The next morning, Charlie was spread out in her office, bundles of magazines in piles at her feet. It was Redemption Plan Day 1's (she'd have to work on that name) first activity and Charlie was feeling ecstatic!
Besides the crushing sense of doom that lurked in the back of her mind whenever she thought about Alastor's demise, the demoness was pretty excited about how today might go.
She pushed aside any lingering thoughts of the previous night. Nope, that was all in the past. She conveniently forgot the softness of his skin or the warmth she felt when they were close. And that kiss on the cheek? It was like it never even happened. Definitely no hasty retreats involved. Oh how she wished she could have seen his face after…–
Yessiree, nothing was going to distract Charlie from the success of today. Nothing and no one! Nobody at all.
The door burst open as if on cue and in marched a visibly upset Angel, his multiple eyes raging their purple glow.
"Char, Fat Nuggets is missing and I swear on my fuckin' life if one of those new hotel fucks did something!"
Yes indeed, nothing would distract from the day…
…
Gathered in the lobby, the hotel staff and guests were assembled in all manner of dress. Angel stood in front, two sets of arms crossed, and looking over each and every one of them with absolute mistrust. There were dark circles under his eyes as if he hadn't slept in days, and his skin was oddly pallid.
"You," he pointed, voice pained and scratchy, "Wasn't your hobby thieving?! Did you take Fat Nuggets?"
The guest in question was Ama. The literal old goat croaked at the accusation. "I don't even know what a Fat Nuggets is!"
"Angel, Angel, that's not what this is!" Charlie interceded, pushing the spider demon back. "This wasn't what I had in mind originally as a group activity…" Charlie mumbled to herself. "We're forming a search party!"
Angel harrumphed and re-crossed his arms, but his multiple eyes betrayed a twinge of fear. He recounted where and when he had last seen Fat Nuggets. It had been long over a day, as the porn star had been pulling double shifts at the studio. Softly, Angel admitted he might have left his door open for his pet pig, granting him space to roam free around the hotel.
"He could be anywhere at this rate!" Angel cried. "I didn't want him gettin' cooped up in my room, I let him out but now I can't find him anywhere!"
"Don't worry, Angel!" Charlie soothed, gesturing to the gathered group of demons. "We'll tackle this together, okay?" She looked pointedly at Husk, Vaggie, Niffty, and Alastor, all of whom were looking off in separate directions. "Right, guys?"
"Oh Hell," grumbled Husk, taking a swig from his bottle. "Fine, but I told you not to prop the front door open!" He pointed at Niffty who shook her head vehemently.
"I didn't want bugs getting out! She told me to let a breeze in!" Niffty pointed her stick-like limb at Vaggie who reared back in surprise.
"The room was stinking up from Alastor's damn seafood Jambalaya!" Vaggie exclaimed, now gesturing at the Radio Demon who only smiled in response.
"He's outside?" Angel asked. "You irresponsible fucks let Nugs outside!?"
"It's not our responsibility to watch over your pet pig!" Husk replied, already riled up from the energy in the room.
"All you do is sit at the bar, drinking! Would it kill you to do anything else!?" Angel waved his arms, each of which took their time to point accusingly.
"What the Hell's gotten into you?" asked Husk.
"Nothing dammit! I'm stuck here dealin' with a bunch of worthless fucks!" Angel was sweating as he ran his hand along his forehead.
"Guys, guys! No fighting! We're meant to work together, as a team!" Charlie placated, twining her fingers in a 'teamwork' gesture.
She glanced at the new guests awkwardly standing off to the side, growing ever frightful of their reaction. While the guests eyed each other. What had they gotten themselves into?
Sensing their thinking, Charlie scurried up to Alastor and whispered pleadingly, "Can't you do something?"
"Why yes I could, darling!" Alastor replied, spinning his cane in his hand. This action was not lost on the former angel in the room. "But what would I get out of putting an end to this delightful drama?"
"My eternal gratitude?" Charlie implored. "This looks bad to the other guests and we haven't even started! Whatever you want, just name it!"
"Careful what you say, dear. I may ask for something you might be unwilling to give…" his grin widened.
"Like what?" Charlie found herself asking, curious what the deer demon could possibly ask for. He already had his favor…
Alastor managed a raised eyebrow before Vaggie interrupted their little interlude, eyeing Charlie with a mild hurt. Why would she go straight to Alastor instead of her? "I'll go looking for him!" the former angel announced, shutting up the rest of those present.
"We'll split up and tackle different areas!" Charlie chimed in. She turned back to the deer demon and gave him the most pitiful look she could muster.
