Work Text:
Lucifer PoV
Even with all the new sinners flooding the hotel, Lucifer can feel The Radio Demon’s eyes following him. That guy had been a persistent nuisance since the moment they met, but after returning to the hotel, he’d become even more insufferable. Lucifer was aware that something had changed, though he couldn’t be sure what. The demon felt more dangerous.
Before, he was just a potentially problematic pain in the ass. Now something about him had become more menacing. It wasn’t just his looming shadows. Speaking of which, those shadows seemed to follow Lucifer everywhere. Even as he weaved through the crowd, occasionally bumping into someone, he knew Alastor was lurking, watching.
Charlie was distracted and it looked like she’d be busy for a while, so Lucifer decided to duck out, no pun intended, and take a break from all the excitement. He had hoped for a moment alone with his thoughts, but apparently his one-man audience had other plans. “What do you want, Red?” Alastor had materialized right in front of him, a little too close in Lucifer’s opinion.
“Merely looking out for our VIP resident. I’m sure Charlie wouldn’t want any ham to come to her dear old dad.”
“Do you realize who I am? Do you really think you can harm me?”
“I wouldn’t dream of it! However, there are those who would, and with all of Hell now knowing you’re powerless against them, it’s only a matter of time before someone tries.”
“Even if I can’t technically harm sinners, I’m not powerless, and it’s not like they can do anything to me either.”
“Oh, but they can. Don’t try to deny it. I saw it for myself. Not only can you be so easily harnessed and used as a power source, but you can also be hurt.”
“Don’t act like you care! You’re just looking for an opportunity to use me before anyone else tries.”
Alastor rolled his eyes. “If that were so, do you really think I’d bother explaining to you just how dire your current situation is? It’s much more sensible to keep you ignorant to it, to play on your pride and over confidence, and manipulate you into another trap, just like Vox did.”
“So what? You expect me to believe you’re concerned about me?”
“I suppose you could put it like that. I do have my concerns, for my own reasons, of course. Regardless, I would rather assist you with this little problem of yours before some other overly ambitious demon gets any ideas.”
Lucifer crossed his arms and scoffed. “I don’t believe you. You think I don’t know you’re up to something?”
“Are you accusing me of lying? That’s most ungenerous of you.”
“Telling half-truths. I’m sure you do have your reasons for not wanting another sinner to gain access to my powers, probably looking out for your own skin.” Lucifer shrugged.
“I’m not asking you to trust me. Why not handle this the tried-and-true way? Let’s make a deal.”
Lucifer burst into a fit of sarcastic laughter. Then, wiping tears away, replied, “Nuh uh. Nope. I don’t make deals. I should have guessed you’d be after a deal. Isn’t that what every sinner wants from me? A deal? My power? My infinite and all-powerful soul? Ha! Nice try, Bambi!”
“I’m simply offering a mutually beneficial arrangement. No souls involved. Just a gentleman’s agreement between us.”
“A gentleman’s agreement? Like I’d fall for that line.”
“I don’t want your power, Lucifer. I have more than enough of my own. I just want a little angelic protection in exchange for my continued services. All the power in the universe amounts to nothing if one can still be harmed, or worse, killed.”
“Wait, are you asking me to make you immortal or something?”
“Immortal. Invulnerable. Instantaneously regenerating. Whatever you can do. Twice I risked my own wellbeing, twice I nearly died a permanent death, all to protect YOUR daughter. If you want me to continue protecting her, is it too much to ask that you ensure my safety?”
“No one ASKED you to protect her! She’s MY daughter!”
“YOU weren’t there when she needed you. I took the blows. I’m even willing to do the same for you. I’ve already proven my willingness to protect Charlie and the hotel. Grant me divine healing and invulnerability and I’ll act as your sword and shield.”
“You expect me to believe you’re some sort of knight in shining armor? We both know you don’t actually care about Charlie, the hotel, or me…especially me. You’ve just been getting close to Charlie and waiting for the opportunity to use her to get to my power.”
“You’re really starting to frustrate me with all your assumptions and accusations.” Alastor growled and leaned closer to Lucifer’s face to look him directly in the eye. “In Hell caring is a dangerous weakness. Whether someone cares or not, it is unwise to show or admit it. You should know that. Furthermore, I DID protect Charlie and this hotel, and it DID almost cost me my afterlife as a result. Still don’t believe me? Allow me to prove it.” Alastor opened his shirt to reveal his still open wound from his battle with Adam. “A gift from The First Man. Still think I’m lying? Why don’t we ask our dear Charlie about all I did for her to help her fight back against the exorcist’s and defend this hotel while YOU were almost too late?”
