Strange compromise

Tavish's POV

I leaned back in my chair, watching Dhriti eat. It wasn’t something I usually paid attention to—mortal food seemed as irrelevant to me as the constant ticking of their clocks or the hum of their machines. But for some reason, tonight was different. She ate with a calm precision, moving with an ease that felt almost practiced, like every moment was carefully measured. Her movements were deliberate, controlled, yet there was something about her that caught my attention.

It wasn’t just the food. It wasn’t just her ice queen demeanor either. No, there was something underneath it all. I couldn’t quite put my finger on it, but I knew I was seeing something beyond the usual mask she wore.

I watched her, a curious tension growing in my chest. She was one of the few people who could keep her distance, maintain control, and not let anything slip. But tonight, something was different. Maybe it was the exhaustion in the air, or maybe it was the way she seemed to let her guard down, just slightly, when she glanced up at me.

“Are you hungry?” she asked, breaking the silence.

I scoffed lightly, the words escaping me before I could stop them. “Demons are only hungry for power, not food.”

She didn’t even look up from her plate. It wasn’t surprising. I was used to this response by now. But what came next caught me off guard. Without hesitation, she scooped some food from her container and slid it across the table to me. A simple gesture. Small. Almost too small for someone like her.

“I don’t eat that much. Better to share than to waste food,” she said, her voice steady as always.

I stared at the plate, the food almost mocking me. It wasn’t that I needed it—I wasn’t hungry, not in the way mortals were. I could survive without food for days, weeks, even longer. But something in her action, the way she offered it without hesitation, stirred something inside me.

I didn’t take my eyes off her as I reached forward, picking up a piece of the food. I didn’t know why I did it. It wasn’t a compulsion; it wasn’t because I was suddenly starving. But there was something there, something beneath her icy exterior that made me do it. Maybe it was the way she offered it, or maybe it was the fact that she didn’t expect anything in return.

The moment the food hit my tongue, something shifted. It wasn’t just the taste—though it was surprisingly good—but the fact that for once, I wasn’t eating alone. It wasn’t a feeling I was familiar with, and that bothered me. It wasn’t the usual cold emptiness I felt after devouring a meal. This was… different. The warmth, the simplicity of the moment, caught me off guard.

We ate in silence for a while, each of us lost in our own thoughts. I couldn’t help but notice how effortlessly she ate. How she maintained that calm, detached air, even though she’d just made a rare concession to share something with me. It didn’t escape my notice, either, that she didn’t ask for anything in return. There was no game. No hidden agenda.

And yet, as I watched her, I realized there was something more to her than just the cold facade. Underneath it all, she was more than the calculated, distant woman I had first encountered. She was… human, in a way I hadn’t expected.

The conversation drifted into more mundane topics, like the absurdity of mortal contracts and their strange obsession with coffee. In that moment, I found myself talking about things I hadn’t thought of in years. I told her about the time I spent an entire year living in a mortal palace just because I liked the garden. It sounded ridiculous, but I found myself explaining it to her anyway.

She stared at me in disbelief. “You’re telling me you once spent an entire year living in a mortal palace just because you liked the garden?”

I couldn’t help but smirk. “It was an excellent garden.”

She shook her head, clearly in disbelief. “Of all the things a demon could do…”

“You sound disappointed,” I teased.

“I just thought the mighty Tavish had a more impressive story.”

“Well,” I leaned slightly toward her, “I could tell you the one where I destroyed an entire kingdom with a single whisper, but I’m guessing you wouldn’t appreciate that.”

Her eyes rolled, but I saw the faintest smile tug at her lips.

For a while, the conversation was easy. Natural, even. I hadn’t expected that. I had expected her to keep things distant, professional. But tonight, there was a different vibe. We weren’t talking about power or manipulation. We were just two people, sitting at a table, sharing a meal.

I glanced at the time, stretching my arms lazily. “When are you planning to leave?”

Dhriti checked her watch, and I could tell by the way her eyes flicked that she wasn’t in a rush. “In about ten minutes.”

A sudden thought struck me, something that felt almost foreign. Before I could stop myself, I found the words slipping out. “I’ll wait.”

She gave me a sharp look. “You don’t have to.”

I shrugged, not entirely sure why I had said it. It wasn’t like me to wait around for anything. Especially not for someone like her. But the words had already left my mouth. “I can’t let anything happen to you.”

She raised an eyebrow, and I immediately regretted my words. But before I could cover it up, I added, “Or else how would I get my powers back?”

Dhriti let out a soft, amused scoff, but she didn’t push. She simply accepted the moment without comment. And just like that, it was over.

The minutes passed, and soon we found ourselves in the parking lot. The air was cool, the city streets nearly empty. I walked alongside her in silence, but it wasn’t uncomfortable. It was the kind of silence that didn’t feel forced or awkward. It felt… easy. The kind of silence I wasn’t used to, and it was making me think too much.

When we reached her car, she turned to me. “How are you going home?”

