Fire in Rain and Thunder

Part Four: Stand in the Storm

Alastor stood in front of the mirror in the bathroom applying the last of his makeup. He wasn't a fan of the stuff and hated to wear it but every now and again it was required to make things easier. While he didn't mind so much (while still minding a very great deal) having to punch his way through social conflicts, either literally or metaphorically, he wasn't a fan of Lucifer having to deal with the backlash of being with someone like him in public.

Negros were more accepted in the north but there were still limitations if provided the wrong company. The party they would be attending tonight was hosted by a friend of Lucifer's whom he met at his shop. Paimon was an aristocratic fellow of the higher echelon who just so happened to cross their shop when it gained popularity last year for its custom costumes and designs. The man instantly took a liking to Lucifer and often frequented, buying his newest designs and treating his sweet tooth with one of Alastor's delicacies from the display case.

Unfortunately, he had shown no affinity to people of color nor towards people of same-sex relations. For parties in the past, for the sake of preserving the shop and Lucifer's reputation in case the wrong crowd grew wise, they had taken the precaution of Lucifer dressing up as a woman and Alastor using enough foundation to pale his darker skin to an acceptable shade of white. Lucifer had openly opposed this several times over the years but Alastor always insisted it was necessary. After all, Lucifer could only learn so little of what it was like being a colored man and the threat that came with it.

As a surprise, this year, while Lucifer didn't know it yet, they were switching roles. Alastor would be the one dressing as a woman. They couldn't pretend Lucifer was a woman this time around since it was a friend who invited them out, but he was under the impression that they would both be recognized as males attending the party together as business colleagues. That, however, would limit their interactions throughout the course of the evening and Alastor would be damned if he didn't get to dance with Lucifer on Halloween night.

Unlike Lucifer, Alastor was not practiced with the art of mascara and blush. He had failed several times trying to apply the damn stuff to his eyes and it didn't help that his dominant hand wouldn't stop shaking. He had strained it last night working on all that leather, but he felt it was worth it. Ever since Charlie took the gris-gris from him, he could finally breathe again.

"Damn, Al," Lucifer said through bathroom door, "how long you planning on staying in there? Charlie's getting anxious."

"Don't act like you don't carry the same tendencies," Alastor said as he resumed his task of thickening his eyelashes. It was the last thing that needed done and he was getting impatient with the process. "I'm nearly finished."

"Do you want some help or something?"

"And ruin the surprise? Hardly!" Though the thought of having Lucifer apply the makeup instead of himself was tempting. "Just wait in the living room and prepare yourself for my grand reveal."

"Assuming there will be one," he snarked back. "You've been in there longer than Charlie. What, did you wedge yourself in the toilet or something? With all the trash you spew, it'd be no surprise if that's the way you go."

"It's a shame you think you're funny," Alastor commented with a glare shot towards the door. "Why don't you go and entertain Charlie with that dull wit of yours?"

"Says the man with the worse pun jokes I've ever heard," Lucifer remarked. He banged on the door. "Hurry up."

Alastor scowled at his reflection but forced himself to relax when he heard footsteps fading away towards the living room. "Impatient prat," he grumbled to himself as he finally managed to apply the damned mascara. "Finally." He closed the cap with a little more force than necessary and plopped it in the trash. The likelihood of him using that again was highly unlikely if he had anything to say about it. Stepping back from the mirror, he gave himself one last cursory glance.

This year, Alastor was dressed as a nun. The sacrilege of the outfit, the fake curvature disguising the man underneath, the satanic symbols sewn into the fabric, all of it had his blood boiling in excitement. Never before had he done a costume so scandalous. There was a chance Lucifer wouldn't approve, but he hadn't said anything yet about his own costume.

Lucifer was dressed as the fallen angel of Heaven, the eponym of Lucifer's namesake. His wings, boldly colored in pure white and blood red, were strapped to a finely tailored suit fashioned from scarlet silk. A black splash pattern symbolized the bloodshed that resulted from his fall from Heaven's grace. Most damning were the red horns that adorned his head, symbolizing his corruption as he converted from an angel of purity to the devil himself.

Really, Alastor had expected Lucifer to put up a bigger fuss. After all, he still followed several Christian practices, despite separating himself from the church. It had only been a couple years since then and the only reason he stopped attending was because the priest gave a sermon condemning those who fell into temptation of same-sex relationships.

In fact, Alastor initially only ordered the costumes as a gag after he and Lucifer got into a small verbal tussle about what is considered appropriate attire for a Halloween party. He even had a backup costume planned just in case everything blew up in his face. But after Lucifer witnessed Alastor practicing his faith in the office, and supported him by taking the gris-gris, Alastor felt a sense of confidence and security for how Lucifer was bound to react. It may all still go sideways the moment Lucifer saw Alastor's outfit and put all the pieces together, but Alastor didn't assume it was the likely outcome anymore.

