Chapter Text
⋆༺𓆩⛧𓆪༻⋆
Two amber irises, golden as honey, looked back at him as the morning sun greeted them through a gap in the curtains. This was an unfortunate coincidence, given that Allie had asked him the night before if he had closed them.
Today, they both had the day off. The plan was to simply exist in their own space, which was not a rarity, just moments that Lucifer would always look forward to.
Now his lover was awake and staring back at him, not angry with him, as he rarely was. A scolding was probably in order, but who could blame him? His mistake had woken him up to the most beautiful eyes and the most perfect man.
Lucifer had thought his chances were over, yet here he was, in love again after thousands of years. And while eternity was not on Alastor's side and Hell was not worthy of him, Lucifer would still treasure every second of these fleeting years.
"Everything alright mon cœur?" A warm voice jolted him out of his thoughts. The eyes before him changed expression, conveying concern. "Don't worry about the curtains. I can't say it wasn't pleasant to wake up to such an angelic-looking man."
How?
How had Allie managed to still make a mess of his heart? It had been five years since they met, four since he kissed him for the first time, and three since they moved into the house by the bayou and committed to a life together.
There were moments Lucifer believed it to be nothing but a trick of the eye, a cruel illusion crafted by his broken heart to distract him from his own troubles such as royalty, politics, divorce, his punishment, and all the other things that tormented him.
He wasn't an angel of prayer anymore, yet every night he would look at the sky and thank his Mother for such moments of sheer bliss, choosing to forgive Her despite having been cast aside in that court ten thousand years ago.
He believed this was her way of showing him some mercy, as he had not yet been discovered by any angelic entity. His divine punishment had not taken effect when he stepped onto Earth, nor should any conjured crystal be able to hide the Devil's presence in another realm for this long.
Lucifer was probably never going to know how or why, and, to be honest, he didn't particularly care. All he wanted was for the man in front of him never to escape his embrace, for his laughter to never grow distant, and for his gaze to always be fixed on him.
"Are you real?"
The question escaped his thoughts, his chest tensing at the ridiculous idea, and yet he was scared it would all come crashing down.
However, a smile he adored spread across his lover's face, his amber eyes glinting with adoration. "What do you mean, mon amour?"
It was a simple question with many implications, such as the explanation as to who he was, with the fear being either his rejection or, even worse, his acceptance.
Lucifer wasn't sure he would be able to take it.
Allie was a wonderful man; he was worthy of Heaven.
Not confessing was the right choice.
Lucifer reached out with his hand, brushing back the auburn curls that he loved to mess playfully with when they bathed together.
"I don't know,"he replied, his lips trembling as he spoke.
'I just feel like maybe,' he went on, fixing his false periwinkle eyes on the amber that enthralled him, "I made you up".
Laughter filled his ears, his eyes closing as a hand encircled his waist and arms pulled him against the other's body, their foreheads touching.
"I'm here, mon ange, and I'm not going anyw—."
The loud ringing of his phone woke Lucifer as he opened his eyes to the sight of his room bathed in a mix of crimson and yellow. Rubber ducks filled his vision and papers were scattered across the floor, while his destroyed and bloodied coat still draped over his feet.
His limbs felt numb while the piercing wounds on his chest throbbed and healed. The angelic components of that machine caused more pain than he wanted to admit.
Worse still, his secret, his punishment, something he had managed to keep to himself all these years, was possibly out for the other sinners to know.
There was a sudden sharp pain in his head as his phone continued to ring loudly, which was the last thing he needed.
His charcoal hand reached for the device on his bedside table and turned off the alarm. As he covered himself with the sheets, he wondered what could be so important as to wake him up at such an ungodly hour.
A reminder popped up on his lock screen.
'Meeting with Charlie at Lobby DO NOT FORGET'
Charlie.
Yes.
His daughter.
Who he had disappointed again last time. He was doing so well in the father department, because, of course, his life was nothing but chaos right now.
He opened the photo album almost immediately, as these thoughts placated his mind: pictures of young Charlie having her face painted with markers, eating her first apple as clichéd as it was, and her first performance on the piano.
