AN: Hey everyone, so this is a sequel to one of my one shots "What's Done Is Done" in which Charlie and Blitzo were once a couple together before breaking up and met each other years later. It was just a one shot that explore the idea of the two being together, but I always wanted to do a follow story for it but I struggled to make something stick. Thanks to fan Apotheosis0 from I was able to get inspiration when he suggest a story of Blitzo and Charlie playing the piano and soon this idea came to life.
So feel free to take a look and tell me what you think. Once again, thanks Apotheosis0.
Disclaimer: I do not own Hazbin Hotel or Helluva Boss
Charlotte "Charlie" Magne could honestly say she was having perhaps one of the most stressful weeks of her life. She knew that opening and managing a hotel was never going to be easy, much less one that designed to get sinners to redeem themselves. The harshest lessons she had learned in her semi-immortal life had come from her days working hard to make her dream work. Yet every lesson learned was what kept her going and going even when it got tough. It also helped to have a set of friends and employees that kept you going, even if they caused half the trouble sometimes.
"Hey, Charlie?" Vaggie said, getting the princess's attention. "You look tired. Maybe we should put this off for the night?"
"No, I'm fine. Just deep in thought," Charlie waved her hand at her girlfriend while taking another sip of the coffee that Nifty made. The little one-eyed speed demon could make a cup of joe that could put Hellbucks out of business in weeks if she ever went into business herself. If only she stopped hitting on every guy that did bother to come to the hotel and creeping them out.
Vaggie shrugged and went back into their finances which Charlie found to be the biggest headache. She was this close to hiring an accountant, but she was already barely keeping things in the budget as it was. Her father refused to put any more money into the "childish" idea of hers, and Alistor might be one of her significant backers now, but trusting him was a two-sided coin. On one side, he did help with the hotel via funding and protection from threats such as The Three Vs. On the side, his sense of humor had often caused more than one guest to leave or bring about trouble in its own way. One moment he gave advice that helped with a problem, and the next, he was causing a new one that made Charlie want to rip her hair out.
And when it came to money problems?
"Sorry, folks. But unless you want another Oct 24, 1929, I suggest you keep me away from the account books. Then again, maybe I should try a hand at it just to see if I can beat the record? What do you say?"
Needless to say, Charlie told him it was okay and let him go off to do his own thing.
"You know, I'm glad that some more sinners have decided to come in and try to get redeemed, but I think some of them might be trying to take advantage of the free food and board," Vaggie pointed out as she looked up from a calculator. "I mean, it wasn't a problem when we just had Angel Dust, but now that rooms have started filling up, I don't know if we can keep doing this without getting some kind of payment."
Charlie bit her lip. She knew Vaggie wasn't wrong in thinking that. Besides the food, drinks, and other services, they also were funding the various programs, lessons, and equipment needed to get the residents to admit their faults and become better people. Some were easy to do, like getting them to volunteer at charities, orphanages, soup kitchens, and a few other places opposite their nature. Others were more extreme such as getting them off drugs, alcohol, sex, and other vices that lead to their damnation. Attending regular meetings to discuss their pasts, which led them to become the horrible people who got them into Hell in the first place, was also costly. If enough people showed up, that is. Plus, a few were still cursed with mental illnesses that they couldn't escape from even in death, so that required medicine and therapy.
There was also a debate of whether or not she needed to get the sinners to repent by praying accepting God into their lives. So far, she hadn't, but that didn't stop the apparent fact that GOD was the one who had to forgive a sinner in the end. Not just Heaven alone, but the creator of all things who was both a loving father and yet also a strict one when needed.
Ignoring the fact that she was the daughter of the devil, if she started allowing the Word of God to be spoken in her hotel, then the consequences would be devastating. Her reputation was already constantly being shredded thanks to the news and rivals seeking to usurp her father. The more religious Satan-worshiping types would declare her a heretic. And the more spiteful sinners and demons would outright turn away or even attack her hotel.
And to think all I had to worry about when I started this was getting people to come even inside, Charlie thought as she got up and sighed heavily.
"I know, Vaggie," Charlie said, slowly getting up as she looked outside the window to the bright lights of Pentagram City. "Honestly, despite how well things have gotten since we started getting people to take us seriously, we're still no further from redeeming even one soul."
There were times when Charlie really did want to quit.
When demons left because they gave up and she couldn't convince them to stay.
Or when Katie Killjoy was doing another hit piece on her.
And when her parents continued to try to get her to come home and give up.
She just wanted to run away. Back to the theater that she once found love and passion in performing. Back to when she had happiness in her life without genuine worries or fear. It had been so much easier back then, being a hit star on the plays while supported by loving friends and even her parents despite their hesitation. And when she was living with someone that loved her for who she was.
Only she ruined it in her cowardice. Life at the theater didn't seem all that fun anymore after that. So she decided to go forward with her dream to save her subjects from the Exterminations. A dream that still seemed so far away, like the stars twinkling in the sky. Yet, she was still not giving up.
"However," Charlie said, turning to her girlfriend with a smile. "We've come so far these past few years that I feel it's still worth it. Some of the demons we've been getting have gotten better and better, and I know that we'll get one of them to be redeemed if we just keep at it. All we need is to get our foot in the door, and we're golden."
Vaggie stared at her for a while before shaking her head with a smile. "Nothing keeps you down, huh?" Getting up, the albino-haired sinner walked over to her girlfriend and kissed her on the cheek. "A weaker demon would have given up on this long ago. The fact that you keep going? Even after all the shit you have to put up with? It shows that you are one of the strongest demons in all of Hell."
Taking her love's hands into her own, Charlie smiled warmly at the love of her life. "Only because I have such strong support behind me."
The two were about to kiss when suddenly there was a knock on the door. Sighing at being interrupted, Charlie asked them to come, which led to a flying goat demon floating inside. "What is it, Razzle?"
"Um, Princess Charlie? There is someone at the hotel's front door who has requested to speak to you. He's not a resident, and he's not looking to get a room at the hotel. Dazzle's with him now and keeping an eye on him," Razzel said with a severe expression on his face. It was a surprise for the two since, typically, the ram and his twin were goofy, silly, and downright comical except when it came to their duties in protecting Charlie.
"Is he dangerous?" Vaggie asked, narrowing her eye.
