Chapter Text
“So… I guess… This is goodnight,” Lucifer told Alastor as they stood in front of Alastor’s bedroom door.
Alastor nodded. “So, it is. Sleep well, Lucifer.”
“Hey,” Lucifer called to him before he could open the door. He turned his attention to the man, but Lucifer looked away. “So, um,” he stammered out, resting his hand on the back of his neck nervously. “I’ve been thinking.”
When Lucifer didn’t continue, Alastor encouraged with, “Go on.”
“I mean, I really enjoy our time together,” he finally replied as he looked up and met his eyes.
Alastor offered him a kind smile. “As do I.”
“And… I mean… We agreed… Or decided, I guess, that we… Well, that you and I… We’re together now.”
Alastor nodded again. “That we did.”
‘Where is he going with this?’ he wondered. He wasn’t sure, but it was rather entertaining to see him struggling to find the right words.
Lucifer licked his lips nervously. “I was hoping I could give you a hug goodnight,” he finally blurted out.
“Oh…” Now Alastor was the one at a loss for words. “Yes, that would be most logical,” he replied.
‘That is the sort of thing people do in relationships.’ He knew that; he would be a fool not to. The relationships of those at the hotel alone were indication enough of the typical expectations of relationships. While Charlie and Vaggie weren’t as intimate in front of others as Husk and Angel were, they were all prime examples of what came along with a romantic relationship; physical touch.
Lucifer held his breath as he waited for Alastor to say more. “So… Is that a no or a yes?” he finally asked.
Alastor swallowed hard. “I…”
“Hey, I meant it when I said we can take whatever time you need,” he reassured him. “No rush. Really! I just… I thought I’d ask.”
“And I appreciate you asking,” Alastor replied. “Rather than just attempting it… And I would… I would like to.”
“Okay. Are you sure? You don’t sound real sure about it.”
Alastor took a deep breath, then looked away as he answered, “I’ve just never done it before,” he whispered.
Lucifer chuckled. “Whadaya mean you’ve never done it before? I’ve seen you hug Mimzy and Niffty and even Charlie.”
“Yes… My… My lady friends.”
“And it’s different if it’s your not-lady friends?”
Quickly turning to Lucifer he replied, “I’ve never hugged another man before, alright?”
Lucifer stared at him in disbelief. “What… You mean… Like never never?”
“Not in this life or the one before, no.”
Lucifer’s head was swimming. “Really?”
“Are you mocking me!?”
Lucifer quickly lifted his hands in a defensive position. “No!” he quickly told him. “No, not at all. I’m just, trying to wrap my head around it, that’s all.” He dropped his arms to his sides again. “I want you to be comfortable, so if you’re not ready or you don’t want to… That’s okay.”
Alastor nodded. “I appreciate that. I know that… In relationships, romantic relationships, there is an expected amount of touch to be… Well, expected. And I am getting myself to a point where I can, not only accept touch, but touch in return.” He paused and grew quiet as he looked down. “And I truly appreciate you allowing me to take the time that I need to be comfortable with more.”
“Yeah, of course!” Lucifer told him with a happy smile. “You… You mean a lot to me, Al and I wanna do whatever you need or want for this to work.”
Now Alastor offered a coy smile in return. ‘I don’t know how he still manages to make me blush like some love-struck maiden.’
“Well,” Alastor began, “I believe it is time for us to retire.”
Lucifer nodded. “Yeah, of course. Good night, Alastor.” As he turned to head down the hall to his own bedroom, Alastor called his name, calling his attention back to him. Lucifer turned to look at him.
“I think it’s time we tell Charlie as well.”
Lucifer couldn’t stop his grin from taking up his entire face. “Absolutely!”
