking and tears burning down his cheeks into her hair. "He won't talk to me, and he's got this scary look in his eyes that won't go away, and I can't do anything about it."
"Oh, Rin," Shiemi murmured, her own voice thick with tears, "he'll come around. He has too. Maybe I can talk to him when we get home."
Rin sniffled, pulling back to give her a watery smile. "I always thought you got him better than I did, you know. But I don't want to put everything on you to solve, either. You shouldn't have to fix our messes."
"He's my friend, too, Rin," Shiemi said, voice firm, "and so are you, and I don't want to see either of you like this. So, let me help."
The relief her words sent through him made Rin feel guilty, knowing the challenge she was going to be facing in his stead and still not wanting to stop her. Because as it was, he was at a dead end and couldn't see a way out. If Shiemi wanted to wade into the turbulent waters to drag Yukio from them, then he wouldn't dissuade her at this point. He didn't have the energy to fight anymore.
"Thank you, Shiemi." Rin brought her back into a grateful hug, tension fading a bit at the shared struggle.
It ramped up again right after.
Someone turned the TV on, having heard about a major explosion in the city at the Ikebukuro Station and there was a cyclops demon attacking live for the world to see.
Despite the surreal situation, Rin was still aware enough to see Yukio enter back into the room, Bon and Shima trailing behind him looking wary. He didn't have time to wonder about it as Yukio gathered them together, letting them know Shura had summoned them back to the academy to deal with the sudden influx of demonic activity they were seeing.
Everything happened quickly. Yukio would be using a key to get on the frontlines quicker while they had to take the next train back to the academy. Somehow Shima also had a key that he was using to go do "spy stuff" as he said, causing Rin to glare because he still could not understand why they let the blatant spy off so easily when they couldn't be sure of his allegiances at all.
Rin moved down the train aisle a bit later, his knot of tension returning.
As he walked by, Rin noticed Bon already at his laptop, leaving him to work at whatever it was he'd probably been tasked with by Lightning.
But a call of his name had Rin stopping, a little uneasy at the somber look he received.
"Hey, there's something I gotta talk to you about," Bon said, holding his eyes over the screen of his computer. "Not right now, but soon. Does tomorrow morning work for you?"
"Uh, yeah, sure, Bon," Rin mumbled back, anxiety racketing up even further as Bon just nodded and returned to his work.
Ahead of them, someone pulled up their phone and Rin could see updates on their social media about what some were calling a prank on people in Tokyo because some people could see the cyclops attacking the station and others couldn't. Then another person found a new livestream of exorcists in action and Rin watched Shura take down the cyclops with help from General Jack Frost, summoned by Lightning to boost her sword and allowing her to unleash a devastating finishing move on the demon.
He shared worried looks with the other exwires as conversation in the train cart amongst the unaware civilians focused entirely on the situation they were heading into, fidgeting in his seat with the building tension.
They made it off in a rush, heading out onto the streets outside the academy station and began to head back to Rin's dorm to await instructions.
An entourage of high-level exorcists moving past them drew Rin up short, spotting Lightning, carried by his scruff in the hand of a truly massive giant of a man.
"Lightning!"
At Bon's cry, Lightning looked over, smiling without care at the worry in his tone. "Ah, looks like they caught me sooner than I expected. I probably won't be back for a while but keep working on that report for me, okay, Bon?"
They watched with helpless faces as he was carried away, though with nothing to do they had no choice but to keep heading home.
True to his word, Bon was already in the lounge working on finishing the report as everyone sat to eat a quick dinner Rin prepared in the dorm's kitchen nearby.
Besides preliminary reports of what was happening on the news, they didn't have anything left to go on and, with dinner finished, they decided to call it a night. Though Shiemi ended up heading back to her house and Izumo back to her dorm, the others didn't want to leave, not knowing when they'd be called on and not wanting to be alone just then.
It was snowing, and Rin could only wonder if Yukio had anything warm to eat, wherever he was.
When Rin made it down to the kitchen early the next morning, Bon and Konekomaru already had the TV on the news. Rin blinked to see Mephisto as a guest speaker, having been called in as an "expert" on the situation. The irony of it had Rin cracking a smile to see him get to enjoy being the center of attention.
The day passed in stilted conversation and uneasy silence, though Rin tried to maintain a facade of humor. It was evening when he gave up, thinking about making dinner for the three of them.
Then Bon sighed and looked up at him, closing his laptop with finality.
"Rin, I think I should talk to you now."
Not liking the foreboding tone in his voice, Rin nodded and left the kitchen to follow Bon into the hallway.
"I kinda don't know if I should tell you this," Bon began, rubbing at the back of his head and avoiding Rin's eyes.
"It's about your brother."
"Rin!"
They both flinched at the yell, turning to the door to see Shiemi looking like she'd run the whole way there as she panted for air.
Rin started to go over to her when her head shot up, tears in her eyes and red-faced.
"It's Yuki!"
His heart thundered as they moved to the cafeteria out of the hallway, Shiemi accepting the mug of tea Konekomaru brought her and sitting at the table to collect herself.
'It's your brother,' and, 'It's Yuki.' Why did everything feel so far away to Rin? When had it become so difficult to breathe? Things had moved so steadily the past few weeks and now he couldn't get time to slow down, couldn't get his feet under him as he watched Shiemi clutch her tea as if it were the only thing keeping her upright.
The story came out then, Bon speaking first while they waited for Shiemi.
During the wedding-the same one Rin hadn't heard a word from Yukio at, had worried at the absence he'd noticed-Yukio had pointed his gun in Bon's face, demanding answers about what the investigation was that he and Lightning had been working on, and what they knew about the mystery of he and Rin's birth.
Panic clipped Rin's heart, shaking him from the faraway place he'd been in as he flashed back to the conversation they'd had the night of the party, knowing the story was true.
Izumo had arrived in the middle of things, staring in shocked silence while Bon relayed what had happened at the wedding. Rin noted her, but couldn't focus.
"Yuki," Shiemi spoke up, then, drawing Rin's attention as he stared in morbid fascination, feeling his world crumbling as he wondered what news she would deliver.
"He told me he's all alone, without friends or family," she said as her voice broke, new tears building in her eyes as she clenched them closed at the memory. "I got so angry. I tried to tell him it wasn't true, but I think I messed up and he ran out."
He'd had it.
Rin bolted, feeling his body steam in the winter air as he made it outside into the snow, flames hissing just beneath the surface of his skin and fangs elongating in his mouth.
Yukio.
No more letting Yukio hide. He was going to drag whatever was up with him out if it was the last thing he did. He-
He didn't know what he was going to do.
His steps carried him from the worn-down dorm he'd shared with Yukio for months after the upheaval of his life. Rin ran, though he didn't know where he was going, exactly, then heading towards Shiemi's house through the city where Yukio's last known location was to track him from there.
"Hey! There's been gunfire-a shooting-at that government press conference just now!"
A shout pulled Rin's attention to the open-air restaurant he ran by, seeing the crowd of regulars staring at whatever was on the TV screen.
"Who was shot?"
"Wasn't it that guy from the Knights who kinda looks like a clown? It looked like the bullet hit him right in the forehead!"
In the time it took to process those words, Rin was on top of the bar and in front of the screen. A broken sound left his throat as he saw a view of a stage, unable to find Mephisto anywhere on it but the black form of an exorcist crouched to the side and behind the podium gave him a good idea of where he was-
-and a group of exorcists restraining his brother on the floor with the words "suspected shooter apprehended" flashing across his vision in a pulse of red.
"Where is this?" he snarled at the people who'd been irritated at him for blocking their view.
"The, er, Japanese Prime Minister's residence, kid."
Their answer reached his ears and Rin was already gone, surprised shouts following him as he raced to find a way to the train station, feeling like he was hyperventilating as concern for Mephisto and anger towards Yukio bit into his mind, feeling his vision tunneling.
The atmosphere changed and he stumbled, his heart pounding as a wave of miasma filled the air.
His eyes went sightless as he tried to comprehend what he was feeling, something pressed at his chest and he couldn't breathe, fully in the throes of a panic attack.
Around Rin, the sounds of fear began, and he looked up, eyes widening as the people near him stared like he'd grown wings and horns, fear in their gazes.
"Is that a monster?" someone whispered.
Others began taking up the epitaph, a rising wave until Rin felt ambushed, turning in place and finding nowhere to go.
They could see his demonic features, pointed ears and fangs suddenly visible to them, and while they might not have noticed them regularly, he'd let his fangs down and his eyes slit, and his ears must have elongated in his anger.
Had he flared up? His body steamed in the snow, but Rin couldn't stop the heat filling every vein a burning blue until they glowed beneath his skin.
All that was missing was his tail, and Rin knew what had happened, what the cause of the miasma was.
The Gehenna gate had been released from Mephisto's hold.
Rin bolted, needing more than ever to see Mephisto and assure himself that he was okay and not dead. He could take a few bullets. He knew he could, but logic wasn't ruling him at the moment.
He'd made it to a crowd of people, police keeping them away from the news van reporting on the situation and Rin was about to just hop over the whole knot before he saw the military convoy being let through and caught sight of Shura in one of the trucks.
In seconds, Rin appeared at the window to Shura's shocked face, though she rolled it down and had the driver stop so they could talk.
"Where's Mephisto!"
His question stopped her short, or maybe that was the faint growl on his tongue.
"You, you mean Yukio?" Shura corrected, looking at him with a strange expression that Rin couldn't place.
"Him too," Rin did growl then, feeling his fangs drop into wedges. He sensed that Yukio was somewhere nearby, probably even in the back of the truck Shura was in.
His flames licked harder under his skin.
"Rin," Shura drew his attention back to her resigned face, though something in the flutter of her pulse took his attention, "I don't think Yukio will be coming back."
That stopped Rin cold and snapped his eyes from the bead of sweat he'd been tracking as Shura told him exwires and lower-class exorcists were being ordered to stay on standby in their quarters.
"And, Rin," Shura dropped her gaze, voice coming out in a disbelieving whisper, "Yukio may have inherited Satan's flames. He's being taken to get tested. Just-it's not his fault, ok?"
The last brick crumbled, and Rin thought he'd been the one shot that night.
"Go home, Rin," Shura ended, already turning to sit back in her seat.
"Wait!" Rin shouted, voice almost a roar as his flames came out in a quick burst of blue light throwing Shura's face in startled relief as he grabbed at the door on the window, hand crunching through the metal there at his loss of control.
"Where's Mephisto?" He had to know.
"Rin!" Shura gasped, pulling back from the door and eyeing the damage he'd done, the fear she'd covered back in her body language making it so hard to think straight.
"He was brought back to Faust Mansion, he's there. But why do you want to know so bad? You're scaring me, kid."
Too late, Rin had gone, darting back through the crowd to Shura's yells for him to stop. He couldn't stop. If he stopped, he wasn't sure what would happen, what the ache in his head and his chest would make him do.
The mad dash for the mansion passed him by, flying through a blur of streets to yelps from people he brushed through until he took to the roofs.
He'd given up on pretending to be human for the night.
Rin hopped the gate to the mansion, pushing open the door and making for Mephisto's room without hesitation, unerringly knowing where he was.
His path took him past Belial in the hall, ignoring the way he eyed him with a wariness in his stance, backing away like he was dangerous.
Didn't matter. Rin had the last door open and shut in the next heartbeat, focus zeroing in on the still form on the bed in the darkness of the room.
Without his notice, he stood over the bed, unable to remember moving, but now that he was there, he found he couldn't move at all.
Mephisto was unconscious, not dead, that much at least registered, but he didn't know what to do with that revelation, stuck in indecision, claws flexing with every twitch of his hands.
He wanted to scream, he wanted to cry.
He wanted to kill Yukio. He didn't.
So, he stayed there, trembling and panting short breaths that left him feeling like he wasn't getting enough oxygen until his lungs ached.
"Rin."
A breath and Amaimon was there, though he didn't approach, staying at the door to the room and watching Rin with the same wary eyes everyone else seemed to have around him that night.
"He's gonna be okay, right?" Rin said, voice scratching out of his throat and heart too tight behind his ribcage so that every rasp threatened flame.
At his question, Amaimon gave a slow nod, still not moving from where he was.
Rin let out a wounded sound, not understanding why he hadn't moved, why he wasn't by his side.
"Amaimon, why are you over there?"
It was just like before, at the shrine.
"Why are you avoiding me again?" Rin felt himself ask, head dropping forward and bangs falling to shield his eyes as anger at Yukio and the whole situation twisted its thorns through his skin.
When Amaimon just froze by the door, Rin's lips pulled back over his fangs, startled to find that they had filled his mouth without him knowing.
"Come here, Amaimon."
Was that his voice? Rin had never heard it sound like that, a sibilant hiss that was more like a snake before it struck than anything human.
Whatever it was, it got Amaimon to finally come over to him, so he didn't think about it too hard.
He reached to pull Amaimon into his hold when he arrived at his side only to find him sinking to his knees by the bed, neck arched back as if it was an offering to Rin.
Rin set on the exposed throat before he knew what was happening, fangs closing around it as he pressed Amaimon to his body in an aching embrace. He didn't bite, just breathed as he shook against Amaimon, letting his wild emotions rip through him while he came undone.
Shot him, Yukio shot him, it wasn't his fault, he shot-
It was Amaimon bringing his clawed hands up to cradle his head that finally broke the spell and Rin gasped, sitting back to stare at him in total confusion at what had just transpired.
"Your eyes," Amaimon explained once he'd ascertained that Rin was himself again, "they warp when you're no longer in control. It's dangerous to approach you when you're like that."
"I," Rin gulped around his dry throat, "I didn't know that."
Emotional exhaustion stripped the energy from his limbs until he slumped down, staring at his hands on his knees as he felt shame burn through him in waves. That he'd made Amaimon scared of him, or at least cautious, like he might hurt him, dug into his mind.
"I'm sorry," Rin mumbled out, voice faint, as he closed his eyes, the shame growing further until he curled over his lap.
He froze as Amaimon shifted forward to press a kiss to his hair, lingering there.
"That human twin of yours didn't shoot him," Amaimon began after a while, wrapping his arms over Rin's shoulders.
"What?" Rin breathed, pulling away to look into Amaimon's eyes as hope tried to push its way into his heart.
"Mephisto told me to let you know. It wasn't him."
The gasp of relief that left Rin's lungs had him swaying in Amaimon's hold, dropping his head to his shoulder and clenching his fists at his coat.
"I have to get him out of there," Rin spoke, voice low, the realization hitting him as he remembered what else Shura had let him know about Yukio. About being tested for Satan's flames, like she already knew he had them and was just waiting for confirmation.
Amaimon sighed. "Mephisto said you would say that, too."
"Mephisto should have dodged," Rin growled, glaring at the still figure on the bed.
His statement just made Amaimon look at him with an unreadable expression, and Rin had the sinking suspicion that Mephisto, once again, had known something like that was going to happen.
Or, maybe Rin was just a blind idiot like everyone said, and it had been obvious from the start.
Movement came from the bed then, and Rin was up and leaning over it to watch Mephisto crack open his eyes as he woke.
"Who did it?" Rin found himself snarling again, swallowing the noise and shaking his head to force himself calm.
A wry smile flitted across Mephisto's lips, Rin's anger not phasing him, and the blankets shifted as he brought his hand out to rest on Rin's cheek despite the shaking in the limbs from the exertion.
"I have my suspicions," Mephisto said instead of answering, brushing his claw just under Rin's eye when his non-answer caused it to twitch in aggravation. "You shouldn't concern yourself with that. The truth will come out eventually, but you have more important things to worry about than me."
"No, I don't," Rin grumbled, averting his gaze to press his cheek further into Mephisto's palm, not wanting to see the knowing look in green eyes.
"I believe your brother needs you more than I do, or have you given up on him, finally?"
Rin glared at the dig. Mephisto knew he'd never be able to give up on Yukio and it was a cheap shot to remind him of that.
"No," Rin sighed, releasing his anger and bringing his hand up to Mephisto's. "I need to get back to the others and see if they'll help me rescue him. I'm glad you're okay."
"Go, then, Rin," Mephisto said. "I need to speak with Amaimon. I'll be sending him along to help you."
Closing his eyes, Rin breathed in Mephisto's scent, letting it calm him further as he prepared for what was ahead.
He opened his eyes again, lips quirked in a tired smile as he leaned down to place a kiss on Mephisto's head like a benediction right over the bandage where the bullet had hit.
Another moment and Rin got up, Mephisto's hand trailing away from his face and dropping to the bed.
Amaimon stood aside as he passed, face blank as if unsure what he should do. Rin let a wider smile form. The fact that the ruthless earth king didn't know how to handle emotions at all was still absolutely hilarious.
His smile threw Amaimon off and Rin went up to him to press a kiss to his cheek. "I'll see you later, then, right?"
As if lost, Amaimon looked to Mephisto, although at the weak smirk he got, he turned back to Rin and nodded, letting out a short noise of affirmation.
With nothing else to do, Rin left the two to make their plans, heading home to make his own.
"Amaimon."
Amaimon forced himself to look away from where Rin had exited, heart thudding in his chest because he could not understand why he hadn't tried to rip them apart for their clear deceptions yet and it was making him panic.
Especially knowing what was to come.
He knew how he would react if he'd discovered such machinations against himself.
But Mephisto already moved onto the next stage of his plan, outlining how he anticipated events to play out and making a script for Amaimon to read that was way too over-dramatic where Amaimon would prefer to just kill the annoying humans in his way and be done with things.
"You know very well how Rin would take you slaughtering helpless humans in his sight," Mephisto chided, causing Amaimon to grumble, because, yes, he did know.
Mephisto snapped, bringing a stack of the camo ponchos out to give to Amaimon for the humans, which Amaimon vanished away to pull out later.
The task set before him, Amaimon headed for the door, almost at it when a sound from Mephisto brought him up short, turning back to look at where he lay in the bed.
"Amaimon," Mephisto's eyes watched him, expression grave, and Amaimon had to resist clenching his fists together at the unease the tone made him feel.
"Be careful."
With that foreboding farewell, Amaimon left to catch up to Rin.
"Foolish humans. Can you feel it? The air is brimming with the madness of Gehenna."
Terrified gasps echoed his words from the pitiful humans below him.
Amaimon read from the script Mephisto had made with the barest inflection, not understanding the need for theatrics at all.
"While Samael is weakened, the king of earth shall bring chaos to Assiah."
"Waa hah hah haha!"
"Ha."
A sigh drifted unheard from his lips as Amaimon watched the humans scatter like ants, fleeing from his presence and leaving the area free for the exwires to sneak in.
He couldn't see them, but he smelled them well enough, and they eventually gathered around him, dropping their hoods so they were visible.
"Rin and Yukio escaped!"
Izumo had spoken, relief evident in her voice.
"We've gotta get out of here, too, before they realize what happened and catch us," Bon ordered.
"I'm going after them." Amaimon already turned away, ignoring their shouts and leaping to the railing far above. He hoisted himself up to the connecting walkway leading outside to the long terrace where he knew they were headed and ignored the smell of the spy coming from a hidden alcove to dart down the corridor.
The last door to the outside opened and he made it to see Rin facing off with his twin, a snarl rising to his lips at the expression on the worthless human's face.
Pleading from Rin reached Amaimon's ear, the desperation clear even at his distance until a blinding light appeared and Amaimon sensed Lucifer's work bringing the military copter to their location.
Like a pest from the woodwork, there was the spy, beckoning to the twin with his offer to join the Illuminati, and the rest of Rin's humans made it to the roof to witness it. Their cries of dismay at the betrayal they should have seen coming only made Amaimon scowl at the naivete.
When the twin pulled his guns on Rin, Amaimon almost snapped and destroyed him, damn Mephisto's plans anyway.
His claws dug into the concrete of the building beneath them, gouging crumbling rents into it when Rin went down, three shots to his head, his throat, and his heart.
That that creature would even dare-
Amaimon forced his fangs back, taking a calming breath through his nose, and drew his claws out of the concrete with a final frustrated growl.
Movement below showed him Shiemi running to Rin and Amaimon wouldn't let the girl get in the way. He didn't trust the damn twin not to shoot her, too, and Rin might never forgive him if he let his good friend get hurt when he could have stopped it.
He jumped down, reaching out to grab her shoulder and making her cry out in surprise.
"Hey, what gives?" Bon shouted at him.
Amaimon kept a steady grip on Shiemi as she looked up at him with tears in her eyes.
"But why?"
"You can't stop them now," Amaimon tried to put as gently as he knew how. "Nothing can stop this now."
It wasn't something he could interfere with, this was what he'd wanted, after all. Rin, freed from the last of his human chains. A discordant twinge in his chest whose source he couldn't place had Amaimon turning to search for Rin
It was just in time to see Rin rise again, blue flames surrounding him as the attack triggered his instincts and he released his heart from its scabbard to bring down on his twin.
That damn spy turned his own black flame attack on Rin, only to miss pitifully, prompting Rin, in his enraged state, to tackle the fool and deliver a punishing blow that knocked him back into the wall behind him like the fly he was.
That left him free to turn back to his real target.
Rin broke his heart against the twin flames in his brother's eyes, the pieces shattering to the ground around him.
Excitement and dread speared through Amaimon's chest as a new presence entered the field.
Satan, their Father was here.
Trembling from Shiemi in his hold had Amaimon pulling her behind him in an instinctive move, unable to take his attention away from where Father's voice came from, drawn to the power unlike any he'd ever felt before.
Except for Rin's.
Father spoke to the brothers, and Amaimon caught the words but they passed through his mind in a hazy buzz of energy that had him swaying, hypnotized, as a wide grin pulled itself across his face.
Such unbelievable power.
"Please, you have to stop them!"
At the cry, Amaimon shook his head free of the effect, turning to see Shiemi had brought her hands to his arm as she pleaded with him, though it took him a moment to piece together what she'd said. Words seemed so pointless in the face of what was coming.
A chorus of angry agreements came from the other humans but Amaimon didn't pay them any attention, looking into Shiemi's eyes as the smile fell from his face.
"I. Can't."
"Bullshit, you can't!"
Amaimon snapped a glare at Bon for his accusation.
He didn't have time to put the human in his place, not when he could feel the storm about to crest, so he forced his gaze back to where Rin lay, glad when the humans followed suit so he wouldn't have to try reasoning with them anymore.
That spy was prodded awake and the human twin turned to leave with him, Rin fallen to the ground before them and watching, helpless as he was given one last word from his traitor of a brother to be left without a backward glance as they disappeared into the copter.
Lucifer's power echoed again and vanished, only the noise of the wind whipping around where its blades had been was left to fill the deafening silence.
"Rin!"
The humans darted around Amaimon, and at Shiemi's insistent tugs, he released her, too.
"Stay back!"
His eyes widened at the cry from Rin and he vanished to appear in front of the stupid humans, arms thrown wide to halt their advance before it was too late.
"Get out of our way!" Bon had the nerve to shout at him, fury in his eyes. "How could you just sit there while Yukio did that to Rin? What kind of shitty boyfriend are you?"
A groan came from Rin and he collapsed to the ground behind Amaimon before his body snapped upwards again, back arched, pulled taut like he was being electrocuted as his flames consumed him.
Amaimon stopped looking, narrowing his eyes at the stubborn humans just sitting there, watching the dangerous flames.
"His demonic heart was sealed in that sword," Amaimon hissed, jerking his head to where the broken pieces littered the ground. "When it broke the rest of his flames returned from Gehenna to his body."
He watched his words register with them, horror eating at their expressions as Rin's body began to blacken and smolder at the intense flames consuming it. Amaimon could smell charred flesh, could smell the Gehenna flame eating away bits of Rin, the self-immolation that would devour him to his core. The scent would have been intoxicating if he didn't know what it meant.
"What's going to happen to him?" Konekomaru whimpered.
"If his body can't take the perfect flame," Amaimon said as he finally turned to see Rin looked more like a burning corpse than anything alive and his face shuttered at his next words, "he'll die."
"What?" Bon breathed out, rearing back at that, before spitting out, enraged, "This is your fault! You let this happen to him, you bastard!"
Amaimon's pupils contracted, a snarl erupting on his face.
How dare-
No.
He leaped away, retreating to a tower nearby.
Any further interaction with the human would only make him react and if that happened he'd more than likely kill him-and Rin, if he survived, really would never forgive him, then.
From his new vantage point, Amaimon watched the flames dwindle until they disappeared, Rin's body a charred husk falling to the ground and felt like maybe his own heart might join it there.
It didn't make sense. He rubbed at his chest, not understanding the unusual feeling twisting in it that he'd never experienced before and not liking the sensation in the slightest.
Without him there to act as a deterrent, Shiemi approached the fallen form, kneeling down and getting the soot laying around it on her coat. What could she do? Mourn a hollow corpse, as so many humans did?
Useless, their tears were always useless, in the end. Amaimon scowled at the sight, at the formless destruction burning in his veins that was as useless as Shiemi's tears.
And then…
Rin's heart, surrounded by his blue flames and the most beautiful thing Amaimon had ever witnessed in all the countless years of his existence, appeared to hover over Rin's body.
He was alive.
A moment existed to enjoy the revelation, Amaimon staring as the chunks of charcoal fell away to let new skin show through, burnt by the fire until Rin was left whole and untouched.
Alive.
Previously black tufts of Rin's hair had gone an ethereal white, his eyes, when he opened them, were the dangerous warped form Amaimon had only seen when Rin was fully demonic.
Their appearance had Amaimon's hackles rising, wary as he realized something wasn't right.
The foolish humans crept closer and fear entered Amaimon's heart.
He couldn't react in time.
An explosion erupted from Rin, blue flames rising in a wide pillar around him to disappear into the clouds above until Amaimon lost sight of them, black spots in his eyes at the brilliance he couldn't turn from if he'd tried.
In the back of his mind he thought the humans were surely dead, Amaimon turned his eyes down from the spire to search for the remains of Rin's friends, dreading what he'd find and how he was going to explain himself to Rin when he came back from this.
Shock struck him, sending his claws into the building like it would offer any stability or explanation for what he saw.
A wall of trees fully grown into a forest had appeared between Rin and his humans.
And Shiemi had created it.
She was…
If that was true…
There was nothing he could do about it then.
Blue coalesced as Rin advanced on his friends.
Amaimon wouldn't let him.
He leaped down, dropping into the path of the inferno, just hearing the surprised cries of the humans behind the wall of trees as they saw him come between the two.
Even if he'd wanted to, he couldn't pay them any attention.
Those blue eyes had him in sight and Amaimon was caught in Rin's gaze.
"Amaimon! I'm so happy to see you!"
His statement, delivered the way it had been, made Amaimon shiver in terror, motionless where he stood like prey before a predator as Rin smiled at him with a smile that wasn't his.
The face that usually stared at him with such adoration was a façade now, and Amaimon could only watch as it twisted, the sinister being beneath it rising to the surface.
"Play with me, Amaimon."
That wasn't a request.
Amaimon took off, heart pounding an erratic rhythm against his ribs as he heard Rin follow after.
It was a cruel mimicry of the day they'd stormed Lucifer's labs when he'd been so sure Rin would punish him for his betrayal.
Compared to now, it was nothing, not with Rin calling out behind him to stop, come back.
Play with him.
He'd felt shades of fear then, at the lab, soothed over when Rin had finally caught him, and he realized he hadn't wanted to punish him at all.
Except this time Amaimon was sure he didn't want Rin to catch him. He didn't think he would survive the encounter.
The cat and mouse game pushed Amaimon to his limits, breath coming in harsh gasps out of his exhausted lungs, body screaming at the force he put into it. He was getting tired.
He could feel Rin getting closer.
His demonic features had come out, control failing him as fear bit at his heels, urging him ever faster to escape the creature in his shadow.
Amaimon made it to an abandoned construction site, leaping and dodging through the holes in the building, not knowing how close Rin was anymore as he came out into the empty courtyard in the middle and looked around for an escape. He had to keep Rin's attention on him, couldn't let him go back to the humans, couldn't get caught, couldn't-
Fire drove him down to the ground and he screamed.
"Caught you, Amaimon!"
There wasn't enough air to respond, his mouth opened in a choked cry.
A hand slipped around his neck, Rin pressing in with unhurried pressure until Amaimon gagged, his throat creaking as it threatened to crush under the force.
"Let's play now, Amaimon."
Despite the black spots eating at his vision, he could see the sadistic delight in Rin's warped pupils.
Rin released his throat and Amaimon retched out heaving breaths, body trying to heal the damage done to it.
He froze as Rin dropped his head to his neck, shuddering in an absolute panic under the power holding him down.
"Mmm, you smell like fear, Amaimon," Rin said as he looked up at him, long tongue coming out to lick at his lips. "You smell like mine."
Gently, Rin laid his palm flat over Amaimon's heart, smiling that false smile again.
Amaimon screamed, smelling cooking meat and not understanding why until he realized it was his body that burned under Rin's gentle touch.
His voice gave out before Rin decided to stop.
Everything faded and Amaimon thought he'd blacked out for a bit before he was shaken awake, blinking glassy eyes wet with tears that sizzled and evaporated in the intense heat Rin gave off when they tried to track down his cheeks.
He found his head tugged up by his hair as Rin made him look down his chest to see what had been done to him.
"I hope that doesn't heal, Amaimon," Rin said against his ear, "I want everyone to know you're mine."
A blackened patch of oozing flesh in the shape of Rin's hand laid over his chest. He could see the white of his bone poking out where the flames had melted straight through the muscle.
"You don't look like you're having fun, Amaimon."
Amaimon flinched violently, trying to jerk back in Rin's hold and finding he couldn't, hair held tight enough that strands ripped themselves out of his head at his frenzied movements.
"What's the matter, Amaimon?" Rin cocked his head when he heard his frantic cries. "I thought you liked pain?"
Before he could react, Rin flipped Amaimon onto his stomach, gravel biting into his open wound and bringing another torn scream to his lips as he writhed on the ground.
Blue flames flared and his clothes burned off his body, the fire eating into his skin until it was seared with third-degree burns and Amaimon froze at the sheer agony roasting his nerve endings away, uncontrollably shaking and eyes unseeing, unable to even scream, as he waited for Rin's next move.
"Hey, If I pull off your tail, will it grow back like a lizard's?"
Amaimon let out a moan of pure terror, renewing his struggles to escape.
Nothing. Just blue flame keeping his aspect pinned and a hand grabbing his hip before the searing fire returned where his skin had been trying to heal. Amaimon shrieked, eyes rolling in his head as he was reduced to an animal pain.
He collapsed.
Everything went black.
"Oh, Rin."
The sounds of Amaimon's screams had tapered off.
"What have you done?"
Mephisto stared down, feeling something almost like regret. He'd never once in his long life and all his years of lying, manipulating, and killing without remorse, experienced such a human thing and he didn't know what to do about it now.
He surveyed the scene in a slow sweep of his eyes. Amaimon had fallen comatose under Rin, the poor creature unable to handle the torture his body had just been through.
His words attracted the newly awakened demon's attention away from his unmoving prey.
The smile that was turned up at him was cruel and so unlike Rin's usual bright expressions that Mephisto wanted to claw it off his face, turn it into a bloody ruin until he'd removed all traces of the mask.
It wasn't a mask, just another side of a coin.
"Mephisto," that false voice crooned, turning away from where he'd been pressing at the burned mark he'd left on Amaimon's hip to crouch before Mephisto, tail lashing behind him in a sinuous wave of blue flames.
"Amaimon won't play with me, Mephisto," the demon pouted, though his lips twitched, a smile threatening to return. "Make him play with me."
Mephisto just shook his head, voice soft, "No, Rin. Amaimon will not be playing with you tonight."
That brought a twisted scowl to the demon's face at having been denied.
It disappeared just as fast, as capricious as the wind.
"Will you play with me, Mephisto?"
As he spoke, the demon crouched lower to the ground, getting ready to pounce as the flames of his pupils moved in slow patterns, hypnotic in their effect as if trying to lure Mephisto into a false sense of security.
"No, Rin," Mephisto said again.
The demon toppled playfully to his side on the ground, rolling to expose his belly to Mephisto.
Were he a lesser demon the display would have drawn him in immediately.
Which is what the little beast wanted.
When he didn't move in for the bait, the demon upped the ante.
"Mephisto," the voice crooned again, "I want you. You're mine, aren't you?"
His hips raised, back arching off the ground and neck stretching to reveal the pale column of his throat as his arms extended towards Mephisto to beckon him down into the deadly embrace.
"Let me have you, Mephisto," the demon moaned, stomach stretching in a play of muscles that begged to be touched. "I want to reach into your ribcage and eat your heart. Let me?"
Mephisto almost shuddered at the possessiveness, realizing with a sudden clarity what a true horror Rin was as a demon, stripped of his humanity. This couldn't be allowed to go on. He had to bring him back.
"Rin."
The focus in those eyes when he said the demon's name, the stillness that overcame his body as he prepared to attack, Mephisto ignored both.
"Look at what you have done to Amaimon, Rin. Amaimon, who is yours. You once told us that you didn't like hurting others, that you didn't know how. Look and see how you've left him."
Calling on that humanity he knew existed in Rin would be the only way short of knocking him unconscious, and he wasn't sure of the efficacy of either, not when the only reactions his words received were eyes drawn back to where Amaimon lay, uncaring apathy in them as he surveyed the broken body.
It seemed as if he'd be resorting to the second option, his words having failed him when the demon just quirked a vicious smile down at the evidence of his work.
A slow roll of shoulders, the demon luxuriating in his destruction, and he brought his eyes back up to Mephisto, opening his mouth to respond.
His breath choked off, eyes widening as an internal battle raged behind them in the flickering flames.
Lips parted, mouth gaping open, half snarl, half gasp, until something changed behind Rin's eyes and he blinked them in rapid flutters.
There he was.
"Mephisto?"
Rin looked at him without comprehension, total trust in those bright blue eyes that Mephisto wanted to flee to avoid.
Then Rin turned back to look at Amaimon and a long keen left his throat, the sound echoing through the hollow tomb of the construction site as Rin realized what he'd done.
"Amaimon!"
At the devastated wail, Mephisto's lips curled down. The sound coming from Rin grated against his ears, finding he didn't like it at all.
He didn't get a chance to do anything about it as it cut off, Rin collapsing in an exhausted heap to the ground and his flames guttering out until it was just his beautiful heart floating above his chest left to light the area.
Mephisto sighed a long breath that trailed into the cold air, closing his eyes.
No time to linger. He turned to Belial, having arrived behind him to stand back, awaiting his orders.
"Bring them," Mephisto said as he waved his hand. "We'll return to the mansion."
"Yes sir."
Mephisto didn't look back again, snapping his fingers and depositing the group into his room.
Following, Belial carried Amaimon to the bed first, laying him over the canvas tarp he'd put out to prevent the blood and fluids from his still-healing burns from staining Mephisto's nice duvet.
Next came Rin, set under the covers, body whole and unscarred from his awakening.
"Leave us."
And Mephisto was alone.
He gave one last long look at the bodies in his bed before turning to head out to the balcony.
Rin woke slowly, the comforting scents of Mephisto's room surrounding him. He snuggled further back into the warm covers, content to stay there, cocooned in a sense of safety and protection, for as long as he could.
He could smell Amaimon there, too.
But…
Something was wrong.
His nose twitched.
It wasn't just Amaimon he was smelling, but Amaimon's blood.
Lots of it.
The scent wouldn't dissipate, so Rin forced himself to wake up, blinking unfocused eyes as he tried to search out why he was smelling so much blood.
Another twitch of his nose and he turned his head on the pillow to where he could feel Amaimon's presence in his mind.
Everything came back to him in a rush.
A sleeping face stared back at him, Amaimon's skin cleared of the burns that had been inflicted on it, demonic healing having done away with the damage in the time they'd been out for.
There was still a faint hint of the palm-shaped burn on Amaimon's chest where Rin had placed it with such gentleness while he'd screamed.
Where Amaimon rested was the source of the alarming scent that had woken Rin up, a stained canvas soaked in drying blood and sticking in patches to his pale skin in stark contrast.
Panicked breaths began stuttering from Rin's throat at the sight, little hiccups bubbling out until he was crying, shaking against the bed.
He couldn't move.
He wanted to run. He wanted to reach out to Amaimon and take him in his arms and never let him go.
He couldn't, afraid of what he'd done and afraid of what might happen if he touched him again.
Amaimon's brows furrowed and Rin realized his cries had woken him up.
Further shifting made Rin try to stifle the sounds, not wanting to see the fear he remembered causing. The fear he'd delighted in, the possessive need to create it in Amaimon the only thing he'd been able to focus on.
Rin had loved the power he'd held over Amaimon.
Once he'd started, though, he couldn't stop his sobs at that point, the effort only making him cry louder. Messy tears soaked the pillow beneath his face and ran down his heated skin in wet trails until his head throbbed and his throat was sore.
In his state, he'd curled into a fetal position, hiding his eyes against his knees to avoid witnessing Amaimon once he'd fully woken.
A clawed hand pressed into his hair, carding through it in soft movements as Rin froze, cries breaking off at the unexpected touch.
"Why are you crying?"
The question broke Rin's heart and another sob tried to tear its way out of his throat.
