Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Chapter one:
Vox looked at Charlie with a smirk: "Three for the price of one! You've just been fucking canceled!" Suddenly, Carmilla emerged from behind the cannon with Vaggie. "Vox, stop! Firing anymore would overload the weapon! Deactivate it now! Or I'll shut you down with it!!" She emphasized her statement by kicking the cannon, and with a hiss and sparks, the cannon began to malfunction. Vox screamed angrily: "YOU BITCH!" He sent his cables snaking towards Carmilla, but she dodged. "FINE!" Vox growled, "Then I'll just use plan B!" He jumped off the cannon onto its base and started ripping it out of its joints. Everyone stared at Vox. "What's he planning?!" Emily moved closer to Charlie, who was still holding her shield in front of them, panic in her voice. Charlie just stared. Vox had managed to remove the cannon from its anchoring and threw it aside. A hollow space was revealed beneath the cannon... and from this space, Vox pulled out a sphere containing a completely exhausted and bleeding Lucifer.

Lucifer's breathing was labored. He was leaning forward, his eyes barely open, his entire facial expression screaming pain. Vox's plugs were still attached to his body, golden blood stains spreading beneath them. He seemed barely conscious, only his bound arms holding his body upright.

"Dad?!" Charlie's eyes widened in horror. She ran towards him, but Vox blocked her way. "Not so fast, Princess!" Vox laughed hysterically, "Or your Dad won't live for long anymore!!" Then, Vox slammed a large cable attached to his head directly into Lucifer's chest. Golden blood splattered. Lucifer screamed. "Dad!" Tears welled up in Charlie's eyes.

Vox laughed, "Hahahaha! I WIN! I WILL take over Heaven!" He grinned at Alastor, "And YOU! Can't do ANYTHING! NO ONE can!" He laughed hysterically. "See you later, PRINCESS! I'll be in Heaven now! Hahahaha!" Vox disappeared in a blue flash... and took Lucifer with him.

Charlie sank to her knees, tears streaming down her face. "Dad... he... he used Dad... this whole time..." Vaggie ran to her and took her in her arms. Emily came over too. "What do we do?! We have to free Lucifer somehow! Or Vox will take over Heaven!!" Concern was written all over Emily's face. "But if we try to stop Vox, he'll drain Lucifer! And then he’ll..." Vaggie replied, but stopped immediately as she noticed Charlie starting to tremble, her sobs intensifying. "What are we going to do...?"

"I might have an idea!" said Alastor, who was still sitting nearby, leaning against a pile of rubble, holding his injured arm, but grinning confidently.

Pain. Lucifer was burning with pain. For hours, he had endured the repeated shocks, the burning ache of the cable sockets, the constant drain on his strength. He had only a hazy recollection of events. He had been... taken out of the box and... Charlie had been there... she had called him, she... or had she? He couldn't remember. "I... it... hurts... can't..." he could barely speak, each word taking immense effort. Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth. Since when was there a large cable in his chest? Couldn't someone just make the pain stop? "What were you saying again earlier?! That I can't hurt you?! Can't kill you?!" Someone laughed loudly. Couldn't they just be quiet? Who was speaking? Lucifer looked up with difficulty. That... TV guy stood before him... what was his name again? Lucifer tried to glare at him, but it came out more as a pain- contorted grimace. "You! What... is... your game?!" Vox approached the sphere. "Oh, Luci! Still alive?!" Vox sucked some energy from the cables, and Lucifer gasped. This pain! Vox laughed, "You are so useful, you know that?! All of that holy energy! Do you know what you did with it already?!" Lucifer looked at Vox. What had this... guy... made him do?! Vox displayed several screens. Lucifer's eyes widened. The gates of Heaven shattered, falling into Hell. Sinners dissolving into nothingness under his power. A young Seraphim, who had been with Charlie, hit by his power... and Charlie... his sweet Charlie... with a shocked, desperate expression. Lucifer's heart broke. "You!... Made... my daughter... suffer?!" Anger flared within him. But Vox shook his head. He grinned. "WRONG, Lucifer! YOU made her suffer! It's YOUR power, YOUR energy that killed the people your daughter cares about! YOUR power that harmed her close friends! YOU MADE HER SUFFER! Do you know how she looked at you, when I pulled you out of that machine?!" Vox's smile twisted into a sadistic grin. "She looked angry! Very angry! And oh SO disappointed! Seems like YOU failed her again! Or wait... how did SHE say it again? Oh yeah! Something like..." He mimicked Charlie's voice, "You FUCKED things up for me enough yet again... DAD!" Lucifer's anger dissipated instantly. He was... guilty? He had...? Tears welled up in Lucifer's eyes. This guy... was right... HE had hurt Charlie's friends! He had let himself be caught so easily... hadn't thought for a second... He had... disappointed Charlie again. Lucifer broke. Tears streamed down his face, and he hung his head. Vox laughed. "Now I have him where I wanted him!" he murmured, satisfied. "Time to enter the promised land!" And once again, he vanished, taking Lucifer with him.

Chapter Text

In the hotel, Charlie ran up and down, back and forth. “Dad… oh Dad… what is he doing to you?” She looked at the screen of the TV in the lobby. There was Vox as he approached the edge of the Pride Ring with Lucifer.

“That TV is as stupid as ever!” Alastor said. “He gives us his exact location. Oh, he’s too easy!” He laughed.

Vaggie stepped toward him. “Not the time, Alastor! So, care to explain your oh-so-great master plan now, or do I have to play a fucking guessing game?!”

“Great idea, actually!” Alastor replied. “But I don’t think you—or anyone else here except for me—seems up for it. Thank you regardless for the idea!”

Vaggie growled grimly.

Alastor cleared his throat. “Now… let me explain—”

Suddenly, the wall next to the bar exploded. Everyone looked at Cherry Bomb. She raised an eyebrow. “What?! It wasn’t me!”

“Where is that stupid motherfucker?!” came a voice from outside, and Vellvette stepped through the hole. Valentino followed behind her, a confused Angel Dust in tow.

Alastor smiled wider. “Ah, Vellvette! The first step of my plan is already in motion, I see!”

Vellvette looked confused. “The fuck do you mean, Smiley? I’m here because Val keeps rambling about something you promised him?! What fucking deal did you make?!”

Alastor chuckled, though he didn’t seem very happy about what he said next. “A deal indeed—but not for his soul. I demanded he free little Angel Dust’s soul here from him, and in return I promised… to participate in one of his little films. But only because he also promised to help stop Vox. Any questions?”

Everyone stared at Alastor, mouths open, absolutely stunned by this information. Only Valentino nodded in satisfaction.

“Why did you demand he free my soul, Smiles?” Angel asked carefully, eyes wide with disbelief.

