Carnival Date - Kammon x Satilda

Writing by Kate from our Devildom AU, featuring a carnival date and our OCs.

“There’s a carnival in town!”

Matilda was sitting in the common area, earbuds in as she diligently worked on her Curses and Hexes essay. The young woman tried her best to ignore the bouncing redhead as she prattled on about something, but Kathryn was all in her space soon enough, crowding her on the couch, reaching up for the earbud blocking out the world. Matilda sighed, waving her off before turning off her music, annoyed. 

“What are you blathering on about?” the brunette asked, trying to not sound as peeved as she was. She didn’t mind talking to her cousin, but sometimes she just wanted to be on her own for a while.

“Apparently there’s a carnival this weekend. We should go together.” Kathryn was easily excitable, but this excitement seemed different for some reason. “Let’s ask Satan and Lucifer to show us around. We’ll stay out of trouble with them escorting us!” She was holding one of Matilda’s hands now, smiling bright.

The idea of a night out with Satan seemed… nice, Matilda supposed. And they couldn’t get into any shenanigans with Lucifer keeping Kathryn in check. That’s probably why she had mentioned him. Kathryn must really have wanted to go to the carnival if she was self-appointing herself a watchdog. Not that Matilda thought Lucifer thought of her that way, but the redhead was fully aware that she caused more trouble than necessary with any of the other brothers.

“Sure,” Matilda finally said, the thought of spending a nice evening with Satan enough to get her to agree. “You have to ask them though. This is your idea.”

“Yay! Thanks, sweetheart!” Kathryn placed a kiss on Matilda’s cheek before she could do anything to stop it. “I’m going over there anyway so I’ll ask. Asmodeus is going to try and straighten my hair. I hope Devildom hair straighteners are stronger than the one’s in the human realm.”

--

Kathryn stopped at Satan’s room first once coming into the House of Lamentation. She knocked, standing there politely and quietly with her best smile as the blonde demon opened the door.

“Kathryn? What brings you here? Is Mammon not in his room?” Satan asked, a book tucked under his arm, a mug of tea in the other. “He didn’t say he had any plans tonight.” He moved aside anyway, allowing the redhead to step inside before she told him that her and Matilda wanted to go to the carnival this weekend.

“Would you come with us?” Kathryn asked, moving to sit at his desk that was covered in books. “I’m planning on asking Lucifer to come as well. I used him as leverage to get her to say yes. Though I think she would have said yes knowing you were coming along anyway.”

Satan chuckled at this, setting his book down. He agreed that using Lucifer as leverage was probably her best chance at getting the other girl to come though. “You do seem to be on your best behavior around my eldest brother. Though, I am a different story. Are you sure I won’t torment him and ruin your date with him?” Satan knew exactly what he was doing, grinning as Kathryn’s face started to turn red. “What, was this not a ploy to get my brother on a date?”

Kathryn sputtered. She hadn’t THOUGHT of that. It’d be nice! But she really just wanted to have a little group out… and maybe get Satan and Matilda closer. And also eat a bunch of fatty foods. Would Lucifer think she was asking him on a date? ….Would Satan ruin it all by tormenting Lucifer all night? Oh no, maybe she hadn’t thought this through at all.

“Will you behave?” She asked quietly, chewing on her lip slowly. “Please? I just want to have a nice night and get you and Matilda to hang out other than the library for once. Lucifer was only to keep me on a leash!” Yikes. Bad wording.

“He’d like that,” Satan laughed, but after some more whining and some weak punches from Kathryn, he agreed to be on his best behavior. For Matilda. Not that he’d actually admit that.

Kathryn finally left Satan’s room, stopping in the bathroom to make sure she wasn’t as red as a cherry upon her realization that she actually had subconsciously wanted to go out on a double date with the ever prideful Lucifer. Sure, she liked him, a lot, but asking him out on a date? Geez, she really dug her own grave, huh?

Walking to Lucifer’s room, Kathryn focused on her breathing, determined to ask Lucifer to come to the carnival with her. She was going to ask, he was going to say yes, and she wasn’t going to make a fool of herself all night. Kathryn also decided she was going to get Satan and Matilda closer in the process. She was a dingbat, sure, but she wasn’t stupid. Anyone could see that those two liked each other and would honestly make a good couple.

