Chapter Text
Everyone in the hotel gathered in the lounge, staff and guests alike. Only a few sinners attended, though Lucifer didn’t particularly care whether they came or not. Still, he appreciated those who genuinely wanted to reconnect with their past human lives and attempt to rediscover a sense of remorse.
Lucifer sat on the sofa, conspicuously alone. No one chose to sit with him, despite Vox having revealed the full truth that Lucifer couldn’t directly harm sinners. Perhaps it was because of the laser beam incident; they had realized that, with the help of a machine, he could still hurt them indirectly. After all, Heaven never stated that he was forbidden from using a machine as a medium to channel his angelic power. That was likely why they still refused to sit near him, especially after he had nearly destroyed half of Pentagram City. On top of that, he had the Sins backing him up: Mammon had nearly drained VoxTek, costing them almost half of the souls under their ownership, and Asmodeus had forced them to sign a contract forbidding anyone in VoxTek from openly slandering or insulting his daughter, Charlie and her hotel.
Then Lucifer felt an extra weight on the sofa. He glanced to his side and saw Alastor sitting just a few inches away.
“Hey, Bambi. You too, huh?” Lucifer asked, a grin spreading across his face.
The deer demon regarded him with a dry, unimpressed look. “Quite. Your daughter is positively adamant that I take part in this farce. The more I declined, the more relentlessly persistent she became.”
Lucifer chuckles. “Aww, don’t be mad at her, red guy. She only wants you to interact with others. Besides, you need friends.”
Alastor gave him a sidelong, sharp look. “I have friends,” he said crisply.
Lucifer raised a brow, doubtful. Friendship was scarce where the Radio Demon was concerned. His relationship with the cannibal leader had been strained ever since the fiasco involving the TV-head guy, who never seemed to shut up, constantly attacking the Heavens while using his power as a source.
And let’s not even talk about Mimbee. Mimtie? Whatever. The woman was obviously using Alastor to clean up her messes—always running to him whenever she stirred up trouble and dragging the Radio Demon along with her.
“Hey, Husk and Niffty don’t count. They’re under your ownership—y’know, the whole owning their souls thing,” Lucifer said, moving his fingers to make air quotes.
“Ha, ha, ha your shortness, as a matter of fact, I do have friends who are not affiliated with the hotel,” Alastor retorted, lifting his nose high.
Lucifer grinned widely, teasing the deer demon. “Suuuure. I do believe Vox hasn’t been your friend for, what, seventy years or so now?”
Oh, he hoped they weren’t friends anymore, not because the TV-head demon is a rival. Alastor being stalked by that creep genuinely infuriated him. Sure, this was Hell, and nobody would bat an eye at it since everyone here was far too committed to their own brand of deviancy. Wonderful.
But still, Lucifer absolutely hated that annoying stalker.
“Oh, please. That demon is hardly worthy of the title of friend. One such as he is little more than an sad excuse for a jester—a creature with the emotional maturity of a toddler.” Alastor remarked, his tone dry and laced with mockery that Lucifer responded with amused chuckles.
Thinking of the TV-headed demon, he was easy to rile, especially when ignored. He would inevitably barge in, demanding attention. It was no wonder Alastor liked to make fun of him so much. That didn’t mean Lucifer enjoyed it, though; many outsiders might assume the two were lovers simply teasing each other or worse, as that spider sinner had joked, engaging in foreplay.
Still, Lucifer considered the subtle shift in his relationship with Alastor. Before, their impressions of each other had been poor, though he had started it, mostly out of dislike for the idea that someone else could play a fatherly role in Charlie’s life. It had been childish, on both sides. They exchanged insults and barbs that cut deep, often causing property damage in the hotel. Charlie wasn’t amused. In fact, it had reached a point where she decided to ground them with a ‘get-along’ shirt, which had sent the Radio Demon into a static-fueled frenzy.
A few months later, they had learned to cooperate, but not enough to call each other friends. They still hated each other, and a distance remained.
After the fiasco of Extermination and Adam being Adam, Lucifer found himself being a bit nicer to Alastor, mostly because the deer demon had protected his daughter, though Lucifer remained wary of his motives in the hotel. Over time, they discovered shared interests: music, dancing, playing instruments, and art. Lucifer had been surprised that the deer demon is into art, despite their very different tastes, but he respected it. His favorite part was their nightly routine of drinking warm coffee or hot chocolate and indulging in idle conversation.