Alastor sighed. “Because our little Morningstar here…” He pointed at Charlie, who continued staring at him. “…needs a bit more help and support to finally concentrate on saving her father, and not just blaming herself over and over for not saving him earlier. Logical?”

Angel only nodded.

Alastor cleared his throat. “Very well! Let’s hope I won’t regret this later. Now, back to the plan. Will you join as well, dollface, or do I have to promise you something too?”

Vellvette sighed and stepped closer. “I’m staying, old man. But only because Vox has lost it and needs to be slapped back into reality.”

Charlie gave the two V’s a thankful smile.

⸻

Vox stood at the edge of the Pride Ring, where the barrier of Hell curved like a giant sphere toward the other side. “Now I’ll have to get up there…” Vox murmured thoughtfully. He slowly extended his hand and touched the barrier—nothing happened. His hand passed through it easily.

Vox turned to Lucifer. “Hey!” He sent a small shock through his cables to wake him. Lucifer moaned, his body flinching weakly in pain.

“What is it with this barrier? Doesn’t seem to block me at all.” To prove his point, Vox again passed his hand through it.

Lucifer mumbled something Vox didn’t understand.

“What are you saying?!” Vox sent another spark of electricity. Lucifer coughed blood.

“It’s… for me,” Lucifer explained. “It keeps me bound to Hell.”

Vox laughed. “That is truly pathetic, considering your power was able to shatter theirs easily.”

Suddenly a thought crossed Vox’s mind. His smile vanished. “What happens when you pass through this barrier?!”

Vox’s anger rose, but Lucifer suddenly smiled.

“I’ll die. I’ll simply die. And then you lose your power source.” Lucifer chuckled weakly. “Seems like you’re stuck, Mr. TV. What will you do now?”

Vox’s fists clenched—then he grinned. “Oh, don’t worry, precious Luci. I have a plan.”

⸻

“And that should lead to our success. Understood?” Alastor finished explaining. Everyone nodded.

Suddenly a tremor shook the Pentagram so strongly it almost knocked everyone to the floor—only Alastor remained standing.

“What is going on?!” Charlie asked.

Alastor’s eyes snapped to the TV, still showing Vox. He was firing a beam of blue and golden electricity at the barrier of Hell. Something in Alastor flinched when he saw Lucifer—bleeding, coughing, breathing heavily, tears streaming down his face twisted in exhausted pain.

They had to free Lucifer quickly.

Alastor pushed the strange feeling aside and refocused. He turned from the TV as everyone else finally got up again.

Charlie stepped closer. “Alastor, what is—?!”

“No time, Charlie! We have to be fast! Everyone knows what to do?!”

He saw nods all around.

“Then let’s get the King out of his cage and stop a stupid TV head!”

And so they left the hotel.

⸻

In Heaven, Sir Pentious and Sera watched with concern.

“Will he be able to break through?” Sir Pentious asked, worry etched on his face.

Sera looked at Vox again. “If he continues like this… maybe.”

“But—” Sir Pentious stared at her. “Isn’t it made by the High Angels?”

Sera sighed. “It is indeed… but Lucifer’s power destroyed our protective barrier with ease. And I chose very strong seraphim to help conjure this one. Breaking it is… sadly possible.”

Sir Pentious looked back at the image of Vox. “What will you do now, Highness?”

Sera looked at him. “I’m preparing the army. I have no choice.”

Pentious nodded sadly. “But please, Sera. Don’t lose hope yet! We’ll get through this somehow!” He grabbed her hands, confidence and hope shining in his eyes.

Sera smiled a little. “Let’s hope so, Pentious… let’s hope and pray…”

⸻

Lucifer’s eyes were closed. He drifted in and out of consciousness, barely sensing anything besides pain, seeing everything as a blurry mess of colors, hearing nothing but distant noise.

Had the TV guy already succeeded? Were they in Heaven right now?

Another thought crossed his mind. Were more people dying because of him?

His heart ached as guilt and memories flooded back: the young seraphim being hit in the wing, sinners dying, the TV head laughing… and Charlie’s disappointed face, tears of anger running down her cheeks.

Suddenly something new came—a soft, distant hum in his head. What was that?

Lucifer tried to grasp it. The hum grew louder, turning into radio static. A name formed in his mind.

Alastor?

He focused harder. It was Alastor’s voice, saying something! Was Alastor there? Was he really there… saving him?

Lucifer opened his eyes weakly and looked around. The TV man was still firing at the barrier, but no one else was there. He lowered his head again.

He’d imagined it. He had hoped.

Suddenly a voice rang out:

“What is it with you and your solo trips, you dickhead of a TV?!”

A woman stood there, stomping furiously toward the TV. Lucifer recognized her—she was the one who mocked him at that live show… but wasn’t she working with the TV ?

His head throbbed. Darkness crept along the edges of his vision.

He lost consciousness.

Chapter Text

Vox turns his head, still firing at the barrier. “Velvette! Wha- what are you doing here, haha!?” Vox sweats a little. “I-Is something wrong?” Velvette grans annoyed.

“Something wrong?! You little motherfucker stormed off, not telling me or Val where you’re going and just vanished! Do you know how long it took us to find you!?” At that moment Valentino came into view. “And how long it took us to not let shock.wav destroy half the pentagram!?” Vox cleared his throat nervously.

“Guys! You…uh… you know I… I got a little carried away. Sorry for the trouble…”, he laughs awkwardly “haha…I…uh… would you help me break the barrier? Then we can continue our plan and…” “Our plan? Oh now it’s OUR plan again!” Velvette laughed. “Hear that Val? Suddenly Vox is a team player again!” Valentino looks at Vox, demanding of him to say something, but at the same time glancing at lucifer every now and then. Vox cleared his throat. “Well…I…I’ll explain it later okay!? For now we have to hurry, because if alastor gets here he…”

”Oh don’t worry Vox! Val got that radio handled.” Vox stopped firing at the barrier, completely stunned. “You…what?”, his eyes screamed disbelief, but Valentino smiled, although it being kind of stiff “Yeah… Babe! I got the radio demon under contract!” Vox’s mouth was open, but he was to stunned to speak. Suddenly a figure lashed out and went straight for Lucifer, but Vox quickly grabbed it with his cables and shocks the person. Angel Dust screamed under the electric shocks. “Shit!” Valentino cursed, cut Vox’s wires in one swift motion and at the same time got between him and Angel.

