Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Husk isn't sure how it happened. He doesn't want to think about how it happened. But he might an idea of how it happened.

It started when some thugs came into the hotel, for what reason was long forgotten. Charlie of course tried to settle it without violence bless her heart.

Husk, for the most part ignored the situation, if they didn't come to the bar it wasn't his problem. But he heard the cackle of a radio and his body froze. The lights flickered and suddenly he found it hard to breath and his paws began to sweat. Only one thing could make him feel this suffocating fear.

Alastor, and he was angry.

What stopped him from curling into a ball and hope it would be over soon, is that Alastors attention wasn't on Husk, it was somewhere else.

One of the safari themed thugs grabbed Niffty. No one except Charlie had any concerns over it.

"Nyhehehe bad boy." Niffty had cackled despite being held upside down by her legs. Her skirt appeared to be defying gravity but look closely and you'll be able to see tiny shadows gripping the edges of her skirt, stopping it from falling. 

Alastor appeared calm, almost bored, but Husks instincts screamed at him to run away, because he knew Alastor was pissed but hiding it behind his ever present smile.

"Now hold on!" Charlie pleaded. "There's no need for violence!"

The elephant or gator or whatever, laughed. "You're wrong little Missy! There's always a need for violence!"

The other goons laughed and cheered and the hyena one holding Niffty shook her. Husk could hear a shadow hissing. 

"Charlie, darling." Alastor said in his sweetly tone. "While your kind efforts is enjoyable to watch, it won't work on these nitwits." 

"Nitwit?!" A zebra goon cried out. "Why I outa-" he attempted to throw a punch but Alastor ducked, and the goon toppled over. Another one tried to stab Alastor but he merely teleported right behind him and kicked his knees in. A brawl broke out with Alastor in the center, laughing his head off. "Just please don't kill them!" Charlie beseeched over the commotion. 

"Ugh, ya know," Angel dust began, leaning against the bar. "These mafia wannabes put a bad rep on us real ones."

"Uh huh," Husk hummed.

"They didn't even bother to tuck in their shirts!" He complained. 

"What a crime."

A goon landed in front of the bar, he pushed himself up but collapsed back down. Husk thought that looked weird, normally these guys keep going until they're dead. 

Actually, all the thugs were acting weird. One got thrown but instead of getting up, he would crawl a few inches then act dead. It wasn't long until almost all of the thugs and goons surrounded the room, with Alastor in the middle. But before Husk could give it anymore thought, he saw the last thug, who was still holding Niffty, try to run for the door.

"That one's getting away!" Husk called out and Alastor twisted his neck. Immediately the thug froze. "Now- now hold on!" The hyena pleaded. "I didn't want to cause any problems!" 

"Perhaps you should have told your friends that." Alastor said and brushed off his coat. "Now do us a jolly favor and get out." The thug nodded in a frantic pace and reached for the door. "Leave her." 

The thug quickly looked between the door and Alastor before remembering that he was still holding Niffty. "Uh- right uh- sure." He flipped Niffty right side up and moved so, so slowly in putting her down.

One of the thugs who was "passed out" suddenly jumped up and ran towards Alastor. He spun his neck back around and grabbed the thugs arm and twisted it, with it, a nasty cracked sounded in the room and the thug fell back down, screaming and holding his now limp arm.

The thug holding Niffty almost made to the door if it wasn't for her giggling and cackling that gave him away.

Alastor decided enough was enough and summoned Nifftys chain. He gave it a yank and she flew threw the air with a "weee!" And landed in his arms.

Husk sat up slightly. He almost never uses Nifftys chain, these goons just sentenced themselves to a lot of pain.

"I was going to let you live." Alastor spoke calmly, actually calm this time now that Niffty was no longer a giddy hostage. "But it seems that your brain was smaller than I initially thought."

Niffty pouted. "Aw, but they're such bad boys."

Alastor ignored her and spoke once more. "Any last words before I tear your body to tiny pieces?" The shadows grew darker, the one behind Alastor split its mouth opened and smiled.

The thug began to shake., "i-no- we-" he sputtered as he tugged on the collar of his shirt.

Alastor titled his head. "Disappointing."

A radio sizzled to life and the shadows danced around in the room. The thug fell back and glanced around in fear and Charlie's plea for Alastor to rethink this fell on deaf ears.

A few seconds passed. Just a few seconds of the poor thug shivering on the ground in terror and a suspicious wet stain on the floor and all hell broke loose.

The goon that landed in front of the bar suddenly sat up. "Now!" He yelled and pulled something out of his jacket. The other goons sat up and reached into their jackets as well.

It's a trap.

Husks instincts took over and he grabbed Angel and pulled him over the bar.

As he took cover, Husk saw all the goons throw something at Alastor and immediately both him and Niffty were engulfed in pink smoke.

A few moments passed and the pink smoke disappeared, Vaggie peered from behind a couch she dragged Charlie to. "What was that!?" She demanded. 

"Oh you think I know?" Husk retorted.

 Angel poked his head up. "Are we forgetting about the elephants in the room here?" He gestured to the goons, who all have already gotten up.

Husk scanned the room and spotted Niffty first, who was still on the floor knocked out but- 

Holy shit. 

Angel gasping beside him told Husk he wasn't seeing things.

Because what laid before them made their jaws drop.

The pink smoke must've had something in it. Some sort of chemical or magic.

Because Niffty was taller.

Her arms and legs were longer.

..

She's taller..

Niffty. Tall.

Two words that Husk would've never linked in the same sentence. 

"Ha! The thingamajig worked!" One yelled, snapping Husk out of his shock.

"Now's our chance!" One goon cheered and pulled out a knife.

"Take the girl too!" Another one added. 

"Shit!" Husk said and jumped over the counter. Angel leaped right behind him while Vaggie pulled out her spear and Charlie rolled up her sleeves. 

Husk threw his playing cards at one thug who attempted to grab Niffty and stepped in front of her, Vaggie swung her spear at another. "I think it's time you get out." She said.

The elephant leader merely readjusted his jacket. "Sure thing sweet cheeks, as soon as we collect our prize."

She gave a glare at the nickname. "I wasn't asking!" Goons rolled out of the way as she spun her weapon. Husk threw more cards and Angel fired his gun. Charlie picked up one up like he didn't weigh anything and tossed him onto others. "Sorry!" She exclaimed. 

Fifteen minutes later, Vaggie gave the last one a kick to the back and he tumbled down the hill. 

"You'll regret this!" The leader yelled. "I'll make sure you know that!"

The limped arm one coughed. "Don't worry boss, their "small" problem will keep em distracted."

The leader took in his words. Then wiped some blood off his nose, flipped off the hotel and then turned around and went away, his gang following right behind him.

 Angel blew them a kiss. "Come back soon!" He flirted and then slammed the door shut. 

"Ah, that was fun." Angel wrapped an arm around Husks shoulders and smirked. "How bout you an me go out for a drink?"

Husk smiled. "Sure, you can pay."

Angel gasped in a offended way and would have given a comeback if Charlie didn't scream. "Niffty!"

They ceased conversation immediately and raced over to where Charlie was kneeling down next to Niffty, who woke up and was holding her head.

Husk knelt on Niffty other side and helped her up into a seating position.

She moaned. "My head hurts." Then she glanced around the room "And why is everybody shorter?"

"Uh well-" Husk sputtered out. "The thing is- well-"

"You're taller." Angel flat out spoke.

Niffty blinked her one eye slowly. "No?" She questioned. "I'm small." 

Angel shook his head and Niftty looked over to Charlie and Vaggie, who hesitantly nodded. 

Nifftys hands left her head. weakly, she held out her arms to examine them then looked down to see her longer legs.

Then she screamed. 

"WHO IS THIS!?"

Husk covered his ears because that girl can scream while Charlie attempted to calm Niffty down. "It's ok, it's still you, but bigger!"

"NO! I AM A SMALL PERSON!"

