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Lucifer hummed to himself absentmindedly as he bounced back and forth between the stove and fridge. It was just about nine, and knowing how punctual his little girl was, he wanted to ensure everything was perfect. Of course, it would be. Lucifer had taken to preparing breakfast everyday since he’d taken up residence at the hotel. It was actually a rather nice routine to have. He’d get up early, prepare breakfast for everyone, let them go about their day as he worked on his own projects or helped Niffty with cleaning (the hotel was so much bigger now after all!), and then either himself or Alastor would prepare dinner.
That was a surprise to him initially, that Alastor had been the main cook. Personally, he found it hard to trust eating anything a Cannibal made, but he had to admit when Alastor got the desire to, his meals were rather good. He still ended up doing it most days, but occasionally he’d come in only to find Alastor half done with the meal and seemingly in a world of his own. Whatever, it wasn’t like he particularly cared who made the food, as long as it was good enough for Charlie.
This was all for her, after all. As much as he liked (or in some cases barely tolerated) the other occupants of the hotel, his main focus would always be on her. The way she’d light up at every meal, acting like she couldn’t believe he’d take the time to do this for her even though he’d been doing it for a few weeks straight by this point. This, making food for her and her friends, was something he could manage and do. Charlie seemed to want to run the hotel on her terms and with minimal interference from him (though Alastor could do as he pleased and nope no shutting that thought down) but this help she seemed to accept. Lucifer would do anything for his daughter, and if that meant setting an alarm to make breakfast so be it.
Admittedly, it also wasn’t a completely unselfish act. Back when Charlie was little and him and Lilith were still a happy family, he’d do the same then. He loved the delight in his (ex)wife’s eyes as Charlie wriggled in her arms, anxious to get down and throw herself at her father, babbling about whatever he had made that day. He’d live that moment for the rest of his immortal life if he could, but with how everything had ended, well, he would take what he could get.
Speak of the devil, he chuckled to himself as he heard footsteps approaching. He did a quick look over his work, meals already mostly made for his guests. All he had left was to finish this last pancake…
“Good morning dad!” Charlie burst into the kitchen practically glowing. Her eyes widened at all the food prepared as she broke out into a grin. “This all looks amazing! You’re the best!” She squealed, pulling him into a half hug so as not to take his full concentration away from his work and inadvertently pulling at one of his apron’s ties (a sweet gift from Charlie, though a little frilly for his taste). “Do you want me to set the table or should I go get everyone?”
“I can handle the table, honey. Why don’t you make sure your friends get down here before their food gets cold?” It wouldn’t, Lucifer’s food knew better than to get cold on him, but it was still the thought that counted.
“I’ll be right back!” She promised with a grin, planting a quick peck to his cheek and heading out, already calling for Vaggie despite being nowhere near their room.
Lucifer couldn’t keep the fondness off his face as he began filling plates for everyone, Charlie was a morning person like him through and through. Deciding to fuss with his apron, he was surprised when he heard the door open, “Did you forget something, sweetheart?” he called, halfheartedly tying a loose knot.
“What could I have forgotten? It seems you have everything prepared rather well, dear!” An overly obnoxious voice quipped back and ugh great, this guy.
“Good morning, Alastor.” Lucifer forced himself to say diplomatically. It was too early and he was in too good of a mood to try to start shit now. He placed Alastor’s usual mug of coffee in front of him, black with just a pinch of cayenne in it (the freak), in hopes it would shut him up for the time being. Thankfully it seemed to do the trick as he was able to put everyone else’s drink down with no comments.
“It’s so quaint that you know just exactly what everyone wants.” Alastor hummed, eyes narrowed and grin teasing as a light jazz sound filtered into the room. Of course he did, how could he not?
“I’ve been doing this shit for weeks now, it’d be weird if I didn’t.” Lucifer scoffed back, taking a sip from his own cup of coffee (with quite a bit of sugar in it) and silently enjoying the music, not that he’d ever tell the other demon that. Paying the deer no further mind, he went back to work, flipping the pancake still cooking, pleased to see a golden brown.
