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“The deal is, you become my royal executioner and in return, I grant your every wish.”
At that moment, Alastor’s expression gave away nothing; still, despite Lucifer’s disoriented mind, he picked up the way the demon’s spine straightened, his shoulders tensing and those ears atop his head perking higher than he'd ever seen. He didn’t smile, Lucifer. Just waited, more patient than Alastor had known him by now.
“What’s… what is the catch, your majesty?” The words escaped suddenly, lips stretched tight, Alastor didn’t dare move. Even while he knew now that Lucifer couldn’t harm him, even while every fiber in his body trembled. He wasn’t sure why, this is everything he could ever ask for. But to hear– to live it…
“You enjoy killing, do you not?”
“Indeed.”
“And I despise sinners that make my life a living hell,” Lucifer’s demeanor shifted, more like an angel, a fallen angel, who spent every second since his fall in misery than the king of hell with the power he held proven useless. “I'm tired, Alastor. I can’t stand by the sidelines, I just… fuck, I trust you, with this. I can't keep doing nothing. Those sinners out there could hurt Charlie, hurt her friends, now that they know I can't harm them but you, you can!”
“I believe you've misunderstood, your majesty.” Alastor collected his composure back, now that he had a brief moment to think through, “You're asking me to make a deal with you, one that will likely be timeless. You should know how long eternity is. Are you suggesting I be your lap dog? That I follow your orders aimlessly–”
“I don't want your soul.” Lucifer cleared, hands locking behind his back, “What good would it do for someone like myself? Heavens no! All I ask is you leash out your anger on sinners for the right reasons, you're allowed to refuse. You may do as you please. Just hear me out, is all I ask.”
“And when you said every wish?”
“Ask away as you please. Like I've told Charlie, anything in my power is yours for the taking, just name it. Anytime, anywhere, anything.”
“Anything, you say…” Alastor considered aloud, voice getting coated over heavily with static as the seconds passed.
“Anything.” Lucifer smiled, extending his hand out, a golden glow brightening the dark room. “Do we have a deal?”
Alastor was many things, but reckless wasn't one of them. Unlike the princess, the king hadn't said anything about harming others. Unlike hers, this wasn't limited to a favour. No, for eternity, he'd side with the most powerful being in all of hell, all he had to do, as Lucifer had explained, was to kill. To have fun. There were a lot of loopholes to exploit, he would have his soul and not even have follow every command given out.
Lucifer wasn’t called persuasive for nothing, and he clearly took pride in the whole concept of free will. He admittedly admired the determination. Oh, Alastor could work with this.
His cane vanished in the blink of an eye, one hand chugged down the rye left in the glass and his brows raised as his hand extended forward to reach for the King's.
“It's a deal, Lucifer.”
The ground shook, the hotel walls trembled, but neither shifted the slightest as they shook hands. Alastor could already feel the fire coursing through his veins, different than he'd felt when he first landed in hell as the most powerful sinner. No, this was divine. Unmatched. Indescribable.
“It was a pleasure doing business with you, your majesty.”
Before Lucifer had the chance to get a word in, the hotel staff appeared in the lounge. Disheveled, and panicked. Alastor’s loud, incessant laughter echoing in the quiet didn’t help. Neither did Lucifer’s silence and the unbothered drinking me refused to stop.
“Dad..? What's going on?”
Now, Lucifer hadn't talked to Charlie properly since the whole fiasco with Vox’s humiliation, and her outburst later on at the hotel.
Lucifer loved Charlie more than anything, he would do anything for her and her only. She was his whole world, even if Charlie thought otherwise. But after what happened, after the angels and the Vees and Lilith… Lucifer was pretty sure he would lose what little sanity he'd left if he had to watch one more sinner think they're the shit. He'd lose it and likely do something he'd actually regret if those filthy excuses for humans hurt his family again.
No.
He was done taking it. He was done feeling sorry for himself, for getting punished, for being forced to endure. He just couldn't do it anymore.
And he didn’t answer Charlie for the first time since his little angel was born.
“Dad!-- Alastor! What's going on?! What did you do?”
“Holy shit– they made a deal.” Husk stepped back, flinching. Dozen scenarios flashing in his head as he gulped heavily. Vaggie turned to look at him, eyes wide, gaze switching between the bartender and her girlfriend.
Charlie’s hands shook from the rage, horns poking through her forehead, eyes glowing.
“What deal?!”
Lucifer cleared his throat before speaking once Alastor was done with his laughing fit. He didn’t turn around, or to his side, didn't bulge. His claws gripped the glass from the top, swirling the liquid around aimlessly.
