Chapter Text
“More?” Bella asked, holding up the teapot. Lucifer was glad he had turned the china tea set into plastic for Bella, as with a two-year-old's motor skills she might have trouble holding china, even if the kid did have four arms. And she did have a lot of trouble holding certain things, even her crayons.
He suspected Zestial had only sent the tea set as a way to curry Lucifer's favour. Oh, well. It was still a better and more age-appropriate gift than anything the moth guy sent Bella. The moth guy, what's-his-name, made Lucifer look like Dad of the Millennium. At least Bella thought it was funny when Lucifer made the unwanted gifts disappear.
“No thanks, kiddo,” Lucifer said, “but maybe Cuddle Duck wants some more.”
Between Lucifer and Bella at the little table was a yellow stuffed duck, wearing purple overalls similar to the ones Bella liked to wear. Lucifer had given it to her on her birthday, making it just for her.
Bella poured some imaginary tea for Cuddle Duck and then gave it a plastic cookie. Bella loved real cookies but had to be careful with them, since so many Italian cookies had nuts in them. Bella offered a plastic cookie, and Lucifer pretended to eat it.
So many fake things in Bella's life: stuffed animals, plastic tea sets and plastic food, that plastic play kitchen...Bella deserved something real. Plus, she couldn't really play with other Hellborn kids for multiple reasons. She needed a friend. Moth Guy had sent her a quieve once, but those things scared Bella (she hated both dogs and bugs, so giving her a creature combining both was a really bad idea). The quieve had been rehomed with Ozzie, because his boyfriend loved them.
“Bella, honey,” Lucifer said, “can I hold Cuddle Duck?”
Bella started talking to the duck in Italian, then picked up Cuddle Duck and set him in Lucifer's lap.
Lucifer held the duck close and concentrated. He could bring Cuddle Duck to life, just as he had done to Razzle and Dazzle for Charlie when she was little...
Nothing happened. Bella pretended to eat the plastic cookie (thankfully it was too big to fit in her mouth, so she couldn't actually swallow and choke on it) while Lucifer just stared at the lifeless, ordinary toy duck.
Maybe he was out of practice. Maybe his sadness over Lilith had messed up his powers. No, Lucifer knew his powers were fine, since he made all that crap from Bella's creepy bio-dad go away.
Maybe he just had to focus harder, and so he did, until he saw Bella staring at him and reaching for the duck.
Quietly, Lucifer said, “Here, honey, you can have him back.”
Bella took the duck back and hugged it, but then she noticed how sad Lucifer looked. Lucifer was always so nice to her, and she didn't like seeing him look so sad. Did he miss Cuddle Duck? Lucifer was always giving her stuff, maybe she could give him something. But first, she had to be sure Cuddle Duck was okay with it.
“Vuoi restare con nonno Luci?” Bella asked Cuddle Duck. Being two, Bella wasn't the most articulate, but Italian was easier for her; that was her special Mama language. Bella made the duck nod.
“Davvero? Va bene.” Bella placed Cuddle Duck back in Lucifer's lap.
“You keep,” Bella said.
Lucifer blinked. “Oh, sweetie, are you sure?”
“Yeah,” Bella said with a firm nod, and she kissed Lucifer and the duck.
That night, Lucifer felt restless, as he so often did. Sometimes he only got three hours of sleep at night, especially since Lilith left.
Cuddle Duck sat at the foot of his bed, but now he pulled the toy into his arms. It really was nice and soft, and a good weight in his arms. Even nicer than his pillows. Lucifer fell asleep with the duck in his arms.