Looking at himself in the mirror, Alastor felt there was something missing. It was only when he was adjusting a rebellious curl that he discovered what it was. If he was going to doll himself as a woman, then he might as well resemble the most beautiful woman in the world. Grabbing the lip liner, he leaned forward one last time to apply a quaint mole just under the left side of his lips. Pulling back, had he not known better, he'd think he was looking at a reflection of his mother. Albeit a pale version of her.

As he returned the lip liner, he ran his hands along his glasses resting on the edge of the sink. Though he would miss them, he had been told that a proper lady doesn't wear lenses. And so he was doomed for a night of blurry vision and a looming headache. But, for the sake of his coming performance, it was a necessary sacrifice.

He took one last steadying breath before making his way out of the room. It felt strange, walking in skirts instead of proper trousers. The heels were an adjustment, too. Thankfully, Rosie had been there to help him find a proper heel height that was acceptable and not too different from his usually thick-soled shoes.

"I think you look outta sight, Dad," he could hear Charlie say as he made his way down the hall.

"You think so? I don't know. I feel kind of… inappropriate?"

"Dad. It's Halloween. It's the one time of year we're allowed to be inappropriate."

"I'd rather you didn't phrase it like that."

"Actually," said Alastor as he rounded the corner, "I found it rather apt." When he was met with four widened eyes, Alastor adopted the pose he had practiced with Rosie. He placed his hand on his hip as he put all his weight on one leg.

Charlie sat on the edge of the couch, bouncing her legs as she was wont to do, with her goodie bag for her party sitting on the coffee table. When Alastor entered the room, her eyes went alight as she clapped her hands together. "Al! You look like a lady! You're so beautiful!"

"Thank you, my dear. And after enduring such a transformation, I must commend women everywhere for the trials you ladies endure every day. That was practically torture." Charlie giggled in delight.

Alastor shifted his gaze to Lucifer, who had yet to make a single sound. His eyes were blow wide and there was a blush forming on his cheeks and along his neck. Now that Alastor was observing him, he may have caught the hints of saliva forming on his lower lip.

"Starlight," Alastor teased, popping his hip to the other side enticingly, "you're staring."

Lucifer swallowed audibly and blinked one eye then the other. "Alastor," he eventually said, voice trembling, "you're positively sinful."

Alastor's lips pulled back in a broad grin. "I'll take that as a compliment."

Though Alastor could say the same for Lucifer. He had been very deliberate with the measurements he handed over to Nifty. If Alastor was to be recognized as a woman, it would do better to quell all doubts by projecting their attention to the apparent man. The long waistcoat clung snuggled against Lucifer's lithe form, highlighting his chest and the breadth of his shoulders. The style made him look rich and positively delectable. And the hunger radiating in those sky-blue eyes was impossible to ignore.

"Can we go now?" Charlie asked impatiently, drawing Alastor from his thoughts. She was on her feet with her bag now wrung in her hands. "We still need to pick up Vaggie."

"And what is our little Vaggie dressing as this year?" Alastor asked as he made his way further into the room, feeling Lucifer's eyes on him every step of the way. He admired the beautiful crimson dress Carmilla had designed for her. The black tool and fringe complimented the garment well. The final piece was the ebony crown Lucifer had created for her with matching rubies. "Are you both vampire princesses?"

She rolled her eyes. "I'm a vampiress," she corrected. When all he did was quirk a brow, she elaborated, "A female vampire?"

"Ah, yes, of course. How could I have been mistaken?"

"Vaggie is a wraith," she went on. She reached down to the coffee table to tap at the cover of her book, the accursed thing she never went without. "This comes with a short story about a wraith and she absolutely fell in love with it."

"Ah, I see." Alastor had wondered how Charlie managed to rope in a reasonable girl like Vaggie into her Ouija board scheme, but it seemed the book had inspired the both of them on their own. How he wished he could have buried that book alongside the board and its planchette, but he supposed there were worse things the kid could be into. He, for instance, had been fascinated by far more disturbing curiosities at her age.

"Well, shall we be going then?" he asked as he turned to face Lucifer. His partner, however, seemed to be lost in thought again, his eyes fixated only on Alastor. The attention had him preening. Apparently, he had made a delectable choice in their costumes this year. "Bebe," he called with a waved hand. Lucifer blinked and shook his head. Alastor's smile grew. "Will you be able to think straight enough to drive us or should I take on the burden so we don't wind up in a ditch?"

"I can think well enough, thanks," he snapped with a scowl. He can feign anger all he wants, but the persistent blush proved that he had been caught ogling. Reaching down to the coffee table, he grabbed his gris-gris and carefully placed it in his pocket. He then patted his pockets to ensure he had his wallet and nodded. "I've got everything. Are you both ready to go?"

