A/N: I managed to bang out Chapter 6 despite having a Rock and Gem Show to work at this weekend for my dad.
This chapter is brought once again by my questionable musical taste (I used a RWBY Insert Song by Casey Lee Williams/OK Goodnight). Did I use
Guide My Way (aka Ruby questioning her absent mother aka Red Like Roses III) as a bonding song for father and child? Yes, Yes I did. I only have a little shame about it.
I think there's nothing needing a content warning, but if there is let me know and I'll edit the note.
______________________________________________________
"
I'll admit, I wasn't sure you'd go through with telling her!" Alastor loomed over Merlin's shoulder, smile firmly in place. "
What with all the baggage your heritage brought you, of course."
Charlie cleared her throat. "So! We have five months until the next extermination day, and…" She gathered herself. "And I've decided, as thanks for your hard work, to have a day off!"
Angel gave her a flat look. "Whee."
"Of course, if you need something to do, you can relax in the greenhouse." Merlin gave Angel a smirk. "It might provide a few excuses to avoid other engagements."
This seemed to be the right answer, from how Angel relaxed. "
Ehh. It's pretty, I guess."
They'd met in the new greenhouse, and Cain had wasted no time in making it his own. Sturdy trees marked each corner, laden with fruit. Bushes lined the outside, heavy with berries of many kinds. Flowers sprung up and demarcated paths around bare soil, and in the center was a
fountain of all things. Next to it was a small table with chairs around it to sit and enjoy the atmosphere. In the back was what looked to be a small shed with a shovel and hoe leaning against it.
Alastor gave Merlin a thoughtful squint, then shrugged.
"I believe I will take advantage to work on my inventionsss," Pentious said with an upright index finger, eyes proudly shut.
"
No war machines."
"
Ugh. I wasss
thinking of making improved cooking appliancesss. For the good of the
Hotel." Sir Pentious leveled an unimpressed glare at Vaggie. "Though I could amplify our defenssess- after all, none of us are without
enemiesss."
"
Ha! How adorably naive. Anyone that sets themself against the hotel has to deal with me, Cain, and last but not least - Merlin Ambrosius. Any one
of us should give pause, but under one roof?" Alastor curled his claws into a fist. "
Only the suicidal
would dare." Feedback spiked harshly in the air, noise sparking against Charlie's ears.
Well. At least Alastor seemed happy. Maybe.
"In all fairness, I've kept a low profile and Cain's been absent from Hell politics for eight millennium.
You've got a reputation, but the seven year lull and Vox's whisper campaign haven't done you favors." Merlin inspected his nails through his gloves. "A cannon or two, pointed outwards and approved by Vaggie wouldn't go amiss."
Vaggie rubbed her chin. "That's… not the worst idea."
Pentious perked up with a childish grin.
"
Hm. Well, a warning shot or three to dissuade those with survival instincts wouldn't be too boring. And if they keep coming, I get brunch!" Alastor perked up.
Cain looked distinctly uncomfortable. "Whatever floats your boat, bud."
"
Corpses. Corpses 'float my boat', my jolly green gentleman."
Cain gave Charlie a plaintive look.
"Not that I don't like an excuse to day drink-"
"You day drink anyways, Husk." Vaggie folded her arms and glared.
Husk gave an offended 'mrp'. "Like I was
sayin', I like a day off as much as the next guy. What's the
real occasion?"
Charlie smiled. "I'm taking Vaggie, Cain, and Merlin to meet my dad!"
The clatter of Merlin's cane hitting the floor was all that broke the silence.
Cain shrugged, unbothered. Vaggie twitched, trying to smile.
"
Why?" Merlin's eyes were wide, pupils pinpricks.
"Well… we made a lot of progress, and I think if we want to leverage your power -
really leverage it - we need to make sure he's aware you exist! And as a friend- no, as
family." Charlie nodded.
"And unlike Charlie
you'd be more than happy to put your royal authority into action." Vaggie gave Merlin a considering look. "Not that it's a
bad thing you don't," she hurriedly continued to Charlie. "I actually
really love that about you, it's just- you could stand to be a little more… commanding of respect?"
"But it's so
meannnnn." Charlie slumped.
