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XxXxX
Vox lay alone in his dark room, the only visible light coming from his own face, which was dim due to his sour mood. He'd been thinking. Without a media empire to run, he had little else to do as he waited for the rest of his body to reform. It was agony, his mind bringing up all his worst fears and memories until he felt like he might die beneath the sheer weight of them all.
This was nothing new. In fact, it had been a daily occurrence for as long as Vox could remember, both in his human life and the next. Luckily for him, he was very good at masking it; anxiety hidden behind a sharp smile, depression behind false confidence. In reality, he was always mere seconds away from crumbling completely. He truly was a failure, in every sense of the word.
Failure.
That brought his mind back to the subject the majority of his thoughts had been focused on lately: Lucifer Morningstar, the King of Hell, the man Alastor was so fucking obsessed with, and now…
He squeezed his eyes shut, attempting to block out the thought. Unfortunately for him, as soon as he did, a certain vision popped up, fresh from his memory banks. He saw Lucifer, clear as day, arms and legs trapped in angelic steel, mouth and brows twisted in an expression of fear, wide eyes filled with tears.
It was enough to get his blood boiling again, not out of excitement, but anger, for it was in that moment that Vox saw what Alastor must, as well. Lucifer was absolutely, undeniably...
'Gorgeous.'
The man's pale skin, rosy cheeks, and golden hair, combined with his short, thin frame, made him look like a doll. Still, it was those eyes…the eyes of the literal Devil, that somehow looked so earnest and innocent, an instinctual need to claim and protect him had risen within Vox. It was a feeling he hadn't felt in almost seventy years, and it was this feeling that had encouraged his heinous actions against the King.
There was no way of sugarcoating it, Vox had tortured the man, eliciting screams and cries for mercy he had steadfastly ignored. Though an infinitesimally small part of him heard those cries and tried to rise up and stop him from doing something he knew was wrong, he had ignored it. After all, what use was a conscience to an Overlord?
Still, the spark of interest had been lit, and that, combined with boredom, pushed things into dangerous territory.
X
Gaining access to the camera on Lucifer's phone was child's play for Vox. Most phones in the Pride Ring and beyond were manufactured by Vox Tech, giving him access to the masses. Their data, and everything that entailed, was his playground. And so he began watching the small King.
Lucifer's days tended to be boring, filled with hotel work or rubber duck making; anything to keep himself busy, for as soon as he allowed his mind to wander, he was haunted by the memory of his captor. During these moments, the King would run his hands up and down his arms, as though soothing phantom pains.
Vox knew that the marks left by intense electrocution had most certainly disappeared now that the King was not restrained by holy means, but the idea that the scars he left ran far deeper than that porcelain flesh gave him a thrill like no other.
Things were even better at night. Long after Val fell asleep, Vox would watch the King tossing and turning in his bed, attempting to fight through intense nightmares, the whimpers and pleas for Vox to stop being music to the Overlord's ears. It pleased him to know that the King of Hell feared him. Him! A lowly sinner! He felt as if his entire being was filled with pride in these moments. Appropriate, considering the Sin he was watching.
He was so wrapped up in these thrills, he had nearly forgotten the reason he had started spying on the King in the first place. He was harshly reminded one night when the small man, instead of facing his nightmares on his own as he usually did, sighed, stood from his bed, slid his phone in his pocket, and proceeded to walk down the long hallway, away from his private suite.
Lucifer passed the stairs he usually took to get to the lobby, instead going somewhere the Media Overlord had yet to see. Once the King seemingly arrived at his destination, he stood, fidgeting for a few minutes before once again sighing and knocking on what Vox presumed was someone's door.
“Come in,” came a familiar voice from the other side.
The King remained still a few moments longer before entering the room, where he stood silently.
“Yes?” the deer sinner prodded. “What is it?”
“I…” The King sighed a third time before finally admitting, “I couldn't sleep.”
“Yes, I can see that,” Al teased, causing Vox's heart to fill with glee. After observing and learning about Lucifer these past few weeks, he knew that was bound to sting.
The Media Overlord listened for the King's response, but instead heard footsteps walking towards them.
“Lu.”
The gentle tone with which the Radio Demon spoke felt like a shot straight to Vox’s heart. Never in the decades they had known each other had Al ever spoken to him like that.
“Tell me what you need,” the man instructed.
