"I'm so happy you're ok!"
"Damn toots, you really got fucked up!"
"Give my little girl some space!"
Charlie was feeling very overstimulated.
Right after she woke, her father must've heard her speak with Alastor because he burst through her bedroom door in the middle of their hug. Alastor begrudgingly moved to the side for Lucifer to embrace her and once he showed up, everyone else trickled in. Now she was surrounded by Lucifer at the foot of her bed, Nifty who was currently sitting in her lap, Angel to her left, Husk to her right and Alastor on the other side of the room keeping a careful eye on her. She could tell that he wasn't a big fan of the crowd but couldn't very well tell them to get out. Everyone seemed to be in a panic when Lucifer returned with a weak Alastor and an unconscious Charlie.
"I'm sorry that I worried all of you." Charlie said in a low tone. She hated getting people stressed out, especially if it was because of her. It was in her blood to keep people from getting that way.
"Just try not to be out cold for so long again!" Angel commented. Apparently Charlie had been out four days. Lucifer and Alastor took turns being by her side so she wouldn't wake up alone. Lucifer whispered to her that even when he was here, Alastor refused to leave.
He hasn't moved from that chair in days!
Charlie grinned at the memory of her conversation with Cecile. It was plenty confirmation that she actually did 'look over' them, as she put it. Charlie decided not to mention her experience with Alastor just yet. He looked like he was wired from caffeine and on no sleep. The last thing he needed was a bombshell like that.
"Hey Smiles, how does it feel knowing that Charlie had to save your ass?" Angel snickered over his shoulder toward the Radio Demon. Alastor shrugged a shoulder casually.
"Not as upset as one might think."
Angel blinked a few times to let Alastor's words sink in. Charlie smiled at him, knowing that he 100% bit back a more hostile reply and only did so for her. Little things like that reminded her of how much he's changed in such a short period of time. He's still the same Alastor, but more mindful if possible.
"Alright everyone, I think the princess needs her rest." Husk said with his gravelly voice. He patted her knee gently, showing that he cared in his own way. Charlie gave him a look of appreciation that Husk returned ten fold. One of her favorite things about Husk: he could always read facial expression with no words being said.
Lucifer nodded in agreement as he replaced Husk's spot and placed a kiss to Charlie's forehead. He picked up Nifty who began to fight him for moving her until she looked over his shoulder and saw Alastor giving her a warning glance. She quickly stilled, a pout still present on her face.
"Husker is quite right. Visitation can proceed at a later date." Alastor herded everyone to the door. Angel turned around as he reached the exit.
"What, you're not coming Smiles?"
Alastor and Charlie shared a look when Lucifer quickly saved them. "They have a little bit to discuss without prying ears." Lucifer gestured toward the Overlord. "Alastor, come see me when you're done?"
Alastor cut his eyes toward Lucifer and stretched his grin wider. "But of course, Your Highness."
"Great!" Lucifer clapped once, as if to finalize the agreement. "Ok everyone! Out out out!"
Charlie stifled a giggle as she watched her dad practically shove everyone out. He gave a wink before shutting the door behind him. Alastor slowly took a seat on the bed, facing Charlie. A pregnant pause passed before Charlie broke the silence.
"So four days huh? I suppose I just needed a little break." She forced out a humorless chuckle. Alastor's eyes didn't match his smile.
"'A little break'? Those four days felt like centuries." Charlie could see the sadness painted on his face plain as day. His crows feet were prominent and it sent a twinge of pain in her chest to see him so run down. Sure he was healed, but she knew that he desperately needed some rest of his own. Instead, he had been by her side the entire time. She let out a sigh.
"Come here." She said just above a whisper. Without a second to spare, Alastor leaned forward and let her place her arms around his shoulders. He in turn placed his arms around her small frame. She could feel him take in a deep breath and letting it out noisily. Probably the first actual breath he's taken since they returned to the hotel.
"I'm sorry if I worried everyone." Charlie mumbled into his shoulder. He pulled away, letting his hands hover just slightly over her legs. His face was only a few inches away from her own.
"You most certainly had everyone in a tizzy. Including myself."
"I did what I did to save you so I think it was worth it." She gave him a sweet smile which quickly dropped once she watched his eyes cloud in anger. Quickly, Alastor grabbed her bottom jaw and brought her even closer to his face. Now all she could see were his eyes. They sparked with red and yellow which enchanted Charlie ever so slightly.
