Rev•er•ie

||Barbatos||

"But if you ever need anything..." A sad smile graced his features. "I'll be here."

It seems like your mood had dampened upon your earlier discussion. Asmodeus frowned as he knew. But he waited.

And finally, you spoke.

"Asmo, do you think I'm being too clingy with Barbatos?"

"...Well, what do you do?" Asmodeus didn't just say it outright. A 'no'.

It would be a bit shallow if he had just said 'no' without actually hearing you out first. Though he believed it strongly.

"I--... I don't know." You sighed. "I used to act just like I did before we got together. But after that, I kinda stopped visiting him a lot. He always seem so busy... I don't text him as often since he doesn't really have the time to read it at all."

"...That's normal." Asmo's finger ran through the buttons on the remote. "After all, a lover is more than just a fancy title. You're supposed to check on Barbatos."

"After all... you--" He swallowed a lump in his throat. "--love him, right?"

"Yeah."

His heart broke in pieces.

Asmodeus fell asleep in his position. His form was slumped as he sat next to you. His head laid on your shoulder peacefully as slept. You leaned your head on top of his.

From the corner of your eye, the rose was there. You eyed the flower as it laid on your nightstand unmovingly.

You didn't say a word as you took off your gloves. You stretched a hand out to grasp the stem, careful not to notify Asmodeus.

A prickly feeling began the moment your fingertips made contact with the stem. Your expression went downcast.

Though the pain increased the longer you held it, you refused to let go. You frowned, squeezing the thin stem.

"..."

"(M/n)?"

"...I hear you."

"Alright. Again, I really do apologize for this."

"It's no problem at all."

"What is that? Where are you currently?"

"...At the house."

"Is that so..." He hummed. "Alright then. I'll talk to you later."

How many times did this make it?

The line dropped, you removed your phone from your face as you buried your face under your arms. The faint chatter from the people around you was heard, as well as the clinking of utensils.

It seems the café was a bit crowded since it had only opened recently, huh?








The rose was losing its vibrant nature, making you frown as you stared at the flower idly.

The light that was emitted from your phone nearly blinded you, making you squint.

...Why was Asmodeus strangely insisting the importance of verified information about these roses?

You hummed as the burning feeling filled your fingertips.

"I wonder if I should ask you about this... Since you lied to me the last time."

A familiar tingling feeling surrounded your hands as you found yourself wearing the gloves Asmodeus had given you. You hummed to yourself as you held a rose.

A rose that hadn't bloomed.

"Barbatos?"

"Ah, (M/n)." The butler had his usual polite smile plastered on his face. His eyes caught sight of the flower in your grasp. He perked up.

"...I wasn't aware that the rose could devolve..."

"It can't." You informed with a smile. His brow rose in confusion before realization dawned onto his face. "Oh, then I suppose that is a new one?"

"Mhm." You grinned before stretching your arm out, gesturing for him to take it. Although a bit confused, he gingerly took the rose from your grasp. You waited patiently.

Hesitantly, the butler took off one of his gloves.

As his fingers made contact with the stem, the petals glowed vibrantly under his hold...

Only to wither in an instant.

His eyes widened in shock, though your smile only faltered. It grew back, now placed with a hint of melancholy.

His eyes flickered, regret and disbelief coursing through his veins. His vision blurred, though you seemed unsurprised.

So you were right.

It wasn't you who had fallen out of love.