Work Text:
It can't be said I'm an early bird
It's ten o'clock before I say a word
Baby, I can never tell
How do you sleep so well?
~~~~~
Alastor was, quite simply, not a morning person despite his best efforts. It was always too early to be dealing with the latest shenanigans from the hotel’s residents. And he simply could not be bothered to approach any situation with an ounce of hospitality without his morning cup of coffee. He’d rather ignore them to maintain his carefully crafted reputation.
So he could not fathom how Lucifer seemed to be right as rain no matter how early it was.
Alastor took a sip of his coffee, black of course, and stole a quick glance at the man who was happily chatting away with his daughter Charlie about the next lesson plan she was crafting for the residents. Something to do with blindfolds? While he wasn’t close enough to hear all of the details, he knew better than to ask questions or Charlie might try to involve him somehow.
“You’re the best! Thanks dad!” Charlie squeezed Lucifer into a hug. “This is going to be great!!” And she dashed off into the other room.
Lucifer called out after her. “Anything for you kiddo!” He made his way across the room to the coffee pot, snapping his “deer season” mug into his hand, before he, much to Alastor’s horror, added copious amounts of sugar and cinnamon to the mug before pouring coffee in.
“Well, Sire, would you like some coffee with your sugar?” He sneered. If there’s one thing he could do in the morning, it was bicker with the short king himself.
Lucifer took the seat next to him, stirring his cup. He was quite used to Alastor’s sarcastic way of addressing him. “I happen to want to enjoy what I’m drinking, unlike some people.” He pointedly looked at Alastor’s own mug. “And don’t knock it till you try it. Cinnamon is just fantastic with the beans we’ve got!” Lucifer took a sip of his drink and sighed. “Now what’s got you up at this time of morning? It’s got to be at least another few hours before you normally show your face around here.”
Alastor looked at his watch. 6 am. Goodness it was much too early for this. Ignoring the question just asked, because really now, who was he to know that information, and frowned. “Charlie I expect this energy from, but from you it’s just disturbing. If you’re going to sit there, at least do it in silence. It simply unnecessary to engage in whatever small talk you’re looking for.”
Lucifer rolled his eyes. “Just because you can’t deal with the morning doesn’t mean we all can’t.”
“Yes but you’re just being obnoxious at this point,” Alastor sneered.
Lucifer shrugged. “Maybe if you actually kept to a normal schedule you’d be better off.”
“And what are you proposing as normal?” Alastor did not care about Lucifer’s sleeping habits, but for some reason he couldn’t stop himself from asking.
“I just go to sleep when I’m tired and wake up with the sun.” Lucifer stretched his arms behind his back. “Have you even tried to go to bed at a normal time? I can hear you stomping about all the way in my room at like, what, 3 or 4 am?”
Alastor quirked his eyebrow. “Paying attention to my sleeping habits are you?” Alastor stood up, ready to end this godforsaken conversation. “And while I appreciate this delightful little conversation, Sire, I’ve got a meeting to attend to so I shall bid my farewell.
And with that he stalked away.
“Seems like he’s finally warming up to you!” said Angel Dust, who had been leaning against the island and watched the whole interaction play out. “I don’t think anyone but you could get him to talk at this time of day.”
~~~~~
Don't you just wanna wake up, dark as a lake?
Smelling like a bonfire, lost in a haze?
If you're drunk on life, babe, I think it's great
But while in this world
~~~~~
Lucifer’s hands glided through the soft fibers of the blanket Alastor handed him. He certainly had not expected to be sitting next to the man, sharing memories of the past of all things, when he had knocked on Alastor’s door over an hour ago. He had planned to stop by briefly to discuss some details regarding the hotel’s operations, but they had rather quickly gotten off topic.
They’d come a long way since they first met over two years ago. The rivalry they once had faded into a comfortable teasing dynamic with no real malice. Lucifer could confidently say that Alastor was more of a friend, and he’d grown fond of the time he was able to spend with him when the sun had set and the residents of the hotel had long since retired to their rooms for the night.