"We're gonna fix this, you just need to calm down!"

"FIX IT NOW! I CAN'T GO IN THE VENTS TO KILL THE ROACH MOTHERS LIKE THIS!"

Niffty shot to her feet and with shaky legs, made several steps before she fell. Angel caught her before she hit the floor. "Niff." He said sternly and grabbed her shoulders firmly. "You're taller now, deal with it."

She scowled and crossed her arms. "Fine."

"Seriously?" Vaggie said exasperated. "That's what calms her down?"

Husk shrugged. "She likes being told."

Charlie got off the floor. "I'm glad Nifftys awake-despite her- current condition. " she cringed as Niffty gave her a glare. "But has anyone seen Alastor?" 

A series of no's and shrugs made her frown and fiddled with her hands nervously. "Oh no, you don't think those guys took him?" 

Vaggie placed a hand on her with care. "No hun, I didn't see anyone with a deer over their shoulders, he probably went to go hide in his room."

It didn't seem to soothe her but Charlie stopped fidgeting with her hands. Angel helped Niffty stand and walked her over to a couch. "You think Smiles is bigger too?" He asked to the others. 

Vaggie took her hand off Charlie so she could pinch the bridge of her nose. "Aye aye he's already got an annoyingly huge ego!"

Charlie spun on her heel and headed for the stairs.  "I'm going to go look for him. Just to make sure he's ok." Vaggie grumbled and followed her up. "Pompous prick is probably fine." 

Husk made his way to the couch. "Feeling any better?" He asked. Niffty shook her head. "No, there's more of me to clean now."

Husk sighed. She's gained an extra two feet and first thing she does is complain about cleaning. As far as he's concerned, she's fine.

"I'm sure you'll be back to normal in no time." He tried.

Niffty gave a stern look. "But i want to be small now."

"I can't do anything about that." He said and Niffty frowned deeper. Then she got off the couch. She almost fell but Husk and Angel grabbed an arm and helped her stand. 

"Uh so- where we going?" Angel asked as Niffty used them as crutches.

"Kitchen." She merely replied. 

"Uh huh-" he nodded as they walked towards said room. "Why?"

"Cleaning supplies."

"Ah."

Husk stopped. "Niff, don't you think you should sit down and rest?" He suggested.

His hand was gripped tightly. "I can see the counter, top of dressers and the ceiling. It's filthy, I'm going to clean it." Then she gripped it harder and Husk stopped himself from wincing. "Don't stop me."

He gave a quick nod and they reached the kitchen. Niffty brushed off the both of them and walked to the closet that held her supplies and raised her arms up and froze.

She groaned and lowered them. Husk realized that muscle memory made her raise her arms to open the usually too tall door.

Grumbling about how she needs to reorganize everything again she open the door and knelt down, because she kept her stuff near or on the floor, and stuffed her arms with sprays, towels and knives.

Angel leaned down to whisper. "Shouldn't we stop her or something?"

"I wish, we're gonna have to wait until she knocks herself out." Husk muttered back and crossed his arms. 

"Yeah probably a good idea, you can't pick her up when she acts nuts, anymore." Angel added.

He rocked on his feet and Husk could smell the anxiety off of him. "How angry do you think Al will be?"

"Bout Niffty?" Husk placed a hand on his neck and pushed back the memories of not being able to even breath or move under Alastors wrath. "Furious."

Angel rubbed his own neck and shuddered. "Eugh." 

"Can't blame him tho, I'd be pissed too." Angel then stated.

Husk huffed but agreed. "I suppose you're right."  

A bang caught their attention, Niffty had dropped her things.

"You ok, Niff?" Angel asked. But she ignored him, her attention diverted elsewhere.

Then she blinked.

"YOU!" She suddenly yelled and dove under the kitchen table.

"GIVE IT BACK!" She screamed.

Husk and Angel were in confusion as they moved to pull Niffty back up. It was a fruitless effort after they both nearly lost an eye due to her frantic kicking. "YOU STOLE IT!"

"What's wrong Niffty?" Angel called out over her yelling.

"ALASTOR STOLE IT."

Husk was really confused now. Al likes Niffty too much to steal from Niffty, and she doesn't even have anything worth stealing. "What did he steal?"

Niffty rose from under the table. In her hands, being held under his arms like a pitiful sick deranged cat,

 possibly the worse, most impossible, absolutely wrong, dragged from his own personal feverish hell,

Was Alastor. 

With Nifftys normal height.

Husk would love to tell you that this scene was funny. That he found absolute joy with the fact that the sight of big, bad, untouchable, unfeeling, Radio Demon being picked up like a cat. (Ironic.)

He should've found it so humorous that Alastor would've had to kill him on the spot to get him to never laugh about it again. 

"GIVE MY SMALLNESS BACK!" Niffty continued to yell at Alastor. 

But Alastor instead of summoning his shadow, turning into his bigger form or of any typical Alastor reaction where everyone gets eaten, he starts crying.

Startled, Niffty drops Alastor and he runs to the corner of the room and curls in on himself. 

"What the fuck?" Angel said astounded. "Smiles is small?!"

"He can cry?" Husk said flabbergasted. 

"I-" Niffty staggered.

For a while, no one says anything. Then the sound of poorly hidden sobs are what break the deafening silence. 

Before Husk could drag Angel away and go make this someone's else problem before Alastor kills everyone in this room, Angel moves and got on the floor slowly.

"Hey Al," he calls out. "You feeling ok?"

No response. 

He scooted closer. "C'mon Smiles, talk to me."

Another moment of silence passes and Husk briefly wonders if they'll get a speedy death. 

Then, Alastor lifted his head from where his arms were covering it.

There were three things that made Husk realize that this situation got a whole lot worse.

One. Was that there was no smile. Instead, Alastor was biting his lip as blood trickled out with tears still in his eyes.

Two. Husk was no expert on deer. But he's pretty damn sure that those little white dots that decorated Al's face were a mark that fawns and young deer have.

Three. 

"W-" Alastor stuttered. "Why do you have four arms?"

Oh Crap.

Chapter Text

"Why do I have four arms?" Angel repeated. 

Alastor nodded sheepishly. His arms left his head and gripped the front of his coat in a tight hold.

"Uhm, well... it's because..." Angel tried but tilted his head in confusion. "Do you not know who I am?" He asked.

Alastor shook his head no.

"Alright then uh- ok then-" Angel said, clearly having no idea what to say. "-how about we get you out of there." Angel tried to scoot closer but a loud hiss made him freeze as Alastors ears went back and he pushed himself deeper into the corner.

Angel scooted back quickly and waved his hands frantically. "It's ok, it's ok! I'm not gonna to hurt you."

Alastor bared his sharp teeth and frantically looked around the room, possibly looking for an escape route but he was quite literally trapped in the corner. Apon realizing that, his breath quickened he covered his head with his arms again. 

"Ah shit." Angel mumbled under his breath.

"I don't like this, can't we go get Charlie or something? You're gonna get your arm bit off." Husk tried to advise but Angel whipped his head around. "And leave him like this? He's confused and surrounded by humanoid creatures that know his name and is probably in pain. He's not trying to kill us, he's just trying to survive."

He turned back to Alastor. "Ok kid, can you take a deep breath and tell me what you last remember?"

Alastor slowly lifted his head up. Angel took a big, deep breath and gestured for him to do the same. He did and after a few times his breath evened out.

"..There were.. weird animals.." Alastor said in a small voice.

Angel nodded and encouraged him to keep going. 

"There was yelling, and...one of them tried to grab me. And I ran and hid."

Angel nodded again. "Good job, you're very smart."

"I-I am?" Alastor responded. 

"Angel, can you at least tell me what you're doing?" Husk asked but Angel waved him off. "Shush, I'm working here." He gave a small smile to Alastor. "Keep going, you're being very helpful."

Alastor nervously glanced at Husk. "I ran here and hid until.." He curled in on himself. "Until she yelled at me."