"Very much so," Razzle answered while nodding his head. "Dazzle, and I know him by reputation. He's an assassin from Imp City and is very well known."
"Wait, an assassin from Imp City?" Charlie said as her eyes widened. "Would his name happen to be Blitz?"
Razzle blinked in surprise. "Yes, how did you know?"
It had taken Blitzo nearly all day to find this place, but he had to admit the etiquette of this establishment was quite interesting. He wondered just how much of it was Charlie's design, and now much of it was the Radio Demon's. Sighing, Blitzo continued to wait for his ex-girlfriend to show up while being under the watch of the floating lamb chop that was giving him the stink eye. Of all the demons that would know him by reputation, he should have known that Charlie's bodyguards would know who he was.
Ever since he and Charlie had reconnected just a few months ago, the two had shared more about their lives ever since they split up. Not just the hardships, but the fun and private stuff too. Sure, they hadn't met face to face since the coffee shop, but there was online text and video. The only reason he had even come all the way to Pentagram City was because of the letter he had gotten three days ago from someone he had never thought to hear from again.
His father.
And in the contents of the letter was...was...
Closing his eyes, Blitzo forced his emotions down. No, it would do no good to think about it now and cry in front of the ram demon. He had to keep his wits about him until he saw Charlie. Turning to the bodyguard, who had called himself Dazzle, Blitzo asked, "So are you going to get her, or is your twin jerking off in the bathroom?"
"She'll be here, but what I want to know is what does an assassin want with the Princess-Heir of Hell?" Dazzle asked suspiciously.
"I'm an old friend," Blitzo answered, which didn't seem to phase the ram, but the imp wasn't going to answer more than that. He seriously was glad Charlie didn't have these guys when they were dating all those years ago, or else they'd probably never have fun both in and out of bed.
Thankfully, he didn't have to wait much longer as Charlie rushed down the stairs nearby and saw him. She smiled and walked over with that glow in her eyes that always made Blitzo smile back. Ignoring everyone around them, the two old flames hugged one another as a familiar warmth spread between them. A warmth that held so much history, both good and bad, that neither had forgotten since their break up.
"Ahem?" The two soon broke up as Blitzo saw a humanoid sinner demon with white hair and one eye staring at them with a raised eyebrow. "I take it you know each other?"
"Oh, right," Charlie said, clearing her throat before stepping aside to introduce Blitzo as if he was a stage act. "Everyone, this is Blitzo-"
"The 'o' is silent."
"Right, sorry. This is Blitz. He's an...old friend from when I was doing acting years ago. We drifted apart after he left, and I only just started reuniting with him," Charlie explained, clearly trying to avoid the fact that the two were an item. Not that Blitzo minded. Hell, he still hadn't explained to his own crew his past relationship with Charlie.
Turning to Blitzo, Charlie introduced the three suspicious demons. "Blitz, this is Vaggie, my girlfriend, and my two bodyguards, Razzle and Dazzle."
"Hey, sup," Blitzo greeted with a wave.
"Wait a minute," Vaggie pointed at Blitzo and narrowed her eyes. "I know you! You're that imp that can get into the living world and assassinate people for demons, right? Why are you here?"
"One, that's none of your business, cyclops," Blitzo answered, which only made the girl glare harder. "And two, I needed to speak to Charlie...I...needed a friend's advice."
"Is everything okay?" Charlie asked, looking worried. "Are things wrong with you and Stolas? Or did you have another fight with Loona?"
"No, but it is...family-related." Blitzo sighed before whispering only loud enough for Charlie to hear. "Old family-related."
This made Charlie's eyes widen before she looked sympathetically at Blitzo and nodded in understanding. If it were anyone else in Hell that gave him that pitiful look, he'd tell them to knock it off, or he would shoot them, but this was Charlie. The one with who he gave everything he had at one point, including the truth of his past. All the pains and suffering he had at the circus that his old family caused before he finally left. She knew of the complicated relationship of his sisters and the outright fights Blitzo and his father have had. She was the only who he cried and sobbed to in the sorrowful evenings as she held him with nothing but love and care.
The only other demon in Hell that had ever given him that same feeling was Stolas, but this was something he wasn't ready yet to share with his lover. Not that he didn't trust him, but he needed advice from someone who knew the whole story—the full Blitzo.
And Charlie was the only demon in all of Hell who could do that.
"I see," Charlie whispered before placing her hand on his shoulder. "I still have a few things to do. Why don't you get something at the bar lounge and I'll join you shortly. Tell Husk, the bartender, the drinks are on me."
"Thanks," Blitzo muttered as he rubbed the back of his head. "I kinda need something strong anyway."
After she told Razzle and Dazzle that Blitzo was okay, Charlie went back up to her office with Vaggie right behind her with a drilling glare aimed right at the back of her head. The truth was Charlie was more than happy to talk to Blitzo now and get away from her financial work. However, she knew Vaggie wanted answers that were going to be...complicated to answer.
Once they were inside, Vaggie shut the door and activated the soundproof seals that Alastor set up as a birthday gift last year. Of course, Charlie suspected that they didn't work against Alastor himself, but trying to keep him out of your business was next to impossible anyway.
"Okay, spill it. How do you know him?" Vaggie asked, crossing her arms.
"Vaggie..."
"Don't Vaggie me, Charlie!" Vaggie said, getting closer to her girlfriend. "First off, he's an imp. While I don't care about the racial politics of Hell, seeing as I am a low-born sinner in the eyes of the elite, I know for a fact that your parents would never let you associate with an imp like him. Also, do you know what he does for a living? He's an assassin and a good one at that! He's even got the backing of one of the most powerful Goetia demons in the rings! How do you know him?!"
Charlie took a deep breath and debated for just a few minutes of telling the truth or not. However, she knew that keeping this from Vaggie would be a bad idea, and she did trust her with her life. "Blitzo is...my ex-boyfriend."
Vaggie's eye widened, and her mouth dropped so low that it was quite comedic, and she wished she could take her camera out to show Angel Dust later. A few minutes later, Vaggie snapped her senses back and shook her head in disbelief. "W-What?! You dated an imp?! An assassin imp?! And I thought your ex-boyfriend was Seviathan Von Eldritch?!"
