Chapter Text
Lucifer manifested in the kitchen, brushing a few stray sparks from his shoulders.
“Dad!”
He jumped slightly and turned to see Charlie making coffee, hands on her hips.
Busted.
He let out a shaky laugh. “Char-Char! Hey! I know you said no portals, but I was just so excited to have breakfast with you, I didn’t think you’d mind just this once?” And I was desperate to get away from your so-called ‘hotelier’.
He turned pleading eyes on his daughter, who… looked away? Feeling his heart tear just a little more, he dropped his head and lowered his voice.
“I.. I’m sorry Charlie. I’ll try not to do it again.”
Charlie winced and let her arms fall to her sides. She was fed up of this dynamic between them. Her Dad constantly looked like a kicked puppy, and she felt like she was the one doing the kicking. She was still feeling guilty for not realising he was hurt after the weapon incident.
“Dad, it’s okay, you should be able to get around how you want when it’s just us. Really, it’s okay. I want you to be comfortable here. I want this to be your home” she paused “with me.”
Lucifer felt a prickle of tears and hurriedly brushed them away before crossing the room and taking Charlie into his arms.
“Oh, my Duckling. I think we need to sit and have a proper talk, don’t you?”
Charlie, equally emotional, nodded before burrowing her head in her dad’s shoulder. He gently petted her hair, speaking softly.
“How about I make you some pancakes and then we go and have a little chat?”
She nodded again and took a deep breath before extracting herself from his arms and sniffling. A wobbly smile came across her face.
“I’d love that Dad, thank you.”
Lucifer beamed at her and leant forward, wiping away a stray tear from her cheek before turning towards the stove.
Unbeknownst to them, a shadow quickly left the room and re-joined its master.
Hmm, how interesting. Thought Alastor. I think I’d better be present for this little chat.
Lucifer portalled Charlie and himself just outside of his room. He had warded the door so that no one (apart from him) could get in without him opening the door for them. He really should key Charlie into the wards as well, but a man still needs his privacy.
He opened the door and gestured for Charlie to go in first before following her. Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed a shadow slinking under the door and hiding. He rolled his eyes.
Honestly, it’s like he forgets I’m the King of Hell. Hide away little deer, I’ll deal with you later.
He had split the main room into several, smaller areas. This essentially meant he had a bedroom, study (for duck-making and, theoretically, for actually doing his job as the King of Hell) and a small living room with a kitchenette. Along with a private bathroom.
Charlie looked around the living room in awe.
“Wow Dad! You’ve really made this place your own, it looks great!”
Lucifer looked around, taking in the cream walls with their soft gold accents, the plush, deep crimson carpeting and dark wood furniture.
Lucifer smiled softly at his daughter, happy that she liked his décor (and that he’d had the foresight to move all the ducks into his bedroom and study).
“Thanks Duckie, I am rather pleased with how it turned out. Now, come and sit. Seeing as I interrupted you downstairs, would you like some coffee?”
He gestured to the large, cream sofa and Charlie nodded before sinking into the soft cushions with a happy sigh.
“Daaaaad” she groaned “How is this couch so sooooft? It feels like a cloud!”
Lucifer chuckled, watching the way Charlie became almost enveloped by the plush sofa.
“Why magic of course, my silly little Applepie.”
He wiggled his fingers, letting some sparks flare and Charlie giggled. Lucifer felt a pang in his chest, the moment reminding him of when Charlie was just a little girl. He had missed out on so much. Missed out on her growing up. Let Lilith dictate every aspect of their relationship, let himself believe that his daughter didn’t want to see him. Shaking his head, as if it would get rid of the negative thoughts, Lucifer busied himself with making their coffees before bringing two cups to the sofa and taking a seat next to Charlie.
Sensing his mood change, Charlie sobered and sat up, accepting the coffee with a quiet thank you and taking a little sip. Humming in pleasure, she took another sip. It was nice to know that her dad still remembered how she liked her drinks.
Deciding that she was going to start this conversation, she sat up straight and looked at Lucifer.
