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“Did it hurt when you fell from heaven?”
Lucifer stiffen upon hearing this question. Not many souls had enough courage to ask him that - they were either insane or suicidal. Which in conclusion, is the same, at least for the King of Hell. He didn’t move from his place, watching Pentagram City from the window in his quarters. The landscape spilled with red from sinners fighting each other and the light of the crimson moon. It didn’t matter what time of the day it was, it was always bright. The King missed this about his castle. It was on the outskirts of the Pride Ring, so at night he could take a break from all the noise and fire he was surrounded by right now. The Hazbin Hotel, although being far from the city, still wasn’t as peaceful as his palace. He promised Charlie he would stay at the hotel from time to time, but at moments like this, Lucifer kind of wished he never said that.
The one and only Radio Demon was annoying from the moment they met. Being a little pest, nothing more. But infuriating, nonetheless. From trying to attack him twice at night (which neither of times had ended up well for the deer) to depreciating and insulting everything he does, his favourite being anything related to Lucifer’s parenting skill. The king really tried to ignore him most of the time. Even if the demon struck his nerve perfectly, for Charlie, he tried to remain calm.
Except a couple of remarks… Or quarrels… Or fights… Or the time he turned him into the literal fawn.
And this event actually was the turning point.
Lucifer thought the demon would try to kill him every time he could. Maybe trying to add even more poison into his meals. Alastor tried it before but to no avail, the angel was immune to such mundane ways of harm. However, the Radio Demon became quiet. Observant. He even started saying “Good Morning”, which the first time Lucifer heard it, the angel almost spat out his drink. Charlie was, of course, ecstatic that they began to be on speaking terms. The King was confused as hell, but decided not to dwell on it. It wasn’t like HE was having a problem, the damn strawberry pimp started the whole ordeal.
So, when Lucifer heard knocking and instead of Charlie, Alastor came to his dorm, he was less surprised than he would have been, like three months ago. But still - a bit dumbfounded.
“What are you doing here?” He asked, not fully opening the door. His room was a mess and he really wasn’t feeling like talking at that moment.
Alastor just smiled a bit wider and took out from behind his back two bottles of red wine.
Lucifer raised an eyebrow in question. “Why would I drink with you?”
“Because, Your Majesty” He rolled his eyes at the inquiry. “You haven’t stepped out of your room for a couple of days. So, I thought a little company would cheer you up a bit!”
The King furrowed his forehead above hearing this nonsence. He looked him up and down searching for anything suspicious. But Alastor was a definition of distrust. The whole situation was strange as its own, but the fact that the demon didn’t seem shady at the moment, was even more bizarre.
“First of all, the fact of me not going downstairs is enough to tell that I’m not willing to talk to anyone” Lucifer straightened up and put one finger up, then the second. “Furthermore, why would I choose you to cheer me up If my daughter lives here too. If I wanted company, I would go to her or anyone else at that matter. Not you ” He pointed fingers towards Alastor at which the redhead just chuckled.
“Oh, please! I know we started” The demon took his time to find the words. “Off on the wrong foot. That is why I decided to bring some peace. The wine is perfect, I would say. It’s straight from Cannibal Town!” To this information, Lucifer glared in disbelief at the Radio Demon. “Oh, don’t look at me like that! It’s not blood, it doesn’t have anything in it besides good taste” He grinned even wider, if that was even possible.
The King sighed tiredly. He really wasn’t in the mood. “Look…”
“Please, Your Majesty” Alastor interrupted him before he could finish the refusal. “If I’m anything but respectful, you can ask me to leave”.
Lucifer once again inspected upon every one of his features. Looking for something vicious. But at that moment, the sinner almost seemed nervous of possible turndown. Like a timid fawn. It almost looked cut-
He groaned, immediately hating himself more. Not that it was possible.
“Okay, fine! Come in. Just don’t comment on the mess. I will clean it up in a second”
And that’s how they ended up in this situation.
What was it about “If I’m anything but respectful, you can ask me to leave” again? He thought for a second.
