Chapter Text
It was quiet.
That was the first sign that something was terribly wrong in Cannibal Town. It was never quiet on that side of the pentagram, it was less chaotic than the other parts, sure, but never quiet. There was always something going on, whether it be little cannibal children playing around or just cannibals wandering around and gossiping with one another, the point was Cannibal Town was not quiet.
Until now, which came with the second sign, the lack of people. It would have felt like Extermination Day with the empty streets if it weren't for the curious heads poking out of windows. Not that it made things any better.
Still, Husk, Niffty, and the two Morningstars soldiered on as if nothing was wrong. Waltzing into Cannibal Town without a worry or prior notice to the Overlord that governed it. It was nerve-wracking, to say the least, so much so that it almost distracted Husk from the awkwardness that surrounded the father-and-daughter duo.
Which in and of itself, was also an experience that Husk never imagined himself witnessing. He needed a drink. He needed one strong enough to make him forget everything he learned in the last few days. Because fuck it, he did not need to know about his boss's sex life and he also didn't need to remember walking through Cannibal Town with a furious Overlord waiting for them.
It was stupid to wander into Cannibal Town if you weren't part of it. A suicide mission to any demon with half a brain to waltz into a place where the residents could turn you into their next meal. Just his luck that somehow he was roped into guiding the two royals to Rosie's house.
On one hand, he was with royals so there was less chance of being part of the menu. On the other hand, Rosie was pissed and both royals had short attention spans so it wouldn't be hard to grab him right under their noses.
Fuck.
Hopefully, Alastor would have managed to calm her down in the hours that took for them to decide to visit the Cannibal Overlord. If not... Husk hoped that at the very least he would be able to get out of Cannibal Town with all his limbs attached.
When they finally reached the large house that Rosie resides in, Husk was already sweating buckets. One would think that after the first five times the unease this house gave him would have disappeared. Apparently not, but being the main course the first time he entered the house would do that to any demon.
Thankfully Niffty sensed his hesitation and knocked in his place again and again and again. Until the door cracked open. Not enough for them to see the entire face of the demon on the other side but enough for her to see them. Suffice it to say, she looked exactly how Husk thought she would look.
"Hello Miss Rosie." Niffty greeted happy as could be like she didn't know the seriousness of the situation they were in. She did. She was just excited to see how things would play out.
"Oh my, it's been a while since you've come to visit dearest and you've brought royalty too, what can I do for you?" She was mad. She was definitely mad. Not as much as Husk thought she would be but still she was mad. Shit, he shouldn't be here. He should-
"We wanted to talk about Alastor" Fuck. Husk turned his head to the side with an audible click, staring at the Princess with wide eyes. Was this girl high? Did she not know how to read the fucking air around Rosie? This was not how you bring up sensitive topics like this to anyone. This was not-
Rosie hummed, whether it was from amusement or not, it was hard to tell. "There's that moxie I liked about you, not even bothering to beat around the bush, are we? Come in, this is no conversation to be had outside for all to see" She stepped back and the door opened.
She led them through several hallways before they entered the living room of her home. "Excuse the mess, please, I wasn't aware that I would be having visitors today so I hadn't had the chance to tidy up the place"
Husk flinched, there it was. To anyone else, her comment would seem harmless but he knew better. She was annoyed by their sudden visit. Suddenly, he couldn't be more grateful to be surrounded by two members of the royal family. But still, he couldn't let his guard down, there was still a chance he would be on the menu if he was sloppy. Oh Lucifer, he needed a drink.
"Could I get you anything, a drink perhaps, or a finger?" Rosie offered as they sat down.
"No thank you" Husk was quick to decline before Charlie could even get a word in. It was better to not risk it. Even if there were royalty, there was no telling what she would do to him. The Cannibal Overlord wasn't stupid but this was Alastor they were talking about. "We don't want to trouble you anymore than we already have"
"Very well, let's get on with business then" She takes a seat, smile tight and anger boiling underneath her facade. "What is it about Alastor you wish to talk about?"
This wasn't how Lucifer imagined his first meeting with Rosie would go.
In many ways, he imagined that his first meeting with her would be more casual. Maybe it would be through his daughter introducing him to the Overlord that provided her with an army. Or perhaps by complete coincidence, she could stop by the hotel to visit his Love, or if not that, after an Overlord meeting for tea.
Or if his delusions would have it, Alastor would take him to Cannibal Town and introduce him to her.
That was unlikely but wasn't that the purpose of delusions — to create a fantasy of the impossible?
