John followed behind Charlie, warily eyeing the customers walking around the mall.

The Hell Hole might be a decent community, but John wasn't stupid to the cruelty of most of Hell's denizens.

A part of him was starting to regret his decision to let Charlie come along, considering how many people were eyeing Charlie up like she was a toy.

On the bright side, their gazes usually only lasted a split second, before they would spot the 9 foot beast next to her and try to play stupid.

John sighed in frustration, his voice a little more gravelly than usual as he growled at a fat pig demon who was staring at Charlie.

Charlie looked up at John. "Are you alright?"

John sighed. "Fine, just frustrated."

Charlie was about to ask why, but then she watched him growl at a snake demon who had been looking at her with a glint in his eyes. "You don't like people looking at me like that?"

"Charlie, the Hell Hole has very few people like this, and even the ones who do stare tend to own up to it and admit the attraction." John explained. "I don't leave the Hell Hole much, so assholes staring at girls like they found their next meal really doesn't sit well with me."

Charlie smiled at John's words. "John, The Hell Hole is the exception, not the rule. I've had people looking at me like this for the past century, and I mostly just ignore it. Hell, I'm usually ignored, really. This is the most attention I've gotten in the past month."

John chuckled as a thought occurred to him. "Y'know, outside of Katie Killjoy?"

Charlie blushed in embarrassment. "Shut up."

John smiled. "But none of them make a move on you?"

Charlie laughed. "John, demons either eye me, or ignore me, but they know who I am. Not only do I have enough grasp on my power to wipe out most of the demons who would try to make a move or force themselves on me, but those who do somehow manage to beat me know that they will have Lucifer Magne himself coming after them."

John raised an eyebrow. "Your dad would do that?"

Charlie sighed sadly. "My dad is mean, but he and my mother both made sure I had a happy, if sheltered, life growing up. My mom was always much more protective of me than Dad, but he's always cared. Believe it or not, I was actually a daddy's girl growing up."

John looked surprised. "Huh, how about that."

Charlie giggled. "Yeah. Anyway, I think his more lax protective streak is what makes him so dangerous, much more dangerous in terms of my safety."

John nodded. "Because if you've managed to do something that catches Lucifer's attention, you have fucked up."

Charlie nodded, smiling. "Exactly!" She looked at John, her face changing as she furrowed her brow. "You really don't like my dad, do you?"

John shook his head. "Honestly? Not really."

Charlie tilted her head. "Can I ask why?"

John looked at Charlie. "You want blunt honesty, or kind but untrue words?"

Charlie raised an eyebrow. "Honesty."

"Lucifer Magne is a high and mighty pompous asshole who thinks he's so much better than all the demons in Hell because of not only his power, but the fact that he's an Angel, not a Demon, pretending as if he doesn't have the biggest fuckup of all of Hell's denizens. He's a narcissistic, egotistical asshole who sits on his throne like he's earned his fucking right to be King, even though he was literally spoonfed an entire Kingdom by dear old Dad, as a punishment, which I think is fucking hilarious. Tries to kill Papa and take over Heaven, which is a bigger fuckup and much more idiotic than any sin any other demon has commited, regardless of his power, and instead of actually being punished for such a stupid stunt, he's made a king!"

Charlie's eyes widened at John's words, surprised that anyone would speak ill of her dad so openly. Most people she knew would hold their tongue out of fear of it somehow reaching Lucifer.

"Wow… you really don't like my dad."

"Uh huh."

Charlie was quiet for a moment, looking down. "Funny thing is, everything you said is true. I love him, he made sure I was always happy as a kid, and I can't even deny that entire paragraph of complaints."

John sighed. "Well, I will say one good thing about him. He cares for his family. That's a trait I admire."

Charlie chuckled mirthlessly. "Now if only he could support his family too, even if he disagrees with their ideas."

John scoffed. "Ah, just stick it to him. Prove to him that he couldn't be more wrong."

Charlie shook her head. "If a demon can't get into Heaven, then that's not gonna happen."

John looked at Charlie's downtrodden mood, and smiled. "You know, some religions say that Hell is a place to atone for your sins, not embrace them." He chuckled. "It's not exactly supposed to be paradise."

Charlie looked up at John, smiling slightly. "Thanks, John.

John nodded. "No problem."

As they made their way into the grocery store within the mall, Charlie looked at John when he moved to grab a cart.

"What are you doing?" She asked him, confused.

"Well, we can't just carry everything until we get bags, can we?" He asked, looking at her with a raised eyebrow.

At his words, Charlie giggled. "John, when I go shopping, I go around the store, make a list of what we need, and hand it to the manager."

John tilted his head. "Huh?"

"John, I get everything delivered in bulk to the Hotel. Do you know when the last time me and Vaggie went shopping was?"

"Uh… no."

"Three months ago."

John's eyes shot wide. "Jesus Christ, woman!"

Charlie laughed at his expression. "Why do you think I told you not to bother paying?"

John looked at her in surprise, before a thought occurred to him, and he facepalmed. "You know, it just hit me that we would be carrying all of our groceries back by hand."

Charlie looked like she was trying to hold back a laugh at that one. "R-Really?"

John nodded, his face deadpan. "I'm a fucking idiot."

He walked up to Charlie as the princess began laughing like crazy, finding John's admission too funny to pass up.

"Y-You really didn't realize that?!" She asked through her giggles. John shook his head with a chuckle.

"No, I didn't."

Charlie's giggles slowly died down as she looked at John. "Well, let's go ahead and get that list made."

Alastor and Vaggie both tailed the two, maintaining enough distance and using the crowd to hide from their targets.

"I don't like this."

Alastor chuckled at Vaggie's remark.

"My dear, I don't care."