Moments he treasured.
And then there was him.
Moments he missed…
No.
He wouldn't go there.
Allie was gone; he was in heaven; that chapter was over.
His dreams were the only memories he would have of him; just another addition to his punishment. His only focus should be on Charlie: apologising and setting things right. She was his little starfire, after all.
Lucifer pulled down the covers on a whim, stood up, rolled up the sleeves of his long pink sweater and snapped his fingers as his full outfit, cane included, settled seamlessly in place.
Yes, he was going to do better; he was going to try again. Charlie had welcomed him back at the hotel and had even asked to speak to him about something of importance, a small task to assign to him. After his recent mistakes with her, he needed to do his best with whatever she was going to ask of him.
Having regained some confidence with his small pep talk, he immersed himself fully in his magic, transporting his body to the door before the lobby so as to not make too big an entrance.
He had to be more careful and more restrained, and also a good father.
Yet, as soon as his heels touched the floor, he could hear static starting to flood his ears.
Why, why, why, why.
All his coolness went out of the window when he heard the radio demon's atrocious laugh from behind the door. His presence was simply infuriating, as was his competitive nature, his obvious occult schemes, and the horrible association that came with his name.
His Allie could never be this self-centered; he certainly had his own unique attitude, the kind of rebellious spirit that attracted Lucifer endlessly, but never to the extent of this idiot.
Lucifer took a deep breath, pulled on his most engaging and collected smile, and opened the door.
"Good morning!" he chirped nonchalantly as all the sinners in the room turned around, the static hissing and crackling.
"Dad! Charlie said, rushing towards him, before stopping and placing her hands, which had been outstretched, back by her chest.
He hated that there was even a speck of dust between them. This was his baby girl, the only light in all this chaos, and he had managed to mess things up with her.
Lucifer decided to close the distance instead, looking at her with adoration.
No matter what happened, he could never be upset with her.
"Hey, kiddo," he greeted her, his tone hesitant. "So, you had something you wanted to discuss? A request? You know, anything in my power is yours for the asking, duckie," he went on, giving her a soft smile, even though he could see the obnoxious loudspeaker rolling his eyes in the corner of his eye.
This wasn't about him, though.
It was Charlie who had requested him, not the radio demon.
"Yes, yes! Happy you agreed!” his daughter cheerfully exclaimed, regaining her lost confidence, although he noticed that she was still fidgeting with her bow tie.
"Mind if we talk in private?" he suggested, as a portal to his room opened behind him following a small snap of his fingers, which rearranged the mess on the other side.
Perhaps it would be easier for them to be alone.
“All three of us?” Charlie questioned, peering behind her.
Oh, was Maggi joining?
He tilted his head to look around his daughter, when suddenly the eerie static grew louder and a conglomeration of darkness formed behind Charlie.
Oh.
Oh Mother no.
The scenery behind the portal swiftly changed to reveal his workshop on the other side. It was a somewhat better place for the three of them to speak.
The red guy had no business being anywhere near his room, or his daughter, but that was an issue he would resolve at some point.
He turned his gaze back to Charlie and pointed behind her. "That guy?" he asked, seeking confirmation. As he was about to adopt a different attitude towards this whole situation, especially if it involved the radio demon.
Charlie's nervous laugh said it all. He really wished he could hide his irritation from the sinner, yet it remained impossible.
Everything about him displeased him, especially his contorted smile, which only grew wider when he was given attention. It was a mocking gesture, demonstrating his awareness of how much he loathed him.
"All right, let's talk then," he said, smiling softly as he took a step back and held out his hand, inviting the others to cross the portal.
His daughter returned the smile and crossed over happily, with Alastor following behind. The portal reduced in size, making him crouch to step inside as the demon snarled in reaction.
It would have been easy to place his heel and make the man trip and fall face first into the other room, but he had to be the bigger man. He couldn't afford to make any more mistakes and he knew Charlie wouldn't be happy.
Besides, he was not in the mood for Alastor to point out his 'childish antics'. Mother forbid an immortal being from wanting to have fun!
