AN: I don't have much to say today other than I hope you enjoy this chapter. I'm so thankful for all the support and kind comments I've been getting on this story, they really help me stay motivated. Thank you to everyone reading this and I hope you have a great day :)
Disclaimer: Vivienne Medrano owns Hazbin Hotel.
It was as if time had frozen for the pair, neither moving, hardly daring to breathe as the world passed them by. Charlie's eyes had gone wide the moment he'd asked his question and tears pooled in the expressive orbs causing him immediate regret. He should have kept his mouth shut! The distress pouring from the girl caused his heart to clench painfully in his chest and Alastor was forced to look away. He couldn't stand the sight of her anguished face. Guilt and sadness coursed through his body at the knowledge that he'd been the one to cause her suffering and he tightened his grip on his arm, hoping to shut out these negative emotions before they caused his facade to crumble once more.
"Al... Alastor? Can you hear me?" He let out a startled gasp as hands landed on his arms, just below the shoulders, shocking him out of his spiraling thoughts as she shouted his name. "ALASTOR!"
Charlie's face swam into view as he came back to reality. The woman was ignoring the tears streaming down her cheeks as she stared at him with thinly veiled concern.
"I'm... I'm fine, Charlie," He said, not moving an inch. "Must have just zoned out for a bit, haha."
Moving slowly, the princess reached down and took hold of his right hand, gently prying it away from his now bloody arm. She cast a pained look at the injury before meeting his gaze once more with sorrowful eyes.
"Oh," the sinner muttered, unaware he'd been causing himself such damage.
"Let's get that cleaned up... then we'll talk." With that said, Charlie walked over to a table where Rosie's first-aid kit sat abandoned and began digging through it.
When she returned moments later, her hands were full. Placing a bottle of antiseptic to the side along with a roll of bandages, Charlie softly took his damaged limb in her hand. She inspected the scratches decorating his left arm, causing him to let out a quiet hiss as she prodded at them.
"They're not deep, thank goodness." She revealed, a sad smile gracing her face. "It shouldn't take long for these to heal."
It took barely any time at all before Charlie had the injury cleaned and bandaged. The demon felt ashamed that she was forced to do such a thing when she was clearly suffering from her own problems. Ears folded flat against his head, he turned his face away.
"Thank you," he said for the second time that day. "I appreciate the effort."
"I don't mind helping people, Al. You should know that by now." She chuckled slightly, patting his hand before moving to sit beside him on the bed. "That includes you."
They fell into a comfortable silence then, simply basking in each other's company. Alastor's eyelids had begun to droop with fatigue by the time Charlie turned to face him with a serious expression. Forcing them to remain open, he gave her his utmost attention.
"Sir Pentious died trying to use his airship to defeat Adam." She explained and he could see tears once more building in the corners of her eyes. "He did it for us... to protect his friends and home. All he wanted was to help and look where it got him. Maybe the hotel isn't such a good idea, after all."
It felt as if a heavy weight had settled on his chest, making it hard to breathe. So, he'd been right. By letting himself lose to that sloppy angel, he'd doomed one of the only people he cared about before he'd even gotten a chance to fully know the man. He may have been dramatic and slightly obnoxious at times, but Pentious had heart. He was probably the best of them, the most likely to prove Charlie right that sinners could be redeemed, now he was gone and the princess' hopes were dwindling. That was something he couldn't allow. Charlie was a light in this dark place, one of the only good things it had to offer, he wouldn't stand by and let her dream be extinguished.
"Now, now, my dear. Why do you say that?" He asked at last, placing one finger under her chin to gently lift Charlie's face from where her gaze had fallen to the floor.
"Alastor, all I did was make things worse! I painted a giant target on our backs," she cried, the tears she'd been holding at bay breaking loose to stream unimpeded down her cheeks. "Pentious is dead, you were gravely injured, the hotel is destroyed, and it's ALL MY FAULT!"
Pulling the tormented woman into his arms, Al fought against the pain that flared through his chest in favor of comforting her. In the face of her suffering, what he felt was barely worth mentioning. Charlie sobbed against his shoulder, her tears dampening the fabric of the shirt Rosie had lent him. He gently ran clawed fingers through her hair, carefully untangling any section that got caught as he hummed a quiet tune. It was a song his mother used to sing to him when he was upset, the words long since lost to time but the melody engraved in his heart.
"I do not believe for a moment that any of what you listed is your fault, Sweetheart." He soothed, continuing his ministrations. "In fact, I think the blame falls exclusively on Heaven or, to be more precise, on Adam as he was the one who actually committed the acts if I'm not mistaken. After all, I believe I would have remembered if you were the one to give me this wound."
His joke seemed to lighten the mood, even if only by a fraction, and Charlie pulled back, staring at him with puffy eyes that contained a flicker of hope.
