Warmth from the Butler
AO3
Ship: Barbatos/Leviathan (Can be read as either romantic or platonic)
Word Count: 2008
Warnings: None
A/N: I had a lot of fun participating in the OMSecret Santa event! (I have to keep checking myself to make sure I spell Santa right XD) To my Secret Santa (@queendeeshorrorimagines ), I really hope you enjoy it! I'm both super excited and super nervous to post!
Thank you so much to the mods for putting together and organizing a lovely event! You can find their event page under @OMSecretSanta in Twitter, Tumblr, and Instagram!
Happy Holidays everyone <3
"Repeat yourself, please."
Levi knew this was a bad idea from the start. A horrible idea. One of the worst ideas he's had in his entire life. He had no idea what in all of the three realms possessed him to follow through, but here he was. Was it too late to sink even deeper into the Devildom? Probably. But oh how he wished the ground beneath his feet would just open up and swallow him whole right now.
"I uh, was wondering if, you know-" Why wouldn't the words just leave his mouth already? "If you maybe, by chance, if you weren't busy, but I mean it's okay if you are because really in the long run it's not all that important and I'm sure you have better things to do and stuff-"
"Leviathan."
He couldn't meet Barbatos' eyes. His voice sounded so stern. He was going to say no wasn't he? Leviathan couldn't blame him. Who would ever think about saying yes? He felt stupid. So incredibly stupid. Maybe he could just hole up in his room and stay there for the next millennia or so.
At least Barbatos wouldn't laugh at him. That was the one solace he had. The only one he had the more he thought about it.
"Would you wanna go to a convention with me?"
"A… convention?"
"Like I said you don't have to go, you probably have cooler-"
"What kind of convention?"
Levi couldn't believe his own ears. Has Barbatos really asked him about the convention? No. No way he did. He must have misheard him. There was no way someone so cool would be willing to hang out with him at something so nerdy.
"It's just an anime convention. They have some panels and merchandise and stuff. I don't know if you'd be interested in this kind of thing."
The silence that followed was not comforting in the slightest to Levi. He would have rathered Barbatos rejected him outright. He could feel the ice of quiet penetrating deep into his bones, stretching down into his very core. What did Barbatos even have to think over? Obviously he was going to say no. There was no point in getting his hopes up. Why would anyone say yes? Especially when he was asking them to go to a convention with a disgusting, embarrassing, otaku like himself.
"Alright. I'll ask my young master if I can go."
What?
Levi must not have done a fantastic job at hiding his shocked expression. A gloved hand came up to his lips in an attempt to hide his smile. "I wouldn't mind. Lord Diavolo talks about the interesting things you introduce him to all of the time," he chuckled, "So I believe it is my duty as his butler to spend some time with you as well and learn firsthand about your interests."
Levi felt his face heat up. Was Barbatos messing with him? He had to be. Right?
"When would you like me to meet you?"
"Uh… Maybe nine? I can wait for you outside and we can go together."
"Very well. Nine sharp in front of Lamentation is when and where I'll meet you. I can't wait to attend your convention with you."
For some odd reason, the anxiety is Levi's stomach started to fester even more.
***
"Leviathan's conventions, what are they like?" Barbatos asked, setting his tea down. He would have asked Leviathan himself, but the third born looked rather shaken the last time they spoke. Barbatos couldn't help but notice how nervous he'd looked when asking him to accompany him. The least he could do was make sure Levi had a good time. The only question was how? And who better to ask than the fourth born?
Satan was into similar things from Barbatos' viewpoint. His library seemed to rival Leviathan' own collection and he couldn't help but notice the tiny overlap of authors in which they had a shared interest. Surely Satan would have an idea of how he was to act at such an event. Right?
Satan put down his own teacup while letting out a thoughtful little hum. Barbatos couldn't help but notice every little movement. He was good at noticing the little things. Perhaps it came with his job: if he were to miss the little things, someone would end up dead.
Satan tapped his fingers in a steady rhythm. It came to the point where Barbatos could count the beats per measure. His arm was steady but not stiff, but he also wasn't relaxed. Not really. When was the last time he saw Satan relax? He couldn't recall. But perhaps it was fitting, he came into the world in a blind, fiery rage. Why should he dull and stop burning throughout the rest of his life?
"Well, a lot of people dress up," Satan started, "He took me one year. There were tons of impressive costumes, artists. He took me to a few panels too. It's also where he bought me a keychain."
"Was it the one with the four small kittens perchance?"
"Precisely."
"It's quite cute."
"I'm happy you think so."
Leviathan hadn't mentioned anything about costumes. Why hadn't he said anything? Perhaps he forgot? He had seemed incredibly nervous. Maybe Barbatos had done something to intimidate him. Or maybe it was just a part of Leviathan.
Well, all this meant was that Barbatos' was now making it his personal duty to make this particular convention extra enjoyable for Leviathan. Perhaps he could even pick up a souvenir for his young lord. He was sure Diavolo would enjoy him bringing something back for him. It would also be worth it to see that bright smile on his face.
"Satan, could you explain these costumes to me a little more?"
***
Five minutes.
Barbatos had five minutes.
Had his room always been so cold?
So empty?
Lonely?
