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Technically every week is considered “hell week” in the Devildom, but this particular one has Elleroy ready to throw in the towel and call it quits.
Pop quiz after pop quiz, endless tasks and reading assignments all due within days of each other… Clearly Lord Diavolo has yet to grasp the understanding that if his grand plan was to unite the three realms, sending the exchange participants back to school was not the way to go.
Retreating into the safety of his room, Elleroy drops his bag near the door and immediately flops onto his bed, not bothering to change out of his RAD uniform or take off his shoes. The weekend is upon him and he’s sorely in need of a well-deserved break, but there’s still more work due next week. Not to mention he has a study session with Satan in about —
“Knock, knock. Elleroy, you in there?”
A muffled groan is all the response Satan gets, but it’s permission enough. He enters the room with a stack of textbooks only to find the poor human facedown on the sheets.
“Rough day, huh?” Satan deposits the books onto the desk and sits at the edge of Elleroy’s bed, patting his head sympathetically. “I can make you some tea, if you’d like. Do you want to rest a little longer?”
“No, I’m good. Sorry to keep you waiting.” It would be rude to waste Satan’s time after he’d so kindly agreed to study with him. Elleroy resolves to push through the next few hours and tries to sit up properly, but Satan’s hand moves towards his shoulders to take off his jacket instead. “Um, what are you…?”
“Hush. Just let me try something, alright?”
Elleroy’s loosened tie comes off next, followed by his boots. Once Satan is sure he’s dressed more comfortably, he takes a seat against the headboard and cushions his back with a pillow before guiding Elleroy to lie down, his head on the demon’s lap and legs curled up near the edge of the bed.
“I’m not complaining,” Elleroy sighs as he relaxes into his new position, “but aren’t we supposed to be studying? Don’t tell me you’re going to read me a bedtime story.”
“Not quite, but I figured you could use a change of pace.” Satan holds up a history textbook and winks. “Let’s see if reading this like a fairytale will help you absorb it better.”
“It might just put me to sleep faster, you know.”
“Well, only one way to find out.”
Satan’s voice is so hypnotic that he ought to have a side hustle doing audiobooks. Elleroy finds himself latching onto every word, his attention focused on the rise and dip of Satan’s tone as he weaves surprisingly vivid tales of the Devildom from a monotonous textbook. At some point, Elleroy’s arms come up to wrap around Satan’s waist like he’s hugging a bolster; he squeezes lightly and shuts his eyes in bliss.
“Are you listening? You’ll be tested on this,” Satan warns, though there’s no real heat in his voice. The faint blush on his cheeks goes unseen, thankfully.
“Not sleeping. Keep going please,” Elleroy murmurs drowsily. He feels slender fingers gently carding through his hair and sighs in content, relishing the warmth from Satan’s body and snuggling closer…
“Elleroy~ You’re done with classes, right?” The door flies open, slamming against the drywall before a pink blur comes bounding in. “Come to Majolish with me! All these tests are making my skin break out and you’re just the shopping partner I need to —”
“Asmo…” Satan growls, eyebrow twitching at the interruption, but his growing frustration completely flies over the fifth-born’s head as Asmo squeals in delight and launches himself onto the bed, sending Elleroy bouncing into the air with a startled yelp.
“Look at you two cuddling away!” He immediately claims Elleroy’s other side, his chest to the human’s back, at the perfect height to nuzzle his face into Elleroy’s hair as he plays the big spoon. “And you didn’t think to invite me? How rude!”
Asmo’s position leaves his head on Satan’s shins, which is uncomfortable to say the least. Satan doesn’t dare to shake him off by bucking his hips, not wanting to dislodge Elleroy at the same time, but he isn’t above kicking his brother in his perfect face.
Elleroy fidgets unhappily as the two bicker over him, with Satan telling Asmo to scram and Asmo whining about Satan not sharing. “No more fighting, please? Can’t we all just spend time together?” Elleroy groans, the clear exhaustion in his words effectively shutting the two demons up, causing them to exchange guilty looks.
“Aww, you must have had such a rough week, poor darling!” Asmo recovers quickly and gives Elleroy an affectionate hug from behind. “Don’t worry, Asmo-chan is here to make it alllll better~”
“Excuse you, I’m right here,” Satan grumbles, reaching for an extra pillow and placing it on his shins for Asmo to lie on.
The three of them return to their previous positions, except this time Asmo scoots himself backwards a little, putting some distance between his torso and Elleroy’s but keeping their legs tangled together. With practiced motions, he uses his fingers to comb out Elleroy’s hair, the light tugs and soothing ministrations eliciting pleasant sighs from the half-dozing human. Once he’s sorted all the knots, Asmo proceeds to put the long strands into a neat braid, picking out the purple streaks and weaving them into intricate patterns.
It’s not quite like being sandwiched between Beel and Belphie whenever he gets the chance to nap with them in the attic, but it’s close enough. Elleroy has Satan in his arms, Asmo pressed against his back, a deep voice in his ears, smooth fingers gently massaging his scalp… He knows he promised Satan he would pay attention to the history lesson, but it’s been a long week and he thinks they could all use some rest and relaxation.
Elleroy closes his eyes and lets himself drift, cocooned in the feelings of warmth and safety.