By the time Lucifer pried his eyes open, the brighter red tones of Hell's daylight were shining through the curtains fluttering in the breeze. He didn't remember opening the doors to his joint balcony but he also couldn't remember the last time he slept so soundly. He felt well-rested, the kind that made his bones feel heavy as the warmth of his bed beckoned him back to sleep. His eyes fluttered shut, content to do just that when the reason he woke up in the first place cut through the silence a second time.
Lucifer groaned as he rubbed the dried drool off his chin, calling for whoever was knocking to come in. The door opened and he sat up in his bed to watch Charlie enter. He smiled tiredly, noting the plate of food in her hand with confusion. He took it when offered regardless but she managed to read his expression.
"You missed breakfast. I just wanted to make sure you ate." Charlie moved away to the seating area with her own cup of coffee that he hadn't noticed. Lucifer, on the other hand, nearly dropped the plate at her words. He scrambled out of bed, placing it down on the table nearby so he could put both hands on her shoulders.
"I am so so so sorry, Charlie! I-I didn't mean to oversleep." He stepped back from her to pace nervously around his room. "It wasn't too bad, right? I know my little fit yesterday probably made it awkward and, oh, Hells, they didn't try to do anything while I was gone, did they? What was I thinking?"
Lucifer's breaths came out in uneven wheezes and he gripped his chest as if that would help the regulation. Then, as if his last thought finally registered in his brain, he turned onto his daughter, hands fluttering around her to see if there were any injuries. She looked fine at the very least but his examination only stopped when she grabbed his upper arms and shook him slightly.
"Dad! I'm fine, and it's okay!" She smiled reassuringly. "Breakfast was… good, I guess. I could tell they wanted to ask about you, but it got tense last night after you left." Lucifer felt his heart sink and he finally took a seat across from her. Charlie pushed the plate closer to him as a silent command for him to eat. He picked up the spoon to poke at the yogurt.
"I shouldn't have said what I did yesterday. I'm supposed to be supporting you, but if anything, I'm just making you look bad. I'm sorry. I really am, and I'll do better from now on." Lucifer glanced up at her, noting the frown on her face as she looked at him. He turned his attention back on the food, slowly putting in some crumbled granola and strawberries into the yogurt to add more flavor. The first bite made him realize how hungry he actually was.
The silence that followed was uncomfortable. Lucifer busied himself with eating the food she brought: pancakes, yogurt, sausage, and orange juice that was left over from yesterday's breakfast. Charlie had finished her coffee already, gaze trained on the table as she bit her lip. She wanted to ask him something and he felt shame roil in his gut at the fact she wasn't sure if it would be well received.
"What's on your mind, duckie?" he asked uncertainly, setting the now empty bowl to the side so he could focus on the rest. Lucifer and food were always an interesting mix. Some days, he'd be able to eat whatever was put in front of him. Other times, there would only be very specific foods he could even think about stomaching. Today seemed to be that and, luckily, pancakes were one of those 'safe foods' he remembered hearing Angel Dust call it once.
Her eyes flickered back up to meet him. There was another bout of hesitation before she steeled her expression with determination and cleared her throat.
"Why didn't you tell me you had siblings?"
Lucifer should have expected that question. He should have expected how hurt she looked over him keeping something like that from her. He sighed, frowning down at his half-eaten plate as he thought. The truth was what she wanted, he just wasn't sure how much of that he was able to give.
"The last time we saw each other wasn't exactly pleasant," was what he settled on, setting down the fork as to not ruin yet another utensil when his anger got the best of him.
"Yeah, I got that much," Charlie spoke softly and Lucifer had to close his eyes so he couldn't see the love and concern on her face. It only made him feel worse. "Bad enough to not talk to them for 10,000 years."
"I tried. After so many ignored messages, I gave up." Lucifer crossed his arms, digging his claws into his biceps. The gloves were still firmly in place and the only thing keeping him from shredding his skin entirely.
Charlie's frown only deepened and her stare felt like she was peering right into his very soul. Did angels have souls? Lucifer wasn't sure, to be honest. He stubbornly kept her gaze no matter how uncomfortable it made him feel. Then, her features softened impossibly more.
"What did they do to you, dad?" The air was knocked clean out of his lungs and he ignored his earlier resolve as a spike of pain radiated up his arm. Charlie looked so sad and Lucifer couldn't — he couldn't handle it.
"Charlie, I love you, I really do, but I can't—" He screwed his eyes shut as the breath that left him stuttered in his lungs. Charlie must've moved at some point, a gentle arm wrapping around his shoulders in a pleasant side hug. Lucifer melted into the embrace.
They stayed like that for a few minutes, Lucifer desperately trying to push away the nausea he felt and control his erratic heart. His daughter didn't say anything as she rubbed his arm comfortingly. Lucifer couldn't help but think how disquieting the whole thing was. Bringing him down from a near panic wasn't a responsibility Charlie should have.
Lucifer sighed, bringing a hand up to run through his messy hair. He opened his eyes once the idea of facing the world wasn't so daunting. Charlie was looking at him with so much undeserved concern but her face lit up in a smile, one he managed to give back at only a fraction of the brightness.
"I'll tell you after their visit. I just — I can't while they're here." Thankfully, she only nodded in acceptance. It wasn't the only thing on her mind and after a few moments of considering the half empty plate on the table, she pulled him up from his chair and moved towards the bed. They sat down side by side, Charlie turning slightly to face him while he remained looking forwards.
"I won't pry but are you… anticipating that they aren't here for what they say they are?" Lucifer furrowed his brows at that, head rolling to the side so he could see his daughter better.
"What gave you that impression?" Charlie raised a brow, her expression looking vaguely amused at his own confusion.
"You do realize Vaggie would've told me about the necklace, right?" No, actually, it hadn't crossed his mind that his daughter's girlfriend would have informed her about her sudden inheritance to Lucifer's power, and not just by marrying said daughter.
It wasn't like he would ever ask for Vaggie to keep something like that from Charlie, but he did wish she waited more than a few hours to do so. Give him time to prepare a better way to evade the question. Then again, he really needed to start being completely truthful with Charlie if he wanted to keep rebuilding their relationship.
"I'm not anticipating that they're here to kill me." It wasn't fully the truth but it wasn't a lie either. "You have to understand, sweetie, that I have a lot of enemies both in Heaven and Hell. I've had preparations in place for millennia in the off chance that I do get, uh…" He trailed off at the pained expression Charlie had at the idea of him being permanently killed.
