Time.
That was always such an odd thing to keep track of in the land of Demons.
The eternal night was one thing, however their long ‘days’ were another.
Sure, seventy-two is another multiple of twelve and twenty-four like the systems you were much more familiar with, yet still it tripped you up sometimes, especially clocks which were all analog aside from the digital ones on D.D.D.s.
How was one to keep track of time in a place like this? And demons, much less physical beings than humans, able to eat less and be awake longer naturally, it only made sense that their time score would accommodate that, seventy-two, thirty-six hours for the waking day and thirty-six for restful night.
Belphie and his brothers would complain about your hours long ‘naps’ in the middle of the day, mostly when at R.A.D. and Solomon got to take these ‘naps’ with you, he too was human after all,
… supposedly.
Then, there was nighttime, a twelve hour period where when all others were asleep, you’d awaken, up and about a bit past witching hour.
In the early days of the exchange program this period unnerved you, shadows seeming to claw towards you, strange thumps and groans keeping you confined to your room.
But it was home now.
With how noisy the lot was, this peaceful time was a much needed reset from that chaos. Be able to read in the library without worry or hearing arguing a few rooms over or someone crashing in, getting to nap in the planetarium and not awaken by almost suffocating with a heavy sleeping Belphie atop you, practice and play instruments in the music room and not have someone try correcting your technique only for someone else to come in and saying that was wrong and you had to do it a different way only for someone else to come in and the cycle repeat till they’re fighting over who should be your personal tutor and teach you their favorite song or instrument.
It was nice, to just be. That way you could better indulge in the fun chaos of the day without getting stressed out.
It was lovely to simply take your time, perhaps sleep in past your alarm for a little bit. Soak in the bath, do a couple half-hearted stretches before calling it a day. And maybe sometimes use the opportunity to get school work done so you wouldn’t run the risk of having to cram it in due to being preoccupied by those silly indulgent antics that filled up the day.
You kept your room well-lit during this time, only place you dared to keep light. You could technically light up which ever room you were using at the time, but it was a bit more hassle than it was worth, before you had become adept enough with those spells to do so you had long memorize this place. The darkness clung to you, keeping you one with the house, each and every last step, the floorboards, the walls, all a part of you, there was no such need to feel around, not any longer. Not for so, so long now.
It was also just easier so your eyes wouldn’t have to adjust to the lighting constantly.
Like with that fridge which always blinded you. Every morning, past midnight, for breakfast. You were so tempted at this point to get a pair of sunglasses just for this, but explaining such a concept to your roommates seemed like more trouble than it was worth.
And…
Even if they technically knew you were up and about at this time, most had not actually realized it. And if they did…
You ignored the thought, not needing a headache so early in the day, opting to place ingredients on the counter. Griffin eggs and toast with weeping lettuce and bursting tomatoes sounded nice. You always tried not using too many ingredients, didn’t want to disappoint anyone when something they were expecting to be there was missing, sure, Beel would likely get at it later, but… it still felt odd.
That feeling didn’t stop you from taking out two plates though. One across that island in the middle of the kitchen, closer to the door, just in case; your’s beside the stove top.
A sigh escaped you, adoring the warmth from the stove as you lit it, the crackling of the fire inside as it grew while you closed the hatch, the sight of the flames being funneled through that grate before you covered it with the frying pan.
Griffen eggs were always a bit big and unwieldy for you to hold in one hand, just a bit too big for a little human, but damn if that bright orange yoke wasn’t delicious enough to offset the annoyingness of it’s unwieldy size.
…
It was only now that the house was this quiet to appreciate the little things, the light pop and crackling of the egg on the pan, the light thump, thump, thumping of heel against stone to the rhythm of a tune creeping through the back of the mind. Even the ever so quiet taps of footfalls on tile, normally any could sneak around simply by hiding amongst the yelling, the play fighting, the pranks, the actual fighting and su-
“Beellllzeebuuuuub.”
Oh wow, the elongated tone usually reserved for Mammon, poor Beel didn’t deserve that. Especially if he were up at this hour…
He was already being punished enough as is.
Over your shoulder you spotted the stunned Lucifer, looking to you in shock.
He looked old, or rather tired, the kind that could accompany age. Perhaps it was simply the lighting from the fire in the stove, the lines on his face, the creases on his forehead seemed deeper, the area right under his eyes almost as dark as the dining room his back was turned too. “… MC.”
