Lucifer made a grave oversight during yesterday's activities.
Charlie was proud of him for putting something so genuine in his brother's mailboxes and he felt himself puff up underneath that praise. He hadn't regretted it and he really did enjoy the few hours he spent just talking with them about their fond memories, getting lost in those feelings.
But now…now he really wishes he could take it back.
Give them an inch and they'll take a mile, as they always say. And boy oh boy , did his brothers embody that expression down to every.
Single.
Letter.
After the brief moment of peace between them, Michael and Gabriel have been relentless in their apparent new found comfort with him. He was woken up at the wee hours of seven am to a brightly smiling Gabriel and dragged downstairs to engage in a very awkward breakfast. At least Azrael was there to mediate and Charlie came down shortly after to save him.
In hindsight, perhaps Lucifer shouldn't have played nice during that meal. Maybe he should've let his discomfort be known because now it was so much worse.
Today marked a week since their visit. Lucifer wasn't sure how it was going, to be honest. He wanted to look on the bright side and think they're approving of what Charlie is trying to do but the bigger, more pessimistic side of him refused to get his hopes up.
For all their hard work, his daughter deemed it to be a rest day. Lucifer was planning on spending it in his workshop but when he realized everyone else had decided to mingle well…it felt wrong to slink away for the day.
So here he was, attaching himself to any hotel resident without overstepping in an attempt to avoid his brothers. He wouldn't mind talking to Azrael or Emily today but hanging around them was just asking the other two to butt in.
Currently, he was in a truly riveting conversation with Nifty about the collection of bugs she's gathered since working here. She kept them all in an oak display box and pinned rather gruesomely to the wooden backing.
"This is my favorite one." Nifty cackles, ripping the small needle out of a hellish mutation that looked a cross between a horned beetle and a wasp. "She's the mama bug; I made her watch when I killed her little babies."
She pulled back the shell that hides its wings, playing with it much like a child would with a doll. The cyclops seemed to remember something as she stabbed it back in its place before grabbing another bug. This one was moth-like, save for the large fangs it had in its jaw.
"This one can grow back its limbs!It's my favorite one to torture." Upon closer inspection, this one was definitely alive with its legs wriggling in her grasp. In a move that was hard for even him to track, she grabbed one of the wings at its base and tore it off. Nifty's laugh was the very definition of evil. His smile tensed as he took a step back.
…Lucifer was starting to think Alastor wasn't the sinner he should be keeping an eye on.
"That's–" He cleared his throat. "That's great, Nif." She put that one back into the box with far less care than the first bug.
"Here, you can have this one!" An insect was shoved in his face and Lucifer stumbled back if only to prevent it from touching him. This one looked like a spider except it had hundreds of long legs like a centipede and a stinger on its abdomen. It was mainly white with red and yellow accents, probably what reminded the maid of him.
"Oh uh, that's okay. Thank you, though." Lucifer smiles as politely as he can muster, claws tapping along the apple of his cane. Nifty blinked, hand still outstretched, and to his horror, tears began welling up in that giant eye.
"You don't…want my gift?" Her voice shook dangerously and Lucifer hastily snapped his hands free so he could wave them around.
"N-No! It's a wonderful gift. I would just hate to…take such a lovely part of your collection away from you!" Lucifer stammered out, doing his best from preventing Nifty from having one of her iconic and rather frequent meltdowns. He's gone over a month not being responsible for one, he wasn't about to break that now.
Unfortunately, in his haste to cheer up Nifty, he failed to notice that Alastor had appeared behind him at some point during their conversation. He leaned over Lucifer, chest barely brushing his back as he plucked the bug from the girl's hold.
"It is indeed wonderful." Alastor hummed, moving around so he could pat the top of her head more comfortably. "I think it would make an endearing lapel brooch, don't you?" He addressed the question at Nifty but those sharp eyes never left the king. Lucifer scowled.
"Yes! Brooch, brooch, brooch, brooch !" Lucifer knew he was beat. If he said no, Nifty would actually start crying and Charlie didn't need that on her plate. Plus, this was a part of the little game he and Alastor were playing. He wouldn't concede defeat.
So, with a resigned sigh, Lucifer crouches down to give Nifty access to his lapel. Her smile was crazed as she, violently , stabbed the bug onto his right breast. Thank the hells he had angelic durability because that needle would have gone through his skin otherwise.
Lucifer straightened up, gazing down at his new brooch ruefully. The black and green of the bug's bodily fluids were already soaking into the fabric of his overcoat and once again, he's thankful for his angelic background because it would stain if he were anybody else.
Still, his grimace softened into a smile as he took in how happy Nifty looked. Not for any sane reasons, of course, but she was happy and for just a moment, he could pretend he was fulfilling his role as the bringer of joy he was supposed to be.
Even if it meant he now had a dead bug fastened to his coat.
"Ya know, Nif." Lucifer starts, mirroring Alastor's smug smile as he stared him down. "I'm thinking ol' Alastor here needs a new and improved bowtie."
A sharp spike of harsh radio feedback and an excited trill from Nifty was the only noise made between their little group.
They both stood glaring at each other as Nifty made the new bowtie. Lucifer even gave her some needles so she could stick the five bugs together until they were a mimicry of Alastor's usual tie. When she was done, she scampered up the Radio Demon to fix it around his neck with a safety pin.
It was disgusting and Lucifer found great pleasure in watching the blood soak into his shirt, turning it into a darker crimson.
"Perfect bugs for the bad boys~!" Nifty giggled manically, skipping around the two as she sang that line over and over again. Lucifer eyes her warily before he flicked his gaze back up to Alastor. He appeared to be vaguely amused.
There was an explosion followed by a crash off to the side coming from the kitchen, a frantic Cherri running out followed by plumes of smoke. Another one of the weekly cooking mishaps it seems. He thought about going to help but basically everyone was already over there so it'd just be overkill at that point.
He watches everyone flounder before Vaggie rushes in with a fire extinguisher. Once the fire was out, Nifty darted in to start cleaning alongside all the other staff and residents. Even Emily and Azrael decided to help out, though Lucifer did note with annoyance how the other two stayed put.
Which was hypocritical of him to think considering neither he nor Alastor have moved from their spots.
"I won, by the way." Lucifer sniffs, planting his cane in front of him while he cranes his neck up slightly to look at Alastor. The deer raises a brow as he turns to face him again.
