||Let You Down||

Chapter X

There's a first time for everything, that's what her grandmother would told her. And for the very first time in her life, she took a day off her work. An inerasable blemish in her 100% attendance record since her kindergarten days. She took it voluntarily as well without a reason - no familial matters, no illness.

Yet she didn't feel like herself.

Waking up in the noon with her alarm still blaring was excusable. As a dedicated teacher, she rarely slept past nine unless something came up, let alone three in the morning. However, having no motivation or will to do anything productive or anything at all? Not even a bath despite the horrible feeling and the faint musky smell of sweat? That was not normal by any means.

She had spent hours lying on her mattress, staring on the dry wall next to her as ghosts of her past paraded around and within.

Something's wrong with her, and she knew it wasn't sadness. Not just sadness, at least. Or maybe it was. She didn't understand what the vice in her heart was or why the days suddenly seemingly had their colors drained away.

Was it because she's all by herself? But she's fine with being alone. Drinking tea alone, reading alone, sitting by the bus, or walking back home by herself, she liked all of these things.

Then again, she supposed she's not fine with being lonely.

But why would she feel that way? She had felt lonely before. It didn't let it stop her doing her activities before, so why now?

Was it him? Could it be him? Maybe it was him. But if he was the cause, then why? What did he do to her? Did buying her pretty clothes cause all of this? If so, she would never go shopping ever again—unless there's a massive discount.

The more she thought about it, the larger her self-doubt became. Maybe it's her instead. Maybe she's the problem. He asked her out to shop, but who agreed to it? She did. At the end, it's not him who left, but her.

But that's the right thing to be done, Rossweisse was certain. She was certain she's not that desperate to want someone else's – he's Rias'. But despite all of that, the guilt slithered around her chest, tightening like a coiling snake.

At least she knew what she's feeling now.

She should apologize to him, somehow. Someday. Perhaps when she stumbled onto him... She doubted she had the courage to look at him in the eye, but she should try.

With a long, dreary sigh, the conflicted young girl rolled over to the other side of her traditional bed. She could use a change of scenery after emptily staring at the drywall next to her.

She saw a pair of sleek black trousers.

"Good aftern— oh bloody hell," Lucifer cursed, "why are your eyes so puffy?!"

Rossweisse shrieked.

Break

The sun perched high up in the skies like the pesky yellow orb it was. Some believed if it was an inch closer it would incinerate Earth in a split of a second. To Lucifer, he believed they need to retake Science – as were those people who deemed the earth was a flat, round disc.

Putting those pathetic goons' irrational stupidity and tendency to refuse the factual truth due to backtracked way of thinking aside, this mid-spring afternoon was quite the blistering afternoon.

Now Lucifer loved spring. Birds singing, bees buzzing, flower blooming, people falling madly in love. To him, there's no perfecter season to be fallen in love to. But this day in particular, Lucifer decided he disliked it.

It's fortunate the Heiress' exclusive clubroom had an air conditioner installed - one of the brilliant inventions if not the most. Anyone who said otherwise can spend a trip to Hell's Kitchen, which was an actual name of a lake in Hell.

Lying down on the plump Victorian sofa he had claimed as his resting place, heels of his shoes on the armrest, Lucifer spent most of the day doing what he did best; relaxing. He'd opted for a cold shower to drench away the licking heat, but then he'll end up feel hotter afterwards.

Was he being unproductive?

Perhaps.

That rusty Belphegor would be proud of him.

Still, who wouldn't be a sloth in a day like this, where the motivation level was close to zero if not and everything seemed ten feet further? Humans had jobs to be done, needs they needed to attend to. Lucifer was a Devil. A free Devil. Free to do anything and no obligations restricting him.

Apparently, this crimson rose-haired Devil begged to differ.

He didn't know how, but Rias could stay at the same chair and read or write lines of text for hours. Hours.

Disgruntled, Lucifer made a face as he groaned, "Dios mio— ¡Por favor Princessa! Don't you suppose it's about time you stop being so productive? Last I checked my watch it's 'break' time right now, not 'work'. Your friendos aren't even here for pity's sake!"

"They'll be here anytime soon." Rias calmly replied. "School's over after all."

She didn't even bat an eye at him. Good gracious wasn't she one diligent girl. Too diligent for her own good. Lucifer could only shook his head in disbelief as Rias kept on filing what he labeled as 'Devily duties'. She mentioned it's important, but Lucifer's starting to think what's not important to her.

Having nothing better and nobody to do, the young fellow strutted towards the small girl's personal fridge and browsed its content. He might find something to chew.

That gained Rias' attention. She was about to advise him to not steal anything, until Lucifer made a face, and muttered with much foreboding and sarcasm-heavy; "Mmm. Sweets. My mortal enemy."