It was a pleasant feeling, having someone to talk to without forcing yourself to be polite. Alastor didn’t make it easy, of course he was a brat through and through, and dealing with him often gave Lucifer migraines.
Of course, a fight between them was unavoidable, especially when they were trading barbs. Their arguments had escalated to the point where Alastor had left the hotel for a while, only to be kidnapped by Vox. The angels had come to negotiate with Charlie and Lucifer, and in the chaos, Lucifer himself had been kidnapped too, he was so happy to receive a text from his daughter after she pushed him away and told him to leave, suddenly he was trapped in a scary round glass and turned into a battery for a weapon designed to destroy Heaven, causing massive damage in the Pride Ring.
Thanks to “the power of friendship” everything eventually settled. Vox was apprehended by the ballerina lady—Caramela, was it? Lucifer, of course, didn’t let it slide. The three idiots had humiliated his daughter in front of the masses, so he called in his Sins to give them a taste of their own medicine.
When he discovered that Alastor still bore a wound from his battle with Adam. Lucifer had to wrestle the deer into staying still long enough to heal him.
That was when they finally made a truce and began to get along—for realsies this time—for the sake of peace, and without Charlie having to force them into the same room, hands tied, suffering through a “friendship-building” session with the Sinners.
And best of all, Charlie’s negotiations with Heaven had gone smoothly.
“Hello, everyone!” Charlie greeted loudly, her voice cheerful as she drew everyone’s attention. Lucifer felt a swell of pride for his daughter, she was gaining a strong foothold in Hell. She radiated confidence now, handling public speaking with ease, thanks to—though he begrudgingly admitted it—Alastor, who had mentored her in dealing with Sinners and speaking with poise.
“Today’s activity is for you to reconnect with your human life. Not only with yourself, but also to interact with others as civilly as possible, without any malignancy. This will help you become socially functional as humans, while still striving to be Winners,” Charlie said with great confidence.
See, she was able to speak bluntly without worrying about hurting the Sinners’ feelings, all thanks to this annoying but endearing deer demon.
“Oh my…she can speak with such ease, without once bowing her head to the masses,” Alastor said, regarding Charlie with a beaming pride that made even Lucifer feel a warmth pressing against his chest.
“Yeah,” Lucifer said, watching his daughter speak continuously to the crowd, a proud smile plastered on his face. He glanced at the deer demon beside him. “All thanks to you.”
“Of course, I cannot allow our charming princess to become a laughingstock in Hell. She embodies Pride, and she must appear as such, especially in light of how you lot have ignored her emotional growth, all for the sake of your own selfish desires,” Alastor stated with uncompromising bluntness.
If it had been before, Lucifer would have been furious, firing back insults tenfold at Alastor. But now, he recognized his faults not just his own, but Lilith’s as well. The two of them had been overprotective parents, afraid that Charlie would be harmed by anything and anyone. They didn’t trust her to be around other demons, not even Goetias. They only allowed the Sins to interact with her, which meant her childhood was limited to a small circle of friends, just two in the Envy Ring.
After their separation, Charlie came under Lilith’s custody, though she could visit Lucifer anytime. Most of the time, however, Charlie was left to her own devices, as her parents often argued over how she should be raised. Lilith wanted their daughter to follow in her path, to help and empower sinners. Lucifer wanted her to be carefree, to live however she wished. Their relationship had gone strained; they did not see each other, but Lucifer missed her so much. He loved Lilith and felt guilty for the contempt he had towards sinners. She was a sinner as well, the first sinner. But he no longer cared for sinners, after they perverted his gift for their own deviances, most of which were inhumane and disgusting.
“…And since Valentine’s Day is coming…” Charlie beamed, pulling out a red envelope plastered with various heart-shaped designs. “I want you all to write an anonymous letter to someone you’re fond of—or someone you want to befriend—expressing what you feel. It doesn’t have to be romantic; it can be just about friendship too, any form of affection to get in the spirit of the month of love
A few groans rose from the crowd; some wore sad expressions—Husk and that Berry pop girl amongst them—but Lucifer didn’t care about their reactions. His gaze remained entirely on the Radio Demon.
Alastor’s face was a blank slate, his eyes veiled, and that creepy, permanent smile still fixed firmly in place.
