Chapter Text
Beelzebub has been anxious all morning. He has no idea why. The anxiety neither stifled his appetite enough for others to notice nor changed his demeanor, but it gnaws at him worse than his eternal hunger. Of course, Belphie notices. He always does.
“Hey, Beel,” he snaps his twin out of his daze as he is being carried to school, “I can feel your worries, you know? Do you need to talk about something?”
Beel does not pause his steps but ponders if he can explain just what it is that makes this feeling. It is small yet feels to stretch over his entire being. Beelzebub is not a demon who knows prophecy or fortune telling intimately, but he knows the feeling is one of the gut. So, he says as much.
“I just feel like something bad might happen soon. I don't like it,” his words come out rougher than he intended, but Belphie understands.
“I'll keep a lookout with you then.”
He pats the orange hair from his position on Beelzebub's back. The action relaxes the taller twin slightly but only by a bit. He still feels tense. Belphegor sighs but does not comment further.
The school day is ridiculously smooth, further causing Beelzebub anxiety. Belphie was gently deposited in the seat of his first class, and Beel moved to his own studies. He could not find himself remembering anything said around him or have quite the focus he is usually able to demonstrate. The avatar of gluttony isn’t known for exceptional grades, but he does well enough focusing to never cause Lucifer to need to speak to him on it.
It could just be an off day; I suppose.
He keeps telling himself the same thing every time he catches his mind already drifting away from studies, trying to console himself from this eerie foreboding hanging over him like a hex. Beelzebub feels like a live wire, waiting for something to touch it carelessly or even with means to repair just to be shocked by the energy being conducted unaware.
No doubt, he would bottle it up and keep it quiet until he could figure it as usual if he could, but the straw that breaks the camel’s back occurs faster in the day than he expects. What sends him over the edge is when the period before lunch begins and Belphegor disappears. He doesn’t see him disappear, but he feels his connections grow infinitely distant in less than a second. The only time he has experienced such a sensation is when a literal realm divides him and his twin. The last time it happened so suddenly is when they fell-
Beel shakes his head, hoping to rid himself of the unpleasant memories. Who could he talk to that could do something about this and hopefully solve the problem without too much trouble? Only one of his brothers comes to mind, making him smile despite his distress. Yes, he would help him.
•••
Satan wants a quiet lunch, but nothing is ever peaceful with his family. It is Beel this time that bugs him throughout lunch and, when told to let him eat in peace, sadly stares at him until he finishes. It is unnerving. Belphie usually soothes Beel's sadness, and he is the demon of the red head's worries. The avatar of wrath listens to the explanation carefully but cannot help but sigh him off.
“Satan, can you just check for me? I know you said you've read a good amount of texts on tracking magic, and I really don't want to disturb Lord Diavolo and Lucifer’s date in case it's just nerves,” Beel pleads in the odd way he does, eyes widened without meaning and a stare that cuts into even a dead conscience.
Satan cocks an eyebrow at the amount of emotion he shows. It is unlike Beel to be so undone. On the very rare chance Belphegor made it to the human world, it would be an emergency, but the security put in place to prevent such a thing was designed by Lucifer and Barbatos’ careful hands. He hates to give the eldest praise, but his dedication to Diavolo makes his work flawless unless in an extremely straining situation.
The avatar of wrath finally gives in, “I need a piece of his clothing or something he carries around enough to be able to activate the spell.”
Asmodeus, who is by chance passing by the room, peeks his head in, earrings jangling.
“Ooooh, you're doing a personal connection spell? Whomever for? Is it perchance a secret lov-”
A pencil is thrown with amazing precision, but Asmo dodges it with ease. He scoffs mockingly before curling his expression to a pout. One does not stay looking amazing on a constant basis by having slow reflexes to a potential beauty disaster.
“Satan! Don't be so mean to your darling younger brother, I was only curious~”
“Have you seen Belphie, Asmo?” Beel asks suddenly.
Asmo looks thoughtful for a second before shaking his head, “Not since our shared class this morning. He was asleep as usual,” he pauses to take note of his hair quickly (as if simply dodging a pencil could ruin curls) before snapping down the mirror and giving his full attention to Beelzebub again, “But can't you just use your twin telepathy to locate him?”
“I can't feel him the same way; it's like-”
They are interrupted again by a band of wolf demons being thrown in their general direction by an aflame wrath demon. He almost proceeds forward before seeing the gathering of avatars. His flames flicker hesitantly, still burning with rage but sane enough to want to keep his life. One growl from Satan, and the creature beats it with an angry huff. The wolfish demons scatter the moment the coast is clear. Satan flicks the door shut with magic the moment they move and sighs, turning his attention back to his spell book.
