Chapter Text
It had been six months since the battle. Six long months of pain and trying to stitch the festering wound Adam had left. Niffty frowned as she helped clean up the bloody bandages while Alastor tied off the last stitch. It had hardly healed at all. He still refused to so much as mention it to anyone but Niffty. The little maid was actually rather good with keeping his secrets and she was the only one to know exactly what was happening.
Sure, Husk knew something was wrong; they had been together for the last few decades and the cat could see the tightness around eyes when he made too wide a motion. His usual exuberant movements were cut short when he felt stitches popping and knew he had to find a reason to leave so he could fix it. Today, he'd had a little tussle at the edge of his district as some little upstart thought to test him. Just because he had been "away" for a few years, was his ability to survive a direct attack from an angelic weapon not enough reason to leave him alone?
"Alastor?" Niffty asked carefully as she looked back at him, breaking through his thoughts. "Yes, my dear?" he responded as he conjured a roll of gauze and started wrapping his chest. "I … It's not getting better. Are you sure we can't ask someone for help?" For a pair that thrived on the pain of others and enjoyed their torment, it didn't necessarily translate to their little group. She didn't like to see Alastor in pain like this and not being able to actually make it better. If he had died during the battle, what would she have done without him.
For his part, the Overlord growled at the suggestion and remained silent until he pulled his shirt on. He didn't acknowledge the question until he was buttoned up and tucked. He slowly turned and narrowed his eyes at the little lady. "You know why, Niffty. I only trust you with this," he answered. For anyone who didn't know him well, his tone could be mistaken as kind, soft, trusting. There was that edge of threat to it and she knew that this secret was in part a punishment. She hadn't tried to find him after the battle to see if he was okay. None of them had. Alastor would have been horrified to have someone find him in such an awful state, but the fact that not a single one of their little "family" had gone in search of him grated more.
He stepped forward, patting her head and smiling softly. "Now, let's get downstairs for the meeting, yes?" With a snap of his fingers, his coat and staff finished his outfit and he was the Radio Demon once more. The redheads made for the elevator in the common hallway between Alastor and Lucifer's respective wings and rode silently down. Niffty let her mind drift in the silence and finally got distracted as the door dinged open and a bug ran passed. Alastor was glad that she had those moments of what others would call lucidity, but it was just how her strange mind worked. If she really cared, if she was truly concerned, her focus became razor sharp. Barring that, her enthusiasm could be easily swayed.
A long shadow appeared from his back and Alastor scooped up the maid that way and headed for the staff lounge. He settled them both on a little love seat which she quickly abandoned anyway. Charlie smiled at him and his attempt to have her sit as she clutched a letter in her hands. "Thank you guys so much for coming to today's meeting," the princess greeted as she looked over the small group. "I got a letter from Heaven, from Emily, and I have some amazing news." She all but vibrated on the spot as the golden paper started to crinkle in her grip.
"It worked. It really fucking worked! I can't believe it but Sir Pentious made it! He's in Heaven and Emily has been helping him adapt and I'm so fucking proud of him!" She cried, jumping to her feet and waving the letter around. Tears welled in her eyes as Vaggie grabbed for her hand and smiled up at her. Everyone else sat there in stunned silence as they stared. Lucifer was the first to stand up, smile wide before the quiet had the chance to dim Charlie's mood. "That's amazing, sweetie! I can't believe, after all this time, this was possible!" he said, a little dumbfounded but proud nonetheless. He put a hand on her shoulder and beamed at the news.
"I think this calls for a celebration. How about we call Aunt Bee?" the king offered. Beelzebub parties weren't exactly his speed anymore, but he would certainly bare it for Charlie. Alastor cleared his throat sharply. All eyes turned on him as he smiled at the group. "Is that all the news? Does that mean the exterminations are over? Will they be providing some kind of reparations for the centuries of terror they wrought upon Hell?" he asked, bringing a little rain to this parade. Charlie took it in stride regardless and didn't let it dim her mood. "Exterminations are off with the proof that this hotel really does work," she answered, smiling at Angel, knowing that he had been trying so hard but had no way to know if it was worth it.
The Overlord went to ask another question but was quickly cut off. "We really should focus on such wonderful news and throw a party," Lucifer said firmly, sharp smile in place as he stared the other man down. "We'll reach out to Heaven and see where everything stands after." Alastor smirked at the hard tone and shrugged. Given the company, he could only poke so much before provoking more than a disapproving glare and he still had to keep in Charlie's good graces. Lucifer's presence made it difficult on occasion, but he did find it entertaining pushing those garish golden buttons.
"Perhaps with this party, an announcement to the ring? Charlie's accomplishment really should be touted and just think of how many might actually be interested. Not to mention we really should get a wider test range to see what methods of betterment work best," he suggested just to spark that bright glow in the princess. "Oh! Yes! We'll need a new commercial-" Vaggie and Alastor shared a quick look "-and a radio announcement?" That had the demon's attention as he nodded in agreement. Finally some sense.
