Chapter Text
This was absolutely not what Lucifer was expecting to do today. When Charlie had called him down from his tower saying someone important showed up at the hotel, he wasn't expecting to walk down the stairs and see God himself in the lobby. As he laid his eyes on the ‘almighty god’, he deadpanned.
‘This is going to be a wonderful day’, he thought sarcastically, making his way toward his daughter and his father, only one of whom he was happy to see. Charlie explained that she wanted him to help her give a tour since he did a lot of the layout work whilst they were rebuilding their hotel. Lucifer had put on a faux smile and agreed to it, though he was dreading every second.
About an hour later, they had finally finished the tour and were back in the lobby with everyone else.
“Soooo…” Charlie began, rocking on her heels. She smiled up at the deity before her, “How'd you like the hotel?”
“It's... Quaint.” God looked around the lobby, taking note of the sinners around him as the wings on the sides of his head stretched. They weren't there when he'd first arrived. He looked back at Charlie.
“Though, I'm not so sure about the apple and snake motifs…”
Lucifer rolled his eyes and crossed his arms.
“Here he goes, being nitpicky.”
One of God's wings twitched.
“Excuse me?”
“Oh come on, don't act like you don't always do this. What, did you only point that out because snakes and apples are my thing?” Lucifer tilted his head forward, gesturing at the snake and apple on his hat.
God looked taken aback.
“That's not-”
“Let me guess, the next thing you're gonna point out is the circus decor because you know how much I love the circus. Go ahead, you can say it! Everyone here knows how much you hate me.” Lucifer leaned forward with his hands behind his back, giving his father a shit-eating grin.
“Don't interrupt me,” Was God's only response, folding his arms behind his back and raising his head, all high and mighty.
“Right, because you're sooo much higher than I am, and older!” Lucifer spun around on his heel to face the hotel patrons, nudging an elbow up at God; “I mean, talk about ‘respect your elders,’ am I right?”
The only one who seemed to find that funny was Cherri Bomb, sitting next to Angel Dust at the bar. She snickered and turned her head away, while the others just gave him nervous and confused looks.
Lucifer turned back to God and found him simply glaring down at him. Charlie looked anxious.
“I hate to inform you, Father, but no one down here is going to respect you,-” he paused for a moment, “-Except for Charlie."
He smiled up at his daughter, a hint of softness in his eyes. Charlie nervously smiled back at him.
“Point is, no one cares who you are. At least I don't. I know you're not all that. I've seen the worst of you.” Lucifer’s smile persisted as he said his final statement, narrowing his eyes at God.
The wings on God’s head flared open, and the clouds resting on his shoulders rumbled dangerously, a scowl on his face.
“Watch your mouth, young man.” He spoke, lowering his voice so it was harder for the patrons to hear, though his echoing voice didn't help his attempt.
Lucifer could've sworn he heard an ‘ooo!’ from somewhere behind him.
“Aha! Bingo!” Lucifer exclaimed, raising his hand.
“What?” Charlie inquired, tilting her head. God looked equally as confused, his arms dropping to his sides.
“See, I made a bingo card of all the phrases that I knew he’d say while talking to me, and what do ya know! I know you so well, don’t I?” He gave God an innocent smile, though clearly there was a hint of smugness in his eyes.
God pinched the bridge of his nose and shook his head, all while the clouds churned and rumbled, growing a few shades darker.
“After all these years, you still act like an arrogant child.”
“Oh damn, we’re still going?! That’s a second bingo! What is this, my birthday?” Lucifer heard more snickering from behind him as he turned to face the onlooking patrons again.
His arm dropped to his side again, fists clenching as the clouds grew darker.
Charlie noticed this change in demeanor and quickly became panicked, turning to Lucifer.
“Dad, what are you doing?!- Are you trying to piss literal GOD off??”
“Oh, relax, Charlie, we’re just having a bit of fun!” Lucifer waved his hand dismissively, going to God’s side and patting his arm.