Alastor sighed, giving in far more quickly than he might've in the past. "I guess your eternal gratitude will have to do." He spun his cane like a conductor and slammed the tip into the floor. Several of his shadow minions manifested, in various sizes and conditions. He directed them on who to look for and to report back with anything they deemed worthwhile or unusual. They scampered out the door in a flopping, eager mess.
"Thank you, Al! See Angel, we'll find Nuggets in no time!"
The spider demon mumbled his thanks but altogether caved inwards, his anger having seeped out of him. He wrapped his arms around himself and followed the shadow minions out the door. "I know some spots he might like…" he mumbled, with Husk following shortly behind, bringing a bottle with him.
Vaggie huffed and grabbed her spear (just in case). "Charlie? You coming with me?"
The demoness in question was corralling the other guests and apologizing profusely for the pushed back planned activity. "You go ahead! I need to finish up some things in here…"
The former angel's single eye swiveled over to Alastor who was still standing by, hands perched on his cane. He looked back at her with a knowing stare and Vaggie could tell exactly what he was thinking: 'I got my cane back and I know what you did.'
Whether Alastor was going to act on that matter or not was another issue entirely. But the gray angel just couldn't think about that right now, as she had a pet pig to find. Another distraction, she mused, from the even worse thoughts she might otherwise have swimming in her head. Most involving the red demon himself.
She managed one last glare in response to him and one concerned glance at her frantic girlfriend before she finally stepped out.
…
Vaggie wandered the streets, having separated from the group early on. She was irritated and wasn't that interested in dedicating much of her energy to this. She wanted to find Fat Nuggets and go home and try not to think about what it meant that Alastor's cane was returned and fixed. Did Charlie fix it? How? Why did he need it? How often were they meeting up when she wasn't around?
The gray angel wasn't stupid. She knew that when Charlie said she was going to "be right back" or "attend to some business" that usually meant she was either snacking on something in the kitchen or meeting up with Alastor. But Vaggie liked to believe that they really were discussing business, knowing how dedicated Charlie was and also being aware of what the Radio Demon was capable of. He had abilities beyond her own understanding and there was a part of her that was envious of his power. He could do for Charlie and the Hazbin Hotel that Vaggie could never even dream of.
But it was that exact power he yielded that frightened her so. His power was misunderstood and he has murdered for less, not to mention that everything was one big joke to him. She couldn't get a read on him and every day that passed, Vaggie worried that he would finally get what he was waiting for and would make his move.
And then there was that other issue that wiggled in the back of her mind. The comments that their friends made that implied the deer demon saw Charlie as more than a business partner. That Alastor felt things for Charlie. She could believe he wanted to eat her or steal her soul, but anything besides that still seemed impossible. The former angel couldn't shake her mind of the doubt, no matter what anyone said. It still pissed her the hell off however.
As she entered the Entertainment district of Hell, she walked past an antique shop selling ancient full-back televisions. She stepped towards the window display and amongst the static on each screen, Vaggie could faintly make out a face. A face that became clearer and clearer as she moved closer.
Recognizing what she was seeing, Vaggie fled around the corner into an alleyway and there the face on the screen followed her, hopping from tv screen to tv screen.
"Stop you one-eyed bitch!" The voice reverberated through the static.
"I told you to fuck off and leave me alone!" Vaggie cried out, finding she had cornered herself. The face was no longer on a screen, but was now attached to a body, boxing her into a dead-end. The body's screen-like face flickered like an interrupted projection screen.
"I just want to talk!" said Vox. His screen brightening in an attempt to look less threatening. It somehow made him look worse.
Vaggie wielded her spear and shoved it towards him, forcing a step back. "I made a mistake reaching out to you, I'm not interested in whatever you're selling."
"I know the Radio Demon is weakened," said Vox, his sharp neon smile growing.
Vaggie's grip tightened on her spear, her muscles tensing. This was something she didn't know. "And what's that got to do with me?"
Vox took a step closer, his screen face flashing with excitement. "Think about it, Vagina. With Alastor out of the way, there'll be a power vacuum in Hell. Someone like you could fill that void. And I can offer you the means to do it."
"My name is Vaggie!"
Vox actually looked surprised. "It is?" He schooled his features. "Whatever! The Radio Demon's got to go and I know we feel the same way about him."
Vaggie prodded her spear closer, inches from his flashing face. Her voice dropped a menacing octave. "Don't say that. I'd never trust an Overlord that shacks up with a demon like Valentino!"
"Hey, hey, low blow." His face changed expressions as one changes the channel. "But you'll let your little gal pal shack up with the Radio Demon?" Vox cooed.
Her single eye blazed with fury at the accusation. "No one is shacking up with anyone! Charlie can handle herself! Alastor wouldn't hurt her…'' but even as she said it, Vaggie felt her own lack of conviction at the statement.