“Alastor,” he announced, “I want every Overlord who sided with Vox gone by the morning.”
Charlie's brows furred, taken back with the words while the rest watched worriedly, rightfully confused.
Alastor stood with precision, fixed his coat as he always did and summoned his cane. His head tilted down, one hand behind to support his back, and he bowed to the king. Right in front of all the eyes to see.
It was a show Lucifer had to admit he appreciated, Alastor was showing them all where his loyalties lied, who was in charge here, whom he respected by his only acknowledgement being toward Lucifer.
“As his majesty desires.”
And with that, shadows swallowed him. Disappear out of sight, but not certainly the minds of the hotel staff still processing what just happened.
“What..? What was that?” Angel blurted, stepping closer to Husk unconsciously, “I thought you couldn't..?”
Lucifer didn’t answer once again, and just as Charlie started walking toward him with the rage he could smell from a mile away, red and gold flames swirled to take him home.
He wouldn’t stay where he wasn’t wanted. It brought nothing but pain. That's what happened the last time, right? He was fine. He would be fine.
Lucifer woke up with a lack of weight he’d grown to accept the next morning. He wasn’t sure when he'd fallen asleep, he'd likely passed out. Maybe it was for the best.
He didn’t know anymore.
Maybe he didn’t want to either.
A knock startled him, he failed to place himself back in the palace in his mind, the mountains of ducks should've given it away, in all honesty.
The person didn't bother with wasting seconds, didn't announce themselves and walked right in.
Lucifer blinked, then blinked again.
Alastor’s entire body was covered in blood; dripping carelessly onto the flooring, and in his hands rested a cup of coffee each.
“Ah, what a lovely morning! Coffee, your majesty?”
Lucifer rubbed his temples, groaning. Perhaps slightly annoyed by the blood staining his room, which, likely was the case for the entire palace judging by the generous gesture of coffee Alastor brought along.
“Not quite a morning star, hm?” the demon snickered as he stepped closer, evidently pleased with himself, content. And Lucifer could only guess his first mission went well.
“You had fun last night, I take it?” He slowly reached for the cup of coffee Alastor held out for him as the demon nodded brightly.
“Oh, it was marvellous, your majesty–”
“Call me Lu.”
Lucifer spoke without giving his offer a second thought. Alastor narrowed his eyes and tilted his head to the side in confusion in response.
“Pardon?”
“I'm not going to be talking to anyone else other than you for the foreseeable future, we might as well get familiar with each other. So, call me Lu, Alastor.” He explained, scanning his reflection inside the cup.
“Alight, Lu.” Alastor tried, a part of him hated this vulnerable side of the king, consistently presenting through all his decisions, “Then I ask you not to call me that childish name around anyone else.”
Lucifer chuckles, smiling, he allows the heat radiating from the cup to warm his cold fingertips. “What? Bambi?” It was the coffee, this warmth that suddenly washed over him, he was sure. No, it had to be it.
Alastor’s ears fell back in annoyance, sticky with the blood yet to dry. “Yes, Lu. That.” Lucifer laughed again.
“Alright, alright. Fine! I won't, I promise.”
“Glad that's settled, now,” Alastor placed his cup on the nightstand, and he didn’t have a chance to get a word in as Lucifer smirked.
“You really should learn to use a coaster, Al.”
“Let's not start with that again.” Alastor rolled his eyes, he was about to sit on the bed when the king snapped away all the blood off of him. “If you say so.” He shrugged. “Now, as I was saying, I do hope you have prepared some sort of plan to follow our next step regarding the execution of all the Overlords siding with Vox.”
“I couldn’t care less, Alastor.”
“..What..?”
“You handle it, I wasn’t made for this shit. Heaven knows it, the sinners know it, Charlie and…” Lucifer sucked in a shaky breath, he hunched over with a dark expression, “Lily knew. Why do you think I allowed the exterminations? Why do you think she left?”
“She was… the Queen was your protector..?”
“Yep!” Lucifer breathed out an excuse of a wet laugh, rubbing behind his neck, he slowly slipped the covers off of his body.
“You mean to tell me Lilith leaving Hell had nothing to do with the extermination–”
“I had to get rid of them somehow! Ha- I- I mean, fuck. She empowered the sinners through control and fear. Lily is a sinner, and Hell is my punishment. She can kill them, I can't. I had to find a way to protect Charlie and myself because she just got up and left!”
Alastor watched the fallen angel’s hands tremble, watched him as his eyes glossed with tears threatening to spill any moment now. He understood, he truly did. But was Lucifer really this fearful of mortal souls? Did he feel so cornered that he turned to Heaven for help just because Lilith wasn't there anymore?