Alastor's gris-gris had been placed on a leather strap to hang from his neck since his costume had no room for pockets. Charlie had also taken a similar route and tied her gris-gris alongside the housekey hanging from a chain necklace. But while Alastor kept his hidden under the collar of his gown, she wore hers out in the open for all to see. It twisted his heart in an unfamiliar way to see it out in the open like that and he couldn't help but smile at the sight.

"Yes, yes, I'm ready! Come on," she said eagerly as she hurried towards the door.

Alastor looked to Lucifer with a humorous shrug. "I'm as ready as I'll ever be. Let's go before she has a conniption fit." He started to lead the way towards the door but stopped to stare back at Lucifer. Lucifer quirked his head curiously and Alastor positioned his hands to where they covered his rear end. "Do try not to stare, darling. It's unbecoming."

The lovestruck fool could only stutter and gawk as he tried to form a defense. "Who would want to stare at you anyway?!" he eventually decided on saying before shouldering his way past Alastor towards the door.

With a chuckle and broad grin, Alastor followed his family out the front door.

…

Paimon ars Goetia was a respectable man of the community who sponsored several growing businesses for the sake of empowering Manhattan for a better future. Rumor had it that he was the main benefactor to seventy-two businesses, including his own founding theatre company. He was a man of many hats, from a man of the common people, business entrepreneur, and college professor of general sciences at Manhattan University.

It was at the epicenter of Manhattan University where his party was taking place. The quadrangle was decorated with tasteful Halloween themes of standing statues, colorful banners, and various guests donned with diverse costumes. Much like their yard back home, the quad had also suffered under the torrential storm and was littered with damp leaves.

Overhead, the growing wind and occasional sprinkle of rain threatened another oncoming storm. Alastor gazed up curiously at the sky until a stray drop of rain caught the corner of his eye and he quickly ducked his head. All his effort would be moot if the rain washed away his makeup before they had a chance to even dance.

The main party had congregated in Draddy Gym. Much to his surprise, there were men posted at the doors asking for invitations before people could make their way inside. While he expected a type of gated event, Alastor hadn't expected it be literal. Thankfully, Lucifer, the neurotic that he is, thought to bring the invitation with them. Unfortunately, he could not recall which of the several pockets he had slipped it into.

In a growing panic, Lucifer checked one pocket then the next, scrambling to find the invitation. He tried to act casual and speak with the bouncer during his search, but his uneasy laughter gave him away. It wasn't until after he had removed his tailcoat and flapped it like a towel when he remembered it had been in his wallet the whole time. When he laughed again, it was out of relief as he retrieved the invitation.

A line had formed behind them during the search and, while Lucifer didn't seem to care or notice, Alastor was all too aware of the judgmental stares and uplifted noses. Alastor's smile turned painfully tight as he stepped closer to Lucifer, silently threatening anyone to comment as he returned his wings to him.

Lucifer was all cheer as he handed off the invitation and led the way inside. "This is a fancy gig," he said after an impressed whistle.

Alastor had to admit, he was impressed as well. The gym hardly looked like a gym at all with the large Halloween decorations covering sport-themed décor and displays. A manned bar was tended on one side of the room while several round banquet tables were clustered near the entrance to allow guests to enjoy a meal away from the hustle and bustle on the dance floor. Up against the far wall was a structured stage where a live band was performing. The music was bland for his taste, but Alastor could recognize talent when he heard it.

"Indeed," he said with a pleasant grin. "This seems like the makings for a fine party." And with a costume competition and dance contest to look forward to, it was bound to be an entertaining evening. He eyed the bar. "Shall I start off the evening by treating you to a drink?"

Lucifer leaned in close with a teasing smirk. "You're a lady now, remember?" he said. "I have to be the one to get the drinks."

Alastor's lip curled up in annoyance. "That's frustrating."

"Tell me about it," he said with a playful scoff. With a loving rub of his hand along Alastor's arm, Lucifer split from him towards the bar.

Not wanting to linger near the entryway, Alastor slowly made his way into the gymnasium. He could admire the wide array of costumes and their higher level of quality. It was no Mardi Gras, but he could appreciate a good craft, no matter the circumstance. He was surrounded by some of the finer educated minds of Manhattan with a collection of the most influential business owners of a generation. It was a shame Alastor was in disguise, otherwise tonight would have been an opportune moment for some branching—

His thoughts came to an abrupt halt when he felt the unwelcome slap of a hand against his derriere. With a sharp glare and show of his sharper canines, Alastor's neck snapped as he whirled his head around just in time to see a man dressed in some form of kingly attire with a pelt cloak casually walking past.

"Lookin' good, chica," he praised as he licked his lips.

He took a step forward, fully intending to rip the man's throat out, but stopped when he felt a firm hold on his arm.

"Now, ain't that a warm greeting," came the bell of a voice on his left. "Nothing quite like attending a party and getting every inch of you touched by a hundred different men to make a lady feel at home. Welcome to the female experience, darling."