Alastor had been sharing a memorable moment from his work as a radio host back when he was alive. Lucifer couldn’t recall a time when he’d seen Alastor so calm yet animated, like the nighttime helped comfort him, helped him open up. His hands gesticulated as he spoke, and his signature smile felt more real, more genuine. He appreciated he could make the once cold-hearted demon smile.
Lucifer smiled at the man sitting next to him. Alastor made eye contact and his voice began to trail off. They sat in silence for a few seconds, existing in each other’s space. Alastor looked away, clearing his throat. “Apologies my dear, I did not realize I had taken over the conversation! I feel like quite the terrible host.”
That was a new thing too. At some point Alastor had shifted from sire to my dear when addressing Lucifer. Not that Lucifer was complaining. It was nice to no longer have the man attempting to belittle Lucifer’s position in Hell so flagrantly. But it was certainly strange, and Lucifer didn’t believe Alastor knew he was saying it.
Lucifer chuckled. “You have nothing to apologize for. And you’re doing just fine hosting wise.” Lucifer gestured to the space. It seemed like Alastor had done a lot to make Lucifer feel at home in this space, from the crackling fire in the fireplace to the cups of his favorite tea. “You’re much too hard on yourself.”
Alastor brushed him off. “Well my mother raised me to be a gracious host! I can’t fail to meet her expectations.”
Lucifer chuckled at that. “What was she like?”
Alastor froze. “My mother?”
“I’d like to hear about her, if you’d be willing to share.” Lucifer knew Alastor’s mother was a more sensitive subject, but he was willing to push the boundaries.
Alastor set his tea down on the coffee table. He took a deep breath and turned to face Lucifer properly. “My mother was…” he trailed off.
Lucifer, daring to push even farther, reached out and began gently brushing the back of Alastor’s hand with his own. “I’m sorry, you don’t have to talk about her if it’s too much.”
Alastor stared at Lucifer’s hand on his. “She was rather inspiring,” he said quietly. “Strongest woman I’ve ever known. Braver than anyone.”
“I’m sure she was.” Lucifer smiled. He began to pull his hand back, glad that the action was as comforting as he’d hoped it would be. But he felt a hand grab his wrist, stopping him from moving. Lucifer saw the surprise and then confusion that crossed Alastor’s face, like he didn’t realize that he’s reached out until after he’d done it.
Alastor slowly moved his hand from Lucifer’s wrist down to the palm of his hand, lacing their fingers together. “She’s, ah, she’s where I learned my love of cooking from. The jambalaya is hers, though I can never make it as good.”
“I’m sure she’d be proud.” Lucifer swiped his thumb against the back of Alastor’s hand.
~~~~~
I think I'll take my whiskey neat
My coffee black and my bed at three
You're too sweet for me
You're too sweet for me
~~~~~
“Surprise me.”
“I beg your finest pardon?” Alastor paused to stare at Lucifer. He set the glass and dish rag onto the counter in front of him.
He didn’t often care to bartend, but on evenings like this when it was just him and Lucifer at the bar, he, liked it to be just them, no nosy demon reporting back to an even nosier demon. He had already had to frighten tell Husk to keep his mouth shut after he had that horrid conversation with Vaggi about feelings and intentions. He could only assume Husk was responsible after being privy to one too many conversations that they had at the bar, given his position as the bartender.
“I’m sure you have to be able to come up with something that I’d enjoy. You know me better than anyone at this point.” Lucifer goaded.
“If it’s a challenge you’re posing, angel, then I’m happy to oblige.” Alastor turned around to look at the alcohols and mixers they kept stock. He heard Lucifer’s sharp inhale, causing him to glance back. “Are you alright?”
Lucifer nodded, his voice strained slightly. “Perfectly fine.”
Alastor narrowed his eyes but turned back as he looked for the ingredients he needed.
“Any news I should be aware of regarding the other Overlords?” Lucifer asked.
