Chapter Text
It began with a bouquet of flowers. Well, to be exact, it started with a conversation at a bar, over wine and liquor. And if one goes all the way back, it really started when a chandelier crashed to the floor, and started a rivalry between a demon and a king…
But it began with a bouquet of flowers. Delivered to Alastor’s radio tower during his morning show, tied with a golden ribbon. Daisies, pink roses and white carnations, with sprigs of forget-me-nots and soft green ferns. As the son of a woman that had loved gardening and imparted her knowledge of plants and flowers and their secret meanings, Alastor had been…surprised. The bouquet was from Lucifer, after all. While he knew about the devil’s affections already, he really had not expected such a quick move. And such a bold one, too…
Running his fingers over the ferns, Alastor hummed. It certainly was an interesting way to announce affections. Show up at the door to his radio tower, shove a bouquet of sentimental flowers into his arms, ask him out to dinner in the most rambling way possible, and then run away.
Static crackled, and a familiar voice murmured directly into his ear. “So, did you get a lovely bouquet of flowers, too?”
Alastor felt a laugh rise in his chest, turning to go place the flowers into an empty vase. He and Vox didn’t typically use their radio waves to communicate, but sometimes it was truly convenient. No one else could hear them whispering through the static. And, as far as they could tell, no one else had the same ability to tap into it as they did. Odd? Perhaps. But who were they to question it?
“I did, indeed.” He whispered across the static, amused. “Along with a request to join the king for dinner. Did you get that, too?”
“Hmm. I did. Do you think he wants us both at the same time, or separately?”
“What would the papers say if one of us is spotted having a romantic dinner date with someone that isn’t each other?” He couldn’t help but tease, knowing how flustered Vox could get at the thought of ending up on his own news outlet. Although this time there was a real threat of this doing damage to their precious image…
“Wh-we – it’ll have to be at the same time, then! Or…or privately, maybe. He didn’t exactly iron out any details with me before he ran off…”
“He’s very good at running away, isn’t he? Oh, but it’s quite adorable. Anyway, I must finish my show, I can only play music for so long before my dear listeners want to hear my voice again~.”
“Al, my love, I am one of your listeners.”
“I know~.”
The static faded, noise rolling back in. He caught the last few notes of jazz song in his queue, humming along as he slid back into his chair. Waiting until the song faded into silence, Alastor flipped his mic back on, purring into it with that smoker’s rasp he knew was so popular…
“Gooood morning Pentagram City! I hope that line up of jazz, blues and swing put some pep in your step, those up and about this early! To start off, we have the weather forecast for the day. Better keep a coat on hand, we’ll have high winds and a nip of frost in the air! Seems like Hell may threaten to freeze over in the next few weeks, as winter fast approaches. As always, trust me with your weather! Now, on to the list of newly dead sinners…”
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Lucifer couldn’t believe he had done that.
Not only had he managed to ask Alastor out, but Vox, too. Both men were…intimidating. Vox was tall, broad, all sharp angles and loud voice and bright presence. He loomed over others, knew things even when they were guarded secrets. Other demons parted the way for the mechanical shark demon, listened when he barked orders…that one stepped into a room and had everyone’s attention immediately,
Alastor wasn’t as physically intimidating; the deer dressed in sweaters and vests, softer colors. And such a sweet face, warm pink eyes, long eyelashes, framed with beautiful maroon curls…before one heard his voice and saw him bare his fangs in that manic grin of his, they could almost mistake Alastor for being gentle and shy. People still listened to him, though. He had a reputation as one of the strongest sinners to back him up, after all.
Lucifer was, honestly, a little jealous. Things just seemed so easy for them. Respect and admiration was expected by them, gained with a wave of their hand or a dramatic, but well-timed show of power.
When was the last time he had commanded such attention?
…he couldn’t remember. But – whatever, it didn’t matter anymore.