"Blitzo was my boyfriend after Seviathan. And twice the man he'll ever be," Charlie explained and quickly shivered upon thinking of her so-called high-school sweetheart. God, thinking about him made her feel like eels were slithering all over her skin. "And he wasn't an assassin back then. He was raised in the circus before he left home to try out for acting. That's how we met. We both worked at the same theater, and one day I needed help with my part. So I asked him to help me out." She rubbed her arm with her hand as she thought about that first day they met. She had noticed him before, always trying his hardest to get the lead roles but failing due to his racial status. Maybe it was pity, or perhaps she admired his drive, but something made her approach him.
"Soon, we started bonding and...well...I saw a side of him I think few ever did see," Charlie continued with a sigh. "I'm not going to lie to you, Vaggie. We were deeply in love as time went on. We lived together and shared our feelings, dreams, and fears. I think, besides his family, his adopted daughter, and current lover, I'm the only one who knows everything about the real him. And he knows so much about me too. Despite us not seeing each other for years, there is a connection I cannot fully dismiss because of those times together. The only other person who made me feel in such a way has been you. That's how close we were."
"...I see," Vaggie muttered, crossing her arms and looking away. Charlie could easily sense the jealousy building up. "I never knew."
"Well, part of that was to protect us both," Charlie answered with a heavy sigh. "I mean, can you imagine what would happen if all of Hell knew that I was together with what is considered the lowest creature in all of Hell? Katie Killjoy would have a field day."
"And the other part?" Vaggie asked.
"...guilt," Charlie bitterly muttered as a teardrop fell down her cheek. Vaggie must have noticed because she was at her side at once. Charlie thought about that horrible day with misty eyes when her father learned the truth and gave his ultimatum. An ultimatum that she caved into and shattered Blitzo's heart. "Dad found out about us. I don't know how or why, but he did. He told me to break it off, or he would kill Blitz. And my Dad meant it, Vaggie."
"Shit," Vaggie whispered.
"What's worse? Blitz proposed to me," Charlie continued as this time the tears couldn't be stopped. There were many mistakes she had made in her life and what she did to Blitzo was among the top five. "I had to tell him no...you have no idea how shattered he was that day...the look in his eyes like I had just sucked out his soul...I broke him, and when he asked why I could have told him the truth, but instead, I just panicked and said it was because he was an imp...that led to a fight...and that ruined what we had. He soon left. Just...gone..."
"Charlie," Vaggie whispered as she gently kissed the princess on the cheek. "You don't have to say anymore."
"No, I have to..." Charlie whispered, wiping her face with her sleeve. "I've held this for so long...all these years I've felt guilty about it...Over time I did move on and focused on you, the hotel, and everything else... In fact, seeing myself hurt Blitz that much was one of the things that finally managed to get me to stand up to my parents. I just wished I didn't hurt him as I did..."
"I kinda find it hard to believe that you of all people would do such a thing," Vaggie admitted, rubbing the back of her neck.
"I was a different girl back then," Charlie whispered, shaking her head. "A few months ago, we reconnected and...we've just been talking. As old friends. I apologized, told him the truth, and he's forgiven me."
"Do you...still love him?" Vaggie asked, nervously.
Charlie paused for a moment before gently placing a kiss on Vaggie's lips. One that gentle and yet sparked a fire inside them both as they held each other like fine china before pressing their foreheads against each other. "Vaggie. Listen to me. You are the one I love in this realm. I dated you even when my parents were against it, and you've been with me every step of the way in my efforts to make this hotel a reality. You have been the rock of my pillar that keeps me going, and I will always love you for it. Blitzo..." She sighed. "He and I will always have a special bond together...but it will never be like it was all those years ago. Besides, he's got a new lover himself. So things worked out for the both of us in the end."
"...Alright," Vaggie whispered with a smile. "S-Sorry if I sounded j-jealous I was just-"
Charlie put her finger to her lips and smiled. "It's fine. Trust me. Now, if you excuse me, I have a friend to help."
"One single malt scotch Rusty Nail. Without the lemon."
Blitzo nodded before taking the drink from the bartender, who just went back to cleaning his glasses. Taking a sip, he nodded before raising the glass. "Pretty good shit."
"Thanks," Husk muttered before looking at the imp with a raised eyebrow. "First time seeing one of you guys in here. Are you looking to get your angel wings, or are you just looking for a place to sleep for the night like a lot of other losers that come here?"
"I'm just here to see Charlie," Blitzo answered while taking another sip. "We're old friends, and...well, I could use a friend's advice."
"Tch, I had friends once, but they all ended up dying or leaving me," Husk answered before taking a beer bottle and guzzling it down. "Now I'm stuck here as the bartender in this joint."
"You like it here?" Blitzo asked.
"Eh, I've had worse," Husk answered before letting out a big burp. "What do you do for a living?"
"I kill people. Demons and humans. Sometimes I do a bit of bodyguarding, but that usually ends up with the places I'm in burning down and mass loss of life," Blitzo answered with a shrug.
"Huh, sounds like this place on Tuesdays," Husk said before he leaned forward and looked at Blitzo right in the eye. "So who died?"
"Huh?" Blitzo asked, making his eyes widened. "How did-"
"Kid, I've lost a lot of people, and I've seen others lose a lot of people. That depressing look on your face? The fact that you're ordering whisky and drinking it slowly as fuck? Not to mention you come looking for the one girl in all of Hell that has a decent heart in her chest, unlike the rest of us shitheads? Come on. I'm not stupid. And your emotions read on your face worse than a newbie at poker in Atlantic City," Husk pointed out with a roll of the eyes. "So, who's dead?"
"...My sister...My twin..." Blitzo closed his eyes and saw the smiling face of Barbie Wire laughing as they ran around the fields trying to catch each other. Memories of happier times when they were children. Innocent (or as innocent as imp kids could be) and carefree while learning the tricks of their trade. All before they got older and drifted apart, which led to bullying, teasing, and outright humiliation.
He could recall the last thing she said to him before he left home forever. "Go head, Blitzo! You'll come crawling back here in a week like the loser that you are!"
Yet, he proved her wrong. He proved all of his old family wrong. So why didn't it feel like a victory now that she was gone and he was alive?
"Permanent?" Husk asked to which Blitzo nodded. "Shit." He took out a small shot glass and poured some whisky of his own before sipping it. "Tough break, kid. But shit happens."
Blitzo snorted. "And I thought bartenders were supposed to be empathetic and supportive?"
