So, first and foremost ; I am French, and while I love reading and writing in english, it's not my primary language, so please tell me if I made mistakes.

Also, disclaimer ; Hazbin hotel belong to Vivienne Medrano, only the story is mine.

It's also been a long while since I wrote anything in english so please, bear with me.

Vaggie was standing speechless at the bottom of the stairs, her eyes glued to the scene taking place.

She has tried to be supportive of Charlie's dream since the beginning, she really had, and with all that happened and all the decisions and ideas her girlfriend had to "bond" with each-other … nothing had ever rendered her speechless.

Nothing, till now.

She slowly lifted her bewildered face toward the princess … and to her dismay saw she was lost. Hands above her mouth, stars in the eyes … yep, completely and utterly lost. Despite herself Vaggie smiled at her girlfriend, loving this pure side of her, before returning to the … disturbing sight standing a few meters from them.

Because there it was, Alastor, the friggin' radio demon, overlord and one of the more powerful demon she encountered in her life, one everyone feared even the name … delicately holding a baby and nearly cooing at it while his staff was hovering and playing some melody next to them.

She might have found it cute with Angel – who seemed enamored by the little thing, waving his finger in front of its face - or even Husk (Nifty was not even an option) … but Alastor! Where did he found it anyway?! Did he steal it?! Before she could react Charlie was already by the demon' side, making cooing sounds at the child while the red-cladded demon was grinning like a cat that got the canary.

She started to approach, still flabbergasted, and Angel must have enquired about it because when she was in range she heard the man respond.

"- of course she is not mine, but I couldn't not help a dear friend of mine when she asked for a little favor." For once the static was almost completely absent from his voice, surely something to do with the sensitive hearing of a small child, and as Vaggie took a step closer she had to admit the little thing did look cute … for a baby with completely black eyes and sharps teeth starting to show past the gums.

"How long will you keep her?" Asked Charlie, eyes not leaving the baby's face. "Does she need anything? Oh, oh no, we don't have anything for childcare!" She startled, and she would have run off if Alastor hadn't stopped her with a raised hand, saying it was a matter of minutes before he was to give her back. Well, Vaggie reasoned, it was a good thing; the hotel wasn't what one could call "baby safe".

And as if on cue, a polite knock came from the door, Charlie excusing herself like the good little hostess she was. Alastor watched her go, then let his eyes drift back to the child in his arms, looking left and right in wonder. Little fella mustn't leave his home often enough. It should be interesting once she start walking on her own feet. His ears twitched on top of his head, the soft voice coming from the entrance confirming their time was up.

"Alastor, I hope I wasn't too long?" Rosie asked grandly with a smile as she approached, and the little one turned immediately her head toward the woman, chubby hands asking to be held.

"She was a dearie" Alastor responded while handing the buddle of joy. "An avid listener she was. A little more and I wouldn't have had any more stories to tell." He smiled at the child now firmly secured in the woman's arms.

"Stories?!" Angel interjected, his smile incredulous. "You, telling stories?! Ha! I would have paid good money to see that!" The spider demon sneakered, finding the image of Alastor regaling small children with stories ridiculous. But the radio demon merely smiled wider, loving how the others were looking at him as if he had grown a second head. He opened his mouth but before he could place his remark an irritating voice cut him off;

"Cute baby you got here."

Every heads turned toward the new voice, no one having heard nor seen the devil arriving, the man amusing himself and the child by twirling his finger, making golden ribbons of light swirling in the air much like he did when Charlie was her age.

"Is she yours?" He asked the overlord who, thought surprised, masked it well as she answered with a polite smile.

"No, your majesty. A dear friend of mine needed someone to take care of her for the day. Alas something impromptu came up – nothing alarming I assure you – but it was not really … baby appropriate. I was already nearby and Alastor proposed to watch her."

At his name the king raised an eyebrow, clearly thinking he was the last person for the job but too polite to voice it in front of a guest. "Weeeell, I uh guess every demon must have redeeming qualities, if not this hotel would not exist!" He said with a mocking smile, satisfied when he spotted the red eyes narrowing just a bit.

"Ha! Well I couldn't just disappear when taking care of this sweetie now couldn't I. I mean, what sort of guardian would that make me if I was to abandon her on her own?!" The radio demon asked rhetorically, a thrill coursing down his back at the near snarl on the other face. Oh how the other was easy to rill up!

"Your majesty" Rosie interjected before the two could continue, and the serious of her voice turned the occupants attention back to her. "If I may have a moment of your time."

Lucifer regarded her for a moment, before realization hit him; "Oh, oh, yes, of course! Hem, here, this way!"

Everyone watched them disappear around a corner, and Alastor took this opportunity to melt with the shadows, partly to avoid annoying and irrelevant questions, and partly because of curiosity. He found them not far from the lobby, and he made his way in one of the numerous crevices in the wall, safely hidden.

"… worrying indeed but I cannot say I know what to do in this case; we will have to wait and see how it progress. You did say only a few still behave like that." He saw Rosie nod, her expression thoughtful. "Give it a few days. If there are no changes … well, we will see."

Well well well, so His Majesty could be serious when the occasion asked for it. And here he was beginning to think he was only a buffoon masquerading as a king.

"I may be overstepping, my lord, but be careful."

"Me? Ha! Puh-lease, I know how to defend myself, do not worry." Seeing the cannibal expression, he grimaced at his choice of word. The woman sure knew how to look chastening. "I will be careful."

"Could you please tell Charlie too? She is a sweetheart and it would pain me if something was to happen to her."

"She is only half." Reassure Lucifer, a smile gracing his lips at the mention of his precious daughter. "But I will let her know. Vaggie, too." At this Alastor's ticked, his eyes narrowing at the new information. Lucifer, Charlie and Vaggie … so the problem had partly to do with Angels. "What I find strange is that you don't seem affect in our presence. And now that I think of it Alastor didn't show any signs either." The radio demon's ears perked up.

"Oh but I was, still am a little," Rebuked the overlord. "But how could I take care of my people if I was letting something like that rule over me!" Rosie laughed, bringing a perfectly manicured hand to her mouth. "Alastor must be the same, and although I cannot say for sure I've known him long enough to know he wouldn't let something like that bother him." Then she added as an afterthought, "The miscreant knows how to play his games thought, so I would be careful. Just in case."

If Alastor was anyone else he would have facepalmed at her wording. He was not a mere child misbehaving, thank you very much. As it was he merely left, rematerializing behind the door, a hand dusting his cloak before walking away.

He had a good idea now about what it was about. He had felt weird after the battle, having feast on the dead angels with the other cannibals – or at least what remained of it when he came down his tower - and he remembered the sweet taste of their blood, the power rush and the want for more which last for a few days after. But he had kept himself in his quarters during that time, slowly healing the ridiculous wound Adam had left. Oh how out of practice he must be to have let himself be manhandle like he had! The fact it still hurt him at time was a sad reminder and left a foul aftertaste in the back of his throat.

But, maybe … yes, maybe he could have a little fun with this little titbit of information. He wouldn't touch the girls – he was a gentleman and it would be counterproductive with his goals. No, he needed the princess to trust him. He already made a deal with her; he couldn't risk ruining it all. His grin widened sinisterly. But Lucifer … oh he was fair game. And riling the king was just so entertaining.