“Dad, I’m sorry.”
Lucifer startled slightly, almost spilling his coffee. He wasn’t expecting Charlie to apologise. Even though he was hurt, he still felt like this was all his fault.
He opened his mouth to refute the apology but only got as far as “Charlie...” before he was stopped.
“No Dad,” Charlie interrupted. “I need to say this.”
She took another sip of coffee and then a deep breath, before continuing.
“I was hurt that you and Vaggi didn’t feel like you could talk to me before threatening Vox. Especially as you know how I feel about threats of violence!”
She paused for a second, closing her eyes briefly. Lucifer fought to not interrupt, his every cell ready to throw himself at his daughter's feet. Charlie.
She opened her eyes, steeling herself and continued.
“But Vaggi made me see that I had been completely unreasonable. I hadn’t been listening to her, or my friends or anyone. My pride made me think that I had to show the sinners that the Vee’s were wrong, that Vox had lied! But really, that wasn’t helping anyone but me. I just couldn’t stand the thought of them smearing the hotel, putting doubts in people's minds when I knew that redemption was possible!”
She leaned forward and placed her other hand in Lucifer’s.
“Dad, I am so sorry. You were trapped and hurt, and I didn’t help you and… and…” She trailed off as tears began to fall.
Lucifer couldn’t stay silent any longer. Magicking both of their coffees away, he took his daughter into his arms and let her cry.
“Oh Charlie,” he said softly. “It’s all going to be okay Duckling. If you can forgive me for getting captured and nearly destroying Pentagram City, then I think I can forgive you for not immediately running to my aid.”
She sat upright, tears still streaming down her face.
“But Dad!” She protested, furiously wiping at her face “That wasn’t your fault!”
Lucifer smiled sadly and handed her a handkerchief (monogrammed, of course).
“Char-Char,” he continued, in the same soft voice. “Of course it was. I was tricked, by a sinner no less. I am the King of Hell, I should’ve seen through his act immediately. It was embarrassingly easy for him to contain me.”
He paused, frowning.
“I underestimated sinners. I had become so blind to the changes in hell that I didn’t even consider the angelic weapons could be used against me. I’ve spent thousands of years with the ‘can’t do nothing with ‘em’ mentality. I became complacent. Your mother was the true ruler of hell, I simply stayed out of the sinners way. My pride has become my downfall… again.”
Flashes of his fall ran through Lucifer’s mind. The pain of his wings being severed, brutally cut from his body and tossed away, as if they were nothing. As if he were nothing. The crushing press of a boot on his chest sending him out of heaven, the burning of his extremities as he fell, the fear of having nothing to slow his fall.
“Dad?”
Lucifer didn’t realise he had dropped his head whilst falling into his memories, he looked up to see Charlie’s concerned face.
“Sorry Applepie, was lost in thought for a second there.” He smiled gently at her before continuing.
“I was… upset when I crawled out from under the weapon and you seemed more concerned with the others but honestly, I think I deserved that. I’ve never felt good enough. Not for your mother and not for you.”
Charlie looked appalled but Lucifer stopped her before she could say anything.
“Hang on a sec Duckie, I’m nearly done. Promise.”
He took a deep breath in. Here goes nothing.
“When I was trapped in that machine, I was so scared. I couldn’t escape and my own power was being used for a weapon. At the time, I didn’t even know what it did, I just knew it hurt.”
Charlie’s lip began to wobble again but Lucifer continued, needing to get it out in the open.
“When the machine needed more power, it just took it. I had no choice. I was... helpless.”
He looked at Charlie and took her hands in his again, his eyes locked on hers.
“I don’t ever want to feel like that again.”
Charlie nodded, keeping her tears back. Brave girl. She’s always been my brave girl.
“What do we need to do, Dad? How can I help.”
A weight that Lucifer didn’t know he was holding seemed to fade away. Squeezing her hands gently, he sighed. It was time to do something that he should’ve done a long, long time ago.
“We need to go to heaven.”