Smoke Against The Moon (Devil X OC Cuphead)

Chap. 10.

*The Devil's POV*

After Shadow started dancing in the bar life in the casino seemed more... alive than it had before. Like it had back in its early years. She was popular and brought in a fair amount of new and regular customers. The rest of the employees who knew her liked her well enough too.
But even as her days turned to weeks with us her soul remained broken and I got not closer to figuring out how it became that way or how to fix it.
She could happy, clearly she had fun doing certain things and spending time with certain people, I like to think myself included in that, but she just seemed so tired and distant.
I'd never felt this way for a mortal, let alone for their soul but I cared for her deeply and wanted to help. Against my better judgement and much to my own dismay I made a decision to ask for help.

I sat down at my desk and looked down at the golden paper before me and I snapped my fingers and a glass box containing a single glowing white feather appeared on my desk as well. A feather from me. From my wings.
I rub my eyes as I open the box and pick up the feather, feeling it's hum between my fingers and I dip it in my inkwell on my desk and begin writing on the page before me. This was my last resort. I'd exhausted research through texts. There was no record of a broken soul like hers. I needed his help. My brother. Gabrielle.
I finished the letter and closed it, put away my feather and sent the letter off with the snap of my fingers. This was gonna suck. I hated seeing my brothers, especially Gabrielle but... for Shadow... I'd give it a try.
I lean back in my throne and rub my eyes, wishing I could have figured things out on my own when I hear the sound of newly fimiliar foot steps echoing down the hall and I sit up and my eyes widen. "Shadow!" I whisper, panicked. I have to look big and tough and important and busy! I light up a cigar and pull a stack of papers from my desk and lay one out in front of me and pick up a pen to act like I'm filling out paperwork when she knocks.
"Come in." I call, trying not to sound excited and in she steps, looking like a Latin goddess. She's just so lovely.
I smile up at her politely, trying to hold back my joy in seeing her in my office.
"Shadow. To what do I owe the pleasure?" I say, snapping my fingers and summoning her a chair to sit in across from me.
She's not working today so she's in jeans and a white and pink plaid crop top. It's cute, especially with her hair pulled up in the ponytail she has it in. It's a wonder that thin little rubber band can hold back all that hair...
"Its about my debt Boss..."
I frown a little. "What about it?"
"Well I keep very close tabs on how much I owe and I found out how much you paid Madam M.... turns out that working for you if far more lucrative than working for her.... if my math is correct I'm paid up..." she says, her eyes on the floor, her hands folded in her lap and her knee bouncing nervously.
"Oh... let me look at that real quick." There was no way. No way on we earth or in Hell she...
I pull out the ledger I used foe her debt payments and I notice... She's right. She's over paid me in fact... by about two weeks.
"Well... look at that..." I say, my voice cracking. She was gonna leave now...probably go back to spain... I'd never see her again...
"I just wanted to say that...even though I'm paid up.... i... I would love to keep working here...for you." She said, glancing up and locking eyes with me.
"You would?"
"I would. If you still want me here that is."
I look at her for a long time before I stand up and make my way around my desk to lean on it in front of her and I reach down and tilt her chin up to with my knuckle. "My dear... this is your home. If you want to stay... I would love to keep you here forever."
Her eyes lit up a bit and she reached up and took my hand and held it both of hers, looking down at it, inspecting it in a way. "Then I'll stay. Forever. Here.... with you..." she whispered, looking up at me after a moment of quiet, her eyes sparkling and a small sexy smile on her lips.
"Boss?" She whispered
"Yes Shadow?" I ask, swallowing a lump in my throat.
"Can I give you a gift for allowing me to stay or would that be inappropriate?"
My eyes widen. She didn't have anything with her so I quickly understood the gift she had in mind and I'd be lying if I said I wasn't thrilled at the idea.
"Not at all my dear. I'll take whatever you give." I say, narrowing my eyes and she smiles and kisses the palm of my hand before letting it go and standing up before me, reaching up and unbuttoning her shirt.
"Good. I'm glad to know that boss." She whispered, "because I've got a lot to give."