Chapter Text
Lucifer hung limp in the glass box he that was trapped in, being held in place only by the metal restraints on his wrists and ankles. His arms felt numb, his body was weak and shaky, his muscles spasmed every now and then from the electricity that had shot through his body. All he had wanted to do was apologize to his daughter, to make sure he didn’t lose her too. But like everything else, he fucked it up. He had been an idiot to think that Charlie would forgive him for what he had done. For ruining everything.
God, he was a terrible father. He didn’t help Charlie for years, he mocked her hotel, even after he started living there. He didn’t do anything useful, he tried to when he threatened that tv guy, buy now he was trapped in this box thing. Charlie would be much better without him, without her fuck-up of a father.
The small whine that left lucifer’s mouth barely reach his ears, the tears blurring his vision barely registered in his mind, because he was too focused on how much of a failure he was. How unloved he was. Could he even name three people that cared about him…? Charlie, Lilith was gone, maybe Charlie’s girlfriend…? She didn’t know him that well though.
That’s it.
Before Lucifer could spiral further, a cord darted out from the top of the glass box and dove into his chest. He cried out in pain as more sank into the flesh of his back and chest.
“Fuck!” Lucifer screamed in agony when the prongs in his body electrocuted him to drain even more of his power. Hot tears rolled down his cheeks, desperate sobs were ripped from his throat, the pain was nearly as terrible as the burns he received from his fall. How could he survive this torture? What was he even hooked up to? Charlie’s girlfriend hadn’t told him when he saw her before. She hadn’t even come back like she promised- but maybe she was just busy, he knew he wasn’t anyone’s top priority.
The electricity finally stopped, leaving Lucifer hanging in his restraints while sobs wracked through his body. He felt so small and weak, crying because his daughter didn’t care about him. Even though he deserved it after all those years when he left her alone. He thought it had been the right choice to let her grown on her own, he didn’t know how much she needed him and now he felt like a horrible father.
A scream tore from Lucifer as the machine powered up again, even stronger this time, even more agonizing. He felt his vision darken, his consciousness slipping away, and his eyelids fall shut, the pain too unbearable to stay awake.
~
Voices called out to Lucifer. They were singing to him in beautiful a melody, but one voice stood out against the rest. One angelic voice that made his soul feel lighter- could it be? Was Lilith really back? Was she really singing for him again like she used to?
Lucifer opened his heavy eyelids and looked up to the panel that Charlie’s girlfriend had left open when she found him. His light, airy feeling suddenly plummeted when his reality came crashing back down. The sting of the cords jabbed into his flesh rushed right back to his senses, along with his exhaustion and fatigue. The electricity going through him must have kept his muscles clenched even while passed out.
He groaned and shook his head, only giving himself a headache. Who had been singing then? Was Lilith back?
He listened again for the voice. No, that wasCharlie’s voice among the group, he had gotten his hopes up…
Lucifer let out a deep breath to keep himself from crying all over again. Why was he so pathetic? The King of Hell crying because his wife left him. She probably left because he was so annoying and needy, he was just proving her point and justifying her leaving.
“Stop it, stop it…” Lucifer whispered shakily through sniffles. He needed to pull himself back together if he was going to get out of this.
How was he supposed to get out of this? He couldn’t break through the angelic steel restraints and he knew nobody cared enough to come for him, he would have to do this on his own.
As if on command, the machine suddenly lost power, the lights flickering off out and his restraints opening. Which would have been a good thing if he hadn’t slammed forward into the glass and the cords buried in his torso hadn’t been either shoved deeper into his flesh on impact or ripped out of his back.
Lucifer sank into ragged sobs on the ground, hovering his hand over the cords in his chest. This was fine- everything was fine! It was just like ripping off a bandaid, right…?
He managed to suck in a deep breath before he quickly grabbed one of the wires and yanked it out of him. Another cry left Lucifer’s body with each cord he took out, his mind growing cloudier from blood loss.
Just… a few more… then you’re free…
When the last cord was out of his body, he let out a choked sigh and closed his eyes to catch his breath. Lucifer noticed the singing had stopped and slowly lifted his head to the open panel in the machine letting light in.
