Chapter Text
Lucifer sat in the lobby and watched Charlie running around, introducing herself to the new sinners checking in and handing out a couple of keys. She waved excitedly and turned to her girlfriend, Vaggie thank you very much name tags, and grabbed her hands, jumping in place and squealing.
“Vaggie! That’s another new sinner that wants to try redemption! I need to think up a new game IMMEDIATELY for trust exercises!” she kissed the fallen angel on the cheek and ran for her room, mumbling ideas as she went. Vaggie smiled fondly after her and sighed, shaking her head and started to organize the papers behind the counter. Lucifer took a sip of the coffee in his hand, standing up and walking over.
“You know, she has been like that since she was a kid. Always happy and excited about anything and everything.” Lucifer leaned against the counter. Vaggie turned and faced the king, a smile on her face.
“Oh, I don’t doubt it, sire.” Lucifer hummed.
“I was never a child. Made into a grown archangel just like my brothers.” Vaggie nodded absent-mindedly, busy writing notes about work in the large ledger in front of her. Lucifer leaned over the counter and saw numbers, air puffing out of his mouth. He was bored, nothing was really going on, and he hadn’t seen the annoying bellhop yet today. He had grown fond of bickering with the tall red idiot, if to keep himself ‘entertained’ as he so adequately puts it. The radio demon keeps him on his toes, making Hell a little better. If Lucifer was being truthful with himself, he would rather spend time with the red guy than without. He glanced around the quiet lobby, noticing the winged cat wiping glasses behind the bar with a blank expression. He turned back to the other angel.
“So, were you?” she looked up quizzingly. “Ever a child?” he clarified.
“Oh, um,” She pursed her lips, looking to the side with a flash of pain. “I don’t really remember to tell you the truth. I know I used to be a human before becoming an exorcist, but they kind of, take that all away from you.” She hugged herself a little, uncomfortable with the question. Lucifer grimaced, holding his staff in front of himself.
“Listen you don’t have to tell me, it’s ok.” He waved both hands in front of him and backed away. “I will let you get back to work.” He gave her finger guns and quickly turned and walked to the bar fast. He hopped onto the stool in front of the counter and tippy-tapped the wood. The cat grumbled and sighed. Lucifer tried not to take it personally.
“What can I get for you, Your Majesty?” he grunted out. Lucifer hummed and drummed his fingers.
“Definitely something with apples.” Lucifer grinned. The cat rolled his eyes and grumbled out something that sounded like ‘of course’. Lucifer watched him pull a few bottles off the shelves and from underneath. He turned and placed a cider-colored drink in front of him on a napkin, drizzling the rim with caramel. Lucifer licked his lips and grabbed the glass, taking a drink. He hummed and smiled at the bartender.
“Oh wow! This is so good, what do you call it?” his tail popped out and swished happily behind him as he took another drink.
“It’s a Caramel Apple cocktail.” He went back to cleaning glasses. Lucifer was taking another drink, enjoying the warmth building in his stomach when the air buzzed with static before the red demon stepped out of shadow, adjusting his blood splattered clothes before walking to the bar. He sat a stool away from Lucifer leaning his head on his hands, elbows on the counter and hummed.
“A whiskey if you would please, Husker.” The static in his voice was a pleasant change from the deafening silence that had sank into the lobby. Lucifer smiled behind another drink, watching as Husker placed a glass down, bottle within reach of the other demon. Alastor hummed and downed the glass, pouring another two fingers and taking a sip. Feeling eyes on him, Alastor glanced at the little king in the corner of his eye.
“Hello, sire. Do I have something on my face or are you looking for a fight?” Lucifer blushed gold at the staticky voice, even as irritation joined the way his voice made him feel. He turned away and finishing his drink. He pushed the glass back to Husker and asked for another. Lucifer cleared his throat. He has been trying to be civil with the demon, but it was hard when he pushed all the right buttons. Lucifer glanced back at the demon.