If it had been anyone else grasping his arm, Alastor may have bitten the hand holding him. But that voice belonged to none other than Rosie, his nearest and dearest friend since moving to New York. She ran an emporium that her husband owned, which boomed thanks to Paimon's investment.

"Rosie, dear! What a sight for sore eyes!" Alastor spun in place to properly receive the inevitable hug. Her embrace was tight but always brief before she pulled back again. She was dressed in a fine floral dress with ruffled layers that dragged behind her. Adorning her head was an elegant golden crown. "I had hoped to run into you this evening."

"And what a pleasant surprise you are," she said with a toothy grin of her own. "I hardly recognized you in that get-up."

"The same could be said for you." Alastor eyed her attire again, taking in the golden leafing of the skirt and tasteful crop of her boddice. "Are you a queen?"

"An empress, actually," she said, pulling a golden fan from seemingly nowhere to fan her delicately colored face. "You know, if it wasn't for that monstrous glare, I'd have never found you." She bumped him with her hip. "Might have to dial back on that anger of yours."

"I see no reason why not," Alastor said as he eyed the crowd for the fiend.

"Because if you keep biting at every hand that dares pet you, then you're due for a violent evening. Why, I've just walked through the front door and I've already received two pinches and a wolf whistle." She brought a delicate finger up to her chin. "I must be getting on in age because I'm used to receiving twice as much. Tell me, darling, do I have wrinkles?"

"Rosie," he said skeptically, "exaggerating doesn't become you."

"I ain't exaggerating nothing," she said as she closed her fan and batted his arm with it. "I'm telling you the truth. And trust me, that cute behind of yours will be sore by the end of the evening if you're not careful."

"How terribly boorish," Alastor seethed. What was it about men that made them feel the need to belittle anyone fairer than themselves?

A sudden thought crossed his mind and fury began to boil in the pit of his stomach. His tone was clipped when he asked, "Does that happen to you at every party?"

"Of course," she said, dismissing the notion as if it was perfectly acceptable. "Even walking down the street. Wow, there's a lot you don't know, ain't there?"

Had Lucifer endured such behavior every time he donned a dress in the parties of the past? Had the filthy vermin that festered in the lowest dregs of society dared touch his Lucifer with their soiled hands? Is this something Charlie would have to endure once she became of age? Alastor's teeth gnashed together and he had to fight the temptation to slaughter every man who stood in this very room.

"Stop that," Rosie lightly chastised as she gently smacked his cheek. "No need to go feral. It's a party! We're here to have some due fun. Now, tell me, where's that husband of yours?"

"Don't call him that," Alastor grumbled as he scanned the bar.

"Ain't that what he is?"

"You know just as well as I do that's what we can never be." His eyes landed on Lucifer, who appeared to be in a very animated conversation with someone dressed like a ghoul of some sort with powdered hair and gray skin.

"Shall I take you to him?" he suggested as he offered Rosie his arm.

Rosie looked at the offered arm and lifted a brow. Alastor was momentarily confused since she had never denied him before, then he remembered last minute that he was disguised as a lady.

Good lord above, how did Lucifer do this so seamlessly?

"Let's go together, yes," Rosie said, granting him mercy and gesturing for him to lead the way.

As they got close, Lucifer recognized them in the crowd and lifted a drink to unnecessarily draw attention. Alastor was sure he'd be waving like a fool if that adorably excited grin was anything to go about, but it seemed both hands were occupied by drinks. Apparently, he had been caught on his way back.

"Rosie! It's so good to see you," he greeted once they got in earshot. He turned to his associate and it was only then Alastor recognized him as Frederick von Eldritch. "Fred, allow me to introduce you." He nodded in Rosie's direction. "This is Rosie Kanibal, the manager of Franklin and Rosie's Emporium."

Respectfully, Rosie curtsied, which seemed inappropriate for an empress to do. But it seemed the playfulness of her costume ended when it came to social requirements.

"And Rosie, this is Frederick von Eldritch. He's the proud owner of Love's Craft," Lucifer went on.

Fred didn't bother with a bow, something Alastor found irritating after Rosie's initial greeting. He must have struck a chord with Rosie because she let out a thoughtful hum and leaned forward. "Love's Craft? Isn't that the old, worn toy shop you're competing with?"

"Yes, well, the building may be seasoned," Fred interrupted smoothly, his eyes narrowing slightly, "but it holds decades of character and quality."

Lucifer, suddenly looking uneasy for being in the middle, chuckled awkwardly. "Right! Fred, I haven't introduced you to my date." It was at this point he offered one of the drinks to Alastor, who accepted it graciously while simultaneously moving in close to drape an arm around Lucifer's shoulders. "This is Alice. Rosie, I see the two of you are already acquainted?"