"Yeah, well, I thought Heaven and Hell didn't exist when I was alive. Now I'm dead and rotting in this craphole. Life is full of disappointments," Husk answered before taking the shot. "Still, sorry for yer loss. For whatever it's worth."
"Yo, Husky!" The two turned around to see none other than Hell's most famous porn star, Angel Dust, walking over with a grin on his face. "Card game is about to start. We're playing sucker poker."
"What the hell is sucker poker?" Blitzo asked, raising an eyebrow.
"It's where the winner of each round gets to suck the dick of their choice," Angel Dust answered before learning down at the imp with a smirk. He placed one of his multiple arms around the assassin before stroking his big horns with the others. "Interested? I haven't had imp cock in a long time, and they say the bigger the horns, the bigger the package."
"Sorry, I got a boyfriend, and I doubt you'd want to piss him off by trying to seduce me," Blitzo stated as he took another gulp of his drink. "Then again, knowing Stolas, he'd want to bring you into a threesome."
"Wait, Stolas? Prince Stolas?" Angel Dust asked with wide eyes as he sat down. Even Husk looked impressed upon hearing this as he quickly poured both him and Angel a drink before they leaned forward. "Holy fuck, how did you end up nailing a guy that high on the food chain?"
"It's a long story, but the short answer is I stole something from him, he was impressed, we made a business arrangement, and over time...we fell in love."
"Phh, hahahahah!" Angel Dust laughed while pounding his fists on the table. After taking a drink, he shook his head and asked, "Yeah, sure. What's the real story?"
"That is the real story," Blitzo said, raising an eyebrow. "What's so funny?"
"Nothing but seriously, you and him in love? Come on," Angel said, shaking his head. "This is Hell. Love isn't here. Just lust and desire."
"Trust me. I used to think that too," Bltizo admitted as he looked back at all the times it took for him and Stolas to connect as a couple finally. Stolas had a hard time keeping his lustful desires at bay, and Blitzo was reluctant to open his heart again after what happened with Charlie. After her, he had several boyfriends and girlfriends that all ended up being a series of crashes and burns. Stolas was the one guy who finally managed to open his heart again, and this time he was determined to keep it open. "But the truth is I love the guy. Hell, we'd be married if it wasn't for the fact he was still married to that wife of his, but we're all working on that."
"How does his wife deal with you two sleeping together?" Husk asked.
"Well, she hated it at first until she joined us for a threesome," Blitzo answered with a shit-eating grin. "Then she stopped bitching so long as she gets some of the action once and a while."
"Damn, Angel. I think you found your long-lost brother," Husk chuckled as he raised his glass in a toast before taking a shot. "But if what you're saying is true? Then you're one lucky son of a bitch. Me? I lost the ability to feel love years ago."
"Eh, I still don't think you can find it here," Angel whispered before slowly eyeing Blitzo. "Um, but just out of curiosity... what's it like?"
"Love, huh?" Blitzo took a heavy sigh and thought about the few people in his life he loved. He loved his daughter more than anything. He loved his employees, who had become his best friends despite their rocky start. Stolas was the one who had stolen his heart and was refusing to let go. Charlie was...the first time he ever really knew true love and yet the pains that came with it when it didn't work out, but it left an impression. He even had come to love Octavia in his own way for being so close to Loona that the two were like sisters.
And, deep down, there was still some love for his old family as well. But there was also so much pain.
"Love is..." He tried to think of a good analogy until he thought of it. The one thing that could best describe what love was. It was the first thing he and his team had done once they had the book. They had often heard from sinner demons as the one thing they all truly missed from their time on Earth was one particular event that happened every morning. An event that millions, if not billions of humans, always tried to see because it was so unique in their eyes. A symbol of how extraordinary life truly was. Upon seeing it themselves, Blitzo and his crew could genuinely see why because nothing else in existence was as beautiful as what they had seen that day. "Love is a sunrise."
The other two were silent as Blitzo looked at them. "You're both sinners. Do you remember seeing the sunrise upon Earth? The warm rays that beamed down upon you while the darkness around the sky slowly faded into a brand new day? How it looked like there was hope in this universe instead of it filled with emptiness and sorrow in that small moment? That's what love feels like to me. It's the hope and promise that, no matter what happens, there will always be someone who will always be there to greet you after the dark times have faded. A burning light that shines so deeply into your skin that you feel a wave of emotions burning inside of you. It's the closest feeling to being in Heaven you can get short of being there, I think. It clears the clouds and washes away the tears of rain until you are left with a smile on your face. Even if it's for a brief moment... it's worth it to feel it for a split second, and you know that it will always come back and be there for you when you wake up and see it. To me... that's love. And it, like that sunrise, is beautiful."
The two sinners were silent as they slowly lowered their heads. A feeling of nostalgia washed upon their faces as Blitzo saw them looking deep into their glasses in thought. Then, a smile came over their faces before they stared at each other with gentle eyes and then at Blitzo. For a second, the imp thought they would make fun of him again, but instead, Angel put a hand on his shoulder and nodded. "You're a lucky guy. I hope things continue to be that way for you."
"...Fuck I forgot what the sun looks like..." Husk sighed heavily before finishing his drink in one gulp. "I think... I'm gonna skip poker night. I need some time alone."
"Yeah, me too," Angel Dust said as he got up and winked at Blitzo. "If you and Birdboy want to have that threesome? Give me a call. Free of charge."
Blitzo chuckled and raised his glass in salute as the two walked out of the lounge. He was about to leave and find Charlie and spotted something that made him freeze up. There was a piano in the corner of the room. In an instant, memories assaulted his brain like a battering ram. Memories of a time that he and Charlie shared in the privacy of the theater when nobody was looking.
He slowly walked forward and stared at the grand piano with a soft smile upon his lips. His fingers were sliding down the black wood as he felt his heart beating to tunes that sprang up in his head. Sitting down, a familiar song came to Blitzo, and he lifted his hands...
(Play The Long And Winding Road by The Beatles, but a Piano only version)
Charlie had just seen Husk and Angel Dust leave the lounge when she heard the piano start to play.
In an instant, she knew what the song was and who was playing it. It was a song that Charlie had introduced to Blitzo long ago when they were just starting to date, and it had been a song both learned to play together whenever they were troubled. A smile decorated her face as the memories of such a happy time began to relapse into her mind. She could remember just how energetic he was when she asked his help in her upcoming part that he nearly fell over in excitement. Seeing him arrive at her apartment, eager and smiling, was adorable. He was good at acting as well. So much so that she was surprised he was never given a better role at the theater despite his imp status.