Either way, his first meeting with her was supposed to be good. It was supposed to be perfect so he could make a good first impression. One that would make her in awe and allow him to her good graces. Not because she was an Overlord or anything political like that, but because she was important to Alastor.
She was Alastor's closest friend, after all, and his would-be mother so she was plenty important. But aside from that, she would so be the one who knew how to win his beloved Alastor over. She would know his like and dislike in terms of having long term relationships so it was only logical he tried his absolute best to win her favor.
Except their first meeting wasn't what Lucifer imagined or fantasized about. Their first meeting wasn't good, it wasn't even pleasant by any stretch of the imagination. It was bad. It was really, really bad, maybe even the worst first impression he had ever given anybody in his entire existence. She walked in on him having a talk with Alastor during the worst possible moment.
Where and how he'd even begin to explain that to her was still unclear to him even as he sat on her couch. So instead of him trying to explain the nits and grits of his relationship with Alastor, Niffty took to saying everything she knew about him and Alastor's relationship.
Which was a lot more than he thought she would know.
Seven Hells were he and Alastor really that careless? Their first encounter, their little romp in the hotel common room, and even that one time in the kitchen, the little demoness knew about them all.
It was embarrassing and even more disturbing to hear her graphically describe his and Alastor's sex life for everyone to hear but it was necessary. It was just what he needed to get rid of whatever image Rosie had in mind about the nature of his relationship with Alastor. So that whatever doubt or suspicion in her mind and what was left in his daughter's would disappear.
It was necessary, Lucifer reasoned with himself but repeating those thoughts to himself didn't lessen the guilt he felt as his daughter was forced to listen to each account of his sexual encounters with Alastor.
Truly, the way his relationship with Alastor was revealed to her was one of his biggest regrets. It should have never been revealed to her like this. His daughter should have never learned about his eleven-month-long affair with Alastor in this way.
If he had it his way, Lucifer would have sat her down and gently explained things to her. He would have broached the subject carefully so as to not hurt her and explained that he had moved on from her mother. Most likely he would have done this after he won Alastor over and they had formed a proper relationship.
Now he didn't have that luxury and his daughter was suffering from it. She looked unwell, for lack of a better word, as she shifted uncomfortably in her seat avoiding his eyes. It was clear that she wanted nothing more than to disappear and he couldn't blame her.
He wouldn't have wanted to hear about her sexual activities too.
This wasn't the most ideal way of letting her know of his relationship with Alastor but it was the only option he had. After what she saw earlier, he didn't know how to approach her. How could he even when it was obvious that speaking to him was the last thing on her mind.
Her look on her face when she saw him sprawled on top of Alastor still haunted him. The horror, the disgust and the hate in her eyes were imprinted into his mind. Every time he closed his eyes, he could swear that he sees her looking at him as he was a monster. Afraid and disgusted on the monster she thought he was.
It hurts.
Don't get him wrong, he was proud of her for standing her ground. For believing her eyes and not trying to deny what that moment was telling her. Not many people had what it took to try and hold their loved one accountable and a part of him was happy that his daughter wasn't one of them. Lucifer understood why his daughter acted the ways she did and he was proud. So proud that she had what it takes to hold her loved ones accountable for their crimes.
But being proud of her didn't mean that it hurt him any less when he looked at him with such hate in her eyes.
It pained him. It still does as he sat on the couch not looking at her and he was afraid. Afraid of what this could mean for their relationship. Afraid that this could destroy everything he'd worked so hard to achieve and that he would lose her too. If not for the misunderstanding earlier, then for his relationship with Alastor.
He wouldn't be surprised if it did. Lucifer Morningstar, always driving away the people who loved him. First his brothers, then his ex-wife, his Darling Alastor, and now his daughter.
What a failure he was in keeping his loved ones happy. An irony for the Arch Angel who used to be responsible for the happiness of others.
Maybe he should consider going back to his palace?
That wouldn't be a bad idea. After this meeting with Rosie goes inevitably south and whatever's left of his relationship with Alastor inevitably falls apart, he's going to leave. He's going to get out of his daughter's hair and let her have the peace she deserves. Charlie had already made it abundantly clear that she didn't want to see him so there wasn't any reason why he should stay in her hotel.
It was the least he could do after messing things up in her hotel. Come to think of it, had he even done anything significant for the bettering of her hotel – her dream even? Sure he helped rebuild it but she could have done that even without him. Alastor was there was there and even if he was injured that time, Lucifer saw no reason as to why he wouldn't help them.