Lucifer thought this was the right time to confess his feelings to the Radio Demon. Yes, he had feelings for this annoying brat, romantically. There were times he blamed his touch-starved self, but he genuinely liked Alastor as a potential romantic partner. He was certain of his own feelings, though unsure if the other party felt the same way. The sinner seemed uninterested in romance, so Lucifer had decided not to pursue him—at least, not until Alastor allowed it. He might be the devil and a rather pushy individual, but he always respected boundaries and understood the need for consent. He was nothing like that stupid, blabbering,egotistical TV-head.
He decided to take a chance during the Valentine’s event his daughter had planned for everyone (he had a faint inkling that Charlie somehow planned this).
“Well, the meeting’s over. I gotta go. Maybe keep myself busy in my room, y’know, making ducks and enjoying some alone time.” Lucifer said as he stood from the sofa. “See you at dinner, Bambi.”
Alastor arched a single brow, letting out a faint, exasperated huff.
“Do take care, sire. Tonight it falls to you to prepare dinner. Do read the cookbook carefully, and follow the instructions exactly as I have shown you.” He paused thoughtfully, then narrowed his eyes with a pointed glare. “And let me be perfectly clear, no additional sweets. Do not sully the dish with your whimsical notions, your highness. Just follow the instructions, exactly as written.”
Lucifer smiled at the redhead. “Sure will. Don’t worry, Bambi, my deer. I’ll do as you say. Can’t have the best chef in the hotel disappointed, now, can we?”
“You’d best be doing that,” Alastor replied wryly.
“You have no trust in me. I am saddened by this, deerie. Here I thought you liked my cooking. I put so much effort into it, with blood, sweat, and tears,” Lucifer said dramatically, placing a hand on his chest and pulling out a handkerchief to wipe the nonexistent tears from his eyes.
Lucifer could see Alastor rolling his eyes, though they shone with mirth, and he high-fived himself in his mind.
“Now, will you excuse me? I have matters to attend to for the hotel. Certain negotiations require my presence, I do not trust either your daughter or her paramour to handle the contract,” Alastor said, rising from his seat and smoothing the crease from his coat.
This was what made Lucifer feel fond of the Radio Demon. Despite constantly claiming that he saw Charlie as nothing more than a business partner, he was willing to help her without expecting anything in return. Lucifer could see the fondness in those beautiful ruby eyes of his. Well, Charlie wasn’t hard to like—who wouldn’t? Oh, except for those overbearing Overlords and a few truly unredeemable sinners, of course.
“Have fun scaring them, Bambi, but don’t eat them, we can't have our hotel losing suppliers,” Lucifer reminded him. Then he added, “Charlie won’t like it if you did.”
“Oh, I cannot make such a promise if the sinner in question chooses to be an obstinate little dunce,” Alastor remarked with a trace of amusement as the two departed the lounge.
“Er…I highly doubt an insect sinner would be particularly appetizing.”
“Ah, my dear, you would hardly know, since you have never tried.”
"Eeewwwwww!!! Yuck! No way!”
___
Lucifer stood before the door to Alastor’s room, fidgeting as he held a white envelope trimmed with red, sealed at the center with a round red wax stamp.
Letting out a small breath, he opened the door and slowly entered the room—a privilege Alastor himself had granted him. The radio demon had a habit of barging in without permission, and after having his personal space invaded one too many times by an annoying, cannibalistic serial killer, he had demanded equal rights to enter Alastor’s room.
At first, Alastor refused. But with relentless pestering from the devil, the Radio Demon eventually yielded and allowed it.
Whenever night came, they would always go to Alastor’s room sitting near the fireplace and share a warm drink, some snacks, and a few books to read while Lucifer acted as a critic for some of them. Alastor listened and offered a comment or two—sometimes agreeing, sometimes not. Lucifer truly loved their random conversations, how they never had to stick to a single topic, and how Alastor simply let him ramble on.
As Lucifer hummed a tune—one he often heard from Alastor’s taste in music, mostly jazz—he lingered near the desk where Alastor usually handled the hotel’s finances and contracts. Just as he was about to open the drawer beneath the table, something caught his peripheral vision: a blue box tucked into the corner beside the bookshelves. It was hidden well, the kind of thing only someone with sharp eyes would notice.