He shut the door and never looked back.

Rias giggled, shook her head, and returned to her work.

"If you ever think of an expansion of this room, might I suggest adding a mini bar?" Lucifer said wishfully, scratching his growing stubble as he made way to the crimson Heiress.

"This is a school not without regulations, Lucifer. A bar is out of the question."

"Ughh — screw regulations. You never let me have anything but your body."

Rias was giggling at his childish whine, and then abruptly stopping to blush when she picked up that last part of his whine.

Hands ruffling his bedhair-styled brown hair, Lucifer sauntered towards her desk, peeking around things and stuffs before eventually stood beside her cushioned chair. With his trademark silly-mischievous grin, Lucifer leaned in on her.

"What'cha doin'?"

At last, she spared a glance to him. But just that, as Rias returned her focus on her work, stapling a pile of important-looking paper. "Nothing special, just making sure nothing's out of order. There have been several reports of Stray Exorcists on the loose, but they were last seen at Sona's territory. I'm also looking for potential recruitments..."

"Mhmm. Mhmm." Lucifer pretended to listen as his hands slid down the rim of her chair, resting on her shoulders.

Rias flinched lightly at that. She loved cuddling in bed, not when she's doing her job. "Wh— what are you doing? I'm still working." She said that, but that didn't mean she's unhappy at all.

"You are and have been so long before I took a nap, so yes, you are working." so he said. "And last night you said you want to have some fun."

"...I-I'll have some... later. It can wait. I still have to finish this you know— ah..."

His sly smile spread over his features. He gently squeezed her shoulders again, deftly kneading onto the base of her neck underneath her gorgeous crimson locks.

"You were saying?"

Perhaps it's because it had been long she last received a massage that his hands felt heavenly. She leaned back against her chair, and with a soft sigh, Rias settled her files on the table as if hypnotized.

"Mmh—" she breathed, letting her hands fall to the armrest, and lowered her head to give him more rubbing place, closing her eyes as Lucifer's massage lulled her.

"You're like a businesswoman. The 'all work no play' type." he chuckled lightly, "What did we just talk about yesterday again mm? Wasn't it something about 'living the life', or something along the same line?"

"Nh— y-yes... I know. I will... But later not now. The Rating Game is coming and I'm in a huge disadvantage in manpower—" her sigh cut her off.

"Right here?"

"...Yes..."

He proceeded to knead her spot, enjoying her innocent lewd sighs she let off more often than not.

"Why don't you lie down on the sofa, hm?" he whispered close to her ear, deepening the drawl of his voice as enticing as possible. Which wasn't that hard of a task. "I can't help your work – nor do I want to," he chortled, "but least I can do is help you take your mind off of it. Just for a moment."

Rias pondered the offer for a good while. It's tempting. Very tempting. Temptation could be his greatest skill. His gentle pinches and squeezes seemed to grease the offer.

He saw her spirit wavering. All she needed now was a gentle extra push. A little prodding. "Come on Princess. What hurt can a little rest does to you?"

"...I can't—"

The door clicked, and Akeno entered the room before Rias could complete her hesitant refusal.

Lucifer put his magic on pause, and her shoulders and neck felt dreadfully lonely at the loss of comfort.

"Hm?" The young Himejima hummed wonderingly, taking in the scene. "A young couple in the dusk of their budding romance... alone with themselves in a room... visibly cuddling... Ara Buchou~ It's nice to see you're working hard."

Rias' cheeks shone red. "...We're not..."

Lucifer smirked. "Well. She was working hard." An Akeno is always better than a no Akeno. "And she is just about to get back on track."

He patted Rias shoulders' firmly, causing her to flinch, and then frowned.

Judging by the apparent shock painting her face, Lucifer knew she realized she had lost her opportunity. As he left her, moving back to the couch, Rias sulked in an instant as she gathered her boring papers.

She's mature, but she was so adorable when's she's stubbornly fretting. That small pout crying for him to come back made him all giddy and fuzzy inside.

Akeno would testify. Rias had been her source of amusement for a long, long while. She was the most reactive of all the other Devils and the most fun. She wouldn't mind sharing her with him.

Twice the teasers, twice the fun.

She strolled to join her comrade-in-teases at the couch, spouting a frown to play on her lips, and commenced her little play.

"Mmn... I also feel pretty sore lately..." Akeno rubbed her shoulder with an expression of displeasure. "A massage would be nice..."

"Oh you poor thing." Lucifer feigned a frown, but it broke to a smile as he scooted closer. "We can't have that, can we? I'm not that bad of a masseur, if I do say so myself... Not terrific, but practice makes perfect."

Her lips curled to a sincere smile, happy that he played along. Its almost natural.

And then they both glanced at Rias.

Still working attentively.