The King was silent for quite a while before asking, “Can I…stay with you tonight? W-we don't have to touch! I just…” He sighed. “I feel safe with you.”
Lucifer sounded so small and vulnerable, it was hard to believe he was one of the most powerful beings in all of Creation. After such a pathetic display, the King would surely earn Alastor's scorn. If there was one thing Vox knew about his fellow Overlord, it was how he despised weakness in every form, but especially that of the heart. He had learned that lesson the hard way…
‘Fat chance he'll let you stay now, Lu,’ his mind silently taunted, taking out his pain and anger on the undeserving, as he often did. ‘Al's gonna drop you faster than a loose turd.’
His guess must have been correct, because Lucifer soon shouted, “Sorry! I know it's dumb. I'll just…”
“Lu.”
The King didn't answer, likely embarrassed.
“Lucifer, look at me.”
Again with that tone…
“If my presence helps you feel better, you are welcome to stay.”
“WHAT?!?” Vox screamed, unintentionally waking Valentino.
“Vooox…” The moth demon groaned. “What the fuck?”
The T.V. Demon didn't answer him. Instead, he listened as another stretch of silence filled what he assumed was Alastor's room as Lucifer crept slowly towards what was likely Alastor's bed. Vox was fuming.
The Radio Demon said something, but he didn't catch it over Val yelling, “Vox! Stop doomscrolling and go to sleep!”
Vox came back to himself, his vision now filled with his own room and his very annoyed partner. “Damn it, Val!” he shouted in reply, but before he could go on a tirade, the pimp cut him off.
“Don't you ‘damn it, Val’ me! It is 11:53, and I have a board meeting in the morning, so shut the fuck up and go. To. Sleep!” The man huffed as he turned on his side, facing away from Vox.
The Media Overlord pouted, now doubly hurt by his partner's cold shoulder. Deciding it was best not to piss him off further, Vox fought the urge to continue his spying and closed his eyes.
X
Hours later, Vox stared up at his bedroom ceiling, wide awake. He was far too restless to sleep, Alastor's gentle tone haunting him like some sort of fucked up ghost. Needing cheering up, he closed his eyes and focused himself once again on Lucifer's phone.
The King did not disappoint, tossing and turning in Alastor's bed. Desperate, pained cries fell from his lips. Just as that usual pride began filling his chest, it was quickly replaced by dread as Alastor woke and stared at Lucifer, the look in his eyes one of obvious concern.
“Lu!” Al exclaimed as he leaned over, shaking the smaller man.
Lucifer screamed, shooting up into a sitting position, his eyes filled with pure terror. All six of the fallen angel's wings had appeared, spread as though preparing to take flight. After a brief moment, he seemed to come back to himself as he realized where he was. The King looked at Al, gaze desperate and body stiff.
Understanding lit in Alastor's eyes and, to the shock of both Vox and Lucifer, the man opened his arms to the small King.
Lucifer launched himself at the sinner and immediately began sobbing, his whole body shaking.
Vox felt his heart break as Alastor wrapped his arms around the King and held him tight. “Who did this to you, Lu?” the Radio Demon asked, his tone murderous. “I will tear them limb from limb…”
Once he'd calmed a bit, Lucifer whimpered, “V-...Vox.”
The sinner's hold grew tighter, almost possessive.
“̴̥̪̩̝̖͔̓̀͊̀̕I̴̳̅̅́͛ͅ ̵̜̩̖̺͎͓̉͊̀͂́̈́̕W̸̢̢̢̛͈̮̥͍̆̿̂̃̑I̴̛̩̯̫͕̺̎̓̎Ĺ̴̟̼̃L̷̨͎̑̀̿̋̓̍ ̶̦͙̘̙̗̗͙̾͐̔Ḑ̸̲̯̹̈́Ë̶͍͎̭͠S̵̨̘̼͇͙̣̃͋̈́ͅT̷̡̘̭̽́́̾͂R̶͓̭̠̔͜Ơ̵̦͖̂͆̏͂Ÿ̷̻͔͖̙͔̱̝́͑͐͑̀̒ ̷̧̤͇̤͉̿H̶̨̖͉̩͒I̵͚̝͆̓M̸̛͓̉̔͛͌͛͝!̶͎̺̻̖͌͌̈́͆͘͠”̴͉͖̦̈
Lucifer sighed, his entire body relaxing in Alastor's capable arms. The deer sinner's ears perked and he looked down in alarm, only to relax moments later when he realized the King had merely fallen asleep. Al huffed in relief and mild annoyance before his gaze grew hazy with deep thought.
