Chapter Text
Amenadiel stood in the bushes. He was ready to go charging forward to take Lucifer back, but something stopped him. He couldn't believe his eyes. The Lucifer he knew wouldn't be bundling a child up in blankets, making sure he was warm enough. Lucifer was selfish and oblivious to the world. The little boy’s eyes lit up at the cake that Lucifer brought out. Amenadiel almost missed the conversation.
“It’s no good without you,” the little boy said.
“I’ll just have to be earlier next year, yeah?” Lucifer answered. The child actually cuddled into him, and Lucifer let him. If anything, he encouraged it, wrapping an arm around him. “What is your birthday wish this year, Anwar?”
The child seemed to think for a minute. Amenadiel expected some frivolous and expensive toy. His brother's son must be like him.
“I want a piano so I can learn to play like you!” the child said, nearly bursting from excitement. Amenadiel remembered Lucifer playing in the Silver City. He was the best of their siblings at that.
“Oh, you want to learn piano?” Lucifer asked, and he actually smiled. Was that pride in his face? “We’ll go shopping tomorrow for a piano, okay? Anything else? New toys?”
“No, I just want to…” The boy seemed worried, like Lucifer wouldn't appreciate what he would say.
“What, son? Don't be ashamed.” Lucifer's voice was soft when talking to the child. When had he turned into this? Lucifer was watching the boy like he was the most important thing in the universe.
“I just want to spend some time with you,” the little boy said quietly. Amenadiel took the words like a shot to the heart. It was so completely innocent, a request from a child who didn't spend enough time with his father. Amenadiel could almost hear Samael asking the same thing.
“Then that is exactly what we’ll do,” Lucifer said, an edge to his voice. Amenadiel thought they might be remembering the same thing. Perhaps he could give them more time, just this once. He was gone in a flurry of wings.
Azreal was standing behind a tree, eager to see the child that had the Silver City buzzing. Her big brother had a child, and she couldn't believe it. Of course, he looked exactly like him. He was on the ground, playing with a toy car. He had built ramps out of dirt and seemed to be playing out a scene.
She wanted to go up to him, talk to him. Surely she could get by with that? No one had forbidden it. Well, Lucifer might not be pleased. The child wouldn't know who she was, though, so everything might be okay. In her focus on what to do, she missed that the little boy got up and was standing by the tree.
“Why are you hiding?” he asked.
“I didn't think you would want to see me,” she answered honestly.
“Who are you?” At least the child finally got around to the real question.
“I’m Azrael. I…know your father,” she said.
“Do you want to come play cars with me?” he asked. It was innocent, and she couldn't refuse. That was how the Angel of Death spent an afternoon in the dirt with a little boy. He told her the whole backstory to each car, and they all had them. They spent hours pushing the toys around and laughing.
“Anwar! It's time to clean up for dinner!” a woman yelled from inside the house.
“If you know my dad, do you get to see him?” the little boy asked.
“I haven't seen him in a very long time,” she admitted.
“I only get to see him on my birthday, and that’s not for forever. But he always does something fun and has cake with me. Maybe you can come?”
“That would be nice,” Azrael said. Anwar hugged her, surprising her.
“I hope you get to see Daddy soon. I know I miss him. But he will probably have cake for you, too!” he said. “I have to go, but you should come play again!”
“We’ll see, little one,” she said, hugging him back before watching him run to the house. Yes, Lucifer's son was like him, but not in the ways some of her siblings had grumbled.