"Won what, exactly, sire?" Lucifer smirks and leans over slightly so he was just encroaching in the Radio Demon's space.
"This round." He watched Alastor's brows furrowed in confusion before understanding followed by curiosity took over his features.
"You'll have to forgive me. I wasn't aware we were playing a game." Lucifer waved a hand, straightening back up to get rid of the feeling of static dancing across his skin at their proximity.
"You won the first round yesterday so we're even." Alastor was remarkably quick on catching on, he'll give him that. He definitely didn't like the sharp-toothed grin he was given though.
"Will there be a prize for the winner?" The Radio Demon crooned. The area around him darkened with a swirl of shadows, sickening green symbols floating above his head where the antlers began to elongate from his skull.
Lucifer rolled his eyes at the dramatics. "You're not getting a deal out of me." Almost instantly, all the eldritch flair dissolved back into Alastor's body.
"Well, you can't blame me for trying." No, he can't. "How about the winner gets to decide an embarrassing act the other must partake in?" Alastor suggests instead and Lucifer scrunches his nose up in thought.
"I have some parameters." Lucifer banishes his cane to replace it with paper and a pen. "Nothing that'll be broadcasted. It'll be limited to either just us or in front of the other hotel staff plus Angel and Cherri. Nothing that causes bodily harm to either of us or something that'll ruin any relationships here. Sounds fair?"
Alastor taps his chin thoughtfully. "Before I agree to these terms, who will be keeping track of the score? We can't do it for obvious reasons."
"Neither can Husk or Nifty. You own them." Lucifer immediately countered, waving the pen in his direction.
"Charlie or Vaggie can't either for their obvious preference of you." Alastor flicked his wrist casually. Lucifer scoffed, crossing his arms to glare up at the demon.
"I take offense to the fact you don't think Charlie would be unbiased." Despite his complaint, he didn't want Charlie as the judge either. Only because he didn't completely believe she preferred him over Alastor and this was not the way he wanted to find out.
"That leaves Angel Dust and Cherri Bomb." Alastor didn't sound enthused about those two options. His vote was for Angel but Lucifer also wasn't above moving things down a slightly, ahem, suggestive route during rounds to win.
He wouldn't sleep with the porn star but a little shake of his hips and open top buttons of his shirt would go a long way. Lucifer was willing to go to such lengths to keep his pride intact. Plus, he's pretty sure Alastor wouldn't dare do such a thing.
"Not Angel Dust. I wouldn't put it past you to whore yourself out for a win." Alastor cut in and Lucifer found himself throwing his hands up in the air with a groan.
"Okay, are you able to read minds or something?" The king blinked before the rest of that sentence registered in his brain. "And hey! I wouldn't — I'm not-" He sputtered, golden blush taking over his cheeks against his will.
"You basically just admitted to it, Your Majesty." Alastor deadpanned, moving his microphone so it was clasped behind his back.
Not having an argument against that, he turned back to the paper to will his face to its normal complexion. "Fine. Cherri is only here for maybe half of Charlie's activities so that only leaves us with the guests."
"Something tells me you do not wish to involve your brothers."
Lucifer huffs, "nope. That means…" He glances up, watching as everyone leaves the presumably now clean kitchen. "Emily!" He calls and waves her over. The young seraph smiles wide and skips towards the two.
"Yes, sir?" She beams, hands clasped politely in front of her. Lucifer's own smile tightened a bit. There was still something about her that put him on edge but he couldn't figure out what for the life of him.
"We were wondering if you'd be willing to be our judge for a little competition we have going on." Lucifer gestures between himself and Alastor. Her eyes immediately lit up more, if that was even possible, and she clapped excitedly at the idea.
"I'd love to! What kind of competition is it?"
"Well, my dear." Alastor butt in before Lucifer could answer. "The rounds will take place during Charlotte's group activities. Whoever you think performed better will win that round."
"And it'll span the duration of your stay." Lucifer added quickly. Emily giggled, pushing a strand of hair behind her ear.
"Okay, I can do that. I promise my judgment will be completely fair." Lucifer really needed to evaluate his mental wellbeing if that statement made him as nervous as it did. He may be anxious around Emily for some reason but she was not the Heavenly Council. She was not Gabriel or Michael. She wasn't even Sera.
Lucifer coughed uncomfortably, "are the terms agreeable now, Bambi?" He held a closed fist out between them because he was not going to shake on it, thank you, and Alastor rolled his eyes at the gesture. He couldn't hide the amused twitch from the corner of his lips.
"Yes. I believe we are in agreement, Lord Farquaad." Lucifer's mouth fell open, barely registered the feel of Alastor bumping their fists together.
"How the hell do you know who Lord Farquaad is!?" He demanded. There was no way Alastor knew a character from a movie . A picture film way past his fucking time. It was outlandish! Impossible even!
This had to be an imposter because last he checked, The Radio Demon hated all things TV.
Alastor only chuckled, not blessing him with an answer. Bastard. Lucifer opened his mouth to say as much.
"It's nice to see you still enjoy your little bets." His jaw promptly snapped shut with an audible click. Gabriel. Of course. He briefly forgot about them and now Nifty wasn't here to be his protection from uncomfortable conversations. Lovely.
He spun around to face both his brothers. Lucifer would much rather have his back to Alastor than them.
"Oh, uh. Yup. Just fun games. Builds comradery or something." Lucifer re-summoned the safety net that is his cane, making sure it was between himself and his siblings. Wouldn't do much in reality but one could dream.
"Do you remember that game you and Mother used to play? The one where you'd compete to see who could create little cloud silhouettes of the most animals." That was one of the worst things Michael could have said in this scenario. There were hundreds of thousands of other examples he could've used but he picked that one.
If there was someone Lucifer hated thinking about more than his estranged siblings, it was Her . The Creator that showered him with so much adoration and attention, only to rip it all away after one stupid mistake.
"Samael, you shall never know what it is like to set foot amongst these gilded halls again. You are shackled to the Pit of Sin you have so foolishly created for all of eternity, never to leave, and surrounded by the evil you welcomed unto Earth."
"I remember." Lucifer forced out through the bitterness. He wished he didn't but even he, in all his power, couldn't erase some memories.
That would be amongst the first to go.
