AN: Well then, this chapter was interesting to write. I don't have much else to say other than I hope you like it and thank you for reading. Have a nice day :)
Disclaimer: The owner of Hazbin Hotel is Vivienne Medrano.
Upon hearing the door slam, Lucifer looked up from where he was sitting in an armchair across from his daughter and sighed. He already had an idea as to what could have caused the commotion and his suspicions were confirmed when Angel Dust stomped into the room with several crumpled papers held in his shaking hand.
"You've gotta be kiddin' me," Angel exclaimed, frustration leaking from him in waves. "Look what I found pinned to the door."
Everyone watched as the porn star moved forward and laid the pages out on the low table for the rest of the group to see. Once they realized what they were looking at, anger spread through the crowd like fire through a forest. Death threats. Not just one but several, and all aimed toward Alastor. There were a couple of letters, a drawing, and a very pixilated picture of the Radio Demon with his eyes scratched out. This wasn't the first time this had happened since they'd returned to the hotel, no it was a near-daily occurrence, but it continued to unsettle them. Thankfully, Alastor had yet to find out as they'd managed to get rid of the threats before the deer had the chance to see them. His recovery was going so well. In the week they'd been here he'd gotten strong enough to be out of bed for most of the day, as long as he didn't push himself, and they didn't want to risk any setbacks. They'd already had one assassination attempt and that was enough.
"This isn't right!" Charlie exclaimed, anger causing her demonic features to show until he placed a calming hand on his daughter's shoulder while Vaggie grabbed hold of her hand. "Al helped save everyone from the extermination! Demons should be thanking him not plotting his fucking murder!"
"You have to remember, Sweetie, this is Hell," Lucifer spoke up, voice steady. "These people, well, they aren't good. I've told you before, sinners are the worst."
"Gee, thanks," Angel said, glaring at him as Charlie turned to do the same. "Nice to know how ya feel bout us, Your Highness."
"Let me finish," he replied, not unkindly, simply wanting to get his point across. "Sinners may be the worst, but Charlie, you've shown me that they can change. We just need to open their eyes like you've done for me. Prove to them that they can be better. You've got the evidence right here in this hotel, after all."
Lucifer gestured to Angel Dust, using him as an example. The taller male awkwardly reached up to run a hand through his hair, feeling like an idiot for his earlier statement. With a smirk resting on his lips, Husk stretched a wing out to lay across the other's back in a show of camaraderie. Lucifer smiled at the pair before returning his gaze to his daughter who now had a thoughtful expression on her face. Taking her hand in his own, he continued, speaking words he never thought he'd say.
"When I first met Alastor, I never imagined I would get along with him. He was an egotistical asshole at the best of times and somehow had the ability to get under my skin quicker than any being in the history of Hell." He rolled his eyes, causing the gathered demons to chuckle fondly as they remembered that event. "Now, after getting to know him this past week, he's become someone I could see myself hanging out with and, maybe with time, even calling a friend."
Charlie squealed slightly in delight, bringing her hands up in front of her mouth as she stared at him with bright, sparkling eyes. He smiled softly, reaching out to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear.
"That's all thanks to you, Charlie. Without your encouragement, I never would have given him a chance." Lucifer revealed, eyes hardening as he turned back to the threats resting upon the table. "Sure, there may be some that aren't worthy of redemption, but we'll deal with that when the time comes. For now, focus on what's important... your dream, your friends, and yourself. Besides, once Alastor's back to full strength, I'm sure he'll have a thing or two to say to anyone who dares disrespect the Radio Demon, am I right?"
There were murmured agreements and nods from everyone in the room, each knowing that the king spoke the truth. Noticing a shadow lingering in the doorway, Lucifer excused himself but not before snapping his fingers and incinerating the papers Angel had found. Making his way into the hall toward the elevators, he wasn't surprised to find Vox waiting for him. The two men stood in silence for a moment before the overlord sighed and ran a hand down his screen.
"More threats?" The TV Demon asked, frustration leaking into his voice.
"Yeah, more of the same." He replied, nonchalantly. "How's he doing?"
"Resting... he tired himself out trying to repair his staff." The other stated, a worried look on his face. "Al managed to fix most of the damage but the damn thing's still cracked, he'll have to be careful with it until he's able to mend it fully."
Nodding in understanding, the King of Hell let that sink in. He wasn't too worried, after all, Alastor's strength had been returning more and more with each passing day thanks to the tender care of those around him. It shouldn't be long before the damage was fully mended. That thought made a spark of happiness ignite in his chest. He was looking forward to matching wits with the Radio Demon again. Even if he held a deal with Charlie, observing how the sinner treated his daughter during this last week had put his mind at ease. He was certain that whatever he was planning, it wasn't something that would cause her harm. Bringing his focus back to the Vox, a concerned frown appeared on Lucifer's face as he took in the overlord's rumpled appearance.
