This time, he's woken up by the insistent sound of Fanfare playing through the speaker of his phone. Lucifer groaned, pulling the blankets tighter around his body to preserve the warmth that gathered throughout the night. It did nothing to stop the alarm so he blindly slapped his hand around the nightstand for his phone, only to smack the device right onto the floor out of reach. Fanfare continued to play, taunting him, and he literally rolled out of bed to land next to it with a thud.
4:30 am. Why the hell did he set an alarm for that early in the morning? He had just managed to actually fall asleep around eleven the previous night instead of tossing and turning. Lucifer glared at his phone, fumbling around with it until the music finally stopped. His eyes slipped shut again, knowing full well his joints would protest over falling asleep on the ground yet he couldn't find it in himself to care enough.
The threads of sleep still clung heavily to his limbs and the blanket that had fallen with him was keeping the cold chill of the early morning air at bay. Lucifer just wished he'd taken a pillow with him but he'd have to live without one for the time being. At least Charlie always made it a habit to knock on his door instead of barging in so he didn't have to worry about her finding him in such a position. When she was a toddler, there were many unfortunate times she'd wondered in when he and Lilith were uh… getting busy. She was too young to understand what was truly happening and he couldn't be more grateful for that—
Lucifer's eyes flew open at the thought of his daughter and he flung himself into a sitting position, the comforter falling off his shoulders, making a wave of goosebumps erupt across his skin at the contrast between hot and cold. He promised Charlie he would make breakfast with her this morning, that's why he had set an alarm for so early. A quick glance at the time told him he only dozed off for another twenty minutes, leaving him ten minutes to get ready.
He scrambled up onto his feet, grabbing the blanket to shove it back on the bed but tripping over the corner onto his ass. Lucifer winced at the sharp pain radiating up his backside, taking a moment to compose himself before snapping his fingers to make the bed immediately. He managed to stand up successfully this time around and disappeared into the bathroom to brush his teeth and straighten his hair. He'd usually just use his magic again but Charlie found out about his lack of actually spending time to get ready in the morning and lectured him about how beneficial it could be to do even mundane tasks.
She was, not quite subtly, hinting at ways to help with his depression but Lucifer only wanted to do right by her so here he was, actually brushing his teeth manually for the first time eons.
… He loved Charlie but he really didn't think he'd be able to do this most mornings.
Especially when it came to his hair, considering he was wildly out of practice and couldn't get it slicked back in the way he liked and in his frustration, he accidentally tore into the tube of hair gel with his claws and now his hand was way too slick for his taste.
Lucifer glared at his reflection, snapping the fingers on his other hand so his hair was perfect. He washed the gel off with an annoyed huff before heading towards his closet. It's been a while since he last dressed down and he wanted to enjoy the time he got to spend with Charlie, not hide underneath the layers of his sovereign persona.
So dress down he did: a pair of simple black slacks, a ruby red button up shirt with golden snake motifs twirling up both sleeves, and black leather booties to cover his hooves. He tucked in the top and after deciding he looked presentable, Lucifer summoned a portal to step into the foyer exactly at five am. It was silent as expected, the only sound being the clicks of his heels as he approached the doors leading to the kitchen.
Charlie was already there, flipping through a recipe book she pulled from one of the shelves off to the side. She was wearing her usual get up, only missing the red jacket and black bowtie. She looked up when she heard him enter and greeted him with an enthusiastic smile. Charlie always had more energy than necessary in the mornings.
"Hey, dad! Did you sleep well?" She accepted the hug he gave her and Lucifer pressed a kiss to her temple once it was in reach.
"Sure did. I hope I didn't keep you waiting, duckie." He glanced at the page of the book, seeing many recipes for dishes that surrounded eggs. It seemed she wanted to go a little more complicated today. He could do that but his daughter's cooking skills were not… well, she somehow managed to burn the milk she poured for cereal once and Lucifer still had no idea how she achieved such a feat.
"I've only been down here for five minutes." Charlie turned back towards the book, flipping back a few pages to point to a specific meal. "I was thinking we could make eggs benedict! Maybe some cinnamon rolls or waffles for people that don't like that. Oh! Or we could bake a frittata! Both sound amazing—"
"Charlie." Lucifer chuckled, sliding the recipes closer towards himself. "Eggs benedict will be simple enough. We can have waffles as the other option but we don't need to go all out like I did last time."
That was the mark of the most grueling hour of Lucifer's entire existence. Originally, they had split the work to make it faster but he very quickly realized Charlie could not be left unsupervised around food unless he wanted sloppily diced onions to somehow make it into the waffle batter.
As the fifth round of bacon they had tried to cook turned into nothing but ash, Charlie finally let the dejected look take over her features as she stared down at the pan. Lucifer offered his most comforting smile and dumped the remnants into the overflowing trash can. After a moment of thought, he snapped that empty too.
"I don't understand what I'm doing wrong." Charlie whined, looking much like a petulant child despite her actual age. Lucifer chuckled as he set the pan back down and rubbed her back soothingly.
"Runs in the family, I suppose." Her disbelieving glare was enough to tell him his attempts at comfort weren't working. Lucifer can cook, rather well if he says so himself, and Lilith wasn't half bad either. He hadn't said it just to lighten her mood though; it was true.
"I'm serious! I couldn't cook something edible if my life depended on it. It wasn't until Lili and I planned to have you that I started to learn. It took many, many, many months before I felt confident enough in my abilities to not accidentally poison your mother." Lucifer smiled wistfully. "You always loved when I cooked for you. So I did it a lot. Hard not to improve when I took any opportunity to make something at your beck and call."
It wasn't often that Lucifer talked about Lilith casually like that and the wide-eyed wonder on Charlie's face as she took in the information supported that statement. Maybe he could set aside his own feelings revolving around his estranged wife and share more stories about her before they had Charlie. If only to see his daughter's face light up like that again.
"It's okay that you don't get it right away, duckie. Baby steps." Lucifer summoned a new pack of bacon, setting them in the pan. They sizzled pleasantly and he could feel Charlie watching intently over his shoulder as he flipped them, making plenty versions of both chewy and crispy for preferences.
"Do you think… maybe we can cook a meal together once a week? It'd mean a lot to me if you taught me." All of sudden, Lucifer was brought back to when Charlie was a toddler, holding the spatula to move around the scrambled eggs from where she sat on his hip. She would make a mess but he never cared. Seeing her proud face as she presented the sloppily plated breakfast food to Lilith always made his heart sing with joy.
"I would love to." He leaned back slightly to beam up at her and she wrapped her arms around his neck in a hug as he finished off the bacon. Charlie didn't let go even when he started the ham, only begrudgingly removed herself from his person when he asked her for help with the homemade hollandaise sauce.
