Chapter Text
𓆙
“Lucifer! That’s enough! I have enough of you.” A woman shouts at him with tears in her eyes and he looks at her with confusion. Who is she? Why does she look so familiar?
He looks down at his hands, before hearing a small child sob.
“Oh no, sweetie.” Lucifer turns to a little blonde girl peeking through the open door. “Everything will be fine…” He tries to reassure her as he walks towards her to hold her in his arms. He feels so much sadness and he has failed her somehow. He doesn’t understand what’s happening.
“Don’t touch her! It’s your fault she’ll live in this world!” The woman says as she grabs him by the shoulder to pick up the little girl.
Lucifer feels his heart panicking as he tries to take her back. “Please, don’t! All I did, it’s for her!” Lucifer pleads, tears blurring his vision. Why is he in this state? He feels so lost.
“We’re leaving Lucifer. Don’t reach out! She’ll never forgive you if she learns what you did. I don’t want to be the one breaking the news to her but I’ll if you don’t give me any other choices.” The woman threatens him and Lucifer can’t move as she takes the little girl away from him. When his legs start working again, he runs after them without ever being able to catch up.
“Don’t leave me! Please!” Lucifer shouts as the woman disappears in a portal with the child. “Charlie!”
Lucifer gasps for air as he sits up on his bed, shaking like a leaf. He looks at his hands, what just happened? What was that? It felt so real but it can’t be.
“Lucifer…?” A soft feminine voice calls for him and he turns his head to see Charlie on a chair next to his bed. What is she doing here?
“C… Charlie…” Lucifer says as it strikes him, the little girl looks like her and Lucifer called her Charlie too, he’s pretty sure. But it makes no sense, he has never seen her as a child. How could this be possible? “What happened?”
“Husk told me that you tried a drink at the bar and you passed out… I think your angelic body doesn’t have much alcohol tolerance. I brought you to your room so you could feel safe.” Charlie explains and Lucifer remembers that.
“Okay… It makes sense but what happened while I passed out? Were you here the whole time?” Lucifer asks, feeling worried that he might be losing his mind.
“Yes, I wanted to watch over your sleep. You seemed agitated just before you woke up…” Charlie says carefully as Lucifer tries to understand what he saw and why he saw it. It makes no sense.
“I saw you… but it wasn’t you, you were smaller and a tall woman was there too. She took you with her. I tried to run after you and I could never catch up with you… I don’t understand. Was I asleep while that happened? Why can I see that?” Lucifer feels so lost as he glances at Charlie who seems to be ready to burst into tears at any point now. Shit, he fucked up.
“You dreamed that? Do you remember anything else?” Charlie asks with enthusiasm, coming to hold his hands and he’s so confused. She’s crying but not of sadness but of happiness.
“Dream? That would make sense… But angels don’t dream, we’re not made for that.” Lucifer says as he thinks a bit more about it. “Remember anything else? Like what? Did I forget something?” Lucifer asks, he’s truly lost.
Was this dream his memories from somewhere else? He looks at Charlie’s pinky cheeks so similar to Lucifer, her cheerful and positive attitude. She can’t be his— No, it would make no sense, angels can’t even procreate.
“Take your time, Lucifer. I should let you have some space. I’ll be in my room if you need anything!” Charlie says as she gets up, her hands leave his own and Lucifer feels cold suddenly.
He nods and smiles, trying to keep his thoughts in check. He can’t be speculating on things he knows nothing about.
Charlie leaves and Lucifer glances at her father’s book on Lucifer’s bedside table. The sigil on it reads Lucifer, he has thought at first that the book has chosen him or something stupid. He takes the book in his hands and opens it, facing this perfect copy of his handwriting. This and the memories he saw in that dream, the absence of Charlie’s father in pictures.
“Dad…? Are you okay?” Charlie’s voice resonates in his head, Lucifer hasn’t realised until now that she was talking to him at that moment.
The very first words she told him. She thought he was her father. And with all those things accumulating, Lucifer feels worse by the minute. He can’t be her father, Lucifer has never had anyone and he’s not ready to be a father. He can barely take care of himself, so a child above it all. Well, the said child is an adult but still. Lucifer feels so worried before he thinks back on her father’s room. Alastor has been working so hard to hide this place from him. If Lucifer is really Charlie’s father, it would also mean that he has been in a relationship with Alastor. But why would the man hate him so much if he is his lover? Alastor is just an idiot.