Walking inside, she saw him playing the piano with his eyes closed and fingers dancing. She softly sat down next to him, and he scooted to his left so she could soon join him. Once he removed his right hand, Charlie went to work and started playing with him. Not once did either of them miss a beat while the sound of their teamwork echoed in the room.
She could remember the first time they hung out outside of work while doing nothing theater-related. Blitzo had taken her to a carnival where some of his old circus buddies had started working, so he was able to get a discount. They played the midway games, rode the rides, and ate so much fried food that she gained weight. Yet it was all worth it because it was the first time she had ever been to such a commoner event and had so much fun. All her life, due to her status, she had been to fancy parties, operas, and balls. None of which were any fun as she got older. But that carnival? It was like magic.
The music continued to play, as did Charlie's memories. Their first date and their first kiss. They had ordered Pizza while Blitzo wanted to show her the most fantastic movie of all time: Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron. It was a great movie, one that she never saw before, but it made her cry at the end. Blitzo had looked at her and began wiping her tears...and then kissed her. Charlie had been kissed before, but that night...it was the best kiss of her life until she kissed Vaggie. She kissed him back, and soon they were in each other's embrace.
It should not have happened. A princess and an imp, but they didn't care. They were in love.
It was now her turn to take over if she remembered correctly, and soon she started the lead while Blitzo was following her. She wondered what would happen if the others saw her right now with him. Would Vaggie be jealous? Would Angel Dust make fun of her? Nifty would think it was adorable. Husk wouldn't care, but he'd watch. And Alastor? Well, knowing him, he'd do something to ruin the moment.
The song was just about past the halfway point when she thought back to all the other times she and Blitzo had together as a couple. All their dates had to be private to avoid scandal, but they were still memorable. Blitzo would always try something new with each date, from cooking their meal to doing a one-person show. Silly, but fun. She recalled the first time they made love. It was when he officially moved in with her. She remembered every touch, kiss, and thrust that night and the many nights before. She was his first, and he was the best she ever had at the time. That morning after, there was such a glow around her that even her father, who she visited later, noticed she seemed really cheerful that day.
It was because Blitzo really did love her. And she loved him back.
All her other boyfriends and girlfriends dated her because of her status. Blitzo didn't care about that. He cared about the real Charlie, and she cared about the real him. Those months they had, as time passed on, it was the closest to Heaven that Charlie had been for so long.
And then, just as the song reached its final part, the terrible memories came. The night her father told her that he knew of their relationship and his threat. The moment she returned, and Blitzo was waiting there, on one knee, holding out a ring. She could still remember him saying the sentence that left her torn in two directions.
"Charlotte Magne, you are the greatest thing that has ever happened to me. I know that I am no prince or noble, but my love for you is more priceless than any treasure or wealth in Heaven, Hell, or Earth. Will you marry me?"
For one split second, Charlie saw them together as husband and wife. Out in the countryside, away from the cities, royalties, and those who would never accept them. On a farm, the two of them alone raised everything by themselves and worked with nothing but their love to support them. She saw herself with children, running around the fields, laughing as she and her husband watched with joy.
A life that she, in the end, rejected with one word.
"No."
And then the song ended.
The two sat there in silence. All the happiness then ended that day. There was a fight, a fight she could barely remember because she was too busy crying. And then he was gone. Because of her. Because she was a coward.
It was only a week later that she finally confronted her parents and told them she would follow her dream of saving their people since they weren't doing anything about it. That also led to a fight, but Charlie didn't care. She left with what she had and started looking for those to support her. That led her to Vaggie and a few others, and soon the hotel. Charlie swore never to deny herself what she wanted again and to stop having to live her life tied to her parents.
And yet...at what cost?
"You still remember, huh?" Blitzo asked, looking over with a small smile. "Not a single note missed."
"You too," Charlie said with a soft smile before she frowned. "I'm sorry."
"About?"
"Everything..." Charlie whispered as a tear dropped down her cheek. "I know that I've apologized before...but I really am sorry I ruined everything, Blitzo."
"...I know," Blitzo whispered as he slowly grabbed her hand and squeezed it. "I'm sorry too. I should have realized...I guess it doesn't matter now..."
"You think we'll ever be able to move on from that day fully?" Charlie asked, looking into her ex-lover's red and yellow eyes.
"Maybe," He nodded before he sighed and looked downward. "Barbie's dead."
"Your twin?" Charlie asked, remembering the tales that Blitzo told about her. How she used to be his best friend until fame and glory blinded her, and she tossed him aside. "How?"
"A stalker," Blitzo answered, shaking his head. "Asshole thought she was his destined lover. She rejected him, and he... didn't take it well. I have no idea how he found an angel blade but one stab in the heart and..."
SMASH!
Charlie jumped out of her seat as Blitzo slammed both his fists onto the piano and nearly broke the top. "That fucker is lucky he's already dead!"
Tears were leaking from Blitzo's eyes as he rubbed his face and shook his head. "It's funny. I never once thought that I would care about it if she was dead or not when I finally left the family. She pretty much told me that I would be crawling back like the loser that I was. That's the last thing I ever have of my twin. My other half. Fuck, that's the last time I spoke to anyone in my family. That's what I got left to remember her by..."
Blitzo covered his face with his hands as Charlie slowly rubbed his back. "You don't mean that," she whispered, holding him closer to her chest. "You have other memories of her. Good ones. Remember when you told me the two of you worked together to turn everyone's underwear bright pink in a single night?"
A small chuckle escaped Blitzo. "Yeah, and they never caught us. Barbie called me the best partner-in-crime she ever had." He shook his head and took another deep sigh. "There was also the time some of the other kids were bullying her for not having a mom. I punched one of them in the face before he punched me back. Pretty soon, it was an all-out brawl. We got our teeth knocked out, our horns broken, and I think I got kicked in the balls more times than I could count...but we won the fight and smiled even as Tillie was fixing us with the first-aid kit."
Rubbing his hand through his head, Blitzo closed his eyes. "Dad...he sent me the letter. He wants me to come home for the funeral and to...apologize...for everything. Tillie too. She told me she didn't care if I never forgave her; she just wanted to see her little brother again."
