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"I'm just worried about him, Vaggie!"
"But do you really think spying on your dad is the right way to go?"
Charlie let out an exaggerated groan, flopping backwards on the bed, "Yeah, I could just ask him, that'll go well! You know how cagey he is!" She sighed, sat up, phone displaying the live feed of her father's room held tightly in her hands, "I just want to make sure he's okay and not, like, overdosing on sleeping pills or putting himself in a coma every night..."
The bed beside her sank and Vaggie took one of her hands into both of her own, "I'm sure he's fine, babe, you've seen how happy he is. How much more lively he's gotten now he's getting some decent sleep."
Sure, her father appeared happier, but he was always good at putting on a brave face when he was at his lowest, determined to never upset Charlie. She was old enough now to see past it, know he was hiding a lot more. He had to be, because they were on much better terms now than they used to be, so why wouldn't he tell Charlie his exact method for a restful sleep? It only made her worry more, and no amount of impromptu happy dances from Lucifer, or mornings spent relaxing instead of working on daily repairs, was going to appease that.
Charlie squeezed her hand, "I have to see it for myself."
Vaggie bumped their shoulders together and gave her a small smile, "Okay."
"Thank you- oh, look! Dad's getting ready for bed!"
They both sat up and focused their attention on Charlie's phone, which was now showing Lucifer gathering up various throw blankets and fashioning them into some kind of canopy above the bed. Thankfully, Charlie had picked a good spot for her hidden camera and the bed remained completely visible as the patchwork canopy was completed.
Any blankets not used were left in a pile in the middle. Next, the impressive collection of pillows was gathered to make a wall around the edge, with the bulk of them concentrated towards the head of the bed. Lastly, Lucifer took the stuffed duck plushies of various colours and sizes and arranged them neatly. All the while, he hummed a made up tune and wriggled his body in time with it.
"Well, that's, uh, certainly one way to get rid of nightmares...?" Vaggie commented, watching the display with visible confusion.
Charlie shrugged, "I mean, I always enjoyed a good blanket fort when I was a kid."
"There, almost done! Now I just need the pièce de résistance." The Lucifer on screen announced. He crawled to the edge of the bed and carefully, so as not to disturb the pillow wall, reached over it to pluck his nightlight from the bedside table. It was nestled into a pile of pillows, secure enough that it couldn't be toppled, but not enough to block the light once it was switched on.
The camera glitched out then, the image flickering and fuzzing, and Charlie let out a silent curse, shaking her phone in a desperate attempt to fix it.
It righted itself soon after, with the reveal of a new voice, "I think the pièce de résistance to this little project is the one that actually helps you sleep, no?"
Lucifer perked up, peeking over the wall to grin at something off screen, "Al! I made a fort!"
"Alastor?" Vaggie asked, "That doesn't make any sense."
Charlie bit her lip, anxiety creeping in, "I did ask him to try and help dad, and when things got better I figured he found a way, but... Al wouldn't hurt him, would he? That can't be the reason..." She was confident he wouldn't. Alastor was creepy at times, and gross in that he didn't shy away from showing off his preferred diet, but he protected the hotel when it was necessary, he hadn't let any harm come to it or it's inhabitants in the time he'd spent with them... so she had to believe that included her father, as much as the two of them fought whenever they were in close proximity.
Besides, it was a live feed, if Alastor tried anything, she could stop it right away.
With that slight reassurance, she held the phone closer to her face, and leaned more heavily against Vaggie.
"Is this where you expect us to sleep tonight?"
"Us?"
"Sssh!"
"Duh, doesn't it look fun? It's so cozy, see for yourself!" Lucifer bounced his way to the edge of the bed, and meticulously adjusted the pillow wall to create a gap.
It allowed a heavily distorted Alastor to peer through, give a thoughtful hum, "I suppose it's not the worst thing you've subjected me to since we started sleeping together." In his hands, he held two mugs, which he promptly held out to Lucifer, "Here, take our drinks. As graceful as I am, I don't think I'd manage this without spilling."
"Hey, the waterbed wasn't that bad! The only reason it didn't work is because somebody has tiny pitchforks on his head." Lucifer argued with an exaggerated pout. One of the mugs was topped with an unholy amount of whipped cream, sprinkles, and what could only be a duck shaped marshmallow. Lucifer plucked it from the cream with his teeth, swallowed it down, and then took a large gulp of the drink.
"Oh, sure, nothing to do with the fact that the angelic creature that literally flies got motion sick and had to be comforted on the floor for an hour, before he felt well enough to try and sleep again." Alastor retorted, climbing through the pillows and blankets, and only looking slightly like a newborn fawn doing so.
Lucifer huffed, "I just needed to get used to it! I would have been fine."
