Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Robin was surprised with where their life had gone. Here they are, the secretary of the Devil himself, dealing with yet another person who was upset and yelling. Why exactly? Robin couldn’t tell you. They stopped listening the second the guy started talking about being in the wrong place, he should be in heaven, do I have any idea who he is, yada yada yada. It doesn’t matter what he was saying, all that did matter was that Robin was out of patience after a very long day of dealing with literal demons. They reached under their desk, and pressed one of nine buttons. A trap door under the guy opened and he fell in, all the way to Hell’s fourth circle. The Ring of Greed. How did Robin even get here?

20 Years Ago

Robin was in their apartment, isolated from the outside world, alone. They didn’t like the solitary and the noiseless environment, but the one thing they hated more than this remote style of living, was being social. They didn’t want to be alone, but they didn’t want to put in the effort to actually find friends. So, they made friends in their head with the literary characters of their books. Imagining themselves in the story and being a part of their adventures.

They had just finished their latest book, Percy Jackson and the Olympians:The lightning thief, and needed to get the second. They got up and went to go get ready. Robin grabbed all their books and started towards the library. The library was their safe space. It was quiet, empty, and full of books. Paradise, as Robin liked to call it. They greeted the librarian, Mrs. Finnegan. They turned in their books, and headed off to the fantasy section, straight to the mythology shelf and started looking. Once they found what they were looking for, along with a few other books, they started to leave. Until something caught their eye.

The book looked very old and like it was very well loved. It was a dark purple, with silver writing on the spine. Most of the letters were faded, so Robin grabbed the book off the shelf to get a better look at it. On the cover was a star. It looked like some type of pentagram with symbols in another language. The title was strangely in english though. They read the title out loud.

“The Art of Summoning?”

The book had piqued their interest, so they decided to check it out along with the other books.

Once Robin made it home, they took the books out of their bag, and placed them all on their kitchen table. They picked up the purple book, and noticed something. The book looked different. The once foreign symbols were now english. They opened the book, and realized that it wasn’t a story book, it was instructions. Instructions on how to summon different mythological creatures. Robin found instructions on summoning Unicorns, Goblins, Ogres, even Dragons, for god's sake.

“Is this part of some series? There was no possible way that this is a stand alone book. Why would someone make a fiction book just about fake instructions on summoning creatures from myths and religions?”

Looking through the book, they found a spell to summon the Devil himself. The words were in a foreign language, but looked easy enough to say. Robin, the idiot they are, tried the spell. Outloud.

“Befreie diese Seele im Tausch gegen meine eigene, lass diesen Geist frei, denn ich fürchte ihn nicht.”

The book started glowing and they dropped it. The entire room filled with light, and Robin shielded their eyes. There was a bang and everything stopped. Or so Robin though.

“Wie zum Teufel...?”

Robin looked up to see a 7” tall being, standing in their apartment right over the book. It was the being from the book. The Devil himself. He had pitch black skin, and red eyes. He had no hair. He was wearing a suit, and the fabric patterns were moving. They looked to be pained faces calling out for help. He wore a black crown that looked like it was made from bone.

Robin was frozen with fear and shock. Afraid of the being before them, but shocked that the book was real and actually worked. They were lost in thought until the Devil spoke.

“Wie hast du mich gerufen? Wer bist du? Wo-”

He cut himself off before he could continue, surveying the confused look on Robin’s face. He seemed to come to some sort of conclusion before his eyes changed from red to black, and his face went blank. His eyes returned to their original red color, and he continued what he was saying.

“How did you summon me?” His voice was filled with malice, and the room grew so tense, Robin couldn’t move.

Just that one sentence baffled Robin, because they themselves had no idea how exactly they had summoned the Devil himself. Their mouth opened and closed, trying to find their words and explain everything. But they were paralyzed with horror and anxiety.

Before Robin could find the words to answer, the Devil noticed the book. He bent down to pick it up. He skimmed through the pages, his face morphing from surprise, to recognition, and finally, to anger. If Robin thought they were scared before, they certainly were petrified now.

He took long strides toward them, glaring all the way. Robin looked up at them and met his gaze but quickly looked away. The room grew even more tense, as he continued to scowl at them. When he finally spoke, his words were slow, deep, and threatening.

“Where did you find this book?” He said, holding the book up for them to see.

“I-I…I found it….in the m-mythology section…at the library.” They managed to stumble out, shaking with fear.