"Hurt her?! Are we even talking about the same guy?!" The TV demon let out a cruel laugh. "The Radio Demon would do more than hurt the Princess. He would destroy her.
"Don't you remember all those Overlords he took down to achieve the power he has now?" He sneered at the memory. "He'd do anything, go through anyone, to get what he wants."
The former angel paused. She shouldn't believe him, wouldn't believe him. But that nagging sensation at the back of her mind that had been pricking at her for weeks now had kicked into overdrive. Vaggie's heart raced as Vox's words echoed in her mind. She couldn't deny the pieces of truth in what he said, no matter how much she wanted to. Alastor's unpredictable nature, his delight for chaos… it all pointed to a potential danger for Charlie. And despite her fierce loyalty and belief in her girlfriend's strength, a seed of doubt had already been growing for too long now.
Vaggie deflated, the grip on her spear loosening. "What do you want?" she sighed.
A surge of excitement coursed through the TV demon, his screen sparking. "The same thing you do!" His teeth grit. "To see Alastor fall. And together we can take him down. Think of your little girlfriend…"
Vaggie clenched her fists. She could see through Vox's manipulations but doubt lingered like a shadow. What if he was right? What if this is what it would take to protect Charlie? The TV demon watched her eagerly, his multi-colored eyes blinking in anticipation.
She closed her single eye, shaking her head. It reopened with renewed anger. "No," she spat out. "I won't betray the Hotel like that."
Vox's screen flickered with frustration, sensing he had lost her. "You're making a mistake, Vaggie." He spun on his boots, his coattails swinging behind him. "I'll be in touch!" he called out before vanishing in a lightning bolt of static.
Drained from the confrontation, Vaggie's shoulders slumped in defeat. She never should have contacted Vox in the first place, chiding herself for the slip. In a moment of weakness, she felt the best place to hit Alastor was to get in touch with one thing he hated: Television. But unfortunately, she didn't understand just how deep Vox's hatred for the Radio Demon ran. Far deeper than her own.
He would be back, she thought, and maybe next time the former angel wasn't sure if she'd have the strength to refuse him.
As Vaggie turned, conflicting emotions weighing on her mind, she spotted something in the distance.
It was a little black creature with a round head and white threaded eyes. It jumped at her stare and immediately scurried away, its tiny body barely able to support its ragdoll head.
"Hey!" Vaggie called, sprinting towards the tiny spectre. It was one of Alastor's shadow minions!
She caught up to it easily, raised her spear, and attempted to smack it with the blunt end of her weapon. But the creature sunk into the ground, combining with the shadows of the nearby building. It disappeared into the dark and was nowhere to be seen.
Vaggie cursed. It was going to be an awkward conversation later if that shadow had witnessed any unsavory part of her dialogue with the TV demon.
The last thing she needed was another confrontation with that smiling deer. But then again, maybe one was desperately needed.
...
By nightfall, Fat Nuggets was returned after a sound lashing from Valentino. The pet pig had wandered off to the place Angel frequently was, searching for its long absent owner.
Angel sat at the bar, head in his hands, while his other set held the pet demon to his chest. He rubbed the creature for comfort and it 'oinked' softly in concern.
"I fucked up, Nugs," he whimpered.
"What are you still moping about? You got your pet back, didn't you?" Husk reappeared behind his bar, rubbing dust off a glass.
"I did something, Whiskers. Something I'm not proud of…" confessed Angel.
"Don't you do something like that everyday?" The cat demon attempted to lighten the mood but Angel's energy remained sour. "What're you on about?"
The porn star took that moment to peer at Husk, as if he was trying to communicate without words.
In response, the gambler studied his friend's appearance and for the first time he saw how worn he looked, how run-down.
Husk adopted an expression of worry and did his best to expel any judgment he might've had before. "You using again, kid?"
Angel only nodded, shame written all over his face. "It's not youse guys' fault Nugs was wanderin' the streets." His head sank onto the bar counter. "I fuckin' got high and forgot him!" He clutched his pet demon closer to himself, holding back tears. "You know Val gave me this little guy? When things were good." The spider demon laughed sardonically. "If things were ever good…" he trailed off, lost in a memory.
"What happened?" Husk asked, listening like the bartender he was.
"Ever since Val burst in here during the opening, he's been making my life more of a living Hell than it already was. I tried to deal with it, tried to cope in the ways Char taught me… But nothing is the same as a fuckin' hit.
"I didn't want to let the hotel down, or Charlie, or any of you…But the pressure to do good… it's suffocating."
Husk reached a paw out and placed it over one of Angel's. "I get it, but using again ain't the solution, it's just another problem."
"I've got more than my fair share of problems, what's wrong with wanting to feel like everything is 'okay' sometimes?"
