All Trades (Barbatos x Reader)

All Trades

You're not upset.

You're not.

You brush tears away from your cheeks, keeping your head low as you exit the party hall before anyone notices you, still hellbent on convincing yourself of that fact: You're not upset.

You're not!

Against your will, you hear Satan's insensitive words play out in your head. "Humans are so weak—it's quite surprising that they've managed to survive so many centuries without perishing."

Well, coming from Satan, the words aren't really that inconsiderate. They're more reflective of his natural curiosity and his eternal search for knowledge, and how he's always analyzing patterns he sees.

That's probably why, at the time, you'd continued walking toward the demon brothers, only a light grimace present on your face at the words. But if Satan's comment wasn't insensitive, Mammon's certainly was: "No wonder they're the lesser beings of the three realms! For all their talk, humans really aren't much, huh?"

What's worse is that nearly all the remaining demon brothers nodded their heads in agreement.

That had stopped you in your tracks.

You'd thought that these past four months in the Devildom had taught them how strong humans actually are: as a species, your value lies not in individual strength but your mutual ability to find strength in each other. In fact, of the three realms, humans are the only entities that actively seek to change and better themselves—given that the Devildom is still stuck in a monarchy, and the Celestial Realm has eternally divided its angels into the holy hierarchy, which is really just a caste system determined by birth.

Mammon's words replay again in your head: the lesser beings.

Is that how they see you? Lesser? At the very least, you'd hoped that they'd all come to recognize you, individually, as an equal. Despite your physical weaknesses, you've proven time and time again that your mental tenacity is nothing to be trifled with, and your sheer human resilience has pulled you rough situations countless times.

Though it seems that the brothers haven't recognized any of that.

You feel your lip quiver, tears blurring your vision, as you continue to haphazardly make your way through Diavolo's castle. You only allow yourself to stop when you're far enough that you can't even hear the sound of party chatter.

You're lost, you know. But you don't even care. You just don't want to be around other people right now.

You pause when you reach an extravagantly decorated room, no doors obstructing your path. Cautiously entering, your eyes instantly dart over the far end where there lies a stunning alcove, just deep enough to allow for a sitting space directly in front of a large window.

You approach.

It's beautiful.

Not just the ornamental designs on the alcove, or the embroidered silk drapes on the side, or even the lovely thickness of the window that allows moonlight to stream in so brilliantly. No, what's truly beautiful is the view.

You wipe your tears from your face, memories of Satan's and Mammon's words fading from your mind as your eyes take in the stunning sight before you. Quietly, you enter the alcove, pulling the curtains closed behind you. With the thick fabric acting as a door that grants you privacy, you allow yourself to relax. The silk is white with gold designs, and it seems to reflect the moonlight that streams through the window back out, filling the entire annex to the brim with the moon's lovely glow.