"I-I'm not saying it's gonna happen, Charlie!" He waved his hands frantically in his sad attempt at reassurance. "But it would be very, very bad if I were to die and Hell was left without any plans and — please don't cry, Charlie!" Lucifer lurched forward to drag her into a bone crushing embrace that was returned rather quickly.
"Sorry, Dad!" She hiccuped, wiping her eyes the best she could in their hug. "You're right. I know you are." Charlie's grip on him tightened as she buried her face in his shoulder. It couldn't have been comfortable for her, what with their height difference and all, but he ran his claws gently against her scalp in the way she loved as a kid.
"I guess the idea of losing you terrifies me. Especially after mom." Charlie pulled back but her hands never left his shoulders and she leaned into his own touch on her arms. "I don't know how humans do it."
He brought up his hand to rest against her cheek, lightly wiping away the tears with his thumb. The smile she gave him didn't quite reach her eyes, but he figured talking about the possible death of a parent wasn't a fun subject for any child.
"I didn't give Vaggie that pendant because I think my siblings are here to murder me." He assured, putting as much conviction he could into his voice. "It really was coincidental; I was going to ask that of her regardless. Someone needs to protect you when I can't and… I want to make sure she'll be safe if I'm gone too."
That particular line earned him an even more suffocating embrace as a new wave of tears — happy ones — overtook his daughter. He wheezed out the air in his lungs and patted her back awkwardly.
"I'm so happy you approve of Vaggie! I mean, I would never break up with her if you asked me to but I still really want you guys to get along." Lucifer chuckled as best he could with what little oxygen he had in his chest but he eventually used just an ounce of angelic strength to push Charlie away so he could smile up at her.
"Are you kidding? I love Vaggie! All I could ever ask in a partner for you is someone that cherishes you the way you deserve. As far as I'm concerned, she's checked that box several times over."
Charlie blushed with a giggle, clearly thinking of ways to gush about her girlfriend before she seemed to remember something.
"Oh! I forgot why I even came up here!" She adjusted slightly on the bed, pulling her leg up so she was more comfortable. "I have a bonding activity planned today for everyone, including the ambassadors, and I was really hoping you'd join us."
That was the last thing he wanted to do, quite frankly. Facing his siblings after the disaster of a dinner last night was not high on the list of things Lucifer was keen to do but he also refused to give them the satisfaction of knowing the full depth of his discomfort. Charlie, for her part, had already deployed her patented puppy dog eyes and Lucifer knew he was done for.
"I'll join. Just give me a few minutes to get ready, duckie." With a whoop, she pulled him into one final hug before darting from the room to get whatever she had planned ready. His shoulders drooped as soon as she was gone.
Lucifer sat there for a minute, hyping himself up for the inevitable shit show the day would turn out to be. With a snap of his fingers to replace his clothes and a bright smile that didn't quite reach his eyes, Lucifer left the confines of his bedroom to meet everyone else downstairs.
All current residents of the hotel were gathered in the foyer, watching as Charlie placed a table in the middle of the luscious space. Lucifer hadn't yet joined them, opting to just stand at the top of the stairs. No one had noticed his presence yet and he hoped it would stay that way for a moment longer.
His estranged siblings were standing with each other, Michael and Gabriel conversing quietly while Azrael remained silent. Emily was talking to Angel and Husk and it appeared not to be anything damning as she looked decidedly not grossed out. Lucifer was glad to see that Angel was remaining PG as of right now.
Alastor, the bastard that he was, noticed him and spun on his heel with a flourish.
"Good afternoon, Your Majesty! I'm elated to see you've decided to bless us simpletons with your presence this fine day." Lucifer shot Alastor a scowl, willing that fucking smirk to wipe off his face. It only grew.
Lucifer didn't dignify him with a response but everyone's attention was back on him so, with his head held high, he descended the stairs with all the grace of a royal. Lucifer smiled brightly as Charlie greeted him and he came to a stop next to Vaggie.
"Okay, everyone's here!" Charlie clapped her hands together before urging everyone to gather around the table. "Today, I thought we would start out simple with a dice game! I haven't quite thought of a name yet, but I know there's a lot of, uh… tension so something where we work as teams would be beneficial for that!"
She procured two pairs of dice in each of her hands placing one set on the table along both sides of the long edges. Lucifer peered at them curiously but for all he could tell, they were regular six-faced dice.
"There'll be two teams that I delegate here in a moment but the rules are simple. The people at that corner of the table will roll the dice until they roll doubles and pass it to the next person, so on and so forth. The team that gets to the end first wins." Charlie finished with too much enthusiasm, throwing her hands up excitedly.
"Oooh, what's the prize, sugar?" Angel asked with a devious smile, bottom set of arms pressed on the table as he leaned forward. Husk rolled his eyes though it was far more fond than he probably intended it to be.
"Uhm… bragging rights?" Charlie smiled dubiously and Angel deflated briefly before standing straight again.
"At least put me on a team against Cherri. I wanna rub it in 'er face when I kick 'er ass." Angel shoved his lower elbow into her side and she immediately whipped around with a sharp smile directed at him.
"Oh, you are on, bitch!" Cherri jumped up slightly to throw an arm around Angel's neck and drag him down to her level for a noogie. He shoved her away playfully, sticking out his tongue like a rueful child.
"I can definitely do that! On that note, here are the teams: Team One will be me, Azrael, Gabriel, Husk, Nifty, and Cherri, and everyone else will be on Team Two!" They quickly split off into their teams and after a reminder of no cheating (with a very pointed look at Lucifer, Alastor, and Husk), they started delegating who would go where in the line.
Which unfortunately had Lucifer sandwiched between Michael and Alastor. Vaggie and Emily were starting the row while Angel brought up the end. He tried silently begging his future daughter-in-law to switch places, but Charlie really wanted to start against her so all she did was smile apologetically. Instead, he was left to lean more comfortably towards Alastor to put as much space between him and his brother without actually touching the sinner. A closeness that hadn't gone unnoticed by said demon either.
Before he could say anything, though, Charlie indicated for the game to start and she went up against Vaggie to roll doubles first. To her credit, her activity did exactly what it set out to do. Lucifer didn't know how something as simple as this became extremely competitive but his daughter was always full of surprises.