"Nothing wrong with that, kid. Why d'you think I drink so much? I've got my problems too." The cat demon took a swig to emphasize his point. "And we all stumble on that road eventually, so long as we pick ourselves back up again and keep moving forward."
Angel nodded and folded himself up against the counter. "Thanks Huskers…" He wiped his eyes and managed a weak smile. "At this rate, I might be redeemed next century!"
"Sooner than me," his companion laughed. He pet Fat Nuggets, now sitting on the bar, who snorted in support.
Unbeknownst to the trio, another demon stood idly by, listening intently to their conversation. The Radio Demon didn't know why, but hearing about the porn demon's sudden relapse struck a minor chord with him. Knowing that their singular auspicious guest was failing on his upwards journey was more than a little concerning. Any other time, the red demon might have laughed or participated in mockery, but right now the odd urge to join them for consolitary drinks at the bar surfaced in his mind.
His ear twitched, and his nose wrinkled at the annoying sensation to be supportive. Helping Angel Dust was equivalent to helping the Hotel, which in turn would then help Charlie. He was only doing what he had promised– assisting the hotel for as long as he desired, he tried to reason. But still it irked him, and an unfamiliar wave coursed across his chest again. As it had been doing far more in the last several days.
He wanted to snap his fingers and send it all away, send himself away, but the use of his shadow minions today already took the wind out of him. The deer demon turned on his heel and was seconds away from retreating to his room when the front door of the hotel suddenly burst open.
"I found him!" screeched Niffty, holding up some hell forsaken creature with wet matted fur. She cackled out an evil laugh, her pupil shrunken to a speck in maniacal glee.
"Holy fuck, Niffty!" yelled out Angel, standing from the bar in horror. "We already found Fat Nugs!"
In the midst of the mild chaos, Alastor shook his head in what could only be described as amused acceptance. He laughed, a staticky mirth that resounded throughout the hall.
Those in attendance turned to look at him, finally noticing his presence.
"Boss," said Husk, not in complete annoyance or fear.
"Smiles!" said Angel, not entirely unglad to see him.
"Sir!" greeted Niffty, tightening her grip before the creature in her hand could escape.
"Alastor!" yelled Charlie from the top of the stairs. She raced down to meet him and slid to a stop at his feet. "I feel like I haven't seen you all day!" she exclaimed, a bright smile dominating her face.
Before him, stood the members of the hotel (sans one), a motley crew of weirdos, their expressions a mix of gleaming promise and understanding. He had seen them all before like this, on his original return, but had disregarded these creatures as something less than, something unimportant or easily ignorable, or something to use. For the first time, the Radio Demon felt a sense of ease wash over him, a warmth spreading through his limbs.
He wasn't alone here, and he didn't need to be. And these strange creatures he has come to call friends were in need of his support as well.
His chest swelled with the feeling of camaraderie, and the Mark there reacted in kind, but it was not an unpleasant movement. It was peaceful, like drifting on a calm lake. The sensation sprung old memories in his mind and Alastor placed his clawed hand against his breast and fought the urge to let out a contented sigh.
Oh, how he loathed this feeling.
"What's eating you? Never seen you so happy before, and you smile all the damn time! It's kind of freaking me out," commented Angel.
"Yeah Al, you look so…" Charlie paused as she admired him. The mere sight of his genuine expression was infectious and the demoness found herself filled with emotion. "So… good."
"No one has ever called me 'good' in all my days in Hell." The deer demon looked down at his business partner and the warmth of before spread even hotter. His vision blurred as he placed a palm against Charlie's shoulder. He had the strangest desire to pull her into a hug and never let go.
Seeing Charlie's dream falter was the last thing he wanted. He wanted to see Angel succeed, this blasted hotel shake the foundation of Hell and upset the balance of Heaven. He still wanted to see demons struggle on their way there, but not at poor Charlie's expense.
It's this damn Mark, Alastor thought, it was making him feel things he otherwise never would. That's what the King of Hell had said, hadn't he? That the Mark affected things beyond the physical. But there was this lingering voice in his mind that told him no, this is all you… just stronger. How infuriating.
Alastor opted for a reassuring squeeze of her shoulder, his hand sliding to rest at the base of her neck. She looked up at him with that dreamy expression, her hands balled into excited fists, a singular fang biting into her bottom lip. He eyed that lip of hers for a split second before returning to the apple of her cheeks.
The Radio Demon might've chosen this moment to tease the demoness. But for some reason, it felt all too public and far too sincere for him to allow himself a jest that wouldn't feel like a mere joke. That was the most troubling part of all.
He instead chose that moment to walk towards the others with a sweep of his coat and welcoming spread of his arms, pulling Charlie alongside him.
AN: Thanks for reading!