Chapter Text
It was surprising really, how little of ruling hell actually required Lucifer’s attention. At least that’s what he kept telling himself to make himself feel better about not accomplishing much of anything. It was easier that way. Staying in his room pacing mindlessly or making ducks, hundreds of them, most of which ended up incinerated. Real productive.
Outside his room, he could hear the noise and action of the hotel. His wonderful daughter was so happy about the progress she had made with the guests. She was more motivated than ever with the news of that snake guy’s redemption and ascension to heaven, whereas he was more withdrawn and depressed after his imprisonment. Being trapped in that damn weapon really messed with his head and he didn’t know what to do about it. He wanted to help Charlie with her hotel, but he didn’t want to mess anything up. Also being around sinners gave him anxiety, especially now that they knew he was basically defenseless against them.
Lucifer paced around and around his room as his thoughts swirled in his head. He wished Lilith was there. She always knew what to do, how to take control, but he hadn’t heard anything from her in almost eight years. He knew he needed to get over her, but again he didn’t know how. It turned out he really didn’t know how to do a lot of things. Lucifer paused at his workbench looking at the half made duck that sat there looking at him with disappointment. Ok, maybe not disappointment, it just stared blankly. Of course it did, it was just a rubber duck. He was really losing it.
He needed to leave his room. He needed to go downstairs and pretend he was a vital part of the hotel and help Charlie. Maybe if he pretended long enough it would become reality. Sighing, Lucifer snapped his fingers and was instantly dressed in his classic white suit and hat, his apple tipped cane in hand. He wanted to stay in his duck sweater, but it wasn’t very professional.
As he made his way down to the lobby, Lucifer mentally prepared himself for interaction with sinners and, maddeningly, Charlie herself. She did not deserve the lack of enthusiasm he showed for her hotel, but the whole hotel thing along with redemption made him think of heaven and Lilith. Mostly Lilith. He checked his phone again, but no. There was still nothing. Why did he even check anymore?
Lucifer finally made it to the doorway of the lobby and he stood there for a minute watching Charlie. She was excitedly bustling around the sinners who were checking in, showing them around and explaining her schedule of different activities and workshops she did throughout the week. She seemed so happy, it made him momentarily forget the thoughts still racing around his head. Finally she noticed him and waved excitedly.
“Hi Dad!” She called her face lighting up. He smiled and made his way over to her, nodding politely at the sinners he passed.
“Hey Charlie! How are things going?” He glanced around at the busy lobby. Charlie’s girlfriend, Vaggi or something, stood behind the desk handing keys to new guests and answering questions, while the bartender, Husk he thinks, was making drinks for others. He seemed a bit sad, but Lucifer didn’t have time to consider that.
“It’s been so good! We’ve had so many new guests in the past few weeks since we proved the hotel works! Things have been a little hectic, so I was wondering if you could help me go over a few things? Just some paperwork, nothing too big…” she trailed off, looking at him hopefully. Lucifer hesitated. He had wanted to help so why was he hesitating? Why was the thought of some simple paperwork suddenly impossible? His smile faltered, just slightly. Barely noticeable if you weren’t looking for it. Unfortunately Charlie was. He had to say something and quick.
“Oh! Ah, well,” Lucifer started, glancing back at the doorway as if something required his attention. “I was actually on my way to take care of a few things myself.” (He wasn’t) “But you seem like you have everything under control!” He tried to encourage, despite blatantly lying to her. He felt awful. Why couldn’t he have just said yes? Was ‘yes’ actually that hard to say? Charlie glanced down, disappointed but trying not to show it.
“I mean I do, but it would be nice to have your input on things.” She said quietly. His heart ached but he just couldn’t bring himself to change his mind. He was a terrible father.
He could say yes.
He should say yes.
And yet–
“I will, just… later.” He replied softly, “I just need to sort a few things out first.” Like his social anxiety and fear of failure. That was just great. Charlie watched him for a moment, long enough to make his chest tighten, before she nodded a bit sadly.
“Ok. Ok, that makes sense. Just… just don’t disappear on me, alright?” She gives him another small smile. He lets out a breath that might have been a laugh.
“I wouldn’t dream of it!” He replies even though deep down he knows he already kind of is.
He doesn’t stay long after that. Just long enough to feel the weight of her gaze as he turns away, back to the hallway.
The lobby noise starts to fade as he steps into the quieter halls, the brief attempt at involvement fading as quickly as it had appeared. By the time he found his way to the small sitting room, it was easier to pretend that he had never intended to help in the first place.