"Rin."
"I hurt you!" Rin gasped out, curling further into a tight ball and trembling there, wishing he could disappear.
"You did."
Amaimon's confirmation had Rin heaving, ribs aching at the pain, as he felt sick with himself.
At his continued tears, Amaimon moved to gather him into his arms, enveloping Rin in an embrace and a purr rising out in a calming measure.
"Why did I do that? I hurt you and I liked it. Why did I hurt you?" Rin breathed, unable to understand what had happened to make him attack Amaimon like that.
"We did that to you, Rin. It wasn't your fault."
Rin jolted in Amaimon's arms, flinching away as if he'd discovered he'd hurt him all over again and falling back, moving to the edge of the bed to stare at Amaimon in horror.
"What?"
Blank eyes watched from where he'd left Amaimon, chest healed of the remainders of the burn mark.
Despite the undamaged skin, Rin thought he could still see the imprint there, a permanent stain in his mind.
"We knew your brother was going to abandon you."
The reminder sent another flinch through Rin, a hurt whimper leaving his throat because he'd lost his twin and he still didn't know why.
"We knew about the flames of Father in his eyes, and that if you struck with your heart, as you did, the force would shatter the sword containing it and you'd awaken fully."
Finally, the last nail in the coffin came down.
"We knew it might kill you."
Hot tears ran down his face at the revelation, wounded sounds leaving his lips as he looked up at Amaimon with wide eyes.
"Why?"
His broken question was the only thing he could think of to respond with and Rin searched Amaimon's empty expression for any hint of a reason.
"Because it's part of Samael's plan, and we're all just pieces moving on his board."
Sharp, sudden pain had Rin clenching his teeth against the harsh sob that wanted to escape, a choked sound coming out instead, and he found himself curling up again.
In an instant, his hand went to his chest, claws gouging into the skin there to try to rip out his heart, the physical ache better than the emotional one slicing through him in his state.
He'd worked his claws up to the first knuckle, eyes glazed at the pain of it and feeling spit running down his chin, making no effort to swallow as he panted in agony.
"Stop it! What are you doing?"
Dazed and staring through wet eyes, Rin barely registered as his claws were yanked from his chest, blood following them in spurts and he realized he may have hit something vital in a human body.
Amaimon gathered him back into his arms, leaning down to clear the blood with his tongue before it could reach the sheets, staining his skin when he gave up and clutched him to his chest until his healing could kick in.
"Why do you always hurt yourself?" Amaimon growled out. "I told you it wasn't your fault. You should be hurting us for betraying and deceiving you. Not yourself!"
An answer refused to come as Rin just moaned into his collar, the words only making him feel worse.
"I can't," Rin gasped out, gripping at Amaimon's arms and shaking. "I can't hurt you again, please don't make me."
Amaimon reared back, though he didn't let Rin go, lips trembling and pupils slivering as if Rin was scaring him, was hurting him. Rin whimpered at the thought.
"You stupid, impossible demon," Amaimon hissed. "We deserve it! We deserve your rage and anger and your retribution for what we've done! Not your tears!"
Blood rushed in Rin's ears, hyperventilating against him, and Amaimon let out a wretched groan at the sight, pulling him into a tighter hold as if to keep him from quaking apart.
The scent of fear was coming off Amaimon again and Rin shivered to realize it was because of him. He'd caused that fear. Wide gold eyes, unseeing from the ruined face and a mouth parted on a scream interposed itself over the one Amaimon wore now, and Rin remembered what he'd tried to do, what he'd wanted to do.
He'd had enough of Amaimon's pain.
Something shifted in Rin.
Then he stopped shaking, breath coming out in a long exhale that had Amaimon freezing against him to feel. Rin didn't want that.
Everything settled in Rin's mind, the earlier turmoil falling silent. He looked up at Amaimon, seeing the apprehension in his eyes, and frowned.
When he spoke, he made sure his voice was firm, locking his gaze on Amaimon's and not letting him escape it.
"I won't."
"What?"
Rin put his hand over Amaimon's heart where he'd burned it, feeling the flinch run through his body and hating that he'd been the cause of it.
"I won't hurt you."
It was Amaimon's turn to suffer panicked breaths, staring at him like he was incomprehensible.
His arms came to wind around the shaking form, Rin tucking his head into Amaimon's neck until he felt them abate.
Hesitating, Amaimon returned the embrace, his movements slow as if he didn't know whether it was a trick or not.
Rin gave him the time he needed.
"I told you already," Rin began when he thought Amaimon had calmed enough, "if you're angry at me, we'll talk it out. If I'm angry at you, we'll talk it out. Just don't run from me and I won't run from you."
A desperate sound escaped from Amaimon into his shoulder and Rin just let his mouth curve into a sad smile, rubbing his back until he got through it.
"Are we good?" Rin ran his fingers in soothing circles on the vertebrae at Amaimon's neck, tracing his way over each knob of his spine to ease the tension stringing through the nerve endings.
At his question, a nod came from Amaimon and he mouthed a firm kiss into his jaw instead of words, telling Rin all he needed to know.
Rin pulled back, smiling at Amaimon's helpless expression and leaning forward to press his own kiss to his mouth before pulling away.
"I'm going to go talk to Mephisto now, okay?"
Words failed Amaimon and he could only nod again as he watched Rin get up and leave the bed to head out to the veranda where he sensed him hiding.
After grabbing a striped robe that had been laid out on the chair next to the bed, Rin stepped out through the open glass doors, finding Mephisto leaning against the stone railing overlooking the city.
In the dark of the night sky, it was easy to see the small fires that had erupted throughout the area, sirens wailing in the distance as the chaos of the Gehenna Gate opening and people's exposure to demonic presences increased with every moment.
Mephisto was bundled in his own robe. The thick black material would be making his bruised eyes seem darker in the night, Rin knew, if he'd just turn to face him. He had his usual pink polka-dotted scarf wrapped around his neck, long, incredibly gaudy pants, and Rin realized he must be cold.
It was strange. Where before his body had still reacted to the cold in some ways, now Rin didn't feel it at all, even with the bitter winter winds teasing his hair and blowing through the thin fabric of his robe.
"Mephisto."
He watched his careful non-reaction to his name.
"The broken pieces of the Koma sword are in an appropriate place and your friends are all safe."
Rin smiled at the avoidance of the real issue. It wasn't just Amaimon who was allergic to his feelings, it seemed. Or maybe Mephisto just didn't want to face the consequences of his actions.
"I knew you'd take care of that," Rin offered him anyway, allowing the deflection.
Finally, Mephisto turned, propping his head on his hand with his elbow resting on the railing to look at Rin, though he didn't betray any of his thoughts on his face. His eyes were as bruised as Rin had suspected they'd be. Mephisto looked exhausted.
His eyes slid to the bandage still on Mephisto's forehead.
"Are you okay now that you released the gate?"
That prompted a slight widening of his eyes and Mephisto reached up with the tips of his claws to peel the bandage off, revealing pale, un-injured skin there.
"Good."
Mephisto quirked a frown at him, letting the bandage float away in the wind. "I'm still healing. This body is not quite recovered yet."
Content with that knowledge, Rin nodded. As long as he wasn't degrading like he had been anymore.
"You…have spoken with Amaimon, yes?" Green eyes narrowed, flickering to look into the room behind Rin where he'd left Amaimon in the bed.
"You mean you didn't hear all that?" Rin smiled, teasing until Mephisto's peeved expression made him let out a soft laugh, shaking his head.
"We talked, yeah," Rin said, voice wry.
"I see."
The caginess in Mephisto made Rin's lip tug up.
"You let me hurt him, Mephisto," Rin cut to the chase, moving on from letting him stew.
He leaned back against the railing as if to prop himself up for the beating he was about to take. Rin wanted to smirk at him but, also, he figured Mephisto deserved what was coming so he'd let him suffer a bit longer.
"I wanted to hurt you, too, you know," Rin added, eyeing his black claws, which, that was weird, he'd never had those before, even when they'd come out in his previous berserk modes. Something to consider later, but, "I'm glad you didn't come over to me when I called you. I wasn't planning anything nice."
His words caused a slivering of Mephisto's pupils and Rin wondered if it was a pulse of fear or something else his words had created to cause the reaction. You could never tell with demons, the weirdest things turned them on.
"You could have stopped me at any time," he continued when Mephisto didn't respond. "You could have even told me what would happen if the sword broke. Though I get the feeling you were waiting for it to break, probably even at that exact moment against Yukio."
"Everything you've said is true," Mephisto admitted, cocking his head at him, "have I hurt you enough, yet? Is this the final straw? Where are your limits when it comes to how much abuse you will take from me before you break like your sword?"
"Hah!" Rin laughed, harder, even, when Mephisto glared at his response, not understanding where the humor was coming from.
"It's like you told Amaimon at the festival, Mephisto," Rin let a giggle leave his lips at having to tell him something that seemed so simple. "You said you could never have anticipated the way these events would play out when you set things in motion all those years ago."
Rin smiled further at his confusion. "You're trapped in your own schemes just as much as we are. I think you might be hurting yourself more than anything else at this point, actually."
"Ah, that is-" Mephisto blinked at him, mouth dropping open in surprise.
"I don't know how you remember these throwaway comments we make to keep bringing them back to bite us when we least expect it. That you're not doing better in your classes is astounding."
"My classes aren't important," Rin shrugged, "you and Amaimon are important."
Was that a blush on Mephisto's face? Rin hid another laugh. He'd have to compliment the two surly demons more often if he'd always get such fun reactions from them like that.
"And after all the money I've put into your education," Mephisto grumbled, bringing a hand up to hide his face. Rin could see a glint of green where he still eyed him from between the cracks in his fingers.
Time to end it, then, Rin was getting tired of having his two demons be afraid of him.
"You know, this whole awakening as a full demon has some pretty nice perks I can think of right off the top of my head," Rin murmured, letting his lids drop, expression sly as he grinned at the suddenly wary Mephisto.
"Better vision, better hearing, better sense of smell," Rin trailed off, tapping his finger to his chin as if contemplating something before letting his eyes slide back to meet Mephisto's.
"And I can see my claim on you now."
Mephisto froze, hand still over his face as he took in Rin's meaning.
When his hand dropped Rin could see his words had had their intended effect.
"Can you now?"
"Yep," Rin drew the answer out, running his gaze up and down his body in a deliberate move. "I had no idea for the longest time what you guys were talking about. I thought it was just a scent thing and I was really pissed I couldn't sense it."
He heard a rumble building up from Mephisto's chest.
"I haven't told Amaimon about that yet," Rin added, scratching at his cheek, head upturned in mock consideration. "I think I'm gonna go back to him now and let him know."
Turning as if to leave ended with Rin finding himself pulled into a rough kiss that had his bare toes curling into the stone tiles beneath them.
Rin smiled into the kiss, pulling Mephisto closer to him and digging his fingers into his wind-chilled hair.
"You look cold, Mephisto," Rin said, then gasped as his throat was attacked next, pressing his body up along the taller one and shoving his perpetually warmed hands beneath the black robe to drag over the bare skin there. "I don't wanna be cheesy, but I think I know a way to fix that."
Groaning into his neck, Mephisto dropped his head to his shoulder. "You're terrible. I've never been so tormented in my life until I met you."
"Even with Amaimon?" Rin laughed, pulling away and darting over towards the room, grinning back at Mephisto's disgruntled face and twitching hands at finding him gone from them.
"Yes," Mephisto glared, "even with Amaimon. Congratulations. He's had over a thousand more years to perfect the art."
"I'm an innovator," Rin responded, hand on the glass door.
That was when he turned and saw his reflection in the glass and blinked, peering closer in utter confusion.
"What the hell?" Rin yelped, tugging at his hair that had somehow turned white since he'd last seen it, "is that me?"
And were those horns on his head?
Mephisto had made it over to him while he'd been distracted by poking and prodding himself.
"Just noticed, have you?"
He saw the wavy smirk in the reflective surface and pulled his finger out of the corner of his mouth where he'd been examining his fangs.
It was his turn to blush as Mephisto wrapped his arms around him and slid his hands into the open front of his robe, all mirrored back at him from the glass.
Still, "I think my tongue is longer, too. Look!"
Rin let his mouth fall open, watching Mephisto's eyes in the glass as his tongue lolled out between his fangs. Yep. Definitely longer.
There was a black clawed finger pressing into his mouth a moment later and Rin let his tongue curl around the digit to draw it in, eyes never leaving Mephisto's.
The possessiveness there had Rin shivering despite no longer having the ability to feel cold.
He sucked at the finger, licking the pad of it with the now tapered point of his tongue before drawing back to release it with a wet sound.
Sensation ran through him as the other hand at his hips squeezed and Rin felt claws needle into the skin there.
"You've listed out everything but the most obvious change, Rin," Mephisto hummed, hips rubbing against him from behind.
"What?" Rin asked, a little breathless at the teasing movements.
"Your beautiful demon heart is out."
Rin looked down at his chest, the glowing blue flames of his heart floating there.
"Yeah, I don't-" Rin furrowed his brows- "I don't actually know how to put that away yet."
Mephisto inhaled into his hair, another rumbling growl coming from him, as he said, "I'll help you with that later. Let's keep it out, for now."
"Okay," Rin stuttered, not quite understanding why it seemed to entrance him so much, but he'd work with it anyway.
He felt Mephisto's growing interest and poked a claw into the arm at his chest. "Hey, if anyone is getting rewarded tonight it's Amaimon. He's the one that keeps getting beat up."
Mephisto glowered at him from over his head and Rin smirked. "Actually. I think we both deserve something nice from you."
So saying, Rin reached behind him into Mephisto's robe to find the base of his tail and tugged, hearing the ragged moan that came out of his mouth as he let him go in surprise.
Having tugged the tiger's tail, so to speak, Rin bolted back inside, making a flying leap for the bed and startling Amaimon badly as he hissed like a scalded cat from beneath the covers he'd been hiding under, bloody canvas already disappeared from sight.
"Amaimon!" Rin knelt on the bed, smiling at the gasping demon staring at him with wide eyes, "I've got horns now. And my hair is white. This is so weird!"
"Also, I just tugged Mephisto's tail and left him outside, so I don't know how happy he is right now," Rin added with a guileless look, dropping down onto his stomach with his chin in his palms and letting his tail wag behind him under his robe so just the tip of it peaked out by his feet.
Amaimon whimpered up at him and Rin grinned as he felt the presence looming over them behind his back.
He reached forward to grab Amaimon's hand where it curled into the blanket by his chin, bringing it towards his lips and pressing a kiss to his knuckles.
"I told Mephisto," Rin said, letting his breath ghost over the trapped fingers, "I can sense my claim on you now."
A hand stopped his tail from its slow motions and Rin smiled from under his bangs, keeping his eyes locked onto Amaimon's as his robe was pushed up along his legs to pool at his lower back, the bed sinking with another body.
"Rin has suggested that I owe the two of you an apology, Amaimon," Mephisto breathed into Rin's ear, body a heavy weight over him and thumb rubbing at the tip of Rin's now white-furred tail.
Rin took a moment to enjoy the pleasure tingling through the furred length, tilting his head to press his lips to Mephisto's jaw and still holding Amaimon's gaze out of the corner of his eyes.
"I think," Rin hummed, bringing his attention to where he turned Amaimon's hand in his, "that it's Mephisto's turn to be tied up and at our mercy. Right, Amaimon?"
Throughout their exchange, Amaimon had stopped breathing, pupils lost in the gold of his irises at this point, and Rin was afraid he'd broken the poor demon.
He knew how to fix him.
"Mephisto," Rin began, his voice a light command, "I want you to lay back against the pillows for me, 'kay?"
Mephisto slid away from his body, letting his tail go with one last long pull over it that Rin melted into, purr coming from his chest and grip tightening over Amaimon's hand.
He waited for him to settle before sitting back on his knees, robe falling into place around him and releasing Amaimon with a long, teasing smile.
That accomplished, Rin shifted to face Mephisto, enjoying the sight of him sprawled over his own covers, purple hair fanned out on the pillow under his head and an answering smile on his face.
It widened as Rin moved to straddle his hips, leaning down to caress his lips in a slow slide of his mouth, one hand dropping to Mephisto's waist to knead there and the other rising to his neck.
When he sat up, it was to see a light flush across Mephisto's sharp cheekbones and to reveal he'd stolen the pink silk scarf from his neck.
"Raise your hands above your head, Mephisto," Rin said, bringing the scarf to his nose and inhaling the scent there, eyes half-mast as he watched Mephisto move to obey.
Amaimon chose that moment to reboot, poking his head up out of the covers with a disgruntled pout on his face.
"Joining us, Amaimon?" Rin cocked a smile at him.
"Yes," Amaimon grunted, dropping his chin to Rin's shoulder and trailing his black-clawed hands down his chest to pluck at the tie at his robe.
"Why are you still dressed?" Amaimon asked, voice a complaint as he undid the tie, tugging it off and tossing it aside to let Rin's robe fall open.
"Ah," Rin glanced down at Mephisto, "because he's still got his clothes on."
Just as he'd known would happen, Mephisto frowned at that, eyes flicking down his body. "I'm still not healed, Rin. You may not want to see what's under here."
Rin tilted his head, reaching to touch the black tie holding Mephisto's robe closed.
"Don't think I haven't noticed you hiding under your clothes or in the dark the past few times," Rin narrowed his eyes when Mephisto averted his gaze, "actually, I think you've been trying to hide yourself ever since the festival. The last time I saw you was in your office and that was only because I traded you for the information."
The observation just made Mephisto's face tighten.
"You're vain, Mephisto. Has anyone ever told you that?" Rin teased, slowly undoing the knot and parting the robe to reveal his body to him.
The signs of degradation had spread since Rin had last seen them on his couch. Now, instead of just being at his left shoulder, they traveled down his sides, one patch going over his hip to end at his thigh.
And the sickly-sweet scent of rot hit Rin's nose, then, freed from the confines of the robe to the open air. He had a strong suspicion that if he hadn't been a demon with their peculiar sense of smell, he would be gagging.
Once again, luckily, he was a demon, Rin decided, instead letting the point of his claw press just beneath Mephisto's belly button. He rubbed his thumb at the start of the trail of hair there between the length of his tail, watching the way the coils tightened and flexed at the touch.
Amaimon snickered at Mephisto's irritated growl. "He's right. You are vain."
Hearing him, Mephisto made to sit up, probably to teach Amaimon a lesson in manners, but Rin stopped him with a hand on his chest, pressing down and leaning over.
"Hands above your head, Mephisto," he whispered into his pointed ear as he intertwined their hands together, raising them until they were where he wanted them.
He bit at the tip of the ear as a sharp reminder not to move, ignoring Mephisto's heated gaze to bring his attention to where he'd trapped his hands with the silk scarf.
A moment later he neatened the poofy bow he'd made of the scarf with a discerning eye, surveying his work with satisfaction.
"I don't know how many of those you have, because I see you use them on like, everything you own," Rin remarked, arms crossed as he looked down at Mephisto, "but you're not allowed to move from this position or break that, no matter what. Got it?"
"Mmm, as you wish, Rin," Mephisto hummed, arching his hips to rub up against Rin's in a slow roll.
Rin grinned at his assent and ground his hips down, sparks lighting through his nerves at the friction.
"You know," Rin gasped as Amaimon bit at his neck and Mephisto surged against him, "it's too bad Christmas is over, I like having you wrapped up like a present."
"The bow is a nice touch," Amaimon agreed, gold eyes glinting.
"Next year I'm tying one of you up in a big red bow and leaving you for the other to find," Rin determined. "No idea who yet, but I'll just have to see who's earned it most."
"Actually," Rin reached behind him to grab Amaimon's hips and press them harder to his, feeling his length slide alongside him and gasping as heat started to build up in earnest, "you should thank Shiemi for this idea, but I've decided to celebrate your new birthdays and our anniversary on the day of the festival so that means two times a year I get to unwrap someone."
"I love the way your mind works, Rin," Mephisto said, breath hitching in his chest as Rin smiled down at him and dragged out one more slow movement of his hips that had both of them shuddering before he got off and sat to the side, though Amaimon let out a sound of protest at the loss of contact.
"Amaimon, this is his apology to you, remember?" Rin prodded, sliding his hand up Mephisto's arm where he sat next to him.
"You're right, I forgot," Amaimon's lips curled over his fangs in a wide smile as he poked his clawed fingers at Mephisto's hips, tugging him into a better position. Another motion and the brightly colored pants were tossed aside to join Rin's robe tie, leaving him bare to their eyes.
Instead of pushing into Mephisto immediately, Amaimon brought his tail around, watching the way Rin and Mephisto tracked it when he let it glide up along Mephisto's leg, just tracing the sensitive skin of his inner thigh.
His pupils were wide in his irises, unable to see when Amaimon let his tail dip down to press at his entrance but shuddering when it teased there.
Amaimon spread Mephisto's long legs apart to get better access, keeping their gazes locked as he toyed with him, rubbing but not breaching and letting the anticipation build until Mephisto looked ready to kill.
"Amaimon," Mephisto growled, body twitching at the effort of holding still and hands clenching at the scarf.
"You've done way worse to us, Mephisto," Rin murmured at his ear, tracing a claw at his throat and feeling the vibrations there. "I don't know if I've told you, but turnabout's fair play."
In the distraction Rin had caused, Amaimon plunged his tail into Mephisto, twin moans coming from them while Rin just smiled into Mephisto's hair and watched the expression on Amaimon's face.
Once again, Amaimon decided to torment Mephisto, tail moving slowly enough that Mephisto couldn't adjust, demonic healing kicking in and making sure the tightness remained the same.
He'd begun trembling, hips trying to push up into the tail but unable to as Amaimon raised it back, gold eyes molten with the heat of them as he watched his victim get more and more desperate beneath him at his actions.
Rin ran his fangs down the delicate skin of Mephisto's arm, watching the play of muscle there as he fought to keep them pressed to the pillow and not around Amaimon's throat.
It wasn't enough-for either of them-and Amaimon wasn't known for his patience. Rin could see the moment he was done with the teasing.
Instead of pulling his tail out, Amaimon hiked Mephisto's legs up and shoved in right alongside it, letting out a hiss at the tightness as Mephisto gave a loud groan at the sudden force, head dropping back to the pillow as his eyes squeezed shut.
The sight of the two had Rin shivering, feeling his pulse pick up when Amaimon began thrusting into Mephisto, nearly pressing him in half with his hands tight around the captured thighs, digging red lines into the skin.
Mephisto growled at the pain, fangs lengthening in his mouth and chest heaving as he fought against moving like he wanted to.
Rin saw all this, the way Amaimon's eyes seemed to glow in their intensity, the way Mephisto lost control of his appearance, long ears wedged into the pillows, tail locked in a quivering loop around his waist, each slam of hips rubbing his hardened length against the coils.
And he waited.
Snarling, Amaimon released into Mephisto, turning his head to lap at the trails of blood he'd drawn down his thighs around gasping breaths before sinking his teeth into the tender skin there, drawing a hiss of pain from Mephisto, who'd almost lunged to attack him for it.
Fire hummed beneath his skin and Rin pressed him back with a hand on his chest, rubbing a clawed thumb over the thudding heartbeat.
"It's my turn for my apology, I think," Rin said as Amaimon pulled back, letting Mephisto uncurl from the uncomfortable position he'd been in.
Amaimon tried to control his panting, drawing in a long breath as he looked into Rin's eyes, and then froze.
"Your eyes are warping, Rin," he said, face shuttering as if wary again.
"I know."
He watched the shiver go through Amaimon at his acknowledgment, feeling another under his hand from Mephisto, too.
"I can feel the change now," Rin added, bringing his body out of where he'd been laying over Mephisto in a possessive hold to move to Amaimon's side with leonine grace, pressing a fang-filled kiss to the rapid pulse of his neck.
"It's my turn, Amaimon," Rin breathed into the wet patch he'd laved against his throat, hand reaching down to splay over Mephisto's thigh next to his entrance where Amaimon was inside him.
Mephisto was still hard, intermittent tremors running through his frame as Amaimon slid out with a hiss, allowing Rin to take his place.
But, despite the anticipation of Mephisto's expression, canting his hips to give Rin better access, Rin just bowed forward over his knees until he had his cheek resting on the trembling muscle of his thigh.
His eyes widened, pupils slivering as Rin opened his mouth to expose dangerous, needle-sharp fangs within inches of the delicate skin there in a silent warning not to move.
A shuddering breath exhaled from him when Rin let his tongue out to wind around the base of his length.
Rin brought his hand up to grasp the leaking head, keeping it in place while he ran light licks of his tongue to the root, pulling back a bit to suck a bruise into the skin next to his thigh as Mephisto tried to get more pressure and was unable to with a frustrated sound that was music to Rin's ears.
"Keep your hands there, Mephisto," Rin murmured a reminder, breath ghosting along the wet trails he'd left and eyelids half-mast over the glowing blue fires of his irises.
At the soft growl that came out, Rin decided he'd teased enough, raising his head over Mephisto to let his mouth full of bristling fangs hang in another casual threat, watching how it made Mephisto suck in a startled breath, body freezing while Rin stayed there, suspended.
He gave a shuddering roll of his neck and forced the fangs back until just the regular ones remained, hearing Mephisto's breathing start back up again.
By then Amaimon had made his way to where Rin had been next to Mephisto's head, gold eyes spearing into him, though Rin didn't meet the gaze, keeping his full attention on Mephisto.
His tongue slipped out, winding it around Mephisto before pulling it off again in a twist, tasting the pre-come there and humming in pleasure.
"Did you know?" Rin finally spoke, breaking the stillness as he pinned his eyes on Mephisto's to see how his next sentence would affect him, "I've been teaching myself how to do what you and Amaimon can do."
Twin intakes of hissed breath reached his ears and Rin smiled, knowing he'd done his job.
Rin didn't give either of them any more time to process his words, getting his mouth around Mephisto's length and taking it down in one fell swoop until his nose pressed to the taut stomach.
The sound he got made him groan around Mephisto, taking tiny breaths through his nose as he gave himself time to adjust to the intrusion.
At the first long drag of his mouth, Mephisto arched his back, trying to push further into Rin's throat and once again unable to as Rin kept him in place, anticipating the instinctual reaction.
Already, his jaw ached, spit slicking his lips and the angle uncomfortable for him, but it didn't even matter when Rin looked up to see the way Mephisto came more undone with every pass of his mouth.
Mephisto was heavy in his throat, so much different from the objects he'd used to practice with and so much better too.
But he had another idea. Rin pulled back to look at Amaimon, releasing with a wet pop as Mephisto gasped, frustration blazing in his eyes.
His voice, when he spoke his name, was rough, throat raw from his efforts.
"Amaimon, will you help me?"
Amaimon let out a helpless moan through his teeth at that request, crawling over until he could bring his mouth to Rin's, tasting Mephisto on his lips before unwinding their tongues and fisting a hand in Rin's white hair, guiding him back down to take Mephisto into his mouth again.
The first push of Amaimon's hand against his head shoved him down an inch and Rin forced himself to relax as he was pulled back up, the sharp pain stinging where strands of hair were being tugged only adding to the whole experience.
He could feel Mephisto tightening and knew he was close.
Sudden pressure jolted Rin, letting out a muffled whine when Amaimon decided to start running a hand over his tail, the sound causing Mephisto to twitch in his mouth before the purr forced from the rough drags to his tail had Mephisto coming against the back of his throat with a shattered gasp.
Swallowing, Rin managed to capture most of the release before he had to push himself off to cough to the side, still unable to handle the sensation like the other two could.
Amaimon mouthed at his spine, running warm hands over his shaking sides while he panted at the exertion until he could squint up through the tears in his eyes at Mephisto.
A deeply satisfied smile spread over Rin's lips to see Mephisto exactly where he'd left him, arms stretched above his head and chest heaving as he came down from his release.
Then he was toppled onto his back and found Amaimon in his lap, already swallowing him down.
His head knocking back into the mattress, gasping at the wet suction around him and hands coming to grab Amaimon's hair, moaning at the sudden heat.
Amaimon didn't waste time teasing, and Rin pushed up without regard for pace or rhythm, eyes rolling back in his head as he came with a cry.
Sated, Rin stretched in a sinuous roll of his body over the twisted covers beneath him, a pleasant buzz humming through him as Amaimon sat back up.
There was one last thing to take care of before he could rest, though, so Rin twisted onto his stomach and crawled back up to where Mephisto lay, dropping to his side to nuzzle into his neck.
"Will you release me now, Rin?"
Rin peeked up from under his bangs to catch the green of Mephisto's eyes watching.
"Hmm," Rin pressed his teeth to the artery at Mephisto's neck in a mock bite, "I don't know, I kinda want to see how long you can last like this."
"Demon," Mephisto hissed, though Rin detected a hint of delight hidden in the word.
But he wanted Mephisto's hands on him more than he wanted to torment him further, so he propped himself up to gently pick the knot out of the bow and free him from his bonds.
He was already curled around Mephisto by the time he had enough feeling back in his limbs to wrap his arms around him, drawing Rin closer to his chest.
Amaimon lay on Mephisto's other side, tugging the blanket back over himself until only the top of his head could be seen.
"I hate the cold," he grumbled, shuffling until he could glare at where the glass doors had been left wide open to let the chill air in.
His complaints had Rin snickering as he pulled the blanket the rest of the way over he and Mephisto. "I'm so glad I don't have to deal with that anymore."
"You make a very convenient space heater, Rin," Mephisto said, snapping his fingers to shut the door, clean them, and turn the lights off.
"You're welcome." Rin stuck his tongue out at Mephisto before settling down with a contented sigh.
Rin could still see the lights from the city through the dark glass, knowing some of them were probably fires from demonic attacks or accidents caused by people who'd just discovered they could see the malevolent beings.
He also knew he had to have a very important talk with Mephisto soon about some things he'd rather not talk about at all.
But everything could wait until morning, he would be enjoying the peace for as long as it would last.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
Rin lay on his back in Mephisto's bed with his arms spread to either side and Amaimon still asleep next to him.
The early morning winter light came in weak from the veranda windows and he knew he could stay where he was for a few more hours if he decided to, but he forced himself to get out from beneath the covers and went to go face the music.
A soft purr from Amaimon caught his attention and Rin smiled down at him, leaning over to press a kiss to his mussed green hair.
He left the sleeping earth king, finding the tie to his robe he still had on where Amaimon had tossed it the night before, knotted it back around his waist, and made his way to where Mephisto sat at his small coffee table, a platter of breakfast pastries already laid out.
"Amaimon is kinda like a cat," Rin opened with, sitting down across from Mephisto and accepting the coffee he was offered, letting it steam in the still air of the room.
"Go on," Mephisto said, smiling at him and resting his cheek in his hand.
"Super independent, could sleep all day if you let him, and likes to claw things up for fun," Rin began as he swirled the dark liquid in an absent pattern. "Also, I noticed he didn't really like the bathhouse, so add 'hates water' to that list."
"A very apt description, Rin."
Rin relaxed into the chair, enjoying the slow peace while it lasted. He realized he liked the way Mephisto looked in the morning. Though he doubted Mephisto ever really let himself be fully unguarded, Rin thought this might be the closest he would ever get around him to such a state.
He let his gaze trace over the way the cool light revealed the different shades of purple in Mephisto's hair and green eyes, following the shadows cast in the slope of his nose and across the sharp pane of his cheek.
A warmth spread through Rin's chest that had nothing to do with his nature or the coffee he was sipping at and everything to do with the demon sitting across from him.
Tapping a claw against his porcelain cup in a move Rin would call a fidget in anyone else, Mephisto eyed him with a budding puzzlement, though Rin caught him trying to cover it up with his usual flirtations.
"See something interesting, Rin?"
Rin hid a smile with his own cup, rubbing a finger at the rim of it as he inhaled the scent of the coffee and the way it mixed with Mephisto's.
"I just like looking at you."
Another score for him, Rin tallied inwardly when a light dusting of pink spread over Mephisto's cheeks before he turned his head to the windows as if to hide the reaction.
The distraction worked, though, Rin finding his attention drawn to the world outside. The sounds of last night's panic from the city had cooled and now all Rin could hear were the soft coos of the pigeons hiding from the cold on the roof.
He hadn't fully realized the true extent of those new perks that had come with his awakening, including an even better sense of hearing alongside the improved sense of sight and smell. Rin thought that he might be able to tell if someone were sick like Amaimon had said he could when they'd thought the worst was happening to Shiemi. At least, given the way he could pick up on the rot eating into Mephisto, Rin thought that was the case.
Looking at the decaying cells took Rin deeper until he realized he could even smell his claim on Mephisto now, the energy between them giving off a particular scent that was more than just the non-physical connection he'd been so thrilled to discover the night before.
Again, Rin wished that he didn't have to break the silence of the moment with his next words, but they'd finished, coffee mugs emptied, pastries gone, and nothing left to do but begin.
By the anticipation in Mephisto's green eyes, he knew it too.
"I think it's time…"
Rin tilted his head, frown on his face and sigh on his lips at what he had to do, "I think it's time I asked you about how Yukio and I were born, about Satan, and my mother. And about Father Fujimoto."
His eye twitched when his words just made Mephisto shiver in pleasure, neck rolling in a long stretch and his response practically moaned out, "Oh, Rin, you have no idea how long I've waited for you to say that to me."
"I'd really prefer not to know about the past," Rin grumbled, glaring at the laugh that drew from Mephisto. "Yukio's the one who really wants to. You should have just told him."
Exasperation filled Mephisto's sigh as he tipped his head back against the chair. "Trust me, I've tried that avenue many times. It does not work out in anyone's favor."
At that revelation, Rin squinted over at him, saying, "Your life is just one big video game with do-overs and save files and everything, isn't it?"
"Ah, video games," Mephisto grinned, "man's greatest invention."
Rin snorted, shaking his head at his ridiculous obsession with his games, not that he hadn't taken advantage of his massive collection the numerous times he'd spent at the mansion.
"So?" Rin pressed, wanting to get the story over with as quickly as possible so he could have a quiet freak-out somewhere to process the no-doubt horrifying truths contained in it.
"Ah, this is a story better experienced first-hand." Mephisto rested his cheek on his palm again, leaning closer to Rin over the table as if he was letting him in on a secret.
"To do that, you'll need to go back to the past." His voice oozed glee, smile widening with each word. "Alone."
He brought his fingers up.
"With this."
Rin blinked as the magic key Shiro had given him at the start of everything poofed into Mephisto's hand where he waved it over the table until Rin held out his own to receive it.
"This is the master key to the past, the only one of its kind, and capable of carrying its bearer to their desired dimension."
"You mean I've had this super important key the whole time and you expected me to keep it safe?" Rin gaped at Mephisto. "I lose so many things!"
"Well," Mephisto's smile turned smug, "you didn't lose this, so make sure you take good care of it now that you know."
That had Rin glaring at Mephisto again as he pulled the key to his chest like he might lose it right there in the room.
"Also," Mephisto snapped his fingers and Rin gasped as he found himself dressed in a dark black military-style uniform that almost looked like what the exorcists wore, "you'll need this. It's a special patrol uniform of my own design that will let you go anywhere. And if you flip the hood up it'll hide you like the camo ponchos you've used in the past."
Rin smoothed a hand down his chest, blinking up at Mephisto. "Uh, what do I do about my heart?"
Another snap and the glowing blue flames of his heart swirled away until he almost looked normal again. If he ignored his black clawed fingers and slit-pupiled eyes, that was, which he could tell were still there by his improved vision.
With a careful prod at his forehead, Rin saw his horns hadn't disappeared. He guessed they were a permanent feature now.
Ruffling his bangs solved that problem, horns covered unless a strong breeze happened to shift his hair aside. Rin stood, tugging at the uniform, and looked up to see Mephisto standing in front of him, staring with a not-so-subtle hunger in his eyes.
"It's too bad you have to leave us so soon," he let his eyes trail up and down Rin's form, "you look good enough to eat in that."
Rin crossed his arms, huffing at the compliment. "You've got a thing for dressing us up, don't you?"
Instead of answering immediately, Mephisto crowded against him, pressing their hips together so he could lean down to claim Rin's mouth in a slow kiss, voice a low murmur at his lips when he broke it, "One of these days, I will make you and Amaimon try on some things I've been saving for just the two of you. My own personal show."
"I think I can live with that." Rin swallowed at the idea, eyes zoning out as he tried to imagine what he could possibly have stored away for them given what he'd dressed them in up to that point.
"Something to look forward to, then." Mephisto gave him one last deep kiss and stepped back.
"Now then. To use that key simply shut any door- the balcony doors will do, lock them, twist the key in, think of where you want to go, open the doors and walk through."
Rin looked down at the key with trepidation, still not happy that he had to use it. He sent a glance over at where Amaimon slept one last time, watching the rise and fall of the bundle of blankets before walking to the doors and doing as instructed.
The yawning black void that greeted him didn't help his reluctance, but Rin just sucked in a breath, squared his shoulders, and walked through.
Rin blinked, finding himself standing on the rooftop of a random building covered in snow, breath fogging into the air as he looked around in confusion.
Besides the generally shoddy appearance of everything around him, nothing screamed 'this is the past' at him.
