Chapter Text
Lucifer was at his desk, working on his latest and most brilliant project yet! For once it was actually going great, and he rather enjoyed the time he spent working on his duck collection in his free time. It was no longer just something to keep him busy from the ever present weight of loneliness that had hovered over him for those many years now that he was helping Charlie with the hotel, and the King of Hell could honestly say that he was happier than he’d been in years.
“Hah-ha! Pre-senting Charlie and Vaggie duck!” He soon held up his rubber ducks up in triumph, having finished two ducks that resembled Charlie and Vaggie, his daughter in-law(soon to be daughter in-law?), who he was still so totally excited and nerve-wracked about having in the family, even if it was proving a little awkward bonding with the girl.
Lucifer was quite pleased with himself when he heard a rather concerning crash from downstairs. “Oh, what now?” The king groaned, gently setting the delicate duck daughters down and grabbing his cane. He twirled it, not bothering to summon up a portal and strolling out and down the stairs.
Renovations were done, and the Hazbin Hotel—he’d never admit the name was pretty catchy and genuinely starting to grow on him—looked better than ever. He admired the work, and as good as it all looked, what really made the whole thing all the more satisfying was how happy it made Charlie. Lucifer smiled fondly to himself as he admired the staircase, running his hand over the rail.
Lucifer was about halfway down when he was unpleasantly dragged from his thoughts, finally able to hear what all the commotion was. It seemed Vaggie and Alastor-Ugh-were in the midst of another argument.
If there was one reason he liked Vaggie, it was definitely for their mutual… Annoyance, with the damn radio demon.
“What the actual fuck Alastor!? So you just randomly show up after you seemingly abandoned fighting Adam— which you still won’t tell anyone what that’s about, and now you’re being even more uncooperative than before!” Vaggie yelled in frustration.
“All I’m asking is that you help try and get the word out through your broadcast!! For someone who says they’re invested in this, you sure like to hinder us from what would actually be helpful,” she spat bitterly.
The radio demon tilts his head, radio static surrounding him.
“My dear, my radio broadcast is not to be used for meager advertisements.” He responds, he twirls his cane and leans on it.
“Although, despite what you may think, my dear, I am quite accustomed to this place. I am just unable to use my radio broadcast, that’s not what I use it for.” He leans slightly forward with a wide grin, as to not put too much strain on his chest.
Lucifer rolled his eyes.
What a load of bullshit.
The King of hell strolled in, looking at Alastor in disdain. He leaned on the door and huffed, unimpressed by the argument the radio demon used. “And what, pray tell, is your broadcast for then?” Lucifer inquired from behind them, his expression expectant.
Vaggie looked up, a little surprised by the King’s sudden appearance.
The demon straightened his stance and snapped his neck to look at Lucifer from behind him.
He smiles even wider, “Why, to broadcast the screams of my victims, of course.” He snaps his neck back into place, turning around to look at the King. “Vaggie, you should know this, no?” Alastor glances towards Vaggie, leaning on his cane.
Vaggie glared daggers at him and crossed her arms.
“Yeah, I’ve heard,” she growled, “but you used it to ridicule Vox, so I don’t understand why you think helping the hotel is meager,” Vaggie countered, bristling up and clearly ready to start yelling again if provoked.
Lucifer raised a brow, still looking pretty unimpressed. What was the radio demon's deal anyway? Honestly, he didn’t understand why Charlie kept him around, especially after running off when he was supposed to fight Adam. If Alastor was as powerful as he liked to act, he didn’t see why he’d fled with his tail between his legs.
“My dear, ridiculing Vox was a one time thing.” Alastor says, turning back to Vaggie, moving his arms behind his back.
“I used that opportunity to let the sinners know I was back after my prolonged absence.”
Before Vaggie could blow a fuse Lucifer scoffed and walked toward the two. He leaned up at Alastor in that way he always did when they got on each other’s nerves. “Seems like a shit reason, considering you aren’t in the gig of ripping souls apart anymore.”
“Well, instead of getting on my case, dear King... Why can’t you do something to help your daughter?” Alastor tilts his head, “You are the King of Hell, surely you can do something, hm?”
He leans on his cane, away from Lucifer.