Of course, much of that could be attributed to Angel Dust and Cherri Bomb, both of whom were tossing insults at each other and yelling at their teammates to hurry up. Their energy was infectious enough for even Husk to join in the taunting from where he was between Gabriel and Azrael. Niffty wasn't really sure why they were screaming, but she joined nonetheless and after a while, Lucifer felt his own muscles loosening — enough for that competitive fire that caused him to urge Michael into rolling doubles.
"HA! Suck it, Cherri!" Angel whopped when he rolled a matching pair just as she got the dice herself. Cherri threw them down with an irritated shout, leaning over the table to point a finger at Charlie.
"We're goin' again!" Cherri all but demanded, Charlie laughing brightly as the dice were passed back up to her and Vaggie. The next round started, just as loud as the previous and everyone had joined in the yelling save for Alastor, Michael, and Azrael who were much more subdued. This one ended with the other team winning so it was clear that a tie breaker round was needed.
Which was, somehow, even more lively than the previous two. The insults between the two best friends was turned up a notch, the dice having gotten stuck at both Emily and Niffty who couldn't seem to roll doubles for the life of them, until Lucifer hastily shoved the dice in front of Alastor once he did his part, only for Cherri to erupt in triumph at her victory.
"Take that, you fuckin' dickhead!" Cherri reached across the table to shove lightly at Angel's shoulder. Lucifer watched with a smile as everyone, even Michael, seemed to be in much higher spirits than before they started. Charlie was apologizing profusely to Vaggie who only looked amused, Cherri had managed to drag Niffty and Husk into teasing the living hell out of Alastor and Angel while Emily, bless her heart, only congratulated the other team.
Then, they turned to each other to celebrate their victory. That's when Angel somehow managed to corral all of team two to the bar, glancing back at the others before lowering his voice into a conspiratory whisper.
"We ain't takin' this loss layin' down. I say we get revenge." He slung his lower set of arms around Lucifer and Vaggie's shoulders, leaning in towards the other three with a broad smile. Alastor's own grew ever so slightly, causing Lucifer to narrow his eyes at the implication.
"What kind of 'revenge' do you have in mind?" Vaggie asked skeptically, arms crossed over her chest to squint up at him. Angel rolled his eyes, patting the top of her head with one of his other hands.
"Nothin' bad, toots. Just a fun, but annoyin' prank. Like, oh!" His eyes sparkled mischievously. "We could replace all the booze with water an' juice! That'll sure ruffle some feathers." Angel snickered at his own joke.
"That's basically retaliating just against Husk." Lucifer paused. "And Cherri." Angel hummed an affirmative sound though the disappointment was hard to miss in his expression.
He opened his mouth to say something else when they were interrupted by Charlie calling for them again. Angel looked over his shoulder in alarm before dragging their group of six closer in the impromptu huddle.
"Okay, let's just meet back 'ere when they all fuck off ta bed."
Michael straightened up with a polite smile, hands clasped behind his back as he regarded the group before him. "I'm afraid I shall sit this one out. Good luck on your revenge." With a short bow, he made his way over to everyone else.
Lucifer, on the other hand, felt like the wind got knocked out of him when he realized Michael had been standing shoulder to shoulder with him the entire time. Not only had he not noticed, but he hadn't minded either. He had liked the close proximity.
Curse the touch starvation that had come with seven years of self-inflicted isolation.
And curse Charlie's game working so well in breaking the tension, even if Lucifer felt it return tenfold once his own thoughts caught up in his brain.
He remembered agreeing to Angel's plan before his mind drifted for the rest of the day.
~~~
Lucifer, despite not being all there mentally, was thankful there wasn't any other meaningful interactions with any of his siblings for the rest of the day. After Charlie briefed them on the importance of playing group bonding activities like that dice game, Lucifer had all but forced Alastor into letting him help make dinner (read: he refused to leave until Alastor realized he would shut up if he got to assist him).
Gabriel had been shooting looks at him the entire afternoon that he steadfastly ignored. It was easy to create his own barrier by simply ensuring he wasn't able to be caught alone by the man. Much of that was spent with Angel and Husk, listening in on their arguments that he had no real frame of reference to partake in. They hadn't actually tried to involve him which he greatly appreciated. Despite his gruff appearances, Husk was very perceptive to other's emotions so it wouldn't surprise Lucifer if he had noticed him dissociating.
Lucifer was thankful that after dinner, when everyone was winding down for the night, the attachment between mind and body slowly returned to him. In his experience, the separation was even worse when he was by himself with no indication of the time that passed. It had been a while since the last time he felt like this — all the responsibilities he took up the past month made it hard for his brain to find that opportunity.
Or maybe he had, thinking back on the days where he couldn't remember what happened between lunch and sleep, only that he had finished what was on his schedule for that time. Part of him wished he still had all that work to do despite how stressed it made him feel. At least it kept away all the negative thoughts that came with chronic depression, both figuratively and literally. Now he understood why Lilith took so many responsibilities upon herself. Maybe it was the only way she could cope with the life she was thrust into because of Lucifer.
Perhaps it was the only way she could deal with a husband that was slowly drifting away from their family, no matter how hard she tried to prevent it.
Lucifer still wasn't fully there but he was aware enough that he could follow along to the quiet conversation in the foyer with the members of Team Two sans Michael. Mostly. They had been going back and forth on what prank they wanted to pull, most getting vetoed by Vaggie as it appeared Angel was bolstered by the fact that Michael wasn't there. He still kept it away from his usual sex-favorable ones if only to not make Emily uncomfortable.
"How about we turn the foyer into a ball pit?" Lucifer remembered saying at some point, staring at a spot on the carpet that looked vaguely like a face if you squint hard enough. With the amount of sinners that came in to wreak havoc, it could very well be the outline of one that had unfortunately perished at the hands of Alastor. The entire thing was meant as a joke but both Angel and Emily's eyes lit up at the suggestion.
"That sounds like fun!" she squeaked, throwing her arms up excitedly at the prospect of having a giant ass ball pit in the hotel. Even if it would only be for a morning.
"Why don't we take it a step further and turn this entire place into a fun room," Angel suggested with a gleaming eye and for once, he hadn't meant it in a sexual manner. He was looking out at the foyer now, deep in thought of what they could add or change.
"Hmmm, it doesn't quite scream 'revenge.'" Alastor finally piped up as he placed his microphone in front of him. "I think some bear traps scattered throughout the floor would be quite amusing!" That got Lucifer's attention, his hazy mind snapping right back into focus just so he can level Alastor with a fierce glare.
