Chapter Text
"Surprised to be gettin' a call from you, Lily! Aren't you supposed to be meetin' with some poor, unfortunate sap right about now?"
Lilith grinned as she idly toyed with the phone cord, "I'm in between right now but I have one coming up that I could use your help with, Rosie. You're not going to believe who it is."
The line went silent for a moment as Rosie pondered that, "Alright, I'll bite! Who is it?"
"Alastor."
There was a sharp gasp, "You're shittin' me! Seriously?! Have you checked to make sure he ain't bein' mind controlled or nothin'?!"
Lilith couldn't help laughing. She'd known from what the lady Overlord told her before that Alastor was a proud and self-reliant thing, and the level of incredulity in Rosie's voice was hilarious, "I'm sure. We screen for that sort of thing, you know that."
"Yeah, yeah, still had to check. I wonder what he's wantin' so bad that he'll go to you but didn't tell me about." The woman sounded like she was pouting over that. "Doubt ol' Luci got him to talk about what he's there for, right? And I'm guessin' you wanna know the best way to talk to him?"
"Please? From everything you've said before, I'm pretty sure I know how to go about this, but why not make use of a good source of information like you?" As incentive atop the flattery, she added, "I think Lu's already got a bit of a crush."
The squawk of surprise and interest Rosie gave at that was exactly what she'd been aiming for, and when the other woman spoke again, she was clearly in matchmaker mode, "Alright, first things first, don't get in his personal space unless he's gotten in yours first. Be patient with his sass, don't try to pull the alpha card to reign it in or nothin'. Since he's in unfamiliar alpha territory, he'll be more nervous than a long tail cat in a room full of rockin' chairs and mockery is just his way of copin'."
That made her pause. Yes, omegas were generally wary in a strange alpha's space but the way Rosie was emphasizing it... "He has trauma involving alphas?" Perhaps they should have some sort of comforting sensory objects in the room during the meeting?
Rosie scoffed, "We're in Hell, honey, which of us doesn't? In all seriousness, it's not the way you're thinkin', the reason or his reactions to reminders. I ain't gonna betray his trust or nothin' so let's just say there's a reason his father was his first kill down here! But Luci's a sweetheart and a big ol' softie so I doubt you two'll have much of a problem!"
Good to know. "Well that's a list of things we shouldn't do. Anything we should do to put him more at ease?"
"Use neutralizin' magic to clear the air of as many scents as possible before you call him in. After bein' stuck in a room full of other agitated sinners all day, he'll appreciate it. If he struggles to tell you what he's there for, treat it a bit like a friendly transaction. Trade him a vulnerability for a vulnerability. He responds well to that sorta thing! He'll probably be actin' all proper like since it's his first time meetin' you and because he needs your help, but fair warnin', once he likes you and gets comfy, he can be a total brat if he thinks you're not givin' him enough attention when he wants it. "
Lilith was amused that Rosie really was treating this like she already knew Lucifer's interest in the omega was going to lead to future meetings between the three of them.
"Now just so you know, he ain't all piss and vinegar. He can be a real charmer and an absolute sweetheart once you get past the prickly exterior. Oh! Also, if he slips up and shows offense at your scent, it's nothin' personal. Apparently all you alphas smell just awful to him!"
That was definitely interesting. Lilith had never heard of an omega sinner that was so disgusted by all alpha scents. Perhaps his Judgement had something to do with it? The only other possibility she knew of was impossible in this instance since all sinners were infertile. So the idea that his instincts were rejecting everyone in the city because he could smell that mating with them wouldn't take was ridiculous.
Right?
***
Lilith's personal first impression of the infamous Radio Demon was that her husband was absolutely correct. The man was terribly pretty. No wonder Lucifer had been so focused on that. Everything about him was long lines and sharp edges. Despite being made to look like prey, he definitely moved like a predator that was completely aware of what he was capable of. His appearance was well-maintained, but it wasn't in a way that said it was for other people, just for the sake of his own pride. The Queen could admit she had something of a type when it came to omegas and at a glance, this sinner certainly checked off many of them.
This was going to be an enjoyable meeting, if just for the eye candy alone.