Other people would say she's uninterested in their silliness, but they both knew her mood had just taken a chasmic plunge. With a knowing nod and exchanging a smile, they went on.

Lucifer patted the pillow next to him. "Come, come. Bring your body closer."

"Ufufu~ this will be my first time doing it with a man... do be gentle, Lucifer-sama." Akeno said in her casually sensual tune, sitting with her back facing him. "Although... I might not mind a rough treatment..."

Lucifer just managed to see the corner of Akeno's devious smile. "Ah, but I won't dare hurting you."

"Oh my, yours are so big~" Akeno invitingly moved her as she felt his palms resting on her shoulders. Rias twitched. "Ufufu~ but isn't there pleasure in pain? Isn't that what they say?"

"Mmmn~ kinky." Lucifer couldn't grin. Her teases were the polar opposite to Rias' innocence, and he loved every bit of her 'knowledge'.

As if there was a cue, the two of them subtly glanced over to where the stubborn Heiress perched. They both had an equally hard time stifling their giggles—there were butterflies in their stomach, tickling from the inside.

"Well... Lucifer-sama, if you don't mind... I've prepared myself now."

"NnooOOO!" It was then they broke Rias' persistence. Fuming with jealousy, the workaholic abandoned all her labors and formalities as she plunged in straight at him, dragging him by his arm away from her leg-puller of a friend.

"No!" Rias warningly shouted, with an expression worthy to be photographed and used as a blackmail material. "Just— no!"

At her expense, Akeno looked satisfied, as did Lucifer. He was a bit disappointed by the feeling of her laced brassiere imprisoning her bountiful breasts as they were squeezing his arm.

"Ara, Buchou, so possessive already?" Akeno tittered, smiling at her friend who seemed about to cry. And Rias really was about to cry. Her tears were threatening to spill and her cheeks were turning red.

She's upset, but it's tough for the two to feel genuinely guilty if she looked adorable with her pouting lips.

Lucifer would never miss the open chance. "What's the matter Princess? A change of mind, perhaps?"

Rias made the whiniest of whine. "...You two... you two are mean people."

"Well~ aren't we Devils, Buchou?" Akeno giggled while his smirk evolved to a grin.

"Devils don't have to be mean."

"Playful, Princess." Lucifer chimed in, patting the side of her head, feeling her glamorous crimson locks. "So you did change your mind, hm?"

Rias blinked, scowled, and after experiencing a brief denial phase, she yielded.

"...Yes."

It was then the rest of her peerage arrived, each one having a certain reaction at the presented situation, but most agreed that they didn't expect to see the expression their calm and collected King was making.

"And here comes the Gremory Squadron. Afternoon, fellas~" Lucifer beamed with a bright smile, a sharp contrast to Rias' expression. "It'd be rude of me to intrude, so you guys go on ahead and do your thing and stuffs." he smoothly untangled his hand off Rias' breasts and hands.

Rias had never wanted to cry this bad due to severe disappointment. But as a leader, she shouldn't show her misery and woe that easily.

"Welcome back everyone."

Though she really was bummed out. And she's not fooling anybody. Not even Asia. "Um... Are you okay Buchou-san...?"

It's always amusing hearing someone speaking a new language. There's always trace and hints sewn their tone and intonation. Such was the case with the formerly a nun Italian.

"I'm alright." Rias said, then moving to grab the necessities for her 'adorable servants'.

Smiling in amusement, Lucifer did notice someone was missing. The quiet-yet-snarky little girl was there, so was prince charming, and the Devilized sister as well...

Ah. The Valkyrie who couldn't hold her close-to-nonalcoholic drinks. How could he forget? "Where's Rosie? Is she not coming again today?"

"Sensei didn't come to my class either." The prince charming replied, and Lucifer visibly frowned. "Maybe she's still sick?"

"She hasn't replied to my text too. It's likely she's still feeling unwell." Rias added as she handed out her servants' task for the day. It's a sheet of paper containing information of their clients and other stuffs Lucifer decidedly deemed 'uninteresting and able to bore him to tears'.

"Can't you heal her, little miss?" he said to Asia, who squirmed a little.

"U-Umm... no I can't... This gift can only heal wounds..."

"You make it sound like it can only make tea –- get yourself some pride missy."

"Y-Yes!"

Meanwhile, Rias said, "Koneko, since your client lives nearby, can you pay her a visit? I'll send you her address later on."

The quiet but snarky girl nodded quietly.

It was at that moment Lucifer knew what he was going to do. And Rias figured his sudden motivation too, much to her disappointment.

"Well I'll be... Go on then, where's her place?" Lucifer asked like an excited child, all smile on his devilishly handsome features, leading only to the Gremory's dejected sigh as she gave him the details.

