My lord [Diavolo x Barbatos]

Chapter 16 (Part 1)

Barbatos hadn't expected Diavolo to be constantly asking him to be at his side for the next couple of days, but he wasn't complaining. Though the fear that was in Diavolo's eyes when he first begged him to stay will remain in his head. He just wished he knew what it was that caused Diavolo to become so spooked. He pondered to himself as he stared at the measuring tape in his hands.

"Hey Barb, are we going to get in with this or do you not want me to look fashionable for the event?" Diavolo turned his head, trying to look behind him where Barbatos was. But he was unable to turn his entire body due to the amount of green fabric and pins holding them in place, as his arms extended outward.

That was when Barbatos snapped back to reality, now realising that he had been staring at the measuring tape for a good 5 minutes. Quickly, he rushed over to Diavolo and took the pins out of the fabric where his arms are and set them aside as he began to work on the fabric on his legs.

"Forgive me Diavolo, I was lost in thought and I had forgotten that you were still standing here with your arms out" he then placed the pins into the fabric of his legs once more. Diavolo let's his arms rest a bit, "Don't worry about it, I thought you lost something and I didn't want to rush you"

He then looks around the room a bit, noting the different amounts of fabrics that have been perfectly measured out and ready to be cut to form his new attire for the ball.

"Is all this necessary? I understand that I said I should look fabulous but this seems a bit much, even for me" diavolo then scratched the back of his neck. Barbatos just nodded in response, "The syndicate requested that you look your absolute best for the event. And you know them, always wanting to follow the rules laid out by your father" his mouth felt unclean after he said that word.

Diavolo seemed to also have a similar reaction. But it wasn't disgust like Barbatos, it was instead fear. And the fear that had once engulfed him a couple of days ago, had now returned.

As Barbatos measured out the fabric, he noticed how Diavolo's legs began to tremble, his hands began to clench tightly.

"Is he experiencing the same thing that happened a couple days ago? Was it because I mentioned his father?"

Diavolo isn't meeting his gaze, fixed on nothing but the floor. As the ringing begins to come back to haunt him once more.

Barbatos stands up and focuses all his attention on Diavolo. He hesitantly places a hand on diavolos shoulder and tries to steady his heart rate.

Upon Barbatos hand landing on his shoulder, diavolo looked back up to meet Barbatos's gaze. The ringing slowly times out, still there, but muffled.

"Diavolo, what's going on? You've been acting out of character as of late. And it's more than concerning to me" a worry line begins to form on Barbatos face, as diavolo tries his best to avoid eye contact.

"It's nothing...I can assure you that. Just a lot going on at the moment-"

"Diavolo, Please. Whatever is troubling you, please just tell me, no more excuses...please"

Diavolo meets his gaze again, now seeing the pleading look in Barbatos' eyes.

He hesitates and then sighs heavily. "He'll just keep asking me about this. It's not like I can stall this for much longer", Diavolo inhaled sharply before exhaling and looking back at Barbatos.

"I...I've been having these...hallucinations or dream like visions, or something like that for the last couple of months" he looks back at Barbatos who is listening intently, "Barbatos is going to think I've gone insane if I say this", Diavolo steadys his breathing before beginning to speak again.