Chapter Text
Sleep is overrated, or at least that is the conclusion Lucifer has come to after laying here for much too long.
Too many things are swirling around in his head. Charlie. This hotel. Lilith. Self deprecating thoughts. You know… The usual.
He just can’t deal with this right now.
So that’s why he finds himself in the hotel’s kitchen at 2 AM, getting a snack and some water. Though, when he’s nearly at his door, he gets interrupted when he sees Alastor limping back to his room.
There was radio static forcibly emanating off of him, accompanied with the sense of impending doom.
‘Damnit, what has HE gotten into this time?’ Lucifer grumbles to himself.
He wasn’t in the slightest intimidated by the little temper tantrum, being the King of Hell and all. That, and he’s seen worse.
So, with a heavy reluctance, he followed from a distance, making sure his stalkee was not aware of his presence.
Admittedly, Alastor seemed a bit off ever since he came back after his defeat in his battle with Adam.
(Which, Lucifer will never let him live down; not until the day one of them dies or Lucifer falls into a similar situation, therefore losing bragging rights, but that’ll never happen.)
And it was only for Lucifer's distrust of Alastor that he had ever noticed. He hates to do it, but he has to give the deer credit.
The cracks came in little ways, like how his smile wavered for a split second, how he would disappear for a good half an hour, and no one would notice, or the small way he would flinch whenever anything touched him. Specifically his torso, actually.
(However, the flinches might be normal because as much as the radio demon seemed to like to be in other people's space, he really doesn't like it returned)
…
‘Fuck, right, we're doing something’
Lucifer pinched his arm, reminding himself of the task at hand. That annoying brain of his, always running away from him.
At this point, he was at the door. It stood tall in front of him. He reached the handle, and halted, noticing that the door hadn't properly been shut.
Reaching out, he slowly pushes the door open, cringing as it makes an obnoxious creak. It opened to reveal a large room.
Upon first impressions the room was very neat and orderly, everything had a very obvious place it belonged. It was very red and black themed. Pretty in par for hell, all things considered, but taken to an extreme level.
I was all very clean and there was almost an empty feeling. A bed beside the door (Does he even sleep?) and a ladder with a hatch at the top of it occupied most of the room. He assumed the hatch led to the infamous radio tower. The room led off into a impossible marshy area. Lucifer faintly remembers from when he was an angel it being called a bayou. It looks a lot like the old bar and little pieces Alastor had added to the first version of the hotel. Lucifer guesses it's something sentimental to the Radio Demon.
However, the obvious centerpiece of the room was a life sized painting of a woman, half covered by a curtain. Lucifer didn't really recognize her, but he assumed Alastor had some connection to her when they were alive.
Lucifer started searching the room for Alastor or anything suspicious, until he heard retching coming from a door hidden on the other side of the bed.
Quietly creeping over as not to be noticed, he peered through the door of what seemed to be a bathroom, and there lay the formidable Radio Demon himself.
Though, in this state, he really wouldn't have scared even the newest sinner to hell. He had removed his coat and unbuttoned the top half of his collared shirt to reveal a nasty gash. Currently, his head was laid slack against his chest, and his breathing was laboured.
“Well, well, well. I guess Adam did more of a number on you than I thought.”
Alastor's head snapped up at the voice, and at the sight of Lucifer, he snarled. That was the closest Lucifer had ever seen from him to a frown.
“Leave.” Was Alastor's witty response. A little disheartening, to be honest. Lucifer kinda expected more.
Alastor started to struggle to stand, and as much as Lucifer hated the guy, he couldn't help but feel a little sorry for him.
“Hey, hey, whoa. Don't overdo it. You are obviously hurt and you need to be in a better state than this to help Charlie with the hotel.”
He had started to bend down to help, but Alastor immediately scooted back as much as he could with his wound. In doing so, the gash only got bigger and more blood came out.
Lucifer groaned in frustration.
“Alastor, you have to let me help! There is a very clear aura of angelic power in that wound. If you don't let me do anything now, it will only fester and get worse. Wounds from those weapons don't heal, they only get worse unless you have help from anyone who is familiar in dealing with these type of wounds and I am the only one in the vicinity willing to help. If only reluctantly.”
He let out a huff of air and they both stared at each other for a few seconds, in a silent stand off of wits. When, finally, Alastor looked away and gave silent permission to do whatever was needed.
“Just don't touch me,”
What now?
“You do realise how much harder and longer that will make this whole ordeal, right?”
“That is my only condition, Do not fucking touch me.”
Alastor said it with a finality, like a man desperately clinging to the last streaks of his dignity. So, Lucifer let him have just this one.
“Okay, I will need you to move to a more… Upright position, if you can do that.”
“Alright,” And with a groan and gritting his teeth, Alastor managed to right himself against the wall.
Lucifer crouched down and rolled up his sleeves, getting ready and bracing himself for the long, tenuous next few hours.
~~~~
At this point, the healing had been going on for a while, both of them sitting in silence.
Alastor, for not wanting to disturb/mess up the process, and Lucifer, for needing to not be distract himself.