Rias didn't expect less from him.

What she and her entire peerage didn't expect, was him creating a rip in the very fabric of universe with a slide of a finger and crossed it like a door, before it completely shut itself close after Lucifer stuck out a hand to wave goodbye.

After a good while, Akeno spoke what's in her mind. "Buchou, have you ever seen anything like that?"

"...Can't say I have..." Wide-eyed and startled, Rias gawked at the thin air where her playful man mysteriously traversed time and space like nobody's business. She didn't get a clear look at the 'portal', but hopefully, nobody noticed a white shirted man popping out of thin air.

Break

Lucifer took a moment to take a whiff and a look around the Valkyrie's spacious living-space. To say it's spacious is an overstatement as it was fairly standard-sized, but the lack of furniture made it appear as so. In fact, he found it to be horribly empty for a young woman's domicile.

And depressing.

It's humid too. Again, reminding him why air conditioner was humanity's greatest invention.

And then came his conclusion. "Quaint little space you have here." he said with his standard grin, "It was missing something; me. Notice the past tense..."

Meanwhile, Rossweisse was curled up at the corner of her bed, huddled in her blanket like some sort of outside protection, eyes wide in horror and disbelief.

"Y-you—?! H-how did you get in here?!" Was the first question of the many, and Lucifer simply pointed at her apartment entrance with an innocent look.

Lucifer tilted his head. "It appears somebody forgot to lock her door."

She groaned and sighed at that, beating herself down. Though feeling a little relief it wasn't a burglar — there wasn't much to steal, however.

Feeling nervous, Rossweisse covered her mouth with her blanket. "...Vy..." she shook her head, and tried that one more time. "Why are you here...?"

"Your highness said you're not feeling well, so here I am." Lucifer chirped as he wandered around to her only cupboard, poking and touching many things at random as if it's his. One thing in particular ignited his interest. "Ooh~! What's this?"

Seeing the golden bracelet he was holding and eyeing with curiosity, Rossweisse panicked. "B-Be careful with that! That's my Oma's! She gave it to me... A-anyway, I feel better now... so... you can leave."

"Better?" Lucifer snickered mockingly, walking back to her still the same smiley face. "No offense, but you don't look that," he air-quoted, "'better' to me Rosie. Your eyes didn't carry that many bags yesterday."

Without a concern, he sat on her futon, making her scoot further to the wall behind her and hid her face like a startled small animal.

"How're you feeling darlin'?" His smile and his eyes softened, and so did his teaseful voice. Lucifer could tell when to be a chipper philanderer and when to be gentle and caring to gain approval. He gained his followers the same way.

"I'm fine..."

As if he would buy into that pathetic answer. "Oh please, it doesn't need a Devil to tell that's a lie." he patted his knees once, inadvertently earning her attention. "Why the lie? Just tell me what's wrong and let's try fixing it together."

He watched her silently, amiably smiling. He watched her lips twitched and pursed, curled to a frown and then quivered. He watched sadness, happiness, confusion, guilt, a smorgasbord of emotions dashed across her flushing face.

"I don't know..." Rossweisse choked. "I don't know. Why am I like this? I wasn't like this this yesterday... this isn't me... Why do I feel like this after I meet you? What did you do to me? Why are you here? You shouldn't even be vith me, you should be vith her!"

He was expecting a mild case of fever and maybe several retching and throw-ups, not a heartfelt and tearful confession. But he wouldn't say no to this chance to correct all that—somehow—went wrong.

"Isn't it obvious? She's worried about you, silly." He scooted. "And dear oh dear, whatever happened to you since yesterday? You were smiling all fine to me as far as I remember." Until she stormed off, that is.

"I don't know!" Rossweisse's sobbing was still hearable behind the blanket she hid her face with. "And I'm sorry about that..." she said quietly, "but why did you take me to a date anyway?!"

Now she was confusing him. "I'm certain we date because I'm interested in you my dear, and vice versa. Otherwise, we wouldn't, would we?"

His charm wasn't working. "How?! How could you say all of zat when you have her?!"

Now she's pulling his leg. "Who?"

"Her!" she yelled, "Rias! Who else?!"

Ah. That's what she's heading at. "No, no. We don't own one another. We're linked to one another. Connected. Like the internet!" Lucifer snickered. "I know we say 'she's mine' and so on and so on, but those are just a figure of speech."

"It's the same thing!"

"Naw, she's not a property." he said, nonchalantly waving a hand. "Is our relationship the reason why you're this upset?"

"I don't know...! Is it?!"

Yes it was.

"I'm not you, so how can I tell?" Lucifer said to the blanketed lump. God it must be frying in there with this kind of heat. "But it seems to me you are suffering a mild case of jealousy, Fräulein. I prescribe a little of 'me' before and after you sleep."