Lilith did not use any sort of pheromone blockers, magical or chemical, since backing her authority with a subtle reminder of her dominance kept people of most orientations from getting too tetchy in their meetings with her. She preferred to not put on more forceful displays if she didn't have to. The alpha Queen could tell the exact moment that he caught her scent despite the neutralizing magics they'd used to clear the air before he came in. The omega faltered only a few steps from the door, his ears raising on high alert as he studied her. If he was disgusted, he covered it well because only a couple seconds later he continued his approach, head held high and pace steady as though nothing had happened.
Here was where she got a hint of that intelligence Lucifer had spoken of. Apparently, he had been doing his research on the proper way of conducting himself in a first meeting with Hell's reigning Queen, which most sinners did not. At exactly twelve feet from the lowest step leading up to the throne, Alastor stopped and dismissed his microphone staff, giving a bow with his hands open to show his respect and lack of intent to cause harm. The gesture was largely symbolic given the fact there were still many ways of attacking without a physical weapon, but that he had taken the time to research and learn spoke highly of his expectations in how he presented himself. He even waited for her to greet him first, "Rise, Alastor. It is lovely to finally put a face to the voice. I have heard a great deal about your rapid rise to power to become the Radio Demon Overlord of Pentagram City."
Alastor visibly preened as he stood up again with a delighted grin, "My most respectful and heartfelt greetings, your Majesty! It is truly an honor to know that my name and title have reached even royal ears!"
Yes, this one was a very adorably prideful creature. She could easily imagine him and Lucifer getting into competitions over the silliest things. "Come closer and speak of what it is you seek from me."
He faltered again, his ears flicking with indecision. She remembered Rosie's advice and asked, "Which part is causing you difficulty right now?" Her assumption was that it was the soft command to speak on his troubles.
"M-my Queen, I-" Alastor averted his eyes as he cleared his throat. Was that a blush forming on his cheeks? "I do not believe it would be wise at this time for me to get any closer than I am now, madam."
Lilith considered him, paying close attention to several rather intriguing details, "I have heard that the scent of an alpha can be rather distasteful to you but I do not believe that is the reaction you are displaying at this time. Care to elaborate?"
A record scratch noise came from somewhere around him as his red eyes went wide. He met her gaze again, "How did you-" Realizing he was about to make something of a faux pas, he cut off the question. His fingers twitched a bit restlessly like he was trying to automatically grab for the staff he had dismissed, "You are correct, madam. I normally do find the scent of alphas to be repugnant. Until I entered the throne room, I had believed it was all alphas."
She felt a pleased rumble attempting to build up in her chest and fought it down. No need to make the pretty little omega any more skittish than he already was. Just because he did not find hers to be bad did not mean that it was something enticing either. It was a pity the faint scent she could catch from here said he was on some strong pheromone blockers, she would have loved to get more of an idea of just how strong his instincts were reacting to her, "I am glad to know there is nothing abhorrent in my scent for you. Tell me, what did you think of Magne's scent?"
Now Lilith could see what Lucifer had meant about him visibly picking apart things. It was rather clear he was easily grasping the idea that the man he met before was an alpha too, but he kept going, glancing at the empty throne beside her with narrowed eyes as he considered his answer, "His scent was rather dulled by the blockers he uses, but I did not find the King's distasteful either."
Damn, still a neutral answer. No clues there on if it was a positive thing or not. Still, she was allowing this to go too far off track. First things first, she had to learn what he was here for, "Thank you for your honesty. You may stay where you are then, Alastor. I would still like to know what it is you are searching for."
He visibly steeled himself, "I seek knowledge first, madam. And should what I seek exist, I am willing to pay greatly to have it used to ease or be rid entirely of the affliction placed upon me by one of the Judgements I bear."
Speaking around the problem without actually naming it. Still, it gave her something to start working with, "I'm uncertain if I can aid you in this. Many punishments laid upon a soul at the time of their death are things that cannot be lessened by even the strongest of magics." When he looked disheartened, she added, "But I can still listen and perhaps a way can be found to make things tolerable."
