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obae-me · 4 years ago

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Tainted Reflections- CH 1

Start the story from the beginning! Next Chapter

A Fragmenting Debut

Cold...you were so cold. Frigid, you heard Satan say in your head. He would’ve said frigid. You figured Mammon would argue that ‘cold’ was a perfectly acceptable word. Not everything needed to be fancy. Levi would comment that Mammon was only saying that because his stupid older brother couldn’t come up with anything fancy even if he tried. They’d fight. Lucifer would glare them into silence. He would be there to put everything back to order...back to normal...back. You wanted to go back.

Curling up in a tight ball was all you could do to salvage some warmth. Wooden floorboards beneath you creaked and groaned as you pinned your knees tightly to your chest. Just that simple movement left you winded and exhausted. You were even lacking the necessary energy to properly cry. Though to be perfectly fair, you had done plenty of that already. Could you even shed any tears at this point? Survival instincts had kicked in long ago, and try as you may, the nerves in your brain were ordering you to retain whatever hydration you could.

More distractions. More imagination. The consistent image of familiar faces was the only thing keeping you sane. The only thing preventing you from falling into the icy grasp of despair. Icy...like...ice cream. Beel would’ve compared your current dismal temperature to ice cream in hopes it would make you feel better. Asmo would ramble off about the many benefits of cold showers. Belphie would have plenty of soft blankets to keep you warm.

You choked back a sob. It felt as if dull claws were tearing at the inside of your throat. The pain of sorrow, the absolute torture of loneliness, was slowly rendering you to pieces. Air came in through your mouth, but even that brought you pain as the soreness in your chest announced itself yet again. There was no use screaming their names, your damaged vocal chords already attested to that. The only thing you could do was wait with bated breath.

But your lungs were weak, and the encroaching shadows from the darkness brought with them whispers of anguish. And you couldn’t help but wonder which would give out first. Your hope? Or your life?

Four Days Earlier

Mornings in the Devildom were quite different from what you had been accustomed to in the human world. Slurred shouts echoed down marble hallways from individuals still half asleep. Chaotic banging and rustling reverberated throughout the mansion as people gathered their things together in preparation for the day. Since the sun was nonexistent from this realm, the silver moonbeams took their time growing on you in their own way. Gleaming through windows with a particular softness. Yes, it had been difficult to adjust at first, waking up in a house of demons, but it didn’t take too long for it to feel like home. The residents here, even if they were classified as demons, were your family of sorts. So if alarms failed you, someone would always be there to wake you up. Each brother had their own personal way of rousing you, some far more boisterous than others.

One of those rowdy examples being Mammon, the demon who had apparently decided not to have the decency to knock today. The door to your bedroom burst open, the ornate handle slamming aggressively against the wall. Even just the noise was enough to jolt you out of your slumber. You let out a startled gasp as your prior resting heart immediately started beating into overdrive.

“Mornin’, MC!” White locks of hair and golden shiny glasses vividly stood out despite your persistent blurry vision. You rubbed the sleep from your eyes. Bubbly and brash, that’s how Mammon was this morning. It was an apt description for how he was every morning. Only a few demons dared be so eager in the early hours of the day. Those culprits being Satan, Asmo, and, surprisingly, Mammon. Beel would’ve made the list, but his strong connection to his twin forced him to feel Belphie’s morning exhaustion in equal measure. Satan was smart enough to get plenty of sleep, and he loved mornings due to how it was always the quietest time of day down here. A good book and a peaceful corner was his morning routine. Asmo is perhaps the most rested and healthy of all the brothers, he can’t risk missing out on essential beauty sleep. For Mammon...well, it was hard to discern quite why he was an early riser, but regardless of reasons, you found it endearing. More often than not, he was the one to wake you up when you overslept. Always summed up to wanting to be the first demon you see everyday. He ruffled your wild mess of hair with a wide grin. “Blood all pumping and ready to go?”

Faint fragments were all that remained of your lingering dream. No matter how hard you worked to recall them, the events were rapidly slipping away. You groaned, the tantalizing warmth of your sheets luring you back to bed. You attempted to fall back onto your pillow, but instead you were halted by a strong set of arms. Your eyelids fluttered back open to focus on Mammon. Calling upon your encounters with Lucifer, you focused on sharing how you felt about this fact with eyes that screamed murder. Unfortunately, it fell short. Way short. Instead of releasing you into temptation like a proper demon should, he pushed out an amused laugh. The person detaining you from sweet slumber then let his hands slip under your arms as he yanked you clear out of bed.

He held you up off the ground as if you weighed little more than a stuffed toy. Goosebumps covered your body. Cold air came into contact with your skin as he waved you around, causing your entire body to shudder. And as if that all wasn’t enough, the demon cruel enough to tear you from your soft blankets ensured your full attention with a few brisk shakes. You felt like a cheap cereal box. Your toes almost instinctively curled as your feet finally touched the floor. His methods were boarding on brutish, but they were effective.