His tone of voice must've given him away because it fell silent, uncomfortably so. Gabriel openly winced, Michael was unreadable as ever (the twitching in his hand gave him away), and oh. At least he wasn't the only one who wished the ground would swallow them whole because Emily audibly sucked in a breath as her wings pressed flat against her back. And Alastor-
Was gone. Seriously, what a douche.
Lucifer sighed. He really didn't want to start another fight today. Couldn't he just go through one day without feeling unpleasant? Was that too much to ask? Apparently so. The universe really did hate him.
"I gotta–" Lucifer began gesturing towards the bar without giving a proper excuse, because he didn't have one, but he was banking on the fact Gabriel was currently avoiding Angel. The spider demon had unknowingly become his security blanket and Lucifer was damn well going to use it.
He made a beeline towards said area, dodging Michael's attempt to grab his arm in the most inconspicuous manner (read: he tripped over his feet to speed up) and plopped down right next to Angel Dust. Lucifer sat ramrod straight until his brothers' attentions were pulled away by Charlie and only then did he let himself slump forward, muffling a groan in his arms that laid across the counter.
There was a snicker from right next to him but he graciously ignored it in favor of accepting the fruity drink Husk slid his way. This one was a chimayo, the sweet apple cider mixing well with the natural tartness of tequila. He hummed pleasantly, sipping to enjoy the flavor knowing it wouldn't make him feel anything regardless.
"Ya good there, Papa Diablo?" Lucifer shot Angel a half-hearted glare for the nickname. There was some innuendo to his tone, as is always the case with the porn star, but the name was a term of endearment above all else. It made his heart soar for earning the trust of his daughter's friends while also feeling embarrassed at the possibility of his brothers hearing it.
"Yeah, I'm fine. They're just…" He trailed off, circling his hand in the air as he thought of a word that didn't sound as petulant as he felt.
"Overbearing?" Husk offered and Lucifer snapped his hands into a finger gun in his direction. Angel glanced over at the two seraphs, leaning his head into one of his palms as he watched them not-so-subtly glance at the bar every two seconds.
"I guess not bein' able ta read a room runs in the family." Angel sounded amused as he sipped at his own pink concoction. Lucifer would usually take offense to that statement but he was too frustrated to even acknowledge it.
"Sorry for interrupting. You can just pretend I'm not here. I'll leave whenever they do." Lucifer closes his eyes, taking a moment to himself so he could reorient his mind after the rollercoaster of today.
Angel and Husk continue their conversation, or maybe it's a new one, while Lucifer practices those breathing exercises Charlie insisted they all learn. It wouldn't do him any good if he snapped at people who didn't deserve his ire. All he had to do was avoid his brothers for the next several hours until it was socially acceptable to run away to his room. Not hard at all.
Just a few more hours.
Lucifer took a long swig of his drink. Maybe if he dreamed hard enough, he would be able to feel the haziness in his brain that came with being buzzed. He could easily swap out the alcohol for something that would affect him but it either made him not think or think too much which no one needed to deal with him. Not even him.
"Your Majesty?" Lucifer snaps his eyes open as Angel breaks him from his thoughts, turning on the stool to face him. "Can I ask ya somethin'?" At some point, the other had finished his drink and was now nursing a regular tonic and gin.
"Of course." He nods at Husk thankfully for the refill on his own glass.
"I know your brothers said he would be fine but I don't really trust their words." Angel muttered ruefully, kicking the leg that was crossed over the other absently. Lucifer's brows furrowed even if his heart practically sang at the admittance of Angel trusting his word.
"What are you talking about?" Lucifer places a gentle hand on the spider's shoulder, effectively pulling him out of whatever trance he was in. Angel blinked, smiling apologetically, and knocking back the rest of his drink.
"Sir Pen. Is he really okay up there?" As much of an airhead as Lucifer found himself to be, he is remarkably observant when it came to things that mattered. He invented the art of manipulation, after all, and being able to read someone was one of the key aspects to that.
Angel was anxious. His eyes were practically boring holes into the wood of the bar, finger trailing along the outline of his empty glass repetitively. One of his lower arms was curled tight around his stomach while the other tapped an unsteady pattern into his knee. Small tells, Angel has had years of practice hiding such things, but Lucifer has had far, far, far more years learning how to pick those up.
"He'll be alright." Lucifer smiles, taking a more leisurely sip of his beverage. "You can trust Emily's word on that." He hesitated to tack on the next part. Slowly, he glanced back at where Azrael was talking amicably with Nifty. Golden magic spun between his hands as images of different bugs found in Heaven flitted between them. The maid was enthralled, small hands resting on his knee from where he was crouched, single eye wide with wonder.
"And Azrael's." Lucifer added almost softly, the lines of his face melting into something affectionate as he took in the scene.
Michael and Gabriel had made very minimal efforts to talk to everyone here aside from Charlie and Vaggie. Well, and Lucifer. But if they found themselves sucked into a conversation with any of the sinners, it was clear how highly they thought of themselves over the others. Everyone. They were less obvious about it when talking to the only three non-human souls.
Out of everyone here, without even knowing their stories, they were the most judgemental of Nifty. It was clear she was missing…something up there and while Lucifer didn't know what happened to her either, he's been down here long enough to infer. The mood swings, apathy, inability to focus, the moments her mind seemed to just leave . She'd sit for hours at a time staring at a point on the wall, barely reacting to even Alastor.
She died sometime in the 1950s at only 23 years old and Lucifer knew what those symptoms meant. During the time she was alive, lobotomies were a very popular treatment for mental disorders humans didn't understand. It was hard to tell if she lost her sanity after the procedure but Lucifer didn't find it fair to judge her behavior for something that wasn't her fault.
It was nice to see Azrael wasn't put off by her. Lobotomies, especially back then, were a horrible practice and everyone who was forced to undergo one faced awful side effects. He just hoped not all of them ended up in Hell. That seemed like such a cruel and unnecessary twist of fate.
"If Pen is alright then…then any family up there of us are fine too, right?" Angel was outwardly fidgeting now, lower set of hands wringing together as his top ones bent the straw carefully.
"Absolutely. Heaven takes care of their winners, no matter the relations." It was steady, confident, leaving no room for argument and more than enough for the tension to bleed from Angel's shoulders.
Husk poured him another drink. A silence fell between them, amicable, and Lucifer found himself watching Cherri and Vaggie have a surprisingly civil conversation. Even if Heaven never approves the hotel to work, that right there told Lucifer that redemption was possible. That Hell could be changed and reformed.