Movement reached his ears and he turned to see a figure with white hair standing at the top of a nearby roof, but when the figure noticed him, he let out a panicked shout and darted away before Rin could ask him anything.
"Later, you'll know him as the priest, Shiro Fujimoto."
At the familiar voice, Rin turned and beamed, heart jolting with shock at the surprise but filling with joy a moment later.
"Mephisto!"
"Well," Mephisto tilted his head, the smile he'd been wearing twitching into something a bit ruffled, "I believe that's the happiest anyone has ever been to see me."
"Did you come back with me?" Rin stepped over to him, peering up where he was perched on an air-duct wearing a dated-looking suit. Though he had a pink polka-dot tie on and a matching umbrella propped over his shoulder that showed his tastes apparently never changed.
"Nope!" Mephisto leaped down, closing the umbrella. "I'm just about forty years before your time."
Rin eyed him before another smile spread on his lips. "You look good."
"Oh?"
"The future hasn't been too kind to you," Rin muttered, thinking to the degradation Mephisto was still healing from.
"But," he hesitated, searching his eyes and biting at his lip, "you do know me, right?"
"Yes, Rin. I know you," Mephisto said, smile wry as he took in his worry.
Hearing that, Rin made the last few steps to wrap his arms around Mephisto, pressing his face to the body that no longer smelled of rot or appeared emaciated from the building strain of the sheer energy pressing against it at all times despite Mephisto's abilities to slow it down.
A purr went through him as his hug was returned.
"My body may change, but my identity as the king of time remains the same," Mephisto said against his hair. "I'll know you no matter which era we're in."
"Good," Rin rubbed his cheek over Mephisto's chest one last time and pulled back. "So, where am I supposed to be going?"
Mephisto poofed into his little dog form, tiny polka-dotted snow shoes on his feet that were soon pawing at Rin's legs until he picked him up, getting a wet lick to his cheek in thanks.
"I'll be your guide. Head through that door, please."
With one arm, Rin hugged Mephisto closer to his chest, the other stuck the master key into the lock.
"Remember, Rin," Mephisto added, "this story ends in tragedy."
"I know." Rin tucked his face into the fur of Mephisto's ruff, inhaling there to steady himself before stepping through into the decrepit building.
A black blur ran past him, startling him, though curiosity pressed him to follow the blur's path until he came to an open space in the derelict warehouse.
The blur turned out to be a girl with wild black hair that curled down her back like a waterfall, framing a face full of little moles and blue eyes. She squeaked when she saw him and darted away.
Rin already knew who she was when he heard one of the old homeless people call her name, beckoning her over to the fire they sat around.
Yuri. His mother.
"Ah, Rin," Mephisto's head shifted to look up at him, "try not to be noticed by anyone. It won't create any nasty paradoxes, but it will leave them confused so it's best to avoid it."
"Sure," Rin mumbled, crouching down behind some boxes to watch the scene before him unfold.
He learned his mother was an orphan. That two of the homeless people she lived with used to be exorcists.
And that the other day she'd met a blue fireball called a Rinka.
Rinka. He sucked in a breath, tightening his grip around Mephisto while he watched his mother fall asleep after her meal.
"They look happy," Rin murmured, a soft smile on his face as he took in the misfit family. "I'm glad."
Mephisto was quiet in his arms and Rin ran a soothing hand along his back, wondering at his strange silence.
"Let's move forward in time."
At that sudden statement, Rin blinked but went to another door, allowing Mephisto to lead him into the future.
He found himself alone in a junkyard, his mother playing with random broken toys she'd collected.
It was…a little sad to see her playing by herself without any friends.
There wasn't time to think about it as the blue flames appeared and knocked one of the tin cans from the pattern his mother had arranged them in.
"It's Satan."
Rin gulped at Mephisto's words when he joined him again. He knew that Yuri would be safe, seeing as she had to grow to eventually have him and Yukio, but was still having to fight his instincts to rescue her from the blue flames anyways.
Through watching, he learned that blue flames had been popping up all over Assiah for years, known by many names throughout the cultures that saw them-Japan's own Fox Fire being the one he was most familiar with.
This was the first time the flames had shown awareness in the form of play.
Another few moments passed before Yuri was called away from the dangerous scrap heaps by her guardian, Satan vanishing before it could be seen.
The next scene Rin entered was of a building on fire, the black smoke billowing into the air in the claustrophobic crush of derelict buildings.
He stood back with the crowd of people gathered outside and watched with a sinking heart while Yuri running past him to try to get back into the building and save her adopted family confirmed his fears. The factory where his mother lived was burning.
Later, he found out that three bodies had been discovered inside and that Yuri was alone now, left to wander the streets.
Mephisto met him to lead him away from the sight of his mother shivering asleep in the snow and Rin once again found himself clutching him to his chest into the next scene.
Things looked up slightly as his mother had discovered some guy's hideout, which seemed a little dangerous to him, but it was at least a warm and dry place to sleep.
Still, Rin crouched in the snow to peer into the open slats under the flimsy tin roof to keep an eye on her.
"Please remember you can't interfere with events, Rin."
Rin looked down to where he had Mephisto tucked into the front of his uniform.
"Okay," he assured him, scratching at the chilled ears peeking out into the air. He grinned when Mephisto twitched his ears at the touch and couldn't resist tweaking one of them.
His action drew a growl from Mephisto, glaring up at Rin with a curled lip revealing one of his little doggy fangs and Rin had to force back the coo trying to escape his mouth. "Be aware, Rin, that despite appearances to the contrary and my current form, I am very much the same demon."
He knew, he really did. Rin leaned down to plant a kiss on the adorable black nose anyway.
Mephisto sneezed right in his face.
"Agh! Ew," Rin wiped at his skin with the sleeve of his coat, cracking open his eyes to glare at the smug expression he received.
A moment later, his lips trembled into a smile and he snickered, dropping his head to Mephisto's and closing his eyes again. "Sorry, I couldn't stop myself. I'll try to behave, now."
"Honestly, I've given you the key to an age-old conspiracy that others have literally killed to try unlocking and you're busy playing with my ears," Mephisto grumbled at him, shifting until he was covered from the cold better, though that just made Rin want to squeeze the little demon harder.
"Well, when you put it like that," Rin hummed, trying to placate him. Though, really, he had warned Mephisto. He had no interest in the past, but plenty of interest in his two favorite demons.
In his distraction, his mother had laid down to sleep, exhaustion leaving her in a heap under the pile of blankets she'd found. With nothing left to do, Rin settled down to sleep himself, curling his arms in a more secure hold around Mephisto.
He was snapped awake when a new person appeared, pushing open the door to the hideout in a gust of wind.
There stood Shiro in all his pre-teen glory.
And he was kind of an ass, Rin found, grimacing down at Mephisto.
"Who are you?" Shiro snapped at Yuri. "What're you doing in my hide-out?"
Yuri only stared in shock, prompting a snarl from the angry pre-teen.
"I'll kill you!"
The scene played out, Rin biting at his lip as he watched.
"He's ruthless," Rin muttered as his mother explained her situation to an uncaring Shiro, who had no pity for the homeless girl trying to seek shelter.
"You're," his mother stuttered, tears of anger building in her eyes, "you're the Yukiotoko!"
Rin blinked, hearing the name of a spirit one of Yuri's dead family had told her about that was described as tall, white, cold, and terrifying, finding the description apt. There was something familiar in the name.
"Yukio, huh?"
Wriggling in his grip prompted Rin to let Mephisto loose as it shook him out of his musing, hopping to the snow and cocking his head up to Rin.
"I need to leave you now, Rin."
Wordless, Rin gave a nod as he got the sense something was up with Mephisto though he couldn't place what that was, but he pressed a kiss to the soft fur at the little demon's forehead, watching the lidded green eyes when he pulled back with a frown. Mephisto didn't say anything else before poofing away, leaving Rin alone.
He didn't have time to contemplate that puzzle further as his mom bargained with Shiro to get him to let her stay, promising him a stash of more dirty magazines she knew the location of because apparently, his old man was a degenerate no matter what age.
At least she had a place to stay now, Rin sighed, settling back again to watch as his mother spoke with the standoffish Shiro, sitting against him for warmth despite his irritated grumbling.
A noise snapped Rin's attention away from the scene as he realized something was fast approaching the location from the street level. Before he could react, the flimsy glass window shattered and a black hell hound was snarling in the room.
What looked like exorcists swarmed his mother and Shiro, though their uniforms were like his and not the updated ones he was used to seeing.
"We've found you," one of the men spoke, shining a bright light onto the peeved expression on Shiro's face. "You're the only one from the Azazel group to do this, you know."
They rounded on Yuri next and Rin had to clench his claws into his palms to avoid doing anything as they voiced their suspicions about her presence, not happy to have her overhear anything.
Shiro just sniffed and dismissed her as some homeless kid that snuck in, but Rin could see one of the exorcists reaching into his holster behind his back and his lips curled over a fang at the sight.
His mother saved herself with her ability to see demons, blinking at the growling face of the hellhound and calling it a nice doggy.
She was gathered up with Shiro and taken to the car the exorcists had arrived in. The last Rin heard as they drove away was that they were headed to Asylum.
He had a location.
Rin let out a long exhale as the car faded into the falling snow until he couldn't see it anymore, feeling a phantom cold send a shiver through his body.
He'd been…so lonely as a kid, his wild nature pushing away anyone who might want to be around him, but he'd had Yukio by his side and a home with Shiro.
After what he'd witnessed, he knew his mother had nothing, and he couldn't imagine what loneliness she must have been feeling at that moment.
Still, he would have to follow her to see where her story led, and he turned to the nearest door to use the key, letting it take him to Asylum.
When he opened the door and went through, he found himself in what looked like the Academy and he had a sinking suspicion that the two places were the same.
Rin caught sight of his mother being led away to get cleaned and settled into her new home if it could be called that. Shiro was taken to a separate area, much to Yuri's distress, but she didn't have a choice, keeping her eyes on him until she could no longer see him and was forced to follow the adults tugging her along.
In a small room with an unsmiling woman, he learned his mother's full name was Yuri Egin, a note from her own mother had been found sewn into the lining of her bag, though she couldn't read it even when they handed it to her. Rin learned the name of his grandmother, too, Yoko Egin, and he once again found himself at a loss as to what to do with that information.
It also came to light that Asylum was an exorcism training camp and Yuri was immediately enrolled in classes, now a ward of the place since she had no one to claim her.
Rin watched her fall asleep in her new military-style bunk amidst other kids, though she seemed happy, excited to begin her new life, and wasn't crying like some of the newly arrived kids around her.
He left her there, closing the door and opening another to head into the future again.
Rin blinked, recognizing his surroundings when he stepped out.
It was the side entrance to Mephisto's office and Rin inhaled, bringing the particular scent of ozone and expensive cologne unique to Mephisto to his nose.
Mephisto was there in the room.
Probably even at his desk.
He crept forward to peer around the entryway when a knock at the main doors stopped him short.
"Enter."
A shiver went up his spine, though he kept himself hidden. Mephisto was at his desk.
"I've brought the subject you requested," an exorcist called from the door.
"Thank you," Mephisto responded, "you may go now."
The door opened, the exorcist bowing and leaving, and it was just an angry-looking Shiro, Mephisto, and Rin in the office.
"So," Mephisto began, and Rin could see him hiding a smirk behind his hand, "you're Shiro, experimental subject AO-004, in the Azazel group."
Rin didn't understand half of the words in that sentence, but Shiro didn't seem surprised by any of it, choosing to remain in sullen silence as he waited for Mephisto to get to his point.
Unphased, Mephisto quirked a clawed hand at Shiro, revealing his smirk. "Come closer."
It came out then, how Shiro had been the only one of the Azazel group to regularly slip his guards, escaping to the slums to squirrel away money doing odd jobs and selling parts in his hidden refuge until he'd been caught.
"The world is a harsh place," Mephisto said, mock sympathy in his voice. "Wouldn't it just be easier to live a quiet life here?"
His question garnered a sneer from Shiro that Rin flinched to see. "I was gonna escape once I saved up enough money. Anything's better than living in isolation with a bunch of guys who look like me."
Shiro clenched his fists, glaring into the widening smirk on Mephisto's face.
"I'd rather die!"
Through the brief exchange, Rin began to get a clearer picture of what was going on in Asylum and it made his chest ache. Especially when he heard Shiro's next words, asking whether he would be killed, then, as the director of Section Thirteen, Mephisto Pheles, had the power and say to do.
Mephisto's answering cackles at Shiro's audacity echoed in Rin's ears and the response from Shiro confirmed what Rin suspected.
"You like me, huh?"
That was it. Mephisto found the little spit-fire of a kid hilarious, Rin sighed inwardly. It was no wonder with the way Mephisto always taunted those around him to get such reactions, including Shura, who this mini-Shiro was reminding Rin of more and more.
The next sequence of events stopped his heart, eyes widening as he watched Shiro leap onto the desk, grab Mephisto's tie and yank him forward to make his demand.
"Make me an exwire!"
Shiro wanted to be free. The bitter words of his plan laying out how he would make his way up to Paladin to attain the status, honor, and wealth that came with the position.
"I'm not going out as some demonic sacrifice," he bit out, bringing his snarling face closer to the wry smile on Mephisto's and panting as his words left him in a burst.
"You're both stupid and ignorant," Mephisto giggled, head dropping back to hang from the grip still on his tie. "Even if you make Paladin you'll swear fealty to the Order and be its dog."
"You'll never be free."
"Bring it on," Shiro hissed, bringing his head up to show his pinprick pupils and razor smile. "I'm gonna kill every demon I see. And I'll kill and kill, and when my owners are finally done using me I'm gonna tear your throat out with my teeth!"
Somehow, Rin discovered, though he wasn't very surprised with the way he was about violence, Shiro's words only made Mephisto smile wider, voice a purr as he responded, "Sounds fun."
He pulled his tie out of Shiro's grip, fitting it back around his neck, and proclaimed he would make his recommendation that Shiro be the next exwire chosen from the Azazel group.
With one condition.
"If you yield to a demon even once," Mephisto cocked a clawed finger up at the narrow-eyed Shiro, "you have to grant me one favor, anything I ask!"
Shiro accepted the wager, something Rin could have told him he'd one day come to regret, as most wagers with Mephisto tended to do.
It was too late. Shiro left, shouting back from the entrance that Mephisto had better keep his promise and slamming the door behind him.
His ears rang in the silence of the office now that the excitement was over.
"Thank you for being discreet, Rin," Mephisto's voice called, bringing Rin's attention back. "You may come out now."
Rin stood from his crouch, wincing at the ache in his knees from holding the position for so long and walking up to the desk to stare down at the smug face Mephisto wore.
"You've got a type, you know," Rin huffed a breath out, hand on his hip when the smile on Mephisto's face turned wicked. "Me, Amaimon, Shiro-and don't think I haven't noticed the way you flirt with Shura, who I'm pretty sure wants to kill you and she's only holding back because, technically, you're her boss."
"That conquest may yet yield fruit one of these days." Mephisto let out a wistful sigh, eyes gazing upwards at the thought of somehow getting past Shura's utter hatred and mistrust for him.
"Good luck with that," Rin snorted, crossing his arms, "and before you say anything, I really, really, don't ever need or want to know anything about what you may or may not do with Shiro or Shura in the future, thanks."
"It'll just be my little secret, then." Mephisto grinned, his tongue sliding across his lower lip in a suggestive way that Rin let himself enjoy as he happily ignored whatever implications it had.
"So," he settled back his chair, "no questions about what you just witnessed here? That doesn't seem like you at all."
Rin allowed his lips to widen in a smile in response to the curious expression on Mephisto's face. "I think whatever I ask is gonna end up being shown to me somewhere along this story, so I can wait."
"I suppose we're done here, then." Mephisto frowned, cocking his head as if disappointed he wouldn't get to tempt Rin with the promise of hidden knowledge.
"Sure," Rin agreed, then proceeded to not move from his spot as his smile grew further to expose the tips of his fangs. "Except there was something I was thinking about during that whole thing earlier."
"Oh?" Mephisto's brows furrowed as he tried to guess at what Rin's thoughts could have been after the shocking revelations he'd heard from Shiro.
Rin leaned over the desk and tugged Mephisto forward by his tie before he could react. A mirror of what he'd just gone through at Shiro's hands.
"I was thinking I don't see my claw marks on your desk anymore and I wanted to fix that."
And Rin pulled Mephisto into a kiss, eyes open to watch the beautiful expression of surprise on his face.
He wound his tongue along Mephisto's, grinning when he finally got with the program and kissed back, clawed hand coming up to grasp at Rin's hair and deepening the angle.
Mephisto broke the kiss, lips just brushing his as he spoke against them, "I just bought this desk and you already want to break it in?"
"It'll give you something to remember me by until you see me again who knows how long from now," Rin tilted his head, eyes shuttering as he focused his attention on the neck just out of his reach. His hand tightened on the tie he hadn't released yet, pulling Mephisto another inch closer as he considered climbing over the wide desk to get at what he wanted.
Mephisto vanished from his hold and Rin gasped as he found he'd reappeared at his back, pressing him to the wooden surface.
He arched up into the hips behind his, a purr escaping his mouth when his hands were captured, Mephisto's chest bearing down on him in a heated weight until he was fully covered.
"Unfortunately, Rin, I can't let you mark this desk up just yet," Mephisto said into his ear, nipping at it when Rin shifted beneath him at the hard edge digging into his thighs. "Think of how upset that younger version of you would be to discover someone else's claw marks when you see them in the future."
Grumbling, Rin twisted his hips back into Mephisto's, realizing he had a point but determined to enjoy himself anyway. "Fine, but you're gonna have to do something about that then, because I doubt I'll be able to stop myself from it on my own."
In the middle of his complaint, he found his hands pulled back behind him and the sound of soft fabric slipping along itself reached his ears. He had a moment to wonder at it until his wrists were bound in the tie he'd just been yanking on.
An experimental tug on the binding showed it firmly in place, Rin turning to look over his shoulder to see Mephisto eyeing his attempts with a pleased smile.
Their gazes caught, Mephisto's eyes glinting in the light of the window behind his desk as he traced a clawed finger over where Rin's wrist met the silk of the tie. "What was it you said to me, Rin?"
"Hm?" Rin tried to focus on Mephisto's words, something that was made difficult when his hips were grabbed and he began rubbing in short, light movements against Rin.
Rin chased the heat he could feel from where their bodies touched, though the sensation was dulled through the layers of his clothes and he already knew Mephisto was going to be an absolute bastard about things.
A moment later and he was proven right.
"Ah, yes," Mephisto snapped his fingers and removed their clothes, letting them fold in a nearby chair as Rin sucked in a breath, shivering at the slide of their skin together without anything in the way.
"Turnabout is fair play."
His bound wrists were drawn up in one of Mephisto's hands until he moaned at the ache of it, back arching to try to mitigate the pain and feeling himself hardening despite it at the continued motions.
The edge of the desk bit uncomfortably into him but Rin was able to unwind his tail from his waist to drag it against Mephisto's chest, letting the long fur at the end brush over his skin and eliciting a low growl.
He froze as his tail was grabbed, slumping into the wood under him when Mephisto brought the tip of it to his mouth and nipped with sharp fangs.
Rin had to clench his fists to avoid tearing the binding on them, breaths coming faster as his pulse picked up in his veins. He ended up digging his claws into his palms instead and he grunted at the sudden pain, feeling the warmth of his blood as it pooled there.
A moment later and Mephisto's tongue lapped at the healing wounds with another low growl, leaning over and his hair tickling at Rin's wrists while he gasped at the pain mixed with pleasure.
Without his say, Rin's hips jolted forward, trying to get the friction he needed and couldn't. He chewed at his lip with the building frustration until he turned his head to glare at Mephisto.
"I will use my tail again, Mephisto. Don't think I won't," Rin hissed at the sly eyes peeking up from where he twined his tongue over Rin's curled fingers at his lower back.
"Ah!"
The smile Mephisto wore had teeth in it then as he squeezed Rin's tail in his hand. "When you play with a double-edged sword you should be prepared for the consequences, Rin."
Rin couldn't keep his head up anymore, dropping it to the desk and closing his eyes while he forgot how to speak with every pass Mephisto dragged along the furred appendage.
His shoulders began aching, body twitching over the desk, and breath shaking out of his lungs as his tail writhed in Mephisto's hold.
"Mephisto, plea-" Rin yelped, forehead knocking into the surface beneath him when his tail was released and Mephisto began rubbing at his entrance instead.
"I realize I've been treating you like Amaimon recently. I thought I should rectify that," Mephisto said, moving on to run his hands over Rin's trembling sides as he failed to hurry things along like Rin wanted.
"Wha-?" Rin couldn't begin to wonder what Mephisto was talking about, panting against the desk where his cheek pressed painfully into the hard surface as he stared with unfocused eyes at the cream-colored wall opposite him.
A clawed finger slid between his tensed shoulder blades, the light scratch not even breaking skin and desperation beginning to build up in Rin at the delicate way he was being handled.
More, he needed more, the soft touches nowhere near enough.
A snap and a click reached Rin's ears then and Mephisto's finger slid against his entrance again, this time slicked with something that had Rin turning his head in confusion.
Rin groaned when his eyes met Mephisto's cheeky grin and saw the bottle of unscented oil he shook where he held it between his fingers.
He knew what the damn demon was talking about, then.
"Oh my god," Rin hissed out, cheeks flushing as he glared at the impish expression on Mephisto's face. "You literally let me burn alive, like, a night ago and now you're going back to treating me like a human?"
It wasn't the oil that was the problem--actually, Rin couldn't understand why Mephisto and Amaimon didn't use it more often. It was the gentle treatment instead of what he'd really been after when he yanked the demon's tail earlier, so to speak.
"Already joking about that, are we?" The bottle vanished as Mephisto watched him with a rising delight at the frustration he was causing. "And here I was thinking I would make up for the poor way I've behaved towards you."
Rin growled, winding his tail around Mephisto's waist to yank him closer, Mephisto allowing himself to be shifted until his length nudged against Rin.
"It's not joking if it actually happened." The answering laughter just made Rin glower, though it was quickly replaced by a sharp inhale of breath when Mephisto began sliding along him in deliberate movements.
"You can still make up for the bad behavior, tho-ah!"
Another squeeze to the sensitive base of his tail cut Rin off as he groaned, the appendage tightening on Mephisto's waist to escape the touch.
The reflexive movement rubbed Rin's fur against the grain and he hissed at the sparks set off up his spine even as his tail began slithering in fluid drags over Mephisto's skin to get more of the feeling.
Mephisto shivered in his hold and Rin felt his own tail rise from its tight coils to meet his, the two lengths twisting against each other around the captured torso just as Mephisto finally began preparing him in drawn-out motions.
And Rin was back to moaning Mephisto's name, spreading his legs and arching his back, hoping the display would convince him not to tease for long.
The action earned him a deep rumble from Mephisto but did little else, only adding to Rin's mounting frustration.
His legs were shaking and he was leaking onto the desk by the time Mephisto pulled his fingers away to set them at his hips, prompting an unbidden purr to go through Rin's chest.
"Mephisto, please," Rin managed to gasp out, unable to concentrate enough to say anything else.
A moment later and Mephisto had his fangs sinking into his bunched shoulder, at the same time pressing into him in a sharp thrust that shoved Rin against the desk as a cry escaped his lips.
"Please, Rin," Mephisto echoed, breathless voice reaching Rin's ears over the throbbing of his pulse throughout his body as he moved in him, "you'll have to keep it down. We wouldn't want my guards outside those doors thinking anything untoward was happening in here."
Rin moaned at that information, cheeks flushing as he found clawed fingers in his mouth, then, a mocking reminder to keep quiet. He tried to avoid biting down, sucking at the intrusions instead to keep himself from uttering anything too loud because of course Mephisto would forget to mention the guards stationed outside his doors until just that moment.
Spit slid down his chin when Mephisto slipped his fingers from Rin's mouth to grip them at his hip and Rin shivered in anticipation.
Any thoughts were washed away as Mephisto pushed into him in earnest and Rin was sure bruises had formed where his body kept impacting the desk when Mephisto finally gave up the façade of treating him like a human.
One of Mephisto's hands gripped Rin's numbed arm and he groaned, biting at his lips until he tasted blood to muffle the sound. The two sensations ached through him and sent his heart pounding while pleasure wound tighter and tighter in his stomach.
Heat spread, a buzzing filling his ears as his vision tunneled and all he could hear were the sounds that began coming from Mephisto's mouth and the choked keens coming from his own.
Then Mephisto did something to change the angle and Rin couldn't stop the shout that tore out of his throat, chest heaving as he hit the sensitive point in him and continued without any signs of mercy.
He desperately hoped his cry hadn't been as loud as it felt as he grit his teeth and clenched his eyes shut on the reflexive tears that pricked at the corners.
A growl built behind him and Mephisto lost whatever rhythm he'd had, claws digging into his hips as he snapped into him in one final push, shoving his body into the desk and holding it there as he released in pulsing waves that seared through Rin.
Before Rin could process anything beyond the slick heat pooling inside him, Mephisto had his tail unwound from his waist and was sucking the furred end, his other hand dragging at the base until Rin found his own release, biting his lip in a sharp slice of pain to stop the groan from escaping.
He dropped his cheek back to the desk, pressing his head there as he panted. The aftershocks ran through him in a pleasant buzz and his tail drooped where Mephisto still held it, trailing to knock into the edge beside his trembling body.
Mephisto mouthed at his tensed back, his warm breaths and tickling strands of hair bringing Rin's attention to his trapped hands, now growing uncomfortably numbed without anything to distract him from the ache.
"Well," Mephisto huffed against him, "I hope you're satisfied with yourself. I did have a few pressing matters to attend to today, you know."
"Mmm, yep. I got what I wanted," Rin hummed, a deeply sated purr vibrating in his chest. He wriggled where he lay only to gasp when Mephisto pulled out of him, rubbing a clawed hand at his hip in a comforting motion as Rin became aware of the cooling liquid sticking to his skin.
But, when Mephisto brought his fingers to Rin's wrists to take his tie back, Rin twisted out of the hold, forcing his body to roll over on the desk and grinning up at the bemused expression on Mephisto's face.
Another twist of his hands and he loosened the binding, freeing his arms even as he ducked his head to quirk his lips in a sly smile up from beneath his bangs at the way Mephisto's eyes narrowed in suspicion.
"I think I wanna keep this, actually," Rin said, dangling the rumpled tie from his fingertips before bringing it to his nose to breathe in the way he and Mephisto's scents mingled in the fabric.
The slivering pupils in Mephisto's eyes and flaring nostrils as he scented out the same thing made Rin grin wider, letting his fangs peek out at the reaction.
"And where will you keep it, Rin?" came the soft growl from Mephisto, whose own fangs Rin could see extending in a slow slide to fill his mouth, just visible when he spoke.
He twitched his tail where it lay on the floor, catching Mephisto's gaze with the movement and watching with delight as he tracked its path to where Rin brought the tip of it to rest between his lips.
A rumble began in Mephisto's chest as Rin opened his mouth to let his teeth gently take hold over his own tail.
Sparks from where his fangs pricked at the sensitive skin through his mussed fur jolted along his frayed nerves, though he ignored the feeling to wind the pink polka-dotted tie into a neat bow right where the short fur turned into the longer strands at the end.
"Here's good, right, Mephisto?"
Seconds later, Rin found himself pushed onto his back on the desk in a possessive kiss, head tugged by his hair in Mephisto's clawed hands as he licked the blood still on his lips from where he'd bitten them earlier.
His legs wound around the slim hips pressed to his and Rin shivered at the slide of their skin together, slick from both their releases and twitching in renewed interest.
"Must you make it so hard to get you out of my office and back to doing what you're supposed to?" Mephisto growled against his mouth.
Rin snickered at the frustration in Mephisto's voice, forcing himself to stop before things escalated again. "Sorry, it's just nice to see you looking like this again. I kinda got carried away."
Confusion furrowed Mephisto's brows as he drew back. "Like what?"
He sat up too, running his hands down the un-marred skin of Mephisto's chest, a slight frown forming on Rin's face as he answered, "Healed."
Understanding entered Mephisto's eyes.
"I mean, I'll take you any way I can get you, but I don't like you in pain so I'm happy to see you like this," Rin hurried to say, propping himself back on his hands and shrugging.
"Oh, Rin," Mephisto sighed, cocking his head and staring as if he didn't know what to do with him, "you're still so human."
Rin laughed, quirking a wry smile at the poor demon. "Well, a year as a demon isn't gonna erase the entire rest of my life as a human, you know."
His response garnered a matching smile from Mephisto, acquiescing to Rin's statement. "I suppose Amaimon was right yet again. I brought this on myself."
"I'll tell him you said that." Rin grinned, moving forward to rest his hands at Mephisto's hips and plant a kiss on his neck, enjoying the way the pulse there fluttered at his attentions.
"You gonna clean me up now?" Rin murmured against the salt of the skin under his tongue where he traced it over the artery there.
Mephisto shuddered in his hold and Rin determined everything to be a job well done as he was snapped clean and back into his clothes, Mephisto doing the same for himself, too.
The effort it took to step away was apparent in Mephisto's body, adjusting his gloves over his hands and looking oddly naked without a tie or scarf around his neck.
Rin patted at where his tail was wound under his uniform again, feeling the lump where his new accessory lay with smug satisfaction.
He took the key out, preparing to head to the next scene, smiling up at Mephisto one last time and rubbing a clawed finger over his covered tail so he could see him doing it.
Hunger shone in the green of his eyes, Mephisto watching as Rin walked past him to make his way to the door.
"I'll give this back when it stops smelling like you," Rin called over his shoulder, voice a light tease and a saunter in his steps that he didn't bother to hide.
And he was through the door, for once the black void it had become not bothering him in the slightest.
The story may end in tragedy, but Rin would be making Mephisto pay for it every step of the way.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
Rin blinked when the door to the next scene opened to Mephisto's office where he'd just come from.
"Rin."
There was Mephisto himself, striding down the hall towards him and adjusting another one of those dated-looking suits over his frame. He even had some kind of fedora on, once again wrapped in a familiar strip of pink polka-dotted silk.
But the tie he wore was different.
A sharp grin scrawled its way across Rin's face, bringing his hand to his chest where Mephisto's captured tie rested beneath and around his tail.
He watched the way the motion caused Mephisto's pupils to sliver, green eyes focusing on where he rubbed his fingers against his uniform.
Before he could tease Mephisto about it, he was upon him and Rin gasped, shoved back into the door in a heated kiss.
His clawed hands pressed to Rin's shoulders in an almost bruising hold and the kiss had fangs in it that Rin melted into with a surprised moan, but he wasn't even given time to reciprocate, released just as quickly.
"You're late."
Rin panted, staring up at Mephisto with a sense of bewilderment, his lips still tingling from the rough kiss.
"Come with me, Rin."
Already, Mephisto headed to the main doors and Rin had no choice but to follow, jogging to catch up as they left the room and putting the strange behavior behind him for the time being.
"How long has it been?"
"Four years have passed," Mephisto spoke as they walked past the familiar courtyard he knew from the Academy.
They reached the entrance, a couple of uniformed exorcists nodding with a polite 'Sir Pheles' at them and Mephisto glanced back at Rin, instructing, "Pretend you're my bodyguard."
Rin listened as Mephisto explained that Asylum was set up as a children's shelter as well as an exorcist school, taking in orphans that had run-ins with demons or had demonic blood to train them.
He was distracted by a group of kids walking by them, one of them catching his eye until he realized why. His mother, now a pre-teen, vanished down the hall before he lost sight of her, unable to stop with how Mephisto's long strides outpaced his own shorter ones.
"It was dismantled after the Blue Night." Rin's attention was drawn back to Mephisto, wary of the way his voice had lowered, a dark undercurrent to it that had Rin's hackles rising.
"Do you know why?"
"You know I don't," Rin grumbled, hearing the smirk in the rhetorical question.
Mephisto looked back at him, mouth quirked in a humorless smile.
"Because it was a place of horror."
That-Rin swallowed, feeling a cold sweat break over his body-that didn't sound like something he was going to enjoy learning about.
There wasn't time to consider it further. Mephisto went back to explaining as they drew up to a long chamber leading to a militaristic fenced-off zone that looked out of place in the ornate Academy halls and marble flooring.
"It's all a front, you see," Mephisto led them up to the gates, getting waved through by the exorcists standing guard there. "Asylum rests above a hidden research facility known as Section Thirteen. All very complicated areas of study that boil down to one truth."
A strange combination of scents hit Rin's nose, sterile and metallic and of old misery.
Mephisto's voice came to him through a white noise rushing through his head as they walked to a railing that looked into a vast chamber filled with countless rows of tubes housing floating bodies.
"Simply put, Section Thirteen cloned demon kings and cultivated them for possession."
Everything fell away until it was only Mephisto's voice and his slit-pupiled eyes glinting in the fluorescent lights of the lab that Rin could comprehend.
"Shiro Fujimoto was born here, a clone of Azazel, King of Spirits."
The words slid into his ears like a violin note strung the wrong way, Yukio's own parting words from that night he'd burned alive and woken as a full demon coming back to him with sudden, horrible clarity.
'Mephisto spent countless lives to create vessels for demons and Father Fujimoto was one of the subjects created by them.'
Ice slowed Rin's thoughts to a crawl. He was cold, or at least he felt that way, shivering as the soul-deep chill was replaced by a wave of simmering anger that he clenched his teeth around before it spilled out as flames, still feeling the heatwave rising off his body when his control slipped.
Mephisto watched him, waiting for his reaction with a smile and Rin knew he would be expecting an explosion from the revelation but-but there was only one question twisting through his mind.
"Why?"
The smile warped into something inhuman on Mephisto's face and Rin's heart tightened like it was being squeezed in his hand.
"It's all for Lucifer! The subjects and researchers and research. Everything in this facility!"
He fought for shallow breaths, his pulse jumping until he grew lightheaded as Mephisto laid the last revelation at his feet, "It's all to buy time before Lucifer goes off like a massive bomb."
Rin sucked in a sharp inhale, hands twitching at his side as Mephisto cocked his head to consider how his words had left him, mouth pulled sharp enough to cut. He scrambled to piece his thoughts together, everything scattering in the light reflecting off the tubes fulls of bodies until he no longer knew what he should think.
But…
Something had just become apparent to Rin and he pinned Mephisto in his gaze.
"That's what that kiss was all about earlier."
Mephisto's smirk dropped and he stepped back, spine straightening as if defensive at the off-tangent statement.
Maybe he was wrong, but Rin didn't think it was the case.
Not when...Rin rubbed at his chest where the tie was hidden on his tail, bowing to look up at Mephisto through his bangs. "You knew this was one of the parts I was gonna be angry at you for and wanted something in case I decided this was the thing that pissed me off for good."
The furrowed brows and mouth quirked into a frown answered Rin's question and he huffed out a breath through his nose.
"Okay, let's go then," Rin said, raising his head and squaring his shoulders to the now taken-aback expression on Mephisto's face. "What's next?"
He stalked the last few feet to stand before Mephisto, staring up into the acid-green of his eyes and waiting for the next move.
"Very perceptive, Rin. Once again."
And Mephisto had a black clawed hand cupping the back of his head in a light press, kind smile tugging at his lips.
Rin frowned but sighed, giving up for the moment and leaning forward, careful not to touch his horns to the clothes as he rested against Mephisto's chest.
"Aren't people gonna wonder why you're petting some random bodyguard in your lab?" Rin grumbled out when Mephisto ran his thumb in a warm circle over his scalp, scratching lightly through his hair.
"Yes, that would make me seem eccentric, wouldn't it?" Mephisto responded, a grin in his voice that had Rin rolling his eyes even as he turned his head to settle his cheek more firmly to his chest.
In the quiet surrounding them, Mephisto traced the flats of his claws over his jaw and Rin let the heartbeat echoing beneath his ear soothe him as much as it could.
"Luckily, we aren't in line of sight of any cameras and the only people in the room now are on the lower level amongst the experiments, so our secret is safe for a while longer yet."
His lips twitch into a ghost of a smile as Rin pulled back, though the mention of experiments put a damper on it.
"So? I thought you said I was late."
Mephisto released him, claws leaving his hair, and he turned with a sharp flourish to continue their journey.
"Once again, you're a terrible distraction, Rin."
That brought a snort from Rin as they came to a long hallway with a thick metal door at the end and two guards stationed in front of it. "The only one of us who's terrible is you and you know it."
"Rin."
The way Mephisto said his name had him falling silent, hearing the warning in his voice. "From now on stand with your feet shoulder-width apart and clasp your hands behind your back. Stay behind me and don't talk."
They were through the door and Rin knew why Mephisto had given him those orders.
Lucifer's overwhelming presence hit him right before the scent of rot and decay did and finally, the room itself registered with Rin.
His presence concentrated in the center of a lowered section of the room, Lucifer's skeletal body wrapped in rust-red stained bandages with large tubes running through his stomach and mouth.
He was surrounded by more researchers in lab coats all fiddling around complicated-looking screens and medical equipment, though they looked up at their approach.