Wait… he hadn’t found Beelzebub?
…
Shit… you couldn’t exactly hide the plate now.
“Working late or did you have a nightmare?” A playfulness seeped from your tone that you couldn’t help, such a rarer expression from that man.
Maybe you could pull another from him.
“Wait no…” Turning to face him you smirked, eyeing him up and down, his clothes wrinkled, slightly disheveled, sleeves rolled up, his coat missing. “You’re going to sneak out to party, aren’t cha?”
A jolt, laughter exploding out from you, his immediate distaste and unamused expression was practically cartoonish in how exaggerated it was.
“Ah, so that’s why you were expecting someone.” Not a question but a droll accusation. The eldest’s voice rumbled so deeply you almost mistaken it for a growl.
Desperate to ignore the piercing gaze that was on the plate before him you suddenly found yourself exceedingly focused back on the egg. “I rather I didn’t see anyone at this time.” It meant Beel was able to sleep through the night peacefully…
“More of a just in case thing.” You quickly added. You could count on one hand how many times you were alone for every meal during your ‘late days’. “Asmo prefers to break his diets with as few people seeing as possible, Satan sometimes wants some cider before bed if he’s stayed up too late reading, even Levi; he actually prefers proper meals but those aren’t exactly easy for him to squirl away in his room or to eat quick enough between games or episodes.”
But having a second guest at this time was exceedingly rarer.
You continued, trying to ignore the nervous acidic feeling gnawing away at your stomach. “And I was right to do so considering we’re even talking about this right now.” Even then, you always had the same dining partner almost every night, and it was certainly not Lucifer.
“Hmm.” Ah, that condescending, knowing hum of his. How annoying. “Well, I came here for coffee, but a meal would be nice to go along with it.” And that tone, Lucifer wanted to catch his brother in the act, but any refusal on your part now would only make things worse and suspicious, look like this was planned and scheduled.
“Really? Coffee? It’s like, midnight for you. Just eat the eggs and toast and get to bed. I doubt you’ll wanna be dealing with everyone’s antics half-asleep.” Carefully you slid the egg out of the pan and onto the plate it practically completely covered. And with the now thin grease-like film on the pan the bread piece was gently pressed into it, the quietest of crackling before quickly flipping it over, already a lovely golden-brown.
“No, there are papers that need to get done tonight, and they’re being more of a hassle than Diavolo presented them as.” With a thunk Lucifer placed that clunky grinder on the counter. Such a loud noisy thing. No different from any other coffee grinder in that aspect at least, however it was hand cranked, and that handle for whatever reason insisted on squeaking and screeching each and every time it was turned, jittering and swaying like it was about to fall off. Honestly one really just needed to hear THAT to get up, no need for coffee.
“Oh yeah? Ehe hehhehhe.” WHY DID YOU HAVE TO NERVOUSLY LAUGH LIK-
“MC?” Fuck. Your heart sank. “Heh, what’s got you so excite-”
…
All three of you stared at one another, the silence palpable, heavy with dread. At least between you and Beel who was frozen in the doorway.
And he just sounded so exhausted too.
Wait! “Ah, you’re working late too Beel?”
“huh?” Before he could question a thing you dragged Lucifer off, shoving him in a seat.
“Yeah.” Your giant gave you the briefest of nods as he passed. “Here, let me.” Beelzebub, thankfully, was a man of instinct, already getting a bag of beans for the grinder. Exhausted as he was, Beelzebub was a loyal, obedient man, he’d always follow your lead.
Even if it were unlikely to ever appease Lucifer, at least you two could try so he wouldn’t punish the both of you as much, or at the very least please him enough to be willing to ignore your nightly meetings for surely he’d connected the dots by now.
“MC-”
“Just a moment, now that Beel’s here too I need to get some-”
That screeching and grinding made you flinch, heart leapt in your throat. Though you watched as Beel vigorously spun the crank something in your mind was still screamed to run, hide from some beast that was out to get you.
But it was just him.
Or rather-
“Beelzebub!” Lucifer slammed a hand on Beelzebub’s shou-
CRASH
.
.
.
Maybe Beel put a bit too much fervor into it, the pair of you now staring at the crank in his hand, and the pile of falling apart metal before him. Lucifer had a hand on the funnel bit where the beans were poured in.