Lucifer had dinner plans to make! A private booth, maybe? Would they be expecting somewhere fancy and expensive, something five stars? Or…or would they prefer a homecooked meal so they didn’t need to worry about the press?
…he’d never been very good at cooking, though.
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After some back and forth, they decided to reserve a private booth at one of the fanciest restaurants in the Pentagram city. Big, impressive building; been there since before even Alastor had been in hell. The spiderweb motifs marked it as part of Zestial’s empire, and the elegant, dark interior matched the ancient overlord’s style quite well.
Not that Lucifer knew any of this. He’d met the overlord all of once, at some party Lilith had held decades ago.
He stood on the front steps, in a black suit. A similar silhouette to his usual attire, with baggier sleeves and a dark purple corset, with matching purple boots. Gold chains hung from his wrists, neck, down his back. No hat, no crown, not apple-topped cane tonight. His snake, curled around his head like a living, golden circlet, was all that he kept of his title. He didn’t want to look like the king tonight…he just wanted to be Lucifer.
…and he really hoped that Alastor and Vox liked him without that title. Not a lot of…people ever cared for he was without the crown…
“Oh, you look lovely, my dear.” Alastor voice pulled him from his thoughts, soft and staticky.
“Oh!” Lucifer turned, hand to his chest. “You –“
He stopped, breath catching in his throat. Alastor was stunning; dressed in a darker red than Lucifer had ever seen him in, a dress shirt that was loose, airy, with ruffles on the wrists and a ruffled, lace collar. Cinched around the torso with a golden and black patterned vest, black high waisted pants with golden buttons. The pants flared at the knees, but when Alastor stepped forward, there was a flash of dark red leather, custom shoes made for cloven feet.
“…Lucifer? You’re staring, dear.” The deer looked so, so amused, leaning slightly on his usual radio-mic cane to be closer to eye level.
“Uh, um, sorry, right I – you just – you look amazing. Uh, really…nice. I like you in these colors.” Was his face burning? It certainly felt like it, more so when his stumbling compliment got a soft hum of amusement from Alastor.
“Well, thank you, Lucifer. Quite the compliment coming from one of the most beautiful beings to ever exist~.” Alastor teased, head tilted, smile soft and genuine.
Lucifer’s face turned a wonderful shade of golden, and he turned his gaze down towards the toes of his boots. Most beautiful being to exist? He couldn’t help but wonder what exactly Alastor was looking at. He wasn’t even pretty. The devil opened his mouth to object, but stopped when a pair of cyan claws fell upon his shoulders.
“Hey!” Vox, standing as tall and imposing as ever, dressed in a dark blue suit with a pale lavender dress shirt. A little black bowtie, golden cufflinks in the shape a connection signal. Thin golden chains had been attached to the headphone pieces on the sides of his head, taking the place of his usual mic set up. Similar gold chains connected the sides of his suit jacket, glittering against the dark blue.
“Hi.” It was all Lucifer managed, convinced his heart would hammer out of his chest. “Y-you, um, you look. Uh.”
“Poetry.” Alastor teased, leaning up on the tips of his feet to kiss Vox hello. “Glad you weren’t late, Vin~. I was worried work would keep you.”
“Hmm, no. I made it very clear that I would be leaving on time. I wouldn’t miss this for the world. You two look breathtakingly stunning. Is our table ready?”
“I only just got here, I’m not sure.” Alastor turned, walking with confident strides – his usual cane at his side, clacking sharply against the floor with every step – over to the host stand. Lucifer watched him go, suddenly nervous. What would they talk about over the next few hours? Would they like him after? Would –
“You know,” Vox murmured, leaning down next to Lucifer. “I’ve always been good at reading people. We wouldn’t have agreed to this date if we weren’t interested. In you. Not the king of hell, not the devil; you. So, stop the mental rambling already, and…just be yourself.”
“…I’m just worried you won’t like me for…myself.”
“Well…I know I can’t promise we will. But I like what I’ve seen, so far. So does Al. We won’t know for sure if this’ll work until we give it a real shot, yeah?”