His body turned towards the portal, crossing it, and the magic disappeared behind him, closing the passageway entirely.
And fuck.
He had forgotten that his obsession had also overtaken his workshop; there were ducks everywhere, on everything, right up to the chandelier.
It's not like Charlie or the bellhop didn't know about this hobby of his, but it was a little embarrassing as he was currently trying to portray a more regal persona.
"I'm not surprised your taste in decor doesn't change no matter where you settle," the radio demon scoffed, flicking one of the ducks, Sir Quacking, off one of the stacks.
Asshole.
"As if your taste was nothing but old and putrid," Lucifer shot back.
"Funny you speak of old, your majesty," the sinner countered.
The tension rose within a millisecond as they truly couldn't stand each other. Lucifer hoped that whichever request Charlie was about to make to them both did not involve them having to be anywhere near each other.
"Wow, wow, okay! I was hoping I could talk to you both about this request I have. I'm sure you'll both get along much better after this," his starfire chimed in.
Oh no, Charlie, no.
He turned around to meet her gaze and could only manage a half-hearted smile as he conjured tea and cakes on a perfectly arranged table with three chairs waiting for them.
They all sat down, with the deer sinner looking repulsed at his perfect selection of snacks.
Naturally, it lacked any decomposing meat.
"So, as you guys know," Charlie began, "Redemption works! I have been discussing with Heaven about our next steps. One of them is how I can make the hotel more appealing to sinners!" she explained.
Which, honestly, was there anything that could be improved for those horrible souls? All they did was cause chaos and destruction wherever they went..
Okay, no, listen to your daughter! You need to support her.
“I know Hell is vastly different from Earth, and we have sinners from every era. We can only accommodate so many,” Charlie continued. “…and apparently Heaven doesn't know much about Earth either?” She added doubtfully, and Lucifer let out a sigh.
After Mother left, the Elders did whatever they wanted with Her plan. It's no surprise that even Heaven hasn't bothered to check on humans and their lifestyle for the past ten thousand years.
Ah, if only there were an angel willing to explore and provide insights into their behavior!
Oh, wait! There was one, one who had spent eons of his life not only creating, but also collecting data on the universe itself, and on the movements of the stars.
One who was actually there when Mother designed Eden and humanity.
Oh, he wonders where that angel could be.
Oh yeah, right here, thrown to Hell for carrying out Mother's plans, but he wasn't about to bring that up in front of his daughter.
"So the plan is for you, dad, to go to Earth and for Alastor to tag along! I know he's good at handling the finer details, so—"
What?
"Wow holda holda" Lucifer said, jolting out of his current train of thought.
At what point did Charlie's speech morph into this?
"Earth? As in, human Earth?' He wasn't sure if he had heard correctly, or if his years were finally catching up with him.
"Yes! Human Earth! Heaven is granting you two days there,' she confirmed. 'It was a tricky negotiation, but I can't go myself as I have more meetings with Sera. I know you offered after everything, but I think I can really lead this whole thing myself, you know?' she added eagerly.
Yet, for the life of him, Lucifer could not focus on what his little girl was speaking about after she had confirmed what he had heard.
Had Michael suffered a stroke? Had Sera tripped on her own feathers? Was Heaven really allowing him not just minutes or hours, but two whole days on Earth? No hiding? No chasing? Just peaceful exploration? What in the Seven Rings—
Wait.
Wait.
Had Charlie said something else?
He was supposed to go with someone.
Oh, fuck.
"Well, I'm rather looking forward to witnessing the progress humanity has made, although I'm not sure how I'll cope with all that technology. But I promise to make an effort," that static voice chimed in, corroborating his suspicions.
Mother why.
“Wait, him?” He pointed at the sinner. “Charlie, really? I understand you might not be able to go, duckie, but do you really think the bellhop is the best choice here? Wasn't he a murderer or something?' he interjected quickly.
His daughter sighed, which made Lucifer grow nervous. He knew he was going against his promises again, but this wasn't about creating disagreements; the radio demon was surely not the best choice for this task.
"Serial killer," the demon clarified nonchalantly which made Lucifer grunt in distaste, but he was quickly drawn away as his daughter took one of his hands.
