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Blitz smiled. “Listen, I know you don’t like giving something without getting something in return, so I’m gonna have to do the same. Exactly what's in it for me?”
Alastor pursed his lips and sighed. “Is it not enough that what I’m asking for is for the King of Hell?”
“Pff! If you haven’t noticed, none of us really care about that. So,” he rested his elbows on the desk, steepled his fingers together and leaned forward, “again, what’s in it for me?”
***
Lucifer looked at his wardrobe. Alastor had said to wear something casual. He grinned to himself as he pulled out one of his favorite button-up shirts. It was light blue with yellow ducks printed on it. Alastor HATED the thing, but their loving relationship was built on antagonizing one another playfully, so he slipped it on and buttoned it up. He paused and his smile grew wider. If he were going to annoy Alastor, he needed to do it right, so he only did half of the buttons, exposing his chest openly.
He opened a portal and stepped up to the bar taking a seat. “Afternoon!” he greeted Husk who was behind the bar and Vaggie who sat there with a drink in hand.
Vaggie smiled. “Looking really nice today, sir, uh, Lucifer… Sir.”
Lucifer smiled. She still had a hard time with calling him by his name instead of addressing him as ‘sir’; a clear habit from her days before she fell. All angels referred to arch angels in this way and though Lucifer had fallen long before Vaggie ever had, she still knew who and what he was. But at least she was trying.
“Thanks,” he replied. He looked at Husk. “Could I get a club soda?”
“Not drinking today?” he asked as he turned to get the drink.
He shook his head. “Alastor has something big planned and I wanna be completely level-headed and enjoy ever moment of it.”
Husk handed him the glass. “What’s he got planned for you this afternoon?”
He shrugged as he took a drink. “He didn’t say. He’s been really big on surprises lately. Honestly, it scared me a little at first, you know how he is, he could always have somethig nefarious planned when he has a ‘surprise’.”
Husk chuckled. “Not for you. The boss won’t admit it, but he likes you,” he teased.
Lucifer chuckled in turn. Alastor very openly admitted he liked Lucifer; he openly admitted it a lot, he'd even said those three words Lucifer wanted to hear more than anything, though sparingly. Lucifer said it almost from day one; he wore his heart on his sleeve. Alastor was guarded; he let so few people in. Lucifer was still surprised sometimes that the deer demon had let HIM in.
“Hey, Dad!” Charlie called as she stepped up to the bar.
He smiled and opened his arms. “Charlie!” he cried out. He always got excited to see her. He could have seen her for breakfast and then met her in the living room ten minutes later and he’d have acted like it had been years since he’d last seen her. “How are you?” he asked as he hugged her.
“Oh, I’m good,” she replied. She sat down next to Vaggie and gave her a quick kiss on the cheek. “How are you, Dad?”
“I’m great! Especially since I get to see you now.”
She smiled. “Oh, Dad.” She paused. “Where’s Alastor?”
“You need him for something?” Lucifer asked. “He should be here any minute, we have plans.”
Charlie stared at him blankly. “Oh… You have plans together? Oh, um, well, Alastor said he wanted to see me. Said he wanted to get together,” she replied deflated.
Lucifer felt his heart tighten. He hated seeing his daughter sad and now she was sad because she’d been looking forward to time with her friend and it looked like it wasn’t going to happen. “Oh, well, maybe I got the day mixed up. You know how I am, can’t seem to get anything straight ever,” he joked. He knew how much Charlie loathed his self-deprecation, but it was so common for him anymore; it was a hard habit to break, but he WAS trying for Charlie.
Suddenly Alastor appeared, materializing from the shadows. “Good afternoon!” he greeted everyone warmly.
Lucifer’s heart skipped a beat. Like with Charlie, it didn’t matter how often he saw Alastor, every time he did it was as though he’d been missing him for years. “Hey, you,” Lucifer greeted in return.
Alastor stepped closer to him and gave him a quick peck on the cheek. He’d been working on becoming more affectionate in general and more so in front of others. Lucifer didn’t begrudge him the time it was taking the demon to become more physical; he didn’t have great experiences with relationships in the past. Lucifer just hoped he could be a good one for him.
“Well, are you ready?” Alastor asked him.
“Oh, uh, yeah, but Charlie-”
“Are you ready, my dear?” Alastor asked Charlie
She blinked at him in surprise. “Oh, I wasn’t sure we were gonna hang out. Dad said you two had plans.”
“Yes, I have plans with the both of you,” he smiled triumphantly.
Lucifer chuckled. “It’s not nice to let people think you’ve double booked with them, makes them feel like you don’t care,” he teased.
Alastor shrugged. “I never claimed to be nice, and I would hope you would never claim so either.”
Husk chuckled. “I know I would NEVER tell anyone that under that big scary demon exterior is a soft little teddy bear.”
He glared at Husk. “You would do well to be certain you never do.”
“He was joking,” Lucifer reminded him. “We all know you have a reputation to keep.”
Alastor straightened his jacket. “Good. Now, if you’re both ready.” He paused, finally taking in Lucifer’s attire. “Are you wearing THAT?”
Lucifer looked down at it as though he didn’t realize what he was wearing. He met Alastor’s eyes. “This old thing? Something wrong with it?”
“Everything is wrong with it,” he replied quickly. “For a man with such impeccable taste, you REALLY have the most atrocious choice in casual wear.”
Lucifer grinned. “I can always take it off,” he teased as he started to unbutton it.
“No!” Alastor and Charlie shouted at the same time.
Lucifer just laughed. “Oh, all right. Guess I’m gonna go out in this then.”
Alastor breathed deeply, not at all amused by his partner’s antics. “If you both are ready?”
Lucifer took another drink from his glass and slipped off of the stool. Charlie gave Vaggie a quick kiss and followed. “So, where you taking us?” Lucifer asked as they followed him into the main hall.