"Until she-" Angle queried then made the connection. "Oh!" He exclaimed. "Niffty didn't mean to scare you. She's actually really nice."

Husk scoffed and Angel mouthed at him to shut up. Niffty herself hasn't moved a single muscle since she dropped Alastor. 

"Niffty.." Alastor mumbled. "She.. likes to clean."

Angel gasped. "That's right!"

"And.. you're an actor?"

"Uh- yeah we'll keep it there for now." 

"And he.." Alastor eyed Husk. 

"It's ok, you're doing a good job remembering so far."

Alastor hesitated. "He's not going to get mad?"

"Uhm.." Angel gave Husk a pleading look. He sighed. "No. I won't get mad."

Alastor seemed to doubt his words but Angel gave him a thumps up.

"You like whiskey, a lot"

Husk groaned. "Seriously? That's what he-"

Angel suddenly pulled him down to the floor before he could finish and wrapped two of his arms around him in a headlock. "That's right! The kitty likes whiskey!"

Husk shifted in his hold. "What the he-"

"Shhh!" Angel whispered. "You'll scare him!"

"Me, scare Alastor?!" He whispered back astounded.

"Yes! I know this is weird for you, but please play nice."

"But- ack!" Angel sqeezed Husk in the headlock. "Ok ok! Uncle! Uncle!"

He released Husk from his hold and gave him a stern look that said "don't screw this up."

Husk glanced at Alastor and bit back a groan. It just had to be him who turned into a pathetic little kid. Asshole always loved extra attention anyways. He tried to ignore the scared eyed that Alastor somehow had but failed, Husk sighed deeply. He wished he got paid for this shit.

"Yes, I like whiskey." He said in a dead pan voice. "You get a gold star or whatever."

Alastor blinked. Then he slowly unfolded himself. "Husker?" He muttered. He said it so quietly and soft that Husk wouldn't had been able to hear it save for his sensitive ears.

"Uh.. yeah, I'm Husk." He corrected. 

Alastors eyes darted back and forth between the two of them. "He's.. a good cat right?"

"Yes, he's a good cat, the best even." Angel answered. 

Alastor seemed skeptical so Angel gave Husk a big dramatic head pat. "Get your-" 

"I'll buy that drink later." Angel offered.

"Yup. I'm a good kitty." Husk insisted. "I don't scratch."

Alastor bit his lip again. But he took a small step, and then another. Until he had carefully made his way to where they were kneeling on the floor. 

He inched his hand out little by little and brushed against Husks whiskers. 

Husk bristled against the touch and Alastor shot his hand back.

"Good job! You're so brave!" Angel cheered. He held his arms out and Alastor flinched. "No hugs?" Angel asked then raised one hand. "How bout a high five?" Alastor gave a long look then gave a small pat.

"Now, would you like some ice?" Angel asked.

"Ice?" Alastor questioned.

"Yeah, for your mouth."

Alastor wiped his face and glanced at his hand where blood was smeared. "Oh."

"Hey Niffty, can you get some ice?" Angel called out. "Niffty?"

"Huh?" Niffty jumped. "Ice? I'll get ice." She moved swiftly to the fridge and bustled around until she pulled out a popsicle. 

"No ice." She said and tried to give it to Alastor but he flinched with another hiss and stepped back.

"Ah, Niff?" Angel motioned with his hands. "Get lower, you'll look less intimidating."

Niffty paused. "I'm intimidating?"

"Yes. And give him the pop slowly." Angel instructed. 

She got on the floor and this time offered the popsicle at a slower pace. Alastor scrutinized the treat like it might bite, but he took it with both hands and gave it a taste.

His eyes got wide and his ears went up as he took a bigger bite of it.

"Good huh?" Angel asked amused, and Alastor gave a nod.

"That's good." Angel then moved. "I'm going to stand up now, if that's ok." Alastor didn't acknowledge his words but watched with shifty eyes as he moved.

Angel stood and gave Alastor a small head pat, moving his arm slowly to not spook him. "There we go. Not scary right?" He soothed and held out another hand, Alastor gripped it hand with one little claw with the other still holding the popsicle in his mouth.

"This so damn weird." Husk said getting off the floor.

Angel gave a nervous chuckle. "Heh, it absolutely is." 

Husk crossed his arms. "Y'know, you're really good with kids it's almost-"

"Almost what?" Angel asked enthusiastically. 

Husk looked away and ignored the heat in his face. "Nothing."

"Uh huh." Angel teased.

"It's nothing!"

Angel gave a sly smile. "Ok, if that's what you say."

Husk scoffed. "Whatever." He glanced at Alastor gripping Angels hand. "What do we with him now?" He asked and Alastor, apon being referred to, ducked his head down. 

"Honesty, got no idea. Maybe Charlie will have some ideas." Angel brainstormed out loud and Alastor looked up. "Charlie?"

"You remember Charlie?" Husk asked and Alastor shyly nodded. "She's a princess."

"Do you remember Vaggie as well?" Angel inquired and Alastor wrinkled his nose.

"I'll take that as a yes." Husk said. 

Angel made to leave with Husk almost right behind except he noticed that Niffty was still on the floor. "Niffty, are you ok?" He asked. 

"Huh?" She snapped her head to him. "Yeah, I'm fine. Lots of cleaning needs to be done now."

Husk peered down the hallway where Angel was asking Alastor if he remembered this hallway and looked back to Niffty.

"It's ok to be weirded out by today, y'know." He tried to assure her but Niffty shook her head. "I'm not weirded out. I'm too busy to be weird."

Husk bit his tongue. This girl was going to crash, he can see it happening. A part of him wondered if he should stop her before she did or let her so she's easier to deal with.

"Just.. don't overwork yourself." He said. 

She mumbled in acknowledgement and gathered her cleaning supplies from earlier.

Husk turned and kept a hand on the doorway and spoke. "You and Alastor have... a strange relationship. I don't know what happened to you or if we'll be able to fix it, but I think he's going to need more than his cleaning maid right now."

He left the room not knowing or caring if she heard him. 

---    ---    ---  

"OH HE'S SO CUUUUTE!"

Charlie plucked Alastor off the floor and snuggled him close. "You have freckles!!" She awed and Alastor went stiff and stared as if she had three heads.

Vaggie crossed her arms and scowled. "What's wrong with him?" She demanded and Husk rolled his eyes. "Dunno, probably linked to the giant pink cloud that Niffty gained an extra two, three feet in." He said sarcastically. 

"So what, Al shrinks and Niffty grows?" She questioned and Husk shrugged. "Seems so."

"Not only that but his memory is as spotty as swiss cheese." Angel inputted. "Along with another problem."

"What?" Vaggie exclaimed. "He doesn't remember anything?"

"No, he has vague ideas of everything." Angel explained. "It's the fact that's he's a child is the big problem."

"Alastor? A child? Him? No." She said both shocked and appalled by the thought. "Don't even joke about that."

"Unfortunately it's true." Husk affirmed. "Al's got too big of an ego and pride to be seen crying."

She arched an eyebrow. "He can cry?"

"Apparently so."

"No, I'm not buying it." She glared at Alastor as Charlie came over. "This is some stupid elaborate plan to kill us in our sleep with our guard down."

"But Vaggie." Charlie whined. "If he was really was just shrunk, do you think he'd be letting me cuddle him like this?" She gave Alastor a hug to show an example and Vaggie scowled again. "I don't believe his act for a second." Charlie frowned and smoothed Alastor's hair. 

"I'm surprised that Smiles is having an oddly positive reaction to you." Angel commented. "He didn't like us at all at first."

"He didn't?" Charlie pulled Alastor away so she could look at him. 

"Yeah he just cried and hid in the corner, Took a lot of patience to not freak him out." He said.

Charlie looked back to Alastor, who still had the wide eye stare. "Are you ok with me holding you?" She asked but Alastor gave no sign of hearing her words. She placed him on the ground. "You can tell me if you don't like that." She said and Alastor quickly glanced down and fiddled with his coat.