“Lucifer?” Here went nothing. A gentle knock, a call of his name, and a minute wait that felt like a million years. Maybe he wasn’t in his room? The study, maybe? She was turning, stepping away to try somewhere else, when the door opened.

“Miss Lacroix?” Gods, Kathryn could probably be okay wearing a leash if he called her that all the time. Geez! Stop it, Kat. “What brings you here? Is Mammon not in his room?”

Ugh, Satan and Lucifer were really too similar.

“I’m here for you, actually,” Kathryn said, turning back to speak with him. “I mean, not… for you. I mean, yes, I want to talk. It’s. Um. Uhh. Sorry, can I come in?” Kathryn didn’t know how she could have been so confident earlier in the day asking Matilda about going to the carnival but now was tripping over all of her words.

The smirk that pulled at Lucifer’s lips was missed by the girl as she scurried inside the room. He gestured to the bed for her to sit down, and Kathryn wondered if he was trying to make her heart explode. Once she was seated, she could think a little clearer, but when Lucifer sat beside her, she couldn’t hear over her own heartbeat.

“Would you like to go on a date with me?”

“Sure.”

…...

What the fuck. 

Did she just…  ask him on a date? Did he say yes? What.

“Really?” Kathryn had a cleared mind now, sure that she was having a hallucination at this point. “With me?” 

Lucifer couldn’t help but stop the roll of his eyes, a hint of a smile on his face. “Are you not the one who just asked?”

Kathryn didn’t believe it. Not only did she ask Lucifer Morningstar on a date, he actually said yes? Well… he said sure. She didn’t care - It counted. She nodded a bit, explaining that she’d like to go to the carnival, preferably tomorrow evening. “I asked Satan and Matilda to come too. I figured you could… um. Keep me behaving?” She’d never stop blushing.

Unfortunate for her, Lucifer’s expression changed at the mention of the other two. “I would rather go only with you, Miss Lacroix.” ….what? “I do not see it being at all ‘fun’ with my brother trying to sabotage our time. While I would thoroughly enjoy making sure you were behaving for me, I would prefer not to do so with company.” ….wait was she being rejected? “I will have to pass on this little ploy of yours tomorrow night.”

Was Lucifer mad? Kathryn shook her head, trying to explain that it wouldn’t be any trouble, that Satan said he wouldn’t do anything to ruin the night. “Lucifer, I asked him first to make sure he wouldn’t ruin anything…”

When Lucifer told her that it was annoying enough that she had talked to Satan first, she thought she could cry in the moment. Matilda would never let her go to the carnival alone, and now that her and Satan were going together, she’d hate to be a third wheel. Matilda wouldn’t make her spend the time by herself, but how was she supposed to have Satan and Mattie get closer that way?

“You’re a total asshole!” Kathryn said suddenly, confused and upset. “You’re really so prideful that you’d let something as stupid as me asking Satan first change your plans? Jerk!” Kathryn ignored the tension she felt from behind her eyes from holding back angry tears as she got up off the bed, leaving his room with a slam of the door. “I’ll have more fun with Mammon anyway!” She shouted, kicking the door after she had slammed it. So what if she was throwing a tantrum now? Lucifer was an idiot. Could he not step down from his high horse for even a second? 

And that was how Kathryn found herself lying in Mammon’s bed, tangled up with the greedy demon, ignoring both of their blushes. “Matilda’s gonna be so annoyed with me,” she murmured, clinging onto the leather jacket, not allowing him to get away from her hold. “Of course we’ll have way more fun, but Matilda doesn’t trust me with you. Which is fair.”

Mammon couldn’t argue, but right now he could hardly form words. When he opened his bedroom door to find a redfaced redhead, he was confused and worried. When she told him - commanded him - to lay down and hug her, he wouldn’t have said no even if it hadn’t had been a command. Lucifer was an idiot, but he wasn’t going to pass up the opportunity to try and sweep the girl off her feet for the night. He had no idea that the plan had originally been hatched in order to get Satan and Matilda to admit their feelings, but he wasn’t going to miss his chance this time.

It only took around fifteen minutes for Kathryn to be appalled at her actions in Lucifer’s room until now. Sure, the eldest was being awful, but she realized she did sort of throw a tantrum before going straight to his younger brother for solace. Poor Mammon. He deserved better.

