A Restless Night

MC woke up with a start.

Their eyes darted wildly around the darkened bedroom as their heart pounded in their chest.

After taking a few deep breaths in an attempt to calm themself, MC fell back onto their pillow before they closed their eyes and tried to get back to sleep — only to find themselves tossing and turning in their bed moments later as visions from the nightmare flashed behind their eyelids.

After spending some time staring at the ceiling and deliberating their options, MC finally braved their fears and pulled the duvet off before they swung their legs over the edge of the bed, pushed off of their mattress and crossed the threshold out of the bedroom and into the hallway.

MC continued through the darkened hallways of the House of Lamentation until they finally reached their desired door.

Lucifer:
- You find yourself standing in front of Lucifer's bedroom — relief pours through your body as you survey the soft light that issues from the ajar door.
- You lift your hand to gently knock on the wooden door, but before you even have the chance to knock once, Lucifer's voice sounds from within the room.
- "It's well past lights out, MC."
- Lucifer's voice sounded stern and reproachful.
- You push the door open wider to find the demon sitting in an armchair beside the fireplace with an expectant expression — he was ready to tell you off for sneaking around the house late at night and he had no doubt in his mind that Mammon had put you up to the task.
- But Lucifer's features quickly soften the second he sees your pale, panic stricken face.
- He instantly rose to his feet and crossed the room until he was at your side — he was quick to wrap his arms around you and pull you in close.
- "Did something happen, MC?"
- Even the prideful demon couldn't hide the concern in his voice.
- He listens attentively as you explain that you had a nightmare.
- "I see, then you're more than welcome to stay as long as you like."
- He only leaves your side to move towards the record player that's on the mantle of the fireplace; where he carefully surveys his collection before he finally picks a vinyl to play.
Lucifer's bedroom is soon filled with the sound of soothing music and he moves towards his bed instead.
- The avatar of pride invites you to lay beside him on his bed and waits patiently as you accept his invitation.
- As soon as you're comfortable, Lucifer wraps his arms around you again, caresses your back and talks to you about each song that plays on the vinyl to take your mind off of your nightmare — he'll occasionally hum along to the music too — until he's sure that you've fallen asleep.
- Lucifer watches you sleep with a smile as he shakes his head to himself.
- He plants a soft kiss to the top of your head.
"You have nothing to fear while I'm around."

Mammon;
- You gently knock against Mammon's bedroom door and wait for an answer.
- You're sure that you hear something move behind you, your panic sets in again and you begin to knock against the door repeatedly.
- "Alright, alright! I'm comin'! You don't need to knock my door off of the hinges!"
- You're relieved to hear Mammon's voice issue from within the room, even if he did sound groggy and disgruntled.
- Mammon opens his bedroom door to stare at you with bleary eyes as he scratches his head.
"MC? Why're you still up?" He asks groggily with a yawn.
- You explain that you had a nightmare, but from the demon's still half-asleep expression, you're not sure how much he actually registered.
- But Mammon opens his door wider to let you cross over the threshold into his bedroom before he stumbles towards his bed, turns his bedside light on and lets himself fall ungracefully back onto his bed.
- Grateful for his company, you enter Mammon's bedroom and close the door behind you — turning around to find that Mammon is holding his duvet open for you.
- He waits for you to climb into the bed beside him before he moves closer, wraps his duvet tightly around the both of you and holds you close.
- Even in the dim lighting you could see his cheeks beginning to turn a dark shade of red.
- "D-don't get the wrong idea, this is only for one night, okay?"
- Mammon's the first to fall asleep, but the sound of his slowed breathing and his warmth soon helps you drift off into a peaceful sleep.
- Mammon forgot about the events of the previous night so he was a blushing, stammering mess when he woke up in the morning and found you in his bed with him.
- He'll always try to brush off his bashfulness with his confidence.
- "O-of course you came to me, I am The Great Mammon, after all!"