“Aren’t you the one always telling me the importance of work-life balance?” Alastor asked in response as he began muddling some strawberries.
Lucifer conceded. “Fair enough. What would you like to talk about then?”
Alastor thought about it for a moment. “Well I wouldn’t be opposed to hearing more about the story you had started a couple nights ago about a visit to the Wrath ring.”
Alastor heard Lucifer launch into a story about the Harvest Moon Festival, but not that Alastor was paying too close attention. He’d grown quite fond of just listening to Lucifer talk, regardless of the topic of conversation.
Charlie had claimed this was due to those messy feelings Alastor once thought he was above feeling. And if you’d had asked him several years ago he would’ve claimed he could never have felt that way towards such a poor excuse for the King of Hell.
But now…
Alastor had grown to care for Lucifer despite his best efforts. It was a weakness he initially did not want to allow into his life. Honestly he could not believe anyone would ever want to leave Lucifer once they got to know him. He didn’t understand how Lilith could so carelessly throw him away.
He was meant to be a fearsome Overlord, not someone who started blushing at the tiniest hint of a compliment for the short man sitting at the bar.
Alastor shook his head, refocusing on making Lucifer his drink.
~~~~~
Lucifer’s laugh trailed off into a sigh. He looked down at his drink- it was a fruity concoction Alastor cooked up specially for him. Husk had long since gone to bed, relieved of his duties by Alastor.
He wasn’t sure when it had happened, but suddenly the Radio Demon had wormed his way into Lucifer’s life. And what was more surprising was that he didn’t seem to have it in him to care like he once would have. Having Alastor in his life brought him joy he wouldn’t have found otherwise.
Hoping to not ruin the careful friendship he and Alastor managed to come to, he spoke softly, “Thank you again for the drinks and the conversation. It’s been… nice.”
Alastor’s head tilted slightly. His eyes narrowed at the fallen angel.
“Nice?”
Lucifer shrugged. “Y’know, just-“ he waved his hand around the air as he tried to find the right words- “I quite enjoy your company. It’s been nice.”
Alastor, swirled his whiskey around his glass, his smile smaller than normal. “You’re too sweet darling,” he whispered.
Well that’s new.
Lucifer’s head snapped up from the drink in his hands. He still hadn’t gotten used to angel, which was the new term of the month, but now this? He couldn’t go on ignoring it any longer. “… Darling?” He asked tentatively, hoping.
Alastor straightened up abruptly, taking a few small steps back from the bar. “Well there’s much work to do-” He adjusted his bow tie, jacket long gone- “I’ll see you tomorrow” Alastor departed, sinking into the shadows, leaving Lucifer alone at the bar.
He ran his hands through his hair, his heart pounding in a way he hadn’t experienced since he first laid eyes on Lilith, his ex-wife.
Well…
Fuck…
Lucifer couldn’t believe it. That’s what that feeling had been. And he’d been blind to it this whole time. Or maybe ignoring it would have been the better descriptor, even if he hadn’t realized that’s what he was doing.
It should’ve been so obvious! The late night conversations, the fluttery feeling in his stomach and the blushing, the “dates” at the bar, the random outings Charlie had been-
Oh. Charlie knew. And that also explained the looks Angel Dust and Husk had been directing his way anytime he was interacting with Alastor. And no wonder Vaggi had that strange conversation with Alastor about “intentions,” Charlie must have put her up to it. Lucifer dragged a hand down his face and sighed. He was royally fucked.
Unless… he wasn’t? Alastor’s exit had been rather sudden, like he’d surprised even himself. Maybe he should check on him…?
Lucifer steeled his nerves and opened a golden portal to the demon’s room.
~~~~~
But who wants to live forever, babe?
You treat your mouth as if it's Heaven's gate
The rest of you like you're the TSA
I wish I could go along, babe, don't get me wrong
~~~~~
Alastor could not believe how careless he had gotten. His ears twitched in frustration as he paced his room. How long had he been calling Lucifer these things? Was this the first time? Why did Lucifer point it out and sound so…
Hopeful?
