Chapter Text
A single light glowed from a jeweled lamp on the workshop bench. It casts its dim glow across the surface of the large desk. Scraps of material lay across the surface. Papers and plans and other official business. The sky outside the window was dark in the late hour of the night. The forever red glow from the sky reflecting on the wide-paned windows. All was quiet in the palace beyond the study door, and no one disturbed the great King of Hell as he idly scritched a pen across parchment.
Lucifer sighed deeply as he slumped in the chair behind his desk. Letters from the other Rings were piled in stacks. Mostly he left those alone unless something big was going down, however, he hadn't had to interfere in centuries. Asmodeus and Mammon seemed to have started up their arguments again. Every other century or so it got really bad with those two. Belphegor had sent a list of complaints against Beelzebub but the easily distractable party demon was basically harmless. Zestiel had also sent him a note about a few Sinner overlords that needed to be brought down a notch and was seeking permission to act. The old, steadfast, demon was proper- if nothing else.
Suddenly Lucifer felt a slight tug on the back of his shirt. He turned in his chair and looked down. Just as he figured. A cute, diminutive, princess had slipped out of bed again.
All rounded cheeks and big eyes, his daughter looked up at him, and took a hesitant step forward. Charlie had recently taken to sneaking out of her room past her bedtime and visiting him in his study. Lilith had said to stop encouraging her, but he couldn't help it. There was no way he could deny anything to his little girl.
The king demon held out a hand to her and tiny fingers gripped onto his as he lifted her up into his lap. "Hey, Char-Char, what are you doing up so late? You're going to get us in trouble." He whispered with a teasing gleam in his eye.
"I miss you," she said with her hopeful grin, a little fang poking out.
Lucifer frowned slightly. He had been busy these last few weeks and he was getting lost in his head a lot recently. The exterminations were coming up and it always brought bad memories with it. He was pulled out of his depressing thoughts when Charlie gripped onto the front of his stripped waistcoat and buried her head in his chest. He smiled down at her and ran his fingers through her long blonde hair. Somehow, she always knew just what to do or say to bring a smile to his face and lighten his heart.
"Do you want to hear a song, Char-Char?" He asked quietly.
She nodded but didn't let go of his front. With a soft chuckle he stood from the desk and walked over to the corner where he kept his violin case. He sat the little girl down on one of the plush couches and pulled out the beautiful golden instrument. Sitting next to her, his heart soared with light when she snuggled into his side. Channeling a little creative magic, he began to pull the bow across the strings and, as he played, glowing images manifested from the tune.
Charlie's eyes grew wide with wonder, and she gasped at seeing what the music had created. Lucifer's smile matched his daughter's as he continued to happily play for her. It seemed like no time at all when he looked down again and saw that his little princess was nodding off on the couch.
He knew this late-night visit was almost over, Lilith would probably kill him in the morning, so he slowed his playing, and a softer tune came from the strings. The golden rabbit that was bouncing around Charlie's head changed into a bird that swooped slowly and gracefully through the air. Her big red eyes slowly followed the golden image, and she rubbed them tiredly with a wide yawn.
It was only a little while later that Lucifer put down the violin and watched his precious princess as she curled against his leg in her sleep. He didn't want to give up this time but knew he would have to.
With gentle care he picked her up and carried her back to her room. There he placed her under the covers snuggly, with her two favorite plushies cuddled up next to her, and he stood for a long time just watching the tiny blonde. She smiled in her dreams and the King knew he'd give up anything for her to keep that smile. He'd stand against Heaven itself for her.
With one final look he left her bedroom and retreated back to his solitary office. Now with a sliver of lightness in his heavy heart.