nice to neet you!

It's something you've seen the women in your family do, ensure everyone else's plates are filled before they let herself eat too. That food is always hot and ready to be eaten, fresh from the stove. Even if it means that sometimes there is none left for them.

You hate it, personally ensure that they serves themselves too.

But you've picked up that particular habit.

It's an act of love—ensuring that your loved ones are well-fed and cared after. But its self-sacrifice too. Labouring in love, willingly given, but neglecting your own care.

It popped up at dinnertime in the House of Lamentation once. When it was your turn to make dinner you had served others first—filled their bowls and plates. The brothers were grateful, but then Beelzebub's eyes fell to your own empty plate and bowl. You were about to go back to the kitchen to prepare more.

He frowned, opened his mouth to complain, but his brothers had beaten him to it already.

Leviathan and Satan had already grabbed your own plate, one placing some warm rolls while the latter put some salad. Beelzebub passed the bowl of gravy; Mammon the rice. Lucifer filled your glass of water and Asmodeus handed you your now-heavy plate.

Something bubbles up in your throat and stays there.

You all eat together.

And when the casserole of bread is empty, the others beat you to it. "Nuh-uh," they tell you. "You've done a round already. Let us serve you this time. No standing and serving. Eat with us."

close ups under the cut!

Caleb holding your hair when you’re sick, rubbing the back of your shoulders gently and nearly in tears as if he was the one that’s sick— and God, he wishes he were. Seeing your teary eyes as you cling onto the toilet or sink breaks his heart, and he’d do anything to be the one dealing with the tummy pain instead of you.

Hell, he is the one calling Zayne, doing all things possible for an online consult, or have Zayne come over if he insists he needs to check you in person; Caleb is NOT making you get dressed and in a car to go to the hospital.

It would’ve taken maybe one (1) single time as teenagers of you not even being able to hold down water for him to have learnt how do administer IV drips; you’re NOT staying dehydrated under his watch. Electrolytes, ice chips, water, broth, tea, anything your body can handle to ease your dizziness and headaches.

When you can finally hold down some food, he’ll have a huge pot of congee waiting for you, as well as more broths with some seriously tender veggie bits in itー maybe even shredded chicken if you’re feeling better. When the hunger is too much, he’ll carefully soak corn tortillas and crackers in the soups and feed you them, at least until you feel ready to nibble on the, dry… which he will also feed to you.

Don’t think about doing anything yourself, cause it’s not happening.

Let gege take care of you.