Chapter Text
For about a week, they fell into an odd but steady rhythm. They would hardly speak to each other during the day, but they were at least not openly antagonizing each other anymore.
As for Charlie, she couldn't be more thrilled at the progress. Which is probably why she proposed Lucifer go with Alastor to Cannibal Town to properly thank Rosie for the assistance during the Last Extermination.
“You two will just be representing the hotel,” she explained to them. “I would go too, but my day is packed with counseling sessions and redemption activities, and I've been putting this off for way too long.”
Lucifer gave his daughter a smile. “Don't sweat it sweetie. Al and I can handle that just fine!”
“Of course,” Alastor said through his teeth. “I'd be delighted to.”
The king looked up at the Radio Demon. His shoulders were tense, and his smile was twisted into more of a snarl. This was unnoticed by Charlie, who clapped her hands with glee.
“Great! I'll get started on my day while you guys head out. Have fun!”
She grabbed a few files from her desk before walking out, humming happily. As soon as she was gone, Lucifer snapped his fingers, teleporting them both to the front of Rosie's Emporium.
Alastor blinked. “And why, Your Majesty, do you insist on bringing us here so soon?”
“Because Charlie already said she's been putting it off, so I figured the faster we get it done, the better,” he said with a shrug.
Alastor blinked down at him for a moment before turning away, growling quietly. “I suppose so… let's get this done quickly, shall we?”
He started off briskly towards the door, holding it open. Lucifer blinked confused as to why Alastor was so pissed.
Didn't Charlie mention they were friends? Maybe it's just some Overlord thing.
He walked inside, Alastor following behind him. There was a long line of cannibals, the one at the front laughing at whatever the Cannibal Overloard was saying.
“Exactly sweetheart. Now, you just give me a call if your man gives you any more trouble and I'll–” she let out a gasp when she looked to the back of the line, spotting Lucifer and Alastor. Lucifer gave a polite, but awkward wave. “Oh. My. STARS!” She rushed out from behind the counter, shooing the rest of the line away. “Now ain't this a surprise! The King of Hell himself, in Cannibal Town! Let me take a gander, did Charlie send you to talk to li'l ol’ me?”
Lucifer chuckled uncomfortably at the Overlord's overly friendly manner. “Yup, here courtesy of Char. She wanted to come herself, but she's been really busy at the hotel and all so…” he waved his hands. “Here we are!”
“Here you are indeed! Come in, come in, come sit down!” She put her arm around Lucifer's shoulders (pointedly ignoring the Sinner behind him), and guided him to sit on a comfortable armchair before she started rummaging around the shelves. “Would you like something to eat? I just restocked on my supply of arms. Oh, who am I kidding? It's nowhere near lunchtime yet.” She held up a box. “Pinky finger? Your daughter didn't seem too interested, but I figured I might as well ask. I've got to keep up my reputation as a good host after all!”
Lucifer oooed, before reaching into the box to grab a finger to munch. It's been a while since he had any cannibal cuisine, but he figured he should go ahead and indulge since he was offered.
As he chewed, he looked up at Alastor (who had moved to stand beside him) to offer him one, but he was stopped by the stunned look on his face.
“Why so surprised? I'm the Devil. In Hell. Obviously I've eaten cannibal food before.”
Alastor blinked. “Of course, sire. I was just… not expecting that considering Charlie's aversion to such things.”
“Yeah, it upsets her, so I don't indulge as much as I did before she was born. I still think it's good though.”
He grabbed another pinky finger, lifting it up to offer it to the Radio Demon. Alastor hesitated before taking it, considering it for a moment before popping it into his mouth.
Rosie looked between the two of them of a moment before an oh look crossed her face. Her grin widened.
“Well I'm never one to discourage indulgence. Have as much was you want, Your Majesty.” She set the box down on the table in front of him. “Now, what brings the two of you around here?”
“Oh, Charlie just sent us to thank you properly for the assistance during the battle with Adam,” Alastor said with a glare that was unnoticed by Lucifer, who smiled.
“Yeah, she told me that there were a lot of casualties, so if you need anything at all, just ask and I'll provide it. Consider that a more personal thanks from me. Not just as a king, but as Charlie's father.”