They work in comfortable silence with only Lucifer's corrections because he, quite frankly, had no idea how she managed to make a sauce consisting of liquid ingredients solid. A woman of many talents, she was.
Still, they managed to make half of the breakfast edible even as Lucifer ended up doing most of the work. He still enjoyed spending that time with her. He was trying to be there for her in any way she would allow and what better way than to teach her how to cook?
Even if the blackened waffle batter was sickening to look at.
It wasn't long before the door to the kitchen swung open and both Morningstars looked up from where they were working to greet whoever was already up. Lucifer's smile dropped at the sight of Azrael and he turned back to the poached eggs with tense shoulders.
"Oh, good morning!" Charlie chirped far too enthusiastically for six am. Lucifer merely offered a half-hearted wave, cursing as he messed up one of the eggs. Nothing a quick snap of his fingers wouldn't fix.
"Hello, Miss Charlie. I apologize for intruding, I was just hoping to get some coffee." Azrael hadn't moved from his spot at the entrance but his voice was soft as he addressed his daughter. Lucifer wasn't sure how to feel about that.
"No worries! The coffee is in the cupboard below the machine." His mind drifted as they started amicable conversation, apprehension running down his spine with a shiver. The feelings surrounding that particular sibling were messier than the other two and Lucifer had no idea how to distinguish the meaning of any of it.
Understanding emotions had never been his strong suit, even before he was cast out from Heaven. There were many times he did or said something that'd upset his siblings, even more times when he didn't understand why he messed up or why they felt the way they did. Ironically, the only time he realized his mistake was the day he was cast out. It had only gotten worse after that.
Lucifer glanced behind him, frowning slightly as he watched Azrael and Charlie converse. She was genuinely excited to talk to him and his brother was listening with rapt attention. He wonders, briefly, what it would be like if he had never left Lucifer's life.
Azrael would've made a good uncle. He would have adored Charlie, gladly babysat her whenever they needed it. He would let her play dress up and wear all the flower crowns she made for him no matter how unbecoming they were. He would've loved her like he loved Lucifer when he was younger.
He hadn't realized he spaced out until Vaggie came bursting through the door, hands flying wildly as she dragged Charlie away due to some emergency. His daughter threw an apology over her shoulder and Lucifer could only shout a goodbye before the kitchen was silent. Uncomfortably, this time.
He turned back to finish the eggs, wincing at the burnt state of the ones in the pot during his little dissociation trip. Another trip to the trash can before Lucifer had to summon another case of eggs.
"I'll leave you to it." Azrael broke the silence, topping off his coffee with creamer and putting everything away neatly. He shuffled towards the exit and something Lucifer couldn't quite explain overcame him as his mouth, the damned thing, moved of its own accord before his brain could catch up.
"You can stay. If you want." Both men froze and the boiling of the water was the only thing that moved him into action, if only to not burn a third batch. "I-I mean, I could use the help with the hollandaise sauce. I love Charlie but she is not a chef by any means."
More silence. Why was it always silent? Lucifer couldn't stand it. The very notion of it made his skin crawl, made him want to find something, anything, to fill the awkward air with some noise. The quiet meant being left alone with his thoughts and that was not something he wanted. Not today. Not while his siblings were here.
There was some shuffling behind him, the telltale sign of a mug being set on the counter and rustle of an apron being put on. Azrael appeared in his peripheral, gathering the ingredients he needed according to the recipe.
He was thinking of ways to start a conversion which was, admittedly, not his strong suit after locking himself away for so long. Lucifer had no idea what to even talk to any of them about. Heaven wasn't a topic he was keen on discussing, something that Azrael thankfully appeared to pick up on.
At least Lucifer was saved from finding a subject point by the other clearly more sociable angel.
"Charlie is a wonderful girl." Azrael didn't look up from where he was manually separating the yolk from the egg whites. He, at least, picked something that Lucifer could easily talk about for hours if permitted.
"She's my greatest Creation." The smile that crossed his face was brimming with pride thinking about his little girl. Lucifer is millions of years old, predating life on Earth and the universe itself. He crafted the stars, created some of the human's most beloved animals and ecosystems. None compared to Charlie. Nothing would ever compare to her.
"I'll admit, I was surprised to see you had a daughter." Azrael's gaze softened as it landed on Lucifer. "Fatherhood suits you." Maybe it was the sincerity behind those words, the absolute conviction his older brother had spoken with like he thought Lucifer had a hand in raising Charlie.
He didn't. Lilith shouldered that responsibility because Lucifer couldn't be bothered to leave the safety of his workshop most days. The way Charlie turned out — the amazing woman she became — was all thanks to her mother.
The smile slipped from his face as he plated the last poached egg they'd need. Azrael's had disappeared too, concern overtaking his features at the sudden change in mood.
Lucifer should've stayed quiet. All that was left was to build the benedicts and he wouldn't have to deal with any more awkward silences. He could go on to act like this conversation never happened.
Too bad the filter between his brain and mouth never got the memo when it mattered most.
"Charlie deserved a much better father than I was." Lucifer grabbed the English muffins sitting nearby to start toasting them on the pan. "I wasn't there for her when she was growing up and we only just rekindled our relationship."
Another beat of silence and Lucifer carefully began to put together the egg benedicts while he waited for the sauce to be finished. Azrael was almost done though his expression was pensive at his words.
"Why?" They weren't accusatory or laced with disappointment. Only curiosity. Perhaps that's why Lucifer found himself answering honestly.
"She reminds me so much of myself before… everything that happened. It scared me." His hands faltered, a slight tremor running through them as his eyes felt suspiciously wet. The breath he took wasn't at all subtle but it was better than breaking down in the kitchen. The next thing he spoke was merely a whisper, easily lost over the sound of the whisk against the bowl.
"It still does." Unfortunately for Lucifer, he was speaking to another seraphim with enhanced senses just like his own. Azrael stopped mixing the sauce, going deathly still has the words sank in. Slowly, like he was afraid he'd spook Lucifer, he set the bowl to the side and turned to face him fully.
"I'm sorry, Lucifer. From the bottom of my heart, I'm so sorry." Lucifer looked back at him in surprise but Azrael continued speaking before he could say anything. "I know that means nothing, and you have every right to not accept my apology, but I need you to know how much I regret that day. I should have done more to protect you. You needed me more that moment than any time before and I failed you and I'm sorry."
The end of his sentence was forced out, his voice tight with effort to keep his words steady. Azrael was on the verge of tears, he could see it, and it brought him back to the only day he had ever seen the usually stoic angel cry.
It was the day he was cast out.
