“Hey, wanna go out on a date with me tonight?”

 

Lucifer looked up from his coffee mug. He’d been wallowing, he knew he had been. Looked horrible too, or maybe he just felt that way because he felt like utter shit.

He squinted at Angel’s smiling face through sore eyes.

“Are you making fun of me?”

Angel raised an eyebrow, smile widening. “No, ya just look like ya need to get out. And I’ve got just the thing in mind.”

He didn’t particularly feel like going out, but then again, staying here raised his risk of running into Lilith. Right now, that would only make him cry. And he’d promised Charlie that he wouldn’t lock himself in his tower all day again.

Fuck, why did divorce have to be so hard?

 

“Can I be anonymous?”

“Whatever gets ya to come with me, sugar.”

Lucifer’s eyes narrowed. Was he truly not being messed with? He felt like he looked more like vinegar right now, if anything.

But still, if he got to disguise himself…

“...Alright. I’ll come with you.”

Angel’s grin widened. “I’ll be by your room at eight.”

 

-

 

He didn’t know what to wear.

It had been so long since he last went on a date, he didn’t know how to dress for one anymore. Especially not when it wasn’t with Lilith.

So he was floundering.

He’d pulled out so many outfits that they covered his entire bed as well as the doors to his closet. He sank to the floor in despair. Fuck, did he even know how to do anything anymore?

His head snapped to the side as he heard a knock. Shit, was it eight already?

“Come- come in?”

 

The door sliding open, he stared up at Angel with wide eyes. He looked amazing, dressed to the nines, makeup flawless. Unlike Lucifer, who knew he must look a mess. His hair needed to be brushed again and he wasn’t even wearing a shirt. He knew he looked exhausted.

Angel’s voice was filled with laughter as he spoke.

“We haven’t even left the hotel yet and I’m already overwhelmin’ ya?”

Lucifer stared down at the shirt in his hands, fingers tightening around the fabric. “A bit, yes.”

 

He could hear Angel’s heels click against the floor, drawing closer. As he looked up again, he saw Angel lean over his bed, considering the clothes. A smile spread on his face as he picked something up, holding it out. “This one. It’ll go great with those frilly pants ya got on.”

Lucifer took it in his hands, feeling the soft, silky, dusty pink fabric against his fingertips. Silently, he pulled it on. His back felt bare, a shiver running down his spine as Angel crouched down behind him to tie the straps into a bow. His knuckles were warm against his back as they brushed his skin.

“Don’t worry about it,” Angel said as he pulled him to his feet, dropping Lucifer’s hairbrush into his hand. When had he found the time to pick it up from his vanity? “Ya look cute.”

“Cute? I look pathetic.”

“Ever considered I might be into that?”

 

Lucifer’s eyes widened, staring at Angel in surprise. As a laugh bubbled out of him, he hid his mouth behind his hand. “Excuse me?”

“See, gotcha laughin’. Now come on, brush your hair and let’s get goin’.”

As Lucifer did as told, transforming himself into one of his occasional disguises at the door, it was with a slightly lighter heart.

 

-

 

As they slipped into their seats after ordering a couple of drinks at the casino bar, Angel leaned in close, a playful grin on his face.

“Y’know, ya make a pretty cute succubus. Maybe ya should get into my line’a work.”

Lucifer smiled, shaking his head. “Not really my thing, sorry.”

“What, sex?”

“I was thinking more about the amount of socialising it requires. I’m not cut out for that.”

At least not anymore.

He’d enjoyed performing, once. He’d loved being part of the circus he ran with the other Sins. But that felt like a lifetime ago. Probably was, from Angel’s perspective. He probably hadn’t even been born yet, by the time they closed up shop. There’d always been a bit of a barrier between him and the audience though. He’d been the ringleader, kept to the ring rather than getting close to the people, even when he took part in the other acts. It’d felt safer that way.

Easier to keep his secret.

 

He watched Angel stand, pushing his empty seat back toward the table.

“Hey, I’ll be back in a minute, keep an eye on my drink for me?”