What a failure he was. Lucifer Morningstar, the brightest angel of all, continues to fail as a father and as a lover. Hurting two of the most important people in his life. What a man he was. Destroying his relationship with his daughter, tricking her hotelier into a deal with him, and forcing him to be his lover.
Maybe they were right. Alastor had never once shown any interest in sex in his entire afterlife so why would that change with him? Why would he be the reason for the sudden shift in Alastor? Maybe they were right about his forcing Alastor to have sex with him.
Huh.
Would you look at that, it turns out he really wasn't any better than the sinners he was ashamed of.
"-And then, there was this one time when Alastor and the Ultimate Bad Boy were in the Library and-"
"Niffty dear, I believe that's enough for now," Rosie said, pulling Lucifer out of his spiral. Right, he was still at her house waiting to see if she'd let him see Alastor. He needed to get it together. He could wallow in self-pity later but for now, he needed to pull himself together and face her. The Seven Hells know he owes her that much.
"Husk, would you be a dear and take Her Highness and Niffty to Mitzy's Cafe? I would like to talk with His Majesty for a moment" She handed the cat demon a card, "Tell her it's from Rosie"
Husk (?) bobbed his head, and immediately urged both Charlie and Niffty out. That's a new one, since when was Husk afraid of anyone? Or maybe that was just his nerves getting to him, damn, he almost felt cold as he and Rosie were left alone in her living room. Was this what humans felt when they were meeting their in-laws?
"So, Your Majesty-"
The moment Rosie tried to get a word in, every bit of Lucifer's will to get himself together flew out the window and he word vomited. "It wasn't what it looked like, I swear, I wasn't forcing myself on Alastor, I was just trying to stop him from leaving because I wanted to talk to him about what happened three months ago and then you burst in but that's wasn't your fault, it was mine because I wasn't thinking clearly and I-"
"Your Majesty-"
"-was panicking because Alastor was trying to leave, not that I would force him to stay but I wanted him to listen to me and not get the wrong impression because last night he popped into my room and started to talk about me going with other, which I won't, I'd never do that to him and-"
"My King-"
"I just wanted him to listen to me but he wouldn't let me but I had to make him listen because I couldn't let him leave without trying to explain to him what happened three months ago and clear up the air between us, and-"
"Lucifer!"
So much for trying to keep it together.
Lucifer immediately shuts up. His back was stiff as a board and his fingers found a loose thread on the cuff of his sleeves. He was nervous, ashamed, and hated how he was acting. Shrinking down and playing with his sleeves, what was he a child?
He shouldn't be acting like this. He was the King of Hell for fucks sake. He shouldn't be cowering in front of his would-be mother-in-law, but he was. Fuck, where was his bravo and sharp tongue when he needed it?
"Breathe, Your Majesty, please, Alastor already told me about what happened" To this, Lucifer looked at her with wide eyes, "Now, how about we take this to the kitchen? I think some water would do you good"
Mindlessly, Lucifer nodded and followed her to the kitchen. His mind was too busy wrapping itself around what she said to speak as they crossed numerous hallways to reach the kitchen. There she gestured for him to sit as she prepared a glass of water. "Shepard's Pie?"
Lucifer blinked, "What?" He stared at her confused before his eyes fell on a plate of what looked to be some sort of meat pie she was offering. He wasn't really hungry but it was never good to decline food that was being offered. "Sure, uh, thank you"
The plate was placed in front of him with a glass of water beside it. For a moment he stared at it, unsure of how to proceed with Rosie turning her back and preparing her own plate. It's been years since he'd eaten at another person's house and he was lost.
He knew that as a guest it was rude to start eating when the host hadn't finished taking out the food so he occupied himself in admiring her kitchen. Her kitchen was beautiful and had an old feel to it. Dark wooden furniture and floral wallpaper, it was almost like the entire kitchen was taken out of a Victorian home from the eighteen hundreds, or maybe that was the nineteen hundreds. He couldn't really remember.
The dinner table he sat behind was set for two people to dine with two table mats complete with a spoon, a fork, a knife, and a napkin beside it. It was most likely due to Alastor staying with her but a part of Lucifer had a feeling it was specifically arranged like with him in mind.
It was unsettling, to say the least. Nevertheless, Lucifer did his damndest to make sure that his discomfort did not show on his face. The last thing he wanted to do was to insult her further by acting weirded out by the entire situation.
