Chapter Text
Lucifer couldn't handle it. He was a deadbeat dad taking care of an eight year old who has no concept of abandonment. Hell, he can hardly take care of himself at this point. He hasn't showered in god knows how long, his hair looks like he just got run over by a stampede, he looks like he hasn't slept in years, and he's pretty sure he reeks of sweat and bits of cologne from the last time he showered. Lucifer looks at himself, really looks at himself, and realizes just how shitty his life is. He's gotten banished from heaven, his daughter is stuck in hell and unable to live a life in paradise because he gave Eve that damned apple, his wife left him and he doesn't know why, he hasn't left his room in days, and he's been a shitty father to Charlie. Sure, he's trying his best but he can't help but think that it isn't enough. He wants to give Charlie more, but he can't even rip himself away from his desk to go grab a glass of water for his crippling dehydration. He really is a deadbeat.
Lucifer's room was a mess, pieces of fabric scattered across the room, failed rubber duck experiments creating piles in the corners of his room, and probably moldy coffee sitting on a shelf near one of his couches he isn't really sure. his mind starts wandering; Why did Lilith leave? Is he that shitty of a husband? he couldn't shake off the fact that he deserved everything that was happening to him, I mean he stripped his family of paradise and while Lilith was building hell, he was just sitting in his room rotting away making rubber ducks as a coping mechanism because of his failing marriage. He can't help but think back to when he and Lilith first got sent to hell and the palace had just been built. Ever since that day Lilith has been scrutinizing everything he did. Like when he offered to add some color into hell like earth had green, blue, pink, and a variety of other colors Lilith turned him down and said his idea was childish so instead, she just made everything hideous shades of red.
Honestly, Lucifer was getting tired of the red. Every time he looked out his window all he would see were red buildings, red skies, red this, red that, and he was TIRED of that color. He looks at his work area which has every color imaginable ranging from simple red, to magenta, and even chartreuse ribbon, yarn, fabric, hell even a few colored ducks here and there. He thinks about what the palace looked like. it was a lot less red because Lucifer had built most of it so there was gold, a bit of yellow, grays, reds, and a bit of orange. now that Lucifer thinks about it his workspace is almost inaccessible because of the mountains of ducks taking up most of the room.
Lucifer can feel himself falling too deep into his thoughts, his breathing gets heavy, his vision goes blurry, and all he can think about is how he failed as a father while he stares down at his hands with scares from both self harm and when he had fallen from heaven. His mind is all over the place and it feels like it's just never ending television static inside his mind. Lucifer slumps on the floor under his desk, not knowing what to do, and its not like he can do much anyway. his hands move upward to his hair and tangling themselves in the blonde locks before pulling aggressively on the strands. his lungs feel restricted and he cant breathe properly. He knows he's having an asthma attack, but his inhaler is all the way in the living room and he couldn't get to it if he tried. Lucifer's vision goes dark as he slowly slips into unconsciousness from lack of oxygen.
Alastor was in the kitchen taking care of Charlie, feeding her some jambalaya he made using his mothers recipe. Charlie seemed to be loving it with some sauce staining her pink dress with white poke-dots. She had a bright smile on her face, having no idea why her mother hasn't come back yet. Lucifer has been telling her shes on a business trip, but Charlie is starting to catch on so that lie won't last much longer.
Charlie was plunging a spoonful after a spoonful of jambalaya into her mouth, stuffing it like a turkey on Thanksgiving. her cheeks looked like a chipmunk storing nuts with how much jambalaya was stuffed in her mouth. After she swallowed she spoke in a cheery tone "wow! this jam-ba-ay-ah? was amazing! you're a way better cook than my dad! I wonder what he's doing, I haven't seen him in days! mommy always takes me away every time I try to go near him...is he dangerous? I don't want my dad to be dangerous!" she whined as she started getting emotional. God, this child was more emotional than her father.
"Now dear, I'm sure your father is okay. why don't you finish your jambalaya and go watch cartoons okay?" Alastor said in the most not tired of the constant whining tone he could muster.
"Okay mister Alastor," Charlie said before finishing her food as fast as she could because she adored watching cartoons with Alastor since her father wouldn't.
The two made their way over to the living room that had a vintage looking sofa and a bunch of clutter that honestly made the place feel like home. Alastor is pulled out of his thoughts when he feels charlie pulling at his pant leg, practically begging for him to turn on My Little Pony. That show had been a favorite of hers recently and she has already made Alastor watch all the movies with her. Charlie was buzzing with excitement when Alastor grabbed the television remote and skimmed through all the kids shows displayed on the screen until he found My Little Pony. Alastor had never enjoyed the wonders of television but he would do anything to keep Charlie happy so he wouldn't have to listen to her constant whining every time he denied one of her requests.