What Vox wouldn't give to know what he was thinking at that exact moment, though he could easily fathom a guess. It seemed obvious by the way Al pulled Lu closer, a firm yet gentle hand on the King's back between his now relaxed wings and fangs bared at imagined threats. That was a protective stance if Vox ever saw one, and he had. In fact, he'd seen Alastor standing before the weird little bug woman with just such an expression on his face.
“There are no friends in Hell, Vincent!”
“...Bullshit,” he whispered, fighting back tears as the old wounds he'd tried so desperately to ignore were torn open, his heart aching like it hadn't in decades. He'd loved him… Hell, he still loved him, if he were being completely honest, something Vox rarely was.
“Excuses and lies seem to still be your specialty.”
Vox let out a humorless chuckle. He got that right. He'd been lying to himself all this time, pretending to hate Alastor when, in reality, the only reason he was so hurt was because of love; because Al was the one person he'd allowed himself to truly fall for, open up to and be vulnerable with, and it had blown up in his face.
That was why he had tortured Lucifer. For the first time since Alastor, he had felt the briefest spark of genuine emotional desire for another person, and instead of facing it, he'd lashed out, just like he did with Al. He was a coward, a fool of a man, too scared to face the fact that a part of him, however small, was still human. And like all humans, he cared.
Apparently, Al cared, too, as the look of confusion in his eyes was replaced with growing understanding, the already dark skin of his cheeks darkening further as blood rushed to his face in an obvious blush. It deepened as Lucifer suddenly nuzzled under Alastor's chin, sighing contentedly. The sinner soon followed suit before mumbling, “Fuck…”
Alastor fell asleep, still holding tightly to Lucifer, despite his trepidation. It was an admirable display of courage in the face of something unknown and unexpected, and the complete opposite of how Vox handled himself. Admiration swelled in the T.V. Demon's chest. Even after everything, he still found Al inspiring. He wanted to be like him.
And so, instead of allowing rage and jealousy to consume him like he normally would, he took a deep breath and began to scheme.
X
It was an admittedly simple plan: Spy on Lucifer. Only, this time, he would do so with a new goal. He wanted to find out what made the tiny King so special in Alastor's eyes, and so he watched them, looking for any sort of reaction from the Radio Demon.
Their interactions had few hints of romance up until this point, with the only deviation being on Lucifer's end. Vox had caught him staring at Al on multiple occasions, only to quickly glance away when noticed with a golden blush on his face. Alastor, clearly not attuned to such things, merely shrugged these instances off as his weird little friend just being himself.
Vox didn't blame the King for staring. Al was quite handsome, after all. If you were a man who liked men, which he assumed Lucifer was, admiring Alastor's beauty only made sense. Though considering how often he did so, Vox wouldn't be surprised if Lucifer had a crush on the sinner. Still, he kept his behavior strictly platonic, never pushing Alastor's boundaries or asking for more. The King just seemed genuinely happy for his friendship.
That all changed after the night Lucifer stayed over. Now, it wasn't just Lucifer sneaking peaks at the sinner, but Alastor glancing at the King with softness in his gaze. He seemed enthralled by Lucifer's most mundane actions, things Vox had watched dozens of times, by this point: The King helping his daughter around the hotel, drawing new designs for rubber ducks, even just scrolling on his phone while lounging on the couch. Alastor watched it all as though these moments were precious treasures to be held in his memory forever, and Vox couldn't figure out why.
That is until he decided to look at things a different way. How would he see the King if he were madly, desperately in love with him; if Vox looked at Lucifer the same way he looked at Alastor? As soon as he shifted perspective, it all became clear.
It wasn't what the King was doing, but how he did it, putting his whole heart into every little thought and action. The old saying, “Go big or go home,” came to mind. Lucifer accomplished even the most mundane tasks with a flourish and grace surprising for one so clumsy and, let's be honest, depressed.
Vox knew from his own time constantly masking what it looked like. He caught the brief moments the King's mask slipped and the exhaustion bled through, the tension in his body betraying the deep anxiety within him. And yet, he persevered, thanks in great part to his loved ones.