There was only the mechanic whoosh of the machine helping Lucifer breathe echoing in the cold room and Rin fought the urge to flee, drawing strength from Mephisto's presence.
Rin focused on Mephisto's scent, letting it block out the others in the room as much as it could, and felt his thudding heart calm a little.
For his part, Mephisto walked forward, hand reaching up to remove his hat as he was greeted by who Rin guessed was the head scientist.
"I apologize for being late, are you ready to begin the experiment, Mr. Eminescu?"
Movement from the side caught Rin's attention and his breath stopped as he recognized one of the Grigori, flashing back to his trial that felt like years ago now and hiding a wince even though he knew they wouldn't recognize him here.
"Oh my, it's Shemihaza and everyone from the Grigori," Mephisto said, voice an affectation of surprise.
"I must witness everything," came the woman's response from under her ornate robed uniform, one of her entourage adding that they couldn't leave a sacred sage alone. The false smiles from the rest of them, all eerily similar, on their faces sent shivers up Rin's spine, only enhancing the discomfort the whole situation was causing him.
Eminescu drew their focus back to begin the experiment and described the process to create what he called elixir number five.
The casual cruelty sent a shudder through Rin, hearing it spoken of without any sign of guilt, as though the man was reading from a textbook and not actively participating in human and demon torture.
It was all to give Lucifer a perfect body.
Rin had no choice but to wait with the rest of them to see how the elixir would affect Lucifer.
He could feel the tension in the room hike up as anything failed to happen, the researchers throwing increasingly nervous looks towards Mephisto and checking their computers as if to find something that their eyes weren't seeing.
"It's been thirty minutes," Mephisto said, voice causing several people to jump. "Any changes, Mr. Eminescu?"
At the stuttered reply to the negative, Rin heard a soft chuckle come from Mephisto and realized he was enjoying Lucifer's suffering. Rin wasn't sure why that surprised him, but the slight smile on his face that Rin caught seemed to confirm his suspicions.
Another reminder about Mephisto's nature.
He glanced back at Rin, a warning in his eyes that Rin guessed was telling him to follow his orders without question. "Stay here."
That said, Mephisto walked down the stairs towards where Lucifer lay. "Can you hear my voice, Lucifer?"
He came to a stop beside the bed, hands behind his back as he smiled down at Lucifer's rotted form with false concern. "How do you feel?"
Rin jolted where he stood when Mephisto's question prompted retching gags from Lucifer, the respirator dislodging from his throat with a wet squelch from the coughed-up blood forced out with it. Rin could smell the rot and decay in the blood, for once wishing he had his old, human, sense of smell back so he could avoid what the scent was telling him.
"The elixir appears to have failed."
The disappointment was palpable in the room, though nobody seemed surprised. Rin couldn't decide how he felt, and a heavy stone seemed to have lodged in his stomach.
"Lucifer." Rin held his breath as Mephisto addressed the still coughing demon. "If you abandon that body, you will be free of your suffering. Leave Assiah alone and return to Gehenna, you can acquire a new body later."
Why hadn't Lucifer left his body already? The sheer agony he must be in at all times was something incomprehensible to Rin. Then Rin realized what Lucifer giving up his body would entail, something all the demon kings went through, and something Rin still didn't know how he would handle if he saw it happening.
Getting a new body meant possessing-no, killing the human it belonged to. The bodies of Amaimon, Mephisto, and of all the demon kings, had once been humans. Humans like Shiro.
Rin felt sickened with himself, and then, looking at Lucifer, felt sick again, finding his eyes had begun fluttering in rapid blinks as his rising emotions twisted like snakes in his gut until he was nauseous.
He didn't have time to think about it further and Rin was relieved despite what the interruption was as the respirator was removed from Lucifer's throat so he could speak.
"Samael, you-"
Lucifer gasped, words weak and like they were dragged from his ruined throat but leaving Rin chilled to his core.
"-are so cruel."
"Someday I will be rewarded." Even with lips rotted away, Lucifer smiled, no longer seeming to be speaking to anyone but himself.
"I believe that."
Rin's vision tunneled, hearing the fanaticism there. He was reminded of Yukio.
Yukio.
He realized he'd begun trembling where he stood.
Mephisto spoke then, though Rin heard it as if through cotton, focused entirely on the now still figure of Lucifer on the soiled table.
It was only when people began moving, filing out of the room, that Rin jerked his head up, staring with wide eyes into Mephisto's as he approached.
But Mephisto only made a short gesture indicating Rin should follow him and the relief to finally get away from Lucifer's madness that shot through him in a full-body shiver almost made Rin sob.
He managed to choke the reaction back and forced his legs into a stumbling walk, following Mephisto when he passed by him to head out the way they'd entered, though Rin's body was numb.
Something made him look back once more only to see Lucifer's pale green eyes locked onto his from the cot and he flinched, pure terror freezing his limbs.
Without knowing how, Rin got out of the room. It was as if he'd blinked and found himself on the other side of the heavy door. Even after making it down the hall, the metallic clang of it shutting lingered in his ears, the scent of Lucifer's rot and the feeling of his presence pressing in on him with each step he took no matter how far he got away.
Then it was just he and Mephisto alone in one of the many seemingly endless cold metal corridors of the nightmare he'd found himself in.
"Did you sense how dangerous his unrestrained wrath would be?"
Rin collapsed to his knees on the ground, clenching his fists in the dark material of his uniform. He registered Mephisto's question but was unable to give it his attention as one thought rose above the rest and he gasped it out.
"Yukio!"
He looked up and saw Mephisto's brows furrowed in confusion, head cocked and hand flexing the grip he had on his hat where he'd been about to put it back on.
"Yukio's with him-I left Yukio with him!"
A growl came from Mephisto then, and Rin's breath stuttered in his lungs at the irritation he heard there.
"You continue to blame yourself for another's actions, Rin." The cold statement didn't help Rin's growing panic and that only served to make Mephisto more frustrated, snarl twisting onto his face at whatever he saw in Rin's expression. "Your brother made his own decision that night, knowing full well who he was going towards and who he was leaving behind."
It wasn't true. It couldn't be true. Yukio would never have felt this side of Lucifer. How could he know what insanity he walked toward? Rin shook his head, face heating and tears pricking at the corners of his eyes. "I'm his older brother, I'm supposed to watch out for him! I knew he was acting strange and something was wrong and I didn't do anything!"
Mephisto's lips drew up into a sneer to reveal he'd let his fangs drop in his mouth, rearing back and drawing in a hissing breath and Rin had never seen him so angry before.
His heart slammed against his ribcage and his hands were white-knuckled where they clenched over his knees and he just wanted Mephisto to comfort him!
The tears started then, escaping his eyes and running down his cheeks as the desperate need to curl up and hide in Mephisto's arms came out of nowhere to squeeze at his heart until it was an almost physical pain.
"That is a childish, human, sentiment."
Ice swept out with Mephisto's words and Rin bit down on his lip until blood welled up, echoing the pain knifing through him and constricting like thorned vines at his insides as he started to tremble.
A faint sound came from around one of the corners and Rin sucked in a sharp breath, hand reaching up to scrub at his mouth only to hear Mephisto take his own long inhaled breath through his nose and snap his fingers.
Rin froze where he found himself stood to Mephisto's side, face cleared away of the blood and tears that had left sticky tracts down it.
He had to force away any new ones from falling as Shiro appeared at the end of the corridor.
Shiro was a teenager now, garbed in a medical gown and walking with a researcher and two exorcists who were clearly his guards.
"Ah, Shiro," Mephisto began, and Rin hid a flinch at how cheerful his voice was. At the smile on his face. How quickly he'd recovered. "Today was your annual day for experimentation. Good work."
Experimentation.
Rin wanted to gag at the revulsion, swallowing around a dry throat.
"I hear you're an excellent exwire," Mephisto continued when Shiro just glared at him. "I hope you make exorcist soon."
"Just die, would ya'," Shiro said, bitter, and went by with the rest of the humans without another word.
They were out of view, Rin once again alone with Mephisto.
"Lucifer will not stop until he has the perfect body, Rin."
The smile had dropped from Mephisto's face, clasping his hands behind his back as he stared Rin down.
"The test subjects exist to suppress his insanity. Do you understand?"
Rin couldn't help but focus on him, thinking back to the madness he'd felt from Lucifer. He understood.
"Come."
Speech failed Rin and he followed as he was led to a room with a viewing window to see a row of beds beyond it, most holding someone who looked like Shiro. Like his dad.
A few researchers sat at their consoles or moving around the room and Rin had to stop himself from asking how they could possibly do what they were doing to other humans, knowing about the human capacity for monstrous acts.
"At first, we made countless clones to serve as his vessels." Mephisto's lips twitched into a smile at some irony he must have been remembering. "It didn't go well."
Was it better or worse to have the ability to empathize with others and still hurt them, or, like a demon, completely lack the ability to empathize at all?
Looking between the humans and Mephisto, Rin didn't know.
"Then, Mr. Eminescu suggested developing an elixir for providing immortality. With something like that, he could have any body as a vessel."
Rin watched as one of the researchers sliced into Shiro's arm with a scalpel while another wrote something down on his clipboard and he wanted to be sick all over again.
"Testing the drugs was hell on the clones."
He heard Mephisto's voice as if through water, seeing the way Shiro held a hand to his newly bandaged arm when he was finally left alone on the cold table. He looked small there, amongst the fluorescent lights and rows of bodies.
"They tested and died like guinea pigs."
That sent a flare of anger like hot Sulphur rising in Rin's gut, a churning nausea that made bile sting at the back of his throat.
"This is the place that gave birth to the man known as Shiro Fujimoto," Mephisto finished, tilting his head to eye Rin with a face devoid of mercy or empathy at what he'd just described, though Rin knew he'd never see those emotions there anyway.
But Mephisto expected a response to the revelations and Rin made himself choke one out, the only one he could think of, "Wasn't there any other way? This is horrible!"
The smile on Mephisto's face warped again, fangs bared and eyes gleaming as he shrugged. Something about the movement seemed off-struggling for casual-and Rin wondered if the argument they'd had in the halls wasn't still affecting him in some way.
"I can't say that I understand how you're feeling, I'm a demon, after all."
Rin bowed his head, breath sticking in his lungs as he tried to exhale, and reached for a calm he didn't feel. "I know you are."
He closed his eyes, finding they were too heavy to keep open anymore and unable to keep looking at Mephisto because all he could see were the rows of bodies on cots through the window behind him.
He breathed out again.
"And I know you don't."
The words tasted like rot and ash in his mouth.
It hit him that he wanted to see Amaimon then with a yearning that was almost a physical ache even though he knew-knew!-that Amaimon wouldn't understand why he was so upset about the lives of the humans being destroyed, that he was just as much a demon as Mephisto.
But Amaimon would also see that he was hurting and move to comfort him, whether he understood the source of the pain or not.
And Mephisto…
"Then, what will you do now, Rin?"
The question broke him out of his thoughts, and he opened his eyes, finding them burning with his emotional exhaustion and the hot tears threatening to fall again.
At least the smile was off of Mephisto's face, back to watching and devoid of any expression that Rin could parse.
He couldn't think of anything to say, lost in the way Mephisto eyed him like he was one of the test subjects, something to be picked apart and analyzed down to his bared core. Nothing left but the base components of his soul for Mephisto to do with whatever he chose.
Mephisto's next question slid into him with the careful precision of a sharpened knife, almost gently, even.
"Will you give that tie back?"
His breath halted in his lungs as Rin gripped the fabric of his coat over his tail where it rested at his heart, feeling the outline of the rumpled tie. If the material hadn't been so sturdy, he might have cut into his own chest again, though the realization came as if he were a bystander, staring down at himself in a haze.
"Lucifer was right about one thing, Mephisto. You are cruel."
Rin brought his eyes up to meet Mephisto's, seeing them glitter with some warning and Rin wondered if he disliked him agreeing with Lucifer about something like that.
He continued anyway, still feeling like he wasn't getting enough air, like the walls of the facility were closing around him, trapping him in the cold of a metal cage. His next words came out forced around the lump that had formed in his throat.
"Why are you doing this?"
Fangs revealed themselves in Mephisto's smile as he turned to glance at the clones in the room behind him like he'd just remembered their existence.
"I thought we just went over that, Rin."
Rin sucked in a thin breath, shaking his head. "Not…that."
Hesitating, Rin shot a look at the researchers clearly eavesdropping on them, suddenly very aware the conversation he was having was moving into personal territory.
Seeing his focus had a flick of Mephisto's own gaze going to the side and he must have realized the same thing because he frowned, straightening his stance so he was no longer leaning against the counter.
A moment later, Mephisto snapped them back to his office.
He leaned to sit back on his desk and arched a brow, silently asking Rin to explain himself.
Rin pressed his lips together, his heart fluttering a nervous beat in his chest as he tried to put his thoughts into a language that Mephisto-that a demon would understand.
"There's this thing you do," Rin started, words slow. "Like just now, at Section Thirteen."
Narrowed eyes and a flat gaze came with Mephisto's response. "I've done many things, you'll have to be more specific, Rin."
The rejoinder slid off Rin, knowing his next sentence wasn't going to make Mephisto any happier or less confused.
"You keep testing me. Like you're trying to push me away."
Rin could see the immediate denial on Mephisto's face, though it was probably more to the effect of his being a demon and thus incapable of having the heart required for such a thing than any human motive Rin would recognize.
"It's like you're waiting for me to decide I've had enough and walk away. And you keep throwing these things at me like you're hoping I will."
He crossed his arms, listing out examples as if Mephisto didn't know exactly the times he was talking about. "The festival and Shima. That mission to rescue Shura. That night after the Christmas party. Yukio leaving, and my burning."
"And now this," Rin sighed, weary. His heart was a heavy weight in his chest as he tried to understand Mephisto's motives and knew he'd never get the full scope of them if he had the rest of his immortal life to try. "I'll never be able to look past something like the torture you've put these people through. I just don't have it in me to do that."
Mephisto's pupils were slivers in the acid of his eyes, mouth extended into that distorted smile and fangs bristling as he stared at Rin like a snake about to strike, never looking so inhuman as he did at that moment.
When he spoke, it sounded like a challenge. Dark and intense and, once again, almost daring Rin to get angry. To hate. To leave.
"What's. Your. Verdict. Rin."
The familiar question from Mephisto brought a tired smile to Rin's face, the sight of which made something like hesitation-or possibly fear-enter Mephisto's expression, his own smile twitching like it wanted to be a scowl.
It was funny, Rin decided, to have to spell out something he'd thought was so obvious to a creature as ancient as Mephisto.
"I already told you-and I'll keep telling you, if you don't believe me-for as long as you don't believe me, until you do," Rin said, hand coming back up to rest at his heart as he delivered his verdict with finality, holding steady in the face of Mephisto's monstrous gaze.
"I'm yours. You're mine."
Mephisto's breath left him in an animalistic hiss, claws flexing and teeth gritting.
He looked lost, scared, his hand dropping to the edge of the desk as if it was the only thing supporting him and staring at Rin with eyes wide like a child's.
A simple motion of Rin's fingers un-did his uniform and the shirt beneath it enough to reach down and take the tie from around his tail, smiling sadly at the rumpled fabric clutched in his hand and smoothing it once with his thumb.
He held it out to Mephisto, hearing his breath catch in his throat at the sight.
"So, the question isn't, 'will I give the tie back, Mephisto.' It's, 'do you want me to give you your tie back?'"
Silence met him.
That was fine. He'd said his piece. Let Mephisto do with it what he would.
Mephisto didn't respond for a long time and Rin thought he might be at a loss for words, wondering if such a thing had ever happened to him before.
Then Mephisto started shaking, arms crossing tight over his chest as if in a hug until it looked painful and he hunched over as the shaking turned into laughter.
It sounded desperate.
Rin didn't let the choking, ragged laughs faze him, knowing any reaction to such a raw question was never going to have a normal response from Mephisto.
When Mephisto jerked his head up to turn his rictus of a face on Rin, his eyes were glassy in the light and Rin wondered if he'd ever cried from something other than physical pain in the long years of his existence, if he even understood the feeling.
He kept his hand extended, waiting with a quiet patience for Mephisto to come to a decision.
The manic laughter tapered off, though the expression Mephisto wore appeared too bright to be anything but a façade as he stepped a slow, unerring path over the carpet towards Rin.
Rin stared up at him when he stopped, chest just an inch away from brushing his fingertips.
Black clawed hands came to curl around Rin's, Mephisto's chin turned down and bangs shadowing his eyes to focus on where they intertwined as if seeing them together for the first time.
This time when he looked up at Rin, it was with a smile that seemed to show all the ages he'd lived for stamped out in a timeline across his face and Rin thought he was catching a glimpse of what it really meant to be immortal in that moment.
The hands holding his gently closed, bending Rin's fingers into a firm hold over the tie.
"No, Rin," Mephisto said, bringing his hand up to press a kiss to it and murmuring his answer there like a secret just between them, "I don't want you to give me my tie back."
Something settled in Rin. He wondered again if Mephisto was experiencing the same feeling, as the tension in his body unwound and he let out a shaky breath.
His energy left with his exhale and he slumped forward, leaning on where Mephisto hands still clasped his between their bodies, the emotional exhaustion finally catching up to him as the last few hours took their toll.
"Thank you, Mephisto." The three words formed in his mouth, barely a whisper ghosting over their fingers, when he really wanted to say another set of three.
He repeated himself to avoid saying anything else.
"Thank you, thank you thankyou thankyouthankyou-"
Mephisto cut his word stream off with a hard kiss, shuddering as he released his hand only to bring him into a tight embrace like he wanted to meld their bodies together.
The words ran on in a mantra in Rin's head, the urge to say them a physical ache in his ribs and against his lips, but he forced them back with sheer willpower, knowing Mephisto was still too cut open and raw to take them well.
Rin could wait.
He had the rest of eternity to wait.
Mephisto broke away with a gasp, panting into Rin's mouth and nose pressing hard to his cheek when he didn't move back.
Needing time, Rin dropped his head to tuck it beneath Mephisto's, letting his hands rest over his back and feeling the rapid heartbeat there even out until he thought it was safe to speak.
When he did speak, it was low, not wanting to break the stillness of the room but knowing he'd have to.
"I think I should go to the next scene, now."
The hold on him tightened, reluctance to let Rin go evident in the move.
His fingers tapped in a soothing rhythm to the clothed spine under them. "I need to finish this so I can go back to my present."
"I know, Rin," came the muted voice into his hair.
"You were right, though," Rin said, a small smile forming at the admission, "I did need to come back to the past and see this."
A soft chuckle echoed, "I'm often right."
Rin took a steadying breath and pulled away, already missing being enveloped in Mephisto's scent.
He grinned, though it felt tremulous, unsure, up into the green eyes watching him before tugging his shirt open to free his tail a bit more, wincing at how tangled it was.
"This is gonna be such a pain to brush," Rin said, sighing at the knotted mess but raising his hand to present the tie to Mephisto, grin turning to a soft smile when he saw Mephisto hadn't quite recovered yet.
"Do you want to do the honors?"
Mephisto took the tie from him with an almost delicate care and Rin tracked the way he wound it back into place on his tail in a meticulous bow.
The longer strands of fur fell between Mephisto's fingers as he stared at where he let the finished product rest, pale white blending with the pastel pink of the bow and the pallor of his skin.
His claws contrasted against the fur as he drew his thumb in slow motions, just parting through with the black edge of a nail and not even tugging so that Rin barely felt him there.
"I know it's only going to get worse from here, it's okay," Rin said, voice soothing, and he laughed inwardly at the irony of comforting Mephisto instead of the other way around.
"This story ends in tragedy," Mephisto spoke the warning again, though this time it seemed more to himself as his shuttered gaze still hadn't left where he held Rin's tail.
Rin wasn't sure if Mephisto was talking about the past anymore.
He brought his hand up to cover Mephisto's, stopping his repetitive stroking and bringing his attention back.
His words came out measured and calm.
"It's okay, Mephisto."
Mephisto looked lost again, but Rin didn't think there was anything he could do about it this time.
Finally, Rin slipped his tail out of Mephisto's hand as he stepped back to tuck it away in his shirt. He slid the last button of the uniform into place, hand hesitating there as he realized he didn't have anything more to do but leave.
"I'll see you soon, well, soon for me, I guess," Rin tried, hoping to end on something positive as he turned, key in hand, to use on the door behind him.
A hand gripped his arm and he was spun around, shoved against the office door for the second time that day, his lips captured in a desperate kiss as Mephisto simultaneously pressed further to his body while tugging him as close as possible.
His other hand set at Rin's jaw, tilting his head to deepen the kiss like he was trying to memorize the taste of him.
Rin brought his hands up to frame Mephisto's face, claws running soothing lines over the wrinkles of his clenched eyes and furrowed brows.
He brushed the stray hairs away, calming the disarray until the tension singing through Mephisto eased and the kiss became less strained.
"Wasn't it you who said you weren't mad yet, but you would be if we didn't say goodbye to you?"
Mephisto had broken away to press his forehead to Rin's, speaking his words back to him from what seemed like a lifetime ago, though, Rin was realizing, for the king of time, it may as well have happened yesterday.
"You're right again." Rin closed his eyes, a wry smile on his lips at the reminder.
He drew Mephisto into one last gentle kiss, hand at the back of his neck and thumb rubbing a comforting circle at the shorter hairs there, before forcing himself to pull away a final time.
"Goodbye, I'll see you soon, I-" His lips shaped the rest of the words but-Rin shook his head, hand falling away from where he'd still been touching it to Mephisto, and he opened the door into the void.
The darkness swallowed him but the sound of Mephisto's own farewell echoed long after he'd left him behind.
A clicked echoed as the door closed on Rin's parting, bringing the scent and presence of him away until it was just Mephisto alone in the room.
The back of his neck still burned with the ghost of Rin's touch.
He could still taste him on his lips.
His steps, when he forced himself to move to his desk, seemed weighted down with all the years of his existence pressing in on him and Mephisto had to teleport himself to his chair when he found he couldn't go any further.
What did he want?
His empty room stared back at him as if in judgment.
He thought he'd known.
What did he want?
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
The void fell away.A new scene had formed around Rin, but he couldn’t pay any attention to it at first, needing to lean back on the door he’d come through and just breathe.He wondered how long the jump had been this time, if it had given Mephisto time to think about the choice he’d just made.If he would see him in this scene.His hand found his coat collar and had it tugged back before he could process the instinctive movement. Rin didn’t question it, sticking his nose down the front and breathing the way his and Mephisto’s scents mixed, blocking out the rest of the world until he stopped shaking.“Gather round!”Rin gasped, pulled from his thoughts by the shout coming further from his position and he finally looked to see where he’d ended up this time.The massive old growth forest, still sunny in the mid-day heat, that greeted him had a wash of relief rushing through his body at no longer being in the cold metal labs of Section Thirteen.He moved towards where the voice had come from, sticking to the shadows cast by the trees until he had to crouch behind a fallen log.A large group of kids and their instructor stood in the clearing ahead of him and he startled when he recognized his mother again, looking, maybe, a bit older than when he’d last seen her, though it was hard to tell.“For today’s mission we will exorcise an ent!”Rin listened as the instructor described the mission and the kids’ role as support while the exorcists and exwires were to take down the ent.It was kind of adorable, Rin blinked, watching how his mother interacted with her classmates. Plus, it was nice to hear that she was an excellent student and Rin had a brief flash of thought that maybe Yukio had inherited that part from her, since Rin had never been in the same realm as the words ‘good’ and ‘student’ used together when referring to him. Then he winced, mood dropping as he realized where, or who, else his scholastic abilities might have come from.“The exorcists and exwires have arrived!”Happy to be off that line of thought, Rin startled as his mom gasped and shouted “you” and ran off through the crowd to the newcomers. Then Rin saw why. Shiro, wearing an exwire uniform, glared down at an excitedly chattering Yuri, only to spit out a callous “don’t talk to me, brat” at her and walk off with his group.That was, Rin hid a grimace, rough to see. And his mother’s confused and dejected expression hurt even more.The battle began, the kids using their torches to weaken the massive roots while the exwires and exorcists attacked the main trunk, the quakes from the grenades and bellows from the ent sending the ground shaking beneath Rin’s feet and he crouched lower to avoid getting toppled.Then he gasped, watching Shiro steal a grenade from one of the others who had been fumbling it before throwing himself headlong up the flailing branches to chuck the grenade straight into the demon’s mouth. The battle was over. Shiro had won with his dangerous maneuver.Rin’s ears echoed with the cries of the ent as it went down but he focused on how Shiro stood before the burning remains instead of thinking about it.It was hard, watching Shiro and seeing himself. He understood what it felt like, when everyone moved as if in slow motion and the way to win the fight so obvious and he knew he could do it. But Konekomaru and his friends had shown him that he didn’t need to do that, throw himself on the frontlines and take all the damage. That others deserved the same chance to prove themselves because Rin couldn’t always be around to protect them.Hearing the way the onlookers whispered amongst themselves, wondering if Shiro was even human, sent another wave of painful familiarity through Rin. Although, at least they hadn’t called Shiro a demon yet.The ent was defeated, but the greenman demons of the forest were still fleeing the fire coming from its corpse and filling the area with smoke.Rin helped a few along that had run into his foot, faint smile pulling at his lips as he was reminded of Shiemi and her own greenman familiar.He wanted to go home.He forced himself to tuck that thought away, knowing he wasn’t anywhere near being done with the past and he’d promised Mephisto that it would be okay. He could handle this.Shiro walking his way, or rather, towards his mother, dragged Rin’s attention from his homesickness.“The way you fight is dangerous,” Yuri blurted out, Rin agreed, but he could also see Shiro wasn’t ready to hear something like that, “I get it, you’re strong, but you scared everyone, including me!”Bullets discharging into the fleeing greenman behind Yuri had Rin flinching, teeth gritting and heart jolting in shock, mirroring his mother’s, as Shiro mowed down the little demons with a cool expression.He’d seen that same expression on Yukio’s face when his twin had shot him the night he burned.Shiro was worse off than he’d guessed, but Rin didn’t know why he was surprised after witnessing the childhood he’d gone through- was still going through. The disparity between the Father Fujimoto Rin had known and this person he was now had Rin wondering where the shift had come from, how he had overcome something so horrific.Rin wondered how he’d put a past like that behind him to call Mephisto a friend, in the end. Or if that had been a lie, too.“Exorcists exorcise demons.” Rin was pulled from his thoughts again by Shiro’s cold words, something in them discordant and making Rin want to immediately disagree with him, even if he didn’t know what to say.“Yeah, but- no!” Yuri spoke instead, “Exorcists save people from demons!”That was it, Rin settled, though their argument sparked familiarity in him, and he wished he could place it.Shiro stalking off with final hateful words towards his mother had Rin shifting in conflicted anger, wanting to defend his mother, knowing what a horrible place Shiro was coming from.But it had become obvious...Shiro wasn’t just prickly, he was destructive.A presence burst into being in the shadow of the trees behind a group of exorcists and Rin felt ice climb up his spine, not needing their words to tell him what it was.“Hey, what’s that blue flame?”“It’s a Rinka! That’s odd.”Satan had appeared again. Rin swallowed around a dry throat, edging away from the clearing back towards the rusted locker he’d arrived through. It was time to go, he’d seen enough of this scene.He closed the door behind him to the sounds of fire crackling through the forest, wondering where he’d end up next.A lengthy series of scenes followed, Rin finding his path taking him along the frantic pace of Shiro’s exwire career. A swath of violence enacted on both demons and humans, Shiro somehow not realizing he was holding himself back by being confrontational towards his fellow exwires, getting in fights with them over the smallest of infractions.It was a hard scene to watch as Shiro’s guardian was taken down in a fight just shy of Shiro’s upcoming graduation to finally attaining exorcist status. The familiar glasses Shiro- whose eyesight had worsened over the years, Rin was guessing because of some side-effect of all the experimentation he was undergoing- took off the man’s dead body made the nostalgia he felt at seeing them curdle in his gut, now knowing their origin.Rin entered the next scene, heart heavy with something almost worse than the life he’d just witnessed.He still hadn’t seen Mephisto in all the previous scenes. His scent on the tie around Rin’s tail had become faint and he’d had to strain to pick it up over his own.His heart squeezed in his chest. The sight of the Academy greeted him as Rin leant back against the walls when he was once again confronted with the tall metal gate into Section Thirteen, juxtaposed with the warm golden halls of the cram school he knew.He stayed against a cool marble pillar, needing to steady himself as he took another shuddering inhale to the tie, trying to scent Mephisto out and realizing the scent was only in his head.Exorcists and other personal moved around his still form. He’d never felt so alone.Shiro’s now familiar scent forced Rin’s attention up from the tie and Rin watched as he was freed from the horror of those metal halls for good, the researcher’s saying their farewells- how they were glad Section Thirteen was releasing him, to Shiro’s snappish response.Rin felt vindicated that Shiro hadn’t let them get away with sounding like they had any right to say those things to him, not after what they’d put him through, even if they’d had no apparent choice.The scene fell away as he left for the next one, once again opening the void into the Academy to see Shiro dressed in his full exorcist uniform.Mephisto’s tie seemed to burn where it lay over his heart. Rin didn’t bother checking, knowing the disappointment of not being able to smell him anymore would only hurt.Shiro walked away and Rin made to follow when steps down the hall behind him, somehow loud amongst the other bustling sounds of everyone else in the massive chamber, stopped him in his place.Breaths stuttered in his lungs, his nose flared as he picked up the scent he’d been searching out since he’d left it behind in that office.“It will likely be some time before you get inducted as an exorcist, Rin, this should be a fun little peek into the proceedings.”Rin wrenched his head around, the force probably enough to cause whiplash in a normal human’s body but that didn’t even register over the voice that reached his ears through his thundering heartbeat and rushing pulse.The claim snapped back into place between them as Rin stumbled forward to grab Mephisto’s hand where it had been raised as if to place it on his shoulder.He shuddered there in the hallway, fingers clenched around Mephisto’s and head bowed so Rin could lose himself in the thrum of energy he hadn’t realized had become disconnected in the time he’d been absent.Mephisto stepped closer, gentling his white-knuckled grip with his other hand and stroking his clawed thumb over the creaking tendons until Rin was able to calm his shivering breaths.“You’ll miss the ceremony if you stay here, Rin.”Rin’s voice rasped out in a wordless croak from disuse when he tried to respond to the quiet reminder. He realized he hadn’t spoken since he’d last seen Mephisto, either.How long had it been? The scenes had all begun to blur together from that moment to this one.“It doesn’t smell like you anymore,” Rin said, then coughed to clear his throat, raising his head to finally take in Mephisto and feeling his grip tighten again without his say when he did.Green eyes stared down at him from a careful expression, anything more held back behind a slight frown, just a tug of Mephisto’s lips downward, and Rin couldn’t place what he was thinking at all.He- he needed--He needed skin on skin contact!Rin had his glove shucked, hand yanked from Mephisto’s to return in the next instance while he sucked in a gulping breath, instincts settled now that he’d gotten what they’d been screaming for.The sounds of the hallway filtered back through his senses and Rin flushed, realizing there were a lot of people who could notice at any time that he was holding hands with the director of the Academy.He tugged his hand away and back into his glove, shoulders hunching as he winced and looked up at Mephisto.“Sorry, I panicked,” Rin said, voice a mumble in his embarrassment. After-all, it had been much longer for Mephisto and he hadn’t reacted like that.Mephisto blinked, his gaze flicking down to where his own hand was held out like it was still in Rin’s.A wry smile overtook his face, then, claws flexing before he dropped his hand to his side and walked ahead of Rin, leading the way to where Shiro had gone.“I’d forgotten you’ve never experienced those particular instincts before, you handled that much better than I would have expected,” Mephisto said from over his shoulder.Rin had to contain a shudder at the small distance widening between them and hurried to catch up before he did something drastic like hug Mephisto in the middle of the hall.“So uh, what were you saying about a ceremony, I wasn’t really paying attention,” Rin asked, anything to get Mephisto talking again so he could hear his voice. Not that his question wasn’t honest, because he really hadn’t heard the words coming from Mephisto’s mouth.He was listening now.They entered a wide room, filled to the brim with exorcists all facing the stage where a towering statue of a knight atop a horse overlooked the audience and Rin finally tore his unblinking gaze from Mephisto’s back to take the rest of the details in.Shiro kneeled, head bowed, on an ornate padded foot-rest on the last step in front of one of the Grigori and Rin felt his breath catch as they spoke, their words carrying a ceremonial overture, “top of his class, Senior Exorcist at the Japan Branch of the Knights of the True Cross, Shiro Fujimoto!”Something clicked in Rin’s head as they continued, “betwixt light and dark and with an intrepid spirit, practice self-restraint, serve humanity, and be faithful to others.”“In the name of the Grigori and the paladins throughout history, I dub thee Knight.”Rin peeked his head further over Mephisto’s shoulder where he was stood behind him, grin breaking out onto his face as he realized what was going on, “it’s an exorcist induction ceremony? So cool!”His move had brought him an inch away from Mephisto, the heat from his body sending a jolt straight through Rin’s heart before he forced himself back with a lurch while his pulse pounded at the almost-contact.Mephisto turned, clapping with the rest of the crowd for Shiro, a smile on his face as he must have realized what Rin had almost done, or maybe he was just smiling at Rin’s excitement over something that was business as usual for him.“Once a year at the Vatican, those who pass the certification exam are instated as exorcists,” Rin listened as Mephisto explained how the ranks were received based on the class of demon a person could exorcise on their own during the exam, ears twitching to hang onto the voice over the noise.“The world’s exorcists assemble to size up their new peers, you’re sure to see some faces you know.”Rin made himself to scan the crowd, gasping as he recognized a younger Todo amongst who must be his family and Rin had to suppress a growl at the traitor, wondering if he’d already begun working for Lucifer yet.But, again, he reminded himself there was nothing he could do, going back to survey the rest of the people and spotting a few of the top exorcists, that giant of a man he’d seen carting off Lightning and the short old woman, scowl on her stern face that maybe had a few less wrinkles than before. And Dr. Eminescue.He suppressed another growl and turned his gaze to the stage before startling, taken aback by the tall man standing with a serious expression on his face and a massive long-sword held between his crossed hands so the point rested against the floor.“Something about that guy,” Rin muttered out to himself only to get pulled from his musings by Mephisto’s voice again.“That is Abel Franken, the current paladin.”“He reminds me of someone,” Rin said, analyzing the dark hair, long nose, and shaped beard over a time-worn face.“Oh, I wonder who?” Mephisto’s light response had Rin shivering, stuffing his hands in his pockets to hide clenched fists even as he kept trying to think about why the paladin seemed familiar.Anything to keep his attention from going back to Mephisto.“Junior exorcist second class, Yuri Egin.” The words from the Grigori stopped Rin from considering the paladin further and he felt a joy rise in his chest, pride, for his mother.The ceremony passed after that, Rin not recognizing most of the other exorcists inducted. He smiled to see the way Yuri was greeted and congratulated by her friends afterwards in the crowd, Mephisto having led him to where they were.It was sweet. Rin felt mushy inside as he saw the girl, Jenny, that had been so fiery and snappy in the forest scene with his mother now clearly one of her best friends along with the guy, Rick, that kinda reminded Rin of Godaiin.The three of them chattered excitedly until Yuri spotted someone in the crowd, gasping and calling out, “Shiro! Congratulations!”And, Rin winced, got a middle finger stuck up for her efforts from Shiro, who was still an ass.“Come, Rin, you’ve seen enough of this,” Mephisto tapped a finger to his arm and Rin flinched at the contact, dulled through his sleeve, but nodded and followed Mephisto out of the mass of people to the nearest exit.Rin jerked his gaze to the door, then back at Mephisto, realizing what he must have earlier.There were too many people. They couldn’t do anything here.Rin suppressed the whine that wanted to escape, biting his lip and feeling his heart thud against his ribcage.Okay, okay, Rin repeated inwardly, Mephisto probably had some important meeting as the director after the ceremony and couldn’t put it off. He could do this, he just had to go to the next scene and get Mephisto alone.He forced his elongated fangs back and smiled up at Mephisto, reaching to use his key, “I’ll see you later, bye, Mephisto.”“Goodbye, Rin.” The soft answer followed Rin into the void and he allowed the hiss he’d been holding in, out, feeling a wild desperation build again now that he didn’t even have Mephisto’s scent nearby anymore.His hand was gripped over his tail and heart until Rin realized he’d made the subconscious move and yanked it away like it burned.Night greeted Rin when he opened the door to the next scene, and he blinked as he adjusted.A ‘poof’ reached his ears, but Rin didn’t have a chance to take advantage of the lack of people nearby to get at Mephisto before he was teleported to a rundown apartment complex, finding himself stood next to a small window to look into one of the dwellings.Shiro laid on his bed inside and Rin caught him smiling to himself, staring at an ID and his room as if he couldn’t believe either existed. Rin was brought back to what Shiro had shouted at Mephisto as a child- his reason for wanting to be an exorcist. To have a room to himself and freedom.But Shiro didn’t stay there for long, already rolling to his feet and pulling his uniform on as he headed out the door.“Come, Rin, best not lose track of him, this city is a maze,” Mephisto said, hand coming to grasp at the crook of Rin’s elbow. The simple touch nearly sent Rin to his knees, weak at the claim pulsing in his senses.He was barely aware of Mephisto guiding him along, mind lost in a fog and body numbed- unable to even kiss himbitehimclaimhim like he wanted to as they trailed after Shiro.A bar greeted Rin, the scent of cigarettes from the group of exorcists Shiro pawned one off of almost enough to get his attention from the warmth of Mephisto’s hand on his arm.It must have been his first cigarette, Rin managed to wonder at through the cloud of smoke mirroring the literal one rising around Shiro as he coughed when he took a drag.The cigarette didn’t distract Shiro for long, though, and Rin saw where his true destination was almost before he started over to the bar.Dark hair, blue eyes, and a seductive smile greeted the impish one on Shiro’s face as he sidled up to the curvaceous woman working at her drink.It took no time at all for Shiro to seduce her away from the drink and back to his apartment.“He’s enjoying his newfound freedom,” Mephisto cooed from behind Rin where they were stood on the balcony, wide smile exposing fangs as sharp as his interest in the things Shiro was getting up to with his first conquest.Rin. Couldn’t. Take it. Anymore.He spun around, shoving Mephisto into the wall beside the glass sliding doors, claws almost tearing through the gloves over them as he got his hands on Mephisto’s shoulders and his mouth on his throat.Mephisto’s fluttering pulse beneath his tongue and his scent filling his nose drew a ragged groan from Rin and he pressed further into him, trembling there with his eyes clenched closed.“Ah,” Mephisto sighed once the shock had worn off, hand coming up to press at Rin’s spine in a comforting weight as he spoke in a low voice, “not handling well at all, I see.”Rin tried to respond but it was just a muffled jumble of words where he couldn’t seem to let Mephisto’s neck go and he settled for a small shake of his head.“I suspect it will be even worse when you see Amaimon again.”Amaimon.Rin sobbed at the thought of seeing the earth king, fangs sinking down before he could stop himself, though he managed not to break skin as Mephisto grunted at the bite constricting his airway.The hand at his spine rose to his head and scratched through the strands of hair there until Rin could control his fangs, drawing them in so just the normal ones remained.That got a chuckle from Mephisto, his finger tapping to the back of Rin’s head, “I should have waited to mention him when you weren’t so attached to my throat, hm?”Uh yeah, Rin let out a huff of breath through his nose, releasing Mephisto from his hold only so he could drop his head to the crook of his neck and inhale the scent there, nuzzling further into it and feeling his eyes droop.“These instincts are dumb,” Rin muttered eventually, slumped in Mephisto’s arms and not in the mood to move any time soon, “I don’t like feeling clingy.”He felt a smile stretch against his head where Mephisto had been resting and Rin wondered if he was also scenting him out, if he’d been affected like Rin had.“Not clingy, Rin, possessive,” he said, laugh in his voice, “or am I not yours?”Mine.“Mine,” Rin growled, echoing the word pushing up from his subconscious in a startling burst as his hips rolled into where they met Mephisto’s, a new set of instincts boiling to the surface.“Right here, Rin? Your exhibitionist tendencies rise again, I see,” Mephisto teased, though he was quick to respond with an answering twist of his hips against Rin’s, pushing them closer with a hand at the base of his tail.“Okay, first of all, I’m not an exhibitionist, Amaimon is just a bastard,” Rin hissed, pulling his head away to glare up at where Mephisto smirked, though just saying Amaimon’s name sent another fissure through him that had him jolting in an uncontrolled quake.“And what’s second of all, Rin?” Came the cheeky response.Rin scowled, hands clawing into Mephisto’s suit, “second of all, if I don’t get skin on skin contact with you right now I’m going to combust and that will definitely ruin both our nights.”“Not to mention poor Shiro’s,” Mephisto laughed, even as Rin dug his hands under the bottom of his shirt until his questing fingers found skin and rubbed there, drawing a shiver from both of them and a hitched breath- loud, despite the pulse rushing in Rin’s ears, from Mephisto.That was the spark his instincts needed to overwhelm him after the long torture of looking but not touching he’d gone through.A burning haze took over in Rin’s mind. His fangs dropped and he could feel his eyes warping, though the awareness of those things was second-string to getting through all the unnecessary buttons of Mephisto’s suit.Even just pulling his hands away from under the shirt to get it off of Mephisto was almost too much for Rin’s fevered instincts screaming for physical contact nownownow.“You’re going to tear something if you keep that up.” The words slid along his senses, only the cadence of their smooth tone reaching Rin and sending a growl rumbling from his chest in wordless frustration as he fumbled another button.Through it all, he’d shoved a leg between Mephisto’s, grinding down onto him and unable to stop enough to coordinate getting rid of the infuriating clothes in the way, giving up and panting against Mephisto’s chest with a thin whine.“Mmm,” that voice rolled over his ears again as the hand at his hip dipped over his uniform to caress his tail while Rin gasped silent whimpers into the folds of fabric under his cheek, “Amaimon is in for quite the treat when you get back to him. I’m almost jealous.”Amaimon.The name rang like a single clear bell in his head and a snarl erupted from his throat, body jerking as he renewed his efforts to get at Mephisto.This time he just raked his claws, having torn through the gloves without his notice, over the damned clothes between him and what he wanted.They came away bloody and Mephisto hissed at the pain, but Rin was already lapping at the healing scratches, moaning as he brought more of the heady liquid onto his tongue and parting the tatters of the suit to press closer.“Tch, I suppose I’m just lucky you didn’t burn them off,” Rin ignored the voice to kneel, bringing his hands around the slim waist and chewing at the delicate skin above a loop of coiled tail.He nosed at the now quivering belly, inhaling a long breath as his eyelids shuttered and he dug claws into where they’d captured the hips under them, kneading there while he processed his claim on the body before him.Black claws tipped his chin back and Rin gazed through glassy vision up into the shadowed face over his, only able to see the luminous green eyes staring back, all other features fading as he clenched his fangs around a desperate sound.“Let me help you with that, Rin.”A snap and his uniform opened, gloves vanished and pants unzipped- his length now freed to the still night air.Rin shot up in a long slide of overheated skin against skin, locking his fangs around the jugular of his claim as he thrust to meet the hardened length revealed in the same snap.The growl that came out vibrated through the throat he laved his tongue to while he brought his hands to shove down the back of now loosened pants to knead there instead.He wanted more.He had those pants pushed down and dragged off as soon as the thought crossed his mind.It was only so he could haul his claim up to slam him back into the wall, eliciting a gasping breath and claws gripped to his shoulders in shock.But long legs wrapped around him and hands drew him close again as he slid his length beneath canting hips.“You little demon, I give you an inch- ah! And you take a mile.”The delicious sounds coming from his claim only spurred him on and he pushed forward, seeking friction and loosing another growl when he couldn’t get it.“I’ll- hah, have to help you with that too, I suppose.”A hand on his length had him groaning into the collarbone he’d been about to bite, but the matching groan and sudden tight heat enveloping him had his fangs sinking in anyway until his claim had seated himself fully.His hips stuttered in an instinctive thrust, claws digging into the muscles of the back he’d clamped them to and fangs unlatching so he could moan as he started fucking up into the exquisite tightness without further hesitation.
