Chapter Text
The hall had been beautifully decorated. The round tables were draped with Noir-black tablecloths, pressed with meticulous perfection, creating a striking contrast against the crimson-red napkins. At the center of each table sat withered flowers in deep brown hues, while the dinnerware displayed an elegant pattern of gold and white.
Several columns were wrapped with intertwined red and white fabrics, forming a beautiful symbol of unity. But without a doubt, what stood out the most was the bride and groom's table—something truly worthy of admiration.
The table dominated the entire hall as though it had been built for two kings. Raised upon a platform of polished black marble, it gleamed beneath the warm golden glow of hundreds of floating candles, each one bathing every detail in an almost unreal radiance.
At its center rested two magnificent thrones placed side by side.
The first, fashioned in deep crimson and jet black, was adorned with intricate golden embellishments reminiscent of an antique radio station. Elegant green curves flowed across its backrest like invisible radio waves suspended in the air.
The second throne looked as though it had been crafted for fallen celestial royalty. Ivory white, gleaming gold, and delicate carvings of stars and apples crowned its structure with an almost divine beauty.
Behind them stretched a gigantic arch covered in red and white roses, intertwined with velvet ribbons and cascading crystal strands that captured the light like fragments of stars. Thousands of tiny lights shimmered among the flowers, creating the illusion of an entire constellation bowing to witness the couple.
The table itself was draped in deep crimson velvet that fell to the floor in soft folds. Crystal candelabras, golden goblets, and lavish floral arrangements decorated its surface. Hidden among the roses were subtle details representing each of them.
Everything was perfect.
It was all to celebrate the union between the King of Hell, Lucifer, and the Radio Demon, Alastor.
When the wedding was announced, no one could believe the outrageous title displayed across every corner of Hell.
Sinners.
Imps.
Hellhounds.
Overlords.
Everyone knew about it.
Including the Six Deadly Sins.
The Sins themselves were not entirely pleased with the marriage.
Well... not all of them.
Asmodeus, Beelzebub, and Belphegor supported Lucifer and his fiancé in their own... "empathetic" way, despite their lingering doubts about their King—their father, in many ways—marrying a sinner who inspired so much distrust.
Mammon, Satan, and Leviathan were an entirely different story.
Satan opposed the marriage outright.
Leviathan was worried.
And Mammon...
Mammon pretended not to care, but he too felt uneasy.
Everyone knew how deeply Lucifer had loved—or rather, had once loved—Lilith.
Despite standing together in the same room, none of the Six Deadly Sins felt certain that Lucifer was truly capable of carrying the emotional weight of a second marriage.
Charlie, however, defended them both.
She explained that Alastor was someone she trusted. Someone who had supported both her and her hotel countless times. Someone who had even defended the hotel against Adam.
Although there had once been a time when the two of them could barely tolerate each other, Alastor had gradually grown closer to Lucifer.
He had made the effort to understand him.
And for Lucifer...
It hadn't been easy either.
But he managed.
And somewhere throughout those long years...
His heart faltered.
He ended up falling in love with the one he had once believed he hated.
Who would have imagined that Lucifer could move on from Lilith?
That he would one day remove his wedding ring?
Yet that was reality.
And who could have believed that the Radio Demon was capable of love?
But it was true...
Wasn't it?
After hearing Charlie's heartfelt words, Leviathan and Mammon reluctantly accepted the engagement.
Reluctantly...
But they accepted it.
As for Satan, the only thing he had to say was this:
"I don't like this decision, and I have no intention of pretending otherwise. But you are my King, Lucifer... and more importantly, you're like a brother to me."
He glanced at Charlie for a few moments.
"And if my niece believes in that demon with such unwavering conviction... then I'll give him a chance. Not for his sake, but for yours."
His expression remained stern.
"I won't give you my blessing, but neither will I stand in your way. For the good of Hell... I sincerely hope that sinner is worthy of the happiness that has been denied to its King for so long."
That alone was enough for Charlie and Lucifer to embrace one another joyfully.
Now nothing could possibly go wrong.
It was only a matter of time before Alastor learned the news.
He, too, was genuinely happy that their engagement had finally been approved.
Which brings us to Charlie and Vaggie, who were putting the finishing touches on the ballroom.
"Sweetheart, breathe. You're about to have a breakdown," Vaggie said as she finished arranging the dessert table.
"Oh, Vaggie! I can't help it!" Charlie exclaimed, pacing back and forth through the ballroom while carefully inspecting every tiny detail. "Everything—and I mean EVERYTHING—has to be perfect. There can't be a single mistake. Tomorrow is the wedding of two of the most important people in my life, and I promised them everything would go smoothly... But what if something goes wrong? What if people don't show up? What if we don't have enough food? Or what if we have too much? WHAT IF I TRIP AND DESTROY THE CAKE? OR WHAT IF SOMEONE ELSE FALLS AND DESTROYS THE CAKE?"
