This is a sequel to my previous Hazbin High School fanfic, Love Letters, but you can read this one on its own too!
Credit to anic917_eng on Twitter, she is the original creator of 2P Alastor; Aster is based on 2P Alastor, so make sure to support the original artist/creator of our favourite blueberry!
A few warnings before we begin; this fic depicts Cherri and Loona as bitchy mean girls because the story needed a couple of them. Also, please be aware there is transphobic bullying in the story.
If you're ok with this, then please enjoy!
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The entire class cheered wildly as the school bus entered the campground. Summer camp was one of the best weeks of the entire year for the students of Hazbin High School, and this year, it was your class' turn. Only one class in the entire school was selected to go each year, based on factors like behaviour and academic performance. You could hardly believe your ears when Mr Pentious announced that your class had been selected this time.
"It's just too bad Alastor isn't here," Niffty sighed sadly, hauling her small suitcase out of the luggage hold. "I was really looking forward to spending a whole week with him."
"Maybe he's ill?" you suggested as the two of you followed your class group toward the cabins.
"I don't know... he seemed fine on the last day of school. It just isn't like him."
Alastor and Niffty had been dating since February, when your school held its annual Valentine Dance. She was a very devoted girlfriend, always fussing over him and making him lunch nearly every day, as if they were married. In return, he would surprise her with little kisses on the cheek when she least expected it. Everybody agreed it was a very sweet relationship.
At the same time, you and Husk became a couple, and while you didn't share the same level of popularity as Niffty and Alastor, you and Husk were very happy for your relationship to be outside the spotlight. It took him a while to get used to the idea of having a girlfriend, but now that a few months had passed, he was becoming a very kind and thoughtful boyfriend. He even brought flowers for you on the last day of school. Admittedly, half of them had already wilted and turned brown, but it was the thought that counted.
As you and Niffty made your way to Cabin B, where your class was staying, a familiar car in the parking lot caught your eye.
"Hey, look at that," you said. "Isn't that Alastor's mom's car?"
Your question was immediately answered when Alastor stepped out of the car, followed by a blue-haired demon who was the spitting image of him. You exchanged glances with Niffty, the same thoughts running through your minds.
"I didn't know Alastor had a twin," said Niffty.
"Me neither. They're even wearing matching outfits, just in different colors," you added. It was almost surreal to look at.
"Hurry along, girls!" Mr Pentious called. "We're all meeting in the lounge for an introductory briefing before dinner."
You and Niffty decided you would ask Alastor about his twin later, and trotted along into Cabin B to join the rest of your class. Most of your classmates were already chatting amongst themselves, some calmly playing board games, some having heated pillow fights with the sofa cushions.
"That is enough!" Mr Pentious bellowed to the pillow fighters. Silence fell upon the room. Having gained the attention of the class, he took this opportunity to begin the introductory briefing and cleared his throat. "Hello, everyone, and welcome to summer camp!" he announced, now much more cheerful. "We're going to have a very fun week here, but first of all, we have a few rules that everybody needs to follow."
Half the class groaned, but Mr Pentious paid no attention and carried on.
"First," your teacher continued, "you must remember that while you are here, you are representing Hazbin High School. There are classes from other schools here, so please set a good example." His gaze was fixed upon the rogue pillow fighters. "Second, you are allowed to wander the camp grounds outside of activity times, but you must be back here in Cabin B by 9pm, and I expect everyone to be in bed by 10pm."
"That's not fair!" Loona protested. "My dad lets me go to bed any time I want."
Mr Pentious simply smirked. "Well, I'm not your father, am I?"
She was silent, a frustrated blush forming on her cheeks, glaring at the teacher. She knew she had been beaten.
He continued speaking to the class. "I'd like everybody to form a circle. We're going to start with a simple activity."
Everybody arranged themselves cross-legged in a circle on the floor, including Mr Pentious - well, as a snake demon, he was more coiled up than cross-legged. You found yourself seated between Niffty and Cherri.
"We're all going to say our names," your teacher explained, "followed by an adjective that begins with the same letter as your name."