When they sat with Charlie in the foyer the next day to tell her, neither of them seemed to be able to get the words out. Lucifer, of course, was stumbling along attempting a long-winded explanation of things Alastor was certain Charlie already understood. “You see, Char-Char, I know that things are different now and I’ve been trying to move on with that. And I know you’re going to always love your mother, I mean, I’m gonna always love her too in my own way. I mean, she’s a part of me in a lot of ways, but even so, that’s not what I want with my life anymore. I deserve to be loved just as much as I love someone else. I mean, I think everyone does really, I mean, even really bad people, right? I mean, that’s what the hotel is all about! Seeing the good in people. And there are people who I never would have expected to see the good in who I think are some of the most amazing people now! I-”
“What your father is so ineloquently attempting to tell you,” Alastor interrupted, “is that he and I are together now,” Then he froze as he saw the look in Charlie’s face; he couldn’t read it.
‘Is she upset?’ he questioned. ‘Lucifer mentioned that she still loved her mother dearly; is she still holding onto some kind of hope that she’ll return and reunite their family?’ Alastor’s heart was beating fast in fear and worry. ‘Perhaps she’s simply disgusted with the idea of having me, her friend, as something more than that, like a possible step-father.’
Alastor now launched into a speech of his own to cover up the awkwardness around them. “Your father is a wonderful person and though, I understand, it may seem a little odd, seeing as he and I were very much at odds with one another when we first met, but I assure you, he and I have looked inward and have really seen how much we have in common and those commonalities have brought us to a point where we see each other as equals rather than rivals and seeing one another as equals has helped us to see ourselves as something more and better together.” He paused here and took a deep breath. “We really hope you’re okay with this.”
“Okay with it?” Charlie asked, her face still impassive. “Okay with it!?” She stood up and clapped her hands excitedly. “Of course, I’m okay with it!” She practically jumped at her dad, wrapping her arms around him tightly. “I am so excited for you!” She let go and then pulled Alastor into a tight embrace, practically squeezing all of the air out of his lungs as she did so. “I’m so happy for you!”
Alastor smiled as he caught his breath. He lifted his arms and put them around Charlie in return. “Thank you, my dear. We’re both very happy as well.”
Lucifer smiled as he looked over at them, it was nice to see his daughter and his new partner embracing, but then he felt a pang in his chest; he wanted to feel Alastor’s arms around him. It wasn’t fair. Alastor was his, but he understood Alastor was different; he needed time to adjust to something like this. Though it was frustrating, to say the least, he really was willing to let Alastor take all the time he needed.
After telling Charlie, Alastor went to find Niffty, the only other person in the hotel he cared to tell about his relationship with Lucifer. Her single eye grew wide. “You’re with the ultimate bad boy now?” she asked in excited wonder.
Alastor smiled down at her. “That I am, my dear.”
“That’s awesome!” she exclaimed. In a low voice she asked, “Do you get to do bad boy things with him?”
Alastor felt his face heat up. “That is really none of your concern,” he answered simply. “Now, you have duties to attend to.” He turned on his heel and walked away quickly. What was it Niffty actually meant by that? Knowing Niffty, she could have meant a thousand different things. She could have innocently meant that if Lucifer was a ‘bad boy’ than anything he did with him would be a ‘bad boy thing’, but he also knew Niffty could very well mean something much more carnal than that. He decided to put it from his mind for the time being.
“Are you really okay with this, Charlie?” Lucifer asked her later that day.
“Of course I am, Dad! Why wouldn’t I be?”
He sighed. “I just… I know how much your mother means to you-”
“Dad,” she grabbed his hands to interrupt him, “you deserve to be happy. Like you said, you deserve to have someone love you as much as you love them.” She squeezed his hands. “The only thing I want is for you to be happy. Does Alastor make you happy?”
He smiled. “He does. He really does.”
She squeezed his hands once more. “Good.” She stepped away and grabbed the notebook she’d just set down. “I was thinking about doing some kind of ‘thank you’ celebration for Rosie and the rest of Cannibal town, you know to thank them for their help in defending us during the last extermination.”
