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leviathanswingman · 5 months

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dirty town: chapter 2

chapter 1: ao3 tumblr

ship: DiaLuci

word count: 3994

Lucifer visibly tensed. Of course he’d never known for sure whether Barbatos was a vampire or not, but back in the day, after what had happened with Diavolo he’d made an educated guess that apparently turned out to be true. Barbatos had always been purely impossible to read.

Lucifer pulled Satan a little bit closer to his body. Next to him, Diavolo’s surprise was uncanny as he leant down to ogle Satan while still keeping a good distance, knowing there was no joking with Lucifer right now.

Lucifer smiled through gritted teeth. “Let’s not have this situation in front of the child,” he suggested.

There was no use denying what was fact, but that didn't mean he felt either comfortable or safe doing so.

“Satan,” he said slowly. “Go to Uncle Mammon and help him in the kitchen, would you? Daddy has some business to take care of.”

The child furrowed his brows and pushed out his cheeks, ready to retort. He was currently in his rebellious phase and didn't take too well to directions.

“But Dad! Uncle Barbatos draws way better cats than you do!”

Diavolo let out a hearty laugh. Lucifer shot him a dirty look that did nothing to shut him up.

“You can take the cat with you.”

Immediately, Satan’s expression brightened. “Okay. But only because Mister Cat can come with me.” With that, he grabbed the drawing and sprinted out of the room.

Lucifer watched as he rounded the corner with too much gusto before turning back around to Barbatos and Diavolo once he was out of earshot.

He stared them down for a moment, but then motioned for them to sit down with a sigh.

“I didn't know,” he started. “That I fathered a child, that is. He came to me after his mother had already passed when he was two. Her family found me by trailing my scent. After what happened with his mother they thought it better to leave him with me and have him grow up as a normal human being.”

He remembered it like it was yesterday, two people knocking at his door in the dead of night, a child in their arms that was the picture-perfect mirror image of Lucifer if it weren't for his blonde hair and what were undeniably his mother's green eyes. Right away he had known that Satan was his. It was strange how your life could change in the span of mere seconds.

Diavolo and Barbatos exchanged a look. “What exactly did happen?”

Lucifer answered them with a somber look. The one time he let loose and indulged, desperate to numb his mind after having broken free from his Father, now the sole caretaker of his siblings, Satan happened.

Aside from their initial one night stand, he never had any relation to Satan’s mother to speak of, yet the story had still reached him. “She was killed by hunters. Her siblings explained the situation to me when they brought Satan.”

He looked at Diavolo and Barbatos. “Satan barely remembers her.”

“Oh, Lucifer,” Diavolo whispered. His arm twitched as if he wanted to hug him, but he refrained from doing so.

“Don't feel sorry for me. Feel sorry for the child.” He massaged his temples. “Enough of this now, that's all there is to it. Barbatos,” he started, switching topics. “How did you even get here? Who let you in?”

Barbatos threw Diavolo an almost accusatory gaze. “Imagine my surprise when I realized that the Young Master decided to go on an unannounced midnight stroll. Naturally, I tracked him down and was led here. Your brother was so kind as to let me in.” Lucifer made a mental note to chide Mammon for it later. He probably recognised Barbatos from back in the day and deemed him no danger to the family.

Diavolo crossed his arms and shrugged. “It's not like anything happened.” He threw Lucifer an almost pleading look.

Lucifer raised his eyebrows. “So do I simply misremember plucking you off the forest floor half dead then? Was that just my imagination?”

Barbatos’ head whipped around to Diavolo. “Young Master! Are you hurt?” His eyes were scanning his body frantically, searching for any obvious wounds. “What were you thinking?!”

Lucifer had never been beyond tattling, not when it was about Diavolo’s numerus escapades. Apparently, he hadn't changed all that much from when they were young. “He was injured. Hunters, I am certain. I ran across them on the way.”

“Come on now, Lucifer…” Diavolo sighed.

Barbatos’ eyes widened ever so slightly as realisation hit. He narrowed his eyes and looked at Lucifer instead. “Well, considering how he's made a miraculously quick recovery, I assume I have to extend my thanks to you, Lucifer,” he said slowly. “As it was, it will be.”

