Your Little Admirer
Masterlist AO3
Lucifer receives a confession from someone that he least expected. No warnings.
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"Hello? Is anyone present? You requested for me to come here, yes?" Lucifer said in no particular direction.
The letter had been slipped under the council room door, the culprit in question running off before Lucifer could spot them. At first, he thought it a joke. The penmanship was barely legible and written in what looked to be pink crayon of all things. It read: meet me in the RAD Gardens at noon. There's something I'd like to give you!
Though he could've easily tossed the letter aside, curiosity had gotten the better of him. Who could be so bold as to demand a summons from him? A few culprits fit the bill, Mammon especially being one of them, or possibly Satan and Belphegor, waiting to play yet another one of their "well-planned" pranks.
Even so, Lucifer waited, having chosen to rest on one of the garden's many benches for the time being. He knew why, of course. Such confessions happened nearly every week or so. The whole thing reminded him of something out of one of Levi's--what did he call them--otome? Despite it being the lunch hour, no one seemed to be within the RAD Gardens during this time of day. It was secluded, romantic, and for the soon-to-be-rejected, comforting.
Yet whoever called him here was clearly taking their precious little time. Had it been colder, his annoyance would be tenfold, yet the weather was a warm retrieve compared to the blistering winter before it. Deadman roses had bloomed along the garden’s pathways, their petals full and spiraling outward as if beckoning one forward, only to realize too late their true nature, as a certain overly curious human learned the hard way, all limbs and appendages intact, thankfully.
Lucifer smirked. It seemed the exchange student who’d caused him so much grief refused to allow his mind to rest despite their absence. And yet he could see their image waltzing through the mists of his boredom. From beyond the vined archway, with gift in hand, they would appear before him and say...
“...Lucifer. There's...something I've been meaning to tell you.”
Ah yes, the moment he’s been waiting for. After all, there was never really any doubt that they would choose him.
"Then come. Come and tell me what it is your heart has been aching to reveal."
And that's when they'd tell him everything. The constant going alongs with his brothers, the half-hearted flirting, all were mere pleasantries, simple distractions from the feelings that they tried so hard to subdue.
Lucifer scoffed. "And you expect me to beleive such stories?"
"But it's true, my love," they cried. "Since the moment I was brought here to this dark, dreadful place, I knew you--and only you-- would be the one I'd fall for."
And finally, when they could no longer bear waiting a moment longer, they'd rush forward, throwing themselves into his arms, cold and shaken from the rain. (the rain simply being added for dramatic effect. Tis his fantasy, after all).
"Please," they begged. "Just please say you'll be mine."
Lucifer tucked their chin between his fingers. "Of course, my love. I never doubted your convictions for a moment. Now then, how should I punish you for allowing me to wait this long? Though I might consider forgiveness if—“
“--Excuse me?"
That was…not a human's voice. In fact, its essence was too small and held little power to be theirs. Lucifer gazed around.
"Down here! Down here!" The voice repeated.
Lucifer looked down, way down. Before him stood…honestly, he wasn’t quite sure what they were. Demons, apparently. Or maybe “tiny void creatures” would be the correct terminology? Furthermore, were they born with such large hats or are they merely accessories? And what of the bowties? How do they attach them if they have no necks or corporal form? Also—
“—Hello? Sir Lucifer?” the Little D spoke.
Lucifer blinked. “Little D…Number Five?"
"That's...that's right!" No. 5 said, their form shivering at the apparent remembrance of their title. In their…hands were a tiny bag of cookies wrapped in a sparkling blue bow. No. 5 stretched out their arms and bowed. “For you, Sir Lucifer. I made them myself.”
“Is that right?” Lucifer gave the cookies a look over. Star shaped and sprinkled with blue glitter at that. A common theme, but apt, he thought.
“For you see I...I...I really like you, Sir Lucifer!" They practically squealed into the heavens. "I always see you about the castle with Lord Diavolo, yet I've never gotten the chance to confess my true feelings until now. I only hope that you take these cookies as a show of my eternal affections."
Lucifer blinked for what seemed like the hundredth time. Though he knew the Demon Lord's Castle was filled with Little D's attending to various tasks, he rarely paid them much attention unless addressed. Never truly going out of his way to befriend them, yet remained cordial all the same. Now that he thought about it, there was always the feeling of him being watched throughout the castle. He just hadn’t been able to place his finger on it until now.
No. 5 remained still, eyes clenched shut. Poor thing was as red as a bloody stump. Rejecting love confessions had become almost like a ritual for Lucifer, yet he never held this much conflict over bringing down the knife, so to speak. It was like kicking a puppy, and he adored Cerberus.
“That's very kind of you,” Lucifer spoke. "However...I must decline your precious offer."
No. 5 frowned, their arms sinking to their sides. "Oh...I see. So you’re spoken for, huh?”
Lucifer coughed. “Well, no. Not necessarily.”
“Then you’re still single?” No. 5’s eyes perked up.
