Chapter Eighteen

“Why are you sleeping at the table,” his hand on my back as he stopped gently shaking me awake.

“Satan’s a menace in his sleep,” I sleepily responded, rubbing my eyes. Lucifer seemed to have put my stuff away before waking me.

“Was he thrashing?”

“Yes, and I got whacked in the face,” I stood up and stretched, pulling at the collar of my binder.

“I’m fine,” I groaned and continued to pull at my binder. I wanted to take it off so bad, “I’m gonna take a shower so I can take this thing off.”

“The bathroom is occupied, and there’s a queue already.”

“This is why I wanted a bathroom,” I complained, wiggling uncomfortably.

“Just take it off,” he sighed.

“No.”

“Drizzm.”

“No.”

“Stop acting like a child.”

“Hmph,” I pouted, crossing my arms. I was super, mega uncomfortable with the idea.

“It’s just me in here,” he gently consoled.

“And how does that change anything? You’ll still see me as a girl.”

“No, I don’t.”

“You will.”

“I won’t.”

“How do you know? How would I know?”

“Because, Drizzm, I see you for who you are underneath it all. Like you see me.”

I blushed, the Satan face saying Lucifer words dulled the effect, but boy did he have an effect. Then I got kinda sad, “But, you don’t let me see you.”

He recoiled in shock, then leaned in, “I’m sorry, Drizzm. But you still always see past my words and actions to get to my core. I promise you I see your core.”

How dare he be so good at this. I still wasn’t very comfortable with the idea, however. I whined nervously then took a deep breath, “Fine, but turn around.”

“Of course,” he turned his back to me and I made sure there were no reflections I could show up in.

I took my shirt off and fiddled with the hem of my binder. Then I tore it off, breathing a sigh of relief. I put my shirt back on but suddenly regretted my decision when I had to tell Lucifer he could look. I held my shirt from my chest in an attempt to make myself feel better, “Okay. I guess you can turn around now.”

“What are you doing,” he asked flatly.

“I immediately regret this.”

“You’re fine. Stop pulling on your shirt, you’ll stretch it out.”

“No, thank you.”

“Drizzm.”

“I really hate this. I’m so uncomfortable. Why did I do this? Why was I born like this? Why can’t I just be happy with my body?”

“Drizzm, calm down. You’re safe?”

“Can you turn back around? I’d rather the crushing pressure of the binder.”

He pulled me into a hug, “Calm down. You’re not a girl. I don’t see a girl, never have, never will. You’re Drizzm, my annoying human exchange student.”

I cried, the pressure of everything so far finally finding a crack in the levy. My fists gripped his clothes as he gently rubbed my back.

“Okay,” I pulled away slightly, wiping my remaining tears, “I’m calm now. I’m sorry. I never wanted you to see me like that.”

“You want to see more of me but I can’t see more of you,” he teased, but I guess he was right. He still had his hands on my waist, “Besides, I’m the one who pushed you to do something you were obviously uncomfortable with. I apologize. But, if I may, I look forward to seeing you after your body looks the way it should. Your confidence will be radiant, I’m sure.”

I blushed but teased him back, “You mean I’m gonna be full of pride, like you?”

He chuckled and finally let me go. I wish he was in his body. It was really weird doing all this staring at Satan. Speaking of which, he thankfully never came back to the room. I was eventually able to get a shower and we all went to school after breakfast.

Lucifer, Satan, and I were wandering the halls during lunch when Diavolo and Barbatos approached us.

“There you are Lucifer,” called Diavolo, “Why weren’t you in the assembly hall this morning? You always visit.”

He’s so pure. Satan thought about what to say for a second before going with, “Hello, hello, Lord Diavolo! I’m soo happy to see you! You’re all I think about, honey!”

Diavolo and Barbatos were shocked. I had to hide behind Lucifer to try and stop myself from laughing.

“I ended up dreaming about you all night, and ended up oversleeping. That’s why I wasn’t in the assembly hall.”

Mammon didn’t even try to hide his laughter as Diavolo just stared blankly at Satan.

“Diavolo, is it just me, or do you look tense? Want me to give you a shoulder massage? If you’re feeling tired, just let me know, okay?”

“I’m not actually like that, am I? I’m not, right, Drizzm? Stop laughing, please,” Lucifer quietly begged.

“I’m feeling alright, actually,” Diavolo said, smiling, “So, Satan. What are you doing in Lucifer’s body?”

“Woah,” Mammon exclaimed, “He could tell right of the bat ya ain’t Lucifer! That’s impressive!”

