Even the goodest boi gets lonely sometimes
[warning: ooc Cerberus, i just wanted to write something cute]
Cerberus has been acting...wrong.
Not sick, exactly. Lucifer can tell the difference. The hellhound guards the mausoleum as diligently as ever and responds to him obediently. But the fire in his eyes is gone.
It's not like Cerberus has stopped loving his master either. He perks up ever so slightly whenever Lucifer visits him, nudging him eagerly for affection. But he seems to deflate the instant Lucifer turns towards the exit. Lucifer never in his life thought that he would hear the fierce guardian of the Devildom whine so pathetically.
Loneliness feels too menial of an emotion for a beast older than nations.
Lucifer brings up Cerberus' strange behaviour one evening while conversing with Diavolo. Diavolo listens with seriousness. After all, he never liked seeing his dear friend so troubled.
Barbatos suggests visiting Cerberus to figure something out. The two, of course, agree.
The next day, they approach the mausoleum expecting the same heavy silence to great them. Except they hear a deep rumbling. An excited, joyous sound that Lucifer has previously heard Cerberus make when he is especially proud to show off his "catch" to him.
And then, their blood runs cold. Because near the entrance lay a school bag, decorated with pins and charms and a very familiar lizard keychain— unmistakably yours.
For one horrible second, Lucifer imagines the worst.
And then he moves faster than Diavolo has ever seen him move.
Why did you have to be so reckless? Why did you always have to constantly go against his warnings? Why can't you just listen for once? Why, why, why—
And then he sees you siting on the floor, absolutely unharmed, looking like the happiest human alive. Three giant, furry heads crowd around you as you bury your hands in the fur, scratching and petting wherever you could reach. One head pressed shameless into your belly, another trying to nudge it away to demand for the same attention. The third sniffs at your face like you're an old friend it missed dearly.
Cerberus has never looked happier.
Diavolo laughs his signature laugh. "Oh, isn't that a wonderful sight?"
"I must agree," Barbatos smiles faintly, "looks like we found a solution to the problem."
You almost jump out of your skin at the sudden booming laugh before guiltily turning around to greet the familiar faces. "Hi."
"MC," Lucifer begins sternly (but neither Diavolo, nor Barbatos miss the tone of relief in his voice) "what are you doing here?"
“I was out foraging for ingredients for sorcery practice,” you say as one head tries to get its snout under your hand for more pets, “and i heard Cerbie whining. So I came in to check." You continue scratching between his ears, earning another happy rumble.
"By the way, did you know he likes butt-scratches?" You add proudly, making Diavolo snort in a very un-future-king manner, earning a slight "ahem" from Barbatos (though his lips also curled up in an amused smile).
So much for a dignified guardian of hell, Lucifer thinks to himself. He was going to have a chat with Cerberus regarding pride later. But for now, he let Cerberus enjoy the attention.
That night, Lucifer makes a decision to visit Cerberus everyday. Loneliness is not an emotion unfamiliar to him, and he was not going to let his (beloved) hell hound suffer through it. And he keeps that promise. Sometimes his visits last only five minutes. Sometimes ten. Sometimes just long enough to place a hand on his warm fur and murmur a few soft words he'll deny ever saying before responsibility drags him away again.
You have your own things to take care of as well— sorcery lessons from Solomon, studying for RAD exams, and keeping up with the ever-chaotic brothers. But you make sure to visit when you can. Diavolo and Lucifer decided that the hell hound didn't seem to pose any threat to you. Rather, he was probably the safest creature you could be with in the Devildom(other than themselves and the other brothers, of course). After all, Cerberus, now nick-named "Cerbie", has grown even more fond of you.
And who were you to deny the Devildom's goodest boy some cuddles?
Finally, Ceberus doesn't look so lonely anymore.
One evening, you approach Lucifer in his study, sheepishly asking for an old shirt of his. When asked why, you simply reply that 'it's for a project' and provide no further explanantion. It was a strange request, but a simple one (and if it makes you happy, the he would give you as many shirts as you wanted). So, he hands you a shirt of his that he ment to discard anyway without prying further.
Lucifer forgets about it. Until a few days later, when he pays his daily visit to Cerberus.
Cerberus is fast asleep, curled up on the mausoleum's floor.
Between his massive paws is a small, crudely made fabric doll— one that resembled Lucifer. Four tiny black wings, black horns that looked more like lumps and a smirk that was probably intended to look "devious". The doll's little coat made of a very familiar piece of fabric— one that still faintly smelt like him.
Lucifer breaks into an uncharacteristically soft smile. At least Cerberus won’t be lonely anymore.
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