Time Stopped for You

Back to work

I finally am cleared to work and my entire first day was nothing but paperwork and grading, it was fucking horrible. Though I am thankful to be doing any work at all cause that also means a paycheck, which granted living with Mephisto I don't really need.
Rin was beyond thrilled to see me back at the academy, he made all his friends stop in to welcome me back. He also begged me to not fail him and I promised he would be fine.
I got to hear all about their god awful stand in teacher and I quite enjoyed every minute of it up until Yukio burst in and chased them all out of my little temporary office.
He is still here, still blabbering on about what I need to start teaching and to be completely honest I don't know shit about any of it.
"I wrote up some plans for you to follow," he sets a wad of paper in front of me. "See to it you go over them by next week."
"Next week?!?" I flip through the pages knowing he has to be batshit crazy. "Do you see all these stacks of other papers?" I motion around the desk that has piled high.
"You'll catch up," he offers a weak smile glancing at his watch. "It's good to see you're doing well."
I groan to myself after he leaves the mug of coffee on my desk no where near enough for this. The bell rings in the hallway, I don't even remember what all the bells are for my brain is so fried.
"You don't appear to be having much fun princess," Mephisto strolls in, he is in his little dog form something that I've almost forgotten about. His tail wags when he comes over and jumps up on my lap, "and what all do you have left to do?"
In absolutely no universe would this not be entirely insane, and yet I'm living it.
"That stacks from Yukio, that one I have to grade, those ones I have to read..." I go through each stack flipping through anything that gets more than an ear flick from him.
"Well we will be taking a trip with our students in the coming week," the fact that he doesn't bark at all when he talks like this is a little upsetting. "We've been requested to help with a field mission."
"We? You make it sound like a vacation with our kids," I roll my eyes despite my excitement to not have to deal with ALL these papers.
My comment brings out his unusually silent side as he ignores me to paw through my graded papers. He finds Rins in the stack leaving only a few paw prints behind and reads over his almost failed test.
"Shura and your boy will be accompanying us as well," he shakes his head once he's read all of Rin's answers.
"He's not my boy," I pick Mephisto up until I look him in his eyes. "I'd say you are, but you're just a dog, maybe it's better this way you can't smirk at me."
"I would not be able to kiss you either," he flicks both of his ears matter of factly.
I set him back down, "I'm not playing into every trap you set jackass."
"How utterly disappointing," he curls up watching me write on a couple more papers. "When you are satisfied there's something I want to show you."
"Something important or something you think is important?" I snicker pausing to scratch his head.
"You are so amusing," he sticks his tongue out I guess in lieu of a smirk. "And to think I made time to come see my darling."
"Instead of playing games or watching anime, truly impressed," I finish the paper I'm on knowing he will forever distract me from doing anymore. "I do enjoy the distraction."
I scratch his head one more time before he jumps down and I follow him to his office just up the hall. He makes it halfway across the room before poofing back to normal, he goes to the desk picking up three files.
"Actually important if you choose to believe me," he waves the folders at me before handing them over. "Reports regarding the Illuminati, along with information on what we are going to be looking for. And I've given you your file, that was sent to me."
I look at the folders in my hand my brain a buzz with the possibilities, "my file? What are you giving me that for?"
"I thought you might be curious given that you were ease dropping that night," he snickers before poofing back into a dog.
I drop that file, my file, back on his desk, "somethings I think are better left unknown."
"Oh?" He sits in front of me scratching an ear.
"Honestly I really don't want a reason to hate you," I shrug cause it's true. Maybe he did pick me cause my file has in big red letters my entire past. Maybe it doesn't. I'd rather not know.
"You continue to amuse me princess," he wags his tail heading for the door. "I look forward to seeing you at home."
Home. A glance at my phone tells me it's almost 2:30 I have to grab my things and swing by to see Shura. I had to request a day off already to go house hunting with Rex later this week, of course it got approved despite Mephisto asking way too many questions and I'm sure plenty more to come. Shura getting word said I better get my ass to see her ASAP.
Shura is waiting for me just off campus, she had to stop by to see Yukio today. Apparently everyone is planning for this trip to somewhere, I guess I will have to look at the other files.
"Adjusting well?" She walks a circle around me, I have my sword on my back and my tail around my waist.
"Definitely not as life altering as I first thought," I admit showing off my fangs.
"Did the clown tell you we're heading to Kyoto?" She crosses her arms once she's satisfied looking at me. "I wanna get you set with a trench coat and some back up materials."
"He per usual gave me the briefest explanation with no destination," I wave the folders at her. "Told me look at these for what I need to know."
"Bastard," she snags them off me reading them over herself. "So is it true?"
"What?" Like I have to ask, I guess she wasn't drunk enough the other day after all.
"What," she snorts handing the files back. She puts her hands on her hips staring me down, "you will be the loser in this situation hands down."
"Oh come on, he's never had a girlfriend?" I frown crossing my arms now.
"Look. This is a game for him until he gets bored, for you it's your life," she makes a strange face scrunching her lips at me. "He doesn't love you."
"That's fine," I say it, but I know it's not fine. "He doesn't have too."
The words come out like I've practiced them, because I'm tired of having this conversation. My mother called me and had a similar one the day after dinner, don't you understand you're being used? Didn't I raise you better?