To be honest, Lucifer didn’t really partake in any conversation the sinner was trying to begin. But he told him he was in no mood for company. So, it’s not his fault that Alastor started fidgeting at one point and getting more exasperated by every minute, at least Lucifer assumed. Wine was actually delicious, don’t get him wrong. But he really wanted him to leave. Though, the moment he stood up and walked to the window, he thought it was enough of a signal for Alastor to leave. But then, he must have asked one question no one was supposed to ask.
“Are you really that desperate for my attention?”
No one moved for a couple of seconds. It was like time had stopped, air froze along the sound.
“I just want to understand you more” Alastor said in such a small voice, so unlike him that it made Lucifer turn around.
“What do you mean?” He actually chuckled in disbelief. That was first. Since when did the demon want to understand him? He constantly insulted him, never trying to uphold a normal conversation till that day and trying to harm him twice. The King was absolutely baffled by his entire being. Alastor was so contradicting, it was making his head ache.
He doesn’t know which part made the redhead abruptly stand up, fuming. Lucifer’s laugh or the question. The fallen angel widened his golden eyes a little at the action.
What is going on?
“I just want to know, why are you such a pathe… Why are you so depressed that even staying at the hotel, with the apple of your eye, won’t make you socialise with the rest of hell?”
The King blinked slowly, frozen in time. Then a manic laugh erupted from his lips, dancing around the room, like fireflies in the bayou formed in the room across the hallway.
“I can’t believe you just wanted to call me ‘a pathetic excuse for a king’ and ask me the most sensitive question you could have picked” He whipped the tear forming in his eye, from laughing that hard. “You are one of a kind, Alastor, truly” He composed himself after a bit. “I really think you should leave”
“Wait-”
“No, seriously” His eyes flickered to red for a moment when his expression turned stern. “Get out”
Alastor clenched his fists and took a long breath. He was far from done.
“I just… You have so much power! So many abilities, you have so much… Everything! And you don’t use it! Why if you could change anything?!” Why Lucifer let him rumble for so long, he wasn’t sure. Was it a wine? Or his loneliness? Or his liking to being punished and hit in the gut? “Yes! You're a pathetic excuse for a king. You do nothing! When you can do everything! You could be dead and it wouldn’t chan-”
“YOU THINK I HAVEN'T TRIED?!” Lucifer’s patience came to an abrupt stop. “To kill myself?! To get a grip of my existence and actually do my job?! Which I have never asked for, in the first place! To do anything, besides being a wreck and worthless piece of shit! I’m trying every fucking day, Alastor! And every fucking day I’m failing!” He seethed, not even realising his horns and tail made an appearance. He was clenching and releasing his grip, the skin almost breaking from his claws.
Why have I just told you that?
Alastor stood as if he just looked into basilisk eyes. Couple of emotions passed through his crimson eyes, but Lucifer was far too overwhelmed to catch them. Slipping through his fingers like silky sheets.
“You tried to commit suicide?” The redhead asked as if not believing his ears. To which Lucifer turned into a laughing, mad mess again.
“You inquiry as if you haven’t tried to kill me yourself!” He gripped the windowsill as an anchor. “What was it you said? ‘I’m going to tear you apart limb by limb’ . Sorry to inform you, I didn’t want to spoil the fun but I can’t be killed. If that was a possibility, it would happen a long time ago”
Alastor was speechless, which made Lucifer chuckle even more. “Oh, please. Don’t look at me like that. We, the Seven Deadly Sins, cannot die. Especially me. Remember? It’s my eternal punishment. What would be the point if I just kicked the calendar?” He looked upon the sinner with a wicked smile. “But you would like to try, wouldn’t you?” Lucifer stalked slowly towards the demon, as a hunter after the prey. Ready to attack.
“Sire-“
“Come on, Alastor” The angel grinned manically, grasping one of his wrists and directing the red claws towards his throat. “You were so willing to choke me to death the last time. Go for it”
He stared deeply into the red, glowing scleras. “Shred me to pieces”
Alastor didn’t move an inch. His breathing was shallow, his eyes searching for something in the King's face. He almost looked afraid. Of what, Lucifer didn’t know. But the lack of anything, any movement, made him more furious. When he was about to shout, the sinner spoke.
