Chapter Text
After Lilith left, it was really hard to not fall into depression.
The walls looked weird with her photos, but it would be weirder to take them off. What if she came back? Lucifer didn’t want to make her angry. But do people come back after leaving for years? Charlie was only one at the time Lilith said she had enough, and yet in a week, she would turn eight. Kinda pathetic how Lucifer still had his hopes up. But had he? It was hard to get out of bed, it was harder to pretend everything was fine for Charlie, yet he needed to put food on the table, to make life for his sweet little apple be happy and as pretty as she was. So he would wake up, make pancakes, take her to school, and go open his flower shop. He strived to create a perfect world for his daughter, despite his own shattered state.
He had bought and reformed the flower shop after Lilith left, as she always said it was a stupid decision, yet Lucifer dreamed of opening one. That was probably the best thing he did when she left, it helped with the bad days.
It was a big store, and right in the middle there was an apple tree he didn't have the heart to cut. Charlie loved that tree climbing it every other day, falling sometimes. Though Lucifer's heart leapt into his throat with each tumble, she emerged unscathed each time.
He got his keys and started opening his store, while looking at the neighboring coffee that was already open, and contemplating buying a cappuccino, but he really needed to start cleaning inside before clients started coming, as there was some dirt on the floor.
Lucifer let the doors wide open, proceeding to go inside and letting the smell of apples fill the air, putting on some gardening gloves and a duck’s apron, before kneeling on the tree to clean some of the leaves that were on the floor.
“Is this the view you aim for with your customers? Not that I’m complaining” Lucifer startled, looking up and seeing a brunette with warm skin, red eyes behind glasses and a big smile looking down at him, before getting up.
Alastor occasionally stopped by Lucifer's flower shop, as he owned the coffee shop next door. Their interactions were mostly business-related, but Lucifer appreciated his presence nonetheless.
“Good morning Alastor” Lucifer tried to clean a little of his gloves on his jeans before seeing a cup of coffee on his face “..what…?”
“You didn't stop by to get your daily dose of sugar crime” Alastor still smiled at him, giving the coffee and straightening himself, cleaning non-existenting dirt off his arms, he was using the same red suit he always used on the coffee shop “So I thought I'd swing by and treat you, getting some flowers too”
“Oh” Lucifer couldn't stop his blush, smiling at the coffee, before turning and trying to stop his train of thought, he probably wanted flowers for some lover he had “Which ones will be today? Yesterday arrived some red tulips, i think they’ll match you well”
“Sounds delightful, my dear. I trust your judgment” Alastor followed Lucifer as he put his coffee on the table close to the apple tree and went to get the tulips “And how is Charlie? It's been a while since our last encounter.”
“She’s loving school this year! Made a new friend, Maggie, they’re really cute together, you should come see them someday!” he talked while making a bouquet of tulips “She talks a lot about you”
“I suppose I've found my way into her heart,” Into mine too Lucifer thought, giving him the tulips “Here, save the remainder for Charlie's birthday, won't you?” Alastor said giving him a bigger amount of money, more than necessary.
Though Lucifer felt a twinge of guilt accepting Alastor's money, knowing how rarely the taller man allowed him to pay for coffee, he understood refusing would be futile, and honestly? He liked being on his good side.
“Thanks, Al, i appreciate it”
“It's nothing, dear. Swing by the coffee shop later, and bring that tall teacher of Charlie’s along. Husk always gets grumpy when he doesn't see him enough” Alastor suggested, his perpetual smile never faltering. With a cheerful farewell, he departed just as a customer entered.
Lucifer took the cup off coffee, seeing a smiley face draw on the cup, feeling his heart flutter, he drank it, being able to tell it was his favorite drink. Stealing himself, he turned his attention to the customer, attempting - and failing - to push thoughts of the taller man who had just left the store out of his mind.
He was really fucked.