"Who do ya got up there?" Husk asked carefully, much softer than he ever heard the gruff bartender speak. The moment shifted into something gentle, almost intimate and Lucifer suddenly felt like he was intruding.
He set his empty glass on the bar, getting ready to slip out of his chair to give them some privacy when one of Angel's lower hands reached out to grab his arm. A silent ask for him to stay. Lucifer glanced down at the appendage before he situated himself once more.
Angel offered him a weak smile before turning back to stare at his drink, "my sister. Molly." Lucifer blinked, eyes widening slightly at the admission. As far as he knew, Angel had never talked about his family, even before the king had started staying at the hotel. It frustrated Charlie but after he explained how painful a topic that could be, she backed off.
He loved Charlie, but she was naive and privileged with the kind of childhood Lucifer provided her. This hotel was good for her to understand that. Sure, Lucifer had absolutely failed her as a parent but not to the same extent as a lot of the sinners down here. She was beginning to learn things like that, learning how she needed to be patient. Everyone healed at their own pace and there may be some who don't want to heal at all.
"I just wanna get the chance ta see her again." Angel sighed, having officially lost interest in the gin and tonic. "I'm just so scared that she'd be disgusted with how I turned out." Lucifer adjusted his arm to where he could slide the spider's hand into his own, giving it a comforting squeeze. He knew that feeling all too well.
It's why his brother's visits had been so stressful for him (amongst other things). No matter what they did to him, no matter the resentment that lingered in his soul, he still yearned for their approval. It was such a farfetched thing to desire considering his pride was what had gotten him thrown out of Heaven in the first place. A trait of his that had gotten worse since the Fall.
If they didn't like how he acted before, they were going to hate him now. Admittedly, Lucifer has been holding himself back but could anyone blame him?
"Do you mind if I ask what happened? You two grew up together so how'd you end up so differently?" Lucifer immediately regretted the words as soon as they left his mouth, face flushing gold as he realized how offensive that came off. "Sorry! I-I didn't meant for that so sound so wrongand there's nothing wrong with who you are and – fuck – you don't have have to answer that. I'm so sorry, I'll just-"
"It's alright, short king." Angel cut him off with a giggle, Lucifer's blustering words bringing back some of his usual self. "I know ya didn't mean any harm."
Another bout of silence and Lucifer was sure he wasn't going to answer. It was a rather invasive question but the seraph really didn't want to give Angel false reassurances. Sometimes, you just need someone to tell you how it is and getting to understand where they strayed in life would help him better comfort the other.
"Molly and I are twins. We grew up in a mob family. You can probably guess that our Pops wasn't the best." Angel grimaced, taking a long swig of the water Husk had given him. Seems he was cut off for the night. "When we were fourteen, we made a plan ta escape. Ta keep a real long story short, we didn't get out of the house undetected. Pops was hot on our trail, chasin' us through Manhattan and when I realized we wouldn't get away, I shoved Molly in a cab and made sure he stayed off her scent. Promised her I'd get ta where we planned as soon as I shook 'im."
Lucifer felt his heart sink. A sickening thickness settled at the bottom of his stomach and he squeezed Angel's hand back.
"...You didn't get away." It wasn't a question. Lucifer knew the answer to that. Angel could only nod in confirmation.
"Pops made sure I didn't get another chance ta run off." Angel shrugged as if it didn't matter. As if his experiences weren't awful. Lucifer felt the familiar coil of anger simmering in the pits of his very being.
He never understood how a parent could lay hands on their child. How they could inflict such pain and suffering on something so innocent because they were mad. Because they were annoyed. Because they found it amusing. Lucifer didn't understand, and he never would.
Even when Charlie was little and she had torn out the feathers of his wings, Lucifer barely raised his voice at her. She didn't know any better and she was too young to comprehend the idea of his wings being sensitive. He never raised his voice and he never raised a hand to her.
Just the thought of…of hitting his daughter. It made Lucifer's blood run cold.
Angel's father is lucky if he's been blessed with a second death because Lucifer will personally make sure he spends the rest of his eternity suffering with the seediest bastards of humanity.
"I think if your sister is going to be mad at you for anything, it's sacrificing yourself for her own freedom." Husk said carefully, reaching out to clasp a hand over Angel's shoulder. Lucifer watched as he melted into the touch and now he definitely was intruding with the way they were practically making heart eyes at each other.
"It sounds like you two were close, what with the way you talk about her." Lucifer smiled. "I'm positive she misses you just as much." He wasn't sure if Angel would ever get the chance to see Molly again but Lucifer really hoped he did. Even if he never makes it to Heaven, he deserved that at the very least.
Angel removed his hand after a bit, thanking Lucifer mildly as the three of them watched everyone else in the foyer. Nifty had scampered off at some point alongside Alastor. Probably off to do whatever cannibalistic overlords fancied during a normal afternoon.
Cherri was gone too, still not quite an official resident even though she's here most days, and everyone else was in a circle playing some game Lucifer couldn't make out from here. This would be a prime opportunity for him to slip away and start filling out those forms to grant these sinners permits into the Lust ring for a day but something had him staying. Maybe it was how comfortable he felt around these two, something he hasn't had outside of his daughter and Vaggie. He just wanted to soak up the companionship a little longer.
Unfortunately, the Radio Demon seems to have a knack for ruining Lucifer's good mood cause Husk is very shortly called away right after that thought crosses the king's mind. He's seriously considering getting Alastor checked out for mind reading capabilities, it was uncanny at this point.
Husk locked up all the booze with a critical eye at Angel before he sauntered off. It was rather pointless since, you know, simple key locks couldn't stop the King of Hell but Lucifer digresses.
He probably won't notice the missing bottle of bourbon.
Lucifer and Angel clinked their glasses as they sipped on the richer liquid. He wasn't aiming to get the porn star drunk and it looked like that wasn't the kind of night he wanted either.
"Heya, short king. Ya mind if I give ya some advice?" Angel asked after a while, eating a maraschino cherry that Lucifer has no idea where he got it from. He narrowed his eyes suspiciously.
"Depends. Is it a sex thing?" Lucifer leaned away dubiously, not liking the shark-esque grin crossing Angel's lips at the question.
