Omniscience in Marvel

158

…

Lux Bar.

Los Angeles, California.

23:52. December 24, 1991

Lucifer was ecstatic.

There was no greater amusement than watching the very humans who claimed they were celebrating the birth of their Lord wallow in the pit of debauchery in the name of 'it's the festive season'.

Lucifer had been around since the Dawn of humanity and understood very much what the Humans sought in their state of extreme desire.

An Escape from the Harsh reality that is…Living.

Similar to he and his siblings, humans were spiritual beings but unlike he and his siblings, they were shackled within their physical form.

And with the gradual passage of time, knowledge of the arcane had been destroyed or hidden away by more powerful beings to limit their growth.

Even his father had a hand or two in this.

He saw no need for those since his unique skill helped him draw out the most hidden desire of any being weaker than himself.

Lucifer's can lower the inhibitions of everyone around him, inducing them to reveal their darkest secrets and desires, by simply asking, such as making a police officer reveal how he breaks the law or getting a woman to reveal she wasn't attracted to another man and was just playing him.

Lucifer can also easily make himself sexually irresistible to most human women and men "by appealing to the virile urge" in all of them.

Human after all were slaves to their carnal desires.

"Is this worth it?" Lucifer was broken out of his reverie by a feminine voice to his side causing him to turn to look at the intruder only to reel back in mock disgust.

Standing on the top floor of his penthouse where he could overlook the entire bar was one of his favorite hobbies and no one other than Maze was permitted to come here…invited.

"I don't imagine a place like this being…comfortable for you little sister." Lucifer rolled his eyes and returned his gaze to the celebrating humans below. "I don't also recall sending you an invite."

"And I don't recall needing an invite to go anywhere within my domain." The intruder shot back and walked forward to join Lucifer. "And last I checked, you were supposed to be in hell."

Lucifer smirked, raising his glass with a glint of mischief in his eyes.

"Oh, dear sister," he drawled, "Hell's been running like a well-oiled infernal machine for centuries. I've trained those little demons splendidly; I could take a millennium-long holiday, and they'd still be lighting sinners on fire with the same enthusiasm."

He sipped his drink, letting the taste linger. "Besides, you know how dreadfully repetitive the torture gets."

The intruder frowned. "I don't think I do."

But Lucifer, as though he didn't hear her, continued. "I've come to realize that humans are far better at tormenting themselves."

He leaned over with a glint, his tone filled with amusement, "And I'm simply here to... observe their handiwork."

"Ugh." Hala groaned as she swept her gaze through the crowd. She held no opinion on how humans were supposed to live their lives, after all, it was their life and they were free to do with it as they wished.

This little bit of debauchery wouldn't constitute their going to hell following their Deaths.

"I've come to ask for a…slight favor." Hala began only for Lucifer to gasp loudly, however, no sound left their immediate surroundings.

"A dominion of your calibre wouldn't stoop that low, would you?" he said mockingly only to receive a blank stare from Hala.

"A friend of mine is in need of information concerning two individuals who recently died." Hala began, not paying any mind to Lucifer's mock. "We need to speak to them."

Lucifer gave Hala a look that said - wtf are you on about? - for a few seconds before shaking his head. "That's not how it works and you know it."

"Yeah, that's why in exchange, I'll give you a piece of information that will be worth your while." Hala bargained without flinching under Lucifer's stare.

"Heh." Lucifer smirked disdainfully at her and replied. "There's nothing under the sun I am not privy to if father allows. What makes you think your piece of information would be worth my while."

"Because I've been down here far longer than you and know people in high places that could make your stay here more…" Hala spoke to this point and turned her gaze to the crowd below, "... enjoyable."

To her suggestion though, Lucifer merely snorted, his expression twisting into one of amusement mixed with disdain. "Oh, Hala, darling," he drawled, lazily swirling his drink. "You truly think I need favors from your Earthly high places to enjoy myself? I have humans worshiping me in ways your so-called 'connections' could never fathom. I'm not exactly... lacking for entertainment."

He leaned closer, his voice dropping to a seductive murmur that carried a sharp edge. "I appreciate the thought, but if you want my help, I'll need something far more... intriguing than whispers from your associates. Tempt me, dear sister. Otherwise, this little chat might be your waste of time, not mine."

"I knew this would be a waste of time," Hala let out a sigh of resignation. "Tempting the devil? Please, like anyone could ever do that."

"Hehe, perks of being me." Lucifer said pridefully and downed the content of his glass. "Now then, if that is all, I'm sure you recall your way in here…use it." saying that, he turned and began walking towards the staircase leading down to the main bar.

"The Celestial Host."

Upon hearing this, Lucifer came to a halt and turned around, his expression solemn as he asked. "What of that?"

"They'll be here in less than a decade."

"That's impossible. Father and the other Godkings fought them off centuries ago." Lucifer said only for Hala to smile widely.

"So even hell doesn't have a legitimate source of information, eh? So much for the Lord of Hell." Hala said only for Lucifer to glare at her. "What? Wanna have a go at it?"

