Chapter Text
It's been two weeks since what you've come to think of as the night of... your life? It has certainly changed your life, that's for sure. You'd waited for and wanted so desperately for Diavolo to claim you as you knew demons claimed their mates, and you'd thought you knew something about what that meant. You'd found out that night that you knew nothing really. You certainly hadn't known that being claimed and mated meant being bred, that it meant having your mate fill you to the brim, fill you far past your capacity to be filled- and then to fill you more. You hadn't known that being laid was a part of being claimed- and you don't mean the human slang for 'laid' that just meant being fucked. No, your prince, your lord, and now your mate, had, quite literally, laid eggs within you.
You certainly hadn't known that demons you thought to be male could lay eggs.
You certainly know now, of course. You'd carried Diavolo's eggs within you for a full week (thank fuck that they'd been infertile, you don't want to imagine what it would have meant if they hadn't been, what it would have meant for you, for your body, for the Devildom) before you'd been able to be relieved of your burden. You spent a week in the castle with Diavolo, with only Barbatos and the Little Ds for company, because Diavolo had been rather… possessive of you while you'd been- is pregnant the right word? The eggs had been infertile, so it's not as if you'd been carrying and nurturing a new life. Carrying, maybe? Diavolo had been a bit possessive while you'd been carrying his clutch, a fact you'd found out only when Mammon had come to bring you home the next morning, and it was only the second-born's infamous speed that had allowed him to escape the castle while you desperately tried to calm your prince down and convince him that no one had come to take what was his.
Relieving yourself of your (his? both of yours?) clutch had been an experience in and of itself too. At the moment, that night is sitting at the number two night of your life. Maybe a little too much to think too much on today, with as high as your nerves and anxiety are. But it had been an experience, both a blessing and a curse as you found yourself simultaneously relieved to be rid of the eggs, as well as… sad to see them gone? Barbatos had taken them away while you recovered; you weren't quite sure where exactly they had gone to, and you weren't entirely sure that you wanted to know. A question for another day. Then Lucifer had come himself to collect you and take you home, acting as if nothing had changed, acting like you hadn't just been mated and claimed by his mate, as if what had happened changed absolutely nothing. And the entire week had been like that.
Mostly. The one thing that hadn't been normal was how distant your housemates had been with you all week while home. They'd all tried to act normally, but other than Asmo's excitement and subsequent grilling of you about your claiming, they'd all failed miserably. If you walked into a room, more often than not, any brother who might have been within found an excuse to quickly leave. Mealtimes had become strangely quiet and stilted; everyone always seemed to eat quicker than should have been possible for anyone other than Beel, and then leave as soon as their plate was cleared. You'd realize by the second day that they were all going to eat early, so that they could leave as soon as they could. You caught a few of them- Mammon a few times- in your room without you, but then they'd make an excuse about needing to go, and they'd be out the door and gone before you could process the exchange. It was driving you insane.
Then, this morning, Lucifer had caught you at the breakfast table. You'd thought- finally- that you were going to have it out. You'd turned to look up at him expectantly.... and instead he'd stiffly informed you that Diavolo had called for both of you in the castle for dinner. He'd left immediately after, holing up in his study with an order to the entire house not to be bothered. You'd grumpily gone to your own room to sulk the day away, and had stayed there until Asmo arrived an hour or so before dinner to get you 'ready.'
Now here you are, sitting across the long formal dining table from Lucifer, Diavolo at the head of the table to your right. You’re wearing the most ridiculous lingerie you could possibly dream up beneath your slinky black, form-fitting outfit; every single millimeter of it is covered with sinfully soft lace and ribbon, and it had taken Asmo a full half hour to get you into it. You're pretty sure you would have ruined it trying to put it on yourself. You’re probably going to ruin it tonight, whenever you go to bed and have to take it off. Because despite Asmo dolling you up to the nines, and despite Lucifer and Diavolo both having donned their demon forms for formality, all of dinner has been business.