“I’m awake, I’m awake!” You affirmed the demon before he could try anything else. The hands under your arms released your body and returned promptly to their owner’s hips. Glowering at him didn’t detract from the fact that he was already fully dressed, already abuzz with energy, and you could’ve sworn he was emitting a bright otherworldly glow. Or perhaps that was simply the light pouring in from the doorway behind him.

“Great!” Mammon graced you with two pats on the cheek, his job done. “Breakfast’s in twenty, and I’m gonna warn ya now, Lucifer’s already grumpy.” He shook his head, shrugged, and frowned for just a second before he bounded out the door. He left as quickly as he’d entered, leaving you in quite a state of disarray. Had similar occasions such as these not happened to you multiple times already, you would’ve been a bit worse for wear. Fortunately, this was somewhat of a habit nowadays, and so you rapidly went about getting ready for another day at RAD.

Plates and utensils were all neatly placed in their assigned spaces. Crimson napkins were intricately folded to resemble roses. The flames atop the candles around the tabletop as well as the ones positioned on the wall barely flickered, remaining steadfast in it’s warm glow. This morning you sat between a cheerful Beel and a content yet drowsy Belphie. Most everyone greeted you affectionately. When was the last time the day started so benevolent? Today the dining hall was practically dripping with perfection and comfort. Save for one major outlier.

The eldest of the brothers was surrounded by a menacing shadowy aura. Mammon’s definition of “grumpy” seemed to be a little bit of an understatement. Although, one look at Lucifer’s immediate surroundings and it wasn’t hard to deduce the main cause behind the irritation. Sure, everything in the room was practically perfect, all except Lucifer’s space. His napkin was not folded, in fact it seemed to be missing from his spot altogether. All of Lucifer’s utensils had been replaced with spoons, devoid of any forks or knives. And, as the icing on the cake, his chair was vastly off center with the rest of the seats.

Needless to say, Satan had prepared breakfast this morning.

Pranks and little irritants happened like this on the daily, all in an effort to get Lucifer to— in a cleaner rendition of how Satan put it—‘fall off that high horse of his’. Typically they never worked, but on rare occasions, much like this morning, they visibly affected him. Delighted expressions occupied most of the dining table as his brothers watched Lucifer suffer. You watched the demon stew with his brittle pride as he ate his slightly burnt breakfast with only spoons. Of course you would’ve lent a hand or done something about it. If only you thought Lucifer would’ve appreciated it, but assisting him without his request or permission usually ended terribly for both parties involved, so you played it safe. That was until you watched Lucifer take his first sip of tea. A single millisecond of a revolted response was all anyone got to relish. He had himself back under control before you could even blink. Tension between the first and fourth sibling was almost physically visible, a sparking and growing line of discourse crossing over the table. Lucifer stared his younger brother dead in the eyes as he downed the repellent mixture in one slow gulp. Satan was nearly beside himself, and while you adored seeing him so thrilled, you’d had enough sibling rivalry for the moment.

“Alright, that’s enough!” The order stunned each and every brother, their bodies immediately frozen as the pact you’d forged with them forced them to obey. The pressure that had been building up in the room flattened. You never used your powers like this often, you mostly used it by accident, like now for instance. Nearly all of them looked like scolded puppies. You stood up from your chair, ignoring the many pairs of glowing eyes turned in your direction. Their sulky expressions made your face grow hotter. You stammered out a half-hearted command, feeling your lips tingle as magic-coated words spilled out of them. “Play nice till I get back.”

“And just where are you planning on going?” Lucifer wondered, shifting to look at you. Everyone’s mobility granted back to them under the new rule. He had attempted to sound intimidating, in that low demanding way that served as one of his many formidable idiosyncrasies, but under your new power, his voice was softer than he intended it. Simply sounding disappointed that you were leaving. His own tone left him flustered as his hand touched the base of his own throat.

“To get you a fork and a proper cup of tea since you seem incapable of doing so.” Admittedly, you might’ve been a bit too flippant, relying purely on confidence in your previous instruction. Luckily, your slight abuse of power followed through as the demon of pride repeatedly opened and closed his mouth, his eyelid twitching. For quite a few moments, Lucifer repeatedly struggled for words, wanting desperately to reprimand your offense, but he could only mutter a bashful ‘thank you’ before he let you be. If you didn’t make this cup of tea worth it, you’d most definitely be in for an earful later.

Later meant promptly, apparently. As soon as everyone completed their meal, Lucifer pulled you aside, informing you that he would be escorting you to RAD this morning. Lucifer’s initial murderous intent did die down with the tea you made and personally poured for him, but it didn’t save you. In retaliation for your sharp tongue, he already had a lecture prepared for you. He watched his brothers leave the house, waiting till they had all been well on their way before allowing you to accompany him. Speeches dedicated on reminding you of his status weren’t exactly far and few in between, so while you did your best to listen, sometimes your own thoughts tuned him out.