“Why, I think that’s a splendid idea!” Alastor noted as he stepped up to join the conversation.
He took a deep breath. ‘I need to do this now or I may never convince myself to do it otherwise.’ He stepped up behind Lucifer and put his arms around him.
“I think a party would be lovely. Don’t you, dear?” he asked, turning his head to look at Lucifer.
Lucifer was frozen in place. Alastor was touching him. TOUCHING him! He knew he couldn’t make a big deal out of it, that would be counterproductive and if he wanted Alastor to continue touching him, and he very much did, he needed to act like this was more than just okay, but natural and had no need to draw attention to it. “Yeah, parties are always great,” he replied. “Maybe we could go see Rosie tomorrow and talk to her about it.” He paused and then quietly added, “And maybe tell her about us too while we’re there.”
“I think that’s a splendid idea, darling!” he agreed. He straightened up, pulling away from Lucifer. “If you’d like us to, Charlie, we will certainly see Rosie tomorrow about this idea.”
She smiled brightly. “Of course! That would be amazing! Thank you!”
“Of course. No trouble at all, dear. I’ll be sure to let her know tonight that we’ll be popping in for a visit.” With that, he turned and walked away.
Lucifer slowly turned to watch him leave. He quickly turned back to Charlie. “Did you see that?!” He grabbed her arms excitedly. “Alastor hugged me!”
She smiled. She didn’t understand the significance of that, but she understood that her dad was excited about it. “Yeah, he did! That’s really great, Dad!”
Alastor casually strolled over to the bar and sat down. “Husker. My usual, if you please.”
Without a word, the cat demon turned away, grabbed a bottle of rye off the shelf and poured Alastor a couple of fingers of the drink before setting it in front of him. “Enjoy,” he said without much enthusiasm in his voice.
“Thank you,” Alastor replied as he took the glass and took a sip.
Angel suddenly sat down beside him, resting his elbow on the counter and holding his head up with his hand. “So! A little birdy told me something.”
Alastor glanced at him. “And what did this gossipy fowl say?”
“That a certain radio demon and a certain little monarch are now an item,” he answered.
Husk stopped. “What?!”
Alastor shrugged as he took another sip. “Perhaps.”
“So, yous not denying it, then?” Angel asked.
“I am neither confirming nor denying the statement, no,” he answered.
“So, you is seeing each other?! When the fuck did this happen?!”
“And why?” Husk asked. Alastor glanced over at him disapprovingly. “Not saying you ain’t got qualities the king wouldn’t like,” he quickly recovered. “I’m just saying, I’ve known you a long time and I don’t think I’ve ever seen you so much as look at another person in that way. Why in Hell are you and Lucifer together?”
“If you must know, Husker, Lucifer and I enjoy our time spent together. He’s intellectual and, dare I even say, fun to be around,” he answered.
“So, what’s the little king like?” Angel asked, leaning in conspiratorially. “I mean, is he proportionate or we talking about oversized equipment here?”
Alastor’s face heated. ‘Why is that all the spider demon can think about?!’ he grumbled.
“I believe the only people who have any right to that information are those who are having sex with him,” Alastor answered.
“I hate to agree with Alastor on anything, but he’s got a point,” Husk chimed in.
“Come on! Just a little hint?” he asked with a pout.
“Hint about what?” Lucifer asked as he came up behind Alastor, wrapping his arms around him from behind much like Alastor had done to him earlier. He figured one of two things would happen; Alastor would shove him away because he was uncomfortable, or he’d allow it. And seeing as he’d hugged Lucifer in this way, it only seemed fair and logical that Alastor would allow Lucifer to do so to him.
“Oh, just asking Alastor what you’re like in the sack,” Angel answered.
Lucifer could practically feel Alastor vibrate beneath him in embarrassment. That simply would not do in Lucifer’s opinion. “You know what, Angel, maybe you should be concerned about what happens between your sheets instead of other’s,” he replied firmly.
