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Lucifer had lived for many years, millennia really, and yet there were still things he didn't understand, one of them was humans. Too curious and damn, he was the king of fucking hell, he'd seen strange things every day since he'd been in that place, but humans? for his father's sake, those creatures were freaky as fuck, many of the things that were done in hell originally came from them.
Not that lucifer questioned these happenings many times, but after this all he could think about was: what the fuck with humans?
The last time he remembered going up to earth humanity was going through a great war, the second one in fact, but now he went up to get a single but simple book that Charlie wanted for that damn Alastor, and that for some strange reason he couldn't manage to make appear at his own will. That was the first mistake, thinking that it was nothing strange not to be able to make such a simple object appear.
His second mistake was to underestimate them. He had always been clear about how persevering humans were in trying to get what they wanted, even if they didn't know what they were getting into, from that desire came most demonic dealings. So when he teleported to the place where the power of that one demonic book was and discovered it was an ordinary house, well he should have questioned how such an ordinary place contained a power capable of limiting his own.
“What the fuck!?” he cursed as he wanted to pick up the book, only a few steps away from it, to discover that it was protected by a rather odd energy field that discharged electricity at his touch. It wasn't the common and vaguely functional one that humans made believing they possessed magic, no, this was a true sigil of protection.
He scanned at the place looking for an explanation, the magic of that place tickled his nose and without being able to help it he gave a loud sneeze.
He opened his eyes in panic hoping he hadn't woken anyone up, and when everything remained silent, he was grateful for it. The least he wanted to do was complicate something as simple as stealing. He released the contained air and closed his eyes while rubbing his face wearily. Bad idea, because he only noticed that there was indeed someone with him when a force sent him violently towards the other side of the house.
“I knew it, they warned me! They told me demons would come to steal it from me, but what do you think, asshole I'm protected against all you sons of bitches!”
Lucifer felt a pain run through his back, nothing serious of course, but annoying somehow. He focused his gaze on the girl in front of him, she looked like she had just gotten up, as her clothes and hair were in complete disarray “I-I think this is a confusion” he said as he slowly approached her, showing his palms in an attempt to appease her so she wouldn't end up hurt. “I'm not a simple demon, I-I'm actually-” he dodged another spell with difficulty. Hell, she was good at this, and that she looked as young as charlie. “I'm lucifer, the king of hell, haha! What do you think?”
“I think you're lying, idiot, as if I would believe that lucifer would look like that, you're the same height as me and you're not even scary!”
Throwing another attack in his direction she manages to hit him in the arm, the burning that came after it made him rage for a second. His horns growing and his eyes turning pure red. “What the hell, bitch?!”
The witch jumps in her place in surprise, from the shock she casts a spell directly in Lucifer's chest who backs away feeling that something was burning inside him. Before fainting he curses Alastor and his fucking book, then falls heavily to the ground.
“Don't. Fuck. Me. I killed lucifer!”
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“Ugh... my head...”
“Shit, he woke up.”
Lucifer opens his eyes trying to locate himself, he does not recognize the ceiling and much less the walls, he moves his hands groping on what he was lying on and discovers that he is resting on a couch, a wet towel over his head wetting his hair uncomfortably, so he takes it off and leaves it aside, finally he sees the small human sitting in a corner of the room, somewhat away from him.
“I... I think I owe you an apology, sir, for not believing you and well... attacking you.”
The king felt everything spinning in a rather unpleasant way.
Damn Alastor, couldn't he have asked Charlie for a book that was easier to get? When I go back to hell I'll burn the book in his face. “What happened to me?” he asks, turning his thoughts away on the head of a red deer on a silver platter.
“You fainted when I threw a spell on you by mistake. I'm sorry about that, I wasn't thinking clearly, I got scared and-” she watches as lucifer sits on the couch and getting even more nervous she swallows the lump in her throat. He for his part holds his head with both hands, there is a stinging pressure in it and a burning in his chest “and-and well, sir how do you feel?”
