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Mammon's seat was empty.
It was lunch time and the demon brothers sat at their usual table, well at least most of the demon brothers.
Lucifer looked around the cafeteria, scanning it before finally settling on the familiar white hair that bounced with each of Mammon's step.
Ah, so Mammon was just late. Not uncommon.
Lucifer shakes his head before narrowing his eyes when Mammon seems to be looking someone, could he not see their table?
The avatar of pride stands to get his brother, before stopping when he sees Mammon lighten up and walk towards another table.
The exchange student's table, Mammon sat next to Simeon and Luke.
Oh.
Oh.
Lucifer walked down the hallway, it's been a week and Mammon now practically lives in the purgatory hall.
He couldn't help but feel irritated, although it's been so peaceful and calm in HoL it's been too calm, too quiet, too serene.
Too calm to be called a home, it was just a house without Mammon, just a place they lived in and resided.
And Lucifer knows his other younger brothers feel it too.
He stops in his tracks as familiar white hair catches his eye, Mammon. Of course, he was with Simeon.
Talking and laughing, a smile on Mammon's face Lucifer hasn't seen in a long time. It irked him that Simeon was at its receiving end.
Simeon's laugh dies down, a smile still gracing his face as Mammon continued to laugh.
There's a love and adoration in the angel's eyes that Lucifer has never seen as Simeon's smile grew soft.
"I wish you were given under my care all those years ago, Mammon.."
Mammon let out a shakey breath, before looking down and muttering, soft and gentle, "Well, I want you as my big brother too.."
Lucifer felt a pit in his stomach.
Mammon..
Does Mammon not love him anymore? What did Simeon have that Lucifer didn't? If anything, Lucifer thought he had more to offer.
No.. Surely Mammon didn't mean what he said, surely his little brother was just joking around, this was just a prank.
A dream– A nightmare.
Belphegor was just toying with him, he'll wake up and Mammon will run up to him asking for Goldie.
Give him puppy dog eyes that always made Lucifer's heart melt, even though he never let it get to him, it was hard and long battle. Mammon even won a few times in the past.
But this was real.
This wasn't Belphegor toying with him, not an elaborate prank he and Satan conjured up to tease him about when he woke up.
No.
This was real.
Mammon didn't want him to be his older brother anymore. The avatar of greed probably missed Michael, maybe even regretted following Lucifer.
And that broke the avatar of pride.
"The documents.." Lucifer mutters, putting his put together mask back on even though he was in an inner turmoil.
He had so much work to do.
Lucifer missed dinner.
Mammon scanned the dining room, Satan was reading, Asmo was painting his nails, Belphegor was asleep, Beel was still eating, Leviathan was playing one of his Ruri-chan games.
And they didn't seem bothered that Lucifer had missed dinner.
Mammon stood up from his seat, walking towards the kitchen, Lucifer's plate in hand, the avatar of greed plated most of his brother's favourite.
Lucifer's office door was familiar but intimidating. Taking a deep breath Mammon knocked on the door.
"Who is it?"
"Eh, it's Mammon! You missed dinner so I thought I could give it to you in your office..!"
Lucifer sighed as he checked the clock, it really was past dinner. Though, he doesn't know why Mammon was bothering with his dinner.
"Come in." Nevertheless, The avatar of pride couldn't find it in himself to push Mammon away, not this time at least.
It was an awkward silence as Mammon put the plate full of food down onto Lucifer's desk, come to think of it, Mammon has always been tense ever since...
Lucifer's first punishment.
The avatar of pride shook the thought away, he was just disciplining Mammon. His little brother was naive and he feared that if he were to continue stealing Diavolo would lose his patience.
Was it even discipline if Lucifer kept punishing Mammon? Dangling him from the chandler, and god forbid when he was in a bad mood, wiping him.
"Lucifer.." Mammon's voice snapped him out of his head, "Luke's going to be–"
Of course it's about one of the angel's.
"–participating in a baking competition, I was wondering if I could go? Oh! And Simeon–!"
Damn it! It's been Simeon this, Luke that for the past three weeks now, "It's fine, go, just as long as you don't fuck up Diavolo's reputation." Lucifer cut him off, his tone harsher than he intended it to be.
Mammon sucked in a breath and nodded, scurrying away from Lucifer in a hurry.
A hurry.
Lucifer had a tight grip on his pen, Mammon walked out his office like he was trying to run away, had the avatar of pride really fucked up his brother's trust in him that much?
Was that why Mammon turned to Simeon?
Calm, soft-spoken, gentle, angelic Simeon? Because Lucifer was far too rough?
Far too brash in his words?
Too cold?
Too demonic?
Was that why?
..That was probably why. Lucifer let out a humorless, hollow laugh.
Mammon didn't want him anymore. Mammon didn't love him anymore. Mammon wanted simeon, probably longed for Micheal, probably feared Lucifer–
And it was his fault.
His fault.
His fault.
His fault.
Fuck, Lucifer was crying. It was like a dam had just broken loose, and Lucifer sobbed, pathetic and weak.
Just like how he felt.
Like how Mammon felt after his punishments.
Sadness and regret quickly turned to anger, damn them. Damn Simeon, damn Micheal and damn Father.
If it weren't for Simeon Mammon would at least still be around, at least reassure Lucifer that Mammon had nowhere to leave him and the other brothers to. Even if Mammon didn't want to be there.
Damn Micheal for being Mammon's real brother, for having had Lucifer's role before the avatar of pride did. For getting Mammon's love and affection first.
Damn Father for having them fall from heaven, if it weren't for him Lilith would still be alive, Lucifer would still be good, Mammon would still love him, the brothers would be happy.
The fall may have happened centuries ago, but right now, in that very moment.
Lucifer had truly fallen from grace.