Charlie smiled sadly and turned to the others. "How's Niffty holding up?" She asked. 

"She says she's fine but truth be told, she's not." Husk responded.

Charlie hummed. "Well, hopefully she'll be ok, but was this planned by those thugs?"

"Seems so. They certainly acted with a thought in mind." Vaggie said.

Charlie glanced at Alastor, who was still looking down at the floor and pulled at her sleeves. "Turning someone into a child and to fend for themselves in hell. How horrible."

"If he even is a child." Vaggie remarked. "I still think he's faking it."

"Vaggie!" Charlie scolded. 

"I'm sorry honey, but I don't trust Alastor at all, Even if he is smaller." 

"Well I don't think that for a second." Angel declared. "He's just a scared little kid!"

"Who is a cannibal!" She shot back.

"He doesn't know that!" He argued. 

"He's still the Radio Demon, an untrustworthy, shifty, slimy bastard!"

"Not yet!" 

"Doesn't matter!"

"Ok you two, enough!" Charlie ordered and they immediately stopped fighting and stepped away from each other.

Charlie took a big deep breath and gave a small smile to Husk.  "How do you feel about this, Husk?" She suddenly asked. Husk jumped. "Me?" 

"Yes. How do you feel about Alastors and Nifftys problem?" 

"Yeah, how do you feel? Alastor owns your soul after all." Vaggie added.

Alastor at some point during the yelling, had grabbed the pants of Charlie and watched the argument between Angel and Vaggie with his ears pinned back.

He made eye contact with Husk and he shot his eyes back down to the floor and fiddled with a loose thread on his coat. The other hand still holding onto Charlie.

"I-" Husk hesitated.

Alastor was a dick. A manipulative, selfish jerk. A man who loves to watch those under his foot grovel and beg, Husk included. Vaggie was right. He would use this situation to his advantage. 

But he watched Alastor cry because of Niffty, of all people. Watched him flinch and cower in that little corner.

Watched as he hid behind Charlie like a frighten child. 

Nifftys reaction is what boggles him the most. Alastor is a perfect actor, can lie right through his teeth with that stupid smile. But Niffty, who's been at his heel for as long as Husk has known her, always seemed to know if Al was acting. 

She didn't seem to know this time. 

Alastor wasn't a good man. That was true.

But even he was a kid once. 

"I need a drink first." Husk announced and then left the room with the intention of getting drunk and waking up in the morning discovering that this was all a bad dream.

The walk to his bar felt much longer than normal. It gave him time to think, which was the exact opposite of what Husk wanted to be doing. 

"Just ignore it, ignore everything until we reach the bar." He thought over and over. 

He ignored the eerie silence of the hotel, and the shadows that didn't move. He ignored every little feeling and alarm that was going off in his head.

He finally made it to his bar and reached for the good whiskey he kept hidden and paused. Then reached for it again and popped it open, poured out a shot and took it with ease and prepared another one.

Silence took over as he sat there.

Silence was a virtue.

At least to Husk, who grew up in a casino where life was never quiet.

And selling his soul to the Radio Demon didn't give him a quiet afterlife either. 

He's learned to appreciate the rare moments of silence he gets. But tonight, Husk can't stand it.

He drinks the second shot. His ears pick up that someone is behind him and he pours another two shots and slides one to the seat beside him as an invitation. 

Angel Dust takes the seat and the shot. They sit together for a while until Angel breaks the silence. "Guess we'll have to keep things PG around here now." He says with a half hearted chuckle. 

"Yeah." Husk mumbled and folded his arms on the bar.

Angel poured himself a second shot and leaned back in his chair. "So what caught the cat's tongue?"

Husk gave a glare but Angel laughed. "I kid I kid!" He leaned his chair back on four legs. "I know what you're thinking about anyways."

Husk huffed. "It's just hard to comprehend."

"Heh, yeah." Angel agreed and they sit in silence again.

Husk can't stand the silence. 

"Would you be the same with Valentino?" He blurted out and Angel whipped his head so fast you could almost hear a bone snap. "Excuse me?" 

"I mean-" Husk rethought his words. "I mean would you treat Valentino the same way you did Alastor if it happened to him."

Angel leaned back in his chair and crossed all four of his arms. He's quiet with a frown on his face and Husk tries to get up to apologize and leave quickly but Angel answered. "Yes."

He looks Husk in the eyes. "Yes, I think I would. Especially if he reacted like that."

He gets up from his chair and gives Husk a pat on the shoulder. "Good night, I'll see you in the morning." Leaving Husk alone, in the silence.

The whiskey leaves a bitter aftertaste.

The bugs took their chance while Niffty was asleep.

That's bad. There's more of them now. This is why she doesn't sleep. She has to stab the roaches so they can't win. She fell asleep. Fell asleep because those bad boys came. Bad. Bad. Bad.

Stab the bugs faster so they don't get an advantage!

Good idea!

Stab! Stab! Stab! Stab! Stab! Stab! Stab! Stab! Hehe Stab! Stab! Stab! Hehe Stab! Stab! Stab! Stab!

One crawled into an air vent before she could stab it. Niffty giggled and climbed in after it. Only she discovered that chasing after it was proving to be more difficult than normal. 

A glance to her legs quickly refreshed her memories. She groaned as the roach got away thanks to it's small size that she no longer has.

"Stupid growing." She grumbled and crawled backwards the way she came.

She brushed off the cobwebs and dust off her dress. She gave one last glare at the vent before gathering up her cleaning supplies. 

Old fashioned way for now then.

Niffty hummed a tune and went right to work. While she would literally kill to have her height back so she doesn't have to reorganize her closet, her storage, her wardrobe, her special spot in Alastor's recording room, and her bathroom, and so she could climb into the vents so she can properly kill the final members of the waterbug family she's spent months hunting down. She certainly appreciates the speed that she is wiping down shelves with and only having to stand on a small stool to reach the tall ones. 

But it's wrong. Wrong. Wrong. Wrong!

Nifffty is supposed to be short and cute! Not tall and less cute. 

Alastor said he liked her short. Now she's not. She's not Niffty anymore. 

She froze. She's not Niffty anymore. So Alastor doesn't like her anymore either. 

She drops a glass that she was cleaning and it shatters on the floor. She quickly picks up the pieces and freezes again.

She made a mess.

Niffty made a mess.

But she's not Niffty anymore. 

So Niffty didn't make a mess but she did.

She grabs her hair and pulls in frustration. 

She doesn't want to be a messy person!

Throwing the broken glass away, she grabs her duster with a new determination. She'll make this hotel spotless. Not a thing out of place. Then she'll be Niffty again and Alastor will like her again. That's good. Good.

She sweeps the floor and brushes her hair out of her face. She cleans every corner. Every table. Every counter. She shines the doorknobs on every single door. She brushes her hair out of her face. She beats the rugs and puts them back exactly where they're supposed to go. She brushes her hair out of her face and wipes down the mirror-

She catches her reflection. Her new one. Everything appeared to look the same except it looked off. Don't know what it was but she felt like she was looking at a stranger. 

Well since she's no longer Niffty then she is looking at a stranger. 

She's not super tall or even average. Still short but not short enough. Mimzy would have to look up to have a conversation but she's not tall enough to give Husk a head pat.

Shame. If they're going to ruin a character trait, at least go all the way.

Her hair falls in her face again and she brushes it out of the way. Stupid hair is longer. Short hair is better. Stays out of the way. Bad boys like it. It's a signature look. 

Well. Was a signature look.

She pulls it back and tries to remember how to tie it.

She hasn't styled this length of hair since she was a little girl. How long ago was that? How long has it been since she's thought about that?

She racks her brain on a memory that would tell her what to do but the only thing she remembers are cicadas in the spring. A deep voice laughs as they pull Nifftys hair into a braid. A cherry blossom wilts the last of its leaves.