And that memory reignited the anger simmering below his skin ever since they stepped through that portal three days ago.
"You're sorry? Forgive me if I find that hard to believe when I never heard anything from you." Lucifer spat, baring his teeth as he fought to keep his tail sealed away. It didn't stop the hellfire from settling in the back of his throat.
"I tried. I tried for so long to send you a letter." Azrael implored him, hands resting on his chest as if that would help convince Lucifer. "Me, Raphael, Uriel — we all tried for thousands of years."
"Are you suggesting I ignored you?" He growled but Azrael only shook his head.
"No. I know you didn't. Gabriel is in charge of all communication between Heaven and Hell. He was the one who didn't allow any of our messages to reach you." The way he spoke about their older brother, the absolute vitriol behind the accusation, was more than enough to put out the fires of his rage.
Azrael was right. Lucifer knew for a fact that all the meetings he had with Sera were first approved by the Messenger of God, as well as any letters or other forms of attempted communication. It should probably hurt but really, he couldn't say he was shocked by the revelation. The look in Gabriel's eyes that day still lived in his memories clear as water.
Lucifer sighed, running a clawed hand over his face to gather what little composure he had left. He eyed his brother through the gaps in his fingers, Azrael holding his gaze that contained such unveiled honesty.
His arms dropped back to his side, breakfast momentarily forgotten as he shot a glance over at the clock. Everyone would be down to eat soon and the last thing Lucifer needed was for his subjects to see him in such a frazzled state.
"I stopped trying after a couple hundred years." Lucifer admitted quietly, finally turning back to finish the sandwiches. Azrael hesitantly brought the hollandaise sauce closer so he could top all of them off. They were standing close enough to where he could feel the heat rolling off him, seeping into his bones that felt far too cold for a being that ruled over Hell.
"But I sent a letter the day Charlie was Created." He passed the egg benedicts over to Azrael, leaning against the counter to warm up all the waffles with a snap of his fingers.
"I wish I got to see her grow up." Azrael murmured solemnly. "I wish our lives had never been forced apart."
Lucifer glanced over at him, a frown dancing on his lips as he really took in his brother for the first time that morning. He was different, yes, just as Lucifer was, but there was still so much that hadn't changed. The never ending sincerity, the care for those he deemed his family, the limitless patience for those who didn't deserve it. It was still Azrael.
And Lucifer realized that he wished for the same exact thing. He would have given anything for the brother he was closest with to remain in his life, to help him raise his daughter when Lucifer couldn't drag himself out of bed. Maybe his depression wouldn't have gotten as bad as it did, if that were the case.
He realized, with sudden clarity, that he didn't want Azrael to leave his life again once their visit was over. The thought of never seeing him was paralyzing. Maybe now that Gabriel was down here, he wouldn't have to be alone anymore. All he had to do was ask.
But he couldn't. At the end of the day, Lucifer was still the coward he always was. So, in lieu of a proper answer, the fallen angel closed the distance between them to lean his shoulder against Azrael's upper arm. He froze, mouth dropping open slightly in shock before a wide smile crossed his lips.
The same one he had when they played pranks on their siblings up in Heaven.
It was nice, this contact, and as they were putting the final touches on breakfast, Lucifer felt as if he could get used to it.
~~~
"Okay, today's activity is called Snowball!" Charlie gave everyone half a sheet of paper and something to write with. "I'm going to ask a question and you'll each write an honest answer on the paper. Then, once everyone is ready, crumple it up into a ball and spread out. For the next five minutes, we're going to have a make-shift snowball fight!"
Eager grins broke out among the sinners, Emily and Gabriel looking just as excited to participate. Alastor, for all intent and purposes, had his smile upturned in murderous glee that Charlie very quickly clocked with worry.
"But no bringing actual harm to others! So, that means no magic or use of abnormal strength." Charlie quickly tacked on, a pointed look at Alastor who released a put upon sigh.
"Well, that's a lot less entertaining. But for you, my dear, I will refrain." The smile hadn't lost its homicidal edge and Lucifer seriously didn't understand how Charlie found it in herself to trust that man.
"Perfect! Okay, the question I want you to answer is this: what is your biggest regret? Remember, be honest and be vulnerable. Sharing a part of you is the best way to form connections." Lucifer's grip on the piece of paper tightened, crumpling the edges around his claws. He should've guessed his daughter would ask a question like that. At least a cursory glance around the room showed he wasn't the only one not wanting to answer.
Alastor was already writing something down and Lucifer refused to be one upped by that bastard. Thinking of a singular thing to scribble down was surprisingly difficult, however. He had a lot of regrets, and his biggest one often varied depending on the day. The current winner was one he was very adamant not recording onto paper, especially with the possibility of it ending up in one of his brother's hands. He wrote down the most frequent one instead and it was already well known by the people at this hotel.
As instructed, he crumpled the paper into a ball and stepped a respectable distance away from everyone else. Charlie looked around, making sure everyone was ready, before she counted down from three and proceeded to nail Angel in the cheek with her paper ball.
Just like her previous activities, this game became competitive quickly despite there being no victors at the end. Niffty, of course, was the hardest target to hit being the smallest and quickest on her feet. She also had deadly accuracy, if the fact she's gotten everyone in the face somewhere at least once was anything to go by.
It was fun, all things considered, and Lucifer found himself laughing as he caught Cherri's throw and turned around to hit Emily in the back of her head. The five minutes ended way too quickly but Lucifer made sure to land one last throw right in the middle of Alastor's forehead with a smug little grin. His glare was deadly.
"Okay, okay!" Charlie giggled breathlessly, smoothing out her hair that had gotten rumpled in the snowball fight. "Pick up the closest paper ball to you and read it. Then, find the person who wrote it and talk about what is on it! Be as open as you're comfortable with but please try."
Lucifer bent down to grab the piece behind him, unfurling it and smoothing out the crinkles enough to read what was written. It was short, only six words but they were enough for Lucifer's stomach to drop. His eyes drifted up until they met Michael's. He was already staring at him intently.
Michael walked over, past the people that were paired up talking softly, and Lucifer's sharp gaze never left his. Once Michael was in front of him, the silence between them was heated. Eventually, the younger of the two broke it in a much steadier voice than he anticipated.
"Is this some kind of joke?" Lucifer asked, a false sense of calm imbued in every word that left his mouth. He was careful to keep out any underlying emotions he may be feeling. He wouldn't give him the satisfaction.
"No." Michael answered evenly and that only irritated him more.
Lucifer pulled the paper so it was easier for him to read without taking his eye off of his brother. He trusted him enough to show his back, once upon a time. He wouldn't make that mistake a second time.
"'I regret ever hurting my brother.'" He read, his tone stilted in his effort to contain his anger — his hurt. "Then why'd you do it?"