When Rosie finally sat down and began to eat in front of him, he did the same. He hummed, the favors bursting into his mouth. It was delicious, of course not as delicious as Alastor's cooking but close. The meat was both cooked and seasoned to perfection and the potatoes were creamy, it was good. Why was Husk so opposed to eating anything at Rosie's again? "This is good."
Rosie grinned, "I'm glad you liked it, Shepard's Pie is my specialty after all but I can't say I'm not surprised that you were willing to try it, Your Majesty. After all, not many non-cannibal sinners are open to trying sinner's meat"
Lucifer froze, his eyes went wide as dinner plates he realized what he was eating and against his better judgment, he took a closer look at the meat of what he was eating. It was blue. He gagged. He was going to be sick, the meat he was eating didn't come from an animal, it came from a sinner. It was sinner's meat.
He was going to throw up. He was going to throw up. He was going to- no, he couldn't. He needed to get himself together, he was not going to throw up. He was not. Throwing up would be disrespectful and rude and he was not going to disrespect Alastor's would-be mother like that.
Lucifer swallowed the remaining meat in his mouth and a violent shiver went up his spine. He placed down his fork and once he was sure that he wasn't going to vomit, he asked. "Who's meat is this, if you don't mind me asking"
"Oh, just the sinner who couldn't help himself and stormed into this little town two months ago" Rosie laughed as if she was telling him a hilarious story and not one where she killed another sinner to eat. "He caused quite a mess too, the little mister, waltzing into my Emporium looking for Alastor, sprouting insults about him. Quite disrespectful if you asked me but what else can you expect from the younger Overlords these days? So of course, I couldn't simply allow him to get away so here he is, he tastes delicious doesn't he?"
Lucifer bobbed his head, his smile tight. "Very"
If she noticed a shift in his demeanor, she doesn't say a word about it. Instead, Rosie continued on eating as nothing had happened to the demon in front of her and maybe to her nothing did. Or at least, nothing unexpected. "If you don't mind me asking, Your Majesty, what were you and dear Alastor doing when we walked in on you earlier? I've already heard Alastor's version of it but do you mind if I hear yours?"
Lucifer became silent, his hand wandering to fiddle with the loose string on his cuff. His was reeling over the events of that morning, wondering how he could phrase what happened between him and Alastor without sounding like a... well, a rapist. Though he starting to think that he was one even before what happened earlier.
That morning wasn't one of his best ones with his love, he had to admit. They were both too high on emotions to have a proper conversation and that was the problem. They had a push and pull that morning with Alastor wanting to leave and Lucifer wanting to keep him by his side.
He remembered waking up to wiggling in his arms before realizing his Doe was trying to leave him. He should have let him go, Lucifer realized that now, but earlier that day he couldn't. He was too blinded by his desire to see that Alastor wanted nothing to do with him so instead of letting him go, he tightened his grip around him.
Alastor froze in his arms, his body stiff as a board as Lucifer began to question him on where he went and why was he drunk. His love did answer him and demanded to be released. Lucifer denied him and they argued. His darling scratched, kicked, and even tried to bite him every chance he got until Lucifer was forced to pin him down and somewhere in the middle of it all, Alastor started to sob and rest was history.
Overall, it wasn't a pretty story to tell and if Lucifer could have it his way, he would never tell that story to anyone else. The problem with that now was that the person asking to hear the story wasn't just anyone, it was Rosie and how he could he lie to her now after all that he's done to Alastor?
"Your Majesty?"
Lucifer lifted his head and instantly shame washed over him. Rosie must be thinking the worst of what happened earlier, she must be worried sick over what was happening to Alastor and here Lucifer was too ashamed to tell her what really happened. She deserved to know the truth of what was happening between him and Alastor, even if she despised him. "I messed up"
And he really did. He said the wrong name and messed up his second chance at finding love, destroying every single relationship he held dear in the process. He desired and got too greedy, and now everything was falling apart. It was all his fault. "I'm sorry"
Rosie was silent for a moment, most likely trying to make sense of what he'd said. Then, "I know, why don't you start from the beginning?"
There was something odd in her tone. Understanding? Pity? Whatever it was, it made Lucifer want to curl up into a ball and hide away. Was this what Charlie felt when she accidentally set the royal library on fire, shame?
"I said Lilith's name," Lucifer started, "I don't know why I just blurred out her name while Alastor and I were having sex. I wasn't even thinking about her while we were doing it, it just slipped out, and then..."
"Alastor left" Rosie offered, Lucifer nodded.