“The fuck!?” Vox exclaimed, anger making his screen glitch when suddenly Husk and Cherry bomb ran to Valentino who gently handed them Angel dust. “Are you working with them now?!”,”Indeed. They do. Guess they were tired of your solo trip Vincent!”,a voice behind Vox exclaimed. He turned around. Alastor stood there, Charlie and the others beside him, weapons glinting. Vox’s face glitched in anger. “You won’t stop me Al! Or did you forget what’s on the line?”
He pulled the wires and the sphere with Lucifer moves closer to Vox, the king letting out a pained gasp, when the wires pulled at his flesh. Alastor’s smile faltered slightly. “Do you really think you can fight all of us at once?! Really?!” Silence followed. Suddenly Vox growled:”Then so be it.” Electricity sparked around him and everyone got ready to fight. But instead of charging at Alastor or the others Vox flew high up and through the barrier, taking lucifer with him.

“Fuck! He’s fleeing!”, Vaggie yelled unfurling her wings to charge after him, but stops in horror when sudden a loud, raw scream is echoed through the pentagram. Everyone looked up. Vox was outside the barrier and pulled at his wires, Lucifer still in the sphere under the barrier, not moving past the barrier as if it was a brick wall to him. Lucifers energy violently flared around him, golden blood dripping from every wound and pooling in the sphere under Lucifer, him screaming at the top of his lungs, his body thrashing against the pain. “DAD!!” Charlie screams in panic.

“If Vox keeps going like this, Lucifer dies!” Vellvette screamed, already trying to somehow get to Vox to stop him. “Vox stop! This is too much!” Valentino yelled to be heard over Lucifer’s screaming. But Vox just laughed. “Hahaha! You know what! FUCK THIS! As long as I reach heaven, I don’t care what happens!” Vaggie tries to fly up, but is thrown back, because of Lucifer’s energy violently sparking around. “We can’t get to Vox without being hurt by Lucifer! What do we do?!” Emily suddenly opens a portal and goes through, her face burning with determination. “Emily!?” Charlie asks, but Emily is gone.
Suddenly Vox curses. Emily appeared on his side, flapping her five uninjured wings rapidly and started pulling on his wires. “YOU LITTLE SHIT!”,yells Vox and attacks Emily. “Let. Him. GO!” Emily yells back and rips one cable off. It falls from Vox’s head, back through the barrier, but still is still stuck in Lucifers flesh and so dangles mid air, connected to the king, but not being active anymore. Lucifer still screams and gasps in pain, but he feels that it got a little less. Vox violently lashes at Emily, who tried to pull at the next wire and Emily is thrown back, a fresh cut shining on her arm where Vox hit her.

“Emily!” Vaggie yells, signalling Emily to flee, to back away, but Emily ignores her trying to charge at Vox again. He lashes out, only to be blocked by a tentacle, that presumes to then lash at him in return. Alastor used the distraction of Emily to move closer to the barrier, shielding himself as good as possible against Lucifers energy, although getting several burns across his body and so to get in attack reach to Vox. He lashes with with his tentacle again, managing to rip a whole bunch of wires off of Vox’s head. The sphere with Lucifer sags down a bit and he is finally not pressed against the barrier anymore. Lucifer finally stops screaming, tears of pain, but also relief running down his cheeks. Vox’s screen glitches slightly, panic rising within him.
“NO! You can’t… I’M UNSTOPPABLE!” Suddenly a purple arrow flies past Vox, just barely missing his screen. Because Lucifer wasn’t sparking uncontrollably with energy anymore, Vellvette and the others finally intervened as well. Valentino flew up, his moth wings shacking with fury and grabbed Vox directly at his face.
“You… ¡Bueno para nada, MIERDA! ¡GILIPOLLAS!"He puts one of his feet on Vox’s chest and pushes against it, still holding Vox’s face and so rips it clean off of his body. Vox screams surprised. Valentino presumes to drop the whole Spanish catalogue of curse words at Vox, the others watching in awe.
Angel Dust chuckled weakly. “That’s one Valentino for you square head.”, he stumbles, still feeling the after effects of Vox shocking him, Husk quickly supporting him to prevent Angel from falling. Oh fuck! LUCIFER!”,Alastor suddenly screamed, running forward,trying to catch the sphere with lucifer… which was falling to the ground rapidly. Valentino had in his anger ripped so many wires off of Vox’s head, that the remaining cables weren’t able to support the weight of the sphere and so it fell. But Charlie and Emily used their magic to slow the fall and Alastor safely catches the sphere with his tentacles, softly setting it to the ground. “Open it! Fucking open it now!” Alastor demanded, being surprised by himself, why he reacted like that. Why was he so emotional? Valentino landed next to him, Vox’s head under one of his arms. “You heard it! How do we open the sphere!?” Valentino asked Vox holding his face so that Vox saw the sphere.
“You…I…I’m saying nothing!”,

”If you don’t want me to rip you to more shreds then the moth already did! You. Will!”

Alastor said, his voice colder than ice. Vox began to sweat.”I…uh…”, Vox gave up. “Open the lid at the top. There is a wire that you have to cut… it will open the sphere. Baxter already cut the wire while Vox explained and so the sphere cracked open with a metallic hiss as soon as Vox stopped talking.

Charlie was there immediately, pulling at the sphere shells to move them away. Alastor helped. Once moved aside Charlie hurries to her father. “Dad. Dad! DAD! Say something, please! Dad! Oh dad! He is… his wounds…fuck! So much blood!” Vaggie quickly knelt besides Charlie.

“Babe breathe! Panicking now is not an option!” Alastor knelt on the other side, taking in the picture. Lucifer lied on the ground, wires still attached to his skin, blood starting to pool around him, as if forming a horrifying Halo. Alastor gently touches Lucifers shoulder, although his hand trembles slightly.
“Lucifer…Lucifer can you hear me?!” His voice trembled with panic he never felt before. He shook Lucifers shoulder slightly. “Lucifer?… Lucifer answer! Don’t do this to us! Answer you motherducking king!” Alastor’s smile faltered slightly, the invisible ,magically conjured, green stitches at the corners of his mouth barely holding it upright. “We have to get him to the hotel! Now!” Emily exclaimed, already carefully moving rubble aside to ease the transport.

Alastor snapped back. “Yes…Yes let’s hurry!”, he stood up, gently lifting Lucifer into his arms. “Let’s go!”

Chapter Text

Once at the hotel, Charlie hurried through the lobby.

“Where do we put him?!” Alastor asked, quickly following her.

“To… to his room! We don’t have an infirmary and… I… I don’t know where else right now!” Alastor just nodded.

Vaggie and the others entered the lobby too, Husk and Cherri helping Angel Dust ease onto one of the couches. Baxter and Niffty were already tending to Emily’s wounds, and Valentino and Velvette helped where they could. Vox’s head had been locked in a box in a corner of the lobby, his voice muted. Valentino had just done it… and no one questioned how he knew how.

Meanwhile, Charlie shoved open the door to Lucifer’s room, Alastor close behind, the king still in his arms.

“Onto his bed!” Charlie said, shoving aside rubber ducks to make space.