“No” He whispered, somehow keeping his voice steady. “I don’t want to. Yes, I craved it in the past but not anymore”
Lucifer smiled even wider, pushing even closer, their noses almost touching. “What changed, Sinner?”
A second past. Maybe a minute or an hour. The time was always a trouble for the fallen angel. After a couple millennia, it all blended into one.
“I don’t know” Alastor admitted finally, which struck the devil as if lightning had just hit him. It made him release the other's hand.
“What do you mean, you don’t know?”
“I mean I don’t know!” He shouted, taking a few steps back. “I don’t know! I don’t understand it! I just…” Alastor took a shaky breath, his arms going limp. “I want to see you rule . I want to see you powerful , not locked in your own prison for days. I want… I want to be worthy of you , the real you. Not the shell that cracks constantly” He finished sheepishly but not backing down. The demon stood firmly in place, waiting patiently for any reaction.
Now, Lucifer was in lack of words.
“I…” His voice was shaky from the emotions he experienced in the last ten minutes. “I really don’t understand you, Alastor” The fallen angel admitted, exhaustion leaking from his bones. He pinched the spot in between his eyebrows, headache overwhelming his being. “You make absolutely no sense”
With that he just left. Lucifer made sure the demon didn’t have a last word or try to stop him. He teleported to his palace and sunk into the bed. The devil fell asleep instantly.
✶✶✶
Lucifer woke up three days later. Despite his long nap, he was still dog-tired. He managed to message Charlie that he was sorry for his leave, without any goodbye but the kingly amends awaited for him at the palace. Which was a complete lie, but the devil really didn’t want it to admit to his daughter that he had another episode.
Yes, Charlie knew his dad was depressed. But she didn’t have to see him at his lowest. With that taken care of, he turned back to sleep.
Lucifer didn’t know how many more days had passed, when he felt a presence at the palace. Or rather at the front door. Which was already alarming. Nobody was able to come here, pass the warding spells, unless it was Charlie or Lilith. And he would know if it was them. So, if somebody was able to come through the gate was either powerful or his spells were weakened.
Not caring for his appearance, with the intention to turn into ash the idiot that was stupid enough to come to his palace, he teleported to the front doors and opened them furiously.
The last thing he expected to see was the Radio Demon.
“How the fuck did you managed to go through the gate?!”
“Good morning to you too, Sir” Alastor said, rolling his eyes with the lack of any decorum from the King. “It was annoying, to say at least”
“Well, now that you have achieved that, I will have to make the wards stronger. Thank you, now you can go” He snarled, turning away. He was about to shut the door when the demon spoke.
“Charlie is worried about you” The words made Lucifer stop in his tracks.
He breathed in slowly and gripped his arms, in comfort. “If she was, she would come here by her own”
The angel heard delicate footsteps behind him. He really should have made Alastor leave. But as last time, he didn’t.
Why can’t I just make him go away?
“You know Charlie loves you and cares about you, right?”
As always, the redhead knew how to trigger Lucifer, perfectly.
“Cut the bullshit, Alastor!” He shouted turning towards him, feeling his eyes converting into two crimson rubies. “You made it deliberately clear that I suck at parenting. That I’m a total disaster as a father. Can’t you just leave me fucking alone?!” He let out an irritated growl, his tail flapping harshly behind him.
Alastor's eyes somehow softened. His always present smile, almost sad.
“Will you try to do something to yourself, if I leave?”
The question took him off guard. His demonic features, retracting. Since when did the Radio Demon care? “I don’t know”
The demon clapped his hands and happily came a few steps forward.
“Well, we can’t have any doubts. No harming allowed! Let me take care of you, you look like an absolute mess” Saying that far too cheerily, he grabbed the king by his shoulder and started leading him towards the stairs. It took a couple of seconds for Lucifer to get a hold on what’s going on.
“Wait, wait, wait! What the actual fuck you thing you’re doing?!”
“What do you think? You’re going to take a bath! The smell coming from you is far from pleasant!”
“WHAT?!” Lucifer screeched and tripped, breaking free from the demon’s hold. “I’m not some grandpa to be taken care of!”