"I know how to make them tolerable," Alastor's voice dripped with disdain before he remembered where he was. "Apologies for my tone, madam. The issue is..." He clenched his hands, forcing himself to speak, "It's my heats. They continue to grow stronger as the years pass and I do not wish for desperation to lead me to make an unwise and possibly dangerous decision just to satisfy some pointless biological instinct. There are no alphas within the city that I would trust to respect my independence, even if I could somehow tolerate their smell. That leaves me with no option but to seek a way to manage them on my own and it has become clear that I cannot continue to do so as I have been. If you know of any alternative means that I can use to keep them from worsening further, I would be most grateful and willing to pay just about any cost I can think of."
Lilith blinked. She could see how that would be a serious concern, though it was rather unusual that this was a progressing issue. Most sinners cursed with heat cycles had a specific degree theirs went to right from the start that could only be mitigated by mating with an alpha. That he would be wary of the sinner alphas was no surprise. One of the requests she often got was for severing forced bonds. Still...
Why was he not attempting the obvious route that almost every other sinner would have in his position? Even his offers of payment were being made with absolutely no hint of seductive intent!
There was admittedly a part of Lilith that had become wary as he spoke of his heats, thinking that perhaps he was going to play the same old hand that others had in the past. There were many who believed that a relationship involving only two alphas could not possibly be a truly stable and happy one. Yet, Alastor never even seemed to consider suggesting that surely her aid in his problem could be one of a more intimate kind, seeing as her scent was not an offensive one and an alpha married to another alpha must be missing the presence of an omega.
Funnily enough, that was why she was beginning to seriously consider it herself. Lucifer found him attractive and she certainly had no complaints about his looks either. He had no initial intentions on her, which left her in the position of the pursuer, a role she rather enjoyed taking. They had helped omega hellborn through their heats before, ones that knew not to assume that doing so would grant them extra favor or a permanent place in the royal couple's relationship. It would just be a matter of the deer's interest in such an idea and seeing how the three of them got along.
Now seemed like a very good time to get Lucifer more involved! She reached up into her hair, "Darling, I believe there are things all three of us should discuss."
***
Alastor had suspected that 'Magne' was still in the room, his muffled scent had remained steady the entire time he and the Queen had been talking. He had not considered the idea that the white and gold snake coiled around her crown could be the King of Hell! The creature lifted its, er, his head and slithered down her arm before transforming with a puff of red smoke. Lucifer Morningstar grinned at him from atop the dais, "Hello again, gorgeous! Did you miss me?"
Between the tone, the epithet, and the way the man exaggerated batting his eyes at Alastor, the sinner was torn between his usual acidic responses and an odd feeling of shyness. The fact that the King of Hell was openly flirting with him, calling him gorgeous when his legendary beauty of a wife was sitting right there was honestly a little difficult to process. That Lilith herself was looking at him a bit like he imagined a hungry cat eyeing an injured canary would was not helping matters either.
Was the air getting warmer in here?
Clearing his throat, he kept his tone formal but refused to let the teasing pass completely unanswered, "I'm afraid our initial meeting was too short to gain any fondness worth missing, your Majesty."
Neither royal took offense to his words. In fact, they both seemed rather amused and pleased, though Lucifer's tone was distinctly whiny when he looked back at Lilith, "See? Mean!"
"Yes, love, but you did poke at him first," She pointed out with warm amusement. She then got to her feet, moving to stand next to her husband at the top of the four steps leading down, "Lucifer and I have aided omegas in the past with their heats so long as it was understood that there would likely be nothing more to it than that and that discretion was to be expected."
Alastor felt like what he imagined being struck by lightning might. Surely she couldn't be suggesting what he thought she was?! Lucifer himself looked mildly surprised as well, first at her words and then further at his reaction, "You had no intention at all of aiming for that angle, did you?" His tone was a bit disbelieving and amazed.
Lilith answered for him, "No, I could tell that already. Even setting aside the scent issue, this pretty thing is far too proud to even consider submitting like that for an alpha he doesn't respect, isn't that right, Alastor?"
Okay, this was going terribly off the many scripts he had considered even remotely possible for this meeting!
"Oooo," Lucifer grinned wolfishly, eyes flashing bright red for a brief moment. When they did, it became apparent that his muted scent was caused by magic rather than medication because it immediately lost all subtlety. "Those kinds are the best, because it means so much more when they do submit."
Surrounded by two powerful alpha scents that somehow did the exact opposite of offend his senses for once, Alastor was forced to break protocol and summon his staff back because his legs felt like they would no longer hold his weight. He also bit his tongue because something that felt disturbingly like an imploring whine was trying to crawl out of his throat.
