Work Text:
Lucifer was gentle as he petted Alastor’s ears while he slept. He twitched in his sleep as he swatted at the air a little. He wasn’t sleeping well at all. He was plagued by the nightmares of Vox, it seemed. Lucifer didn’t know how to help him. Writing the dreams down wasn’t doing much, and Alastor didn’t like discussing them either.
“What can I do to help you?” Lucifer asked out loud. He kissed Alastor’s forehead before he moved out of the bed. Maybe he could ask someone for some help. Surely somebody had some ideas on how to make things easier on Alastor. He just had to leave him on his own for a little bit while he asked around the hotel. Maybe Charlie could assist with these awful nightmares. He slipped out of the room quietly.
Alastor struggled against the cables that kept him tied to the chair, trying to break free. He couldn’t use his powers. He was utterly helpless Vox walked over to him. The Media Overlord took hold of his chin and chuckled darkly.
“You’ll always be my prisoner, Al,” he growled. “And you know the best part? You can’t make it stop. No matter how hard you try. No matter how much you fight. You will always be stuck here with me. And I will get to hurt you over and over and over.”
“Fuck you,” Alastor hissed out. “I’ll get out of here. I”ll tear you apart. I’ll use your screams on every show from this day forward.” Vox scoffed as he let go of Alastor’s chin. He tore his shirt open and dug a claw into his scar, reopening the wound with ease. Alastor gritted his teeth as he growled in pain. Vox let out a satisfied laugh as he pulled his bloody claw back. He shoved Alastor and the chair backwards with his foot. Alastor groaned as he hit the floor. Cables readjusted around him, releasing him from the chair as they kept him tied up on the floor. He rolled onto his stomach to try and get some leverage with his legs. He could do this. He could get away. He perked up when he saw Lucifer a few feet away. He could get to Lucifer, and they could get away from here. He struggled to try and get out of the cables. Vox walked over and put his foot on Alastor’s back to keep him put.
“Where do you think you’re going?” the Media Overlord taunted. He laughed as he pulled Alastor back before yanking his pants down. Alastor struggled violently. No. No, not again. He couldn’t do it again. Vox was behind him, pulling him against his body as Alastor struggled as much as he could. “You know what my favorite part of this is? When Lucifer sees how helpless you are.” Alastor looked over at Lucifer, who was just visible enough in the darkness of the room. He was just staring at Alastor, unmoving.
“Lu,” Alastor begged. “Lu, you have to help me. I can’t…I can’t do it alone.” Lucifer let out a laugh suddenly. Alastor blinked.
“You’re pathetic, Alastor,” the fallen angel insisted. “How can I expect you to protect me when you can’t even protect yourself?”
“You…you’re not him,” Alastor said out loud. “You can’t be him. He would never say those awful things to me.” Lucifer scoffed and crossed his arms.
“At least you’re entertaining to watch,” he shrugged. “That makes up for the sad excuse of a relationship you’ve given me this whole time.” Alastor felt his heart shattering as his antlers extended. He felt so angry and hurt. He couldn’t do anything but lash out. He burst from the cables and lunged for Lucifer, slamming him into the wall over and over again.
“Take it back!” Alastor demanded, snarling harshly.
“Take it back!” Alastor cried out. “Take it back!”
“Alastor, Alastor!” Lucifer quickly held Alastor’s shoulders, shaking him gently. Alastor panted harshly as he woke up, looking at Lucifer. He immediately recoiled and pulled away from him. “Alastor, it was a nightmare!”
“Stay away from me,” Alastor insisted. “You…you’re not my Lu…” He trembled a little as Lucifer reached for him.
“Alastor, you were dreaming,” the fallen angel reassured. “It’s okay. You’re safe here. I won’t hurt you.” Alastor let out a shaky breath as he hesitantly reached for Lucifer.
“Prove it,” he demanded suddenly. “Prove that you’re Lucifer.”
“I…how?” Lucifer tilted his head.
“What did Charlie used to call me?” Alastor asked quickly. “When I was alive, and she was a little girl.”
“Unca Allie,” Lucifer chuckled. “It’s cute. She adores you to this day, I know it.” Alastor let out a relieved breath and held his hands out. Lucifer took Alastor’s hands and kissed them both lovingly. “That was a really bad dream this time, wasn’t it?” Alastor didn’t answer as he looked away. “I was just gathering some ideas to help you get through this.” He reached over and touched Alastor’s face. “You wanna try a few things?”
“No,” Alastor moved away from him and laid down, keeping his back to Lucifer.
“Alastor, you have to try something,” Lucifer pointed out. “These dreams are making you miserable.”
“I tried your idea once, and it made them worse,” Alastor insisted. “I’m going back to sleep.”
“But-“ Lucifer frowned. “Alastor, this isn’t the time to be stubborn. You have to at least be willing-“
“No, I don’t,” Alastor snapped suddenly. “I don’t have to do a damn thing. The only thing I want right now is to sleep. Drop it.” The Radio Demon huffed as he pulled the blankets up a bit and went quiet. Lucifer got off the bed. He went to the armchair nearby and curled up in it. Alastor sighed softly as he rolled over, looking at Lucifer. “I’m…I’m sorry. I don’t know what to do, Luci. You were in this one. You…you laughed. You…called me pathetic…” Lucifer perked up and looked at Alastor with worry. Alastor curled up a little and closed his eyes as tears welled up in them. “You said horrible things to me, Lu. I told you that I couldn’t do it alone, and you laughed at me.”
“Alastor,” Lucifer got out of the chair and went over to the bed. He crawled over to Alastor and pulled him close. Alastor cried softly, letting out shaky breaths as he clung to Lucifer. “Shh, shh, shh, shh.” He’d never seen him so bothered, so upset and scared. He hated that he couldn’t help him. He wanted to make it all better. He wanted to take those horrible dreams away.
“I’m scared, Lu,” Alastor admitted suddenly. “I don’t know how to make it stop.” He buried his face against Lucifer’s chest.
“We’ll figure this out,” Lucifer promised, his voice soft. “I won’t leave you to suffer like this, Alastor.” He ran his fingers over Alastor’s ears, kissing the top of his head. “Try to get a little more sleep, okay? And if you have a bad dream, I’ll be right here. The real me will be right here.”