However, when Lucifer's brow finally started to loosen after about two hours, Alastor brought up the question that Lucifer had been dreading.
“To what, may I ask, did I owe the pleasure of your quite rude intrusion earlier?”
Lucifer sputtered and his magic for healing Alastor's torso flickered and died out. Which wasn't a very big deal, as his wound had neatly closed over and it didn't seem as painful anymore. Good enough in Lucifer's opinion.
“Er… because you were… obviously hurt and… Charlie needs you for… The hotel.”
As much as he hated to admit it, the statement had some grains of truth in it, Charlie really does need Alastor. For some reason or another, Alastor is vital to this hotel and, more importantly, to his Charlie.
Lucifer wasn't there for her for a long time and he will deeply regret that for the rest of eternity, but this creep was. And even though his response wasn't the full truth, it was part of one, and he thought this sacrifice of his pride in bringing up this particularly touchy subject would be good enough for the sinner.
“Hah, laughable excuse, your highness. What was the real reason?”
Apparently not.
Alrighty then, plan B, denial.
“I have no idea what you mean,”
“Your majesty, will all due respect, you and I both know that is a bald faced lie.”
By now, Alastor had managed to get himself to standing and was looming over Lucifer. The trademark grin was no longer as strained as it had been for the last week or so. Lucifer would be proud of himself, if it weren't for the absolute nuisance that the accomplishment was connected to.
“Well, if you can not answer me, then I believe it is time for you to leave.
And, as I am sure you agree, I do not wish to speak of this… indecent again, so let us keep it to ourselves, shall we?”
Alastor started shooing Lucifer out as if he were a naughty child, pushing him by his back to the door.
How dare he! How dare he patronize the king of hell!
Lucifer took a deep breath through his nose and whirled around to face Alastor. I took every ounce within him not to obliterate the demon in front of him out of existence.
“No… thank you? No… gratitude? You do realize I saved your fucking ass, right?”
Alastor flinched at the mention of that.
“Well I do not think you deserve one, your highness. Based on the fact you will not tell me why you were here in the first place.”
“Oh My God, just fucking drop that, will you! First off, the ‘Your highness’ thing, its fucking annoying. I also told you why I was here and you didn't believe me, you twat! I don't see how that's my fault!”
“Do you prefer me to call you Luci, then?”
“Only if I can call you… Er… BAMBI”
“Do not!”
Neither one of them realised how loud they were or how heated the situation was getting. Parts of both of their more demon forms had emerged and they were really getting into each other's spaces.
Then, it all came to a screeching halt when the painting nearly fell off of its hooks. Seeing this, Alastor completely abandoned the argument and rushed to catch it. Lucifer just stood in shock.
Alastor had just managed to catch it, And, after a very thorough analysis, they found it had only very minimal dings on the one corner.
The environment was very tense in that moment. It was as if everything was standing still and holding it's breath. Lucifer knew he was holding his.
“I will ask you one last time, leave.”
Alastor's voice was cold and almost deadly. Radio static started to emanate off of him again.
Lucifer stood there, his frustration returning along with, for some reason, a slight tingling of fear. But he ignored the second one.
“Okay, I will… but,”
Then, he was cut off by Alastor, who gritted out “No buts, your majesty. You need to leave.”
“Yes, yes, I will, but before I do, and hear me out, we need to make a deal.”
Alastor's ears perked at that.
“A deal you say?”
“More of an agreement”
Alastor crossed his arms, “Alright, continue.”
Lucifer took a deep breath.
“You and I both have to agree that these spats of ours are getting quite out of hand,”
Alastor nods.
“As Well as, I, at least, do not wish for Charlie to have to continue to clean up our messes or potentially put the hotel in danger,”
Alastor's smile goes a bit strained at that.
“And neither of us are going anywhere, because as much as I hate to admit it, she needs both of us, and we can't keep doing this to her”
“What's your point?”
Lucifer continues,
“So, I propose we make a deal, to be civil with each other. We don't have to be friends or anything, we just have to stop causing things like this to happen. As well as, we can just stay away from each other. Like, respect each other's space… So, what do you think?”
Alastor mulls this over for a few seconds, and seems to come to a conclusion.
“Deal”
He sticks his hand out and the air starts flowing green.
Lucifer can feel his own horns and tail come out as he takes the demon's hand.
They both shake and it is over as quickly as it started.
They both quickly let go and Lucifer starts to the door. He is already opening the door, when Alastor calls out to him.
“Wait, your majesty,”
Lucifer turns and nearly jumps out of his skin. Alastor had shadow traveled right next to him and scared the living bejeezus out of him.
“Ahk! Wha- what do you want?”
Alastor smirks at his flusteredness and simply says
“Thank you. and goodnight, Luci.”
And promptly shuts the door in Lucifer's face.
“Well goodnight to you too, idiot.” Lucifer grumbled.
Only then does the nickname catch up to him.
Well two can play at that game.
And he went off to bed only to be woken up an hour later by an overly enthusiastic Charlie.