The King seemed intrigued by his reactions while the Queen looked smug, like she knew what was going on and that he had just proved her right. She put a hand on her husband's shoulder when it looked like he was going to come closer, "Wait, dear. There is no need to rush." Lilith gave Alastor a sly look, "We did make sure our schedule was clear after this so we could take our time with this one, after all."
There was an innuendo in there, he was sure of it. Thankfully for his rapidly dwindling thought processes, Lucifer gave her a ridiculous looking pout and whined as she let go of him, "Fiiiine! I guess I can be patient!"
His mind eagerly latched onto the familiar comfort of mocking someone at any given opportunity, "Good to know our rarely-seen King is of a maturity level to match his stature!"
"Hey!" There went that red flash again, this time with a sharp, challenging grin along with the fresh wave of alpha pheromones that made Alastor's instincts fight with his brain. "Fine! You want to see big bad alpha?! You got it!"
***
"Lucifer, wait!" Lilith tried to reach out again to stop her mate but he moved too quickly, didn't hear her worried tone in time. She knew what he was about to do was all in good fun but their guest probably wouldn't!
One second, Lucifer was his usual petite size, the next he towered over Alastor, horns and hellfire out on display with his tail lashing behind him. Before either alpha could get another word out, the sinner reacted in a big way. Rather than displaying the usual fawning gestures of a previously traumatized omega, Lilith watched in amazement as the deer shifted to a form even larger than the one her husband had taken! Red eyes shifted to black with glowing red radio dials as dark tentacles writhed around him. He twisted his head upside down with a sickening snap, a manic grin on his face, "W̷̡̥̼̱͈h̴͋̋a̠̫͆ͯ́ţ͔͕̣̀̇́ w̸̴͔̰̗̯͜e̢͇r̘̹̃͗e̥ yo͍͈̜̔u̞̭̿̂͗͝ sȧ̸̪͍̑ͅȳͨ̈́i̵̼̬͔̜̺͐n̶̳̲g͖͖ͤ̔?͈͌̔"
...so that's what Rosie meant by him not reacting the way she'd thought he would. Lilith was about to step forward and defuse the situation when a dark shape rose up in front of her. It had the silhouette of Alastor at his natural size and held itself with claw-like fingers at the ready, watching Lucifer like he was something truly dangerous. Her mind quickly put together exactly what was going on and she had to bite her own lip to fight back the pleased growl she wanted to release.
The omega wasn't readying to attack Lucifer out of pride or simple self-defense. He was putting on a protective threat display, keeping the aggressor's attention by making himself larger, the tentacles adding to the effect along with the unsettling behavior. It was a little insulting that he thought she needed protecting, but then again, he didn't know her and Lucifer well. From what Rosie had implied about his father, she was willing to bet the alpha male he had grown up with was unkind to his other parent, so his mind would likely be primed to assume the more temperamental male might lash out at her too.
And by all that was unholy, the display was making every part of her alpha instincts demand she claim him as swiftly as possible.
Omegas with such a high protection drive were absolutely coveted in the other Rings, courted with elaborate gifts and grand displays. Such mates would be capable of defending the hearth and any offspring on their own, leaving the alpha free to expand and maintain the territory and resources they had claimed. They were old instincts, ones that sang heavily in her blood as a First Woman. It didn't matter that there would likely be no offspring in such a mating unless her own body finally allowed one to take with Lucifer, she couldn't deny that this pretty omega was getting more attractive by the minute! Once Lilith knew her voice would remain steady and calm, she spoke to get her alpha mate's attention, "Lucifer, back down and look behind you."
"Liiiittle busy trying to not get turned on right now by the creeptastic omega, dear!"
There was that record scratch sound again, Alastor thrown off by the unexpected response likely. Lucifer always did have rather exotic tastes, it was no surprise something of a more eldritch display like this would be attractive. "And it will be even more difficult if you look back here, love," She coaxed, knowing his curiosity would get the better of him.