Alastor snorted in a response. “With that attitude, you certainly act like one. And the age is even correct! Now, now” He chirped contentedly and grabbed the other’s waist, continuing their walk. Lucifer being far too confused, didn’t comment how touchy the sinner was. “Don’t be difficult. Let me help you, so you can come back to the hotel fresh and happy!”
The fallen angel blinked slowly, analysing the whole situation. He was truly dumbfounded by Alastor’s behaviour.
Why is he here?
“It almost sounds like you missed me”
The demon, to his surprise, didn’t stop or even reacted in any way to the statement. He just kept walking, somehow in the right direction.
“Everyone misses you, Sire” Alastor admitted quietly.
“What? Why?”
The demon took a weary exhale. They were in front of Lucifer’s dorm. He felt the hand moving from his waist, to the middle of his back. Alastor finally looked down, into his eyes.
“You are either completely oblivious or your self esteem is even lower than I imagined. Are you even aware how long you’ve been gone?” He asked, opening the door with his other hand.
The King blinked slowly. “Not really”
“Almost two weeks”
“Shit” He cursed under his breath and let him be led to the bathroom. “How did you know where my room is?”
“Oh, my shadow memorised it, while we had our little talk downstairs!”
“What the fuck??” A light chuckle erupted from the demon's mouth.
They stopped in the middle of the bathroom. Alastor eventually let go of him and stalked towards a huge bath. With one flick of a wrist, the tub filled with hot water and bubbles. He then stood patiently, looking at Lucifer expectantly. The realisation set in after a couple of seconds and he felt his entire face turning gold.
“Are you really gonna stay here?” He asked mildly terrified. It’s not like the angel was ashamed of his body but a mere image of Alastor seeing him naked filled him with distraught.
“Yes. I don’t trust you being in that state alone. Now, shut up, take your clothes off and get into the bath” He commanded, gesticulating towards the final destination. Lucifer put his head into his hands and far too exhausted to argue, let out a low growl.
“Can you at least turn around?” To his inquiry, the sinner let out an agreeing hum and did as told.
After a couple of seconds, deciding whether to run away or to smite the demon out of existence, he finally took his oversized t-shirt off along with black shorts. The angel carefully traded towards the tub and after checking out the temperature, he sunk into hot water.
“You know that I cannot drown, so I don’t understand your concern”
“It’s not that you cannot do it, it’s the fact that you shouldn’t. I don’t believe that it is good for your psyche”
Lucifer, far too embarrassed to turn around to look, heard the sinner sitting down at a stool and taking something into his hand. He saw in the corner of his eye a cup being filled with water. Before he could even ask, he felt a warm liquid being poured on his head.
“What-”
“You know what I’m doing. I have already told you to stop being difficult. Let me handle it” Alastor interrupted him, pouring even more water into his hair and then an excessive amount of shampoo. He grimaced at that.
“That is way too much. Besides, you know I don’t really need a cleaning like this, right?”
“Yet, you have a bath the size of a small pool” Although his harsher tone, Alastor threaded his claws gently through his locks. “And I know, I can do the same. But that is not the point. You are comfortable, aren’t you?” Lucifer furrowed his brows, annoyance sipping out of him for a moment, because it was very enjoyable. Nobody did it to him in years. “Yeah, that’s what I thought”
They sat silent for a while. Alastor carefully washed his hair and massaged the tense scalp. When he turned to grab a conditioner, the deer froze for a moment. Lucifer being far more relaxed didn’t notice at first but after a couple of seconds he glanced towards the demon.
“Somethings wrong?” He slurred a little. Alastor had his eyebrows practically raised above his hairline.
“You don’t have any genitalia?” He asked, looking shamelessly at the angel, who flushed golden, again, upon the realisation. Not that he hadn’t any, but to that, that Alastor found out. That he peeked .
“I... I mean I do have. I just sometimes choose not to. But why did you even look that way?!”
“I’m perfectly fine with human body anatomy, Sir. Although, you’re not really a human. It just caught my glance” He said, finally applying the liquid to Lucifer’s hair. “Does it mean you can have female organs?”
He groaned loudly, hiding his face in his hands. “Yes, I can. I’m a shapeshifter, of course I can”
“So, why did you choose to pick none of them?”