Cara too called me, however she was in a downward spiral that Rex didn't even think to ask her if he could move, and at this point I'm out of comforting words. They haven't spoke since.
She leans forward a little bit sighing I glance at the ground.
"You know before you got here he flirted with just about every girl," she stands back up putting her arms behind her head. "If nothing else at least you've given us all a break for awhile."
Shura turns on her heels waving back at me as she walks towards the main building, "see you in a couple days kid, I'll have your coat."
I'm going to walk to Mephisto's, it's gonna take me awhile but I think I could use the space. I barely make it three blocks when the pink car pulls up beside me the clown inside.
"I told you it's not safe for you wander around princess," he opens the door beckoning me inside.
"I'm not even going to ask how you knew I decided to walk," I grunt throwing my sword and bag in the seat between us.
"Aren't you glad I did?" He crosses his legs for once not trying to get any closer to me. "Do you plan on sharing a room with me at the inn? I'm doing the bookings this evening."
"Yeah whatever is easier, are you putting on a show like we aren't dating because Shura clearly knows," I look over at him from the corner of my eye, but he doesn't even blink at the news. That's right maybe he told her.
"Miss Kirigakure came at me with that accusation when you were in the hospital darling," he chuckles taking his hat off. "I'm not one who hides my interests."
"You're not one who seems to parade it around either," I snort some somewhat annoyed. I start pulling my stuff close to me as soon as I see his house.
I'm halfway to the door when I realize he is not following, he's standing by the car talking to Belial. I go inside dropping my stuff in the living room. I have things to do before the night is over. I have things to do and yet I go wait by the door.
"Harlow," he says my name when he comes inside, he never says my name when we are alone.
"What?" I cringe as he shuts the door behind him, he comes over brushing hair behind my ear.
He grins the mischievous sparkle in his eye, "I love you princess."
He kisses my forehead leaving me dumbfounded, pissed off and frozen to the spot while he is heading upstairs. I stand there for what feels like hours, though in reality it is only minutes. I have things to do, but instead I find myself running up the stairs.
"You cannot just do that jackass!" I holler from the hallway, "you better come back downstairs!"
I humph to myself still fuming, I stomp louder than necessary back to the living room. I don't even know what else I would say to him, I'm pissed. I'm pissed that he scared me, and I'm pissed that my heart is racing. I sink on the couch pulling the files from my bag.
I start to flip through them, I've seen Kyoto in some brochures around campus so at least I have an idea of where I'm going. I read through everything understanding why Shura was a little pissed at Mephisto's less than short explanation.
The clown comes trotting in when I'm halfway done typing up a report Yukio requested, I make a point to ignore him and continue typing despite my brain going blank.
He sits down next to me lazily, in his pajamas and absurd fluffy slippers, a grin spread across his face as he leans back and closes his eyes. He starts to twirl my hair lazily while I finish my work, he has some anime playing on the tv. I have so much shit to do, and I can't focus on a single thing.
"What was that about?" It comes out harsh, much more so than I meant. I close my laptop and put my papers away after at least pretending to type a report.
"Why don't you go get comfy darling? I'll have Belial make us tea," he ignores my comment keeping his eyes closed.
"Oookaaay fine," I get up taking my bag with me upstairs. I decide to shower quickly and throw on the only old pair of pajamas I have left, red and black plaid pants and a faded t-shirt with a Skelton hand peace sign. My tail flops behind me still damp, I still don't know how to go about drying it.
I get downstairs to find Mephisto in the same spot with two steaming cups of tea in front of him. I take my spot back keeping a few inches between us.
"Ok Mr get talking," I cross my arms leaning back against the plush sofa. He opens one eye to look at me with.
"I must say not quite the reaction I was expecting," he chuckles sitting up a little straighter. "Perhaps even more entertaining."
"Uh huh right," I narrow my eyes at him just a little bit. The tip of my twitching in annoyance beyond my control.
"What about you darling?" He shifts a little bit inviting me to lay down so I do somewhat reluctantly. Does he plan to dodge my questions all night? I drape my arm over him laying my head on his chest once he gets situated. He turns the volume up on his show a little bit putting an arm around me after. I'm still pissed, at least I want to be. Feeling so close to him, him twirling my hair. This is impossible, how can I be pissed?
I tell him to look at me, I kiss him quickly before he can retaliate making a point to bury my head under my arm after. "I guess I love you too."
I flick my tail in a futile attempt to hide my embarrassment, why am I embarrassed?
"I was quite hoping you would do that again, just for the sake I thought I might have been dreaming the other day," he chuckles tapping his fingers along my side.
"Do you mean it?" I yawn not even having to look to know he is smiling that new odd smile I catch here and there.
"Perhaps I do, perhaps not in the way-"
I cut him off with a shush, "I don't want to hear a bunch of nonsensical bullshit. I'm asking you again. Do. you. mean. it?"
He stops tapping his fingers so I look up, he is looking at me without his usual cockiness, "Yes princess. I do mean it."
Satisfied at least for now, I kiss him again letting it drag it out. One of his fangs prick my lip and I let my tail curl around his leg. I wonder if he can feel my heart racing.
This is enough.
For now.
Cause it has to be.