Chapter Text
“Alastor my dear, can you pass me the bay leaves?”
“Yes Mama!”
“Thank you, mon chéri. Now, come here please.”
“Why?”
“Well, don’t you want to learn how to make my Jambalaya?”
“Wait really?! Are you being serious Mama?!”
“No, I’m obviously not… Just kidding! Of course, Alastor, I would love for you to come cook with me my darling.”
“Ok! Yes, yes, yes! Finally!”
“I hope one day you will cook this for me when I grow old- “
“-and wrinkly!”
“Alastor!”
“Sorry Mama”
“Hmph. Well as I was saying mon chéri, I hope you cook this for me when you and I grow, and we can enjoy it in the bayou while watching the fireflies roam around and the trees, glistening in the dark. I love you more than you could ever know my love, and I hope I can share every bit of my life caring and loving you.”
“Even if I don’t master your jambalaya recipe?”
“Yes, even if you don’t master it.”
“Ok then, I love you too Mama!”
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Alastor jolts awake in his room.
The cool bayou air glides through into his small room, pushing his bangs from his incredibly sweaty forehead. His scar on his chest aches. Small ants crawl across the wooden floor and towards his nightstand, where a forgotten cup of coffee sits. Alastor groans while rubbing his forehead, still recovering from the night’s events. He’s always had dreams of his mother, ranging from different moments of his childhood, to her sickness, and even to her death. He tells himself he hates them, but he secretly admits they do brighten his mornings. How can one not feel slight joy from hearing their mother’s loving voice playing in their mind? Alastor never lets it distract him, even if he can’t stop thinking about them. The Radio Demon can’t let himself get distracted by something like that. He’s caused many people’s deaths, so what’s the problem of just one more? That’s what Alastor tries to reason with himself about when he swings his legs over the edge of the bed. Alastor is always up at 5:20 AM on the dot, after all, he’s probably the only person in the entire hotel who can function without some kind of substance. Whether it be coffee, alcohol, illicit substances or many, many others that are widely available. But today he has slacked off a bit, waking up at 7:47 AM instead. Weird, that time 7:47 AM.
Hopping out of bed, Alastor beelines to his wardrobe and pulls on his usual attire, with his usual pair of shoes. Alastor has never found this a mundane task, but today he feels a bit… off. Something about the clothes don’t feel right, like they’re too tight or too loose in all the wrong places. Tying his shoelaces felt so dull, he wanted to rip them in half. He messed up tying his bow tie four times in a row. He actually had to take a break to avoid lashing out and slashing them. Okay, so maybe the dream got to him more than he thought it would, but he can handle it.
He can… handle it.
He has to handle it. His smile tightens as he grabs his staff, aggressively tapping it awake as he walks out the door. “Wake up now” he hisses under his breath. He bounces on his heel and uses his shadow to teleport to the hotel lobby, where finds Charlie, Vaggi and –
Argh.
Damn it.
Lucifer Morningstar.
Urgh. He despises this short little excuse for a man. Lucifer is a weak and spineless fool who abandoned his family because of his crippling inability to pull himself together. He shouldn’t even have the right to call himself a father. He scowls at him, still smiling of course, just now with pure hatred burning in his eyes. He hates that he has to be in his presence and not attempt to tear him to shreds, well at least not in front of Charlie. The poor girl would bawl her eyes out if anyone brought more destruction to her silly little hotel.
Ever since they first met, Lucifer and Alastor have been at each other’s throats. Alastor (obviously) wins the arguments they have, but he does admit that indulging in a battle of wits with Lucifer is rather enjoyable. He knows how to push Alastor’s buttons, yet he doesn’t try to do anything besides that. No touching or anything like that.
“Well, well, well look who’s up late. Don’t who know early bird gets the worm? HAHAHA oh yeah, I’m so funny. Right Char Char?” Lucifer announces. He looks up at Charlie like a small dog begging for praise. It’s really cute actually.
Wait…
What?
Alastor flicks his ears back as he pushes the thought away. Where did that come from?
Charlie awkwardly looks down at her father, not wanting to insult Alastor like the little saint she is.
“Uh dad, please don’t say that about my facility manager, BUT you are really funny dad! Right Vaggi?” Charlie responds.
Vaggi nods, smiling a little at Charlie’s enthusiasm, then she looks over to Alastor, which causes her to etch a large frown on her face.
“Uh Alastor? Why were you up so late? It’s very unlike you. You weren’t doing anything weird, right?” Vaggi snarls.
Alastor pretends to deeply ponder the question, rubbing his chin in question. His lie glides out of mouth as he struts towards the kitchen.