"Yes, I have thought about other choices," she explained, "but I can't send two sinners. Angel Dust gets easily distracted, and he's not here at the moment. Vaggi hasn't visited Earth before. Husk won't pay attention, and well, Niffty is Niffty."
Lucifer exhaled in resignation.
Unfortunately, he couldn't find a fault in her logic. Out of all the sinners his daughter had as friends, the bellhop was the most composed of the lot.
Bordering on genocide, but still somehow able to moderate himself when the circumstances demanded it.
"It appears I'm the only sensible choice here. However, I cannot venture alone; therefore, and regretfully, your company is needed," the radio demon chimed in, sounding annoyed.
"Excuse me?" Lucifer turned around to face the demon.
"I'm the one with the task, you pompous idiot!" he retorted.
“Well,” Charlie interrupted, prompting him to turn around again; she seemed a little nervous.
Oh.
"Your memory isn't the best, Dad, and you get distracted easily..." she pointed out, her words stinging his pride. "But! Alastor still can't be fully trusted, and you can keep him out of trouble while you both take notes and enjoy the human world!" she said enthusiastically.
Once again, his precious star fire was right, and he hated it, yet he couldn't help but applaud her for considering every detail.
It was true; his attention span was everywhere, and if he went to Earth, his long-lost inner angel would definitely resurface and he would forget whatever he needed to do, which remained unclear as he had already tuned out halfway through Charlie's explanation.
So was he going to be the chaperone of the radio demon? He couldn't physically harm him, although he certainly had ways around his punishment that would make the other demon at least stomp himself up against a wall.
Besides, knowing Heaven and their rules, he would most likely have a human disguise and restricted powers.
It could be amusing to humiliate the obnoxious sinner as Earth was definitively not how the old man had left it, and Lucifer did enjoy its latest inventions and technologies.
It could be as the radio demon described it.
'Entertaining'
"Fine, then," he said, turning to face the demon, who was grinning defiantly at him. "I suppose we're going to Earth, Bambi. And don't think for a second that you can do as you please!" he threatened.
The radio demon simply chuckled at his words.
Oh, he would teach him.
"See you in a couple of days, your majesty," the demon stated, before turning and addressing his daughter. "Princess, as we previously discussed, you can compile a list of things you would like me to take note of, and I will do my best." The Radio Demon stood up and crossed the room, manifesting his staff as he did so.
"I must depart for now. Can't make Rosie wait, after all. Ta-ta!" His shadows engulfed him before Lucifer got the chance to say anything more.
Lucky for him, he didn't need magic to punch him in human form or make him trip and break his pointy nose.
“Dad, promise me you’ll get along,” Charlie said, snapping him out of his thoughts. "This is the first step for us to have official access to Earth," she explained. "I would like for you to show it to me one day if you want to, of course," she finished hesitantly.
His starfire could not have tugged at his heartstrings any more than she already had. Ever since he first held her in his arms, and after every bedtime story he told her, it was the one thing he wanted to do.
He really needed to set aside his rivalry, at least for this trip.
Lucifer stood up and went over to his daughter, taking her hands and remembering how small they used to be. "I promise, duckie. Of course I'd love to show you Earth. Not that I'm up to date myself," he laughed. "I hope some of the places I created are still there. I'd love to visit them with you," he added, cupping Charlie's cheek with one hand.
She had grown so much.
"I'd love to, dad. And, um, I'm sorry about the other day," she said, the light in her eyes dimming.
Ah yes, they had yet to address this.
"I know you were trying to help, and even if it wasn't what I would have wanted, I just—" Tears began to collect in her eyes. "I shouldn't have reacted that way. Vox was never a good man, and I—" Her voice cut off mid-sentence.
“Please forgive me.”
Lucifer was fighting back tears as well.
"Hey, hey, hey, Charlie, don't," he said, as his free hand reached for her other cheek, wiping away a tear with his thumb. "I love you, and I forgive you," he added.
She could shout at him a thousand times and he would still forgive her, but of course that didn't mean there weren't things to learn from this.
