Im still trying to find Alastor's voice and mannerisms when it comes to associating with Kevin, so this is the shortest chapter of all the ones I've done for this series. I hope to find inspiration to really develop their confrontations and distaste for each other as I write more. I wish I knew more about the backstory of Alastor – the deal he made with Charlie and his association with whom owns his soul *I know, so please don't spoil as I will avoid any mentions of it till after S2 airs, and just getting a good feel for him will take time.
As he turned down the hallway leading to Alastor's tower, Kevin immediately felt a change in the air. It was as if the hall itself was a constricting coil of tension, ominous and uninviting. Even the lines of windows were unnaturally tinted, keeping most of the light from the outside from seeping in. Rather, lanterns adorned the walls every few feet, lit with a soft green glow. He was reminded of the hallway in The Shining, just as the boy turned the corner to see the two girls. Immediately, Kevin became more tense and alert because of it. If this was Alastor's way of keeping his distance and solitude, it was very effective.
Just what are you, Alastor? Kevin thought. According to Charlie, you just up and showed up out of nowhere, right after she went to Studio 666. You offered to help run the hotel—for your entertainment—as you claim, but it's more than that, isn't it? Charlie says you're a sinner, like most others, who had a life on Earth. What did you do to get a ticket to Hell, and are you worth trusting?
His brow furrowed in anger, And this deal you forced her into? I'm definitely going to find out your intentions, demon, and if I think for one moment you have any plans to hurt my girl…
Signing, Kevin cooled his emotions down as much as he could. Remember your training, Collins; you're better than this.
It was never effective to let rage lead the charge into a battle or confrontation, and he had long learned how it could influence or blind one's actions. No, he knew Alastor was cunning and powerful, and the only way to stay one step ahead of him was to appeal to his ego and allow him to show his hand when he was ready.
However, this was not a military or precision operation; it was about protecting the love of his life. No, to be fair, in some ways, this was about protecting the loves of his life. Vaggie mattered to him, too, and as he was her armor, maybe she could be his voice of reason. It looks like we're going to have a lot more to talk about, Vaggie. You were here when Alastor showed up, and you probably know much more about his past.
Filing those thoughts away, Kevin approached the crooked red and black door of Alastor's suite. Casting his eyes upwards, he looked at the security cameras he'd installed during construction and noticed they had been crushed. Frowning, Kevin reached for one and ran his fingers over the jagged metal, affirming it was beyond repair.
Son of a bitch!
Taking a deep breath, Kevin felt the tension in his shoulders tighten. Yes, there was definitely some therapy needed in his future. Maybe Hell had licensed ones? He'd taken up a couple shortly after he'd left the military, but they'd been of no help. But things were very different now. Yet another topic to discuss with his girlfriend's girlfriend.
Gritting his teeth, he turned away from the damaged camera and hated that this was going to be the focal point of his discussion with Alastor, rather than a simple inspection and reminder to the Radio Demon of his position in the hotel. Okay, so it was a bit of an immature motive, but it was about doing his job, right, wasn't it?
With another sigh to exhale some tension, Kevin steeled himself, straightened his shoulders, and knocked firmly on the door.
Just as with Lucifer, the initial knock produced no results, and there was a subliminal notion of relief, which he shook off. Even though he did not want to have too many uncomfortable confrontations with Alastor, he needed this one to go well and wanted to get it over with as soon as possible.
Stepping back, he leaned against the wall, crossed his arms, and closed his eyes. Time to 4-D chess this shit out!
Okay. Alastor could be anywhere, but I'm going to wager that he has spells on his door for protection and would not be pleased with an unannounced visitor. Given his apparent penchant for the dramatic—waiting in the hallway outside the elevator the night before as an example—he's not going to answer the door in the normal way. No, he's going to want to come from a different direction, intent on catching his visitor by surprise and having the upper hand.
Kevin looked up. We're on the top floor, and he was not on the roof when I toured it, so let's eliminate that direction.
Now, he turned his eyes to the walls on each side of him and the tinted windows. It's outside on both sides of this hallway, minus the walk ways. He could be chilling out there, but I'm going to wager he's not a fresh air kind of demon.
Looking down, Kevin scuffled his foot on the carpet. That leaves either coming up from the floor or down the hallway. He's not going to want to walk down and possibly be seen by the one he's stalking, so—
Pushing from the wall, Kevin reached and knocked one more time, loud and hard, and then walked away down the hall until he was half way between Alastor's door and the elevators. Turning back to face down the hall, he lifted his fingers and concentrated, doing something he actually didn't like doing much of—using his magic. He'd always been a hands-on, science-focused individual, and even with his halo, he felt it was more akin to a set of weapons than magic.
Still, a good tactician uses everything at his disposal, and with a flick of his fingers, he extinguished all of the lanterns leading down the hallway, making the entire pathway dark. In this regard, he did appreciate that the windows were heavily tinted. He then crouched down, narrowed his eyes, and waited.
Almost a full minute later, a green-ish circle of light appeared on the floor and grew outward, turning a blackish color, and rising from it, Alastor appeared, facing his door. When the light from his arrival faded, the Radio Demon immediately noticed that the lanterns emitted no light, and with a frustrated wave, he sent out magic that lit them all up at once.
This also informed him that no one was at his door. Before he could turn around, a glowing sword of yellow-white energy appeared next to his cheek, emanating a radiant heat that bathed over his features and was decidedly uncomfortable to him.
"Since we know we don't like each other, Alastor." Kevin said from behind, holding his halo sword out with the tip edging past the nose of the Radio Demon. "Let this be a demonstration to you that you are not the only one who can catch people by surprise."
