Pardon The Way That I Stare

Breakfast Banter

The smell of breakfast wafted through the air as Lucifer and Alastor made their way to the dining area, the sounds of cheerful chatter and clinking cutlery greeting them as they entered. The other staff members were already gathered around a long table, plates piled high with an array of delicious breakfast options.

Lucifer and Alastor took their seats next to each other, the atmosphere buzzing with laughter and playful conversation. Charlie beamed at them from the head of the table, her enthusiasm infectious.

"Good morning, you two! How did you sleep?" she asked, her eyes sparkling with curiosity.

"Like a baby," Lucifer replied, offering a smirk that belied the warmth lingering from the previous night.

Alastor, leaning back with an air of nonchalance, added, "Quite comfortably, I'd say. The bed was rather spacious."

Angel Dust, who had been perched on the edge of the table, immediately perked up at their exchange. With a cheeky grin, he leaned in closer. "Oh, sharing a bed, were you? How was it, huh? Did you get up to anything scandalous?" His eyes danced with mischief, clearly loving the opportunity to stir the pot.

Lucifer felt his cheeks heat up at Angel's teasing. "It was just sleep, Angel. Nothing more."

"Is that so?" Angel drawled, clearly not convinced. "Because the way you two are sitting together makes me think otherwise. You're practically glued at the hip!"

Alastor, ever the master of deflection, shot back, "And what about you, Angel? How was your night with Husk?"

Husk, who had been sipping his coffee, nearly choked as Alastor's words registered. He spluttered, his cheeks flushing a bright shade of red. "What?! We didn't— I mean, we just—" He fumbled for his words, eyes wide as he glanced at Angel, who was practically vibrating with laughter.

Angel leaned over, winking at Lucifer before turning his attention back to Husk. "Come on, Husk! We all saw how cozy you two were last night. Just admit it—love is in the air!"

"Shut up!" Husk retorted, trying to regain his composure while wiping coffee from his chin. "We didn't do anything! Especially not each other!" He shot a glare at Angel, though the warmth in his cheeks only deepened.

Niffty, ever the enthusiastic observer, chimed in, "Aw, come on, Husk! It's okay if you did! Love is beautiful!"

Alastor chuckled softly, enjoying the lighthearted banter. "It seems we've uncovered quite the scandal here, haven't we?" he mused, glancing between Angel and Husk.

"Seriously, we just—" Husk started, his frustration rising. "I'm not even going to dignify that with a response."

"Sure you're not," Angel quipped, clearly reveling in Husk's embarrassment. "Just wait until I tell everyone about your secret heart-shaped box of chocolates!"

Lucifer watched the playful exchange unfold, a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. The camaraderie between the staff was infectious, and he couldn't help but feel a sense of belonging, especially sitting next to Alastor.

"Come on, Husk, just admit it," Lucifer finally said, joining in on the teasing. "We all know you have a soft spot for Angel. It's kind of cute."

Husk groaned, burying his face in his hands. "This isn't happening," he muttered, but there was a hint of a smile beneath his fingers.

Alastor leaned in closer to Lucifer, whispering just loud enough for him to hear. "Looks like we're not the only ones with a blossoming romance," he said, his eyes sparkling with amusement.

"Yeah, but they're not exactly subtle about it," Lucifer replied, unable to suppress a laugh as he watched Husk and Angel bicker back and forth.

As breakfast continued, laughter filled the room, and the tension that had lingered between Lucifer and Alastor began to dissipate, replaced by a sense of camaraderie and lightheartedness. Each playful jab and teasing comment only served to deepen their connection, leaving them both more eager to explore whatever might come next in their unexpected journey together.