Lucifer sighed, glancing up into cyan and red eyes. “…yeah.”
“Gentlemen!” Alastor waved towards them, smiling so brightly that Lucifer swore the lights around them dimmed in comparison. “Our tables ready!”
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A round of drinks, appetizers and salads…
Alastor sipped his glass whiskey, watching with lidded eyes as Vox made Lucifer laugh with some story about a bad reporter. The devil was on his second glass of wine, and there was a constant golden glow on his cheeks. It was the most…alive he’d ever seen Lucifer. Glowing. Comfortable to be loud and himself, happy and giggly.
Made him wonder, just who had made Lucifer think he had to be quiet? Had to make himself small? Who made such a wonderful being feel like he had to dim his light, hide who he was?
“Hey, red.” Lucifer had turned his golden eyes to Alastor, hiding a soft, warm smile behind the lip of his glass. “You’re not getting tired already, are you? You’re zoning out, a little.”
“Hm?” Alastor straightened, setting his glass down. Both men had turned their gaze to him. Vox had a bit of a knowing look, but moved his hands in a specific way, silently asking if Alastor was alright. He blinked, then shook his head while signing back that he was fine. “No, no, my apologies. I was…admiring the view, is all. You’re both so pretty when you laugh~.”
The golden blush on Lucifer grew deeper, bolder, and he looked down at the table. It was almost as if he wanted to hide. Alastor felt a pang in his chest, and he reached out, brushing a lock of white-blond hair from the devil’s face. How do you convince a fallen angel of his worth? He wished he had someone he could ask.
“You really are lovely, my dear.” Is all he could say.
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They walked home, afterwards. Alastor had had enough of his shoes, carrying them in his free hand, while his other held fast onto Lucifer’s hand. The two had perhaps drank a bit much, giggling to each other and whispering. At least staying together kept them from tipping over.
Vox walked behind them, carrying both his and Lucifer’s coat over his shoulder, Alastor’s cane in his hand. It had been a good night. A long night. Talking, telling stories, learning about the devil and the depths of who he really was. And man – the bible had it so wrong. Lucifer was…kind. Gentle. He spoke softly and shrank in on himself, making himself so, so small for the sake of other people.
Perhaps they could coax him into taking up more space. To feel allowed to spread his wings and laugh and glow like this more often.
“Old man~,” Alastor called out over his shoulder, voice high and cheerful like it tended to be when he was tipsy. “You’re falling behind. Can’t keep up with us, Vinnie?”
Lucifer laughed, head tipping back to stare at Vox, grinning so wide his fangs were clearly visible. His eyes glowed in the dark of the night, dangerous and tempting. “C’mon Vinnie~! Y’gotta keep up or we’ll leave you behiiind.”
He chuckled, picking up the pace to catch up to them.
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The morning after the dinner date found Lucifer in the Hazbin Hotel’s kitchen, holding and empty mug and staring at the coffee maker. The slow drip-drip-drip echoed like a hammer in the large, empty space. No one else was up this early. It was just him, the coffee maker…and Kiki, sat at his feet and watching him. It gave him plenty of peace and quiet to replay the night before in his mind.
The date had gone so well. He remembered Vox carrying him to his bed…taking his boots off and tucking him under the covers…and before that, giggling and having fun with Alastor on their way back…they’d held hands, sang older songs slightly off tune. It’d been a little fuzzy, but…they’d been happy, right? Had fun?
But if it went well, why’d they leave him in his own bed? In movies, and in stories he’d heard from the other inhabitants of the hotel, a good date typically ended in the other person’s bed…maybe it hadn’t gone as well as Lucifer thought. Or…maybe he looked too off for them -
“Lu?”
Lucifer jumped, Kiki hissing and darting away in fright. Turning, he found Alastor standing there, in a black robe, wearing shark slippers too big for him, kept on with a curl of green-black magic, a book in one hand. His hair was a mess of unruly curls, sticking up at silly angles. He looked…so soft, so sleepy. A sharp contrast to how put together and fancy he was the night before.