Lucifer puffs his cheeks, looking at the window. It’s night right now, but tomorrow morning when the deer demon leaves to go see his best friend, no one will be there to prevent Lucifer from entering the bedroom of Charlie’s father. It’s the only thing Lucifer could think about. If there’s nothing in this room for him to find and discover about himself, he could put this wild theory to the trash can. It’s his best bet right now.
𐂂
He sips on his coffee while reading the newspaper. Today has been great so far, Alastor has never felt that clear in his head in ages. He will never let anything slip ever again, he has to hold a tight grip on his emotions and not act as recklessly as yesterday again. He can manage it perfectly.
“Are you sure this dance as a bonding exercise is a good idea? You know with...” Vaggie asks on the other side of the table and Charlie giggles a little too much. The young lady has a plan and Alastor doesn’t like the sound of it already.
“Of course! Dancing with a partner is a great type of bonding exercise! We did it in the past and it worked wonders!” Charlie assures her girlfriend with her smile bleeding through her voice.
Alastor folds his newspaper patiently, looking up at Charlie who’s already looking at him. He tries to look surprised but he has seen it coming.
“Charlie, dear, what can I do for you?” Alastor asks as he takes another sip of his coffee.
“Well, I was wondering if you would be available today?” Charlie asks in return with a bigger smile, she’s not as smart as she thinks she is. Sadly. Alastor sees through all her scheming.
“Yes, I am. I just don’t have the heart to dance today but I guess you can understand.” Alastor explains with a big grin, waiting for Charlie’s cheerful attitude to drop but it doesn’t, she’s beaming even more.
“Oh well, the dancing bonding exercise won’t be today. But I’d love to have your help for some training on breaking contracts.” Charlie smiles even more and Alastor tries to keep up with his own grin. Fuck, she’s learning fast. He’s kinda proud.
“Well, we can work on that, of course.” Alastor says as he smooths his coat out with his free hand.
“Thank you, Al’!” Charlie giggles before Vaggie puts a hand on her shoulder.
“Now that it is settled… You should check on your dad.” Vaggie seems worried and Alastor snarls hearing Vaggie calling the angel her dad again.
“Oh right! He scared me so much yesterday. I’m off!” Charlie says as she gets up, kissing Vaggie one last time before running out of there.
Alastor tries to look uninterested as he takes another sip of his coffee.
“So what? Not going to ask what happened yesterday to your boyfriend?” Vaggie asks with animosity and Alastor lets a laugh escape him.
“I don’t have anyone left. And I’m not interested in this pathetic angel.” Alastor says, looking away from his coffee mug and ignoring Vaggie’s glare on him.
“He drank his ass off after your little tantrum yesterday night. He passed out and if it wasn’t for Angel, he would have hurt himself.” Vaggie explains even if Alastor doesn’t want to listen to her but his ears aren’t deaf.
“And? I don’t get how it has anything to do with me.” Alastor deflects the discussion and Vaggie hits her fists on the table.
“For fuck’s sake, Alastor! He got hurt by your words to the point of consuming alcohol stomach empty! He’s not the tough Lucifer you have known who has been ripped apart by Heaven and plunged into this dark world for centuries. It’s a fucking angel who still have dreams and thinks he could fix the world around him!” Vaggie lashes out at him and he’s surprised that she dares to call his outburst a tantrum when she acts like that with him.
She’s right though, even if Alastor won’t admit it out loud. He should be careful with the creature but really just seeing him can’t help it.
“Hey! Is everything alright here?” Charlie asks after a minute of heavy silence as she steps back to the room with that stupid angel.
“Everything is fine… Just Alastor being an ass, as usual.” Vaggie sighs before turning towards Charlie and noticing the angel. “Oh Lucifer, did you dream again?”
Dream? What’s about those dreams? Vaggie did say that he passed out so he was put to sleep by force.
“No. I stayed awake after that. It scared me a lot.” The angel says with a forced smile, he looks up in Alastor’s direction before avoiding his gaze. “How was your night?” He smiles a little more, surely happy to be able to change the topic.