"How are things with you?" He asked, eyes narrowing as he watched the man's reaction. "Any word from the Vees?"
"Yeah," The taller demon sighed, brows furrowing. "I got a message from Velvette. She wants to meet up in an hour at a cafe to discuss the shit that happened. It sounds like Val's gonna be there as well."
"Will you go?" Lucifer questioned curiously.
"I'm not sure, but... probably," Vox admitted, slumping to lean against the wall. "Velvette keeps trying to fucking apologize and I think she's being sincere, it's Valentino I'm worried about. That asshole can hold one hell of a grudge and I'm sure he'll be angry once I tell them VoxTek is splitting from the Vees."
"Maybe you should have someone go with, you know, just in case." The king suggested, worried for the other male.
He'd gotten to know these people rather well recently and, surprisingly, got along with most of them. Besides, they were important to his daughter which meant they were important to him.
"Nah, I don't think it's necessary. We'll be in a public place so it should be safe enough." The TV Demon decided, causing a bad feeling to course through Lucifer's heart.
"Well, if you're sure?" He replied uncertainly, receiving a smile for his efforts.
"Yeah, thanks for worrying though," Vox said, slightly embarrassed before growing serious once more. "Can you let the others know I'll be out today? I should be back by tonight but I don't want Alastor doing anything stupid in the meantime."
"Sure, no problem." The King of Hell proclaimed, smiling at the other's concern for his friend. "Take care."
With a solemn nod, the two parted ways, Vox heading toward the door while Lucifer made his way back to the lounge. He would deliver the other's message once everyone was together and, seeing as Alastor was resting, that may take a while.
-XXX-XXX-XXX-
Charlie carefully set the table as Niffty put the finishing touches on lunch. The small demon had prepared a wonderful meal of soup and sandwiches for today. Once everyone had gathered and taken their seats, her father revealed that Vox wouldn't be joining them as he'd gone out to meet the Vees. That information didn't go over well with Alastor. In fact, she could see the overlord attempting to hide his worry behind a forced smile but it was all in vain. Ever since his injury, he'd been far easier to read than before. The princess wasn't sure if it was because he trusted them more or because he'd been too out of it to bother masking his emotions. Whatever it was, he was clearly worried and she wished there was some way to reassure him. Sadly, they'd simply have to wait for Vox's return.
Turning to the rest of her friends, she smiled at seeing them in high spirits. It was clear her dad's speech from that morning had managed to lift the mood and it made her happy knowing he'd come around to her idea of redemption. Having his support meant more to her than she could ever say and it made her extremely happy that he believed in her and her dream. Now, if only they could prove it worked. Those thoughts occupied her mind all through lunch and she barely tasted the food as she ate. Vaggie reaching out and taking her hand shook her from her reverie and she turned to face the shorter woman.
"What's on your mind, Hun?" Her girlfriend spoke, rubbing her thumb over the back of her knuckles in a soothing motion.
Charlie glanced around, realizing they were the only ones left at the table she took a deep breath and began explaining what was on her mind.
"I'm just trying to think of how we can convince Heaven to give redemption a chance." She sighed, worry playing across her face for the other to see. "They didn't listen to us. We gave them evidence that souls could be better and Sera threw it back in our faces. How could she turn a blind eye to something like that? I just don't understand."
"Not everyone wants change," Vaggie explained, knowing how painful her words were for Charlie to hear. "With her in charge, I don't know how we can get through to them... not unless something drastic happens."
"Like what?" Charlie asked, tears building in her eyes.
Before her partner had a chance to answer, however, her phone began to ring. Pulling it out of her pocket, she held up a finger to signal silence and took a few seconds to calm herself before answering with a cheerful 'Hello, Charlie speaking'. Meanwhile, Vaggie left the room, allowing her some privacy to take the call. She listened, her excitement growing with each passing word she received through the phone. After nearly ten minutes of talking, she hung up, bouncing on the balls of her feet and letting out a gleeful squeal as she raced into the foyer where her friends had gathered. She beamed at the group of demons who were now openly staring at her.
"Holy shit! Guys, guess what?" Charlie exclaimed, waving her phone around in the air as she rushed over to them. "Emily just called me! You know, the seraphim, that Emily. Sir Pentious is alive, he's with her in Heaven! We have proof that redemption works and they want to meet to discuss the details of the hotel!"
"I can't believe it," Angel muttered, clearly in shock over the situation. "The fucker actually made it."
He wasn't alone. Cherri and Nifty had tears streaming down their faces while Husk and Vaggie bore relieved smiles. Alastor simply hummed, taking a sip of the coffee that he'd brought with him from the kitchen. Turning to her dad, Charlie found his expression blank and that worried her for a moment before she was swept up in a bone-crushing hug, tears soaking her shoulder as he buried his face in her shirt. When he pulled back, a huge smile split his face as he rested a tender hand against her cheek.