Alastor set Lucifer down as if he were made of glass.

“Now… we… have to get the wires and cauterize the wounds so they stop bleeding!” Charlie said, her voice trembling but determination sparking in her eyes. “I’ll get bandages, stitches, and everything we need! Alastor… please help me remove the cables then, okay?”

Alastor nodded.

Charlie quickly rushed to get everything, while Alastor remained at Lucifer’s side. He pulled up his sleeves and sat beside him, his eyes focused on the rising and sinking chest of the unconscious man in front of him.

Charlie returned. “Okay! Got everything! And I called my Aunt Belphagor! She’s good with medicine and is on her way to check on him. But I don’t know how long she’ll need… we have to do as much as we can until my aunt is here! Can you…” Her voice shivered again. “…Can you hold his legs? I think pulling those wires will hurt…”

As an answer, Alastor used his shadow tentacles and wrapped them around Lucifer’s arms and legs.

“Let’s do this, Princess.”

Charlie pulled the first wire. Lucifer’s body flinched, his face clenching in pain.

“This… will take a while.”

“Then let’s make it as fast as we can.”

Both worked quickly, but as gently as possible. After an hour of careful pulling, disinfecting, cleaning, and bandaging the wounds, they finally came to the last wire. But it was the big one Vox had rammed into Lucifer’s chest.

Alastor’s brows furrowed. “How do we remove this? It’s so big and deep…”

Charlie seemed clueless as well.

Suddenly, screaming was heard in front of the hotel.

“WHERE IS HE?! LET ME IN!”

“Satan, shrink THE FUCK DOWN! The hotel is not big enough!”

“And stop screaming! Luci is WOUNDED and needs REST!”

“OH, and you aren’t YELLING, OZZ?!”

“I HAVE TO because you’re too BIG, DUMBASS! Bee said it already! Shrink. DOWN!”

“FINE!!”

Charlie couldn’t help but smile a bit, even though she still seemed annoyed.

Alastor raised an eyebrow. “Didn’t you say you called Belphagor?”

“Yeah, I did. But it seems my other aunts and uncles got informed by her too…”

Not a minute later, there was a knock at the door.

“Come in!” Charlie said.

The door immediately flew open and the six deadly sins of Hell practically fell through the doorway.

“Charlie!”

A small hellhound-like female figure immediately flew over and hugged her tightly.

“Auntie Bee!”

Beelzebub loosened the hug slightly to look at her. “Oh, sweetie! It’s good to see you, but where is…?”

Charlie pointed to the bed.

“Oh fuck!… Lu.” Bee put two of her hands in front of her mouth.

The other sins already moved closer.

“He looks horrible…” Asmodeus looked like he wasn’t far from crying, Mammon already violently rubbing his eyes behind Ozzie’s back. Satan’s fists clenched.

“Who did this?! I will…!” His voice shook with worry and anger.

“Unimportant right now, I’d say, your highness. In my opinion, we should prioritize freeing the king from the final wire for now. The one to punish is already captured and will not go anywhere,” Alastor said, still sitting on the bed next to Lucifer.

“And who are you?” Satan asked, a low growl in his voice.

“Oh, I’m but a mere sinner, only here to assist the princess in any way possible.”

Satan wanted to say something, but Belphagor—the pink and purple, sheep-like Sin of Sloth—cut him off.

“Thank you then for helping. I would ask you all to leave the room for now. I’ll take care of this wire.”

“But Bel—!”

“Satan! No!”

Belphagor pointed to the door. Satan exhaled sharply through his nose, his wings slightly shivering in anger, but he left the room, the others following.

Charlie took one of Belphagor’s hands. “Please, Aunt Bel… help him.”

“I will, sweetie. As good as possible.”

Charlie nodded and left the room.

Emily and the others looked a little nervous—no wonder, with still five of the seven deadly sins being in the lobby. Asmodeus sat on one couch that ached under his size, his tails nervously swaying back and forth. Mammon ate some snacks Niffty had brought at one point to calm himself. Leviathan’s two heads nervously looked around. Bee sat next to Charlie, holding her hand and gently stroking her hair and back with two of her four hands. Satan paced around the lobby, his dragon tail almost knocking over a vase.

Alastor caught it and prevented it from breaking.

“If you’d mind not destroying the hotel interior with your anxious pacing, I’d be grateful!”

Satan turned to him, anger flaring in his eyes. “I don’t know your game, sinner, but if you don’t want a free roast, maybe rethink your words.”

Alastor still grinned. “I only ask that you not make everyone more nervous than they already are.”

“He’s right, Satan!” a small voice suddenly called out.

Yogirt, a little therapist demon from Sloth, flew up next to Satan’s head. “Remember what we said about constructive criticism! And always deep breaths!”

The hotel crew was surprised when Satan suddenly stopped and did what the little demon said, only muttering, “Yeah, yeah, right… deep breaths.”

Valentino raised an eyebrow. “The Sin of Wrath has a therapist?”

Satan turned so quickly that Valentino froze in fear.

“Have a problem with that?!”

“N-N-No! No! Not at all… heh…!” Valentino quickly replied, shaking his head violently.

Satan just turned away again.

Suddenly, a short scream was heard from upstairs.

“LUCI!”

All five sins sprang to their feet at once, panic in their eyes—but a moment later, Belphagor appeared and held out a hand.

“It’s alright! Calm down!”

But the others were talking all at once, not listening to her.

“SHUT UP!” Belphagor yelled, and the other five immediately fell silent.

“It’s okay! He’s fine.”

“Does that mean…?” Charlie asked, moving closer, her hands pressed to her chest.

Belphagor nodded and pulled the big wire from behind her back, where she had held it.

“It’s out. He is sleeping for now… still not conscious… but alive. He’s okay.”

Tears of relief streamed from Charlie’s face and she hugged Belphagor. The other five sins joined in as well, all of them finally breathing more lightly.

“We should return to our Rings for now. When he wakes tomorrow, Charlie can call us and then we can check on him. But we shouldn’t block any rooms,” Belphagor said when they all loosened the hug again.

The others nodded.

Charlie wiped her eyes. “Thank you all! Thank you so much!”

And so the sins left with smiles on their faces.

The two V’s went to Charlie.

“Sooo… we should get back to our tower to handle things there… What do we do with Vox?” Velvette asked.

“Take him with you for now. There’s no point or use if he stays…”

And so the V’s left, Valentino holding the box with Vox under his arm.

Emily got up from the couch.

“I’ll be on my way for now too. Sera must be worried sick.”

Charlie hugged her tightly. “See you tomorrow?”

“Tomorrow!” Emily smiled and vanished.

“Now… how about we eat something and go to bed? The day was long and stressful, and I really want to get into comfy clothes,” Charlie suggested, pointing at her dress-suit she was still wearing.