When’s the last time I got to be with Lucifer alone? You wondered, unable to withhold a gentle smile as Lucifer continued walking by your side. Never in front, never behind, always beside you, no matter your pace. Sometimes he would even hold your arm or place one of his gloved hands between your shoulder blades to prevent you from falling behind or wandering off. You looked up at him and observed him as he talked, his words falling on deaf ears. You noticed the way his eyes seemed softer when you were around, the way the cold stiff edges of his shoulders sagged ever so slightly, never as tense. Your favorite was the way his lips moved to form the sounds of your name, just like he was doing now.

“MC...” You’d never realized before you met him how elegant your name could be. “MC!” As you were closely staring absentminded at his lips, you noticed his mouth frown as you snapped out of your daze. He scowled as he squinted, and for a heartbeat, you thought you were doomed. Then those same eyes drooped, turning up rather forlorn as some of his raven-hued hair fell in front of his eyes. “So not only did you think it wise to be snippy, but now you’re spurning my words.”

“No!” You exclaimed, so guilt tripped over his solemn expression that you quite literally tripped. Your feet fumbled worse than your words, but before you completely lost your balance, Lucifer caught you. One arm bracing your chest, his free hand snagged the back collar of your uniform. Curse these old Devildom cobblestones. The demon helped you regain balance, although you were still struggling to grasp your composure. The skin of your cheeks blushed as you continued your statement. “N-no-I mean...” You had to take a deep breath. “I’m sorry, I don’t mean to be snippy, I don’t mean to ignore you, I don’t know what’s gotten into me today.”

He straightened his posture, taking in some of the crisp Devildom air through his nose. He fixed his hair and then promptly tugged at the hem of his glove, removing the slack from around his fingers. “It did catch me quite off guard, but I will say that...I’m rather...pleased you’re more comfortable around us.”

He didn’t meet your gaze as you two approached RAD. It was the second largest and elaborate building in the Devildom, second only to Diavolo’s own castle. You could see multitudes of shapes pass behind the arched stained glass windows. A few groups still lingered around the stone steps leading up to the gargantuan front doors, the entryway towering well above your head. As the two of you approached, almost every head in the area swiveled in Lucifer’s direction. Anywhere he went he always took people’s focus away. Eyes always flitted from him to you with hushed whispers. Already, a small crowd started to approach, all attention on the demon by your side. Lucifer hated being too bothered, but he adored the attention and praise. All it did for you was make you want to shy away. Something about the way watching demons from all different shapes and sizes try to get their claws on him left a knot in your stomach.

You felt a small squeeze on your left shoulder and looked up to the ever-popular Pride. You had been hoping somehow he read into your thoughts, ready to give you comfort for your worries. But then you realized he was still prattling on about your punishment. “And while I appreciate your apology, if you truly feel remorse, I expect you to meet me first thing after classes.” The mass of demons all called his name, each of them hoping to have some recognition from him. He ignored them for the time being, eagerly waiting for your response.

“Yes, Lucifer.” You let out a small sigh. Who knows what he had in store for you. Multiple possible scenarios of punishments to be ran through your head, causing your head to lower in a bit of shame. That was enough for him, satisfied that he had pushed you enough. He let go of your shoulder, his touch still leaving your skin tingling.

“Good. I’ll see you after. Don’t keep me waiting.” He advanced through the crowd with long regal strides. The air about him had shifted dramatically. Little hints of softness he showed around you were now nonexistent. He looked sharp, methodical, marching along like a hitman on a mission. The group parted for him immediately without him even mentioning anything. He distanced himself from you, dragging the cluster of people along with him. Once again, you sighed, targeting your aggression towards a stray pebble on the ground. One swift kick sent it skittering across the hard surface before settling against someone’s shoe.

You snapped your head up, taking in the character before you, ready to apologize. You honestly hadn’t seen them there just a few moments before. There had been nothing but blank space in that direction as far as you had been concerned. They practically showed up out of nowhere. Before you could get yet another apology out, the space between the two of you closed swiftly. They took one of your hands and grasped it in theirs.

“You’re MC, right?!” Your mind was still reeling over their impossible pace, and you could only nod in acknowledgement. Their eyes glowed in happiness, in fact they looked as if they could cry over it. “Thank goodness! I’ve been looking for you!” They went in for a hug, but then stopped just centimeters away from touching you before they reeled back. Rigid as a pole, they stuck their arms firmly to their sides and deeply bowed, leaving you doubly confused. “Ah, forgive me, where are my manners?!” They stayed in that position for a good while before raising their body again. “Nice to meet you, MC. You can call me Ikito.”

To Be Continued

#obey me #obey me shall we date #obey me headcanons #obey me imagines #obey me lucifer #obey me mammon #obey me levi #obey me satan #obey me asmo #obey me beel #obey me belphie #Tainted Reflections

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