With that just about done he began to set the plates he already had prepared on the table as well. Ignoring the eyes on him, he again got everything set to perfection. A normal trio of eggs, bacon and pancakes for Vaggie and Husk, a tall pile of pancakes with his own bottle of syrup for Angel (since he seemed to have some weird thing against eggs), and two sets of smiley face pancakes, one with two eyes for Charlie, the other with a bigger helping of eggs to form just one instead.
“Oh, Niffty will absolutely adore that.” Alastor cooed as Lucifer set the plate by his side. Not for the first time it was hard to tell if he was being patronizing or not, so Lucifer simply let it go.
“Yeah well, I aim to please.” Lucifer sighed, rolling his eyes.
“One can certainly see that!”
Lucifer ignored him, poking the cooking pancake slightly and sighing when it still didn’t seem ready. Begrudgingly leaving it for now, he instead pulled over the special plate of ham he had set aside and finished filling Alastor’s plate. Unlike the others, Alastor’s breakfast was nearly all different types of meat. Why he had gotten it in his stupid head to start doing this in the first place he’ll never know (it certainly wasn’t because Alastor would scoff at his pancakes and he was going to show that fucker how good of a cook he was no matter what he had to do), but the absolute delight in Charlie’s eyes and the excited conversation later about how happy she was that he was making an effort and getting along and etcetera kept him doing it.
Still, a funny feeling settled in his stomach as he turned to Alastor who was grinning at him the way he imagined a shark would at a particularly tasty seal. But he was the King of Hell for God’s sake! There was no way he would let a simple sinner get the better of him. With that he marched over, setting Alastor’s plate in front of him none to kindly. He was about to get the last pancake off the stove and finish his own plate when he jumped, feeling two arms wrap around his sides and the lightest pinpricks of claws holding onto his hips, keeping him firmly in place.
“Apologies, your majesty.” He heard Alastor murmur into his neck. He was unable to stop the involuntary shiver he gave when Alastor slowly dragged his claws towards Lucifer’s back, just barely grazing his hips. “Your tie is undone, and I would hate for you to not look the part as perfectly as you play it.” And suddenly Lucifer was pulled back slightly as Alastor deftly tied the apron’s back into a tight bow and released him completely.
“There you go!” Alastor laughed, breaking whatever spell he had put on Lucifer and giving him a small push, causing the devil to stumble and nearly trip. He heard the jazz pick up again, and hadn’t even realized it had changed to something softer before.
Shaking off the blush that was undoubtedly clouding his face, Lucifer turned, eyes red and horns out (wings unfortunately not present due to how tight that bastard made the apron) “Excuse me?” He growled, daring the sinner to justify himself.
Alastor didn’t look the slightest bit threatened. “Why presentation is everything, doll!” He grinned wide, “And you paint quite the pretty little picture. It was a shame to have something as simple as an undone apron mar it so I fixed it for you!”
Confusion and embarrassment flooded through Lucifer, inadvertently causing him to shift back to his usual form. Pretty little picture? What the hell was wrong with this guy?
“I mean, after all, with your cute frilly apron and working so hard to put in such an effort to make breakfast, the least I could do is help you maintain your image! I’d say the bow suits you rather well, my dear, I’d keep that instead of those unseemly half knots you’ve been doing.” Alastor continued on, grinning wider somehow, “Our dear Charlie told me about how this seems to be a regular occurrence for you, even when she was younger. It seems like you were just made to play a charming little homemaker. So diligent and doting, it makes me wonder how on Earth Lilith could have ever pulled herself away from such a devoted, loving wife.”
Lucifer saw red, whether from the comment, the mention of Lilith, or something else entirely, he couldn’t say. His claws extended and his wings practically ripped the apron in half with the force they snapped open with. Grabbing Alastor roughly, he snarled in his face “That’s it motherfucker I don’t care what-”
“Dad!” Charlie called from the hallway, voice still light with giddiness.
Alastor’s eyes narrowed victoriously; grin so wide it looked painful. “You don’t care about what, darling?”
In a second Lucifer was back on the ground, backed up against the counter and as far away from Alastor as he could manage. The fucker, for his part, simply adjusted his collar, taking another sip of coffee as if nothing had occurred.