No, that couldn’t be right.
Alastor had been doing his best to avoid such blatant showings of affection
Alastor felt the angelic energy in his room before he saw it. Lucifer was normally very mindful about using his powers to barge into other people’s spaces. He should’ve figured this would happen though, with the dramatic and not so subtle exit from the moment Alastor just had.
“Alastor?” Lucifer’s voice was small, curious but tentative.
He turned around to face the fallen angel, seeing the portal close behind him.
Alastor started. “I-“ he wasn’t sure what to say. There was no excuse that could account for his words, his behavior, his feelings.
“I’m sorry I shouldn’t have asked.” Lucifer took a few steps closer to him as he continued talking. “You had just been calling me all of these different things, and I guess I got my hopes up that you meant what you were saying. That I wasn’t going crazy-”
“Your hopes up?” Alastor interrupted.
Lucifer sighed, his shoulders dropping. “I know I’ve been so terribly obvious with how I’ve grown to care for you these past few years of knowing you. And I just hoped that this was your way of showing that you had grown to care for me too…”
Alastor couldn’t believe what he was hearing. There had to have been some sort of mistake, a horrible prank or a set up of some sorts. Alastor was just a sinner from Louisiana. Sure, he was a demon who managed to amass an amount of power, but certainly not enough to be on the radar of the King of Hell himself. Certainly not someone Lucifer would ever have feelings for like he was claiming to-
Oh.
Lucifer’s lips were so incredibly soft, he discovered as he felt them against his own. It was a gentle press, like Lucifer was afraid of spooking Alastor, or like he was nervous.
Lucifer stepped back. “I’m sorry. I was trying to get your attention and you were off in your own world and I just thought.” He trailed off.
Alastor took a step forward, raising his hand to cup Lucifer’s cheek. He felt Lucifer lean into his hand. “I’d very much like to do that again if that’s ok with you Luci.”
They met each other in the middle.
~~~~~
You know you're bright as the morning, as soft as the rain
Pretty as a vine, as sweet as a grape
If you can sit in a barrel, maybe I'll wait
Until that day
~~~~~
Lucifer’s shirt was long gone at this point, and he was making quick work of unbuttoning Alastor’s. Alastor untangled his hand from Lucifer’s hair to let the shirt fall off his shoulders.
“You’re absolutely breathtaking.” Lucifer whispered against Alastor’s skin.
“I-“ Alastor’s response was cut off by a moan. Lucifer’s teeth had caught on Alastor’s neck as he trailed kisses from his lips to his chest. He was excited to learn what other noises he could draw out of Alastor.
Alastor tried to regain his composure. “I’m not… I’m not familiar with all of… this.” He paused. “I’ve not… felt this way before.”
Lucifer pulled back. “Never?” And then he remembered the joke that had been tossed around. Ace in the hole. “Oh we don’t have to do anything you’re not comfortable with. I’m perfectly happy with just this, just you as you are.”
Alastor looked relieved. “I think I’d like to try. But I’m glad to know this is enough.”
Lucifer still hesitated. “Anything you are willing and excited about is enough, even if it’s nothing. So are you positive?”
Alastor rolled his hips into Lucifer’s, tugging on his hair to pull him closer, eliciting a gasp. “I’m sure.”
Lucifer pulled him back into a kiss. “Bedroom then?”
“That way.”
~~~~~
I take my whiskey neat
My coffee black and my bed at three
You're too sweet for me
You're too sweet for me
~~~~~
For what was almost certainly the first time, Alastor woke up before Lucifer. It had been a few months since that fateful evening. And Alastor was still learning how to navigate this new, developing relationship.
“Good morning my love,” Lucifer, his partner, murmured as he rolled over in their bed. He felt Lucifer plant a kiss of the palm of his hand.
“Good morning to you too.” Alastor’s smile grew, he didn’t believe he’d ever get used to that.
But he had all eternity to do so.
~~~~~
You’re too sweet for me