Everyone agreed with nods or thumbs-ups.

Alastor moved to Charlie. “If you want, Princess, I can go and watch over your father for the night. You need a bath and sleep.”

“Are you okay with that, Al? You were wounded today and still wear your suit covered in Dad’s blood…”

“I’ll just get a shower, change into something comfy myself, and grab a good book! Don’t worry, Charlie, I’m going to be fine.”

Charlie smiled gratefully. “Thanks, Al.”

He tilted his head in a small bow and vanished into the shadows.

Chapter Text

Alastor didn’t possess many comfortable clothes he could call his own, but, thanks to Niffty, he did possess a red cozy sweater and some long comfortable red striped pants.

After showering and drying himself, that nasty fur took so long to dry, he had made his way to the kitchen and grabbed a cup of tea, gratefully seeing that everyone else had already gone to their rooms. That meant no comments from Angel dust or anyone else about his unusual clothes. Alastor made his way back to his room, grabbing the book about classic dances he was currently reading, after all he had to prepare for whatever that moth had planned for him somehow, and went to Lucifers room.

Once inside he looked around. When he rushed in with Charlie he didn’t pay much attention… but now he noticed the rooms interior. In one corner of the room a small kitchen was visible as well as a small dining room… everything covered and buried under rubber ducks. Two stairways left and right of the, of course, duck themed bed led to the bathroom and another stairway, that no doubt led to a balcony or terrace. Alastor shook his head. How could someone walk here without tripping over ducks?
He had basically tiptoed through the room, almost tripping multiple times.

“How can the king live here?”, he muttered.

He went back to the lower floor and sat down in an armchair next to the bed. He began reading, but after a while he set the book aside and looked at Lucifer.

The king lay there, still unconscious, bandages all over his body, clothed in an oversized pink sweater and long white striped pants. Alastor’s brows furrowed.

Similar clothing… it almost seemed like he and the king bought their clothes together… Alastor sighed.
What did he care? There was nothing about it! But even despite that he kept looking at the king.
The sweater seemed very warm for Lucifer… Alastor saw little sweat pearls run down his Forehead. Was the sweater too warm? It seemed so.
When he was wounded, back when he was alive, his mother would clean the wound and then let it get some fresh air first before bandaging it. At the memory of his mother his heart ached a little, like every time. Thinking of her just always brought back unpleasant memories. He focused back on the sweating king.

Should he take the sweater off of the king?
No.
Whatever the sin of sloth did, she must’ve had a reason for putting her brother into the chosen clothes. Alastor sat down again. He was just here to keep Charlie calm. Just to ensure no one disturbed the king. He would not play the caretaker and…! But at that moment Lucifer shifted. His brows furrowed and more sweat ran down. He seemed to feel very unwell. Alastor sighed in frustration. He moved to the bed and carefully pulled at the sweater. His shadow helped lifting the king up slowly and soon alastor was able to get the sweater off. He laid it aside carefully, to not make any of the rubber ducks squeak and then returned to the bed. He pulled the blanket aside and squinted. The bandages of the king were covered in multiple golden spots where his blood already seeped through.

“Oh for hells sake!”, Alastor cursed under his breath. He grabbed some bandages, Disinfectant spray and a wet cloth. When he removed the first bandages, Alastor almost threw up. The skin of the king was a mess of half healed wounds, bruises where Vox’s electricity had burned the skin, leftover fabric of Lucifers suit that had burned itself to it, blood and dirt that started to make the wound infected. “Did the sin of sloth really only remove the wire?!” Alastor cursed quietly. He worked quickly and quiet, trying not to disturb the king as much. But Lucifer barley reacted, only flinching once or twice, during the whole process.

When he was done Alastor sweated and was really exhausted. He still felt like throwing up, when he threw the small pile of leftover fabric away that had been stuck in the kings skin.

But now the king was finally looking comfortable and stopped sweating.

Alastor fell back into the armchair.
“When that sheep comes here tomorrow I swear!…” Alastor sighed frustrated again. He was so emotional lately. It confused him. Why did he, the almighty radio demon react so emotionally when it came to the king?

It was not like he knew much about emotions, he never cared about any other than fear, but he was certainly that he felt something irrational when it came to that nasty king! He didn’t even like him! He hated him! And so did Lucifer. So why did he worry so much when Lucifer was wounded? Why had he been protective towards the King?

Did he… like the king? Alastor irritatedly shook his head at that thought. He indeed enjoyed bickering with the king, making fun of him, play fighting with him, all of that. But… personally. did he like the king personally? Alastor shook his head again. No! He was only here because Charlie had helped him out of his contracts and he had felt like doing something for her in return! It was nothing more!
It WAS nothing more! But his heart didn’t seem to agree.

A sudden movement ripped alastor out of his thought spiral. Lucifer shifted in his bed, wincing and muttering. “No… no… stop… please!” Lucifer shivered and flinched, trying to grasp at something with his hands. “Let me go! I’m not hurting heaven! Charlie! Anyone! I….i… i… don’t..argh!….stop!” His breath quickened and tears started to run down his eyes. Alastor felt something in him tighten. The king had a nightmare. As lucifer moved golden spots appeared on the bandages.
Not good! Alastor moved closer. He sat down on the side of the bed.

“Lucifer. It’s okay…” he whispered calmingly, his radio tunes adjusting to make his voice sound more smoothly. He extended a hand carefully towards Lucifer, but he swatted it away, still with closed eyes. “Don’t Touch me! Stop! Stop! Don’t hurt her! Don’t make me hurt her! Please! Tv head… stop!”

“Lucifer listen… listen!” Alastor tried again, but Lucifer went frantic.

Alastor sighed… and turned his radio filter off.

“Lucifer! Lucifer. I am not Vox. Listen to me. Listen to my voice. It’s okay. It is okay.” Lucifer calmed a bit, long enough for alastor to stroke Lucifers hair once. “It’s okay. You are save.” Lucifer stopped shivering slightly. And then alastor started humming. It was an old lullaby his mother used to hum, when the times were bad and his dad drunk again. It was a simple comforting melody… but it worked. Lucifer relaxed more, curling in on himself just slightly, but his breathing evened out again. Alastor now climbed onto the bed completely, carefully pulling Lucifer closer and continued stroking his hair. “With your smile you turn the world upside down...” Alastor finished humming. Lucifer’s breath was now steady.

“I’m only doing this for Charlie.” Alastor muttered… but he didn’t move away. He remained sitting there, stroking the Kings hair.

