Work Text:
Learn To Be Lonely
When Alastor wakes up, he immediately knows something is very wrong. For one thing, he’s in his radio tower, and he can’t remember how he got there. The last thing he knew, he had fallen asleep in Lucifer’s arms after a very satisfying bout of lovemaking. For another, the Hotel is quiet. Almost eerily so. Alastor frowns and steps out of the tower, looking around.
The hallways are deserted, and the nagging feeling of wrongness only grows stronger. Alastor walks down to the lobby, his hoof steps echoing strangely in the still, cold silence. Alastor shivers, holding himself. The Hotel’s never been this cold. He’ll have to talk to Niffty about banking up the fires between the floors more. Once in the lobby, Alastor looks around for someone, anyone. But there’s nobody. He might as well be the only person left in the whole building. “Hello?” He calls, shocked at how his voice echoes. “Charlie? Husker? Anyone?”
Nothing, and Alastor frowns, listening. “Is anyone there?!” He calls, frantic with worry and fear. “ANSWER ME!” Silence stretches, but then Alastor thinks he hears something. Laughter. He perks up his ears, listening with all his might. “Charlie? Is that you?”
Charlie comes down the stairs, a wide, happy smile on her face. With her is Vaggie, also looking happy. Alastor huffs. “Charlie, dear, I can take a joke as much as the next demon, but…” He stops as they walk right past him, not even looking at him. “Well. I don’t know what I did to warrant such treatment. Charlie!” Neither even looks back at him, and Alastor feels his uneasiness grow.
“So glad she came back!” Charlie says as Alastor follows them through the lobby. “Now we can be a real, proper family again! And best of all, we won’t need that horrible Radio Demon anymore! Can you believe he actually thought we cared for him?” Charlie’s laugh is warped, almost mocking. Vaggie joins in. Alastor’s heart twists at the cruel words.
“As if anyone could care for a monster like him!” Vaggie says, shaking her head. “I can’t believe we had to pretend for so long! At least Husk never did!” Alastor gulps. He had planned on freeing Husk as a thank you for all he’s done, and as a way of showing that even the Radio Demon could learn mercy. “Come on, we’ll be late for the ceremony.” Puzzled, Alastor follows them into the Hotel’s main ballroom, and the sight that greets him cleaves his heart in pieces.
Lucifer is standing there, looking more beautiful than Alastor has ever seen him. By his side, looking triumphant, is none other than Lilith. Lucifer is staring up at her in adoration. “Luce?” Alastor steps into the room, shaking. “Wh...what are you doing?” Lucifer turns, and the look of disgust and contempt on his face makes Alastor take a step back. “Lucifer?” He hates the way his voice cracks.
“You. I thought I was rid of you for good.” Lucifer snarls, spitting the words. “Don’t you get it, Alastor?” His name has never sounded so horrible coming from those lips. Lucifer chuckles, and there’s no warmth in it, only cold derision. “Nobody cares about you. Nobody will ever care about you. You will be lonely for the rest of your death.” Alastor shakes his head, trying valiantly to keep the tears from forming.
“You love me.” He insists, and Lucifer blinks, then begins laughing.
“I? love you?! Oh, you are a bigger fool than I could ever believe! Why would I love a lowly, worthless Sinner like you, when my perfect wife has returned to me?” Lucifer asks, looking back up at Lilith with a simpering smile.
“She’s...she’s done something to you, made you forget that you love me…” Alastor stammers. Lucifer snorts, then with a flick of his wrist sends Alastor flying out of the ball room, slamming the door after him. “LUCIFER! LUCIFER, PLEASE!” Alastor pounds on the door, screaming. “LUCIFER!”
“Alastor.” Lucifer’s voice, from somewhere behind him, sounds frantic, almost scared. “Alastor, sweetheart, please wake up, you’re scaring me, please!”
Alastor bolts upright, his chest tight, tears drying on his face. It takes him a moment to realize where he is. “Sweetheart?” Lucifer is next to him, eyes wide with worry. Alastor gropes blindly for him, a sob in his throat.
“Luce…” Lucifer wraps arms and wings around him, cocooning him in his warm embrace, rocking him back and forth. “T...tell me you love me.” Alastor whimpers, and Lucifer kisses the side of his head.
“I love you, Alastor. More than anything.” He hums. Alastor sniffles and holds him tighter. “Bad dream?” Alastor nods. “Do you want to tell me?” A shake of the head. “Alright.”
“Just...don’t let go of me, okay?” Alastor asks, and Lucifer kisses him again. “I don’t want to be alone.”
“You aren’t, my love. And I promise, you never will be.”