"But if it wasn't for me..." The overlord cut her off with a gentle finger pressed against her lips.
"If it wasn't for you, many more would have perished," he replied firmly, not allowing the girl to wallow in despair when there was no need. "Judging by the fact that we are still alive, it is safe to assume you managed to fight off Heaven's assault. That is amazing progress! Such a thing has never before been accomplished. Trust me Charlie, you may not see it now but you are making a difference. Don't give up just yet, after all, failure is not something I see when I look into your future."
"You can't see the future, Alastor." She chuckled while raising a skeptical eyebrow at him and he counted that as a win.
Letting out a hum, he settled back against his pillow, strength wearing thin.
"You never know, my dear," the male teased, pulling a handkerchief out of nowhere before offering it to the princess. "Voodoo has many mysterious properties."
The Princess of Hell took the proffered handkerchief with a warm smile which he immediately returned. It was good to see the young woman in better spirits.
"Thank you Al, I really needed to hear that," Charlie spoke once more after drying her tears. "Though I'm afraid that's not what I wished to discuss when I asked to speak with you."
Brow quirking in curiosity, the Radio Demon tuned back into the young woman's words, fully focused on what she was about to say.
"I know you're probably not going to like this but I want my father to check your wound and make sure it's still doing well." She said, causing his grin to tighten at the corners.
"And why is it that Rosie could not perform such a menial task," Alastor replied, not happy in the slightest. "I'm certain his royal shortness has better things to do than fuss over a lowly sinner such as myself."
"That's where you'd be wrong." A voice spoke from the doorway, startling the pair.
They turned, finding Lucifer standing there with a smug grin on his face.
"Dad, I told you to wait until I talked to him," Charlie spoke, exasperated.
"Sorry, Duckling, I got worried since it was taking so long. I figured the patient was probably being stubborn... looks like I was right." Alastor slumped, not wanting to deal with this right now.
The fallen angel crossed his arms, amused eyes meeting the injured overlord's, before addressing him.
"Stop being a baby... or should I say a fawn... and let me take a look, would ya?" The king joked, though it didn't sound as mocking as it had when they'd first met.
Alastor's ears perked up in confusion at the sudden change in the way he was being treated. He knew for a fact Lucifer couldn't stand him but, just maybe, he was being civil for the sake of his daughter. That was the most plausible explanation and he felt himself relax slightly. He supposed he could deal with the man's presence for a short while if it eased Charlie's worries. The last thing he wanted was to cause her more stress, after all.
"Very well, let's get this over with." The sinner spoke through gritted teeth, catching the surprised look on the princess' face before a blinding smile took over.
"Oh, I'm so relieved! I thought for sure you'd say no." She exclaimed, reaching up to tuck some hair behind her ear. "Okay, I'll leave you guys to it then. I'll be just down the hall if you need anything."
Flashing her father a stern look, Charlie pointed a finger at him and said, "Be nice," before making her way from the room.
Alastor couldn't help but grin contently at the dumbfounded expression on the other's face. Too soon for his liking, the King of Hell was approaching his bed. He growled slightly, unease filling him at being left alone with Charlie's father in such a weakened state. To his surprise, Lucifer paused his advance, hands held in the air in a placating manner.
"I know you don't trust me," the man spoke, a solemn frown appearing on his face. "To be fair, the feeling's mutual... but I truly am here to help. I also think I may owe you an apology."
"What?" Al couldn't help but choke out, completely taken aback.
"Yeah, I know it's weird," Lucifer replied, awkwardly rubbing the back of his neck. "How about you let me take a look at your wound while I explain? That way, we'll be out of each other's hair as soon as possible."
Nodding with great reluctance, the overlord kept his eyes glued to the king as he made his way over to take a seat in the chair that rested beside his bed. He said nothing as the man reached forward, only moving when he was forced to remove his shirt so Lucifer could access the bandages beneath.
"Okay, so the thing is..." the other hesitated, causing Alastor's smile to become more of a suspicious grimace before he spoke once more. "I know about your deal with Charlie."
There was no outward sign that Alastor had heard other than a narrowing of his eyes but it didn't seem to matter to Lucifer, he simply kept talking, eyes glued to the cut across the sinner's chest.
"I didn't know the whole story and jumped to conclusions. I mistakenly assumed it was a soul deal and, as you can imagine, I was rightfully upset at the thought." Alastor winced as the man ran his hands along the stitches, checking to make sure they were still in place. "I've been informed that that wasn't the case."
Gritting his teeth, Alastor spoke for the first time since the exam began.
"I would never do anything to harm Charlie," he snarled, eyes nearly glowing in anger at the thought.