Angel’s expression softened. “I’m sorry, I was only playing. So, when did this happen, anyway?”
Lucifer turned his head to look at Alastor. “A couple of weeks?”
“Sixteen days, to be exact,” Alastor answered.
Lucifer chuckled. “I knew you’d know the exact date,” he teased.
Alastor met his eyes. ‘Why won’t my heart stop fluttering uncomfortably?’ The sensation of having someone’s arms around him wasn’t something new, but it was Lucifer and that made it feel different.
“Yes, well, I pay much closer attention to details than some,” he retorted.
Lucifer grinned. “That you do.” They stayed there a moment, simply looking each other in the eyes until their attention was pulled away by Angel clearing his throat. They both turned to look at him.
“Ya know, you could kiss each other, we ain’t gonna have an issue with it,” he teased.
Lucifer felt Alastor bristle beneath him once again. He decided the deer demon had had enough, so he let go and took a seat on Alastor’s other side. “Some people like to keep certain things a little more private,” Lucifer pointed out to him. “Unlike other people I know,” he teased. He looked at Husk. “Could I get an appletini, please?”
“Sure thing.” He turned away to make the drink.
Angel smiled. “Hey, you do whatever you want with your relationship. Just tellin’ ya, you ain’t gotta hold back just because we’re in the room.”
Husk handed Lucifer his drink. “Kid,” he said to Angel, “let’s not get in the way of how other people choose to conduct their affairs.”
The four of them stayed at the bar for the next couple of hours chatting, but Lucifer watched his partner; he wished he knew what he was thinking, but Alastor revealed nothing of his inner thoughts through their small talk and banter through the evening. When the hour was late enough, they bid their farewells and then Lucifer walked Alastor to his room as had become their evening ritual.
“So… I guess… This is goodnight,” Lucifer said, like he did every night, once they reached Alastor’s door.
Alastor nodded. “So, it is,” he replied as per usual for their nightly routine. “Sleep well, Lucifer.”
“Hey,” Lucifer called to him as Alastor reached for the door; he was starting to feel a sense of déjà vu. He cleared his throat. “Um, I was… Well, I was hoping… You know, since we… But if you don’t want to, that’s totally cool, really. I don’t wanna pressure you or anything…”
Alastor smiled at him softly. “You have a tendency to stumble over your words quite often.” He chuckled. “Would it be too bold to say I find it rather endearing?”
Lucifer felt his face heat up. Alastor was ‘endeared’ to him; that almost sounded better than saying ‘I love you’ somehow. Lucifer looked away shyly. “No, no, it’s not too bold.”
“You were saying, dear?”
Lucifer lifted his head to meet his eyes. “Oh, right, yeah, I was…” He took a deep breath. “Could I hug you goodnight tonight?” he quickly asked; better to blurt it out without thinking about it much like he’d done the night before or he’d never say it.
Alastor stood still for a moment and then slowly nodded. “Yes, that would be… I think it would be nice,” he finally agreed.
“Really?!” Lucifer was far more excited about this than he really ought to be.
Alastor smiled. “Yes.” He opened his arms to him. Lucifer stepped forward and gently wrapped his arms around Alastor and rested his head on his chest. He hated how much taller Alastor was than him sometimes, but he smiled to himself realizing that he was at the perfect height to listen to his heartbeat as they embraced. He was certain the quick rhythm it was pounding out now wasn’t its usual cadence.
Alastor put his arms around Lucifer in return. ‘He wasn’t wrong,’ Alastor noted. ‘This really isn’t any different from when I hug Mimzy, or Charlie, or any of the other women in my life; the physical action is all the same and yet… It somehow feels different coming from him. Why?’ He couldn’t explain it. All he knew was that it felt nice.
Lucifer soon pulled away, not wanting to overwhelm his partner with too long of an embrace. “Well, I hope you sleep well,” Lucifer told him.
Alastor smiled and nodded. “You as well. Good night, Lucifer.”