Chapter Text
Robin still couldn’t believe their eyes. Here they were, sitting in the library, with the devil in front of them. ‘Demetri’, he called himself. They were still taking in how charming he was. He was just sitting there, looking around. He seemed enamored with the people. He was merely watching them.
“You can stop staring.”
Robin was broken out of their haze by his voice. He wasn’t even looking at them, yet he knew what they were doing. Well, he is the devil. They started wondering what else he could do, Sure, there were myths and things of the like, but what of those were true? Is he really the opposite of god? Wait, if the devil exists, then does god? Robin started to go down a rabbit hole, questioning their faith as a whole. Is god real? Did we really all descent from Adam and Eve as the bible suggests? If so, is everyone actually related? Would that mean that-
“Robin”
They were broken out of their thoughts, looking up at Demetri. He was looking at them once again, with a look on his face that robin couldn't seem to place. It seemed to have some sort of deeply laced concern? No, that couldn’t be it, they just met. And why would the devil be feeling concern for them? They’ve known each other for as little as a few hours, and Robin was already questioning everything they knew.
“Robin”
Yet again, they were broken out of their spiraling thoughts. They really needed to get that together. Again, they looked back up at him. He had a sterner look on his face this time. He seemed rather tired of their antics.
“Whatever has taken up your thoughts?” he asked
Robin considered how to answer him. Was this a trick? No, of course not. They gathered their thoughts once again before getting lost in their own ideas and existential crises.
“Mainly just questioning my whole existence as a whole.”
“Hmm?” He sounded, urging them to continue
“Well… I originally was wondering how many myths and stories about you were and and how many were, well, myths”
Demetri seemed to consider what they had just said, slightly turning his head toward the ceiling and looking off into the distance, contemplating what they said. This lasted only a moment, before he turned his full attention back to them, somehow imploring them to once more continue their explanation.
“But then I started to concentrate on the ideas of the bible, ad what the existence of you confirms, yknow?”
“Ah yes, the questions many have asked me and pondered on before. The questions that I have seen drive many crazy over the millennia. But do not worry, child, for you will learn their answers in dear time, as according to our deal, I will not be leaving you anytime soon.”
Robin thought of what he said, noting the language he uses. He can be very formal at times. They have yet to seem him open up fully, but they have plenty of time for that.
“Well, what can you tell me now?”
“Nothing of importance to you” he said, somehow looking even more bored than when they arrived
Robin didn’t pout at that…totally…not at all…
“Fiiiiinnnnneeee”
“Do not pout, young one. As I said, in due time”
Robin gave him a look, before going back to one of the many books they had grabbed from the library catalogues. The particular one they were looking at at the moment was something about old myths and tales from all over. They were looking through the glossary, looking at all the pages that had the word “devil”--and any synonyms they could think of–listed on them. Right now they were looking at a page about the devil in Buddhism. Their mind failed to process the words they were looking at. Something about a Maara and a temple? But they digress. Not being able to fully understand the words, they closed the book with a sigh as it let out a resounding thunk in the almost empty library at this point.
“Lets take a break. How do you feel about macaroons?”
Robin smiled devilishly (“hah, devilishly” they thought) at Demetri. He simply looked at them, blinked once, then twice, before asking
“What?”
— — — — — —
So here they were, in a bakery a few buildings down from the library, waiting in line. Cases and cases of pastries lining the counter.
“What are…. Macaroons?”
Demetri asked, somehow completely butchering the pronunciation.
“Well, they're these little sandwiches made up of cookies and some sort of filling between them, usually a jam, chocolate, frosting, or something of the like. They're incredibly hard to make, trust me”
Robin shuddered at the thought of that last time they tried to make macaroons and failed. Miserably. Somehow the fire department was called… But they tried not to think about it. They shook away those thoughts and turned back to Demetri.
“They’re really good. They come in many different flavorings and this is one of the best places I know of to get them. I come here often when I need a break or just to hangout and do some work.”
“Hm, fine. I will grant them a chance.”
They got up to the counter, ordered, and then sat down at a table in the back, away from others, to Demetri’s request. They sat silently until Robin’s name was called for them to grab their order. They grabbed their food and drinks and brought them back to the table where they had chosen.
“Behold, some of the best macaroons and coffee you will ever have!”
Robin said, doing a little flourish with theirs hands as they did so. They sat the macaroons down in front of Demetri, but not before grabbing one for themselves and shoving it quickly into their mouth as they sat down in their own seat.
Somewhat hesitantly, Demetri grabbed one very delicately and bit down on it. Robin watched him intently, waiting for his reaction. They were disappointed when all he did was let out a hum of amusement and took another bite.
“Well?” They asked
“Well what? It is quite good, but by far not the most perfect thing I have tasted”
“What?!?!?” Robin gasped out, holding a hand to their heart in faint mockery.
“How dare you!” Robin raised their other hand to their forehead in the mimicry of a princess fainting dramatically.
Demetri simply looked at them a bit incredulously, as he had not seem someone carry out those actions in years, and certainly not at something as simple as not liking a food as much as one had hoped.
“What is the big deal? It is simply only food. Something I indulge in even though it is not needed.”
Demetri questioned them, and Robin yet again let out a gasp.
“How could you, my one friend. The betrayal!”
Furthermore, Demetri was disoriented at the sudden display of emotion from Robin. They had only known one another for a few hours, and they were already treating their deal with much more comradery than he had expected. Although, he never had someone make a deal quite like this…
He knew then and there that this would be much, much different than any experience he had in his millennia of existence.