“I feel like a fucking infernal rhinoceros has struck a blow across my entire ribcage” He tries to calm the pain by directing his angelic magic to the sore area, only to find that it doesn't work “What did you do to me?”
She starts to laugh nervously, she didn't know where to start explaining the mess she had made. To calm herself down she ran her hand through her hair trying to fix it “I... haha, you're not going to believe this” Lucifer takes his hands off his head to look at her, his countenance showed how much it hurt and that only managed to make her more tense “Well, I didn't really think it would work, I found a spell and when I saw it I laughed because, wow, it was the typical fairytale spell, and well I had been studying it before you arrived, sir, and it looks like... that spell was the one I threw at you.”
Lucifer remembered the thousands of stories he'd heard in all his millennia, and he didn't like where this was going “What kind of spell did you put on me?”
“More than spell it would be a curse, have you read classic tales? oh, of course you must have read them, you were around when they were created. Well the thing is the curse I was studying is the same as those stories and...” She bites her lips looking uncomfortable “it should go away with a kiss.”
Lucifer blinks “A kiss? Are you telling me I'm under a fucking fairy tale curse? What kind of witch are you!?! shit, shit, shit, shit, that's the most fucked up thing I've heard in centuries” His mind was racing, if the spell was right, where the fuck would he get a kiss from someone who really loved him like in all those stories? Years ago he would have immediately thought of Lilith, but she was already gone. who else could love him being the fucking mess he was? If he thought about it, maybe a kiss on his daughter's cheek might do the trick, magic was in the loopholes, and if he remembered right in the stories they never specified that they had to be lovers kisses, maybe he still had a chance.
“Actually no, sir, it's not typical” Lucifer looks at her now much more quizzical “I didn't think this curse would work so I was modifying it. I was trying to turn it into some sort of punishment for my enemies. The idea was to give them a false hope of salvation before they passed away, and well, I'm not stupi-.” She silences herself. Well, she was a bit stupid if she thought cursing the king of fucking hell was a good idea. “What I mean is, to end this situation you have to get a kiss from the person who hates you the most” Lucifer's stomach contracted and his eyes widened in disbelief.
“Kiss of...did you lose your mind?!”
At the scream the girl jumped and dropped to her knees fearing for her life “Sorry! In my mind it seemed like a good idea, I thought it would give them the feeling of a chance to save themselves, but everyone knows it's harder to get the person who hates you to kiss you than it is to get someone who loves you. Love comes at any time, but having someone who wants you dead decide to help you live and even more so by kissing you seemed like the most reasonable thing to do.”
Lucifer got up from the couch and the human repeated his move, she was truly sorry, she never thought the spell would work, much less on the fucking king of hell “Don't kill me, not even in my wildest dreams would I have believed that Lucifer himself would appear in my house. I never meant to curse you, really.” Tears were nothing short of escaping her eyes, and Lucifer could only see the panic in her, his heart squeezed at that.
Shit, what would Charlie say about me if he knew I made a human cry.
He hated to see the panic he could cause in people, he wasn't evil, he had never wanted to become this image of hellish suffering, he had been exiled for thinking differently, not for being a maniac. Besides that girl looked Charlie's age, that only added to the lump in his throat. Letting out a tired sigh as she smoothed out her clothes and holding in the pain in her chest she put on her best face. “Relax, I'm not going to do anything to you. You said it yourself, I'm the fucking king of hell, this won't last long. I'll go back to hell and find the solution. Now, could you give me that book you have there? I came for it, the least you could do after cursing me is let me take it.”
“For the holy hell of course I will” She walks over to the book and with a flick of her fingers deactivates the energy field that surrounded it, taking it in her hands she gives it to Lucifer, bowing in both apology and respect “I'm truly sorry, my lord”
He smiles to calm her down and takes the book. “Don't worry, I'm sure I'll find a solution in less than two hours.”
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“How the fuck have I not found a solution in five days?”
