Chapter Text
Mammon had a day full of modeling shoots planned because of his unavailability the following afternoon. He slips back home a bit before dinner in order to sneak into his room. He doesn't want anyone to bring up the undone Devildom Botany homework he misplaced somewhere in the house. A small hope inside of him thinks of Beel eating it by chance. However, he forgets all subtlety (that he was absolutely acing) when he notices the human crawling on the ceiling above where Belphie naps in the foyer.
"Oi, Ewa, waddaya doin' up there?" he yells, startling awake his brother who looks equally shocked at her location.
"Lord Belphegor told me to stop clinging to his heels so I decided to give him some space!" he beams down at him, his glee shining as he bounces on the ceiling.
"Get down! Your species are breakable, ya reckless human!"
You sound worried, you idiot. He's going to notice and take a jab at you for it.
"N- not that I ca-"
"Thank you for your concern, Lor- Mammon, but the only thing that could take me off of this ceiling is a magic user stronger than me casting a double gravity spell. Considering his hesitation to even touch me, I do not think the one demon who would will be doing it anytime soon."
The sleepy demon tsks in response to the indirect mention, inching to the back of the couch to continue his nap.
The human didn't notice or didn't care? Good either way. I don't think Belphie heard me acting concerned either. I'm not, not really. I just have an old ass promise, and I keep my word. That's all.
"If you break your little head, don't blame me."
I'll blame myself.
"I will make sure to not break my head. I am unsure my chances of survival if I shed blood in a house full of demons, unless… Am I thinking about hellhounds?"
"Ew, I don't wanna eat ya!"
Just the thought is enough to make his stomach lurch.
Who knows what Ushar's spawn would have in his blood?
"Is that a common sentiment?" he asks the demon as he sits with his legs crossed, panting from his unnecessary aerobics.
"You'll be fine in the house, with the exception of Beel. He'll eat anything near his mouth. If ya plan on ever traveling around the city though…" the avatar of greed shrugs.
"Lo- Mammon, I am fairly certain that you avatars are always experiencing your sin to some extent. You are demons. It is only natural for you to be like that."
"Like that," huh?
"Hey, I ain't no lowlife!" he involuntarily bristles, "Being greedy doesn't mean anything like that. Don't you dare look down on any of us!"
Ewa clears his throat and detaches from the ceiling. Mammon hurries to catch him.
This is a slow ass jump.
Realizing the heir's intentional lowering belatedly and not willing to look like an idiot, he stays there and holds him when he finally makes it down. Ewa sits in his arms and doesn't move.
"Didn't Satan say ya recoiled from being touched…?" he mutters.
"I would like to see you appreciate being held by a strange being with immense powers lying inside of him and with the knowledge that you have been captured in a setup but nothing else to go by," Ewa protests, "I am very physically affectionate if I know the person to be safe and comfortable."
He drops him like an unpaid invoice, maybe ensuring he doesn't land badly, but it is a quick action nonetheless.
"Affection who?! I'm not doing any of that! I just didn't want my brother's human to go splat! Nononono, I never said anything about a bond; we don't even know each other!"
"As friendly as it appears you're being to the new resident of our home, Mammon, I'm very sure you have a more pressing matter concerning your Devildom Botany."
He doesn't need to look behind him to know the hand is going to reach fast enough to grab his collar before he can sidestep the human he ironically placed in his own way. He still lunges away.
"Don't make so much racket if you don't wish to be caught. I know about your undone assignment you left in the hallway plant."
Lucifer's grip pulls him towards the source of his blunder.
"Noooooo, it's to help the homework, I swear!" he yelps, "Botany is the study of plants, and putting it in the hallway plant is logical because it would make the paper easier to do if exposed to plant life first!"
Even I know this is dumb. The paper has to be enchanted to make that work.
"Our papers are made out of plants, Mammon. More importantly, this isn't the first missed slip of botany homework. It sounds like you need tutoring again."
"Gaaaaah!"
Ewa waves with an odd expression on his face.
"Ewa, come to my room later. I have something to discuss with you."
His lip purses, "What is it about, Lord Lucifer?"