He heaved a great, heavy sigh that sent a chill down your spine, and presumably Beel’s too given how he shuttered.
“I-I’ll clean this up.”
Did Lucifer flinch? Surely your eyes were playing tricks on you, projecting the heart break you felt hearing Beel sound… nervous? Exhausted? A little scared? It was something vulnerable, you could pinpoint that at least.
Beelzebub wore his heart on his sleeve, he never shied away from his emotions before, but… you’d never heard him like that, even right after…
“Me too.” Squeezing past Lucifer you took the funnel, and the box bit it poured into, trying to save all the beans you could.
“Lucifer?” Your gaze followed Beel’s. The man didn’t say a thing, simply wiping off the actual grinding parts and… one by one taking each other piece and cleaning them off.
You two followed his lead.
Once they were all done and collected in the bowl Lucifer placed out he… left?
You and your companion shared a glance. You both knew better than to keep Lucifer waiting, that he made silent commands all HAD to follow, but… this didn’t feel like that. Still after Beel gave you an affirming nod you closed off the fire completely, making sure it was dead before following after.
Slinking up those steps and down those halls you found yourselves in the eldest’s room. His closet was left partly ajar and he had on a pair of glasses you could only vaguely recall him wearing once before in a photo, but never in person. He sat on the couch that was before the table and his bed, a metal box beside the bowl he just placed down.
Cautiously you sat beside him. Leaning over his shoulder you found it to be a small metal toolbox. Unlike the one Beel used for the occasional construction work or repairs around the house, this one had small tools. The inside was also a mess, the actual equipment buried under springs, coils, screws, metal plates, even some metal wire and hooks, so many little scraps and such. And yet Lucifer didn’t even need to look, not even needing to feel around for a moment to find what he was after.
Then you just watched him work.
He went in chunks, not necessarily putting things together in the order they should be, but it did help in figuring out what shouldn’t go where. On occasion you or Beel would chime in about what you thought should go where or when to put it in before putting in something else before it would be in the way.
The ticking of the clock became background noise as you found focus on the clicking of gears or the quiet clanks of metal against metal.
“A screw is missing, but I took everything…”
Eventually that was replaced by the slight reverb of all those metals being rummaged around in the metal box. No matter how Lucifer searched though. “Where is it.” No matter how many screws from that box he tried.
He sighed, none working.
Even if you did find it, it wouldn’t be of much use. It was needed for keeping the handle in place, but even before busting that thing was looser than Mammon’s lips for any amount of grimm. It was an especially tiny one too, it very well likely broke from the grinder’s constant use and no one noticed given how it was to be screwed in from the inside.
…
Actually…
Gently plucking the screwdriver from Lucifer’s hand you trotted away for your destination, a pair of confused demons at your heels. Glancing behind yourself you couldn’t help the snicker that escaped you. What a cute, silly sight, like some ducklings or lost puppies but as two grown, who should be intimidating looking men.
“What are you up too.”
“HA-” You slapped a hand over your mouth, desperate to keep in your laughter at the utter deadpan skepticism from the eldest.
And Beelzebub’s hiccupping chuckle he tried hiding behind his fist. Seemed your laughter was infectious for he had a raised brow, clearly wondering what got you so giggly.
“Sh-Sssshhhh. Shut up.” Too much energy rattled inside you. A tension taut in your muscles, your nerves finally spilling out. In repressed fits of laughter and loud snorts you kept whispering for your companion to quiet down pawing his mouth shut.
“You’re being louder. SSSSHHHHHH.”
“No- Beel! Quiet, you’ll wake them up!”
“ssshhhhh”
“no you ssshhhh”
“mc, you’re too loud.”
Among hushed whispers you two dragged one another along, tears pricked the corners of your eyes as your laughter turned to coughs from the sheer tension that coiled within you, smiling so hard your cheeks hurt.
At last your anxiety had found an outlet and wouldn’t let go, as your giddy, childish laughter came spilling out in full force- “WAH-” and in his own giggle fit Beelzebub flung you over his shoulder, bounding down the stairs.
Very loudly.
You both froze at the bottom.
“What are you two-” the stairs creaked under Lucifer’s first step.