After he had returned to hell his adored daughter had greeted him warmly, giving him a tight hug that as much as he loved caused him pain that almost made him squeal. Charlie noticing it looked at him worriedly, blurting out question after question to find out what hurt. Lucifer excused himself by saying that the trip had tired him more than expected and after giving him the book he slipped into the room he had proclaimed as his own in that hotel.
These last few days he only went out for the necessary, such as dinner with his daughter and her friends (and the culprit of his situation: Alastor).
He was tired, he had not been able to sleep well, the discomfort in his chest and the search for a solution only worsened his insomnia problems, which certainly before this were already enough. Rubbing his eyes he looked at the clock on his desk, it was almost time for dinner. It was Alastor's turn to cook today, so he would put a spell on his food just in case the demon thought to poison it, not that it was going to kill him, but he already had more than enough discomfort without adding one more.
He stretched in his seat before getting up and going to her mirror. His image was a bit deplorable, he had dark circles under his eyes and unkempt hair, still he knew that wasn't the worst of it. He opened his shirt and watched as a dark stain spread across his chest.
It was on the second day that he noticed how a darkness no bigger than a coin had bloomed at the level of his sternum, he tried to eliminate it with his magic but it simply had not worked. By the third day its size could already be compared to that of half a palm and by today it was a full palm.
This curse was advancing rapidly, and the opposite was true of his research.
He changed his clothes and tried to look as presentable as he could with his meager energy before heading down the long corridors to the dining hall.
Since the night before, he kept thinking about what that human had said to him, and every day he understood more and more her logic behind the cure of this curse.
What a cunning and cruel mentality. Alastor would surely applaud her.
He had been remembering demons that he knew hated him, but the very idea of seeking out any of them for the purpose he needed them made his stomach churn, not to mention that if he did he would have to kiss half of hell until he found out who it was that hated him the most.
When he reached the dining room he looked around for his daughter, but only found his friends, all there chatting, except Charlie and as expected the “cook”. Passing by them he greeted them politely and headed for the kitchen, where indeed his daughter was, helping the nasty red deer.
“Charlieeeee” he said warmly and opening his arms to receive his daughter who upon seeing him enter stopped what she was doing to go and hug him.
It hurt as if his life was leaving in every hug, but indeed his life was leaving, so he would give her as many hugs as he could.
“Dad, you finally showed up” she gave him one last squeeze before releasing her father “You've been a bit missing these days. I haven't seen you since yesterday afternoon, I thought maybe you had left the hotel without saying anything. What had happened to you?”
Alastor was adding condiments nimbly, his movements unperturbed pretending to be uninterested to the other two, except Lucifer noticed how his ear twitched in the direction of father and daughter, listening to their conversation.
Fucking asshole.
“That's right your majesty, what important thing required your valuable time? Charlie was very concerned. It's good to see that my theories are false and you didn't actually oversaturate himself in his role as head of the family.”
“Alastor” reprimanded charlie, to which he just ignored and went on with his task of serving the food “excuse him dad, he's upset because he saw me worrying about you.”
Lucifer was in no mood to strike back, no matter how much venom was on the tip of his tongue, so he only gave the deer a death glare before softening and turning to his daughter “Sorry duckling, I had been busy resolving important kingdom matters. I promise tomorrow to be more present at the hotel and help you in any way I can.”
It was partly not a lie. If he didn't manage to find a solution soon the kingdom would have a VERY big problem.
Alastor was already setting a few dishes ready on the deck of the cabinet when Lucifer saw his smile getting nastier. “Oh, I'm sorry to tell you that we already have everything under control until next week, your highness. If only you hadn't missed so much time you might have made it to the meeting; but I am proud to know, sir...” finishing putting down the dishes, he walked up to Lucifer and bowed to be on his level “...that the problems of the kingdom are very important to you, what a good monarch. The general good above all else” the sound of static increased, but the pitch of his voice lowered so that only lucifer could hear him “...even your family.”
