Work Text:
As Lucifer arrived at the castle, he was greeted at the door by an uncharacteristically anxious Barbatos.
“You brought Mammon with you?” Barbatos asked.
“He insisted on tagging along,” Lucifer rolled his eyes.
However, Mammon didn’t respond. He just quietly followed with a straight face as Barbatos led the way to the master bedroom.
“It’s been a week since the funeral, Lucifer.” Barbatos said despondently. “I bring meals to the room, but I’m lucky most days if the plate is even touched when I go to collect it. I’m just not sure what to do at this point.”
“We’ll figure it out, Barbatos. I promise,” Lucifer placed a hand on the butler’s shoulder as they arrived at the master bedroom.
Cautiously they entered.
In the center of the room sat the ruler of the devildom, unmoving, not even a flinch to greet the three that entered. Lifeless eyes stared at the empty bed that until recently, two would share, but now it was a place for cold nights alone.
“Your highness?” Lucifer started carefully. “How are you doing this morning?”
The pair of eyes finally looked away from the empty bed and met with Lucifer’s. They were red and glassy from either crying, or sleeplessness, or most likely both.
“How do you think I’m doing?”
Lucifer was taken aback by this response, but he composed himself again, “I understand how you’re feeling, your highness, but it’s been days now… You really need to address your people, they’re all waiting to hear from you. If you keep neglecting your duties-”
“I can’t, Lucifer,” hands came up to hide away the pained expression and muffle the shakiness in the voice full of despair. “How could I face them? Do you really think the Devildom will accept me like this?”
Humans and demons have very different life spans so there are certain heartbreaks the royal couple knew they needed to be prepared for when they married. This, however, was not an outcome that had been considered.
“We haven’t even been married for a year, how could something like this happen,” eyes drifted to a picture of the royal couple hanging on the wall. “How could you leave me like this? I- I can’t do this alone…”
“With all due respect, your highness, you are not alone,” Lucifer tried to place a comforting hand on a quaking shoulder. “I understand how you feel, but-”
“How?” the voice was low, almost a growl. “I don’t recall your spouse dying an early death. So how do you even begin to know how I feel?”
Lucifer withdrew, he wasn’t sure how to respond. His friend looked at him with regret for the hurtful words, but looked away again in shame. However, Mammon, who had been silent up until this point, felt something snap in him.
“So what, ya lost your spouse? Yeah well we lost a friend! Ya think you’re special just cause ya were married? You’re not the only one grieving, ya know? We all lost someone. Not just you. Lucifer is here doing his best to keep his own grief in check, so that he can be here supporting you! The least you could do-”
“Mammon!” Lucifer grabbed his brother by the collar of his shirt.
Despite his older brother’s grip the Avatar of Greed glared at the Devildom’s ruler. The latter was stunned by what Mammon said. Whether it was Mammon’s words, or the way he said them, or a mixture of both, he seemed to have gotten through.
“What do you think you’re saying?!” Lucifer shook Mammon’s collar. “Apologize.”
“No… No, he’s right, Lucifer.”
“He is?” Lucifer was shocked, but there was a hint of relief in his tone.
“Of course I am,” the second born huffed.
“As long as I sit here wallowing in despair, neglecting my duties, I’m robbing everyone else of their chance to grieve. They should be taking time to remember their friend and process their feelings, instead they’re all spending that time worrying about me. I- I can’t keep sitting here doing nothing…”
“I’m happy to hear that your highness,” Lucifer gave a light, relieved smile as he let his brother’s collar go.
“Lucifer, you’ve been such a dear friend to me, I’m sorry I put you through this. You too, Barbatos. And Mammon, thank you for opening up my eyes.”
“No problem, ya know we’ll all always be here when you need us. Even if it’s to kick ya ass into gear!” Mammon puffed up his chest and laughed.
“Mammon,” Lucifer warned.
“That’s good… because I’m really going to need everyone’s help going forward. The Devildom is going to have a hard time accepting a human ‘demon lord’, but with everyone standing with me, I think we can manage.” they placed a shaking, apologetic hand on Lucifer’s shoulder and looked toward Mammon. “I meant it when I said I can’t do this alone. Thank you.”