"That's so stupid," Cherri muttered. "We're in the same class. We already know each other."
Unfortunately for her, Mr Pentious heard. "Is there a problem, Cherri?"
She shrugged, but said nothing more.
"Very well. Allow me to start; my name is Mr Pentious, and I'm passionate." He gestured to the person sitting on his left to continue.
"My name is Angel, and I'm awesome."
"My name is Charlie, and I'm cool."
"My name is Moxxie, and I'm marvellous."
This went on in a similar fashion all around the circle, until it was Alastor's turn.
"My name is Alastor, and I'm astounding," he declared. He turned to his blue-haired lookalike sitting next to him, who was staring at the ground, fidgeting nervously.
Everybody waited. Silence.
"Why don't you start by telling us your name?" Mr Pentious encouraged.
"Um..." came a tiny squeak from the unknown demon. "I'm... Aster..."
Another silence. Aster blushed scarlet and buried their head in Alastor's shoulder. The next person in the circle decided to continue.
"My name is Blitzo - the 'o' is silent - and I'm brilliant."
This carried on until everybody had introduced themselves.
"Very good!" said Mr Pentious, smiling at the class. "Now that we're all acquainted, you may have some time to get to know each other before dinner. If anybody needs me, I'll be in the cafeteria assisting with meal preparation. And lastly-" He gestured toward a notice board on the wall. "-don't forget to check which bedroom you'll be staying in."
There was an immediate scramble to the notice board, everybody desperate to know if they were sharing a bedroom with their closest friends.
You peered over a shoulder and caught a glimpse of the list of names. The bedrooms were four per room and gender segregated, which resulted in you sharing a room with Niffty, Charlie and Vaggie. Aster was assigned to the same bedroom as their brother, so the siblings could be together.
"Looks like you're also sharing with Angel Dust," said Niffty to Alastor with a hint of sympathy in her voice.
"Don't remind me," he responded, clearly irritated.
Husk peered at the notice board and scowled. "Me too. Shit." He turned to Aster. "Hope you don't mind sharing a room with a sex addict. He'll probably keep us all awake jerking off or something."
Aster blushed, casting a shy glance at the spider demon lounging on the sofa. "Angel doesn't seem that bad to me... I like him."
"I wouldn't get your hopes up, pal," came a voice from behind you. It turned out the voice belonged to Cherri Bomb, who had overheard your conversation. "Angel ain't interested in chicks, if you get what I mean."
"Oh, I'm not..." Aster trailed off, lowering their head.
There was a snigger from Loona, who was standing behind Cherri. "He's obviously not a girl, Cherri. Just a really feminine boy."
"Oh? Maybe he'll get along with Angel after all."
Aster was silent, looking to their big brother for help with pleading eyes. Thankfully, he noticed.
"Aster prefers not to be referred to as male or female," Alastor chimed in.
Cherri and Loona exchanged amused glances before spluttering with laughter.
"The fuck are we supposed to call you then?" said Loona through giggles. "'It'?"
Alastor narrowed his eyes, becoming more irritated by the second. His voice became dangerously low. "You will refer to my sibling as 'they', or by name. Not 'it'. Do you understand?"
You glanced at Aster, who was beginning to tremble, hands balled up into fists. Their hair was covering their face, so you couldn't be certain, but you could've sworn they were trying not to cry.
Cherri waved her hand dismissively and turned to walk away. "Yeah, yeah. Come on, Loona."
The two of them strutted out of the room in search of something more interesting to do. A small sniffling sound came from Aster; there was no doubt in your mind they were crying. Alastor pulled his sibling close for a comforting hug, and they immediately began sobbing softly into the shoulder of their brother's red coat, clinging to him as if they couldn't bear to let go.
"Shh, it's ok," Alastor soothed, running his hand through Aster's hair.
"I'm sorry," Aster mumbled shakily.
"Don't be. You didn't do anything wrong."
Niffty nudged you gently. "Maybe we should leave them alone," she whispered to you and Husk.
You both nodded in agreement, and the three of you quietly crept away to a corner of the room to play a board game until Mr Pentious called your class for dinner. This week could definitely go either way.