Alastor stopped and turned to them. “Somewhere I’m sure neither of you have been.” Alastor pulled out a crystal from his pocket.
Lucifer’s eyes widened. “Is that an Asmodean crystal?!”
Alastor smiled. “That it is.”
“Aren’t those used to get to Earth?” Charlie asked.
“That they are,” Alastor answered. “There is somewhere I’d like to take you that I think the both of you would very much enjoy. If you’re game?”
“I am SO game!” Lucifer exclaimed. He’d go anywhere with Alastor, but visiting Earth with him and his daughter was going to be a real treat.
Charlie bit her lip. “I… I’ve never been to Earth before,” she replied hesitantly.
“Well, there’s a first time for everything,” Alastor told her with his usual smile. He took her hand in his. “If you are uncomfortable with it, you certainly don’t have to join us, my dear, but I would very much like you to come along.”
Charlie took a deep breath. “Okay. I run a hotel, I’ve negotiated with Heaven, I can go to Earth!”
Alastor’s smile widened. “That’s the spirit!” He looked at Lucifer. “Ready?”
“Absolutely, just one thing before we go.” He waved his hand, his magic enveloping all three of them and altering their appearances. They didn’t change much, but now they looked as human as the next person; no one would know they were visiting from Hell. “Ready.”
Alastor smiled and opened the portal for them to enter the living human realm.
***
Lucifer wasn’t sure who was more excited about the costumes, masks, and colors of the parade, him or Charlie. He smiled, seeing her happy made him happy. He glanced at Alastor who had a smile. Lucifer knew the man felt much the same about him; Alastor was happy to see his partner happy as well.
Mardi Gras was a tradition going back generations. Alastor recalled being able to attend the parade almost every year with his mother at the chagrin of his father. He took Lucifer and Charlie to a local bakery to try king cake. He still wasn’t much for sweets, but the traditional confection tasted different on his tongue as he shared it with those he loved; it brought back memories of his boyhood. He showed them all around New Orleans. Granted, much had changed since he’d lived there, but it still felt like home.
Lucifer watched how Alastor’s eyes would light up as he took them through town, showing them the places he’d been and the things he’d done in his life. He smiled as he watched him with Charlie; he really WAS like a dad to her. When he’d first met Alastor, it angered him when the demon said it because it made him feel guilty for being an absent father. But now, he was just happy to know that there had been someone there to take care of his daughter.
After touring the town, and stuffing themselves with more food than they could have ever imagined, they finished the night by the river for a fireworks show. Lucifer couldn’t stop smiling at every explosion in the sky. It made him think of Heaven, the way the stars would twinkle and the power that would burst at the sign of new creation. It was beautiful.
“Thank you for taking us!” Charlie told Alastor once they got back to the hotel. She hugged him tightly. “That was amazing!”
He smiled as he embraced her in return and stroked her hair lovingly. “You’re very welcome, dear. Thank you for sharing it with me.”
“Well,” Charlie began as she pulled away from him, “I am gonna head to bed. I can’t wait to tell Vaggie all about it!” Then she hugged her dad. “Night, Dad!”
“Good night, Charlie,” he replied in turn. “Sleep well.”
Once she disappeared, Lucifer turned to Alastor. “That was a lot of fun.”
He smiled. “I’m glad.”
Lucifer smiled back at him and dropped his gaze. They’d been together months now and he still got shy around him. He looked up and met Alastor’s eyes. He paused, not sure what to make of the look on his face. Alastor stepped closer and took his hand in his softly. “Thank you for coming with me today. There’s no one else I would have wanted to share it with.” He pulled him into his arms and kissed him.
Lucifer was used to Alastor’s kissing lasting only a few seconds, the man still uneasy with physical affection, but the moment he expected Alastor to pulled away, instead, he parted his lips and pressed the tip of his tongue against Lucifer’s lips. Lucifer froze. Alastor was asking for more! He didn’t want to scare him off, so he simply let the other man take control of the kiss.
Alastor’s tongue pressed farther in slowly, almost hesitantly. In hopes of encouraging him without over stimulating him, Lucifer pushed his tongue toward his, touching Alastor’s with just the tip of his own. Then Alastor did something he’d never expected. He felt it bubble up from his throat and vibrate in his mouth, the soft moan of pleasure that overtook him.
Alastor finally pulled away, softly nipping at his bottom lip as he did. Lucifer opened his eyes and stared up at him. “Wow!” It was all he could think of to say.
Alastor smiled coyly as he averted his gaze. “Thank you, Lucifer,” he whispered. He slowly met his eyes once more. “Not just for today, but… For letting me take the time I need and for… For loving me.”
“Of course,” he replied, grinning happily. He reached up and touched his cheek gently. “How could I not?”
Alastor’s eyes began to water. He pulled away, cleared his throat and wiped at his eyes. “Well, I think it’s time we retire for the evening. I’m sure you’re as tired as I am.”
He nodded. “I am pretty exhausted. Bed sounds good.” He grabbed his hand again. “If you’ll join me, of course.”
Alastor nodded. “Yes, of course.”
Once in Lucifer’s room, both of them dressed for the evening, Lucifer crawled under the blankets and got comfortable. He turned on his side, to face away from Alastor like he always did, letting the other man climb in next to him and hold him from behind. He felt the dip of the bed and then felt the covers lift. He turned in surprise to see Alastor getting under the covers WITH him! Alastor scooted closer and put his arms around him.
“I hope this is alright,” Alastor said quietly.
“This is MORE than alright,” Lucifer replied as he snuggled closer to him. Everything about the day had been perfect and now he was ending it in the best way; in bed, under the covers, being held by the man he loved. He couldn’t have asked for better.