Work Text:
“We need to talk about what happened yesterday” is what Lucifer announces grimly when he walks in one morning.
“What’s wrong, Lucifer? It’s only morning, yet you sound so tired,” Asmo points out, tilting his head inquisitively.
“Yeah, did you not get much sleep?” you ask.
“No, I didn’t. I had too many problems to think about,” Lucifer replies with a grimace. “The restaurant is pressing charges for the damage done.”
“Oh no,” Beel says meekly.
“Well, now you’ve gone and done it, Beel,” Satan scolds. “You need to learn not to let your anger get the best of you. Hopefully now you’ll learn your lesson.”
“Now hold on just a moment,” Lucifer cuts in. “This isn’t only Beel’s fault, Satan. You, Mammon, Asmodeus, Belphegor, and MC were all there as well, so you will all be paying an equal share.”
“What?!” you and Asmo exclaim simultaneously.
“And you, Lucifer? Have you forgotten you were there too?” Satan challenges, and Lucifer sighs.
“No, I am very much aware of that. I will pay as well.”
“Now hold on just a second,” you say. “What about me? I was literally just trying to stop the fight!”
“But you were there, were you not? Therefore, you will share the charges,” Lucifer replies.
“What?! But I didn’t even damage any-” you try to protest, but Lucifer cuts you off.
“No buts. I expect you all to pay your share by the end of the week.I’m going to inform Mammon and Belphegor about this fact as well.” With that, he walks out of the room.
“Are you fucking kidding me right now?!” you practically explode when he leaves, stabbing the poor waffle on your plate with a fork.
“Right?! I can’t believe we have to pay for this!” Asmo cries.
“Yeah. Why do I have to compensate?” Satan complains.
“Seriously, guys? Seriously?” your unusually harsh tone startles the two demons, and they look up to see your face twisted into an angry expression as you glare at them.
“You actually deserve this, all of you, because you were the ones fighting. You wrecked all the plates and tables and everything! But me? I didn’t touch a single thing! I was the one who stopped the fight! This is so fucking unfair!”
Satan and Asmo are too stunned to reply, caught off guard by you actually telling them off for their mistakes for once, but Beel speaks up.
“I don’t know what’s up with Lucifer, pinning part of the blame on you like that,” he says with a frown.
“Oh yeah? Well, I’ll tell you what’s up with him. When I made a pact with Lucifer, he gave me this bigass speech about him owning me and not the other way around or whatever, but it was bullshit and we both knew it. Now that I finally used my pact to control him, his fragile little ego has been hurt, so he’s lashing out like a little child throwing a tantrum,” you spit out bitterly.
“He what-?” Asmo asks, but you’re already pushing your chair back and getting up.
“Never mind,” you grumble. “I’m going to try and cool down before I do something I regret.”
.
.
.
You had originally planned to maybe go outside or chill out in your room, but your feet end up leading you to the door of the only brother not caught up in this mess - Levi.
You knocks softly, and the demon’s voice calls out immediately.
“Whatever you want, the answer is no! I’m not talking to people who ignore me!”
“Levi, it’s me.”
“Oh, MC.” The door opens a crack, and Levi’s amber eyes peek out at you. “Why are you here?”
“Can I come in?” you ask, and the emotions must show on your face because Levi lets you in without any questions or even a password.
“What happened?” the avatar of envy inquires. “...My brothers are being idiots again, aren’t they?” You let out a half-sigh, half-laugh, plopping down next to Henry 2.0’s glass tank.
“Yeah.”
“Oh, well that’s nothing new then,” Levi grumbles, sitting next to you. “They’ve all been so riled up ever since yesterday. And they won’t even tell me what happened!”
“You don’t know?” you ask, surprised.
“No! They keep ignoring me, every last one of them!”
“We all got into a fight,” you explain. “Beel threw a tantrum because the people at the carnival wouldn’t give him food. Then the ghosts started throwing food and hit Satan in the face-” Levi’s eyes widen to saucers at that statement, and you stifle a laugh. “Then he started arguing with Lucifer, Belphie started blaming Mammon for no damn reason, Asmo joined him, and everyone ended up throwing food and plates at each other. It was a mess.”
“That…sounds hilarious! looolll” Levi laughs, and you facepalm.
“Seriously? You think it’s funny ??”