She gasps and almost falls back. No no no no. No. She can't think like that! She needs to deal with this hair right here and now.

She frantically scans the room for her knife and spotted it on the counter right where she left it. She almost practically runs to it. If she cuts her stupid hair then she'll look like Niffty. Niffty who is always clean and never messy. 

But just when her hand grazes the handle, a black blob covers it and swats at her.

"Ow!" Niffty exclaimed and retreated her hand back. "Keekee you pest! That's not yours!"

Keekee, the one eyed and rather judgy cat, ruffled her fur and stood over the knife and swatted her paw dangerously again. 

"Watch it! You'll cut my dress!" 

Keekee hissed and wrapped her tail around the knife then jumped off the counter and ran out the room. "Why you little thief!" Niffty runs after the cat."You're a bad kitty!" She yells.

She chased Keekee throughout the hallway, then the floor, then the entire hotel. Neither were showing any signs of stopping. "Why are you such a pest all of a sudden?" Niffty demanded and Keekee skidded down another hallway, messing up the rug along the way.

"Ah! No no!" Niffty screeched. "You messed it up!"

Keekee ignored her and kept running. Niffty danced between the choice of fixing the rug or continue chasing. She chose the latter and ran after the cat. "Someone's acting like they want to be turned into a scarf!" Niffty threatened. 

Suddenly, Keekee abruptly stopped. 

Niffty tried to slow down but tripped and crashed into a table that was placed for decorations.

Niffty groaned and sat up just as Keekee gave a smug look and wiped her feet in a taunting way then walked into a nearby room.

"Overgrown flea." Niffty grumbled and got off the floor and attempted to tidy up the table and herself as quickly as possible before running into the room where Keekee had disappeared. 

The room was one of the hotel rooms. No one was currently occupying it except for Keekee as she sat on a dresser and batted the knife between her paws. "That's not a toy!" Niffty chided and attempted to grab it but was met with another swipe and she retreated her hand before it could get cut again. "Just why are you so possessive of it? You've never bothered with my things before!" She demanded.

Keekee gave no answer because why would she, she's a dumb cat who wants to be a bother and take things that aren't hers.

Niffty brushed the hair out of her eyes and bit back a scream.

First she loses her cuteness and Nifftyness, she can't fit in vents anymore, she has to reorganize her room to fit her new stupid size, and now she can't even cut her stupid hair because a stupid cat, who barely paid any attention to Niffty before, decided that antagonizing her was a grand idea!

And the worst part of it all, is that her favorite bad boy isn't here.

Niffty decides that she's had enough and is willing to get scratched as many time as needed to get that knife but just when she gets close and Keekee raises her paw, a cheerful voice calls out. "There you are girl!"

"Oh, hello Niffty, having fun with Keekee?" Charlie asked cheerfully as she entered the room.

Niffty stood straight and Keekee placed her paw down, both acting like they weren't about to get into the worst cat fight in history. 

"I suppose you could say that." Niffty glared at the cat.

"That's wonderful, I'm glad she's warming up to you." Charlie smiled and gave Keekee a scratch under the chin. "She just upped and ran like her tail caught fire or something."

"How funny." Niffty giggled. The thought was humorous after the wild goose chase that cat just gave her.

"Yeah, I thought Alastor spooked her or something while we were grabbing some things from his room."

Niffty twitched. "Alastor's room? Why?"

"Just trying to make his new room a little more cozy." Charlie explained while still petting Keekee. "I don't think keeping him in his old room is a good idea so Vaggie and I are moving him to the one across the hall from our room, Just to keep an eye on him."

Charlie then turned and gleamed, looking past Niffty, she called out. "It's ok, she's a very good kitty."

Niffty followed her gaze to see who she's talking to and her eye widen as Fake Alastor pokes his head out from the door. 

Fake because Alastor doesn't hide under kitchen tables. Because Alastor is tall and confident. Not short and meek.

Because Alastor doesn't have those freckle-like dots that Niffty has the strongest urge wipe clean.

Fake because Alastor doesn't take what's hers, her height. 

He eyes Niffty and she takes a step back to not frighten him, remembering Angels words about how's she's intimidating. 

Alastor, is absolutely not scared of Niffty, what a horrible joke to even think about. 

That's why this Alastor is fake. Fake fake fake. 

"Go away, bring back the real one." She thinks to herself as Fake Alastor carefully walks past Niffty to Charlie. "Stop being so scared, you're not supposed to be scared. Stop being short. Give me it back. Stop frowning. Give it back. Fix this. Fix it fix it it!"

Fake Alastor pokes his hand out towards Keekee, Niffty expects him to get cut as Keekee ogles it for a second, But to her surprise, Keekee pushes her head towards his hand and nuzzles it. Fake Alastor giggled slightly.

Charlie awes at the sight but Niffty doesn't share the same thoughts. Keekee isn't supposed to like Alastor. Why is everything wrong wrong wrong?!

"Y'know, She was acting weird earlier." Charlie said and Niffty turns her attention to her and tries to ignore fake Alastor. "Really? How so?"

"Well, we were simply heading over to the spare room and I reached for Keekee to unlock the door but suddenly she took off!"

Niffty nodded. So the cat has been stubborn with others as well, Maybe she can convince Charlie to turn it into a throw pillow. "How strange."

"It is very strange." Charlie agreed. "So do you mind keeping an eye on Alastor for a bit while I get the room ready?"

"Of course." She says without thinking because normally she would be ecstatic to be with her bad boy but remembered that he actually wasn't here. "Wait no I mean-"

"Thanks Niffty, I'll be back in a bit!"Charlie grins with that huge smile, then scooped up Keekee and left.

Niffty groaned and slowly looked back to see Fake Alastor awkwardly standing there with his head down and fiddling with his coat.

"Stop that." Niffty scolded and he immediately stopped and looked up with big, wide eyes.

"I don't like children, they are loud and messy." She said and Fake Alastor takes a small step back. "But Miss Charlie wants me to keep an eye you. So you will listen. And not make messes. Got it?" Fake Alastor was quick to nod his head. 

"Good." Niffty turned sharply on her heel and walked out the room and heard Fake Alastor following right behind her.

The way back to where she was cleaning before felt longer than ever. The hallways seemed to stretch forever. But she keeps going with a speedy walk, she'll have to reach the end soon. 

A thump sounds behind her and she looked back to see Fake Alastor had fallen down. "What are you doing?" She demanded and Fake Alastor mumbled out a response. "I tripped."

"Well don't do it again. Get up, you're not supposed to be on the floor." She instructed and Fake Al hurriedly got off the floor. She continued down the hall and he's right behind her again. It's silent for a while until another thump is heard, She glanced back to see that he had tripped again. Niffty rolls her eye and ignored it and walked away.

The real Alastor doesn't trip, the real Alastor doesn't follow behind her like a puppy. She clenched her fists as she heard another thump as she continued walking.

The real Alastor doesn't frown.

Another thump happens and she turned around. "Would you stop doing that?!" She snapped and he flinched. "It- It's not my fault!" He cried from the floor. "You're too tall and going too fast!"

Nifftys eye widen in shock. That's right. She's taller. Her normal stride she uses to keep up with people doesn't match anymore.

Then her eye narrowed in disgust apon being reminded about her predicament. "Don't be making excuses, you're just too slow."

She started walking before Fake Alastor could come up with another excuse.

Stupid. Stupid long hallways. Stupid cat taking her knife. Stupid bad boys making her not cute. Stupid-

Thump!

"Oh for goodness sake!" She yelled and turned sharply to where Fake Alastor had face planted and had ruined the placement off the rug in his fall.

She clenched her fists again as anger brewed. "Alright, that's it!" She declared and reached for Fake Alastor. His ears went back and he hissed loudly but she hissed back and his expression fell, she then grabbed the back of his collar and pulled him off the ground. 

"I told you no messes!" She chided him as she readjusted the rug with her foot with Fake Alastor held not unlike a misbehaving ferret. "There, no more messes and complaining now." 

