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"Definitely," Satan sighed, remembering the look on your face when that cashier told you their ice machine wasn’t working so they were only serving hot drinks. You didn’t even order any food, just up and left with a look of utter despair.

Now, the Devildom was always hot—that was no surprise—but it did have its cool months. This time of the year though? Yeah, it really reminded you that you’re essentially in hell, and probably right up against the earth’s flaming hot core.

The demons could handle it fine, they had adapted to the heat years ago. Because of that they never had ac, and failed to take into account how that would be for their very human exchange student. So yeah, irritable was an understatement.

“It feels like nothing we do will cheer poor m/c up,” Asmo pouted, remembering his own incident just last night.

When he had walked past your room to spot you grumbling while searching through pyjamas, he immediately asked what was wrong. When you frowned and said something about only having clean pyjama pants, Asmo had happily dragged you into his room to borrow some of his.

He didn't understand why that was a problem at the time, and was too giddy to share some of his with you that he didn't bother asking. He just let you search through his closet that was something out of Barbie Life in the Dreamhouse until you found a nice silk pyjama set of shorts and a shirt.

Then that smile was right back on your face and all was well, until he hugged you goodnight. He forgot demons have a naturally high body temperature—and there you were back at square one; hot. Your nose scrunched, wiggling out of his arms and giving him a half-hearted goodnight as you fled back to your room.

"Okay, so no hugging M/c.”

That earned a symphony of whines and complaints from the alleged strong, powerful rulers of the Devildom. Even Belphie huffed at that, realizing it most definitely meant no cuddling with the extra heat of all of 5 of his blankets, either.

As they continued to discuss how to help your mood, they spotted Lucifer walking into the common room with you next to him—chatting about whatever.

Levi cringed, sweat beading at his brow. "Oh no."

"They're gonna kill him,” Asmo whispered. Lucifer was annoying enough to someone in a good mood.

"M/c, I noticed you haven't been completing your lessons on time.” The brothers were now hiding behind the couch, watching the words that would likely seal their brother’s fate.

“Are you stressed? You could always start the kettle and have a nice hot cup of tea, or perhaps kindle the fireplace?" Lucifer asked, trying to offer several things that he knew could be calming when stressed but not calming enough to save him from your reaction.

You proceeded to give him a look so nasty that the others flinched.

"Stressed? You're the one whose stressed. How about you go kindle those grey hairs, grandpa."

Mammon and Levi gasped in unison. Belphie and Satan snorted. Asmo was recording and Beel had to push his jaw closed.

Your eyes set on them and they jumped, immediately ducking their heads back behind the couch like they hadn't been watching the whole thing like it was reality tv.

"Got something to say, peanut gallery?"

They shook their heads.

And so you left the room, leaving them all to sigh with relief as if a target just got lifted from their backs.

Lucifer seemed unbothered, but the way he subtly shifted his hair didn't go unnoticed. "Do they seem unsually… peevish to you?"

They sighed in agreement.

Levi rubbed his eyes. "We've gotta do something."

"Like what?” Asmo raised an eyebrow.

"We could get an ac? Remember the one when we visited the human world?" Satan suggested.

Lucifer shook his head. "They don't make them here. We would have to get one from the human world, which might take a few days to deliver and install.”

"Okay, so all we need to do is dodge m/c's wrath for a couple days? That ain't too bad!" Mammon grinned. "I say we all just avoid them until we can get it installed. Can’t make em’ mad that way!”

"You couldn't go a day without talking to m/c, let alone a week.” Lucifer pointed out.

"Hey neither could you! How bout you come up with something then?

“Guys.” Beel started.

“We could buy heaps of icecream?”

“No, then Beel would just eat it!” “Guys,” he tried again.

“I say we all just move out until the ac gets here.”

“Thats the stupidest idea I’ve ever—“

“Guys.”

“What?!” They all turned to him, all with a glare so similar to yours you’d think the heat was getting to them, too.

“Where did Belphie go?” He asked, and they all looked to see their youngest brother was definitely gone from where he had been draped across the couch.

Cue the sound of a deafening, house-shaking roar coming from below them.

They all gave each other matching confused faces before bolting out of the room and towards the underground tomb where the unmistakable sound of Cerberus being disturbed was.

After scrambling down multiple flights of stairs, they finally made it to the source of the sound to see Cerberus was thankfully not using their brother as a chew toy but instead seemed to have been appeased by a giant rubber ball.

As he was chewing on that in the corner of the tomb, their eyes landed on a pile of blankets in the centre of the room where you and Belphie were curled up, unbothered.

Mammon gawked. “What the hell?!”

Belphie peeked an eye open, shrugging. ”It’s cold down here.”

He shifted, looking at you curled up beside him and slowly sliding his pillow toward you like he was trying to feed a skittish stray.

"...Cold side,” he muttered.

You smiled, taking it gratefully.

“Ay! No fair, why do you get to be with them?” Mammon complained before leaping onto the pile of blankets and pillows, tugging you against him and sticking his tongue out at Belphie.

”I wanna join!” Asmo beamed, shoving between you and Belphie to get his long-awaited hug.

”Me too,” Levi blushed, moving to lay against your leg with his tail coming out to curl around it.

So one by one they picked their spot around you until you were completely surrounded and trapped in a pile of clingy, scorching hot demons.

And just like that you were sweating again.