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Seven years.
Seven years since he had to go on alone. Seven long, lonely years of going home to an empty bed, of quiet halls devoid of laughter or music or static. Seven years of only letters written in code to tell him the person he loved most was still out there, somewhere. While every other demon in Hell told him to move on. To find someone new, someone that was there.
But Vox couldn’t. He could never move on from the man that rose to the top with him, to the demon that held him with no fear, that looked at him like he was – something good.
Alastor wasn’t really gone forever, either. He held the proof of that in the form of letters written on crinkly paper. Could gingerly run his thumb over the ink, the words. Could smell pine and whiskey on the paper and imagine the deer leaning over a desk with a pen in hand. Could imagine the way Alastor used to chew on his pen when he was stuck on how to phrase something. If he focused real hard, maybe he could imagine the crackle of static and the tap-tap-tap of his hoof against the floor.
God. He missed his husband.
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Alastor hadn’t been back in this city in seven years. He had gone off the air and away from home at the demand of the one that owned him; had to stay away from his husband and home, only able to communicate via letters he sent from different post offices under pen names.
He hadn’t been totally alone. Niffty had gone with him, a little shadow trotting at his side. She had hated leaving just as much as he had, and every year she would ask when they could get to go home, when they’d see Vox again. Every year, Alastor had to tell her he didn’t know. He could only hold her in his arms, playing a comforting tune.
For seven years, it had just been them. Living in the shadows, ducking down alleyways and living in broken down houses in the outskirts of the pride ring. It was almost nostalgic in a way. Alastor couldn’t help but be reminded of when it was just him and Vox. Alone and still new to things, facing all of Hell with just their dreams and hands entwined…
Oh, how he missed his husband.
“Do we get to see Vox soon?” Niffty spoke up, voice quiet but steady. She held onto his hand with one of her own small ones, and it was only through that point of contact that he could tell she was trembling. She was scared, and he knew why; everything from here on out was one big, giant unknown. He squeezed, once, making a soft buzzing tune.
“No, not yet, my dear. But I’ll try to make sure he knows we’re back.” Somehow, some way he would get word out to the TV demon that he was back. For now…
Alastor looked up at the shoddy, tacky hotel that loomed in front of them. It would certainly need some repairs, and a new coat of paint, and a better sign – but it would have to do for now. How he would make this silly redemption thing work he had no idea, but he had to figure it out…his family was on the line.
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In all honesty? This could have gone so much worse. They did really, really good so far.
Finding that he could make amends and fix a friendship that had been broken since the 40’s had been a surprise. Pentious was a pathetic, sniveling wimp who couldn’t tell off a gnat, but he’d once been an excellent drinking buddy – and man, for a demon with no feet, he sure could dance. Alastor didn’t mind rekindling that. Being petty just because of the snake letting slip a bit about himself that he could deny as a rumor had gotten boring.
And he had found a group that he’d grown to enjoy. They were entertaining and fun, inspiring almost! He’d been so proud of Charlie when she had gotten the cannibals to follow her, and all by herself too. She’d be a great queen, one day. He could see it in the way she stood with her friends, her people, the confidence in her fighting stance.
It was a shame that he wouldn’t get to see her rise further.
His chest ripped open, ribs broken and blood gushing out between his fingers as he fruitlessly tried to keep the red where it belonged. Adam stood over him, wings flared out and wearing a grin so viciously delighted that it sent unease prickling down his spine.
“You’re going to die here, along with all these other freaks.” It made sense that the first man would be one of the worst.
Alastor tried to move away, but his back hit the stone ledge of the roof. His powers crackled at his hands, but he couldn’t get the shadows to obey him. He kept calling, silently, but nothing would respond. Panic set in. Cold and awful, sitting in the pit of his stomach. He’d done everything right, he’d gotten them this far, had fought and bled and killed for this damn dream, and he was going to die before he got to see it come true – before he got to go home.
His hair started to frizz up. Electricity snapped and crackled around him. It felt familiar, making his fur stand on end and buzzing in his ears.
