Chapter Text
Lucifer remembers those eyes perfectly, from the way the light would shine and make those amber eyes look like crimson instead, how they looked just as shocked as he did when they met. How his eyes softened as they grew closer, but just as quickly that faded when that fateful day happened. Now he can barely remember them, why would he? When it hurts to remember the look of distrust and sadness glooming over the boy's face. He still remembers how they met of course it all started the day he went on a walk into the forest, he was only ten when that fateful day sealed everything...
"Stupid branches." he muttered, pushing them out of his way as he walked through the forest. His blonde hair would probably have a handful of sticks in them when he returned to the castle, making him frown slightly at the thought of everybody fussing over the fact that he went into the woods on his own again. Everybody in the castle always says there's something "magical" about them, mostly that its full of dangerous creatures that wouldn't hesitate in killing a person within seconds. He never believed that, why should he when he's never really seen anything dangerous come out of the forest. He'd go as far as to say that they were probably just saying that to make him scared and keep him locked in the castle like they have his whole life. His eyes looked around, still not having spotted said "dangerous" creatures he continued, his boots getting dirty in the process, he'd definitely get a scolding from his maids for that. But just as he thought about what words they'd used, a twig 𝘴𝘯𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘥.
"Who's there!" he yelled, his voice trying not to show any sign of fear, but he was already trembling slightly, his eyes flickering to every direction, before he saw him.
"Sorry! I was just curious as to why you're here." the boy said to him, his hand fiddling with his clothes, his amber eyes looked down at the floor, seemingly shy at making noise (or stalking Lucifer) before he looked back up at him. ", so...who are you?" he asked stepping closer into the sun, where he finally really stood up. From his short curly brown hair, with some twigs and leaves of his own, to his face, a beautiful shade of tan with some freckles littered around his face, and finally, those crimson eyes.
Lucifer couldn't talk for a few seconds before he finally spoke "I-uh...Lu, you can call me Lu." he decided with, even though the boy didn't seem a threat he still shouldn't let his guard down.
The boy smiled softly at him. "Call me Al then Lu."
Lucifer smiled softened as well, his body finally stopped shaking as he took a deep breath. "Do you...live here?" he asked, gesturing to the forest with one hand.
Alastor nodded with a big smile, "my whole life, so I basically know these woods better then the palm of my hand." He boosted before he took a few steps closer to Lucifer, "are you from the outside?"
"Uh well...yes I am. I'm not like uh...trespassing, am I? ill leave if I am! I-i just-" Lu was cut off by the boy laughing, it sounded so soft.
Alastor shook his head, his grin wider, "of course not! I mean the forest is for everybody to enjoy after all! I'm just shocked since...well you know, we don't have many visitors" he said as he walked past Lu, heading deeper into the woods, before he turned to look back at Lu, "Are you coming or?" he asked his head tilting slightly.
Lu nodded in a instant, his smile widened as he followed behind Al; laughing and talking about their lives, though Lu only being twelve, and it seemed Al ten due to his height; they had a lot to say to each other. Lu told Al all about his life in the castle, the good parts; which included all the nice things he had; like his bed, his clothes, the food, and finally he didn't have to worry about worrying what he'd be when he grew up. his face showed an obvious distained when he mentioned most of the bad things, not being able to go out ever, having to study for long periods of time over the smallest thing, having to worry about his people (he figured they could pretty much handle things on their own, they are the "adults" in the situation) and finally having to grow up to be what he was expected to be, he wasn't ready to be a king.
"Seems you have many responsibilities don't you?" he said hanging down from a tree branch while looking at Lu, who nodded in response.
"It's no fun, ill probably get in trouble for being here too, I don't think i'll be allowed outside again after ten years." Lu said with a exasperated sigh, he pulled out yet another twig from his hair and flicked it a side, "Which means I might not see you again..."
Al fell down from the tree branch, causing Lu to jump away slightly, helping al back up. "What? But you're like my only friend! Are you sure you won't be able to sneak off again?" he asked his usual smiled leaving his face, Lu didn't like seeing him without the smile.
"Well..." he rubbed the back of his neck, looking away from Al," I could try...not sure how successful that'll be though.." he mumbled, when his eyes widened and he grinned looking back at Al," I might have an Idea of how to keep in contact."
