AN: Okay, so here is chapter two. I originally had this set for six chapters. You may have noticed that has changed. I realized while writing this that I had to split it in two if I wanted to keep these chapters shorter so I now no longer know how many chapters this will be. Either way, I'm trying to get out one chapter a day. We'll see how long that lasts. If I do miss a day, please bear with me. I promise I'll get it up as soon as possible. Also, the characters in this fic may be a little OOC. I hope it doesn't bother anyone. This is an AU, after all, so some personality changes are to be expected.
Disclaimer: Hazbin Hotel and all the characters from the show belong to Vivienne Medrano.
The Radio Demon stared him down, red eyes unblinking, blood dripping from every inch of his being. To say Vox was impressed would be an understatement. He'd torn that overlord apart as if they were nothing, tentacles flailing wildly whilst screams filled the air. Now though, with the other's attention drawn solely to him instead, Vox felt afraid. He'll admit it. This was probably the most terrifying thing he'd experienced since landing in hell a year ago.
He was barely standing, his injuries throbbing from the abuse he'd taken at the hands of the overlord that now lay in pieces strewn around the alley... there was no way he'd survive an encounter with the Radio Demon. He was tempted to close his eyes and succumb to his fate but if there is one thing Vox is, it's proud. He would not allow himself to cower away as death came for him. No! He would face it head-on, staring it in the eyes the entire time until the moment he breathed his last breath. With that thought, he raised his head and met the Radio Demon's blood-red gaze, no sign of hesitation to be found.
The two stared at each other for what seemed to be an eternity, neither moving, simply sizing the other up. Finally, the other demon's smile widened and he turned away, a sinister chuckle filling the air. Just like that, Vox was left alone to lick his wounds, confusion filling his head. Why had the Radio Demon let him live? Was he planning to return and finish the job at a later date? Whatever the reason, Vox wasn't sticking around to find out.
Dirt and debris rained down around him as the TV Demon sluggishly blinked his eyes open. It's been a while since he'd dreamed of that first meeting with Alastor. Why now? What was going on? Hadn't he been doing something important? His head hurt and he was dizzy. Something warm was dripping down his face. Was it blood? What happened? He was so confused.
A rattled breath below him drew his attention and the blue overlord's eyes widened as his memory returned to him full force. Alastor! He was hurt by that damned angel, Adam. Vox had come to the rescue and managed to trick the bastard into leaving but what had happened after that? It was all a blur. He remembered running down stairs with an unconscious Al draped over his shoulders, then came a flash of light followed by an alarming rumble. Piecing together the previous events, Vox realized that the hotel must have collapsed during their escape and they were now trapped.
"Well, that's just great." The sinner muttered to himself, attempting to shift off of his friend without causing him any further pain. "As if things weren't bad enough, now we're buried alive under a shit-ton of bricks. What else could go wrong?"
As if in answer to his question, the building above them gave a loud groan and shifted ominously. Swiftly flinging himself back over his prone friend's body, Vox braced for impact. Thankfully, the building settled once more and their little pocket of safety remained untouched other than the dust that was pervading the air.
Risking a look around, he was thankful that his face gave off a faint glow. Without it, they'd have been left in pitch black. The debris above their heads was currently being held aloft by a section of wall that had broken and was leaning over against another, more intact one behind them, effectively shielding them from most of the damage. There was just enough room for him to sit up but he knew it wouldn't last forever. If that wall fell it would crush them both where they lay. Not an optimal outcome, that's for sure. For now, though, they were as safe as they could hope to be with an entire building lying atop them.
Turning his attention to the other overlord, Vox felt his chest tighten as he once more moved off his friend's body. Blood was still seeping from the wound across Alastor's chest, forming a small puddle beneath the slightly smaller demon, his ashen face held in a smile that was more a grimace than anything. Even though he'd done his best to protect him, Al was still covered in dirt and rubble. It would be a miracle if the cut didn't get infected after this and miracles didn't happen down here. There was also a small stutter to his breathing and the TV Demon gently moved his fingers across the other's chest, wincing when he felt a rib shift at his probing. Damn! He must have accidentally broke it when he'd landed on him earlier.
"Sorry, pal. Didn't mean for that to happen." He murmured, running a hand over his face in distress.
He paused when it came away bloody. He'd forgotten about his throbbing head. Now, it seemed as if the pain had doubled and he noticed that he was slightly dizzy. Must be a concussion. Well, it's not the worst he's had. He can deal with it. At least his screen wasn't cracked, it was never fun when that happened. It wouldn't have mattered even if it was though, right now, Al was his main priority. He had to get the bleeding under control and figure out how to get them out of here. Otherwise, he'd lose his friend and maybe even his life. Not allowing himself to think such thoughts, Vox swiftly reached under his coat and tore a large chuck off his button-up. It would have to do. At least it was relatively clean and, looking at the dirt smeared into the cut, he figured it wouldn't cause any more harm than what had already been done. With that, he pressed the cloth firmly against the gaping wound.