It wouldn’t have been strange for Alastor to own a box, Lucifer himself had plenty for his duck collection. But this one was different. Very different. For one, Alastor loved red. He always chose red. Most of his outfits consisted of red and black; even if you painted his room pink, he’d immediately repaint red. So seeing a blue box in this gothic, bayou-themed room felt… wrong. Out of place.
Lucifer had to fight the urge to look. He really should, even if his curiosity was as strong as his desire to kiss the Radio Demon. He had to respect privacy—his uh, friend, soon-to-be-boyfriend(?). Alastor wouldn’t appreciate him snooping through his things. He was curious, desperately so, but he neither had permission nor the right to look at it.
As if Fate itself decided to be a bitch, the hotel suddenly shook like it had been hit by a powerful earthquake, sending most of the things in Alastor’s room crashing to the floor.
Lucifer could hear his daughter’s frantic shouts from the upper floors, mixed with the crew’s voices—and even the indignant screams of those annoying insect sinners.
“Alastor, calm down! Oh no, no—what the fuck, Vox?!”
“Boss, boss, calm the fuck down! Don’t go bustin’ the hotel walls! We just fixed this shit!”
“Smiles, easy there! Uh—what the fuck are you doin’, Vox?!”
“Who the fuck gave this cunt access to the hotel?!”
“Mierda! Why can’t these Vees stay still?”
“You’re asking us? We can’t stop this asshole from being obsessed with that fossilized prude radio demon.”
“Gago, pendejo, estupido! Vox, I thought we’d discussed this—why are you—argh!”
"Bad boy, I've come to save you!"
"Oh no, Niffty be careful, love!”
Lucifer groaned loudly. Right, what a perfect way to start Valentine’s Day—just when the mood is right and he’s waiting for Alastor to enter his room and see his letter. Maybe he should have let Mammon completely dry out their coffers so they’d lose their privileges as Overlords. He had given them the chance because the two Vees had stopped that idiot, box-headed sinner but of course, he never learned to give up.
___
Charlie had successfully sent the Vees away, while Lucifer had thrown the box-headed moron back to their tower. He might not be able to hurt sinners directly with his power, but that didn’t mean he couldn’t toss them like a rock over a wall.
Charlie had also successfully dragged Angie—was it Angie? Andy? Annie? Yeah, the spider guy got back in the hotel, joining the activity with the crew. Wherever she learned guilt-tripping and subtle coercion, it definitely wasn’t from Lucifer.
He glanced at Alastor, who had finally calmed down thanks to that little demon, Niffty, and somehow Husk as well. Yes, Lucifer made sure he remembered their names, because even if Alastor would never admit it—and would rather be dragged six feet underground to double hell—he cared for them in his own twisted way.
Lucifer realized then that the deer demon had the emotional range of a teaspoon when it came to friendship and romance, which explained a lot about Alastor’s life in the living world. The only person he had ever genuinely shown care for was that Mimtee girl.
As the residents returned to what they were doing, the crew began cleaning up the mess, and Lucifer used his magic to fix the damage. Whatever the cause of Alastor’s rage, this time the crew couldn’t fault him—the blame laid squarely with the stupid trio who couldn’t seem to understand that they were unwelcome in the hotel.
Lucifer glanced at the Radio Demon, who looked somewhat sullen as he held a wooden carving of an animal figure.
“You okay there, Bambi?” Lucifer asked.
Alastor glanced at him briefly, then down at the ruined wooden figure. “I am quite well, Your Majesty. My apologies for spoiling what ought to have been a pleasant day for everyone, when I allowed my emotions to get the better of me.”
“I don’t think this was your fault. It’s just…some jerk who can’t take no for an answer,” Vaggi said, sounding a little awkward in her attempt to comfort the Radio Demon. Charlie, meanwhile, looked pleased to see her girlfriend putting into practice that whole ‘trust issues’ session, one of the activities Lucifer had been dreading.
“Why, everyone knows that Vox is utterly fixated on you, there’s no reason to apologize for something that's entirely outside your control, sir.” the fish sinner—Baxxine, was it?—said while standing beside Niffty.
“That’s right, Alastor! Everyone can see that you’re trying not to…err—” Charlie paused, searching for the right words.
“Maim the idiot? Honestly, I’d be glad to see that happen,” Husk said flatly.
“No! What I meant was—he’s trying not to be mean to Vox.”
Lucifer focused entirely on Alastor, who was strangely quiet. He slowly approached the sinner and offered, “Would you like me to fix it for you?”