“I’m sorry,” Kathryn said, sitting up on Mammon’s bed now while Mammon busied himself with something that honestly didn’t look important at his desk, full of papers. “I shouldn’t have ran straight to you after asking your brother on a date. You’re more special than a rebound. I’m really sorry. I still want to go with you, if you’ll have me. I don’t want to force you. I… I like spending time with you. I just don’t want to be any trouble for Mattie. I love her.” She was rambling, pulling at strands of her hair. Asmodeus would have a fit if she tangled it before he could fix it for her though, so she shoved her hands under her legs. “Sorry.”

Mammon couldn’t take her apologizing like she was, pissed at Lucifer for even making her worry over something this stupid. “Everybody calls me the scummy one!” He shouted finally, slamming his hands on his desk. “But look at what that bastard has done to ya’! Stop wastin’ your time with him! I’ll… I’m obviously the best choice here! The Great Mammon will totally take ya’ out! Show ya’ how boring Lucifer woulda been. We’ll have a ton of fun, okay?” Mammon sure was loud. His next words were quiet, though. “Just… forget about him, okay?”

Kathryn smiled, shocked at first by his outburst but her heart warm at his words. “’Kay,” She said, standing to move over to him, leaning down and wrapping her arms around his shoulders from behind him. “We’ll have the best date ever. Thanks, Mammoney. I should get going. Asmo’s gonna make me all pretty!” She kissed his cheek, her lips lingering on his skin longer than it ever had before, and she left him sitting with a pretty blush on his face, matching her own.

When Asmodeus mentioned the dripping desire coming from her soul, she didn’t reply at all to it, just asking him to straighten her hair so it’d be pretty tomorrow.

--

Kathryn came back to the house she lived in with her human friends fairly late, and was surprised to find Matilda still sitting on the couch, studying.

“Go to bed, Mattie,” She laughed, before asking where Nathaniel was. Apparently at a Fangol gathering for the night. “Oh. Also. Uhhh…” Kathryn trailed off, not sure how to tell Matilda that their plans had changed a little bit.

“Kathryn, please spit it out,” Matilda said, yawning a little, not having actually realized how late if was until her roommate got home. “And wrap your hair properly if you don’t want it to get ruined in your sleep.”

Kathryn laughed at that, telling her she let Asmodeus hang around too much - he was rubbing off on her with all the tips and tricks he was always giving her. “Sorry, it’s just… I asked Lucifer and…. he said no.” The look Matilda gave her was something of pity, and Kat decided she hated that look. “It’s okay!” It was. “Mammon said he’d come instead. I promise we won’t get into trouble. I wanna have fun. Could we treat it like a double date?”

Matilda looked at the redhead like she was crazy. “In what universe would this be a double date?” she asked, shaking her head a bit. “Feel free to have your little date with Mammon - not that I approve - but Satan and I would never-”

“Okay, fine, just… let’s just have fun, okay?” Kathryn didn’t want to admit that she was still sort of sad about Lucifer’s reaction to the entire plan. “I just want to spend time with you guys and have fun. We can just have fun, right? Play some games and ride rides and eat way too much food?”

Matilda nodded, reaching up to pat her cousin on the head. “Yes. We will have fun, Kat. Don’t worry. You’re so childish sometimes. Let’s go to bed. We’re going tomorrow evening? You should rest.”

“Thanks mom,” Kathryn said, sticking her tongue out before hugging her cousin tight. “I love you, Mattie.” Kathryn wasn’t too surprised at the soft sigh that came from the other girl, but the extra head pats were much appreciated, and even if Matilda didn’t say it back, Kat felt plenty loved in that moment anyway. 

--

The next morning Kathryn slept in, Matilda finally having to come wake her up so she would eat something.

“I swear,” Matilda sighed, dragging the girl out of bed. “If you think I’m about to let you sleep all day and eat nothing but sugar tonight at the carnival, you’ve thought wrong.”

A bit more bickering, and Kathryn stumbled into the kitchen, sitting down at the counter and letting Matilda bring her coffee and a muffin. It didn’t take long after for her to finish waking up least. Matilda sat next to her, her own tea steaming in a mug. What a nice, quiet morning.

“Mattie? Could I do your makeup?” Kathryn asked around a mouth full of muffin. “For tonight, I mean. I was thinking we’ll get dressed up a little. Nothing fancy - comfortable but like… hot, you know?”