His nails scraped the ground as he dragged himself to the exit. He didn’t know how long the machine would hold up- or how long he had before he passed out again, so he needed to leave quickly. When his hand finally reached the ladder, he could barely pull himself to stand up. Why am I so weak…? I’m supposed to be the most powerful being down here
~
Alastor stayed to the side out of the way, he didn’t need anyone noticing his injuries- or coming up to him to ask about his time spent with Vox. He simply watched everyone from the side. Angel, Husk, and Cherri were standing together, the Vees retreating to the dark hole they came from, Charlie and Vaggi were with the angel that had “saved” him. He had everything under control, there was no need for her interference, all she did was make him seem helpless.
A pained groan made Alastor’s ear flick to the side towards the noise. When he turned to look, a very bloodied and beaten looking Lucifer was crawling out of a panel where Vox’s weapon once stood. His torn clothes and stumbling didn’t necessarily scream “king of hell”, but when did he ever?
“Ha! Don’t go down there! It’s a place of pain…” Alastor barely had a moment to roll his eyes at Lucifer’s remark before the idiot collapsed to the ground with Charlie rushing over. What a helpless excuse of a demon, appearing weak in front of his subjects? He looked so pitiful as he pushed himself up to hug Charlie and lean against her for support.
Almost as soon as Lucifer regained his footing, Charlie let him go and turned her attention to the giant screen that Vox had been in front of before their fight.
The snake Adam had killed was redeemed? Her silly hotel hadn’t worked, had it? That certainly was entertaining, but not as entertaining as Lucifer’s kicked puppy expression when Charlie ignored him in favor of the snake. Alastor swore he saw him crying over it, how pathetic. You’d think the ruler of hell would have more dignity than crying over his daughter ignoring him.
Lucifer’s sobbing and erratic breathing was really taking a toll on him, he looked moments away from passing out. Who knew the king of Hell could pass out? Perhaps he could use that information later…
Charlie made no move to help her poor father who was in clear need of help. Someone had to help him or his wounds would get infected. He really didn’t want to, but Charlie’s image was already tarnished thanks to Vox, she surely didn’t need ‘left father to bleed out on the ground’ to be added to the list. Not to mention the trust he would gain by aiding Lucifer. Of course, not from him, he would rather die a second time over than be caught helping the pathetic excuse of a king- no, he would gain Charlie’s trust and Lucifer would be none the wiser.
It was risky, he could wake up while Alastor was still working, but his opportunity was slipping away and he needed to act fast.
Shadows enveloped Alastor and spit him out right next to Charlie and a now unconscious Lucifer. He plastered on his signature grin and pitched his request, “Ah, dear Charlotte, do you mind if I take your father and patch him up? I see you’re quite occupied at the moment and I would love to be of assistance!”
“Oh! Yeah, you can take dad, thanks, Al!”
His smile tightened at how easy it was for someone known to despise her father to take him away in such a vulnerable state. Oh well, it just made his job much easier.
Alastor hoisted Lucifer into his arms bridal style and disappeared into the shadows again.
His ears pinned back when he saw how tacky Lucifer’s room was. Bright colors, strange furniture, and the ducks. There were far too many to count- piled on the bed, taking up more space on his giant bookshelves than actual books were, lining the staircase, and dumped in careless piles on the floor.
And of course, how could he miss the duck shaped bed. Whatever, that didn’t matter, he just needed to fix Lucifer up and get out of there before he woke up.
He laid Lucifer down on the bed and opened his coat, finding even more golden blood seeping through the fabric. Layer by layer, Alastor uncovered the puncture wounds on his chest. He sucked in a breath at the bruising and deep wounds, still oozing blood.
Of course, blood was no issue for Alastor, being a cannibal and all. He snapped and summoned a first aid kit to his hand, neatly unpacking it and searching for the necessary supplies.
Alastor gently dabbed at Lucifer’s wounds with an alcohol soaked gauze pad, eliciting small whines of pain from the king. Really, who knew how sensitive he could be?
Once Alastor finished bandaging Lucifer’s front, he tried making him sit up to get to his back, but the king fell forward into Alastor’s chest. He let out a sharp bugle, but realized that it was pointless, it was easier to do it like this anyway. As long as he didn’t wake up like this.
Idiot king getting himself kidnapped… that trap was so obvious, he must’ve been dropped on the head as a child- wait, we’re angels ever children? Doesn’t matter.
Alastor secured the last bandage and shoved Lucifer onto the bed, he could get comfortable himself when he woke up.