Chapter Text

Alastor woke up when Charlie rattled his shoulder. “Al…? Why are you in my dad’s bed? He sat up. Lucifers siblings stood at the end of the bed as well, angel dust and the others peeking through the door. “Explain.” Satan growled. Alastor stood up, straightening his posture. “The king had an unpleasant dream and I found no solution to calm him then personal comfort.” Emily suddenly gasped. The young seraphim stood on the other side of the bed. “Mr. Lucifer! You’re awake!”
Everyone looked to Lucifer. He stirs and looks around. “What?……” His gaze wanders around, seeing Alastor, Charlie, Angel dust, who was still lingering at the door… and then his gaze lands on his siblings. “Luci…” Asmodeus carefully came closer. But Lucifer starts to shiver… his eyes unfocused. “N..n..no! No don’t come closer! DON’T COME CLOSER!” Lucifer crawls back against the head end of the bed hurriedly, sweating, breathing speeding up rapidly. New blood spots taint his bandages. Asmodeus and the others all step back as if struck. “Luci…. Why is he afraid ?” Tears rise in Beelzebub’s eyes. Lucifer claws at his chest. “Charlie……..Alastor…. Help….help me … i .. please…!” Alastor and Charlie rush forward. “Everyone out! NOW!” Alastor commands. The others hurry to do just that.
After nearly five hours Alastor and Charlie come down into the lobby. “He passed out from exhaustion. But he rests now.” Charlie explains. Satan paces again. “Why in hell is he afraid of us!? We didn’t do anything to him!” “Maybe because you emit great power… Vox took a lot of power out of him…an now he is so power deprived that he projects his now very surely traumatic fear of Vox onto great power. He sees him in you…. And me probably.” Emily said, speaking her thoughts. “I’ll kill that TV bastard…!” Satan growled.
“Now dear Satan, I find your attitude and power demonstration very delightful and would love you to fulfil that threat of yours. But we can’t have Lucifer live through another panic attack like this and I’m pretty certain that you agree with me on this term?” Satan huffed. “Yes…. That’s a fair point.” He said through clenched teeth.
Alastor nodded approvingly. “Now that we come to this glorious conclusion! I have a little offer to make!” His smile widened. Vaggi’s gaze snapped to him. “I SWEAR if this is you proposing a deal…!” “Don’t worry dear! I have a mere offer with no ask in return to make.” Everyone looked at him. “Now. Since the king is still in a questionable state and in that term needs a caretaker I have this offer to propose. I know many of you have duties to fulfil… and those are not small ones! …. So I suggest myself to take that place.”
Everyone was stunned. Husk spit his drink. “Is that still smiles?”, Angel asked, whispering to Husk. “Now don’t be stunned! It’s a mere logical decision isn’t it?”, Alastor tilted his head slightly, his radio static humming. Satan looked at him. “Our brother may have trusted you just now… but that doesn’t mean I do.” “Or we.”, Mammon added. “What if you kill him? Or take advantage of his state? We heard about you, you know. The most powerful overlord and sinner of hell. The fearsome radio demon. And this demon is now suddenly running around, offering to care for the king of hell out of generosity?” Satans voice was dangerously low.
“I must admit… your concerns are right. I don’t have the best reputation, but I prefer a sense of balance. It wouldn’t do anything good if the king of hell died. It would cause chaos and probably trouble for the hotel too. And since my only occupation right now is to assist Charlie Morningstar with her project I’d like to keep this form of entertainment alive. So if you’ll accept this as a proper explanation id be delighted to ask what the king prefers to eat? Ill keep the food healthy and appropriately at first, but i would guess that he should have something comforting and familiar sometimes.”
Satan sighed. “If that’s what you offer…. We don’t have another solution currently so…. So be it! Take care of him. But if you do something we don’t approve! It WILL have consequences!” Alastor just nods. “Understood.” Beelzebub immediately rushed forward. “Here. I made a list of his favourite food. Don’t fuck it up!” “Oh I’m decent at cooking, madam! He’ll be in good hands.” Mammon and Leviathan just shot him a warning look. Asmodeus and Belphagor seemed to have accepted it.
“Just to be sure that the king is safe. I’d suggest that you six and the heavenly forces make contact to the hotel via digital communications from now on. We can’t risk the king getting in any contact with powerful forces at the moment.” Alastor says while already studying the list Beelzebub gave him.
“But…!….. fine…” Asmodeus and the others clenched their fists. They hated the thought, although it was the only logical solution. “I’m sure that he’ll be alright again soon. And then we’ll all be together again.” Charlie says, hope shining in her voice.
Everyone nods in agreement. “We’ll call every day! And we want a daily update on our brother! How he is doing… everything!” Mammon says. “I won’t disappoint.” Alastor smiles.
The sins turn to leave. The others go to organise a room closer to Lucifers for Alastor so he is always near. Alastor goes to the kitchen to look for supplies, when Emily stops him. “Mr Alastor?” Alastor stiffens slightly. Since the seraphim protected him and lost her wing because of it, he isn’t quite sure how to interact with her. It would only be right to say “thank you” or “sorry for putting you in danger”, but Alastor couldn’t bring himself to say anything except “Yes Miss seraphim?” “Call me Emily!” “What do you want Emily?”
“I just wanted to say…. Thank you for taking care. I know Charlie didn’t say it out loud… but she is really grateful that you help her father. I just wanted you to know that…. I think your very kind… kinder than you might think.” Alastor stiffened more. He turned away. “I’m not that kind miss Emily. If you knew me longer you’d see it that way too. Just… just return to your realm please… the king needs absolute safety!” Emily looked at his back. “You are kind. And no one will convince me otherwise.” She turns to leave. “Thank you.” Alastor suddenly mutters. “Thank you for saving my life, although it came with a cost.”
Emily smiled gently. “Your welcome.” She disappears through a portal.
Alastor stands in the kitchen. “Kind…..” he stared at the floor.
“Alastor?! Are you coming! See if the room is to your liking?” “I’m coming!” Alastor says, leaving the kitchen.
But the words linger.

Chapter Text

“Your majesty…. Would you mind not denying everything i offer you to eat?” Alastor said, one eye twitching unnerved. “No!” Lucifer answers in return turning his head away from the spoon Alastor was holding out to him. The soup was already cold. This argument was going on for three hours now.
“You are impossible!”, Alastor sighs and goes to the kitchen corner, which he spent two hours on to clean of all the rubber ducks, in Lucifers room to reheat the soup for the seventh time.

“I want pancakes!” ,he heard Lucifer whining from the bed. “And i want you to stop complaining! I won’t make Pancakes when your head still feels like the firing pits of hell!” Lucifer threw a rubber duck. Alastor dodged.
Lucifer throws more ducks. “I. Want. PANCAKES!” One of them hits Alastor and then… lands in the soup pot. A splash follows…and Alastor is covered in little red spots, the soup now all over him. “Fiiiine….You get your pancakes… but eat one spoon of soup at least!” Alastor groans. The king nods. Alastor sighs in relief.