Matilda rarely wore much makeup, and while Kathryn thought of her as the prettiest girl in school, she also wanted to have some fun. It was a cute thing to do together, and Kathryn always wanted to do cute things. Not having grown up with any sisters, Kat just wanted to make the best of their time together.

To her surprise, Matilda sighed and relented without much begging on Kathryn’s part. While it was easy to keep the girl in good spirits most of the time, Matilda had a way of brightening Kathryn’s entire day by doing the simplest of tasks. Matilda told her cousin not to do too much, but in all honesty was somewhat excited for it.

“If you make me look like some cheap hussy, Kat-” she said, leaving the sentence hanging with a shake of her head. Kathryn was staring at her with stars in her eyes. Sometimes, she supposed, it was a good change of pace to give in to Kathryn’s desires. She had been on good behavior all week, and at least had made an effort planning tonight. “Goodness. After you finish eating, you can style my hair, if you would like.”

Kathryn hurried to finish her breakfast - thought it was nearly lunch time at this point - so she could take Matilda up to her room to play dress up. Once they stepped in to the room, Kathyrn pulling the brunette by her hand, she went to work digging through her closet to pick something for them both to wear tonight. When Matilda said she was fine wearing one of her own outfits, Kathryn shushed her.

“But isn’t this fun? Wearing something different for once? I won’t put you in heels or anything. I know what you like…” Mat just needed to trust her, that was all. “How about this? It’s a perfect dress! I know it’s a little short, but you could wear tights under it! And cute booties!”

At first glance, the dress was awfully cute. Long flouncy sleeves, a pretty floral pattern on the fabric. Matilda reached out for the hanger, going to examine the dress closer, realizing quickly that it was an entirely backless dress.

“Kathryn! I can’t wear this!” Not only was it somewhat chilly in the evenings around the Devildom, she refused to show that much skin. Ever. Her /entire/ back on display? “I wouldn’t even be able to wear a bra.”

Kathryn shrugged a little at that. “Then don’t,” she said, pouting. “Wear a bra, I mean. C’mon! It’s cute. Satan will be so surprised! Not that it matters…. but I think he’d like it. He’d at least notice.”

Matilda blustered at that. “Why would he notice? He doesn’t care about things like clothing or fashion-”

“He cares about you, Mattie,” Kathryn interrupted. “Just. Trust me? Please? I want us to all have fun. …I want you and Satan to have fun.”

Matilda wasn’t stupid. If she allowed herself to think about everything Kathryn was doing for this whole outing, she could figure it out. She just didn’t want to think about any of it. Satan was a good friend. Kathryn was just getting all of the wrong vibes was all. Well, surely Kathryn would be disappointed when nothing came from her efforts, but Matilda supposed she could play along until then.

“Fine. You can dress me up and fix my hair and do whatever you want. But I get to do the same for you. If I have to look like a totally different person, you do too.” Matilda said, crossing her arms over her chest, not about to take no for an answer. 

Kathryn stared at Matilda for a few moments before a giant grin spread onto her face. “Mattie, I’d love that! Yay! Please pick out my clothes,” Kathryn said, tackling her cousin in a hug. She thanked her softly, burying her face into her neck, holding her tight as Matilda sighed and pat her head.

And that was how Kathryn and Matilda ended up nearly swapping looks. Kathryn donned a very modest long sleeved blouse over a tweed pinafore, opaque tights covering her usual bare legs while Matilda was in her flouncy dress and a leather jacket covering her exposed back after she had convinced Kathryn to let her cover up with. In exchange, Matilda had bare legs this time, ixnay-ing her usual hosiery. Mat’s makeup was a bit more bold than usual, a winged eyeliner and a red lip, while Kathryn’s look was more muted, soft browns and a more elegant look than she usually wore when she went out for the evenings.

By the time the evening rolled around, the girls were ready, Kathryn in the most modest outfit she had ever worn, and Matilda second guessing ever even agreeing to this silly plan. Oh well, the idea of the carnival still sounded like a fun evening.

There was a knock at the door, followed by a pounding immediately after - and bickering. So much bickering. Kathryn hopped up off her seat to go answer, excited that their evening was finally starting. Opening the door, she found Mammon with Satan in a chokehold, mussing his hair. 