-XXX-XXX-XXX-
Charlie looked around at what remained of her hotel. Her hopes and dreams had rested in this place and now they were gone... just like Sir Pentious. Her poor friend had given his all for them, the ultimate sacrifice, now he was dead... and it was all her fault. Collapsing to her knees, she let her heart sink into despair, tears trailing down her face in rivulets. She might have stayed there for the rest of eternity, wallowing in self-pity, had it not been for her father and friends. Their words lifted her spirits, set fire to her determination, and proved without a doubt that she wasn't alone. Now, here they were, working their way through the debris and salvaging what they could. The Hazbin Hotel would rise from the rubble like a phoenix and it would be stronger and grander than ever before, that was something she truly believed.
Glancing around at those she cared for more than anything, Charlie smiled to herself. They were all doing their part to help with the cleanup and it warmed her heart. This... this right here, is what mattered. Being surrounded by those she loved. The hotel may have fallen, that's true, but they were still here, mostly alive and unscathed... for that she was eternally grateful. Taking one final look before resuming her work, the Princess of Hell suddenly froze, realization washing over her as her face twisted in horror. Someone was missing! How could she have forgotten that Alastor had been in charge of dealing with Adam? Since the angel had managed to attack them, she could only assume that he'd failed. Where was he? Was he even alive? No! The Radio Demon wouldn't be taken out so easily... right? There was only one way to know... they had to find him. The hotel could wait a couple of days, it wasn't going anywhere, this was more important. Alastor's life could very well be on the line and she would not fail another friend. Not if she could help it.
"Hey, has anybody seen Alastor?" She called, drawing the attention of her friends.
Everyone stopped what they were doing and glanced uneasily at each other before swiftly gathering around their princess.
"I haven't seen Smiles since we took up our positions," Angel said, a worried tone taking over his normally smooth voice. Cherry simply nodded along.
"Same here." Vaggie agreed, placing a soothing hand on her girlfriend's shoulder. "I was too busy fighting to look for him after the barrier fell."
"I didn't see him either." Nifty chirped, her mouth turned down in a frown. "He's okay though, right?"
Husk let out a sigh, pinching the bridge of his nose before letting his hand fall back to his side.
"Well, I can tell you the bastard isn't dead. I know that much for certain." He revealed, concern hiding behind his gruff words. "Knowing Alastor, he probably stole away to watch the fight and will show up with that shit-eating grin he always wears when we least expect it."
"But what if he's hurt?" Charlie voiced, more worry spreading through her body the longer she thought about the other demon's absence. "Alastor may be many things, but he's not one to just abandon his friends."
"How would you know that, Charlie?" Lucifer spoke up, doubt and the slightest bit of contempt lacing his words. "From what I've heard of the Radio Demon, he doesn't have friends. He slaughters those around him for fun without even the slightest bit of remorse... he's the worst kind of sinner there is. He can't be redeemed. Maybe it would be best if he's gone."
"Dad!" The female demon shouted, disbelief evident in her tone. "How could you say such a thing? Everyone deserves a second chance... no matter who they are or what they've done. People can change... we just need to give them a chance."
Her dad lowered his gaze, guilt obvious on his face and she took a deep breath, letting the anger she'd felt melt away. She could understand where he was coming from, even if she didn't agree with him.
"Alastor has done some pretty messed up things, it's true. But I believe in him." She said, reaching out a hand to her father. "Do you believe in me?"
"Of course I do, Charlie," he said vehemently, taking her hand in his own and giving it a gentle squeeze before letting go. "I just don't want you getting hurt."
"I know." She said, a soft smile gracing her features before turning her gaze to the others.
The Demon Princess took a calming breath, stealing her nerves as she took a moment to think. She didn't believe Al had abandoned them. That wasn't his style. No, something had to have happened to keep him away.
"Okay, here's the plan." She announced, resolve filling her soul as she met the eyes of those around her. "We're going to split up and search for Alastor. If he did get hurt in his battle with Adam then he likely couldn't have gone far. If you happen to find something, call out and let the rest of us know, okay?"
The others muttered in agreement, even her father, though she could tell he still wasn't happy about it. Charlie took a breath, closing her eyes for a moment to hide her doubt. What if they didn't find him? They couldn't search forever. There was so much work that needed to be done. Making up her mind, she nodded to herself. They'd give it tonight and maybe tomorrow if they still haven't found him. After that, they'd have to hope he showed up on his own. When she opened her eyes, all they showed was resolve.
"Okay, let's get searching." The demonic princess called, swiftly heading off in the direction of Al's radio tower with Vaggie following close behind.
-XXX-XXX-XXX-
Vox swore as the rubble shifted once more, a large chunk breaking off and hitting his arm as he once again shielded Alastor from the debris. It sent fire coursing through his shoulder and he had to grit his teeth not to cry out. That was going to leave a mark for sure. Luckily for him, it didn't feel broken. Still, if this kept up they would be dead in a matter of hours. He loathed to admit it but... they needed help. Putting pressure on Al's wound left him unable to do anything about the impending collapse of their safe zone. The bleeding had slowed yet he was afraid that if he let up it would reopen and his friend would bleed out. It was a no-win situation. He'd simply have to hope that Lucifer's daughter realized one of her own was missing and would come for him. As much as he hated relying on others, he would have to in order to get out of this mess.