"He did and I just sat there like an idiot, I didn't even run after him, I just sat there." He swallowed the growing lump in his throat and willed away the tears that gathered in his eyes. "I thought he needed time to think, stupid of me, I know but he likes his privacy after sex."
As if that would make his case easier. "I thought he would come back but he didn't," There it is. Lucifer Morningstar falling for his assumptions again and making everything worse. "I don't know where he went, he just disappeared for three months and then he came back yesterday drunk out of his mind."
"He wanted to have sex with me," He heard a sharp intake from the demon in front of him. "I didn't let him, I couldn't, no matter how much I missed him, I couldn't take advantage of him, not like that."
"And why not?" Lucifer's eyes darted to look at Rosie's face. "Any demon would have gladly taken advantage of Alastor whether or not he wanted it that moment, why didn't you? Why not take what's willingly offered?"
What was she saying? Taking Alastor on his offer when it was clear that he wasn't in his right mind, was his image that bad among sinners that they think he would do that? That he would sink down to that level?
"Because it wasn't just sex for me, maybe it was at the beginning but not anymore," Lucifer was distraught, he had given humans free will and this was what they thought of him. A monster who would take what they want from someone regardless of their wish? A part of him wasn't surprised, it wasn't like he'd done anything to prove otherwise to the sinners.
"I have never forced anyone to do anything they didn't want to do. I didn't force Lilith to leave Adam, I didn't force Eve to take the apple, I didn't even force Lilith to stay with me after eons of marriage because I knew that she didn't want to. I am not going to start forcing Alastor to have sex with me just because I wanted him. I am the Devil but I am not a monster."
Rosie was silent. Her lips were drawn in a thin line as she looked at him with her dark eyes. "Why not say that to Alastor then? You could have asked to see him the moment the Princess and the others left, instead, you try to explain your actions to me, why? I'm not Alastor, Your Majesty, why waste your time on me instead of going to him."
"Because you're his mother-"
Rosie snorted, "If you really think that, then you may not know Alastor as much as you think you do."
"You're the closest one he has in Hell," This quiets her down, "You care for him like a son, and Alastor, he cares for you too, he holds your thoughts and opinions highly, isn't that enough reason for me to try and explain what's happening between Alastor and I?"
Another pause, and then, "So this is what Alastor sees in you," She said, her tone almost fond, what what?
Before Lucifer could ask what she meant by that, Rosie stood up. "Come on, I'll take you to Alastor's room he should be awake right now"
Then without waiting for him to catch up with her, she started to head out to which Lucifer hurriedly followed her. A wave of relief and hope washed over him as for the first time in months, he could actually see a way out of this confusing and painful separation with his love. He had a chance, one last chance to make things right with Alastor and go back to the way things were between them
He felt nervous but also giddy at the chance given to him.
However, that feeling was quickly overcome with confusion as Rosie led him to Alastor's quarters. The walk to Alastor's room was... interesting, to say the least. They turned left outside of the kitchen, then another left, right, straight until he saw a weird portrait then left, right, go through a door, right, another right, until finally they stopped in front of a red door.
By the time they arrived, Lucifer felt confused. Bewildered after being caught off guard by the amount of turns they took to get to Alastor's quarters. Part of him wanted to ask Rosie why there were so many twisted hallways in her house but he quickly decided against it. That was a question for another time, now he needed to focus on winning back his love.
When he raised his fist to knock, Rosie was quick to stop him. "A word of warning, Your Majesty, this house is very temperamental to those it is not familiar with, it would do you good to be cautious with your steps and where you put your hands in unless you wish to become part of the menu"
Rosie gave him a toothy grin and a pat on the shoulder. "I'll check up on the Princess in the meantime, Good luck with your talk, Sire." She walked away without another word, leaving Lucifer both confused and concerned over what she said.
Logically, he knew that as the King of Hell, there were very limited things that could actually do harm on him but a part of him couldn't help but still be worried. Part of the menu? What did she mean by that? Was she going to eat him? She could try but that wouldn't make any sense since she had already given her permission to see Alastor so what else could she mean by that?
No, focus. Lucifer shook his head, taking a deep breath to compose himself. He could think about her words later, how he needed to focus on Alastor, his sweet darling heart. He had hurt the other so bad and this was his chance to fix it. He wasn't sure if Alastor would be willing to take him back but Lucifer would damn himself a second time if he didn't give his greatest effort to fight for their relationship – or whatever was their relationship.
So with his mind made up and strengthened with a newfound determination, Lucifer knocked.