"It was a terrible idea, my love." Alastor reiterated, reaching out to swipe the cream from Lucifer's upper lip, and replacing it with a kiss.
Charlie felt her face heat up and realized maybe she shouldn't actually be spying on her father like this, but she didn't have the proof she needed just yet to satisfy her curiosity. Who's to say Alastor hadn't spiked that very delicious looking drink? Playing the part of a disgustingly sweet partner, just to lull Lucifer into a false sense of security so he could drug him and give them all the peace and quiet they craved.
She had to make sure.
"Charlie? I don't think-"
"Just a little more. Then I'll turn it off."
On screen, Lucifer knee-walked to the centre of the bed, drink cradled in both hands, "Did you bring your record player?"
Alastor followed, his own mug back in his hands, "Of course, I've never denied any of your requests, why would tonight be any different?"
"Because you like being difficult and still take every opportunity to annoy me." Lucifer said in a tone that suggested he'd reminded Alastor of that fact plenty of times before.
"Not when it comes to your sleep." Alastor said firmly, "Now speaking of sleep, why don't you settle down? It's been a long day, and I'm eager to pass out myself."
As if on cue, Lucifer yawned. "I swear, you must put something in this." He said, finishing off the last dregs of his hot chocolate.
Charlie stiffened.
"Nothing but my love." Was Alastor's answer, "A nice routine does wonders for helping get one's mind and body ready for sleep, and I think we've developed quite the special one, haven't we?" He tenderly cupped Lucifer's cheek, brought him into a kiss, then placed several more around his face for good measure.
Lucifer scrunched up his face in mock annoyance, but the goofy grin he couldn't fight ruined it, "You've become a real big sap, you know that?"
"I hope you'll keep my secret? Can't risk spoiling my reputation now."
"Oh, imagine if all of Hell found out the big bad Radio Demon was just a lovesick little puppy who recorded covers of the king's favourite songs onto vinyl so they could both fall asleep to them."
"Perish the thought."
With another yawn, Lucifer pushed at Alastor's chest, "Lay down, you big, scawy monster. It's bed time."
A tentacle arched up, collected the now empty mugs to deposit them on the nightstand, then helped the pair bury themselves under the mound of blankets. The night light flickered on, and in the same moment a record player somewhere off screen came to life. Alastor's voice sounded from it, singing a slow melody without an instrumental track.
The pair were too obscured by bedding and Alastor's glitchy video filter now to see them properly, but Charlie strained her eyes anyway, scanning every inch for any tiny indication that something was amiss.
That couldn't be it, could it? That Alastor simply joined Lucifer in bed and they just... literally slept together? The drink, the music... there had to be something there, surely.
She was so caught up in her musings, she jumped and dropped her phone when it started ringing.
It was her dad.
Uh oh.
"Shit, how do we explain this Vaggie?" Charlie panicked, staring at the caller ID.
Vaggie appeared just as panicked, eye wide, leaning away from Charlie as though her phone was contagious, "Just answer it! We'll figure it out!"
Charlie pressed the answer button, an excuse on the tip of her tongue.
"Is it a genetic thing? Wanting to spy on others via hidden camera?"
The voice was Alastor's.
"Oh. Um. Hiiii, Al... You saw the camera?"
"Ever since your father had the same brilliant idea, you could say I've been on high alert for secret recording devices. I assume your intentions are just as innocent?"
"I just wanted to make sure dad was okay... I mean, I know his nightmares have stopped, clearly, the hotel's holding up amazingly, but I just thought- I don't know." Charlie shrugged, held her phone tight. "I worry about him."
"You needn't do so." Alastor reassured, "You asked me a while back to find a way to help him and I have. While I won't get into all the gory details, because Lucifer did want to make you aware of our relationship on his own terms, it seems that I am your father's midnight remedy and I'd sooner throw myself from the roof then ever let his own mind torture him again."
Oh. Alastor really was a sap.
She allowed a smile to tug at her lips, a weight finally lifting from her shoulders, "Okay, um, good night? And tell dad I said goodnight too?"
"He's sound asleep, dear, and I don't plan to wake him until morning... but goodnight, you sleep well now."
"I will, Al, thank you."
The call disconnected and Charlie watched as the Alastor on screen dropped the phone in his hands, and then a black tentacle shot from his back, heading straight for the camera.
The screen cut to black and a signal interrupted message appeared.
Vaggie wrapped both arms around Charlie, gave a playful squeeze, "Can we sleep now?"
Charlie laughed sheepishly, "Yeah, I guess I was being a bit dramatic, huh? Would drugs even work on my dad?"
A pillow was thrown at her face and she only laughed louder.
"Good night, babe."