Lucifer let out a growl at him and opened his mouth ready to let out a dignified reply filled with the most intense venom and contempt, but a pressure in his chest made him shrink a little. Refusing to show weakness in front of the demon, he immediately recovered and just looked at him trying to make it enough to disintegrate him. Yet that didn't go unnoticed by Alastor who raised an eyebrow and looked at him curiously.
How interesting. Alastor purred in his mind.
“Please, Alastor, we talked about this, can't you just try to get along with my father or at least tolerate him? it's been over half a year since you two met. It makes me uncomfortable that you attack each other day after day, I don't want to have to choose between you.”
Alastor's smile cracked a little as his ears flattened. Trying to keep his composure he stood up straight looking at Charlie “You're right, I'm sorry for giving you a hard time” he bows giving an apology and then turns to Lucifer, both looking at each other with a noticeable hatred, still alastor mimicked the previous gesture and gave him a bow, though much less graceful than the previous one “I'm sorry your majesty, I acted a bit rude, I apologize for my words” He raised his head again and looked at him waiting for something.
Lucifer was silent, he didn't understand why he was looking at him and not just standing up, but Charlie gave him a gesture that made him understand.
He had to accept the apology.
He waved his hand downplaying the matter, just to make the other one angry trying to show him that for him, his words were the same as a fly bothering around him “I forgive you” said that, the red deer stood up again as straight as he could and gave him a strained smile, Lucifer just rolled his eyes after that.
Perfect! I'm glad you can manage with each other.” she gave both men a fleeting hug before heading over to where Alastor had left the dishes and grabbing two of them ”Why don't you help us, Dad? Alastor put a lot of effort into cooking dinner, so let's get the plates to the table, shall we?”
Lucifer was a proud father, he adored his daughter's kindness, so it was impossible for him to refuse whatever she asked. Like that request that left him in this dangerous situation.“Sure Char-Char, I'll catch up with you in a moment” She hearing that gives him a big smile and leaves the kitchen.
The room was immediately filled with tension, like little sparks ready to explode everything. Alastor's intense gaze on him made his head hurt, but Lucifer wouldn't start a fight. He just did as he had told his daughter and with a wave of his hands tried to float the plates, but exhaustion made him fail the first attempt, making them shake faintly. He tried again, this time successfully, congratulated himself in his mind and headed for the door.
“Could you take the salad too, your majesty?”
The blond bit the inside of his cheek angrily. He knew what the other was trying to do. Of course he hadn't missed his discomfort and lack of energy, so now he was testing him to see. Unwilling to indulge him, he turned and with a deadly glare, he made his magic go to the bowl the demon held in his hand and brought it and the rest of it to him.
Alastor was giving him his typical fake smile, which so far he had only seen directed at him. A smile created for him. It was a mixture of amusement at his person and palpable anger, and if he wasn't the king of hell that smile would give him chills. “What are you looking at so much?”
“Is a lowly sinner like me forbidden to look at the great king of hell? I didn't know that, I'll be more careful from now on, sir.”
“Haha, how funny,” he turned his eyes and looked at the floating dishes. Truth be told they looked great and smelled twice as good. Since the curse had advanced his appetite was dwindling considerably, he tried not to make it noticeable by disappearing the leftovers with a bit of magic, but seeing this dish the idea of making it disappear seemed pitiful to him.
“Glad to see my gastronomy is up to your standards, your majesty. It almost makes me want to poison it.”
Lucifer raises an eyebrow, skeptical, “Haven't you done that before? I thought you wouldn't miss an opportunity to try to eliminate me.”
“I would never dishonor my gastronomy just for the pleasure of eliminating you.”
“I appreciate that, I'd hate to pleasure you in any way.”
Alastor made a most displeased face so lucifer smiled victoriously and left for the dining room, the fatigue increased more as he used his magic, so he had to limit it properly if he wanted to remain efficient, yet that last interaction made him feel as if everything was normal.
“Dad, you brought everything by yourself” charlie reached over to take two more of the floating plates and divide them with the other members “I was already going to go back to continue helping.”