I flicked my fingers absently, sending a wave of telekinetic energy toward the ground, a silent answer to her question. It was the fastest way to leave. No need for mortal transportation.

“Of course,” she muttered under her breath, as if she had already known that would be my answer.

I gave her a small, sarcastic smile. “What now? Can’t I even use my powers to go home? Surely you don’t expect me to find some mortal transportation.”

Dhriti crossed her arms, the corners of her mouth twitching. “You mean, like how every normal person does?”

I gave a dramatic sigh. “Well, if you’re so insistent, you could always drop me off… if you want, of course.”

She stood there for a moment, eyes narrowing as if evaluating my words. I didn’t think she would actually agree. She was always so composed, so sure of herself. But then, to my surprise, she unlocked the car with a flick of her wrist.

“Unbelievable,” she muttered, but there was no malice in her voice.

I smirked as I climbed into the car. The whole situation felt like a victory, but more than that, it felt… strange. I wasn’t used to people being so accommodating, especially not her. It was like I had caught a glimpse of something hidden beneath her ice-cold exterior. Something human. Something real.

The drive was quiet, the hum of the engine filling the space between us. But as we neared my mansion, I noticed Dhriti’s gaze flicker toward the GPS screen, her eyes widening slightly as she registered the address.

“This is your address?” she asked, surprise lacing her tone.

I glanced out the window at the sprawling estate. The mansion loomed large, even in the soft moonlight. It was imposing, yes. But it was mine. “It is.”

She let out a short laugh, shaking her head as she took in the grandeur. “Of course.”

I couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow at her. “Something wrong?”

She shook her head, clearly unimpressed by the extravagance. “I just should’ve known. Even without powers, you still live like you own the world.”

I chuckled, unbuckling my seatbelt. “It’s just good taste.”

Dhriti rolled her eyes. “Go inside before I change my mind and make you walk next time.”

I stepped out of the car, pausing for a brief moment. The words left my lips before I could stop them. “Good night, Dhriti.”

She blinked, surprised. The words felt strange coming from me, but there they were.

For a moment, neither of us said anything. Then, she let out a soft exhale, a small smile tugging at her lips. “Good night, Tavish.”

Just as I turned to head toward the entrance of the mansion, I heard the sound of her car engine sputter. It came to an unexpected halt, slowly coming to a stop in the middle of the street. I spun around, noticing the puzzled expression on her face.

“What’s going on?” I asked, my voice taking on a playful edge.

She attempted to restart the engine, but it wouldn’t budge. “This can’t be happening now…”

I couldn’t help but grin. Without a word, I waved my hand nonchalantly, and the car sputtered back into silence.

“I made it stop,” I said with a shrug, watching as her frustration grew. She shot me a look, half annoyed, half impressed.

“Why would you do that?” she asked, clearly confused.

I raised an eyebrow at her, unbothered. “Why not? You made me eat mortal food. This is just a small price to pay.”

She blinked, probably trying to figure out whether I was serious or not. Before she could protest, I wave my hand,motioning for her to stay in the car.

“I’ll be right back,” I said with a grin, leaving her to her confusion.

I walked toward a nearby street cart, the lights casting a soft glow in the night. The vendor was just wrapping up his shift when I approached, but I waved him down, quickly pointing to two ice creams. He handed them to me without question, clearly unfazed by my sudden appearance.

I returned to the car, opening the door and tossing one of the ice creams toward Dhriti.

“Since you’ve made me have mortal food, why not finish it in a proper mortal way?” I said with a smirk.

Her eyes widened, her lips curling into a reluctant smile. She didn’t protest. Instead, she took the ice cream from me and came out, both of us standing under the soft glow of the streetlights, sharing an absurd, unexpected moment.

Dhriti’s gaze softened slightly, the ice cream somehow bringing us into a space I hadn’t anticipated.

“Well played, Tavish,” she said, her voice lighter than usual.

I could only smile, knowing this was something neither of us would forget any time soon.

Okay, who else is low-key loving Tavish’s unexpected soft side? 😂 The demon king, who's probably demolished entire kingdoms with a snap of his fingers, now getting caught up in the simplicity of mortal food and random ice cream breaks? It’s too good.

Also, can we talk about the ice queen, Dhriti, finally showing a tiny bit of warmth? 😏 Who knew she’d be the one to make Tavish share a meal, and then—bam!—she’s handing him ice cream like they’re old pals.

And that whole ‘I’ll wait for you’ moment? Classic Tavish. Trying to play it off like he doesn’t care, but we all know he’s secretly invested now. I mean, who wouldn’t want to stick around for more awkward mortal moments with Dhriti? 😂

Don’t forget to drop a vote and comment—let me know what you think of Tavish’s new “human” side. Should I make him even more awkward or bring out more demon drama next time? 😜

And hey, if you’re as amused by Tavish’s antics as I am, hit me up in the comments—let’s talk ice cream, demon kings, and everything in between! ✌️