“G-good morning!” Lucifer spat out, spinning back around to stare at the brewing coffee maker. Maybe if he didn’t bring it up… “Sl-sleep well?”
“…good morning. Are you alright?” Alastor wasn’t sleepy enough to not see right through him, apparently. “We weren’t too much last night, were we? I know I can be…intense after a bit of drinking.”
“Oh – I’m, uh…I’m fine. Yeah. Yep! Fine. Suuuper…fine.”
“My dear, that didn’t sound fine.” Alastor was at his side, suddenly, reaching around him to retrieve his own mug from the cabinet. A duck season mug, matched with the deer season one Lucifer held in his hands. The demon moved away, giving him space, but continued to speak. “Is something on your mind? I may not be fully awake, but…if something is bothering you…”
“…did you…did the date go…well? Like it…it wasn’t boring or-or anything, right?”
“Hmm?” Alastor’s smile went crooked, eyes betraying his confusion. “Well, yes. Both Vinnie and I had fun. It was a fantastic evening…even if we did indulge too much in drinking…my dear, did you not have fun?”
“No! No, I mean – yes, I…I had fun. You’re…so amazing, both of you, and getting to know you was great…it’s just…”
“…” Alastor stared at him, those pink eyes so knowing. Lucifer looked away, convinced if he stared too long, he would drown in a sea of magenta and crimson.
“…I don’t know if I’m…worth your attention. You – you realize I’m…” He stared at the counter for a long moment, listening to nothing but the drip-drip of the coffee maker, and the low static that always buzzed around Alastor. Lucifer rubbed at his eyes, thought about last night, how they’d made him feel, how they’d spoken to him, looked at him… “You keep calling me beautiful, and I don’t – I don’t know how to deal with it. Because I’m not, and I’m pathetic, and – I don’t…know what you see in me.”
“Lucifer –“
“And if the date went well, why – in movies, when the date goes well, you’re supposed to end up in their bed, right?”
“Is…that what you want?”
“…isn’t that how it works?” Lucifer flinched at the coolness in Alastor’s voice. “…I don’t know what I’m doing. I’ve only ever…with Lilith. We didn’t really…date, either. She – she didn’t…”
“…right.” Alastor sighed, and those eyes finally looked away. “If this is how you think of yourself, I can’t imagine it was a healthy relationship…or a happy one. Was it?”
He didn’t answer, only wishing he could shrink more, take up less space, be less seen.
Alastor wasn’t finished. But his voice was soft, now, warm. “The date went well. And yes, I know Vin left you in your own bed. But that doesn’t mean we disliked anything about you…perhaps we’re old fashioned, but we wanted to court you, properly. With dinner, walks, garden dates…we wanted to treat you the way you deserve.”
“Oh.” He turned, fully, to look at the demon. “…oh. I’ve…are you sure? All that effort, just for me?”
“I am sure. Trust me, you are most definitely worth the effort of courting you.”
“…ok…can I um…can I interest you and Vox in breakfast? To – to make up for this…awkward thing that just uh, happened?”
Alastor’s permanent smile finally seemed genuine, eyes squinted in amusement. “Can you cook?”
“I can make pancakes!” A pause. “…mostly just pancakes, though. And oatmeal. Spaghetti if I’m careful. I burn stuff a lot…”
“Pfft, haheheh….hm. Ok. You handle the pancakes; I’ll get eggs and sausages going. Hand me a pan from that cabinet, would you, my dear? I’m going to turn the radio on, if you don’t mind. Jazz is excellent for waking up the soul, you know. And for dancing to with someone you like~.”
Lucifer felt his face heat up, though he didn’t protest. He just hurried to grab the pan Alastor had asked for, and tried to tell himself he really did deserve all this…courting business.
…it felt…nice. To be wanted. Or at least to be able to pretend he was wanted.