“Everyone’s so excited for- whoa are you okay?” Charlie entered in, taking in her dad’s slightly flustered form, her friends trailing sleepily behind her. Her eyes widened as she looked around, smoke wafting through the air.
“Oh my gosh the stove!” She yelled and sure enough, the last pancake Lucifer had been so diligently watching this entire ordeal was now smoking with how burnt it was. How had he missed that?
“No need to worry, Char-Char!” He quickly fretted over, turning the stove off and pulling the pancake on a different burner, laughing awkwardly. “I just got a little distracted is all.” He smiled and hoped it looked real enough.
“Distracted? Is something going on? And what happened to your apron?” She looked devastated. Lucifer felt like a million executioners’ blades just went through his heart.
“Well-”
“Ah, I’m afraid that would be my fault, my dear. I got your father a little riled up, you know our usual spats.” Alastor waved his hand dismissably, ignoring the looks he received in turn. “And unfortunately it seems the apron and pancake took the brunt of the damage. You know how strong angel wings can be, after all. But do relax! It was nothing we can’t put aside for a lovely breakfast, was it?” He turned his predatory gaze towards Lucifer.
Lucifer sighed. It was an out, a shitty, horrible one, but, “Of course. Sorry duckling, I really didn’t mean to ruin your gift.”
The others’ eyes were on them then, seeming to wake up further as the drama unfolded. Husk looked back and forth between the two in a knowing manner, lips curled in a sneer at Alastor’s direction. Angel, on the hand, was doing the same but with a smirk. Lucifer felt himself blush lightly, just knowing what Angel was thinking.
“Oh, uh, it’s alright dad. Nothing that can’t be fixed.” Charlie said, forcing positivity into her voice, “Besides you’ve made plenty of food, one burnt pancake isn’t a big deal at all.” She smiled at him, seeming to gain traction. “This is just a chance for me to get you a new and better apron anyways!”
Lucifer smiled back, finally letting some of the tension release from him when he heard that obnoxious voice, “Oh of course not, Charlie! It was technically my fault it got destroyed so I should be the one to replace it.” Lucifer felt his claws start to extend again, staring daggers at the deer.
“Alastor you really don’t have to do that!” Charlie quickly began only to get cut off.
“Nonsense, I insist!”
Angel Dust, having grown tired of just staring at the food awaiting him and lack of further drama, pushed the others aside and sat. “Just let smiles do it, I’m starving and you woke me up for this so I’m eating.” He pointed an accusatory finger at Charlie before picking up the syrup.
Slowly the others joined around the table, inching away from the tension between the three. Finally, Charlie sighed, pulling a tight smile. “If it’s really that important to you.”
Lucifer tried not to let the betrayal show on his face as Alastor’s smile turned vicious. “Of course it is! You know how much I care about an image! And I will make sure, to find something that suits your father perfectly.” Static overtook the last word, and Charlie, now looking exhausted with the entire conversation, just gave a hesitant thumbs up before joining Vaggie.
“Wonderful then! Aren’t you going to join us, your highness?” Alastor purred, eyes alight with amusement.
Sensing no way out, Lucifer sighed, taking off the shredded remains of the apron and gathering his plate. He set it down, about to sit when he remembered something. “Oh right,” He hurried over to the stove and the burnt pancake, snapping his fingers to make it look just as delicious as the others. “This one was for you, Alastor. I know you don’t usually indulge but please take it as a peace offering.” He spoke sweetly.
Alastor’s grin tightened, but with the princess’ eyes on him all he could do was glare. “Thank you, your highness.”
“Of course.” Lucifer allowed himself a small smirk, walking back to talk animatedly with Charlie and Vaggie about whatever plans they had for the day. Out of the corner of his eye, he watched Alastor take a bite and laughed silently with glee at the look on the deer’s face. How easy it was to make something look fixed but keep the burnt taste. Maybe Alastor was right, Lucifer mused, he certainly could paint a pretty picture when he wanted to, and Alastor’s face as he forced himself to eat the rest of the pancake was the prettiest one yet.