Chapter Text
Lucifer could still feel the lingering sensation of the cables that had dug into his muscles, even after his body had mostly healed itself. He couldn't remember the last time he had been that vulnerable. The past weeks had been excruciating for the king, between failing to intimidate Box- or was it Vox?- getting captured and used as a war weapon, and getting kicked out of the hotel by Charlie; you could say he's had a hell of a time.
He'd wished it hadn't gone like this, to finally get his daughter back after all these years to suddenly lose her trust once more in an act of stupidity. What did he expect? He messes everything up. Lucifer couldn't decide if he wanted to cry (again) or maul something. Everything considered, the latter seemed like the better option at the moment if he didn't want to fall back into the depths of his depression once more.
Obviously, he wasn't going to get it himself. No, no, if he was going to indulge, he would do it properly. Perhaps Cannibal Town? It had been a while since he visited Rosie. He did have some sinners he enjoyed being around, and the last thing he remembers is a statue of his family being built. He absentmindedly started to wonder if it began to weather away in a twisted comparison of his actual life.
He shook his head, clearing his thoughts. He quickly changed out of his pink silk robe, glancing at his usual white suit in the closet but eventually deciding against it; best not to draw too much attention to himself after recent events, lest he want to become bombarded by sinners. He eventually decided on a black and red shirt with some burgundy pants, along with some black dress shoes instead of the knee-high boots he usually wears.
Hm. His clothing vaguely reminded him of something, but he couldn't seem to place where the memory stemmed from. Oh well.
Summoning a portal from his palace is easy enough; the sight of so, so many people in the streets has his blood running cold. Honestly, he hasn't been out on the streets in over two decades. Why would he? The sinners of the Pride Ring never truly respected his authority anyway; they only feared the thought of "The Devil", not the power Lucifer actually held against them. Why would they?
As he made it through the streets, sinners stopped and paused, gawking at their king upon them. Guess the change of clothing didn't help. The stopping and pausing wasn't what mattered, though; the way they crowded around him, pushing and pulling, was what had him taking deep breaths. He couldn't see where he was going with all the people. Fuck- why did he have to be so short? He felt a hand brushing his ass, and that's when he decided to teleport away from the madness in a puff of red smoke. He landed right in front of an old looking building with flowers of all kinds on the outside, mostly daisies and roses though. The sign in front of the building said "Rosie's Emporium"; maybe she had some recommendations for a place to eat around here. Preferably with a lack of sinners.
Lucifer looked around him, stilling to a complete stop when he realized he had accidentally teleported right next to someone. Embarrassingly close to someone.
The person was tall, tall enough that all Lucifer could see looking straight ahead was a pink suit with white stripes. They seemed to have good taste, then, he deemed. Distracted by his thoughts, Lucifer suddenly backed away, realizing that he was essentially just staring at a stranger's chest for a full minute, finally looking up to see who it was and apologize.
His face of remorse suddenly turned into a scowl when he realized it was the bellhop of all people.
"Good day, Your Travesty! What brings you here to Cannibal Town? I never would have thought it would be suitable for the heights of you, ha ha!" Alastor sneered, fake politeness oozing out of that tacky radio-filtered voice. And seriously? Another height joke?
"Could you be any more annoying? Why I'm here is none of your business, bellhop." Lucifer couldn't believe the nerve of this guy. Then again, he really ought to stop expecting anything from sinners. Especially the annoying, psychotic, daughter stealing-
Aaaand, Alastor walked inside already.
Surprisingly, his shadow stayed behind, beckoning him to follow the real Alastor. Lucifer let a small smile escape him; at least not every part of the cannibal was bad. The shadow even plucked a rose from the garden to hand it to Lucifer, which he very gratefully took.
As Lucifer walked inside, he was once again greeted by Alastor, except this time he had Rosie with him, already talking his ear off about something or another. The man looked delightfully irritated by something as he ate a pinky finger off a tray, his ears flicking up at the sight of his shadow with Lucifer and forcefully pulling him back to his side. Rude. Lucifer was just about to strike up lovely conversation with…it? Was it a person in its own right? Or was it an extension of Alastor like Lucifer first anticipated? And if that were the case, why would his shadow give him a rose?
Alastor and Lucifer locked eyes for a moment, and the latter could sense the intent behind those red eyes, but couldn't place its root.
Rosie finally noticed the short man and quickly went to greet him. "Oh, Lucifer! It's been so long! How are ya' doin'? Hm? I see you've decided to change up the outfit, ain't that right?"
Rosie's eyes flickered between Alastor and Lucifer. "Say, y'all look like two peas in a pod! If I had to guess, I'd say you'd gone and swapped closets!" She exclaimed.
The two men whipped their heads to each other. Just as Rosie said, they seemed to have accidentally dressed like each other. Lucifer could've sworn he saw Alastor's smirk widen for a second.
