APPLE OF MY EYE - hazbin hotel / Lucifer X lilith / Charlie + Arabelle (oc)

lilith knows.

As the afternoon sun poured through the tall windows the laughter of Charlie and Arabelle filled the air, a sweet sound that masked the undertones of tension lingering between Lucifer and Lilith.

After a while, Lilith watched from a distance, leaning against the doorframe as she observed the lighthearted chaos her daughters had created. Charlie was perched on the floor, draped over KeeKee while Arabelle rummaged through a nearby cabinet, looking for supplies to create a makeshift crown for their feline friend.

But even amidst the joyful noise, Lilith couldn’t shake the worry gnawing at her. She’d noticed Lucifer’s withdrawn demeanor yesterday, the forced smiles that didn’t quite reach his eyes. But it was more than that. There had been a glimpse of something else—something....gold..???—on his forearms, half-hidden beneath the sleeves of his suit. It was the first time she’d seen those scars,they were obviously new. and the sight of them twisted her heart.

After a moment, Lilith excused herself from the scene and stepped quietly toward Lucifer, who had retreated to a shadowed corner of the library, watching the girls with a smile that felt too fragile. He was depressed before but has always been her partner in strength and resolve, but lately, it just got worse,he seemed like a ghost haunting his own life.

“Lucifer.” she began softly, her voice low enough not to disturb the girls. He turned, and for a moment, the shadows in his eyes deepened.

“Lilith!” he greeted, his tone casual but his eyes betraying the turmoil within. “Everything alright?”

“No,” she replied firmly but gently, taking a step closer.  "we need to talk"

Lucifer hesitated, his gaze flickering back to the giggling children before he nodded. He moved away from the warmth of the sunlight and into the more secluded part of the library, where the shadows wrapped around them like a shroud.

“W-w-what's on your mind—?” he asked, attempting to keep his tone light, but it was clear that it was a mere facade.

Lilith crossed her arms, her expression serious. “I saw the scars, Lucifer. They’re fresh. You didn’t think I’d notice?” Her voice was a mix of concern and disappointment,she bent over as if she were confronting a wayward child rather than the King of Hell.

He looked down, running a hand through his slicked-back hair, the weariness evident on his face. “I can’t keep pretending everything is fine, Lilith,” he admitted quietly, a hint of frustration creeping into his voice. “Not with everything that’s happened. I just…” He trailed off, a heavy silence hanging between them.

Lilith stepped closer, her heart aching at the sight of him so lost. “You don’t have to bear it alone. You never did. I’m here, Lucifer. I’m always here.”

“I don’t want you to worry about me,” he replied, his voice low. “You have enough to handle with the girls, with everything. I don’t want to drag you down.”

“But you’re not dragging me down!!!!!” she insisted, reaching out to place her hand on his arm, careful to avoid the scars that marred his skin. “I’m your partner. We face everything together, remember? You need to let me in, let me help.”

Lucifer sighed, his shoulders slumping as he leaned against the wall, the weight of the world pressing heavily on him. “I just feel so… lost sometimes. Like I don’t know how to be a father, how to be the King they need. I don’t want them to see me like this, Lilith.”

She stepped closer, her eyes locking onto his. “They don’t need a perfect father. They need you—your love, your presence. But they also need to see that it’s okay to struggle, to ask for help. You don’t have to wear a mask for them.”

For a moment, silence enveloped them, the only sound being the distant giggles of Charlie and Arabelle. Lucifer's gaze dropped, conflicted emotions swirling within him. “I don’t want to scare them.”

“You’re not scary, Lucifer,” Lilith assured him, her voice warm. “You’re strong, but everyone has their breaking points. It’s okay to not be okay sometimes. Let them see you as you are, scars and all. It’s a part of you, and it doesn’t make you less of a father or a king.”

He looked at her then, a flicker of hope igniting within him, battling against the shadows that clung so tightly. “You really think they’d accept me like this?”

“Of course,” she replied, her eyes softening. “They love you for who you are, not who you pretend to be. You taught them that.”

Lucifer felt the knot in his chest begin to loosen, and he allowed himself a small, genuine smile. “You always know what to say, don’t you?”

“I try,” Lilith said with a light laugh, her tone a mixture of teasing and affection. “But you have to promise me, no more hiding. Not from me, not from them. We’re in this together, remember?”

He nodded, determination igniting within him. “Okay. I promise.”

“Good.” Lilith leaned in closer, her voice barely a whisper. “And if you need to talk, really talk, just know I’m here. Always.”

“Always,” he echoed, the warmth of her presence wrapping around him like a comforting embrace. They stood together, letting the moment linger as the sounds of laughter drew them back to their daughters, a reminder of the joy that still thrived around them.