Chapter Text
As ridiculous as it was, Lucifer kept his eyes on that arrogant man all night long.
He really did keep that smile on his face the whole time - Didn't his cheeks hurt? He had been showing his teeth nonstop for almost two hours - and he seemed witty, almost likable, with most people. Who was this guy anyway? He had never seen him in traditional circles, let alone rising ones, not that he left the house much these days, but he made a point of trying to stay somewhat informed about important people in the city. If he was really a friend of Rosie's, he should at least have heard of him. He reflected again on the brief interaction they had. Strong accent and flashy coat.
His voice entered his head like a bullet.
“I've heard a lot about you, about your family. I can assure you that it was very welcome entertainment for my first month in town.”
He was a newcomer. Of course, that made some sense, he had never heard of him because he had never been there before. But what did he do to get there? Some kind of business owner? Overpriced restaurants? Maybe some kind of famous actor? That would explain the choice of extravagant clothes and the cocky posture.
He stared at the curly nape of his neck with such force of will that it probably burned him enough to make him turn around. Alastor's gaze met Morningstar's across the room, warm and intimidating, causing the heir to avert his not-so-discreet stares to the window beside him and refrain from looking a second time.
Why was he even thinking so much of it?
He was just another guy climbing the ladder, good for him! There was nothing special about the dark-haired man, just... Just that marked arrogance, the insulting politeness, those red-rimmed eyes. He never thought he could find someone detestable at first sight, but now he was sure it was possible. He seemed like the kind of person who was good at everything without trying. Surely he knew how to play a super complicated instrument, won people over with just a few words, and was incredible at whatever he did for a living.
What an annoying speculation.
His eyes inevitably gravitated back to him. God, why couldn't he take his eyes off him?
Now that he really looked, the whole party looked like him. The decor had just the right amount of red, but it was still present, like in his irises, the flickering, yellowish lighting that seemed designed to make him shine, the jazz rhythm that seemed to match perfectly with the way he moved, and the magnificent and unnecessary pomp that perfectly matched how expansive and cordial the man seemed to be.
Everything was him.
Absolutely everything.
He went back to the bar and asked the - Still distracted - bartender for a scofflaw, which was quickly prepared. Lucifer overheard a snippet of conversation between the night clerk and Anthony, who was now leaning on the bar, laughing. Something about strange fish. Obviously, he received a drink without orange bitters - What was that guy's problem with oranges? - but he contented himself with rolling his eyes and returning to his limited space, trying to be friendly with those who tried to stop him to talk. He was startled when, as he walked, an arm hooked onto his.
“I came to rescue you from the gossip, Dad.” Charlie had a soft smile on her face and spoke quietly so that no one could really hear her.
Just being close to her made all the frustrations in his head turn to dust.
“You're a hero, char char.” He thanked her, sitting down on the windowsill where he had been before.
“Don't you want to come sit at the table with us? I know you and Adam don't... exactly get along, but he'll be hanging around the party, you don't have to talk to him.” His daughter offered, eliciting a smile from him.
She brushed a strand of hair that had escaped from her hairstyle, watching her blow a few strands away. His girl was so big and so, so beautiful.
“No need, sweetheart, I like watching the action from here.” He dismissed, gesturing broadly toward the dance floor, which was beginning to fill up to the sound of lively music.
His eyes were drawn to a woman wearing a large decorated hat. Rosie. And right in front of her, still wearing that same smile, was the guy who, at that point, was suffocating him. He gently guided the other hostess and let her guide him when they briefly switched control positions. They both seemed to be having fun and danced in perfect sync, even with such energetic, improvised music from the band.
The bastard could even dance well.
Of course he could.
“Um... Dad? Is everything okay?”
“Of course, Charlie, why wouldn't it be?”
“Because it looks like you're going to break your glass...” Only then did he feel how hard the glass was pressing against his fingers, which were beginning to lose color.
“Oh, damn!” He laughed nervously, trying to dispel Charlie's uneasiness.
If it didn't work, she chose not to comment. Instead, her gaze gravitated in the direction she was looking and her expression lit up.