Smiling, Charlie lifted his head with her hand and nodded. "You should go. You need this. I would take your family with you too."
"...Even if I did go, it doesn't erase the fact that, for so long, my family hated me and treated me like shit, Charlie," Blitzo hissed as he got up from his seat and turned away. "Something like that doesn't get healed up in one day. Even if it's because you've lost someone you loved."
"No, but it does help you start in the right direction," Charlie stated as she got up as well and forced Blitzo to look at her. "Blitz, my Dad and I argue almost all the time on everything. There are times when I wished I wasn't the devil's daughter and could just be myself without having to have him hounding me. But deep down, I know he loves and cares for me and, despite all my problems with him, I would forgive him if he just made an effort to admit he has some fault."
"You do realize that Lucifer never admits he's wrong. Why do you think he's down here and not back up there in Heaven?" Blitzo pointed out.
"Then I will wait forever for him to do so," Charlie started with a sad smile. "Because I believe, I really do, that all of us have some good inside of us. It just takes a spark, but even a spark can cause a forest fire that will burn away our problems and start anew when the smoke clears."
"Did you get that one off a fortune cookie?"
"No, that I got from Voxbook," Charlie admitted before shaking her head. "The point is, Blitz, I think deep down you still love your family, and they love you. The fact that they want you to come home, pay your respects, and apologize is a sign they mean to fix things. Do you know how many people would kill for a chance like that?" Charlie then took Blitzo's hands into her own and looked into his eyes. "And if that doesn't convince you, then at least go to see your sister one more time to say your goodbyes. Because if you don't? You will regret it. Maybe not now or soon, but someday you will."
"...Words are easy, like the wind; Faithful friends are hard to find," Blitzo whispered as he closed his eyes and let out a relaxing smile. "And I am glad to have such a friend as you, Charlie."
Letting go of her hands, Blitzo took a deep breath and made his way out of the lounge with Charlie following him. "I guess I better get going then. Gotta let the others know we'll be busy this Sunday. Need to get a good suit and...figure out what to say. Chances are I'll need to make a speech at the funeral."
"Do you want me to attend with you or?" Charlie asked as they got closer to the front door.
"No," Blitzo said, shaking his head as he opened the door. "It would be suspicious. Besides, I'll have Loona, M&M, and maybe even Stolas with me. Might as well introduce the old family to the new family. I'll... I'll be fine."
The two old flames looked at each other before smiling at one another. That familiar, loving feeling between them still beating inside their hearts. Yet, it was not the love of a couple but the true love of a friend that one could trust to be there for the other wherever they needed the other. The feeling of an uncertain future that could have been was still lingering in their shadows, but they never once turned back too long to be enraptured by it. Not when there was a future each wanted to build beyond it.
"Goodnight, Blitzo..." Charlie whispered as she leaned over and kissed his forehead. "Be safe...and I'm sorry for your sister."
"...Thank you, Charlie," Blitzo whispered before he slowly closed the door behind him.
Charlie took a few deep breaths and stared at the door before the sound of a familiar voice made her freeze. "Well, that was certainly quite a twist, eh folks?" Charlie turned around to see a familiar grinning Clock Demon looking at her from the registry, holding his familiar microphone up to his lips. "Breaking news for all of Hell's ears. Princess Charlie's close relationship with Imp Assassin wannabe has these demon shocked. How far does this tale go? From the stage to the bed with love, tears, and heartbreaks galore. Yet friends they remain or will they once again become more."
"Alastor..." Charlie whispered.
"Gotta say, Princess. I didn't think you were one for the little people. Especially the kind even the little people walk all over. I've seen dirt treated with the best respect than imps get these days. Yet you not only befriended one but made love to him like a Casablanca Ensemble. Is there no end to your charity and kindness?" Alastor stated as he zipped over and wrapped his arm around a stoic Charlie. "This Blitzo guys sure does sound like quite a character-"
"The 'o' is silent," Charlie muttered.
"Yeah, don't care. Blitzo sure sounds like a fun little guy. Well, little for us sinners. I bet the guy could be the Lebron James of the Imp Basketball League with that height," Alastor joked, to which a nearby laughter sign lit up, and audience laughter came out from nowhere. "Let's see what kind of past we got here for the guy."
Alastor snapped his fingers, and a file appeared out of nowhere to which he opened much to Charlie's glare. "Former circus imp whose mother died giving birth to him. Ohh, it's juicy already. Ran away from home due to family issues. Don't they always. Failed at working in the theater because of imp prejudice where he meets our darling Princess, fell in love, and then was poorly brokenhearted when you said 'no' to marrying him."
The crowd noise suddenly started booing, and a rotten tomato came out of nowhere and hit Charlie in the back of the head. Still, to her credit, she did not move. "Alastor, I want-
"Goes on to become a pretty good standard assassin by all of these dead people on my list. Wow, I should make a new dead pool with my bets on this guy. Adopts a hellhound child for whatever reason. Starts a new company where you can get humans assassinated for a fee, and that's all thanks to him sleeping with Prince Stolas so he can use his magical book. Wow, this guy does aim high for who he fucks, huh?"
Alastor threw the file away and spun his microphone. "So, Charlie, how was it knowing that crushing that poor little innocent imp's heart so hard forced him into becoming a stone-cold killer whose out killing humans left and right? Do you sleep at night? Wonder what if? Orrrrr..." Alastor leaned forward and pressed the microphone in Charlie's ear. "Should we find out what he thinks first?"
That was the final straw.
The limit had been broken.
The damn burst, and there was no fixing it.
In what had been quite a very long time, Charlie had unleashed her true demonic form and power. A burst of hellish demonic energy emerged from out of nowhere in Hazbin Hotel, and it spread across various streets as demons woke up from their sleep to sweat or piss in bed from the raging power that was emitting in the city. Each resident in the hotel froze in terror while most wondered what the fuck was going on. Meanwhile, those who knew Charlie best sensed it was her, but were still in disbelief. Because the idea of Charlie being this mad was something that they never imagined could be a possibility.
But Charlie was mad.
No, she was pissed.
Maybe it was after so long of taking Alastor's bullshit that this was the straw that broke the camel's back, or perhaps she was that protective of her friend. Nevertheless, Alastor saw the proper form of the daughter of Hell's King for the first time. And it was making him not smile as he felt something he hadn't felt since he was human.