Lucifer stared at the wound. He knew Alastor wasn’t exactly lying, the guy seemed to pride himself on his wording such as to present himself as an honorable demon above resorting to deception. However, he obviously found ways to intentionally use his words to mislead which one could argue is still a lesser form of deception. Even IF Alastor didn’t tell lies, per se, he didn’t tell the whole truth either. There was more going on here.
Lucifer could easily just buy into this whole performance Alastor was trying to sell him. Making it seem like recent events had alerted him to each of their vulnerabilities and awakened fear within him. Lucifer could see through that. The man in front of him was practically oozing confidence, not fear. He may have had some genuine concern for his own wellbeing and maybe he did covet Lucifer’s regenerative capabilities, but Alastor wanted something more from Lucifer. “How about this, I’ll make a deal with you, but on MY terms. I’ll heal your wounds and from here on out you’ll be completely honest and forthcoming with me. No more half-truths or omissions.”
Alastor PoV
Alastor noticed Lucifer’s wording immediately. He really was The Devil. He’d been careful enough not to specify whether he would only heal him this once or if he would offer continual healing for injuries sustained in future skirmishes. He had also made it clear that Alastor’s part of the deal left no room for any attempt to conceal true meaning or intentions while also extending it indefinitely. Alastor would not be the one to benefit most from this deal, but this was likely the only chance he’d get. The only offer Lucifer would ever agree to. It was still too good of an opportunity to pass up.
After years of trying to get a deal with Lucifer, he’d be a fool not to risk it. At least he wouldn’t have to give up his soul again. He had been willing to part with far more of himself than that, hadn’t he? This could prove to be just the first of many deals if Alastor played his cards right and earned Lucifer’s trust, which shouldn’t be too hard to do if Lucifer knew Alastor couldn’t lie to him. “It’s a deal.” Alastor extended his hand.
“Not here.” Lucifer opened a portal and motioned for Alastor to follow. “We can’t cause a scene in the hotel.” Lucifer closed the portal behind them and offered Alastor his hand to seal the deal.
Alastor gasped at the rush of power as the deal was struck.
Lucifer had set to work on his part immediately. “Let’s get this done, then. You should have asked me for help sooner.”
“Would you have even agreed?”
“If you had just asked I would have healed you. I suppose you wouldn’t have gotten your deal, though. You must be feeling pretty proud of yourself to have gotten your ‘deal with The Devil’.” Lucifer rolls his eyes.
With just a single simple infuriating snap of his fingers Lucifer heals all of Alastor’s injuries as though they were nothing. “The deal really doesn’t seem to have put you out too much. I’d say it was hardly even an effort for you. Clearly, it’s more beneficial to you than to I.”
“You knew that before you agreed to it so don’t pretend to be disappointed.”
“I assure you I’m not.”
“And why exactly is that? A deal with me can’t really mean that much to you?”
“Oh, but it does.” Alastor was starting to realize he was feeling compelled to answer even seemingly insignificant rhetoric questions.
“Why? Because I’m ‘The Devil’? Does making a deal with ‘The Devil’ give you some sort of bragging rights? Are you just trying to boost your reputation?”
“Not at all. In fact, I’d much rather keep this a secret. I wouldn’t want anyone learning that you might be willing to entertain making deals with sinners.”
“What’s your reason, then? I just don’t get it. Why did you want so badly to make a deal with me?”
“Because it’s you, Lucifer!” Alastor turned away. He may have to answer, but he didn’t have to look at him.
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“It means I wanted to make a deal with YOU, not ‘The Devil’, YOU!” Alastor was gritting his teeth and internally begging Lucifer not to ask any more about it.
“Oooookaaay. Why ME, then? If not because I’m ‘The Devil’, The King of Hell, and if not for my power, why me?”
“BECAUSE YOU’RE LUCIFER, VENUS, THE MORNING STAR, THE FIRST TEMPTATION, HELEL, GIFTER OF MUSIC, FIRE, SCIENCE, MATH, AND FREE WILL, GOD’S FAVORITE AND MOST BEAUTIFUL WHO SIDED WITH AND AIDED HUMANITY, EVERYTHING, THE ONE BEING IN ALL OF CREATION WHO SHOULD BE PRAISED AND LOVED THE MOST!”