“So, you could be more comfortable, upon ‘catching a glance’ but now I know I didn’t need to bother”
“Well, whatever makes you more convenient” Alastor shrugged and continued his work. “It just makes you look even more like a doll”
Now, Lucifer was sure he was bright as a glow stick. “My God, Alastor!”
“Don’t bring your father into that. Besides, it's common knowledge that you’re beautiful. You are temptation incarnate, after all”
The fact that he said it was obvious , made Lucifer even more insane. “Why are you saying stuff like this?” A murmur left his lips. He should NOT be this flustered over the Radio Demon.
“I’m just stating the truth, Sir” As simple as that.
“Well, not everyone shares your opinion” To that, the demon stopped for a second.
“They must have been blind then”
Lucifer almost shrieked at that. Alastor, being completely oblivious to his state, rinsed his hair again. It felt too hot all of sudden.
“I don’t fucking understand you”
“Well, that makes us both” He stated, pushing the angel a little bit forward, grabbing the sponge with his other hand. “We should make a pop quiz” The demon suggested, gently tracing the six scars, painted on his back, before making use of the sponge.
Lucifer’s psyche was going down a very steep hill, unable to stop the inevitable crash.
“Are you aware there are many reasons why I should not trust you?” He said, voice smaller than he intended. Alastor, as always, was not perturbed by any means.
“Such as?”
“Really?” His impassive gaze was shifted towards the demon’s crimson eyes. “You’re an Overlord, a strong sinner with a lot of souls, with utter admiration for making deals. You crave power. You won’t stop from getting anything you want. You are a murderer and psychopath. You are an infuriating, arrogant, selfish prick. Should I keep going?” He asked, raising an eyebrow to the unimpressed sinner. Alastor just sighed and stood up, with the intention to sit at the edge of the bath, so Lucifer wouldn’t need to break his neck. Which was appreciated.
“It’s hard not to agree with you, but I have no intentions like that”
“So, what do you want from me, If not power nor money?”
“Just… You. Just you” He whispered, his eyes softening a bit.
The fallen angel felt his jaw falling to the floor. He quickly coughed, darting his gaze away, until he could look again into the sinner's eyes. “I don’t really believe you”
Alastor took a long breath, clearly being annoyed with Lucifer’s stubbornness. “Is there anything I could do, so you would believe me?”
And he just knew a thing, the demon would not agree to do. “Let me heal you”
“What?” A screech echoed along the walls of the bathroom. They looked at each other, the angel’s smirk growing every second. “What do you mean ‘heal me’ ?”
“Alastor, you reek of angelic energy” The red ears flattened almost immediately, upon the realisation, that Lucifer knew . “I tried to ignore it at first. Thought, it was still an after the battle thing. Also, you haven’t interacted with me that much in the two weeks following the extermination, until two weeks ago. A month passed by and you still stench. So, it must be an injury. Which is pretty damn impressive you are still alive. Angelic weapons are made to kill , not to harm” Finally, he was getting an upper hand. With every word, Alastor was getting more and more distressed. “So, if you are so willing to gain my trust and understand me, you have to bury your pride and let me help you . Because if you don’t, you will almost certainly die in the near future. And your goal won’t be completed” He finished his speech and with a flick of the wrist, the water from the bath was gone. The angel stood up in front of the demon, already in a clean shirt and shorts. Although he wasn’t sure if it was a good idea, not really knowing the amount of damage dealt to Alastor. He either might be covered in blood in the next few minutes or be completely fine.
Lucifer waited expectantly, hands on his hips, for a final answer. Alastor seemed to analyse every pros and cons to the situation. But they both knew, the last sentence the King said was true. He will be dead, if nothing is done about the injury.
The sinner snarled lowly and started shrugging his coat. “Ugh, fine”
His movements became more shudder when he was out of his outerwear. Claws trembling when he popped every button of his shirt, bit by bit revealing his laceration. When the cloth slipped from his shoulders, Lucifer's eyes almost jumped out of his skull.
“WHAT THE FUCK, ALASTOR?!” He screamed, not believing the sight in front of him. “How did you manage to walk like this for a month?! You should have been buried six feet under a long time ago!”