"No but I don't mind doin' a show'n tell, baby." He purred with a lascivious shake of his chest and Lucifer nearly choked on his own spit. One would think he'd be accustomed to this by now but very few were bold enough to brazenly flirt with the Devil himself like Angel was.
"Go ahead, then." Lucifer cleared his throat, glaring at the sinner for laughing at his clear embarrassment.
Angel took a few seconds to get his giggles under control, leaning back so his top elbows rested against the bar. Lucifer noticed his eyes were on Charlie who appeared to be losing whatever game they were playing. That's his girl. Inherited the curse of Lucifer losing anything he gets roped into competing in.
Hindsight really was 20/20, huh? That agreement with Alastor probably wasn't the brightest idea of his.
The clink of a glass drew his attention and he was thrown by the grave expression he wore. It was so out of place on the spider's face that Lucifer found his own mood sobering in turn.
"If ya really want ta rebuild your relationship with Charlie, ya gotta stop maskin'." Lucifer blinked, one eye after the other, before he forced out an awkwardly nervous laugh.
"You're a little confused there buddy. See? No mask." Lucifer mimed pulling a visor off his face and Angel clearly wasn't buying his act of playing stupid. The king sighed, slumping in his chair to finish off the rest of his bourbon. It burned but the distraction was welcome.
"Listen. I get it, I really do. But Charlie –" Angel gestured towards his daughter with one hand. "She wants her dad. Her real dad. Not some front ya feel like ya have ta put up for the world. Princess is a lot more perceptive than people give her credit for. She knows when you're lyin'."
Lucifer raps his claws across the crystal glass, eyes trained resolutely on the ground between his knees. Angel was right, he knew that, but the alternative was not something he even wanted to think about. All the people that saw that side of him left. His siblings abandoned him, going as far as to cast him out of Heaven. Lilith distanced herself when she realized he was no longer the man she fell in love with. The Sins drifted away too. There was only one thing linking all of them together: him.
He's not sure he'd be able to survive if the same thing happened with Charlie. Lucifer knows that this life he has now, with everyone at the hotel, is because of his daughter. All of it would go away if he lost her. Fuck, that was such a selfish train of thought to have.
It seems like Charlie wasn't the only perceptive one here. Angel really nailed that observation on the nose.
With a wave of his hand, both of their empty cups were sparkly clean and back in their respective places behind the bar. He's worried if he continues to drink, he'll have the urge to summon something that would actually get him inebriated.
"You're right." Lucifer murmured, running his fingertips along his gloves. "I guess…I'm just scared that she'll leave too when she realizes how broken I actually am." He wonders if it was part of Angel's job to be easy to talk to, just like with Husk. If he had these innate people skills to lure clients in and get more money for acts that were worth so little.
Angel hummed, reaching over to pat his back. Lucifer hadn't realized he hunched in on himself. The touch was nice and he found himself leaning back into it without thinking.
"Charlie never gave up on me all the times I fucked up." He shrugged before sliding off his stool and stretching in a manner far more sexual than was necessary. "Just think about it, Papa Diablo."
With that, Angel headed over to join the rest of the group and Lucifer was left alone with his own thoughts. Masking was something he'd been doing for longer than he's existed, which is saying something, and while the idea of letting it fall away was oh so tempting, he wasn't sure he could actually do that. It was second nature at this point. As much a part of him as his wings were.
And yet, despite all his fears, his mind brought him back to that one fateful morning. When it was just him and Azrael in the kitchen. They argued that day but Lucifer made the decision to open up. To bear some of his vulnerability in hopes that his brother would understand why he was hurting so.
And he had. Azrael understood and he accepted Lucifer no matter his faults. He hadn't expected anything from him at the moment, hadn't judged or ridiculed his struggles, only supported. That connection felt so good. Lucifer wanted that with his daughter.
Lucifer wanted that with Vaggie and Angel and Husk and Nifty too. Hell, maybe even with Alastor if this civility kept up. He wanted that with Ozzie and Bee and the other sins. With some of the Goetia he used to be friends with.
Maybe he wanted that with the rest of his siblings too.
Lucifer knew his mind was made up the second Angel left him alone at the bar. The next step was figuring out how he could begin tearing down his own inner defenses long enough for others to be let in. But for now, the first step was being around the people he wanted to get close to.
He left the bar to join everyone else, only remembering he currently had a hellish bug pinned to his lapel when Charlie screamed at it wriggling on his chest.
When Sera and Emily first approached the Virtues, it had been like any other day. The six of them were gathering in the conference room for a meeting that took place twice a month. It's only importance was ensuring everything was going well with their duties, that they didn't need assistance from another seraph, or that anything was out of place.
That's their purpose. But it was also a time for the siblings to catch up and spend time together. It wasn't often they could get away from their responsibilities just to gather as a group. They were a light-hearted affair and yet, the seemingly inconspicuous chair that remained empty was like a hole in the hearts of each of them that couldn't be filled. Someone had sat in it, once, and they were now too afraid to go anywhere near it. Too sentimental.
That day changed everything. Sera and Emily requested an audience with them, the younger of the two barging in with so much enthusiasm that could melt the hearts of even the worst of humanity. Sera was far more subdued yet despite her usual cool expression, guilt rolled off her in waves.
And then Emily told them about how a sinner had been redeemed into Heaven. She was too excited to explain the how , only leaving briefly to drag said soul. A snake, just like Sami, to be petty in such a way. Not that he can be faulted for that as they deserved so much worse for what they put him through.
But Raphael had voiced that thought out loud with sad amusement. Only, Emily said it wasn't Samael's doing.
"It was King Lucifer's daughter, Charlie!" A silence fell over the room, each one of the siblings regarding her with such unbidden surprise at the declaration. Uriel was the first to break it, her voice wavering on her next words with unshed tears.
"Sami has a daughter?" She was so quiet, words laced with so many emotions at the news. "How did we not know…?"
"I'm sure we would have if we weren't barred from communicating with Hell." Azrael spat, pointed glare at Gabriel who at least had the decency to appear ashamed. Michael held up his hand to prevent another fight from breaking out. As it always does when this topic is brought up.
Sera informed them that the Heavenly Council wanted to send ambassadors down to the Hazbin Hotel. Emily was slated to go as she vouched for Princess Charlie's first trial, which was also something they weren't informed about, but they also wanted one of the Virtues to go. They figured a familiar face would help keep things civil.
At least, that's what they said. They wanted a glorified spy. Another way to control and punish Samael even now. Azrael wasn't going to give them the pleasure.