"Absolutely not. Debilitating and possibly permanent maiming is not a harmless prank." Lucifer didn't miss the way Emily's wings drooped ever so slightly at Alastor's suggestion and he really did not want something like that to happen just for it to be reported back to Sera. He was done dealing with her for the next several lifetimes.
Alastor smiled. "What kind of revenge plot is harmless? Besides, can't you, as our mighty King, simply heal the wounds? Or is that not something within your repertoire?" It was entirely mocking and a reminder of what happened between them a few days prior. Lucifer faltered, brows knitting together to figure out why in the Hell Alastor would hint at such a thing. He assumed the demon would want nothing more than to never speak of that again.
Only to realize that he had grown wildly uncomfortable at the reminder. And Alastor noticed, his grin sharpening dangerously. It could easily be misconstrued as him relishing in the fact he caused the King of Hell to waver. But there was something behind that smile, something that told him he knew more than he was letting on. Lucifer blanched slightly, his next breath stuttering in his chest as it all came crashing down on him.
Alastor knew that Lucifer knew about his deal.
And Alastor knew just how lonely and depressed he's been since Lilith's disappearance (not to give him too much credit, it's not like Lucifer himself was subtle about that fact).
Bastard.
Lucifer was going to kill him one of these days.
"Add bear traps and see what happens," Lucifer growled past the discomfort, shoving the apple of his cane into the man's chest as a reminder. "I'm warning you, a fight with the Devil is not one you want to pick."
"Ugh, can you two jus' get a room already?" Angel cut in before it could get serious, hip cocked to one side with a teasing smirk. Alastor's eye twitched at the innuendo but, wisely, did not push any further than he already had.
"No worries, my good chum! It is just too easy riling up His Majesty." His tone was far too innocent for someone who just rubbed it in Lucifer's face that he had a connection to his missing wife.
"Sometimes, I forget how much of a psychopath you are." Lucifer grumbles, wiping down the non-existent wrinkles in his suit. "At least you're picking the smart option for once, Alexa. That's far more than I expected from you."
Lucifer clapped his hands together, cutting off whatever Alastor was going to say in favor of spinning on his heels until he faced Angel, Emily, and Vaggie.
"Now, then! Tell me whatcha want me to do, I am at your service." He bowed with a flourish, smiling at the fond eye-roll of Vaggie's as Angel immediately took him up on his offer and directed him on where to work his magic.
Emily watched in awe as Lucifer miracled things into existence, the light of Creation flowing through his fingertips as if it were nothing. And for him, it really wasn't. His siblings and Sera were all fairly equal in the power they were granted when they were first Created but each of them excelled in different aspects of their abilities.
What Lucifer could do was vast, far more than he knew what to do with most of the time, but he had always been the best at Creation.
He wondered if Emily possessed any of these skills. The first seraphims were created to be near indestructible. The only beings powerful enough to harm them were the other elder seraphs and God Herself. After the rebellion Lucifer had inadvertently caused, Heaven realized how much of a mistake that was. Hindsight was 20/20 and it took thousands of years for them to properly expel the angels that sided with him because of that. As far as he knew, the other high ranking angels that were Created after weren't as invincible as the previous, though their durability was nothing to scoff at.
Lucifer wasn't sure how much of that translated into the powers they were granted by God. Maybe he'd ask Emily about it one day.
Either way, as Lucifer put in the final touches of the new foyer (he turned the stairs into a tube slide and, no, Alastor, you are never too old to enjoy simple things such as slides), he felt himself preen under the words of praise he was given for his work. It felt good to tap into the powers he rarely used nowadays and be rewarded for it by kind words. If he had let his wings manifest, the feathers would've puffed out at the compliments.
Despite it being one in the morning, Lucifer's mind felt more awake than it had since the conversation with Charlie when she woke him up.
And a few hours later, when he came downstairs to several raucous peels of laughter at the glorified jungle gym they made, Lucifer felt a genuine smile nearly split his face in two as he watched Charlie drag Vaggie and Emily into the deeper part of the ball pit. Perhaps he wasn't failing as much at this 'dad' thing if something he did made his daughter as joyous as that.
With the other residents of the hotel by his side, ones that seemed to support him for whatever reason, maybe the prospect of dealing with his siblings wasn't as daunting as it needed to be.
Wasn't that a concept?
Notes
The ball pit ended up staying for the better part of the morning. What started out as a revenge-plot-turned-fun-prank against Team One ended with almost everyone in the hotel just having a good time. When Lucifer lifted his hand to snap it all away shortly after the day started, both Charlie and Emily begged him to leave it up. Charlie already knew what kind of sway she had over her father but Emily, as it turned out, had equally effective puppy dog eyes.
After a surprisingly lighthearted breakfast, Lucifer found himself sitting at the bar with Husk. Alastor was to his right while Michael stood a respectable distance away to his left. Somehow, an impromptu dodgeball game had broken out in the pit. Lucifer summoned a bunch of styrofoam balls they could use — because giving them the rubber variant was a disaster waiting to happen — and watched with some amusement as the teams somehow became angels versus demons.
Emily, Gabriel, Azrael, and Vaggie were up against Charlie, Angel, Cherri, and Niffty. To be honest, Lucifer was surprised with how well the Hell side was faring, especially considering Gabriel was a natural when it came to all things sports. Angel and Cherri made an effective duo and they really were the sole reason they hadn't lost entirely yet.
The angels, aside from Vaggie, were also at a disadvantage due to the six large targets their wings made, especially considering they were all in a waist deep sea of plastic balls. It would be much easier for them if they simply tucked them away but things were never simple when it came to Heaven. Their wings were a sense of pride, an extension of their very being and it's incredibly frowned upon to hide such a part of yourself up in cloud city.
Lucifer wondered briefly what She would say knowing Lucifer hid his for the better part of his entire punishment down here. Then again, all of Heaven wouldn't lose any sleep knowing the Devil wasn't going around flaunting his lineage. Their opinions of him have always been quite low.
Decidedly ignoring the shitshow of thoughts that often came alongside his old home, Lucifer was fairly positive dodgeball wasn't on the docket for today. Angel, as things so often progressed, had provoked Vaggie into the game and dragged everyone down with him. It's why she was on the heavenly team, though the irony of putting someone who went by Angel Dust there wasn't lost on Lucifer.