Lucifer kept his glare on Hala for a good while as his mind worked at speeds no Human could hope to achieve.

He vividly remembered his casual chat with Mephistopheles centuries ago during the gathering of Hell Lords.

Mephisto had happily made fun of the Celestials, citing that they were just overrated beings with an unparalleled amount of Cosmic Energy, and as the First borns of the First Universe, they had a similarly unparalleled control over the Laws of the Universe.

He however did mention that they were beaten back by the combined might of his father and his friends.

A feat that, while angering Mephisto at the strength of Lucifer's father, gave him immense joy as they were able to confront a Celestial and make it out without any casualties.

"If you're not bothered by their arrival, I don't see a need to be the least bit bothered." Lucifer said after considering her words from all angles.

"True, but you don't know what I'll be relying on." Hala said with a raised shoulder.

"Father? Please. Do you think I don't know father is down here too?" Lucifer said and chuckled seeing Hala freeze at his question. He then walked to his wine cabinet and pulled out a bottle and cocked the lid. "Tell me, what do I stand to gain from helping you?"

"A way out."

"Hmmm." Lucifer hummed as though deep in thought. "I refuse."

"What?" Hala asked with a frown.

"I may not have a similar information network as you, but I have this." Lucifer said and pulled out a sleek metallic mobile phone and began going through it as he continued. "Whether intentionally done or not, a piece of information regarding the Celestial Host will be on the Web…I just have to…Aha, here."

Saying that, he flung his phone towards Hala who caught it. Giving Lucifer a look, she bent her head and went through the phone only to frown afterwards. "Do you really believe that?"

Lucifer shrugged nonchalantly. "Don't care. They said it themselves."

"The order was a non interference in the civilization of humanity." Hala replied and pointed downwards. "That is an interference."

"I beg to differ, you featherly bitch." A third voice interrupted as Maze walked in and stood in front of Lucifer protectively.

"Mazikeen." Hala acknowledged the demon's presence without picking an offense at her foul words.

"The one and only." Maze said as she twirled her daggers around her fingers.

"What did you mean by that?" Hala asked calmly.

"My Lord has never interfered in the 'civilization' of humanity. Lux is the number one Club in Los Angeles, what interference has he caused?"

As if to support her words, Lucifer spread his hands from behind her as a gesture of 'See? Even Maze gets it.'

Hala looked at the duo of Lucifer and Maze and knew that she couldn't possibly win this.

They were right in not having Interfered. They only provided the bait and the humans took it.

Their existence didn't affect the fates of anyone who entered its area of influence.

Hell, Tony Stark was and still is the highest spender in Lux, yet nothing has shifted in his fate.

Hala had gone to Tilda, the Ancient One and asked for her assistance in looking for a reason to find Lucifer guilty, yet she found nothing…

Hala couldn't help but remember what brought her here.

Peggy, in her anger, had come out of retirement and had asked Keller, the current Director, to use everything at his disposal to track down the killer.

Their Deaths had been concluded to be as a result of an accident, but upon observing the Corpses, she could immediately tell otherwise.

Her years of experience in Yggdrasil as an assassin helped her come to that conclusion. On earth currently, if she called herself the top assassin, not even the winter soldier could argue otherwise.

However, no matter how much she searched, she always came to a dead end not long after.

This was when she made a startling discovery.

HYDRA had indeed managed to infiltrate SHIELD and it happened right under her nose.

It was appalling how it could happen right under her nose that it drove her paranoid to the extent where Hala had to secretly ask Lucifer for a favor.

She hoped that Howard and Maria could know something that could point Peggy in a certain direction.

Unfortunately for her, her favor wasn't worth having and it turned into an exchange.

And exchange in which she still had nothing of worth to give.

"What do you want?"

"Now?" Lucifer looked at her and scoffed. "Nothing of yours is worth anything."

"Not even my Word?"

"What use is your word?" Lucifer tilted his head in confusion? "Other than being father's punch bag and occasional chat partner, what use are you?"

"It's as you said. I am your father's occasional chat partner." Then lifting her shoulders, she continued with a smile. "Doesn't that mean that I can whisper a thing or two into his ears? I hear your Father is in his happy moods these days,"

Lucifer and Maze looked at her as though looking at an idiot. They then looked between themselves before shaking their heads. "Why would my Lord want anything from the big bad?"

"What she asked."

"You two…whatever." Saying that, Hala stood up and walked towards the stairs down it.

Lucifer took a sip from his refilled glass before slowly walking past Maze to the spot he previously stood beside Hala and over watching the crowd of humans indulging in their own desires.

"It's a pity she was here a bit later." Lucifer said as he watched Hala meander through the crowd until she reached the elevator and entered it. "The little brat's offer seemed more appealing."

"Whatever…" Maze said as she skillfully sheathed her daggers into their scabbard and walked away with a heavy frown on her face as she mumbled to herself. "...to think those pesky humans could escape me."

"Jeez…nobody's listening to me anymore."