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“Lucifer.”
He knows that tone of voice. Knows that smile, that posture, that tilt of head. After all, they were together for two months already. Lucifer is a good partner: at least, he wants to think that way. He has lots of good qualities among being the sin of pride and a musical lover! And the quality he prides himself the most on is his attentiveness. He can decipher every subtle movement, every simple gesture, every change in the tone of voice.
Lucifer wants to know Alastor from antlers to toes. Alastor wants to be left alone, independent and mysterious. But he may share a few facts.
And the fact Lucifer learned first is that this tone could never mean something good.
“Yes?” He responded with carefully disguised panic. Or not that disguised, judging by Alastor's wide grin.
“Charlie invited us to dinner.”
“And what made you so happy about it?” Lucifer can't help but feel cautious. Or delighted. Or both. Maybe Alastor just was excited to spend time with him and Charlie. Right? Right?..
“Nothing specific, my dear.” Alastor tapped his shoulder with a tip of his cane and walked past him to the wardrobe. “I'm just glad that you're going to announce our relationship already.”
Lucifer felt his guts twist into a knot of terror. That's what this all is about.
“Wh- What?”
“Aren't you excited to tell Charlie that she has two dads now?”
“I'm- I- You're not her dad!” Lucifer poked Alastor’s back while trying to decide what to do with his hands. Alastor just kept looking for something through the wardrobe filled with almost identical red suits and colorful sweaters. “And I'm not going to tell her that!”
“Why? Are you ashamed?”
“No!” Lucifer felt the knot move up to his throat which made it difficult to speak. He didn't even realize how small and pleading his voice turned. “No. Of course not. I'm just… not ready. And I'm not sure that Charlie is ready herself. She loves her mother so much.”
Alastor finally turned to face him instead of the wardrobe but it was hard to guess what his expression meant. As always. Lucifer imagined anger. Or maybe it was despite. He wasn't sure. But Alastor just reached out to brush his claws against his cheek. Possessive and tender. Gesture that always made Lucifer go weak in the knees.
“Alright. We won't tell her outright.” Lucifer let out a relieved breath at these words. But Alastor tilted her head with squinted eyes. It was too soon to feel relieved. Far too soon. “But you can't expect me not to make hints.”
“What do you mean by ‘hints’?” Lucifer huffed in reply, swatting away his hand. “You're enjoying this way too much.”
“You enjoy this as well.”
“I'm not!”
“Don't lie to yourself. You like a bit of mischief yourself.” Alastor replied before taking out the wardrobe a sparkly bowtie and pressing it against Lucifer's neck. “You should wear this.”
“You do realize that I can just snap my fingers and make a costume appear?”
“Then do it. Dinner is set for 8 p.m.”
Lucifer made a disgruntled noise but changed his costume indeed. His body got wrapped in a tight red shirt and a black jacket with flower embroidery. A bit playful, a bit sweet and definitely festive. “Happy now?”
“Very much.” Alastor replied, taking off his own jacket to replace it with something resembling Lucifer's appearance. But instead of flower embroidery there were flames and red ornaments. “You look pretty good in this costume.”
“Thanks.” Despite still being a bit suspicious Lucifer smiled and shrugged away this compliment. How could he not smile when Alastor said something like this so simply? “I like it myself.”
“Now, do you have any plans before dinner?”
“I plan to bite your deer tail off if you do something stupid this evening.” Lucifer grumbled but still took Alastor by the collar to press a quick kiss against his smile. “Or. I don't know. Come up with something just as stupid.”
“King is getting bolder?”
“Oh, you haven't seen bold yet.”
Alastor saw Lucifer in every position possible in the world so he just grinned, baring sharp teeth.
“Well, then don't disappoint me in a few hours.”
A few hours passed way too quickly. Maybe because Lucifer was kissing Alastor while being pressed against the wardrobe door and trying not to get a boner at the same time.
Fortunately, he had magic to get himself looking presentable again. And arousal… he could deal with it after the dinner.
Charlie was waiting for them in the garden. She looked slightly nervous and very excited as she waved at them. Maybe she was still afraid that they're going to bite their heads off. Little did she know.