Vaggie exhaled. "Sometimes you need to be…
aggressively kind to get things done."
"Really? Am just gets 'aggressive' and seems to work for him." Cain shrugged. "And honestly, the more you're used to your powers the easier it is to not hurt people with 'em. Took me forever until I could just
restrain people with my vines. Didn't do it until I stopped crushing rocks, so you know. Practice."
Merlin nodded. "Ruthlessness is mercy upon ourselves, Charlie. If I was 'nice' to every tyrant, dictator, and political malcontent that decided it was open season on the minority
du jour then forget overpopulation. Pride would be flat-out
unlivable."
"
But back to the matter at hand: an introduction to Lucifer. Are you sure, Charlie? Merlin is quite strong, but what if your father supported your mother's efforts?" Alastor leered.
Charlie looked at him with a frown. "Then he'll have to deal with me."
"
And your 'aggressive kindness'?" Alastor's saccharine tone indicated just what he thought of
that.
"No. If he tries to hurt Merlin, I'll take his cane and bop him a good one!" Charlie punched her palm. "But seriously- I don't think he knows anything. He keeps to himself a lot, and Mom was mostly the one with me."
Merlin's eyes flickered shiftily.
"What." Charlie planted her hands on her hips.
"Just… well. You're what, two-three hundred? And they've been an item since Eden?"
Cain made a small 'o' of comprehension. "Damn. That
sucks."
Vaggie and Charlie looked at each other. "What do you mean?"
"Sometimes when a marriage is… on the outs… the participants will try to make, er. A reason to stay." Merlin gave a pained smile. "Theoretically."
Charlie folded her arms. "That's not what happened."
"
It is food for thought, however." Alastor grinned, scratching his chin idly.
Angel, Pentious, Niffty and Husk were long gone by then.
"I THINK that this line of thought doesn't do any of us any good." Vaggie stepped in. "Babe, is your dad expecting us?"
"Should be. I texted him an hour ago." Charlie shrugged. "Al, you stay out of trouble."
"
Hmm." He looked unimpressed with the demand.
"At least don't make trouble for me or the Hotel." Charlie gave him a stern glare.
Alastor blinked, then his smile widened. "
Well that's a lot simpler! I do have a list of errands to catch up on. Why, I'm nearly a decade behind on my broadcasts! Not to worry Charlie, I shall be the soul of discretion. For you two." His eyes turned to Merlin and gave a little squint. "
Have a wonderful time with the family reunion! I'm sure it'll be a scream
."
With a sound of shrieking feedback, his outline collapsed into shadows and vanished.
"Am, where did you
find this sketchy motherfucker?" Cain gave her brother a look of concern.
"
Louisiana." Merlin's eyelid twitched viciously.
"In our case,
he found
us." Vaggie gave Charlie a sideways look. "And once we started feeding him, he wouldn't leave. Like a feral cat in a bespoke suit."
"But he's a fucking deer?"
Merlin gently pat Cain's arm. "Remind me to tell you about the deer that eat chicks out of their nests sometimes."
"The. What?" Vaggie stared at Merlin in horror.
"Free protein."
"OKAY NEAT LET'S GO SEE DAD." Charlie grabbed Merlin and Vaggie by the wrists and began to high-step it to the limo out front. "CAIN!"
"Bringin' up the rear, boss lady!"
____________________________________________________________________________
Red. Lots and lots of red. Hell's color motif, really. I shouldn't have been surprised.
"Hahaha I'm suuure I texted him ten hours ago!" Charlie looked at me with a rictus grin. "See!?" She held up her phone.
Read: 9:42 A.M.
"Char, maybe this isn't a good idea," Vaggie whispered softly. She glanced around.
I cracked my knuckles. "I can get his attention." I looked around, taking note of the. Many. Many. Ducks. Little yellow ducks. Like for bathtime. Not necessarily rubber, because some were ceramic. And other materials.
So many hats.
"Y- our father has a duck addiction. This goes past special interest. I have an interest in books and storytelling; this is one bad day away from an episode of
Hoarders," I hissed to Charlie.
Charlie shrugged with a sheepish smile. "Quack?"