“Oh, uh, okay.”

 

Confused, Lucifer watched Angel walk across the room, slipping through a door in the back. It didn’t quite look like the door to the bathroom. He played with the cherries in his drink.

As Lucifer sipped on his drink, he looked around the room. Something about the decor seemed familiar. He didn’t think he’d been here before though.

 

A couple minutes passed, and Lucifer was starting to fidget, feeling anxiety bite at his ankles. Where was Angel?

 

Then, the lights went out, making him jump.

Just a moment later, a familiar voice could be heard over a microphone.

 

His eyes widened as the stage lights came on, illuminating a figure in the center of the stage. It only took him a second to recognise him.

Angel was wearing a long, flowing wig that matched his fur, his dress a deep, rich pink that shimmered under the light in all its sequined glory. He looked breathtaking.

So that’s why his makeup looked so different tonight, Lucifer thought to himself, leaning forward in his seat.

 

As Angel sang, he moved across the stage with the ease of a seasoned performer, motions fluid. Lucifer knew without looking that not a single person in the room could take their eyes off him even for a moment.

Angel stepped off the stage, moving further into the room. Lucifer smiled as Angel ran his gloved finger underneath a dropped jaw. He felt his own face flush as Angel’s eyes met his.

For a long moment, with bated breath, Lucifer’s eyes were locked with his. Then, Angel’s smile grew, and with a silent laugh he winked, picking up his glass, pressing his lips to it, leaving behind a perfect lipstick stain (and stealing the rest of Lucifer’s drink while he was at it) as he set it back down.

Lucifer’s face felt like it was on fire.

Oh, fuck.

 

He was lucky that Angel turned, then, or he really might have caught fire, and that would have done nothing to help him stay undercover.

Angel walked back toward the stage, flicking the forehead of a sinner that reached out to touch him, making the sinner fall over. Clearly this wasn’t the first time he’d acted up, but the single touch made him crumple to the floor like his bones had turned into jelly. It almost seemed like part of a game between them.

 

Lucifer was in awe as his performance continued, teasing the audience members with glances, touches and winks. He looked like he was having so much fun. He’d never seen Angel perform before (though he had been asked if he wanted to watch some of his pornos a few times), but he was amazing at it. It was as if he was casting a sort of magic on the audience, though Lucifer knew he had no such abilities.

He picked up Angel’s drink, downing it in one swift motion to try and cool himself down. It’d been a while since he’d last felt this flustered.

His face flushed brighter as he caught Angel’s eye mid-gulp, Angel’s grin growing. His eyes darted to the side, but only for a moment. He couldn’t not continue to watch the show. Not when Angel had been so kind as to invite him personally.

Not that he’d been able to tear his eyes away for long either way.

 

He watched Angel continue, and as the song ended he sat down on the stool together with the pianist who transitioned into another song, so smooth it was seamless. This one was slower, just as seductive as the last one, Angel’s voice soft like silk to his ears.

As he sang, Lucifer fiddled with his glass, thinking of the stain Angel’s lips had left behind on it. His eyes followed Angel’s movements, hanging on every word sung. As Angel stood, back to center stage, he looked lovely.

Angel raised a hand, pushing his hair back over his shoulder. Every eye in the audience was still securely locked on him, and Angel knew it. He thrived on it.

Stepping backwards, he ran his hand down the curtains separating him from backstage. As he blew a kiss into the air, he met Lucifer’s eye head on, and Lucifer could fully understand why Angel was the biggest porn star among all the sinners. That blown kiss went more to his head than his drink had (though to be fair, human alcohol didn’t do much to him, so that wasn’t really a fair fight to begin with).

 

Then, Angel disappeared, performance over. The crowd went back to their drinks and their gambling, but Lucifer’s eyes stayed on the stage.

Angel had been right, he’d known just how to pull him out of his pity-party, at least for the time being. Now, he was just buzzing with excitement from the performance, from how good it had been.

 

“Waitin’ for an encore?”

 

As Lucifer turned his head, Angel stood in front of him once more, still dressed in his gown and wig. Reaching out, Angel grabbed him by the hand.