"I didn't have a choice. You didn't leave us with any choice, Sami." Lucifer's eyes slipped shut, wondering how he ever put up with Michael's condescension before he Fell. It was grating to his ears now, spoken alongside the name he would rather forget.
"Word of advice, Mikey." His voice practically dripped with venom as he crumbled the paper back up and flicked it at his brother's chest, right above that eye. It fell to the space between his feet. "Don't try to deceive the Father of Lies."
Michael sighed. "I'm not trying to deceive you." It brought Lucifer back to all those times he was still a young angel, learning how to act and being scolded by the eldest for misbehaving. He sounded just as exasperated, just as annoyed then too. Yes, some things never change.
But Lucifer has. One could say getting cast out from his home — shunned by his family — was a life-changing experience. Being shackled to a place like Hell had broken and warped the joyous angel he once was. Seeing only the negative ramifications of the choice he made and the people he doomed… yes, Lucifer wasn't the same as he once was.
"It's hard to believe that when you still carry that sword around your waist." Lucifer smiled, all pointed teeth and deadly promises. "A trophy, Mikey? Something you parade around Heaven as the very blade that Felled the Devil? I didn't take you for the gloating type. Then again, we never really knew each other, did we?"
"Don't say that. I know who you are, Samael, and I—" Lucifer cut him off with a growl, stomping his 'regret' under the heel of his boot.
"Stop calling me that." It came out polyphonic unintentionally but it didn't prevent Lucifer from relishing in the way it made Michael flinch. As seraphims, they all had that ability but many of those shared traits had altered into something more demonic for him after his Fall. Theirs was filled with several voices embodying grace itself — his was deep and dark like the very hottest pits of Hell.
"You only knew who you wanted me to be and when I didn't live up to that expectation, you chucked me aside like I was nothing." Lucifer was suddenly glad they were further away from the rest of them. If he started swinging, he wanted to get in a few good hits before Gabriel or Azrael separated them.
"Lucifer, I—"
"Your Majesty!" Alastor's jovial voice cut in between the fight that was sure to break out, causing Lucifer to stand back with a huff of annoyance.
"What do you want, Alyssa." It came out snappier than he intended but considering it wasn't anyone he particularly liked, Lucifer couldn't find it in him to care. Alastor's eyes narrowing were the only indication of his displeasure. Maybe the wrong names were starting to lose their effect. He'd have to change tactics soon.
"It appears I've ended up with your regret, sire. I must say, I look forward to speaking with you about it." Alastor appeared far too excited about this fact and Lucifer inhaled through his nose to collect what little patience he had left. The last thing he wanted was to deal with Alastor after Michael but he was dead set on seeing Charlie's activity through.
"Very well. Brother dearest and I are done here, anyways." Lucifer turned away from Michael to face Alastor completely, signaling the end of their talk with a dismissive wave. He hoped he took it as the hit to his ego Lucifer intended it to be.
Michael, for once, listened as he moved away towards where Vaggie and Niffty were talking. Lucifer's shoulders slumped the second he turned his back.
"Productive discussion, I assume?" Alastor was checking his nails, clearly not caring about Lucifer's response so he just opted to glare.
Yeah, there was no way he was going to talk to his least favorite sinner about what he wrote on that paper. That was a one way ticket to Ridicule Nation.
"I'm heading upstairs." He grumbled, pushing past him to head towards the lift. Alastor pulled out the slip of paper with a smile and a contemplative hum.
"I was under the impression you wanted to help the hotel as much as you could." Lucifer's heels clicked against the floorboards as he came to a standstill. "Running with your tail between your legs hardly seems effective."
"I'm not in the mood to deal with you." He grit out between his teeth. Whatever self preservation Alastor had must've taken a hike that day because his voice took on an undertone of malice as he spoke the next words.
"Is that what you said to Charlie all those times you turned her away?" That was the final straw for Lucifer, all the pent up anger he felt that day snapping like the taut strings of a bow.
A flick of his wrist spun a portal to life as he twirled around to grab Alastor by the weird harness on his chest, dragging him to the other side before letting go. He stumbled but quickly caught his footing before he could fall. A pity, Lucifer would've loved to see that.
He had brought them to Alastor's room, not wanting the demon anywhere near his own quarters and uncaring how he felt about Lucifer being in his. He was done. Done with the day and done with Alastor's constant remarks.
"Was that necessary?" Alastor glared, fixing the harness that had gone astray in the manhandling. He looked a cross between pissed and amused.
"I thought we agreed to act civil." Lucifer banished his cane back to his room, crossing his arms as he walked over to the seating area they were at a few days prior. He didn't sit.
"You requested I behave around our guests, which I have." Alastor shrugged, leaning on his microphone with that ever present smile. "It is you who hasn't. Subtlety isn't your specialty, my liege." Lucifer chuckled, approaching Alastor until they stood toe to toe. He had to crane his neck to look him in the eye this close.
"Has anyone ever told you that you're not very smart for an overlord?" That got the desired reaction out of Alastor, his crimson eyes turning into radio dials with a snarl. The bones of limbs cracked sickeningly as they elongated until he was looming over Lucifer. All in all, it was an unimpressive display.
"Says our pathetic king. So scared to face your mistakes that you hide away instead, allowing yourself to rot creating such useless things. Your power is wasted on someone who's too weak minded to command the legion he was given." Alastor was big now, crouching so his antlers wouldn't tear holes in the ceiling.
"I find it hard to believe that you were the angel that led the rebellion all those years ago. The disappointment Lilith must've felt. No wonder she left after you allowed your family to be torn apart—" His sentence was cut off with a choke. Those purple chains around his neck manifested and the end fading into gold where it was wrapped around Lucifer's hand. He watched with satisfaction as the Radio Demon was forced back into his normal form, those manic eyes turning onto him.
Lucifer didn't give him a chance to retaliate. He yanked on the shackles hard, grabbing a fistful of the demon's hair to shove his face into the carpet. There was an attempt to get up, easily thwarted by a knee digging into the space between his shoulder blades. The wheeze Alastor let out shouldn't have been as pleasing to hear as it was.
"Do you want to know what your first mistake was?" Lucifer stared down at the only eye he could see from Alastor's position on the floor. It was filled with unbridled hatred, something that made his smile grow wider. It's been a long time since he got to let loose.
"Because Charlie and I are so similar, you assumed I was a pacifist like her." He leaned down, relishing in the gasp of pain as his patella dug harder into Alastor's spine. "I have killed sinners for far less reasons than this. You're only alive because Charlie likes you. I would have gotten rid of you long ago if that weren't the case."