Maybe in the beginning, back when this whole thing began, he'd have had a different opinion... but that was before he'd gotten to know the girl. Before she became such an intrinsic part of his life along with the others who called the hotel home. He didn't know how it happened but, somewhere along the way, he found himself caring for them. So no, he would never dream of taking Charlie's soul for nefarious purposes.
The fallen angel stared at him for a short while before a soft smile appeared on his face. He said nothing, simply taking the time to re-bandage the wound. It wasn't until Alastor was again dressed in the oversized shirt that the king spoke once more.
"That is why I owe you an apology, Alastor." It was strange hearing Lucifer say his name with no sign of ridicule or derision. "I was ready to let you die if it meant freeing my little girl... for that I am sorry."
His ears flicked back, startled to hear what the other male had to say. Al couldn't blame him, if he were in his shoes he'd have probably reacted the same way, especially if it was to keep someone he loved safe from harm. In fact, he'd done something similar when he'd been alive. Back then, he'd chosen to end his worthless excuse of a father's life to protect the only person who loved him. He'd never let his mother know, too frightened at the prospect of being rejected by the one he cared for most. So yes, he could relate to what the King of Hell had been thinking.
"I don't hold that against you," he sighed tiredly. "People do crazy things for the ones they love."
The shorter man stared at him in shock for a moment before a thoughtful look fell over his face.
"I still don't care for you," Lucifer spoke, voice serious as he rose to his feet. "You've given me no reason to trust you but I'm willing to put our differences aside for Charlie. can you agree to that?"
"Hmm, yes, I believe I can, Luci." He replied, barely able to stay awake now as his strength waned.
"Get some rest, Ali." The man scoffed, returning the demon's impromptu nickname with one of his own.
Alastor was asleep before Lucifer made it to the door, his soft breaths the only sound to be heard within the small room.
-XXX-XXX-XXX-
Charlie paced back and forth in Rosie's sitting room, the others long since having abandoned their attempts at getting her to remain still. Now and then, she would pause near the hallway, listening for the raised voices of her father or Alastor... but they never came. That only served to make her more nervous. Maybe she should have stayed just in case something were to happen between the two, after all, she knew they didn't exactly get along. After about half an hour Lucifer appeared in the hall and she rushed toward him, a question already on her lips as she met him outside Al's door. Before she could say a word, however, he shook his head and directed her back the way she'd come.
"He's sleeping," Lucifer whispered in way of explanation. "If he's going to heal, that's the best thing for him."
Breathing a sigh of relief, the princess followed her dad back to where the rest were waiting. Once they arrived, she turned to him with pleading eyes.
"How is he?" She asked, worried despite the fact Alastor seemed okay while they'd been talking.
"There's no sign of lingering holy energy," the man responded softly, the words meant for her ears alone. "If he gets plenty of rest and doesn't use his powers he should be just fine."
Charlie felt a weight ease from her shoulders before reaching out and giving her father a tight hug. Now that she was certain her friend was out of danger there were other matters to discuss.
"Okay, with Al on the mend, I think we should get started rebuilding the hotel." She revealed, smiling widely as she addressed the room at large. "I won't lie to you, after everything that happened I was ready to throw in the towel. It seemed like all I was doing was causing more harm. Then I talked with Alastor and he convinced me that what we're doing is making a difference... even if we can't see it yet. So, with that in mind, I've got some new ideas I want to run by you all."
"Sure thing, Charlie." Angel agreed readily, looking up from where he sat near a nodding Cherri Bomb. "What ya got in mind?"
"As long as there's a bar, I'm in." Husk declared, grinning as he lifted a bottle to his mouth and took a hearty swig.
"Don't forget me!" Niffty chirped, eye wide before creepily staring into space. "I'll kill all the bugs for you."
Vaggie walked over to her girlfriend's side, wrapping an arm around her waist. "You know I'm not going anywhere. We're in this together."
"I'll do anything within my power to help, Sweetie," Lucifer spoke, laying a supportive hand on her shoulder. "Just name it and it's yours."
Vox and Rosie merely watched, large smiles on their faces.
"Aww, thanks guys, that means so much to me!" Charlie gushed, blinking back tears at the overwhelming amount of support she was receiving.
Leaning down to kiss her lover, Charlie took a few moments to gather her thoughts before launching into a detailed explanation of her plans for a bigger and better hotel. It took quite a while to go over everything but, in the end, they had a set course of action and headed off to get started, leaving the two overlords behind to keep an eye on Alastor.
Arriving at the hotel, Charlie once again felt a spike of pain pierce her heart. This had been their home, the place they'd come together as a family, now all that was left was a pile of rubble. Not allowing herself to succumb to despair, the woman rolled up her sleeves and got to work. In barely any time at all, thanks mostly to her father's magic, they had the space cleared and were ready to begin the reconstruction. By the time they stopped for supper, the exterior was coming along nicely. They'd already finished the main structure of the building, again thanks to her dad, and were working on the finishing touches before moving on to the interior tomorrow.