As expected, the angelic team won after Gabriel finally landed a hit on Cherri. Lucifer vaguely wondered if he'd have to prevent another 'revenge' plot from happening. He just wasn't sure how many parts of the hotel could be turned into ball pits before the entire thing was an oversize playhouse. Truthfully, he would be the last one complaining but demons of the radio variety probably weren't too keen on living in a giant jungle gym.
He watched as Emily, Azrael, and Gabriel embraced in a victory hug, cheers loudest from the two tallest with fists in the air. Emily turned, all bright smiles and naïveté, and grabbed Vaggie to drag her into the group embrace as well. And Vaggie—
Looked entirely uncomfortable. Not just in a 'strangers-are-hugging-me' kind of way but in a 'this-actually-makes-me-want-to-jump-out-of-my-skin' way that she was desperately trying to grin through. Lucifer frowned, setting his glass of water on the bar behind him. He already knew Vaggie was scared of his siblings and for good reason at that. Heaven never treated the fallen well and she had no reason to feel safe around higher beings of status such as them. Interestingly, it wasn't who she was most tense around.
No, that honor went to Emily and Lucifer couldn't understand why. As far as he could tell, Emily was quite possibly made from a ray of sunshine with how bright her kindness shone. She was also the only one to stand up for the hotel in Heaven so he just… didn't get it. Didn't get why Vaggie was so anxious around her.
The fact of the matter being, she was uncomfortable and Emily had her arm slung around Vaggie's shoulders who looked like she would rather be anywhere else than in the middle of that hug. Gabriel's hand was pressed lightly across her shoulder blades, deliberate in their placement as if he was feeling out her wings. Testing if she had wings like that totally wasn't invasive at all and quite frankly, none of his damn business. Who knew his manners hadn't improved in the past 10,000 years, a fucking mystery in all honesty. Azrael at least sensed her discomfort, stepping back from the hug to give her some room to breathe.
Lucifer noticed the way she flinched at Gabriel's touch and he found himself pushing away from the bar before he could really think about what he was doing.
"Hey, Vaggie?" All eyes were on him and he suppressed the shiver that tried to crawl up his spine. "Apologies, I just remembered you mentioning that there was an issue with the pipes on the fourth floor that you needed help fixing." The lie rolled easily off his tongue, emboldened by the relaxed lines of his muscles and disarming smile. It was a lifeline though, thrown out into the sea of her panic that she gladly latched onto with a fervent nod.
"Y-Yes! The pipes. They're uh, they're busted. One of the rooms is um… flooded! Yeah, flooded." She stiffly removed herself from the hug and yeesh, he would really have to work on her lying skills because that was bad enough to make him wince at the acting. If she was to marry his daughter and enter the political landscape of Hell, she'd need to get over Heaven's inane teachings of how awful lying was.
"The pipes? I didn't know there was something wrong with them." Charlie frowned and in moments like these did he wish his daughter inherited Lilith's ability to read rooms. You'd think she would be just a tad more in tune with her girlfriend's feelings. Lucifer waved her off with an easy smile and expert twirl of his cane.
"Nothing for you to worry about, sweetheart. We know how busy you are with our guests." Once she was out of the ball pit, he placed a hand on Vaggie's back, below her shoulder blades because that's a sensitive spot for any angel, Gabriel, and led her towards the stairs. "We'll have it fixed up in a jiff!"
That was enough to alleviate her concerns over the fabricated plumbing issues, soft conversation floating after them as they disappeared into the elevator. The second the doors closed, she visibly sagged with a defeated sigh.
"Thank you." He offered her a soft smile, reaching forward to hit the button that would take them to the top floor. The ride up was silent and Lucifer didn't try for any conversation. Vaggie was attempting to gather her bearings, she didn't need his incessant babbling as she did so.
With a ding, the elevator slid open and he led them down the hallway to his quarters. She trudged along without seeming to take in the rest of the area around her. It wasn't until he opened the doors that she looked up, frowning a bit as she peered curiously around his surprisingly pristine room because no, depression, he was not going to start more mountains of rubber ducks here, thank you.
"What're we doing in your room?" Vaggie inquired, gravitating towards the picture frame on one of his nightstands. It was a recent one of him and Charlie, genuine smiles that contrasted the forced ones of many of the family portraits they had when Lilith was still around. He left those back at the palace. Beginning to learn that there was no point in reminiscing about the past was something he really needed to integrate into his brain and having those paintings here wouldn't help with that.
"Well, I noticed how your back has been a little, hm… tender today and your wings looked like they were due for some care last night." Lucifer briefly disappeared into his bathroom to gather everything he'd need before heading back out and setting them down next to the frame. Vaggie looked at the bottles and folded shirt, their purpose clicking into place and she immediately straightened up sheepishly.
"You don't have to, sir. I can preen them later tonight and I know you're busy—" Lucifer cut her off gently with a raise of his hand. He clambered up onto the bed, crossing his legs and getting comfortable since they'd be here for at least an hour.
"Never too busy for you or Charlie. Besides, you know just as well as I do that it's easier if another person does the backside." Vaggie didn't move and Lucifer's smile wavered. "If this is some hierarchy thing Heaven has taught, forget it. You are not below me in regards to something like this and I want to help you. Unless you aren't comfortable with me touching your wings which is absolutely fair! You're more than welcome to just use the feather oil, it's the best you'll find in Hell, I can promise that!"
Okay, maybe his tone was overcompensating for the fact he was suddenly self-conscious that Vaggie didn't trust him. Most angels viewed preening as another social activity where they could mingle with each other and live their best lives with no worries in the world. In Hell, while winged sinners were rare, feathered demons were not and something such as that was only done by a trusted individual. Lucifer only ever allowed Lilith to care for his wings and Charlie the two times she asked to. Ozzie, for a long time, relied on Lucifer for the preening until he met Fizzarolli.
He shouldn't expect Vaggie to trust him — Lucifer abandoned her girlfriend for a long time after all — but it didn't mean that he wasn't hurt by that notion.
Vaggie sighed. "It's not that. My wings have been really… sensitive since they grew back." That was all she needed to say. Lucifer felt the tension bleed off his shoulders as his expression softened. He knew a thing or two about that.
"A lot of angels have that problem after they're Created and I was the one assigned to show them the ropes. I've preened a lot of wings back in my day. If it gets too much, just say the word and we'll stop." An open invitation but no force behind the words. The choice was completely up to her and she silently mulled the options in her head before relenting. Slowly, Vaggie grabbed the shirt and disappeared into the joint bathroom.