"Kill me then, Your Majesty." Alastor rasped, attempting to use his shadows to get out of his hold to no avail. "Ruin the frail relationship you have with your daughter by disposing of someone she trusts."
Lucifer chuckled, getting off his back to pull him up by his hair to his knees. With one chain held firmly in his right hand, the king moved his left to grip Alastor's cheeks. His claws punctured the skin there, red blood rolling down to soak into the materials of his gloves.
"You only live because I allow you too. You have a lot of enemies, Alastor. It would be so easy to stage your death. I could paralyze you, leave you in that TV overlord's territory where he'd jump at the chance to finally off you. Maybe I'll wipe your existence clean from everyone's memory, to the point where you never existed." Lucifer's grin turned sharp as he allowed his demonic features to display themselves, tail whipping the air behind him with a crack.
"Or I could dig into that fucked up mind of yours, figure out what you fear most and create the perfect eternal torture for you. Make it to where you're begging me to grant you the mercy of death." His smile morphed into a snarl, grip tightening on Alastor's jaw hard enough to leave bruises on top of the cuts.
"This is your only warning. Don't fuck with me or I'll gladly show you why they call me the Devil." Lucifer stood, giving the chain one more tug. "Oh, and speak ill of Lilith again and you'll find your soul contract broadcasted for all of Hell to see. I'm sure the other sinners will have a field day with that information."
Alastor remained silent, his smile nothing more than grimace as he stared up at his king. Lucifer held the shackles taut one final time, allowing them to slip from his fingers and disappear with a violet shimmer.
"That's a good Bambi." Two condescending pats between his antlers before Lucifer vanished in a swirl of red and gold.
chapter 9
Charlie knew something had happened between him and Alastor.
Neither left their rooms for the rest of the afternoon. Lucifer texted her some half baked lie to prevent her from worrying about him and Alastor probably didn't want to show his face after the blow he took to his pride. She was suspicious after her hotelier was peculiarly absent the next day too.
Turns out two men who hated each other weren't allowed to just disappear at the same time without raising any eyebrows. Lucifer didn't regret knocking the bastard down a peg and as far as he was concerned, it was a long time coming. Charlie wouldn't see it that way so to save his own ass from a lecture about being nicer, he just shrugged and denied anything ever happened.
No, Lucifer knew what he did yesterday was necessary. There was only so much vitriol thrown his way that he could handle and Alastor was nothing if not confrontational. Someone needed to put him in his place and who better for that task than the Devil himself?
Except, none of that stopped the bad taste in his mouth that had persisted since he left Alastor's room that night.
Lucifer had stopped pretending he was still an angel of Heaven long ago, a mere hundred years after he was shackled to Hell for all eternity. Despite everything, he still held on to that meager light of hope burning in his chest that his old family would realize how wrong it was to withhold free will from humanity. That moment never came.
And when the first sinners began to arrive, he tried so hard to see the good in them —to see the good in the decision he made. That desire fizzled out astronomically fast and he was left with numbing regret.
It's hard, living in a place like Hell, to remain uncorrupted. The angels up above spun the rebellion and Eden into some sick, twisted version of propaganda to scare the humans into believing their lies. A majority of those stories they made of Lucifer were either entirely untruthful or warped into a bastardized version of what actually happened. The sinners that end up here already fear him and that hasn't changed in his years of isolation.
Lucifer knew he wasn't a saint and he didn't act like he was. There are still parts of himself that refuse to leave, no matter how hard he willed it to, and much of this is most likely due to the purpose he was created for. But he's done horrible things to horrible people with no regret for his actions. He's tortured the worst of the human souls at his own behest. He's sentenced genocidal fanatics and serial rapists to the icy rings of eternal damnation with no room for any salvation on their end.
It's brought him a sick sense of joy. He enjoyed watching the scum of humanity get their due process and he relished in the fact it was him doling it out. Perhaps it's a form of self-projection on his part — he can punish the worst offenders for utilizing their free wills in the manner that they had. Lucifer tried to give them a gift and they dared to use it for such nefarious things. There was only so much retribution he could grant himself short of death, something he couldn't inflict to his being, so why not turn his anger onto others that deserve it just as much as him?
Alastor was far from the worst person in Hell. He'd have an aneurysm if Lucifer ever decided to say that to his face but it's the truth. Alastor was, by no means, good but he's paid closer attention to the man ever since he realized how close he's gotten to his daughter.
There was a very specific group of people Alastor targeted. In the beginning, it was other overlords. It wasn't fair to judge all of the sinners at the top of the food chain but Lucifer's opinions of those who own souls was relatively low. He may be morally bankrupt in a lot of situations but that was not something he was willing to back down on. Alastor wiping out other overlords was nothing to scoff at, as far as mortal beings went, and they weren't good people either.
Once Alastor made a reputation for himself, he took it upon himself to slaughter what he deemed to be the lowest forms of demons. They were almost entirely men who were abusers of women or children both in life and death. There'd be a few outliers, namely the trouble his very few friends found themselves in, but he had an MO and it wasn't the 'innocent.'
He's kept true to not digging around in Alastor's living history but if Lucifer were to guess, he'd say the sinner had personal experience with men like that. All those killings seemed just a tad more violent than necessary.
Of course, that didn't explain the cannibalistic aspects of Alastor and he's quite sure he didn't want to learn the origins of that to begin with. The point was, there are far, far, far worse demons in Hell who deserve Lucifer's ire for the horrendous things they've done to other souls. The worst Alastor had done was piss on his shoes verbally and was using the Hotel to his advantage… somehow. He didn't have proof of this but Lucifer knew demons like him. He only did things that benefit him.
He didn't regret it but Lucifer still felt gross. He rarely exerted his power over others in such a way and Alastor, despite his faults, was at the bottom of the list of people that earned that station. It's a dirty tactic, no matter how essential it may be.
Lucifer tucked that feeling deeply away into the mental file of things to ignore because he refused to sympathize for a fucker like Alastor.
Besides, it was nice not to have to put up with creepy smiles and annoying radio static. The others may be used to it by now but Lucifer wasn't and it gave him a headache. It was one more thing off his list to deal with. Especially when one took into consideration the fact that Alastor wasn't the only conflict Lucifer had that day.
Michael looked much like a kicked puppy. He hadn't tried to approach him today but Lucifer wasn't blind enough to miss the glances thrown his way whenever they were in the same room. It was rather sad, all things considered, and he'd taken to avoiding Michael.
It was lunch time now and the current residents of the hotel were sitting around the dining table. It was supposed to be Alastor's day to cook food but since he was currently gone, they opted to order takeout from the Chinese place that prided itself on authenticity. Lucifer had to admit, it was pretty damn good.