Lucifer frowned, brow furrowed slightly at how easily Alastor had switched from dismissive and trying to poke holes, to supportive and praising. It just didn't sit right. The demon's presence as a whole didn't sit right with him, but he hadn't figured out how to get rid of him without causing issues or some kind of breakdown. "Well, if we're going to be doing all that, why don't we start handing out duties so we can get things done, okay?" he said, looking up at his daughter. She nodded eagerly. "I'll handle the party part. It's pretty sudden so Bee might need a little while. Would next weekend be okay? It'll give us time to announce it, too."
"Thank you, Dad!" Charlie squealed, thrilled with the offer and part of a plan already starting. "We'll all split up for now and work on different parts. Angel, Cherri. Can you guys start working on figuring out the best way to spread it on social media? Husk, how about you let us know what you think will be best as far as drinks. You won't have to do much since Aunt Bee will take care of most of it, but it'll give her somewhere to start.
"Niffty…" Charlie turned to look for the small sinner and tilted her head. The tiny woman was hunched over in the corner and seemed thoroughly engulfed in … whatever she was doing. "You… keep doing what you're doing," the princess finished slowly. Turning back to her hotelier, she smiled. Alastor raised a hand to stop her and got to his feet. "You and Vagatha handle the television commercial," he said with a derisive tone. "I will come up with a few proper advertisements and present them to you later."
He didn't wait for her to agree before getting up to leave and considering the whole meeting a waste of time. He spun his microphone and settled it at the small of his back as he walked away. Six months and he was still haunted by that fucking snake. He didn't bother listening to the clamor starting from the parlor as he took his leave. What did he care that Cherri Bomb had gone unusually quiet and Angel had all but ignored most of the brief meeting in favor of minding after her. Until there were shouts and tears, it was boring. The others… Well, there was nothing of interest. Even the small feet chasing after him.
The equally small hand that spun him around and shoved him into a wall had him hissing. He bared his teeth at the king. "Don't touch me," he snapped, pain lancing through his chest from hitting the wall. He didn't allow himself to flinch, playing as if it was just the fact that someone dare put their hand on him. "Like you could stop me," Lucifer snapped back, stepping closer. "I still don't know what your game is but I will figure it out." Alastor scoffed and rolled his eyes.
"Why would you try fucking up her announcement like that? What does it do for you to upset her when she was so happy that Pennyworth wasn't just gone? It worked. This works. For someone so 'invested in helping', you were real quick to try and drag her down." Lucifer's eyes glowed faintly as he stared up at the demon. It was like he was trying to see through him, trying to see the motives and plots that lay beneath that creepy, stupid smile. No one should be allowed to mess with his little girl and that included some pompous, snarky, pretentious deer with an irritating habit of always being around. Charlie's taste in friends was questionable if it included this oversized heathen of a deer with his dumb fluffy ears — were they soft? They had to be soft. They looked so fuzzy — No! Not going there. He tried to ruin Charlie's moment.
"I was trying to temper her overzealous enthusiasm that obviously blinded her to exactly how that serpent even got there," Alastor stated, breaking through Lucifer's thoughts. How? Well, that was obvious. He had … Oh. The king glanced away as he actually thought through the implication. "Ah, there we are. Pentious died during the battle then rose to Heaven. Must anyone looking for redemption perish to achieve it? Must we all become self-sacrificing to prove ourselves?" he asked, voice quiet but harsh.
"That … I …" Lucifer's brow pinched as he tried not to admit that Alastor was right. Looking back up with a scowl, he poked the overlord in the chest. Hard. "That is no reason to tear her down in front of everyone. Let her have a minute to celebrate and point that out after. In private." The anger was back as he stared up at… Why was he flinching? Yeah, he knew he was strong but he hadn't poked through him or something.
Alastor growled, radio static rising as pain he couldn't hide shot through him. His ears pinned back. Slapping the angel's hand away, his shoulders rolled forward as if trying to protect himself. "I said don't touch me," he snarled, eyes flashing to radio dials. If he thought he could scare Lucifer off, he would try harder, but that would also break more of his fresh stitches. He tried to push passed only to be shoved back against the wall with that small hand pressing on his chest. The deer had to choke back a wounded shout.
The annoyance receded as the fallen angel studied the reaction. "What the fuck is wrong with you?" he asked incredulously, expression twisting. He'd obviously hit on something and it took a few more moments to realize there was slight moisture under his palm. Moving his hand, he stared as he noticed small spreading spots of deeper red on the taller man's shirt. "Are you hurt?"
"Fuck off."
Alastor shoved the angel back and dropped into shadows to escape. Lucifer stood there, slightly stunned as he watched the floor as if the demon would reappear on that same spot. Obviously not, but now he had questions. What had happened? Had he been in a fight recently? Well, one that would actually do that kind of damage? Why was he bleeding like that? Why wasn't he heal—
The sharp manic laughter of a passing Niffty caught his attention. Ah, that would work. Grinning, the small monarch went after the tiny maid. "Hey! Niffty, do you need help?" he called out. Maybe if he got her attention, got her guard down, he could sneak in a few questions about what exactly Alastor had been up to that had him bleeding like that.