She pulled her cover briskly, exposing her sweltering red face and watery eyes. "How could you take this like a joke?! Are you taking me as a joke as well?!"

There's a limitation of self-depreciation, and she had crossed it too many times that his high-confidence was urging him to give her a little reminder.

"Hey." Lucifer firmed his voice, grasping her hand and looked her straight to her enflamed eyes. Rossweisse immediately froze in shock. "Nobody sees you or take you as joke but yourself, Rosie."

"I'm here because I'm bloody worried, not because I pitied you or anything." he told her, casual but fervent, "I came here because I wanted to know what I've done wrong that you zoomed away. And now I know it's not you, it's me. I just went on ahead, not realizing a... what's the word... polygamy? Yes. Polygamy. I forgot polygamy isn't the norm anymore nowadays. Which is a pity."

Was it? He had to ask Rias later to be sure, but he's pretty sure it's uncommon for Asgardians.

"Not to say I don't support it; more to love more love am I right?" He grinned his usual shark-like smile all ladies found hard to resist, "But I do feel the need for it to be addressed, as to avoid future muddlements. I'd hate it if you misunderstand something."

Admitting he's down for polygamy didn't make her feel better apparently, as Rossweisse had her lips puckered sourly, fighting back the already-spilled tears.

"That doesn't change you're already in a relationship with her..." she sniveled, "Look at her... she's the top of her class. She's a royalty. She has everything she needs – while me? What's so special about me?"

"You're not less special, you know. You failed your magic-inheritance-thing, and yet you're well-versed in Nordic Magic regardless. You're a Valkyrie, and you teach Civics! Something I know I'd never teach." Lucifer laughed, meaningfully squeezing her hand as a gesture of support, and flirt.

Rossweisse didn't know how to act but stayed silent.

"See, the problem is that you see yourself too low. No one can blame you after all of those rough times. You've been hurt. Disappointed. Treated horribly and wrongly so. It didn't stop you from getting up, but don't you think you could use a helping hand? I have two right now." chuckling softly, Lucifer stroked her cheek as he squeezed her shoulder, feeling her tenseness beneath her thin wrinkled pajamas.

Rossweisse began to sniffle as her face crumpled, her tiny walls crumbled. He had little idea of how much his words meant for her.

He reached out for her, and Rossweisse stayed in place as his thumb brushed her flushed cheek.

He smoothly slid his wet fingers to her chin, smiling to her frown. "You mentioned you were looked down upon, I say screw those arschlöcher. You're much better than what they see. You're so much better than what you think you are."

Through shaky breath and trembling lips, Rossweisse spoke to him, "Why... why are you doing this...?" a sharp intake of breath hitched her voice. "What did I do do to dese... deserve this...?"

"Why? Because I care for you! And I do what I want." He laughed proudly, "And oh wow, where even do I begin?"

He sat next to her, feeling the warmth of her body and the fumes of her tears. "Mmmnn... well, you're one beautiful girl for one. You're adorable, interesting, lovely laughter, funny when drunk. Not to say you're weak or fragile, but you do look fragile when you cry. And besides, I still want to see you in that dress again."

She hid her face behind her hands, weeping loud and sound. "V-vy...Why? I'm just a... I'll only let you down...! Look at me... I'm a mess...!" then she mumbled something he couldn't discern in Germanic.

"You're one hot mess if you are any." As if a mumble language would stop him. "See, what I did I just told you about this. Stop worrying about me, yeesh. Let yourself be spoiled for a bit. Let me show you how good I am in pampering. I'm confident in my ability to love and I want to be loved in return. You're a Devil too, so best start thinking like one as in less worrying, think more freely, and fetch things for yourself. Catch my drift?"

She shook her head with genuine honesty and confusion.

"A little selfishness is fine."

All of the sudden, she was in his arms, lying against his chest as she wept for the many times that day.

Seconds into minutes, he stayed by her side, listening to her jumbled words that were lost between her sobs and chokes for breath. Rossweisse ultimately calmed down. Lucifer jokingly asked if she ran out of tears, which would be funny if she didn't say 'maybe'.

She told him about her past afterwards.

She told him how she committed herself for a success that was a measly achievement for her Valkyries compatriots. Why she only had her grandmother — or as she called her, 'Oma' — as a support in the absence of her parents. She told him how many times she had lied that she lost count for telling her Oma she enjoyed her academic-centered life so that she didn't have to worry.

But it wasn't all sad tales.

"She was so happy when I graduated and accepted as a Walküre... The youngest to be one... She wasn't the only person to give me a hug that day, and I've never been so happy."

"Goodness, darling I'd give you a hug at any time of day." He turned his frown into a smile so warm she thought her heart would melt. "You've had it rough don't you, you one tough cookie. Good job Rosie. I'd wager your Nan would've said the same."