Alastor was heaving trying to stop his words, but they kept coming. “Yet, you’re condemned and most hated, clearly misunderstood and underappreciated. Even the one person who should be here by your side holding onto you obviously didn’t know what she had. I suppose she valued her freedom over everything, and I certainly admire her for that, but she never should have left your side. No offense to our beloved symbol of freedom and defiance, but she was a fool for not recognizing and treasuring what she had. Do you even know how many people would give up everything just to behold you? Even so, I doubt there are many who truly understand how valuable you are to humanity, the universe, the overall balance, and all of existence!” Alastor felt his ears pin back flush against his skull and his face burning up.
“So, you wanted to make a deal with me, even if I didn’t benefit you, just because you admire me?” It came out as an awestruck breathless whisper, nearly inaudible, but Alastor heard it and was once again compelled to answer.
“Not ‘admire’! Perhaps I ‘admired’ you as a boy. I used to ask questions that made adults uncomfortable. I asked why everyone thought you were in the wrong when clearly you were in the right. I asked why everyone hated you after all you gifted us. The older I got and the more I read, the deeper my ‘admiration’ became. My love for music only fueled it, knowing that gift I loved most came from you. As an adult I had my own admirers, but none of them interested me. None of them were worthy. I used to believe one day I’d meet someone, fall in love, and have a family, but I never did. I thought there must be something wrong with me. People began to talk. One day I realized there wasn’t anything wrong with me, it was them. They weren’t good enough. None of them deserved me. They were all fools. They appreciate nothing, value nothing, they just squander away their gifts.”
Alastor finally turned back around to face Lucifer. He’d already doomed himself and confessed too much, he might as well at least see Lucifer’s reaction as he continued, “gifts that came from YOU. I finally understood I could never love anyone because none of them could hold a candle to the light of The Morning Star. So, I refused to let any of them have me. They don’t deserve me. They can’t even appreciate their own bodies and souls. How can they appreciate anyone else? I studied all the ways to summon you, to offer myself to YOU, but you never answered. When I finally did get through to the other side, I made a deal to become the most powerful sinner in Hell to impress YOU.” Alastor’s hands were covering his ears, squeezing them to his head in an effort to drown out his own voice. His claws dug into his scalp.
Lucifer PoV
Lucifer’s eyes had gone wide, not just from the startling confession, but from Alastor’s reaction. It was clear the confession caused him distress, but it had been quite the opposite for Lucifer. All he had ever wanted was to be seen, be loved, be valued. Here was Alastor, of all people, currently unable to deceive him, hysterically shouting the words Lucifer had always wanted to hear. Someone loved him.
Someone chose Lucifer, above all others. No one else would do. Alastor wanted HIM. Just him, no one and nothing else. Not even his power. Well, maybe his power too, but also him. Alastor wanted him enough to willingly condemn himself to Hell, to bypass Heaven’s system of judgement all together and risk his very soul. Lucifer reached up to stop Alastor from clawing his ears. “Hey, okay, I get it. That’s enough. That’s more than enough.” Lucifer held Alastor’s bloodied hands in his own and sighed. He snapped his fingers again to heal Alastor’s ears.
“I don’t need pity or guilt or whatever this is. My feelings, my actions, my choices are all my own. Though,” Alastor let out a dry resigned chuckle, “I suppose I have you to thank for that too, ironically. Free will and all.”
“Alastor…”
“Don’t. I’m well aware of your continued pining for your undeserving queen.” That came out more bitter than what Alastor had likely intended it to.
Lucifer sighed again. “Idiot. For someone who supposedly did so much research on me, you don’t know anything. I may be…’pining’ as you put it, but not for Lilith. At least, not for her specifically. I don’t know how much Charlie may have mentioned about our…separation, but the love was gone a long time ago…assuming it ever really existed. Lilith…” Lucifer’s voice dropped to a whisper, “Lilith hates me. She has for a long time. I kept hoping she’d forgive me, love me again. I was trying to win her back. Not because it’s her. I just wanted…” he trailed off and bit his lip.
Lucifer was struggling with so much on his mind, but he didn’t want to blow it again. He didn’t want to chase away the person who finally stood before him with the only thing he’d ever desired, love. Love and want for him. He took a deep breath, “I just wanted someone to say all the things you just said. To feel that way about me. To love me. I never even imagined anyone BUT Lilith ever could. So, tell me, Alastor, do you still want me? Do you love me?”
Lucifer knew it was cowardly and desperate of him to use the deal to compel Alastor to answer honestly again, especially after it had visibly caused him so much distress and was obviously something he hadn’t wanted to admit, but this was Hell, after all. Alastor had closed his eyes. The word was barely a whimper as it left him, but Lucifer heard it. “Yes.”
Lucifer pulled Alastor’s face down to his and made him look into his eyes again. “Then let’s make a new deal.”