An explosion of sparks and arcs of electricity threw Adam away from Alastor, and when the smoke cleared, a man with a tv for a head and a shark tail, in an electric blue suit stood there. Panting, arcs of cyan crackling around his limbs. Static buzzed, and when Adam tried to get to his feet to swing his axe at the new enemy, the TV demon slammed his hands down, sending lightning arcing across the roof and directly into the angel.
“Vinnie?” Alastor breathed out, heart pounding in his chest. Hope soared, renewed by the sight of his husband standing before him.
But if Alastor couldn’t survive a fight with Adam, neither could Vox.
“We have – we have to go.” He tried to stand, but his legs wouldn’t hold his weight. “Vinnie, we have –“
“I know.” Vox whipped around, reaching to scoop Alastor up into his arms. He’d forgotten how warm the demon was, the heat that radiated off of his grey and blue skin, as prominent as the light from his screen-face. The smell of smoke and burning rubber and menthol was heavy and choking, but so familiar that Alastor shoved his nose into Vox’s shoulder, breathing the scent in like he couldn’t get enough of it.
“Get back here you – stupid – blue jolly rancher BITCH –“ Ah, Adam was back up.
“Oook, time to go.” Vox tightened his grip, and in the instant before Adam could strike them, they vanished in a crackle of blue electricity. Traveling across the city faster than sound, until they reappeared in a dark room. Safe from the angels, safe from prying eyes.
And Alastor was still bleeding, vision going hazy, but he lifted a hand to that achingly familiar face, felt the numbing buzz of the screen.
“Vincent,” His voice didn’t feel like his, lacking its typical filter. “Oh, Vincent –“
“I’m sorry, I’m so sorry, I was late, I moved as fast as I could – Alastor, Al, baby come on stay awake, stay with me, I need you to stay awake for me. Al? Alastor? Please, please please please…”
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The next few days were a blur. Bloody towels, lots of bandages, shaky hands eventually being pushed away by steady ones to stitch his wounds. At some point he was dimly aware of a tall blonde by his side, holding his hand and begging him to get better. Charlie. It had to be. Vox never strayed far from him. Always a constant presence, pressing a cold damp cloth to his head, murmuring assurances and keeping him comfortable. Keeping him safe until he recovered.
The morning that Alastor finally sat up, finally coherent enough to be awake for more than a few minutes, it was quiet. He was in the AV tower, that much he knew. He recognized the walls, the floral wallpaper he had picked out decades ago, the fancy big windows with the frosted glass, sunlight streaming through to light up the room. The pictures on the nightstand, him and Vox in white suits – he was home.
Busy looking around the achinging familiar room, Alastor thought about the time he’d been gone, the last time he stood in this room…it took him a moment to realize he could hear chatter from outside the bedroom. Someone had left the door open, and voices drifted through it.
Alastor carefully lifted the heavy blue blankets and stood, wincing. His entire body hurt. He felt unsteady and had to grab the corner of the nightstand to keep from tipping over. After a moment, he slowly straightened up – and saw his old robe, hanging by the closet. Dark red, with black fur, floor length. He reached out for it, felt the soft material, and sighed as he slid it on over the loose shirt and sleeping shorts that Vox must have put him in. It felt good. It felt like he had an old piece of himself back.
Wrapping the robe tightly around himself, the deer moved to push open the door completely. His old home hadn’t changed too much, it looked like. Same carpets, same walls. Some new furniture, some new pictures, but…it still felt the same.
“Al?” Vox. Vox – his home, his love, the only soul that had ever completed him – Alastor felt a hot pressure behind his eyes, his ears pinned back. If he thought about it too hard, he was sure the emotions that surged in his chest would rise to his throat and choke him.
“Vincent.” He crossed the room on unsteady hooves, but Vox met him halfway in just a few strides, catching the deer with gentle hands before he could stumble.
Alastor pressed his forehead into his shoulder, didn’t bother to stop the tears. It had been so long since he had this, since he’d been in these arms. Vox wrapped his arms around the trembling deer, holding him as close as he physically could. They stood like that for a moment. Just holding the other. Listening to the breathing and heartbeat of their long lost lover.