She's in there for a few minutes, probably to give herself a pep talk because Lucifer knew how hard it could be to trust someone with your wings, but she came out with them already summoned. The shirt he gave her — a deep red, loose fitting one with an open back — was hanging off her frame slightly. They were about the same height but Lucifer's shoulders were wider so it was a smidge too big on her. After one last moment of hesitation, she crawled onto the bed so she was sitting in front of him, giving him full access to her wings.
They weren't in bad condition but Lucifer could tell the previous preening sessions over the past month were done by inexpert hands. It wouldn't surprise him if Vaggie was simply out of practice but taking a closer work, some of the damage to the feathers screamed of someone who had never done something like this before. Carefully, he rested a hand at the base of her left wing, frowning at the heat radiating off of them. Not infected but definitely inflamed.
"No offense but have you perhaps never learned to care of wings?" Vaggie huffed a startled laugh, the muscles in her back relaxing as he simply ran his fingers through her feathers to realign the ones that were out of place.
"That wasn't me. I asked Charlie to do the backside and well, turns out preening isn't in her repertoire." Lucifer frowned, glancing over at her right wing to see that yup, they looked just as damaged as this one.
"Why didn't you tell her to stop?" Lucifer gently broke an old feather off from her wing, nodding to himself in satisfaction at the lack of reaction. It had been a while since he preened new wings and was relieved to see he wouldn't be hurting Vaggie any more than she already was.
"She was really happy I asked her for help." Vaggie practically whispered, fidgeting in her spot on the bed. "I didn't want to take that away from her." While not physically possible, Lucifer could've sworn he felt his heart melt at the admission. He really was a sap when it came to love and their relationship was just so sickeningly sweet.
"Don't get me wrong, it makes me so happy you have her best interests at heart. But you know just as well as I do that the last thing Charlie would ever want to do is hurt you." Wow, those words really came out sounding like a scold, didn't they? It was easy to slip into that parental mode around her and Lucifer made a mental note to keep that to a minimum. He still wasn't sure where Vaggie stood on the notion of seeing him as a father, after all.
"I know." She was much more relaxed than when they first started and it didn't take much longer for him to pull out any plumes that needed removal in order to make room for the pin feathers. Once both wings were done, he leaned over to grab the preening oil off the nightstand and removed his gloves in order to lather his fingers well.
Vaggie likely wouldn't turn around so the anxiety of having his gnarled hands exposed was only small.
As he worked to coat each feather with a healthy layer of oil, she hummed gently at his careful massage and soon enough, her wings were looking as good as the first day she was Created.
"Would you be comfortable if I put lotion on around the bases? They're a little raw." After a nod of consent, he summoned his specialized apple-scented lotion that wouldn't damage the axillary feathers closer towards where they turn into skin.
"Tell you what." Lucifer started applying the balm in generous amounts. "Once your wings are no longer sensitive, I can sit down with Charlie and teach her how to properly preen them. Until then, why don't we make this a weekly thing?"
Vaggie did look back at him in surprise and it took all of his willpower not to snap his gloves back on.
"You would do that?" Lucifer blinked, looking up from where he was working to meet her gaze.
"Of course I would! Truth be told, I kinda miss doing this sort of thing." It was nice when Ozzie would ask him to preen the feathers around his head and partially why he was closer to him in comparison to the other Sins. Angels were social creatures, after all, and the best way to bond was through caring for others' wings.
Vaggie squinted her eye, not accusingly but considering. Her attention briefly flicked to the space behind his back and Lucifer knew what she was going to say before she even opened her mouth.
"As long as I get to do yours as well. I saw how shitty they looked last night." Well, she didn't have to call him out so clearly like that, jeez. He suspected his relationships with his wings was vastly different than her own and the reason for hiding hers away was more utility than anything else. They did often get in the way, especially in a place like Hell that wasn't built for beings that had, at minimum, two large extra limbs extending from their shoulder blades.
After his Fall, there were exactly two people he only ever allowed to even touch his wings: Lilith and Charlie. For obvious reasons. The Sins have seen them, sure, but he flinched away at every single accidental brush against his feathers and they never asked to touch. It was hard for him to extend that kind of trust after… after everything that happened.
Lucifer knew, without a shadow of a doubt, that he trusted Vaggie. She understood what it was like to endure the loss of wings. She wouldn't hurt him.
"I don't think you realize how much work you just signed up for." Lucifer smiled as she relaxed at his words, turning forward as he began putting everything away. He carefully slipped his gloves back on, investigating the front of her wings to find them in much better condition and she gratefully took the materials to finish the rest herself.
"We'll start once I'm done." Was her response which meant she very clearly did not understand what she agreed to do. Lucifer chuckled, stretching his arms above his head with a small groan. Maybe hunching over his desk for several hours wasn't the best for his back. Thank whoever he needed to that he didn't actually age.
"Unfortunately, we would be here the rest of the day and as far as everyone else is concerned, pipe repairs shouldn't take that long with moi tending to them." Vaggie rolled her eyes at the braggadocio of his words though Lucifer didn't miss the amused little smile on her lips.
"Are… you sure?" Lucifer waved off her concern, taking the oil from her as she wrapped up the last bit to bring it back to his bathroom. This wasn't the longest stint he's gone without preening his wings and another week won't add much to the steady itch he already feels.
Probably best not to mention that, though.
"Quite. Now then!" He claps with a bright smile. "Let's head back down to the party. Best not to keep dear Charlie waiting!" Despite her nodding in apparent agreement, Vaggie doesn't actually make a move to get up off the bed. She's currently sat with her feet tucked under her — Lucifer hadn't noticed she took off her shoes — and her right wing was curled around her as she fiddled with the largest primary on it.
It suddenly hit Lucifer that she's nervous. Not about spending time with him, he hoped, because she'd be a lot more stiff the entire time he was preening her. It dawned on him that perhaps she didn't want their guests to see her wings — the ones that Fell after Lucifer shouldn't have them and they needed to stay out while the oil dried. He was fairly positive Vaggie didn't have anything to worry about. She was never afforded the proper trial that came with casting out angels. If anything, he's waiting till one of them tries to convince her to go back to Heaven because she belongs there or whatever bullshit they're going to spew. His money is on Gabriel, personally.