“He’s having fun too, he just can’t express it well. I mean, when ya got no eyes, it’s kinda hard. He probably forgot them in Heaven.” Lucifer shrugged, then gasped.
“Oops, I’m mixing his old man glasses up with his eyes! Silly me!” he said teasingly, pressing his palms to the sides of his face in mock surprise.
“HAH!” Cherri exclaimed from the other side of the room, slapping her knee and laughing into her arm as she laid her head on the bar. Angel Dust nervously patted her on the back.
“Sorry— Uh— Sh- she’s drunk.”
Husk casually put his hands up, as if to say ‘I didn't do it.’
Despite this, Lucifer still smiled at her laughter, happy at least someone found what he was doing entertaining (he was almost sure Alastor would’ve laughed by now, but maybe he was just being petty.) He moved away from his father and toward Charlie.
“Besides, I think I deserve to tease him a little. After all…” He turned his head toward God ever so slightly.
“I’m pretty sure he enjoyed watching me suffer.” He fully turned to God, folding his arms behind his back again and raising his head, standing up straight, mocking him.
“You know, sadism is unbecoming of—”
Suddenly, God grabbed Lucifer by the collar of his shirt, lifting him off the ground as he grew in height, reaching the lobby’s ceiling.
“LUCIFER.“ His voice bellowed, the echo louder than ever.
The wings on God’s head fully flared open, eyes appearing among the feathers, as well as on the cross on his hat. The veil at the brim of his hat whipped around along with his cape as if a heavy wind blew through the hotel. The clouds that rested on his shoulders were dark and stormy; lightning flashing dangerously within them as they wisped around restlessly, spinning and swirling with rage.
Lucifer winced at the initial shout, the golden gleam in God's eyes burning his eyes with their proximity. But the smoldering, fiery fury and rage in his father's eyes reminded Lucifer of– too much.
He tried not to think of it, but trying to control his brain was like trying to calm an unruly horse. He looked up at God, his eyes wide and pupils shrunk. An intense fear burned through Lucifer's chest, adrenaline pumping through his veins.
His heart dropped to the floor and he felt like he was in heaven again, being shunned and scorned for his ideas, his dreams; which did nothing to keep his thoughts from spiraling.
Lucifer gripped God’s arms, terror in his eyes.
God glanced down at the patrons, and Lucifer followed his gaze.
Charlie had backed up from the two in shock, her hands clasped over her mouth as she looked up at them in fear. Vaggie was nearby, looking up at them with anger, fear, and a distinct defensiveness. Meanwhile, Angel Dust seemed to be purposefully averting his eyes, training them on the bar in front of him with a pair of hands on his head. Husk was in front of him, saying something to him. Cherri had turned to Lucifer and God again, looking angry and defensive. Meanwhile… Alastor simply looked on with his arms behind his back. It was hard to read his expression due to his ever-persistent smile. Niffty was at Alastor’s feet, tugging violently on his pant leg and pointing up at the two rulers excitedly.
God sighed, and returned his focus to Lucifer.
“Fighting here would ruin my image and make you look weak. This doesn't benefit either of us. As the king of Hell, you wouldn't want that, would you?”
Lucifer furrowed his brow and dug his fingers into God's arm in an attempt to cover up his fear with bravery, despite his rapidly beating heart and quickening breaths.
God simply pulled him closer to his face, the clouds on his shoulders booming with thunder.
“Do you want to make your poor daughter patch up her nearly dead father? Because I can deliver.”
Lucifer tensed again, the adrenaline shooting through his veins redoubling before it had even dissipated. He glanced down at Charlie, who kept her eyes trained on him, pure worry and terror in her eyes. He hated seeing her like that– he didn’t want his baby girl to be scared– especially for him. He looked back to his father.
“..I– ..N...No, sir.”
“Good.” And with that, God shrunk back down to his usual height, his eyes disappearing and his clouds becoming white and calm again. He simply dropped Lucifer without a word, causing him to stumble back.