"Charlie!" Vaggie interrupted, stepping in front of her and gently placing her hands on Charlie's shoulders. "You're doing great. Your dad knows how hard you've worked these past few months, and Alastor—even if he is an idiot..." She rolled her eyes with amusement. "...will understand too. Everything's going to be fine. Just breathe... and relax."
"Thanks, babe."
Charlie sighed softly, resting against her girlfriend's shoulder.
"You're right... everything will be perfect."
The silence that followed was peaceful.
Warm.
Then a mischievous smile slowly spread across Charlie's face.
"You know..." she murmured, looking up at Vaggie. "Watching all these wedding preparations... choosing flowers, organizing guests... it's made me think about another wedding."
Vaggie raised an eyebrow.
"Another wedding?"
Charlie nodded, hugging her a little tighter.
"Ours."
Vaggie's entire body immediately stiffened.
"W-What?"
"Well..." Charlie continued with an innocent giggle that wasn't innocent in the slightest. "Someday we'll have one too, right? I already know what flowers you like, what music we'd play... I even know what your dress would look like."
A deep blush spread across Vaggie's face.
"C-Charlie!"
"What?" Charlie asked, leaning even closer with a sweet, teasing smile. "I'm just saying it'd be beautiful. You walking toward me... me waiting for you at the altar... and then we'd have this enormous three-tier wedding cake because, honestly, after planning this wedding, I've got plenty of experience."
"Y-You can't just say things like that!"
Charlie burst into laughter.
"Why not? Don't you want to marry me?"
"N-Not like that!"
"Then..."
Charlie leaned in until their foreheads were almost touching.
"Have you already imagined what our honeymoon would be like?"
Vaggie's brain completely shut down.
"CHARLIE!"
At that exact moment, the ballroom doors burst open.
"Can you two lesbians stop flirting already?" Husk grumbled as he walked in carrying several heavy boxes.
Cherry Bomb entered behind him, laughing loudly, while Niffty twirled excitedly with an armful of decorations.
"Awwww! Did we interrupt a romantic moment?" Cherry teased with a wicked grin.
"I can be the maid of honor at your wedding!" Niffty chirped before suddenly becoming thoughtful.
"Or the one who hides the bodies... whatever you need."
Vaggie groaned in embarrassment and buried her face in her hands.
Meanwhile, Charlie simply smiled from ear to ear, completely pleased with herself.
(...)
"Aren't you excited, honey?" Lucifer asked as he wrapped his arms around his fiancé's neck.
"Of course I am, darling," Alastor replied, slipping an arm around Lucifer's waist. He took the King's hand and gently kissed his knuckles, lingering near the engagement ring.
Alastor sat comfortably in an armchair while Lucifer rested on his lap. The two of them were spending a quiet moment together in Lucifer's private library.
"The ballroom looks beautiful. Charlie and her girlfriend have done an excellent job." Lucifer gently stroked Alastor's coat. "I still can't believe that, before long, we'll officially be married. Doesn't that make you happy?"
That earned a soft chuckle from Alastor.
"My dear, you've asked me that five times today," he said, wearing his ever-present smile. "And my answer has been the same every single time."
"Yes."
Lucifer laughed.
"I know, I know. I just can't help it. I really can't. I can't wait to spend eternity with you."
He snuggled closer against Alastor's chest.
Eternity.
Such a short word.
Yet so incredibly heavy.
A promise that would define their marriage for the rest of their existence.
The rest...
Of eternity.
Alastor's fingers continued to stroke the King's back with the same practiced gentleness they always had. By now, he no longer needed to think about it.
Over the years, he had learned exactly what Lucifer expected.
Which gestures comforted him.
Which words reassured him.
Which smiles made him happy.
At first...
It had been unbearable.
The physical affection.
The endless displays of love.
The King's almost childlike need to feel loved.
But habits were curious things.
Even the most unpleasant ones could become routine...
...if the reward was great enough.
And what a reward it was.
After all...
What were a few caresses compared to the throne of Hell?
"Hey, Alastor."
Lucifer's voice pulled him from his thoughts.
He looked down at the King, his signature smile still firmly in place.
"What is it, darling? Are you tired?"
"It's just..."
Lucifer glanced toward the wall.
"Do you think... after we're married... your shadow will finally accept me?"
Alastor followed his gaze.
Sure enough...
His shadow stood there.
Watching them.
Ever since he had become engaged to Lucifer, it had never been unusual for the shadow to linger nearby.
It never approached the King.
Whenever it looked at Lucifer, there was unmistakable anger in its expression.
A restrained fury.