Lucifer knows how well that conversation was going to go, which is not at all because Vaggie had grown to love Hell in the same way Charlie did. He's not going to be there to save them from the wrath Vaggie will bestow upon them. He will, however, be there in case either of them take offense to how she spoke to them and in turn, tried to put her in her place.
Just the idea of them exerting their power like that against anyone in the hotel makes the hellfire roar in his blood.
That wasn't important at the moment. Lucifer took a second to collect his thoughts before approaching the bed once more, sitting down on the edge with his feet hanging off the edge.
"Are you alright, Vaggie?" He asked cautiously, looking over his shoulder at her. She glanced up, lips in a thin line before she scooted closer to mimic his position. Neither of their feet reach the floor and he found vague amusement in their shared height difficulties.
Vaggie let go of her feather with a sigh, fluffing her wings out so they could rest comfortably on the bed behind her. She doesn't say anything for a long while and he started running through a million different things that may be bothering her. The obvious choice was the fact she fears the seraphims, or maybe she's having second thoughts about staying in Hell, or that she's decided she never wants Lucifer to preen her wings again—
"Is it bad that I feel threatened by Emily?" Lucifer blinked. That's — not at all what he was expecting her to say. His brows furrowed in confusion.
"Like, uh… like you think she's gonna hurt you?" He trailed off at the end, earning him an amused snort from the girl next to him.
"No. I mean like—" She sighed, pulling her legs up to hug her knees. "Emily is the perfect angel. The way she and Charlie act around each other, the hugging and hand holding and I know they're just being friends but — I don't know. It's stupid. I'm just being insecure."
Lucifer hummed, leaning back on his hands to trace the patterns on the ceiling with his eyes. He understood where she was coming from. Heaven, though inadvertently, was great at making the fallen feel like failures. That self-loathing ran deep and Lucifer had yet to encounter one who didn't suffer from those emotions at first. For some, it would go away with time and some therapy. For others, well. It stayed with them no matter what they did. Lucifer would know.
This wasn't Vaggie stating she didn't trust Charlie. This was Vaggie feeling like she wasn't good enough in comparison to the other angels. This was Vaggie terrified that her girlfriend would realize that and leave.
And this was so far out of his abilities to comfort someone. How could he make a person feel better about something that he himself had no real frame of reference? Lucifer genuinely couldn't remember the last time he expressed even a modicum of self-love for himself. It certainly wasn't after his banishment.
For whatever reason, Vaggie was confiding in him. Don't get him wrong, Lucifer was ecstatic she trusted him enough to share this. He wished he could give her better advice but for now, he could only tell her what he wished someone had said to him when he first Fell.
Carefully, Lucifer leaned forward to set a hand on her shoulder. She glanced over at him and he offered the softest smile he could manage.
"You aren't broken, Vaggie. Heaven's views of perfection are backwards and arbitrary and when someone doesn't align with their beliefs, it's easier to cast it away. Your oh-so-awful sin was showing mercy. As far as I'm concerned, that makes you better than most of those up above." Lucifer gestured towards the sky with distaste sharp on his tongue.
"They cast out anything that's different because they're afraid of what happens when people start to question. Maybe they should be, after what I did. But that doesn't mean you're wrong for doing what was right." Lucifer willed the burn of forming tears away, swallowing down the lump in his throat. "Heaven isn't as benevolent as they want to appear. She… is a cruel God."
Many nights, Lucifer laid awake wondering how different things would be if he had never given Eve that apple. Would Lilith have gone to Heaven when she died, where they could be free and in love with no repercussions? They would've had Charlie and she would've been raised around other angels, around his siblings. While the exorcists wouldn't have been made, Vaggie would still be Created with another purpose and their love wouldn't be 'blasphemous' like it is down here.
But Vaggie wouldn't be the same person as she is now. Charlie loved her girlfriend for who she is, past included, and there's no telling who she would have ended up as instead. Lucifer never would have bonded with the Sins like he had after their Fall and Charlie wouldn't have the friends she made down here by her side. If Lucifer had never given Eve that apple, humanity wouldn't have free will to make their own decisions meaning Angel, Husk, Niffty, even Alastor would cease to exist.
Instead, he wondered what would've happened if Lucifer had never snuck down to Eden that fateful day. He and Michael had an argument, one he couldn't remember the details of now, and he wanted to see the ducks Gabriel got the counsel to approve of on his behalf. He remembered landing in the garden, silent tears streaming down his face as he trudged towards the pond his first creations were living in.
And he remembered the air stuttering in his lungs the first time he laid eyes on Lilith playing with those ducks.
No, despite everything that happened, Lucifer wouldn't have done anything different.
"I was really scared to meet you that day you came to the hotel." Vaggie broke the silence after a while. "The stories Charlie would tell of you… they were so hard to picture with what Adam told me. Told all of us."
Lucifer stiffened. "What did he tell you?"
"He would spin tales about how you seduced Lilith. How you played with her mind until she foolishly believed you loved her." Vaggie shifted uncomfortably, gaze studiously trained anywhere else besides Lucifer. "He told us about how you… forced yourself onto Eve—"
"What?!" Lucifer shot up to his feet, horns and tail making their appearance unbidden as a lick of hellfire spilled past his lips. Vaggie looked up at him in shock. "I never forced myself onto her! I never — I would never do that to anyone and all the stories that say otherwise are lies or propaganda—"
"Woah, hey!" Vaggie waved her arms around to cut him off. "I know! I know that now, I promise. It's been really disorienting learning how deep Heaven's deceit runs."
Lucifer closed his eyes, taking deep breaths to will himself back in control. Vaggie didn't deserve to deal with his misplaced anger. Though, he wished revival was in his skill set just so he could bring Adam back to life to personally kill him for daring to spread such bullshit throughout the angelic ranks.
"Sorry." Lucifer croaked, forcing his demonic features back under seal and sitting down. "I wish I could say I'm surprised. I guess you can only cuck a man so many times." He smirked at the startled laugh Vaggie let out.
"Point is," She shook her head bemusedly. "I'm glad I was wrong. And… I want you to know that I have your back, just like you've had mine." Vaggie chose that moment to meet his eyes again, a shy smile overtaking her features.
"Us fallen angels have to stick together." And oh. She wasn't just talking about for the time being while his siblings were here.