It was easy convincing them to allow him to go. The duty of ferrying souls to both Heaven and Hell fell onto him meaning he has the most experience down below out of all the Virtues. Behind Michael, he was the most adept at fighting and he would protect Emily if it came down to it. He never gave them reasons to doubt his loyalty, so they agreed.
That wasn't the main reason he wanted to go. It was the less selfish one, yes, and Azrael didn't often partake in things that only benefited him but he just…he wanted to see Sam-no, Lucifer again. He wanted to see, with his own two eyes, that he was alive and okay.
Even if Lucifer never wanted anything to do with them, if he stood there and screamed all the words that he deserved, Azrael would take it. He would respect his choice and stay silent. Just being able to see Lucifer again would be enough.
And then Michael and Gabriel insisted they come as well. That they needed to apologize to Lucifer for what they had done. Azrael knew how bad of an idea that was. There were six of them, and out of them all, those two were the last of whom their youngest brother would want to see. For good reason. They're betrayal ran far deeper than the rest.
They ignored his warnings. Ignored his pleas to understand how terribly it would end up if they came. There was only so much one could do outside of physical restraint and believe him, that option was very tempting. He wasn't confident enough in his abilities to take down both of them and if they were going, Azrael needed to be there to fix whatever they'd do to mess things up.
Azrael was right, in that regard at least. Lucifer was uncomfortable around them. The second they stepped foot into that hotel, after getting accustomed to the blazing heat that accompanied Hell, his gaze was immediately drawn to his brother.
He looked so different but it was him and it took all of his willpower not to crumble where he stood. Gone were the golden circles of his cheeks, replaced with the shade of red that reminded him of the fruit most associated with the Devil. The sclera of his eyes were yellow now, the iris a thin crimson slit like a snake's. Everything else…everything else was just as he remembered. His alabaster skin, the blonde style of his hair he loves, his shorter stature.
But it wasn't the Lucifer he used to know. The smile he wore was fake, no matter how convincing it was, those sharp teeth on full display as he introduced all of them. It hurt. It hurt to see him so afraid of Michael and Gabriel. It hurt to see how Lucifer looked at him like he was a stranger. He was, after all. It didn't lessen the sting.
Michael, for once, didn't push for Lucifer to join them during the tour. Perhaps seeing him was just as overwhelming for the eldest. Or maybe the guilt was eating at him more than he let on. Rightfully so. Azrael hoped it was painful.
Charlie though…Charlie was brilliant . She was bright-eyed and passionate, reminding him much of Emily and what he remembered of Lucifer. She was a carbon copy of him too. The same face, only with a button nose, the same shade of blonde hair and coloring of his new eyes. Azrael was genuinely happy to meet her. He wanted to get to know his niece, if they allowed him, and he was enraptured by the passion behind her dreams.
The smile that lit up her face when Azrael asked clarifying questions was blinding. Just like his. Admittedly, he got a little lost in the nostalgia but Charlie's cause was noble. Had he known about it from that first trial, even without the knowledge this was Lucifer's daughter, he would've helped her too.
Then that dinner happened. Not even a full day down and they already pissed Lucifer off. How Gabriel thought saying such a thing was a smart idea, Azrael doesn't know. The rest of the meal was tense and awkward yet the worst part hadn't come until that evening.
"What were you thinking, Gabriel?" Azrael snapped the second they crossed the threshold of their suite. Said seraph was slumped into the ruby red couch tucked into the corner of the room, arms wrapped tight around his middle as his long brown hair obscured his face.
"He did nothing wrong." Michael cut in, locking the door behind them and moving to shrug off his blazer. "Samael overreacted."
Azrael shut his eyes to stave on the new wave of anger. It wasn't often he lost his cool, he was the virtue of patience after all, but Michael made that incredibly difficult to do. He pressed the heel of his palms to his eyes, taking a deep breath and counting to ten mentally.
" Lucifer was well within his right to react how he did. In fact, I think he should have done worse." Azrael's voice was far more even now but he didn't bother hiding the disdain he felt. Ever since that day 10,000 years ago, his relationship with Michael and Gabriel was strained at best. Volatile at worst. Right now, he was trying not to incur their wrath to prevent this room from being destroyed.
Michael shook his head, "Azrael, you're enabling him."
"Enabling him." He deadpanned, wings twitching in his effort to not start swinging himself. "You really don't think his animosity towards you is warranted?" Michael's expression, as small as it was before, closed off entirely until all that was left was the emotionless man he knew as a brother.
"I did what I had to do." Azrael only shook his head, bending his wings until the tips were in front of him so he could remove the armor. It was a relief to have that weight gone and he smoothed down the feathers that were flattened under the metal.
"No. All you did was save your own hide." He moved towards the door. The last thing he wanted to do was stay in that room a moment longer. "We all did. And I hope Lucifer never lets us forget that."
As awful as the idea felt to him, Azrael truly didn't expect anything from this visit. He'd scope out the Hazbin Hotel, because he was curious on how it managed to redeem a sinner, and he'd set the foundations to start a working relationship with Princess Charlie. They'd make true redemption a reality for the souls that'd want it because like Emily, Azrael believed in the cause. Believed in what such a pure-hearted demoness wanted for her people.
And yet, despite not expecting anything from Lucifer, he was given another chance. His younger brother gave him an olive branch, and while there was so much room to ruin it all over again, he wouldn't. He couldn't.
Azrael would spend the rest of eternity redeeming his own transgressions against Lucifer, if he'd be allowed to do so.
The start to that was properly understanding Charlie's dreams and the people that are supporting her. They were all interesting individuals and Azrael truthfully enjoyed getting to know them. Most of them were understandably weary around him but he likes to think they warmed up to him rather quickly.
Vaggie, Charlie's paramour and fallen exorcist angel, was more difficult to get her to open up. For good reason, of course. Azrael doesn't know her story and he suspects he won't learn for some time but he was able to just sensethings about her because of their shared angelic origin. All exorcists had the same murky yet pure essence that made up their being and fallen angels had their own unique one as well.
Lucifer's…it was still bright like the morning star he was named after but the edges were scorched. Tainted a sickening red that reminds him of blood and hellfire, the very center of it manifesting into the screams of the damned he rules over. Matching that brief view of the horns and tail he let slip in his argument with the Sin of Greed. It was the soul of Lucifer, Venom of God, yet the core of it remained pure. Poetic, in a horrific sort of way.