“Mammon, you scumbag! I spent a long time styling this- uh, hello Kathryn. Mammon, let go!” Satan shouted, shoving the second eldest away from him. He looked at Kathryn, eyeing her outfit. “…Are those Matilda’s clothes…?” he trailed off, before looking past her and seeing the girl in question - in Kathryn’s clothes. So much leg. Her hair was in beautiful curls. “M-Matilda, you… you look so different. What did you girls do?” Was this a spell gone haywire?

Matilda, who had been convinced that Satan wouldn’t notice an outfit change, was surprised from the moment Satan had asked if Kathryn was wearing her clothes. “We didn’t /do/ anything,” Matilda answered, one hand on her hip. Maybe this outfit was making her more like Kathryn - she was hardly ever this sassy. “It was Kathryn’s idea. Are we going, or what?”

Mammon, during the whole exchange between Satan and Matilda, had his fingers in Kathryn’s hair. It was still straightened from when Asmo had helped her with it last night, and Mammon was enthralled by this new look of hers. He was always happy to see whatever skin she would show, but for some reason Kathryn barely even showing her neckline had his heart doing flips for some reason.

“Mammon stop,” Kathryn said, smacking at his hands. “You’re embarrassing me. Can we go already? I want to go ride a roller coaster!” 

Matilda agreed at leaving, but said she wasn’t about to ride a roller coaster, and said she was going already, everyone keep up. Satan followed, asking how her day had been before they fell into comfortable conversation while Mammon and Kathryn finally bringing up the rear.

When they got to the carnival, Satan paid for Matilda’s ticket in, and Mammon suddenly got quiet when it was his and Kathryn’s turn. Kathryn asked if he wanted her to buy his ticket, causing him to sputter.

“You’re making your date buy your ticket, scummy Mammon?” Satan asked, laughing at his brother’s antics. “Did you conveniently forget your wallet even thought you knew Kathryn was wanting to come out.” He stopped teasing the Lord of Fools when Matilda elbowed him, telling him to be nice. “You can’t deny this is classic Mammon,” Satan replied with a shrug.

Kathryn huffed, buying the tickets anyway and letting Mammon know not to worry about it. “I invited him out, I’m happy to buy his ticket, Satan. Don’t be mean,” Kathryn said, wrinkling her nose. “Let’s go look around, okay? Stop teasing Mammon.” She hooked her arm with Mammon’s then, smiling at the way he blushed at their closeness.

The group calmed down from their teasing and other squabbling, instead getting tickets for spinning teacups and all shoving into the small ride. Whatever they had been arguing about was forgotten, mostly because of the two girls being surprised at how much faster the teacups spun in the Devildom. The spinning sent them all squishing into each other, full of laughter and harmless complaints of being smushed. When they got off, trying to find their balance again, Kathryn noticed at how Matilda grabbed onto Satan’s sleeve for stability. She also noticed the smile and hand that Satan placed on Matilda’s back. 

Kathryn couldn’t help but wonder if Satan was considering this a double date at all. Matilda surely would deny the fact, but would Satan? He already had called her Mammon’s date earlier, so was he considering this a date on Matila’s end as well? She sure hoped so. It didn’t take any powers of divination to tell that they liked each other after all, but it might take an act of God to get them to admit it to one another. 

Kathryn heard her name, and turned to find Mammon heading over to the carnival games, saying he was gonna win his girl the biggest prize. She laughed at that and the group followed along. It didn’t take long at all for Mammon to waste most of the small change he had on hand, and Satan felt pretty proud of himself when he won a stuffed three-horned rabbit plushie in only a few tries. While Mammon was complaining about the game being rigged, Satan handed the plush to Matilda.

“Here,” he said, chuckling softly. “The carnie said it was ‘cursed but harmless’. I thought maybe you would like to try removing the curse. I don’t know what it’s cursed with though.”

As soon as Matilda had the rabbit in her hands, something was different. She looked at it and laughed a little, smiling up at Satan. “Well, that’s stupid,” She said pointedly. “Why would they not tell you what it was cursed with? That’s so dangerous. I love this, though. Thank you. You’re really so thoughtful for a demon.”

Kathryn, while trying to calm Mammon down from trying to beat up the carnie running the booth, heard the earnest words from her cousin and quieted Mammon down by taking a hold of his hand in hers and intertwining their fingers. He really was an easy one to calm down, and he went with her to Satan and Matilda’s side easily.