“Come on, I wanna show ya backstage.”

“Oh, okay.”

Lucifer let himself be pulled out of his chair, following Angel toward the door he’d left through before, trying to ignore just how warm Angel’s hand was in his all the while.

 

-

 

The light in the dressing room was dimmed, but it still managed to make Angel’s eyelids sparkle, his dress shimmering as he moved, shutting the door behind him.

Angel leaned against it, his fingers running along the handle.

“So? Did ya like my performance?”

“You were breathtaking.” Lucifer’s smile widened, speaking with earnesty. “You really were born to be a performer.”

“Compliments like that could make a girl weak in the knees,” Angel said with a laugh, cheeks dusted pink from more than the rouge. He pushed himself away from the door, the sound of his heels muffled by the rug. He sat down on top of the long table running along the entire wall, mirrors and lights lining it right above it.

As he crossed his long legs, the skirt opened, Lucifer not even noticing his eyes drifting downwards. 

He picked up a makeup brush, running it along his now bare fingertip. “Will ya undo your shapeshiftin’ for me for a bit?”

Lucifer glanced toward the door.

“Will anyone come?”

“Don’t worry, I locked it.”

“Then… I suppose I could.”

 

He felt his magic wash over him as he transformed, letting himself take his normal shape again. As Angel reached out, he let him pull him closer, sliding onto the table next to him.

“Close your eyes for me?”

Lucifer easily complied. He felt Angel lean forward, arm reaching past him. Then something cool was spread across his eyelids, spread out in a thin and even layer. As soon as it had dried, Lucifer felt the tickle of a brush as Angel swiped it across them.

“What are you doing?”

“Shh, don’t move. I don’t wanna mess your pretty little face up. Well, not yet, anyway.”

“Oh, alright.”

Lucifer stilled, letting Angel work.

It was soothing, feeling different brushes and sponges apply things to his face. It made him feel calm, in a way he hadn't felt in weeks now.

If he’d had it in him right now, he probably would have been purring. It felt nice, being pampered like this.

 

Angel’s laugh was quiet at Lucifer’s soft sigh, a stick of lipstick swiping across Lucifer’s lips. “Feels good, huh?”

Lucifer hummed, just barely remembering not to move to nod his head. He felt Angel move on to his hair, brushing through it, reshaping it. His claws lightly scratching his scalp made him feel like he’d doze off, had he been able to sleep without medicinal help.

Angel’s fingers rested underneath his chin for a moment, turning Lucifer’s head to inspect his work. Then, he felt Angel’s hands leave him.

 

After another moment, Lucifer’s eyes slid open. He turned where he sat, twisting to look at his own reflection in the mirrors behind them.

His eyes widened.

“I look…”

“Pretty?”

Lucifer nodded, carefully resting his fingers against his face as he leaned closer to the mirror. His usual tiredness was hidden by concealer, his eyelids a shimmering pink that matched Angel’s exactly, his lips a baby pink. He turned his eyes back to Angel. There was something soft in his eyes that made him feel a little fuzzy on the inside.

“...Thank you.”

It’d been a while since he last felt pretty. He’d been too depressed, felt too bad about himself. But the way Angel made him look made him feel like maybe he could dig himself out of that hole eventually. Like maybe one day he wouldn’t just look and feel exhausted all the time.

“No problem.”

 

Angel brushed his thumb beneath Lucifer’s lip, careful not to touch his lipstick.

“Remember how I said I didn’t wanna ruin your makeup yet?”

Lucifer nodded.

“I kinda wanna ruin it now.”

Eyebrows knitting together, Lucifer looked up at him with confusion.

“I’m not sure I’m following.”

“Damn, I didn’t think I was bein’ that subtle,” Angel laughed. “Then let me be more obvious.”

He rested his fingers underneath Lucifer’s chin, tipping his head up, leaning in close.

“I’m sayin’ I want to kiss ya.”

 

Lucifer felt his cheeks flush, knew that if his wings had been out they would be fluffing up from how flustered the words made him. “I, uh,” he stuttered, eyes flicking up and down between Angel’s eyes and lips.