Alastor regarded him for a moment, blinking as his ears gave a brief flick before he shook his head. “Oh no, my dear, there is no cause for concern. I am perfectly capable of managing myself, and this is hardly a matter worth fretting over. If you will excuse me, there is something I must attend at the emporium. But thank you for your offer.”
It would be a lie to say he wasn’t feeling sad about the rejection. Lucifer wanted to help, to make Alastor feel happy. But the deer demon was used to being independent and rarely asked for assistance—even fixing a broken plate, he would do it himself.
“Uh…okay then,” Lucifer said weakly. “See you at dinner tonight, and…”
Alastor’s gaze softened for the briefest of moments, enough for Lucifer to notice, and that alone brought a small warmth to his chest. “Of course. Why would I ever miss that?”
“Great! You can handle whatever errands you’ve got, and I’ll just fix the hotel, leave it to me!” Lucifer said excitedly, ignoring the amused snort from the spider sinner and Charlie’s groan as she muttered, “You’re too obvious, Dad!”
___
Lucifer arranged the things in Alastor’s room, carefully placing each item where it belonged. He had been given permission—thank you very much. Alastor had been hesitant at first, but eventually granted him the privilege, instructing him not to use magic.
He didn’t understand why, but he didn’t mind. Maybe it was therapeutic, or perhaps some of the items were sensitive to magic, and he had to be careful lest he lose a limb. He remembered where everything belonged, carefully returning each piece to its usual spot without disturbing anything.
Alastor had always been the one to clean his room, forcing Lucifer to do the same without the aid of magic. Thanks to that, Lucifer realized how satisfying it could be to arrange things properly, without feeling it was troublesome. Or perhaps it was simply because of Alastor’s presence in his room.
As he was arranging the books on the shelves exactly how Alastor liked, his foot brushed against something. Glancing down, he saw the blue box on the floor, its lid open, revealing its contents.
A red outfit and numerous letters were scattered near the box.
He looked around, half-expecting Alastor’s shadow to be lurking nearby, watching him. But there was no sign of it. He felt elated that Alastor clearly trusted him though there was still a small barrier between them, just a sliver the size of pinched fingers.
Kneeling to get a closer look, he was amazed to see that Alastor owned an outfit clearly intended for women. It consisted of a red blazer, a white, frilled long-sleeved blouse, and a long, straight, pleated red skirt. Imagining Alastor wearing it made warmth rise to his cheeks. He could feel himself blushing, a golden flush spreading across his face.
Shaking the image of Alastor in that lovely dress from his mind, Lucifer folded the outfit carefully and placed it back in the box. The letters, however…as much as his curiosity urged him, he disliked the thought of betraying the trust Alastor had placed in him.
He carefully stacked them together, but one slipped from his hand, revealing the contents inside. He set the rest back in the box and picked up the fallen letter.
He read it, curiosity winning over his better judgment, fully intending to grovel and beg for Alastor’s forgiveness later, promising to make amends for violating his privacy without permission.
Lucifer choked. He…didn’t know how to put his feelings into words upon reading the letter.
My Dearest, Alastor
How are you, my love? I know you are angry with me for choosing to join the army. Still, I could not bear the thought of your father sending you to such a cruel war. I spoke with him, and he agreed not to send you, so long as I continue to send money home.
You have a dream, darling. You love the radio station, and your voice belongs there. Nothing would make me happier than to see you do well in life. With your charm, I know you will reach your dreams.
I only ask this of you, my dear, look within yourself, and try to think of the future that awaits you.
With all my love,
Steve Rogers
___
Lucifer looked at the letter on his desk, glaring at it with an annoyed gaze. It was a letter he had written to Alastor, a confession overflowing with all of his heartfelt feelings.
To Alastor,
I love how you speak, and how you breathe, especially that quiet exhale that follows when you laugh at something silly I’ve said. It makes me act foolish on purpose, just to hear it once more, because there is always that instant that is neither silence nor pause, only the faintest shift from your laughter, to your breath, to the words waiting on the brink of being spoken. The tender in-between where your lips still linger in a curve, your eyes retain their quiet glow, and the whole world seems to suspend its breath. I want to cup it in my hands. Sometimes, I almost do but I wish I did. There are so many things I feel for you that words often fail me, yet my heart keeps trying.