"I'd like you all to think about how you want your rooms designed," Charlie said, breaking the hush that had fallen over them whilst they ate. "No matter how many new guests we get, I want you each to have something special. You've been with me nearly from the start and I think you deserve a nice reward for your efforts. I'm open to anything as long as it stays within reason, that is... I'm looking at you, Angel Dust."
"Hey!" The porn star cried in faux offense before smirking naughtily. "Don't worry, Dollface, I'll be a good boy. Wouldn't want to get punished now, would I?"
She blushed crimson, hiding her face in her hands. Everyone else simply gave him deadpan stares as if asking, 'Really, dude?' while Angel laughed his head off.
Managing to push aside her embarrassment a few minutes later, the Princess of Hell looked around the group, taking in the smiling faces. They'd all been so upset since the battle and it did her heart good to see them finally happy.
"I've been thinking," Charlie spoke once more, waiting for the others to turn their attention to her before continuing. "With Alastor indisposed at the moment, he won't be able to use his powers to decorate his room. Meaning, he'll have to do it the normal way like the rest of you. I figured, to thank him for all that he's done for us, we could help with that."
"You're right, princess, in his condition Al doesn't need to be shuffling about trying to move furniture." Husk agreed, nodding in understanding. "The fucker's so stubborn, though, there's no way he'd ask for help. He'd probably try to do things on his own and rip his stitches out or some shit."
"That's why we'll do it for him before he returns to the hotel!" Niffty exclaimed, excitement radiating from her small body. "Sir can't be upset if it's already done."
Staring at the little demon in surprise, everyone took a moment to mull over her words before they all smiled, the princess bouncing on her feet as her head filled with possibilities.
"That's a great idea, Niffty," she complimented, enthusiasm making her voice rise in pitch. "It can be a surprise!"
Charlie was certain that Alastor would love it and, even if he didn't, once he got his strength back he could redo the room however he wanted. In the meantime, this gave him something to come home to instead of an empty room.
"Should we do the same with his radio tower?" Vaggie asked, drawing attention to herself for the first time since the conversation began. "I mean, he probably holes himself up in there as much as his room, if not more."
"Oh! I hadn't even thought of that!" She revealed, brow furrowing in contemplation. "Yes, I think that would be a good idea. That way, it's ready for him. We can ask Vox to help with the equipment since I have no idea how any of that stuff works, though we'll have to make sure it's not too modern... we all know how Al can be with technology."
"You're tellin' me," Angel said in agreement, thinking back on the way Alastor reacted to the TV commercial they'd made for the hotel. "It's like the asshole's stuck back in 1920 or something."
"That's it! Angel, you're a genius!" Charlie shouted, excitement growing by the minute. "The Roaring Twenties, that can be the theme for Al's room, it's perfect!"
"It might be hard to find stuff that fits though," Cherri mentioned, a thoughtful expression forming on her face. "I don't know anyone who sells that kind of shit."
"Oh don't worry, I've got it handled." The princess declared, glancing discreetly over her shoulder.
She imagined that finding such items could be an issue for normal demons but Charlie has an extremely powerful father who can conjure whatever he wants out of thin air. Turning to face the man, puppy dog eyes on full display, Charlie pouted out her bottom lip. She had no problem taking advantage of her dad's powers when it came to making her friends happy.
"Noooo... nope, no way," he said, turning away from his daughter's manipulation, determined not to cave. "Not gonna happen."
Letting out a little whine, the princess sidled up to him, eyes growing ever wider.
Upon hearing his little girl's upset whimper, Lucifer turned back. Coming face to face with her impossibly wide gaze, he froze. At that moment, Charlie knew she'd won and let a smile grace her features as her dad let out a weary sigh.
"Fine..." he ground out, unable to resist any longer. "Just let me know what you need and I'll get it, okay Char-Char?"
Laughter filled the air as she flung herself into her father's arms, leaning down to place a big kiss on his cheek.
"I knew I could count on you, Dad," she cheered, practically radiating happiness.
With her father's support, Charlie knew they'd be able to pull this off without a hitch. It was the least they could do to repay Al for all he's done. She hadn't liked the look on his face when they'd spoken earlier. It was one she'd worn herself, ever since the moment she'd first met with Adam. It was a look that spoke of immeasurable guilt. It was clear to her that Alastor was blaming himself for things outside his control and she would not allow it to continue. He'd encouraged her, guided her, protected her... now it was her turn to return the favor. Smiling fondly as her friends began discussing the project, Charlie knew things were going to get better, after all, the only way to go was up.