Chapter Text
“The first step is to apologize.” Charlie brought Adam closer to the center of the circle in front of Vaggie. “Vaggie would be a great place to start!”
Vaggie frowned seeing her former commander standing before her. It was…strange seeing the man she feared for years as a demon, now stuck following her orders and her lead. She wouldn’t say no to an apology-a real one-but she doubted Adam knew what to be sorry for when it came to her. Still, she didn’t want to shake Charlie’s confidence and so she stayed quiet.
Adam’s eyes darted around the circle, not sure how to feel about everyone watching him. On the plus side, they didn’t look particularly interested. The cat one was at the bar doing stuff…The one that stabbed him was more preoccupied with chittering to a stain on the carpet…The porn star was more interested in his phone than anything in the room…
He wasn’t completely comfortable looking Vaggie in the eyes. Eye…Technically Lute did that…So She probably isn’t looking for me to apologize for that… He wasn’t the smartest man in the world, but he wasn’t the dumbest either. Still…I guess I did let it happen. “I’m…sorry for letting Lute…stab you and leave you here? And take your wings,”
Vaggie scowled, her arms crossed. “Seriously?”
Sweat collected on the back of his neck and he rubbed at it, feeling self-conscious now that he didn’t have the high collar of his robes to hide behind. He felt bare without his mask or other angelic attire. “Um…And for…making jokes about you and your girlfriend…?”
Vaggie’s eye twitched. “And for attacking the hotel and starting a war?!”
“Right. That too!”
Charlie was a little crestfallen but pushed on. “Okay~! That’s a…start, at least. That leads me into my next point of extending other apologises you owe people,”
“To you?”
“I was more thinking my dad-”
“What?!”
“And Alastor.” At Adam groaning, Charlie sighed. “I know it’s uncomfortable, but there’s been a bit of tension with you being here and I don’t know if you really have a chance to be redeemed until you start trying to fix things with the other residents,”
He slumped, dropping his head in his hands. This was gunna suck. “...Fine,” he grumbled. It was either play along or be doomed to struggle in Hell without a home.
“Great! No time like the present!” She shoved Adam out of the circle. “Let’s go!”
Adam became flustered as he got shoved. “D-do you need to be watching this?” It was humiliating enough to have to do it. He didn’t want an audience!
“Oh…Sure!” Charlie quickly bounced back. “Of course! If this is something you think you’ll do better privately, then we can work with that!” She made a shooing gesture, a giant smile on her face. “Go on! I can’t wait to hear all about it after!”
Adam grumbled. “Sure…”
Ooo
First stop was Lucifer’s room. He hesitated outside the door for several minutes, close to knocking only to grumble quietly to himself and pace in front of the door before attempting to knock again. When the door yanked open, revealing an agitated Lucifer, Adam jumped.
“Either knock or go away!” He snapped. He took in Adam’s nervous appearance and sighed, leaning against the doorway. “What is it?”
“Before you gripe at me, your kid made me come up here,”
“Oh yeah? Well, make it quick. I have contracts to go over,”
“Can I come in for this?”
Color dusted Lucifer’s face. “No.”
As out of his element as he was, Adam couldn’t help teasing. “Are you afraid I’ll see all your ducks?” He peeked past the king. “I can already see them over your short ass-”
“Just get in!” The king snapped, turning on his heel and leaving Adam to follow him in. He took a seat at his desk, arms and legs crossed as he watched Adam closely. “Alright. Out with it. What do you want?”
Adam peered around as he sat in one of the nearby chairs. It was actually…comfortable in here. He took a moment to gather his thoughts. As anxious as he was to get this done, he wasn’t sure where to start. “So I’m uh…Supposed to apologize for stuff. The whole redemption thing. And she’s making me apologize to you, too. And the radio freak,”
Lucifer rose a brow in question. “...Apologize? For attacking my daughter? I think it’s more fitting to kiss her ass for the rest of your days,”
“I think she more meant for the other stuff.” At Lucifer watching him, Adam squirmed in his seat. “About…having Lilith come to Heaven all that time. And for pushing for the Exterminations… And uh…killing lots of your people…” He grimaced. “Man, this is shit…Fuck, give me a second.” He rubbed at his face, frustrated.
“...Adam.” Lucifer relented, offering the words he should have said years ago. “I’m sorry about how things happened.” At Adam opening his mouth to speak, Lucifer rose a hand to cut him off. “I’m not sorry for choosing Lilith. Even though she and I weren’t meant to be, I don’t regret loving her. All I wanted was for her to find happiness, even if it wasn’t with me. Even with you.” Lucifer considered for a moment, his expression becoming one of concern. “...Was she your soulmate?”
“No! No, uh…I still haven’t found ‘em.” Adam nervously tapped his fingers against his knees. “So…She wasn’t yours either?”
“...No.”
“Did you find them?”
“Consider your apology accepted,” Lucifer returned. “You don’t have to accept mine but I would say we’re…square. Just mind Charlie.” He turned back to his desk, signifying he was done with the conversation.
Adam wasn’t the smartest man, but he knew how to read a room. He left without another word to the king, a little more confident now. “Okay…Now the radio fr-...radio guy,”