Lucifer collapsed onto the couch, covering his eyes with his arm. He sighs again. Why didn’t he just help Charlie? Now she’s disappointed and he’s proven to both her and himself that he is almost completely useless. He sits up and stares at the wall for a few minutes, before trying to distract himself. He snaps his fingers once, twice, three times, golden magic sparking briefly before sputtering out, as though it had lost interest in doing anything. Lucifer frowned at it, frustrated that even his own magic had become uncooperative.
“Unbelievable.” He mutters to himself.
“I would not call it unbelievable,” said a voice that Lucifer really, really did not want to hear right now. “Predictable, perhaps, but not unbelievable.” Lucifer glared as the red bellhop walked to the couch opposite him, sat down, and crossed one leg over the other with an annoying amount of grace, opened a book and began to read, the faint sound of static filling the room. The absolute fucking nerve of this guy! Who did he think he was? Lucifer turned his head away and seethed for a few minutes until the bellhop, Alastor Lucifer was pretty sure, said something again.
“You know,” he said smoothly, without looking up from his book, “for a place so intent on rehabilitation, there is a remarkable lack of oversight.” Lucifer looked away again, even more irritated than before. It was a jab at him and he knew it. Like this guy could do any better! He had no idea what Lucifer had gone through. Not before man even existed, not when he fell, and not when that stupid, fucking TV headed demon had him trapped in the box of pain. There was silence, save for static and pages being turned, for a while until the bellhop felt the need to speak up again.
“You nearly agreed, you know.” Another page turned. A beat of silence before Lucifer replied.
“You were watching.” A page turned.
“Observing.” There was a pause, “In the lobby.” Another pause and another page turned. “For a moment there, I thought we might see a rare display of initiative.”
“That is none of your concern Albert.” Lucifer snapped. The bellhop chuckled.
“It’s Alastor sire.” Lucifer rolled his eyes. Whatever. It didn’t matter. Albert, Alastor, it wasn’t that big of a difference. There was another long stretch of silence, accompanied by more pages turning thanks to the extremely irritating demon across from him.
“Your daughter has been quite busy!” Alastor chuckled again. “Admirably so.” Another jab. Did this demon ever shut up?
“I said I’ll handle it.” Lucifer growled. Alastor hummed, flipping another page.
“Eventually.”
Lucifer turned away. Alastor was right, had been right the whole time. It was extremely irritating. When he had first arrived at the hotel Alastor had accused him of being a poor father and the more time Lucifer spent at the Hazbin Hotel the more he realized that Alastor may have been partly correct. He had not been very good at reaching out to Charlie or supporting her dreams. Once he had moved into the hotel he had wanted to be helpful and to spend more time with his daughter, but now that sinners knew he couldn’t protect himself, his anxiety around them had tripled. He glanced over at Alastor. Was he planning anything? He could never tell what the deer demon was thinking. As he was considering the sinner a thought crossed Lucifer’s mind. This was the longest he had gone without thinking about Lilith or about all the things he should be doing. In fact he slightly enjoyed the arguments he and Alastor had, which was a thought he was NOT going to unpack right now. Honestly that realization should have annoyed him more than it did. He needed to regain control of this situation before he lost complete control of his thoughts all together.
“You’re trespassing.”
“How unfortunate.” Alastor replied without looking up. Lucifer frowned.
“If you’re here to-” he stopped “…Nevermind.” Alastor’s eyes flicked up from his book for a second before he looked down again. Lucifer growled and stood.
“You always do this!” Alastor raised his eyebrows without looking up.
“Do what?” Lucifer’s gaze flicked over to him.
“You wait until I already see the problem,” Lucifer snapped, “and then you make sure I can’t ignore it.” There was a pause.
“Well,” Alastor said lightly, turning another page, “it would be terribly inefficient otherwise.”
Lucifer stared at the demon for a moment longer, jaw tight, before turning sharply and leaving the room.The static didn’t follow him, but somehow it still echoed in his head.
He walked the halls without thinking, steps too fast, too sharp, like he was trying to outrun something that had already caught him. Eventually, he found himself back at his door. Of course he did.Lucifer paused, hand hovering over the handle.
You nearly agreed.
The words replayed in his mind, irritatingly calm. Predictable. He exhaled sharply through his nose.
“Yeah,” he muttered under his breath. “That’s the problem, isn’t it?”
The door creaked open. Inside, everything was exactly as he left it.
Still.
Safe.
Pointless.
Lucifer stepped inside anyway. The door shut behind him with a quiet click. A moment passed. Then another. He didn’t move. Didn’t pace. Didn’t reach for the ducks. Just stood there, staring at nothing, jaw clenched. Eventually, he dragged a hand down his face.
“Unbelievable,” he muttered again, softer this time.
Not angry.
Just tired.
After a while, he started pacing again.