Lucifer sighed as his little girl looked at him. “I admit blaming Maggi was not my best move either. I guess I didn’t want to disappoint you. We both made mistakes, and we can do better. But, duckie, you need to let us help you. Let me help you," he remarked. "I know I haven't been the most present king, but I still have some strings to pull in Heaven if needed. Besides, if you give me the chance, I can also help with your ideas."
A sparkle of light appeared in Charlie's precious ruby eyes, followed by her suddenly embracing him.
“I know, dad. Me and Vaggi discussed it. I need to do better, listen, and ask for help. I should have consulted you,” she admitted. “You got me that meeting with Heaven. You are trying, and here I am judging others when my own mistakes have hurt people too.”
Lucifer pulled her close. "It'll be okay, sweetheart. We're both acknowledging our mistakes. It's okay to make them; it's a basic human experience," he chuckled, as Charlie pulled away to look at him, making him smile. "We'll try not to repeat them and do better, okay? Everything will be okay," he reassured her.
His daughter nodded back at him with a warm smile.
"Now, I have to pack because I'm apparently going to Earth," he laughed. "It's really amazing, Char Char. I should thank you. I thought I would never go there again," he said, thinking back wistfully to old memories.
"I'm sure you'll have a great time, dad." Charlie cheered. "Al may not be the best traveling companion, but he's always focused, so I'm sure you'll be able to get some time to yourself," she assured him.
He couldn't help but groan at the reminder. "That demon will know what deer season means if he tries doing anything funny," he replied in annoyance.
"Dad!" Charlie protested.
"Sorry, sorry, duckie. I promise no tricks or fights. I can't promise no bickering, because he infuriates me more than your aunts and uncles. But I will behave, pinky promise," he compromised.
Charlie started to laugh, and he couldn't help but join in.
They finished their desserts and tea, after which his daughter went about her day, leaving Lucifer on his own.
And that's when it hit him again, stronger this time. His body tensed as the realization of where he was about to go finally sank in.
His gaze shifted to the handwritten list that Charlie had left on the table while they discussed what she needed for the trip. It wasn't complicated, yet as they talked, his mind simply treated it as a task as simple as observing through a glass window, like when he was instructed to supervise humans.
Only from above, and never to touch or interact, though he hadn't listened.
However, that was not the idea here.
No, he was going to walk on Earth again, feeling the grass under his feet, the fresh breeze on his face and the different smells of nature. He would hear the laughter of people who were alive and breathing.
How long had it been?
Ninety? Ninety-seven years?
It had been almost a century since he last stepped on Earth when he made the decision to rebel once more and visit for a day or two, if he could manage it without being caught.
And just when he was about to give up and not push his luck any further, he met him; wild amber eyes, dark curls that he could lose himself in for hours, and a charming voice that captivated him.
Before he knew it, five years had gone by, years that he would cherish for the rest of his immortal life. There could have been more; more if he had confessed, more if he had dared to bargain and beg.
Still, there was no chance of turning back, no matter how much his subconscious wanted him to wallow in the illusion.
Ultimately, it was for Allie to be safe.
A sense of dread began to form within him because, even though it had been over a century and Allie was dead and gone, there was still a chance that his lineage could have continued if he had married.
But would he? To have had children of his own? Would he have moved on? Lucifer would never know or, well, he could try now that communication between the realms had been re-established.
But no, he wouldn't be capable of facing him.
Not now, not ever. Not after what he had done: leaving without a proper explanation, just a letter thrown carelessly together with whatever he could think of at the time. He just wished for Allie to move on and ensure his safety.
How could anyone forgive him?
Suddenly, there was a stinging sensation in his hands as his claws found their way through his skin, the tension rising within him.
Maybe he shouldn't go. Maybe not visiting Earth was his own personal punishment, just as visiting Eden was. His presence only caused pain. No matter how much his heart yearned to know more and understand humanity.
It was his heart that was to blame for finding things extraordinary, including humans and their passion and rebellion. He should never have kissed Alastor or Lilith; he should have stayed put as Michael had advised.
