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Babyls. Manor. Babyls. Manor.
Since they’ve become Sullivan's servant, it feels like these are the only two places Opera ever sees. There's the occasional trip into town, sure, but they’re few and far between.
It’s during summer break then, when it’s been weeks of cleaning the manor and Opera is beginning to get stir crazy, that Sullivan came to them with a request. He'd be heading out for a meeting, and would like Opera to accompany him. Without thinking, Opera agreed.
That's how they find themself here, staring down another young demon (though likely a year or two younger than Opera) the two of them left to their own devices.
The other demon, Balam-kun, is the son of one of the other few families living on the peninsula that surrounds Babyls. As a representative thirteen crown, it was Sullivan's duty to attend to the goings on that occurred upon it. Including a particularly nasty dispute between one of the demon birds and a young demon fledgling.
Said fledgling now sits in the middle of a large nest that spans most of the room. He hasn't yet seemed to notice Opera, awkwardly fidgeting with a twig sticking out of the nest he was perched in. The bandages around his face are still rather prominent, but Opera had heard they’d been much worse when the wounds were still fresh.
("Listen close, Opera!" Sullivan had said as they bounced along in the carriage, "While me and the rest of the family are speaking, I have a very important task for you."
Opera had nodded resolutely. After months of menial tasks, finally, they were being made useful.
"Well you know~ Their little boy got terribly roughed up by our bird friend, so he's been resting alone ever since! He must be awfully lonely~! That's why you've got to keep him company for me while I'm in my meeting, okay? Play nicely together!"
Opera had bristled, but simply ducked their head down.
"Yes, sir.")
Of course, Opera would fulfill the task they'd been given but… Well, they didn't have to like it. Opera clears their throat.
"Please pardon the intrusion," they say, bowing as they step forth into the room.
Instantly, Balam's head whips up, a blur of silver before he makes eye contact with Opera.
This lasts all of about 0.6 seconds before Balam is racing across the room, kicking up feathers and dust in his wake.
"A-a! Security Devil-san! I-I heard you were coming, but— wow, you really did!"
He skids to a stop only a few centimeters away from them, starry eyed and sparkling as he looks up towards them. Opera hopes their face is maintaining something of a neutral expression, for the sake of the Sullivan households reputation, of course.
"Yes, I have arrived. You may refer to me as Opera. I shall be… keeping you company, for the duration of my master's visit."
"Aaah~! I'm so glad!"
Before Opera can get another word in, Balam begins circling around them, bouncing up and darting down. They can feel the harsh bristle of an unbroken gaze, Balam staring down every aspect of them.
"Your tail is so fluffy! It's not like mine at all! And you stand so gracefully, and your fur is so shiny! So cool~!"
Without warning, Balam reaches forward, gloved hands grabbing out and clutching onto Opera's tail. Their fur bristles, but with the careful control Sullivan had been teaching them, they refrain from whipping around and decking the kid straight in the face. Can't disgrace their master, after all. Still, their ears lower, pressed flat against their hair. Underneath Balam's admittedly gentle grip, their tail threatens to flicker in annoyance.
But something funny happens. Only a second later, Balam suddenly lets go. He stops darting around, stops staring, and moves back in front of Opera. Then he ducks his head down, and bows.
"S-sorry. I got a bit. Overexcited. It's just— I really love living things but— After— I had to stay at home, so I haven't gotten to see anything or anyone but my parents. I didn't mean to upset you."
Opera resists the urge to curl their tail around themself and straighten their fur out.
"It's fine. I wasn't upset."
Balam stares up at them for a second, then squints, brow furrowing in clear frustration. Beneath the bandages, Opera swears they can see something of a pout.
"Don't lie."
Opera blinks.
"I was not—"
"You areee!" Balam cries, "I can hear it! And it's really loud, so cut it out!"
Startled for a moment, it takes a second for Opera to regain their composure before they nod.
"My apologies. I… I simply have been instructed to attend to you. 'Play nice' as it were. As that is the task assigned to me by my master, I am not permitted to complain."
Balam hmms at this thoughtfully, nodding along as Opera speaks, and even after that. Whatever had been setting off his lie detection seems to have no issue with that statement at least.
"Well… I guess listening to your family is important. I know that for sure! I don't have any right to critique you for that..."
He gestures lightly towards his face. Though the bandages are numerous, Opera can also see how carefully tied and pristine they are. Clearly applied with care, and frequent upkeep.
They nod.
"But even if you can't complain, that's okay! I'll know if you're lying, and besides—"
This time, Opera is certain he grins, just with the shine in his eyes alone.
"—Your ears and tail do all the talking for you!"
He says it with such an earnest glee that Opera can't help but find themselves flushing, red embarrassment rising to their face. They pull their hands up to their head, pushing their ears down flat against the skull, hiding them within their palms. Their tail, they wrap around their leg, locking it into place so it couldn't betray them.
Balam just giggles, a quiet little sound, muffled by bandages, constrained by injury, but… nice. A playful thing.
"Do you wanna see some of my picture books?" he asks.
Opera pulls their hands away from their ears, clasping them in front of themself.
"I... humbly beg your pardon. But I am not a young child, and I am here on duty as Sullivan-sama's Security Devil. It would be improper of me to be playing around."
Balam raises an eyebrow, leaning forward to reach for their hand.
"Aww~ But I thought you were supposed to play nice with me! Just come on!"
He takes their hand and pulls them forward, off towards the nest in the corner of the room. For a moment, Opera considers protesting some more. But… well, it was their task to entertain him, no? So perhaps… just for a little bit, it would be alright.
"If that is what you request," they say, following along. Balam just snickers, eyes flickering towards their ears, tall and upright, and their tail, pointing up like a question mark.
"You can share something you like with me too, okay? What do you like to do?"
Opera hums thoughtfully, considering this.
"Well, I am fairly accomplished in making tea."
"Tea!? I wanna try some! Will you make some then?"
"It would be my pleasure."