Mine Mine Mine Mine
“Mine,” he growled into the throat now under his fangs, surrounding himself with the scent there until it was the only thing he could smell and letting a pleased purr rumble through him when it made that neck arch back, revealing more of it to his gaze.The salt of the skin under his tongue where he trailed it as he led his fangs over a rushing pulse had him slamming harder to those hips, lips stretching into a snarling grin at the cut-off shout from his claim.Why was he keeping quiet? He wanted to hear him scream.Tail. That would get him to let everyone know who he belonged to.It was still wound up, shivering at each impact of his body into the wall behind him. He would fix that.His own tail shot out from the annoying obstruction draped over it and he would have burnt it off of him if he hadn’t been so focused on where he’d started yanking that tail from his claim’s waist to twine the two of them together.“Yes,” his breath hissed out of him at the heaving chest, panting mouth, and glazed eyes the twists along the trapped length of tail he dragged his against caused.Now, where were his screams.He reached down to run a tight grip over his claim’s length. He would try pain next, if this didn’t work, he decided.But instead of releasing those screams he wanted, his efforts got him the sight of his claim biting down on his lips to stifle them, blood seeping from the punctures.His claim was being stubborn.Pain it was, then.Fangs extended in his mouth to their full length and he grinned around them when it made his claim’s eyes widen, letting go of where he’d bitten his lip with a warning sound on his tongue.It was too late for that, he should have given him what he wanted sooner.He sunk his fangs into the meat of his claim’s shoulder, the rush of hot blood against his lips and down his chin making him come, thrusting hard into the body over his and snarling his pleasure into the ragged tears.“Ahh!”There was his scream.Another rush of warmth hit him when his claim released against his body, shuddering and moaning until he fell limp into the wall at his back.“Hey, I think there’s something out there.”A voice came from inside the building.“Probably just the damn alley cats fighting.”Hmm, he wasn’t sure he wanted anyone to actually see his claim, should he kill the trespassers?“Rin-hah, dear, now would be a wonderful time to come back to yourself.”His claim was mouthy.He let go of the bite he’d been worrying at, allowing the punctures to start closing so he could bend down and lick a stripe of release away from where it had splattered his claim’s chest.“Rin-“ he cut off those words and shoved his tongue into his claim’s mouth, letting him taste himself as a pleased purr rumbled from his chest.There, now he was satisfied.“No, really, I think there’s something there, can you check?”Who?“Fine, fine, I’m checking.”Shiro?Rin gasped, drawing back and unwinding his tongue from Mephisto’s with a wet slide, trailing release and saliva between them as steps from further in the apartment neared their position.Panic had him pulling out of Mephisto, face flushing at the hiss it got from his hurried movements.“Mephisto!” Rin whispered frantically, staring into the slow smile curling down at him as Mephisto regained his composure.“What was that about consequences and reaping them?”“Oh my god! You could have brought us back to your damn room whenever you wanted, dammit,” Rin growled when that only made the smile widen.His heart pounded when it still looked like he wasn’t going to do anything about the encroaching Shiro.The sliding door unlatched.“Mephisto!”A snap, and they were on a nearby building overlooking the place they’d just been.“Hey, whoever the hell’s out here, you’re interrupting,” Shiro said, griping as he stuck his head outside to peer into the darkness.“Was there someone there?” The woman called.Rin knew the second Shiro saw the evidence of their deeds.“Ugh, no, it was definitely just some damn cats fighting, there’s a bit of blood- probably got a rat or something. Now, where were we?”Rin slumped down onto the roof, relieved groan leaving his mouth as he dropped his head back and closed his eyes, still fighting a blush at the almost discovery.Only to yelp as he found himself straddled and a hand tugging his hair so Mephisto could nip at his jaw.“Well, that was a marvelous display you put on for me, Rin,” he said, delight in his voice.Rin glared, grabbing at Mephisto’s wrists until he saw the state the both of them were in and groaned again, “I can’t believe I just did that, I tore your clothes! Why didn’t you stop me?”Mephisto slid his gaze down to where Rin’s uniform was parted around his body, traces of their activities drying in the night air but still teasing them with the mingled scents.“I have been known to do worse to the things that are mine, on such occasions.”“That doesn’t make me feel better,” Rin grumbled, “I’ll be able to control this stuff later, right? You can, I mean, I didn’t see you jumping me in the hallway or the other times I was gone for a while and saw you again.”“Oh, Rin,” Mephisto leered at him instead of answering the question, like an ass. “Every moment I’m not ‘jumping you’ is a moment wasted.”Unbelievable. Unrepentant. And other ‘Un’ words Rin couldn’t be bothered to think about right at that moment as he dropped his head into his hands and sighed, already moving to put it behind him for the sake of his own mental health.“I don’t think I’ll be warning Amaimon about what’s coming for him.”“Amai-“ Rin bit off a hiss around the fangs extended back in his mouth and glowered up at Mephisto because he definitely knew what he was doing mentioning him like that.“Alright, that’s it, can you please clean me up so I can get to the next scene?” Rin said, scowling at the impish smile his reaction got.“In such a rush to leave after you ruined me so thoroughly, Rin? I’m beginning to feel used,” Mephisto said with pretend hurt as he drew a claw over the blood staining his shoulder and torn white suit, pout on his face that twitched as he fought against another smile.Rin burned with both shame and the flames coiling under his skin, a strangled sound fighting passed his lips at the imagery those words conjured in his head. Ruined was right.Mephisto grabbing at the end of his tail prompted another yelp from Rin, his hands falling away as he blinked, startled at seeing the tangled end of it held in front of his nose.“From that stunt with this tail of yours, I’d say you won’t have a problem smelling me on my tie anymore, at least for a while.” Mephisto wagged the captured tail until Rin sneezed at the tickling strands.He couldn’t help taking a breath, though, eyes half-mast as he realized Mephisto was telling the truth about the tie smelling like them again. A sigh escaped him, relief soothing the irritation he’d been feeling as he pressed his nose into the rumpled tie and the fingers wrapped around it, letting his eyes close the rest of the way.Mephisto laid a kiss to the top of his head before standing, hand at Rin’s elbow to bring him along.By the time Rin opened his eyes, a snap had come and they were cleaned and dressed, though a not-so-small part of him was disappointed to see Mephisto clothed again.His tail was under his uniform and Rin tapped a newly gloved finger to it, reassuring himself that everything was back in order before tilting his head to look at Mephisto.“I,” Rin hesitated, “I will be able to control this eventually, right?”That got a wry smile sent down at him, Mephisto crossing his arms as he answered, “Yes, Rin, as I said, for your first time with those particular instincts, you handled yourself quite well.”“Well, huh,” Rin said, grumbling as he shook his head, “I was about to murder Shiro and that woman because they might have seen you and I didn’t like that- and I wanted your screams and I didn’t really care how I got them.”Mephisto grinned, eyes crinkling at the horrifying statement and moving to frame Rin’s face in his palms. “You say the most romantic things to me, Rin.”Yeah, he should have guessed those revelations would get that reaction from the demon.“You can imagine, then, what my and Amaimon’s experiences were in the beginning, if I say yours was tame by comparison, yes?” Mephisto brushed his thumbs over Rin’s cheekbones, letting his words and their implications sink in.“Yeah,” Rin managed, eyes glazing as he tried to imagine the scenes. That was...that was something to consider later.Amaimon.“Hm, off you go, then.” Rin shook out of his daze, automatically accepting the kiss dropped to his lips and following as Mephisto guided him to the nearby rooftop door.It was still hard to leave Mephisto’s side, and if his good-bye kiss went on a moment longer and was a little deeper than he’d planned, well, Mephisto wasn’t complaining so Rin didn’t let it worry him much.He entered the void, instincts settled, for now, and hoped he wouldn’t have to wait so long to see Mephisto again. The door opened to the sound of a slap and Rin blinked as he saw a girl stalk down the open-air walkway, turning to see Shiro rubbing a hand to his red face.Ah, he hadn’t improved much in the kindness department, Rin could see, wincing as he noticed his mother walking by with Rick and eyeing Shiro down.“Shouldn’t you go after her? She must really like you,” his mother asked, despite the rude way Shiro had snapped at her about minding her own business.“What’s it to you? Butt out!” Yep, Rin had seen that coming.A new girl approached Shiro from the opposite direction that other girl had gone, asking about drinks later, which Shiro accepted without a second’s hesitation.Yuri’s comment to Rick about Shiro seeming lonely had Rin silently agreeing, wondering when the break would come. Shiro couldn’t keep going like he was without something snapping.A hand at his elbow and a physical snap had Rin gasping, pulled into a dip with Mephisto over him, swallowing his surprised yelp in a kiss before he could think.“Is-is there something else I’m supposed to see in this one?” Rin panted when he was finally allowed up.Mephisto smiled down at him. “Nope! Off you go again, Rin.”Rin huffed an amused breath out, shaking his head to hide the pleased blush trying to stain his cheeks, and stepped into the next scene.And the blush was back full force as he realized he was back on Shiro’s balcony, sliding door shutting behind him to reveal the way his surrogate father was going at it with the newest girl.He snapped a glower at the grinning demon who’d appeared to stand at his back, already rubbing gloved hands at Rin’s hips as he looked without an ounce of shame into the apartment.“Was there a point at all to this scene, dammit?” Rin hissed, turning in the arms around him and yanking at the hair framing Mephisto’s face to get his attention.“We should keep an eye on him,” Mephisto said, smile stretching to inhuman proportions in devilish glee.“Ugh!” Rin tugged the ridiculous bastard down into a snarling kiss before shoving him away and stalking into the next scene, hoping this one had a purpose.And was blasted by a wave of heated air, dry wind whipping sand into his eyes as he hunched to shield them from the blinding light until a hand at his spine directed him away to the side of a stone wall.Some barrier between his eyes and whatever was shaking the ground he stood on, Rin was able to look up, struck silent by the massive stone demon attacking the swarm of exorcists trying to calm it down.“This is a mission that took place in Mexico twenty-nine years ago,” came Mephisto’s voice over the wind and shouts.Rin watched as a pacification ceremony failed, exorcists scattering before they were crushed under the stone beast.He was teleported down to the basecamp they’d set up, finding Shiro, the old woman and the giant man, as well as a bunch of exorcists Rin didn’t recognize, and Yuri.They relayed the failed ceremony, each tossing out other options to try. Shiro’s plan to just blow it to bits was a complete non-surprise to Rin, despite hearing the earlier discussion that the animated stone was a sacred artifact to the Mexican government who’d employed the Order to help exorcise it and was not to be damaged.And then his mother came up with the suggestion that it could be a golem and asked to be allowed to try pacifying it her way.Shiro’s derisive comment had Rin sighing internally at the clear antagonism, glad when the old woman nodded, allowing her despite the danger.They watched, ready to jump in if she couldn’t stop the golem and Rin, once again, despite knowing she survived the encounter, still felt fear pinch at his nerves.The golem bore down on Yuri, earth shaking around each lumbering step as she stood strong and steady against the impacts.Rin gripped into Mephisto’s sleeve as it reached her, then sighed as it paused its pace to trot the rest of the way, leaning down and sniffing her with the carved nose of its stone face.At no sign of violence from her, the golem shrieked, raising its arms as if to crush her. Still, Yuri remained in place. The arms landed on either side of her body, thuds sounding in the area but not moving her from her position.And the golem shrunk until it was shorter than Yuri, resting after its rampage as she tore off the seal that had controlled it, improperly completed and the reason it had begun its rampage in the first place.“Well done, Yuri Egin, you’re ambitious,” the giant man said- and Rin was really going to have to learn his name at some point because he seemed like he was going to be relevant whether he was in the past or present. Now, if only someone would say his name because Rin didn’t want to give Mephisto even more fuel to tease him with by asking him for it.Rin watched as his mother turned down the potential promotion they offered to put in a good word for after seeing her skill, saying she was happy where she was because she liked demons and didn’t want to fight them.That statement from her made something warm curl in Rin’s gut that he didn’t try to analyze, shoving it down to hear Shiro snap out another derisive comment.“You’re unreliable and a hypocrite, don’t get cocky!”Rin winced, Shiro was…not making it easy to like him.“I’ve made my decision, do you disagree?” The old woman asked, once again, another key player Rin really had to learn the name of.“She just got lucky,” Shiro scoffed, walking off.It all devolved from there.Suddenly, Rick was running up to them to offer Shiro a water only to get it slammed in his face, leaving him with a bloody nose and the words ‘low ranking scum’ hurled his way.And Yuri was on him, slapping Shiro and shouting, calling him weakling before she had to be pulled off, still yelling until one line froze Rin in place, stunning Shiro too.“You treat the whole world like your enemy! If you keep acting like this, you really will end up alone!”The words his Shiro from the future had told him that long-ago day Rin had attacked his classmate came back to him in a painful memory. He’d been right, and Rin had taken his words to heart to find real friends.It was… something to see where those words had come from.But that Shiro was a long way off from this one.Shiro lashed out.His hand struck blue flame.The onlookers gasped as he was rebuffed, Yuri’s whispered ‘Rinka’ reaching Rin’s ears over the commotion that followed.Rick dragged Yuri away by the scruff of her uniform while she pouted.Shiro was thrown over the giant man’s shoulder and scolded, “this merits punishment, for both of them.”“Hey, Osceola, put me down!” Well, Rin sighed as Shiro was carted off, at least he had a name for one of the exorcists now. The struggle would be remembering it, as usual.Mephisto leaned down on Rin from behind, a heavy weight meant to be deliberately obnoxious, Rin guessed, as he grunted and poked his side until he let up the pressure.“Lemme guess, we’re done here?” Rin said, hand resting at the point of Mephisto’s elbow where it bent over his shoulder to allow him to tease the wisps of hair at the back of Rin’s neck, unaffected by the desert heat.Mephisto prodded his nose into his neck and Rin was grateful no one looked over to see the director, who Rin wasn’t even sure was supposed to be in the area for the mission, nuzzling into some random exorcist.“Yes, it’s that time again, Rin,” he murmured against him, sending a shiver down his spine and making his ears twitch.“Okay,” Rin said, rubbing his fingers over the arm he’d lain them to.He left the embrace with a last squeeze of his hand to Mephisto’s, smiling back at him before heading to a door.Mephisto was acting weird. Oddly affectionate and, initially, Rin had put it to being for the same reason he’d been so clingy, but by Mephisto’s own words he had long ago learned how to ignore or control the instincts that being away from someone carrying his claim caused.So, there was another reason, or reasons, that Rin suspected he had no hope of understanding but already knew was going to have consequences he may or may not like. It hurt to think the name, but Rin wished Amaimon was there to try to parse what might be up with Mephisto, or at least commiserate with him about the behavior.He really missed Amaimon.Rin stepped out into the next scene, covering his shuttered breath with action as he found himself outside a massive greenhouse on the outskirts of the Academy. He stared up at the towering glass walls until movement brought his attention back down to see Shiro surveying the same thing.Although by the look on his face he didn’t appreciate it as much as Rin did. Maybe it was his association with Shiemi and Amaimon that had Rin comforted by growing green things and the smell of earth.Of course, Shiro didn’t have either of those associations, Rin winced, following him down stone steps to where Yuri crouched over some tiny golems crowding around her feet.It was kinda cute how they stuttered through their stilted apologies, Shiro ending it with a ‘don’t mention it.’Arms wrapped around his chest and Rin leant back into Mephisto as he dropped his chin on his head when he joined him in the greenhouse.“Hm,” Mephisto began, vibrations going through Rin from the soft accompanying rumble in his chest, “there’s nothing so entertaining to me than watching two humans bump around each other, fumbling in the dark.”Rin blinked at that non-sequitur, sensing Mephisto was revealing something important but unable to figure out what that meant in the scheme of things.He settled for silence, placing his hands over Mephisto’s where they hugged at his stomach.The conversation Yuri and Shiro were having drew Rin back from contemplating Mephisto.They’d moved on to talking about the little golem familiars Yuri loved so much, Shiro warning her that they weren’t pets, that the slightest weakness would have them turning on their masters.“The weak can’t survive, people use weaklings like tools and then kill them,” Shiro said, reminding Rin what Yuri had screamed at him in the last scene and realizing Shiro was giving a more in-depth apology than he’d expected.Or at least an explanation.Rin winced as Shiro recalled his childhood, or lack-thereof, “The first thing I remember, we were drugged and in confinement, my brothers and sisters going mad one by one until they died.”“We didn’t have parents to protect us,” he shot a look at Yuri out of the corner of his eyes, “I survived because I was strong.”“So, I can’t stand it when someone calls me weak! Don’t ever call me that again!” Shiro burst out to Yuri’s saddened expression, face twisting in a manic smile when he saw it, “what’s that look for?”Yuri didn’t let him phase her, and Rin had a flash to his own recent confrontation with Mephisto, heart skipping a beat at the similarities but calming himself before Mephisto sensed something wrong.“You’ve had a horrible time,” Yuri finally spoke, words sympathetic and clearly not what Shiro wanted to hear, by his immediate denial.“Your brothers and sisters died, and you were frightened,” she steamrolled on with the same steadiness she’d faced the storming golem with, not letting Shiro escape the truth.Shiro was breaking down, eyes widening when Yuri placed a gentling hand on his cheek, his words weak as she drew closer, “yeah, it sucked, but it’s no big deal!”“I,” Yuri leaned in, eyelids shuttering and her voice dropping to a murmur until she pressed a soft kiss to Shiro’s lips, drawing back slowly before he could react, “I’m in love with you, Shiro.”Rin had his hands over his eyes, feeling the points of his ears heating. He couldn’t take it, it was too cute, just like one of those romance manga he’d stolen from Yukio’s not-so-secret stash to cry over in his dorm when no one was looking.“Y-you, how old are you,” Shiro’s question broke him from his thoughts.Yuri’s response had Rin clutching at Mephisto’s arms, “I’m sixteen.”Rin hadn’t realized that, actually, his grasp of the timeline and how old anyone was, completely shot by the random jumps through it he’d taken.“You’re just a kid, ain’t happening,” Shiro grunted, walking off without any further acknowledgement, and Rin could see him pulling his defensive layers back around him with every step he took.A presence in the greenhouse near his mother had Rin’s hands clenching harder into Mephisto where he’d brought them.Yuri went over to the blue flames that had appeared in the enclosure without hesitation, talking to it like a friend as she relayed her rejection by Shiro.Rin had broken out in a cold sweat but forced himself to unlatch his tight hold on Mephisto and turned in his arms, stating with as much dignity as he could muster, “that was so embarrassing, the will they-won’t they is killing me and I think I’m gonna find somewhere I can scream until I get it out of my system.”“It was fascinating,” Mephisto shivered against him, claws tightening at his waist and Rin got the sense, once again, that he was missing something.Still, he huffed a breath out, smiling, and dropped his hands to Mephisto’s arms, “I’ll leave you to your people watching, since you don’t suffer from second-hand embarrassment, apparently.”Mephisto blinked down at him, a slide of his gaze as green slit-pupiled eyes and a smile that just showed a hint of fang met his words, “please do, Rin, I’ve been anticipating your reaction to this upcoming scene for quite some time now.”Rin hoped that was positive foreshadowing he’d just heard and not something new for Mephisto to tease him about forever.His mouth was captured in a kiss while he was distracted with wondering what the next scene could possibly be to have Mephisto almost squirming against him in just contained joy.Lips left his after one final press, Mephisto stepping back to allow Rin to extricate himself and head to the nearby door. He realized he was trembling in his own anticipation, Mephisto’s words and kiss getting him keyed up.He walked into the void and wound up back in the bowels of Section Thirteen, ice dousing his excitement in a cold rush down his spine at the sight of those metal walls, so confining after the natural environments he’d just been in.Mephisto came up behind him to lean over his shoulder, his presence immediately calming Rin’s discomfort and allowing him to peer into the chamber containing Lucifer he’d have preferred never seeing again.“You’ve traveled about four or five years back in time,” he said as Rin cracked the door open enough to hear the conversation inside.“Back?” Rin murmured, thrown for a moment until he realized it really didn’t matter whether the story played out in a linear stream when he had the key that could take him anywhere along it and was guided by the king of time, who probably didn’t even recognize time in the same way Rin did.The scene before him included a few researchers keeping watch at the consoles, that strange entourage of people that looked way too eerily similar to each other, and the Grigori member who’s name Rin couldn’t recall but that they attended.And, of course, Lucifer himself, still in that horrifying rotted state that combined with the chemical-metal smell of the room in a way that set Rin’s nerves on edge.“That is Shemihaza, Rin,” Mephisto said, somehow guessing that Rin had already forgotten the name, which, while embarrassing for Rin, was actually helpful, so he rewarded it with a brush of his fingers to Mephisto’s hand.Shemihaza stepped up to the medical cot where Lucifer lay, the long train of her elaborate robe held by two members of her entourage as she pressed a light hand to his bandaged arm.“Lucifer,” she began, and Rin saw the way his bloodshot eyes focused on her, “the other day, Amaimon left his body of two-hundred years and returned to Gehenna.”Rin sucked in a breath at Amaimon’s name, hand gripping Mephisto’s as he hung onto Shemihaza’s every word for another mention of the earth king. He heard the soft chuckle from Mephisto and fought a scowl, knowing he’d be suffering that brand of teasing for as long as it took him to overcome his instincts.“Lucifer, this facility and its research have reached their limit, I cannot continue.”Lucifer’s body went still, and Rin hoped this Shemihaza woman could see what effect she’d had on the demon king because Rin didn’t think it was a good one.“Please,” Shemihaza, brought Lucifer’s hand up to hold it between hers as she pled with him, “please, abandon your attachment to material things.”That was the wrong thing to say, Rin gasped when Lucifer clenched his fist, the action prompting fearful cries from the humans in the room as Shemihaza shouted for them to get out until it was just her and Lucifer.Lucifer shattered the medical implements around him in a flex of power, the breathing tube that had been in his mouth tearing away so his dangerously low voice could echo in the hollow chamber.“How cruel,” he began, speaking around rotted lips and missing teeth as Shemihaza tried to contain the shivers it caused in her.“I just… want to create a world full of gentle light!” Lucifer shot up in his cot, shouting at Shemihaza while she grit her teeth to muffle a shout at the unexpected move.“A fair world, where everyone is equal!” Lucifer grew more hysteric, eyes lost in a glaze of his own thoughts, “the haves do not understand the have-nots!”“But I do!” He gripped the hood of her uniform, bringing her closer, “I want to be a light for the weak, that’s all.”Lucifer’s body had strained too hard, he coughed, releasing Shemihaza to fall back, “so why?”“Please, Shemihaza,” seeing the terrifying and insane demon king begging scared Rin more than any display of his power had and he forced himself to breathe as Lucifer shouted again, “I need a body that works! Give me hope, too, Shemihaza!”But Shemihaza was unmoved and Rin didn’t know how, “no, Lucifer, we must not change the laws of this world.”Lucifer’s eyes widened at the cruel denial, “are you even human?”“I abandoned human compassion when I took this position.” Somehow her answer scared Rin almost as much as Lucifer did.Rin was sucked into the conversation, unable to anticipate how Lucifer would respond only for his heart to skip a beat as Lucifer bolted upright again, seeming to sense something Rin couldn’t.“What?” Shemihaza asked when Lucifer didn’t say anything.“I sense Amaimon has found his next body.”Rin jolted against Mephisto, heart now pounding in his chest, Shemihaza’s responding shock about how soon it was barely registering as Rin realized why Mephisto was looking forward to seeing his reaction to this particular scene.“Mmm, time to go check on our earth king, Rin,” Mephisto breathed against his ear, draping himself over Rin and running a hand down his shuddering frame, “I wonder how he’s doing right now.”Rin moved to go put his key, shaking and not even trying to hold it steady in his grip, back into the door to take him to AmaimonAmaimonAmaimon when Mephisto stopped him with a hand on his, “best not do that, Rin.”And snapped, teleporting them into an empty room overlooking another. The bright colors and childish wall art of clouds and rainbows in the room below all paled in comparison to the figure writhing on the floor amongst terrified exorcists and clones, frozen mid-evacuation at the scene.A green lizard-like tail sprung from the body, pointed ears, black claws, and sharp fangs elongating from their weak human forms into the ones Rin was intimately familiar with. Odd shaped horns, looking like curved emerald wedges and scrawled with a spiral pattern grew to arc back over his head, hair fading from black to a deep green while he let out choked and pained cries.He arched his spine, body taut in agony and wild eyes focused on his chest as he clawed there until…Rin stilled where he’d been shivering at the sight.Amaimon’s demonic heart twisted into being, floating over his chest.The vivid green of the spiked leaves unfurled as the heart grew until it was fist-sized, black spines holding the smaller inner white petals that paled in comparison to the dark red meat of the inner walls forming the pillowed dome rising in the center.A couple longer leafy off-shoots and something that looked like a secondary flower in its infant state finished the picture that mesmerized Rin.Even the equally as familiar spike of lighter green that sprung up on Amaimon’s head couldn’t get his attention.“I was going to take you straight into the room with him,” Mephisto said, voice calling Rin from his spiraling thoughts, “but after that little episode of yours I thought it best to take you to this observation room instead.”The reminder should have annoyed Rin more than it did. But…“I just really want to see it.”That was definitely his voice speaking, sounding as if through miles of water. The thrumming in his body grew stronger.“Rin, your eyes are warping.”Rin hummed an acknowledgement clenching his fist harder into Mephisto's suit. He stepped closer to the viewing window, seeing the glint of his red slit pupils and blue-fire irises in it, though they were focused on the way Amaimon stared at his own heart where it floated over his chest.He really, really wanted to get closer. He wanted to examine every inch of that heart.Mephisto set his hand over Rin’s eyes to block them from watching Amaimon, shaking him from his demonic-headspace.“You’ll just confuse him, Rin,” he murmured, apology in his voice where he spoke against Rin’s ear.Disappointment bit hard at Rin’s own heart. He knew he’d been missing Amaimon, even though it really hadn’t been that long since he’d just woken up in his arms.But seeing the demon sitting down there with his heart in his hands had Rin aching to go to him. He brought his hands up to rest over Mephisto’s wrist and fingers, “I know.”He pulled the hand away, catching Mephisto’s gaze in the reflection, “but you won’t.”The expression on Mephisto’s face froze, pupils slitting as he caught Rin’s meaning.Those green eyes slid to stare back down at an unaware Amaimon, and Rin knew he’d be getting what he wanted.A soft hiss, like a coiled snake, coming from behind him had Rin’s fangs extending in response, revealed when he let his lips curl in a smile.“Rin,” Mephisto pressed along his body in a heated weight, hands at his shoulders and head resting so their jaws touched as he spoke, “have I told you yet how much I love the way your mind works?”Having one of Rin’s claims so close to him balanced the almost painful urge to bolt straight down into the room to get at the other half of his claim, only held back because he couldn’t smell or hear Amaimon through the soundproofed glass between them.“Stay here, Rin.”Rin forced himself to look away, finding his breath coming faster in his lungs as he realized he was definitely going to get what he wanted.He met Mephisto’s gaze, seeing the excitement contained there mirroring his own, and reached forward at the same time Mephisto bent to meet him in an open-mouthed kiss.Their tongues wound together and Rin lost himself in the feel of it, finding both their fangs extended when he accidentally sliced his tongue against the point of Mephisto's, the taste of his blood only pulling out a muffled moan, swallowed between them.Rin broke the kiss with a gasp, panting around his rushed words, “do you think he'll take it out for me when I get back?”“Mmm,” Mephisto brushed their lips together again, eyes shuttering at the thought before he drew back to answer, “he might, you'll have to ask nicely.”“I'll bring out mine, it's fair, right?” Rin pressed closer, hands clenched in the fabric of Mephisto's suit and hips twitching where he'd shoved theirs together.That got a fang-filled grin sent down at him and Rin could see the thought of such a sight playing through his head. “Yes, that would be fair.”Rin smiled, face flushing as Mephisto emphasized his words with a slow roll of his hips.He laid his head to Mephisto's chest, looking up at the heated expression that greeted him, “one day, will you let me see yours? I promise I won't eat it like I said I wanted to that night I burned.”The hiss that got, the way Mephisto clamped his arms where they'd rested around Rin's waist, the warped smile on frozen features and thudding heartbeat beneath his cheek- it was exactly the reaction Rin had been hoping for.His lips widened into a sly smile and he dragged his hand down Mephisto's clothed spine, rubbing at the coils of his tail and delighting in the shudder it drew from the demon.“But I want to watch you eat Amaimon's heart now, okay?”An actual groan came from Mephisto and Rin could feel him harden through his clothes. He'd done his job winding him up, now it was time to send him on his way and enjoy the show.Rin gripped the length of tail he'd been lightly tracing, feeling Mephisto jerk in his arms. “You should probably go down there before he puts his heart away, Mephisto, I don't want to have to go to the next scene like this.”At 'this' Rin echoed Mephisto's earlier move and rolled their hips together again to show how affected he already was.He took his hand away and stepped back, loving the frustrated sound Mephisto couldn't hide, to reach up and tug him down by the hair framing his face so he could murmur his next words into his ear, “Go on, I'll be watching.”Rin had just managed to slide the tapered length of his tongue to the tip of Mephisto's ear when he was spun around and slammed into the panel of the observing window.“Don't move from this spot, Rin,” Mephisto growled into his ear, hand palming him through the layers of his uniform and making him groan against the glass, his breath fogging it where he panted.“Okay,” Rin agreed, breathless and eyes glazing when Mephisto thrust him further to the surface with a rough grind of his hips.“Good.” And then Mephisto left him to shiver where he stood, body weak with excitement over what he was about to witness.Rin was already focused back on Amaimon, his eyes drawn there, helpless to resist and just barely able to stop himself from going down to him.The door to the room opened and Mephisto walked in, though really, it should be called a stalk, the way he prowled through the crowd of stunned exorcists towards his true target.His lips moved, faint smile on his face and soon the exorcists were directing the children out until it was just Mephisto and Amaimon alone.Amaimon had gone still the moment Mephisto entered, sensing what the humans couldn't, hands caged around his heart as if to protect it. His tail curled until it tucked under his bent knees, thicker than Rin had seen it except the time Mephisto had released him to teach Rin about how far he still had to go if he wanted to defeat Satan.Rin wondered if Amaimon would use it the way he liked to when it was its usual size, tongue sliding over his lips at the thought. But for the moment, he watched the way Mephisto circled Amaimon’s prone form and Rin found his claws scratching into the glass as they twitched there.Mephisto spoke, eyes narrowed and smile wide as whatever he said caused Amaimon to bring a cautious hand to his own face, prodding at it as if to confirm something before giving a short response back.The way the two were positioned allowed Rin to see the careful way Amaimon kept his focus on Mephisto, who’d started moving again until he came to stand above him, hands clasped behind his back.He’d maneuvered so that he faced Rin with Amaimon motionless, his back to the glass so that Rin could see the way his spine tensed through the thin medical gown all the clones wore.It was only for a second, but Rin caught a flash of acid-green turned up at him where he was hidden by the one-way viewing window and felt his breath catch, knowing Mephisto was about to make his move.Hyper-aware as he was, Amaimon could see the signs too, head tilted to keep Mephisto in his line of sight even as he curled his legs beneath him as if to rise.He didn’t get a chance to, Mephisto bending to speak something into his ear that had those unblinking gold eyes widening and mouth dropping open to release a silent gasp.Rin could almost feel the warmth of Mephisto’s breath on his own ears, wishing he could hear what was being said, flames coiling under his skin again until his body began to overheat in the confines of his suddenly too-tight clothes.A cut off groan tried to make its way past Rin’s lips as Mephisto slowly crouched back on his calves before Amaimon, his hand rising to the nape of his neck to curl in short green strands.The remembered feel of that hair in his own hand had Rin fisting it against the glass, imagining himself down there at Amaimon’s other side and pressing harder to the smooth surface he leant on.Mephisto flipped Amaimon around, pulling him to his chest as he settled his fangs at his throat, clawed hand still gripped into his hair to keep him from flinching away from his new position between Mephisto’s bent knees.And he was facing Rin now, demonic heart on full display, throat bared in an arch where he was forced to rest his head to Mephisto’s shoulder.His tail lashed on the ground between his legs, but Rin could see the pink of a flush starting on Amaimon’s cheeks and the way his mouth parted around those short gasps Rin could almost hear him making.Clothes. Rin needed his clothes off, now. The heat had become too much, too constricting.Rin hissed out a snarling breath and got through the unbelievably annoying buttons of his uniform and he was going to have words with Mephisto about how unnecessarily complicated it was to get the damn thing off next time they saw each other.Mephisto seemed to have the same idea about Amaimon’s clothes, raising a hand and snapping, making Amaimon flinch at the sound and the air on his now bared skin but, Rin stopped his frantic movements, unable to take his eyes off the way Amaimon swayed to rub back against Mephisto’s own bared skin.The sensual slide of Amaimon’s body, the way the muscles of his stomach and thighs bunched and flexed in his held position, the power of his deliberately enticing actions- Rin bit off a whine, not wanting to test how soundproof the glass actually was compared to a demon king’s enhanced senses.When Mephisto decided to act, Rin almost sank to the floor, tail coming from around his waist to circle his length, a section free so the tip reached his mouth where he wound his tongue around it to muffle the low cry that escaped.His hands ran down the stretch of his tail when Mephisto forced his clawed fingers into Amaimon’s mouth for him to suck on, saliva already slicking them and making his lips shine in the artificial lights.Rin wanted to lick at those lips until he had Amaimon moaning against him. He settled for dragging his fist over the fur on his tail, tightening the noose of coils further.And Mephisto kept his gaze on Rin the whole time he played with Amaimon, each touch and caress of a claw over the body in his grasp made to cater to Rin’s eyes.He realized he’d begun echoing those touches to his own body, trailing his hand up his stomach, imagining his was with his two demon kings and letting the scent of Mephisto on his tie where it brushed near his nose be enough for the moment.That hand reached Amaimon’s chest.Amaimon noticed where Mephisto’s aim was just as Rin did. His eyes widened and his mouth dropped open in what must have been a shout of some sort.Claws gripped over Rin’s heart at the same time Mephisto snapped his hand up over Amaimon’s.Screaming. Amaimon was screaming, Mephisto’s finger’s still forcing his head back to his shoulder as he cried around elongated fangs, eyes glassy and body taut like it was being electrocuted by the tail control he’d been under before.What did it feel like?Rin panted, sucking in ragged breaths and hips pushing into his tail, aching as Amaimon writhed in Mephisto’s hold, eyes rolling in his head and Mephisto still wouldn’t release his heart from his hand.Those acid green eyes didn’t move from the lock Mephisto had on Rin, even as he bent over Amaimon’s body to let his tongue loll from his mouth and hover over the bright red flesh caught between his claws.His knees weakened, legs shaking as Rin tried to keep standing, the heat burning through him at the sight and his own desperate movements quickly becoming too much to take.Throughout the torment, Amaimon’s eyes never lost the glaze over them even as his wild movements exhausted themselves and he lay shuddering in the prison of Mephisto’s arms, achingly hard still but unable to handle the extreme sensations the touches to his heart must have been sending through him.Mephisto let his tongue curl between his fingers as he brought his lips the rest of the way to meet Amaimon’s heart and sucked.That was all Amaimon could take.He came with a scream Rin wished he could hear, the remembered sound of it seeming to echo in his head as he thrust up in jerking snaps of his hips.Rin clenched his fangs, the low cry following his release escaping anyway as he lost the battle with his limbs and sank to the floor. His tail dropped from his mouth, aftershocks of pleasure making it over-sensitive where it contacted the hard surface, Rin unable to control it enough to lay it down gently.But, despite his view now compromised by the spatters of his release on the glass, Rin kept his eyes pinned to where Mephisto was still moving against Amaimon’s lower back.And Rin let out another weak moan as he realized Mephisto was using his tail in the same way he had just been, hips stuttering as he came across Amaimon’s sweat-soaked and shivering form.Mephisto finally let his hand fall from the heart, Amaimon giving a weak jolt where he’d been allowed to collapse.Head lolling, green hair plastered to his skull, tail twitching and clawed fingers bent where they pressed to the tiles, Amaimon looked totally spent.Rin wanted to curl up next to him on Mephisto’s bed and surround himself in their mingled scents.He brought the tie back to his nose to inhale there, letting Mephisto’s be enough, even as his senses kept pushing him to go to Amaimon.It became even more difficult to resist when Mephisto regained himself and turned Amaimon onto his back to draw him into a kiss, gaze once again going up to where he knew Rin was watching as Amaimon panted into his mouth, still coming down from what he’d just been through.