“Yeah! The look on Satan’s face must’ve been hilarious! And plates, hahaha!”
“...To be honest, it kind of was,” you chuckled. “That random ghost literally threw a whole plate of pancakes SMACK right into Satan’s face. He totally flipped out.”
“O.M.G. I wish I coulda taken a picture of that! roftlmaoo” You smile softly at his words.
“Thanks, Levi.”
“Huuuh? What did I do?” the demon asks, the tips of his ears turning pink.
“Nothing, just…be you.”
“You’re not making any sense. I don’t speak Normie, remember?!” Levi proclaims, blushing more furiously and then nearly malfunctioning when you wrap your arms around him. “WHAAA-”
“Everyone was being stupid and unfair. It really pissed me off, but just talking to you made me feel better. So thanks.”
Levi.exe. has stopped working.
What did he even do to deserve all these compliments?! And this affection?! It’s all mushy and sentimental and gross! A yucky otaku like him doesn’t deserve it! …But he kinda likes it, so he awkwardly pats you on the head.
“It’s…it’s nothing. O-of course I’d try to cheer my Henry up!” You finally release your hold on the demon, chuckling at how flustered he looks.
“Hey by the way, what happened yesterday? Did you finally finish the outfits?” Levi looks surprised at the question for a second, then looks away, smile drooping.
“Yeah.” You wait for him to elaborate, looking at him questioningly, but the explanation never comes.
“...And? Aren’t you going to show them to me?”
“You don’t have to humor me all the time, you know. It doesn’t matter anyway,” Levi says, sounding weirdly resigned.
“What do you mean? I thought you were so excited to be making these.”
“I-I was , just…” Realization dawns on you when you see the defeated look on Levi’s face.
“Let me guess. You finished them and tried to show your brothers, but they didn't give a shit because they were still pissed about yesterday and just ignored you? So now you’re thinking bad about yourself again?”
Levi looks up sharply at this, surprised. “How did you-?”
“Levi. I know you.” You put your hands on Levi’s shoulders and look him in the eye to try and convey that what you’re saying is truly from the heart. “Look. Your brothers might not care very much, but I personally think that your craft is amazing . You got the opportunity to make costumes for THE Christopher Pugeot, and you took that in stride to try your very hardest and make what I’m sure are beautiful costumes. So don’t you dare think you’re worthless and don’t deserve this opportunity, okay? Because you do .”
You say this as fast as possible to avoid letting Levi cut in and argue, letting out a little puff of air when you’re done that tickles the demon’s cheek. Levi just stares at you for a second, his face one with the tomato, and then he’s the one who launches himself at you.
“Wahhh, MC! You can’t just say stuff like that with a straight face!” he protests, burying his face in your chest to hide his growing blush. You just laugh, ruffling Levi’s hair.
“We both know you needed to hear it. Now c’mon, how long are you gonna make me wait?!”
“Okayokay, I’m getting them!”
The other brothers are still outside, arguing up a storm, and your debt still looms, but inside Levi’s little aquarium-themed room, everything seems to be alright, if just for the moment. The two of you try on your costumes and you gush at the styles, Levi smiling flustered but proudly. They’re truly gorgeous, the perfect balance between gaudy and simple, and complement each persona perfectly.
“You’re amazing, Levi,” you blurt, marveling at the intricate stitching, and Levi nearly bangs his head against the wall for the 348374th time because of this stupid NORMIE that keeps making him FEEL THINGS.
“You know…I bet Simeon will love these,” you say, tilting your head thoughtfully. “What if…what if he finds them so amazing that he hires you to make the costumes for the next season of TSL?!”
“Wahhhh that’s what I was thinking earlier!!” Levi exclaims, covering his face with his hands. “It’s too good to be true! This has gotta be a dream!”
“No way! He’ll do it for sure. Your work is literally so good!”
“But I’m just a-”
“A WONDERFUL TAILOR SO YES HE WILL,” you finish with a stern look at Levi, who sighs.
“Fine. If that happens you have to help me, okay?! I need a model a-and you look the best in everything! So yeah!”
“Aww, you could just admit I’m good looking~” you tease. “But of course. I’d better be the first one to see everything!”
“Of course…” Levi mumbles, stuffing his hands in his pockets. “Thanks. And…thanks for…everything else too. You know.”
“You’re welcome,” you smile. “Now, what do you say about another TSL marathon?”