“My love,” Vox finally spoke, voice strained with the amount of emotion, leaning back to look down at the redhead. “Oh, my love, my light, I’ve missed you for so long. So much. How are you feeling? Are you hungry? Do you need anything, are your injuries hurting -”
“Vinnie,” He couldn’t help but laugh, shaky and wet, at the immediate concerns. “I’m ok. I’m here, I’m finally home. I m…I miss –“
Alastor shook his head, words sticking in his throat and making his voice crackle into static. He pulled back from Vox, not for space but to be able to use sign language to say what his mouth failed to. I missed you. I love you. I wanted to come home so much.
Vox grinned at him, taking one of his hands to kiss the crimson dotted knuckles.
“I love you too, Alastor. It wasn’t home without you by my side.”
“I’m not ever leaving again.” Even though he couldn’t really promise to stay, he had to try. The thought of leaving put an ache in his chest that was sharper than the far more physical wound. Leaning up on the tips of his hooves, he pressed a kiss to the corner of Vox’s screen, watching in delight in how the colors shifted and flickered at the affection.
“Soooo, are y’all just gonna stand there and make out or…” That was not a familiar voice. Alastor stepped out of Vox’s arms, peering around him to see a young woman with red and white hair. She was sitting on a new couch he knew was definitely not he would have picked out, eyeing Alastor like he was invading her home, like she thought he didn’t belong here. Ironic, considering he had paid for the roof over her head, the vintage wooden table she had her boots propped up on.
“Oh, right, uh – Alastor, this is Velvette. I’ve taken her under my wing, she’s very promising and has great potential – buuut we can get into that later. You’ve got a bit of catching up to do, Al. The exorcist army was defeated, uh, Adam is dead – Niffty did that. Stabbed him like a dozen times.”
“Oh, lovely to meet you, Velvette, could you get your lovely boots off of that table – WHAT!?” Alastor turned to stare at Vox, mouth hanging open. “Niffty killed Adam?”
“Yeah, I know, I’m so proud of her. She’s uh, back with that princess at the…where the hotel was, anyway. It got just a little obliterated.”
“Ah. I assume they know everything, now…?”
“None of them asked, I didn’t offer any information other than when I reached out to let them know I had you and you were safe but out of it. I’m pretty sure that uh, Angel Dust guy knows. The feminine spider demon with a not so secret hard on for Husk? He works for one of those film producers that rent out studio space downstairs.”
“The creepy moth scum. Valentino. I remember seeing them together.” Alastor helpfully supplied, recalling the time he had to beat the piss out of the moth for trying to fuck his husband (not that Vox ever noticed anyone that wasn’t him). “Not surprised he already knew. He’s far more observant than he lets on, that one.”
Vox stepped closer, settling cyan claws on Alastor’s shoulders. The warm touch was welcome, and he leaned into it with a soft hum.
“Anything else I missed while I was not dying?”
“…”
“…Vinnie? What is it?”
The TV demon wouldn’t look at him for a moment, mouth a thin line on his screen. Alastor felt cold dread crawl down his spine. They lost someone. They had to have lost someone. He couldn’t imagine anything else making Vox hesitate like this. He could only remember Niffty and Charlie visiting him while he was in and out. No one else had shown up – and he did recall Charlie crying during her visits…
“Who?” He whispered, fear making his voice tremble.
“…Pentious. After you went down, he…he got his war machine and went after Adam himself. It…he just didn’t stand a chance.”
Alastor made a strangled noise, a distressed bleat of static. He had only just gotten the snake back, had only just fixed things with him. And he was gone? Just like that? Some – some cocky bag of dicks took him out?
“…I’m so sorry, love. I...it happened too quickly to stop. But he went out a hero, and uh…that princess is making sure that everyone will know it, too. Bravest damn thing I’ve ever seen any demon do, honestly, he...he had to have known that if we didn’t stand a shot, neither did he. Yet he still did it.”
He chose to not respond, instead burying his face in Vox’s chest. His claws tangled in his shirt, clinging to the bigger demon like a lifeline. In turn, Vox held him close, offering silent support as the deer grieved. They would stand like this for some time; Velvette having slipped out to give the two space and quiet to mourn the lost soul. And whatever other catching up the two old men had to do.