A sudden laugh from afar pulled his mind back to the present. His body moved towards the sound, reaching for the window and pulling the curtains back just enough for an eye to peek through.
Charlie was outside the hotel with her girlfriend, leading a group of sinners into a new dynamic. They were doing something as simple as a trust fall; how ironic. The group seemed quite willing to participate, with one by one of them going up on stage and confessing, perhaps not all their sins, but it was a step nonetheless.
A step towards redemption.
Lucifer pressed his forehead against the cold windowpane, finding the sensation somehow grounding.
Hadn't he just told Charlie? That people make mistakes, and have to learn from them, accept them and improve; reflect and move on.
But he was a champion at not following his own advice.
"No, Helel, pull yourself together. You can do this," he told himself, the mention of his angelic name giving him momentary strength and belief that he was still an angel with a purpose.
The fallen angel took a deep breath, his palms healing as he exhaled. His fingers snapped, vanishing the tea set and the remaining food from the table and cleaning the space as an empty suitcase appeared.
He needed to move on after almost a century. It would always hurt, he was certain, but he shouldn't cling to it.
He had to keep moving forward.
₊ ⸙͎. ݁˖ 𓃦. ݁ ݁⸙. ݁₊
The taste of smoke and whisky clung to his lungs and throat. How many cigarettes had he smoked? Maybe five in the last hour? Not that it mattered, but the memory of an annoying voice telling him to quit wouldn't quit nagging him.
Pathetic.
Alastor took another drag of his cigarette and exhaled the smoke as he ran his claws through his hair, another habit he had promised to quit.
Promises.
All broken.
All useless now.
His suitcase was on his bed containing nothing but a simple collared shirt and a vest. He wasn't even sure what to take. He assumed the illustrious King of Hell would provide the simple necessities. Yet, with the punishment in place, would his magic even work?
Alastor paused mid-sip of his whisky, slamming the glass onto the coffee table.
"Of course it fucking does," the radio demon cursed under his breath as his claws attempted to break the glass beneath them. His static filled the room, providing an agonizing experience to anyone who dared to get anywhere near his door.
He shouldn't be here; he should be out there reclaiming his status as the strongest sinner in Hell. Yet here he was, still at the hotel, looking for information about the whereabouts of that witch for Rosie. Even though their deal was now between two equal partners, with new terms and a new freedom for him to do as he pleased, his task remained the same.
Hence why he was back and now? He needed to go to Earth, a place that had changed drastically in a century, filled with obnoxious technology and humans clinging to cheap entertainment and pointless gossip about the wealthy.
But that didn't bother him the most. No, what prickled his skin was the mere idea of spending time there, especially on Earth of all places.
With Lucifer.
He had been deceived by the devil; five years of his life had been wasted, simply because he had chosen to indulge in the ephemeral feeling that was love.
Never again.
Therefore, he would carry on with his assigned task, knowing that the king would most likely play tricks on him in an attempt to elicit some emotion, perhaps desperation.
Alastor figured out long before they were properly reintroduced that he was nothing but a plaything for the devil, mere entertainment while his wife was away all those years ago.
Nevertheless, he was no longer the same man, and he wasn't going to allow him to humiliate him.
⋆༺𓆩⛧𓆪༻⋆
The alarm was louder this time. With Lucifer already in the bathroom getting ready, it was a rarity in Hell for the Morning Star to live up to his name. Today, however, was special: he was going to be allowed on Earth again. It was a small grace, but it meant freedom to roam and enjoy the beauty of humanity's creations.
Yes, it was going to be a special day, and he was going to enjoy it.
He finished styling his hair and decided to leave his hat and coat in his room; he knew he would require a disguise anyway, so there was no point in wearing them today.
Lucifer walked towards his bed, unfurling his six wings as he rose to his bookshelf. He looked carefully around the compilation; from a distance, the furniture seemed pretty simple, yet it could contain as many as two rows per shelf.
"Where did I leave it?" the fallen angel asked himself, his hands going through his many books, trinkets and ducks on the shelves. Frustration began to build as he could not find what he was looking for.