The Most Amazing Guy in Hell
Lucifer removed the letter from the drawer, the one he had meant for Alastor to read. He didn’t want to burden Alastor with his feelings when the Radio Demon was still in love with his deceased lover. Was that man even here in Hell? It couldn’t be—he wasn’t standing beside Alastor. Either he had died during an extermination, or he’d died heroically and was sent straight to Heaven. The latter seemed more likely. The man had been sending money to an awful father who demanded it, selfless to a fault.
Maybe that was one of the reasons Alastor had hated him at first sight. A father who had neglected his daughter, both emotionally and physically.
Crap. Yeah. He definitely didn’t have a high chance.
‘I really suck as a demon and a father’, Lucifer thinks as he clutches his head, his neatly pushed-back hair now a mess.
He had been spiraling over the possibilities of a blunt rejection, or worse, Alastor avoiding him entirely because someone he considered a friend had developed romantic feelings for him.
Wait—was he even considered a friend?
THUMP.
His head hit the table, his thoughts drowning in self-deprecation until he couldn’t see anything positive about himself.
Lilith had left him because she was tired. Honestly, a thousand years of dealing with his depression and his relentless need to give her everything was exhausting. He understood why she had to go. She was an amazing, brilliant woman, and Lucifer couldn’t bear the idea of letting go. He still wanted to call her whenever he felt sad or tired of being himself, to hear her voice, her reassurance, but all of that was gone, left cold and unreachable.
Lucifer couldn’t accept their separation. He had hoped to mend their relationship, of returning to how things once were—happy, loving—until he met Alastor.
Alastor might not be as morally upright as Lilith, but he understood the duplicity of humans, something Lilith never fully grasped. Not all sinners were worthy of redemption.
Alastor was cruel, selfish, manipulative, narcissistic, an unlovable little shit by most people's standards but Lucifer saw the real Alastor beneath those prickly thorns. Beneath it all, he was gentle and surprisingly kind to the fairer sex, because according to him, insulting a woman was akin to insulting his mother (sans Susan—Alastor truly hated her).
Lucifer was genuinely surprised to learn that Alastor was a mama’s boy who loved and constantly praised his mother. He enjoyed telling stories about her, especially his childhood shenanigans. Lucifer couldn’t help but laugh at the mental image of her dragging young Alastor around by the ear.
Alastor loved talking about himself, something he quickly noticed, and Lucifer loved listening to his stories about his human life.
It made Lucifer understand humans a little better. He might be the Devil, often summoned by his followers, but in truth he had never seen humanity in its entirety. His view had always been biased, which was why he rarely stayed on Earth after the 1800s. To Lucifer, humans never changed.
Alastor was another case of a human steeped in complexity. He loved his mother, there is someone capable of loving a man like him and somehow that affection was mutual, spelled out in thick stacks of letters. Yet he was also a serial killer who murdered with malice, who delighted in others’ pain out of sheer boredom.
And Lucifer wanted to understand him—not as an Overlord or the Radio Demon, but simply as Alastor. Unfortunately, the Radio Demon had built a wall between them, and it frustrated him to no end.
Letting out a long sigh, Lucifer stood and made his way to the bed. Maybe he should sleep and forget everything.…Oh, right. He still had dinner to attend, and Alastor would be there.
He groaned loudly and buried his face in the pillow, the bed entirely surrounded by rubber ducks.
Lucifer would survive somehow. He’d be fine.
He wasn’t.
Looking at Alastor’s face across from him was torture. It tormented Lucifer because it always kept reminding him of the letter that spoke of gentleness and affection toward the Radio Demo, of feelings so mutual that Alastor had once allowed someone to address him with an endearment.
My Dearest, Alastor. My Dearest, Alastor. My Dearest, Alastor.
"...Dad...dad—DAD!"
Lucifer’s train of thought was cut short when his daughter shook his shoulder rather forcefully. He looked at her and found her wearing an expression caught somewhere between fond exasperation, embarrassment, and worry.
“Char-Char! What is it, sweetheart?” Lucifer asked with a smile. “Need something from your old man?”
Charlie leaned closer and whispered, “You’ve been staring at Alastor for a very long time, Dad.”
“Ooooh! Uh—was I staring? I was just… thinking. Yeah. Thinking about something,” Lucifer said weakly, letting out a nervous chuckle.
