Limitations

Prompt: "Mephisto leaving gifts and flowers for Talia on her doorstep (anonymously)" (for princessetalia)

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It was just going to be a one time thing. She wouldn't know it was him either. That was something he would make sure of himself. The less she knew, the less pressure and embarrassment, and that kept Praxina out of the picture. His devious sister had the startling capability of sniffing out embarrassment faster than anyone, and if she found out...dear God, he'd be a goner. In more ways than one. He could only shiver at the thought of Gramorr discovering his secret. A secret he had hidden well.

He hadn't the faintest idea when it began, or why it happened. But one day, it just happened. Maybe it was the ferocity in her eyes, or the cute way her nose scrunched up in disgust at the very sight of him, or better yet, the intensity of her power. Every witty and sharp remark pierced his heart with an arrow, and he found himself pursuing her more often on the battlefield. His eye would wander in her direction and any mention of her name sent sweet trembles through his body. He had never thought of her as gorgeous. Or rather, he never paid her beauty any mind. It was her quick tongue and intellect that startled him. Her passion for everything she took part in and how much he relished in her disdain. He had started to fall.

He found himself watching her and her friends more often than she should, and on occasion, when Praxina was in one of her moods, or he was bored, he'd find himself thinking of her. He wondered what kind of foods she liked, and if her hair smelled of candies. He wondered what she liked to read, what she was like on dates, and if she liked movies. He wondered what she looked like in love.

He scowled, sitting on the rooftop across from her new found earthly home. Resting his chin on his palm, he closed his dark eyes, deep in thought. He had seen her quite smitten before, with that boy around town. Tsk. He wasn't good enough for her though. No one was. The boy had barely known her anyways! Who gives a girl a gift and falls in love within one day of meeting someone?

He smirked in triumph. It was no matter. She had soon grown tired of the summer romance and had opted to take more time for training and learning new spells, eager to learn more than she had already impressed him with. She had him hooked too. Soon he has found himself glancing over things he thought might catch her fancy. A bracelet here, a necklace there. A couple pretty books with golden crests, an elegant ruby gown in a magazine he totally was not reading in his spare time, a shiny new guitar.

He opted to spend weeks attempting to demolish his self confidence. She could never like you! You're on the wrong side! Wait, when did it become the wrong side? He cursed his feelings, but he couldn't wish anything upon her other than soaring a little grace with a glance in his direction. But surely a smile would end his restraint in an instant. He couldn't possibly risk it....

And yet here he was.

He eyed the box beside him, wrapped in a deep navy blue and tied with a silky pine ribbon. He blushed as he quickly caught note of the tag, scribbled with such sugary language it was sure to give her cavities. Maybe he should have gone with a more sultry approach...

Shaking his head he picked it up, caressing the corners with a shaking gloved hand. Gulping, he stood, deciding on taking flight as his legs would sooner give out before he could make it to the door. He must look weak. He growled at the thought. The great Mephisto, cowering, a nervous, lovestruck wreck, attempting to shower his enemy with presents! How humiliating! Swallowing the lump in his throat, he sat the gift on the front step gingerly before knocking. When there was little response, he slapped at his forehead. He forgot earthlings slept at 4:53 in the morning....Biting at his lip, he rang the doorbell, quickly teleporting back to the rooftop as the lights began to dance across the house as the residents woke from their slumber.