"Well played. Well played." Alastor clasped his hands together and turned to face Kevin, watching the sword shrink down to it's original halo form, and eyed Kevin as he clipped it back over his head. Grinning darkly, Alastor tilted his eyes up at the halo now resting above Kevin. "Such a neat trick. You simply must tell me how you do that sometime!"
"Not likely." Kevin folded his arms again and glared at Alastor and said in a very bad imitation of Alastor's radio voice, "But you simply must tell me why the cameras in your section have been destroyed."
Eyebrow twitching, the corner of his lip rising at the indignation, Alastor instead turned dramatically, waving his arm up towards the camera. "Whatever do you mean, dear boy? Everything here is in perfect order—" Halting his words, he breathed out a sharp, obviously overly dramatic gasp, "Oh, my word. They're ruined! Who could have done such a thing?"
I'll give him credit; everything he does, he does with flair. Kevin walked up and stood next to Alastor, training his eyes on the camera just as Alastor continued to feign his surprise, eyeing the camera as if he'd never seen it before. "Okay. If this is the game we're going to play, Alastor, then fine, we'll play."
"I don't know what you mean, dear boy." Alastor's voice twittered out past his pointed teeth.
"Mmhmm." Kevin mocked an agreement. "You play your part well. Anyway, I'll talk to Vaggie about making arrangements to have new equipment shipped here, and you can replace these in short order." He eyed Alastor to see his reaction. "Then I do hope you will be far more vigilant in keeping this hallway secure."
"I don't need these contraptions." The Radio Demon's voice grew static as he waved his free hand at the damage: "And I would much prefer it if you kept my hall clear of them."
"No can do." Kevin smirked. He was loving the moment, getting under the Radio Demon's skin. Maybe a bit too much fun. Time to tone it down. "I am charged with protecting this hotel and all that live under this roof, and that includes you."
"How…convenient." There was a mix of frustration and something else in Alastor's voice, the latter not prevalent enough for Kevin to hear.
"Isn't it, though? It's beyond me as to why, but Charlie would be devastated if something happened to you, and she would not be pleased with me if I didn't do my due diligence in making sure every area of the hotel was under proper surveillance. To make sure all her friends, staff, and patrons were kept safe."
He turned to face Alastor, who acknowledged him with a turn of his head to meet him eye to eye. "You may be powerful, but Adam proved you're mortal. Just as there are ones who would love to topple the throne of the King of Hell, there are others who would love to see you fall as well, and since your powers are weak after the battle? Well, as long as you're living here, as long as you are an ally to Charlie, you are under my protection. One thing I don't do is discriminate or take my duties lightly." Kevin paused, then added, "Consider it a part of our 'truce'? For Charlie's sake?"
The twitch in Alastor's eye had been going on ever since the words 'no can do,' but at the end of Kevin's speech, it stopped, and he tilted his head slightly. "You are an interesting character, Kevin."
"To you, I'm Angel." Angel bit the words, "I don't want your familiarity."
"But I may become confused with our dear Angel Dust." Alastor's words held a light tone of mockery, of fake worry, and Angel shook his head.
"Not my concern. And whatever game you're playing here, I'll be watching you. I admit I don't know all the moves you have lined up, and I'm still concerned about the terms of your deal with Charlie, but she's asked me to play nice, and I will."
Alastor's smile widened. "Playing nice is a recipe for death in Hell, my good Angel, and not nearly as fun."
Angel shrugged, "Perhaps, and you're right that I am over my head here and absolutely a target for some denizens, along with Lute and probably Sera." He shook his head thinking of them.
"You made a lot of enemies quite quickly." Alastor agreed.
"And that list may yet grow." Sighing and accepting that it wasn't going to do either of them any good to continue, Angel made an offer. "Now, I can rile you more, create a greater enemy, or we can take this truce and do something good with it. For Charlie, the hotel and her dreams. I've shown you I can get the drop on you, so you're going to be ever more vigilant from now on, so consider this a free lesson."
"Careful, dear boy." Alastor's eyes narrowed. "I'll tolerate only so much."
"What? Play nice? Didn't you just tell me that's a recipe for death?" Angel shared a thin-lined grin with him. "I won't take shit from you, and I know you're intelligent and a calculating individual that knows when to play your pieces?"
Alastor suddenly let out a jovial laugh, "Oh, this is so good! You are going to be quite the entertainment around here—Angel!" He chuckled lightly, biting on his name.
"Of that, I have no doubt." Angel folded his arms. "So, we play nice?"
"Hmmm." Alastor drawled out his hum as he eyed Kevin, then nodded, "Fair enough. Why don't we make our truce official, then? No games, no threats; we work as a team for the sake of Charlie's dreams?" With this, Alastor held out his hand as if to shake.
Angel raised his eyebrows. "You're kidding, right?"
"It's a simple deal. No soul's involved. It binds us that we can not, knowingly or with intention, harm each other under any circumstances." Alastor's grin widened. "Consider it a grand gesture of my trust in you, dear boy, and that it would do me great harm to break the deal."
"If this deal is legit and offered on the level, You'll allow me…" Angel paused, his eyes narrowing and showing a mirroring smile of Alastor's. "To discuss it with Vaggie, first?"
"Why, of course!" Alastor pulled back his hand, but Kevin caught the slight eye twitch. "Do come find me when you're ready! Now if you'll excuse me, I will show you my good intentions and go make a couple of inconvenient purchases." He paused and chuckled, "But I'll leave the installation up to your talented hands."
With that, Alastor did a half-mock bow and faded through the floor, and the lights he'd reactivated went out with him, leaving Angel standing in the dark.
Well played, Al. Well, played. He grumbled, then let out a small, frustrated laugh. I never did get a chance to check out his room.
Turning on his heels and heading for the stairwell, Angel decided that in this instance, he really didn't care.