“SSSSHHHH, Lucifer, shut up you’re too lou-”
Before you could finish, before your mind finally caught up in it’s nervous haze that you were speaking to LUCIFER LIKE THAT, Beel dashed away with you in tow.
.
.
.
So you were going to die tonight.
The moment you were placed down you took several deep breaths. You needed to slow down, and better yet get the last of this anxious energy out, hopping in place and shaking your hands.
You were fine.
You… WERE fine.
…
DON’T… dwell on that.
A quiet chuckle petering out, and sniffle and deep breath drew your attention, Beelzebub forcing his shoulders to sag.
“Okay, guess I’ve been a bit nervous toda-uh, night.”
“It’s okay.”
… What a lovely smile Beelzebub had, and what a contrast to the dark spots under his eyes.
“Let’s go get that screw.”
Beel simply nodded in reply, taking your outstretched hand.
His lightly trembled.
… You had to ask. “Was it worse tonight?”
“…” He couldn’t quite look at you. “… I don’t think I’ll be going back to sleep. But, this has made me feel a little better.”
“good.”
“We should get going before Lucifer catches…” His words trailed off, the giant’s eyes catching something in the not too far distance past you.
Lucifer was behind you, or just down the hall at least.
“C’mon, we need a rubber band.” Before another word could be said you dashed off, dragging Beel along.
Ducking into your room for but a moment you dashed back out, slipping past Lucifer on the way.
Now, where was the controller. You sometimes forgot there was a T.V. in the lounge room, usually for movie night or for one of Beel’s games, or if anyone, other than Leviathan, wanted to watch something they’d hijack Mammon’s room since he had the best quality and biggest T.V. And thankfully, since this one wasn’t used as much, that meant the controller was less likely to have been lost, sitting right where it should be on the table.
Relief washed over you after flipping it over, would have been rather embarrassing if you misremembered and it had one of those push-tab backs and not a screw on one. And now just to make sure this one didn’t get lost.
“This is what you needed me to ‘shut up’ for.”
…
You didn’t look to Lucifer, instead twisting the rubber band around the controller. “Look… nobody here has had their coffee yet. We’re all a bit tired and out of it.”
“And just what are you doing.”
“Nobody uses this T.V. anyway, we’ll have plenty of time to get a new screw for the back, and even if we don’t the rubber band dose a good enough job of keeping the back on. Everyone’s going to be much more upset about the coffee grinder being busted that having some rubber keep the battery backing in place. Who knows, this one probably won’t fit the grinder anyway and I’ll put it back like nothing happened.” And with that you quickly and quietly made your way back to Lucifer’s room.
Beel sat beside Lucifer as he examined the tiny screw you placed in his palm. “This better work for both your sakes.”
Huh… not as bad of a reaction to this whole mornin-night as you thought he’d have. He too probably realized just how much of a headache his brothers would sow if they didn’t get their morning fix.
You stood behind the couch behind Beelzebub, just a precaution on your part. That didn’t stop your hands for perching on his shoulder, leaning in for a better look.
…
“A little too short to stay for long, but it should last for the morning.” Was that a hint of relief on Lucifer’s tongue?
“Oh thank goodness.” Not as much as your own though.
“You two will still be making all the coffee runs till this is actually fixed.”
…
Just… just coffee runs? That’s it?
“Okay.”
“Oh-uh-Yeah, yes!”
… Maybe Lucifer was too tired to dole out any kind of real punishment for now, and would summon you and Beel later to talk about these late night meetings.
Well, nothing for it now but to watch him work.
…
It was strange to have two of your demons in one room and for it to be so quiet and tranquil. The crackling of the fire, and clink of metal on metal, the ticking of that big old clock in the corner.
And even stranger, for Lucifer to be… like this. When Lucifer was doing paperwork, there was more of an edge to him. It was work for Diavolo, it had to be perfect.
… A part of you sometimes wondered if Lucifer, despite pledging his loyalty, felt a need for everything to be perfect out of fear him and his brothers would be cast out of their home again.
... Surely, he'd kill you if you dared ever voiced this aloud, but... so much of him didn't read to you as a perfectionist, or even as a man of such god damning pride, just... scared. A little alley cat quick to bare it’s claws and teeth at anything that could bring it harm, to the point of even lashing out at it’s own tail despite itself.