Alastor glances at Charlie who is immersed in the bright show about Ponies using the power of friendship to get through hardships and he cant help but think how a show like this get a child so immersed in a silly kids show. Back when he was alive children couldn't imagine watching a show with so much color since everything was in black and white or on radio. despite that most families didn't get the privilege of television back in his day, only wealthy families got those types of luxuries.
Alastor spots Lucifer's inhaler on the coffee table, but thinks nothing of it since Lucifer seemed to be breathing fine with no troubles this morning when he checked on him. Charlie spotted the contraption and immediately felt the need to ask what it was.
"Mister Alastor, what is that weird thing on the table?"
"Well my dear, that is called an inhaler and your father uses it for when he can't breathe," Alastor Didn't know any other way to describe an inhaler to a child no older than 6.
After about one hour or so of watching the show, Charlie started driving off to sleep so Alastor used that as an opportunity to check on Lucifer since he hasn't seen him in a good while. the butler slowly gets up, trying to make as little noise as possible to not wake Charlie. Alastor makes his way to Lucifers workspace since that's where Lucifer mostly lets himself rot away at making those stupid rubber ducks.
As soon as Alastor arrives he immediately gets a bad feeling in his gut. He turns the doorknob and gets swallowed by ducks bursting through the door like a tidal wave. Alastor gets up before brushing himself off. He steps forward and scans the room like an animal hunting for prey. The Deer was about to leave until he heard something that sounded an awful lot like a gasp. Alastor maneuvers his way through the room urgently so he can get to Lucifer's desk to see what was wrong. He finds Lucifer curled under the desk, gasping for air with tears rolling down his face. He seemed to be slipping in and out of consciousness.
Alastor uses his magic to spawn Lucifer's inhaler into his hand and immediately uses it on Lucifer. The oxygen feels like heaven to the king's lungs that have been deprived of air for far too long. Lucifer scrambles into Alastor's arms, desperate for any form of comfort. The King clings onto Alastor, not caring if he gets pushed away. All he needs is someone to hold and cling to. Alastor holds Lucifer close as if he might disappear if he lets go. he can't help but wonder how long Lucifer has been suffering. Alastor also notices that Lucifer reeks. "When was the last time you've taken a shower, sire?" Alastor spoke in a calm voice as to not stress Lucifer out more. "I...I can't remember," Lucifer's voice sounds weak like a child who had gotten punished by a guardian for doing something wrong.
"Would you like to go shower, your majesty? you reek and i'd hate for you to walk around smelling like you jumped in a dumpster,"
Lucifer nods weakly, not having the energy to do anything more. It was often Alastor had to remind Lucifer to do things that should be habit considering how long the king as been in existence for, and to be honest, Alastor didn't mind taking care of Lucifer.
In the shower Alastor gently took off Lucifers clothes so as to not make him uncomfortable and placed the porcelain king into the tub. Alastor pours some shampoo into his hand and starts washing Lucifers hair. Lucifer can only describe the feeling of Alastors claws raking through his hair as divine. The king can feel the way Alastors fingers massage his scalp and the way Alastor seems to be making sure all the dirt and grime gets out of his hair. Alastor then proceeds to start washing the shampoo out of his hair. he grabs a cup and fills it with water before dumping it on Lucifers head. Lucifer lets out a sound of protest after getting water dumped on his head.
Alastor chuckles, the King looked adorable without his hair in its slicked back hairstyle. He pours some conditioner into his hand and lathers Lucifers hair in it. He lets the conditioner sit for a few minutes for it to soak in before washing that out as well. Lucifer was enjoying the moment. He didn't care that he looked like a desperate puppy begging for their owners to pet him, all he cared about was that he was getting attention from Alastor. Lucifer looks up at Alastor to admire his features like his shark jawline, his curly hair that made him look angelic, the soft expression on his face, ugh! everything about Alastor is utterly perfect and Lucifer would be lying if he didn't say he was a little jealous.
A faint golden blush spread across Lucifers porcelain skin, oh how Alastor looked divine. Lucifer didn't care if he looked like a love-struck teenager, all that mattered was that Lucifer enjoyed watching Alastor like he was bird watching, or in this case, deer watching.
After Alastor finished washing Lucifer's body, he scooped him up and wrapped him in a towel. The Deer then carries Lucifer out of the bathroom and into his bedroom. Alastor snaps his fingers and Lucifer had gotten changed into some duck-themed pajamas. Lucifer, not having slept in days collapses onto the bed and drifts off to sleep. The last thing the King remembers is being curled up in Alastors arms at peace for the first time in years.