He Fell, the only seraphim to have Fallen, but his power prevented him from being ruined by the sins of Hell like the others that followed.
Which was what made Azrael most curious about Vaggie. She too hadn't fallen victim to such a change even when exorcists sit so low on the heavenly hierarchy. But, aside from the top two ranks, they were the only ones who were protected from that kind of corruption which led him to the conclusion she hadn't been convicted by the Court. He was curious as to how she lost her wings and eyes; the ladder was not a typical punishment doled out by Heaven.
Nifty was…a character. Far be it for Azrael to judge, he was in no position to do such a thing not knowing the small demon's life, but even the other staff of this hotel appeared to be weary of her. Taking all of that into consideration, she was remarkably easy to get along with. Azrael wasn't a fan of bugs, per say, but he knew enough about species she had never experienced before, both on Earth and in Heaven, that she was more than willing to listen to him talk for however long she was available. She was a darling little thing as it turned out.
Out of all the sinners at the hotel, Husk was currently his favorite. Not that Azrael wanted to play such a thing but the bartender was straight-forward and didn't take shit from anyone. Not even Michael or Gabriel. He was also observant and the seraph learned quite a few things from just talking with Husk. Both about those living in the hotel and how Hell works. He wasn't vying for redemption, more content with drinking cheap alcohol to get by, but he still supported Charlie and Angel especially.
Angel Dust. Another very interesting one. Outside of Sir Pentious previously, he's the only actual resident though his job made it difficult to commit as much time to the cause as needed. Through Husk, he learned that the other was trapped in a soul-binding deal with a very unsavory demon and has been thinking of ways to break free.
Azrael won't sit here and pretend he understands the inner workings of Hell's deal business by suggesting they speak to Lucifer. He's not even sure if that is something his brother is capable of doing.
Angel, however, was playing a very dangerous game that started about two days ago. His very blatant flirting with Gabriel was going to end up with him getting hurt. Azrael didn't want to police how he behaved considering this was most likely normal for the man but Gabriel could be explosive if you got under his skin enough. He didn't want to see that. That morning, he planned to abscond the spider to voice his concerns.
But something stopped him from approaching Angel about it. Early that day, the demon was seated at the bar as he always was, just chasing away Gabriel with another salacious comment. Azrael intended to warn him then, only, the way that lewd smile slipped from his face the moment he was to Gabriel's back was…interesting.
So he stayed where he was, leaning against the railing of the stairs so he could eavesdrop thanks to his advanced hearing. Not something he would usually partake in but something told him to just listen.
"You have a death wish or something?" Husk huffed under his breath, refilling Angel's martini with more of that pink beverage he likes so much. Angel, in an uncharacteristic manner, watched Gabriel sidle up next to Lucifer with a frown pulling at the corner of his lips. He took a sip of his drink though his eyes never left the pair.
"...Legs?" The bartender leans forward enough to get a good look at Angel's side profile before following his gaze to where it was fixated. Lucifer's smile was tight, forced, as Gabriel spoke animatedly to him about something. It wasn't a conversation he could escape no matter how clear it was he didn't want to be there.
"He did somethin' ta Luce." Angel said, a subtle scowl overtaking his features. Husk blinked, not fully comprehending what he was saying, one ear twitching in thought.
"So, what? You want to get in his pants so you can figure out what he did?" There was a slight edge to his voice for a reason that Azrael couldn't place but it was enough to pull Angel's attention away for a moment. He reached out to pat his hand reassuringly.
"Fuck no." A laugh spilled past his lips, glancing back over at Lucifer who was now stuck in a talk with both of their overbearing brothers. "I'm flirtin' ta be vindictive. Whatever he — they — did was bad. Bastard deserves ta be a little uncomfortable."
A beat passes in silence as Husk stares at Angel with wide eyes. The lines of his face soften into something fond, even if easily missed by untrained eyes. "You're something else, Angie."
"Don't I know it, baby." Angel blows a teasing kiss, leaning forward just enough that he was in Husk's personal space. The barkeep didn't seem to mind. "I like the short king and I always look out for my friends."
Azrael stopped listening after that, the discussion heading somewhere it felt even less right to listen in on. Still, that conversation was somewhat of an eye opener for him. Outside of Charlie, he hadn't given it a thought about what kind of relationship Lucifer had with the rest of the hotel's staff and residents.
He didn't end up talking to Angel that morning, whether it be his own appreciation for the spider or because he didn't want to interfere with someone who was in his brother's corner, but it did lead him into noticing other peculiar things.
Like the way Husk and that occasional resident Cherri Bomb would find a way to distract Michael whenever he tried to head towards Lucifer. Or how Vaggie would interject herself into conversations with Gabriel so he wouldn't have to suffer through conversations alone, despite her own clear unease. Even personally, he thinks back on the time Charlie not-so-subtly tried to make sure he hadn't hurt her father that morning when she was pulled away from finishing breakfast. It warmed his heart to see and part of him knew Lucifer was none the wiser about it.
Out of everyone here, though, Alastor remained a curious mystery to him. Introduced as the hotelier, he had been nothing but polite to all of them if somewhat aloof and truthfully, there was something about him that put Azrael on edge. He knew not to judge all the sinners for ending up in Hell as many were forced into a kind of lifestyle they couldn't escape. But there were the sinners that deservedeternal damnation and Alastor…he had feeling Alastor was one of them.
Admittedly, it was amusing watching his little brother interact with the deer demon now. Charlie had them all gathered in the foyer for her next activity: charades. Azrael was actually quite good at the game and it became clear swiftly that Charlie accidentally put all four of the best players on the same team. It was himself, Husk, Alastor, and Lucifer who were currently sweeping the floor with everyone else. The seraphim brothers made excellent actors while the sinners excelled at guessing. It was a losing battle for the other two groups.
The second the game was officially over, Lucifer whirled on his feet to face Emily with a broad grin. "Alright Em! Who won this round?" He rubbed his hands together with anxious excitement as Alastor came to stand next to him. Azrael only then realized how much he towered over his brother by nearly two feet.
"Oh! Well, Alastor gets a point for being the better guesser and I also gave you one, sir, for being a better actor. But I realize that still leaves you guys even so, uhm…" Emily smiles sheepishly over at Lucifer. "Alastor gets another point for guessing the most correct answers."