"Yes, and she is quite the charmer," she said, all prior irritation gone from her expression. "A real dime a dozen, this gal. Though slightly hot-tempered, if I do say so myself."

Alastor glared at her while Lucifer let out a barking laugh. "Don't I know it. But that's part of her charm."

"Hellsa's the same way," Fred started casually with a shake of her head. "You should see the way she tears into her brother. It's nearly as good as watching the theatre."

The four of them continued to talk amicably for a while about relatively dull topics that they all pretended were interesting. They were eventually joined by Bethesda, who only excelled in diluting the conversation further until Rosie tactfully changed topics to their businesses. From that moment on, Lucifer and Fred were on a roll, discussing toys and projects. Rosie butted in every now and again to share her two cents about proper product distribution, to which Bethesda had a great deal to say in contradictory opinion.

Alastor, being under disguise, had to accept a silent role, something he loathed with every fiber of his being. Lucifer must have noticed his growing irritation because, with an arrogant grin, he excused them from the conversation and instead led their way to the dance floor. Which was about time, in Alastor's opinion. The whole point in dressing up and coming out was so they could dance.

"I was beginning to think we'd wither away with that droll," Alastor groused once they fell into a dance. "I'm not one for silence."

Lucifer's grin went sly. "I don't know. I thought you were quite attractive when you weren't running your mouth."

Alastor was about to respond with his own snarky remark but Lucifer cleverly led him into a spin that had him halting. "Keep spewing that garbage," Alastor warned once he was back in Lucifer's arms. "I'll be sure to put you in your place once we get home."

His expression turned predatory. "I'd like to see you try."

Far too soon, the music came to an end, leaving Alastor in a frustrated huff that he hid behind a cavalier smile. Lucifer bumped Alastor with his elbow. "Don't worry; we have all night to dance."

"So long as you don't waste the evening on boring conversation. Honestly, I thought you'd never cease your yapping."

He scoffed. "Please. Everyone knows you love to hear yourself talk. Between the two of us, I'm not the one who needs to learn to cut my conversations short."

Their banter could have continued for hours had it not been for the screech of a microphone on stage. Paimon, dressed in an elegant black suit with an owl masque, announced that they would be starting the costume contest. Seeing as Alastor didn't want to draw any further attention to himself in his costume, he and Lucifer opted to sit out and join the crowd in observing the show.

Those who lined the stage were a variety of well-crafted costumes with fine details and pizzazz, and downright lazy and absurd costumes that had no right to share the same space as the former. Alastor reckoned they were up there for the comedic value.

Rosie was up there with all her beauty and glamour, standing alongside her husband in his own matching golden attire and crown. Adorably, he even had his own matching golden fan. Unfortunately, the deviant in the kingly robe was also up on stage wearing mismatching rose sunglasses. With a roll of his eyes, Alastor diverted his attention to Paimon, who was also participating in the contest. The microphone was handed off to a short fellow dressed as a type of demon in red garments who called himself Buckzo.

Each participant was to step forward and present their outfit like a model on the stage. Audience participation was important as whichever costume received the most cheers won in the end. Paimon, of course, was the first to present to the crowd. Since most of the guests were close friends and beneficiaries, it was no surprise he received a great deal of whoops and hollers.

A few people took their turns, earning a wide array of cheers and jeers in response to their grand or poor designs. Just as Alastor was clapping for Franklin's outfit, he felt a sudden and unbidden shiver run down his spine. Something dark and twisted slithered in his gut, making him feel tainted and violated. There was a presence, ominous and threatening, standing on the peripheral of his awareness. Reacting on pure instinct, he whipped his head up to where a man stood on stage next to the mismatched king. He had slick black hair and was dressed in a rich, indigo suit with a shark masque shielding the upper half of his face. But the square jaw, the sapphire eyes glowing with an endless desire… Alastor would recognize those anywhere.

Those blue eyes, radiating in the glow of the stage, were transfixed on Alastor. He could see the eyes moving rapidly, roving over every aspect of him and Alastor felt exposed under their scrutiny.

"Alastor!"

The harsh whisper pulled Alastor's attention away from those burning eyes to look down at Lucifer. His brows were furrowed low over his imploring eyes with a deep frown on his face. "What's wrong?"

Given how Lucifer called his name like he had said it several times already, Alastor knew he was on shaky ground. Regardless, he forced a smile on his face, though it felt tight and painful. "Nothing, my dear," he whispered back, sounding breathless. Oh, he hadn't realized his breathing had gotten so shallow. He needed to get a hold of himself before he made a scene in the middle of a crowd of people. "I'm perfectly fine."

Lucifer's expression turned stern as he slowly shook his head. "You are not fine." He jerked his chin to his arm.

Alastor glanced down to find his hand clamped painfully tight around Lucifer's arm. He immediately retracted his hand. Panic surged through his veins. What had he been doing? How long had he been doing it? He quickly glanced around but was immediately assured that everyone's attention was still diverted to the stage.