The press of their lips together had Rin biting at his own, need pressing with increasing insistence at his mind until he shook himself, blinking rapidly and forcing his legs under him to rise.Rin stumbled away from the viewing window, hands fumbling to draw the tie from around his tail as he used it to clean his length so he could put himself back in his clothes.Mephisto was either going to be very happy, or very, very unhappy with Rin the next time he saw him, Rin decided, smirking as he tossed the used tie to the floor underneath the stained window.A gift, since he doubted Mephisto would feel like leaving Amaimon’s side for at least another few minutes and Rin really couldn’t last much longer being apart from them.He gave one more glance to the scene in the room below, heart twisting in his chest to see how Amaimon had his nose nuzzled into Mephisto’s neck where they lay entwined together.The key clicked in the lock and Rin entered the void.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
His heart pounded as he traveled through the void, wondering how far along the timeline he'd end up in next–how much time it would give Mephisto to stew over his gift.Rin opened the door back into Lucifer's chamber again, the conversation he and Shemihaza were having picking up right where he'd left off with Mephisto before they'd gone to Amaimon."Oh shit."He was dead. So very dead.The only question was when and where the attack would come from."If Amaimon has found a body, then this place and its research are still valuable," Lucifer said, though Rin couldn't really find it in himself to focus on the words. "Reconsider closing this facility.""Please," Lucifer coughed out, voice weak but with the ever-present edge of fanaticism that stained everything he said, "next it will surely be me."Was it really necessary to hear this part? Rin thought, frozen by the door and strongly debating just getting the hell out before the scene ended and the inevitable happened.He had a white-knuckled grip on the steel edge, and he'd have dented it if he didn't have half his mind dedicated to keeping his presence under wraps because Lucifer still scared the piss out of him.His tail curled tighter around his waist and his shoulders tensed, there was only one direction Mephisto could come from.And there was no way Rin could react fast enough to get through the door to the next scene before he caught him–could he even escape with the key if he wanted to? He had a suspicion that Mephisto could control exactly where and when the key took Rin.Or, if the key did work it wouldn't matter anyway, he'd just be waiting in the next scene.Running was pointless.There was also the possibility that if he used the key before he was ready, it might just take him straight back to this room and into Mephisto's clutches.A shiver went down his spine.Samael's clutches, even. Rin couldn't decide if that would be a better outcome or a worse one, licking his lips at the thought of which he'd rather see."If not, surely that would be strange," Lucifer trailed off, staring at nothing while Shemihaza watched him in silence, a frown pulling at her mouth.They were done, he could leave the scene for the next one now.Or not.Rin's heart pounded, his body tensing until it felt like something would snap and his breath shivered past his lips, bare wisps hardly disturbing the artificial air of the underground facility.Claws traced delicate lines over the arteries in his neck.He'd broken out in a cold sweat, only one thought making it through the panic clouding his mind.Which one was it?Mephisto.Or Samael.Rin stopped breathing.A body pressed to his, enveloping him in the mingling scents of Mephisto and Amaimon that had his instincts forcing a harsh inhale through his nose to pick up more of his claims."Mephisto," Rin rasped, the name coming out barely more than a whisper.The claws on his neck stilled, warm fingers burning holes where they rested on his trembling pulse.If the silence lasted any longer, Rin was going to start doubting his guess."Very good, Rin." He couldn't stop the jolt Mephisto's voice right next to his ear sent through him, feeling the edge of a smile against the sensitive shell the reaction caused.Well, two could play at that game–more, if Rin could just get back to the present and find Amaimon.A wide smile formed at his next words, though Mephisto wouldn't be able to see it. "Did you like my gift, Mephisto?"He gasped, flinching at the sound and hoping it wasn't enough to alert Lucifer, as Mephisto tightened his claws around his throat.His airway wasn't constricted enough that he couldn't breathe but that could change at any moment, Rin knew, his pulse now thundering in his veins"If you treat my things like that, I might not let you borrow them in the future, Rin," Mephisto said, a hint of a growl in the murmured words that had Rin wanting to push back into the embrace.The claws at his throat kept him frozen in place."I had to use something-ah and I had to get out of there. Unless you wanted me busting through the glass and down into the room with you two," Rin panted out, sight going hazy until he was barely aware of what was going on in the room in front of him anymore, focus totally on the way Mephisto scraped the points of his fangs across the sensitive skin at the back of his neck."Hm."Fangs were replaced by warm lips, though Rin almost didn't feel them through the heat building in his body."These excuses all sound like a clever way to divert my attentions, Rin. Is that what you're trying to do?"Rin had enough control left to grin around his breathless answer to the probably rhetorical question from Mephisto, struggling, though whether it was to pull away or push back into the body crowding against him was up for debate. "Ngh-no, just-ha getting the facts straight before you go and twist them on me."That earned a short chuckle and another squeeze of hands at his neck, thumbs brushing up the line of his jaw to tilt his head back onto Mephisto's shoulder."A valiant effort, Rin, but I have a different hypothesis about your motives that I'd like to run by you," Mephisto said, sending Rin's thoughts scattering as he brought him into range of the crook of his own neck.Through it all, Rin couldn't see him, gaze now fixed on the cold metal wiring and grates above them as his arms trembled from holding himself still"You thought you might punish me for making you endure this ordeal and leave me with something to torment me for, as you may have hoped, years while I waited for your next appearance.""Well," a shrug, "that would have been a sure way to begin to make up for keeping you from-"Rumbling in his ear filled Rin with the name Mephisto purred there."-Amaimon.""Yes," Rin let his answer hiss out between his fangs, hand clamping hard until the pressure built and welts formed in the steel.He still smelled like Amaimon.The breaths he took began to sound like panting as Rin fought to keep still. Everything narrowed to the body at his spine and the thrum of his heart until the world fell away, Rin listening for more of whatever Mephisto would say."I shouldn't reward bad behavior, as you're so apt to do to myself and Amaimon," Mephisto continued as if he couldn't feel the effect Rin struggled under."I only reward good behavior–and you noticed?" Rin said through his teeth, fangs bared in a smile that felt too wide for his face.A chuckle went through Mephisto's chest, another caress to Rin's throat with a feather-light glance of his fingers."Then, how will you punish bad behavior, Rin?" he murmured. "And how will I punish yours?"Rin could imagine. He imagined throwing Mephisto down and licking away every trace of Amaimon from his skin. Maybe he would use the tie again, then steal it until Mephisto wanted it back, and he would make Mephisto try to take it from him, or maybe he would return it easily. Rin would even be so helpful as to wind it around his throat for him and pull it tight.Metal creaked a warning, Rin coming back to himself in a blink at the sound to see his fingers threatening to squeeze a hand-sized hole through the metal."Control yourself, Rin," Mephisto said, not making it easy to obey him in the slightest, "or how will you make it through this story?"Right. He was right. Rin sucked in a shuddering breath, fighting not to acknowledge the scents driving his already heightened instincts into even more of a fit, and wrested control back over himself until he could breathe normally again.It took a while, Rin forcing himself not to bare his throat further to Mephisto, taking it from the loll he'd fallen into as his fangs slid back into some semblance of normality and he could remove his fingers from the dents they'd pressed to the wall one by one."Who's the exhibitionist, huh?" he said, voice rough as he remembered speech and turned to see the innocent smile on Mephisto's face. "Weren't you the one who told me I shouldn't let Lucifer see me?"Thinking about it sent a shiver through Rin, remembering those dangerous green eyes finding him from across the room, and picturing all of Lucifer's madness snuffing him out in an instant. Without his say, his gaze fell to the figure on the cot and his pulse tripped, fluttering in his chest. Would Lucifer notice his presence? Had he heard the racing pulse Mephisto had stirred up?The hands keeping him still tugged him from the door, Rin gasping as Mephisto jerked him around so he no longer saw into Lucifer's room, the memory of leaf green eyes replaced by Mephisto's deeper hue."Why don't we move to the next scene, hm?" Mephisto said with a bright flash of fangs while Rin tried to orientate himself from the mood swing. He was doing it again. The mercurial way Mephisto had begun to act ever since their talk in his office hadn't left, just kept changing faster than Rin could keep up."Yeah, yeah, I'll see you soon," Rin said, doing what he did best and pushing forward. Trying to untangle whatever was going on with Mephisto as he was now would only lead to more confusion.He left the scene to a gaze boring into him, and entered the next with Mephisto's presence already there, though Rin didn't have any time to startle as the sight of one of the Shiro-not-Shiro clones drifted in the tubes he'd seen from the lookout.Up close, the clones were even worse."Hm? We've returned to the previous time," Mephisto said at his side, casual and hands loosely clasped at his lower back. The earlier mood swept away as they returned to business as usual, for a given definition, because nothing about Rin's life could be said to be usual."Is this guy another test subject?" Rin murmured, staring at the closed eyes and wondering if the clones dreamed in that state. If they were aware at all.An eye cracked open and Rin froze as the iris flickered blue, a red pupil in the center looking down at him from under shifting hair.Familiar eyes."Satan?" Rin fought the adrenaline racing through his heart, fists clenching until his gloves creaked with the strain and vision tunneling on the sight.Before his reaction faded, the clone's eye closed, a slow-motion as if the clone were barely aware, and opened to reveal a normal, human, eye that Rin would recognize anywhere as Shiro's."Did I," he breathed, getting his body under control, "did I imagine it?""No, it's true," Mephisto cut in easily, "this was the first time Satan took a body."The first time. For now, the human in that tube was still free. Though free would be a stretch, given where he was."The possession was unstable," Mephisto kept on, a light smile on his face that didn't tell Rin anything, but made him feel like he read from a book he'd long memorized. "And no one noticed whether it was human or demon.""It wasn't like with Amaimon?" In his head, Rin replayed the immediate way Amaimon fit into his vessel, the way his features overtook any semblance of the human it was before like a glove he slipped on. As violent as the possession had been, he knew the second he'd seen it that Amaimon belonged there. He shuddered the same way he'd done before and tried to move on."Satan didn't have an ego, so he was still learning the rules of the road," Mephisto said, shrugging at Rin's question.So much of what Rin learned about demons went right over his head. It made sense that Satan being so young wouldn't know how to possess a body, but the concept of Satan, of any of the kings, being mindless and formless things who could gain consciousness at seemingly any random moment just made his head hurt. Maybe a philosopher-type who always contemplated deeper questions about the universe could unravel some of what Mephisto talked about, but Rin struggled with it."In any case," Mephisto's voice shook him from the mind-bending thoughts, "it took him nine years to get it right."Nine years?" Rin burst out, completely thrown as he tried to understand Satan possessing and repossessing the human in the tank. Tried to imagine nine years floating in that state."Let's hurry on," Mephisto said like the revelation meant nothing and was just another thing like the sky being blue or sukiyaki being amazing.Another thought pressed at him, and Rin stopped Mephisto with a hand on his sleeve."Wait, what happened with Father Fujimoto and mom?" They'd left off on such crazy terms, he needed to know how things went in the nine years after. He didn't really want to see, still shying away from the past with a creeping sensation along his spine that Yukio should have been the one in his place. Rin knew he had to see it though, if only to assure himself that things were okay."You're worried about them?" Mephisto said, his smile wry as Rin hid the way his cheeks heated. The green of his eyes gleamed and his smile turned impish. "You're really into this."Remembering the way Mephisto had shivered in excitement over the scene in the greenhouse, the way he'd said that he loved watching humans and the things they did, had Rin wondering if he was happy to see him showing interest in his "hobbies." The concept alone was enough to cheer Rin up and steel his nerves so he could take them back to Yuri and Shiro.It was sweet, he decided, as he watched Shiro make his grumbling way up to Yuri and Rick in the halls of the Academy. A stilted apology came out, one filled with Shiro asking why Yuri was so obsessed with him and his mother not even denying it a little.But, despite the truly awful way Shiro was with people, Rin's heart settled, sighing when Shiro turned his head and admitted, "We can be friends. It'd be beneficial to have lots of allies instead of being alone.""I feel better," Rin said as they finished the scene. It was for a given definition of "better." His gaze trailed the way Shiro strode past his new friends, something lighter in his steps."Mm," Mephisto hummed against him, catching Rin's attention with the undercurrent he heard as a nose pressed to his hair. "Should you ever want to do this at a later point, I have a few scenes in mind I think we'll both enjoy viewing."Was being a voyeur into the past considered a bonding activity? Rin couldn't help the thought, humor twitching at the corners of his mouth as he nodded. "Ok, it's a date."Mephisto's quiet huff of laughter followed them into the next scene, humor tucked away in favor of the future, nine years later."To me, it felt like the duration of a sneeze." Rin couldn't see Mephisto's face as he said that, mind lingering on the short scenes of nine years of life played out for Yuri and Shiro. They'd grown, changed, matured, and, in Shiro's case, mellowed out a bit.He had friends now, taught classes like Yukio did. He'd gone from the alienated, terrified kid into someone Rin recognized, even if he wasn't fully the man Shiro would become.People drifted in and out of their lives. His mother's friend, Jenny, no longer joining them, replaced by a group in flux all adding bright spots of color amongst the day-to-day. Even with the horrors lurking beneath the Academy and the events on the horizon, Rin began to slip into something comfortable.In his mind, Rin pictured what things might look like for himself nine years from his present. Would Yukio still teach? Would Shiemi run the shop for her mother like she'd said last? Would there even be an Academy to return to? And, his gaze flicked to Mephisto, what would he and Amaimon be doing? The loose threads of the future unspun from Rin's mind. He couldn't imagine it, didn't have it in him to think that far ahead.There existed the here and now for Rin, but he thought, if things turned out something like what he saw developing for his mother and Shiro, then it wouldn't be all that bad.At his side, Mephisto watched with the same ease he had in every other scene, nothing on his face giving away what he thought about it, what he gained from viewing humanity like he did.Rin had compared Mephisto's life to a video game, but when Rin played games, he grew attached to the plot and the characters, and, even though sometimes he wanted to deny it, he knew Mephisto...didn't.Even how Mephisto viewed him, Rin couldn't say, just pictured a memory of the rich red lights of the room during the festival and Mephisto holding the flower Rin had given him, saying he liked Rin.He'd liked Shiro, too."When the subject's physical reinforcement was sufficient, Satan finally assumed a body," Mephisto said as they stared at the shattered glass tank that had housed what had been a human just moments before.Now, gasping in a pool of liquid and blue flame spilling around the body, Satan had taken control.Already, the Section Thirteen researchers gathered in a panic, shouting about an unknown demon having possessed one of the clones while Eminescue arrived on the scene to stare in rising awe."It isn't me?" Rin contained a flinch as he stared into the room where Lucifer watched the ceiling after sensing Satan's possession, his disbelief clear in the slivered pupils and face a mess of rotted patches as evidence the newest elixirs had begun failing him again. Danger had darkened his confusion, making Rin want to find the nearest hole to hide and get out of the direct line of fire as far as he could go.Suddenly, Rin feared for Satan–a completely irrational fear that still made him tremble as he imagined that ire turned on the one who had managed to get a vessel before Lucifer. At Satan.He didn't move, frozen by the paralysis that always accompanied the outbursts from Lucifer. Even if this particular scene had ended, moving was beyond Rin, had been the second the fury radiated from Lucifer in an overbearing aura.His hands shook where he had them pressed to the floor Rin crouched on. He'd fallen at some point, knees weakened without his awareness.The stare on Lucifer's face fell unseeing towards Rin and his heart skipped, fear following the sensation.Could he sense him? Would he somehow look past the barrier protecting Rin and hear the racing pulse he couldn't slow? The door he peeked through was no real protection at all. Not when Lucifer teetered on the edge of a total meltdown the longer his suffering continued.Claws gripped his neck and pulled Rin from the door. He gasped as he lost sight of Lucifer, breaths restarting and inhaling ozone as possessive arms locked around him and kept him caged."Really, Rin," Mephisto said. It sounded strange. "How will you face Satan in this state?"Rin twisted in Mephisto's hold and froze. His knees weakened again.A glow seared from Mephisto's eyes as a cold and endless void that leeched the warmth his body gave off before it reached Rin and left him chilled. The trembling being near one of Lucifer's fits caused returned.But, it roused a piece of Rin that had been stifled by Lucifer and it bubbled up in his chest to burn the paralysis away. That part of him that said Mephisto wouldn't–couldn't–hurt him, not if he didn't want him to.He glanced back and saw Lucifer, felt some of the fear press that part of him down again when the power of the oppressive, unmitigated aspect of light touched him, and fought another flutter of his heart unsuccessfully."Rin," Mephisto's call of his name came tight from his lips despite the smile they pulled in. A fang peeked from his lips, grown into a wedge instead of the usual polite length he kept them at. His hands twitched, fingers nearly bruising with their pressure and working to distract Rin."I'm-It's not," Rin sucked in a breath and jerked free to stand, anger in his scowl. Mephisto was right. He couldn't let Lucifer scare him, not to the point of being unable to move."I got it," he said with a self-directed growl.Lucifer's insanity wouldn't ever not be terrifying to Rin. He didn't understand that mindframe and didn't want to. He didn't know why being around Lucifer now was having the effect on him that it was. Before, he'd tried to launch himself at Lucifer for taking Izumo–one of his, and no one touched what was his–from him and had only been stopped because he'd been held back.The difference twisted into knots in his head until it lost itself in the vortex of Lucifer's madness and Rin gave up trying to understand it."I'm good," he reiterated, though the gaze Mephisto watched Rin with burned into him as he inhaled a long breath and forced himself from the room, hackles still raised by the memory of Lucifer's eyes and aspect. He would think about the strange tension in Mephisto later when he wasn't so on edge.It followed Rin into the future.The next scene was a board room that stung Rin's nose with the level of tension in the air. All except Mephisto, who sat at the head, smiling in a slight turn of his lips. Rin stood to the side, once again playing the silent bodyguard he wasn't sure why anyone thought Mephisto needed.He kept his hands at his back in a lax hold for lack of anything better to do, torn between the way the room ripped itself apart over the strange demon, and Mephisto, who still somehow seemed to choreograph the whole thing without lifting a finger. Just a light nudge, a comment where it would have the most impact, and he could sit back and observe as much as Rin was."We're restraining him with wards."Chatter spun out almost too fast for Rin to follow, a sensation building in his gut he registered as dread the longer it pressed there until he thought the atmosphere might suffocate him in the room. It felt like the beginning of the end, the calm before the storm already spinning into existence."But you're still not sure which demon it is?"No one recognized the horns and tail, and Satan's current mental state meant he couldn't communicate who he was. Rin didn't think he even had a name yet. His tail curled tighter to his chest, Rin suddenly aware that he and Satan shared the same features, horns and tail included. It wasn't just the flames that marked him, and Rin wondered if that was the reason Mephisto wanted him well out of Lucifer's focus on the off chance he looked too closely.How much would any interaction with something like Lucifer, like Amaimon, really confuse them, as Mephisto had warned? Would they remember him in his present? Not that Rin wanted to find out. A shiver went through his body entirely unrelated to the panicked room.They'd begun trying to decide if they should remove Satan until Eminescu interjected with their facility's purpose of getting Lucifer a viable body, that they needed this newly possessed vessel to study.The decision, in the end, came down to Mephisto."I propose a compromise," Mephisto broke in easily.Shiro. They would bring in Shiro.Foreboding replaced the shivers in Rin at hearing Mephisto's solution. Of course, Shiro would be involved, Rin knew there wasn't any reality in which he wasn't, but the easy way Mephisto suggested it knowing the path Shiro walked had Rin biting the insides of his cheek until he bled."Was this really the only way?" he murmured after Mephisto from his place at the door to the next scene, getting a stilling of the shoulders at his half rhetorical question.He'd asked it before, at the clone lab where he'd watched Shiro stifle pained cries while getting cut open. That had been a general question about using the clones. This was about Shiro the individual, the one who called Mephisto friend.It wouldn't change Mephisto's answer."There are many ways," he finally said, his gaze empty where he looked from the corner of his eyes. "This is the only one I'll accept."What was acceptable to Mephisto? What outcome did he want? Neither were things Rin thought Mephisto would reveal, despite glimpsing the edges of it in his office.Rin left, rubbing where his tail pressed to his chest, the phantom scent and feel of the tie he'd worn there like a pressure he couldn't erase with his touch. The pressure increased when he saw Shiro striding down the hall to where Satan was kept.In his mind, he imagined stopping Shiro, turning him back, away from the fate he moved towards with the same surety as he had on every mission he'd gone to before. Rin imagined saving Shiro.Reality replaced the fantasy playing out in Rin's head as Shiro strode past him and into the room. Mephisto hadn't come with, leaving Rin alone to wrestle with the two sides that knew nothing he could do would stop what was happening but wanted to so, so desperately it ached to his bones.The doors closed behind them, sealing them in the room. Being in an enclosed space with Shiro and Satan sent Rin's hackles rising, a growl fighting to grow with the raised hairs, but holding himself back. He tracked the flickers of Satan's eyes."Goro?" Shiro's gasp alerted Rin just as Satan raised his eyes and the tension snapped, the sound a catalyst working to focus Satan's attention."Ah!" the wordless cry from Satan sent the exorcists in the room ducking as they shouted for sedatives.They were too close. Satan flared up, the heat from his flames washing over Rin in a familiar caress almost like his own. If he wasn't looking, it would be like he'd been the one to set his flames on the three exorcists nearest Satan. It would have been him who burned them alive.A detachment had grown in Rin along with the knot in his stomach that wouldn't ease."He's gonna bolt!""Don't worry, there's a transmitter in his neck.""He's so powerful.""What demon is that?"He closed the door on the last of the panicked exorcists watching after where Satan had fled from, face empty of any expression that he could feel. Numbed legs took him through dark streets, though he didn't even really need to focus his footing, Satan's presence burning on his senses and heading towards something with unerring speed.That something revealed itself with a now-familiar voice, one Rin dreaded hearing just then."Whew! I'm exhausted," Yuri said to Rick where they walked.Easy smiles drew over their faces and they chatted about work, going out for drinks, Rick's wife and kid, how Jenny had changed and grown distant, things that Rin knew were about to be shattered apart by blue flame, Satan's approach like a ticking bomb whose countdown he could feel in every beat of his heart.A heaviness accompanied his heartbeats and weighed like iron in sand to collect alongside the knot in his stomach.Yuri split from Rick as he called for her to stop agreeing to help everyone all the time, to get home safe, while Rin trailed after Yuri on feet that dragged as much as his heart did.At the bottom of a stairway, Yuri paused, alerted by a sound.Through the dark, Rin saw perfectly, his eyes catching what Yuri couldn't with a human's sight."Who's there?"Run. He wanted to whisper. His mouth moved without voicing anything.Wil o' wisp blue flame appeared at the top of the stairs, Yuri staring up at it with widening eyes."Rin-" her voice cut out as Satan followed from the dark. His eyes burned alongside the flames of his horns and the ones flickering at the tip of his tail with every step closer to Yuri."Shi-ro?" she said, gasping as Satan began wordless cries and lurched towards her.His movement startled her back, Yuri beginning to flee as Satan stumbled forward, lips trying to form something Rin couldn't make out between the cries until he managed to piece them together into the right shape."Yuri," Satan rasped from a throat unused to vocalizing, something harsh and guttural as if he would have been more at home uttering growls, snarling animalistically.Rin's heart stopped as Yuri paused her attempts to escape and raised her hands to reach for Satan where he kneeled before her. She began saying the name she'd given the blue flame that had followed her all her life. It felt like she'd sealed her fate in those syllables, something written in stone.Before Satan could respond, shots rang out and he fell, needles to what must have been tranquilizers protruding from his neck.As a confused Yuri was led away by the members of Section Thirteen for questioning, Rin became aware of heat running down his knuckles where he'd clenched them, blood dripping to the ground long after they'd vanished from the area.In the silence surrounding Rin, Mephisto's absence burned.Emotions roiled in Rin's gut he couldn't calm, turbulent ever since he'd seen Amaimon and refusing to settle.Was it the strained claim throwing him so off-kilter? The past he was viewing? Mephisto? Some chimera of all of them and the continued worries about Yukio?"What's inside him? And why did he go to that girl?" The questions from the exorcists of Section Thirteen shook Rin from his thoughts.He peered into the observation room where Yuri was being politely interrogated to find any connection that might have brought the unknown demon to her. From what Rin could hear, she hadn't revealed her history with the blue flames. Protecting Satan. Rin grimaced."There's nothing unusual about her. She teaches cram school students and tamers. She's written several textbooks. She's well known amongst the tamers."All this information ran through Rin's head, but he wasn't any good at using it. Not like Yukio. Yukio would have started wondering about her students, the books she'd written, if anything of hers still survived, students, tamers, or textbooks.Maybe, the musing drifted across Rin's mind, Mephisto had copies of her work. If he said something, Mephisto might even lend him them, just like Yukio had asked Rin to do the night of the party. Yukio had always loved books, where words just swam in Rin's head and made all but simple manga panels a nightmare to get through no matter his interest in the subject.Yukio would like them, Rin knew, and maybe it would bridge some of the gaps between them if he brought that piece of the past with him, or even brought Yukio back to see it.He just had to make it back to Yukio.Thundering, heavy sounds and a burning presence rapidly approaching sent Rin freezing in place, body taut and held between fight and flight as he searched the far wall through the observation room. Satan neared again. The anesthesia they had him under must have failed already.Just as Satan approached the last barrier, the humans in the room jerked around, ears finally picking up what Rin had been listening for."No! Not again!"The wall to the interrogation room blew inwards, flame following as Satan screamed for Yuri. Bullets from the exorcists who'd chased him from his cell shot at his back, prompting a vicious snarl and Satan igniting them until they'd become molten lead on the floor. Their attack set Satan reacting and he turned from Yuri with his eyes blue flares in his skull with more flickering to life in the palm he raised.Flames ate the weapons into the same liquid metal he'd turned the bullets into before Satan bared his fangs at the now fleeing exorcists."Stop it!" Arms wound to Satan's, Yuri faced him with the same firm stare she'd stood the storming golem down with."Ah, Yuri," Satan said in a wavering vocalization, his ire distracted by Yuri in an instant.At her steadiness, the flames on Satan's palm dissipated and Yuri smiled in clear relief as she stepped back, holding his hand. "Good, boy."It was so simple, but Rin could see Yuri knew the control could snap at any moment, a sheen of sweat on her skin as the others in the room murmured about her ability to control the unknown demon.Sweat prickled at Rin's skin as another flicker of energy ran along his nerves and his attention already moved to the entrance to the observation room as the door opened.Mephisto met his gaze, the only one in the room able to sense Rin while his uniform's hood was up, before sliding to the mirror they watched Satan and Yuri in with his usual light smile on his face. "He seems to like her."He did, attentive eyes and focus completely on Yuri as if no one else existed in the room. Animalistic. Rin didn't think he was processing anything beyond what was a threat and what was Yuri."After all," Mephisto's voice brought Rin from Satan, seeing him watching Yuri unerringly, "I hear she's quite the tamer.""Shall we enlist her aid?" As Mephisto said that, Shiro turned wide eyes to him, fear entering them, and Rin thought it might feel something like what filled his stomach the longer Satan's gaze didn't leave Yuri."Until we tame that thing, our hands are tied."The scene closed on that statement, but something kept Rin lingering once everyone had left. His feet wouldn't take him to the door, and he couldn't seem to look from where Satan had stood.Just the wall that would have to be repaired to the interrogation room and the faint scents of the occupants stayed like they were frozen in time, though Rin didn't register them, waiting.A shadow along his spine sent him shivering as he leaned back into Mephisto when he came."This scene is long over, is something keeping you, Rin?"Claws drew the hood from his head, settling at his shoulders while Rin licked at his lips, trying to put into words what anchored him to his spot."He's just," he began, "he's like an animal. He won't stop staring at her, but it's like there's nothing else there. Like-"Like an automaton, a doll.His lips twisted, Rin unable to find a way to describe why seeing Satan like he was made him repel from the sight- "Like he's empty, and she could just say anything and he'll listen."That wasn't right though. Satan wasn't empty, he brimmed with a danger that sent Rin's hairs rising and it wasn't even set on him. Not like Yuri. He wasn't empty, he was observant, listening to Yuri like she was the only one in the room with him and he wanted to pick her apart to figure out what she was–everyone else were just obstacles in the way.Sometimes Amaimon looked at Rin that way–and Mephisto, when he thought Rin wasn't paying attention. But Rin always paid attention to them, now. They looked at him like he was the only thing that existed beside themselves. It was ok for him, though, because he could handle himself, and they were his.Yuri couldn't possibly know who and what Satan was."And," he finally looked up at Mephisto, his frustration at himself meeting the raised brow as Mephisto let him continue, "she's supposed to tame him."Tame something incomprehensible to Rin, except in the part of himself that recognized the actions. All Rin could see was the creature Satan had become, the cackling, childish, mocking demon–and dangerous, so, so dangerous–and try to imagine how he came to be that way. He knew it was impossible. Mephisto knew it was impossible. Section Thirteen, Shiro. Even Yuri knew the being she handled was beyond the scope of anything she'd ever worked with before."There's nothing more for you here, lingering won't give you your answers, Rin." He blinked, once again torn from his thoughts as Mephisto appraised him without giving anything away.'You can't prolong the inevitable.' Rin could hear the rest of the unsaid sentence and hunched his shoulders, nodding in a sharp motion before taking the key out to leave.Yuri would start working at Section Thirteen.The dread filling Rin echoed in the long groan from Shiro as she delivered the news with a smile that said she knew it would get that reaction. She was right, though, their hands were tied.Their conversation brimmed with inevitability. Yuri admitted she couldn't escape Section Thirteen any more than Shiro, and that she especially couldn't escape Rinka, the name for the wil o' wisp that had trailed her from childhood to now."Getting involved with demons only spells trouble," Shiro spat to Yuri's slight smile. "You could die!"A phone ringing stopped anything Yuri might have said. She waved, saying she was being called away, heading out the door and leaving Shiro to eat his meal at the bar he'd chosen for the night. Rin wanted to sit next to him and maybe take the drink he'd ignored in favor of Yuri. He flinched at the thought.Suddenly, sitting and sharing a drink and a meal with Shiro sounded like the only thing Rin needed then. His chest ached, squeezing in a tight throb as he ducked his head further beneath the hood.He wanted to talk to Shiro. He wanted the advice he'd never taken as a kid. He wanted his dad.His fangs grit and a prickling started in his eyes, blurring the sight of Shiro alone in his seat.This Shiro wasn't the one he could talk with, though. He was more lost than Rin.The door had closed behind Yuri and it took a moment for Rin to realize Rick had come in after her, a light flush on his face that said he'd been drinking as he ambled to Shiro and slapped his back.Rin closed his eyes, listening to Rick drunkenly stumble through pestering Shiro about Yuri."You like her, right?" Rick slurred. "Yuri's actually really popular, so don't come crying to me when someone else snatches her up."He was right, but like Rin had been, Shiro wasn't ready for advice.Rin watched as Yuri soothed another of Satan's outbursts. The next scene had begun with her struggles to keep Satan calm, only content when she was around. It wasn't a new scenario, almost repetitious, after he'd observed enough of them.He went on, half expecting another scene of Satan throwing a tantrum, but stiffened as he found himself back in Lucifer's chamber listening to the way Mephisto asked Lucifer about what he thought the "new arrival was" and tried to make himself focus on the conversation.A faint hum of wires and the beep of a heart monitor chilled Rin. He couldn't feel the air conditioning he knew must have made the bowels of Section Thirteen achingly cold without anything but metal to insulate things but was frozen nonetheless.Lucifer lay in the center, once again beginning to rot around the elixir filling his vessel. The sight repelled Rin with the sheer sense of wrongness. It pervaded the body Lucifer wore, ill-fitting and making Rin realize just how used to seeing Amaimon settle into his like the second skin it was.His heart gave the barest twinge at thinking about Amaimon. It had stopped hurting a few scenes ago like it had with Mephisto when he'd stopped being able to smell him on his tie. The sensation now came from the length of time and the human part of Rin reacting to everything he'd seen up until that point, knowing he still had so far to go.Nothing showed on Mephisto's face as he asked Lucifer if he knew what demon had inhabited the body of the clone. Rin didn't know how to understand what he saw. A shiver went through him he fought through while the source of it lay in the bed without any awareness that just his presence caused the reaction in Rin."It is connected to every phenomenon in existence," Lucifer said, refusing to look at Mephisto, or not having the energy or care to. "I'm sure you can sense that."Surely Lucifer knew Mephisto–of any being–understood how Satan functioned and what he could do.When Mephisto pretended he didn't know what Satan was, how did a being like Lucifer trust that he told the truth?"It is that which gave birth to us all. It is all of creation."Rin was simple. Whatever Mephisto did, he would take it at face value and act like he told the truth. If what he did crossed a line, Rin would say so. To begin doubting would only confuse him because he wasn't a smart guy like Yukio.But was it the same for Lucifer?He winced and left the scene.The irises of Satan's eyes glowed and swirled with the endless pools of his flames.Overhead where he lay in her lap, Yuri smiled and read a book to him, unaware that he was miles away.Rin could see the way Satan's core flexed around him, active where he was motionless. He wondered what he looked at and couldn't imagine it. His mind's eye tracked the eddies and whorls the energy made. Was this what his own core looked like? When Mephisto and Amaimon looked at him, did they see him or Satan?Irrationally, he wanted to ask Mephisto, but the question barely made sense to Rin, let alone if he tried to explain how looking at Satan lost in his own thoughts made him feel.It dragged on, one scene to the next. Rin faced each of them with growing exhaustion. He didn't see Amaimon again.Slowly, he watched Satan absorb everything Yuri taught him, different foods, math, books.Like a child, one that could pick a concept up the first time but with a child's patience, bored the moment the lesson was understood.Even Rin could see the danger."Ah!" Yuri gasped, looking down at the cage where a few hamsters lay dead inside. Rin had watched Satan pick the organs from their bodies with vague fascination and tried not to think about Amaimon. "Why did you kill them?"And Satan. "I was just making holes."Satan didn't understand.His emotions lagged behind the knowledge he picked up like a sponge. For a being comprising all of creation, Satan acted childish, Rin wincing as he watched him have another meltdown over Yuri's absence until she could be called back.The outbursts were common, each, Rin saw Yuri handle as best she could, calming Satan as he cried and demanded her undivided attention so that she could entertain him in his boredom."How long can she keep this up?" he'd asked Mephisto during one of the moments in between when he couldn't stay away anymore. Not that Mephisto had let it get to that point again, drifting to Rin's side to brush against him when no one would notice, always with a sly smile or observing Rin with an unreadable gaze.Like the one he wore at