“What was that, Mattie?” Kathryn asked, not used to hearing Matilda say something so directly kind towards anyone - even Satan. “Are you feeling okay? What is that bunny?”

“Satan won it for me. Because he’s so kind and thoughtful. I’m feeling perfectly fine, Kathryn Except I’m still uncomfortable knowing this dress has no back. I do like the way my legs look, though.” Wow, she was really just rambling on about anything right now. “Wait, why did I say that? Why am I being so honest, oh my gosh what is happening?”

Satan, quick to catch on, found himself laughing. When Matilda offhandedly mentioned that she loved it when he laughed, he blushed though, coughing behind his hand. “Well,” he started, motioning to the plush. “I think the curse has something to do with honesty… I think you have to tell the truth while you have it.”

Mammon’s eyes lit up. “Really?! Yo, what do you actually think of me, huh?” He asked, grinning big even when Kathryn smacked at him.

“I think you’re an idiot,” Matilda answered, shrugging. “And I think Kathryn can do way better, but you make her happy so I put up with your shenanigans.”

Mammon, shocked, slunk away from the group at that, and Kathryn told him not to go far, before turning back to Matilda. “Wow, you’re actually not that different when you have to tell the truth, Mat,” she laughed, clapping her hands together. “Were you actually really excited to come out with me tonight?” She asked, a little nervous for the answer.

“Of course I was happy. It’s silly,” Matilda said, hugging the plush a little closer. “And we should be using this time to study, but I do like when you invite me to hang out with you. And I was excited to spend time with Satan - oh, uh, no, uh?” Suddenly being so honest was an issue. Maybe telling her cousin the truth wasn’t too difficult, but Satan was a different story. “I mean, because Satan is so great? And attractive. And I really admire him in more than just a respectful way.” Matilda’s cheeks were bright red now, trying to stop talking but unable to because of the curse. “I would really like to let go of this rabbit now so I don’t say something I will regret immediately like how much I really like Sa-”

Her next words were muffled by a hand. Looking up the arm, Matilda saw Satan with his hand clasped over her mouth, his own cheeks burning. Satan couldn’t look at her, keeping his hand over her mouth as he plucked the rabbit from her hands and shoving into Kathryn’s hold. Kathryn could handle being an open book so he didn’t mind if she held onto it while they figured out how to lift the curse. 

Kathryn, bunny in hand, gaped at the two. “Oh. My. Goddess.” Kathryn said, that twinkle coming back into her eyes. “I did all of this to get a confession out of you two! That was basically a confession, right? You totally like each other. No excuses. This is totally a double date. You should totally kiss her, Satan.”

Satan sighed, regretting his decision to give the redhead the doll for the time being. “I wouldn’t mind if this was a date,” he muttered, removing his hand from Matilda’s mouth now that she wouldn’t just blurt out all of those embarrassing feelings. “But that is a discussion for later.”

Matilda wasn’t sure if she had woken up in a nightmare or not. Did a curse really just make her say all of those things? How unfair.

“Kathryn!” she said, pointing now to the girl with the rabbit. “How do you feel about Mammon?” Maybe she could get the attention off of herself. Maybe that would calm her down and get her mind off of all of those things she said. Luckily Mammon wouldn’t tease her about any of them - he had went to go drown his sorrows in a bag of cotton candy.

Kathryn shrugged, turning her head to find the demon, waving at him as he stuffed his mouth. “I trust him with my life. I trust all of the demon brothers.”

Matilda looked at her, sighing. “You’re too trusting,” she muttered, but when Satan sat a hand on her shoulder, she shrugged a little. “I guess you could put your trust in a worse group, though. Can we go do anything else at all and forget this ever happened?”

“Let’s go ride the ferris wheel! I’ll go get Mammon back,” Kathryn said, bounding off to go retrieve him from his sorrows while Satan and Matilda stood awkwardly far from each other. “You two kiss and make up or something~” she called back.

Matilda groaned, about to apologize, but Satan beat her to the punch.

“I didn’t stop anything you were about to confess because I didn’t want to hear it,” he told her in a quiet voice. “I just want you to be sure you were ready. If you tell me that you like me, I don’t think I could let you go under any circumstance after that. You’re much too precious for me to let slip away, and I’m afraid a forced confession might drive you away.”