And sinner free, which he made sure to triple check before they dared serve it to their guests.
The conversations were pleasant today, he's noticed, with Emily at some point making friends with Angel and Cherri. Azrael was sitting next to Vaggie, engrossed in a deep talk with her about something he didn't care to eavesdrop on. His future daughter-in-law seemed to actually enjoy what they were discussing so it wasn't his place to do anything. Gabriel and Michael were talking to Husk who, as always, looked like he'd rather be anywhere else but was playing nice anyways.
Lucifer made a mental note to smuggle the bartender a handle of some of the finest whiskey one could find in Hell. It's exceedingly hard to get it in the Pride Ring, as the Wrathians hoard their supply to avoid getting it all commandeered by Gluttons. Being the King of Hell did have its privileges he liked and procuring any product he wanted was one of them. Husk certainly looked like he needed it with all the bullshit he's put up with.
A hand came to rest on his shoulder and he turned to peer at Charlie with a smile. Hers was smaller and she opened her mouth to most likely ask him about Alastor again but for once, he was thankful for the blaring ring of his phone going off in his pocket to interrupt her. Even if it caused everyone's eyes to snap towards him.
He stammered out a nervous apology, fishing the device out of the confines of his pants and almost dropping it in the process. Fuck, he's really gotta remember to turn off the ringer on the damned thing.
Any embarrassment he felt was quickly replaced with annoyance once he read the caller ID, and the phone was dropped loudly on the table with a groan. Lucifer buried his face into his hands and resolutely ignored the giggle from Charlie behind him.
"Uh oh." She said, somehow sounding both amused and sympathetic. He shot her a betrayed glare before standing up with a deep breath.
"Excuse me for a moment, I have to take this." Lucifer grit out, snatching his phone from the table and heading towards the exit.
"Try not to destroy the hotel, please!" Charlie was openly laughing as his suffering now so Lucifer felt the tongue he stuck out in her direction was entirely warranted.
The door to the dining room swung closed behind him, idle chatter reaching his ears at his departure. Lucifer could go to one of the conference rooms they built for staff meetings but if he stayed closer to where everyone else was, it'd incentivize him to finish this damned call as soon as possible.
With one more deep breath and a very fast mental pep talk, Lucifer pressed the button to answer and brought it up to his ear.
"Heeeey, Mam. Long time no talk—"
"You wouldn't fuckin' believe what that rooster-headed, deserted cunt did—" And Lucifer found himself tuning Mammon out already.
His relationship with the Sin of Greed was interesting, to say the least. He viewed Mammon as family just as all the other Sins but he definitely embodied the role of annoying little brother that was given the unplugged gaming console controller so he thought he's playing. It's a little more on the nose when it came to them.
Lucifer built a wildly successful amusement park, Mammon built a cheap knock-off. Lucifer created a well-received line of toys for hellbourne children, Mammon created abominations that have bit off one too many fingers. Lucifer brought to life the best fauna he could with the resources provided by Hell, Mammon turned them all into fake, plastic facsimiles of the real thing.
Every couple hundred of years, Mammon would get the itch to copy one of Lucifer's designs to make his own profit. He had made it a point to deny Mam any access to the blueprint of his designs — he strives for perfection when it came to Creation — but the constant badgering got old really fast.
So, he found a loophole. All he had to do was give Mammon one of his designs he was less attached to and boom! Greed free for however long it took for him to lose interest!
Except this phone call wasn't that. He was mad at Asmodeus for… being in a relationship? Honestly, Lucifer had a hunch he was missing a large part of the story. A calculated move on Mammon's end, if he knew anything about the sin.
Another reason he was considered the annoying younger brother: whenever his siblings didn't let him get his way, he ran to mommy and daddy to tattle. Or in this case, Lucifer.
"I'm sorry, but explain to me why I'm supposed to give a shit that Ozzie is dating someone?" He cut in, using his free hand to pinch the bridge of his non-nose. A migraine was already beginning to form and he feared Charlie's request of no property damage was asking too much of him.
"He's a sin! Hell's royalty shouldn't be fuckin' the lower class! Think of the effect it'll have on the hierarchy here, Luci." There's the headache. Lucifer let out his most withering sigh yet.
"Mam, you know I don't care about the hierarchy. It only exists because the Goetia insists it does. You're probably the only sin that cares." Lucifer paused. "Actually, I don't ever remember you concerning yourself with it until now. What changed?"
"Ah, well, you see, it's just…" Mammon sputtered, causing Lucifer to grind his teeth. "It opens the doors for lower pests to try and manipulate us! You know how Ozzie is, who's to say this imp isn't doing just that for power? Come on, Luci. Think about the long run here."
"Right. And what aren't you telling me?" Lucifer stared at the hellfire roaring in the fireplace, a perfect representation of where Mammon was very quickly pushing his mood towards. It was a new record, getting him mad this fast.
"You really think I'd keep something from you?" To his credit, he did sound offended alarmingly well. Unfortunately for the embodiment of Greed, Lucifer was just as much of a performer as he was and could smell that bullshit a mile away.
"Yes." The other line went silent for a moment and he hoped that would be the end of it but luck had never been on his side since the beginning of time.
"Listen, I'm just lookin' out for Oz. He barely knows this guy." Five minutes. It took Mammon five minutes to make him snap.
If anyone asked, he'll attest that Mammon simply said something awful, if only to save face that the Sin of Greed just caught him in a bad mood.
"Mammon, how many times do I have to tell you to stop coming to me with your petty dick measuring contests you always seem to find yourself in?" Lucifer growled out, his tail making its grand appearance to whip the air behind him. "I don't exist to solve all of your stupid problems you create, especially when it comes to the other Sins."
"Typical. I thought you'd finally understand how important the chain of command is now that you've decided to bless us with your rule once again." That jab was warranted, at least from the other's perspective. Greed was never one of Lucifer's poisons which in turn meant he paid the least amount of attention to the subsequent ring and its occupants. There was also a possibility that Lucifer was being rather… paltry for all the times Mammon stole his work.
Still, that comment made fire flare from the corners of his mouth in anger. No matter how true it was. The oversized clown should consider himself lucky that Lucifer hadn't opened a portal yet to tell him off to his face.
"Maybe you should look within yourself to find out why you're so threatened by an imp. Call me about this again and I'll shut down your next dumb ass pageant." Mammon's incredulous cries were cut off as he happily ended the conversation, his hands immediately coming up to his face to muffle his groans.
Astounding. Lucifer was stuck with two of the most insufferable beings to ever grace Hell, a feat in of itself. At least with Mammon, he's had 10,000 years of practice on how to manage him. Dealing with Alastor brought him back to those first few hundred years of learning how to do that. He did not miss those times if his current feelings were any indicator.