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“Alastor!” Charlie beamed when she saw the deer stepping out of the black car that had pulled up, leaning heavily on his bent cane. He looked tired, pale, like he hadn’t slept much at all. Moving slowly like his entire body ached, and bandages could be seen underneath his shirt collar.
Still, when he saw Charlie, his grin grew softer, gaze fond, and he tried to walk faster to meet her halfway. She still made it to him first, gingerly wrapping her arms around him. He let the embrace happen, squeezing her tightly. After a moment, though, he let go to look up at the new hotel. Entirely rebuilt, bigger and better and brighter than before.
“It looks good.” Alastor looked away from the building, back to the princess in front of him. “It really does. I’m proud of you, Charlotte.”
“I couldn’t do it alone.” She nodded as the others came out the doors. Husk and Lucifer made a face and turned back to go inside, though Lucifer was the one that looked back, something curious in his gaze. Niffty came running to throw herself against his legs, crying and blubbering about being worried about him. Though his chest ached terribly, Alastor still leaned down to gather the bug into his arms, ignoring the eyes on him to press a kiss against her forehead. Right now, he didn’t care what anyone thought.
“Oh, I’m alright, my little buglet, I’m fine. Vin showed up right on time to keep me from getting myself killed.” He pitched his voice higher and buzzed amused static, trying to show an upbeat mask to the group.
“Vin?” Vaggie looked confused, but she still veered around Angel and Cherri to hug Alastor too. A quick one that held more warmth than someone could easily see. “Who the hell is Vin?”
“You know me as Vox.” The TV demon had finally stepped out of the car, coming from the driver’s side. He smiled that big, charming newscast smile, the one that either made people trust him or made people think he could be a serial killer. Alastor secretly thought it looked attractive on him. Deranged, sometimes, maybe a little cliché, but attractive anyway.
“Wait, the smarmy TV overlord? The one with a giant tower smack in the middle of Pentagram City?” Vaggie tensed, glaring at Vox. “You own like half the city, and you’ve dissed the hotel on the news, why’d you help us –“
“I didn’t help you.” He snapped, coming around to rest his hand against Alastor’s lower back. A large and imposing figure, shark tail stiff behind him, betraying the nerves that didn’t show on his face. “I showed up to help my husband.”
“Wait wait wait, but Alastor has only ever mentioned a Vincent before. And he doesn’t even wear a ring!” Oh, Charlie, you naïve little puppy.
“This is Vincent, my dear. And my ring is on a necklace chain, so I wouldn’t lose it.” Alastor leaned into the hand against his back, confident that Vox would support his weight easily. “I should have explained before, but I’ve never called him by the name he picked up after he died. Perhaps it’s silly of me, but he’s always been just Vincent to me.”
“Only yours, my love~.” Vox purred, shark tail wagging happily. “Though you better start wearing your ring again. All of hell has been whispering about whether you’re still taken, and I got to make sure those rumors get put to rest like, immediately.”
“Oh, of course, consider it done, dear. If I lose it it’ll be the third you have to buy me a new ring, though~.”
“Maybe I like buying you things~.”
“Well! I’m super happy to finally get to meet you, uh, Vox. Vincent? You must be great, I’m sure.” Charlie stepped forward to eagerly shake Vox’s hand, beaming so hard at them that Alastor wondered if her face hurt. “Are you going to be sticking around the hotel, then? I’d love to show you around and maybe get to know you! Just, you know, since you mean so much to Alastor.”
Vox blinked, screen flickering, but shook her hand anyway. Always so easily baffled, this man…
“Ah, probably not. Sorry, princess but this isn’t really my type of place.”
“Oh? But I thought you’d want to help me.” Alastor jumped in, peering up at his husband. While he spoke, he slipped a gold ring off of a thin chain around his neck, sliding it back onto its rightful place on his ring finger. “You wouldn’t leave me to do everything around here while I am injured and helpless, would you, Vinnie~?”