Lucifer tensed up. Of course, Barbatos knew. Even if Diavolo was still clueless, leave it to Barbatos to know. “It was of my own volition. What other choice was there to make.”

“There certainly were plenty. You are very aware of that, one would assume.” He mustered him with an unreadable expression and for a moment, Lucifer was certain Barbatos knew how close he had been to just leaving Diavolo behind in that forest. There were worlds of knowledge hiding behind his eyes.

“I extend my thanks regardless. You have made your choice and it is none of my business to question it. I suppose it is safe to assume you still remain without affiliation to them?”

Lucifer crossed his arm and suppressed a memory trying to force its way to the surface. Still, he caught a shred of it. A still of himself in a dark room, strapped down to a bed with worn leather belts, surrounded by nothing but brick walls, IV-lines secured to both of his arms. Two men, one young, the other soon old, were staring down at him, unmoving and unkind.

Lucifer blinked the memory away before it could fester and take shape. Diavolo and Barbatos were looking at him expectantly. “Your assumption is correct.I would rather keep my family as far from them as possible.”

Barbatos simply nodded and Diavolo seemed to let out a breath of relief. With that, he threw Diavolo a hardened gaze. “Back to you now. What would your belated father think? We will have a long talk about this, Young Master. This certainly won't do.”

Belated. So Diavolo’s father had passed.

Diavolo crumpled under his stern gaze, looking like a kicked puppy. “It was barely my fault. I was only strolling leisurely when those two ambushed me.”

Lucifer perked up. “They both did? Are you certain?”

Diavolo nodded at him solemnly. “One of them dropped out of a tree right onto me, won't you believe my surprise. Here I was enjoying the night and suddenly there's a man falling out of a tree jumping onto my shoulders. Considering his height he was pretty heavy as well. Before I knew it the other one came at me from behind.”

Raphael.

Since when had they started to tag-team hunts? On non-threatening individuals to add? How could they be okay with any of this? His past grievances towards his former family flared up in an instant. Inwardly, he corrected himself. No, they had always been like this.

“I don't understand what they are attempting to achieve,” he said.

“Oh, I may have an inkling,” Barbatos answered smoothly. “But we shan't make assumptions.”

Lucifer looked at them both, then got off the couch.

“You are right, we shouldn't.” He took a quick look at his wristwatch and sighed. “However, I believe it's time for you to leave. I have to take care of my family now.”

Diavolo looked at him with a strange look in his eyes. “Did we not want to talk over breakfast?”

“That will have to wait. I have to bring Satan to school and then visit Belphegor’s principal.”

Diavolo chewed on his bottom lip and Lucifer watched him before giving in. He did promise after all.

“I will have some time to spare around lunch. We could get coffee, if you'd like.”

Almost immediately, Diavolo's expression brightened and Barbatos raised an eyebrow at them. “I’d love to! Angel’s share, 2pm?”

The name of the establishment didn't ring a bell, so it most certainly had to be a new shop. “I suppose so. It's your pick.”

“They have the most incredible pastries, you'll see!”

Lucifer simply nodded. Barbatos ushered Diavolo out of the room before he could continue gushing about the café.

“We shall take our leave now.”

“See you later, Lucifer. I can’t wait!”

The door fell shut behind them and Lucifer reached up, massaging his temples before he headed towards the kitchen where he could already hear Mammon and his son causing a ruckus.

Lucifer arrived at the café ten minutes past their meeting time. He despised being late, but the crisis talk had taken much longer than first expected. Of course, Belphegor had to insist on causing much more problems than necessary. Leave it to his brothers to cause him such unnecessary grief.

Diavolo was sitting at a table in the back of the café, his eyes searching. They lit up the moment he spotted Lucifer.

“Over here!” he yelled out and his voice carried through the entire café. A man like Diavolo was hard to miss. A couple of heads turned towards him, expressions bemused.

“No need to shout,” Lucifer said, exhaling as he put down his messenger bag, took off his coat and sat down. “Hello,” he greeted belatedly. This was the first time today he could allow himself to take a breather. Lucifer was bone tired, his eyes were burning and he felt like the shadows under them were trying to permanently etch themselves into his face.