“Belphegor isn't in the Devildom, Asmo. I just know it, even if I can't explain this feeling.”
A ding from Asmodeus’ phone distracts him from the conversation. Beel looks over at Satan and decides not to bother him.
“I'll have the spell ready by dinner, Beel. We can't skip class to find Belphie. I'm sure if he's in any danger he can fend for himself.”
Beel looks unsatisfied but nods and leaves the room. A few seconds later, Satan also gets a text.
(...opening chat)
The House of Lamentation(6)
Lucifer: I need everyone in the student council room.
Lucifer: Immediately.
Mammon: I didn't do it this time!
Levi: He never said any of us was in trouble, Mammon.
Levi: But if there's anything you want to admit to, feel free to do it ahead of time and save us the trouble.
Mammon: I didn't do jack!
Mammon: I even attended all my classes on time today.
Mammon: Take that, Levi.
Levi: I'm just saying, your scumminess will always come to light.
Mammon: What would you know?
Lucifer: Enough.
Asmo: Will this be quick?
Asmo: I have a lunch date, and we didn't schedule any student council meetings for today.
Asmo: You wouldn't deprived your darling brother of his social life, would you?
Lucifer: This is serious, Asmodeus. Your date can be rescheduled.
Levi:
Levi: He's pulling out full names…
Satan: I'm on my way.
Mammon: How soon is “immediately”?
Lucifer: Faster than you can make an excuse for taking your credit card back again.
Mammon:
[Mammon has gone offline.]
Levi: LMAO That scumbag really thought Lucifer wouldn't notice.
Satan: Out of curiosity, are we in this archived chat because Belphegor is not essential to this meeting?
Asmo: Now that you mention it, why's Belphie being excused?
Asmo: Beel was worrying about him being gone earlier. Does this mean he actually is off of school property?
Lucifer: Beel asked what?
Lucifer: When did he start inquiring?
(closing chat…)
Satan tucks his phone into his back pocket before entering the student council room. The first thing he notices is that Mammon is eyeing the windows like he wants to jump out of them. The second thing is Leviathan’s anxious gaming that he looks up from every few minutes. Lucifer looks more stressed than usual, a bit of sadness tinging his eyes; which of course Satan would know what that expression looks like because of their shared past. And he hates that he is the only one who notices.
A few minutes pass. It seems Beelzebub has not checked his phone at all. There is no sight of him. Lucifer is stewing but finally shakes his annoyance off and gets down to business.
“Belphegor has gone on a rampage.”
Asmo rolls his eyes and continues whatever photo editing he was working at before. Mammon relaxes, thinking his sins will not be mentioned for now. Levi cocks an eyebrow and continues gaming. Avatars losing their shit on citizens isn't something new.
“In the human world.”
Levi drops his console. Asmodeus accidentally snaps a picture of his face stretched in horror. Mammon noticeably pales.
“When did this happen?” Satan questions, the thing he thought unlikely earlier today now showing itself as a reality.
Lucifer narrows his eyes, “I'm unsure. Do you know anything concerning this?”
Satan prickles at the almost unsaid accusation.
“Beel came to me during lunch and asked if I had seen Belphie. I had no inclination anything was off before then-”
Beelzebub bursts into the room with his phone in hand. It looks like he ran the entire way here.
“I'm sorry I missed the texts. I was looking for Belphie,” he pants out.
“Beel, what were you telling Satan earlier concerning Belphegor’s state of being?” Lucifer’s voice drops to deadly levels of severity.
Beel notices the intensity but cannot help voicing his concern for his twin regardless, “I don't think he's in the Devildom anymore; I can't sense him like we're in the same realm. He's so…distant. His number says it's out of service when I call and–”
Mammon looks down worriedly. Asmo suddenly busies himself with his phone. Satan gives Beel a pitying look. For his credit, Levi pays attention to what's happening but only because of the gravity.
“What are you guys not telling me?”
Lucifer sighs, “Belphegor has been spotted in the human world.”
Beelzebub’s heart drops with the confirmation of his fears.
“There's something else, Lucifer. What did Belphie do?”
He doesn't mean to sound authoritative, but his worry deepens his voice. Lucifer cannot bear to look Beel in the eyes as he answers.
“Belphegor went on a rampage. The reason is currently unknown. Approximately ten thousand humans have been found dead or injured because of him. A lesser demon summoned was able to report this to Diavolo but not before it was too late. He's being taken to detainment as we speak.”