"I'll tell you when you get there," the eldest sighs as if answering is beneath him.
He probably thinks so.
"I shall have to decline then, sir."
Excuse-
"Excuse me?"
Pride's voice is low, synonymous to dangerous. The human looks almost bored with the edge of the knife he is dancing on. Mammon would not sweat on a human's behalf, and any additional perspiration to add to the drops he only developed because of Lucifer (and definitely not stressing about the safety of this fragile creature with no sense of magic awareness) is because his brother's fouler temper meant things get dicier for him. It's not worry that makes him speak, just duty and caring about himself.
"Ewa, I dunno if you're clueless or just bad at getting cues, but that wasn't a question."
Please please please please please get the hint. I really don't want to have to make choices.
The grip holds his collar as firmly as always, but Lucifer's attention has been split between him and the human. He's not pissed off yet, but the threat is there.
"Indeed. It wasn't," the eldest scoffs.
"L- Mammon," Ewa ignores his brother a second time, "I am aware that it was not a question. That is why I responded in the manner that I did. The only authority he has concerning me is as the head of this household, for I am a resident, and even that is indeterminate. If it is a household matter, he could say that with ease. He refused, and I do not follow dangerous creatures to isolated areas upon their request because they tell me to."
"You dare challenge me?"
Mammon is dropped unceremoniously. He backs up to see an angle he can scoop the human out of this. Nothing gets Lucifer riled up like a perceived threat to his authority, his pride. Surely a human who dabbles so much in demonic culture as to know the language and speak an archaic version of it fluently would know when he goes too far.
"You are the one challenging the crown prince of the Devildom, the demon who owns my soul."
What the crow, the heir has his sire's balls of steel.
The lord of pride internally cringes and outwardly bristles at the accusation. There's a hesitation lined with umbrage in his movements. The urge to beat the insolent human into submission is threatened by the statement.
"Elaborate," he replies, "You will regret it if this is a waste of time."
Lucifer has no qualms in letting his simmering temper add to the intimidation factor towards the human who has bared its fangs so early in her stay here. He would find it amusing if not for the excessive insolence.
Just as nuisance-prone as that cursed exchange student. This is why this one is staying inside.
Ewa scrunches her face thrice before speaking, "I am in the service of the Lord of Sloth under the orders of the current acting ruler of the Devildom and no one else. To have the temerity to think my time is at your disposal is a blatant disrespect to your superior who has me assigned elsewhere. He did not give you access to any of my resources. Unless it has to do with my job, I will not be giving you a yod."
Lucifer is speechless. His lips part to retort, but nothing comes out. He wants to flame. His demon form strains to be released. Twice this human has woven a tapestry without any sort of personal knowledge about their surroundings. Twice this weak being has taunted him with a show of power. To strike now with two of his brothers as witness and the damning words ringing would mean insubordination. He-
"Lord Lucifer, is it or is it not a household matter or something concerning my stay or job here?"
To affirm or even answer is like a defeat. So be it. This is a declaration of challenge.
"It's job related."
"I shall see you after dinner," she nods.
He looks away from his source of stress and addresses the next matter, "Belphie, don't forget that you're cooking today."
"Most of the stuff is already prepped unless Beel raided the back of the fridge," his response is muffled by the cushion he flopped back onto.
As for my other brother-
It is unnatural for Mammon to have stayed. He is notorious for leaving others to pick up his slack or using any opportunity to dart. Instead, he's gaping at Ewa as if she is going to suddenly break her leg where she stands. Lucifer doesn't see why he's so concerned. Her gaze scans the demons around her with what the lord of pride knows is feigned boredom. The analytical intensity cannot be hidden from him. Her mind and tongue are hidden in a sheath.
"Lord Belphegor."
"What?" he growls.
"I'm going to the bathroom."
"Whatever, shoo."
She vanishes as if she was never there to begin with, steps quiet and quick. His brother's gaze followed the girl, giving the eldest an easy opening to grab the slacker once more.
"You can get started on that homework before dinner."
"I'm busy!"
He slips out of his jacket and darts. Lucifer mentally curses his carelessness due to the human distraction.
"MAAAAAMMOOON!"