“I mean, it is annoying but it’s nothing I cannot handle…”
“WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY THAT?!” Lucifer felt as if he was scolding a stubborn brat. Which Alastor was, actually. “Hell, you are so fucking stupid but it is quite impressive how you managed that long” He murmured, nervously bitting his claws.
This was bad. More than bad, it was horrific.
The gash stretched from his clavicle to the side of the navel. It was burned around the edges, but glowed from the inside. It was somehow held by the tightly sewed stitches. The whole area around it was almost as red as Alastor’s hair. It also looked infected.
“Why don’t you have any bandages around it, at least?” He asked mildly terrified.
The demon just shrugged his shoulders. “It stopped bleeding few days ago, so I thought it was finally starting to heal”
“What do you mean it stopped bleeding a few days ago?!” Lucifer screamed, distressed. He was dealing with the most egotistical fool he has ever met. “Jesus fucking Christ, it is a miracle you are still able to walk and talk. It stopped bleeding because you almost don’t have any blood left! The angelic energy is eating you from inside out!” He shouted quickly, teleporting them to the more comfortable couch.
Alastor blinked, confused by a sudden change of scenery and furrowed his brows, not understanding the panic quickly rising in the angel's small body. “I think you’re overreacting”
“I’m not fucking overreacting!” The King snarled and brought a stool to sit next to the couch. “You are so stupid. So fucking prideful, that you would rather die than ask for help”
“You weren’t at the hotel for two weeks, in my defense”
“And would you ask me to help?” Lucifer cocked his head in question, to which the sinner avoided his gaze and fluffy ears flattened against the skull. “Yhm, right. Now, as you said ‘stop being difficult’ and lie down” To the angel’s contentment, the command was reluctantly followed. “Also, it’s gonna hurt like a bitch. So, if you want to hold onto anything at some point, you can grab my hand or knee” He said and without letting Alastor back down, the magic burst out of his hands that he laid on the demon’s chest.
Almost immediately, Alastor tensed. His ears stood up in alert, the teeth clenched so hard that they were at the brink of breaking down. He didn’t shout though, his pride winning against the battle.
Lucifer focused on the healing process. Firstly, getting rid of the angelic energy. It was arduous work, most of the cells were saturated with the toxin, so he had to almost violently pull them out. That process was the most painful one. Thus, the devil wasn’t surprised when after a while, he felt the strong grip on his wrist. A normal person would scream in pain, at the sheer strength Alastor held his hand, as if life depended on it. But Lucifer was almost immune to this type of pain. So, he continued his work, ignoring the broken bones.
The fallen angel didn’t know how long they stayed in that position. After getting rid of angelic energy, the rest of the healing was like slicing a piece of warm butter. He stitched the skin together, dissolving the previous one and tried to make the scare as seamless as possible.
When Lucifer finally finished, he took a deep breath and examined the sinner below him.
“It’s done” He muttered, combing his hair with his free hand.
Alastor was exhaling erratically. He slowly opened his eyes, looking at the angel carefully. His gaze stopped upon the broken wrist. “Apologies for that”
“Oh” He forgot about that fact. The hand came back to its proper shape, quicker than it should after the intense usage of his power. “Nothing that cannot be fixed” He shrugged as if it was nothing. “How do you feel?”
“At present, extremely exhausted but not in the same way as before'' Alastor admitted, although not averting his eyes, like Lucifer thought he would. Vulnerability was not the demon's strong suit, after all.
“Good” And with that they sat in silence for a moment. Both, too drained to talk.
Lucifer let himself think for a little bit. About everything that happened in the last hour.
He thought about apologising to Alastor for not even warning him about the need to touch to proceed healing. The angel knew the demon’s aversion to contact, as he stated it very clearly the other day. But it was his own goddamn decisions that led to that, so he remained quiet.