He looked at them again as he lowered the book. His eyes were still filled with fury, but the room was no longer as tense as it had been a moment before. He looked away and started towards the other side of the room. Was…Was he pacing?

Robin couldn’t believe their eyes. The devil, the literal devil from hell, was in their apartment. Pacing back and forth while mumbling something in a different language. They were watching with amusement and confusion as he continued to pace, talking to himself and making wild hand gestures. Could this really be the Devil? Yeah, he looked like it, but he wasn’t exactly acting like it.

Before Robin could continue their thought process, he abruptly stopped and looked at them.

“We have to make a deal.”

What?

Robin couldn’t even begin to conceive what he was saying. A deal? No way in Hell. Why would Robin even make a deal? Wouldn’t it bring them misery? Wasn’t there some sort of trick to this? Or was that Genies and monkey paws? Doesn’t matter. All that did was that the devil wanted to make a deal with Robin. Before Robin could even think of what they were saying, they spoke.

“Why would I make a deal with you?”

They clasped their hands over their mouth, realizing what they just said. The devil marched over to them. Robin coudn’t believe they had just said that. Why would they say that? This was THE devil.

“The spell you read to summon me. ‘Release this soul, in trade for my own, let free this spirit, for I do not fear it.’” He said, reciting what must have been the poem Robin read earlier. “Now, your soul belongs to me. And according to some ancient rules, we have to make a deal, since I can’t just have any soul I want unless they rightfully die.” He looked at them expectantly. “So, what’ll it be, Mortal?”

Robin had to think of a deal. Something that was worth their entire soul, their entire being. Their mind went blank. They didn’t want to make this deal, but they knew there would be consequences if they didn’t. What was something they always wanted but couldn’t have? Money? No, Robin is happy where they are financially. Fame? No. They didn’t like the attention and were never really fond of social media. That’s when Robin got their idea.

“Well? Are you going to answer me, Earthling?”

“I want to be friends.”

Now it was the Devils turn to be confused. Robin watched as his eyes grew wide and his face contorted into one of confusion and astoundment. Robin could only wonder what he was thinking. I mean, what kind of person would sell their soul just to have a friend? Robin would.

“You,” He said, his voice laced with bewilderment, while pointing at them, “want to be friends…with me?!?!?!”

He looked as if he was having a mental breakdown. Did Robin just break the Devil?

“I said what I said. I want to be friends.” Robin replied, their voice smug with satisfaction at the fact that they broke him. He regained his composure and spoke

“What are your motives?” He eyed Robin with caution. “Why would some frail, temporary creature, want to be friends with me, an all being, soul torturing, demonic immortal?”

Robin opened their mouth to respond, but found no answer to his question. Why did they want to be friends with him? Could it be that they are tired of being left out? Tired of having no one to support them? No one to go to when things get tough? Robin was tired of being alone. All they were was a pathetic nothing who had no worth in life. A deserted, hated, worthless being.

“I guess it's because…” Robin hesitated, knowing it would hurt more to say it outloud themselves, than any other person. “Because I have no one. Might as well take my chance. I bet you also don’t have anyone. Seeing as you’re probably always torturing souls in hell. You probably don’t have any free time, running your own, what, Dimension?”

He seemed to consider what they said, before he finally answered.

“Deal.”

He extended his hand for Robin to shake. They took his hand and shook it. Their hands glowed. Robin assumed that meant that the deal was sealed. They took their hand back and were about to ask the Devil a question when he suddenly backed away and started chanting something.

“Gib mir eine neue Form, lass sie einladend und warm sein. Lass mich mich einmischen, aber bleibe drinnen”

When he finished his chant, he started glowing. Robin had to cover their eyes, yet again. A moment later, the light was gone. Robin opened their eyes to see that the devil had transformed into a human. He now had chocolate colored skin, silky long, black hair that was tied in a bun. His eyes looked human, except for the fact that his irises were the color of blood.

Robin froze at the sight of him. He was beautiful.

“Well,” He said, holding out his arm. “Where to?”

They grabbed his arm and started towards the door, grabbing their shoes on the way.

“The library. I want to learn more about you and what people say., surprisingly enough, you seem nice…? I’m sorry, but what should I call you now? You obviously can’t go by ‘The Devil’”

He paused, thinking for a moment.

“Demetri.”

Robin still couldn’t believe that this was the same Devil from the books, a soul torturing, mind crumbling, sadistic monster like everything ever said about him. Yet, Robin couldn’t seem bothered with that. Robin was just happy for now.

They finally had a friend.

This is not the end
It is only just beginning…

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.