Still emotionally exhausted but no less emotional, Rossweisse struggled not to cry anew.

"...I haven't heard that in so long..."

"What? 'Your nan'?"

"No... Being praised..." she sniveled, and Lucifer let out a mellow hum. How many times was she going to tug his heartstring? He's dying to give her a great big hug.

"I always make her worry too much... I... What if she's disappointed if she finds out I'm a Devil...? I-I don't mean Devils are bad!" she hurriedly said, "It's just... I'm no longer a Valkyrie..."

As she buried face in her hands, and as all the clouds of doubts rained down on her, the voices loudened, Lucifer was there to sweep some of them by caressing her silver tresses. She realized she had horribly fallen in love for him.

Smooth as silk; despite she hadn't taken a shower yet. He could tell. Not because she smelled, but because she didn't smell like lavender.

"It's too soon to tell, I'd say. It is the start of your new life, being a Devil and all that. You can't assume you'll continue living as a Valkyrie dear." Lucifer sniggered, "Still, I'll say your Nan will be happy as long as you are too. I knew my Nan would. If I had any."

Another session of weeping and caring, for the first time, she gave him that look as she dried her tears. The sympathetic 'I'm sorry for you' kind of look.

"...You said your grandmother... did you... lost her?"

"No, no, no, it's not like what you think." Lucifer immediately straightened any tangled strings. "Pops doesn't have a mom — and no, it's not that she died or anything gloomy. She never existed to begin with."

Rossweisse was considerably confused.

"Gah—, why are we talking about me? It's you I like to know more. I like stories too, so carry on then." He smiled ear to ear, tightlipped and albeit a tad childlike, it's not less enchanting. His smiles always carried a certain charm with them, she realized.

He lost all of its silliness the moment Lucifer lowered his eyebrows. "Though, I won't refuse if we continue this in das badezimmer..."

His seduction flew high over Rossweisse's head as she pulled away from him, hugging herself as she was suddenly overly conscious she hadn't taken a bath.

"Aw, why'd you go?" Lucifer pouted, looking as if she betrayed him. Again, his expression changed drastically with a simple curl of the edge of his lips and his eyes as he said, "I like your smell."

Her face flushed different shades of red this time. "P-Pervert!" Rossweisse then retreated to her bathroom, only to get out five seconds later to grab her clothes.

Lucifer only paid attention at her plain brassiere and an equally charmless plain cotton panty. "Maybe we should've bought you several new pairs of undergarments as well." he said critically, "You can learn a thing or two from Rias."

Do that Devil knew what to wear — and it wasn't Prada. He suspected she might have a tailor for herself.

Flustered by the topic, Rossweisse rushed for her bathroom and slammed the door shut with a bang.

At least he wasn't ditched for good this time. Lucifer smiled to himself, though frowning at his now tear-stained white dress shirt. After a short moment of lamentation, he brought himself off her thin bed, and waddled around the small apartment to poke around some more.

Somehow, the sound of the running shower's drizzle somehow made the place lonelier for him. Thus, he began humming a random tune.

Soon, his hum grew to a melody, a melody of a groovy mix of blues and jazz, a piece of classic he could never forget. A song created back at the sixties, where civil rights protesters littered the streets and the hippies arose, even he was surprised it lasted to this century. Later, he was drowned in his own voice as his body danced along the rhythm, snapping his fingers and tapping his shoes accordingly to the beat.

By the time Rossweisse finished dealing with her thought s and her showering; Lucifer had finished singing three choruses and was in the middle of finishing his fourth.

She was entranced, and this time, not by his charms or his smile or his wit, but by the smoothness of his dance and his voice. His pronounced drawl had disappeared as if it never existed. His voice was smooth and clear like an Angel, but as sexy as the Devil. Now his voice wouldn't bring him fame as much as his looks would, and Rossweisse had never felt this kind of feeling before, but she wanted him to sweep her off her feet right here, right now.

"And I'm feeling so... o-good — oh. That was fast."

Finally noting the girl had done her daily ritual, Lucifer swirled around on one heel and strutted towards her, all smile on his face as he finished his song in an abrupt note. Rossweisse patted her cheeks as though by doing so it would shoo her blush away.

"A cold shower hmm? I fancy one myself as well rather than a hot scalding deluge. Do you know it refines hair and skin?"

Surprised by his sudden trivia, Rossweisse blinked several times, and then played with the hem of her plain borderline boring piece of shirt. "U-um... No... I took one because they don't have hot water here and... It'll take too long to boil ze— the water."

Lucifer 'oh'-ed, sounding partially disappointed. It appeared he's the only Devil fond of cold showers so far. "You poor thing. Well then, shall we?"