Lucifer wondered if that was his goal actually - to just get healed and leave. However, he assumed that Alastor really thought he was going to regenerate on his own. Which was stupid but not many people survived angelic wounds so he wouldn't have known. Also, he was too prideful to ask, so…
The sinner’s goal - that was a question. Lucifer really didn’t believe him. Alastor wants him to rule? For what? He thought that the demon liked freedom in Hell, that none actions were punished. This is their damnation, sinners don’t need it any more of that. They were once people, after all. But maybe it got so much out of control that even Alastor got concerned? The devil wouldn't know, he wasn’t caught up with anything related to politics. Hell, he didn’t even know when was the last time he contacted the other Sins. Maybe it really was the time he took care of that.
“What were you doing for the last two weeks?” A sudden question made him turn gaze to the sinner again.
“Sleeping?” Lucifer answered, taken aback. To that, the demon furrowed his eyebrows and looked upon the devil warily.
“When was the last time you ate something?”
“I don’t know,” He said, thinking back. “Three weeks ago?” The answer made Alastor stand up, abruptly. “Woah, hey! You still need to rest for a bit!”
“I’m rested enough, thank you. Now, I think we should go downstairs and make you some breakfast” And without even letting the devil deny, they shadow travelled to the kitchen. Which was weird as fuck, it was nothing like Lucifer teleportation. He was confused to the point that the angel let the demon put him on the counter without any complaints. Lucifer blinked frantically, registering the sinner coming to the fridge, fully clothed.
“How is it that you haven’t been here for a while and didn’t even dine and those strawberries are good as new?” Alastor asked, picking stuff he thought were useful for the devil’s meal.
“It is enchanted” He muffled observing the demon's moves. “You know angels don’t really need to eat? I do it as a habit, rather than need”
“I deduced it, yes. But I guess it makes you feel better and you enjoy it, aren’t you?” Alastor didn’t even need to turn around to make out the face the angel made. Instead, he rolled his sleeves and got to work.
“What are you preparing?” Lucifer asked, seeing the sinner mixing some kind of liquid.
“French toasts”
“Yum!”
“Yeah, I thought you would like it. You consume so much sweet things that if you were a human, you would get diabetes by now” He said, dipping the bread in the mix.
“I mean, I’m pretty sure you can’t get diabetes here, anyway”
“Not the point”
“Ugh”
Lucifer observed Alastor closely. His movement was mesmerising, as if he was born to be a chief, not a serial killer. The demon manoeuvred around ingredients, flawlessly and smoothly. Like a fish in the sea.
When he put the bread to the buttered pan and the divine smell hit his nostrils, the devil almost melted. For the first time in the while, his stomach growled, demanding the food.
“I still feel like a grandpa in a nursing home” He muttered, trying not to drool at the sight of heavenly sweet toasts.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Alastor shrugged but evidently pleased with his work. “Now eat” He said putting down the plate with three french toasts, covered in powdered sugar, honey and strawberries.
Lucifer tried, he really tried not to devour them in a few bites, but until that moment he hadn’t realised how hungry he actually was. They were perfect, sublime. Who knew a little starvation could cause food to taste that great?
“Hell, how did you manage to make them so good?” A happy tear was close to being free from his eye socket. At that moment, he felt more like a child getting a Christmas present than an elderly in retirement.
“Glad you like it!” Alastor smirked, leaning on the counter in front of him. He grabbed the tile a little too strongly for Lucifer’s liking. Upon inspecting once more, the demon seemed a bit paler than usual.
“You are still not full rested. Your blood hasn’t replenished yet” He concluded, putting the empty plate to the side.
“It’s nothing I can’t handle” He waved a hand, diminishing the issue as always.
The fallen angel calculated pros and cons to his not-so-wise new idea. He helped a lot by healing the demon. But then, the demon made him a marvellous breakfast. And gave him a bath. And maybe lift up his mood a little.
So… Yeah it wasn’t that bad of an idea.
Lucifer stretched his hand forwards, exposing the wrist to the sinner’s view. “Do you want to drink some?”
Alastors’ eyes widened to the size of tennis balls and coughed, choking on his own spit.
“Do what now?”
“Do you want to drink some of my blood? It will put you on your feet again faster and it can be a ‘thank you’ for an amazing meal” He explained his reasoning and waited for a reply. Alastor seemed to consider it greatly, tempted a lot. But he still was hesitant.
“I think you’ve done enough already, Sir”
“Why are you hanging back? I’m offering. Come on” An honest smile spread on his face. He waved his hand, playfully.