“I’m sorry, perhaps I was a bit too excited,” Diavolo said with a sheepish smile on his face as he slid the menu over to Lucifer. “Look at all the great stuff they have here! I can definitely recommend the apple crumble and the espresso mud cake. You still prefer bitter tastes, right?”

Lucifer was surprised that Diavolo still remembered small details like that. His preferences had in fact not changed. Slowly, he nodded his head. Despite his reluctance to have dessert before teatime, he allowed himself to be swayed by Diavolo's enthusiastic suggestion. “The espresso mud cake does sound good.”

“Great! It's decided then!” Diavolo waved the waiter over to their table. “We would like to order. One black coffee and an espresso mud cake for my friend here. I'll take the vanilla strawberry waffle sandwich and a pumpkin spice latte, if you'd be so kind.” Diavolo's tastes apparently hadn't changed either.

“It's beyond me how you can eat such ridiculous amounts of sugar in one sitting,” Lucifer mused, a slight furrow to his brows.

“Why not?” The laugh that left Diavolo’s lips was carefree and boisterous. “You have to enjoy the little things in life!”

“How can I enjoy them if they’ll end up giving me nothing but momentary satisfaction and an additional appointment at the dentist's?”

Diavolo donned a shocked expression. “Now now, that's no way of thinking!”

“Believe what you will and I’ll do the same.” Their drinks were placed before them and Lucifer took a quick sip. As promised, the coffee tasted exquisite and he hid a satisfied smile behind the rim of his cup.

Frantic steps followed by a hurried click-clacking broke past the muffled pop tune that was playing on the radio. Lucifer raised his head in alarm, only to realize a man had come to a halt right in front of their table. He was simply standing in front of them and his chest heaving from the effort as he tried to catch his breath.

“Is that you?” There was a strange sort of desperation etched into his features. The man's blue eyes were round like marbles, his hands shaky as they grasped for the buttons of his shirt in nervous support. “Lucifer, is that really you?!”

Upon hearing his name, Lucifer's shoulders tightened and he took a better look at the man. How he hadn't recognized him sooner was beyond him. Despite the years that had separated them and turned them into mere strangers, he still looked as youthful as he did the day Lucifer left.

“Simeon?” His voice came out sounding quiet, careful.

Before he could say more, the entrance door to the Café flew open, almost hitting the opposite wall. The bell announcing a new customer chimed as a man stormed in, followed by a taller fellow hot on his tails.

“Step away from that man!” Although he was short in stature, he carried an aura of authority.

“Raph, what is going on?” Simeon’s eyes were big as he took note of his friend's volatile stance, his eyes darting back and forth from Lucifer to the newcomers. He took hold of Raphael's arm, trying to get a proper look at his face.

The man trailing behind darted past them to stand in front of Diavolo, arms extended in an almost comical manner. “You stand back now. I have had enough of you and your baseless accusations!”

Both men were dressed in fine business suits, similar in such ways that it couldn't be a mere coincidence. The cards hanging off their belts suggested that, strangely enough, they must be working for the same company.

“My accusations,” he started, putting the word in quotation marks as he moved his pointer and middle finger up and down, “are nothing but facts. If you can't take them at face value, then that's not my fault.”

“You absolute-”

“Mephistopheles, calm yourself,” Diavolo suddenly intervened. All heads turned towards him. “You know him?” Lucifer asked.

“I certainly do.”

“Lord Diavolo, are you hurt anywhere? Is this villain here holding you hostage?”

Lucifer raised an eyebrow at him. “Am I doing what now?”

“You heard me alright. You have been bribing Lord Diavolo with sweets, haven't you. Figured out his weak spot for your questionable deeds!”

“I am the one who's paying for our meal and drinks tonight, Mephistopheles,” Diavolo threw in quickly.

“No you aren't,” Lucifer replied courtly. “That's the first time I'm hearing about this.” His own pride didn't allow him to take this present at face value.

“Please, I insist. See it as a form of payback.” Diavolo took another look at Raphael. “Speaking of payback. You, however, look familiar as well. Is it possible we've met before?”