That caught Al's attention again. "And what might that be?" he asked looking at Lu with a confused face now.
Lu chuckled lightly at his face before he cleared his throat. "We have messenger birds! that way I can talk to you despite even when I'm in the castle!" he said excited at the idea of having a pen pal.
"Oh! that's...great and all...but I can't exactly write..." Al mumbled looking away in shame, "Sorry..."
"Hey...it's nothing to be embarrassed about...I mean...we'll find a way to communicate won't we?" he said with a hopeful smile, maybe I can teach you how to write your name at least? So, I know it's you who I'm writing to." he was about to write Al's name when he stopped. "wait...can you read or?"
Al shook his head again "I don't think so....I mean, mother has some books, but they're mostly illustrations on how to do things, not directions."
Lu hummed to himself, before he hesitantly asked, "then how are you so well spoken? I'm just confused.?"
Al shrugged "I'm not sure, I'm pretty sure my father taught...but I don't remember him too good."
Lu sighed, before he started writing on the floor Al's name. "Well...that's how you write your name." He said pointing to it, Alastor nodded before he looked at Lu.
"What about yours?"
Lu smiled and wrote his name next to Al's. "That's my name, so just make sure to write that at the bottom right corner of the page, i'll even send some of my books for you to read! just so we can better understand each other" he said excited about the idea of helping Al.
Al smiled, but he noticed the sun was beginning to set, the woods darkening. "You better leave Lu, it's going to be harder for you to find your way out of here if it gets dark, ill take you to the edge of the forest, you should be able to make it back to your...kingdom? correct?" he asked, already walking back to Lu's place.
Lu nodded, "you're right. besides they might spend all night looking for me if I'm not back..." he said plucking out some of the twigs he had on his hair, brushing off the dirt on his clothes.
When they finally made it to the edge of the forest, Alastor waved goodbye at lucifer, before he went back into the woods just as the moon began to rise. Lucifer smiled softly, he laughed slightly, before he began to run back to his kingdom.
Six months later
Lu finally managed to sneak out of his castle, after being trapped for three months after his last attempt to leave. He finally faked having to study for something "very important" allowing him to sneak back into the woods, and to Al again. He pushed past the bushes, maneuvering his way around the many rocks, vines, bushes, thorns, and branches. "AAaaal" he yelled, maybe he should have given Alastor a warning he'd be coming back, but he was too excited and he forgot. Luckily he didn't forget to bring Alastor three of his favorite books; which included; romance, tragedy, and some poetry that he enjoyed reading, when ever he could. "AAAAL!" he yelled again, pulling his leg from a thorn bush that caught his pants. "Where. is he-'
"Hello Lu!" Al sad from behind him, causing Lu to fall to the floor, quickly getting back up and dusting himself.
"Al! you scared me!" he huffed, crossing his arms and looking away, slightly embarrassed about falling.
Al giggled, dusting some dirt from lu's shoulder "You!? I was the one scared at hearing my name being called! Hell you didn't even tell me you were coming back!" he said hugging lu, who stood there surprised, before he hugged him back, his cheek resting against Alastor's shoulder.
"I knoooow. But I was too excited at coming back to see you again!" Lu said pulling away and grabbing some the books from his backpack, "besides...who's going to teach you how to read? though it might take longer then just one session..."
Alastor snatched the book from Lu's hand, which earned a "hey!" from him. Alastor flipped through the pages, "there's a few illustrations at least...but I can't really see what these little symbols are..."
Lu snatched the book back from Al, and pointed to the letters. "You cant see these?" Alastor shook his head, "hmm...well...I could lend you my reading glasses..." he said pulling out his glasses, which broke from the fall. He groaned looking down in disappointment. "ugh...and here I was excited to read with you..." he mumbled sitting down against a tree his knees up against his chest, his arms hugging them close.
Al gently took the glasses from Lu, "well. one isn't broken entirely..." he said holding it up against his right eye, "my, everything's much clearer now" he said looking round with them.
Lu looked up back at Al. "wait...it was just your right eye? you could have-...never mind..." he patted the spot next to him. "let's read then, this one is called 'The forgotten snake' its about a-"
Al smiled, resting against Lu as he read the story to him, trying to keep up with whatever was on the pages with what Lu was saying.