“Dad! Alastor! Come sit!” She started to bounce around the table like a little tornado trying to make a teaspot look even more presentable which made Lucifer smile. His little duckling was still the most considerate and adorable creature in all of hell. “I prepared some pastries with Niffty. Eclairs turned out… not so well but life is about trying, you know!”
“Everything looks lovely! Very lovely!” Lucifer tried to cheer her up as quickly as possible. “And you even found a beautiful set of dishes! One of my favorites.”
“Well, I decided that we haven't gathered for quite some time in our family circle.” Charlie shrugged with a wide smile but it was obvious how praise made her bloom. “And that both of you needed a place to talk.”
Little did she know…
“After you.” Alastor chimed in and pulled out a chair for Lucifer like a proper gentleman. “Everything looks very lovely indeed. Didn't know you had the knack for tea parties, my dear.”
Lucifer sat down like a proper guest but his suspicions were getting stronger. Just how many hints Alastor was planning to make?.. But Charlie seemed delighted by such a grand gesture from Alastor and it was all that mattered.
“Sooooo…” Charlie looked them over after one bite of eclair and one minute of eerie silence. “How were your last days in the hotel? I mean, everything is still messed up after Vox's… ‘mental breakdown’. Me and Vaggi are trying to rebuild everything! All the connections inside the hotel, I mean. And Emily is helping with the City! But you two were busy as well, right? I haven't seen you around much.”
“Yes. I was busy helping out our king.” Alastor replied simply before Lucifer could speak up.
“Wh- I'm perfectly capable of doing everything myself!”
“Of course. You just always need a little push to eat and drink properly. It's especially important during the shedding season. I've heard parrots need special feed during this season.”
Charlie blinked a few times in slow motion like a confused lizard. Lucifer would love to look unbaffled but he could already feel his ears burn bright yellow. It wasn't even true! His shedding season was going to be in a few weeks!
“Dad, why didn't you tell me? I would… I don't know, prepare? What do you need? Do you want me to brush your wings? I'm already quite good at this! Vaggi taught me everything. I even created a small nest for this season so she could have her rest. That explains…”
“No!” Lucifer almost got up from the table in an attempt to emphasize that he didn't need any help, thank you very much. “No, no, Charlie, it's alright. I’m already through this season. I get through it fast! Perks of being the devil, ha-ha.”
“Alright…” Charlie looked him over with confusion and concern in her gaze. The only person remaining calm and collected was Alastor who was sipping tea and placing another eclair on her plate. And placing a few cupcakes on Lucifer's plate while wearing a charming type of his wide smile. “Just… tell me next time, okay? I know that we had our ups and downs but… you're my dad! I want to know what's going on in your life. But I'm glad that Alastor helped you out. You're finally getting along!”
Lucifer could only watch Alastor pour him some more tea in utterly embarrassed silence. Alastor was courting him. Downright courting him.
“We were getting along quite well recently.” Alastor added and took a careful bite of eclair. He could be very skilled with those sharp teeth when he wanted to. Wait. Wrong train of thoughts. “I guess being stuck together at Vox's tower could make people… bond.”
Lucifer knew this mocking tone. And Charlie was sure that it was concern and friendship. He was going to die beside this very table.
“I'm so glad!” Charlie nodded so excitedly her head could fall off. “I mean, it's awful that both of you were kidnapped by this… sinner. But I guess it's a great way to start a friendship! A dangerous situation that makes people work together! I tried it out with Husk and Angel but it didn't work out so well. Can't believe that Vox was better at psychology than me. I think I could take a trick or two from him to make my trainings better.”
“No, please don't.” Lucifer finally managed to force out a few words without them sounding like a squeak. “It wasn't a very delightful experience. Besides, dangerous situations can lead to many disagreements. Let's stick to talking about feelings and stuff.”
“I'm glad that there were no disagreements in our case.” Alastor said in a polite, almost gentle tone and placed his hand on Lucifer's knee. Alastor never initiated closeness. Alastor never touched him in public. Alastor was the most awful, egotistical creature in all of hell. And Lucifer felt his neck burn golden as well. Please, God above, seraphims, every fucking celestial creature, don't let Charlie notice all these hints.
