Chapter Text
Charlie was visibly shocked.
“What do you mean go to heaven Dad? You can’t. At least, I don’t think you can? Wait, can you?”
Lucifer laughed and interrupted her rambling. “Slow down Char-Char. You are correct, I cannot go to heaven. I was cast out, never to return. But you, my Applepie, can. I need to send a very important letter, and I need you to convince my-” he stopped here for a second, unsure of how to put it. “My, er... let’s just say it’s someone important, okay?” The last part was almost mumbled.
Charlie raised an eyebrow at him and pouted slightly. “Dad... no more secrets. Please?”
Lucifer sighed, for what felt like the twentieth time in the past hour. He looked imploringly at Charlie.
“Duckling, I promise no more secrets, but some things are still painful for me. I will tell you everything once I’ve written the letter. Your job while be to convince them to actually read it instead of just burning it. It won’t be easy Charlie, they don’t want anything to do with me. As far as they are concerned, I don’t exist. The fact that you are my daughter likely isn’t going to help you either. But, if anyone can convince them to listen, it’s you. Hell, you’ve already done it once!”
Charlie narrowed her eyes at him suspiciously but conceded.
“Fine, I understand...” Suddenly, her eyes widened and she jumped to her feet.
“Ohhh my gosh! I can see Sir Pentious again! And have a proper hangout with Emily! I can take Vaggi as well!”
Startled by her enthusiasm, Lucifer was speechless for a second.
“Er, Char-Char it may not be that pleasant of a visit...”
But Charlie was still excitedly rambling about all the things that she and Vaggi could do and how long it’s been since they have had a proper break. She whirled around and grabbed Lucifer by the shoulders, grinning from ear to ear.
“I’ll go and try to contact Emily now! See if we can go for a few days, oooh or maybe a week!! I can set homework for the therapy sessions, and you and Alastor can mind the hotel!” She stepped back, clapping her hands together in glee.
Say what now.
Lucifer visibly gulped and let out a shaky chuckle. “Ahhh, um Charlie, I don’t really think that’s a good-”
Charlie’s eyes were practically hearts at this point and, were those sparkles? How is she doing that? Maybe she does take after me?
“Come on Dad, it’ll be a great chance for you and Alastor to bond!” She squealed, looking about 30 seconds away from breaking into song.
Lucifer groaned internally. He didn’t want to bond with that lanky menace, especially now that Alastor is aware of his inability to harm sinners. There was no way they would even get through one conversation without it devolving into insults, let alone an entire week.
Lucifer’s grimacing coupled with his sudden silence caused Charlie to switch tactics. Time to bring out the big guns.
“Please Dad?” She pleaded, hands clasped together and puppy dog eyes in full effect.
Well, how the devil was he supposed to say no to that. He cast a glare over to the shadow, gritting his teeth. How on earth was he supposed to manage the hotel, with the most difficult creature known to demon kind?
Fucking stupid deer-looking dickhead.
“Of course, Charlie, we’ll take good care of the hotel.” He managed to wheeze out.
This is going to be terrible. There is going to be nothing left standing when she gets back.
He continued through gritted teeth. “I’m sure the bellhop and I will be perfectly fine.”
He hates me and he’s a fucking cannibal.
“What could possibly go wrong!”
He’s going to eat me, isn’t he? WHY AM I STILL TALKING?!
Charlie paused for a second, noticing Lucifer being even weirder than usual.
“Er, Dad... you okay?”
Lucifer shook himself out of his internal panicking and laughed (and if it was slightly hysterical, then who are we to judge?) “Aha, don’t worry Charlie! I’m great! Now why don’t you go and contact your angel friend, hm? I have a letter to write.” And a shadow to catch.
Beaming once again, Charlie set off to the door calling out a “Love you Dad!” as she was leaving. Lucifer echoed the sentiment and with a quick finger snap, put a trap of his own design on the door, just as it closed.
And now we wait.