“This doesn’t taste so bad… Can I have more soup?” Alastor could’ve exploded. “No. Because the rest is all over me!” Lucifer seems guilty. “Oh……sorry.” Alastor flinched, because a warm feeling sprouted in his chest. “Augh! You…. Hah…. You’re impossible.” Alastor put a plate with pancakes in front of the king.

“Here. Eat.” Lucifer looks at the pancakes. “They are duck shaped…” Lucifer smiles. He eats the pancakes.
Suddenly it knocks. Charlie enters. “Alastor! …Why are you covered in soup?” “Long story princess…” Alastor sighed. “Well… I have a call here… It’s from my uncle…” Charlie showed a phone. “Princess wait!” Too late. Lucifer saw his siblings… and in a moment his mood turned from calm to panic. He clawed at his bed , breath quickening. “OUT.” Alastor ordered. Charlie hurried away. Alastor kneeled next to the bed. “Your maje… Lucifer. Lucifer listen to me! Where. are. you?” Lucifer tried to control his breath. “I…I…am …I..in my……r….r…r.o…room …and…” “shhhhh….good….try breathing slower…tell me more…. What do you see?” “Y…y..y…..you….m..my..d..d..ducks” “good. What is not here?” “..t.t.t.t….the…..TV….h.head…..” “yes. So what is not here?” “Danger….is…not…here.”

“Yes.”, Alastor nodded approvingly. Lucifer started to shiver suddenly. The blanket fell out of the bed. “I…….sorry…alastor…I….” Alastor sighed again… and hugged Lucifer. Lucifer immediately clung to Alastor. They remained like that for a while. Alastor realised he was still covered in soup. He ignored it. “I….” Lucifer’s breath was normal again. “Thanks…” Alastor loosened the hug awkwardly and covered the king with a blanket again. “Not for that…” Alastor answered.

“Alastor…” , Lucifer said after Alastor was done cleaning up the mess of soup, on the floor and himself, pancakes and ducks. “Yes?” Alastor noticed the slight green tone of Lucifers face. “Lucifer….” He knew it before it happened. “I…. Think i should’ve eaten the soup…..”, Lucifer said…. Before throwing up onto the bed and floor. “Fantastic….” Alastor’s deer ears tilted back in annoyance. “Looks like I have to continue cleaning for another while….”
Alastor presumed to clean the vomit. Changing the blanket, cleaning the carpet and searching for all the rubber ducks who got hit by splashes of vomit.

“Now… it’s your turn.” Lucifers eyes widened, once he processed what Alastor said. “Oh no! I’m NOT letting you bath me.” “Yes you will!” Lucifer tried to get away. Alastor grabbed him with his shadow powers and carried him to the bathroom. “LET. ME. GO!” Lucifer squirmed, but it was no use.
In the bathroom Alastor looked around. It was absolutely luxurious. A big bathtub was sunken into the ground and the whole bathroom bared golden aspects. “My my! Must say you got taste!” Alastor said while already handling with the Water taps of the bathtub. Warm water flowed in… and it was crystal clear almost seeming sterile, no… glowing. “Heavenly water?” Alastor understood before he turned.

Lucifers breathing quickened again.

“Lucifer. It’s not heaven. It’s not Vox. You’re save. Do you hear me? It’s not heaven. It’s NOT Vox. Come on. Repeat with me. It’s not heaven. It’s not….” Lucifers eyes focused on Alastor again slowly. He joined Alastor’s words and for a while they just focused on repeating the words. “Now…. Can I get you clean? Can I touch you?” Lucifer nodded slowly. Alastor removed the dirty clothes from the king until Lucifer wore nothing more then his shorts. “If you aren’t comfortable I won’t turn until you are in the water.” Alastor said, while cleaning the clothes of the king at a big sink in the corner of the room.

As an answer Alastor heard the clicking sound of hooves walking and then the sound of a person going into the water. He had been surprised to find out about the hooves, when he started to take care of the king, but now he found it…funnily convenient that the king had hooves, as Alastor had some too. Alastor hung the clothes over a golden Clothes line that hung at one side of the room. “I’ll be right back.” He got out and brought back the wet carpet and blanket, he had hung over the balcony first.

“Now…” Alastor tried not to look at the king. “Do you need…anything?” Splashing could be heard as Lucifer made his way towards Alastor. “Why don’t you join me?” Alastor felt a warmth rise in his chest …and his cheeks. He tried to focus. He turned around. “Why would I ? I’m perfectly clean currently…” he felt a tug at his Ankle and then he fell.

He landed in the water, his clothes immediately soaked to the brim. “Lucifer!” Alastor swished the hair out of his eyes. His deer ears dropped in annoyance. Lucifer laughed. Alastor started to climb out. “ hey! Stay here!” Lucifer tried to grab him. Alastor’s shadow blocked his hand. “I won’t bath in clothes!” “Why don’t you take them off then?” Alastor couldn’t make out if the king was serious or if he was teasing him. But the warm feeling in his chest got even warmer. “I…” “ you’ll have to if you don’t want to catch a cold.” Lucifer said as if it was the fact of the day.

Alastor gave up. “Fine. I still smell like your vomit anyway, so…. Some cleaning is still necessary.” He took off his clothes too, except for his shorts and went into the water. He noticed the king watching him. “What?”,he asked, one of his ears flicking in irritation. “You look….fluffy….” Lucifer said. The feeling in Alastor’s chest began to flutter. Luckily his cheeks were already read due to the Steam that filled the entire bath, or otherwise Lucifer would’ve noticed it getting darker after his statement. Alastor shook his head, trying to get rid of the feeling. Lucifer meanwhile grabbed a rubber duck and played with it absentmindedly. Alastor looked at him. He never noticed how… Well-trained the king was… Alastor’s ears flicked in confusion. Why was he paying attention to that? Why was he finding the king…attractive?

“Alastor?” Lucifer was in front of him. Alastor Flinched back. “I….. we should start cleaning ourselves!” “But I don’t want too!” Lucifer was whining again. “Back to child mode? Well if you want it that way…” Alastor dipped the kings head underwater. “Alalalssstoreeereerrrr!” Lucifers muffled complaint could be heard as he tried to get his head out of the water.

But Alastor was resolute. He presumed to wash the kings hair and insisted on the king washing his body. Every time Lucifer complained, he found himself dunked again. After what seemed like an eternity, Alastor and Lucifer stood outside the bathtub, Alastor drying Lucifers hair. “Your still dripping…” Lucifer noted. “Well I have fur… it takes longer to dry…” “ how long?” Lucifers voice seemed guilty. “Oh I had time to practice. When I first arrived it took me a whole week. Today I’m able to do it in one hour.” Lucifer nodded slowly, but he seemed sad. Something in Alastor’s chest stung. He didn’t want the king to be sad. “It’s alright Lucifer.” Alastor said. “I don’t… I didn’t hate this shared bath time.” Lucifer suddenly turned. “Really?” Hope, or happiness? Alastor couldn’t tell… but the kings eyes seemed to shimmer with a happy emotion. “….yes” Alastor said. “Now let’s get you bandaged and dressed.”