“Alastor…” Vox sighed, looking down at the deer. He was making that face. The one with a sweet little smile, eyes big and doe like, head tilted just to the side. It was the face he made when he wanted something. The demon could feel himself caving already, but he still tried to resist those big, sweet pink eyes. “I don’t know. I’ve never been very good at this, you know that.”
“Indeed, yes…but neither am I. I suppose we’ll just have to figure it out, hm?”
“…I’ve got to run the tower.” A weak little excuse. And one Alastor must have sensed, as he smiled wider and sweetly batted his lashes up at Vox. The last of his resistance vanished with a buzz of tv static. “I can’t promise all of my attention, but I’ve always loved to support your little adventures. So…ok.”
“Hm! Thank you, Vinnie.” Alastor hummed, static buzzing with smooth, romantic jazz. He leaned up for a chaste kiss, making Vox’s screen flicker in purples and pinks. “Well then, let’s get started.”
“Yes! Oooh this is going to be so good, you’ll see.” Charlie was grabbing them both to drag them into the hotel’s foyer. “First on the list is a tour, we changed up some of the layout and rebuilt your radio tower, of course, oh and the kitchen is bigger, and we changed up some things, Dad made the bar bigger and a little fancier –“
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A long, long day on his feet later, and Alastor was finally able to sit down on the couch in the lounge. The hotel wasn’t open yet – some construction was still ongoing, and everyone was still recovering. Lucifer was…around. A constant presence lurking around like a moth around a bright light.
Annoying, and obnoxious, and a little much.
For such a short little thing, the devil was so loud. Always popping into Alastor’s space, poking and prodding at him like he was the king’s personal drama show. The taunts and little comments and silly nicknames weren’t even hurtful, but he was already at his limit. So, while everyone was distracted, Alastor had slipped into the shadows and found himself here, where it was quiet and empty. Although, it meant looking at the portrait on the wall.
…knowing Pentious was gone, that he’d never argue with the snake about his inventions ever again, or get to make him jealous by stealing the eggs and chase him around the hotel…for the short bit when they’d repaired the thing between them, Alastor had found peace and comfort in the mornings spent listening to Pentious ramble about something. A small semblance of normalcy in whispered conversations over coffee and food.
All over, now. All because he couldn’t keep up with one stupid angel, and Pentious had felt the need to put his own life on the line.
“It should’ve been me.” Static crackled, whispers hiding in the white noise.
“He would have been really sad if it was.” Alastor almost jumped, startled, turning to see one of the egg boys standing there. So small, he hadn’t seen it approach.
Relaxing, he bent to offer the egg a hand up onto the couch. “Maybe, but he was a better person; he didn’t deserve to go out like that.”
“Boss was a great person. But he cared a lot about you, about everyone.” Was this egg boy Frank? He’s pretty sure that’s the name of at least one of them. There were…a lot of them, to be honest. “I think he would’ve done it no matter what.”
“Hmm…I suppose you are correct.”
“…sir?”
“What is it?”
“Do you think…he made it to heaven?”
“Are you asking if I think redemption is possible?” Alastor huffed a small, humorless laugh. “Because it isn’t. We’re in hell for a reason.”
“Oh…” Frank was quiet, staring up at the portrait of his formerly alive boss. “…if it is, I think he’d be up there now.”
“…well, I suppose if anyone could make the impossible happen…it would be an insane inventor like him. What are you doing here, anyway, little egg? Weren’t you attached to Angel Dust a minute ago?”
“Oh, yeah, but I think he went to work! He left and didn’t want me to go with him. I don’t know why.”
“Hhmm…well, no matter. I don’t mind a little bit of company.”
So, they sat in silence. One empty headed, and the other with a head too full of memories, nightmares and fear.
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“Sooooo. Married. To uh. The bellhop.” Lucifer slid into the bar seat next to a certain TV headed demon, trying to act cool. “How’d that happen, huh? I can’t uh, actually imagine anyone wanting to be that close to someone that annoying, haha...um...I just mean he's so damn obnoxious and...loud. And he doesn't seem the type to be with anyone -”
Vox eyed the devil suspiciously, shark tail going stiff.