"Well, at least it was only the couch this time." Lucifer spun on his heels at the sound of Charlie's voice and realized belatedly that everyone had shuffled out of the dining room and were now staring at him in amusement. Well, except for his siblings whose eyes were trained on his forehead and oh… when did his horns make an appearance?
Lucifer blinked away the red tinting his vision as he took in the state of said couch. There were long gashes from where his tail tore through the fabric, the wood at the front scorched from the unexpected rise in heat around his person. The metal decals were completely melted and unrecognizable from the Victorian inspiration they once were. The carpet around his person was also black and he shuffled his feet sheepishly.
"Ah. Sorry, sweetie." He snapped his fingers and it was good as new. "How uh, how long have you been standing there?"
She smiled apologetically. "You raised your voice when you brought up his uhm… measuring contests." Lucifer opened his mouth to clarify that wasn't what he was actually talking about but she continued before he could make her more mortified than she appeared to be. "I know how much Uncle Mam can get on your nerves so I just wanted to make sure you were alright."
Lucifer pointedly stared at the group of onlookers who were definitely not there out of the same concern as his daughter, except for Vaggie. Angel gave him a not at all innocent shrug.
"It sounded interestin'." Lucifer shook his head in amusement, gaze meeting his brothers' again who were taking in his new attributes with frowns — Azrael, to his credit, looked curious more than anything — and yeah, that was wildly uncomfortable. He took a deep breath to mentally reinforce the seal around his demonic side and they were gone in the next blink.
"I'm fine. I just need to make one more call. It shouldn't end in any property damage." Lucifer patted her cheek and she giggled before heading back to the group. They were talking to each other but doing an amazingly bad job at making it seem like they weren't there to eavesdrop. He rolled his eyes fondly before turning his back to them and dialing Asmodeus.
A very small part of him hoped he wouldn't picked up, if only so he could rejoin his daughter sooner. A bigger, more surprising part of him was actually really looking forward to talking to Ozzie again. His social battery, while leaving much room to be desired, had improved the month since he left isolation. Almost enough for him to be craving that interaction.
Asmodeus did pick up and Lucifer felt a smile across his lips at the enthusiastic greeting coming through from the other line.
"LuLu, baby! How have you been?" Lucifer turned away from the group again for some semblance of privacy.
"Hey! Sorry to bother you, I know you're busy, but I just got off the phone with Mam and I was hoping you could explain to me why he insists I break you and Fizzarolli up?" The growl of anger was unexpected and Lucifer had to move the phone away from his ear as it rose in temperature due to Ozzie's rage. Something the Sin of Lust very rarely expressed in such a manner.
"You can tell Mammon that I refuse to allow him to continue to abuse and exploit Fizz. The fact he ran to you doesn't fucking change that. You know I'd do a lot that you ask of me, Lucifer, but I will not force him to work for that greedy, over bloated bastard—"
"Woah, calm down! I'm not asking you to." Lucifer interrupted before the fires manifested in a more physical sense and torched his face. Once all he could hear was heavy breathing, he gingerly put the phone back up to his ear.
"I told Mam to fuck off but I had a feeling he wasn't giving me the real reason as to why your relationship bothered him so much." Lucifer explained soothingly, imploring. Ozzie sighed before giving him a mumbled apology.
And then Asmodeus told him everything. How Fizz became the face of the Greed Ring, the exact kind of abuse he put up with working for Mammon, to him quitting which was why there was a problem between the two Sins right now.
Lucifer had to give it to Mam — he managed to piss off the most pacifistic Sin in quite possibly the only way one could. Asmodeus was fiercely protective of those under his care, whether it be the succubi native to his ring or those who earned a spot in his close circle of friends and family. Many in Hell deemed Oz as the 'weakest' of the Sins but Lucifer had always begged to differ. There was nothing stronger than the desire to protect one's family. He would know.
"Yeah, that tracks." Lucifer groaned, scrubbing a hand down his face. "Just… try and keep the fighting between you two to a minimum? You are both Sins and the effects can be catastrophic. Of course, I'll intervene if I need to but I'm hoping this can all be resolved peacefully."
"I'll try, LuLu. But I can't promise anything if Mammon targets Fizzy." Asmodeus' voice rumbled with a promise and Lucifer found himself smiling at the display. He hoped Fizzarolli knew how lucky he truly was.
"I don't expect you to. If you need anything from me, just call. I try not to get involved but I owe you one, Oz, and we both know how far Mammon is willing to go—" Lucifer was cut off by his daughter nearly bowling him over, his angelic strength kicking in to prevent them from colliding with the floor.
Despite their very clear height difference, Charlie's hands were supporting her full body weight on his shoulders, feet kicking off the floor behind them and he widened his stance to keep them both standing.
"Uncle Ozzie!? Oh, it's been a while since I've talked to him. Can I say hi?" Charlie beamed from where she was now taller using his frame as extra height. He chuckled, readjusting his phone in his grip from where it nearly slipped in the collision.
"Hey, mind if I put you on video call? Charlie wants to say hi." After an even more enthusiastic affirmative, Lucifer allowed his red magic of pride to mix with Ozzie's blues of lust into a mesmerizing swirl of purple until he was projected in front of them.
Charlie squealed excitedly though she never left her position of using Lucifer's shoulders as a railing.
"Charlie, it's so good to see you! Look how much you've grown. Last time I saw you, you only went up to LuLu's hip." Oz smiled brightly at her, hand parallel to the ground somewhere below the top of his desk.
"Hi, Uncle Ozzie! I missed you. And it hasn't been that long." Charlie giggled, leaning forward to where her stomach rested against the back of Lucifer's head. Ozzie shoulder's shook with a deep chuckle as he placed his chin on the back of his hands.
"You're right. I think the last time was when you had that black streak in your hair and proclaimed how much you hated life." Charlie's face grew pink with a blush as she finally dropped herself back onto the floor in embarrassment. There was some shuffling behind him before Angel Dust appeared to his right with the happiest expression he's ever seen on the sinner.
"You had an emo phase?!" Lucifer winced as Charlie's usually chipper voice raised an octave right next to his ear.
"N-No!" That's when he realized he could take up his given right to embarrass his daughter and the mischievous smirk that had spread across his lips was not missed by the person in question.
"Oh, sure. Went on for about 20 years. I know I have a photo." He clapped, his hands glowing a stunning gold as he got ready to summon said photograph, only to be halted by Charlie grabbing his arms to rip them apart. There was a slightly panicked expression on her face that grew more when she saw Asmodeus flick his wrist and a picture formed in front of them.