The spider sinner arched a brow, a smirk spreading across his fluffy face, clearly not buying a word of that bullshit. Lucifer really needed to master the art of a stoic expression, because despite everyone calling him the Father of Lies, he was painfully honest and far too expressive for his own good.
“Has your advancing age caught up with you again, Your Highness? Perhaps Charlie ought to add a residence for seniors to the hotel, then you might enjoy the company of your fellow elders,” Alastor said with amused delight.
Lucifer rolled his eyes and shot back, “Ha ha ha, very funny, Bambi. I’ve aged gracefully, thank you very much. Some of us evolve into legends. Others just… collect dust on a shelf.”
“Aging gracefully, is it? A charming way of saying one’s looks are slowly going to pot,” Alastor retorted, a faintly mischievous smile playing at his lips.
“Why, you little—” Lucifer muttered, forcing himself to calm down by counting the rubber ducks hopping on his head. Charlie definitely wouldn’t like it if they started hurling barbs at each other. Some of those insults could get below the belt, and he had no intention of joining the ‘How to Be a Nice Person’ group session with the guests.
"Well, Bambi, my dear,” Lucifer purred, leaning in with a wicked grin, “I'd be delighted to show you just how gracefully I've aged—still got all the moves, endless energy, and a grip that could make even eternity feel short. But honestly? I don't think you'd survive the full performance without tapping out early.”
The spider sinner, along with the pink-eyed girl, guffawed loudly, cheering him on, while the others reacted differently. Husk stared at him with equal parts disgust and as if he’d grown two heads overnight, while Niffty giggled maniacally beside him. Vaggi muttered curses in Spanish, and Charlie stared wide-eyed, clearly taken aback.
“Dad, we’re at dinner!” Charlie groaned loudly.
“You are an incorrigible, degenerate old man!” Alastor exclaimed, his face scandalized and his eyes wide with disbelief, letting out a static, haywire cry.
"This degenerate old man is a dashing handsome king with great stamina, Bambi," Lucifer retorted with a sharp-toothed grin. "Timeless, tireless, and always ready for an encore. You'd be begging for mercy before breakfast."
“Dad, please!” Charlie groaned, leaning against her girlfriend for comfort, her hands covering her flushed face, clearly mortified at listening to her father’s sexual innuendos with the Radio Demon. “Let us eat, and take your. . . flirting to your own room.”
“You…you—” Alastor began, but words failed him as his head whirled toward Charlie, eyes wide in scandal. “Charlotte Morningstar! As you can see, we are not flirting!”
“Sorry, Smiles, with that much red on your doll face, I don’t think anyone’s gonna believe you two’re actually insulting each other,” The spider sinner said, waggling his brows playfully.
“Angel, shut up.” Husk elbowed the spider—Angel, was it? Wow, Lucifer really needed to start writing down everyone’s names and faces. He was terrible with names.
“What? I mean—it’s true.”
“Just shut it, or you want the boss to take all your limbs?”
“I will claw out your windpipe, you utterly degenerate old man,” Alastor grumbled, his tone low and dangerous.
“Oh, I’ll be happy to see you try, deerie,” Lucifer said with a grin. After this, he’d have to grovel for apologies and coax the angry deer in private. He was lucky the fella hadn’t gone all eldritch-mode on them or thrown a full-blown temper tantrum, a good change between them. To be honest, he kind of wanted to see how Alastor would try to claw out his throat. He had good regeneration powers anyway.
He continued, “You see, I have bi—mfffh!”
Charlie had to shove a piece of food into his mouth to shut him up. Rude! How could his own daughter do this to him?
___
Lucifer patted his pocket where his letter was. Tonight would be another night spent with Alastor in his room—not Lucifer’s. Though it was supposed to be his turn, and he had wanted to show off his new collection of ducks and the record he’d just brought from the living world, one he was sure Alastor would love to listen to.
Which he really shouldn’t have, because the moment he showed it to Alastor, the deer sinner went quiet, his expression filled with nostalgia.
All of Me by Billie Holiday.
Lucifer had thought using that record would help him express his feelings to Alastor but someone had beaten him to it. And it was that Steep guy.
He hated the way Alastor’s eyes softened, filled with nostalgia and a hint of sadness.
Lucifer hated it.
His hand clenched in his pocket, crumpling the letter tightly.