It was like a switch being flipped. When he interacted with most people, he was polite and charming, yet emotionally detached, but around Charlie or Alastor, he practically radiated Light. Vox suddenly understood why the man was called the Morningstar. He shined brighter than the Media Overlord ever could. It was no wonder Al found him so impressive.
However, it wasn't the big, flamboyant moments that caught the sinner's attention. No. Al seemed far more intrigued by the more private aspects of Lucifer, paying particular attention when it was just the two of them drinking at the bar or sitting in the parlor; relaxed, unbothered, unmasked. This was when the King allowed his goofier side to shine.
The first word that came to Vox’s mind had been cringe, but, despite himself, he soon came to find the King's odd behavior endearing. Even when talking about things Vox had very little interest in, Lucifer’s enthusiasm was infectious, and he found his black heart filling with indulgent affection as a result.
Vox was quickly coming to understand the soft smiles Alastor reserved just for Lucifer. He had a feeling that, if he wasn't careful, he, too, would end up wrapped around the King's little finger.
X
As the days went on, Lucifer grew more and more tired, the nightly dreams of Vox's torture taking their toll. The T.V. Demon watched him struggle each night, the pride he once felt turning to guilt as he acknowledged how wrong his past actions had been.
After all, it wasn't Lucifer's fault Al didn't love him back, or that he was so damn charming, the deer sinner was now falling for him instead. All the man had really done was be himself. The outcome seemed inevitable.
Still, the damage had been done, and though the King hid his exhaustion well, Alastor still noticed. Of course he did. The man was incredibly observant, especially where Lucifer was concerned. And so, one night, as they sat alone together in the parlor, the sinner confronted him.
“Lu… Are you alright?” It was a trick question. Alastor already knew the answer, but seemed to want to give Lucifer a chance to open up on his own.
The King startled, looking up from his phone. “O-...of course! Why wouldn't I be?”
Alastor's smile tightened. “You're lying,” he stated plainly, cutting straight to the chase. “You try to hide it, but I can see how exhausted you are.”
“I mean, I'm a little tired,” the King admitted, trying to save face. “But-”
“You're dead on your feet, Lu!” the sinner exclaimed, anger bleeding into his tone.
Lucifer frowned, going silent.
“Please,” Alastor went on earnestly, “I'm worried about you.”
The King sighed, lowering his phone to his lap. He looked away as he said, “...I…haven't been sleeping well.”
“Nightmares?”
Lucifer nodded.
The Radio Demon thought for a moment. “Would-?”
The King cocked his head curiously. The fact that the sinner had hesitated was unusual.
“Would it help if you stayed the night with me?”
Lucifer's eyes widened, cheeks flushed and mouth hanging open in shock.
Alastor's own cheeks flushed in response. “My presence seemed to help the last time,” he explained, and while his reasoning was sensible, they both seemed to understand the true significance of the proposal.
Neither of them had spoken about that night, both men choosing to go about their daily lives as though nothing had happened. Change was scary for humans, and apparently the same went for fallen angels.
The look in his eyes told Vox that Lucifer knew, if he accepted, there was no going back. “Al…”
The sinner steeled his gaze as he stated, almost clinically, “If you don't get rest soon, you're going to collapse.” This wasn't a question, it was a fact; cold, hard logic.
Disappointment flashed in the King's eyes for a brief moment before he covered it with a tired smile. “Yeah… Yeah, you're right.” Looking at the floor, he conceded. “Okay. Thanks, Al. You're…you're a good friend.”
Alastor's already clenched fist tightened on his staff. He nodded stiffly, replying, “Very well,” before standing and walking the short distance to the other couch, offering his hand to the King. The two locked eyes and his voice softened as he asked, “Shall we?”
So many emotions danced in the King's eyes, mixing and twisting until even Lucifer himself couldn't tell what he was feeling. He nodded, gently taking the offered hand and pulling himself to his feet. He let go immediately after and led the way out the door.
X
Once they arrived, the King snapped his fingers and his day clothes disappeared, replaced by yellow apple print pajamas with red cuffs. Trying to act casual, he sauntered over to the side of Alastor's bed he'd occupied last time, placed his phone on the bedside table, turned down the covers, and slid underneath, turning his back to the sinner.