“It's Alastor!” Lucifer's eyebrows automatically furrowed, his head turning toward the blonde girl with a snap.
“You... know him?”
“Remember when I went to buy some spices with Rosie last month? For that breakfast I wanted to make for Mom?” Of course Lucifer remembered. His daughter had almost set the kitchen on fire at six in the morning. “Well, she introduced me to her friend who had just arrived in town. Alastor!“ The youngest explained, discreetly pointing in the direction of the two hosts. ”Have you talked to him yet? He's really nice, isn't he? He even offered to help me promote that hotel project I told you about, remember?"
“Of course, of course, apple pie.” He agreed, briefly remembering his daughter mentioning the idea some time ago of a hotel to house people who had lost their homes until they had time to settle down.
He thought it was a good idea, but he didn't really know how she intended to get it off the ground. Lilith had always been better at these kinds of projects, which was perhaps why Charlie always talked things over with her first.
He shook his head gently, trying to pull his thoughts away from a spiral that made him want to cry over every bad choice he had ever made in his life. He would have to cry for a long time if he went down that river.
“Although ‘nice’ isn't exactly the adjective I would use,” he continued, leaving the girl clearly confused.
“Why not?” Morningstar opened his mouth to voice all his unflattering opinions when he heard footsteps approaching.
“Charlotte, honey.” It was Rosie, with her big hat and usual tone of pure kindness, touching the Morningstar heiress's shoulders and making small comments about her dress. When she noticed the blond man's presence, her eyes, with irises so dark they were indistinguishable from her pupils, widened even more in surprise. “And Lucifer, my stars, it's been so long!” She shook his hand firmly while smiling even wider.
He couldn't help but look behind her to see Alastor orbiting close to Charlie, offering her. That. Same. Smile. And chatting animatedly with her, who seemed to completely reciprocate his good humor. The kind of excitement he almost never got from her.
He turned his gaze back to the tall woman in front of him.
“More than I think is polite, I'm sorry,” he said, with a slightly guilty expression.
She just laughed briefly.
“Don't worry, dear. You're always welcome at our little parties.” She glanced at the other two talking nearby - Well, now was more of Charlie talking and Alastor listening patiently, nodding at the right moments - and took a deep breath. “Sorry about Alastor's distraction. He's very excited to talk about his daughter's idea for Pride.”
“Pride?” The interest leaked from his voice, and he scolded himself for it.
“Yes! My dear friend works in the radio department of the station.”
Lucifer couldn't hide his surprise. Alastor seemed like the kind of person who liked to be in the spotlight; working behind the scenes on a radio show didn't seem like him at all.
He parted his lips for what he hoped would sound like an unpretentious question when…
“Rosie, dear.” Alastor's voice sounded calm, almost amused, as if he knew how much the blond wanted those answers. “Let's not bore the guests with simple stories.”
“Oh no, Alastor,” Morningstar said in his most friendly and playful tone, trying not to let his desire to know leak out more than it already had. “I make a point of knowing how you got to the city.”
And, even if only for a second, he saw his immobile smile tighten along his eyes, as if challenging him to insist on it.
Little did he know that Lucifer could insist on it all night long.
“I'm sure we'll have other opportunities, sir.” His tone was warning before becoming soft again. “For now, how about joining Rosie and me for a dance? You and the lovely Charlie are most welcome.” He leaned toward her to whisper softly, a tone below the music, just so the two of them could hear the malice in that sentence. “Especially since your wife rudely disappeared several minutes ago.”
The blond man's gaze automatically rose, searching for Lilith, and indeed, she was nowhere to be found. The blue-eyed man couldn't help but feel abandoned, even though he really wanted to not care at all. He heard the tall man's infernal laughter directed at his daughter and dragged himself onto the dance floor with them, where he put on his best smile and pretended that nothing was wrong when the youngest asked him a question - After all, that was what he did best, wasn't it? Hide ruins -. But something inside him detested jazz, detested parties, detested life.
And most of all, detested Alastor, even if it wasn't fair, even if for that one night.