Vaggie gritted her teeth as she turned to look at Alastor.

"Why do you care so much for him anyway? You're a cruel, evil mass murderer. Even assuming that his whole demeanor isn't just an act, why do you care so much for him?"

Alastor looked at Vaggie, his smile never wavering. "My reasons are my own, Vagatha."

Vaggie growled, glaring at Alastor. "You're forcing me to stick with you out of care for this guy, which is all the more reason for me not to trust him. It seems like he is a willing associate, but that cat guy, Husk? He acts like he is forced into it."

"Husk is more than happy to leave if he so wishes. Despite our very clear differences, I must say that he has been with me for a long time, and he has been nothing but loyal!"

"Yeah, out of fear, probably." Vaggie muttered. "Still, what makes this giant hijo de puta so important to you?"

Alastor looked at Vaggie for a moment, then shook his head. "You really don't give up, do you?" His radio static was gone as he spoke sincerely.

Vaggie didn't respond.

Alastor sighed. "Well then. If you must know, Johnathan tried to befriend me after our initial encounter, where he soundly defeated me. At first, I thought he was utterly stupid. Why, sparing the Radio Demon of all people, instead of killing him?"

Vaggie snorted. "Still sounds like he was stupid."

Alastor glared at Vaggie, but didn't take the bait. "Anyway, I decided to humor him. After all, that was still an entertaining incident, and I wanted to see how useful the boy could be to me. It definitely didn't hurt that he seemed to be a broad source of entertainment."

Vaggie raised an eyebrow at Alastor's words. "Sounds to me like you just think he's some tool, like everyone else in Hell is to you."

Alastor's eyes flashed dangerously. "Choose your next words, very carefully."

Vaggie smiled. "Oh, struck a nerve?"

As much as Alastor wanted to rip the girl to shreds right there, the fact that John was within distance of such a debacle held him in place.

"Back on track, I followed through with the charade while he treated me as a good friend. Both Husker and Niffty got along with him well, and to my own surprise, I found myself slowly coming to see him as a good friend."

Alastor's gaze moved back to look towards John and Charlie, who were both laughing at something.

"He has a heart. Not just a regular one, but a heart of gold. For a demon to be full of such kindness, especially after the first month, let alone two years?" He gazed down at Vaggie, an eyebrow raised. "I don't know why you have such a hatred for him when you only just met him, but as Charlie seems to believe in regards to everyone, you should at least give him a chance."

Vaggie was silent for a moment, and then she scoffed. "The fact that you are vouching for him gives me more reason not to trust him."

Alastor rolled his eyes, growling in annoyance. "Your view of things is so one-sided."

Vaggie snorted. "We're in Hell. There's no other side to have."

Alastor glanced at Vaggie out the corner of his eye, and his signature smile returned to his face. "I suppose that means the entire hotel idea is an entire act of Charlotte's?"

Vaggie's eyes widened at Alastor's words, and she turned to him, growling in anger. "Don't you dare compare Charlie to the rest of the scum here!"

"Oh, but you can compare Johnathan to the rest of the sinners in this cesspool?" Alastor asked, raising an eyebrow.

Vaggie could feel herself shaking in rage. Alastor was finally getting to her, and what's worse, is she couldn't stop him. "Vete a la mierda, señor de la mierda!"

Alastor had no clue what she was saying, but he responded nonetheless. "My dear, I think you mistake for an immigrant! I speak only the finest language!"

Vaggie yelled in anger, made even worse by the fact that she knew that she wouldn't be able to do anything.

"Fuck you." She said through gritted teeth. Alastor's eyes shined dangerously as he glared back.

"You first."

They simply glared at each other, before Vaggie huffed.

"If he's as good as you say he is, why is he in Hell?"

Alastor chuckled. "My dear, you wouldn't blame him if you knew the circumstances of his life."

Vaggie rolled her eyes. "Yeah, because any sin is okay if it's understandable. What, he was an alcoholic?"

Alastor looked at him, and then glanced down at Vaggie. "My dear, he's in hell because he strangled his killer before he died."

Vaggie's eyes widened. "What?"

Alastor nodded. "Yes. You heard him say he was poisoned, right?"

Vaggie nodded. "Yeah, he said it a bit casually."

Alastor chuckled. "He has no problem saying what killed him. It's the story of his death that he has a problem with." He looked down at Vaggie. "Johnathan doesn't regret killing the man, because before poisoning him, the man made sure Johnathan's life was a living hell."

Vaggie raised an eyebrow. It kind of sounded like-

A neon light.

A leopard print wallpaper.

"You brought this on yourself bitch!"

Pain.

Vaggie shook her head vigorously to clear her thoughts.

The last thing she wanted to think about was her death.

Vaggie looked up at Alastor, and glared. "I'll give him a chance to prove himself, but I will never trust him."

Alastor chuckled. "You say that like it's a certainty."

She growled at Alastor, who chuckled.

Both of them jumped in fright though, when two large hands belonging to the same person came to rest on both their shoulders as a familiar voice spoke up.

"You two know that you can't sneak worth shit, right?"

A/N: And that's the chapter.

Yes, I will delve into Vaggie's death further in the story. And don't assume that she's going to be nice to John because she's giving him a chance. With what I have planned, her animosity towards him will reach a boiling point first.

Also, Something I didn't talk about in the last chapter, because I didn't leave an author's note.

In my fic, Alastor has two demon forms. The one we saw in the comic when he killed the butcher, and one that resembles the modern interpretation of a wendigo. I thought it would make sense, seeing as he is a cannabilistic deer demon. As for John, strength isn't his only unique ability. John is hiding more within him than even he knows, and it will be revealed through the course of the story.

Anyway, that's all, don't forget to review, and I'll see you all in the next chapter.