“You have blood on you.” He commented dumbly. Lucifer closed his eyes and gave his head a small shake. Stupid. He looked to the cat as he placed another drink in front of him. Alastor hummed and looked down at his attire before grinning sharply at Lucifer with a self satisfied glean in his crimson eyes, causing Lucifer to freeze. Even covered in blood he was beautiful. He furrowed his brows. Ok, that was a new thought. He shook his head again and turned to the bartender.
“So, Husker, how were you as a child?” The question completely caught him off guard, even the radio demon crackling besides him. Husker blinked and glanced at Alastor before rubbing the back of his neck.
“It’s just Husk, Your Majesty. Only Alastor calls me that.” His wings ruffled behind him. “And we don’t really talk about our life before, a lot of it’s forgotten and, since we are in Hell, it’s not a good story to remember anyway.” Lucifer pouted, turning to the radio demon again.
“You too?” Alastor narrowed his eyes at the king, no doubt trying to figure out what the motive was for the random question. He hummed and finished his drink, pouring a third. He looked at the brown liquid quietly. Lucifer took the time to finish his second drink, pointing to the apple whiskey behind Husk on the top shelf. He rests his chin on his hand and openly stared at the radio demon. His eyes were shining. The way he held the glass was almost with care, the humming still sounding even as he took a sip. Lucifer’s smile softened, his gaze gentle looking at the demon. His chest was warm and he was happy he had a couple of drinks in him just incase the cat demon happened to be looking over at his slightly flushed face.
“Husker, I think you’ve deserved an early night.” Husk glanced between the two powerhouses before shrugging and walking off towards the stairs. Lucifer didn’t watch him go, keeping his eyes on Alastor. The radio behind the counter crackled to life, making the king jump before a low jazz song started flowing out of it. Lucifer settled down, removing his coat and laying it on the counter next to him. It was definitely getting a little hot in here. He poured his first glass of whiskey, turning his body to fully face the demon.
“Why have children started your curiosity, sire?” The red demon also turned his body fully to face the king, smoothly crossing his legs with another sip. Lucifer sighed quietly, feeling a thump in his chest. It was annoying how little the demon had to do to make Lucifer’s body react, he wasn’t sure when the feelings grew so much but jeez it’s getting harder to hide.
“Another sinner checked in today and Charlie was so excited about it. Jumping up and down, squealing the whole thing.” Alastor chuckled and finished his drink, pouring another one. The golden cheeks darkened, with the alcohol of course. Another throat clear. “She was like that as a child too, and I was thinking about how much I missed my baby girl. I was away in my workshop most of the time, and anytime Charlie would come and sit with me Lilith would take her away.” He finished quietly. The warm happy feeling was gone, replaced with the feeling of ambiguous lose. He missed out on so much of Charlie’s childhood, and as much as he wanted to singularly blame Lilith, he was partly to blame as well. He turned away and downed his drink before pouring more. He was already feeling the effects of the liquor, though he couldn’t say he cared. The depressed feeling in his chest started to sit heavily, almost taking his breath before the pop and crackle of static startled him. He jumped and looked back to the demon. His smile was higher, agitation buzzing around him and he tossed his drink back as well.
“Your Majesty, if I may.” Lucifer looked at him with confusion, the room spinning a little. Maybe he should slow down. He expected a snark comeback along the lines of him being a shit father, it was his favorite thing to bring up when they bickered. But he hadn’t mentioned that in a couple weeks, thinking about it now. Alastor poured another drink, seeming to collect his words. He sighed.
“You are here now, helping our Charlie with the hotel.” Lucifer’s mouth popped open at the almost compliment. “There is no reason to sink in the past when you cannot change anything. Simply be better.” Alastor finished his drink. Lucifer studied his face, noticing the faint flush creeping up his cheeks. The warm happy feeling returned, and he gazed at Alastor again.