“Ah! Vaggi dear, I personally don’t think that’s your business, but if you must know, I was out on the town last night! I hope you can imagine that I needed my rest, but don’t worry I’ll continue to help Charlie with her silly little endeavour.” Alastor answers smoothly.
“Vaggi it’s ok! Alastor deserves rest like the rest of us, so he can take it easy today.” Charlie chirps.
Alastor appreciates Charlie’s attempts to rest her girlfriend’s pestering, even if it’s in a disgustingly sweet way. That reminds him what he was going to the kitchen for. A fresh cup of coffee. Not sweet though, that’s reserved for Lucifer’s childish taste buds. It’s distasteful honestly. Swooping the large pot of coffee, he pours it into his ‘duck season’ mug, humming a jaunty jazz tune.
That’s where he gets to think.
That dream. It’s like the others he’s had, but this one felt clear in a way that the others didn’t. He usually can’t make out most of the words, but he heard every word clear as day. It was unsettling. Being able to see every detail of his mother’s face, her heavy creole accent. Hell, he thought he smelled the Jambalaya cooking on the stove. He missed that, immensely. Hah, she would probably say right now, “My dear, please-“
“BAMBI!”
Alastor jolts, slamming the now empty pot of coffee. Oh shit.
“Uhhhhhh, you good there? You were kinda like in your head I think. You were just staring at the wall like you were high on something. Also, you used up the whole damn pot of coffee! You need to make a new pot” scolds Lucifer.
Alastor stares at him blankly. What the fuck just happened?
“Hmm, it’s nothing sire. I am perfectly fine.” Alastor mumbles.
“Yeah, ok sure bellhop. You are totally fine. I don’t think normal people stare at walls in the morning after ‘a night on the town.’ I was gonna call you out on not looking hung over, but maybe you are. I don’t think you’re ok Alastor.” Lucifer says.
Alastor is taken aback by this. Why does he care? No wait, he couldn’t possibly care about him. Lucifer hates him. He shouldn’t be asking questions about him. He wants to joke about it, maybe pull his leg little, but something about Lucifers insistence makes him stop.
“I told you your majesty, I am fine so stop pestering me. Now I must make a new pot of coffee as you so dubiously asked me to do.” Alastor says while turning to the machine.
But as he does so, Lucifer shoots out his hand and grabs onto Alastor’s forearm.
“Wait!” Lucifer says. His grip is so sudden that Alastor flinches.
As soon as Lucifer sees this, he immediately let’s go. Alastor stares at him in shock, holding his breath. Why did he touch him? Why did he miss it? Why was lucifer’s hand so warm? It was disgustingly pleasant. That is really weird. What is happening to him? Too many questions and his mind isn’t giving any answers.
“Ohmahfahther I am VERY sorry I-I didn’t mean to do that. I just uh- I didn’t argh shit-damn it” Lucifer stutters.
Alastor is still staring at him, waiting for him to say actual sentences.
“Okay, okay. Deep breaths. Okay, I just wanted to ask you what’s wrong with everything. You’re not like the usual asshole who is always perfect and waking up on time and I – I’m just worried.” Lucifer explains.
That just confuse Alastor even more. He’s worried? About Alastor? He continues looking at Lucifer with an absolutely confounded expression, smile tight. He gathers his thoughts and says “How magnanimous of you sir, and as much as I appreciate your concern, it is not required. Now hop along to Charlie while I clean up around here. You wouldn’t want her to think we are fighting now, would we?”
Lucifer doesn’t look convinced but nods anyway. He passes Alastor, stopping just before the exit. He looks back at him like he wants to add something to their riveting conversation but thinks against it before leaving. Alastor sighs, checking the time on his pocket watch. He needs to meet Rosie for Lunch in 5 hours. Plenty of time to get himself together. Right? He summons some shadow creatures to clean up the coffee as he makes another batch of coffee.
After cleaning up the mess, he goes down to the bar. Rosie wanted to try something from the hotel’s bar, especially the blood. Husk is slouching over the counter, cleaning glasses with a bottle next to him. Lazy cat.
“Husker dear, could you past me a bottle of hmm, let’s see, a bottle of the finest Apple blood!” Alastor says in a chipper tone.
Husk grunts and grabs the bottle before pausing.
“You having some drinks with Lucifer?”
The soft radio tune in the lobby screeches to a halt as Alastor’s grip on his staff tightens.
“Excuse me Husker? I don’t think I heard you properly. You really must speak up, as you know I have impeccable hearing, so you must have been mumbling again! Repeat what you said.” Alastor requests.
“Urgh. I don’t got time for your melodramatic bullshit today. I fucking asked if you’re having drinks with Lucifer today. Afterall, Apple drinks are his favourite, he even tried apple blood once and said it was ‘pretty good,’ so I’m so fucking sorry that I was trying to be well-mannered or some shit. ”
Alastor feels annoyed. Too much Lucifer today. If people keep mentioning, that’s all he’ll ever be able to think about.