Fear.
That and pain. Mostly from Charlie's burning claw that was wrapped around Alastor's throat just tight enough to stop him from speaking a word. Her eyes were glowing with reddish hate, and her teeth were so sharp it made samurai swords look like toothpicks compared to their blades. Her demonic horns, red and emanating flames, lit up the room like a Christmas tree while her eight giant black wings were unfolded and freed for the first time in years. The hotel's hallways were lit with demonic runes, melding eyeballs, and pentagrams that were oozing with blood. The very floor under Charlie melted like lava coming out from below, and her skin was so shiny white one could almost mistake her for an angel were it not for the other assortments of her body. But the worst of it was the glare. The demonic, terrible glow that was burning right into Alastor's soul made him realize that he might have gotten too far for the first time.
"Listen to me once, Alastor," Charlie whispered with a tone that made the very earth shake around them. "You can do whatever you want in this hotel. You can mess with me anytime you want. But you will NOT bother Blitz and his family in any of your sick and twisted little games. I have already hurt him enough as it is, and I will not have you ruin him any further so that you can have a laugh to make up for your pathetic existence as a sorry excuse for a man."
She forced Alastor closer to her face as she growled like that of a dragon ready to feast on its prey. Alastor gulped and wondered if he should say anything, but Charlie spoke again. "If you hurt him in any way, and I will find out if you do, I will ruin you. I will tear apart your soul so badly that all the rings of Hell will hear your wailing and shiver in fear. You will feel the unbearable pain of an eternity of suffering that I will give you with no relief from. Your body will be broken. Your mind will be crushed. Your soul will burn the like surface of the sun. And I will never give you the sweet release of death. I will keep you alive so that you will scream and beg, which will fall on deaf ears. But if you leave Blitzo and his family alone, you will not get to experience this. So the question becomes, do you really want to see how far you need to go to piss me off? Because this is the time to try if you want."
Alastor just stared until he slowly nodded. "I...I will just be going to bed then... and forget I saw anything."
In an instant, everything changed back to normal. There was no killer intent or suffering anymore. There was just the ticking of the clocks.
Charlie smiled and tilted her head. "Great! See you tomorrow morning. We're having waffles."
Charlie continued to smirk long after she bid Alastor a fair goodnight.
The past few days had been one hell of a roller coaster for Blitzo. He had seen familiar faces he hadn't seen since he ran away from home. Old friends from his childhood, demons he worked on the show with, and his...family.
A tear dripped down his face as he thought about what he had gained but also lost. The funeral had been a solemn affair. How couldn't it be with his sister lying in the casket, looking like she was asleep and yet would never open those bright, energetic eyes ever again? He didn't know what to say to Barbie Wire until he was right there at the casket, looking at her pale peaceful face. All he could do was just sob silently and tell her that he loved her.
That was all that needed to be said because sometimes, only a few words were enough to make you tell a whole story. Such as when Blitzo's father and Tillie held him the moment he entered the funeral home and repeated three words: "I'm sorry, brother/son."
It was not enough to heal years of broken tears and painful memories, but it was a spark. And like Charlie had said, sometimes a spark was all that's what's needed to start healing. There were long talks after his sister's burial that lasted for hours between the three of them. There was yelling, a lot of tears, and plenty of hugs, but it was clear that his older sister and father wanted to fix their relationship. They had lost Barbie, and they didn't want to lose Blitzo as well. And if what they were telling him was the truth, Barbie would have wished to re-bond with her twin if she had the chance.
Blitzo looked at the phone in his hand as he rested on the comfortable bed of Prince Stolas, who slept beside him. He stared at the photo of both his old family and his new one on the screen, who had decided to take a picture together before they left back for Imp City. I should stop thinking of them like that. They're all my family.
Both Blitzo's father and Tillie were surprised to know that they had a granddaughter/niece who was a hellhound, but they welcomed her nonetheless. Loona was a bit icy at first, but she eased up when Blitzo talked to her privately. What she said moved him, even if it wasn't exactly a nice thing to say: "I'm not going to call them grandpa and aunt just like that. They have to earn it before I can forgive them for treating my Dad like shit for years."
Still, that surprise was nothing compared to Blitzo showing his boyfriend. His father practically fainted when he learned he was sleeping with a prince, but once he had a few glasses of wine, the two got along well. And then Tillie had to ruin it by showing those embarrassing baby pictures that lead to him being the joke of everyone. Even Stolas couldn't help but call Blitzo a cute baby while he cuddles next to the big horsie doll that he had as a kid.
Despite the embarrassment, it had been good to revisit the past. Mostly the good stuff while dealing with the bad things in private. There were talks of getting back together, visits, and exchanging of numbers. It would take time, but Blitzo had a feeling that one day he could put the past finally behind him. If only it didn't take me losing my sister to get around to it.
The soft cooing of Blitz's lover echoed in his ear as the imp slowly looked to his side, where Stolas slept peacefully while embracing his partner as gentle as a teddy bear. Smiling, Blitz stroked the cheek of the owl demon just as he began to hear a familiar song about "Chasing Rainbows" on his phone that alerted him of Charlie calling him. After slowly getting out of bed without disturbing his lover, he accepted the call and leaned on the railing on the nearby balcony outside. "Hey, Charlie. Late night for a call, huh?"
"Sorry, I was kinda bored. I figured I'd give you a call," Charlie said on the line. "How was...visiting home?"
"Pretty good," Blitz said while gazing upon the stars. "I mean, except for the whole sister dying thing. I...I had a good talk with my dad and Tillie. Things were...emotional, but I think we're starting to reconnect. It's gonna take time, but...none of that wouldn't have been possible without you."
"Well, I'm glad things are working out," Charlie said in a tone that made her sound depressed.
"Something wrong?" Blitz asked curiously.
"No, just Alastor learned about us and...I had to go...super serious about making him back off on using you for his amusement."
"How bad?"
"The kind that has people giving you vast space and staring at you like you're about to explode like a bomb," Charlie answered with a groan. "I feel so embarrassed that I let loose like that..."
Blitz snorted with amusement. "Yeah, it takes a lot to get you mad. Like that one director, we had to work with? Micheal Deigo? You know, that asshole who wanted the theater we worked at to do Death of A Salesman but with an ending where Willie Lowmen goes berserk and kills his entire family before doing himself in?"