Rosie placed her hands over her undead heart. “Oh aren't you just the sweetest? You and your girl are just two peas in a royal pod!”
Lucifer chuckled, a more genuine one than before. “Yeah, she's great. But like I said, if you need anything at all, just ask.”
“Of course, of course. But all I'd really want from you two…” She looked directly at Alastor, her smile turning mischievous. “...is to be invited to the wedding.”
Alastor let out a screech of radio feedback while Lucifer tilted his head, confused.
“What weddi–”
“I think we've done enough here!” Alastor declared, grabbing Lucifer by the arm and dragging him to the door. “Thank you for the snacks, Rosie dear, but Charlie will be expecting us by now.”
Rosie waved. “Oh, of course, wouldn't want to keep her waiting! So nice to have you here Lucifer. Let's do it again sometime!”
Before Lucifer could respond, Alastor slammed the door behind them, grumbling furiously. Lucifer yanked his arm out of his grasp.
“Okay, what the fuck was that?! She was nothing but nice, and you just had to be an asshole?”
Alastor growled at him, storming away. Lucifer gaped at the audacity of this Sinner.
“Uh, HELLO?! Are you going to answer me or what?” he said as he ran after him. His only answer was more grumbling. “Oh my Father, fine! If you want to do the silent treatment, I can do it right back at you, dickwad!”
His only answer to that was silence.
Well so much for trying to get along. Thanks a lot, you red fuck, Charlie's going to be so upset.
***
They proceeded to walk in fuming silence for a good 15 minutes out of Cannibal Town before Lucifer realized Alastor wasn't next to him anymore. He looked back to see the Sinner was almost a whole block behind him, staring into a shop window. Curious, he walked back over to him to see what he was looking at.
It was a toy store, which was very rare for Hell. Unless it was the sex kind, but those are way more plentiful in Lust. Usually stores like these were either drug fronts or for money laundering (Lucifer didn't understand why people felt the need to launder money or hide drug deals in Hell, but he just assumed old habits died hard). In the window was a stuffed yellow bunny, with floppy ears, a white belly, black button eyes, and a pink nose. It looked soft. Lucifer looked back up at Alastor, who was looking at the bunny with something almost akin to longing.
“Do you want it?”
Alastor jumped at the question, tearing his eyes away from the stuffie to look down at him. “Excuse me?”
“Do you want the bunny? We can go in and get it if you want.”
The Radio Demon scoffed as if he couldn't believe Lucifer could ask such a stupid question. “Please. I'm not a child. As difficult as it may be for you to comprehend, Sire, not everyone is as obsessed with ridiculous trinkets as– yurk!”
The yurk was involuntarily ripped from his mouth as Lucifer grabbed him by the collar and marched into the store, pulling him along. He was only released once they got up to the counter, manned by a porcupine Sinner staring at them.
“How much for the bunny in the window?”
The other Sinner blinked before glaring at him. “It's not for sale. Not for you.”
Lucifer stared. “Uh, okay, I'm not sure you know what's going on here. I am Lucifer, okay? King. Of. Hell. That Lucifer. So yeah, I'm going to be buying that bunny. Now, how much?”
The porcupine crossed his arms, sneering. “Yeah, I know who you are. And I said what I said.” He leaned over the counter, jabbing his finger into Lucifer's chest to punctuate every word. “Not. For. Sale. Beat it.”
Lucifer growled, feeling his eyes bleed red and his horns beginning to poke out of his forehead. “How dare–”
He was cut off when the Sinner grabbed him by the collar with both hands, yanking him roughly up to his eye level. He was so close to the Sinner's face that he could smell his breath.
“Why the fuck would I let someone who allowed angels to come down and slaughter Sinners boss me around, huh? My sister was murdered by one of those Exorcist bitches, and you have the goddamn nerve to come in here and make demands out of me?” Lucifer gasped as the Sinner slammed him into the wall behind the counter, and he smiled cruelly. “You can't even do shit to us. Vox already showed all of Hell that. So how about you fuck right off before I–”
“RELEASE HIM NOW.”
Lucifer and the porcupine looked back at Alastor, whose antlers were branching out and his eyes turning black. The other Sinner looked almost afraid of the Radio Demon before regaining his courage.