Rin's question."What do you think will happen when she can't, anymore?" His response wasn't any more helpful. Rin huffed and rolled his eyes, accepting the energy that swirled along his, asking for permission with a playfulness at odds with the topic of conversation.It continued for a year and some months along the past, Rin standing in the observation room of the latest scene while researchers discussed Satan's progress.They wanted to increase the level of material Yuri went over with him, saying he needed something more advanced.Yuri said it was too soon, he needed more experience before advancing.A compromise was reached. Volunteers would join her so that she could slowly introduce Satan to others besides her.The only volunteer was Shiro. The others were too scared after so many had been killed by Satan's fits. Reasonably, too. Anyone should be terrified.Even Rin could see how it would go, though the part of him that hoped Shiro had come far enough along that he wouldn't react like–like a brat still tried to rise up.He shouldn't have bothered.A long sigh exhaled through his teeth.What followed was the most childish interaction Rin had witnessed since he'd begun watching the events of the past. And he'd witnessed a lot in the last who knew how long he'd been gone for."He's worse than I was," Rin grumbled as Shiro goaded Satan by touching all his things, ignoring the hissing and rampant jealousy just being around Yuri inspired. In both of them."I recall differently," Mephisto said from his shoulder where he'd become a small insect hidden by the hood of his cloak. "We can always take a detour to see your childhood too, if you'd like to prove it.""I'm not taking that bet," Rin muttered back, rolling his eyes. His lips twitched in wry amusement as he tried to imagine what viewing his own past would be like. The violent outbursts and fighting would probably be funnier in hindsight.Skittering legs tickled at his skin where Mephisto shifted and Rin resisted the urge to brush his cheek to his shoulder. He probably wouldn't squash Mephisto like the bug he currently was, but he didn't want to knock him off or something.The small form nestled further into the folds of his uniform as Yuri called for a halt for the day and Shiro left with a grudging reply that he'd come back to keep helping.His gaze drifted to catch on Satan and Rin froze as he realized something was wrong.Muttering reached Rin from where he stood, though it didn't alert Yuri as she began to clean up. Satan stared after Shiro, lost in a stream of "Beat him, beat him, beat him."It wasn't something that sounded to Rin like a successful play date."This isn't good," he mumbled half to himself, and half to Mephisto. But what could he do? And what could Yuri do?Every move forward increased the pressure in the air until Rin suffocated from it. All the exits closed off one by one and Yuri was trapped in the cage with the inhuman creature she'd been attached to all her life.She left with a wave to the guards by the doors. Rin barely heard them wondering if she had a boyfriend. If she and Shiro were a "thing."Rin didn't breathe. The tension built to a single, high-pitched tone in his ears, ringing while his vision tunneled on the door.Fire spun in an inferno that the humans guarding the door couldn't sense, noticing too late when the blue flames spilled into the hall from the now-opened door where Satan pushed."Emergency! Subject 005 has broken out!"His eyes closed as Rin left the scene with another long exhale, wishing it helped relieve the tension.The beginning of the end had come. And Yuri had been right from the start, there wasn't a way to safely handle something like Satan. She'd seen the precarious control she'd had on Satan and the wire she walked between his rapid absorption of knowledge along with his lack of empathy.Rin didn't know how Shiro had raised him, even sealed as he was. If he went back in time and viewed his own past, would it look like Satan's? Maybe not to the extent, but the pit forming in his gut said he had more in common with Satan than he'd ever wanted to face.An ache tightened his chest as he saw Yuri's last night of peace juxtaposed with an eerily still Satan tearing through books faster than humanly possible, more piling in from the members of Section Thirteen on Eminescue's orders.Crackling flames were the only sounds besides the flipping pages until Rin couldn't take it anymore and jumped forward to when Yuri returned the next morning."What happened?" she exclaimed when she saw the blocked off hallway and numerous guards at the entrance to Satan's cell.Eminescue came over. "I'm sorry, but I authorized it.""He broke containment and demanded books." Yuri's eyes widened in dawning understanding. "He wanted as much information as possible before you reported for duty."Why hadn't they called Yuri back the minute Satan broke out? A small part of Rin wondered if it would have meant anything if Yuri had been there to guide Satan through the books he read.The straight-backed, cocky position Satan sat in on a chair resting on a towering stack of books made Rin think it wouldn't have made much of a difference at all.Mephisto was absent from the area, too. Not even bothering to hide in Rin's uniform hood like he had before. Had he been hiding from sight from Satan? Or did he just not care about the current progression of events?"Rinka," Yuri spoke calmly, the way she always did, even when Rin could sense the fear from her. He knew that if he could sense it, then Satan could too. It wasn't something Rin could explain to his friends, but even though Yuri outwardly showed no signs of it, Rin knew it clung to her.Maybe the fear scent from the man Satan held hostage in a circle of his flames covered Yuri's. Or Maybe Satan enjoyed it.It was something demons were supposed to like–to feed on–Rin knew, rubbing a hand to his chest and wincing at the hum from Satan as he acknowledged Yuri's presence."That old name?" Rin's stomach dropped."Let this man go," Yuri said carefully.A shrug, Satan unconcerned as he agreed."Good, now then–"Fire flared around the body and Rin hissed as the man vanished into ashes, Yuri's gasp swept up in the echoes of a scream.Laughter burst from Satan, childlike, almost. Like a kid who had played a prank on their parent and didn't realize the damage they'd caused."Are you surprised, Yuri?" Satan turned around and grinned in a baring of fangs. "I'm different from yesterday."He was. Rin had sensed it the second he'd seen him on his throne of books."I've obtained all this knowledge and I realized something!" Old memories churned in Rin's head of sermons of Shiro's he'd partially slept through. The ones about a garden and a fruit of knowledge and the way things were irrevocably changed upon its consumption.In Satan's eyes, blue flared, hands raised in a broad sweep and every picture a careless deity."I am a god."His smile turned into a smirk as he propped his cheek to his fist. "A demon god. So you can call me Satan."It was all so…Rin scowled, fingers flexing at his sides. Then turned to the presence at his spine that had finally shown itself."Oh good," Mephisto said around a mouthful of chips, "I didn't miss the big action."On the one hand, this wasn't just some scene in a book, though for Mephisto Rin knew it might as well have been. But on the other hand, the part of Rin who had watched Satan cry when Yuri left his sight for five minutes reared up again."He's talking like the villains in my manga," Rin said after Mephisto beamed at him, waiting for a response."He does make a good villain of these tragic events," Mephisto nodded along.Rin stole a handful of chips from him and glared. "No, not really. He's–"–Sad, childlike, and still waiting for Yuri's approval and attention."A brat.""Well," Mephisto shrugged and licked some of the chip crumbs off his lips, "he's grandiose enough for the stage.""I'm stronger than anyone!" Satan's pronouncement sent Rin cringing."I could crush that jerk Shiro in an instant–just like I did that scum earlier."Was having a rivalry with a human really something to brag about?"I'm omnipotent and omnipresent," Satan crowed as he stood from his chair. "All shall obey my will. Does that make you happy, Yuri?""Did he get that from the books, too?" Rin grumbled. Because he was pretty sure even if Satan was all that, Rin definitely wouldn't be obeying his will."Ah, impressionable youth," Mephisto sighed.But, before Rin could respond, Yuri's welling tears sobered him and brought him back to the scene."Killing is wrong," Yuri said, her tears falling. "I should have taught you better–after the hamsters–"Satan just shook his head and began to scowl. "Don't be ridiculous. Why should I care about human morality? And why shouldn't I kill? Humans do it all the time. You even eat what you kill!"He was right, but in the way a child was right, not understanding, not really. It was simplistic.Everything broke down after that. Yuri couldn't get Satan to empathize with humans, Satan threw a fit and sent her flying backward to be caught by Shiro, who'd arrived on the scene. His uniform protected them from the brunt of the flames, and Satan left in a burst of fire into the ceiling he flung himself up through."I am a being who has overcome life and death." Satan roared in the air he floated through above the city. "I am a god!"Rin sighed, watching the demons swarm to Satan, who decided to take them under his wing. He wondered which of the books he'd read that had influenced him to make the decision."Someone should have given him different books," Rin said where he sat on the chaise lounge with Mephisto."Don't you have a ton?" Although, what books Mephisto had in his library might not be the best learning material for a new god either. But it had to be better than whatever had inspired Satan to take on the villainous overlord role. He needed to read more shoujo manga.An appalled gasp came from Mephisto. "And risk my collection in his grubby paws? He'd have bent the pages!""Not even for world peace, huh?" Rin said dryly."They're limited editions!" Mephisto exclaimed. "Signed by the authors!"Flashbacks to Yukio complaining about Rin crying over his own manga came back to Rin and his lips twitched in a smile. It faded as he remembered where Yukio was in the present. Who he was with.Satan disappeared and Rin tucked the worries for Yukio away again, knowing it wouldn't be long before they reemerged."He said he was a god," Yuri whispered later to Eminescue as she debriefed him from the medical bay in Section Thirteen where she and Shiro had been taken. "He said he was Satan.""I don't really get it," Rin said later to Mephisto as they moved to Lucifer's lab. "He just chose that name. Why's it a big deal?"It was too complicated for Rin to put into words. But Satan could have picked any name and he would still be as powerful, would still be a being representing Gehenna.A chuckle escaped Mephisto and Rin pouted at him, hackles soothed by his wry smile."A good question, Rin," he said, apparently happy to play teacher. "Did you think my names were inherent to me? Or that they are anything more than skins I wear?"Er, that was a way to put it. "Both, kind of?" Rin tried, scratching at his hair and wondering if it was something he was supposed to have learned in classes."Correct!" Mephisto beamed at him, making Rin blink in surprise. "Humans either begin calling us by a name they feel represents us, or we choose a name that we feel suits us, like our vessels, as Satan did.""But," a clawed finger raised, Rin going cross-eyed as he stared at it, "the names are things that the humans equivocate with beings of our nature and status, something they try to define us by, even though they can never hope to fully define us."A shrug, "Really, if I'm going by any name, calling myself the king of time and space is most accurate.""Oh," Rin frowned, "I guess that makes sense."Though, he had a feeling Mephisto enjoyed when humans picked a name for him, like it was a funny game to see what they came up with."You're you," Rin said as he finally determined what he thought about it all. Whatever name Mephisto chose, he would always be who he was.Quiet laughter came again before they had to stifle it, arriving at the door to Lucifer's. Rin didn't know why anyone thought Mephisto needed a bodyguard but he wouldn't question it if they didn't.Anything not to catch Lucifer's attention."Satan?" The voices of the Grigori members erupted through the video screens where they pointed towards Lucifer in his bed.Mephisto stood next to him, a frown on his face as if he were just as concerned as everyone else in the room. Given Rin had just seen him laughing out in the hallway, he would hazard it wasn't anything more than a facade."It makes perfect sense," Lucifer rasped from his bed. The rot crept up his cheeks, and his throat had been wrapped, hinting at more beneath the layers. Rin still had to bite down on his cheeks to keep the tension from filling his body. He didn't know why just the sight of Lucifer made some animal hindbrain kick into life in him, just that it did. Satan didn't cause the reaction, even at his worst, and Rin didn't know what to feel about it."The new arrival can connect to nearly all us demons, such a being is worthy of the name Satan.""But if it is Satan, the body he's possessing will fail soon," Eminescue added while the Grigori members wondered if it had failed already. Rin didn't think they'd be that lucky."I doubt that," Lucifer said, gaze going inward. "I cannot locate him, but we can sense him."Rin also doubted that. He looked to Mephisto and once again wondered how anyone but especially Lucifer could trust that he told the truth. Or maybe, Lucifer just didn't care what Mephisto's plans were or what he said."He's still immature, but he's growing."The words echoed in Rin's head as he went to the next scene and wound up in a sewer, the scents making him wrinkle his nose where he stood next to Mephisto, who apparently knew exactly where Satan hid.Seeing the laughing being in the clothes he'd worn in the lab and surrounded by demons, Rin heaved a sigh and crouched down. He hadn't ever had a headache in his life, but he rubbed at his forehead and thought he might be getting one. Emotion warred behind his eyes, the scenes he'd watched up until that point flickering like a bad movie through his mind.In his memories, the night he'd woken as a demon and lost Shiro juxtaposed with seeing Satan crying for Yuri's attention like a spoiled kid while Shiro laughed and acted like a brat."So," Mephisto began, "That is your father. What do you think? Is he like you imagined?"He thought a lot of things. Things he wasn't smart enough to put into words. But, "No, not at all."Rin really didn't know what to think. Not when he'd never wanted to know about the past and the messiness he knew existed there. It was too late for regrets though, and he couldn't go back even if he'd wanted to."Is that a good thing or a bad thing?" Mephisto's eyes gleamed when Rin glanced up at him between his fingers. He was probably fascinated by the things happening. And Rin's life was his current favorite series he was binging.He rose and shook his head, unable to stop from looking at Satan again. "And you can't let the Order know he's down here, huh?"The expected response came from Mephisto in a blithe wave of his hand. "Afraid not. That would end up with a massive manhunt and the collapse of the foundations of this city."It sounded exactly like something that could happen if the Order was let on about Satan's location. Though Rin's head hurt trying to think of all the scenarios Mephisto must have been through to get to the one they were at now.His tail twitched against his waist, and suddenly Rin hated the feeling of it constricted there when it wanted to lash at his feet. It sent him a few steps forward in jerky motions before he forced himself still.He'd probably get called an exhibitionist again if he ripped off his uniform just to pace naked. So, with a shuddering sigh, he leaned against the wall by Mephisto in a slump."Onwards, then?" Mephisto asked, arms folded as he smiled down at Rin."Or did you want to stay in these sewers with your father?"A snort left Rin, blowing his bangs up in a puff of air. "No thanks."The sooner he left the sooner he could get the smell out of his nose."I'm going to waste all your hot water and fancy soaps when I get back to your place," Rin determined, ignoring the sound of complaint from Mephisto and moving to the next scene.Life drifted scene to scene afterward. Despite everything, with Satan gone to ground, Yuri and Shiro's lives fell back into a semblance of routine.Though, even Shiro noticed that Yuri still couldn't let it go completely."Don't tell me you're still moping?" Shiro said after he'd tracked Yuri down to ask her to help him with a lesson plan. "It's been six months."Somehow, six months felt like the blink of an eye to Rin, using the keys or not. It felt something like how Mephisto had described it, that sensation of being an observer to events and not a participant. Not that Mephisto didn't participate plenty.One mission to Aomori to take out a Baba Yaga later, and Shiro sputtered down at Mephisto where he stood across his office desk newly tasked with caring for Shura.He'd just rescued her and brought her back with him for lack of anywhere else to leave her."Why don't you be a foster parent to this poor girl, Father Fujimoto," Mephisto said with a wide smile. The tips of his fangs peeked out, cheeked leaned into his palm while Shiro blanched at the suggestion in horror."Gimme a break!" Shiro shrieked. "You always give me the worst assignments!""That's why you have so many medals!"Rin smiled while Mephisto teased Shiro, seeing the urge to strangle him for his meddling was a universal experience. Was this the point Shiro began to see Mephisto as a friend?Had enough time passed that Shiro could somehow overlook the things that had been done to him in the name of keeping Assiah safe from Lucifer's insanity to call Mephisto friend? Had he just decided that it wasn't worth it to hate Mephisto? Or did he still wait for the moment he would be able to rip his throat out with his teeth like he'd promised all those years ago.At some point in Shiro's life, he had crossed a line. Maybe it was when he somehow came to be in charge of Rin and Yukio, but Rin couldn't say.In the end, Shiro took Shura. It was either that or Mephisto had offered Asylum, and Shiro would never leave her there.That didn't stop him from trying to pawn her off on Yuri, though. As if because she was the only woman he was actually friends with, he could just leave Shura there. Even Rin knew it wouldn't work, but he guessed Shiro was desperate. Given how barely capable of feeding himself he was, Rin could understand why."Then you should take her," Yuri said when her suggestion of letting Asylum have Shura was soundly rejected by Shiro."I can't babysit some brat!" Shiro yelped, probably trying to picture how he would bring his flings home with him, though Rin hadn't noticed many of those encounters, or at least they hadn't been relevant and Mephisto wasn't trying to tease Rin with them anymore.Something softened in Yuri's eyes. "Well, Oku did say she couldn't have raised me alone."She was talking about the old exorcist who had died in the fire. "She had help from Hiko, who was good at cooking. And Obaba, who knew all sorts of stuff!""You'll have to rely on someone, too, Shiro."But who?In the end, Yuri would keep Shura for a night while Shiro found help.Her hand gripped the entry to the apartment as she bit her lips, calling out before Shiro left. "I'm waiting."Wide eyes met her from Shiro."For Rinka."Anger swept through Shiro as he growled, "That punk? He's dead. There's no way he's still hiding!"A part of Rin didn't think even Shiro believed that."When his body starts to decompose," Yuri said, gaze dropping, "he'll be sure to return to Section Thirteen."When she raised her eyes again, determination had filled them, stopping Shiro's words and Rin's heart."And when he does, I'm going to save him. And I don't want to involve Shura.""Sorry," Yuri finished.His heart started again, but only to sink in dread. It hardened in his stomach as Rin left the scene.It was to see Shiro commanding a group of confused exorcists who watched Shura hang off him like a limpet. They were going to be his "apprentices." Rin snorted wryly. His babysitters, more like, though they clearly didn't realize it yet.The change in mood helped Rin shake off some of the last scene, focusing instead on the poor Shiro trying to keep some of his tough guy image while a toddler proclaimed she would marry him and grow big "tits" to the bafflement of the surrounding exorcists.Overlooking the whole scene were Yuri and Rick in one of the upper-level walkways above the courtyard.Rick's question about what exactly Yuri saw in Shiro had Rin listening closer, because he understood his own attachment to the person Shiro had become, the one who'd raised him, but what kept Yuri coming back to someone as prickly as Shiro was at this stage?She stuttered. "Well, he's white like snow, and tall–and his eyes!"That was it? Rin frowned, and Rick was just as lost."He's also scary and violent and perfectly incorrigible," Yuri said with a smile, leaning on the balcony to stare down at Shiro. "But there's a spot of warmth in him. It's frustrating, so I can't leave him alone.""I've always reached out to him, hoping to touch that warm spot."Rin stopped at that. His hand came to his chest, rubbing there like he could feel where Mephisto's tie had been.His heart fluttered.Oh.He darted from the scene and ignored that his ears burned beneath his hood.Rin stood next to Mephisto back in the lab where the sounds of Lucifer gagging around a failed, rotting vessel filled his ears and made him want to flee to the previous scene.A cold sweat had begun on his skin under the layers of his uniform and Rin shivered."Why only me?" Lucifer screamed where he thrashed on the blood and rot stained cot.The wretched cry sent Rin stiffening, mind flashing back to the insanity of Lucifer's green eyes boring into him all over again.His movement made Mephisto pause and glance back, something in his gaze taking Rin's attention for a moment before it left again and he could breathe."It has been two years since the subject disappeared," Eminescue said, "and all derivative elixirs are decreasing in effectiveness because Lucifer has developed resistance to them.""My brother's life is in danger, hm?" Mephisto said without any of the care Rin would have if it had been Yukio in Lucifer's place.They were going to strengthen the barrier around Lucifer's treatment room, though Rin wasn't exactly sure what that would do. Maybe he wasn't as strong as Satan, but when just his fits cracked the metal panels and floors around him, a seal wasn't going to do much besides slap a bandaid on things.Though, looking at Mephisto, Rin was pretty sure he knew that added barriers didn't mean much. Maybe it was to make the researchers feel better? Rin glanced at them and didn't think Mephisto cared much about their comfort or what it took to be around Lucifer all day.So why?Rin sucked in a sharp breath when he moved to the next scene and saw why.A younger Todo and his family–all of them with the same freckles and distinct white streak of hair from their foreheads–moved through Section Thirteen, called in to update the seals.He barely heard as they mocked Todo for asking questions about the assignment, though a part of Rin that would always exist bristled at the bullying, even for someone like Todo.But he definitely noticed as Todo began working on the section just down the hall from the door to Lucifer's, pausing and staring as if transfixed. It looked like Mephisto had known even then that Todo would be drawn to Lucifer's light. Rin shuddered and moved on.Neuhaus and…his wife? Rin watched as they sealed their fates, moving into Section Thirteen where they'd be living while Neuhaus worked as one of the researchers. His wife was pregnant. Would he think of his future kid when he saw the clones? Did his wife even know they were experimenting on kids like hers?Even Rin could feel all the pieces moving into place, though he wouldn't ever be able to guess at the larger picture of what Mephisto was conducting.It had to come to a head, though."This is a living hell," Shemihaza said as she stood over Lucifer.Rin agreed. Anyone would, seeing what had happened to Lucifer in the two years since Satan had vanished. Where before features had existed on his face, skin not completely rotted away, now…A corpse would have looked more alive than the thing Lucifer had become.Bone and tendon showed through the places where his skin had melted off in patches, entire sections gone. Rin thought that if he wanted to, he could peek between his ribs and see his heart where it beat. He wasn't sure how it still did."Coming," Lucifer rasped from a throat eaten through.The scene had ended, but Rin couldn't look away.His gaze narrowed on the embers of Lucifer's eyes, the green coming from a place that wasn't related to any organs, but a demonic light that wouldn't dim until Lucifer left his vessel behind.
Why hadn't he left it behind?
"Rin." The sound of his name and a grip like iron on his arm jerked Rin from his stupor. He winced, seeing an expression he couldn't place on Mephisto as he pulled him aside so he couldn't see Lucifer anymore.Mephisto's pupils had slivered in his eyes and his lips shivered for a minute. Rin thought he could see extended fangs."Sorry," he said, shaking his head and turning to leave, "I–sorry."He pulled free and left before he could try to understand why he'd seen what he would swear was possessiveness curling Mephisto's lips over his fangs.Light split the sky in the next scene as exorcists shouted in alarm below.Rin didn't breathe as Satan stormed past with a slew of demons, most of which were kinds he'd never even seen before.Around them, exorcists tried to run."You filth," Satan wheezed, "do something about my body!"It was falling apart. His hair had grown long–he'd even gotten a beard–but blood seeped from his eyes from broken veins and Rin could smell the rot clinging to him beneath the torn black cloak he'd covered his naked body with.The demons mowed down the fleeing exorcists, Satan telling them not to pay them any mind as Rin followed them to their destination. Screams trailed them, silenced in the wave while their echoes rang in Rin's ears.A hobgoblin tore down a girl who barely reached Rin's hips and he stretched out to grab her from the jaws only to wince and pull back.He could flare up in a billow of flames and kill every one of the attacking demons in the vicinity, but it wouldn't do anything because these people had already died years ago. Not unless he somehow learned how to interact in the time stream like Mephisto, and Rin didn't trust himself not to mess it up if he did.Wheezing breaths sounded loud over the cries of the humans and demons. They came from Satan as he made his way to the labs.Rin slipped out a side door, leaving Satan to his stumbling path.In Lucifer's room, the sounds of the rampage vibrated through the walls, but Lucifer knew the source. His voice cut through Rin's ears, sending them pinning back."It's Satan," Lucifer began. He spoke to himself, eyes a steady glow on the doors to the lab where Rin stood and fought not to tremble beneath his hood.Chaos erupted at his words. Shemihaza and her weird entourage panicking.Their panic barely made it to him as they rushed to take Shemihaza from the room despite her protests that she needed to stay by Lucifer's side. Only Jeremiah remained, apparently happy to give up his life for Lucifer and that same empty smile on his face as he was left alone amongst demons."Indeed, you have returned," Lucifer said with a rasping voice that pulled Rin in. He hadn't blinked, lost in the glowing gaze.It flickered and Rin snapped from his paralysis, leaving the room back to where Satan cornered a nervous Eminescu. His hand had trembled on the key in his hand and, when Rin glanced up, he could see the way Mephisto watched the tremors before he could get them under control.He'd been silent, standing at Rin's back until just then, but now that he'd captured Rin's attention, he seemed to loom, a shadow like the one he'd defended Rin against Lucifer with when he'd first appeared to declare war. Unlike then, Mephisto's shadow enveloped Rin like a shroud that wanted to smother him in the dark.It wasn't the Mephisto who laughed and poked at Rin, teasing him with a playfulness that made him seem almost harmless, despite the claws and fangs that could cut just as easily as his words. It also wasn't the Mephisto who played the detached observer to Rin's life, the director who viewed Rin as a duty and a piece on the board.The Mephisto looking at Rin now–drowning out the scene entirely–was closer to Samael."I demand a new body immediately!"Satan's snarl shattered the stare-down Rin had unknowingly entered with Mephisto and he sucked in a sharp breath through his teeth, tasting ozone on his tongue.What was that?Eminescue stuttered something about the body and Satan having acclimated to each other, that there wasn't another like it. When it made Satan lurch closer dangerously, he mentioned the elixir."Then do it! Prepare the elixir!"More gagging coughs ravaged Satan's throat."So much pain…" his voice rattled through him as Eminescue scrambled to comply.A wild light flashed with the flames of his irises and Satan howled."Where is Yuri? Bring her to me!"Everything whirled around Rin. He couldn't imagine what Satan was thinking, not when he had rejected Yuri before.She already seemed to know, staring up at the demons in the farm that scattered and tried to force themselves free as if attempting to escape somewhere despite any efforts to calm them from their panic.An exorcist told her she was needed at Section Thirteen and Rin knew she had to be aware of what waited for her, then.Still, what could she do? Rin knew she'd been holding her breath the entire time for the other shoe to drop, an unbearable pressure weighing on her while she waited.Rin couldn't keep watching the expression on Yuri's face and returned to where Satan appraised his newly healed body after being given the elixir.Over his shoulder, Eminescue hesitated before speaking. "I must say, you'll develop a resistance with repeated use and they'll stop working."Somehow, Rin didn't think Satan cared much about that. The future wasn't his concern, or at least he didn't seem to have any kind of goal Rin could understand. But it had been a few years and anything could have happened in the time he'd had to himself away from Yuri."Oh," Satan said, bringing Rin back from his thoughts. "Like with him."A shiver went through Rin as Satan continued. He knew what he would see next then."He's the master of this place, right?"Shock entered Eminescue's expression as Satan ordered him and the other researchers trapped in the room to lead the way to the last place Rin wanted to be.It was all for Lucifer.The memory of Mephisto's words went through Rin as if from far away while he forced a shaking hand to use the key to go to the next scene. It was better to rip the bandaid off than deal with the long walk through Section Thirteen. He'd already witnessed so much. His initial determination to see it all wavered with every new scene.Rin wanted to run. He wanted to stick his head back in the sand. To go to a place where Mephisto complained about Amaimon getting his claws into things he shouldn't and Amaimon played at ignorance in that way Rin knew he knew exactly what he was doing to goad Mephisto.He wanted to tear through the distance between the past and present and rip Yukio away from Lucifer before he'd even had the chance to scent him out.When he entered the room it was to see the horde of demons brought by Satan and the humans too deep in Section Thirteen to run, now forced to follow.Rin didn't think they expected safety from Lucifer, but the alternatives were to die in the hallways like everyone else.At his side, Mephisto smiled, though no one seemed to pay him any attention, as if he wasn't there at all. He could have been a shadow for all the substance he held, except that his presence burned in Rin's mind, the claim the only thing giving Rin a semblance of stability.Another should have been at his opposite side The foundation of the claim had become something Rin relied on without realizing until he'd lost it. But, in Amaimon's absence, the dark shroud enveloping Rin like a cloak from Mephisto had to be enough. He stepped closer to Mephisto just to feel the brush of his suit, the heat of his body, and let it be enough."Hello," Satan said, sneering at the figure of Lucifer on the bed. "I've been aware of your existence this entire time.""Your power is second only to mine." His eyes narrowed. "Who are you?"Unwittingly, Rin let his gaze center on Lucifer. His desiccated, miserable form was as terrible as before.Surrounding Lucifer were three others that prickled along his senses, though they were eclipsed by Lucifer's light. Rin had to fight to see the way the woman flickered beneath it, her aspect almost like the physical flames coming from her crown above a third eye. He had to avert his gaze quickly because she dressed in ways that only pretended at decency, worse than Shura, who Rin had grown desensitized to after repeated exposure. Gauzy fabric nestled over her chest and a thin strip settled between her crossed thighs where she leaned to the side of Lucifer's cot.Where was her tail? Was it the long, thick black braid with a flame at the end? Rin couldn't fight the burning in his cheeks and hurriedly moved on.A small figure behind her had an actual octopus for a head and a little sailor suit on his child's body. Rin tried not to let it phase him–it wouldn't be the weirdest thing he'd ever seen. The presence coming from him was like a shadow running over itself in a dark river, as if Rin would get pulled under the surface if he let himself slip.And the last…His lips curled over a fang when Rin focused on the sight of a demon with a moldering paper bag covering his head where fungi bloomed from the tears that looked like an expression of abject misery.The scent of rot and mildew made his nose wrinkle, though not because he hadn't smelled worse. Something about it was familiar and made the flames in his core pulse with a fury he couldn't understand the source of."You rage at the most curious things," Mephisto murmured next to him, startling Rin.Had he been paying attention to Rin that closely?But, before Rin could say anything, Lucifer spoke."I am foremost of the Ba'al," Lucifer rasped from a ruined throat. The black pits in his skull trained on Satan. "I am Lucifer, the king of light.""And," green lights flared from his eyes, a mouth with lips rotted away moved over brittle fangs, "I bow before you. I am at your service, my lord and father, Satan."Breath stuck in Rin's chest."But as you can see, I am unable to move and of little use."It was weird, the way Lucifer spoke. Rin couldn't put his finger on it, something about the insanity he'd seen in him and the way he watched Satan raising the hairs on his skin.It wasn't something Rin could place and Satan couldn't see it, too caught up in his new body, he guessed."Please take these others as your attendants," Lucifer said, "they are siblings, and will gladly serve their father."The way he said that, it felt like Lucifer played directly into the bratty determination Satan had to be king of the universe, a demon god. Even in their first meeting, Lucifer had clocked Satan and stroked the newly formed ego.Rin wasn't any good at subtlety or mind games, but he always knew when someone was trying to lie to him, could taste it in the air, and it made him angry in ways he'd struggled to deal with his entire life.Countless times Shiro had tried to calm him down, reminding him that lying wasn't a good reason to lash out at people. Sometimes people told white lies because the truth was too painful or because it was polite or any number of reasons.He realized then, listening to Lucifer, that Mephisto hadn't lied to him yet.Laughter burst from Satan and he stabbed a claw at Lucifer. "Excellent! That really cracks me up!""I like you, Lucifer."Rin realized a second thing. That Satan didn't know or didn't care or didn't have the experience to see Lucifer's lies. Possibly, he wasn't aware of anyone's."Now listen!" Satan said, addressing everyone in the room. "This research facility is now my castle. I am your king and you are subjects of my realm!"Again with the evil overlord thing. Rin almost wanted to go back and see if he could give Satan different books. Had Mephisto really tried that route yet?Scattered words erupted from the humans, fear in them as they tried to understand what Satan meant, what he wanted from them.Only Eminescue managed to raise his voice amongst the rest. "What do you want from us?"A smile curled over Satan's face as he glanced back at Eminescue. "Continue your research for me and Lucifer."Instead of fear, something like relief washed over Eminescue that had Rin frowning. Everyone else was terrified. He could see Neuhaus and his wife in the crowd, other researchers and exorcists shivering, the fear scent almost cloying to Rin's senses. He wanted to chase it away to eliminate the itching in his nose.Everyone except for Eminescue."My rules are simple," Satan said, "obey me and I will protect you."At that point, Rin could probably have said verbatim what Satan's next words would be. "But if you resist I'll kill you all."He went to leave the scene and Mephisto tailed him, his expression set in that neutral smile that didn't really tell Rin what he was thinking.The fear of the humans in the room had been real and their uncertainty and terror at the fragile situation palpable. Still…"He's really," Rin paused at the door, key outheld, "predictable."Soft laughter fell from Mephisto. His grin turned wry as he tilted his head as if to consider Rin before bowing forward to take his mouth in an unhurried kiss."Your poor father," Mephisto said against his lips. "He may surprise you yet.""Ok," Rin said, accepting that there were probably a ton of things that could happen he could never predict if he had a thousand years to experience them like Mephisto.Still, "Could you not talk about him while you're doing that?" Rin grumbled, tugging at Mephisto's bangs and scowling at the unrepentant grin he got for his troubles.His claws curled to run over the hair caught in his grasp as Rin felt some of the shifting emotions writhing in his chest. He traced the claw of his thumb just beneath Mephisto's eye, watching the slit pupils tracking the movement where one slip would draw blood.A memory of rot and sourceless rage rose above the rest of the emotions in Rin and he tugged to bring Mephisto down again. Their fangs clacked together until he allowed his to extend and sliced into the lips that had just been caressing him.Immediately, the swirling thoughts quieted and Rin growled against Mephisto, accepting the harsh nips at his own lips that made it easier to breathe despite stealing his breath."Here too?" Mephisto said in a rumble, teasing Rin. "Amongst all these terrified humans, your father, Lu-"He cut himself off, and Rin didn't let him continue, a snarl bubbled under his tongue he wound to Mephisto's and pulled him back in against the door."Yeah," Rin finished, growl still on his tongue as he pulled away. "Here too."His thumb dragged over Mephisto's bottom lip, Rin taking the results of his actions with him and leaving, feeling the heavy gleam of eyes following him from the scene.The fangs in his mouth refused to recede into something more human."Most of the children and staff fled, but Section Thirteen is too deep, so those still there remain trapped."Rin had entered into another meeting between The Order heads and the Japan branch."The workers and test subjects are Satan's hostages. He's demanding food, living necessities, and research materials."He stood behind Mephisto, hidden beneath his hood as only the Grigori representatives holding their screens and the exorcist reporting the situation to them and Mephisto were present.It gave Rin a chance to stare at the silk scarf once again around Mephisto's throat. His gaze went there almost without his say, a part of him itching to steal it away. If he took it right under the noses of everyone in the room, Mephisto would have no choice but to ignore it. He had a role to play in the past, but Rin would only cause confusion if people interacted with him, their minds forgetting him almost immediately after. They couldn't even see him with his uniform on in the first place.His claws twitched, extended on his fingers."We're getting inquiries about the barrier breach from all over the country and around the world," Mephisto said, gaze forward. Rin knew his attention was on him, though.If he shifted, he'd get a sweep of that gaze, like Mephisto watched for what he'd do."We can't hide this any longer," Mephisto said as his eyes flicked towards Rin when he'd moved closer in a slow, careful motion.It looked like he wanted to frown, a slight, bemused crease of his brows breaking the otherwise neutral expression.Rin smiled beneath his hood and took a final deliberate step into Mephisto's space before, in a deft movement, he stole the scarf from the now bared throat."See you later," Rin mouthed the words, letting his smile extend and inhaling into the silk still warmed by body heat as green flared until it ate the slivered pupils in the irises watching him turn away."Conceal the situation in Section Thirteen and make a statement regarding the rest." Shemihaza's orders forced Mephisto back into his role and left Rin free to make his exit, scarf swinging in casual