“For starters, he’s not annoying. And he’s not the fucking bellhop, either.” There was an annoyed buzz of tv humming as he continued. “And I don’t appreciate you insulting him, either. Whatever you think of Alastor, he is my husband and I've killed for far less.”
“Oh, whoa whoa, I’m haha, not trying to insult him. I’m just really bad with names! And uh, he is…a little…tiny bit annoying.” Lucifer put his hands up, leaning away. He wouldn’t admit it out loud, but Vox certainly could strike an intimidating figure when he wanted to. Maybe it was the shark features. Or the imposing size. The voice that buzzed and crackled over his skin and make his feathers stand on end. Or the…large claws that could probably wrap around his waist oh so easily. The heat that radiated from him like an open fire, surely enough to burn him if he touched the grey-blue skin beneath the collar of his suit –
Dear hell where was his mind going.
“ANYWAY haha, ah, I just. Aaah...I’m curious! I barely know the guy, but he’s staked such a claim on the hotel and my uh…my daughter. I want to know what makes him so interesting, is all. Why my daughter has so much faith in him...and uh...just to know him, y'know, since I'm going to be around more often to help out.” He crashed back into the conversation, not seeing the way Vox smiled at him, hidden slightly by the glass he sipped from.
“Oh, I see. So, you’re interested in my husband, is that it? You want to know him on a deeper level?”
“Yeah? That is what I just said right?”
Vox snorted, setting his glass down with a sharp clink of glass on the wooden counter. For the literal devil, this guy was…cute. Kind of naive. And he had those big, innocent looking eyes, and this way of looking up at people through long white eyelashes that made his circuits spark. It felt a lot like when he first met Alastor. The innocent and sweet act did more to him than he'd ever admit.
“Yeah, that…is what you said. Anyway, it’s a long story. Been together a pretty long time, we uh…met back in the fifties. Shortly after I died. I think he found me amusing, so he kept me around, let me tag along sometimes. I liked his theatrics and liked how his mind worked.” He tapped his glass, waiting as Husk obligingly slid over to fill it back up. The cat smirked at him, nodded to Lucifer, and went back over to cleaning glasses. Damn cat, eavesdropping. Whatever. “At some point I started to make a name for myself, started to rise. It was around then that I…asked Alastor to stay by my side. I didn’t want to use him for power, but I – I wanted him to watch me gain it by myself. Wanted him to be there when I became the top overlord.”
“Use him for power? Is he like, that uuh…strong?”
“Alastor? Ha, fuck, he’s – he’s only the strongest sinner in hell. I’ve seen him take down overlords that had more hooks in the pride ring than sin itself. He could level the entire city if he really wanted to. People fear him for a good damn reason.”
“Eeehhh…but he wouldn’t, right? Level the whole city, I mean.”
“Huh? Oh, fuck no. That sort of display is beneath him.” Vox shrugged, though the thought of the radio demon wrecking the city in a crazed bloodlust was…hot. “He’s got a gnarly reputation, but trust me, beneath that he’s a total kitten. You just have to try real hard to get past those walls. He's...not easy for everyone to understand. You have to earn his interest and his trust through time.”
“That’s a lot of walls.” Lucifer hummed, looking away from Vox and into his still full wine glass. “How’d you get past them?”
“Like I said, time. It took me fifteen years after we started working together. You have to understand, this is hell. Trusting anyone is a process, and a big weakness to a lot of demons. Nobody likes to be weak or vulnerable, even with the people you care about. People abuse that sort of thing every day.”
“Fifteen years. Damn that’s…a long time for a sinner, huh?”
“I guess. It was worth it, though.” He leaned back, tapping cyan claws against the counter. “I may be the future, but I’m nothin’ without the past, y’know? We're two sides of the same coin, and I wouldn't be here without him.”
Lucifer didn’t respond, mind on Alastor. Alastor and all his walls, his distrust, his habit of shoving others away and taunting them to their face. Was he really as sweet and good as Vox claimed? Was there a good man beneath that mask of cold teeth and static?
“…hey.”