It didn't matter that Leviathan knew that the butler was always punctual. It didn't matter that he knew Barbatos would show up exactly on time. No. None of that mattered. Because Barbatos had abandoned him.
His room was cold.
No, not abandoned. Levi had been stupid enough to believe he'd actually come. Why would anyone as cool and collected as Barbatos ever want to hang out with him?
No.
There were always so many people, with so many groups of friends. Levi would be lying if he said he wasn't envious of them. He wanted what they had, the laughter, the shared jokes, the contact, it all seemed like so much fun.
He was cold.
But Levi would never have that.
So very cold.
And now he would be all by himself, once again, at another convention. He'd be a lonely stupid otaku, in his stupid cosplay that wasn't nearly as good as anyone else's, and they'd all be pointing and laughing at him for being a weirdo for years to come.
Cold.
...
One minute.
Why did he even bother going? He should just stay holed up in his room and not come out for another hundred years. He was a humiliation, an embarrassment. Someone that no one, especially not Barbatos, would ever want to be seen with in a hundred million ye-
There was a knock at his door.
Levi hesitated. Should he open it? Who could it possibly be?
"Leviathan?"
Barbatos?
"Are you in there, Leviathan?"
Slowly, Leviathan found himself opening the door, still unsure about what exactly was happening. Was Barbatos coming to tell him in person that he didn't want to go? He was almost certain this was the case until he saw how Barbatos was dressed.
"That's Henry's armor! From the special edition of Volume 3 of TSL! With the special deleted scenes that only sold in limited copies!"
How did he do this?
Well, maybe it shouldn't be such a shock, he was the demon prince's butler after all. Impossible seemed like a foreign concept to Barbatos. But still-!
This…. This was beyond amazing to Levi.
It was absolutely breathtaking.
Awe inspiring.
Some… other third word to mean awestruck.
Barbatos chuckled. He looked a bit flustered, choosing to look down and inspect his arm in that moment. "Yes, well, I heard dressing up is rather fun at events like this. I also heard that you would most likely be going as The Lord of Shadows, so I wanted to surprise you and match you."
Leviathan was sure his mouth was hanging open before the grin morphed onto his face. He could hardly contain his excitement. Barbatos was going with him, him! And he even took the time to put an outfit together. There wasn't even a single flaw! Barbatos had nailed it! He'd never seen a more perfect Henry! Was he bouncing? Barbatos' eyes were following him like he was bouncing. Should he stop? Barbatos was smiling, so perhaps it didn't matter. His smile was warm. Not quite like the summer, but more like the spring. Warmth with a gentle breeze. That seemed right.
He just couldn't contain himself! Containment was impossible in a moment like this!
"I like your costume as well. It looks wonderful."
Oh Leviathan swore he was going to combust.
"Well technically it's cosplay but I can forgive you for the slip up. It took a while to make I wanted to get the stitching just right because it's one ofmyalltimefavoritecostumesfromtheTSLseriesI'mreallyhappyyoulikeittooand-!"
"Breathe Leviathan, you're turning blue," Barbatos chuckled, putting a hand on his shoulder. Leviathan felt warmth shoot from the point of contact all throughout his body. It wasn’t that Barbatos was warm per say, it was more like Levi was-
Excited?
Grateful?
In disbelief?
He couldn’t place the word he was looking for. All he knew was that it was a good feeling. An incredibly good feeling.
His room didn't feel as cold as it had moments before.
He took a deep breath and smiled at Barbatos, “I’m just, really happy you wanted to come along.”
It was warmer now.
When Barbatos returned his smile it amplified the unknown feeling within Leviathan ten-fold, “But of course. It seemed like a marvelous opportunity, and the more research I did, the more fun it sounded!”
Fun? Barbatos thought his conventions sounded fun?
If this was a dream Leviathan never wanted to wake up.
If this was a curse, the spell could remain forever unbroken.
Whatever this reality was, he wanted to stay.
"Shall we get going then? I would hate to have you be late for all of the festivities."
"Yeah, we shall."
"I feel like I should also mention that I packed snacks and water."
Barbatos made snacks? For him? Well, more accurately they were for the both of them. But he made snacks? For him?
"You're really prepared huh?"
"Well but of course, I wanted to make sure I did my research well!" Barbatos hummed, "And that you had a marvelous time."
Levi hoped that Barbatos would have a marvelous time as well. Then maybe they could go together again in the future, and Levi could find other places they could go to. They could coordinate their costumes, map out cool places to take pictures, and make inside jokes that only they would know.
Finally.
Finally Levi would have something he'd always wanted: a friend to go to conventions with.
Someone to laugh with.
Someone to stay by his side when they walked in the halls.
Someone to make memories with.
It was all too exhilarating!
Leviathan would never have to spend another convention alone, wouldn't have to be envious of all of the groups of people laughing and talking together, wouldn't have to feel so insecure about his own isolation.
As they walked together, side by side, Leviathan had a slight bounce in his step.
He couldn't help but notice how close they were, how Barbatos didn't even attempt to shy away from his step. He kept the same close distance with each stride, matching Levi perfectly.
Barbatos really was something else wasn't he?
Something special that was for sure.
For once, Leviathan let the warmth take over.





















