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Diavolo’s eyes flickered quickly over to Lucifer, who was focused on what he was working on. It had been a long day and an even longer night and though their meeting was over, they still had a lot of paperwork to go through and plans to make official, so Lucifer had stuck around.
The demon lord didn’t fail to notice how tired Lucifer looked. Not just now, but always, and he felt a pang of guilt and wondered to himself if he worked the other demon too hard. Lucifer’s eyes drooped and his head fell forward slightly before jolting back. He rubbed his eyes and furrowed his brow, an attempt to stay awake and focus. Lucifer’s hair hung in his face, the only time Diavolo had ever seen it out of place. He couldn’t help but smile.
“Lucifer, we can finish this tomorrow.”
“No, no,” Lucifer said, brushing the stubborn hair out of his eyes and looking up to look at Diavolo. “I mean, if you don’t mind, Lord, I have a busy day tomorrow so if we can just get this done now, that’d be appreciated.”
Diavolo let out a chuckle. “You’re always so busy. When do you sleep?”
“I don’t,” Lucifer answered and Diavolo couldn’t tell if it was a joke or not. He assumed not, as Lucifer wasn’t usually one for jokes.
“Why don’t you stay the night here?” Diavolo offered, and instantly Lucifer tensed up.
“That’s probably not a good idea.”
Diavolo stared at Lucifer, unsure of what to say.
“Uh, my brothers...need me.”
Diavolo nodded. “Oh.”
“I appreciate the offer though,” Lucifer added, careful as always not to offend the demon lord.
“It’s no problem. You’re always welcome here, Lucifer.”
He didn’t catch the small, subtle tug at the corner of Lucifer’s lips.
They sat in silence as they both continued to work on their own things, each of them taking turns glancing up at the other, unbeknownst to the other.
Lucifer stopped for a moment as he heard Diavolo softly snoring. He looked over to find the other demon slouched in his chair, a peaceful look on his face, his fingers laced and hands resting neatly on his stomach. Lucifer grinned. He admired Diavolo, for sure. Not to mention, he was completely and utterly grateful for what he did for him and his family all those centuries ago. He had to admit to himself that he actually enjoyed Diavolo’s company for the most part, even if he did find working with him a bit demanding at times.
Lucifer finished his paperwork, finding an odd sense of comfort in Diavolo’s sleepy sighs and snores. He got up, smoothing down the wrinkles in his shirt, and made his way over to Diavolo, lightly shaking him awake.
“My Lord.”
Diavolo yawned and stretched.
“I’m going to head home.”
“Oh,” Diavolo said with a slight frown, standing up to be face to face with Lucifer. “You sure you don’t want to stay? You might get more sleep. I worry about you not getting enough rest.”
Though Diavolo had never said it, Barbatos had before alluded to the fact that the demon lord was lonely. It didn’t surprise Lucifer at all. He picked up on the small hints that Diavolo gave off; frowning when he had to go, coming up with excuses for Lucifer and his brothers, and sometimes even the angels and the humans to stay longer. But he especially seemed to love the times spent with Lucifer. And Lucifer felt the same, honestly. They had become close enough to consider each other friends.
But there was something else there, it often seemed. His brothers definitely seemed to pick up on it, cracking jokes and making fun of him. Even Barbatos and Simeon occasionally flashed him knowing looks when Diavolo and Lucifer shared a friendly moment. Lucifer didn’t know what it was. Simply a friendship with an odd power dynamic, he figured.
“My apologies, Lord, but my brothers…”
“Your brothers will be fine,” Diavolo promised. “They have MC after all.”
Lucifer let a rare laugh escape his lips.
“Can I ask you something?” Diavolo asked.
“What is it?”
“You and the human...you have...a bond?”
Lucifer stared at Diavolo, not knowing why this question or how to feel about it. As well, not really knowing the answer. “A bond?”
“I hope this isn’t crossing any sort of line. I’m only curious.”
Lucifer thought hard before answering. “I suppose I do feel a sort of closeness with MC.”
“That’s good.”
“Is it?”
Diavolo shrugged. He sighed, hesitating, before asking his next question. “Would you say you and I have a closeness as well?”
The question caught Lucifer off guard and he coughed. “Sir?”
“It’s just us, Lucifer. You can call me Diavolo.”
For possibly the first time, Lucifer noticed how much taller Diavolo was than him. He knew he was taller, of course, but right now, he seemed almost intimidatingly tall, the shadows from a lamp behind him enveloping Lucifer.
“You and I are friends, aren’t we?” Diavolo questioned again, his voice, for once soft and meek.
“Of course.”
Diavolo stared into Lucifer’s eyes, seemingly wanting to say something else, or perhaps waiting for Lucifer to speak. Lucifer noticed but didn’t mention that the two were somehow slowly inching closer and closer. Diavolo reached a trembling hand over Lucifer’s and leaned in, until Lucifer could feel Diavolo’s breath on his face.
“At least let me walk you home,” Diavolo muttered.
Lucifer nodded slowly before moving away, afraid of what would happen if he stayed still a second longer. He grabbed his coat and spun to face the door, and before Diavolo could say anything, the other demon was gone.
Their walk home was quiet. Lucifer kept his gaze forward, eyes narrowed and focused a bit too hard on the scenery. Diavolo looked down at the ground beneath him, occasionally looking up at Lucifer.
They paused as they reached the front door to the House of Lamentation, Lucifer hovering over the keyhole with the key ready. He looked back at Diavolo, who was standing, still looking at the ground. He had never seen Diavolo like this, and he couldn’t help but feel guilty. Plus, he understood how lonely it can be to be in charge.
“So, I’ll be over tomorrow to sign the rest of the documents?”
One of the corners of Diavolo’s mouth lifted into a small smile. “Yep.”
“And we can go out to Ristorante Six, if you want?”
“I’d like that.”
“It’s a date.”