"Talk to me," Lucifer insisted.

"Hardly anything to worry about," he hurriedly said.

Lucifer glared up at Alastar and stepped in close. "Don't make me drag your lying ass outside and force it out of you."

Alastor refrained a growl. "I'm not lying," he argued. "It's hardly anything I should worry about." Which was well enough the truth. Why should he be worried? Why should he feel the pinpricks of fear stabbing at his core? "I'm being foolish."

"Foolish about what, exactly?" he pressed.

It occurred to Alastor that their little spat, despite being unobserved by the crowd around them, was the center point of the attention of the man on stage. Alastor absolutely refused to allow that man to see him shaken. And the more Lucifer was dismissed, the more he would pry. The best course of action here was to show that he and Lucifer were on a united front, strong and formidable.

Forcing his smile into a playful quirk, he moved his arm to rest around Lucifer's shoulders as he leaned down to whisper in his ear. "Vox is here."

Lucifer's response was immediate and startling. His eyes blazed with a rage and hatred that Alastor had never seen before, his flaming fury resembling the infernos of Hell itself. His arms reached up and wrapped themselves protectively around Alastor's waist as he scanned the crowd.

"Where?" he demanded, his voice low and graveled.

Alastor couldn't dismiss his own fire burning deep in the pit of his stomach at feeling those arms around him and seeing a hunter's gaze on that otherwise angelic face. Still, now was not the time to feed that desire, not when there was an imminent threat only a few yards away.

"He's on stage," he said in an even tone. "Wearing the pinstripe suit." The resounding growl emanating from Lucifer's throat sent a different type of shiver down Alastor's spine. "I need you to calm down, darling. There's nothing we can do here. There's a chance he doesn't even recognize me." Though, the likelihood of that was slim since Alastor was standing alongside Lucifer, whom he knew Vox had seen before.

"I will kill him," Lucifer promised.

"As touching as that is," Alastor said, a genuine smile lighting his face, "we're in a public place. We can't be taking any lives, regardless of how deserved it is."

Lucifer took a few steadying breaths. "Do you want to leave?"

It was Alastor's turn to growl. "And allow that letch to ruin my evening? To have power over me? Absolutely not." He brought up both his hands to cup those rosy cheeks and forced Lucifer to meet his gaze. "If you really want to needle him, to hit him where it hurts, there's nothing that upsets him more than not getting what he wants."

Lucifer's eyes flitted back and forth, but nothing seemed to be particularly settling in. Alastor's smile turned mischievous as he happily elaborated. "You wants me, my dear, but it is you whom I've surrendered myself." Lucifer's brows lifted high to his hairline, and for good reason. It was a rare occurrence indeed whenever Alastor phrased himself as someone who belonged to another.

"It was by special design that I chose myself a nun of satanic faith and you the fallen angel of Heaven. For you are my dark temptation and my awakening. It is you and only you whom I shall worship until my dying day." Lucifer's gulp was audible and Alastor purred in response. "And nothing will hurt him more than reminding him of that."

The blush on Lucifer's face practically had him glowing and Alastor couldn't resist any longer. He leaned in and kissed that beautiful man right on the lips in front of all who dared to stare from up on top of a stage.

Once they pulled away, they shared a delighted sigh. Alastor kissed him again, just a chaste kiss this time, and smiled lovingly at him. "Just let me keep doing that all night and it will be far more vicious than any sharp blade you can plunge into his chest." He ran his hand through Lucifer's hair and straightened back into a stand.

With a wicked grin, he stared back at Vox on stage, taking revelry in seeing him seethe but unable to act in front of a crowd. A weight around his hand had him glancing down to see Lucifer holding it with a devilish smirk.

"You hate public affection," he accused.

"And yet, there are certain occasions that call for it."

He lifted a brow inquisitively. "Then can I have another one of those kisses?"

"Why, certainly." And when Alastor leaned down for another kiss, he was all too aware that Lucifer had his eyes fixed on the stage.

From that moment on, Lucifer never left Alastor's side and rarely did he take his hands off of him for even a second. Alastor found his old discomforts clawing in the back of his mind for the constant contact, but they were drowned out by the thrill of his independence in the face of Vox and the comfort of being in Lucifer's presence. The feelings were complex but he was taking joy while he could.

Things took a turn for the splendid when the dance contest was set to begin and they were informed that the judge would be none other than the CEO of VoxTech. Alastor and Lucifer shared a conniving grin as they made their way out on the dance floor, hand in hand.

"Alright, folks, are we having a wonderful time tonight?" came Vox's voice projected over the speakers. As the crowd clapped and cheered, he walked out with them on the dance floor, his grin all teeth as he skimmed the crowd. "Yes! That's what we love to hear!" He was in full showman mode now as he interacted with the crowd. "Now it's time to really shake things up as you all fight for the best in the annual dance contest!"