As though, at any given moment, it might leap forward and devour him whole.
But whenever it looked at its master...
There was only sadness.
Disappointment.
It had never shown even the slightest hint of affection toward Lucifer.
If anything...
It seemed to hate him even more.
And that frightened Lucifer.
Alastor had reprimanded his shadow countless times.
He had even sealed it away inside the Void more than once.
Though, if anything, that seemed more like a reward than a punishment.
Eventually, he had forced it to remain with Lucifer and keep him company.
That had only made matters worse.
The shadow's fury had only grown.
Every time Lucifer tried to approach it...
It would avoid him.
Always avoiding him.
Always ignoring him.
"Sometimes..." Lucifer murmured, curling even closer to Alastor as though he alone could shield him from that silent hostility.
"I feel like it hates me."
Alastor stared at his shadow for a long moment, struggling to suppress the irritation beginning to show on his face.
Eventually...
He managed.
More or less.
"Don't pay it too much mind, my dear. Shadows are capricious creatures by nature."
Lucifer studied him quietly.
"So..."
"Do you think it'll change its mind someday?"
He looked up at Alastor with wide, hopeful eyes.
Alastor absentmindedly ran his fingers through Lucifer's blond hair.
"Perhaps."
The shadow let out a low, guttural growl.
A very obvious sign of disagreement.
Lucifer didn't notice.
Alastor did.
He shot the creature a warning glare before choosing to ignore it altogether.
(...)
"What the hell is wrong with you?!" Alastor snapped.
"Is it really that difficult for you to obey me?!"
His crimson eyes darkened into pitch black, transforming into spinning radio dials, while his antlers lengthened into imposing horns.
The shadow didn't even flinch.
"How have you become so damn reckless?!"
"Do you have any idea what you could ruin?!"
His voice distorted into violent radio static.
The walls of his room trembled in response to his power.
Glowing green voodoo sigils bloomed across every surface.
Any other sinner...
Any lesser demon...
Would have been frozen in absolute terror.
But not a being that was merely an extension of himself.
The two of them stood inside Alastor's hotel room.
After leaving the library, Lucifer had gone to check on the ballroom and make sure Charlie hadn't worked herself into a nervous breakdown.
Alastor had excused himself, claiming he'd forgotten something in his room and would join them shortly.
The moment he teleported there...
He began scolding the creature yet again.
Though, to be perfectly honest...
It couldn't have cared less.
"...Ugh."
Alastor pinched the bridge of his nose.
His horns slowly shrank back to normal, and most of the voodoo energy flooding the room dissipated.
"Fine."
"Then tell me already."
"What the hell do you want?"
For the first time since the argument had begun...
The shadow abandoned its indifference.
Its enormous black eyes lit up.
For the first time...
There was genuine emotion behind that empty stare.
The creature slowly extended one of its long arms.
Darkness twisted across the floor.
Like spilled ink.
Like an old broadcast struggling to take shape.
Gradually...
A silhouette emerged.
Tall.
Slender.
A television for a head.
Antennae.
A smug grin glowing across the screen.
Tiny sparks of electricity danced over the shadowy figure, mimicking the bluish flicker of a television.
Alastor narrowed his eyes.
"...Vox?"
The shadow nodded immediately.
The figure vanished as quickly as it had appeared.
A moment later, darkness flowed upward across the walls.
Recreating towering skyscrapers.
Massive electronic billboards.
Endless glowing screens.
Until finally...
The unmistakable silhouette of V Tower rose before them.
The shadow looked back at Alastor.
Expectantly.
Almost pleadingly.
Silence filled the room.
And then...
Alastor laughed.
A low laugh.
Elegant.
Cruel.
"Ha... ha... ha... HAHAHAHA!"
Slowly, he placed a hand over his chest.
"You're serious?"
The shadow remained perfectly still.
"Oh, for Satan's sake..."
His crimson eyes gleamed with mockery.
"I believe that's the funniest joke I've heard all month."
The creature cautiously stepped forward.
Alastor laughed again.
"Go see him?"
"And for what, exactly?"
"So I can watch him drown in his own misery while every screen in Hell broadcasts my wedding?"
His fingers idly tapped against his microphone cane.
"Honestly... Have a little dignity."
The shadow lowered its head.
"That old television fulfilled its purpose a long time ago."
The Radio Demon's smile widened even further.
"Besides... I'm about to become the King of Hell's consort."
He leaned slightly toward the creature.
"And you expect me to throw all of that away...to go visit a bitter fool who never understood his place?"
Silence.
Complete silence.
Then...
The shadow slowly raised its head.
The disappointment in its eyes was even deeper than before.
Alastor merely rolled his eyes.
"Oh, please don't look at me like that."
Another amused laugh escaped him.
"You should get over him just like I did."