Vox watched Alastor's ears flatten. You didn't need to be a mindreader to know exactly what he was thinking. The man was clearly kicking himself over his mistake, not knowing what to do to fix it. His smile anxious, he gathered his own pajamas and wandered into the ensuite bathroom to change.
As soon as he reentered the room, he snapped his fingers, turning off all the lamps, the only light left being the moonlight drifting in through the swamp. It cast an unearthly glow on Lucifer's blonde hair, emphasizing how the King had, once again, turned away from him.
From Vox's vantage point on the table, he saw the sadness and longing in the King's eyes. Far deeper than mere disappointment, this was a look born from years of trauma; betrayal, abandonment, countless broken promises. Just how much had this man suffered? Vox could hardly imagine.
Lucifer shut his eyes tightly, curling in on himself in a desperate bid at self-comfort. All the while, the Radio Demon watched from the other side of the bed, floundering, for once at a loss for what to do.
Vox was witnessing something he never thought he would: Alastor being bad at something. But instead of feeling sadistic joy, a deep, almost nostalgic melancholy filled him.
Despite clearly being out of his element, Alastor spoke. “Lu.”
Tears filled the King’s eyes and he curled up further.
“Lucifer…”
It was the gentle desperation in that call that finally caused the smaller man to turn towards the sinner, looking over his shoulder as his tears overflowed and fell delicately down his pale cheeks.
Those tears seemed to strengthen Alastor's resolve. Without further hesitation, he opened his arms to the King once more.
Instead of relief, fear filled Lucifer's gaze. “Are…are you sure?” he asked, giving him an easy out.
“I'm sure,” Alastor replied, confident.
Slowly, hesitantly, Lucifer crawled towards his dearest friend. As soon as he was near enough, Alastor wrapped his arms around him, pulling him close.
“I'm sorry,” the sinner whispered, tone heartbreakingly sincere. “I…I'm not very good at things like this. I've never…felt…this way before.” His brows furrowed. “Never…quite like this,” he corrected, causing Vox's heart to clench in a desperate type of hope. Unfortunately, he didn't elaborate, instead saying, "And in my attempt to help, I inadvertently hurt you. For that, I am truly sorry.” Alastor pressed Lucifer firmly to his chest, hands shaking as he begged, “Please, forgive me.”
Lucifer gasped, breath shuddering as he buried his face in the other man's shirt. He vehemently shook his head and Alastor, taking that as his answer, began pulling away. Before he could get far, Lucifer chuckled. “Silly man...” he muttered to himself. The King looked up, grinning like a fool. “Of course I forgive you.”
Alastor breathed a sigh of relief, his smile huge and genuine. “Thank you.”
Lucifer chuckled again. “You big dork.” He leaned into the man, gently nuzzling his face on burgundy satin and the hard lean muscle beneath. Once satisfied, he stared up at the sinner, his entire expression soft.
Alastor's smile grew small and nervous, eyes searching. The King, noticing the shift, grew still, his own eyes widening, moonlight reflecting off his blood red pupils.
The sinner leaned down slightly, then hesitated. “May I…?”
Lucifer nodded, tilting his chin up in a clear invitation, his eyes half lidded.
The kiss was light, almost chaste. Not what one would expect from the literal Devil and Hell's most brutal Overlord. The two seemed far removed from their titles. Now, just for a moment, they were simply two people expressing their feelings for one another.
It was perfect.
Lucifer pulled away first, staring up in awe at the man who had just kissed him. His cheeks flushed bright gold as he suddenly hugged the sinner, his body language saying what he was too scared to speak aloud. Alastor held him tight, one hand on his back, the other gently tangled in his golden hair, his actions replying in kind.
Vox watched as the pair fell asleep in each other's arms. Surprisingly, his jealousy was mild, overshadowed by hope; hope that Lucifer's love story would end differently from his own.
He watched the King breathing softly in his sleep. Slowly, the man's forked tongue peaked out, making him look like a cat. Vox let out an affectionate, almost dreamy chuckle. ‘Lucifer is so cute,’ he thought. Moments later, he stiffened.
‘...Wait.’
The Media Overlord felt the temperature of his screen rising as the realization dawned on him.
‘Wait…hold on!’
Lucifer whimpered softly in his sleep, snuggling into the warmth of Alastor's chest. Once comfortable, he sighed, a sweet, content smile on his face.
Adorable. Utterly, undeniably adorable.
“...Fuck.”
XxXxX