He looked up, blinking owlishly at Vox. The demon was looking at him with an unreadably soft expression. Lucifer felt his face heat up, white skin turning a shade of golden.
“Wh-what? Something on my face?”
“Hmm.” Vox was still looking at him, screen flickering in purples and blues and pinks. “Nothing. Just uh…if you want on his good side, I’d suggest flowers. Maybe bring him a new book for his collection; he’s particularly fond of the really cliché and silly romances, but horrors good too. Anyway, I should…go see where he went off to. It’s about time we head back home.”
“Flowers…? For…oh.” His face burned even more, and Lucifer dragged his hands over his cheeks, as if he could wipe away the golden glow. Was he just that easy to read? “…wait, you’re not staying? You told Charlie –“
“Oh, no, we’re going to help and all, but I am not staying in some tacky hotel that isn’t even fully built. The tower is safer, and Alastor…he needs to be safe, right now. Where I know I can keep everyone else out and keep him comfortable. Anyway, lovely meeting you Lu, see you later.”
"Lu...?" Lucifer watched through his fingers as Vox downed his drink in one go – definitely didn’t watch the way his throat moved, no – and walked off, shark tail swinging side to side in time with every step.
“Dude.” Cherri’s voice cut into Lucifer’s flustered staring. “You want that ass soooo bad.”
Lucifer poofed out of view immediately, embarrassed and ashamed. He had thought he had his thoughts and attraction to those two hidden; to know that everyone else seemed to see right through him was...terrifying.
That was a married man. Vox was a married man – Alastor was, too, even if Lucifer hadn’t known that before. And – and Lucifer was married too! At least…he thought he was still married. Almost eight years without a call, without a visit…not even a text to know Lilith was ok. Just left in the dark and the ruins of what they were, waiting for a wife that didn't even love him to come back...
…was he still married, then? Maybe he should...stop...wearing his ring. It felt like an empty gesture to wear it, anyway.
Not that it mattered. Those two were still married, happily so it seemed, and he had no business trying to get in between that. Like why would they even be interested? He was pathetic and tiny and plain compared to those two. Just a sad deadbeat with depression and an empty, cold social life. Powerful people like those two, who were interesting and fascinating and so effortlessly attractive and charming would never even consider him.
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“Pretty sure Lucifer wants you.” Vox didn’t bring it up until he was sitting on a stool, rubbing oil into the mechanical joints of his legs. While he was plenty waterproof, his body was as mechanical as it was flesh, and he had learned through trial and error to take great care of it. Your joints locking up mid-battle was fucking embarrassing.
Static buzzed, loud and harsh. Alastor was frozen, head tipped over the sink as he was in the middle of raking his fingers through the wet curls of his hair. “Pardon me? What was that, my dear?”
“Lucifer.” Vox repeated, “Wants you. Was asking me how to get you to like him.”
Alastor straightened, slow and careful. His hair dripped a mix of water and curl conditioner down his neck and chest. Vox watched the droplets with appreciation, adoring the way his husband looked. The dark fur, the way it faded from dark browns to a darker red down his belly, the way it turned curly…the white freckles on his face, his arms and shoulders and thighs. The fluffy little tail with the pale white underside, the one that wagged when he was happy…he was just so adorable.
“Lucifer…are you certain?” He turned back to the sink, continuing where he left off with his hair. Though now his eyes were narrow, thinking about the day’s events. About how Lucifer interacted with him and how he spoke to him.
“Hmhm. Was interested in how I got you to marry me. Asked quite a few questions.”
“Ha! Did you tell him you begged me for a week to marry you?”
“Hey! It is NOT my fault you kept mistaking my proposals for something else!”
Alastor giggled, rinsing his hands off as Vox capped the bottle of oil and set it aside. He hummed when the deer turned to him, hooves click-clacking sharply on the polished floor as he approached and sat down in the bigger demon’s lap, like his own personal chair. His ears were flopped, showing just how relaxed and at ease he was with his husband, in the privacy of their bathroom. Steam still drifting around them from their shower, water that the bathmats and towels hadn't soaked up pooled on the floor.