Fake Alastor said nothing as she marched down the stupid hall. The shadows dance in a way that seemed to laugh. Niffty hates the feeling of extra eyes on her and picks up the pace.

Finally, after eons, Niffty reached the previous room she was cleaning. That stupid cat with its stupid little paws caused a stupid delay. She sat Fake Alastor down on a table and pointed her finger. "Don't. Make. A. Mess." She commanded and Fake Alastor looked away.

Niffty took up her broom and began sweeping the room, then she wiped down the counters and other things until the room was spotless. Then she plucked Fake Alastor up by the collar once again and moved to the next room. She placed Fake Alastor on a counter and cleaned the room just like the one before. Then once she was done, she picked up Fake Alastor and repeated the process room, after room, after room.

She caught herself in one of the mirrors, she tried to ignore the stranger looking back at her and leaned out of the way to wipe it. Niffty caught sight of Fake Alastor, who was still on the counter. He was looking at something and decided to crawl across the counter to reach it. He moved out of view of the mirror so Niffty physically turned around to see Fake Alastor had one of Alastors radios in his lap and was playing with the dials.

"Don't touch that!" Niffty shouted and Fake Alastor flinched and dropped the radio. It hit the floor with a loud crack and one of the dials popped off and rolled to a stop at Nifftys feet.

Red hot anger brewed in her chest as Fake Alastors eyes slowly widen.

 "That's not yours!" She yelled and marched right up to him. Fake Alastors ears pinned back and hunched his shoulders. "That's Alastor's and you're not hi-"

the radio suddenly cackled to life and played a song with a poor signal.

The violin in the song was slow and quiet at first. But then the pace picked up and a stringed instrument was heard.

No. That wasn't a violin, it was a fiddle.

Then the stringed instrument got louder, it was a banjo.

Once, Alastor had gotten drunk. Really drunk. And a song similar to this one had started playing. He had such a strange expression on his face. He grinned so wide that it looked like his smile would peel off his face. But it didn't reach his eyes. Niffty remembered them looking... wrong. He retired early for the night and she didn't seem him the following day. She didn't see again him for seven years.

The song kept playing but Fake Alastor shook like a leaf and his hands were still frozen from when he dropped the radio.

Nifftys own hands dropped to her side. She bit her tongue in frustration because she doesn't know what to do. This thing looked and dressed like Alastor. But acted as opposite as possible. It couldn't be Alastor, it just couldn't!

But the banjo still rang in her head and she could almost smell a cooling pot of gumbo that only Alastor knew the recipe of.

Niffty carefully moved her hands and picked up Alastor and placed him on the ground gently. He still had eyes wide as saucers as he looked up to her.

"I think Miss Charlie is done with your room." Niffty spoke, relieved her voice didn't crack.

Alastor stepped back and glanced at the fallen radio. "But-"

"It's fine, I'll clean it up later." Niffty said. 

"But I-"

"It's fine, I'll fix it."

"I'm sorry I-"

"Alastor, it's ok." Niffty assured. "Now let's find Miss Charlie."

She turned on her heel and left the room, right on cue she heard Alastor behind her. This time she tried to slow her pace.

She found Charlie and she gleamed her glowing smile as she took Alastor into his new quarters. Niffty made her way to her own room and collapsed on her rarely used bed and her legs dangled off the edge.

She screamed into her pillow. 

Every instinct screamed at her, Bed is small! Too tall! You're a fake! Imposter! He's a fake! that's a fake fake fake fake! Wipe those freckles off! Fake!

But her soul started telling her that Alastor was here. 

Niffty groaned and rolled off the bed, taking the blankets with her.

She grabbed her pillow and fluffed it up and adjusted her blankets so she was comfortable on the floor and laid her head down.

She's had a long day. 

Chapter Text

Vaggie woke up in a cold sweat. She hugged herself in a tight embrace and tried not to think about her bad dream. It started with that cannibal child- the one that she gave mercy to all those years ago, the one she gave up her wings for.

"Are you going to help me?" He asked with his voice all disoriented. 

"Yes." She says then her vision tilted and she's thrown into the middle of a empty battlefield.

"VAGGIE!"

Someone shouts and Vaggie tried to look for whoever yelled her name except no one is here. Panic seized in her chest because that sounded like Charlie but she's not here and she sounded scared what if she's in trouble, think Vaggie think!

A radio starts playing and echoes across the field.

"I don't want, to set the wo~rld, on fi~ire." Alastor's voice sings.

The panic reaches her throat and she runs.

"CHARLIE!" Vaggie screamed but Charlie didn't answer. 

"I just want, to start a flame in your heart."

"CHARLIE!"

"in my heart, I have but one, des~ire."

I'M HERE, SAY SOMETHING!"

Vaggie runs faster than she's ever ran in her entire life. She screams until her voice is raw and runs until her feet go numb.

"and that one, is you." 

She could practically hear the smile Alastor had and took off running again.

She saw a glimpse, just a glimpse of blonde hair and Vaggie almost melted in relief. 

"no other will do."

Vaggie felt her heart skip a beat. Any sign of Charlie was engulfed in shadows. They laugh at her. 

"NO!" She cried and ran into the shadows. They pulled and pushed against her and she tried to fight back but struggled greatly. 

She gasped and bubbles left her mouth.

Bubbles?

She's in water. She's drowning. 

She frantically looks around, trying to find the surface before she runs out of air.

There's a dim, green light shining below. Vaggie paused in her panicked swimming and wondered what it was but found her answer as the light shifted into a smile. 

A very large Alastor grins with his sharp teeth and opens his mouth and swallows her whole before she had time to react.

Vaggie briefly thought of a Bible story where a man was swallowed by a whale.

Her lungs burned and she gasped. 

Her vision tilted again as she choked.

Suddenly she's in an alleyway. 

There's someone else here. It's the cannibal child. 

"Are you going to help me?" He asks.

"Yes." Vaggie answered. 

He frowned and then his hair turned more red, His jacket transformed into a tailored coat, his eyes were now maroon, tiny antlers sprung from his head and white dots decorated his face as freckles. 

"Are you?" He asked and Vaggie woke up in a cold sweat.

She's in her bedroom, Charlie gives a snore next to her and Vaggie breathes a sigh of relief. Just a bad dream. 

Her heart is still racing. Pounding against her chest as if she was still running. She sighed, she should find something to calm her down.

She gave a kiss on Charlie's forehead and got up, tightening her robe as she reached the door and peered down the dark hallway. Vaggie swallowed hard as it appeared that the shadows were moving and reminded her of the dream.

She shakes her head. What is she, Eight? Has one bad dream and is suddenly scared of her own shadow and can't walk in a dark hallway? Please. 

She takes a few determined steps and passed Alastor's door. There's a light at the bottom, A green light. Vaggie scowled, she knew it, She knew he'd be up to no good. He can do all the heebee jeebee tricks he wants when he's back in his own room. But Vaggie will be damned if she'll let him be an ass when he's across the hall from her bedroom. 

Vaggie almost tears open the door. "Would you quit it?" She demanded as she barged in.

The room is.. cute. Charlie tried really hard to make it both child proof and Alastor worthy as fast as she could.

Toys littered the floor, Vaggie recognized them as Charlie's old ones. A large, queen size bed is against the wall, its red sheets untouched. A hallway to the right leads to the bathroom but Vaggie is more interested by the toy box that's been moved against the wall with the window. Sitting on top of the box and peeking out the window, was Alastor, with a tiny green flame dancing in his small palm.

"What on earth do you think you're doing?!" Vaggie exclaimed. Alastor jumped and clenched his fist, stuffing the flame out instantly. 

"Are you trying to set the hotel on fire?!" Vaggie demanded. "It's hard to keep this place intact on a good day, I don't need any encouragement from you!"

Alastor didn't answer, instead he just kept staring. 

Vaggie taps her foot impatiently. "Well?" 

Alastor blinked and mumbled something. 