Sure enough, Lucifer dropped the stare down and looked. The shadow copy had a more confused expression than before but it still remained ready to defend her. Lilith could tell the second he put it all together because he groaned out, "Oh fuck me, that's... that's hot." He looked back at Alastor with wide eyes, shrinking back down to his more innocuous-looking appearance, "How the fuck are you even real, and why the fuck has no one courted you yet?!"
The expression of bewilderment on the sinner's face was adorably hilarious as he also returned to his more normal size, his doppelganger fading out of sight, "I would not have allowed any alpha in the city to do so even if their scent was not a problem! I do have something called standards, sire!"
Lucifer returned to her side, wrapping his arms around her waist and looking up at her with pleading eyes, "Can we keep this one?! Pleeeeaaase!"
Ever the voice of reason, she gave him an indulgent smile, "Let's see if he will agree to dinner first, and then we'll go from there, darling."
Eyes lighting up in delight, he bounded back over towards the deer, "What do you say? A little dining, a little wine-ing, we'll even hold off on the whole sixty-nine-ing part until you're a little less buttoned-up around us!"
Alastor gave her a look like he was trying to figure out if they were trying to prank him or something. Perhaps it would take a while to get him to let down that prickly exterior Rosie had mentioned, but Lilith was certainly interested in finding out who he was underneath of that.
Lucifer furrowed his brow, sniffing the air before studying the sinner with a far more serious look, "Why do you smell like you're in pre-heat right now? You didn't earlier."
His shock was so apparent, it looked like someone could have knocked him over with a feather, "...I shouldn't be?! My next isn't supposed to happen for another two months!"
Well, that answered the question she'd had earlier, "Lucifer, neutralize the air in here and block out your pheromones again." Both men looked at her in confusion, "I think finally finding potential mates that met his subconscious criteria is sending him into a false heat to try to ensure we accept him." Thank goodness she remembered Belphegor talking about that phenomenon a few times or else this could have gotten very ugly. "I suggest we postpone the dinner for a few days to let Alastor level back out so we can properly talk things out without any hormonal influences. Agreed?"
The deer looked so torn between gratitude and disappointment at her suggestion that it was a fight not to go over and give him reassurances. Still, if they were going to seriously make an attempt at courting the omega, they were going to do it right and that meant ensuring he knew he could trust them with his safety and well-being, even while under the influence of heat hormones. "Would you allow Lucifer to escort you to somewhere you will feel safe? He can be very discreet, even if he doesn't act like it." Her own shifting abilities were far more limited than her mate's or she would have included herself in that offer.
Lucifer took his cue from her teasing tone and dramatically complained as he cleared the air in the room like she'd asked, "Oh, come on, Lils! Not you too! Am I going to have to put up with both of you poking fun at me now?!"
Alastor perked up and happily joined in the teasing, "Perhaps if you looked less like you belong in a circus, sire, you might be given a bit more respect!" He responded to her question as her husband squawked in mock offense, "And no, but thank you, madam. I can safely travel in a way no one will see me and I have a well protected space to use."
Lilith's instincts demanded she insist but she refrained, knowing it likely would not sit well with his pride if she treated him like a defenseless omega. She could see Lucifer was struggling as well and having a harder time controlling it than her, "We will be sure the guards know to allow you in. A week's time should be more than long enough if my memory of what I've heard is correct. Will that work for you?"
Alastor nodded, giving her a respectful nod, "I will find some way to send along a message should I find myself still indisposed at that time."
"Good. You are free to go," The speed at which he melted down and all but fled was a little saddening but this was why she had pushed for him to go. His hormones were what had made him want to please them by staying and allowing that to go any further would have only caused distrust later. Once he was gone, she and Lucifer looked at each other for a long moment before breaking into almost hysterical giggles from the sheer insanity of that encounter.
"Talk about a doozy of a first meeting! The Radio Demon certainly leaves an impression, huh?"
Lilith couldn't help agreeing, wrapping her arms around him and holding him close, taking comfort in being able to feel like she was sheltering at least one person, even if it wasn't the one her alpha nature felt needed it, "Yes. We have a lot to do before he returns. I'll get in touch with my contacts, see what I can figure out of his preferences."
Lucifer looked up at her with a wicked grin, "You just tell me what you find out and I'll make sure we have the best here! We'll spoil him so rotten, he won't ever want to leave!"
Perhaps not on the first date, but that would certainly be their goal if things went as well as they hoped.