"Oh, don't remind me of that," Charlie moaned. "I still can't remember what I did when he decided he wanted there to be a rape scene between Willie and his sons. I only know I just lost it and woke up back at our apartment covered in blood and guts."
"Let's just say I've never seen a sinner bleed so much from his rectum before and leave it at that," Blitz said with a shiver. You always had to beware of the 'nice ones' when it came to pissing people off, especially when one of them was Lucifer's daughter. "Anyway, I'm doing fine. I really owe you for this. By the way, how is your girlfriend taking the whole...ex-lovers thing?"
"Pretty good," Charlie answer with a chuckle. "She seems a bit wary of you, but I think that's because of the assassination thing. Also, Husk and Angel Dust keep asking if you're going to come back more often. What did you say that got them to like you?"
"Let's just say it was about sunrises and leave it at that," Blitzo said before an idea came to him, and he soon smiled. "Hey, I think I know a goodway to thank you for helping me. You know how you've always wanted to visit the human world? Well, I got the book to take us there."
"Wait, really?! Seriously?! Won't Prince Stolas mind?!" Charlie asked with excitement.
"Charlie, I used the book to kill Jeffrey Epstein for a client and then went off with my employees and daughter for a three-day vacation in Vegas. I'm pretty sure he won't mind," Blitzo answered as he leaned on the railing. "In fact, let's finally get our two groups to meet each other. I still haven't told them about you, and I guess if we're going to reconnect as friends, we should have everyone we know to get to know each other, right?"
"Hmm, I guess we could use a vacation from the hotel," Charlie said, but there was a little doubt in her voice, so Blitzo decided to use a killer blow to sink her in.
"We can see Les Misérables in Paris," Blitzo teased.
"Deal!" Charlie squeed as Blitzo could practically hear her jumping with excitement. "It will take a while to plan everything, but I'll keep you updated! Oh, I can't wait! I'll chat with you later, Blitz! Goodnight!"
"Goodnight, Charlie," Blitzo said before he hung up. He was about to make his way to the bed when he saw Stolas staring at him, wide away, with a confused look. "Uhhh..."
"Blitz...were you talking to Charlie Magne on your phone?" Stolas asked, tilting his head in that weird way owls do. He loved Stolas, but that bizarre way of bending still freaked him out.
"Um, Y-Yeah, it was."
"How in the nine rings do you have the phone number of Lucifer's daughter?" Stolas asked, sitting up. "I don't even know her that well. I've never even spoken to her despite knowing her father."
Rubbing the back of his neck, Blitz slowly muttered, "Well...I might have...dated her at one point."
He couldn't help but snort at the shocked expression his lover was giving him. He could actually see the pupils in Stolas's red eyes while his beak looked ready to swallow a whole fist. Then again, Blitzo had seen that beak swallow a lot in their time together. "You gonna close that mouth or do I have to put my dick in it again for you to come to your senses?"
"I...I just..." Stolas shook his head before he regained his senses. "You dated the Princess of Hell? Goodness, no wonder you were so calm and collected when you slept with me the first time! I'm practically a commoner compared to her!"
"What can I say," Blitz said as he walked over and sat down on the bed with a smirk. "I got high-class tastes."
"I'll say," Stolas whispered with a whistle before laying down beside Blitz. "Still, I'm surprised. I never knew you had such a relationship. Was it serious?"
"...Yeah," Blitz sighed as he closed his eyes. Remembering those early young days of being so in love despite his current problems. "She was the first demon I ever fell in love with. This was back when I was trying to be an actor after leaving the circus. Not that it didn't do much good, I just got crappy roles with little to no lines. Charlie, however, was always the star. She was a goddess on the stage, and every director wanted her for their plays. If she didn't go through with that hotel idea of hers, she might have been a superstar."
"And you two were together for how long?" Stolas asked, softy.
"Three years," Blitzo muttered.
"...how serious?"
"...I asked her to marry me. She said no," Blitz answered as he stood up with a narrow glare. "She told me that marrying me wasn't going to work because I was an imp. God, I can remember the fight we had that day. I never felt so broken-hearted that I drank for three days straight without stopping. Afterward, we talked about where we were going and decided to split up. I left acting for good the next day and went off to learn how to be an assassin."
"I'm surprised Charlie did that," Stolas said with a surprised tone. "She always seemed like the kind of demon who didn't care about class status."
"Well, when we met up again a few months ago, she told me that her father found out and practically told her to dump me," Blitz said with a shrug. "Honestly, even I would have done the same. I'm willing to risk it with many demons, but not The Morning Star himself."
"True, I wouldn't either," Stolas answered with a nod before he slowly rolled his back towards Blitz. "Do you...still care about her?"
Blitzo paused before slowly moving towards Stolas, hugged him from behind, and kissed him on the cheek. "Listen, bird boy. I love you. Whatever was between Charlie and me is old news. Yes, I do care about her. Hell, I probably still have some feelings for her, but I don't love her as I love you." He made Stolas turn his head towards him. "Both of us have new lovers we care about deeply. She's got that Vaggie girl, and I got you, idiot. Charlie and I are just friends, close friends, but that's it. Whatever future we could have had died years ago. Now I just want a future with you."
Stolas started to get misty-eyed before he leaned over and kissed Blitz on the lips. "Thank you, Blitzy. S-Sorry, I guess I was just taken by surprise."
"It's fine," Blitzo said, laying on his back again with his arms behind his head. "Very few people even know it existed in the first place. We kept it pretty hidden during our time together and still do."
"You know, we can always do a double date," Stolas suggested with a smile. "I think it would be nice. Plus, my wife would freak out knowing I had gotten on such a thing with Hell's princess.
"Ha! I'd pay to see her heart attack in action," Blitz laughed before shrugging. "I'll text her the idea tomorrow and see where it goes. We both want our respective circles to meet each other and go out into the human world together with your book for a vacation. It has always been a dream of hers to see the human world, and I did promise her I'd take her to Paris one day."
"Hmm, I guess I wouldn't mind...under one condition," Stolas then glared at Blitzo. "No. Radio. Demon."
"Don't need to tell me twice." Yawning, Blitzo slowly put his head on his pillow and said, "Well, I'm tired. I'll catch ya in the morning."
Smiling, Stolas leaned over and kissed the cheek of his little imp before bidding him goodnight and getting comfortable in the covers.