Inspired by @Bulan_kubus on Twitter
The Avatar of Envy sat in his room, setting down his game controller as the screen rolled the credits of a game he had just completed. Despite the accomplishment - it was one of the hardest games after all - a frown lingered on his features. With a slight huff, he stood up to stretch, taking in the silence that surrounded him as the credits ended, the game music slowly fading away. His amber hues darkened as he walked towards the large glass wall that held the water lining the back of his room. The different shades of blue did little to sooth his heart, the silence almost deafening, reminding him, once again, that he was alone.
He lifted his arm, his fingers brushing over the cool glass as his eyes searched the waters for his beloved goldfish. A glimpse of glimmering scales brought a sad smile to his face as he pressed his forehead against the glass. His gaze followed the goldfish through the water, his quiet voice breaking the silence that hung in the room.
“Henry, I just completed the master level of the new game I got yesterday. It was really hard, but it was super fun! I’m going to leave a good review for it on Akuzon.”
The Avatar of Envy paused, as if listening for a response. The goldfish continued to swim along, unaware of its owner's attention. Leviathan smiled wryly, but when he opened his mouth to speak again, he was interrupted by the buzzing of his D.D.D. It was the family group chat. Everyone was talking about where they were and what they were doing, questioning each other, explaining themselves. His lips pressed into a thin line when no one mentioned him, choosing to mute the group chat before tucking his D.D.D. into his pocket.
With a quiet sigh, he took one last look at the goldfish that swam happily in the waters before pressing his back against the glass. He leaned against the cool wall of the tank, slowly sliding down until he was sitting, one leg stretched out. His arm was propped against his knee as he pressed his forehead against his hand, covering his eyes. A bitter smile graced his features, the silence of the room allowing his own thoughts to be heard louder than ever.
“I don’t know why I’m even in the group chat. It’s not like any of them want to talk with me. They all must be embarrassed to have a shut-in otaku brother like me. Hah… Of course they are… That’s why no one even asked about me, right?”
He shook his head, his eyes fluttering shut as he ran a hand through his purple locks. His head tilted back, hitting the glass he was leaning upon, his thoughts continuing to run rampant. They continued to run in a circle, a never ending cycle of self deprecation as he fell further and further into his thoughts.
“Should I… try going out with the others sometime? No, no. What am I saying? There’s no way they would want a downer like me tagging along. And what would an otaku like me even do at… whatever it is they go to?”
“That’s right, Leviathan. You’re better off staying in your room.”
The third born’s eyes flew wide open in shock at the new voice that reached his ears. It was one he hadn’t heard before, nor was it one he had been expecting. Confusion filled his expression as he took in the stranger in front of him. The stranger was leaning over him with a slight smirk, his hands shoved into his pockets as he met Leviathan’s gaze.
“W-who… are you?”
“You mean you don’t recognize me? You speak to me all the time, Leviathan.”
“H-henry?”
The stranger said nothing in response to the hesitant question, and Leviathan scrambled to stand up, never breaking eye contact. He wasn’t sure how to feel. He had always dreamed of having one true friend, just like the Lord of Shadows. Yet, there was something off about the one who stood in front of him. An unreadable glint in his gaze that sent a shiver down Leviathan’s spine. The third born cleared his throat, unable to muster any confidence as he questioned the one who claimed to be Henry.
“W-what… What do you mean I’m better off in my room?”
“You know what I mean, don’t you? Imagine how many people there would be at whatever events your brothers go to. All that social interaction, and all those crowded spaces. That’s not for you, don’t you think?”
Leviathan’s lips thinned into a line, his expression becoming pained as the supposed Henry confirmed everything the third born had been thinking about himself. What had he been thinking, considering joining his brothers at one of their many events? Why go to something he wouldn’t enjoy, and ruin it for everyone? Yes. He was much better off in his room. His eyes became dull as he convinced himself that his thoughts were facts, not noticing the sly smirk that curved the strangers lips.
The supposed Henry leaned, his breath fanning across the cheek of the Avatar of Envy as he spoke in a quiet whisper.
“After all, you are just a hopeless coward, Leviathan.”
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
“Oi, Levi! What are ya doin’ on the ground like that? Lucifer would’ve been angry if he had been the one to find ya, y’know?”
The Avatar of Envy was shaken awake by his older brother. Leviathan’s expression filled with confusion as he tried to process Mammon’s words, looking around to find himself still in front of his TV, the game completed screen staring back at him. When his amber hues met Mammon’s blue gaze, he frowned slightly in an attempt to hide his confusion.
“What are you doing here?”
“Oi, that’s no way to thank your great older brother for waking ya up! Ya weren’t at breakfast so I came to check on ya. Aren’t ya grateful?”
“You were probably trying to steal something again.”
Leviathan tuned out his brother’s offended rant, his gaze drifting over the glass wall that separated his room from the tank of water that held his goldfish. A dream. It had all been a dream. Yet, it had felt so real. His gaze flickered with pain as he caught sight of the shimmering scales in the depths of the water. Reminding him of the words that had left the supposed Henry’s lips.
After all, you’re just a hopeless coward, Leviathan.
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