He walked while the plates followed him “It was nothing, for me this is as easy as doing it with my eyes closed” He held one of the plates and gave it to the little demon who stretched her arms in desperation, then passed by Angel who thanked him with a flirtatious smile. Uncomfortable, Lucifer just let out a nervous laugh and walked to his chair with the last plate.
So much movement made his throat scratchy, so he cleared his throat to ease the sensation, though it wasn't the only thing, the mark burned a little, a sign that it was growing.
A shadow slid across the floor to the other end of the table, the farthest from the king of hell, already there he materialized and rested in his chair, looking proudly at everyone with his food. Now that they were finally all together they proceeded to eat, there was a collective moan at how well he had cooked. Everyone loved Alastor's cooking days.
“Holy shit, this feels like an orgasm” Let out Angel in the middle of a gasp, eyes still closed and mouth full.
“Fucking hell, Angel, you just ruined the fucking moment” Husk growled as his face reflected a grimace of disgust.
“What? It's true, I know about orgasms and this is like one of the best I've ever had” after that he laughs and leans back on the table giving him a sassy look, one of his hands going to his mouth for more impact “But that could change if you wanted it to, kitten”
Everyone at the table watched as the bartender bristled in place before grabbing a fork and threatening the other demon.
“Aaaalright, let's change the conversation. Alastor how's it going with that book you wanted?”
“Magnificent, Charlie. That book is one of a kind, your spells are simply amazing, I must thank you for getting it for me.”
“Oh Alastor, you shouldn't thank me, Dad was the one who found it. He went all the way to earth to bring it back.”
Reflexively the radio demon twitched one of his ears in disgust.
Lucifer felt refreshed by the food, even having eaten so little, so his response to Alastor was almost instinctive “Yes, alastor, you should thank me, you don't know how hard it was to bring it. Take your time, maybe you've already forgotten the exact words.”
There it was, that smile. “Difficult? don't tell me, did his majesty have difficulties leaving his kingdom? Age is getting to him, maybe it's time for someone to take his place before he becomes senile.”
Charlie lamented softly covering his face not wanting to see them and Vaggie rubbed his shoulder comfortingly. That image made Lucifer feel like an anvil dropped into his stomach.
Taking a breath to calm his rage he gave an ambiguous reply to Alastor, wanting to drop the subject “Oh, fuck you.”
“Just that? You used to have more wit your majesty” Of course that fucker wouldn't let this go so easily. Alastor squints his eyes, his gaze like that of a hunter to his prey, ready for the attack. “But apparently something did happen to you up there sir, you've been looking tired why don't you tell us what difficulty you encountered?”
Of course, you bastard, you already suspect it and you won't miss an opportunity to test me. you motherfucker, son of a bitc-
Lucifer felt the rage fill his body, a shudder in his bones that made his teeth clench and his eyes boil. He felt the insults wanting to escape from his mouth, that's why when he opened it, ready to attack accordingly, he was surprised at the last moment that his chest burned, from his ribcage up his throat. He coughed loudly, feeling a taste of iron.
Shit
He had reached up to cover her mouth with a napkin and quickly pretended he had simply choked. He calmed his daughter who had gotten up to help him by waving his hand, she sat back down and he drank the liquid in his glass. He was very grateful that it was red wine, because it was going to help him with what he was planning to do.
Without much hesitation, he spilled his wine all over himself, dropping it from his mouth onto his clothes.
“Damn, looks like I'll have to go change,” he stood up awkwardly, bumping into the table and accidentally dropping the silverware. He needed to get out. “I'm sorry to have to leave you earlier. Charlie, don't worry, I'll be back later, I promise” He says before heading out the door, noticing that she wanted to follow him.
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“No, no, no, no, no” He hated what he saw in the mirror. His reflection being the reminder that he had little time left. The darkness extending, from his shoulders to just above his stomach. No longer bearing that image of himself, he punches it, shattering the mirror in the process, his hand left with shallow scratches. His angel part made him resistant to injury, but his demon part allowed his body to suffer even a little damage.