Which wouldn’t be the worst outcome.
W H A T ?
Alastor realises he hasn’t given Husk an answer, so he says with gritted teeth, “No Husker, I am off to Rosie’s! She asked for some beverages from the hotel, so I had to spoil her, I sure hope you understand.”
Husk rolls his eyes and passes him the drink, turning away to replace the bottle. Alastor puts the bottle into his shadow void, then proceeds to pull out his pocket watch and becomes dazed. How had an hour passed already? It felt like 25 minutes at most. Well, that is till enough time to help out Charlie. He doesn’t want to be late this time. He was late by 4 minutes and Rosie didn’t mind, but he was rather embarrassed. He doesn’t like being late, his mother always told him ‘Early bird gets the bird’ or what not. Now that he thinks about it…
Lucifer said the same thing this morning.
This is utterly unacceptable! Lucifer cannot stop pestering him today. Alastor realises that hasn’t seen him in a while. Charlie was on the balcony, doing an activity with a group of sinners and Vaggi was just walking out of the laundry room. Alastor thought he told him to help Charlie. Well, he is the king, so he doesn’t take orders. Alastor sends his shadow to look around the hotel to look for him. He doesn’t know what he’s feeling right now. Not fear, but something he can’t quite place his finger on.
His shadow rushes over to him, signalling that he had found him.
“This king better not just be making another stupid duck” Alastor grumbles.
He slips into the shadows, teleporting to wherever his shadow was leading him. He comes back and sees that he’s outside Lucifer’s room. His shadow slips under the door. Alastor panics. “Don’t go in there! Come back at once! You little shit!” Alastor whisper-shouts. Urgh, of course, now is the time Alastor’s shadow isn’t listening to him. Alastor hisses under his breath. He begrudgingly knocks on the door. He hears rustling on the other side before the door cracks open ever so slightly. Alastor opens his mouth to berate him for not helping his daughter, but he decides against it as he hears Lucifer – Lucifer… He what?
He whimpered. The actual f-
“Alastor?” Lucifer whispers.
Something tugs in his chest. He didn’t like that. The pulling sensation and the fact the Lucifer was upset. No. The feeling was probably from his scar. Possibly.
Maybe.
No, it definitely is.
“Sire don’t tell me you’re upset! What’s got you all frazzled? This is no way a king should start his morning.” Alastor asks in the liveliest voice he can manage. Lucifer keeps the door slightly ajar, not responding. Alastor huffs. That’s no way to talk to the Radio Demon. Alastor pulls the door open a little and –
Oh. My. Satan. It’s a sight to see.
Lucifer is hugging his shadow, and his shadow is wrapped around him like some sort of fucked up black liquorish Twizzler. Lucifer is trying to grip on the shadow’s chest but settling on the waist. The hands of his shadow glide through Lucifer’s golden locks, as if soothing him. This absolutely fried his brain. Why is his shadow doing this? He doesn’t need to be comforting Lucifer of all people right now. He has to head off to Rosie’s soon, so he can’t dawdle. He stares slack jawed for a second before standing up a bit straighter. His eyes turn into dials and his antlers grow, not to their full size, but just enough to be threatening.
“Pray tell your majesty, what in the name of hell have you told my shadow to make it attach to you like this?”
Lucifer doesn’t look affected by his threats, more by emotion. Seeing through his own rage, Alastor comprehends something other than his shadow hugging lucifer. His eyes are red and puffy, his lips quiver as he breaths and his nose looks as red as Alastor’s hair. His shadow chirps, holding Lucifer a bit tighter, snuffling its nose into Lucifer’s hair.
Alastor isn’t stupid, he can tell that Lucifer is sad, but about what?
“Argh what kind of king as a breakdown so early in the morning? Disgraceful! Stup-“
“Your Highness, what’s wrong?” he asks with an unusual amount of kindness. Like very, very unusual amount of empathy for someone he ‘hates’. He lifts Lucifer’s chin up, observing the way he stiffens and his pupils dilate.
“Nothing jackass” Lucifer hisses.
“Hmm, always had your way words your majesty. However, I don’t think you take as a fool. I can see that you are agitated.” He states.
Lucifer, the little devil, looks Alastor straight in eye. His big, beautiful eyes search for something. Alastor feels something pulling in his chest, now uncertain of what he feels. He lets go of Lucifer’s chin, unconsciously lowering his back so Lucifer can look into his eyes without looking up. He would normally make fun of lucifer’s short stature, but looking into lucifer’s eyes, words wouldn’t form in his mouth. Suddenly, Lucifer tugs on his shirt and tosses him into his room, slamming the door behind him. Alastor bleats, shocked by the sudden touch. He’s really got to stop being so off guard today. He would’ve landed on the floor if his shadow hadn’t unraveled itself from Lucifer and swooping him up to make him stand.
