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

stolas and Octavia

Lucifer paced back and forth in the grand foyer of the palace, waiting for Stolas and his daughter, Octavia. Though playdates weren’t exactly his style, he’d agreed to the meeting as a gesture of courtesy. After all, Arabelle and Charlie had taken a liking to Octavia the few times they'd met, and he saw value in building connections—even if only for appearances.

The doors swung open, and Stolas entered with Octavia by his side, her small, shy frame almost hidden behind his long, dark cape. Stolas, as usual, looked both regal and oddly out of place, his tall figure easily towering even over Lucifer, with his elegant, dark attire and that signature feathery top hat that added to his unique presence.

"Lucifer," Stolas greeted with a slight bow, his voice both soft and warm. "Thank you for inviting us."

“Stolas.” Lucifer nodded, glancing down to catch Octavia's gaze, though she quickly looked away, half-hiding behind her father. She was visibly shy, clinging to the side of Stolas’ tunic, her wide pink eyes glancing around the large room with nervous curiosity.

"Octavia," Lucifer said, a bit softer than usual, trying to make her feel welcome. "Arabelle and Charlie are excited to see you again." He gestured toward a room just down the hall, where laughter could already be heard—likely the two girls playing with Kee Kee or getting into some other kind of mischief.

Stolas gave his daughter a gentle nudge, his own expression kind but encouraging. "Why don’t you go say hello, darling? I’ll be right here."

Octavia gave a tiny nod and, taking a deep breath, started down the hall toward the sound of the other girls’ laughter. Lucifer watched her go, noting her shy, cautious steps and the way she constantly glanced over her shoulder to check that Stolas was still there.

As soon as Octavia disappeared down the hall, Lucifer turned back to Stolas. “She’s… very attached to you, isn’t she?” he remarked, his tone casual but holding a trace of curiosity.

Stolas sighed, nodding. “She is. Octavia has always been… a sensitive soul. She worries about being alone, about me leaving her.” There was a faint sadness in his eyes, one that Lucifer picked up on immediately.

Lucifer crossed his arms, studying Stolas thoughtfully. “Children are more perceptive than we give them credit for. They sense things, even if we don’t say them out loud.” His gaze softened, as though reflecting on his own children and their lives under his roof.

“Yes,” Stolas replied, his voice barely more than a whisper. “It’s… difficult to balance everything. But Octavia… she’s everything to me. I just want her to feel safe.”

Lucifer gave a slow nod. Though he kept his own struggles private, he knew enough about trying to shield his children from the weight of his world. “Well, you’re doing well with her. She’s a sweet girl—polite, respectful.”

They stood in silence for a moment, both fathers caught in their own thoughts, until the distant sound of the girls’ giggles broke the quiet. Lucifer allowed a small smile, and Stolas looked up with a warmth in his eyes, clearly comforted by the thought of Octavia enjoying herself.

“Let’s give them a bit of time,” Lucifer said, gesturing toward the sitting room nearby. “I think we both could use a drink.”

A minutes later

“Hi! I’m Arabelle!” Arabelle greeted, her voice bright and inviting. “And this is my sister, Charlie!”

Charlie bounced on her toes, her bright eyes shining with excitement. “Hi, Octavia! Wanna play with us?”

For a moment, Octavia hesitated, glancing back at Stolas, who gave her an encouraging nod. “It’s okay, sweetheart. They’ll take care of you.”

With a deep breath, Octavia stepped forward, her shyness gradually melting away as the girls began to show her their toys. They giggled and squealed, pulling her into their games, and for a while, everything seemed perfect.

As the three girls played on the floor, Kee Kee slinked around, watching the chaos with a curious gleam in her one eye. When Octavia reached for a toy that Kee Kee had claimed as her own, the little cat, feeling possessive, reacted instinctively. In a flash, she swatted at Octavia with her tiny paw, catching her with a sharp scratch.

Octavia let out a startled yelp, her eyes widening in shock. She looked down at the small scratch forming on her arm, tears welling in her eyes.

Before anyone could react, Octavia burst into tears, her small frame shaking as she ran away from the commotion. Stolas, who had been chatting with Lucifer in another room, noticed his daughter’s distress and quickly turned toward the sound.

“Octavia!” he called, but she didn’t stop. She dashed through the halls, desperately searching for him.

With her heart racing, she made her way to the lounge where Lucifer sat, finding him alone. She burst through the door, eyes brimming with tears.

Lucifer jumped a little before he looked down at the distressed girl, instinctively reaching out to comfort her. “Hey, hey, it’s okay.” he said gently, kneeling down to her level. “What happened?”

Kee Kee, realizing the chaos she had caused, padded over and rubbed against Octavia's leg, purring softly. But it did little to soothe her. “I got scratched by the cat!” Octavia sobbed, the fear of being alone manifesting in her tears.

“Come here,” Lucifer said softly, opening his arms. Octavia rushed into his embrace, and he held her close, trying to project calmness despite the turmoil he felt inside. “You’re safe here. Stolas is probably just looking for you.”

A moment later, Stolas appeared in the doorway, concern etched across his face. “Octavia!” he exclaimed, rushing over to his daughter. “What’s wrong?”

“I got scratched, and I couldn’t find you!” Octavia cried, her voice muffled against Lucifer’s shoulder.

Stolas’s expression softened, and he crouched down beside them, concern filling his eyes. “I’m here now. I’m so sorry I didn’t notice you were upset,” he said gently, reaching out to wipe her tears.

Octavia nodded, her sobs quieting as she clung to Stolas. “I didn’t mean to scare you,” he said, looking between his daughter and Lucifer, who still held her protectively.

Lucifer offered a small smile, feeling a flicker of warmth in the moment. “Looks like you’ve got a lot of people who care about you, Octavia,” he said softly.

Stolas wrapped an arm around his daughter and glanced up at Lucifer, grateful for his support. “Thank you for being here,” he said quietly.

Octavia finally pulled away slightly, her big eyes looking between them. “Can we play again?” she asked, a hint of her usual excitement returning.

“Of course!” Arabelle chimed in, bouncing over with Charlie. “We have so many fun toys! And Kee Kee can join too, but we have to be careful!”