"It's good to see you too, Rosie. I see you and him are all cozy, so I won't take up too much of your time. I simply wanted to ask if you knew a place to eat around here; it's been much too long since I've had a good liver." He explained.
Lucifer could feel the other man's eyes on him as he and Rosie chatted. Eventually, Lucifer finally exited the establishment, leaving the pair alone. He didn't know whether or not to be concerned when he suddenly heard yelling coming from inside; it was definitely Rosie yelling, from what he could make out.
Lucifer ignored the sounds and summoned a portal, avoiding the trouble of walking through the crowd once more. When he found the restaurant, he carefully opened the door to enter. It was moderately crowded, but that could only be expected on a Saturday afternoon. The hostess looked at him up and down as if trying to place who he was, before realization dawned on her face. She quickly excused herself to get something, but Lucifer was hardly paying attention to her words. He was more enamored by how stuck in time this place appeared, as if it was transported straight from the Edwardian Era.
As Lucifer was starting to get lost in his thoughts, he suddenly heard the voice of a man. He looked up to see a guy, probably in his mid-thirties, holding a clipboard and pen. He looked a bit nervous, but also had this expression on his face screaming "stick in the ass" that made Lucifer want to rip his head open.
"Sir, we're going to have to ask you to leave. We simply can't tarnish our reputation by letting you dine here after recent events-"
His hands twitched, begging to hurt the obnoxious man, but he knows he can't. Not without serving punishment from Him. This is what he gets for giving humanity free will. Lucifer simply turned on his heel, walking out the door. He felt even hungrier now that he's smelt the food from inside the restaurant. As he was about to make a portal back to his castle, he noticed the presence of a certain Overlord waiting for him outside.
Lucifer sighed, looking over at the cannibal, "Look, if you're going to make fun of me, get it over wi-" He was swiftly interrupted by the sudden grasping of his hand, dragging him back inside the restaurant. He felt his face heat up just the slightest bit from the contact; pathetic, really. Lucifer only got a glimpse of his face, but he could see the positively pissed expression that graced the tall man.
The manager of the restaurant was still inside near the host stand. He looked up again, about to refuse service before he shoved the hostess forward, terrified by the new threat of the Radio Demon that was suddenly in front of him.
Alastor tilted his head. "What was it I heard before? Denying service to your king? Table for two, please, I advise you make it quick."
The hostess rapidly nodded, rushing to seat them as she was already abandoned by her manager. Twenty minutes later, Lucifer and Alastor were enjoying a perfectly cooked heart and liver. In awkward silence. What was he supposed to say other than thank you? It's not like they got along; Lucifer is still trying to comprehend the fact that Alastor even did something nice for him in the first place.
Feeling annoyed by the silence, Lucifer started to speak, "Hey…why did you help me..? We're not friends or anything."
Alastor made a noncommittal hum, "Perhaps I felt a tad bit bad for you. You know, the sheer amount of power that you hold is absolutely maddening to think about. The fact that you are unable to unleash it upon sinners is so annoying that I feel the need to step in.", he paused, "That along with the fact I find our shared tastes interesting. Who would've thought you'd enjoy the pleasantries of anthropophagy!"
Lucifer stared at him for a moment. Ah, pity. Lucifer could understand that. He started to wonder, though, if that was everything on Alastor's mind, considering the tone he'd used when speaking of his power. As he started to tear into the flesh of his meal once more, Lucifer suddenly noticed the dimmed energy that was once bright around Alastor.
"You're weaker than you were before. You broke a deal with someone, didn't you?" He commented, rewarded with an expression of mild shock on the other man's face.
Alastor quickly steeled himself, smoothing out the strained corners of his everlasting smile. "As you so gracefully put it earlier, it is ‘none of your business’. The only question is how exactly are you able to perceive that so easily, sire?"
Lucifer smirked, a little more than excited to have psyched out the calm and collected Radio Demon. "Come now, did you seriously think I was entirely powerless? The only thing holding me back is you, sinners. I can see, hear, and feel every single thing in the Pride Ring; I just choose not to. It's too much of a hassle to get on everyone's case, especially since I can't punish them."
That seemed to only intrigue Alastor more, more than Lucifer thought it would. "Interesting, my liege. Good to know you have your eyes on me, hm?~" Alastor smirked.
Lucifer's cheeks turned a light shade of yellow as gold blood rushed to his face. He quickly wiped all possible ideas of Alastor wanting to be watched by him before correcting him hastily.
"That's not- I-" He started before being cut off abruptly.
"That aside, you still haven't answered my question. How are you able to do it?"
Lucifer's smile was fully gone now, years of burning in fire and ash flooding his mind. He didn't want to talk about the circumstances that granted him these otherworldly powers. His wings could be felt ruffling a bit underneath the seal that Lucifer hides them with.