Maybe it was the fault of that little demonic part that had him in this place.
In any case, it was no use thinking about it now, he had less and less time to save himself.
“What do we have here? Who was the being capable of harming the king of hell? I want to thank him with a cake.”
Lucifer spins around frightened by the invasion. A shadow materializing a few feet away from him, stepping out of the shadows and imposing himself in a place that was not his.
“What the fuck, Alastor, what are you doing in my room?” He waits for an answer from the radio demon, but he's not looking him in the face along with his typical smirk, he's concentrating on a lower point and confusing him even more. That is until he remembers that on his body is the clear evidence of his end. By inertia he uses his magic to put back his clothes, which exhausts him enough to force him to sit on his bed.
Alastor walks around the room, looking at the old-fashioned decor and the ducks scattered throughout.
Without a hint of embarrassment despite being in someone else's room. “Amazing” now his eyes focus on the tired figure on the mattress “I thought I would not live to see how Lucifer, God's favorite angel, the first fallen and king of darkness could ever become the shadow of what he once was. Charming!”
Lucifer vibrates from restrained laughter “Did you come to tease or flatter me? Because I'm getting mixed signals.”
“Ha, weak and yet smug. You represent your role very well as the sin of pride”
He didn't answer. He had too much fatigue for that, he felt drained, not only of energy but spiritually, as if they had taken his person and squeezed him just leaving a shell. “I still don't understand your reason for being here.”
“Calm your majesty.” A soft melody danced around the deer as he moved to stand in front of Lucifer. “Charlie was worried about you and I came voluntarily to see your situation, but seeing that it is more intense than I expected perhaps I should keep it to myself.”
“Oh sure, you always so kind.” sang Lucifer.
“What can I say, your daughter's enthusiasm for redemption rubs off on me” Alastor was getting tired of the pitiful image of who was supposed to be one of the most powerful beings in existence. There was no amusement in seeing him like this and that it wasn't because of him “I imagine you have kept this information to yourself, Am I wrong?”
Lucifer lets out a sigh and lies down on his bed. He just wanted to sleep, but with Alastor in his room he wouldn't be able to. He wondered if ignoring him a little would go away, but he was Alastor, not even on his best days would he be this considerate. He comforted himself by covering his eyes with his forearm, hoping for some kind of consolation. “What are you getting at?”
“You know I have many contacts throughout hell, perhaps one of them can help you.”
If he wasn't covering his face the radio demon would have noticed how he rolled his eyes “I'm the fucking king, obviously I have contacts too.”
“Ohhh, but not mine. I'm sorry to tell you your majesty, but royal contacts will never rise to the level of those formed in the shadows.”
He knew it was a hopeless case, he had already thought of everything, there was no prince in hell or demon with dark tricks that could take this damn thing away from him. Anyway, hearing him talk about getting him help was comforting, as if a helping hand was being extended, but he didn't have to forget that this hand was Alastor's, which replaced relief with annoyance “What do you get out of this?”
Alastor's smile grew and his eyes flashed with a sinister tone “A deal.”
Obviously “Well you're wasting your time, I would never make a deal with you.”
Alastor knew this but he still wanted to try. Maybe if he pushed his buttons a little harder... “Even if it means abandoning your daughter again?”
An overwhelming force washed over Lucifer, his blood boiling as he felt his horns grow on his head. Alastor took a step back from the violent shock of energy, his ears pulled back in shock. That didn't last long, after a few seconds everything calmed down, Lucifer's body regained its usual shape, but when he spoke his tone was raspy, as if those words were sandpaper coming out of his throat “Leave my daughter out of this.”
The radio demon was silent. His smile was sealed from side to side as he pondered how to proceed without lucifer disintegrating him with a snap of his fingers. The silence lasted a minute, long enough for the blond to stop wailing like a fucking baby. “The truth, majesty, is that I'm against the idea of anyone else taking credit for killing you, that victory is mine alone.”