Alastor couldn't help but roll his eyes as the crowd roared in delight. A squeeze on his arm drew his attention to Lucifer, who rolled his eyes in turn. Alastor chuckled despite himself.

"Now, I'm sure you all know the rules by now, but let's lay them all out anyway," he said as he stopped dead in the center of the dance floor. "First rule: Keep those legs moving! This contest is a hop 'til you drop, so keep jumping and jiving until you can't jitter anymore. But we've got a schedule to keep, folks, so every ten minutes, Verosika Mayday and her crew," he said, gesturing to the performer and her band on stage, "will be speeding up the tempo."

"Oh, that's interesting," said Alastor. "That should help hasten this along."

Lucifer shook his head disapprovingly. "That was bad, Al. Really bad."

"Second rule," Vox said, lifting up two fingers. "Partner participation! Guys and gals, you are meant to dance like pals. That means fluidity and synchrony. If you and your partner fumble a step or lose beat with one another, you're out. When I tap you on the arm," he exampled the act by tapping on the arm of a woman dressed as an angel, "no brawling, no bargaining, no begging. When you're tapped, you're capped. Move off the dance floor.

"Third and final rule: Entertainment is key! This lovely crowd here doesn't want to see you do the same jig on repeat. No, we want to see variety and originality! Isn't that right, folks?" As the crowd cheered, he let out a delighted chuckle. "And don't think that doesn't apply to you all standing idly by! Let me see some hand jives and you tapping that toe. Now, Verosika, let's start the show!"

The music started up at a decent pace and Alastor and Lucifer fell into a basic Nitty Gritty. With nearly a decade of partner dancing under their belt, practiced in clubs and in the privacy of their home, Alastor had no fear that they could keep up with the younger guests at the party. Though the threat of a faster tempo had him enticed.

The song had just picked up speed when Vox finally passed by them amidst the competitors. The moment he noticed Alastor and Lucifer dancing, he froze in his tracks. His televised persona slipped from his face as he openly gawked, silent fury flaring in his eyes. In immediate retaliation for his staring, Lucifer placed both hands on Alastor's waist and raised him in a lift. Most of their dances had been done with Alastor in the man's position and Lucifer in the woman's so it wasn't particularly graceful, but it easily passed the bar.

For a brief moment, he believed Vox would eliminate them then and there merely out of jealousy alone, but he seemed terrified to get too close. After some form of internal debate, he stalked off with a scowl to continue judging the other dancers.

Encountering Vox on the dance floor grew common as more and more competitors were eliminated from the contest. And each time Alastor so much as felt Vox's peering eyes, Lucifer was spinning him or lifting him up. And Alastor, despite his conventions on contact, loved every moment of it.

It eventually got to the point where only one other partnership remained on the floor and Vox couldn't take his eyes off them. Alastor could feel the tension rising within Lucifer. His buoyant smile had diminished exponentially and there were deep wrinkles forming between his brows. Perhaps exhaustion was weighing on him after nearly an hour of dancing, but the way his eyes burned whenever he looked Vox's way said otherwise.

Vox's frustration had also taken a head. His otherwise immaculate hair was now disheveled from running his hand through it so many times, there now resided a strained smile on his face that more resembled that of a sneer, and his tie had been pulled crooked at one point.

Alastor, on the other hand, couldn't stop smiling. He was elated to see Vox fallen so low, miserable and unable to do anything surrounded by the eyes of the public. If he could have one wish, it would be for this night never to end. Then he could be immortalized in the arms of the man he loved as the one he scorned watched in utter despair. The only thing that could have made it perfect was if it was Charlie performing on stage instead.

"When we win this," Alastor said as he aligned himself beside Lucifer and kicked his feet in tandem, "I want you to ravish me."

Lucifer didn't lose rhythm as he shot Alastor a curious glance. "What do you mean?"

"I want you to dip me and give me everything you've got."

Both brows shot to his hairline and he did a quick glance around the circled crowd. "Here? In front of everyone?"

"Nowhere else," he assured.

One last accelerando had Alastor nearly stumbling over his feet as he tried to hastily follow along in the woman's role. Just as he was beginning to doubt their ability to win, a dastardly dos-à-dos resulted in the final competing partners rolling across the gymnasium floor.

Vox looked downright tortured as he brought up his microphone and announced, "Oh, look at that, we have a winner," he said with apparent forced cheer. "Everyone, put your hands together for the devilish duo."

The crowd roared and Alastor had to remind himself in the last moment to curtsey rather than bow to the crowd. "Do it now," Alastor reminded Lucifer when he hesitated. His wide eyes were imploring, asking for one final permission. Alastor nodded his approval.

With a pull at their conjoined hands, Lucifer brought Alastor close, spun him out and brought him back again only to drop him into a dip. The crowd cooed in response as Lucifer leaned down and planted a kiss on his lips.