"I hope you haven't managed to piss them off too badly, my friend." He said, amusement in his voice as he glanced at the deer demon's face. "Our lives depend on it."
He chuckled, using his non-injured shoulder to wipe the blood from his forehead before letting out a snort.
"On second thought, we're screwed." He joked, thinking of Alastor's penchant for causing chaos.
His attention was drawn back to the other overlord's face when he caught a slight movement. Looking closer, he noticed his friend's eyes fluttering and hope filled his heart.
"Hey, Al? Can you hear me?" He asked, keeping his voice low so as not to startle the other. "Come on, pal, wake up."
"Hmm," a muffled groan made it past the red sinner's mouth as his eyes finally flickered open, ears laying flat against his head.
He looked confused and unfocused but he was awake, that was as good a sign as the TV Demon could hope for.
"Vox?" Alastor spoke, voice barely above a whisper and filled with radio static.
Before he could say more the poor demon broke into a coughing fit that lasted for several long moments.
"Hey, take it easy, I'm right here. I've got you." Vox replied, wishing he had some water he could offer the other. "How are you feeling?"
"Fine..." the answer was spoken through gritted teeth, his eyes closing for a moment as he breathed through the pain.
"Yeah, I don't believe that for a second." The blue overlord replied, raising one eyebrow skeptically. "Now, tell me the truth."
The other hesitated, sending a pitiful glare up at him before taking a shaky breath and turning his face away in shame.
"It hurts," Al admitted, stealthily attempting to curl up only to be held in place by the other sinner.
"Hey, no, don't do that." He spoke, voice more gentle than he'd let anyone other than Alastor hear before. "It's not surprising it hurts, you've taken quite the beating. Stay still so you don't open your wound back up, okay? I just got the bleeding under control."
He waited for his friend to look at him once more and give a slow nod of acceptance before continuing.
"Do you remember what happened?" He asked, concern etched on his face.
It took several minutes before he got a response. So long in fact that he would have been worried the other had slipped back into unconsciousness had it not been for the fact that his eyes were still partly open. Finally, a response came and he let out a breath of relief.
"Adam... fight... lost..." were the words his friend spoke, seemingly having to fight to get even that much out. Then came one final word that nearly broke the TV Demon's heart. "Sorry..."
"No, don't you dare fucking apologize. You have nothing to be sorry for," he denied, anger that he refused to let into his voice coursing through his veins. "That asshole nearly killed you, Al! For no reason other than you're from Hell. He brought those exorcists to the hotel with the express intention of wiping you all out. If anything I'm the one who should be fucking sorry. I should have been by your side instead of hiding away at V tower like a coward!"
Tears fell from his eyes as he moved to cradle one of his friend's gloved hands in his own. Soul-crushing regret coursed through his heart as he felt the other tremble, whether from pain or his own emotions, he didn't know. What he did know was that Alastor never let such weakness show if he could help it, not even around him, and the fact that he was doing so now scared the crap out of him. For Al to be acting this way, Vox knew it had to be bad. Either his friend was in so much pain that he'd unknowingly let his guard down or he truly believed he was dying. It didn't matter which it was, all Vox knew was that he had to comfort his friend.
"I'll say it as many times as I have to to get it through that thick head of yours." He continued, voice hoarse as he fought to choke back his tears. He'd always been the more emotional of the two. "You have nothing to be sorry for. Believe me, you did everything you could. That barrier of yours must have taken up so much of your power. For you to still attempt to fight that prick head-on? Man, I can't even imagine the strain you put yourself through. But that ends here, you hear me, Al? I promise, from now on, I'll be there when you need me. I don't care what the rest of Hell thinks. They can all fuck off and mind their own business. I'm not letting you fight alone anymore... not when facing something like that."
"But.' the hurt demon began only to be cut off.
"No buts, Alastor," Vox exclaimed, tightening his hold slightly on the other's hand, though not enough to hurt. "I almost lost you today! Hell, I could still lose you. If this is what comes from keeping our friendship a secret then I want no part of it. Whatever happens, we'll face it together."
Glancing up to Al's face he saw the other struggling to stay awake. A surge of pity swept through him and he slowly leaned over to press a gentle kiss to the deer's forehead. The other sinner was like a brother to him and seeing him so hurt was more than he could stand.
"Get some rest, pal. I'll be here when you wake up." He reassured, going back to his original position only to feel a faint grip on his sleeve.
"Promise?" Alastor whispered, voice wavering slightly as he forced his drooping eyes to stay open long enough to receive an answer.
"Yeah, I promise," Vox replied, a large smile forming to match the one Alastor usually wore... the one that was now conspicuously absent.
With that, the other demon once more slipped into unconsciousness, leaving Vox alone with his troubled thoughts. As what was left of the hotel once more shook around them, he wondered if that was a promise he'd be able to keep.