"He sure is," I muttered. I flexed my hands, drawing on the wealth of creative energy inside me. Ever since I died, my mortal limitations fell - leaving me a full seraph, son of the Morningstar. With all that entailed.
A fleet of waist-high ducks in plaid kilts with tammy hats sprouted from the floor in the foyer. I sketched a glowing golden line across the room. "Stay back."
Then I gave them
bagpipes.
I held up three fingers.
Charlie slowly looked from the duck-pipers to me with horror.
Two.
Vaggie turned Charlie to her and placed her face into her shoulder.
One.
Cain covered his eyes and gave a thumb up.
"Now we shall try to communicate!" I cheered. And unleashed, well. Hell!
QUABWAROOWOOOOOOAUHGHUUUUAAAAAEEEEEAAAWWUUUUUAAAAACK
Bagpipes can be rather good if played with skill! I decidedly avoided using any.
I used the foot of my cane as a conductor's baton as the ducks rocked back and forth. Dust shook from the rafters, the very foundations of the palace quaking with quack-chestral might.
A pillar of white flame erupted from a door in the back of the room. "WHAT IN THE UNHOLY HELL IS GOING ON HERE!?" a tenor bellowed in outrage. And anguish.
I quieted the ducks and looked up.
The flames receded to reveal a… surprisingly short version of myself clad in red and white. He blinked at us owlishly, fanged mouth slightly open. On his head, he wore a top hat encircled by a golden snake cradling a crimson apple.
"Answer your daughter's
fucking texts!" I snapped, pointing at him from across the foyer.
"Who?" He tilted his head at me.
"Um. Hi, Dad?" Charlie waved nervously from next to me.
That got his attention. It was like clouds parting to reveal the sun. "
Charlie! You, you're here!" In a blur, he shot across the room and wrapped her in a tight hug. "It's so good to SEE YOU!" His smile was nearly as big as his poorly hidden eye-bags. The makeup was nearly the same color, but at this distance I could see the texture.
How many months? She never reaches out first! Oh, is she mad I asked her to handle Adam? Uhhh she likes… shit. Too old for 'princess' stuff. No, wait, don't borrow trouble. She never visits, enjoy it while it lasts! Uh, how to people. Connections? Sure! Wait, who are-
I blinked.
…peering through keyholes, are we? And my insight slammed shut.
"So Charlie! Who's your
friend?" Lucifer gave me a pointed grin, eye twitching.
"Your bastard as of eighteen hundred years ago.
Pay your damn child support." I scowled down.
That got a flicker.
My mother (had to be), loneliness, bolts of pleasure and regret. A plea. 'Look out for him? Sera… she said if I went back-'
I stepped backwards. "Who the fuck is Sera?"
Lucifer stared at me. "Why. What. What?" He turned to Charlie. "Charlie, how did you meet him? He's supposed to be in Heaven!" He turned to me, hands on his hips. "Why are you down here, young man!?"
I bristled, but Cain put an arm around me. "He's been here a while, sir." He took his hat off and put it over his chest.
"Cain? Buddy! I never see you outside 'Please Go Away'! We don't use the other name here, don't worry." Lucifer blinked. Visibly processed. "How long is a
while?"
Charlie turned to me, waving her hands frantically.
"...yes." I glared at her.
Vaggie looked absolutely terrified. Poor girl.
"So uh, who is
this? Just so I get a better picture of what's going on." Lucifer gave Vaggie a smile, relaxing into a more lackadaisical posture.
"This is my girlfriend Vaggie!" Charlie smiled, gesturing to the former exorcist.
"Gir- Girlfriend? Oh, you like girls!"
Hrm.
"Me too! We have so much in common, haha! Put 'er there, Maggie!" Lucifer wrapped her in a bear hug. He raised a hand over her head, where her halo would be, and flinched away. "Haha, so pretty!" His grin turned awkward, then pitying, then receded to a smile.
"Oh, ha, haha, nice to meet you?" Vaggie was embarrassed, but clearly less frightened.
Okay, not a disaster. Maybe.
"Soooo I wanted you and Merlin to meet because he's helping with my Hotel!" Charlie clapped her hands together. "And well, he is family."