Matilda was about to reply, how she probably wouldn’t be forced away, but luckily Kathryn and Mammon returned before she had to actually think about her feelings that much. Kathryn was clinging onto Mammon’s arm, still holding onto the rabbit.

“Come on, let’s go! I want to make out on the ferris wheel,” she said, towing the blushing demon she had successfully cheered up toward the giant ride. She paid for all of their ride tickets, and told Mammon it was kind of hot being a sugar mama for a night, and that she’d treat him well if he’d be a good boy.

“You should not have let her hold the rabbit,” Matilda said, shaking her head as she waited for them to get in their own cart.  As one for both her and Satan came down next, she sighed, stepping on with Satan’s help. “I don’t think any of us are responsible enough for the rabbit right now actually.”

Satan laughed at that, settling in next to her. “I certainly don’t mind a little honesty,” he said, feeling more confident with the new knowledge that their relationship was at least a little more than just colleagues with similar interests. “But I don’t mind taking it at a comfortable pace, either. I have plenty of time on my side, at least.”

Matilda bit at her lip, glad that it didn’t seem to be too awkward cramped into a small seat with someone that she shouldn’t like but definitely did. “A comfortable pace,” she repeated, nodding a little. She ignored the commotion that could be heard from the car her cousin and Mammon were in, knowing she couldn’t possibly handle the embarrassment - especially after hearing the ride operator from below them yell to stop trying to climb in each others laps. Honest, unashamed Kathryn was the worst. With a pounding heart, she pressed closer to Satan’s side, her head resting on his shoulder. “Is… this a comfortable pace?” she asked, deciding to keep her gaze on the entirety of the Devildom in front of them, bathed in lights, distant music from the carnival below them.

“I am very comfortable, Matilda,” Satan replied, reaching carefully for her hand, happy to enjoy their quiet(ish) ride together.

After the group got back together after their ride on their ferris wheel, Mammon shoved the stuffed rabbit back into Satan’s hands, stomping away after.

“What’s with scummy Mammon?” Satan asked, not taking his hand from Matilda’s since she had let him hold it and help her off of the ferris wheel. “Did you two have a fight?” He looked to Kathryn, raising an eyebrow at the newly appeared bite marks and hickeys showing above the neckline of her dress.

“It’s his own fault!” The girl huffed. “Well, and the rabbit’s.” She sighed, looking back the way that Mammon had stomped off to. “I said I loved him,” she admitted, running a hand through her hair. “But then he asked what about Lucifer and… I said I loved him too. So.. I guess maybe it’s not his fault.”

Satan laughed. Actually completely full-belly laughed. “Serves them both right!” He said, shaking his head. “Maybe they could learn to share. Greedy Mammon and Prideful Lucifer having to share a loudmouth-”

Kathryn gasped, shaking her head and covering her face. “No! What? Can you make your boyfriend not????” she asked Matilda, not actually ready for any conversation concerning her love life and who was involved in it.

Matilda looked up at Satan, hitting him in the arm. “Kathryn’s not a loudmouth,” she said, coming to the rescue of her cousin. “Or at least only I can call her that. Also, he’s not my boyfriend!”

“I could be,” Satan said with a shrug.

“Oh my goddess, we’re burning this rabbit.” Kathryn finally said, yanking the rabbit from his hold and going back to the game booth they had gotten it at. “Can I exchange this?” 

It took a while for Kathryn to find Mammon again, him riding the teacups again and looking dejected. She had told Satan and Matilda to head on home, she would take care of Mammon and make sure he was okay. Satan had apologized for his words earlier, admitting that unfortunately sometimes his brothers’ torment was his only solace. She swore it was fine, but had a feeling that Matilda would be giving him an earful about niceties anyway. 

“Mammoney,” She said, the ride stopping and her climbing into the teacup beside him. “I’m sorry. I truly am.”

“Didja get rid of that damn rabbit so ya could come butter me up with sweet talk?” Mammon asked, wanting to get away from her, but weak to her when she took his hand into her own. He didn’t look at her, not wanting her to see the hurt in his eyes.

“No, I got rid of it because emotions are too complicated to be thrown around that honestly sometimes,” Kathryn admitted, really wishing he’d look at her. “I love a lot of people, Mammon. It’s… it’s just who I am. I can’t help it. The way I love you is special though. Different. Lucifer doesn’t connect with me the same way we’re connected.”