Lucifer laughed ungraciously “Well, I'm sorry not to give you the pleasure, but there's no way to avoid my death.”
This was annoying him to excess, since when was the representation of pride so deplorable? This really wasn't entertaining “You must not be serious, just like that? How pitiful you becomes when a little problem is put in front of you.”
He had enough, he didn't want to talk anymore, as always Alastor knew where to hit to make it more painful. It was time to end this conversation “You're right, that's just the way I am. So if you don't mind I'll ask you to leave.
Alastor said nothing, Lucifer almost thought he had just left, but he still noticed his annoying presence. “Whatever you say, majesty.”
Alastor dissolved back into shadows and stepped out from under the door. This interaction had left him more tired than annoyed, his chest pressed with anguish. He was in so much pain, but not just physical, his soul ached, he didn't want to leave, he didn't want to abandon Charlie. Alastor had managed to strike the one chord he had been avoiding overthinking, he would break down if he did, but there it was: he was again going to abandon Charlie.
He cried, not for long, but he did.
When he felt the grief subside, he went to pour himself some water from the pitcher on his desk. Him throat burned and the taste of iron was still there, being an eternal reminder. The mark on his body he could hide with clothing, but the taste of blood could not.
Maybe something sweet would fix it.
After a while where he pulled himself and his image together, he left his room and headed for the kitchen.
As he passed, he saw in the hallway his daughter and her girlfriend making plans on a large blackboard. His heart squeezed at the sight of her, so happy and excited, he would give anything to keep seeing her smile.
“Hey, Charlie” He called to her as he approached them.
She turns to the voice and smiles at the sight of her father, notices the bags in his eyes but doesn't want to burden him with questions. She knows what he's like, even if she asks directly if he doesn't want to say anything he won't. He would never worry his daughter. She prefers to hug him and ask gently, so he knows she cares and will be there for him “Hi dad, are you feeling better?”
He gives her a soft smile and caresses his cheek lovingly, her little girl, the best thing in his life. “Yes sweetie. In fact, I was craving something sweet, I thought maybe you could make me those delicious pancakes you used to cook for me when you were little.”
Charlie's eyes lit up at the request “Really?” He nodded vigorously “Of course, I'm coming right now” she ran over to Vaggie and grabbed her hand to drag her into the kitchen, she would need help, these would be the best pancakes she would ever make in his life.
“You know sir, no offense but there are easier ways to die if you want” Lucifer turns to angel. He hadn't noticed him as he was leaning back on the couch, but now he was leaning over the backrest and looking at him “Believe me I have a substance supplier that I'm sure must have a less painful poison than your daughter's food.”
“What? Ah, I know my daughter's food is somewhat... unusual, but I just want to see her happy, I'd eat any dish she offered me.”
It was true, he had so little time left that he would do anything that meant to make her happy.
“If you say so sir.”
It wasn't long to wait, and perhaps the pancakes were a little raw on the inside but burnt on the outside, still Lucifer was sure those pancakes were the most delicious thing in his life. Although the faces of the others indicated otherwise.
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There was Lucifer, drinking at the hotel bar in a failed attempt to drown out the problem. He knew it wouldn't work, but it gave him the feeling that his death was in his hands and not in a curse on his chest. Like every time he swallowed his cocktail and his throat burned and he chose to think the burning came from the vodka and not a bleeding wound.
“Is that what you did the whole time you were in isolation, majesty? Get drunk on apple cocktails while you were wailing to yourself?”
Today more than ever he felt he hated that demon “Damn it Alastor, can't I have a moment's peace?”
Moving to the seat next to the king, he set his radio staff aside and sits down with perfect elegance. Lucifer wanted to punch him in the face. “Does my presence disturb you, sir? A pity, the bar is free space for all, and I just wished for a drink.” he signals Husk to leave him a bottle and a glass of ice, then urges him to leave.
Lucifer dropped onto the bar with his hands over his face, feeling that every second with the deer demon was a second less of life. “What is it you seek, Alastor?”.