Business. You’re bored out of your skill, the entire thing saved only by the deliciousness of Barbatos' food, as Lucifer and Diavolo talk RAD business the entire time. Really, you’re about ready to sneak your DDD and ask someone to come save you- Beel maybe, you doubt Mammon would want to try again after what happened last time- and then excuse yourself to sneak out. Just as you reached for your pocket, though, there’s a clinking of silverware and the sound of a chair being pushed back. You look up quickly, DDD momentarily forgotten, looking to both demons.
Both of whom are watching you with dark, meaningful looks in their eyes.
"Barbatos," Diavolo says without looking away from you even the smallest bit. "I have one more thing I need to discuss with Lucifer. Would you please take our mate to my bedroom."
It, very clearly, isn't a question. Barbatos appears at your elbow, smiling that calm, mysterious smile of his, and nods as the prince continues, addressing you this time.
"I'm sorry, little one. We appear to have neglected you while we ate. Please know that I intend to make that up to you fully- that both of us will make it up to you. Until we can join you however, I ask that you allow Barbatos to care for you in my stead."
You stare at him, your eyes narrowing. Your gaze flickers over to Lucifer, but while Diavolo's expression is dark lust bordered by apology, the avatar of pride's face is a carefully blank mask. You glance to Barbatos, and the steward tips his head just slightly, as if encouraging you to agree. You sigh- more of a huff, really- but nod.
"Alright," you accept, but there’s a bit of sharpness to your voice as you tell him, "but I do expect you to make it up to me." You pause and look at Lucifer again, your words pointed. "Both of you. I don't like being ignored."
Diavolo laughs quietly, his eyes sparkling with amusement, and he nods. "Of course. Now if you will, please."
Accepting that Lucifer is clearly making a point not to react or give you any hint as to what he’s thinking, you huff again and stand, following Barbatos out of the room faithfully.
The trip to Diavolo's quarters from the dining room is a familiar one, even if following Barbatos there is weird; normally you and the prince would have been avoiding the steward, trying to keep from being caught by either of your minders. He lets you in with a smile once you reach the rooms, however. He asks if there was anything you wished while you waited- he offers snacks (you'd just eaten), drinks (you did allow him to bring you one of the few demonic alcohols that actually affected you, although he limited you to only one with a knowing look in his eyes), perhaps to draw a bath (did you really have that kind of time? even if you did, you'd never be able to put your underwear back on, dammit), and then withdraws at your request. You settle on the prince's huge bed with your drink, downing it quickly, and hoping it would help with the tension threading its way through your entire body. Once it’s gone, you lay down to wait.
Laying down, you realize when you open your eyes again, might not have been the best idea. Because when you open them, it’s to find Diavolo leaning over you with an amused grin, Lucifer just behind him and arching an eyebrow at you in some kind of censure. Bah, let him disapprove, he was the one who'd been ignoring you not just tonight, but all damn week.
Diavolo doesn’t give you the chance to voice the thought; chuckling low, deep enough that you can feel it in your chest, he reaches down to take your hand, using it to pull you up into a sitting position. While his eyes are full of some kind of dark mirth, his tone is at least apologetic.
"I didn't intend to leave you waiting quite so long, my dear. You must have been quite tired to fall so deeply asleep."
"It's been a tough week," you answer, your lips forming a pout as you look pointedly behind him to Lucifer. The fallen angel tilts his head in response, his eyebrow arching higher.
"I don't recall anything particularly trying happening to you this week," Lucifer comments. Your pout forms a scowl.
"Well you haven't exactly been around to notice, have you?"
And- there. Finally you can see something like guilt flash through his gaze before he looks away. When you can see his eyes once more, they’re carefully blank once more, but the set of his expression is perhaps a bit… softer.
"Have you not been caring for our mate, Lucifer?" Diavolo's voice, however, is not softer. There's an edge to it as he straightens and looks to the other demon. Lucifer scowls in return.