"Huh?"

"Bounce somewhere, silly!" Lucifer chimed, "That blasted sun isn't frying anymore, and a change of pace can be just what we need to cheer you up. I do still want to make up our last date, don't you know. I'd suggest a bar, but we both know how that ended up last time."

Rossweisse looked down. "...Well, sorry for not being a good drinker..."

"Oh it's fine. You were quite the spectacle."

Rossweisse pressed her lips together, failing to contain he blush.

It would be nice if he had a drink-buddy though. Lucifer wouldn't deny that. "God I talked a lot - So where— oh, hang on two minute." the same grin etched his face as his eyes lit up in interest. "I think you may have a visitor here Rosie."

She creased her brows, and nearly jumped when her doorbell rang. She gave the young man a mystified look which he replied with a smug smile and a quick raise of his eyebrow, before heading to open the door.

"Y-yes?"

A gorgeous bombshell of a Devil — her new 'master' was standing there at the entrance, still in her Kuoh uniform and carrying a plastic bag of a nearby convenience store.

"Good afternoon, Rossweisse." Rias greeted politely with a smile. She had told her she'll be calling her by name instead of referring to her as a teacher outside of school. They weren't that different in age, after all. "How are you feeling?"

Panic crept underneath her skin. Did she know he was here? "U-Umm... I feel better thanks..." Discreetly, she stepped outside, letting the door slightly open to not reveal the Devil inside. Meanwhile, Lucifer sneaked a peek behind door like a creep.

"Here, it's for you." Rias handed her the plastic bag. It contained everyday things to help combat a cold. "It's from the club members."

The sheet of plastic rustled as Rossweisse grabbed a hold. She felt immeasurably happy that someone paid her a visit, but on the other hand, she felt awfully guilty for lying.

"Th-thanks... but I'm not really sick..."

Rias furrowed her crimson eyebrows. "Did you skip work? Both in our term and your teaching role?"

She sure knew how to inflate her guilty conscience. Shrinking, Rossweisse could only nod as she diffidently admitted.

Rias sighed. "Well... I suppose you have your own difficulty integrating yourself as one of us... I'll overlook it this time."

"Thanks..." The new Devil said, awkwardly rubbing her elbow. The twinge of guilt in her had grown to a constant hammering in her chest. Lying was a sin she couldn't get used to, as Devil or Valkyrie.

"..."

"..."

Why was she still standing here? More to that, she looked slightly peeved as well. "...Um... d-do you need something else, Rias?"

Rias held her elbows, making it appear she was folding her arms underneath the nook of her chest. "...I was wondering if Lucifer's here."

Oh Gods— what should she do?!

"Why yes he is indeed~" and the Devil presented himself, flinging the door open as if he's some kind of door prize. Meanwhile, Rossweisse's heartbeat skyrocketed and she's thinking on taking another shower to wipe away the cold sweat.

Despite potentially be seen as cheating, Lucifer remained indifferent. "How're you faring ma'am? Done with your work already?"

"A-a-ahhh— th-this isn't— I mean he's—"

Rias sighed. "...It's fine, Rossweisse. I know he's here. He told me before anyway."

"He did...?"

"Sure did." Lucifer said, leaning by the wooden frame of the door with hands folded. "What's up Princess?"

For a good moment, Rias stared at him, and then at her Civics teacher whose hair was still damp — obvious evidence that she had recently taken a shower or a bath.

"...Did you two..." the Gremory cleared her throat. "Sh-shower together...?"

Rossweisse gasped, nearly dropping the plastic bag. "Wh— n-no!"

The Valkyrie was quick to object, Lucifer, however... this was one misunderstanding he didn't mind not set straight.

"Perhaps?"

Rossweisse jumped a little. "L-Lucifer! N-No we didn't! I-I swear!"

"...You're not very convincing, Rossweisse..." Rias grumbled, pouting already. "...Anyway... let's go Lucifer."

"Huh?" was the only word she said as Rias yanked Lucifer's arm. It was at that precise moment Rossweisse felt a sting in her chest.

Then Rossweisse grabbed his open hand before Rias could take him away.

Lucifer's sneer widened.

For several ticks, Rias sent a questioning stare at the Asgardian. "...What's the meaning of this? Let him go, Rossweisse."

"N-no." she spoke quietly, and firmed her voice. "I don't... I don't want him to leave."

"Wh— what...?" Rias' flabbergasted expression was a sight to behold, and Lucifer shrugged innocently as she looked at him for an explanation. Though, she could work it on her own.

That said, as if Rias would give him up that easily. "You've had your share with him, Rossweisse, let go!" With another pull, Rias commenced the tug-of-war for this young man.

"H-he said I should be more selfish as a Devil... I am now!"