“Yes, but--"
"--So then you can accept my affections?"
"I couldn't possibly--"
“--Oh, I get it. You’re one of those “emotionally constipated” types. I heard Lord Diavolo say that—I mean, not that it was about you or anything,” No. 5 said with a nervous laugh. “Um, you’ll still take my cookies, right?”
On second thought, maybe I should stab them. Lucifer sighed the kind of sigh that he usually only held for his brothers. "Regardless of my…emotional disposition, I couldn't rightfully accept your cookies. To do so would be insincere of me and may lead to..." Lucifer cleared his throat, "unfortunate conclusions."
"I...I understand," No. 5 hung their head, eyes on the verge of tearing over.
A shriveled, black part of Lucifer heaved and hacked from the dust of disuse. He couldn’t allow it to end this way. After all, he was the devil, not a monster.
"However,” Lucifer continued, “I can tell you made these with all your heart. Rarely does one approach me in such a rousing manner and I admire your forwardness. My hope is that you continue to be so bold in everything that you do.”
No. 5 sniffled, still looking towards the ground. "You...you really mean it, Sir Lucifer?"
"I do. Please promise me that you'll continue to be as you are now, especially when it comes to helping Diavolo and Barbatos."
No. 5, whose face had been riddled with sadness, perked up like a ball of pure light. "Sir Lucifer...yes! Yes, I will! I promise!"
Well, that was surprisingly simple. Lucifer patted their head and a wave of gentle purs reverberated through his hand, something he couldn’t help but smile at it. "I'm glad to hear it. Now, be safe on your way back to the castle. I'm assuming Barbatos gave you permission to be here, yes?"
"M-maybe. I'm allowed to go places too, you know." No. 5 fiddled with their hands. "But please don't tell him!"
Lucifer chuckled. "Don't worry, I won't tell him. Yet do hurry back."
No. 5 gave a fanged grin before zipping into a darkened corner of the garden, going wherever Little D's go when they disappear into the shadows.
Lucifer stood in silence. As endearing as that moment was, hopefully no one would ever know of it. Satan would have a field day and the others would never let him live it down. Yet such a display of honest affection did give him an idea. Pulling his D.D.D from his coat pocket, Lucifer quickly scrolled to the name of his precious human. Whatever the outcome, he too, would be just as forward.
**********
That evening, within the Demon Lord's Castle, Little D. No. 5 found a nice little corner to slump down into and think. Even with Sir Lucifer's encouraging words lingering through their thoughts, after doing all that boasting to the other Little D's, there's no way they could show their face to them again. They could die, really they could!
"And are you sure this is the right way?" a voice questioned.
"Yep! There's definitely something tasty down this hall!" answered the other.
"Eep!" No. 5 tucked themselves into a little ball. That was definitely No. 6 and No. 2 coming to find them. As the patter of their feet came closer, a small laugh was heard. No. 5 peeked upward and suddenly they forgot all about dying and wanted to commit murder instead.
"Oh, so it's you." No. 2 shook his head. "I told ya he wouldn't accept them."
"Oh, hush you!" No. 5 shouted. Even if he was right, that doesn't mean he had to say it.
"At least you tried," said No. 6, patting them on the back. "It isn't easy for us to be seen, but you showed him."
"I guess so," No. 5 looked down at their bag of perfectly decorated cookies. "But what am I to do with these?"
No. 5 drooled, a dazed look in their eyes. “Can I eat them?”
“No!"
"No. 2? No. 6?” Barbatos called not far behind. “Were you able to find them?”
No. 2 grinned. "Now you’re busted.”
To which No. 5 groaned. They didn't mean to leave the castle without permission, yet they couldn't just let their feelings go unknown. They had to risk it, even if it made Master Barbatos angry.
"Ah, there you are," Barbatos said, kneeling down to meet No. 5. "We were searching all over the castle for you. Why would you retire to such a place?"
"I'm...I'm sorry, Master Barbatos," No. 5 cried. "Please don't be mad. Please don't."
"Why would I ever be upset?" Barbatos voice was like a gentle hug. "I'm just relieved that you're home safely. The others informed me that you had something very important to take care of today. Were you able to achieve it?"
“Guess there’s no point in hiding them.” No. 5 rose from their corner, and with a small, weary hand, showed Barbatos their bag of cookies. "He—I mean, I guess it didn’t work out."
Barbatos gently grabbed the bag, gazing at its contents. "Is that right? Well then, it would be a shame if something so beautifully made went to waste. How about we all enjoy them together with some tea?"
"Really?"
"Certainly.”
No. 6 bounced and bounced some more. "Yay! Tea party! Tea party!"
"Yeah, I guess that’s alright," No. 2 said, blushing. "Yet only if it'll stop you from whining."
It was then No. 5 had a revelation. They didn't really need Sir Lucifer’s affections. Nope, not at all. Not when they had so much around them already.
And besides, no matter who the demon was, they were simply no match for Master Barbatos, that's for sure!