All in Due Time

Chapter 4

Mammon wasn't sure what woke him up.

Whether it was Belphie lying on his chest, making it even harder for him to breathe or the sharp pain that shot through his body with every small movement; Mammon didn't bother thinking too hard on. Whatever the reason, he didn't complain. At least the impromptu nap had helped chip away at his exhaustion, even if only a little bit.

Forcing his eyes open, he groaned as the dim light illuminating his room burned his eyes without remorse for the beating headache he already had. For a moment, Mammon stayed still. His eyes trained on the ceiling above as he listened to Belphie's soft snores. He found it almost comforting and unconsciously found himself breathing in time with his younger brother.

As he slowly woke up, the stiffness in his joints only became more and more uncomfortable. His right hand was pinned under Belphie's back, but he stretched his left up towards the ceiling, moving his wrist in small circles. He let his head turn from side to side to stretch out his neck. And once he was sure Belphie was still fast asleep, he stretched his legs out, rolling his ankles slowly. It was the most he could do without disturbing the avatar of sloth who had yet to wake up, and honestly, Mammon would rather keep it that way.

Letting out a deep yawn, he craned his neck in search of Beel with the assumption that if Belphie were still here, then the sixth-born must not be that far away. Though, much to Mammon's surprise, he was nowhere in sight. He wasn't sat on the couch nor walking around his room in distaste of the mess. Beel wasn't even sat on the edge of his bed, scrolling through Devilgram as he waited for them to wake up.

Though it couldn't have been long since he left, the cloth on his forehead was still damp, and the ice in the glass of water on his bedside table had yet to melt. More likely than not, the avatar of gluttony had run to grab a quick snack and would walk back through the door any minute now.

With a groan, he let his head fall back onto his bed, the strain from holding it up finally becoming too much. Mammon let himself sink lower into his pillows as he chased the tiny shred of hope that he might be able to fall back asleep. Even just a couple more minutes would be enough to make him less tired.

Less physically tired.

His eyes fluttering closed, Mammon let out another yawn. He tried to ignore the stubborn pain shooting across his body, the heat that burned his skin, and the sticky coat of sweat that covered him—because he still hadn't gone to take a shower—making him extremely uncomfortable.

At least his pillow was clean, he remarked.

Unlike this morning, his pillow was dry and void of the stale odour of sweat. He ran with the assumption that Beel had switched his pillows, something he would have to thank the sixth-born for later.

As he laid there unmoving, Mammon could feel himself finally slipping into a blissful state of unconsciousness. Only to be jolted awake by the harsh buzz of his D.D.D. Thankfully, he had shoved the device in the left pocket of his jeans. Considering the sleeping youngest had yet to move off of his right side, making it impossible to reach his right pocket, let alone move his right hand. He grabbed his D.D.D and turned it on, his eyes burning at the bright light from his screen.

At this point, Mammon wasn't sure if this was another fever symptom or if it was because his screen was on full brightness. No matter, he wasted no time in lowering it, which in all honesty was still too bright, but it would have to suffice.

The notification had been a text from Asmo. Mammon didn't bother reading the text, he wasn't sure he had the energy to talk with him at the moment. Swiping away the notification, he made a mental note to respond to his younger brother later. It couldn't have been anything important anyway. He went to put his D.D.D back in his pocket when his eyes caught the time at the top of the screen.