He flopped on the sofa and pulled out his phone. After five minutes of watching Lucifer do nothing but scroll through Sinstagram, the shadow clearly thought it wasn’t getting anything more of interest and attempted to slink back under the door, only to let out a blat of static as it was caught.
Lucifer grinned sharply. Got you.
He pocketed his phone, stood up slowly and stretched luxuriously before casually making his way over to the door. Lucifer’s ‘trap’ was essentially a net, similar to a spider's web, across the door. The shadow was stuck in it, wiggling fruitlessly and twisting from side to side in an attempt to escape. This was the first time he’d really seen Alastor’s shadow close up and it was fascinating. It was similar in stature (note; stupidly tall and slender, ridiculous shoulder-to-waist ratio), with slightly bigger antlers, same fluffy deer ears and wait...
Is that a tail?!
Lucifer had to stop himself from snorting. The big, bad radio demon had a cute little fluffy deer tail? Hilarious. He filed this information away for later. The more ammunition the better. He steadied himself before leaning in a little, feeling pleased as the shadow tried to shrink backwards.
“Now, now, what do we have here? A sneaky little shadow, trying to listen in on a private conversation. Your master has a lot to answer for, doesn’t he pet?”
The shadow's ears went completely flat, much to Lucifer’s delight. Looks like this little thing is far more responsive than its sarcastic counterpart. Time to have some fun.
Lucifer’s grin turned menacing and he let his eyes deepen to red, his horns come free and his voice lower. His wings were still sore and damaged from the machine, but he was intimidating enough without them.
He reached forward and grasped the shadow’s chin between his claws, forcing it to look at him. Interesting, so it can be corporeal.
“I can’t hurt sinners, but I wonder if I can hurt their shadows?” he growled out, letting a few flames flicker from his mouth.
The shadow was practically quivering now. Ears flat down to its head and eyes darting from side to side as it tried frantically to escape. Lucifer almost felt sorry for it. Scratch that, he did feel sorry for it. He’s sure the shadow didn’t ask to be tied to that lanky red sourpuss.
He sighed and pulled his horns back in, letting his eyes go back to normal and releasing the shadow from his grasp. Feeling pity for a shadow of all things? Lucifer rolled his eyes and huffed but he couldn’t stop himself from feeling sorry for the poor thing. He softened his voice a little, trying to sound more soothing than menacing.
“I’m sorry little one, I didn’t mean to frighten you. Look, I’m not going to hurt you, but I am not best pleased about you sneaking into my room. So, no more of that, no matter what he asks you, okay?”
The shadow frantically nodded, ears perked upright. Lucifer sighed, again.
“Okay, if I let you go, you have to promise to be a good boy, okay?”
The shadows ears flattened again briefly, and it looked to the side almost bashfully before nodding quickly. Was it, flustered?
Lucifer raised an eyebrow. Well, now isn’t that an interesting turn of events.
He snapped his fingers once more and the shadow was free. For a moment it froze before it’s eyes darted to the door and then back to him. It stared at him, almost imploringly.
Lucifer rolled his eyes. “Fine, fine, I’ll let you out. Father above, are you a deer or a dog?”
He paused at the door, fingers resting on the handle. “Before I let you go, what are the chances of you not divulging my chat with Charlie to that big red creep?”
The shadow blinked at him a couple of times before nodding frantically, miming its lips being zipped shut.
Lucifer laughed softly. He didn’t believe for a second that the shadow, that Alastor’s shadow, was telling the truth but it was certainly worth a try.
Opening the door, he watched the shadow slink along the carpet into the hallway, before disappearing into a shadowy puddle. Presumably recalled to its master. Lucifer shuddered lightly.
Still creepy.
He closed his door again and leant against it.
I wonder how much the little shadow will tell its master?
Lucifer shook his head. Radio demons and their pet shadows were not important right now. He glanced at his desk and rubbed a hand across his face.
He had a letter to write.