Prepare

Essence made two plates of stuffed meatballs, mashed potatoes, and gravy. She sat at the island waiting for Mattais to enter the room so she could start eating. Essence said a small prayer out of habit, even if god was giving her up to Lucifer for some dumb truce/treaty. Mattais entered the room giving Essence the go to start stuffing her face which she did. “Couldn’t wait for me to sit down to start eating could you?” Mattais asked as he took his seat and looked over at her. “No I couldn’t.” She replied with a mouth full of food, Mattais shook his head before he spun his plate to get to the meatballs. “Smells good, but does it looks as good at it smells?” He asked but got no response as Essence continued to stuff her face. Mattais didn’t even need to question it, Essence was always a great cook even in her past lives. It was quiet between the two besides them tv in the background, the silence was comfortable the pair not feeling the need to talk to make their time shared enjoyable of comfortable.

“Hey..I wanted to ask you when you came home, why were battered like that?” Essence asked interrupting the silence for a moment. Mattais liked how she had called it home not just for her but for him too, she was comfortable enough to allow him to call this place home. They had grown quite close over the little time they have been together which wasn’t unexpected at all. Lucifer didn’t like that and he also wouldn’t like the kiss the two shared either. It took a while for the male to answer, which made Essence look at him. “Don’t worry about it.” He said taking his turn to stuff his face of food. Essence was tired of him telling her that, it was starting to get on her nerves and it was obvious in the way she set her fork down. “No I am going to worry about it not because I don’t want you coming here like that again but because I care about you. It’s not fair for you to keep trying to sweep things under the rug, if you want me to trust you— you have to be honest with me.” Essence explained turning to him. It was partially not true what she had said about her trusting him.

He probably could lie to her and she would still trust him, only because she thought that people would do what they could to protect those they carried about even if it meant sparring the truth. Essence thought that people would put her first just like she had done them because it was only fair. But hearing him telling her not to worry about it only made matters worse she didn’t like being out of the loop. “I got into it with Lucifer, that’s all.” Mattais finally said as he picked up another fork full of food. “About what?” Essence said before doing the same and shoving her face again. “You, everything that going on between me and Lucifer is about you.” Mattais said with a shrug.

Essence quietly ate as she listened. Mattais looking over at her before scrunching up his at her eating. She never cared how she looked when she ate, it was such a vulnerable state for people yet she just kept shoving food down her throat. He smiled to himself shaking his head before he looked at her again.

“Tell him to stop hurting you. I’m sure he can find other ways to get out his frustration. He has plenty of other demons lurking around down there.” Essence said as she stood with her plate that was free of food. “You can tell him yourself actually.” Mattais said. Essence placed her plate in the sink her mind on the dishes she’d have to wash—one of the reasons she never cooked much was the dishes she’d have to clean afterwards. “What?” She asked turning to him, finding him placing his plate in the sink as well. “There’s a ball, you’re invited at his guest of honor. It’s tomorrow— I know it’s late me telling you but Lucifer didn’t tell me until earlier. Your things are picked out and ready to go we just need to prepare you.” Mattais explained gently moving her out of the way so he could start the dishes. “Mattais, seriously? I can’t go to that..” Essence spoke shaking her head. “You can, I’ll be there with you as an escort.” He said waving it off. “What about my hair? Makeup! The outfit!” Essence said taking to freak out, Mattais sighed heavily dropping his head. “Essence, relax you’re going to be fine and you’re going to look good. Go sit while I clean up. Everything is taken care of all you need to do is just show up. It’s only a few hours so you won’t be down there long and you won’t be far from me. You know I wouldn’t put you up for anything I feel isn’t right or unsafe.”

Essence rubbed the back of her neck as she walked into the living room slowly. She guessed he was right, Mattais was always doing what he thought was best for her. Essence would have to go whether she liked it or not because there was a risk of something happening to her or worse Mattais. She thought it would be best to just cooperate for now until she found a safer, better way to rebel against the demonic king. Plopping on the couch she curled into one of the pillows and yawned feeling tired all of a sudden.

It wasn’t long before Mattais joined her on the couch, Essence replacing one of the pillows with his side. Essence tightly curled into Mattais who pulled a blanket over her and gently tucked her under his arm. “Tired?” He asked running his finger through her hair with his other hand. “Mhm.” She hummed getting even more tired from the head scratches she was getting. “Thank you.” He whispered softly to her tired form. “For what?” She managed as she listened to his steady heart and calming voice. “Taking care of me either..” he said making her smile softly. “You’d do it for me.” She grumbled taking his hand from her head and interlocking their fingers as she fell into a deep slumber for once.