Chapter Text
While you wanted to know what was at the top of the spiral staircase, Leviathan’s rage was more than you were prepared for. You had expected his resistance, especially considering his freedom was on the line now that you’d bet a pact on the quiz, but seeing him… change that way, it scared you. Lucifer and Diavolo had always toed the fine line between ‘You’re completely safe under our watch’ and ‘Facing a demon on your own is impossible’, and Mammon was even less confident in your safety on your own. Run, or die- those were his options, weren’t they?
Your eyes widened as Leviathan’s horns and tail seemed to materialize, not quite sprouting from his human form but not quite appearing out of nowhere. It was like they took their rightful places, making him a complete picture now more than ever. If your life weren’t in danger, maybe it would’ve been awe-inspiring to see the reclusive third-born come into his power and might this way. Instead, you retreated a little, stumbling as you realized he was coming for you directly, and you cried out before you could even really decide what to do. Run or die? Run or die? Run or-
“MAMMON, HELP!” Glancing back over your shoulder, eyes wide, you made a fatal mistake as your balance shifted and you went down.
“Hold on! I’m comin’…” You floundered as Mammon sent relief through you, hitting the floor palm first with a sharp pain, but your eyes went to Levi next as he advanced, squeezing the air out of your lungs. Leviathan was harmless, all bark and no bite- he could hardly string insults together besides the typical ones that everyone used for Mammon. Besides, speaking of Mammon, he was-
“Beel, you idiot! What’s the big idea drippin’ ice cream all over the floor?! You made me slip!” He slipped? You turned back to look at him again, that relief you’d tripped over locking you up in shock, and true to his scolding, Mammon was on the floor too. “Dammit, I’m not gonna make it in time…!” The look in his eyes was serious, even panicked, and you couldn’t even look back at Levi. The crushing feeling of his anger was enough to let you know how close he was, and you couldn’t look. You squeezed your eyes shut instead, dread making it feel like your limbs were glued to the floor, and you did all you really could do.
Run or die.
But- “…thats enough.” -the gravelly, resounding voice of Lucifer set a chill through the whole room, different from his usual reserved tone. “I believe you were going to settle this via a QUIZ, weren’t you? Not through violence. You’re out of control, Levi.” Leviathan stopped, the oppressive force that was his rage coming to an almost complete halt, and you couldn’t help but peek at the eldest brother tentatively.
Everyone looked stunned, Mammon’s lips a tight line as he got up from the floor slowly, eyes trained on his older brother.
“Unbelievable!” Asmodeus had no qualms with breaking the tension, glancing at Satan next to him as everyone seemed to wait on baited breath. “Just as Leviathan was about to strike who should step in and stop him but the one and only Lucifer himself! Simply incredible!” And simply incredible was right.
He was another sight to behold, seemingly unleashed as his younger brother had been but entirely different. Lucifer was fearsome and radiant, a cold expression on his face like one you’d never seen before, and the horns on his head framed his forehead like a crown. You could understand all the references to Lucifer in the Bible now, humans calling him the most glorious of all the angels, and as he turned from Leviathan to look down at you, the four wings that seemed so right there behind his broad shoulders shifted minutely with him. Numbly, you scolded yourself because why wouldn’t his wings move with him.
“I haven’t seen you leap to someone’s rescue like that in quite some time, Lucifer.” Satan easily took you out of the spotlight, making Lucifer look away as you got to your feet and cradled your throbbing wrist. It was a blessing and a curse, his gaze as piercing as a shard of pure garnet, and you shot an uncertain look to Mammon now as you admittedly retreated back to stand with the other brothers. Leviathan was a wild card and Lucifer, while currently defending you, was as unsettling as he was beautiful.
He took charge immediately, ordering Leviathan away and questioning Mammon, and everything seemed to settle down and slip out of your view in a blink. His wings shuffled and seemed to fold out of existence instead of just behind his back, disappearing, and his horns went missing as his wings preoccupied your curious eyes. Mammon was surprisingly silent, usually the gregarious one with no sense of timing, but he was just scowling and lingering at your side as Leviathan left and everyone else relaxed.
Asmodeus and Satan were unconcerned, more than happy to tease their older brothers about coming to and failing to come to your defense, and Beelzebub was unaffected, snacking away comfortably as the family converged around you momentarily. You were fine, after you had a few moments to recover from the shock of the incident, and your wrist was only sprained a bit from falling wrong. You could handle it, especially if Mammon was going to hover and glower at you like this, so you happily bid them goodnight to retreat to your bedroom. Beelzebub tagged along, tasked by Lucifer as he took Diavolo aside and his other brothers happily skirted the responsibility.