When Charlie checked on them a few hours later, Alastor was comfortably clothed, sitting in the armchair next too lucifers bed, reading in a book. Lucifer was asleep, but he looked way better. Charlie smiled and silently closed the door.

Chapter Text

A few days later Alastor sat in the lobby. At this point he decided it would be stupid wearing suits every day and instead wore a simple shirt and long Comfortable pants. Angel dust said he looked better this way. Alastor ignored him.

Charlie approached him. “Hey Alastor. How’s dad?”

Alastor’s chest felt warm again. He slightly shook his head in confusion. “He’s sleeping right now. The fever is finally going away too. But his power still feels strange. Like it’s still drained.”

Charlie sat down opposite to him. “Well at least there’s something good. Sorry by the way…. I shouldn’t have stormed in that day…. But I didn’t think even seeing them would….”
“I don’t understand why he reacted like that either…but I guess he felt their power… despite them being on the phone…” Alastor’s ears flicked thoughtfully.

Charlie looked at him for a long moment. “Alastor…. What is the real reason you decided to look after dad?”
Alastor was dead silent. “I….. I…”, his hands got a bit sweaty. He rubbed them over his thighs. “I merely wished to assist you, being able to settle things in the hotel and work out how to continue with everything….”
Charlie raised a brow. “Is everything alright Alastor?”

Alastor suddenly stood up. “I… I have to check on the king!” He started to walk away hurriedly. Charlie followed and grabbed his hand. “Alastor wait.” He ripped his hand free. His heart pounded as if wanting to say something. Something it desperately wanted to tell him days ago. “Alastor?”
“I…Sorry. Can…can we talk about it….later?”,Alastor said, staring at his hand. Charlie only nodded. With that he rushed to his room next to Lucifers and slammed the door shut. He immediately sank down to his knees, trying to calm his hurried heart and breath.

“Why?! Why is this happening?! What the fuck is wrong with me??!” Alastor pressed his hands to his face. His smile hurt.

“Alastor?”

His head shot up. He wasn’t in his room… he was in Lucifers. Lucifer sat upright in the bed, hair messy, eyes filled with concern.

“Lucifer…. I … did I wake you? I… oh …yeah I…slammed the door….” Alastor’s heart was still beating to fast. Lucifer patted the mattress beside him. “Come here.”

“I….” Alastor still pressed his hands to his chest, trying to soothe his racing heart. “Come here.”, Lucifer repeated. Alastor walked over and sat down. Lucifer patted again. “Closer.” Alastor moved closer. “And now: breathe. In. two, three. Out. two, three. …. Again.” Lucifer said while soothingly caressing Alastor’s back.
After a while his heart finally calmed. “Thanks.” Alastor said quietly. Lucifer smiled. “You helped me so much now. It’s a good exchange.”

Alastor chuckled. “Do you…need anything?” Lucifer thought about it. “Just a tea please.”

“Okay. Apple tea like always?”

“Yes”

Alastor went to the kitchen. His head was a mess of emotions and thoughts. After finishing the tea and giving it to Lucifer, Alastor just stood there awkwardly. “Hey. I think you should get some rest today. I can handle myself.” Lucifer said, sipping his tea.

“Are you sure?” Alastor felt strange. “I am still capable of calling for someone if necessary.” Lucifer only answered. “Okay…” Alastor moved to the door slowly, hesitant.
“See you at noon. Today I… thought you could make your jambalaya?” Alastor’s chest was filled with warm feelings again. “Oh… if your majesty insists.” , he smiled.

“See you then Alastor.”

“See you then.”

Alastor stood on the Corridor now. Alone. Where should he go? He heard voices of hotel guests approaching. He quickly disappeared in his room. In there he paced back and forth. He sat down on his bed, stood up again, turned the radio on, then off. He drank multiple glasses of whiskey.

“I have to……I …I need to…” he didn't know what he needed to do. He only knew what he wanted to do. Get rid of this feeling, he knew what it was, he didn’t want. This feeling he could impossibly have about the king. He was the caretaker! Nothing more!

He couldn’t….. A knock at the door ripped him out of the spiral. “Alastor?” Charlie looked through the door.
“Charlie. Come in.” Alastor said, sitting down on the bed. Charlie approached him. “About this morning…” “Sorry I…” They both stopped. “You first.” Charlie said. “I’m sorry about ripping my hand away. I hope I didn’t hurt you?”

“No. I was just startled. But I want to apologize. I touched you without asking.” “No need to apologize princess. But I appreciate it anyway. Thank you.”

Charlie came closer. “Do you want to talk?”

Alastor nodded. Charlie sat down beside him. “You feel strange lately… don’t you?”
Alastor nodded again. “Can you describe it?”

Alastor hesitated.“It…it is a warm… feeling…in my chest… and it… it makes me feel… good….”, he said while fidgeting with his hands.

“…And it is like that when you are around my dad.”, Charlie concluded.
Alastor stared at the floor. “I….. I don’t…..why do I feel like this….? I… I mean when I met him he was just… just that pathetic little king. A joke! Someone entertaining to tease. He was just the king of hell. And then he killed Adam, while i failed. He teased me back… and i liked it.”

Charlie slowly took his hand. “And that’s okay Alastor. You feel like that because you care. Go on.”
Alastor took in a deep breath.

“When Vox kidnapped me… I had time to think… and …My thoughts were…mostly… about him. I…. Started noticing things. How i watched his every move. That i…liked how he moves his hands. Liked his insecure chuckling, every time i threw him of balance. The competitive smile he gave me, when i teased him again. The way he moves with such confidence even though he knows he has limits. That he didn’t care about the opinion of others……….. I…… i realised i liked watching him…. And that i…. Had the wish to spend more time with him…”

Charlie gently squeezed his hand, reassuring that she was listening.

“Then i got out of my captivity…. But Vox still had him. And when i saw Lucifer hurt i…i felt panic. I feared that i …. Was going to loose him. I didn’t understand. Why i cared… why i didn’t want him to die. Why I helped saving him. I thought I didn’t care about him. Thought it was only interested in making fun of him. Convincing myself that even a sinner could be greater, better than the king. But it was different. I just wanted him to fight back. Talk with me in that funny teasing tone he has. I wanted the king to be his funny, confident, smug little self. I wanted….want….him safe and happy.”

Alastor took a deep breath.

“Charlie……….. I….I think I love your father.”