“Thanks, Bambi.” He said quietly. The radio screeched a bit and stuttered before resuming the low jazz. The demon hummed and gave a small shrug. Lucifer sipped his drink and studied the gold ring on his finger. He’s been thinking of removing the ring the last few weeks, since the feelings for the red demon started to become more complicated. He knows that seems drastic over some new feelings, but if Lucifer was being honest with himself, his marriage has been over for a long time. Even before Lilith left without a trace, they hadn’t been happy for a while. Lucifer quietly sighed and twisted the metal. Maybe Charlie would want the ring. Alastor cleared his throat, causing Lucifer to look back to him.
“I was a small child. We were quite poor and thus didn’t have much. I had not much interest with playing with the other children, and they had no interest in me either. I would rather spend my time in the house with a book or with my mother.” Alastor’s voice was low and vibrated subtly. Lucifer shivered at the tumbler of his voice. Damn, when they weren’t arguing and tossing barbs his voice was, beautiful. He downed his drink.
“Did you get excited about anything, like Charlie?” He wasn’t sure what made him ask, considering this was the Radio Demon he was talking to, but he was so warm and tingly. Alastor hummed, actually thinking of an answer.
“I did get excited when my mother would bring home a new book. She would mend the clothes for the neighbors and in exchange they would give us food, hand me down clothes, and in some instances, books.” Alastor had a small smile on his face, a real one Lucifer was sure very few, if any, had seen. The fact that the king was lucky enough to see the soft turn of the demon's lips, instead of the sharp angry one that was constantly presented, filled him with a rush of tingling warmth that had nothing to do with the alcohol coursing through him. He poured another drink; how many had he had now? And swallowed it, glancing back at Alastor, finding the crimson eyes already on him. Lucifer swallowed heavy and watched him back. He didn’t notice himself leaning slightly forward, flickering to Alastor’s lips for a second. They were wet with whiskey, slightly parted for breath, looking soft. Lucifer eyes climbed back to the deer demons, noticing the flush across his cheeks. Alastor blinked quickly a few times and averted his gave, bringing a fist to his mouth and coughing. He stood up a little too quickly and if Lucifer hadn’t been watching his form like a hawk, he would have missed the stumble. Looks like they both drank a bit too much.
“Well, sire.” The static overlaid his voice heavier than before. Alastor took both bottles of whiskey back on the shelf the cat demon had them before. “As much as I love drinking and reminiscing, it is late and thus, I shall bid you ado.” Alastor locked eyes with Lucifer again, a small stutter of breath leaving the angel as the demon did a small bow and sunk into his shadows. Lucifer stared at the spot he left, heart beating faster. He groaned and crossed his arms, burying his face down. His head swam pleasantly, his body warm and relaxed.
“Those eyes…” he mumbled quietly. Rubbing his head back and forth across his sleeves he sat up and huffed, standing up, wait stumbling up, and
caught himself before face planting in the lobby. Ok, so he was a lot more drunk than he thought. Snapping his fingers he puffed back to his room with a sparkle of red and stripped all his clothes off, slipping on the ducky pajama pants laying across his rumpled bed from this morning. He fell onto his bed and crawled forward sluggishly. He hummed and wrapped up in his blankets, thinking about his conversation with Alastor. He had a huge library at the palace he was sure the deer would love to see. Lucifer smiled, thinking about how he would read to Charlie when she was little, making up voices for all the characters. The sudden wave of nostalgia hit him hard, and tears gathered in his eyes quickly.
“This is why you don’t drink so much…” he slurred out, rubbing the tears away just for them to be followed with more. His chest stuttered with a sob and a groan, hands covering his face and he brought the blanket up and over his head, covering him as he huddled tightly together. Father, he wished he could go back and read to Charlie as a child again. To hold her and see her get so excited about simple things like his new ducks. He closed his eyes, darkness another blanket for his mind. Before sinking fully into sleep, he felt a subtle shimmer in the air, small twinkling lights flashing around him before disappearing.