"What was that?" Vaggie asked. "Speak up."

"I don't like the dark." Alastor said crossing his arms. Vaggie scoffed. "You?" She questioned. "You don't like the dark? Unbelievable, the Radio Demon thrives in the dark and you're telling me you're scared of it?" She asked and Alastor hesitates before mumbling out. "They keep laughing."

"Who keeps laughing?"

Alastor bites his lip before gripping his arms tight, Vaggie realizes that he's not crossing his arms, he's hugging himself. 

"The shadows."

Vaggie paused. "The shadows?"

He nods and Vaggie feels a shiver down her spine. Alastor still has power, Which is both a good and bad thing. 

Pro, he can still defend both himself and the hotel if need be.

Con, if he's truly amnesiac then having unimaginable power is probably not the best for an eight or nine year old.

Con, if he's not amnesiac, then he still has power and everyone dies.

Con, Vaggie heard rumors about Alastors abilities, one of which is that the shadows that he weilds are actually sentient beings that he controls.

Which means they may not acknowledge him as their master now.

The flame made sense all of a sudden. Alastor was making light. He's scared of his own shadow.

There's the sound of a laugh right behind her and Vaggie almost jumps out of her skin. Alastor yelped and opens his hands, another flame is created almost immediately and the laughing ceased.

Vaggie frantically scanned the room for any sign of a shadow, but the only one she can find is her own from Alastors little flame.

"See?" Alastor whispered. "They keep laughing."

Vaggie grips the front of her robe and takes a shaky deep breath. "I see." She spoke after a moment. "Why are they doing that?"

Alastor cupped the flame with both hands and peered out the window again. "That thing woke me up." 

Vaggie looks out the window and can see Alastor- regular Alastor's radio tower, hovering around it was a blue drone of some sort. She spotted a V branded sticker on it and knew it was related to the ones who called themselves the Vees. 

Now the shadows make sense. They sensed a threat and was attempting to deal with it, just so happened they scared the one that they are protecting as well. 

"Uh-" Vaggie can't believe she's about to say this. "The shadows aren't trying to hurt you, they're just doing their job."

Alastor looked back at her. "Their job?"

"Yeah, ugh-" she coughed to hide her disgust at lying. "Their job is to keep the hotel safe."

Alastor took in that information and examined the room. He had a curious expression, but he kept the flame close to his chest. "Why do they keep laughing?"

"Cus they're stupid." That one is not a lie.

"Oh." Alastor said. He shifted on his box awkwardly and Vaggie wonders how long he's been there, it's still dark but morning is just around the corner. A twang of sympathy blossoms at the thought of being a scared child, having to fight off monsters all night. 

She sighed and pinched her nose. "Look, why don't we let the shadows do their thing and we have some tea?" She offers but Alastor doesn't seem interested.

Vaggie remembers that Alastor doesn't like tea. "How about-" Coffee shouldn't really be given to children. "Milk?" She decides instead. 

Now Alastor seems interested. He quickly glanced between the flame in his hands and Vaggie. "You're sure they won't hurt me?" He nervously asked.

"I'm sure." She's not sure. 

Alastor gives one last look at his light before snuffing it out. Laughter bounced off the walls instantaneously, Vaggie resisted a wince but Alastor didn't.

The laughter got louder and the corners of the room got darker. The temperature dropped and in the corner of her one good eye, Vaggie caught sight of something move. She rushed and grabbed Alastor off his perch just before a dark figure darts through the window, flying straight for the drone.

"S-see?" Vaggie stuttered out. "They weren't going to hurt you." She pushed down the thought of what if you didn't grab him? Was he going to fall to his death? Was it going to be a trick and the real Alastor pops out and tuts his tongue about how she's so dimwitted to fall for such an easy lie?

Alastor gaped at the window with big eyes. "Woah." He said amazed.

Vaggie swiftly placed him down and pretended to brush off some dust off her robe to hide her shaky hands. "Let's go now." She ushered.

She lets Alastor out the room first and gives one last look at the shadow as it chews on the drone with a sharp grin. It winks at her and she slams the door shut. 

Vaggie grabs Alastors hand and doesn't run, but doesn't walk either. They reach the kitchen quickly and Vaggie flicked on all the lights as Alastor crawls onto a chair.

She then grabbed the ingredients to make their drinks. She instinctively keeps expecting a knife in the back or a comment made to anger her as she boils the water and pours the milk but Alastor just sits there and watches. He's so quiet compared to his taller self. Maybe Angel Dust is right, maybe Alastor isn't faking it.

She hands Alastor his milk and she sits down and sips her tea. They sit quietly in the kitchen. She stiffled a laugh when he took a sip and the mug covered his whole face while his ears stick out. Then he gives a disgruntled look at his mug.

"What is it?" Vaggie asked. She'll never admit it, but his little nose getting all scrunched up was kinda adorable. 

"It tastes weird." Alastor informs her and pushed the mug away. Vaggie takes a look and smells it. There's no rotten appearance or spoiled smell. "Looks fine to me." She says and pushed the mug back.

Alastor seemed to disagree but took the drink back. 

Someone yawns behind her and Vaggie glanced back. Standing in the doorway still half asleep was Niffty. "Good morning Miss Vaggie." She greeted and as she went straight for the coffee maker. 

"Morning." Vaggie said. She noticed Nifftys ruffled dress and rat nest hair, along with her abnormal sluggish pace. "Sleep well?" 

Niffty nods and takes a large swig of her hot drink. "Yes I did sleep."

"That's not what I- never mind." Vaggie chose to ignore how Niffty dodged the question. 

Niffty spotted Alastor and gave a flat "Oh, good morning." and Alastor responded with a small hello. She noticed Alastors untouched mug. "It's rude to not finish your drink, y'know." She said and Alastor bowed his head down and fiddled with his hands. "He doesn't like it." Vaggie explained when it became obvious Alastor wasn't going to say anything. 

"He doesn't like it?" Niffty asked and glanced at Alastor. He raised his head and gave a shy nod. Niffty takes one peep into the mug and snapped her fingers. "Because it's missing something!" She exclaimed and headed for the fridge, she grabbed a little bottle, popped it open and poured some red liquid into the mug. It swirls into a faint pink and Alastor watches with curiosity. "Try it now." Niffty said and placed her hands on her hips.

Alastor carefully takes the mug with both hands and takes a sip. He gasped and tried to chug the drink but Niffty took the mug away. "That's not how we act at the table." She scolded and Alastor looks slightly offended. She gives the mug back with a raised finger. "Slowly." She instructed and Alastor quickly nods his head, eager to get his drink back. 

Niffty spun around and turned on the stove, most likely beginning to cook breakfast for the hotel residents. Vaggie gets up from the table and leans against the counter next to Niffty. "What did you put in his milk?" She asked. Niffty hums and dances a ladle between her hands. "Just one of Alastor's sweeteners!"

"He has sweeteners?"

Niffty laughed. "Of course he does." She said in a know it all tone. "He certainly likes his aged blood!"

Vaggies stomach dropped. She completely forgot who this was.

She watched as Alastor kicked his legs like a child as he drinks his milk. Vaggies stomach squirmed at the reality of what was really in that. How could she be so stupid? Alastor is still the cannibal overlord, cute or not. Vaggie wants to run but before she can, Niffty slammed her ladle against the pot. "I almost forgot!" She exclaimed and turned around to Alastor. "Arms out!" She says and Alastor complies. She pulls out a measuring tape and checks the length of his arms and chest. 

"Uh- what are you doing?" Vaggie asked. 

"Getting his size." Niffty informs as she stood Alastor up and checked his height.

"Ok, why?" 

Niffty rolled her tape back up. "Well, we can't stay in these clothes forever now, can we?" She said and gestured to her skirt. Both her and Alastor were still in the clothes from the day before, and now Vaggie realizes that they slept in them because they don't have anything else.