“It’s a little your fault, dear. You weren’t very clear, and you kept fumbling. Although, I admit after the third try I knew what you were doing.” He leaned close, settling his hands on Vox’s chest, claws running over old scars. "You were just so endearing that I didn't say anything right away..."
“Oh my god, you let me propose to you like four times and you KNEW?”
“Weeell…perhaps. You were just so cute, all flustered and shy~. I said yes the last time, didn’t I?”
Vox huffed, pretending to be annoyed. This sort of snipping was normal, a type of love language in mild insults and sass. It was wonderfully familiar and warm. His hands settled around the deer’s waist, thumbs tracing over the little white freckles that dotted the dark, still damp fur.
“…hmmn. You little brat.”
“Old man~.” Alastor teased, voice dripping with a genuine sweetness very few got to hear. “I died young, I get to be a brat sometimes, don’t you know?”
“I do love when you get bratty, so I guess I can’t really complain.” Vox laughed, leaning his head down to kiss the deer’s forehead. He could feel the shiver that ran through the smaller demon, knew what scar he was kissing. Humming an apology, he kissed down the bridge of his nose, ending in a heartbreakingly soft kiss to smiling lips.
“I suppose we’ll have to figure out what to do with the devil later, hm.” Alastor murmured against him, doing that thing – big eyes peering up at him through unfairly long eyelashes. Just like Lucifer did.
“Y-yeah. I mean, what do we do about him? Propositioning the devil sounds like a good way to die horribly.”
“Well, we both have never really cared for monogamy, have we? And we’re not going to be vulgar about this, good heavens no – we want to court the devil. Politely, and properly.”
“Al, babe, my love, we’re married. I don’t know if us having a boyfriend on the side is going to look good for our image...”
“Well, yes, I know that. But we’ve talked about this before! I am content and happy with just you; you are the soul that completes me, but if you want a third partner to our duo, I also wouldn’t mind that." Alastor rolled his eyes, antlers extending just a tad bit as he continued. "And if any wretch dares to say anything about it, I'll just rip them apart for my next broadcast."
“But he’s not interested in me! He wants you.”
“If he only wants me then it’s a hard pass. I don’t want anyone that won’t want you, too. You are and will always be my priority, Vincent, my first choice and my most beloved. If Lucifer will want us both, I don’t see a reason to not see how it plays out. I like the way he laughs, anyhow.”
“…he is pretty damn cute, huh?” Vox stood up, easily lifting Alastor up into his arms. “And he is my type…”
“Oh?” Static buzzed in faint laughter as Alastor let his head drop to Vox’s shoulder, smile soft and amused. “And what, pray tell, is your type, my dear~?”
“Adorable yet dangerous psychopaths with a long history of violence.”
“HA – haha, ah, oh…I’m not sure Lucifer is quite to that level, but I suppose he is adorable, dangerous, and a has a…hm…not so clean history.”
Vox kicks the bathroom door closed behind him, getting to their bed in a few long strides. Alastor is gently dropped onto the dark blue sheets, relaxed enough to make a soft little bleat as he drops. He rolls, gathering blankets like a lint ball, ending in a very cozy little pile.
He reaches a hand out to his picture box, making a little beckoning motion.
Vox smiles, crawling over the bed to pull the blankets apart enough to shuffle in and join Alastor. He settles, pulling his husband close to him. The only light is the one from his screen, and that dims to almost nothing, too.
“Hmm…in the morning we can make a plan.” Vox brushed his hand through thick curls, delighted in how Alastor still tilts his head into the touch, pink eyes falling shut with a little blissful noise. “Let’s get some rest for now, my love. Sleep in as much as you’d like, I’ll bring you breakfast in bed~.”
“Oh, how you spoil me, Vinnie. Will you make those eggs I like?”
“Sure, love, anything you want. I’d even stick some liver in a pot and fry it for you instead of sausage.”
Alastor hummed, curling close, maybe nudging cold hooves up against warm legs. Vox makes a little noise, but then tucks the deer’s head under his chin, breathing in the scent of pine and strawberries that came from freshly washed hair.
Tomorrow…tomorrow they’ll make a game plan.
Tonight, it’s just them.
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