"You did it, Charlie!" He expressed, joyfully. "There's no way Heaven can deny the possibility of redemption now that the proof is before their eyes. I'm so proud of you, Sweetie, you've proven your dreams can become reality."
"Aw, thanks, Dad." She sniffled, fighting back the tears that wanted to fall as she turned to address her friends once again. "This was only possible because of you guys. Without your support, I never would have made it this far. So thank you... thank you for believing in me. I love you all so much."
The tears finally fell as she smiled widely at the gathered demons. Suddenly, a handkerchief was presented to her and she found herself meeting Alastor's red gaze. He smiled fondly, patting her on the head before returning to his previous seat.
Once settled, he asked the question on everyone's minds. "So, when is this supposed meeting taking place?"
"Oh, right," She yelled, slapping herself on the forehead for forgetting such an important detail. "Emily and Sera want to meet with me and Dad tomorrow morning at the Heaven Embassy."
"What?" Lucifer said, confusion marring his features. "Why do they want me there? This is your project."
"They said since you're the King of Hell and have shone your support by joining the fight, it's only right for you to attend," Charlie explained with a shrug, not bothered in the least. "I'd be glad to have your support, Dad. The last couple meetings I've had with Heaven didn't go as planned and it would be nice to have you there. You will come, right?"
"Of course I will, Sweetie, I'd do anything for you." He agreed, though he still looked uncertain.
"I'm just worried about leaving the hotel so unguarded." She admitted, casting a worried look towards where Alastor was sitting.
The deer straightened up a bit, face drawn in annoyance. Before he could say a word, however, Charlie continued.
"I know it upsets you, Al, but you're still not back to full strength. If something were to happen, you'd be at a disadvantage." She expressed, moving forward to crouch beside his chair and take his hand in her own. "Please, just bear with us a little longer, okay? You're our friend and we'd hate to see you get hurt again."
"While the concern is appreciated, I'm not as helpless as you may think," he replied, not bothering to remove his hand from her grip though his ears twitched in mild frustration. "I assure you, my dear, that I've regained enough of my power to take out a few wayward demons."
She huffed as she pushed herself to her feet, about to remind the man that he'd been at death's door less than two weeks ago but he cut her off before she could say a word.
"Besides, Vox will be here so there's no need to fret." The Radio Demon revealed, smiling sharply up at her before turning his gaze to the others. "We also have a former exorcist and four other demons who have proven to be proficient when it comes to fighting. As much as I hate to admit it, if something were to happen I most likely wouldn't be needed. So, as you can see, we will be perfectly fine while you attend the meeting."
Shock coursed through her at the overlord's admittance. Alastor had changed, she knew he had, but the confirmation of how far he'd truly come caused a burst of pride to ignite in Charlie's heart. The Radio Demon was no longer the same person he'd been when he'd knocked on the hotel's door all those months ago, merely wanting the entertainment of seeing others fail. He'd made friends, helped protect their home, and almost died for it. While he was still a bit twisted she knew that, even if nothing else changed, she would still be satisfied with the progress he'd shown today.
"Okay," Charlie replied, giving him a solemn nod before returning to her father's side. "Then it looks like we have a meeting to prepare for."
-XXX-XXX-XXX-
Walking through town to the cafe he'd agreed to meet the other Vees at, Vox took the time to think. This was the entire reason he'd decided to forgo the car, wanting to get his nerves settled and his thoughts in order before being faced with his former comrades. They'd hurt him, that's true, but had he overreacted? No, he hadn't, that much he was certain of. They'd been the ones in the wrong. So why did he feel so conflicted? It was fucking stupid. He felt guilty for leaving, for choosing to split VoxTek from the people who'd helped grow his company, but he didn't regret his decision. Even if they came away from this as friends he couldn't see himself remaining in business with them. After all, you need trust for that and they'd stabbed him in the back once already. This whole damn mess was causing his head to ache. Hopefully, once he reached his destination and got this talk out of the way, he'd have some peace of mind.
"Hey, V, over here!" A feminine voice called out, drawing his attention to Velvette who was waving her hands in the air.
She stood in front of an outdoor table while Valentino lounged in one of the chairs, scrolling through his phone with a rather bored expression on his face. Making his way over, Vox allowed a small smile to grace his face when the female Vee ran forward to embrace him. He hugged back, finding a bit of comfort in the familiar action before taking a seat next to her and across from his male associate. There was already a drink waiting for him, though he didn't bother taking a sip as he wanted to get this over with as quickly as possible.
"So, what is it you two wanted to discuss?" He asked, resting his elbows on the table and folding his hands together as he studied the two overlords.
