Chapter Text
Chapter One: Contracts and Crowns
"Enough!"
The booming echo of the command faded, behind it the roar of battle followed suit descending into a hush. Weapons were dropped, cries and shouts dying down. Confusion silenced the battlefield as combatants turned trying to find the source of sound. High above the throng, a figure folded its wings. With speed and grace it dropped down among the feral horde.
Lucifer’s hooves landed on fractured path stones with a soft clack. He stood at his fullest, maneuvering between what remained of his loyal and bloodied soldiers and the vast array of blood thirsty sinners. He could smell their wrath, itching and ready to tear through them and everything else in their path. The sad state of the hell-born, barely standing but still prepared to fight, tore at his heart. His wings unfurled creating a barrier and making himself a better target for any rogue attack. If he could help it there would be no more bloodshed from his loyal guard.
A quick glance towards his commander Sir Pentious, standing tall and proud at the head of his small army, reaffirmed his resolve. They shared the briefest of smiles and without so much as a nod the snake-like sinner set off carefully from behind his sires wings slipping away to go tend to the queen and heir.
'For them' His thoughts turned to his wife and young child. ‘Charlie’
There wasn't enough time left, the battle had come to their front door. ‘Literally, shit. How did I let it go this far?’
There wasn’t much left but he'd make every moment count while he could. He'd had so many more plans, jokes to tell, birthdays and milestones he'd looked forward to, his little cha-cha would never know how much he loved her.
It stung his heart. He would never get to dance with her, never see her grow, or teach her about all the beauty of creation. No more moments together. On the outside he was hard as stone. Inside, he was dying.
No matter what happened to him after this he had no regrets. Not if this played out right, if it saved his Lily and their sweet perfect Charlie. His sweet girl was only three.
The thought of these filthy sinners tearing into her with teeth and claw, ripping her to pieces gripped his heart in an icy stranglehold. Froze him to the spot and broke him in a way he would never be able put in words.
No. That wouldn't happen.
His thoughts were interrupted by the soft swish of shadow magic. It grabbed his attention as it amassed like a fog between him and the horde. Emerging from it with a velvety smooth laugh was the cause of his turmoil. The Radio Demon.
“Alastor”
Lucifer’s frown tightened, his teeth clenched. 'Showy bastard.' Never mind that he himself had made a dramatic entrance. He was the king. It was expected.
"Well isn't this a surprise. Our great and powerful king has come out of hiding at last."
It didn't take long for the insults to fly as his adversary appeared stepping out of the shadows. It was bad enough that he was cannibal scum - it didn’t help his irritation that he was also the most annoying piece of shit Lucifer had ever met. His jaw set tight ignoring the insult.
"Have you grown a spine at last? Come to join the fight for once? How short-sighted of you~."
A rising urge to beat the smug grin off the bastard’s face hackled his feathers. Alastor towered over him. Even several feet away Lucifer had to tilt his head slightly, but this close? Just a few feet apart, he'd never admit how it hacked at his pride to crane his head just to see the smug look.
Alastor swept low in a mock bow leaning on his cane. 'probably just to piss me off - the bastard.' His crimson eyes half lidded and full of amusement. A ruthless smile spread across his face. Lucifer found he couldn't read the demons intentions behind the smile but hot fire coursed in his veins at the provocation. Was he... Mocking him? Now? In the midst of a battle? 'How tacky.'
Clawed hands clenched into tight fist as hells monarch let out the breath he'd not known he was holding, relaxing again as he put the thoughts of violent retribution aside. It was time to end this. His pride demanded he smear the cannibals blood all over the pavement. He bit back the impulse. This war had taken too much, had dragged on too long. He had to do this, to give them their best chance. When he spoke it was soft but clear.
"No."
In a swift smooth movement the glorious white and red wings folded in against his back, his head turned low, as he stepped forward. The silence stretched on between them. He inhaled, steadied his nerve, and looked up.
Hard gold eyes locked onto the ever expressive crimson of the Radio Demon. A fire of resolve burned in him and he spoke, loud enough that the tall sinner and those closest nearby could hear him.
"I'm here to surrender."
At once the hushed words raged like fire among the crowd. Sinners along Alastor’s side gave hungry looks to the wounded but resolute soldiers standing behind their king.
Even as voices rose slightly all around them Alastor’s grin never faltered. But his eyes burned into Lucifer the intensity of the stare made his breath stutter. He felt like he was being torn to pieces, bit by bit, every part shredded and devoured, by glowing red orbs.
Lucifer inhaled. Exhaled. And reaching his hand towards the antlered monstrosity he laid it all out. After all, his death or the slow inevitable torture the sinner was known for didn't matter. Not to him.
" I will relinquish my demonic power and the title of King of Hell to you. I'll give myself up to you. My life, in exchange, for the protection of the hell-born and those sinners who remained loyal to me through the war. And."
He licked his lips, unaware of eyes following the movement as he focused on the truly important part. The only thing he cared about. His whole world.
"You ensure my wife and child live. They walk away from this undisturbed and safe. "