"I have had a lot of work this week, thanks to certain reckless decisions that were made," he says, and although his eyes are entirely on the prince, somehow you get the feeling he's talking to you too. "There’s been enough work that even my brothers have been run ragged assisting me. Perhaps if someone would have had a little self-control-"
"Are you unhappy with my decision?" Diavolo asks in return, and he's wearing a grin that's half a smirk, amusement soothing the edge that had been in his voice a mere moment ago.
"I am-" Lucifer cuts himself off. He sighs, pinching the bridge of his nose between two gloved fingers. Shaking his head, he speaks again. "This is not the time for this argument. That time has come and gone. You should be happy that I was prepared for this, even if you weren't."
Neither of them speaks for a moment, golden and crimson eyes meeting and locking. You scowl again. If they want to argue, they can do so on their own, without you. You do not like being ignored.
"I'm going," you say, and you push to the edge of the bed so you can stand. Before your feet can touch the ground, familiar, strong arms wrap around you. You give a little shriek as Diavolo swoops you up and against his chest, clearly not willing to let you go. Lucifer rolls his eyes at the display, but makes no move to help you, and you squirm futilely against the prince's hold.
"You're not going anywhere," Lucifer says. His eyes run over you as you struggle for a moment before giving up. You know better than to think you can escape Diavolo's grasp, you don't have even a fraction of his strength. When Lucifer speaks again, his voice is softer. "This affects you as much as it does me."
Something like ice slips down your back. You'd thought that was what Lucifer meant about 'reckless decisions,' given exactly what had happened two weeks ago. That it affects both you and him only confirms the fear.
"Relax, little one," Diavolo says, having felt you tense in his arms. His grip on your softens, and there's a deep undertone to the words that echoes oddly through you. You don't fully understand as the tension running rampant through you does, indeed, lessen a little at the command; you blink and shake your head as if to shake the feeling away. "Everything is fine, our mate is simply somewhat… frustrated at me for moving faster than we had intended."
It's not the first time he's said that tonight. 'Our mate.' He's said it both in reference to you, while speaking to Lucifer, and now in reference to Lucifer when speaking to you. That isn't how demon mates work? Is it?
"'Our' mate?" you echo, and he grins down at you.
"Yes," your mate confirms, and then turns that smile on Lucifer, who is now apparently your mate as well? "Our mate."
"Not yet," Lucifer says with a huff, but it's almost fond this time, rather than frustrated. "That is yet to be finalized."
"That's why we're here tonight," Diavolo replies. You freeze in his arms. Wait-
"Have you even asked them if they wish to do so," the fallen angel asks, arching an eyebrow at Diavolo this time. The prince's voice is smug when he answers,
"Do I need to? I know what my mates desire." He pauses a moment. Lucifer closes his eyes with a resigned sigh, and you somehow get the feeling you should worry about what your mate is going to say next. The prince grins down at you, meeting your gaze steadily as he tells you, "You desire each other. I'm going to give you both what you desire."
Your eyes go wide, your lips parting to- to what? Protest? You can't, exactly, because he's right, but. He's right about you wanting Lucifer, at least. He can't possibly be right about Lucifer wanting you though, he's never given any indication he-
"Diavolo," Lucifer growls, his eyes going darker than before, and he's scowling again. Nope, Diavolo definitely isn't right about Lucifer. If Lucifer wanted you, he wouldn't look so angry at the insinuation that he does.
"Yes Lucifer," the prince says easily, still grinning. Lucifer's wings twitch behind him, and Diavolo laughs, giving you a squeeze and ducking his head to kiss you lightly. Of course, even his light kisses are enough to make you breathy; you lose sight of the other demon for a moment when Diavolo nips playfully at your lips, his fangs grazing the tender skin but not biting down.
"You will ask," Lucifer growls again, and his voice is louder this time. Threatening. You shudder despite your mate's kiss, pulling back to look over at the fallen angel with something like fear. No, he definitely doesn't want you, not when he half looks like he's ready to tear you and Diavolo both in half. "You will ask, or I will take them and return to the House of Lamentation, and you will not be mating anyone for at least the next century."