He didn’t look like he was joking.

 

Was this appropriate? Angel was Charlie’s friend, and a guest at the hotel. But Angel had been nice to him all evening, had made him feel at ease in a way that had become foreign to him now, especially now that all of Hell knew the one weakness he’d been so desperately trying to keep. He really wanted to say yes, no matter how badly it might look when the ink on his divorce papers was barely even dry.

Eyes meeting Angel’s once more, he nodded, slowly, once.

 

Angel wasted no time, leaning down, so close Lucifer could count each individual eyelash, should he want to. As their lips met, Lucifer let that warmth he had felt from that first brush of Angel’s knuckles against his back wash over him.

Angel still tasted like his drink, a sweet, tangy taste on his tongue as it entered his mouth. His lips were so warm, his tongue hot against his. It made his head spin, Lucifer gripping the edge of the table to steady himself.

He felt Angel lean forward, dipping Lucifer backwards until his back met the smooth tabletop, pushing items to the side, neither of them caring as some fell to the floor with muffled thuds.

 

Angel’s hands were warm against his skin, hands mapping the skin on his back, the scars, the cracks he usually kept hidden, able to be felt but not seen. He briefly wondered if Angel had chosen his shirt with this purpose in mind, the exposed back making it oh-so easy for skin to meet skin. He didn’t think he minded.

He could feel Angel’s wig fall over his shoulders, draping all around them like a curtain, casting Angel’s face in shadow.

Angel pressed closer, his chest fluff spilling out of the deep cleavage of his dress, soft like silk as he buried his hand in it. He felt the ties at his back come undone, Angel sliding a hand up his chest with ease. He pressed himself into the touch, bucking his hips as he felt Angel’s waist press against him.

 

Then, between one breath and the next, he was pulled out of the moment by someone pushing the door handle down.

 

He froze, eyes now wide open, staring up at Angel, who glanced toward the door.

“Go away!”

He could hear the disgruntled voice of whatever staff member was on the other side, telling him to finish up so they could close down for the night already. He could feel his heart leaping in his chest as Angel told whoever was out there that he’d be out soon, and finally they heard the other person leave.

Angel’s eyes turned back toward him. A smile played on his lips, and no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t stop himself from staring.

Angel let out a laugh, stealing another kiss before he pulled him up with him, off the table and back to standing. As Lucifer’s eyes turned back toward the mirror, he hid his laugh behind a hand.

Angel really had managed to majorly mess his makeup up, in such a short amount of time. Not that Angel’s makeup was faring any better.

 

He watched Angel pull off his wig, placing it on the mannequin head on another table full of various wigs and headdresses, turning back toward him with a playful grin.

“Soo, wanna continue this elsewhere?”

“If you mean making out, then I suppose I’d be okay with that.”

Angel laughed as he pulled down the zipper at the side of his dress, stepping out of it and hanging it back where it belonged.

“Ya ‘suppose’?”

“Alright, alright. I’m more than okay with it.”

 

He watched Angel pick up the clothes he had arrived in, throwing them over his shoulder. “Come on, let’s get goin’, then.”

“Shouldn’t you get dressed, first?”

“Why would I need to do that when ya can just do your little teleportation thingy and get us right back to my room?”

“You know we’re only making out, right? I don’t think I’m ready for… anything else, yet.” No matter how swept up in the moment he had just been.

“What about some grindin’ and gropin’ over the clothes?”

“That’d be okay.”

Angel’s grin grew. “Fan-fuckin’-tastic.”

 

Lucifer chuckled, and with a snap of his fingers, he opened up a portal, one leading to Angel’s bedroom.

A smile played on his lips, feeling butterflies flutter in his stomach as Angel took him by the hand, dragging him toward the portal.

“Shouldn’t we unlock the door before we leave?”

“Nah, they got a spare key somewhere, don’t worry ‘bout it.”

 

As Angel pulled him into his room, Lucifer felt himself truly smile for the first time in days.

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