"Yyyes, of course. He sure is, aha." Lucifer glanced at me, then back to Charlie. "So, you er. You're aware your mother and I had an open relationship, right? Maybe?"
Charlie shrugged. "Not really, but that does make things a little less awkward. What with-" And she waved at me.
I raised an eyebrow. "Merlin Ambrosius. Soothsayer, shapeshifter, kingmaker, magus, devil's bastard."
Lucifer flinched. "Ahahaha! Wow, you sure don't mince words! Uh, you gonna turn those peepers to normal kiddo?" He gave a tense grin.
"Can't. Even if I could, I wouldn't. Saved my ass too much up topside, and even more down here." I folded my arms and rubbed my thumb against a crystal on my cane.
Lucifer blinked. "Huh? I mean, every one of us can. It's mostly for seraphim to use to weigh the truth in a soul, but we- well, we when I was- anyway, you don't have 'em on in company casually. Wouldn't… well." He sighed. "I asked your mother to look after him. I… needed a minute away, and well. Happy accidents, am I right?" He gave me a more wan smile. "Apparently you really did well for yourself up there, up to the end."
I tensed. "Did I now." Lightning sparked up my arms.
"Merlin-" Charlie moved towards me.
"This was a mistake, Charlie. He doesn't know anything, or if he does he's hidden it." My voice was clipped. This wasn't the proud fallen angel, this was a man who had been stripped of nearly every reason to even live. Charlie was it. My gaze couldn't penetrate him, but the veritable
ocean of ducks stank of depression and grief. I plucked the threads from the palace and followed them.
"Know anything about what?" Lucifer blinked, posture straightening. He was shorter than any of us, but something stirred that had me on edge.
"Your wife's involvement in my life was hardly as rosy as conveyed." I tilted my head.
"I mean, Lil can be a little controlling, but if you talk her down-"
"She tries to kill you?"
He stopped moving.
"Merlin, please." Charlie put a hand on my arm. "If he doesn't know, he doesn't know."
"What are you saying?" Lucifer stared at me.
"Seraphim have eyes that see truth, right? Look at me. Find out." I folded my arms. "I have
nothing to hide."
"This is a bad idea-" Vaggie began, but Cain held a hand up.
"Nah. I think it might just be the thing we need to get the whole picture. Or close to it." He looked at Lucifer. "Sir? We're workin' off different fuckin' stories. You got one angle, and he has the other."
Lucifer blinked slowly at Cain. "You'd know all about that, huh." He gave a mirthless smile. "Me too." He frowned a little. And his eyes flashed gold.
I felt…
naked. His gaze scoured down to my organs, my bones, every cell of me. Every drop of blood and plasma unraveled in his sight, exposing everything I'd never dared give voice to.
His eyes faded, and I slumped into Cain's side, feeling raw.
"Yeah… that's why seraphim learn to guard against that stuff, just in case. I taught Lilith too." Lucifer rubbed his face. "...never thought she'd use it."
"Dad, I'm really sorry-"
"No. No Charlie,
I'm sorry." He looked at her morosely. "I never realized how badly I did by both of you."
She stilled. "Dad?"
He gave a sad smile. "When we use our eyes like that, we see everything. Your brother's got quite the range on him, might even be better than
my brother's. So I saw what he put together about you, his view of you."
I let out a sharp breath. "So."
Lucifer looked at me, shoulders slumped. "...you've been here for over seventeen hundred years." His voice was faint. "And never once did you feel safe enough to come home."
I opened my mouth-
"Because it wasn't. Because the person I love
lied to me." He gripped his hands together. "Sera is the head Seraphim of Heaven, right below the Elders. From what I heard, they retired and now my siblings replaced them. She said in no uncertain terms that if I went to Earth again, there would be consequences for Hell, for me- and for Lilith. I thought I was clever, sending Lilith to look after you when she could."
"But Dad- why would she hate him that much?" Charlie asked, putting a hand on my shoulder.
"I don't know. He doesn't, and I didn't, so that's still hidden. But Lilith… it doesn't make
sense." Lucifer sighed. "Merlin, son. I truly am-"
I scattered into petals, ignoring Cain's yelp of surprise. I couldn't take anymore.
I ran.
____________________________________________________________________________
Charlie turned to Lucifer, eyes wide.
