Eternal Life ( Mephisto x Reader )

10. Playing games

   When Rin, Nako and I walked back into the headquarters – at least that's what we called the inn that agreed to host us, convinced we were journalists – we parted ways in silence with small smiles that hardly hid our worries. I had not shared with my friends my conclusions on the fire accident, but I knew they had figured it out. It would our priority as soon as Yukio came back. 

   When I pushed the door to my bedroom, purple smoke blinded me for a second. I blinked. 

- Mephisto ?

- Ah, here you are, I heard from the other side of the room. 

   When the smoke finally dissipated, I could see standing next to the window. He grinned, and I sighed.

- What the Hell... 

- Watch your language, would you ? My students are not so rude.

   I though about Rin, telling myself he couldn't be more wrong. Most of the insults I knew came from him, anyway. 

- Where is all this smoke coming from ? Couldn't you arrive in a less... excessive way ?

- Me ? Never ! 

   I could not quite figure out whether I was happy to see him, or if I wanted to throw him out the window. But he would have survived anyway. I shook my head and closed the door. The air even smelt of candy. Where did it even come from ? 

- Now, Mei, you and me need to talk, don't we ? He said, seemingly unaffected by the daggers my eyes shot him.

- About what ? 

   I figured that if I pretended not to remember my mistake last time we had talked, it would disappear from history and Mephisto would stop nagging me. 

- You know what, he smiled. 

- But do I need to tell you right now ? I kind of need to sleep. Rough day. 

- You are reacting just like humans do. 

   I stared at him, bewildered. That was not a compliment ; not coming from him. This time, he had succeeded in getting on my nerves. 

- What do you mean ? 

   He fixed his gaze on me, not answering. Now irritated, I turned my back to him and fell onto my bed. I could still feel his eyes on me, but I ignored it. 

- Would you please stop your little game for a minute ? He eventually retorted.

   His voice sounded weary. All for the better. Maybe if he got tired of his own little game, he would leave me and my secrets be. 

   And that's exactly what I told him. 

- From what I know, you're the one playing. With us. Would it hurt you so much to tell us what it is that we're doing here ? People keep disappearing, and all you sent was a few unexperienced exwires. 

- I do not have to answer that.

- But you do. A secret for a secret. 

   He sighed ; I heard him take a step towards me. I sat up and turned to him. 

- I need to know where you learned about orange smoke, he declared. 

- Open a freaking book, and get out of my bedroom. 

   He narrowed his eyes.

- We are not done, Mei. 

   Before I could reply, the candy smell hit me again and purple smoke suffocated the room. I opened my eyes wide and ran to the window. Only when I opened it could I breathe again. Had he just threatened me ? 

   I spent the night staring at the ceiling. I thought about my life since I had stepped into the True Cross Academy. How did my life unfold this way ? Mephisto kept jumping from friend to foe, and from foe to friend. And this mission... how would it end for me ?