Alastor wants to force the man to look at him to see if he can find his partner in his eyes. Maybe find something to trigger his memories if it’s even possible.
“Alastor, when do you want to start our training?” Charlie asks, taking Alastor out of his thoughts. Alastor shushes the thoughts away, annoyed by his brain.
“Well, we can do that this morning so you’ll still have the afternoon for your activities with the guests.” Alastor offers as he finishes his coffee and gets up to join her and the angel.
“Oh right! That’s a good idea! Let’s do that! Come on, Lucifer!” Charlie says with a big smile as she locks her elbow with his and pulls him with her to the lobby.
Alastor follows suit, feeling Vaggie’s stare on him still. She’s so mad for so little things. He decides to ignore it and follow the silly duo to the lobby.
“So, Alastor is willing to help us!” Charlie says as she reaches out to the angel who gives her the old book Alastor was supposed to steal. That’s right, that book has important information and spells. Alastor needs it.
“How generous of him…” The angel says under his breath and Charlie doesn’t seem to have heard him but Alastor does.
He snarls as he steps closer to the man while Charlie is looking for the spell in the book.
“So petty for such a small creature.” Alastor whispers and Lucifer looks up at him with surprise.
Those eyes look so pretty but they would look even better in their previous form. Alastor hates the feeling building up in his chest, one of his ears twitches as he looks away.
“Don’t try being discreet when you have someone with good hearing around you.” Alastor explains with smugness, and the next second a hand comes to one of Alastor’s ears to scratch the base. Those familiar fingers knowing where to touch him to make him bend. Alastor leans in a little, letting the angel have his moment.
“Found it!” Charlie shouts with excitement and the two of them strengthen, the angel’s hand leaves Alastor’s head. He glances at the angel coming back to his feet because of course he has to fly to reach the top of Alastor’s head, that short idiot.
She turns to them and Alastor tries to hide his embarrassment.
“Alright! Alastor, can you give me a contract to break?” She asks and Alastor snaps his fingers, opening a portal where two little minions come out. “Uh. Are they under a contract with you? I thought maybe Husk or Niffty…” She tries and Alastor laughs it off.
“Come on, Charlie. You’re still learning and our last attempt didn’t go well so we’ll start small. You don’t want to try and hurt yourself and Husk or Niffty because you can’t control your power yet.” He explains and she nods, Alastor reaches out in his own power to manifest the chain attached to those two little ones.
A person with schizophrenia, two personalities but one soul. This, on its own, is already a challenge. Charlie comes closer and gets a hold on the chain, looking back into the book. Her body shifts to her demonic form as the angel looks at her with surprise and pride in his eyes. That idiot, maybe he’s still there under all this.
“When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles.” She says as her grip gets firmer, Alastor can feel the resistance she’s trying to put into the chain. He can’t let her have an easy win so he gives a little push back. After all, Valentino will push back with all his might to keep Angel at any cost. “When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles.” She repeats as she’s joined with the angel who rests his hand on her shoulder to show her support.
Alastor smiles a little more before looking down at the little minions who seem conflicted and lost to be put in this situation without context. Charlie continues to repeat the same psalm in repeat, her horns peaking through her hair as a familiar golden snake comes out of her sleeve to melt into the soul metal and break the chain where it enters it. The bound breaks and the two minions look at each other still clueless about what happened as Alastor claps at Charlie’s performance.
“We’re going off on a great start, my dear!” Alastor says as he looks at Lucifer jumping into her arms to celebrate with a hug. Such an idiot.
“Thank you to you two! It means a lot to me!” Charlie confesses, already half crying, hugging back the angel. “Let’s go to the next level! I want to do more!”
Alastor nods and just like that, he has been slowly giving her a more difficult case of soul binding to break, pushing her limits every time. She’s learning fast, it’s quite impressive and Alastor can see that having support from him and the angel is helping her to break every single contract until now.
“I feel so exhausted... I need a break...” Charlie says as she lets herself fall on the couch. Alastor checks his pocket watch and indeed it has been a few hours already. It’s almost lunch time.
“You just take it easy, Charlie. You still have time!” The angel reassures her as he goes to the bar, asking Husk for a glass of cold water.