"Well shit. Guess I gotta go find him again." Cain rolled his shoulders.
"Again?" Vaggie parroted, eye narrow.
"It's like this. Things are good for a while. He fucks up, like everyone does. Thinks it's the end of the world and splits." Cain cracked his neck. "And it's up to me to remind him that it ain't."
"But he didn't." Lucifer stuffed his hands into his pockets, expression clear.
"Nah. He came here ready for a fight, and even before you showed up he came out swingin'. The ducks?" Cain pointed at the pseudo-Scottish abominations in question. "Am's an asshole. He means well, great guy to have on your side. Loyal and loving as shit. But he's still an asshole. You don't raise yourself in the woods off what you peep in the souls of random villagers and come out nice or normal."
Lucifer blinked a few times, then gave a rueful chuckle. "Yeah, that's what I'd do too. Well damn." He smiled. "But still! He gave Lil a hell of a run for her money. If she didn't blindside him at the end, things would have gone way different. And that was
before he was a seraph." He frowned a little. "But look, uh. Are you and he… you know?"
Cain raised an eyebrow.
"Together? Like I'm getting the vibe but-"
"Dude, we fuck like at least every other night. Dunno if romance is dead or not, but the attraction sure as shit ain't." Cain gave a lopsided grin.
Charlie let out a wheeze like a dying squirrel, deflating into Vaggie's side. Her girlfriend gently rubbed her back.
"Yeaaah you're your daddy's boy. Mine takes after me too," Lucifer muttered.
"Huh?" Charlie blinked.
"What?" Vaggie squinted.
"Oh
shit," Cain whispered.
Lucifer gave a shit-eating grin and aimed finger guns at the three of them. "Eden Home Run, baby! Anyways, going to go track down my kid and give this 'being an actual father' thing a shot." He paused. "And after that- we'll talk about the Hotel." His grin turned crooked but more genuine.
"Dad…" Charlie's eyes widened.
"It wouldn't be
your fault if it didn't go through, is all I'm saying," Lucifer said with a wave of his hand.
Cain stepped forward-
"Ah, ah. Me first. If I fuck it up, we need you in reserve." Lucifer chuckled. "Me, fuck up. Ha! There's a laugh." He vanished in a flow of red-gold mist.
Charlie looked at Cain.
The huge farmer sighed. "He's got a point." Then he looked disturbed. "Holy fucking shitballs, our dads
fucked."
"Uh. Did anyone else catch the 'Home Run' part of that?" Vaggie asked.
Cain's eyes bugged. "Did
all our parents bump uglies!?"
Charlie crumpled. "Vaggie. Take me to the fainting couch."
"Which one-"
"
Any of them can be a fainting couch when you pass out on it."
Razzle, quiet up to this point, bleated in sympathy. Could have been Dazzle. EIther way.
____________________________________________________________________________
I sat on the roof of the palace. I just… needed time to process. I'd go back before they left.
So. This entire time, I could have blown this wide open. Or not. Lilith was a consummate liar, there's no way she wouldn't have kept Lucifer and Charlie on her side. If I provoked him into-
"Yeesh. You're brooding so loud I can practically hear it." Light footsteps echoed across the rooftop.
I hunched over, holding my knees.
"Cain thinks you bolted because. Well, because." Lucifer sat next to me. "Apparently bugging out when mistakes are made is a thing. Which I might have some experience with." He scratched his throat, but I didn't look at his face.
"...what do you want."
"You- okay, you got dealt a bad hand and I am
not saying you didn't, but you lucked out with Cain. And Charlie's like- it's honestly a miracle she hasn't given up on me yet. But that might be closer than I thought." Lucifer draped his legs over the side. "Wow. From up here, you can almost ignore all the sin."
"And the pain." I looked down there myself.
"...and the pain. I really don't know how you can keep feeling for them, kiddo. Really don't. I gave up thousands of years ago." Lucifer made to reach towards me, then stopped. Put his hand on his knee. "It's like, over and over and over again. Even the ones who aren't so bad change."
"It's a crab bucket. They never had a chance. No one was there to give them one. Charlie's the first, but her voice isn't loud enough to reach over what Lilith built."