Mephisto’s head whipped around. Without a moment wasted on thinking things through, he grabbed Raphael by the collar and pulled him close. “I knew it. What have you been up to?!”

Simeon’s head turned from one man to the other, his hands raised in an appeasing gesture. “Come on now, gentlemen. Let's show some restraint. There are guests here and this is my establishment after all. Don't make me throw you out.”

“Not until he confesses to his crimes!” Mephisto’s voice was shrill against the backdrop of Taylor Brisk’s newest hit song.

“I wouldn't do that if I were you,” Raphael answered calmly. “You have exactly ten seconds to let go of me.” For a moment, nobody moved. “Your time is up,” Raphael then concluded. Before anyone could react, he pulled himself closer to Mephistopheles and unceremoniously smashed his own forehead against Mephisto’s face.

Mephistopheles howled in pain as he let go of Raphael, both of his hands covering his bloodied nose. Simeon lifted his hands in a calming gesture, but dropped them when Mephisto rammed his elbow into Raphael's face in retaliation.

“Somebody separate them!”

Lucifer massaged his temples before getting up. He threw Diavolo a quick glance to notice he'd done the same. He nodded towards Raphael and Lucifer understood. Quickly, he moved behind Raphael and pulled his arms under his, trying to pull him back. It earned him a hard punch in the side and he drew in a sharp breath as he stood his ground. Diavolo did the same with Mephistopheles, who seemed to calm himself considerably as soon as Diavolo was close.

“Follow me,” Simeon said before making his way towards a door labelled employees only. Only now did Lucifer notice that he was using a cane, explaining the tapping he'd heard earlier. Simeon had always had a weak constitution. This however, was new and Lucifer found himself wondering what had happened. Knowing his family's ways, it couldn't have been a simple affair.

The door fell shut behind them as soon as they were all inside. A young man with white hair was already occupying the room, sitting at a table, a fork lifted halfway to his mouth as he watched them all barge in. The yogurt in front of him stood long forgotten already. He lifted his head when he noticed the commotion, a fascinated expression on his face.

“Solomon, I'm sorry but could you be so kind and give us some privacy?” Simeon asked hurriedly, a forced smile on his face. He had to raise his voice since Raphael and Mephistopheles were still squabbling quite loudly. “You can go and have your break in my office.”

The young man, Solomon, threw him another look as he considered his options. “Will do,” he replied as he picked up his yogurt and bag and left them to their own devices, turning around one last time to throw Diavolo a quick look.

As soon as he was out of the room, Simeon turned back around. “Now pray tell. What were you two thinking?!” He put emphasis on each and every word, his tone sharp like a mother's tongue.

Mephistopheles, who had opened his mouth to retort, shut it quickly and crossed his arms. At least he had enough awareness to recognise there was no joking around with Simeon right now.

Raphael shook himself free and stared at Mephistopheles. For the moment, Lucifer deemed it safe enough to let go of him again. “He started accusing me of having done something to that man.” He gestured towards Diavolo.

“Which I am quite certain you did!” Mephisto yelled back in response before turning towards Diavolo. “Lord Diavolo, are you hurt? Let me look at you, please. We were so worried when you disappeared so suddenly. Barbatos was beyond himself!” His voice was shaking with worry.

Diavolo let out a chortle. “I am standing right in front of you, am I not? How hurt coud I be?” As he calmed who Lucifer now assumed to be one of his underlings, he threw Raphael a pointed look. “I simply spent the night at Lucifer's place and forgot to let you all know,” he said casually. Lucifer pretended that he wasn't several breaths away from choking on thin air.

This answer seemed to do nothing to soothe Mephisto’s addled mind. His mouth fell open and his eyebrows rose to the sky, his hand clutching the fine fabric of his dress shirt. After a moment of shocked silence, he darted towards Lucifer. “How dare you! What are your intentions with the Young Lord?! He must have seduced him, I am certain!” he added, perhaps only to himself, but it was loud enough for everyone to hear.

“Mephistopheles-”

“Excuse me?” Lucifer mustered Mephistopheles in disbelief. For a moment, he dug through his mind to find out if he'd ever wronged this man or if he was simply of a difficult kind and an unbearable temper.