Lucifer rolled his eyes and huffed. “Because Charlie wants sinners to come here voluntarily. If I start advertising it’ll seem way more like an obligatory thing. Besides, she hasn’t asked me to and no one will take this, or Charlie seriously if all of a sudden I’m supporting too much,” he explained easily.
He noticed how.... Disengaged, Alastor seemed to be. He didn’t actually seem annoyed, taunting sure, but Lucifer didn’t sense any true irritation from the radio demon like normal.
He didn’t like that one bit.
“And, you’re the host of the hotel, it only makes sense it’d be your duty to ensure its reputation,” he added, his agitation evident in his voice.
Alastor lets out a good natured soft sigh, radio static surrounding him.
“As you know, that little quarrel with Vox was months ago, my dear.” He continues, “Now, if you so desperately needed my radio broadcast then perhaps, you should have asked sooner, no?” A wide smile plastered on his face.
“Instead, you forced me to deal with that frivolous television nonsense.” He twirls his cane, leaning on it, growing a tad irritated at the thought of dealing with modern technology.
Lucifer, who hadn’t been there when they’d filmed the commercial, supposed he couldn’t really argue... He narrowed his eyes, knowing this wasn’t going to go anywhere. There was no reasoning with this demon.
Vaggie seemed to flounder a bit and huffed, gritting her teeth. “That doesn't mean you can’t help!” She exclaimed in frustration.
Lucifer sighed and held up a hand, silencing Vaggie with the gesture. “That’s enough, Vaggie. Alastor’s made it clear he isn’t going to use his tower. We’ll just have to rely on the commercial for now until we come up with something else.” He didn’t like thinking of admitting defeat, but he also could tell something was off with Alastor and was really starting to piss him off. Alas, argument and insults wouldn’t get any of them anywhere with how stubborn the damn radio demon was.
The sooner he figured out what was going on, the sooner he could properly be annoyed by the pretentious prick that was Alastor Altruist. Then they could go back to the infuriating back and forth that they always did.
Vaggie looked like she wanted to argue, but seemed to see his reason. She looked tired of fighting with Alastor anyway, so she just nodded with a sigh and headed upstairs to her and Charlie’s room. Some emotional support cuddles sounded pretty good at the moment.
Alastor watches as Vaggie takes her leave upstairs.
“Hmm...” The demon hummed, he sunk into his shadows, taking his leave as well.
Lucifer scowled and plunged his hand in the shadows before they closed up, grabbing hold of Alastor’s shoulder and yanking him back into the light of the hotel.
“Na-ah-ah-ah!” He tutted, keeping a firm hold on Alastor’s arm. “You and I are gonna have a little chit chat.”
The gaze Lucifer leveled the radio demon was one of mild annoyance, but now there was a whole lot of determination in his eyes that booked no real room for argument. It was the same look Charlie got whenever she had her mind set on something.
Like father, like daughter, truly.
To the radio demon’s immense confusion, a loud radio static surrounded him. Alastor growls at the King, snapping his neck to look at Lucifer. He’s confused on how in the hell Lucifer yanked him out of his shadows. Well, he’s the King of Hell, all powerful, of course he’d be able to do such a thing. That irritated Alastor.
“What the fuck?” The radio demon hissed, his antlers growing ever so slightly in agitation.
Lucifer didn’t look the least bit intimidated and merely rolled his eyes. He let go of Alastor’s arm and then proceeded to pop the demon on the head with his apple topped cane. Not hard of course. Not as hard as he would’ve liked anyway...
“Don’t start. I don’t need you slipping off yet. You and I have something to discuss,” the King of Hell huffed.
Alastor scoffed, his antlers receded back to their normal size. Being extremely annoyed now, a wide, strained smile plastered on his face, probably almost wishing he could frown. However, having a wide grin on his face keeps him in control. He brushes off his arm and places his hands behind his back.
If the radio demon wasn’t agitated enough already, he definitely was after that.
“Fine,” he grumbled.
Lucifer smiled, satisfied with Alastor’s reaction. “Good demon,” he crooned, making sure the mocking tone wasn’t too noticeable. He wanted the radio demon to cooperate, after all.
The King strolled over to the common area and reclined on the couch—the new furniture was a massive upgrade from before—gesturing for Alastor to sit across from him.
Alastor groaned at such a comment, his ear twitched in pure irritation.
The radio demon watched as The King sat on the newly improved couch. He closes his mouth, still smiling, then he reluctantly strolls over to the common area to sit across from the King.