"Crab- oh. Because if someone tries to be better, they get hauled down into the shit again." He made to say something else, then stopped. Then he hummed. "Yeah. You think the Hotel can be that chance?"
"...you saw Cain's feet, right? How plants just grow under him?"
"Now that you mention it…"
"He's close.
So close. I think the only thing missing is a way to forgive himself." I looked out over Pentagram. "And he's not the only one. Guilt is as much a tether here as actual wrongdoing. I think redemption is as much 'letting go' as 'atonement'. Or at least learning to live with what was done."
"Hmm. To and by, huh." Of course he'd get it. He saw right into me. "It's… hard to think of them as victims. Not when I hear the screaming and laughter every time I go past the gate."
"Charlie sees all of them as deserving to be saved." I sat up, let my legs dangle next to Lucifer's.
"You disagree." Wry amusement colored his voice.
"There will always be people who made choices that are irrevocable. Tyrants, rulers, those who clenched their fist and ruined thousands on millions of lives. Not by accident, or in ignorance. In an informed
choice to obliterate happiness and safety. There will always be those who have demons so strong they can't be saved, and they turn their dark desires on their friends and neighbors. Sometimes their families." I watched the lights of the city glimmer. "...sometimes, I would find a place so high, so out of reach, and wonder- what if I just… ended it. Took to the air, and called down thunder and light. It's angelic. It would be forever. I'd just… wipe the Pentagram clean. Start from scratch. Hand pick sinners that I could salvage, and keep any more Overlords from rising."
"Can't see Charlie liking that." I looked at Lucifer. He kept looking outwards, idly kicking his feet. "But it would be a hell of a way to spite her mother."
"It's why I didn't. Because if I used them as chips in my fight against your wife, I'd be no better than her. No better than when she whispered poison to my caretaker, or to Agravain to reveal Gwen and Lancelot's…
thing. Arthur
knew, you know? They were moving towards being a triad, but it became public. Became a scandal, and his hands were tied." I smiled. "Oh, I was
bitter when I found out. That I wasn't enough to keep on, even as a secret. Then I was horrified at everything that came of it. And then when I heard Vivian was in danger, I abandoned all of them to go- and now here I am."
"You seem to have an easier time being close to Cain and Charlie than all of those people. Except Vivian and the girls." Lucifer kept watching the lights. Didn't comment on what had to be true, what I
knew to be true.
"I've never been human. Morgan was a witch from a very young age, and Morgause was always so
reasonable. Vivian may well be alive, as a faerie. Cain's always been a precursor, and Charlie - she's practically the seven virtues personified. I only caught glimpses of Adam, but on a superficial level they're opposites."
"Yeaaah. They'd have got on great in Eden, or a little after. Heck, maybe she could have talked him out of the Exterminations way back when." Lucifer shook his head. "...I never thought of her being born to save our marriage. Not with… well. If you knew what I know? She's a miracle."
"I'm sorry." To my surprise, I was. This man… wasn't the conniving huckster who begot the original sin. Or maybe he was. "So… I have to ask."
"The apple?" He gave me a sideways look and a smirk.
"Yeah. Why?"
"Why else? Lilith came with her rebellious spirit, her insight and ingenuity. I wanted all of my friends together. I wanted to help. It was her idea, and I couldn't see the harm until it was too late." He exhaled. "To her credit, she didn't see it either. Eve and Adam changed, but the monster we unleashed in the process… it dwarfed us all. There was a war, a terrible war- and after? Adam and Eve were cast into the world, and Lilith and I descended to Hell. Eve has to be in Heaven - I looked everywhere for her here. Abel, too. Cain… him I did what I could."
"Because you knew what it was like to be blamed so deeply for a mistake that the punishment surpassed the crime, even when you already hated yourself."
"Oof. Still no mincing words." Lucifer lightly bumped my shoulder. "But yeah. He's a good guy. Everyone needs someone to keep them anchored." He sighed. "I thought Lilith was that for me. And she was. But maybe I drifted too far in the clouds." He looked up at the faint light of Heaven, so far away.
I looked away.
"So. Instead of the triumphant king of Hell, you found your sister's goofy depressed probably-divorced dad. Disappointed?" Lucifer's voice was teasing, but there was… an edge there.
