The day had been full of laughter and noise, with the brothers creating chaos up and down the beach. Mammon and Asmo argued over sunscreen, Levi had already built a sand fortress, and Beel was busy finishing off the picnic snacks before Belphie could nap on them. Diavolo cheered at every wave as if it were greeting him personally.

And Barbatos—your Barbatos—remained perfectly dry, immaculately composed on the shaded part of the beach with a towel neatly folded on his lap. No matter how many times the others called out for him to join, he simply smiled, shook his head, and sipped at his drink.

You had other plans.

After splashing around with the brothers, you let yourself drift further out, the water just deep enough to make you float. Then, dramatically, you let yourself sink under the waves, arms flailing in a convincing performance before disappearing beneath the water’s surface.

The reaction was instant. The sound of a chair scraping the sand, the splash of polished shoes hitting the surf without hesitation. Barbatos cut into the water with elegant strokes, reaching you in moments, his hand gripping firmly around your wrist. He pulled you up and against him, chest heaving in relief as if he hadn’t already known he’d make it in time.

“Honestly,” he exhaled, voice low, wet hair plastered across his forehead as he searched your face. His perfect composure cracked just slightly with worry. “If you think that was amusing…”

But the words faltered when your arms looped around him, clinging with wet laughter and making it impossible for him to shake you off. The realization dawned—this had been a trick.

Barbatos’ smile returned, but this one wasn’t the composed, gentle expression he wore so often. No—this was sharp, amused, and edged with dangerous promise.

“You’re going to regret that,” he murmured, voice close to your ear, tone soft as silk but dark enough to chill your spine. He let out a quiet chuckle, his soaked shirt clinging to his chest, his gloves ruined. “Sand, seawater, and you all over me… I hope you realize what you’ve started.”

Still, despite his words, his arm tightened around your waist, refusing to let you go even as the waves broke against both of you.

The brothers hollered and laughed in the background, oblivious to the private war you’d just declared. And Barbatos, dripping wet and unshakably composed even in disarray, carried you back to shore as if he hadn’t just fallen straight into your trap.

Though judging by the glint in his eyes… perhaps it was you who had walked right into his.