The demon stared at the devil’s eyes then at his wrist. After a couple of seconds he slowly pushed from the counter and stalked towards Lucifer carefully. With a quick examination, the angel’s limb was put gently between the red claws. Before bringing it close to his sinister mouth, Alastor stroked the place where the veins were visible, tenderly.
“You sure?”
“Certain”
And with that, the demon sinked his sharp teeth into the wrist.
It didn’t really hurt, more like a stinge. Almost… Surprisingly pleasant. He watched fascinated how his golden blood was dripping from the other’s face. It was every demon's dream to taste ichor. Lucifer was aware that after extermination, a lot of angels were transported to Cannibal Town. Their blood sold by a lot. However, the devil knew their plasma was nothing like his. Not a lot of souls have savoured it. Lilith was the most frequent user but even she tasted it only on occasion. The ichor was a strong drug, after all.
Thus, he was amazed when Alastor pulled away on his own. His pupils were blown wide, a bit of gold still dripping from his lips. The sinner licked it as fast as Lucifer noticed.
“Better than exterminators?” He beamed teasingly. Alastor blinked a couple of times and peered at the angel baffled.
“Of course it is better. Their blood compared to yours tasted like horse shit” Lucifer laughed heartily at that.
“Glad you liked it” He winked at the demon, repeating his own words.
✶✶✶
They stood in front of the Hazbin Hotel. After cleaning and a bit of convincing, Alastor managed to bring the King back to the estate.
“I don’t think you want them to know that you were at my palace and actually walked me here” Lucifer murmured looking anxiously at the door in front of him. He knew at the bottom of his heart that Charlie loved him but wouldn’t be surprised to be rejected by her after his little stunt.
“Hmm” The redhead hummed, grabbing the handle cheerily. He was far too satisfied with his achievement, not to beam with contentment. “I will just say that I met you here after my stroll to Cannibal Town!” Alastor announced and pushed the door open.
At the bar, Husk and Angel Dust turned their gazes towards the entrance.
“The short king is back!” The demon spider gleefully chuckled and waved towards the pair.
“Welcome back boss” The cat smiled softly for a moment, until he turned his gaze to the Radio Demon. “And Alastor”
“Oh, Husk, don’t be like that! Remember your place” The voice covered with static at the end of the sentence, making the sinner avoid his eyes.
“The bad boys are home!” Lucifer heard the shriek, sooner than seeing the little maid sprinting towards them. Before she could climb on the angel like she loved to do, for some reason, Alastor picked her up and put on his shoulder.
“Now, now, Niffty. Be a good girl and don’t make the King uncomfortable!” He patted her softly on the head to which she giggled happily. They walked towards the middle of the lobby, closing the door behind them.
“How was vacay-” Before Angel Dust could finish the sentence, Lucifer felt being lifted off the floor.
“Dad!” He heard his daughter cheerful laugh and was crushed into a tight embrace. The King immediately hugged her back, tears threatening to pour out.
“Hello to you too, Duckling” He whispered, forgetting to be even embarrassed by being swung around by his offspring.
“I missed you” Charlie replied softly, finally putting him down. At this moment, Lucifer felt his small body being filled with love and joy to the brim. He never would be tired of that feeling. Of having his little girl embraced in his arms.
“I’m sorry-”
“Don’t” She said, breaking the hug but still holding her dad by the shoulders. “I’m just happy you came back. Do you want to eat some lunch together? We can make your magnificent duck-shaped pancakes!”
“I…” He was about to say he had just eaten. But looking at Charlie, jumping all excited, made his smile even softer. “I would love to”
“Yay!” She screamed and hugged her dad again. Lucifer saw Vaggie in the corner of his eye, not daring to interrupt their little moment. A gentle beam adored her face, seeing her love being so jolly again. He waved towards her and was granted the same. An idea came to his mind - making perfect rubber ducks for his daughter and her girlfriend. Yes, that was definitely his next project.
Alastor appeared in his view, heading towards the bar. He gave Lucifer a knowing smirk. And the King heartily smiled back.
Maybe becoming friends with the Radio Demon wasn’t such a bad idea.