Alastor's smile widened, "impeccable choice, my dear!" He leaned forward just enough to pat the top of her head, an action Azrael had seen him do a few times to Charlie as well. Emily's wings fluttered softly behind her.
"Ugh, you only did so well because Azzy and I acted them out perfectly." Lucifer grouched, crossing his arms to glare up at the sinner. Alastor only found that more amusing but Azrael could hardly focus on that. Azzy . Lucifer had called him Azzy .
It was a nickname he couldn't bear to hear after he Fell, yet the very sound of it now made his chest tighten painfully. It brought back memories, so many memories, of simpler times when everything was perfect. The humans hadn't been created yet and they spent so much of their days flying around Heaven partaking in harmless pranks between their duties.
"You're so slow now, Azzy!"
That was the morning before the youngest first snuck down to Eden. Lucifer had become quite the proficient flier and he'd won against Azrael in a race that day. It wouldn't long before he'd beat Uriel too and part of it was because of his more compact size. Azrael couldn't keep up anymore and he'd never smiled wider at losing against Lucifer.
That was the last time he heard that nickname.
Jophiel almost called him that once, nearly a thousand years after Lucifer Fell, and Azrael snapped at her. She never tried again.
Hearing it now made him want to pull Lucifer into a hug and cry.
"Whaddya say to a celebratory drink?" Husk's gritty voice dragged him out from his spiral and Azrael realized he missed another petty yet amusing squabble between Lucifer and Alastor. They didn't appear to be as annoyed with each other as they usually are, an interesting development, but he had to snap his eyes away from his brother lest he do something stupid.
"A drink sounds delightful." Azrael followed him to the bar, lips twitching as the other two continued to squabble despite agreeing as well. Husk slipped behind the counter, immediately getting to work on four drinks. One smelled of apples, no doubt for Lucifer, the other was three fingers of rye and the last some whiskey. The last cup was empty and after an inquisitive brow raise from the bartender, Azrael asked for a moscow mule.
"-plenty of time left. Don't get too cocky now, Bambi." Lucifer's voice filtered in through the cotton in his ears as the rest of their team slid into the barstools. His brother was sitting next to him with Alastor to the other side.
"Oh, I know it's far too early to claim victory." Alastor crossed his legs as he leaned his cheek against his palm. "I do have a sinking suspicion you'll fall short in the end though, Your Majesty." Lucifer rolled his eyes, attempting for an air of irritation yet the faintest of smiles gave him away.
"You need to get new material, your buck -et of ideas is running low." Azrael watched, in both horror and amusement, as they proceeded to have the cringiest pun battle known to man. It was embarrassing for both of them and if he were Emily, he'd take away all their points for such a display.
"Is this normal?" Azrael couldn't help but ask the barkeep who was looking his own mix of bemused and disgusted.
"Their petty arguments? Definitely. This tame shit? Nah, that's new." Husk chuckled, taking a swig of his whiskey. "Usually their verbal battles end in property damage." Azrael furrowed his brows at that, cocking his head to side at the notion. He can't speak for Alastor but Lucifer had never been one to have a temper.
Well…at least he used to.
For all his clear ill intentions and sharp toothed grins, Alastor was the only one who could put Lucifer at ease. Perhaps that wasn't the right word but these quarrels between them were able to make the tension practically melt off his brother in a way his daughter wasn't even capable of doing.
Admittedly, verbal insults weren't the most healthy of ways to let off steam but it appeared to be working well for Lucifer and Alastor seemed to enjoy them just as much. Who was he to judge?
Eventually, this particular one came to end once Lucifer ended up running out of deer puns. He threw back the rest of his drink, slamming it on the counter a little too hard as he, once again, pouted.
"This isn't fair. There's like, a million synonyms for short." He all but whined, sticking his tongue, forked , out at Alastor as Husk refilled his drink. The demon canted his head to the side in an impressively mocking manner. It was a feat how easy that came to the sinner in every small action of his.
"Too bad dear Emily wasn't here to award me another point." Alastor let out a put-upon sigh, twirling the glass lightly in his grip.
"It would put you in a stag -gering lead." Azrael cut in, hiding his own smirk behind the rim of his cup. Lucifer spun to face him with a look of betrayal though he didn't miss the way his eyes lit up at his interruption. It made his own expression soften.
"Staggering! Why the hell didn't I think of that?" Lucifer slapped his forehead gently but still pointed at him in an accusatory manner. "But I see where your loyalties lie, Azrael." There was no bitterness, no lingering hurt in his words. Only playful humor.
"Sorry, little bro." He let his smile show this time. "I don't remember your pun game being this bad." Lucifer sputtered, waving his arms theatrically as he tried to defend himself albeit unsuccessfully.
It went on like that for the rest of the hour until dinner rolled around. It was fun and the first time Azrael felt like he was truly bonding with some of the people in the hotel. Alastor, though someone he couldn't bring himself to trust, was enjoyable to talk to and his tongue was sharp. A perfect challenge to Lucifer's own fast wit and it was no wonder they were often battling with their words. Husk was more his speed with the dry humor but he likes to think he's gotten to know the bartender somewhat.
Even throughout the meal it stayed like that. They teased the other teams for their loss, threw around inside jokes that were made within the span of that hour that the others wouldn't understand. The highlight, though, was when they went to sit down. Lucifer and Azrael were having a conversation, laughing at whatever it was they were talking about, when the youngest took his usual seat to the right of his daughter. Azrael hesitated, not wanting to push his luck despite the progress they made today.
Only, Lucifer patted the spot next to him. His smile, while small, was unsure. Like he was afraid Azrael was going to reject the invitation. He dug his blunt nails into his palm to prevent a change in appearance as he sat down next to his brother.
That little moment of doubt passed quickly enough as dinner went on. It was the liveliest meal they'd had since staying at the hotel and he hoped future ones would be the same too. For now, Azrael sat there, enjoying this moment that felt so much like the past until Charlie whisked away her father when it was evident the others wanted to retire for the night.
Perhaps that chance to rekindle their relationship truly wasn't as far off as he assumed. Azrael felt as if he was floating on cloud nine and even the impending interrogation from Michael and Gabriel wouldn't be enough to ruin his good mood.
In the privacy of the empty suite, Azrael allowed his wings to shake happily behind him with no reservation.
Notes