“I never thought it would be that hard... It’s so taxing, I felt like I ran through every ring in one go...” She wipes a bit of sweat off her forehead as Alastor chuckles, pensive.
His eyes follow the angel who brings the glass to Charlie so she can hydrate herself. Alastor really likes that, how he’s still so caring for Charlie even though he doesn’t know she’s his daughter. He lets her drink the whole glass before dropping his bomb.
“Such a shame we have to stop here, I was going to use Husk for the next step... Guess he’ll have to pass his turn.” Alastor says, glancing at Husk who shows him his middle finger.
“What? Really?” Charlie says already out of the couch and under Alastor’s nose with those damn puppy eyes she got from her father, his biggest weakness.
“I am a man of my word.” He sighs, gesturing to Husk to leave his place behind the bar to join them.
“I really hope it’s one of your bullshit, Al’. I’m not one of your minions, I won’t come back to lick your boots for you to take my soul back.” Husk says as he joins the center of the lobby.
“I had enough of you... Besides being drunk and bitching all day, you’re quite useless, compared to Niffty.” Alastor laughs it off, still he feels pretty happy to be able to offer his freedom back to Husker after all those years. He deserves some happiness in this shitty world too. “Are we ready to go, Charlie?” Alastor asks as he summons Husk’s heavy chain and Charlie seems a bit impressed.
“Y... Yes!” She clears her throat as she comes closer to take the chain in her hand and from her reaction only he can tell that she feels as stressed as the first time they attempted to break Alastor’s deal with Lilith.
“Breathe, Charlie. You can do it.” Alastor says as he holds a firm hand on the chain.
“When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles.” Lucifer, by her side, cheers her up and she starts chanting the Psalm as she takes a full demonic form. While Angel and Cherry come around to watch it happen, pretty curious.
Alastor appreciates the performance again but he tries his best to keep his control in check to challenge her like Valentino will do. The golden snake answers her plea as it crawls toward the chain, sliding and looking for a weak spot. When it finds it, the snake melts into the chain and breaks it like glass meeting the ground. The chain disappears from Alastor’s hand and Husk’s neck is free from his collar. The bartender seems so shocked for a second before Angel and Cherry jump on him to celebrate his freedom. Alastor smiles a little as Charlie gets some more praises from Lucifer and Vaggie. He hears a little chitchat in the corridor and decides to leave the room. After all, it’s not his victory to celebrate.
He turns in the corridor to find the two little minions giggling and seemingly waiting for something. When they notice him, they run towards him as he crouches down to pat their little head.
“It’s so hard to get rid of you two, I see. That just won’t do.” Alastor sighs, trying to look surprised. They have been one of his very first contracts, one of his many fans who sold their souls to him. He smiles a little more as they fight each other to receive more attention from him. “Come now. Be gentle with yourself.” He says as he separates them, giving them both more head pats. “It’s enough for now, go run around in the hotel but don’t get caught by Niffty if you decide to tear the curtains.” He adds before pushing them further in the corridor and the next instant, they’re running around and causing chaos for the sake of it.
“I didn’t know you could be such a fatherly figure when you want it, Alastor.” Lucifer’s playful voice surprises him as he stands up immediately to face the small angel.
“I am not!” Alastor blurts out, feeling embarrassed that the angel has seen him with his little minions, it was a private discussion.
“It’s a compliment.” The angel says with a light blush on his cute face. Alastor hates him so much for being this cute.
“It’s an insult to me.” Alastor says before looking around for an exit to this conversation. He feels so trapped here with only Lucifer around.
“You don’t think that. I would love to see you like that more.” The angelic creature purrs as he comes closer to Alastor who’s frozen in place, like a deer in headlight. “I wanted to thank you for helping Charlie and releasing Husk, it was really sweet of you.” He whispers as he’s now too close. He uses his wings to lift himself enough to leave a brief kiss on Alastor’s cheek before flying away upstairs.
And Alastor stays there, too stunned to understand what just happened. Lucifer, the angel, gave him a kiss on the cheek. Why? Did he think it was a way to reward Alastor for his actions? Alastor can’t be bought with kisses, it’s not how it works; not with this Lucifer anyway. What the hell just happened?!