And yet, something seemed softer about him tonight. Instead of punishments here he was, simply repairing the thing. No anger, no frustration, no yelling, just…
Something more big brotherly you supposed.
Actually… all the other times you could recall this side, Lucifer only ever showed it with Beel. Not all the time, the man was still cruel and would starve his already starving little brother, but still…
“Oh.” … Maybe that was why Beelzebub could feel safe around him, the redhead leaning against his brother’s shoulder, fast asleep.
You only caught it for a brief moment, too distracted by your bug, but Lucifer turned a little towards the pair of you before facing the mechanical pieces in hand again.
… You’d let him have that moment.
“He still has nightmares.” Lucifer rarely asked questions, he had to be all knowing, only making statements of observations. Yet that breathiness to his tone… couldn’t be disbelief but something akin to it.
And since it wasn’t a question, you didn’t need to answer. Although, your silence likely was enough of one anyway just from how heavy it felt to you at least.
It was too long till he spoke again. “They’re the same as after the war, they never stopped.”
“I’m not a cure all for everything you know. And… it’s not like my being here somehow makes the war any less painful.” As much as you wish you could. Somehow take it all for them.
“I thought they stopped.” … Actual disbelief? “Less food was going missing in the night soon after you arrived, surely he was just hungry not still…” Those last few words died out.
He just stared at you, eyes barely flickering up and down.
Lucifer went back to working on the coffee grinder. You went back to watching.
.
.
.
.
.
.
“Thank you.”
“No need, I would be up anyway. I appreciate his company. He made the earlier ‘days’ here less scary. Without him I may have starved a little, too nervous to eat ‘at night’.”
“…”
Neither of you said much else the rest of the ‘day’, aside from Lucifer grumbling something about finishing the paperwork in the morning before R.A.D. as he draped his bed’s comforter over Beel who was still on the couch.
And the rest of your ‘day’ went just as normal. And the day after too, only notable thing was Beel feeling a little embarrassed about ending up sleeping on the couch in the morning. You all went to R.A.D., a fight broke out over who you’d sit next too at lunch, you went to sleep in the student council room with Solomon that everyone complained about, a lab room almost blew up, Thirteen woke up the pair of you with another one of her traps, she apologized to you by promising to go out with you later for a coffee date, you went back to classes.
Sleeping at school was always exhausting, but that just made getting home feel all the better at least. And because of the timeline you more or less had an entire human weekend before having to return to school again, and it wasn’t even the Devildom’s weekend yet!
And so after dropping your book bag on the bed you trotted over to the closet. What a relief it’d be to get into comfy-
…
Well, that was new. Only noticed it tucked away in the corner since your foot bumped into it.
Carefully you pulled out the little white box. It was plugged in to some outlet you didn’t even know was in your closet. Had a good heft to it, but not too heavy to be a strain to carry out.
A mini fridge? You couldn’t think it to be anything else.
It was strange looking inside, seemed like it was just… a fuzzy light? Yet still you were compelled and curious, reaching a hand inside.
Cold.
The thing was certainly bigger on the inside, you could, and did, stick your whole arm in to feel around.
It was like a magic hat, you were able to pull item after item out seemingly endlessly, some griffin eggs, bread, bloody lingon berries, spiteful dragon fruit, burger buns, milk, juice, chocolate, water bottles, condiments, stinging grapes, pickles, meat paddies, bursting tomatoes, weeping lettuce, bacon, cheese, noodles, vegetables, fish, it just went on and on, but eventually you seemed to have found everything.
… And now to put it all back.
You didn’t mis how everything you packed away happened to be ingredients for your or Beelzebub’s favorite meals.
…
This didn’t change your mind, just because something was here now didn’t change how one felt about the past… but you could admit, it was comforting.
You better hide this away behind the false floorboard so no one found this given your roommates had a habit for snooping through your things. Besides, it’d be nice to be able to surprise Beelzebub with a fuller meal if-
…
No, when he visited you again.
As much as you wished it were an ‘if’.
At least you could keep a pair of sunglasses with this refrigerator so you’d no longer get blinded in the night and stop worrying Beel when he caught you shielding your eyes before.
One of the oldest things in my WIP folder, finally finished this after, what, two, three years. Started it well before this blog at least. One down and… a lot more still to go.
Thank you so much @raphaelshalo for beta reading! ヾ(≧▽≦*)o