Your fear grows as you try to sort exactly what his threat means, and suddenly you find yourself clinging to Diavolo, rather than struggling as you had when he'd first picked you up. Lucifer is very clearly upset, and if he's threatening to take you back to the house… His brothers are there, you know they'd protect you if they could, but you also know that Diavolo is the only one who can actually stop Lucifer when he loses control. If he manages to take you from Diavolo?
"You're scaring our mate," Diavolo says, and his grin has faded. His grasp around you tightens, and you feel something rumbling through you, emanating from his chest. You can't hear anything, but it feels like he's… purring, almost. Like what a purring cat would feel like if you held it in your arms. The feeling of it is soothing- not enough to take away your fear, not with the thunderous look Lucifer is aiming at you, but enough to soothe it somewhat. A little bit, at least.
"They are not our mate, Diavolo, not yet. They never will be if you do not ask." There's an edge of frustration in Lucifer's voice, tinging it through his clear anger. Is he really that angry and disgusted at the thought of being your mate? You didn't even ask for this, you didn't suggest it, why-
"If you will not ask," Lucifer threatens, "Then I will, and you will regret it. Do you understand?"
You feel Diavolo move. He's not fast enough. Lucifer moves faster. You find yourself in the first-born's arms without even realizing what's happened, and then you're both across the room. Your breath is torn forcefully from you, you can't even shriek this time. You hear, more than see, Diavolo begin to move, and then Lucifer moves again, once again faster. A moment later you're in the bathroom, alone with the fallen angel. You feel yourself tremble a little as he makes a movement with one hand, growling something in Infernal that you can't hear. You feel the magic rise though, and you realize that he's trapped you in here with him, and locked Diavolo out. Your heart stops.
"If I put you down," Lucifer says, and his voice is suddenly soft in a way that sends confusion rolling through you, "are you able to stand unaided?"
His voice, his words, are caring. His tone is the exact opposite of the anger he'd shown mere seconds ago when speaking to Diavolo. When speaking to you, you'd thought. His crimson eyes seek out yours though, and although he's obviously waiting for an answer as you stare up at him in confused terror, he doesn't push. When you don't answer, he sighs quietly. His horns and wings shimmer out of existence, his formal demonwear shifting to his usual outfit; he shifts you in his arms to do something behind your back, and you don't realize he's taken his gloves off until you hear the sound of leather hitting the bathroom counter.
"I'm sorry," he says gently. You flinch when his bare hand reaches toward your face, unable to help the reaction; he freezes, and then quickly pulls his hand back. "I did not mean to frighten you; it's Diavolo I'm upset with."
You'd already been afraid. Afraid, but now confused, because his suddenly gentle behavior seemed at odds with the anger from before. The confusion fades as you realize that you've misunderstood. Lucifer wasn't angry at you, but at Diavolo; you were just in Diavolo's arms. You should feel relieved. He's not angry with you. So why does your heart feel like it's still breaking anyway?
"I can stand," you manage to tell him, forcing the feelings down. Fine. He's not upset at you, he just. Doesn't want to be your mate. That's fine. You can handle that. You didn't ask him to be your mate anyway. You meet Lucifer's gaze as steadily as he can as he searches your face. He seems to find what he's looking for, because he shifts carefully so that he can set you down, one bare hand splaying against your back to steady you should you need it. You step away as soon as you're fully steady, all but running from the warm feeling of his hand bracing you.
"We need to talk," he says, and you bite back a laugh. Those are words dreaded by every single person who's ever been in a relationship. What kind of skill does it take to draw those dreaded words out of someone you're not in a relationship with?
You skitter a few steps away, and you find the edge of the, as Asmo would call it, orgy-sized bath; it has more than enough room around it for you to sit down comfortably, with plenty of room to spare. If you're going to have that kind of talk, then you'll at least be comfortable for it. Lucifer watches as you sit, but makes no move to do so himself. He stands near the counter instead, beside where he'd set his gloves.