“Ah,” Diavolo turned his attention to Lucifer-in-Satan’s-body, “that must mean Lucifer is over there in Satan’s body?”

“You can tell it’s me,” Lucifer questioned.

“Of course I can. We’ve known each other a long time,” he chuckled, “Also, Drizzm is vibrating so hard I can hear it.”

“Drizzm, please stop,” Lucifer sighed, “Just laugh already.”

I immediately started wheeze-laughing, “Never in a million fucking years would I have guessed you’d say that,” I breathed, laughing again, “Why did you think that’d work?”

I leaned on Lucifer’s shoulder to keep myself up, starting to cry with laughter, “This was a lost cause from the start. You guys don’t even stand the same.”

“Are you done,” Lucifer was very done with me.

“Yeah, yeah. Sorry,” I took a few breaths, and got off of Lucifer, “That was so funny. It might be the sleep deprivation though.”

“You really need to sleep more.”

“So, Lucifer,” Diavolo interjected, “What happened?”

“Well, you see…,” Lucifer explained what happened.

“I see. That hopefully won’t be a problem for the speech you have to give to the student body the day after tomorrow.”

Lucifer tensed as Diavolo bid us a farewell. He sighed, “Seems as though if we don’t switch back by then, Satan will have to give the speech.”

“I don’t want to,” Satan huffed, “I hope we switch back.”

Lucifer nodded and the rest of the school day went by smoothly. That evening in my room, as always, Satan was doing more bad impressions for Levi and Beel. Lucifer was trying his best to ignore them by watching me draw and chatting with me. He sat closer to me tonight than yesterday, not that I particularly minded. When it came to bedtime I sat at the table again.

“Really,” Satan was incredulous.

“Dude,” I said, “You hit me in the face. I ain’t doing that again.”

“I did?”

“Yes. You thrash a lot in your sleep. Not your fault, but I don’t need to deal with it.”

“I’m sorry. So, you’ll just stay up all night?”

“Probably,” suddenly I had an idea, “Why don’t one of you magic us another or a bigger bed? Or make the floor soft and comfortable?”

They looked at each other, “We don’t know how to do that.”

I squinted at them slack-jawed, just dumbstruck, “Then what have you done with your magic in thousands of years? You’ve never once needed to create a bed?”

“You don’t even have magic,” Satan clapped back.

“Asmo says I do.”

“Well, Asmo doesn’t know what he’s talking about.”

“Whatever, dude. In that case, yeah, I’ll be here all night. I’ll be your guardian while you sleep,” I joked.

“Just sleep on the floor with me,” Lucifer sighed, “I’ve gathered more blankets to cushion the ground.”

I gave up, I was too tired to argue anymore. I laid down on the ground as Satan did the same on my bed and Lucifer turned off the lights before joining me. It didn’t take long for Satan to fall asleep, noted by the grumbling and thrashing. Lucifer scooted closer to me.

“Drizzm,” he whispered, I turned to look at him, “You shouldn’t sleep in your binder.”

“Really,” I quietly groaned, “But Satan will see me when he wakes up.”

He furrowed his eyebrows, “You’ve been wearing it too much and Satan won’t care. Trust me, he’s having too much fun in my body.”

I sighed. He was right. I’ve been wearing it far too much. I pushed myself up and motioned from him to turn around. He did so and I took off my binder, taking a deep breath. After putting my shirt back on I laid down underneath the covers. Lucifer, apparently satisfied, stayed as he was. I turned to look at his back.

These last few days have me questioning a whole lot. There’s just something about Lucifer that pulls me towards him. I wonder if it’s his loneliness. I know what it’s like, including the peace I have with being alone. But when you’re surrounded by those forming bonds that you feel you can’t have, eventually you feel lonely.

I wonder if Diavolo feels the same. Those two are like two sides of the same coin, from what I’ve seen. They both hold a strong sense of responsibility and very protective. Lucifer is just very serious and calculated, while Diavolo is jovial and adorable.

Honestly if someone asked me if I had a crush on Diavolo I’d say yes. I know I do. The pillow fight excitement just really sold me on him. He’s too precious and making him laugh brings me so much joy. But, he’s sorta the prince, so my chances are slim to none.

But, at the same time, the way Lucifer and I have been acting made me realize that I actually like Lucifer. Like, we fight, but when we don’t there’s a strong pull between us. It’s electrifying to be honest.

I need to reel myself in. I rolled over and closed my eyes, trying to sleep.