___
This morning was awful, and Lucifer didn’t feel well. Last night had been disastrous for him. Alastor had ended their nightly routine early, walking to his room with a lifeless air. Once inside, he tossed the letter into a corner, changed into his sleepwear, and let himself drift into sleep.
He knew that expression on Alastor’s face.
Fondness. Love. Adoration. Sadness. Yearning.
It was the same feeling he had for Lilith whenever he thought of her, missing her, yearning for her, before he finally moved on.
Seeing it on the Radio Demon made Lucifer feel like a complete fool for confessing to someone still in love with that Steel guy. Worst of all, Steel might be in Heaven, and Alastor’s reason for joining this foolish redemption plan for sinners could be to see him again. Alastor was good at deflection, something that had gone unnoticed by Lucifer, who could smell lies and truths with just a flick of his tongue.
Sighing, Lucifer decided not to drown himself in another spiral of sadness or in the failure of starting over with a new romance. He went downstairs to make himself breakfast. A nice warm coffee will do.
Lucifer froze when he saw Alastor, unusually dressed in black sleepwear instead of the red shirt and black pants he was used to. The outfit revealed his cute little tail, which he normally hid so well.
He was making coffee, grinding the beans into powder because Alastor—a purist—preferred to do it the authentic way. He would rather not use any machines, even good ones, to make coffee.
Alastor noticed his presence and greeted him more cheerfully than before—or maybe that was just Lucifer’s imagination. “Good morning, Sire. I trust your evening was pleasant.”
Not really. I spent the night thinking about your relationship with your dead partner, Lucifer thought irritably.
Lucifer replied weakly, “Yeah. Morning, Al.”
He wasn’t in the mood. After what had happened last night, he didn’t have the energy to return any of that good cheer. He simply sat down, waiting for Alastor to finish. The Radio Demon noticed his lack of enthusiasm but didn’t know what to do about it, and Lucifer had no intention of explaining himself.
Just as Alastor was about to speak, Charlie and the rest of the crew entered the kitchen, followed by Husk, who was being dragged along by a sleepy spider sinner. Heh. Lucky for that stupid cat to have his long-legged partner with him.
“You’re making coffee, Al?” Charlie asked, then offered, “Let me help!”
Alastor’s ears flicked as he glanced at the now-quiet Lucifer, whose head rested on the table, no longer looking his way. He let out a small sigh and gave a nod. “I’ll be glad to have your assistance, Charlie. Do check the oven, my dear. I made two batches of beignets today.”
“Oh, beignets—yay! Oh, oh, I’ll do the powdering. You’re the best, Alastor! You know we love your beignets the most!” Charlie said excitedly, rushing to the oven and waiting for the timer to go off.
Alastor finished grinding and started making coffee, filling the pot that could serve enough for the crew, because Lucifer knew he had saved some for himself. While his daughter took the beignets and started powdering them with sugar and serving them.
A plate of more beignets was thrust toward him, along with his deer-season mug of coffee, filled with milk and honey.
Lucifer looked at Alastor, who sat down with his own modest plate of three beignets as he sipped his bitter black coffee. Inwardly cursing himself for being so easy to coax with an act of service—there is someone who remembers what your likes are.
‘Stupid deer and his observant doe eyes. Stupid deer and his act of service. Stupid deer. Stupid deer.’ He insulted Alastor in his mind while munching on the beignets with annoyance.
Charlie was talking excitedly about her Valentine’s Day project, which made Lucifer grind his teeth into the beignets, trying not to remember last night —earning a confused gaze from a certain deer sinner and a knowing look from the spider who noticed.
“I can't wait to see everyone with their letters! I hope they share and read them for us. Wouldn't it be wonderful to know there's someone out there who loves you as a friend, or maybe as a lover?” Charlie gushed continuously.
Lucifer wanted to leave, taking his beignets and coffee to his room and having another round of drowning himself in misery. Misery had been his longtime companion; maybe he should date it and let their romance thrive forever with depression.
“Oh, Alastor, I wanted to ask—do you have someone in mind to give a letter to?” Charlie asked, her eyes glimmering with excitement.
“Oh…” Alastor was taken aback by the question. His ears flicked back and his eyes darted somewhere, very unusual to the others.
Okay. Time for Lucifer to leave.
As he was about to, suddenly a pentagram beneath them glowed brightly red and teleported them somewhere in freezing, snowy mountains, surrounded by people in cloaks.
“What the fuck?!” Lucifer shouted bewilderedly.