"Let me make something perfectlyclear." He squeezed her jaw, making her lips slightly purse. "My life will never be worth the sacrifice of your own. Your life isn't worth the sacrifice of anything."He takes a quick glance at her pink lips, but then returns his gaze back into her widened eyes. Charlie could feel her heart hammering against her ribs almost painfully but every fiber of her being wanted to get even closer to him.
"Charlie am I making myself clear? Do not ever put yourself in such a situation like that again."
"I think that's up for me to decide." Charlie managed to get out while her face was still scrunched. Alastor snarled his top lip, his black gums a dark contrast against his grey skin.
"I apologize if I led you to believe that you have any choice in the matter. Allow me to clear up any confusion: You will notdo anything so reckless or stupid for my sake ever again. Period."
Charlie felt frustration bubble in her chest. She gently jerked her face away from Alastor's grip. She was stunned that he didn't sound more appreciative for saving his life. He would've, hell he did,do the same for her! Why was it acceptable for him to protect her but not the other way around? Did he seriously still have that chip of pride on his shoulder that he refused to get off?
"Alastor I saved you. I would think that you would be a bit more understanding."
"Understanding?" Alastor repeated with a tilt in his voice, like she had said the most ridiculous thing ever. "You want me to understand how my life is worth the loss of yours? I'm sorry but I will never understand such foolishness."
"But you sacrificing your life for mine is ok?"
"Not only is it ok, but it's expected."
"I would never 'expect' you to do something like that, Alastor. Do you think I would be able to live with myself if you died for me?"
"Do you think I would?" Alastor stood up suddenly and turned his back to her, facing out her bedroom window. "Agony wouldn't be able to cover what I would feel. If I lost you-" Alastor's voice broke slightly and Charlie watched as every muscle in his back go stiff through his jacket.
"But you didn't." Charlie stated softly. After a brief moment to collect himself, he turned to look at her. Charlie could see his eyes pool with stubborn tears that refused to fall. He hesitantly returned to his spot on her bed. Before he could run away again, she reached up and cupped his face gently. She could see that he was fighting a mental spiral downward and she couldn't stop her heart from breaking. Who knows how many times he did that while she was unconscious. Alastor's face relaxed as if her hands were draining his anxiety.
"I'm afraid that we're in a predicament, dear. Because-" Alastor shook his head. "I don't believe that I could exist without you." He whispered. Charlie smiled as her thumb caressed his high cheekbone.
"Well that makes two of us, huh?"
"Aren't we a pair." Alastor chuckled. Charlie reveled in the sound of his laughter, no matter how small. She took this moment to take in every detail of his face. One of the thoughts that ran through her mind when she watched the life drain from his eyes was that she never truly looked at him. Not his details. The tiny scars that peppered his neck and a few more by his jawbone. So light that you would miss it if you weren't right on him. How she can tell that when he genuinely smiles his grin actually falls slightly as if it was relaxing. She can finally observe all of these little things about him and the thought that she almost lost all of this, all of him,it nearly made her sob herself.
"I saved your life." Charlie repeated with a bit of smugness in her tone. Sure she was over the moon about saving him but oh boy, she knew she would never let him live it down. Alastor cocked his head as Charlie's hands fell.
"You're becoming arrogant because you saved my life?" He questioned. Charlie rolled her eyes, keeping the smile on her face.
"Hey, it's not everyday that I get to help you like that, ok? Let me have this!"
Before Charlie could react, Alastor leaned forward and placed a kiss chastely on her chapped lips. She felt her heart leap in her throat and rather than butterflies in her stomach, she had hummingbirds in her entire body.
"You save my life every day, Charlie."
She returned her lips to his own before she could chicken out. She wanted this. She neededthis. She needed him like her lungs needed oxygen. He reached around and placed his hands on her upper back, pressing her closer to him. She in turn wrapped her arms around his shoulders, her hand delving into his hair. She sighed through her nose as she let herself get lost in him. His scent, the way his mouth moved against hers, the way he tasted, all of it. No movement or sound went unnoticed. She became a little carried away as one of her fangs accidently pierced his bottom lip. He let out a moan that she happily swallowed. She felt that moan move down her throat and into her lower stomach that made her insides coil with pleasure. Once they were both out of breath they pulled away from each other. Both of their mouth's were swollen and red, a reminder of their blissful reunion. A small smear of blood bloomed on Alastor's bottom lip, his tongue darting out to lick it away. Charlie's eyes caught it and she had to refrain from devouring him whole.