Mammon huffed, quiet as he pulled his hand from hers, ignoring how the spin of the cup made her gravitate to him. She didn’t say anything else for the rest of the ride, not knowing how to fix this. She had asked Lucifer out first, after all. She tried to impress him constantly. It was obvious she wanted the eldest brother’s attention. Mammon was easy to love though, and would willingly give her his heart if she asked for it. Maybe it was the ease of loving him that kept her from committing.

“Mammon, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to ruin our date,” Kathryn said, afraid that maybe she’d done something irreparable this time. “I care so much about you. I love you so much it hurts sometimes. How did I even manage to fall in love with a demon, let alone more than one? It’s not like I can take you with me after the exchange program is over.” The ride stopped, and she moved to get out. 

Mammon followed her off the ride, grabbing onto her wrist. “So what?” he asked, finally looking at her as he pulled her back from walking away. “So what if we only have the rest of the year? If…” He took a deep breath, looking her in the eyes, the intensity almost making her shy away. “If ya really wanted to be with me while you’re here, I wouldn’t care. Mind. I mean. As long as we get some time. I-I guess the Great Mammon could date ya if ya really wanted.”

“What about how I feel about Lucifer?” Kathryn asked, her face more red than her hair at this point. “Isn’t that a deal breaker for the Avatar of Greed?”

“Nah,” He said, pulling the girl close to him, holding her tight. “I’ll just haveta keep your attention on me at all times.”

The ride operator spoke up then, interrupting their moment. “Could you guys get outta the way so I can start the ride already?”

Meanwhile, Satan and Matilda were making their way back to the human’s house. Satan didn’t make a move to hold her hand this time, despite the eagerness he had to do so. They were quiet for a while before Satan finally broke the silence.

“I am sorry,” He said, his shoulders feeling heavy. “I didn’t mean to be so rude to Kathryn. I can’t actually deny not wanting to constantly roast my brothers, though. I do hope Kathryn can get through to Mammon, though. I’d hate for us brothers to have to try and soothe his broken heart.”

Matilda rolled her eyes a little, jacket pulled around her. “It’s fine,” She said, a little short. “Kathryn gets over things easily. She’ll be okay. I am surprised how savage you were, though. I suppose that was impressive.” She was still embarrassed by the night’s events though. “Do… do we have to talk about anything that happened?” she asked, fingers tightening into her sleeves.

Satan stopped walking at that, watching as she continued on for a moment before turning around to look at him. “We don’t have to,” he told her, hand on his chest. “But I will tell you that I did mean everything I said. If you allow me to, I would never let you go.”

Matilda blushed brightly at that, not knowing how to process that information at all. Not even a little bit. “I don’t know what to say,” she answered truthfully, no bunny needed. “I do respect you, and you are undeniably handsome. But I don’t know what to do with that information. Feelings of any sort, let alone romance, aren’t my forte.”

It was true, no matter how much she might actually like him, she didn’t know what to do about it. Satan stepped close to her, hands moving to her arms, squeezing gently. How gentle. She was surprised he was a demon most of the time they spent together. He was good at hiding his wrath, at hiding the evil that she knew had to be inside him. He was so sweet sometimes.

“You don’t have to say anything. You don’t have to do anything. The time we spend together doesn’t need any sort of label.” He leaned in, his lips brushing against her cheek. “I feel a fierce pull toward you. I do hope you feel the same.”

Matilda didn’t know exactly how to react. A cheek kiss and Satan being so sweet? Gosh. “Well, I suppose if you were interested in more study dates,” she said, reaching her hands to his. “I wouldn’t be opposed.”

Satan squeezed her hands, smiling at that. “Then I’ll have to ask you out to study dates more often. Perhaps tomorrow night? After your bible study, of course.” Satan was surprised when she nodded and suggested a late night date to a coffee house. “Sounds lovely. Should I bring my study guides?”

Matilda blushed brightly, huffing softly. “It would be a shame if you happened to forget them,” she answered, relishing in the way Satan was rubbing the back of her hand with his thumbs. “We’d have to find something else to fill our time.”

Satan grinned at that, and Matilda could see the devious glint in his eyes. “Noted.”