“Are you out of your mind?” Perhaps his patience had finally run out.

“Exactly! I am beyond myself! Offer your apologies right away! How dare you try to sneak back into the Young Master’s life! Have you not done enough damage already? Your mere presence is an affront to my senses! You-”

“You should not be here,” Raphael suddenly threw in, nodding towards Diavolo. “How are you here?”

Diavolo raised an eyebrow at him. “Do you have any reason to assume I'd be preoccupied somewhere else? I don't believe we've even formally met just yet.” Quickly, he extended his hand just for Raphael, who seemed far too focused, thus simply ignored the extended hand.

“Unless…” he murmured after a moment and his eyes stopped at Lucifer. It seemed like he had connected the dots. Without any warning, he darted forward and grabbed his arm. “You did it again.” He forced Lucifer's sleeve up, exposing his bandaged wrist.

Simeon’s eyes widened and he averted his eyes in discomfort. “This… Lucifer…” he started, then realized he was at a loss for words.

Mephistopheles looked about ready to faint once his mind was able to comprehend what exactly his eyes were being subjected to.

Lucifer wrenched his arm free and pulled his sleeve back down. “What gave you the idea that you have any right to touch me?” he spat out. Perhaps, if he was lucky, Diavolo had missed that little word. Again

After all, it was true that he had allowed Diavolo to bite him before. However, this was a fact Diavolo himself didn’t know about, so he would prefer to keep it that way. He was never supposed to find out about what had happened the night Lucifer lost his unwavering self restraint and his Father’s favour along with it. It was a well kept secret only Barbatos had been aware of. Until now, that was.

There were four pairs of eyes on him. “What were you thinking! Father will not like this,” Raphael finally brought out.

“Raph…” Simeon started. “I don't think this is any of our business,” he said quietly, diplomatically.

“Simeon is right. This is none of your business, and even less so Father’s. I will take my leave now. I refuse to endorse this infantile behaviour any longer.” Quickly, Lucifer reached for his wallet and pulled out several bank notes, handing them over to Simeon. “This should cover it. You can keep the rest.”

Without saying another word, he stormed out of the establishment, his anger hanging thick and hot in the crisp winter air.

Lucifer was sitting on the floor of his living room, the thick carpet tickling his bare ankles. The day's anger hadn’t left him just yet, but he'd had enough sense to crumple it up in a ball and shove it into a distant corner of his mind.

His son and his little sister, Satan and Lilith respectively, were sitting on the carpet next to him, fighting over what outfit their doll, a little creature they had named Miss Em, should wear.

“No fighting,” he chided. Lilith threw her hands around Satan, trying to reach for the doll with her short arms. Satan put his hand on his father’s leg to push himself up further, putting even more distance between Lilith and the doll.

“Satan. I said no fighting. You can share the doll or you’ll have to look for another toy.” Decidedly, he took the doll and put it on the ground between them. “Is that clear?”

Satan let himself fall to the ground, his arms crossed and a pout on his lips. He breathed out through his nose and Lucifer braced himself for yet another temper tantrum that surprisingly enough, never came. Wordlessly, he shoved the doll in Lilith’s direction.

Lucifer ruffled through Satan’s hair and smiled.

All of a sudden, the doorbell rang. Since he could hear hushed words and someone moving around in the kitchen, Lucifer opted to shout in that direction. “Can someone get the door please?”

When he was met with silence, Lucifer got up to peer into the hallway. Asmodeus was standing by the door, his hands shaking as he pressed his phone against his chest. Apparently he’d been in the middle of a call which had been interrupted by the doorbell ringing. The door itself was opened wide. Asmo’s head whipped around to Lucifer, his amber eyes big with surprise.

Before him stood Diavolo, a white plastic bag in hand. “Third time’s the charm, I believe that’s what they’re saying?”

#my writing #fanfiction #obey me shall we date #obey me #dialuci #diavolo x lucifer #vampire au #yes solomon was eating his yoghurt with a fork next question #i love this chapter bc the girls are fightingggg #raph and mephisto enemies to lovers when #i am kidding #or am i

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