Lucifer wrapped Charlie in a bear hug that gave Angel enough time to snatch the photo before she could get it.
"Holy shit!" Angel laughed, turning to face the rest of the group that moved closer at some point. "Princess of Hell, embodiment of rainbows and sunshine, was emo."
Angel was hunched over with the force of his amusement, leaning heavily on Cherri as they all took it in. None of them appeared antagonistic about their joy, at the very least, but it didn't stop Charlie from wiggling in his hold.
"Awe, babe. You look great." Vaggie shot a warning glare at the other residents and Charlie could only groan in response. She turned in his arms just enough to hide her face in his shoulder.
"I can't believe you betrayed me like that." Lucifer chuckled, patting her back comfortingly.
"Sorry, duckie. It's a fundamental right of mine to embarrass you in front of your friends and girlfriend at least once." The only response he got was a sad little noise pressed against the fabric of his jacket.
"If it makes you feel better, I know plenty of humiliating stories about your father I'd be more than happy to share." Ozzie piped up rather unhelpfully, if you asked him, and the renewed excitement of his daughter and her friends made his own panic rise in his throat.
"Thats — woah! That's okay! You know, it was nice talking to you but we should really get going." Lucifer slapped a hand over Charlie's mouth before she could emphatically demand to learn some things about him because he wasn't sure what Ozzie was going to tell… and he knew a lot.
"Sure, LuLu." Ozzie laughed, waving him off as he turned his attention back to his daughter. "Hey Charlie, you should bring your girlfriend down to Lust for a date night. It'll be entirely on me, of course, but I would love to meet her and I can promise you a wonderful time."
Lucifer begrudgingly released his hold on Charlie, shooting Ozzie a warning glare that he was definitely going to ignore. He could be a little shit when he wanted to.
"I would love that! Oh, but speaking of—" She moved from his side to grab hold of Vaggie, dragging her towards the video call and Lucifer took that as his cue to step back. Charlie was what he would describe as a workaholic, a trait she no doubt inherited from her mother. It wasn't often she had the chance to talk to any of the Sins and he didn't want to interrupt. Even if she had bogarted his phone call.
So, he found himself with the group as Charlie happily introduced Vaggie to Asmodeus. Angel, Cherri, Emily and Husk were still fawning over the picture of her 'emo phase' as they labeled it and Azrael was watching the whole thing with a small smile.
As far as he was aware, Azrael and Emily were the only visiting angels making an effort to get to know the residents of the hotel. Emily was a lot like Charlie which made it easier for the sinners to grow to like her but it was clear they were still weary around his siblings. Part of it being his own fault for outright saying he wasn't sure of their intentions but they were beginning to warm up to Azrael at least.
If Gabriel and Michael were making an attempt at comradery, it left much to be desired judging by how uncomfortable everyone else always looked around them. Gabriel was invasive in the way he prodded people for answers and Michael well… those cold eyes just weren't very inviting.
As if summoned by his thoughts, they both sidled closer to him in a manner they must have thought was subtle.
"She calls him uncle." Gabriel spoke after a moment, his voice carefully guarded. Lucifer glanced at him through his peripheral, summoning his cane with a snap so his hands had something to mess with.
"She does." Lucifer said carefully, looking back at Charlie who had now dragged over the rest of her friends to introduce them. Ozzie was just as eager to meet them as he had been with Vaggie.
"You're not blood related." Gabriel stated as if that fact wasn't obvious. Lucifer hummed, fingers drumming along the apple. He could leave it at that, not dignify that observation with a response but he was feeling just a little vindictive today.
And it wasn't like Gabriel had any room to say anything considering he was the one who prevented him from contacting his other brothers and sisters. So Lucifer rolled his head to the side to peer at Gabriel under the rim of his hat, gazing at Michael who was slightly behind them for a second before a sharp smile spread across his lips.
"Blood doesn't mean anything. The Sins and I were there for each other after we Fell. We took care of each other and built this place from the ground up together. They showed me what it was like to have real siblings and that's much more than I can say about you." Lucifer felt his grin grow unnaturally at the hurt in Gabriel's eyes and he dismissed him with a spin of his cane and approached the rest of the group as their conversation came to an end.
Apparently, while he was distracted, Ozzie invited all of them to Lust for a weekend which meant Lucifer would have to fill out mountains of paperwork to get them permits to leave the Pride Ring. It's something he could do, as King of Hell, but that didn't mean it wasn't a tedious fucking process that's going to take even longer considering he needed to fill out the forms for six sinners (and one fallen exorcist).
He hoped the glare conveyed his displeasure with being tasked to do the damned paperwork. Ozzie didn't look at all innocent.
Charlie quickly said goodbye so Lucifer could end their previous conversation, walking outside to have real privacy from prying ears. He took a moment to collect himself before pressing the phone against his ear.
"You alright, LuLu? I… I didn't realize it was them visiting." Ozzie growled and Lucifer glanced over his shoulder to make sure he was alone before sighing.
"I'm fine. Things have been okay." Lucifer frowned, walking further until he was in front of the statue of Dazzle. "Well, things have been okay with Azrael." He amended quickly, rubbing the back of his neck. It felt tense.
"If you need an escape, you're always welcome here." Lucifer smiled at the offer, sitting on the bottom of the memorial so he could see through the windows of the hotel.
"I'll keep that in mind. I'll go ahead and let you go. Don't wanna leave Charlie alone with them for too long. And I have paperwork I need to start filling out apparently." He made sure to sound belligerent towards the end which only earned him a laugh as he ended the call.
The hotel was far enough away from the rest of Hell to where the usual sounds of screaming and sex weren't able to reach even his ears. It was nice, deceptively peaceful for where they lived. Lucifer basked in the silence for a while, eyes trained on the inside of the building as he watched his daughter excitedly prepare them for her activity of the day.
She looked so happy. Right in her element of charming anyone who spoke to her, no matter how accidental it was on her end. Lucifer wished he could see the good in sinners like her, wished that his hope hadn't been snuffed out so long ago.
It scared him. Truly, feeling that familiar fire flicker to life in his chest when Sera told him Sir Pentious had been redeemed. His dreams had been his downfall in the end and he barely came out of the aftermath alive. He was terrified that he wouldn't be able to a second time.
He was terrified of what they would do to Charlie for daring to enact change. It was dangerous to think Heaven was finally willing to hear her out. To listen to the Devil's daughter no matter how kind-hearted she was.
Lucifer brought his hand up to rest right over his heart as he watched Charlie speak animatedly with Gabriel and Michael. Bright eyed and real smiles. Like she had known them her entire life. This familiar, endless pit of longing was deadly yet Lucifer couldn't find the desire to climb his way out of it. Not anymore.
Notes