"Damn it! I knew I put it here!" he cursed, now searching through the small piles of ducks on every shelf and tossing them onto the floor. Suddenly, a red glow behind a book on the top shelf caught his attention.
"Aha!", Lucifer exclaimed triumphantly, flying up to reach the book and discarding it as he grabbed what he was looking for.
A camera.
It was a unique model from the 1920s with a maroon case and a dusty glass eye cover. It was a special gift, a treasure that he should keep hidden properly now that he lived in the hotel, yet he could never bear to be without it.
Lucifer held it close and blew faintly into it with his magic. The entire device cleaned itself, but never regenerated; every mark and worn corner held a special place in the angel's heart.
He could get a new version, one of those fancy digital cameras, but where would be the fun in that? He loved the surprise of developing the film and seeing what had been captured, even when the results were blurry. There was always a story behind them, a spur-of-the-moment shot taken as quickly as possible.
That was the way Lucifer liked to keep memories.
He flew back down, putting the camera inside his suitcase, which was the last thing he needed before opening a portal to the room where they had decided to gather when the time came. He could see Charlie standing on the other side, excitedly going around the bellhop, who was clearly annoyed.
Serves him right, and he'd better not dare bite back at his starfire.
"Good morning, duckie!" he cheered, crossing the golden, crimson opening. "Is everything ready?" he asked, pulling his suitcase from the other side and closing it.
Charlie immediately perked up at his presence.
"Dad! Yes, yes, yes! Emily couldn't stay because she had a meeting, but she left us a waiver that you'll need to sign," she said, presenting him with a paper similar to the one the radio demon was holding.
He gave it a quick read and it wasn't bad: two days of full access to the human world in one location of their choosing, with no teleportation allowed which was a shame.
They would also be granted human disguises, and he alone would retain his magic, which would only be used in case of real emergencies and would be monitored from above.
No damage to the environment or living souls should be caused. Oh, and communication with Hell would be possible.
Perfect.
Almost.
In his particular case, he was in charge of keeping the 'sinner' well-behaved, which was great; he had officially been designated the babysitter for the radio demon.
Nonetheless, everything was better than he had anticipated, so he conjured a pen and signed the document quickly.
"All done, sweetheart. It's all pretty standard. No issues for me," he said, handing the paper back and looking at the demon as he spoke the last part defiantly.
The sinner rolled his eyes in annoyance. A tendril manifested and signed the paper before him. "All good on my end too, princess," he said, handing her the paper and shooting him a glare in return.
Asshole.
"All right!" Charlie cheered. "Then everything is done! Here you go, dad,'' she said, handing him a small golden whistle.
'When you guys decide on a location, Emily said to just use this, and the portal will manifest,' she explained.
Lucifer grabbed the whistle and, although he knew instantly where he wanted to go, he knew that, as sentimental as he was, he had to take the actual human in the room with them into consideration.
That was going to cause an argument for sure.
"Well, I have what I need, and since we're trying to avoid anyone slipping in, I'll guard the door just in case," Charlie mentioned, looking through the wavers in her hands.
Heaven had been pretty strict about the guidelines prior to their trip: a secluded room for the travelers and the princess only, good security to prevent anyone else from slipping past the portal, and complete secrecy.
Lucifer knew, of course, that both Asmodeous and the succubus had found their own way back to Earth, as well as a group of imps, according to reports he had read when he was bored a month or so ago.
Yeah, he had to check that out, didn't he?
Oh well.
"Sure, sweetheart. We'll be on our way soon. You can check in a couple of minutes after the whistle. I'll keep you updated," he said, holding up his phone.
His little girl smiled, closing the distance between them and giving him a hug, which he welcomed with open arms.
"I know this is a mission of sorts, but you can have fun too, okay?" she insisted. "And you too, Alastor!" she added, quickly turning around. Lucifer wanted to protest, but he had promised and wasn't going to ruin this moment.
“I will try, dear, ” the sinner said nonchalantly, and Charlie nodded happily.
"Very well! See you guys in a couple of days," she said, crossing the room. "Take lots of pictures, yes? Enjoy!" Her final words caused the radio demon's static to suddenly spike, which Lucifer knew meant irritation.