"I don't know. There's still a lot that-" I closed my mouth. "Even after all these years… I feel
lost. Like no matter what I do, it's just not
good enough." I looked at him.
He stared back, eyes wide.
"How long do I have to fake it until I'm there? Until I can put together everything I see and make it
work?"
"Merlin?"
I reached out to Heaven with my hand, high above.
"
Saw you in a dream. Are you who you seem?"
A flicker of what I saw when I first met Lilith.
You've got precious blood in your veins. Take care not to spill it, child.
"
Was it always in the cards for me to be aimless? No direction - nothing pulling me down from the sky."
Two silhouettes - me hanging on the edge of the knights. And… Lucifer, creating light and beauty on the edge of the angels. The illusion spun, and gained clarity as Lucifer waved a hand at it.
"
It seems like I always get too high. Oh, the air is cold, I don't know how to breathe. I'm begging can you-"
Lucifer looked down at me, and offered a hand.
"
Guide. My. Way. Out. Of this place?" I took it, and he pulled me up.
I walked away a few paces, dragging mist with my fingers. Turned around, and braced myself.
"
Open wide! You were born to hypnotize them all!"
Lucifer flying amongst the angels, the first humans, trailing starlight. Me, giving prophecy and miracle alike to the people of Camelot. Arthur gazing at me in awe, and Adam and Lilith… to Lucifer.
"They said their prayers. Can you, can you hear me up there?"
Lucifer swung a hand towards me. "
What survives? After all the dust is gone, were you there 'till the end?"
Camlann, a field of blades and bodies - so many precious once upon a time. Eden, a wreck and ruin of rotten roots with angelic and animal corpses.
"
Were you at least called a friend?" he pitched at me, Adam looking away from him as Arthur faded in Bedivere's arms.
"
Otherside!" I snapped back, gesturing at Lucifer. "
Did you mean to make me half or whole? Will I ever be - complete? When will I become all of me!?"
"
I'll guide your way out of this place-!"
"
I can't define!" I stepped back towards the ledge. "
Would it even be enough to change my mind? These memories at ever lasting war with my foolish pride! What is left?"
Lucifer - my father - grabbed my hand, and pulled me closer, away from the edge. "
I know- it's you and I when I look inside! You'll be who I was and you'll be even more!"
I blinked, staring at him as he visibly struggled for words.
"
A moment of quiet is all it takes, to reclaim a life and a promise made." Lilith in the distance, watching us. I couldn't make out her expression even as she dissolved into crimson. "
You are the reflection of who prevails." Images, people discussing me, in awe of
me even today. "
You're what inspired the fairytale." Dad grinned.
"
A moment of quiet is all it takes, to reclaim a life and a promise made. I am the reflection of who prevails." I squeezed his hand in mine. "
I'm what inspired the fairytale- I'm what inspired the fairytale."
And we launched skyward, our wings unfolding at our backs, hand in hand. Spinning, light unfurling through the air. Healthy roots, strong branches, green leaves - all grew from around the palace to form a new canopy at our feet. Flowers of all colors hung in the branches, petals scattering to the wind around us.
"
Guide my way out-"
"
I'll guide you! I'll guide your way out!" Dad pulled me into a fierce hug, even as we began to plummet back to the roof.
"
Guide my way out of this plaaaaaace."
We landed softly on a bed of new-grown grass, and let go.
Lu- Dad let out a rough sigh. "Whew! Definitely more hardcore than one of Charlie's. Or even Lil's!" He grinned at me again. "But I feel better. You?"
I smiled a little. "Some. It's… this is going to take work."
"
Tell me about it. I still have to unpack- well, Charlie. And you. And all of it." He rubbed his arms before flipping out a cane topped with an apple. "But I'll try to be better. For both of you. No. I
will be better." He gave a firm nod, planting his cane on the ground. He gave me a considering look.
"...what?" I folded my arms.
"Sooo. You're into guys?" He raised an eyebrow.
"Yeah?" I hesitated. I wasn't sure what his stance on it would be, but-
"ME TOO! We have so much in common!" He swept me into a bear hug, and ended up knocking off his hat.