Charlie seemed to overlook everything completely. She just chewed on her cupcake with an excited expression.
“I'm sooo happy right now!” She talked with such gleeful expression that Lucifer almost didn't feel bad about being harassed in public. “I was so scared to make this tea party. No offense but you usually started throwing plates on each other. But you finally understood the power of friendship. I think that an ability to understand others, to bond and to sacrifice something for others is the most important part of redemption. Not necessarily sacrifice your life. Please don't. I won't survive the death of other of my friends. And my dad.”
“I think you're right.” Lucifer finally gathered himself together enough to engage in the conversation. “Sir Pentious' ability to love other sinners made him so unique.”
“So you think other sinners aren't able to love?” Alastor replied in a sly tone, turning his head towards Lucifer. His clawed hand was still on his knee. Shit. “Are you able to love a sinner?”
“I'm… I think I could. If the circumstances were right.”
“I think it would be great for you, dad.” Charlie was talking with all seriousness like his fate was depending on this statement. “And I'm glad that you started with Alastor. I've always told you that he could help. And he did. He is… an unusual sinner, yes, but he never hurt me during our friendship.”
Oh, Alastor could hurt if he wanted to. Especially when he bit Lucifer with his teeth or used his shadow tentacles. But Charlie would never experience that. Fortunately.
“Yes.” Lucifer forced out a grin that looked way too strained. “He can be pliable when he wants to be.”
“I can be quite charming when there's something in it for me.”
“Friendships are usually formed for some kind of benefit. A benefit of companionship! And then you suddenly realize that you need this person not only to talk but to share your secrets or to just be around. And then you sacrifice your time and other little things for them.” Charlie seemed to hang off every word Alastor said. “I hope both of you are going to realize that soon.”
“I'm starting to realize that.” Lucifer tried to take everything in his hands. “Thanks to Alastor. I can reassure you that we're not going to throw plates on each other anytime soon.”
“Only as a joke.”
“Only as a joke.”
“Well… whatever makes you happy?” Charlie shrugged, reaching out for the last eclair. “I just want both of you to feel comfortable in this hotel. And around each other.”
Lucifer wasn't comfortable. He was embarrassed, a bit angry and a bit offended. And still smiled sincerely because even during these banters or their confrontations behind the doors Alastor managed to make him smile. Awful. And sweet.
“I guess I'm really starting to feel comfortable in these walls.” Lucifer replied before he could overthink these words.
“That's all I made this tea party for.” Charlie nodded and put away all the plates and a teapot. “I guess that we ate everything me and Niffty did. Don't worry, I'll clean up! You can go… do whatever you did!”
“Oh, sweetie, for what?” Lucifer snapped his fingers and everything disappeared from the table. “It's already clean and in place. I still have my powers, you know! And you shouldn't forget to rest. Or you won't be able to give joy to us all and your wonderful hotel.”
“Thanks, dad.” Charlie turned almost shy as she got up from her seat. She still didn't get used to being around her powerful dad, it seemed. “And… you know… I'm happy for both of you.”
Lucifer sat in silence for a few more moments when Charlie left and only then turned to Alastor as his horns and furious expression appeared.
“What was that?”
“Nothing.” Alastor replied in a mocking tone, not bothered at all.
“Nothing? You- You courted me! You almost harassed me!”
“Didn't you like it?”
“That's not the point!”
“Charlie seemed happy about all of this.” Alastor replied with a genuine smile in his eyes. A rare sight. Lucifer felt like giving in like usual.
“You think so?..”
“I'm sure about it. She just told you that she's happy for you. What more evidence do you need?”
That made Lucifer's anger falter. Horns disappeared leaving him looking thoughtful.
“You think she won't be… opposed to our relationship? She… she still loves her mother.”
“And you.”
“Yes… yes, that's right. I… I'll think about it. But I'm still mad at you!”
“Really? That's a shame.”
“And I'm going to kill you.”
“You can try.”