And then the door closed.
He found himself alone with the loudspeaker.
Well, he couldn't linger, they needed to leave, and so—
"New Orleans, if you will," the sinner stated.
Hold on.
Wait, what?!
"New Orleans?" Lucifer almost squeaked in surprise, and not because the place was out of the question or because the other demon was being demanding without giving him a chance to suggest his own ideas for the trip.
No, none of that had happened.
It was because that was exactly where he wanted to go.
“Any concerns?” The sinner tilted his head, his neck twisting and cracking unnaturally.
"Why? Lucifer managed to ask, feeling paralyzed and unable to think; the choice of location caught him off guard.
Gradually, the name of the sinner began to resonate painfully in his mind.
The radio demon hummed.
"I was born and raised in Louisiana, sir. I would like to see what the twenty-first century has done to my dear city," he said, without mockery, his voice low like the white noise he had sometimes used to help him sleep at night.
His smile was softer, too, and there was no glint of malice in his eyes.
It was almost as if...
No, Lucifer was simply delusional; the trip and the radio demon's desired destination were playing tricks on him.
Yet when did the bellhop die? He looked to be in his late thirties at most. Probably in his fifties, right? Because of all the unnecessary drama between him and the box. Yes, that must be it.
Or perhaps the eighteenth century, judging by his antiquated attire.
Nothing to dwell on too much.
"Very well," he said, dismissing his previous thoughts and keeping to himself the fact that he also wanted to visit the same location. He had won an argument that never started, and he would just enjoy it.
Even though everything in his mind felt unsettled.
The radio demon avoided his gaze and looked at his claws nonchalantly, seemingly waiting for the portal to appear.
Lucifer took a deep breath.
It was just a coincidence.
Two coincidences, nothing else.
He grabbed the whistle and blew it, picturing the place as a sweet sound resonated in the room and a golden portal opened before them, revealing a bayou on the other side.
"After you," said the fallen angel, extending a hand towards the other side.
The forest breeze was already calming his senses.
The radio demon simply nodded, grabbed his suitcase, and crossed over.
Lucifer followed almost immediately since he had to make sure that no other sinners or demons were waiting to take their chance behind them. His gaze remained fixed on the hotel the whole time.
As soon as the portal closed, he felt magic warming his body as his charcoal arms turned pale pink alongside the rest of his skin. It had been so long since he had taken human form; memories resurfaced as he watched the portal disappear before him. The sound of leaves rustling and birds chirping reached his ears, as well as the scent of moss, cypress and murky water, filling his nostrils and lungs with fresh air.
For the first time in a century, Lucifer felt somewhat at home.
Looking up at the towering trees, he could see that they were clearly in a bayou, away from the city but not unreachable. First, they would need to find somewhere to stay, and then they could decide where to go from there.
"I'm glad to know that humanity has kept its destructive hands away from my bayou," said a voice close by.
Lucifer dropped his suitcase.
His entire body froze as he continued to look in the direction opposite to where the radio demon was.
There was no more static or filtering over his voice, and that...
No.
That...
That couldn't be it.
Lucifer felt his heart rate increase; surely his mind was deceiving him. It couldn't be him. No matter if they had the same name or their voice was familiar, that wasn't his Allie.
It was his mind deceiving him, or a prank from Heaven perhaps, probably Michael.
Yes, the demon will soon complain that this wasn't his voice at all, and he will laugh at him for it.
"Not liking that Heaven kept you short even as a human, your majesty?" The voice interrupted his thoughts again. Lucifer anchored himself to the new tone, discarding his previous thoughts.
Allie would never speak to him this way; he was always tender and caring, even when they weren't on good terms.
If he was right, when he turned around he would find himself facing a very different man: a tall, scrawny figure with an air of greatness, minus the deer ears.
Yes.
That is all he would find.
"Ha, ha, ha, asshole! Let's see how Earth treated—" Lucifer choked on his own words as he turned around. "You..."
No, no, no, no.
This couldn't be, no.
He can't be.
How?
"Allie?"