“Are you fucking serious?! You're one of us, aren't you? Why are you–”
Lucifer fell to the ground as he was released, the porcupine flung across the store with one of Alastors shadows. He was in full demon form now, green stitching appearing all over his body and smile. He was hunched over so his antlers didn't get stuck in the ceiling, towering over the Sinner.
“YOU WILL NOT ASSOCIATE ME WITH THE LIKES OF YOU,” he snarled, the porcupine trembling in fear. “I DO NOT THREATEN OR HARM THOSE UNABLE TO DEFEND THEMSELVES, AND I DISPOSE OF THOSE WHO DO!”
The smaller Sinner screamed as Alastor ripped off his arm with another shadow tentacle.
“FORTUNATELY FOR YOU, YOUR RIDICULOUS SPINES WOULD GIVE ME INDIGESTION. SO I WILL GIVE YOU THIS CHANCE TO WALK AWAY WITH YOUR PATHETIC LIFE.”
Alastor shrank back down, still almost a foot taller than how he usually was. He grabbed the Sinner by the collar, blood still pouring from where his arm used to be, and drug him over to where Lucifer sat, stunned. He threw the porcupine at the king's feet.
“YOU WILL APOLOGIZE, THEN YOU WILL ALLOW HIM TO TAKE THE RABBIT, AND ONLY THEN WILL I LEAVE.”
The Sinner blubbered, “I'm sorry, I'm sorry! Please, please, please, for the love of God, don't let him kill me, please! I'm so sorry!”
Lucifer blinked in shock, then looked up at Alastor, who gestured to the bunny still sitting in the window. Shaking, he stood up, walking over and grabbing the bunny and putting it in his suit jacket. .
“Al, it's okay, I have it now. Please, let's just go.”
Alastor, seemingly satisfied, pulled his demon form back completely. He gave one last glance to the porcupine sobbing on the floor.
“See, now wasn't that easy? Pleasure doing business with you, pal. Let's never do it again.”
He walked out of the store, Lucifer rushing behind while giving the Sinner an apologetic look.
They walked for a while in silence before Lucifer said without looking at him, “You really didn't have to do all that.”
“I did.”
At that, Lucifer looked up at him, just to see him still pointedly looking forward. He looked almost proud. Well, if Lucifer didn't do anything else right today, he at least satisfied the deer's murderous savior complex.
“Thank you.”
Alastor paused, then looked down at him seriously. “I do not need to be thanked for protecting those who cannot protect themselves. That is my purpose. Besides radio of course!”
Lucifer giggled, and if he noticed a blush spread across the Sinner's face when he did, then who is he to say anything.
***
Charlie walked to the staff lounge with Vaggi, completely spent after such a long day, but happier than she's ever been. The hotel was running strong, her and Vaggi are good as always, her relationship with her dad was better than ever, and he was finally making an effort to get along with Alastor. All in all, everything was going absolutely perfect. She was certain nothing could taint her mood.
When she walked into the lounge, she froze. Alastor was sitting on the couch reading, nothing out of the ordinary there. Her dad was also there, taking a nap, and that was perfectly normal too. What was not normal was the fact that her dad was sleeping with his head in Alastor's lap, wearing the Overlord's coat like a blanket. Not only that, but Alastor seemed completely fine with it. He was even resting his free hand on her dad's shoulder, rubbing small circles with his thumb. Husk and Cherri were also there, trying (and failing) to inconspicuously stare at the two of them. Alastor didn't seem to mind though, content with his reading.
Charlie looked to Vaggi to gauge her reaction. She found her girlfriend staring with her mouth hanging open at the scene.
She slowly walked towards them, as if one wrong move could shatter Hell. “Hey Al…”
Alastor looked up from his book. “Ah, hello my dear! Everything went smoothly with Rosie, so no need to worry about that.”
“Good, good…” She didn't know whether Alastor was just refusing to acknowledge that her dad was sleeping in his lap or if he was completely unaware of it. “So what, uh, whatcha got there?”
Alastor's expression didn't change, still smiling pleasantly at her as he said, “The Great Gatsby.”