“What the fuck what that for?!” he barks. He is still reeling from the fact that Lucifer had just thrown him to the ground, and that he bleated. Dreams or not, he doesn’t act like this, so why is he doing this with Lucifer?
Lucifer buries his face in his hands and spins around. His eyes turn red with golden pupils, and his horns come out a bit. He starts to speak. “What the ever-living hell are you doing here? I’m sad cause I keep seeing Charlie and Vaggi being happy and in love, and it’s not like *sniff* I’m not happy for her - You know? I’m just not ready for all this ‘lovey dovey’ stuff right now. I know, like a definitely know that Lilith doesn’t wanna see me or probably talk to me but I- I just don’t want to be alone, so yes, I started crying and y-yes, I know it’s pathetic, but your shadow came to find me, and I just liked being comforted so I just kept hugging it. You were sad this morning and I- *sniff* thought upset you, and I was also sad about that too. I’m sorry if that’s not acceptable for you or something, but if this is some sick joke I’m actually going to-”
“Sire please stop.” Alastor says gently.
Lucifer look up from his hands confused. His sobs are quiet, and his horns go back down. His sclera is still red with the anger from his tirade, still cautious.
“I understand your frustrations, even though I have not experienced them myself.” he says as he steps forward, just one step.
Lucifer stays still, but leaning forward, ever so slightly.
“You were not the one who upset me this morning. Okay your majesty?” He walks further towards him.
Lucifer takes a small step forward. His eyes have gone back to normal, modest tears flowing down his face.
“So, you no longer need to be upset about these frivolous things.” Alastor says as he lightly extends his arms out, one meter away from Lucifer.
Lucifer takes a few more steps closer, rubbing his nearly dry tears from his cheeks.
“So sire, you must cease these pitiful tears and refrain from becoming this agitated. You wouldn’t want our dear Charlie worrying that she isn’t helping you, now would we?” he questions, hands nearly at Lucifer’s shoulders.
“We wouldn’t” lucifer chuckles.
Alastor looks down to capture every detail in Lucifer’s face. He looks up with big, bright, red eyes, silently begging for comfort. Alastor freezes. He isn’t expecting to hug him right now, right? He shouldn’t do that no matter how much he wants to. Luckly, he doesn’t have to make the choice as Lucifer practically jumps on him, squeezing the air out of Alastor. Alastor lightly gasps, yet almost instinctively throwing his arms around him. Lucifer’s body bleeds warmth into Alastor. He doesn’t know where to place his hands. They roam around his shoulders, down to Lucifer’s back until they find peace of his waist. His face heats up. This is usually far too intimate for his liking, but with Lucifer it feels different, it feels… right. Alastor’s knees slowly lower to the ground, fully sitting so Lucifer can put legs behind him, still clutching Alastor like a lifeline. Lucifer starts crying again, stuffing his face in Alastor’s chest. Slightly stunned, Alastor lifts his hand and begins to slowly glide through Lucifer’s soft hair. Oh my lord Alastor thinks It’s criminally soft. He slips his fingers through multiple times, even going down to the nape of his head. Lucifer sighs with satisfaction, pushing his face further into Alastor’s chest. Alastor cannot keep doing this or he’s going to do something he’ll regret.
Scratch that, if Lucifer does another cute thing, his resolve is gonna crack this instant. But he doesn’t stop, not when Lucifer closes his eyes and runs his arms along Alastor’s. Not when he climbs into Alastor’s lap and presses his cheek dangerously close to his neck. No, Alastor keeps going, and he’s not sure if it’s just to comfort Lucifer anymore.
Alastor realizes how much time has passed since they began their little ‘cuddle session. He gently nudges Lucifer, who is soundly resting in his lap.
“Your highness, I hope this relived you, but as you can imagine, I am a rather busy demon. I must meet with a friend of mine. It’s rather unbecoming of a gentleman to arrive late to a gathering, so I must depart now.” He says with care.
Lucifer shoots his eyes open and gets off Alastor’s lap. Why does he already miss him?
“Oh yeah of course! Sorry I’m keeping you from your friend. Sorry, uh, you can leave now if you need to.” Lucifer mumbles out awkwardly.
Alastor chuckles lightly, grabbing his cane and heading for the door.
“Don’t worry my dear, if it gives you any sleep tonight, I didn’t hate it! I will be getting out of your hair now. Bubye.” He says with a mock salute, sauntering out the door.
Lucifer stands there with wide eyes, blushing faintly.
“D-did he just call me… dear?”