AVA, A different Radioapple fanfiction

Cheeseburger

The morning sun spilled its golden light through the tall, stained-glass windows of the Hazbin Hotel, casting colorful patterns on the marble floors. Inside, the air buzzed with a peculiar mix of tension and anticipation. Ava had been excitedly chattering about her latest adventure with "Auntie Rosie," who had come to whisk her away for a shopping trip.

"Are you sure you don't want to come?" Ava asked, her big eyes shining with eagerness. "They have the cutest clothes!"

Rosie chuckled, adjusting her parasol and giving Alastor a playful nudge. "Oh, I promise we'll have plenty of fun. You two can have some time together without our little whirlwind around."

Alastor looked at Lucifer, who stood nearby, arms crossed and expression unreadable. "What do you think, dear? Should we let them go off and wreak havoc?"

Lucifer smirked, his golden eyes glinting with mischief. "I think you mean 'create chaos' in style. But yes, it might be good for both of us."

With a final wave and a giggle, Ava and Rosie departed, leaving Alastor and Lucifer alone in the hotel. The air felt lighter without the echoes of their earlier argument, but an undercurrent of tension still lingered.

Alastor turned to Lucifer, his usual grin in place. "Well, well! What shall we do with our newfound freedom? Perhaps we could entertain ourselves with some of the hotel's... less-than-innocent activities?"

Lucifer chuckled, his demeanor shifting slightly. "As tempting as that sounds, I think we both could use a moment of clarity instead."

With that, Lucifer made his way to the lounge, motioning for Alastor to follow. The room was a cozy corner of the hotel, decorated with plush sofas and an elegant fireplace. The flames flickered, casting shadows that danced across the walls.

Alastor settled onto one of the sofas, crossing his legs and resting his chin on his hand. "You know, it's not often we have time to ourselves like this. Feels strange, doesn't it?"

Lucifer nodded, sinking into the adjacent sofa with a sigh. "It does. It's nice to have a break from the chaos, but..." He paused, the weight of their earlier argument hanging heavily in the air.

"But what?" Alastor prodded, his tone softer now, more serious.

Lucifer looked at him, vulnerability creeping into his expression. "I hate fighting with you. It scares me, Alastor. I don't want our disagreements to affect Ava."

Alastor's playful demeanor shifted, his expression softening. "I feel the same way. I never want her to feel like she has to choose between us. We're her family, and we should be working together."

Lucifer nodded, a faint smile breaking through his earlier tension. "We can do better. We need to communicate more, especially when it comes to Ava. She deserves both of us at our best."

"Agreed," Alastor replied, leaning forward, his interest piqued. "Perhaps we could establish some ground rules for our little family?"

"Ground rules?" Lucifer raised an eyebrow, intrigued.

"Why not? Something simple—like ensuring we approach parenting as a team. When one of us feels a disagreement brewing, we take a step back instead of lashing out. Maybe even have a code word for when we need to cool down?" Alastor suggested, his enthusiasm returning.

Lucifer chuckled softly, the tension in his shoulders easing. "A code word? That's certainly a unique idea, but I'm in. We could use something that reminds us not to take things too seriously."

"How about 'cheeseburger'?" Alastor offered with a grin. "Completely nonsensical, but memorable."

"Cheeseburger it is," Lucifer agreed, shaking his head with a laugh. "It'll certainly catch us off guard when we need it."

As they both relaxed into the moment, the atmosphere around them shifted. It was as if the hotel itself exhaled, the warmth of their shared laughter pushing the previous arguments into the shadows.

"Thank you for this," Lucifer said, his voice low and sincere. "I've missed moments like these."

Alastor's eyes sparkled with a hint of mischief. "Moments of serenity, you mean? Or moments of chaos, the likes of which we haven't seen since Ava came into our lives?"

Lucifer chuckled again, his golden eyes brightening. "A little bit of both, I think."

They settled into a comfortable silence, the sounds of the hotel fading into the background. Outside, the distant hum of Hell's chaotic life continued, but in their little sanctuary, the world felt perfectly still.

Ava's laughter rang in their ears as if echoing from a distant memory, reminding them of why they had committed to this life together.

Alastor leaned back in his seat, a thoughtful look crossing his face. "You know, I can't help but feel we're lucky. We have each other, and we have Ava. No matter how chaotic things get, we're a family."

Lucifer met his gaze, a warm smile spreading across his face. "You're right. I wouldn't trade this for anything."

Suddenly, the door swung open, and Ava burst into the room, followed closely by Rosie, who was holding several colorful shopping bags. "Look what we got!" she announced proudly.

Ava jumped up and down, her excitement infectious. "I got a new dress, Daddy! And look, Auntie Rosie helped me pick it out!"

Lucifer and Alastor exchanged amused glances, their earlier conversation pushed aside for the moment.

"Let's see it, darling!" Alastor encouraged, his excitement genuine.

Ava twirled around, the dress a vibrant mix of colors that sparkled as she moved. "Do you like it?"

Lucifer's expression softened as he watched his daughter, his heart swelling with pride. "You look stunning, Ava. Just like a little devil in disguise."

Rosie clapped her hands, laughing. "And she's got the perfect attitude to match!"

Ava beamed, enjoying the attention. "Thank you! Can we go show Uncle Husk and Angel?"

Lucifer glanced at Alastor, both of them sharing a knowing smile. "Of course, but let's keep the chaos to a minimum this time, shall we?"

Ava's eyes sparkled with mischief. "No promises!"

As the trio headed out of the lounge, Alastor and Lucifer shared a look, the earlier tension melted away. They had found a moment of clarity amid the chaos, and together, they would face whatever came next.

In the heart of Hell, their family was their greatest adventure, and they were ready to embrace it—together