"Alright," you reply. "Let's talk."
It takes a moment before he speaks. His voice is steady and solemn when he does.
"Diavolo and I previously spoke at length about his relationship with you, and what it would mean." Your lips part; he shakes his head firmly, and you close them again. You let him continue uninterrupted. "He has wanted to claim you for longer than you know. As he is crown prince, however, claiming a new mate- and a human mate, at that- brings with it certain... issues that would need to be resolved. I understand that he often told you that his reason for waiting was that you were not ready, correct?"
You nod mutely. You'd hated those words for so long, hated how he kept himself from you while you gave him every bit of you. You'd waited as long as you could, but two weeks ago had been your breaking point. Apparently it had been Diavolo's as well, you realize.
"That was true to a point," Lucifer continues. "It is also true that neither he nor I were ready for him to claim you either. There was still much to do to steady things and prepare for what would follow if the Devildom's future king claimed a human. When Mammon returned from the castle after your claiming and informed me of what had happened, I was… upset."
There it is again. Except now it's not just that he was upset at Diavolo for suggesting Lucifer take you as a mate, but for Diavolo himself taking you for a mate. You force back the flinch that wants to come with that knowledge.
"This is what I have been so busy with throughout the past week," he pushes on, not seeming to notice. Good. You don't want him to. "There are still some things that will need to be taken care of in the days to come, but I have managed to deal with the most important issues. I had thought that, with that done, things would begin to settle once more."
"Then Diavolo tried to force me on you," you say without meaning to, and you're far too late to prevent the bitter tone from tainting your voice. Lucifer frowns, and nods.
"I should have known he would do something like this," he answers, and he sighs. His frown deepens, and he runs his gaze over you. You can imagine what you must look like to him right now. An unwanted human who all but forced his mate to claim them before they were ready, causing untold issues for him. A frustrating, frightened mortal who forced their way into both his family and his love, and who now is being forced upon him.
"I-" you start, but he shakes his head. He gives you a kind of soft smile that you've never seen on him before. It both takes your breath away, and makes you want to cry. It's not for you, you know, it's for the demon you both call mate.
"As I'm sure you've noticed, Diavolo has a habit of doing whatever comes to mind without any thought of what consequences might follow."
That's almost enough to force a laugh out of you. Almost. He's right, of course; you can't count the number of times things have gone wonky or crazy or weird, and it's been because of something Diavolo did. He pulls pranks without restraint, does some of the craziest things to get the attention of yourself and Lucifer, of the other brothers and other exchange students. You know it's not entirely his fault- you've seen how isolated he is. He's told you how far off everyone always is to him. You... might have encouraged him once or twice… or thrice… or more. And while he always ends up caught out by the end of it, you never are, because he always takes it upon himself.
"He means well," you tell Lucifer quietly. "When it matters, at least, he does."
"I know," Lucifer replies, and he's the one to- not really snort, but it’s as close to it as he'll likely ever come. "The fact remains, his lack of self-restraint and control often causes problems far beyond what he ever considers. Tonight is one of those times."
You don't really know what to say to that. He's right. You know now that it's also partly your own fault- you pushed for Diavolo to claim you before any of you were really ready- but Diavolo is the one who has pushed so much tonight. That's what's brought you to this.
"I want to clear up any misunderstandings," Lucifer says after a moment. He steps away from the counter; you stare in shock as he takes a knee in front of you. You don't think to pull away when he reaches for one of your hands, and you let him take it, held limply in his grasp. He's tall enough that even like this, with you sitting on the bathside and Lucifer kneeling on the floor, you still have to look up to meet his eyes. He catches your gaze with his and holds it steady when he speaks again.
"Diavolo well knows how I feel about you; this we have also discussed at length. What I do not believe has been discussed at all is how you feel about me. I would hear your thoughts on the matter before we leave this room."