The laugh was startled out of me as my arms reflexively wrapped around him. "Just one more thing, huh?" I rested my cheek on his head.
"Haha, yep!" He stepped back, still holding my shoulders. He smiled. "I'm looking forward to getting to know you, kid. So much."
"Same, Dad. Same."
He beamed.
Then the door slammed open on the other side of the rooftop.
"Holy shit, that's a
lot of tree and not my fault!" Cain boomed.
"Please tell me there wasn't a fight." Vaggie pushed my boyfriend to the side and stalked out. She hadn't pulled the spear out yet, but I could tell it was close.
"Um,
no? Just father-son bonding! We even sang!" Lucifer folded his arms, scowling at the two of them.
"It was all very touching," I drawled, mimicking his posture. He grinned at me.
"Holy shit there's two of them." Cain stared at us.
"Oooh I had a nightmare…" Charlie wobbled out of the stairwell. Looked around. Saw the tree. Saw Cain and Vaggie. Saw me and Dad. "Oh good, you're getting along now. Great. Now if you'll excuse me, I have an appointment with Husk."
"Who?"
"Bartender."
Dad perked up. "I have booze! And food! Oh, who wants pancakes?"
Charlie paused.
"C'moooon, one night won't be the end of the world," Dad cajoled. "You can catch me up on the Hotel! See if there's anything I can offer this guy hasn't done yet!" He slapped me cheerfully on the back.
"To be fair, I wasn't sure if you wanted me dead so I haven't done much yet." I shrugged. "Now that I know otherwise I plan to drag Cain into fully overhauling the structure. Maybe orbital bomb Vee tower if I'm bored in the afternoon."
Charlie pointed at me. "Yes to the first, no to the second."
"Even if I can get rid of 'snuff-films-r-us'?" I pouted.
"You'd still hurt all their employees and the people contracted to them!" Charlie's pointer finger went up.
"Ah, but if he just took out the Vees it'd be okay?" Dad leaned in, bouncing his eyebrows.
"Sir, please don't enable him. He doesn't need it." Cain held up his hands with a flat look. "He almost had I.M.P. take out Kissinger so he could clear up his schedule early."
"Who? And isn't Kissinger alive?"
"
For now…" I hissed.
"Eh, he'll be down here soon enough buddy. We can use him as a kickball!" Dad grinned. "Or squish him down so we can shoot hoops together! Father-Son stuff!"
"Dad
no." Charlie looked mortified.
"Dad
yes." I grinned at him.
"I TOLD YOU! TWO OF THEM!" Cain yelled, pointing at us.
Dad clapped eagerly. "Hey, this 'father to grown children' stuff is a lot easier than I thought! So Charlie, want to completely eradicate all Helsa's social credit and make her look like a moron?"
Charlie visibly thought it over. "But aren't you and Frederick friends?"
"He stopped calling for my birthday right after you and Sev split up. He's dead to me." Dad was entirely deadpan.
She tapped her index fingers together. "I… will consider this."
Vaggie and Cain exchanged tired looks.
"He
is the devil," Cain pointed out.
"
From the bible," Vaggie sighed.
Dad moved in a blur, looping his arms around my neck and Charlie's only to snicker gleefully. "C'mon! Pancake time, pancake time! Oooh, and then we can
make stuff! This is the first time I've made something other than a duck in
decades! C'mon kids, you can help out!"
Charlie looked at me, then smiled. "Well. At least this wasn't a
total mistake," she muttered.
I smiled back. "Looks like it went pretty well."
Our partners followed along behind us with an air of resigned amusement.
____________________________________________________________________________
Niffty cackled, throwing her head back as the electrified tennis racket sparked in her grip. Pentious sobbed, wrapped around the chandelier.
Angel hid behind the bar, head peeking over alongside Husk as the Egg Boiz aimed miniature cannons and tried to smite roaches upon the floor.
"
Fry, my minions! Fry!" Niffty shrieked.
The four of us looked up the stairway to see Alastor leaning on the banister, sipping coffee from his 'Oh Deer' mug. "
Have a nice night?" he asked with a wide, mocking smile.
"...I am reconsidering the 'not a mistake' stance."
"Same, Charlie. Same."