When was the last time someone devoted themselves to him simply because they cared? Not out of fear or a gain for power, but because they wanted what was best for him? The Sins had, quite literally in their case, after they were cast out 10,000 years ago. The first Goetia did, too. Lucifer wasn't sure if their continued subservience was for the same reasons anymore.
He must've shown something on his face because next thing he knew, Vaggie spread her arms open in an invitation and Lucifer was already pulling her into a bone-crushing hug. She wheezed out a breath and he loosened his hold enough so he didn't accidentally suffocate his future daughter-in-law.
Briefly, Lucifer wondered if Charlie had the same tells as him.
Vaggie's chin was resting on his shoulder and he was leaning his cheek against her head. Is it weird to already mentally adopt your daughter's girlfriend before they're even engaged? Lucifer wasn't sure and quite frankly, he doesn't care either.
"You should talk to Charlie about how you feel." Lucifer brought the topic back around to what Vaggie confided before they lost track. "It's scary, I know, but she'll be understanding. When you're ready, I think you should talk to Emily too."
Vaggie sighed into the embrace, lingering a moment longer before pulling back. She slid off the bed and pulled him up to his feet with her. She wasn't that much taller than him, maybe two inches, and it was nice to give his neck a little break from having to look up at the insanely tall sinners.
"You're right." Vaggie lets go of his hand to run gentle fingers across her feathers with a frown. "Um… do you mind if I keep the shirt for today? My wings aren't dry yet."
"Of course!" Lucifer chirped, smile blindingly bright as they finally left his chambers to rejoin everyone downstairs. They've been gone for nearly two hours and he's quite shocked they haven't gotten a text from Charlie yet.
With a snap of his fingers, a portal spun to life and they stepped through into the lobby. The ball pit was still there — Lucifer really needed to get rid of that — with Angel, Cherri, Emily, and Niffty playing some sort of game he didn't recognize in it. Michael and Gabriel were conversing with Husk at the bar who looked like he'd rather be anywhere else. Alastor was clearly taking some glee in his servant's suffering if the deranged smile was anything to go by.
Charlie was talking to Azrael by the fireplace with a genuine smile and animated movements. Lucifer felt his stomach lurch at the sight of both of them seemingly enjoying their conversation but he couldn't tell if the nausea was from fear, anxiety, or guilt. Best not to delve into that and risk a breakdown in the middle of the foyer.
Lucifer rolled his shoulders back and followed Vaggie as she made her way towards the pair. When Charlie noticed them, they were greeting with a giga-watt smile and a very enthusiastic wave. Unbidden, he felt himself relaxing. His daughter always seemed to have that effect on him.
"I had a feeling there wasn't an issue with the pipes." She giggled when they were close enough, admiring Vaggie's newly cared for wings.
"Sorry, baby. Lucifer just noticed how uncomfortable I was and made up some excuse." Vaggie's expression softened impossibly more when Charlie began fretting around her.
"Why didn't you tell me your wings were bothering you?" Charlie didn't sound offended, at the very least, but they could both hear the offer between her words. Vaggie glanced back at him and after a reassuring nod, she took a deep breath and gently held her girlfriend's hands between her own.
"Charlie, I appreciate that you want to help me, I really do. But my wings, they've been really sensitive ever since they grew back and the last time you preened them was a little… overwhelming." She didn't outright say it hurt but Charlie, bless her, picked up on what she was putting down.
"Oh Hells, Vaggie! I didn't mean to cause you pain, I-I'm so so sorry!" Vaggie stopped Charlie before she could work herself into a frenzy, standing on her tiptoes to press a gentle kiss to her cheek.
"It's okay. I wanted you to do them, I promise. But, maybe we'll wait again until they're not so irritable." Charlie nodded vigorously at the suggestion and Lucifer took that moment to interject himself into their conversation.
"Until then, I'll care for Vaggie's wings. Then once she's ready, the three of us will sit down and I'll teach you how to properly preen them, okay, duckie?" Lucifer placed either hand on their shoulders and Charlie's eyes practically lit up like a Christmas tree.
"Really? I can't wait! It'll be such a fun bonding activity for us!" Charlie beamed, pulling Lucifer into a hug that he quickly reciprocated. Of course, there was a huge difference between having family members care for your wings versus a lover preening them. He wasn't about to start thinking about that. He really didn't want to think of either of them in that way.
"Your wings grew back?" Azrael asked curiously, alerting them to his presence. Vaggie and Lucifer both stiffened at his words and the Exalted seemed to pick up on their discomfort.
"Ah, apologies. I have no malicious intent behind that inquiry. I just wasn't aware that was possible." For what it's worth, he sounded sincere and his kind tone only furthered that. "Then again, you weren't properly Felled and exorcists can regrow lost limbs. It tracks that the same would apply to wings."
Vaggie sighed. "I shouldn't be surprised you were able to tell that." It was basically a grumble and Charlie rubbed her back sympathetically. Azrael seemed to hesitate on something, glancing back at Lucifer before addressing Vaggie again.
"You don't know me. You have no reason to trust me. But if it's any consolation, I have no desire to try and convince you to come back to Heaven. I can't speak on behalf of my brothers but I can see that your home is here." There was something about the way he said it that gave Lucifer the impression Azrael wasn't just talking about Vaggie. The pointed look thrown his way by those dark green eyes only made the confusion grow.
He could buy into the idea that the first part was meant for him because Azrael was right. Lucifer didn't trust him and he didn't know him anymore either. Out of all of their siblings, the Harbinger of Death was the most in tune with other's emotions, something that at least half of them struggled on. Lucifer always chalked it up on the fact that part of Azrael's purpose was comforting those that he ferried into the afterlife.
What threw him off was the rest of that statement. If it was truly meant for Lucifer, why in the Seven Rings would Michael and Gabriel be here to convince him to go back to Heaven? He wasn't allowed to ever step foot upon those holy clouds again, that was a very clear part of his punishment. One that was decreed by God Herself which meant it couldn't be overturned by the eldest seraphims.
That's also assuming Micheal and Gabriel don't hate him. Hell, that would mean that they not only love him, but that they miss him too. That concept was impossible to believe considering no one from Heaven outside of Sera bothered to contact him ever since the day he was cast out. It wasn't in the realm of possibility for him to even consider.
So Lucifer took it as the only thing that made sense: a warning. They weren't here just for the hotel. They had ulterior motives, possibly nefarious ones, and Azrael was trying to leave him a message. But what? Why was Azrael helping him?
And why did Lucifer feel inclined to believe him?
Notes