Lucifer stumbled as he pulled himself off the bed, distancing himself from Alastor in the process, he clung to his chest as he wheezed. Alastor moved carefully, not daring to step closer too fast but it felt– it felt wrong to not do anything.
If it were just a few weeks ago, he would’ve enjoyed watching Lucifer make a fool out of himself. But now… Now that he thought about it, now that he actually knew what had happened; he was starting to realise Lucifer had never actually told anyone any of this. He was given a glimpse of the truth he hid behind carefully guarded walls the king had built around himself.
“Lu–”
“What else was I supposed to do..? Ask for the sins’ help?! Me? Yeah, no. Nope! Ha! But Charlie just doesn’t understand! I tried, so hard, to be there. To support her. To love her, despite not knowing how to. But she insists on Lily’s presence, she isn’t even here! I am! She’s right though, it’s all my fault. I just ruin everything I touch–!”
The angel’s gaze snapped up as hands pried his own away from his head. A tight grip, not hurtful, yet grounding. Not soft, but, dare he say caring, almost gentle.
“Calm yourself, Lucifer. This is too pitiful even for you,” Alastor spoke quietly with a sharp smile, not letting go of his wrists just yet, “Take a deep breath before you pass out. And listen to me.” he ordered, watching for any signs of discomfort he may cause the distressed angel in front of him.
Lucifer tried his best to steady his rapid breathing, focusing on Alastor’s touch and his eyes; he soon found himself staring at the sinner’s ears. Once he calmed down, his knees gave out. Slowly he allowed himself to sit, the bed supporting his back was much appreciated. To his surprise, Alastor sat right beside him awkwardly.
“I’m so sorry, Al–”
“It’s alright.”
Alastor let go of his wrists, he didn’t say anything though. Lucifer found the silence comforting. He appreciated it. And he didn’t feel judged, or belittled, not really. He laughed, a soft sound, broken yet gentle.
“Thank you, Bambi.”
The demon hummed and leaned back himself. He studied Lucifer’s expression briefly, then sighed, “I assure you, this shall stay between the two of us. Don’t you worry your little head about it.”
“Didn’t even cross my mind.”
The palace stayed painfully quiet after that; the kind of quiet Lucifer used to enjoy before he ever learned what loneliness felt like. Now it only made the ringing in his skull sharper, every thought echoing back at him in a voice he didn’t want to hear.
Alastor didn’t get up immediately after their exchange.
He stayed where he sat, legs crossed neatly, watching Lucifer with a kind of detached curiosity… but softer than usual. Restraint replaced mockery, and for once, he wasn’t smiling.
Lucifer hated how much that helped.
He slid a hand over his face and leaned back against the bedframe, exhaling shakily. The coffee sat untouched on his lap, too warm, too steady, too undeserved.
“…You know,” Lucifer murmured finally, voice low, “I thought it would feel better. Having an executioner again. Having someone I can actually rely on.”
Alastor tilted his head. “Does it?”
Lucifer huffed a laugh. “Ask me the next time when you’re covered in blood.”
The demon’s ears flicked.
A pause. Not hostile. Not awkward.
Just… a shared stillness.
Lucifer didn’t know if he liked it or not.
“You did well,” he said quietly, eyes on the swirling steam rising from his cup. “Yesterday, I mean.”
Alastor blinked, mildly surprised. “Praise, from you? Are you quite sure you haven’t hit your head last night, Lu?”
“Don’t push it,” Lucifer muttered, but for once, there was no bite.
Alastor’s grin softened into something smaller, less theatrical. He leaned back against the headboard too, mimicking Lucifer’s posture, though his hands rested much more neatly in his lap.
The silence stretched again, but differently this time, not suffocating. Not punishing. Just… there.
It startled Lucifer how much he needed it.
“…Stay a bit longer,” Lucifer said before he could rethink it. His voice trembled just slightly, a crack only someone listening closely could hear.
Alastor did hear it.
He didn’t tease him for it either.
“I planned to.” he answered simply.
Lucifer let out a breath he didn’t know he was holding. Something in his shoulders loosened.
A quiet moment.
A still morning.
Two monsters who had never been allowed softness, sharing it without daring to name what it was.
Alastor closed his eyes first, letting the weight of the night settle into the room’s dim warmth.
Lucifer stared at him, really stared, the demon who had slaughtered dozens hours ago, who now sat beside him with patience Lucifer hadn’t realized he craved.
He whispered again, barely audible:
“…Thank you.”
Alastor didn’t respond with words.
He only gave the smallest, almost imperceptible nod.
This is fine.