Lucifer looked quite pleased with himself at Alastor’s irritation, crossing his legs and setting his cane down.
He decided to just go straight to the point, no point in beating around the bush with a demon like Alastor.
“Now, what’s wrong?” He asked, like it was the most reasonable and obvious question in the world. “You’re acting weird, not that that’s new for you, but a different kind of weird,” he hummed.
Alastor crossed his legs and leaned back on the couch, holding his cane in his hands.
“Oh darling, whatever do you mean?” The demon tilts his head, grinning wide. Admittedly, he’s glad Lucifer got straight to the point.
Lucifer’s grin fell immediately, appalled by the endearment. Oh, that infuriating, tacky-
No. Focus.
The King of Hell put on a tight smile and laughed. It was better to play it off like he wasn’t annoyed if he wanted this to go in his favor.
“I mean how uncharacteristically transparent you’ve been, love,” he replied, spitting the endearment right back at the insufferable demon in front of him.
“Hmm...” The ‘insufferable’ demon grumbled. So, they’re both trying to annoy each other, Alastor snickered then he leaned back. Putting on a wide grin...
“My, my, I’m flattered that you seem to notice such subtle differences in the way I act.” Alastor replied back in a teasing manner. “However my dear, I’m as okay as I can be. Nothing has changed, darling.” He tilts his head, smiling sadistically.
Lucifer grit his teeth and pinched his brow. Damn it all, this was infuriating.
He sighed, leveling Alastor with a glower. “I'm the king of hell, love. Do you think I don’t know how to tell when someone’s lying?” He asked, raising a brow.
Why couldn’t the damn demon just cooperate!? He was trying to help, yet the prick wanted to act like he was immortal or something.
“Seriously. Ever since you showed up again, you haven’t been all mysterious and avoidant. With Vaggie just now? You answered genuinely. So, what the hell is up?” He demanded.
Honestly, he was getting the impression everyone thought he was stupid.
The demon’s smile very subtly, wavered. He leans back on the couch again, to relax himself, he doesn’t want to get too worked up. The radio demon takes a small, subtle, deep breath.
“Nothing is ‘up’, my dear.” He replies. He must admit, he’s getting quite agitated with this discussion the King forced him into.
The demon can’t help but wonder why the King of Hell himself is so worked up over something as minor as the well-being of the radio demon. Alastor can handle himself, he refuses to submit to something as meager as help. He believes he doesn’t need it.
Ugh!
Lucifer rolled his eyes in exasperation. This demon’s ego was nearly as big as his own. At least Lucy knew how to ask for help though.
“Uh-huh, and ducks don’t float,” he drawled.
This was getting tiring, but he wouldn’t let up so easily.
“You know Charlie will eventually notice too, and her concern will be overbearing,” he said with an irritated twitch or his brow.
Alastor’s ears pin back a little, he truly doesn’t want Charlie to be concerned over him. But if he just acts normal, then she won’t worry.
“She won’t be concerned as long as I assure her I’m fine,” He shrugged. His legs still being crossed over one another, he places his hands atop his knees.
“Which, I will say, again. I’m fine, my dear.”
Lucifer looked far from convinced, raising an unimpressed brow.
“Suuure.”
He idly fiddled with his cane topper, unsure of how to continue this conversation.
As much as he would have liked to press and aggravate Alastor, he had a feeling it’d do no good.
“Well-... You’re not, so... Y’know what? Whatever. Just don’t let Charlie worry, or I will find out what’s wrong myself,” he said finally, moving to get up.
In accordance to Lucifer getting up, Alastor also moves to get up, not too fast now though.
He twirls his cane and leans on it, he chuckles, “Well luckily, that won’t be happening anyhow.” he replied with a wide smile, seemingly glad this pestering had finally ceased.
Lucifer frowned in irritation but said no more. If Alastor didn’t want help, then there was no giving it to him.
Ugh, sinners...
The King sighed and went to make his way out, but not before gently grabbing onto the radio demon’s arm, making sure to part with one final thing.
He didn’t have to like the demon... But he wanted to put the offer out anyway, just in case.
“Just... You can talk to me if you change your mind. I may not like you, but my daughter does, and... Well I guess that has to count for something…” He said reluctantly, quickly letting go and hurrying out before he could see Alastor’s reaction.