Chapter Text
Alastor prowled down the hallway slowly and deliberately, turning over the events of the evening and the past few weeks in his mind.
Lilith’s grand appearance at the hotel had caused quite the stir. Charlie was overjoyed, of course, ready to forget her seven-year-long absence without a second thought. To be honest, he had expected the same reaction from Lucifer, but the oh so great and powerful king of hell had seemed subdued since her return. Perhaps he should not be so quick to underestimate the little king, thought Alastor.
It was curious, however, that in Lilith’s presence, he did seem to put on a good show of being somewhat happily reunited with his wife. Most of the other residents of the hotel had failed to notice any change in Lucifer’s demeanor. Until tonight at least.
Lilith had not been present at dinner, and Lucifer had been silent at the table, fidgeting with anything he could get his hand on. Charlie, of course, went on and on about how wonderful her mother had been with helping around the hotel and how all of the pride ring had been revitalized at her return. The more she spoke, the more uneasy Lucifer seemed to be until he stumbled up from his chair and informed the table that he “uh, had to, uh, use the bathroom, yes! Be right back! Right away!” before drifting out of the dining room.
Time had ticked by as they finished dinner and gradually excused themselves from the table, and Lucifer had not, in fact, been right back. While it was certainly possible after that mediocre-at-best chicken soup, Alastor suspected his absence was not due to a digestive issue.
Why had he sent his shadow slinking along beside Lucifer’s to track him up to the balcony where he stood now? Why was he currently walking the halls on his way to join him there after dinner? Why, he had a very good justification: the intoxicating scent of weakness that leaked from the little king like blood to a shark.
What a shame that such immense power as Alastor had witnessed blast heaven’s gates clean off was stored in the body of such a pathetic man. Surely all that power could be put to much better use than creating flock after flock of rubber ducks!
Alastor peeled his shadow away from the king and let it fall back in its rightful place as he opened the balcony door and the soft evening sun cast it behind him.
Somberly, Lucifer turned his golden eyes upon him as he let the doors swing shut. It was almost as if he looked right through Alastor—as if he wasn’t even there. That would not do.
“Aha! Lucifer! How is the happy couple? Reunited at last!” He chimed, his usual wicked smile playing across his lips.
Lucifer turned back to look out over the balcony.
“Listen, Bellhop, I’m really not in the mood this time. You can just leave me alone.”
“Why, I thought you’d be elated to be back with the misses!” Alstor pushed once again.
“I’m serious, Al. Things aren’t really the same..” He reached up to his pinky finger, fiddling with his ring. “...with Lilith.”
So honest, so quickly. Things must be serious for him not to have some snide retort this time. With most anyone else, Alastor’s mockery would have only been spurred forth by such a display of weakness, but he found his tone soften ever so slightly instead.
“I was under the impression she was joining us here to aid in Charlie’s endeavors. Whatever could be the matter between you two?”
Again, Lucifer failed to meet him with their usual sharp words and incensed bickering. It was unnerving. Instead, he inhaled deeply, turning his gaze back out towards the city.
“Sinners have always been her people. When she found out that I had allowed for the exterminations, she– well, I don't think she’ll ever forgive me.”
Perhaps one could excuse the fact that Lucifer had authorized the exterminations all those years ago with the idea that he had been blinded by the grief of Lilith's disappearance, but Alastor knew better; he had already underestimated him once recently. Despite Lucifer’s frivolous air, beneath the childish taste in decor and the forgetfulness, Alastor could sense a dark sentiment simmering below the surface—forever caged behind the little king’s inability to harm those whom he hated most. Why Lilith had found love for the sinners in her punishment, Alastor could not fathom. But hate—hate he could understand.
“And her forgiveness is something you desire?” He asked slyly, finally approaching the railing to stand beside Lucifer. “After she abandoned you and your daughter for so many years? After she has shunned you all because she loves a people you cannot help but hate?”
They were standing nearly shoulder-to-shoulder as they looked out on the evening sky, and Lucifer’s golden hair ever so slightly brushed against Alastor's shoulder as he tilted his head to one side in contemplation.
“I don’t hate sinners. I–”
“You do. I can smell your disdain towards us all, so do not lie to me, Your Majesty.” He spat back, the usual sharpness suddenly finding its way back into his voice.
He didn’t quite understand why the king’s blatant lie had been the catalyst for it, but no matter, he should not have allowed himself to be so forgiving of Lucifer’s disgustingly vulnerable candidness in the first place.
Lucifer let out a deep exhale. Whether it was one of frustration, guilt, or relief, Alastor could not tell. Perhaps it was all three.
“It’s not…” Lucifer began, turning to face Alastor fully, but casting his eyes down towards where their shadows lurked side by side.
“Not all of you.” As he spoke the last words, he finally met Alastor’s eyes.
It was like looking into his soul, bare naked, stripped of any and all performance. He saw the exhaustion, the grief, and something else—something he couldn’t quite put a name to. This was far too honest. Far too dangerous. Not because he was vulnerable but because his vulnerability seemed to demand the same from Alastor. But there was still the task at hand, and if he could play just the right cards, it could still be completed. This was good—this weakness. Weak men were easy to manipulate, and Alastor was nothing if not experienced in that.