Your heart leaps into your throat, and despite yourself, you feel a tiny sliver of something like hope. You push it ruthlessly down. If you let yourself hope, it'll only hurt more than it already does after this entire night. You should just- tell him what he's expecting to hear. You should tell him that you're as horrified as he is at the idea, that you can't believe Diavolo would think something as preposterous as the two of you wanting each other. You should save face, for both of you, make all of this easier. You open your mouth to do exactly that.
"Iwantyou," is what tumbles from your lips instead, the three simple words rushed and pushed together. Unintelligible, you hope, fuck why, that wasn't what you were going to say, you didn't want to tell him the truth, not when the truth will only make everything all the more painful and awkward. Your unheld hand flies up to cover your mouth as your eyes go wide; the other tries to join it, but Lucifer's seemingly gentle grip on it is inescapable. Heat rushes to your cheeks, and you jerk your head to the side, suddenly terrified of the look that must be on his face.
His other hand catches the one on your mouth; he pulls it gently down to join the one he already holds, and his hand rises once more. He catches your chin this time, and no matter how you try to keep looking away, his grasp is tender but firm as he turns your head so he can meet your eyes again.
"Say that again."
His crimson eyes seem to burn right through you, look right through you. It's an order; it's clear that he heard exactly what you said, and wants you to repeat it… why? For humiliation? So he can laugh, or mock you? But no, that's not fair. Not once tonight has he mistreated you. He was angry and upset with Diavolo, and you misread him; since he's brought you here just the two of you, he has been solemn, calm, and even. Why then? Why does he want you to say it again?
You take a deep breath. You close your eyes and hold it for a few seconds, readying yourself. You breathe out again, slowly. And you answer him.
"I want you, Lucifer. I want to be your mate."
He smiles again, that same, soft smile you'd seen not even a few minutes ago. You'd been sure, at the time, that it had been for Diavolo and not you. But you're not talking about Diavolo now, and the prince is still out in the bedroom, kept away by Lucifer's ward. It's only you and Lucifer in here, and he's giving you that smile.
"That is what I wish as well," he tells you, and the words are easy and confident. He continues, "I would be proud to have you as my mate."
He deliberately moves slowly; the hand holding your chin pulls you towards him as he leans forward, both your hands still trapped in his other. His kiss, when his lips meet yours, is not as soft as his smile; it is heated and full of an emotion you dare not name. He controls you easily with that hold, with his kiss, and he kisses you breathless, sending a surge of desire and need rushing through your veins. You don't bother trying to fight for control or pull away, but give in completely to this moment that, while you have fantasized about countless times, you had never dared to believe it would come true. You never thought you would be able to call not only the crown prince of the Devildom yours, but its First Lord as well, the Avatar of Pride himself. That Lucifer would want you as you did him.
When you part from him, you sway slightly. He chuckles, the sound low and soft and amused, and the hand on your chin moves to your shoulder to steady you. Your eyes have fallen closed with the kiss, but you don't open them immediately; you take a moment, instead, to savor the taste of him on your lips, licking them slowly, to savor the moment. When you do look up to him once more, he is smirking.
"Now," he says, and there's something like mischief in his voice. "I believe Diavolo promised to repay you for neglecting you this evening."
You bite your lip for only the briefest of moments before reminding him, "You neglected me too."
Lucifer's laugh this time is louder, and he smirks. He releases your hands and reaches up to run a thumb over your lower lip teasingly, admitting, "I did, yes. And I will repay you for that. Unless I am mistaken, however, our mate's negligence and behavior deserve a more stringent repentance than he might have had in mind."
Oh. You grin a little, excitement joining the lust his kiss has sent coursing through you.
"I take it you have something in mind?" you ask, and he nods. He rises to his feet and offers a hand to you; you take it, a thrill running through you as, now that you're not terrified and confused, you can actually enjoy the feeling of his bare skin against yours. He leaves his gloves on the counter as he tucks your hand into his arm and leads you to the bedroom door.
"Follow my lead, and we will all enjoy tonight very much."