"If Hell is forever then Heaven must be a lie!"
It'd been ringing in his ears for weeks now. The words, the song, bled into everything he did, everywhere he looked.
He had been there, at the hearing with Lucifer's daughter at the center, tucked away and leaning against a far wall with his arms crossed. He wanted to see her, to see if he would recognize eyes he hadn't seen in a millennium.
He hadn't expected the existence of Angel Dust, of a hotel geared towards rehabilitating Hell-sent souls. This melting pot of her parents' desires, in more ways than one. Presented and proven in a way that Heaven should have accepted, should have applauded. Yet didn't, again. He turned away and left the hall after the princess had been sent back forcefully, her echoing swears reverberating in his head.
But she was right, and the ringing continued.
It came to a climax a month later, in the form of a sobbing young Seraphim.
"She won't let me tell Charlie!" Emily gasped in between body-shaking tears; her fingers clawed into the front of his robes. "Her hotel works, Mick! It works!"
Emily had burst into his office moments ago, tripping over her words in a rush to get the story out regarding Heaven's newest soul. Her face was pinched, forcing out the words that Sera had forbidden Emily from telling Charlie the good news that her friend had been rehabilitated and ascended to Heaven.
"I hate this, this is…this is," Emily hiccupped, her teeth clenched together so tight her next words were hissed, "this is wrong!"
Michael kneeled in front of the devastated young Seraphim, taking her hands in his to release them from his clothing. Somehow, he knew his next words would be a crucial pivot in the trajectory of his ageless life, and yet he had never felt surer.
"Then, we should make it right."
"Wow, it's huge!" Emily gushed, practically vibrating with excitement. She had traded her usual pale blue robes for gray ones, complete with a cloak obscuring most of her features for a semblance of anonymity. She danced on the balls of her feet, filled with a giddiness Michael tried not to draw parallels to a misbehaving child.
The hotel loomed in front of them in a way that Mick had to admit was equally impressive as elegant. Something in the left corner caught his eye and he grimaced.
An apple? Michael resisted the urge to roll his eyes. I see the flair for the dramatic hasn't changed. The asymmetry of the hotel was curious. Was that an unlit "ON AIR" sign?
Emily had gone quiet, her hand slipping into his, wide eyes looking up at him. "This is going to be fine," she said, sounding more like she was convincing herself than him.
Michael paused a long time, leveling blue eyes at the hotel. Turning to his companion, he met the eyes of the young seraph, speaking softly.
"Emily, there is no turning back after the next step. Do you understand what I'm telling you?" He placed a hand on her hooded head. "It is not too late for me to send you home. I can tell Charlotte the news myself."
Michael watched her, looking for any signs of uncertainty. They had spoken at length about what it meant to not only ignore Sera's command but directly disobey. What they were risking. What they would most assuredly lose in the process.
"No, I've made my decision," Emily said without hesitation, taking a deep breath. "I know what this means."
Michael straightened to his full height and nodded.
Life at the hotel since the battle (read: The Battle for Friendship, as Charlie was calling it) continued to piece itself back together. Thanks to her father, the King of Hell himself, the hotel was rebuilt bigger and better in record time with little sweat work on the patrons' part. The halls were cleaner than ever, the upholstery new (though a certain radio-tuned tenant complained loudly about the circus-themed décor), and twice as many empty rooms to fill. Charlie couldn't ask for more.
And yet…
Dragging the backs of her fingers across a Hellfire petal decorating the dedicated memorial for Sir Pentious, Charlie sighs, the steady ache in her chest rooting itself to her heart.
"Hey," a voice says behind her. Vaggie.
Charlie turns, smiling sadly. "I'm fine, just… I was just dropping some stuff off to Alastor and my dad when I…" She turns back to the memorial and presses her lips together.
Vaggie's hand comes up to rest on the small of Charlie's back, rubbing small circles. "I miss him, too," she admits.
Charlie lets out a shaky sound, "Does it ever get easier? I feel like there's this deep gouge, here," she touches a hand to her breastbone.
Vaggie sighs and wraps an arm around Charlie's waist. "I know, babe, I know… but you know what he would want, right?"
Charlie wipes her eyes and looks down at Vaggie questioningly.
Vaggie smiles and puts her hands on either side of Charlie's face. "He'd want you to keep going with your dream."
Charlie smiles with wet eyes and nods. "Easier said than done," she chuckles wetly. "We have more rooms than ever and yet—"
There's a vibration in the air, like a silent gong has been rung. Charlie and Vaggie look at each other with wide eyes.
"The door—!"
Charlie is running through the hall with Vaggie in tow, her hand like a vice grip in her excitement. The rest of the group is already in the lobby, likely had been for a while judging by the fact the majority of them have a half empty drink. Angel sits at the bar with his legs crossed, one elbow on the counter. Husk, across from him, has his drink halfway to his mouth when Charlie rushes by.
"The door, the door, the door! Oh my, oh my, places everyone!" she breathes, smoothing down the front of her shirt and fixing her hair.
Summoned by the knock at the door as well, Alastor appears alongside Charlie. "Now, now, my dear. Do not get your hopes up," he chimes, back straight and a finger raised in caution.
Charlie is undeterred though, her smile wide and hands together in a cheer. "That might be true, but!" She gives one solid clap, her voice sing-song. "I bet it's a potential tenant!"
Husk finally brings his beer the rest of the way to his mouth. "Well, better answer it before they get bored and leave."
Charlie turns to the door and without further flourish, she grabs the knob and swings it open, other arm outstretched above her with dazzle fingers.
"Welcome to the Haz—"
A blur of grey and purple collides with Charlie and with a soft "oof", Charlie and said shape topple to the floor in front of Alastor. Vaggie instantly drops into an attack stance, readying to throw herself on top of the person clinging to Charlie when Alastor blocks Vaggie with his cane, his smile as wide as the day she met him.
"Well, well," he hums, smile sharp. His voice is characteristically radio-host projected. "What interesting guests!"
"Charlie!" Emily squeals, her arms wound tight around the taller girl. Charlie recovers quickly and snuggly wraps her arms around Emily, laughing.
"Emily! What are you doing here? How are you here?" Charlie says breathlessly but hugs the girl back tightly anyway.
Emily sits back enough to look Charlie in the face, her face tear-streaked but serious. "Charlie, I have so much to tell you! You'll never believe it, but—"
In that moment, Emily's companion steps through the threshold of the hotel, a tall and nondescript figure left unnoticed in light of Emily's greeting. In crossing the threshold of the hotel's grand door, the hotel itself gives a shudder, lights flickering as the chandeliers vibrate. A blinding light cuts through the hotel's lobby at the crescendo.
Charlie and Emily blink rapidly, Charlie raising a hand to block the sudden light and hugs Emily a little closer. The light winks out as swiftly as it appeared, and in its place stands Lucifer, eyes red and wings unfurled. He stands between Charlie and the tall newcomer.
There's a quiet gasp from Emily, eyes wide and fingers curled in Charlie's sleeves.
Her companion smiles softly, reassuringly, but makes no other movement.
"Hello."
Lucifer frowns deeply.
"What the fuck are you doing here, Michael?"
AN: Hello all, this idea came to me while I was at the gym maladaptive day dreaming on the stair climber and got me through 30 minutes of intensity (read: death). I'm very sure that Michael the archangel will become an actual character in this show, but y'know what, until then, this one is my original design because I have wondered numerous times where the rest of Luci's brothers were.