"Pssh, that can wait for a moment." Velvette declared, concern clear in her eyes. "How have you been? No lasting effects from the injury, I presume?"
"I'm fine," he revealed, cocking his head to the side to gauge their reactions. "Everything's healed and I'm nearly ready to return to work."
"Well, that's good to hear," Val spoke for the first time, eyes raising from his phone. "When can we expect you back?"
"Oh, sorry, you seem to have misunderstood me," Vox spoke calmly, eyes narrowing as he got right down to business. "I'm not coming back to V Tower. I've decided that VoxTek needs a change in location and will be splitting from the Vees. You see, Princess Charlie has offered me space at the Hazbin Hotel that I can dedicate to my work until I can find an appropriate building closer to that location. I plan on doing a complete overhaul of the company and will begin dedicating more resources to the Angelic Protection product line I announced a few months back."
"You bitch! You can't do that!" Val hissed, jumping to his feet, only for Velvette to pull him back down by the back of his coat.
He huffed but remained in his seat, seething quietly. Turning to look at Vox with sad but understanding eyes, Velvette calmly took a drink of her tea as she gathered her thoughts.
"I'm glad to know that you've recovered and, though this news greatly upsets me, I can see why you've decided to go through with it." She said, heart heavy in her chest. "Vox, I still consider you my friend even if you no longer see me as one. I arranged this meeting because I wanted to ask if we could start over. Our friendship, the Vees, it was all based on a codependent relationship and I see now that it wasn't healthy for any of us."
Vox was shocked by what he was hearing. It was honestly surprising how astute Velvette could be at times, though she'd always been smart, second only to him within their present company. That wasn't saying much, however, since Val was a fucking dumb-ass most of the time. Still, he knew she was right. They'd had some good times but their relationship wasn't built to last, at least, not as it was.
"I'm not sure I'm ready to try again," the TV Demon admitted, eyes downcast. "The wound you inflicted when you turned your backs on me is still too fresh."
Nodding her head, she reached out to place a gentle hand over his own where it now rested on the table. "I understand and I'm so sorry it took us hurting you for me to realize that what we had wasn't right. It never should have come to that."
"Why are you fucking apologizing? The bastard got what was coming for him." The moth demon interjected, eyes glowing with anger. "We should have done it earlier! The only thing he's good for is that shitty company of his."
"Valentino!" Velvette cried, horrified by what she was hearing.
"¡callarse la boca!" He exclaimed before standing and moving to lean over Vox, two of his hands resting on the armrests of the overlord's chair to effectively box him in as he continued, his voice filled with malice. "If you think I'm going to simply let you walk away, you've got another thing coming. We helped you build that company from the ground up, part of it is rightfully ours and we'll take it by force if necessary."
Vox glared at the taller man, daring him to try anything while the female rose to her feet and grabbed hold of one of his arms.
"Sit your ass back down," she growled, sharp nails digging into the other's flesh. "I won't say it again, Val."
Huffing, the bug made his way back around the table with a sneer, taking his seat once more while glaring at the other two overlords.
"Vox, I wouldn't have brought him if I knew he was going to act like this," Velvette stated as she turned to face the TV Demon, upset that her chance at salvaging their friendship was being ruined. "I swear, he told me he wanted to make it up to you."
"It's okay, my dear." Vox sighed, rubbing a weary hand down his face before downing the now cold coffee that had been waiting for him when he'd arrived. "But I think this meeting is over. We'll talk some other time."
"You're not going anywhere," Val announced, a maniacal smile forming on his face. "Or at least not back to the princessa's hotel."
Rising to his feet with an objection on the tip of his tongue, Vox swayed, nearly falling if it weren't for the moth demon jumping up to catch him. His head spun dizzily and he was filled with the urge to vomit. Whatever had been added to his drink was strong and he could feel himself slipping further toward unconsciousness with every second that passed. Using what little strength he had left, Vox turned a pleading gaze to Velvette who was watching the scene before her with wide, terrified eyes.
"I think it's time we leave, don't you, Babydoll?" Valentino asked, voice upbeat as he supported the smaller male with two of his arms. "The limo is waiting for us just around the corner."
"What the hell did you do, Valentino?" Velvette whispered accusingly, snapping out of her shock as Vox slumped further into the other's hold, eyes fluttering dangerously.
"Hmm? I only put a little something in his drink to help him sleep, that's all." The other sinner replied nonchalantly, a menacing smile resting on his face. "Now let's get our friend home where he belongs. We wouldn't want anything to happen to him now, would we."
Vox tried in vain to stay awake, fearing what would happen if he didn't, but it was no use. The last thing he saw before succumbing to the darkness were the tears streaming down Velvette's face as she nodded in agreement to the pimp's veiled threat.