"…Another time, Alastor." The king murmured, his head hung low by his thoughts. When he glanced up at the other demon, there was a complex expression on the other man's face. Lucifer suddenly realized that this was the first time he's said his name instead of some other, arguably insulting, nickname.
Alastor finally spoke up, "Hm, I suppose I can get my answer another day, then.", and that was that.
The two finish their meal, along with a few rounds of drinks that Alastor insulted him on (Father forbid a man likes his alcohol fruity and sweet). As they walked out the doors of the establishment, the sky now a dark purple with a few grey clouds scattered, Lucifer found himself almost reaching for the tall man's hand. Almost. He retracted his hand swiftly, praying to Hell that the other didn't see his almost slip-up.
Lucifer opened a portal to his palace and started to step inside. To his surprise, Alastor took it upon himself to join him before the portal closed. Lucifer would be yelling at him for the invasion of privacy were he not extremely embarrassed by Alastor's eyes landing on the plethora of rubber ducks that stacked so high one could compare it to a house. Alastor hummed in amusement, or at least, what Lucifer interpreted as amusement. Great. Yet another person to bear eyes onto his dark, pitiful soul. No matter how bright he denies it is.
Alastor moved around the room, sitting down on the lush king bed that had an exaggerated amount of pillows all arranged in a circle like some sort of nest.
"My my, I was not aware that angels could act so primitively. Though I suppose Heaven doesn't enjoy change, do they?", He teased, crossing his legs like some proper little lady. His shadow, however, wasn't confined to him anymore now they weren't in public; the rascal made a beeline for Lucifer, cuddling up to him from behind, much to Alastor's displeasure.
Lucifer froze, not used to such blatant physical touch as he hadn't received much in the past decade, even if it was just a shadow creature…thing.
"Does it normally cuddle your enemies? Wait, no, don't answer that. Why are you in my house?!", He yelled at the other, who maintained a look of nonchalance.
"Why, I saw you opened a portal, and I stepped through! Sadly, that is the entire play-by-play, my liege~", Alastor smiled with feigned sweetness, "Though, if I'm being frank, we both knew there was always more."
Lucifer's breath felt more labored than before. Honestly, he can't tell if he's scared or excited, "What do you want from me?"
The sinner's smile stretched deliciously so, "So much more than you think, sire. What I require from you is power."
Lucifer stared him down, "And what would I get in return?" he questioned.
Alastor suddenly got off the bed, strode up to Lucifer until he was right in front of him, and knelt before him, "Let me p̴̢̛̞͕̟̘̠̩̬̹̔̿̍̆̌͒͗͒͋͋̓ü̴̡̲̹̬̱̈n̷̡̩̱͓̬̭̈́́͜ï̸̧̳͖̪̰̥̘̬͕̜͓̄́͛̀́̏͘s̶̞̥̃͋͂̀͜͜h̷̙͚̻̤͉͚͒̋̅̅̃́̏́̅͛̚͘͝ those who disrespect the crown. Let me show Hell exactly how you deal with those who don't listen."
Lucifer looked down at Alastor, on his knee, grovelling at his feet. That and the feeling of Alastor's shadow nuzzling into his jaw had him feeling malnourished. He was never one to deny himself the temptation, was he?
Lucifer felt his horns sprout, fire erupting between them as his snake circled in a mimic of what was once his halo. His wings unfurled from their seal, red and white feathers spreading in an angelic display.
"Alastor Descartes. The power I can give you is so great that your mortal body may not be able to handle it. You may just," the man shrugged, "explode in a decorative display of intestines, though it would be quite the hassle to clean off my carpet."
The radio demon looked up in awe at the sight before him, knowing that it isn't even Lucifer's true form. Enamored by the beauty of power before him, he grabbed the man's hand, placing a delicate kiss over the knuckles, "My liege, I would die for this. Is it a deal?"
Lucifer smiled, "No, it can't be. It must be an oath, something you will carry until death. This power is too great for a simple sinners deal, if you accept this, then you will take your place beside me as my Royal Executioner."
Alastor's form grew, the eldritch horror that he truly is, seeping out with green, wispy energy. "What m̵̩͙̭̜̉̀̔̾̍͌̄͗̚̚͜͝ust I say? What must I do?"
Lucifer put away his horns and fire, strolling over to sit down on his lounge chaise.
He locked eyes with the sinner in front of him for a moment, so devoted, so willing to throw everything away for a taste of ancient, celestial power. He rested his hand on his cheek, still smiling.
"You have to marry me."
"W̷̢̛̗͔̠̽̋͊̌H̵̨̲̺̻̘̖̣͕͓̪̼̀͜Ä̶͔̪͚̮̇̃͊T̶̛͕̹̳͆͌̉̈́͛͋̚?̵̡̠̦̟̜̭̺̻͙̩͌̇͑͘ͅ!̷̯͇̲̥̯͕͎̱̼͈̲̌͑̑͌́͒͆́̈́͒͝"