He decided to play the game. To take hold of every ounce of truth and feeling Lucifer gave him and wind him carefully around his clawed fingers. Alastor had to play his cards right, but he was quick to recoil from the soul-shattering gaze Lucifer had turned upon him.
His smile became more of a snarl, and he took a step back.
“I sure hope you’re not implying you’ve developed some sort of misguided affection towards me!” He spat the word like it was poison on his tongue and grasped the railing to steady himself, no longer meeting Lucifer’s prying eyes.
He had not intended to acknowledge what he had read in Lucifer’s devilish golden stare so bluntly. He cannot have wasted the opportunity to seize the little king’s foolishness so soon.
To his relief, Lucifer did not seem to be swayed significantly by his reaction. His stature shifted as if a flame had been reignited, like a young lady when a handsome man offers to buy her a drink.
“I never said affection.” He spoke, mimicking the way Alastor had spat the word as if it were the most vile of curses. “You came up with that all on your own.”
His manner was back to that of their usual banter and snide remarks. Oh, how the game was on.
“No, I’d describe it as a mild curiosity.” Lucifer purred.
For a moment, Alstor’s smile, wicked as ever, was truly genuine. But Lucifer’s next words brought the snarl back to his face.
“A sentiment I believe you share for me!”
Alastor was curious about him. Curious about his power, how he could be used and exploited for Alastor’s gain. But he did not intend for Lucifer to be aware of that. Unless the king was talking about an entirely different kind of curiosity, which Alastor certainly did not reciprocate. This would not be the first time he used another’s interest in him to his advantage, but he had to be careful not to allow it to go too far. He had made that mistake before, and he wasn’t going to make it again.
“I’m sure I don’t know what you’re talking about.” He replied half sly, half defensive, over his shoulder.
“Oh, don’t pretend you haven’t taken an interest in me now, Alastor! Why come up here and approach me like this and pry into my life? Why is it that whenever I leave my room to roam the hotel, I’m followed by two shadows instead of one? I wonder who could possibly be responsible for that!”
It seems the little king was much more perceptive than Alastor had thought. For a moment, he felt exposed at the observation, and his shoulders tightened, a smiling grimace flickering across his face. The next instant, he was back in the game. His countermove spinning around to face Lucifer with all the elegance in the world.
“Alright then! Curiosity it is! Now tell me, Your Majesty…” He said, sauntering up to tower over the king.
“What is it that intrigues you exactly?”
A devious smile crossed Lucifer’s delicate features as he became the one to put distance between himself and The Radio Demon. He seemed to slither out from the cage of Alastor’s presence and returned to gaze out over the balcony. This time, he leaned against the railing like he was scheming rather than sulking–like he held all the cards.
“I believe we both have something to offer the other. I want to work out some sort of arrangement—something mutually beneficial.”
If Alastor’s read was correct about what Lucifer’s curiosity towards him meant, he was sure whatever the king thought he could offer him was not something he could give. But the opportunity Lucifer posed to him was far too enticing.
“My, My, Lucifer! Are you attempting to offer me a deal?” He teased, “You know me better than to think I’d accept another chain around my neck now that I’m a free man, so be very careful with what you are about to ask of me.”
“Don’t worry Bambi, I don’t want your soul.”
There are worse things to be signed away than one's soul, thought Alastor.
“You are somewhat right about my disdain toward my people. Now that sinners know I can’t harm them directly some of them may pose a serious threat to Charlie and the hotel. I need someone powerful enough to enact my will upon the people.” He needed an executioner.
Alastor let out a theatrical laugh at that.
“And what could you possibly offer me to persuade me to agree to this arrangement of yours?”
“Name your price.”
Oh this was too good!
“Well, if your power can be harnessed as Vox did with his machine, surely there is a way for me to do the same.”
Turning to face Alastor and lounging against the railing, Lucifer smiled—Almost how Rosie had smiled at him when he had convinced her to fix his staff in the grand battle—as if he was somehow proud of Alastor, as if he had known he would ask for this.
“I can connect my power to yours in a way that will allow you to use it however you desire. But you must know that I have limits. Using too much of it is draining and our agreement cannot hinder me in my daily tasks. I’m a very busy man, as you know.”
What a laugh!
“When you use my power you and I both will feel whatever strain it puts on me simultaneously. I ask that you be sparing with how you use it.”
Alastor considered for a moment, slowly closing the distance between him and Lucifer.
The limitations were not ideal but Lucifer’s request had not been what he was worried it would be. Perhaps he had read him incorrectly.
“Hmm, I suppose that will suffice.”
“So?” Lucifer said, raising an eyebrow and one of his blackened hands in offering.
“It’s a deal.” Finished Alastor, completing the handshake as the green and gold of their magic signatures exploded around them.
The way their colors danced was not like any deal he had made before. They seemed to swirl around each other until they became one force, irrevocably intertwined.