When he felt the pull to straighten him up again, Alastor resisted and brought a hand up to cup Lucifer's cheek. "I said ravish me," he growled.

Lucifer's eyes again glanced to the onlooking crowd. "But you—"

Alastor's voice fell into a dark whisper. "I am only yours," he declared. "I sacrifice myself to you, Lucifer Morning Star. Now do with me as you please."

And there, with Vox to bear witness before an audience, Lucifer took him in a passionate kiss that left them both gasping. In that moment, heated and dazed from dancing with his love's arms around him, all Alastor could think was Lucifer, Lucifer, Lucifer. He hadn't even noticed when Vox stormed away as he deepened the kiss.

His head spun when Lucifer straightened him back into a stand and he had to steady himself on Lucifer's shoulders. "That was lovely," he said breathlessly. "Thank you, my dear."

"I'm happy to provide," Lucifer said dreamily, cheeks flushed and lips swollen. "But if I don't sit down soon, then I will collapse."

"Agreed."

They only managed a few steps before Rosie was upon them with Fred and handfuls of drinks. They were shortly joined by Paimon, who personally escorted them to a seat. As a reward for their victory, Lucifer was gifted $500 to put towards his business. Lucifer was over the moon. He probably would have danced on top of the table in his delight had he not been so exhausted.

The rest of the party was lackluster since the two of them were too tired to do much more than enjoy good food and drink. All too soon, midnight was nearing, and it was time for them to leave to fetch Charlie from her own Halloween party. Despite the thrill of the evening, Alastor was happy to make his leave before he fall asleep on the table.

"Come on," Lucifer said as he tapped on Alastor's arm. "Let's go home."

"If you insist," Alastor mumbled as he pushed himself to his feet.

Alastor said his farewell to Rosie and commended the female challenger who made it to the final round. Then Lucifer said his goodbyes to Fred and Beth, then announced their departure to Paimon before making their leave.

Having lost himself in the excitement of the evening, Alastor had nearly forgotten about the storm raging outside. Since the gym doors had been closed to protect the party from the harsh winds, the only indications of the turbulent weather had been the occasional flicker of the lights. Due to the pouring rain, the quad was empty and many of the decorations had been destroyed.

When the gym doors behind them closed and they moved to embrace the storm, the last thing Alastor had expected was that vile shiver to run down his spine again. He recognized it the instant before Vox said, "Congratulations on your win tonight."

Whirling, Alastor and Lucifer found Vox leaning against the wall nearest to the door, the bottle of some overly priced drink held in one hand. His mask was gone so there was no obscuring the drunken blush on his cheeks and the deep scowl on his face. He pushed himself off the wall and approached them with an unsteady swagger.

"Why, Vox, old pal," Alastor greeted with a sneer, "how kind of you to offer your praises." He could feel Lucifer's hold tighten around his waist. "As much as I'd love to catch up and tell you how much my life has improved without you, the two of us have a daughter to collect. So, if you don't mind—"

Like a viper, Vox reached out and snatched Alastor's arm. "Enjoy your high horse for now, old pal, but don't forget—"

Before Vox could finish whatever threat was lingering on the tip of his tongue, Lucifer had shot forward and rammed his knee right into the man's crotch. With a choked gasp, he stumbled forward, but Lucifer was there to catch him.

"Whoa there, buddy," he said in mock concern, "looks like you had a little too much to drink. How about I help you sit down?" With a gentle shove, he had Vox falling back against the wall with another pained gasp. Lucifer then crouched down in front of him. "It was nice of you to host the dance competition. I'll never forget how you announced us as the best partnership of the dance. Please, feel free to think over that for the rest of your life." In a chastising gesture, he reached forward and ruffled Vox's hair like he would a child's. "And if ever you lay your hands on Alastor again," he hissed, "I will kick your balls into your throat, then tie them around your neck and choke you with them."

Then, like a flick of a switch, Lucifer pounced up onto his feet with a broad grin. "That's something I've been wanting to do for years!" He then offered his arm. "Let's go home, amou."

Alastor's heart swelled as he took in Lucifer, who seemed to radiate with a holy glow under the floodlight. While Vox, who was swashed in Lucifer's shadow, glared with a burning rage. Although, Alastor hardly found it intimidating with how Vox's eyes were pinched in pain.

Accepting Lucifer's offered arm, Alastor shot a broad grin and a cocky wink Vox's way. "Gladly!" Then he turned his back on Vox and made his leave with Lucifer.

As they crossed the quad, the storm had begun to settle with barely a trickle of rain remaining. Once they were away from prying eyes, Alastor slipped his hand from Lucifer's arm to instead wrap around his shoulders and pull him close. "Mwen renmen ou, papi."

Lucifer chuckled and it was the most beautiful sound in the world. "I love you, too."

Okay, the second most beautiful sound in the world.