Lucifer grasped at his chest, trying to calm his racing heart and keep his breathing steady. His body trembled with fear, despite his best efforts.
All was silent for a moment.
Charlie reached toward him, but then God rested a hand on her shoulder with a smile. “Come, Charlie! Why not tell me more about your hotel? In private.”
“Uh…” She turned her back to Lucifer, smiling up at God, “S-sure thing, your Majesty.”
As the two began walking, Charlie glanced back at Lucifer. He looked up at her, then gave her a weak smile and a shaky thumbs up.
She returned a reassuring smile and a nod, turning her focus back to God once again.
A tense silence washed over the lobby. Lucifer did his best to right his footing, as shaky as it was; lowering his head and closing his eyes tightly. His heart rate wouldn't slow down and he couldn't stop shaking and he could feel the need to cry bubbling up in his chest.
His breathing was erratic and broken and struggling.
He could feel a panic attack creeping up on him, but– no. Not here.
‘So much for not looking weak.’
He looked back up at the patrons. Almost all of them were staring at him, though only one looked at him with concern and sympathy; Angel Dust. Still, their eyes seemed to burn through him, piercing his tainted soul. A thought whispered in his head, telling him that they were all judging him and that they all thought he was weak and horrible and not fit to rule–
Lucifer cleared his throat before he could spiral further.
“Uh— I'll, um-” He cleared his throat again in an attempt to stop his voice from shaking so much, though to no avail.
“I'll be in my tower– If, uh- If any of you need me,” he spoke all too quickly, stumbling over every syllable all while struggling to force them out.
“Okay!!!” Niffty said with too much enthusiasm. Her voice made him wince.
With that, Lucifer put on a faux smile and began speed-walking away, sprinting once he got to the top of the stairs.
He had to get away. All of his memories haunted him, resurfacing just because of that one interaction.
The trial, those chains, the pain in his body after he'd been so violently banished—
All of those scornful looks, his father's burning wrath–
‘don't think about it don't think about it—’
Cherri Bomb watched him closely. Once he had left, she leaned against the bar.
“That guy is a fuckin' riot!”
Angel Dust deadpanned and smacked the back of her head.
“Ow! What the hell was that for?!” Cherri exclaimed, rubbing her head and glaring at Angel.
“For bein’ insensitive, duh!” Angel Dust retorted.
“That was a serious situation, Cherri.”
“So? I’m not wrong! His jokes were funny!”
Angel Dust rolled his eyes, “He was on the verge of a panic attack.”
Cherri blinked at him, then tilted her head.
“He was?”
He facepalmed. He loved Cherri like a sister, but he couldn’t help but feel a little disappointed in her.
“Relax, Angel,” Husk spoke up, drying a glass.
“He’ll be fine. He’s-” Husk raised his hands, doing jazz hands for effect, “-The King of Hell after all. He’s been through worse.”
Angel Dust frowned at that.
“That doesn’t help as much as ya think it does, Whiskers.”
“C’mon, Angie, have another drink!” Cherri cheered, nudging him with her shoulder, “Stop worryin’ and let loose!”
“Maybe later, Cherri.” Angel said, moving away from her slightly and sitting up.
“Pssh, you’re no fun,” she huffed.
“Bartender! Pour me another one, will ya?”
Husk deadpanned and rolled his eyes, turning away from her to prepare her a drink, muttering curses under his breath all the while.
Angel’s eyes drifted away from the two, staring up at where Lucifer had disappeared off to. He felt bad for the king, having to put up with that in his own home and by his father of all people. Deep down, he knew that wasn’t the only reason he felt sympathy toward Lucifer.
Angel Dust drew in a deep breath, sliding off of the barstool.
“I’m gonna go check on Lucifer.”
“What? Why?” Cherri turned to him, but before she could get her answer, Angel Dust was already walking away and toward the stairs. She pouted.
“Buzzkill.”