Chapter Text
"You just can't stop smiling, can you?"
Lucifer gave him a wry grin as he climbed into Alastor's ruined radio tower
Alastor laid on the floor, his back against the broadcast console, having collapsed from exhaustion
He didn't have the energy to provide a retort, to assume his usual radio-host act that he wore, not when every bit of his strength was being used to hold his wound closed
"Fuck off, before I..."
Alastor's words trailed off, they both knew that right now, he was barely clinging onto his afterlife
Adam's arrogant smile flashed in his mind as Alastor replayed their battle over and over again in his mind.
"What's wrong? ?"
Lucifer prodded, and he caught himself hoping that Alastor might offer a proper retort this time, he stooped down to meet Alastor's eyes. Lucifer observed Alastor on the floor, taking in the sight of the previously prideful sinner now barely clinging onto life.
Alastor's blood pooled around him, and strands of green ephemeral thread barely held his wound together
Alastor wouldn't survive this, not without help.
But it would be so easy for Lucifer to allow Alastor to die. All he had to do was walk away, and the evil, deceitful demon would die. He could simply tell Charlie that he was too late and...
No , Even as he thought about letting Alastor die, he knew deep down that couldn't, at least, not for Charlie's sake.
"I'm going to regret this" Lucifer muttered under his breath, before twisting threads of pure light flowed from Lucifer's outstretched hand and swirled around Alastor's body.
"Wh-What are you doing?" Alastor asked, and the palpable fear in his voice sickened him.
Alastor felt a wave of nausea as the light enveloped him like a cocoon.
And then, just like that, Alastor was healed.
Alastor was frozen for a moment, in disbelief.
Lucifer stared down at him, as the tendrils of light returned, dissolving into him.
"You're healed now" He said matter of factly.
Alastor patted the area where the gash once was, and is surprised to see his hand come back clean, infact, Alastor's entire body had been mended. He takes a tentative deep breath, before releasing it.
They remained like that for a while, in eerily calm silence, punctuated only by Alastor's breathing.
The moment stretched on, with each person all too aware of the others presence in their space.
Lucifer tried his best to avoid meeting Alastor's eyes, which he knew were sharply trained onto him, until Alastor broke the silence, forcing Lucifer to meet his gaze
"Why?" The demon asked, as he slowly rose to his feet
"Because it would break Charlie's heart to learn that her steadfast hotelier had gotten himself killed"
That's what Lucifer told Alastor, and that's what he tried to tell himself
Alastor stood up straight, regaining his composure, and Lucifer watched as Alastor swallowed his emotions, dusted off his suit, adjusted his tie and spoke
"Yes, it would be such a shame for her to see me pass. She sees me as a father figure after all."
His words lingered in the air, the terse silence between them intensified.
Lucifer looked genuinely hurt for a moment, before sneering up at Alastor and vanishing into thin air.
Alastor stood in silence, outside, his expression was a perfect poker face, but on the inside, his emotions roiled and fought with eachother:
Rage that he had been bested by the arrogant first man.
Embarrassment that he had allowed Lucifer of all people to witness his weakness
And surprisingly, he felt just a tinge of regret for what he had said to Lucifer
Enough of this.
Alastor snapped out of his thoughts and melted into the shadows, re-appearing infront of Rosie's cafe in Cannibal Town
He took a deep breath, inhaling the scent of freshly baked bread, of savoury pies left to cool. Rosie, while not the strongest overlord, had built the closest thing to proper civilization in hell.
Something hell's impotent ruler couldn't manage Alastor mused, before stepping inside.