flicks of his fingers at his side.No one made any comments about the missing piece of Mephisto's outfit, apparently none the wiser. It looked like Rin had been right.A soft rumble reached his ears too low for humans to hear, cut off by the door he shut behind him.Tents rose up in the area surrounding Rin he'd entered into, an exorcist encampment where they gathered in preparation for battle. It overlooked the entrance to the academy, still strewn with rubble from Satan's invasion.Around him, confusion and gossip traveled mouth to mouth."Satan actually exists?""Sir Pheles confirmed it himself."Rin stared at the two exorcists, wondering at the fact that apparently they had enough faith in Mephisto to believe him when he said the devil walked amongst them. His fingers twisted to the scarf between them before he forced them loose again."I still can't believe it–hey, look!" The exclamation brought Rin to see the old woman and the big guy with the fancy braid from the scene with the golem had arrived, drawing the attention of the surrounding exorcists."There's Lucy Yang, from the China branch. And Osceola Redarm, from the Mexico branch is here!" More names. Rin told himself he'd remember them. Soon. Third time's the charm, or something like that!Even Shiro had arrived, not garnering as appreciative of looks as the others, but that was probably because his grouchy attitude could be seen in the way he slouched and scowled at everything.Their attention soon shifted to the paladin when he arrived and Rin was once again convinced that there was something familiar about the dark features and shaped beard."The Order's mobilizing its heavy hitters!"They were, though Rin didn't think anyone really understood what they were about to face.His breath caught when a shadow eclipsed him, stalling his thoughts when Mephisto leaned to speak over his shoulder."I'll be taking that helicopter ahead. Will you join me in meeting your father?" A hand pressed to the elbow of the arm Rin carried the scarf in, though Mephisto didn't try to steal it back.He blinked, lips parted on an inhale through extended fangs. Rin moved forward without responding, letting that be answer enough.Mephisto hummed and followed along while Rin tried not to feel like he was being hunted. The part of him that had called for Rin to take the scarf from Mephisto's throat while he couldn't do a thing about it said they were. That they wanted to be.That part had grown loud in their time in the past.Vibrations covered the slow thud of Rin's heart, gaze locked on Mephisto where he sat across from him as they took off. He hadn't bothered strapping in, and neither had Mephisto. Their legs pressed together in the tight space, Rin's hand around the scarf brushing against the knee of the cream-colored suit Mephisto wore.He wasn't giving it back yet."Come, Rin," Mephisto called over the buffeting wind and drawing him from the space he'd been in. "Let's make a grand entrance."At the wide, toothy grin from Mephisto, Rin couldn't help the same one forming on his own face.They stepped from the helicopter and dropped several stories where they had hovered over the place Satan already waited below.His cheeks stung with the wind and his own hair whipped at him during his free fall, the tight feeling in his chest loosening as adrenaline poured through him at the sheer height he fell from.Rin caught sight of Mephisto's grin and laughed, the sound eaten by the wind.He landed, grin not abating as cracks formed beneath his feet and Mephisto shot him a narrow-eyed stare at the destruction. His own landing had been dramatic, cape flared and knees bent, hands out, the picture of a gymnast sticking a perfect landing and only the displaced air to show he'd stopped his descent.Well, it wasn't like the grounds hadn't already been pulverized in Satan's invasion, what were a few more additions?"So you're their messenger, huh?" Satan said with a laugh. "They sent a real weirdo. You're a demon but you side with the humans."A weirdo? Well, Rin wasn't sure what qualified as weird to Satan, but the more he knew about Mephisto, the more he could say that at least part of that was accurate. Though it wasn't just his clown fashion or the nerdy hobbies he'd picked up in Assiah. Rin might not have met a ton of demons yet, but they all seemed to agree, Mephisto wasn't like them. He didn't do things the same as pretty much every other demon. His goals didn't make sense.Behind Satan, the other kings stood, and they would probably agree with Satan's analysis of Mephisto, even if the way he said it was childish. Actually it was probably something Rin had said before, saying something about his maturity levels, he was sure. His inner voice was starting to sound a lot like Yukio."You seem powerful," Satan said, brushing over his own bratty comment. "Wanna join me?"Somehow, Rin would guess not.The smile on Mephisto's face returned to the mask of politeness that Rin was pretty sure was as fake as his deference as he bowed in a flourish."I appreciate the invitation, but I am dedicated to the contrary, so I must decline."Rin's lips twitched in a smile at the unnecessary–though Mephisto would probably disagree–fancy words where a simple "no thanks" would have done the trick."No matter," Satan said, unconcerned. "But what about the supplies? I don't see any.""We will exchange the supplies for the children you're holding hostage," Mephisto demurred, rising from his bow with his hands outspread as if in consolation. "I'm sure you understand."The pupils in Satan's eyes slivered, narrowing on Mephisto as he registered what he'd said.A beat passed faster than Rin could follow and power welled like a blade, blue fire cutting a line up towards the helicopter.Fire and a percussive blast rushed past Rin's ears, his skin heating even at the bottom of the courtyard from the flames Satan had used.His hair blew in the billowing smoke while Satan laughed at the destruction. "You forget your place, fool!"Rin didn't feel any of it.In front of him, blood dripped steadily to the ground, flecking the suit every time the wind sent it in another direction. It curved down Mephisto's cheek, the parts of his skin not bleeding still releasing trails of smoke where it had been charred to ruin. Mephisto's tongue slipped upward to trace away some of the blood from his healing wound.Rin let out an exhale that threatened cinders.He breathed in and tasted destruction on his tongue.'Look at me.'The smoke obscured Mephisto's gaze from Rin, but he knew he hadn't stopped watching Satan, despite Satan having turned from him with a careless demand to return with the supplies or he'd just kill the hostages. With him, the other kings left, barely sparing a glance back before they vanished back into Section Thirteen.'Mephisto.'Green flashed his way from the remaining eye on Mephisto's face, the other still carved from his skull by Satan's butchering. With him fully turned towards Rin, he could see it went from one side to the other, the ozone fire of Satan's attack still staining him with its scent, though it didn't cover the copper tang of blood."Ri-" Rin moved before Mephisto could finish, a low snarl rippling through him as he took Mephisto to the ground and huffed for breath. For a scent.He could smell Satan's power on Mephisto, coating him where Rin's should be.Cursing came from Mephisto but Rin didn't care as he inhaled into his throat, heedless of the blood heating his skin. He got a hand into Mephisto's hair and pulled his head to each side, a scowl twisting his features into inhuman exaggeration the longer the foreign power refused to leave despite the healing wound."Do not use your flames, Rin," Mephisto managed to gasp out, rough as he fought through the hold on him and earning a twist of Rin's hands in his hair, claws digging through the strands to gouge at his scalp and sending an instinctive twin growl from Mephisto in response."I'll kill him," Rin stated as if from far away, except that he felt viscerally up close to the blood Satan had drawn down Mephisto's face."What–" Mephisto grunted as Rin bore down on him, flames just beneath the skin and holding him more than Rin could accomplish on the physical plane alone. "What happened to 'kicking Satan's ass?'"Rin shook his head in a harsh jerk, a faint memory coming back to his first meeting with Mephisto where he'd made his promise. "He can't touch you."A low growl followed his words, Rin's gaze darting to the deep impression of the wound still open on Mephisto. His tongue followed, tracing the outer edges of the ruin and earning him a stiffening of Mephisto's body."Mng, Rin," came the slightly breathless exhale of his name. "This is the past, remember? You can't ch-ah-change things. This has already happened!"Heat hissed from his throat over Mephisto's cheek where he breathed in shuddering pants, fighting to keep from loosing the flame in his core where it churned molten fury.In his fist, the silk scarf he'd stolen twisted until the threads threatened to rip, the fabric further sullied by the dust and grit he'd pressed it into beside Mephisto's head. The tangles of his purple hair matted with blood, though it had begun to dry into a sticky mess that darkened the strands.He rumbled a growl of irritation, then ducked to lave his tongue in broad sweeps to clear the blood before it dried, ignoring the huff of breath from Mephisto to curl over his brows, the bridge of his nose, the dip of his lips, chasing his taste until Rin could cover the foreign scent of Gehenna flame that had gouged a path over it."Mine," he said to the lips that parted for him to steal his way inside, grinding down at the same time.Only when he had the foreign scent–foreign power–off of Mephisto could he tolerate the sight of Satan again.His hips continued their rough grind to Mephisto until his clothes grew uncomfortably tight. The fabric of his uniform spread around them to cover Mephisto from whoever might be looking, having fallen there with his tackle. Rin's hood shadowed Mephisto from above, their faces lit by the blue glow of flame in Rin's eyes.Good. All he could see was Rin.The rest of the world–the Order, the exorcists, Satan–didn't matter. Not when he had Mephisto's full attention."If he touches you again I'll-" Rin cut himself off, panting into the crux of Mephisto's shoulder as his grip clenched in a spasm, imagining Mephisto swept up in blue flames that didn't belong to him, imagined his claim buried under a tidal wave of blue he couldn't stop."You'll what, Rin?" Mephisto said in a heavy voice against his ear. He could feel fangs there and a hint of lips curved in a smile.Rin groaned against the throat in his view, eyes screwed shut when Mephisto arched against him to press them flush together as if Rin hadn't already been doing his best to meld them into one being.As if to taunt him further, his position put him closer to the scent of foreign flame on Mephisto and Rin hissed, mind working furiously to think of a way to cover it that didn't involve him searing the top layer of skin and Mephisto's sullied clothes away.He let his fangs clasp to the artery in Mephisto's neck and the answer came to him, sending Rin pulling away despite the claws trying to keep him in place.Before Mephisto could do anything more past his noise of complaint, Rin shredded his uniform, not caring about the useless buttons and zippers in his way, to expose his skin. A second pass sent shudders down his frame, breaths heaving from his chest as Rin panted at the sting of his own claws raking down his torso.Blood followed the ragged tears, spilling down his front and sending Rin groaning as he fell back over Mephisto to bite at his lips.Already, he could feel himself healing, but the growing red stained Mephisto's suit until the cream color was swallowed by it and a rumble of approval went through Rin. He nearly couldn't pick up the scent anymore."If he touches you again," Rin said, lips tracing at the tapered point of Mephisto's ear, picking up his earlier statement, thoughts swimming in a pool of instinct except for that one, clear thing he couldn't let go. "I'll make him wish he'd never formed an ego and left Gehenna in the first place."A gasp echoed his words before Mephisto managed to respond, heat filling his eyes as they dilated until only a ring of color glowed at the edges."Go ahead, Rin. Stake your claim," came the breathy moan from Mephisto, his claws dragging over his shoulders and down to his hips where he gripped until the force of it bruised.Pleasure swelled up with the pain and Rin jerked forward in his place between Mephisto's thighs, mind a haze of 'he's mine, he's mine, he's mine.' His blood rushed in his ears, under his tongue where he dragged it over the thudding pulse in the artery he mouthed at until the skin reddened and bruised under his onslaught.Mephisto's body welcomed him in each pulse of their claim and Rin chased the heat coiling in his gut, clothes damp with his blood and the pre-cum beginning to make a growing patch."Good, Rin, Good-hah!" The words streaming from Mephisto halted in a keen as Rin sank his fangs in deep, hearing the choked gasp as he moaned into the welling blood from the throat in his hold.The claws at his hips pulled him in a long grind and Mephisto came, moaning, his voice stuttered by Rin's refusal to release his throat so that he felt the vibrations through his teeth.Around them, the claim welled, following the heat tightening in Rin until the climax broke through him and he joined Mephisto.He didn't stop rolling his hips, every wave of pleasure making him heavier until he sank into Mephisto and heaved a shuddering breath before stilling. His weight settled on Mephisto, the hot blood Rin had shed sticking to his skin where he'd collapsed and shivered intermittently.Where his bared skin pressed, the now ruined suit had rubbed raw, though it healed the longer Rin lay there. He idly wondered if he would heal with bits of Mephisto in him, their blood mingled as much as the rest of their bodies.In the steady silence, rational thought began to trickle back to Rin. Enough to know his previous mental state had been less than rational in the first place.Rin shifted, fangs returning to normal and not the bestial wedges he'd used to keep Mephisto in place while he scent marked him–like some kind of animal–as he drew back with a long breath to see what state Mephisto was in.It was to see Mephisto with a wry smile fighting at the corners of his mouth, almost hidden by the mock affront he wore. He'd propped himself up on his elbows as much as Rin sitting on him would allow, the front of his body bloodstained"I'm–" The word stuck in his throat, Rin licking at his lips and realizing he couldn't say he was sorry. He wasn't, despite the part of him that screamed at their very public display of affection. The other part was louder. The one that said he would pull Mephisto right back down if he even detected a hint of Satan's scent anywhere left on his body.Claws pressed at his cheeks, dimpling the skin as Mephisto directed his attention back. "You seem bound and determined to strip me of every decency I have."A snort left Rin and he prodded Mephisto in return. "I don't think you ever had any. No one's buying the gentleman thing, you know."Mephisto's wry grin finally cracked through his facade and he let his thumb trail over the drying blood where it had made sluicing paths down Rin's stomach. The touch sent his muscles quivering and a throb of heat he quickly stifled before he wound up pressing Mephisto down again."Brat of an imp," Mephisto said with a fond quirk of his lips before dropping his hand to drag it through his matted hair. "Well? Are you satisfied with yourself?""Yeah," Rin mumbled, pouting as he rose and had to resist the urge to let his flames out because the feeling of his clothes sticking to his skin had just made itself known."Clean me up?" he said as he pulled Mephisto to his feet and smiled when he straightened himself out as if it would help the picture he made.Narrowed eyes flashed at him as Mephisto responded through a toothy grin. "I should make you go through the next few bits like this. You'll think twice before debauching me without divesting us of our clothes first, hm?""Hah!" Rin tossed his head back and stalked into Mephisto's space to grip at the drenched suit lapels, dragging him closer. His nose pressed to the skin he'd just cleaned with his tongue and Rin inhaled, satisfied to find only himself on Mephisto."I'll just find you in the next one and do it all over again," he purred. "Then we'll both be like this."Snapping came and Rin found himself gripping a newly restored suit, his own repaired and back in place.Mephisto's eyes gleamed as he settled his gloved hands to Rin's and ducked closer."Go along, Rin," he said, gaze hooded. "On to the next scene before my lovely exorcists arrive to see you groping me so shamelessly.He released his hold on Rin and stepped away with a wave."See ya." Rin gave a sloppy salute as he left, a grin on his lips as he pulled the silk scarf still in his hand to his nose.The door he'd gone through closed on him, and it was only then that Rin registered that his chest swam with a feeling he couldn't place. Like he teetered between extremes, unsettled.Rin frowned and clung tighter to the scarf in his hand.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
Heat filled Amaimon's vessel in ways he had grown dangerously comfortable with. An intoxicating scent of banked flames told him he was safe, something his waking mind shied away from. He knew it wasn't a permanent reality, the cocoon he existed in. It was something that could be ripped away at any moment at another's whims.It was something that would, inevitably, leave. Willing or not.Still, when the source of the heat pulled away, his instincts had him reaching out as if to bring it back towards him with grasping claws, failing in the next moment and grumbling.A press of smiling lips came down on the side of his forehead, claws tracing to the strands of his hair that had gotten mussed in the night, and Amaimon's pulse fluttered at being handled like he was something delicate. Precious.His brows scrunched and he curled further into the blankets, roused but not willing to leave just yet. Although, the scent of food nearly changed his mind. It would have normally, except that now that he was awake, he remembered why he didn't want to get up.The murmur of voices drifted through the room soon after. Amaimon twitched in an abortive move, unable to stop from picking up the conversation and hearing where it paused."I think it's time…"He curled tighter beneath the covers at Rin's voice."I think it's time I asked you about how Yukio and I were born, about Satan, and my mother. And about Father Fujimoto."Amaimon's ears pinned back to his scalp."Oh, Rin, you have no idea how long I've waited for you to say that to me." Mephisto's voice purred out sending Amaimon's shoulders hunching and his body tensing until he nearly vibrated with how tightly he was wound.White noise built in his head as every new word faded in and out. Amaimon's vessel weighed to the bed under an invisible force. It was himself. His own powers paralyzed him better than any shackles.When the void of Samael's powers opened a door, Amaimon forgot to breathe. He didn't exhale until it closed and then all he could hear was a ticking clock from its place in the now-empty room.Well, empty of Rin.He rose in silence, blankets falling around his form and his gaze going to the doors Rin had just left through. Traces of void faded around the keyhole, but Amaimon already moved his attention to Mephisto, finding him idly finishing off what smelled like coffee from the delicate cup in his hands."How is he?" Amaimon said instead of the million other things clawing black ichor from his gut."Some things he handles, others…" Mephisto trailed off, setting the cup down to collect some of the crumbs left over on the plate. "Well, by the end of this, we'll know whether he really does carry the heart of Satan, or doesn't."That was stupid. Amaimon snorted. Rin? Carry Father's heart? The being that Rin was could never be Satan. Even if he had the flames, they were his own, not a pale offshoot of the larger bonfire they had all split from.But Mephisto wouldn't see him like that, and the way he spent his time in denial had long ceased to matter to Amaimon. He wouldn't ever admit to it, either, not when he had his endlessly tiring games to play. Games he kept trying to corner Amaimon with at every turn.Even Rin was a part of that, tied into Mephisto's schemes as much as they all were.Shifting from Mephisto took Amaimon out of his head, freezing when he saw the gleam in green eyes, an acid hue glowing around the slivered pupils that warned him what was coming.His tail lashed beneath the covers as Mephisto smiled, though it didn't show fangs, the points carefully concealed.Ah, that game."You should have woken sooner to see him off," Mephisto said, a light purr from his chest pricking Amaimon's attention.The recent memory of fire-warmed fingers in his hair and a kiss to his forehead flashed across his mind."He looks very good in my uniform," Mephisto hummed as he toyed with the cup in his hand. "Although it is a tragedy to have to hide that beautiful heart of his away so soon."It was, Amaimon acknowledged. His lips twitched in a frown, knowing it had to be done but wishing he'd had more time to stare into the flames where they emanated from the demonic heart at Rin's chest.He could have taken seasons to watch the flickering blue fire.That was beside the point. Amaimon rolled his eyes and settled back to the pillows with a sniff."He looks better naked."Naked, and not dressed up like Mephisto's toys. Preferably with his heart back out and the rest of his demonic features, too, if Amaimon had any say in it."Well," Mephisto's laugh rolled through him, head tilting under Amaimon's watchful gaze. "He certainly can't walk around like that."No, he couldn't. Much as Amaimon would enjoy it, others would too, and Rin–unless he was in that other form of his, the one that had hunted Amaimon down and seared him for sport–wasn't to the point where his human habits had left him yet."Do you know?" Mephisto said from much closer, having moved from his seat while Amaimon's attention had been turned inwards. "He's already threatened to mark up my poor desk again."Amaimon's tail slowed its movements, body deceptively lax as Mephisto approached."Such a possessive little creature, our Rin is," came the murmur as Mephisto bowed to Amaimon, his breath tickling over the point of his ear. When it flicked at the sensation, he felt the smile curving Mephisto's lips.His next breath shuddered from his nose as Amaimon stared at Mephisto from his peripherals, body completely still besides the end of his tail flicking beneath the sheets. His hands had gone lax over the duvet, claws curled into the fabric as he waited."I had to hold him in place while I satisfied his appetite. He's been quite-" Mephisto paused with a hum that sent the hairs on Amaimon's skin rising- "voracious."He could picture it, Rin with his new, unfettered appearance striding into Mephisto's office with that guileless smile on his face that had fooled Amaimon enough times he couldn't even get irritated at himself anymore. He would have let Mephisto think he was listening intently, played at being the naive creature he had been at the start.And then struck."Ah," Amaimon gasped as claws tugged his head back at a harsh angle for the fangs Mephisto had let lengthen in his mouth to access his throat."He's developed such a devious mind, you'd hardly recognize him, now," Mephisto said between scrapes of his fangs over Amaimon's skin, raising red lines that beaded and dripped down the column of his throat where it bobbed with his swallow.A huff of breath left Amaimon, accepting the caress of Mephisto's claws along his spine and over his collarbones, more trails of blood following along with an appraising gaze before Mephisto let his tongue loll from his mouth to sweep them away.Fangs found his collar next and Amaimon jolted at the sharp pleasure, bringing his own claws to catch Mephisto and keep him there in case he decided to tease.Mephisto settled himself over Amaimon, bracketing his hips that were still trapped beneath the covers until Amaimon snapped and removed them in irritation. He rolled his hips against the still-clothed ones over him and scowled at the layers of Mephisto's robe he'd put back on after the night before."I showed him his father's first time," Mephisto continued to talk, ignoring Amaimon's irritated tugs at his robe to press him back and nip bright red spots into his chest. "And do you know what he did?""Set you on fire for your games," Amaimon growled as he arched for more contact Mephisto kept just shy of what he really wanted."Mmm," Mephisto moaned instead, neck rolling as if contemplating Rin setting him on fire, something Amaimon could fully understand. "That would have been a just reward for giving him such good insight into his father. But no."The lips Mephisto had been mouthing over Amaimon's chest dragged upwards until he reached his ear and rumbled a deep purr from his chest."He fucked me against the wall right on the balcony as if he wouldn't have cared who happened by." Green eyes gleamed, and a dark growl echoed on Mephisto's tongue. "His own father could have walked out and he would have continued to tear screams from my lungs like it was his only purpose."A moan left Amaimon, voice roughened by the thought of Rin taking Mephisto without an ounce of the human shame he might have any other time. Something had clearly happened to strip him of his inhibitions, and Mephisto had likely encouraged him the entire way to his breakdown.His hips thrust up to Mephisto's, already hard and fighting for friction that wouldn't come as Amaimon's frustration built with every new taunt.He bit at Mephisto's throat in retaliation, getting a breathless chuckle for his impatience he growled at.Despite the hardened length he could feel where he ground his own, Mephisto refused to move things along, content to toy with Amaimon as always.The pad of a thumb brushed over his nipple, the tapered end to Mephisto's tongue finding the other. His claw pricked at the sensitive skin above it as he rolled his thumb in a slow circle that only exacerbated the heat washing through his body.When fangs gently clasped over the now reddened point, Amaimon glared, getting a smile for his efforts and lips gently closing as Mephisto sucked without mercy until it began to grow over-sensitized and stung with the glance of fangs. The other wasn't any better, Mephisto having let his claw slip to draw a line of blood that welled and dripped over his thumb until he spread it to the hardening nub."Mephisto," Amaimon hissed as he let his tail snap against the thigh bracketing him, earning a twist of the nub he'd been idly circling and making Amaimon's hiss deepen. He writhed at the touch, toes curling as Mephisto switched to give the other side of his chest his attention, lapping the blood he'd drawn only to break skin on a deep bite that had Amaimon yowling.Amaimon dug his hands into Mephisto's hair and squeezed until strands threatened to pull from his scalp, bucking beneath him under the assault.It only earned him a laugh and Mephisto forcing him back down in a press of his hands to his hips."So desperate, are we?" He pressed a chaste kiss to the abused bud he'd finally released, his hot, wet breath sending a shudder through Amaimon even as he began to heal the surface damage."One would think after having this body of yours for so many years you'd have grown a thicker skin," came the mocking words.After so long, Amaimon knew when Mephisto was fishing for something. A hint of a barb under the surface of his words made him tense in a glower, fighting not to pant as he tugged the hair still in his grasp as retribution.A light dart of Mephisto's tongue drew up over his chest between the dip of his ribcage as if searching. It idled over his heart, lips mouthing there until Mephisto began to suck bruises that darkened the surface of his skin before vanishing with his healing. Each time, Mephisto happily renewed them, ignoring the desperate squirming of Amaimon's hips under his weight.Saliva slicked his skin, joining the sweat beading there along with the blood Mephisto hadn't lapped up yet when he finally broke away to speak again."He saw you take your vessel." Mephisto grinned, sly and hinting, up at Amaimon. His hooded gaze sent Amaimon back in a huff, letting his tail twine like a noose around the leg he couldn't budge as much as he tried."Do you remember that day?" The words forced Amaimon's frustrated thoughts into focus, taking him from his attempts to convince Mephisto to stop teasing as he recalled the day he'd gained his perfect vessel.His heart stuttered, heat rising to his cheeks until he burned even as he froze under Mephisto's gaze.He'd never felt sensation like he had that day in any other vessel. His heartbeat picked up, pulse beginning to rush in his ears as he remembered the way Mephisto had approached, the hidden danger in his steps that sent his own instincts thrumming in warning.Amaimon had waited, frozen before the greater power that politely shooed everyone else from the room his host had been in before he'd taken it. He'd listened to the words that ran through his mind like water, only half paying attention to them as he responded with how his new vessel felt–how it no longer hurt to exist in it like all the others before.Then he'd been pounced on, shoulders held to Mephisto's chest as his head was forced back and his mouth claimed by vicious teeth. Each slice of fang to skin sent him crying out under the deluge of sensation to nerves that hadn't already begun to rot, the pain fresh no matter how often Mephisto nipped and bit.His demonic heart–still newly opened and out with the leaves spilling from the base–shivered at every glance of Mephisto's hand that nearly brushed it until he'd yanked Amaimon back with the fingers thrust in his mouth and latched his lips to the red meat of the fruit at the center.Electricity jolted through him at the memory, Amaimon stricken and panting. His eyes glazed over as he lost sight of the present, only pulled back by a satisfied purr rumbling from the chest hovering over him.Green eyes glowed from where Mephisto watched him now, and those fangs that had teased at him earlier had extended to wedges in a jackal's grin as he put Mephisto's hints together.Rin had been there. In the room. Watching them. Watching him.The thought dragged a low whine from his throat, hips jerking uncontrollably to imagine where Rin might have been, how much he'd witnessed.It was only fair. He had seen Rin's heart, had even brought his out before when he'd determined to prove that he was better than a nephilim, even one of Father's. This was different.How would Rin react now that he had more awareness of what a demonic heart meant? Now that he'd seen what could be done to them, would he let his out again? Would he do it for Amaimon?Saliva pooled in his mouth as he imagined Rin letting him get it on the blue-fire heart that could sear his tongue to ash if Rin willed it.A thready moan broke past his lips he'd let slacken, unable to care about the chuckle he heard from Mephisto when all he could think about was Rin. Rin and his warm hands and the power just under his skin and the way he would have looked as Mephisto drove Amaimon to the breaking point with each harsh drag of his lips over his heart.Before he could sink any further into his mind, a snap broke him from his daze and Amaimon gasped at the feeling of suddenly bare skin grinding over him, Mephisto finally getting rid of the clothes in the way to press their lengths together."One would think you enjoy the thought of being so vulnerable," Mephisto panted into his ear, pulling away from the clack of fangs where Amaimon tried to bite him for the suggestion.He shoved Amaimon back, ignoring his growl and hiking his legs up until he could grip them at the knees with one hand. The other he brought to Amaimon's entrance where he rubbed, again ignoring how Amaimon hissed and writhed as if he didn't know whether he was trying to escape or trying to get Mephisto to give him what he wanted.If Mephisto didn't hurry he would start getting violent."Patience, Amaimon," Mephisto said in a murmur, immediately draining Amaimon's. "We have time until our Rin returns to us and you can see for yourself what he's learned."Amaimon didn't have more than a breath to think about what Rin was learning in the past before Mephisto began preparing him in achingly slow movements. His grin meant he knew exactly how annoyed Amaimon was, though it didn't make his motions any quicker.The long fingers inside Amaimon crooked and sent him arching back, toes curling and face pressed to the pillow as he bit at his lip until it bled.Maybe the sight of his blood would encourage Mephisto. Immediately, Amaimon let his fangs extend into his skin, stifling the sounds every brush of the pads of Mephisto's fingers over the sensitive point inside him tried to pull free."Fighting for control now, hm?" Mephisto let another finger join the other two, increasing the speed as Amaimon's length leaked pre-cum onto his quivering stomach."You screamed so well for me then," he crooned over Amaimon's low whine that made it through his grit teeth. "A little songbird for our Rin."Amaimon couldn't stop the climax that tore through him, picturing how Rin would have looked, unable to touch, only to listen."Oh," Mephisto chirped, a moue of surprise on his face. He hadn't let up his thrusts into Amaimon."That was fast.""Ha-ah, hah." The panted breaths from Amaimon were all he could manage, a weak glare accompanying them from beneath his sweat-drenched bangs."Should I let Rin know you're so infatuated that you'll come from some light teasing?"He snarled, attempting to lunge upwards at Mephisto despite his legs still held in place.A retaliating shove and Amaimon's legs wound up pressed to his chest, hips raised so that Mephisto could withdraw his fingers and impale him in a sharp snap that punched the breath from his lungs.All coherence left him from there as Mephisto took up a brutal pace. The angle he fucked into made it difficult to breathe, Amaimon's upper body wedged against the pillows in a way that constricted his throat until he gagged for air.His tail lashed, having lost its grip on Mephisto's thigh only to find his tail and twine to it, harsh and punishing to match the thrusts inside him that wouldn't slow.Mephisto groaned against him with a guttural sound and let some of his demonic features slip free, ears now lengthened and appearance bestial while he ground into Amaimon.Oversensitivity had long strung through Amaimon. His nerves screaming for more as if that would help the onslaught he was under.Finally, just as black spots had begun clouding his vision, Mephisto shuddered above him and stilled, his release pulsing into Amaimon in hot waves. A stuttered breath puffed against his thigh where Mephisto let his head drop to nose at the skin there.A moment passed before the slick heat of Mephisto's tongue slid over his skin, fangs following to sink into Amaimon in a gentle clasp that sent more pleasure stringing along his ragged nerves."Hmm, good boy," Mephisto said in a contented hum through lips stained red by Amaimon's blood.He idly cleaned the traces he'd missed while Amaimon sent a tired glare his way for the mocking.Sucking one last bruise into the delicate skin at the side of his knee, Mephisto sat back and released Amaimon from his contorted position, satisfaction in his smile as he rose from the bed. A snap cleaned and clothed him, hiding the signs of rot that had begun to heal now that he no longer had to hold the gate closed.An ache spread through Amaimon in a throbbing wave while his body got used to the lack of strain on it. He flopped back to the bed with a huff and ignored the hair still plastered to his forehead and the drying fluids on his skin that would begin itching uncomfortably soon. Mephisto would no doubt complain if he left it long enough but if he had a problem then he could clean Amaimon himself."Are you going to lounge here the rest of the day then?" came the offhanded words."When will Rin be back?" Amaimon said instead of answering him, not that he saw Mephisto actually giving him anything concrete, but it made his unsaid determination obvious. He wouldn't be leaving until Rin came back."Tsk." Mephisto shook his head, dropping the book he'd pulled out from his position at the coffee table. "When he's ready."There it was. Amaimon grumbled to himself and turned to the side with a scowl.An appraising sweep of eyes scanned Amaimon before Mephisto's lips twitched down. "Why don't you go pester his friends? I'm sure they'll be happy to see you after the night they've had."Why would Mephisto bother Amaimon with that? Rin's humans had grown to tolerate his presence, but that didn't mean they would be comforted. He wasn't made for comfort, only destruction. His gaze narrowed on Mephisto, thinking back to where he'd left Rin's humans, a memory trail through the long night where he'd let Rin hunt him so he wouldn't kill the humans he'd grown connected to despite their mistrust.Then he remembered the forest grown from a small greenman and the issue he'd shoved down as far as he could put it, knowing what he did now.His breath stuck in his lungs and Amaimon ducked his head, shivering at the knowledge he couldn't escape now. Not without Rin as a distraction from it and Mephisto clearly trying to prod him in one direction.Amaimon raised his head and saw the arched brow from Mephisto.Anger began to seep through his chest in a wave of acid that melted into a pool of magma at his core.'He lied to me.'Not a direct lie, but one of omission, leaving just enough rope for Amaimon to hang himself with.Just like the way Mephisto treated the humans."Oh? Did you just remember something?" The smile on Mephisto's face had gone cutting, no longer teasing like it had been, or kind like the one he'd worn the night before for Rin. "That's an interesting look on your face, Amaimon. Is everything alright?"He jolted from the bed, sheets tearing where he didn't bother to keep his claws from the delicate fabric. He wanted to do more than that. He wanted to shred the entire bed, shake the manor apart until Mephisto–until Samael–knew just how furious he was.He wanted to rend the earth until the magma in his core flooded Assiah like he'd wanted to all those centuries ago, prevented by the one who held his chains. Kept him caged."You lied to me!" He shrieked the words out, loosing them from his throat as he wound his claws to the front of Mephisto's robes and shook.Lied to him like he was some human who could be treated like that.The smile only grew on Mephisto, fangs wedges in his mouth and eyes gleaming with cruelty."How did I lie to you, Amaimon? You'll have to be more clear."His rage crushed the breath from him, fingers gripping until holes tore in the robes and bone creaked."Who," his words shivered free, "who is that girl?"Delight shown in Mephisto's expression as he nodded. "Oh, you mean Shiemi Moriyama."Mephisto laughed like Amaimon had told a funny joke."Amaimon, now you're asking me that? I can't believe you didn't notice sooner."It wasn't funny. Not when he–Snarling again, Amaimon tugged away from Mephisto, tail lashing at his calves and power beneath his skin as he flung his hand towards the balcony doors Rin had left through just that morning and spat his accusation."You let me ally myself to Rin, knowing who she was, and then you left me to deal with the fallout of your manipulations against him! Hiding out on your balcony like a coward!"The humor left Mephisto in a flash, a chill rolling from his vessel that leeched the earlier warmth from Amaimon to leave him cold despite the fury that still simmered in his veins."You forget yourself, Amaimon," he said softly, silken words belying the danger he radiated without attempts to mitigate it."I've forgotten nothing!" Amaimon roared out. His features warped into something twisted and inhuman, rage mixing with the blood that drowned out the words running through his mind until they turned into so much white noise.Where was Mephisto when Rin had been subsumed by his rebirthed instincts? When Amaimon had to take the brunt of his focus and his tears after the fact, where had Mephisto fled? Hiding in his room as he played the distant observer, removed from the volatile, human emotions Amaimon barely understood, only knowing he needed to, because he needed to understand Rin."The world is such that we can no longer avoid a fight," Mephisto said without emotion, as cold as the void at his core. "You have little time left."Little time left. He knew what that meant.His fingers trembled, body shaking apart around his core as he snapped, clothed again in the uniform he'd begun wearing ever since he'd decided to join Rin in his classes. Ever since he'd decided to join Rin.Amaimon was the one left floundering, chasing an understanding of the things Rin did–the things Rin changed–with a desperation that burned when he thought about it too long. The only thing Mephisto chased was his game, rushing towards the end of it and leaving destruction in his wake.He got to play with Rin and left the consequences to Amaimon."I hate you–I hate you!"A trail of words echoed behind him when he wrenched himself towards the balcony, nearly breaking any semblance of cognition he had left."Hate, such a human emotion."Unable to think beyond the blistering anger coursing through him, Amaimon fled, tearing from the room and into the cold winter day as he forced himself to follow the tug of his leash.Every step felt like it took him further from Rin.