"I love you." Alastor wheezed out as his eyes raked over her. Charlie opened her mouth to respond, but then clicked her teeth shut.
He doesn't actually love you.
"Alastor. I-" An abrupt noise stopped her. Lucifer opened the door and waved awkwardly.
"Question: have you ever heard of knocking?" Alastor asked with venom in his tone. Lucifer came in and shut the door. Charlie could see the irony as she could think of twenty times easily that Alastor appeared out of no where without knocking himself.
"Hardy Har. Good to know that your sense of humor is still intact."
"Wasn't being funny."
"Dad." Charlie said loud enough to stop the bickering. "What did you need?"
"Yes, and please hurry as well. Charlie and I were having a very important conversation." Charlie could tell that Alastor was highly annoyed but she couldn't exactly blame him. Lucifer had a talent for popping up in the most inopportune times.
"Ok ok don't get your antlers in a twist." Lucifer smirked. Alastor glared as he continued. "Apparently Alon slipped you the love potion when he started staying here. That's how you ingested it."
Alastor's eyebrows shot up in surprise. Charlie could see that he never even considered Alon to be a possible suspect. The memory of Val murdering him flashed across her mind and she had to hold back more tears. He came back to warn them and even help them but it was too late. Alastor's face lit up with realization which brought Charlie out of her head again.
"The coffee creamer." He mumbled to himself. "That sneaky little urchin."
"Hey! He's dead Alastor." Charlie scolded.
"Alon helped Vox kidnap you. If that disgusting moth pimp hadn't killed him, then I certainly would have and more slowly. He should be grateful that his death was quick." He said with malice. Charlie stopped her reply from coming out. Now wasn't the time. She turned her attention back to her father.
"So. You came to tell us that Alon gave him the potion? What does that matter now that he's gone?"
"Oh it doesn't, that was a mere fun fact." Lucifer waved her off like she was being silly. "I came to tell you that the love potion didn't cause Alastor to love you."
Charlie and Alastor shared a skeptical look.
"Have you ever thought about getting his mental health checked?" Alastor whispered as if Lucifer couldn't hear them.
"Considering it now." Charlie replied. Lucifer rolled his eyes with a huff.
"Would you two listen to me?"
"Once you start making sense, absolutely." Alastor's grin stretched wider as he continued to mock the King of Hell. Charlie had to give it to him, he was fearless when poking fun at Lucifer. Even before he developed feelings for his daughter, he never missed an opportunity to heckle him.
"I looked into the love potion. This is Hell so no demon can make another demon fall in love. What it can do though is amplify it."
"Come again?" Charlie's spine straightened, hearing a pop in her neck while doing so. Alastor cocked his head and leaned forward.
"The chemical makeup of the love potion is supposed to 'double the amount' of oxytocin in one's body. To put it in laymen's terms, Alastor already had feelings for you before he drank the potion." Lucifer crossed his arms, putting himself in a victory stance.
"Is that why I attacked her?" Alastor's voice was strained. He didn't want to bring it up but he had to know. Memories of Alastor towering over her with that crazed look in his eyes still haunted her. She would never tell Alastor that but she would never be able to get that image out of her head, nor the panic that began to build in her chest.
"Unfortunately yes. The potion cranks up the love to unhealthy obsession levels. Great for sex, bad for potential relationships."
Charlie sat back, letting this new knowledge sink in. The love potion didn't make Alastor have feelings for her. He actually did love her! She felt happiness and joy rise in her like a thermometer ready to burst. She was nearly dizzy from the change of emotions happening every few seconds. Fuck she needed some sleep. She looked at Alastor and saw that even though he looked less concerned, he certainly didn't share her excitement.
"Well I suppose I'll ask the million dollar question. As much as I would love a Charlie shrine in my closet," Alastor sent her a wink. "I believe there would be some issues with that. So. How do we cure myself of this love potion?" Lucifer's smile lessened. Sweat began to bead on Alastor's brow and Charlie was biting the inside of her cheek until she tasted copper.
"Here's the thing: there isn't one."