Pardon The Way That I Stare

Break Up

Lucifer approached Vox, who looked visibly distraught, leaning against the wall with a pained expression. "Hey," Lucifer said gently, grabbing a cup of coffee from the nearby station. "You okay? You look like you've seen a ghost."

Vox looked up, his flat-screen face flickering with static. "I'm not great, to be honest. I really need to talk to Alastor. It's important."

Lucifer handed him the coffee, observing the way Vox's hands trembled slightly as he took it. "What's going on? You look... well, not good."

Vox took a sip, clearly grateful for the warmth. "I just broke up with Valentino." His voice was heavy with emotion.

Lucifer's brows furrowed. "Valentino? Your long-time boyfriend? But... why?"

Before Vox could respond, Angel came down the stairs, his ears perked at the mention of Valentino. "Hey, what's going on?" he asked, spotting Vox. "Why'd you break up with him?"

"Because he's toxic," Vox replied, his voice trembling slightly. "I see how he treats everyone in his industry—especially you, Angel."

Angel's expression darkened, his playful demeanor fading. "Yeah, well, it's not exactly a secret how he is," he said, crossing his arms.

Vox continued, his voice stronger now. "He beats you and forces you to work those god-awful hours. I don't want to be associated with him anymore. I can't even begin to describe how he treats me. It's not okay, and I'm done."

Lucifer frowned, feeling a wave of empathy for both Vox and Angel. "I'm really sorry, Vox. But what are you going to do now?"

"I'm thinking about moving out of our apartment," Vox said, his eyes flickering with uncertainty. "But I don't know what to do. I thought Alastor might help. He always gave the best advice."

At the mention of Alastor, Angel's expression shifted. "You think he'll help you with this? With Valentino?"

Vox nodded, his resolve firming. "I think he might. He knows what it's like to deal with difficult situations, and he always seems to have the right words to say. I just... I need to talk to him."

"Okay, let's go find him," Lucifer said, setting his coffee down. "We can figure this out together."

As they made their way toward the stairs, the weight of the conversation lingered in the air. Lucifer couldn't shake the feeling of concern for both Vox and Angel, knowing how deeply Valentino's actions had affected them. The hope of finding a resolution lay with Alastor, and Lucifer was determined to help his friends find the support they needed.