Lucifer, being Lucifer, was more amused than troubled by the development – or the envelopment of his arm between Rias' soft youthful breasts. "Am I one to be shared now? Not that I'd mind. Sharing is caring. But I do mind being torn apart – so please, girls, let us resolve this peacefully with a trip to the nearest cloth stores."

Break

"I love him." Rias said in the middle of clipping her red laced underwear.

Rossweisse paused, pursed her lips, staring at herself in the mirror, not knowing what to say.

"Do you love him too?"

Her cheeks heated up. "H-Huh?!"

"Answer it, Rossweisse." The Gremory said sternly in her booth. "Him caring for other women can't be helped, I guess..." she added with a dreary sigh, "but do you love him? If you don't, then stop this. Don't pursue him."

The words cut deep. But even then, though the concept of 'love' was still a mystery to her, Rossweisse knew what she wanted; him.

She clenched her fists. "Yes."

Silence passed. "You're my servant... and I care for you. But if you hurt him..."

"I won't."

"...You better..."

Rossweisse swallowed, staring down at the purple lace hugging her breasts. "...Why do you... let me?"

"I don't like dramas." Rias said, "There's been too much of it lately I'm just... tired of it. I want him for myself, but I won't force it on him. Polygamy is pretty much the norm anyways..."

She's not sure if Devils should be that lenient. "...If I can be with him... I'm fine with anything."

Another silence went by.

"Good to hear that."

When he first announced the idea, he did not expect it to go this well. It's not horrible, of course. It stirred his heart of hearts seeing the two girls getting friendly with each other and were arguing over what underwear looked cute and if frills was better than lace, but when they did the same thing over and over again for hours, Lucifer needed to find a way to keep himself amused, because there's only so much amusement to be had in the ladies' section.

The workers there were for one. They might be humans, but their not-so-subtle glances and looks of want were fairly entertaining. But Lucifer didn't fancy routine that much. Too monotonous as he would say.

So there the Devil of all Devils sat, at his red throne in the middle of a department store, surrounded with shopping bags and boredom, waiting for the girls to finish their shopping or the end of times. Whichever came first.

And his wish might have been granted, as Rias had just stepped out of her changing room, glancing around looking for him. Immediately his eyes lit up with hope. Finally... another place that is not a shopping station!

He approached her, two bags on his left arm and the other three on his right. "Ready to go, Princess?" But Rias didn't look so elated. Lucifer's eyebrows fell. "What's wrong? If you have trouble fitting in, I'm always available."

Rias gave him a brief pout as Rossweisse came out of her dressing room. She looked brighter. He supposed anyone would if they didn't have to pay any money.

The crimson-haired Devil, on the other hand... had seen better day. "Riser's here..."

That name seemed familiar... "Who?"

"My fiancé." Rias muttered grudgingly, gripping her phone. "My soon-to-be ex-fiancé."

"Oh him! Really? Where?" Lucifer looked around, seeing only clothes and clothes and bras everywhere.

Rias rolled her eyes. "At the clubroom."

"Oh."

"They're waiting... We have to get back. I want to get this over with."

"...Oh..." Lucifer frowned with sadness. So much for introducing Rias to a bar... But, "Oh well. Least I get to see his face." he said, chipper already. Nothing's dragging down this handsome Devil.

"Now then, shall we? I've been wondering what kind of man he is."

Rias wished she could have half of his enthusiasm. "I'm sorry... I thought I'd be free today...I wanted to spend time with you."

Rossweisse fell silent as she gripped her shopping. She did play a major role in reducing Lucifer's time with Rias, and the guilt from earlier crept in without fail.

"Well... you can always pay me back at later night. Got some new clothes you can wear then." he sneered suggestively, earning Rias' hot blush and Rossweisse's afterwards, after she figured the meaning. "Let's then. Oh, can she join too? The more the merrier."

Rias fell silent as the Valkyrie blustered, "H-how indecent! We've just met two days ago!" That alerted a few nearby patrons, but Lucifer didn't care about them.

"And I met her some hours before we did the deed, but there didn't seem to be any problem."

"Wha—?!" Rossweisse hitched, the surprise in her face apparent as ever. "Rias... y-y-you...?"

The fluster spread to Rias' face. "M-Many things can happen at one night okay?!"

"But you just met!"

"I know!"

Now that alerted almost the entire shoppers. "Alright, let's not cause a scene here." Lucifer guided them to the cashier, just wanting to get out of this place already. He's sick and tired of seeing all kinds of fabrics.

It was an awkward walk back to the clubroom. Mostly because the idea kept whirring in Rossweisse's mind like a broken record and Rias just couldn't look at either of them in the eyes. Lucifer didn't mind, though. It was fun teasing the living hell out of the both of them.

To be continued...