Breaking Rules ( Radioapple )

Building Bridges - Part 12

Sometimes, I find writing fanfics frustrating because I have tons of ideas for angst, but when it comes to fluff ideas, I draw a blank. Hence, why this chapter is short.

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Alastor stirred on the couch, his throat scratchy and head heavy with the remnants of illness. Sunlight filtered through the curtains, casting a warm glow over Lucifer's living room. He groaned softly, shifting uncomfortably as he became more aware of his surroundings.

Lucifer, already bustling about in the kitchen, noticed Alastor's awakening and approached with a smirk playing on his lips. "Rise and shine, Sleeping Beauty," he quipped, setting aside a steaming mug of tea. "How's the invincible Alastor feeling today?"

Alastor managed a weak smile, though it faltered as a cough racked his frame. "I'm fine," he insisted, his voice rough and strained.

Lucifer arched an eyebrow, leaning against the kitchen counter. "Sure you are," he retorted, his tone laced with gentle sarcasm. "Because normally, when someone's fine, they look like they've been run over by a herd of angry geese."

Alastor chuckled weakly, the sound mingling with a hoarse cough. He couldn't help but appreciate Lucifer's attempt at levity, even in moments like these. "I can take care of myself," he insisted, though the statement lacked its usual conviction.

Lucifer's smirk softened into a more earnest expression. "I know you can," he replied sincerely, his hand resting on Alastor's shoulder. "But let's face it, even the great Alastor needs a bit of help sometimes."

Alastor sighed, feeling the weight of his illness settle over him once more. He accepted the tea gratefully, the warmth soothing his throat. "Thanks," he murmured, taking a slow sip.

--

The doorbell rang, echoing through the quiet house. Lucifer, still feeling the warmth of the cozy moment they had shared, got up to answer it. When he opened the door, he was greeted by the sight of Sera, the principal of Charlie's school, standing there with her daughter Vaggie.

"Lucifer, I really appreciate this," Sera said, her voice a bit rushed. "I have a full day of meetings, and I couldn't find anyone else on such short notice."

Lucifer blinked, a wave of realization hitting him. He had completely forgotten that he had offered to take care of Vaggie for the day. Trying to keep his composure, he gave Sera a nod. "Of course, no problem at all. Come on in."

Sera smiled gratefully, giving Vaggie's hand a reassuring squeeze before gently nudging her forward. "Be good for Mr. Morningstar, okay? I'll be back as soon as I can."

Once Sera had left, Vaggie greeted Lucifer with a polite smile. "Good morning, Mr. Morningstar."

Lucifer chuckled, feeling a pang of guilt. He knew that Sera was quite strict and had likely given Vaggie a lengthy lecture on being respectful. "You can call me Lucifer, or just Charlie's dad if you prefer."

Vaggie nodded shyly, and Lucifer turned to Alastor with an apologetic look. "Sorry, Al. I completely forgot that Vaggie would be coming today."

Alastor, still feeling a bit under the weather, managed a small smile. "Is she Sera's daughter?"

"Yeah," Lucifer replied. "She's Charlie's friend too."

Lucifer then went to settle the girls in, leaving Alastor for just a few moments. He guided Vaggie to Charlie's room, where Charlie was playing with her toys.

"Charlie, Vaggie's here to spend the day with us," Lucifer announced.

Charlie looked up with a big smile. "Hi, Vaggie! Come play with me!"

Vaggie smiled back, relaxing a bit. "Hi, Charlie!"

Lucifer watched the two girls start to play together, feeling a sense of relief. He then returned to the kitchen to check on Alastor, who was resting on the couch.

--

Charlie and Vaggie sat on the living room floor, surrounded by a sea of toys. Charlie, ever the outgoing one, was eagerly explaining the rules of a game she had just invented.

"And then, if you land on this space, you get to pick a card and do whatever it says!" Charlie said, pointing to a makeshift game board made out of colorful construction paper.

Vaggie, who was naturally more reserved, watched Charlie with wide eyes. She admired her friend's confidence and enthusiasm but felt a bit overwhelmed by it all. However, Charlie's friendly demeanor and bright smile made her feel more at ease.

"Do you want to try, Vaggie?" Charlie asked, holding out a handful of homemade cards.

Vaggie hesitated for a moment before nodding. "Okay."

Charlie clapped her hands together, excited. "Great! You'll love it, I promise!"

They started playing, with Charlie guiding Vaggie through the steps. Vaggie quickly realized that Charlie's game was less about winning and more about having fun and being silly, which helped her relax even more.

At one point, Vaggie landed on a space that required her to draw a funny picture. She picked up a crayon and hesitated, unsure of what to draw.

Charlie noticed and leaned over to whisper, "Just draw something that makes you laugh."

Vaggie smiled and started drawing a goofy-looking cat with an oversized hat. When she showed it to Charlie, her friend burst into giggles.

"That's the best cat ever!" Charlie declared, her laughter infectious.

Vaggie couldn't help but laugh too. The sound was soft at first but grew louder as she saw how much Charlie enjoyed her drawing. For the first time in a long while, she felt completely at ease and happy.

After a while, they took a break from the game and decided to build a fort out of blankets and cushions. Charlie's energy and creativity were endless, and Vaggie found herself getting caught up in the fun.

"Let's make it the biggest fort ever!" Charlie exclaimed, draping a large blanket over the back of the couch.

Vaggie nodded, her shyness slowly melting away. "Yeah, let's do it!"

They worked together, giggling and chatting as they constructed their masterpiece. By the time they were done, they had created a cozy little hideaway that they both crawled into.

"This is awesome," Vaggie said, looking around their fort with wide eyes.

Charlie grinned, proud of their creation. "Yep! And now we have our own secret place."

They spent the next hour inside the fort, telling each other stories and sharing secrets. Vaggie felt a warmth in her heart as she realized she had found a true friend in Charlie.

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HAVE A GOOD DAY / NIGHT !!!