Instead of responding, alastor moved the glass creating a soft tinkling “I told you so.”
“And I already told you it's no use, I'm resigned to what's next.” Then he lets out a hollow laugh. “But look, within all the bad I'll still be able to take away the pleasure of you achieving your goal, that seems like a victory to me.”
The demon turns its body to look directly at him, dropping the weight of its head into his hand. “This is no fun at all. Did you give up so quickly, majesty? I expected more from you.”
“Well, I'm sorry, I guess. There's no point in me trying any longer, I have little time left and even if there was a solution it's not something I can achieve.”
Alastor gives him a slight glance, he noticed Lucifer's flushed face, letting him know he was affected by the alcohol. That was convenient, it was much easier to get someone drunk to talk “Oh yeah? Let's talk about the hypothetical case that there was a possible cure, what would be the reason you'd rather not say it, let alone try?”
“It's not a matter of me not wanting to try” Alastor smiled. Bingo. “Let's say someone invented a curse with a ridiculous solution. A curse that can only be cured with a kiss, like a fucking fairy tale, but not just a kiss, it has to be from the person who hates you the most, tell me, would it be possible to be cured?” Lucifer was now leaning on the bar and looking sideways at Alastor, the Jazz music setting the mood and getting him to relax, but he no longer cared about having his guard up.
Whether it was now with Alastor or in two days because of the curse, but he would die either way.
“I don't see the problem, you are the king, you could force any being in existence to do as you wish.”
Lucifer gave him a scathing look “First, I would never do it. Second, you already said it, I'm the fucking king of hell, everyone hates me in some way. Who could be the being that hates me the most? I've thought about it and I wouldn't have a clue where to begin, I've been alive for millennia! The first living being to hate me was adam. For all of hell, the list would be longer than the whole bible!”
Alastor thought Lucifer was underestimating him by saying that. He narrowed his eyes at the king, watching him intently. “I don't think you're looking at the obvious.”
He'll be a son of a...
Fuck it all, he was going to die, he might as well advance his time to Alastor and let him win at being the first to reach eternal rest. Angrily he got up from the bar to lean over to alastor as he jabbed him in the chest with his finger “Oh yeah. It's not like I've been looking for a way out of this for days, researching until I pass out and only finding out I'm at a dead end. You know what Alastor, fuck you, fuck you and your lack of fucking empathy, you soulless fucke-”
His dialogue is interrupted when a hand holds his hand, pulling him forward. By the time he pulled himself together there was a weight on his lips and a hand on the back of his neck forcing him to stay in place. A heat spread throughout his body but the most intense was in his chest, making it burn from the inside out.
A moan left his throat from the overwhelming burning sensation and Alastor could only think how much he enjoyed feeling the king of hell suffering so close to him. Motivated by it, he bit down on his lower lip wanting to hear more moans of pain, and Lucifer unknowingly complied with his request, as he buried his fingers into the other's shoulder, managing to tear at the clothing and skin with his sharp nails.
The burning finally subsided until only a warm sensation remained. Alastor's tongue licked the wound once more before parting, tasting something Lucifer didn't know what it was.
Lucifer was so confused.
The radio demon looked at Lucifer's bewildered face and smiled wider, enjoying the state he had left him in. It was always a pleasure to render the king of hell speechless. “I think majesty...” he said as he ran a finger across lucifer's lip, dragging it over the wound once more “...you forgot one great detail. You forgot that in this world, I am the one who hates you the most.” The hand moves away from his face but closer to Alastor's, a drop of golden blood on his thumb sliding down the length of his finger, and was caught by his tongue. When he spoke his voice was not distorted “And also that I told you that the only one with the right to kill you is me.”
Lucifer still couldn't think.
Alastor laughed loudly at that, the sound bouncing off the walls, distorted by the sound of the radio, taking his radio staff he tapped Lucifer on the forehead, then left up the stairs to his room, feeling refreshed.
When the laughter was no longer audible and Lucifer's thoughts aligned, he made a decision.
He would drink the whole bar.