"So you're going shopping?" She asked and there's a loud thump above them. More thumping and crashing is heard until Charlie runs right into the kitchen and crashes on the floor. Her hair is puffed into all directions and she's missing a slipper. "Shopping!?" She singed. "I love that idea!" Charlie gets off the floor and clapped her hands. "I have so many outfits already planned for us, we should get matching t-shirts!"

Vaggie smiled as Charlie went on, but then a thought popped in her head. "As cute as that sounds, Sweetie, but is it even safe for these two to leave the hotel?" She asked with concern. "They were the target of an attack, someone could be waiting for Al to take one step outside the door and snatch him."  She thinks back to the drone from earlier, one of the Vees are sickly obsessed with Alastor now that she thinks about it.

Alastors eyes go wide but Niffty spoke up. "Then he'll need a disguise." She says as if that was obvious. Out of nowhere, she pulls out a pink winter coat, styled to a 1950s look but tailored to a smaller size. In the blink of an eye, she threw it on Alastor and buttoned it up. "There we go!"

"Awww, adorable!" Charlie cooed but Alastor held his arms out and had a frown. "It's girly." He grumbled. 

"It's ok Al, we'll get clothes that you like," Charlie attempts to soothe but then held her chin in thought. "Although we need to figure something out for your hair."

"Yeah, cuz anyone with eyes will figure out who he is." Vaggie remarked.

Charlie snapped her fingers. "I got it!" She exclaimed. "I got a hat from one of dad's phases stuffed in the attic, it's most definitely Alastor's style!"

Both Vaggie and Niffty arch an eyebrow(can Nifffty even do that?) At that.

"Your dad has something Alastor would like?" Vaggie asked, a little surprised that Alastor and Lucifer would have anything in common. Charlie waved her hand. "pfft yeah, Dad loved the early parts of the 1900s a lot! Mom could barely keep up with him on the dance floor, and don't even get me started on all those Newsies musicals I've seen!"

"Huh." Niffty said amazed. "Maybe these bad boys have more in common than I thought."

Thirty minutes later, with a note on the fridge for Angel and Husk and everybody properly dressed for the day, Charlie in her normal attire and hair tamed, smiled. "This is going to be so much fun!" She gleamed. Alastor pulled at his coat with a glare. "I don't want to wear this." He grumbled then messed with his little red newsboy hat. Niffty swatted his hands away and readjusted the coat. "Well, too bad you're wearing it." She stated and squished the hat on his head, making sure to cover his antlers and ears.

He scowled but give any more complaints as everyone climbed into the royal limousine. Few minutes later, they get out of car to a rather busy plaza.

"It's certainly crowded today." Vaggie commented and wished she brought her spear. "It sure is." Charlie agreed. "We should try to stick together."

They sqeeze and weasle through the crowd. Charlie saying "excuse me." and "pardon us!" Each time. Someone bumped into Alastor, causing him to trip and fall. Charlie snatched him up swiftly before he could get trampled. "Are you ok?" She asked concerned. Alastor nodded and Niffty stepped up and began brushing the dirt off of Alastor. "How have you lived at this height?" Charlie asked her. Niffty shrugged. "I like the pain."

Alastor leans away from Niffty and hid his head in Charlie's shoulder. Charlie herself doesn't know what to say to Niffty other than a, "Ah."

Charlie readjusted Alastor so she held him with one arm against her hip and pointed to a nearby store. "Let's try to get in there!" She grabs Vaggie with her free hand and Vaggie grabs Niffty in return. With their human chain, they managed to force the crowd to part and they all scrambled for the door.

They all gasped and breathed in relief apon having room. "Gosh, what is going on out there!?" Charlie wondered out loud. Niffty points to a lit neon sign that flashed in hundreds of colors and gave a headache just looking at it. "There's a new collection out." She reads off of the sign. "Velvettes summer collection offers limited addition pieces designed with her partners, Valentino and Vox."

"The Vees are here!?" Vaggie jumped and made sure Alastor had his coat and hat on tightly. "This is not good!"

Charlie tighten her hold on Alastor and glanced around. There were lots of people in here, Cameras were everywhere. They're in the lions den. "It should be ok." Charlie smiled nervously. "Vox may have...a thing over Alastor but surely he won't recognize him now."

"You're underestimating him, Vox is insane." Niffty argued then made dreamy eye(s). "He's in my top five bad boys for a reason." 

"And you're not insane?" Vaggie shot back. 

"Well, you know what they say!" Charlie cheerfully says with a grin. "Sometimes what you're looking for is right under your nose!"

"Guess we better hope Vox doesn't decide to look down." Vaggie said with a bad feeling.

Despite the looming threat and eyes everywhere, they actually found some great stuff. It was almost fun. Niffty had everything she needed, Charlie spotted a cute item or two to update her wardrobe and all three girls enjoyed dressing up Alastor like a doll.

"Gosh, I'd say this one's my favorite!" Charlie clapped her hands and awed at her new creation. "That's because he's dressed like you." Niffty commented. 

Alastor was dressed in an exact copy of Charlie's suit. He was almost cute. 

Yeah never mind. He was freaking adorable. 

"How about it? You like?" Charlie asked Alastor and he does what he's done to all the other outfits. He leans towards the mirror, squints, and gives a small nod.

"Wonderful!" Charlie cheers but Niffty clicks her tongue with a scowl. "It's cute, but not Alastor's style." She remarked. "I know something more suited to his tastes." She spun on her heel and headed a few aisles down.

Charlie sighed. "We probably should be getting more things of his fashion sense. Even if he's so stink'n cute!"

She takes Alastor's hand and headed for the aisle Niffty was in. Vaggie following behind them. Charlie joins Niffty in browsing and Vaggie leans against the rack and crossed her arms. Her nasty look that she gave other shoppers if they decided to come to their aisle did well in guarding them. She would feel immensely better if she had her spear, but alas, she didn't bring it.

There's a tug on her skirt and she glanced down to see Alastor looking up at her.

"What?" She acknowledged and Alastor points across the store. "What's over there?" He asked. Vaggie follows and sees a set up in the middle of the store. There's a little sign that says it's the toy section. What kind of clothing store in Hell has a toy section?

"Can't you read the sign?" She snapped and Alastor shot his head down and awkwardly kicked his leg back and forth.

Damn. She almost felt guilty with him in his Charlie lookalike outfit. She sighed and pinched her nose. "C'mon, I'll take you over there."

Alastor looks up with surprise and gives a small smile.

They walk over to the section. Vaggie noticed that some toys... were not like others. She made sure to stear Alastor away from those.

As Alastor played with the toys, Vaggie let her attention wander to a rack that had some nice looking eyepatch covers. As she debated between a rose print or some skulls, she heard some familiar voices.

"Sorry boss, I thought they would've kicked him out by now!" A gruff voice exclaimed. 

"Well, clearly they haven't yet!"

Vaggie gave one glimpse behind her to make sure Alastor was still distracted before ducking down and headed for the voices. She stayed low, below the racks and pushed aside a few hangers so she could see.

Oh shit.

It's some of the thugs from yesterday, the reason why she's playing babysitter!

They're arguing about something, Vaggie sneaks a little closer to hear better. 

"Look boss, any day now, they'll get sick of him and kick him out to the curb, when that happens we'll simply bag em and go!" 

The boss one grabbed the other by the front of his shirt. "We don't have days!" He shouted. "We were supposed to get our payment today, what happens if we don't have the Radio Demon like we promised?"

So they're after Alastor. Not good. Vaggie turns around to get back to him but the thugs start talking again. 

"And what about the girl?" Asked the one who's shirt was grabbed.

Vaggie froze and leaned back to listen. 

The boss let go of the other and wiped his hands. "We have a long list of clients who would pay handsomely for the Radio Demon to be at their feet," he said with a nasty smirk. "But this one paid for the girl. So we'll get her too."

Niffty. They're talking about Niffty.

The lower goon rubbed his neck. "I dunno boss, having multiple clients might be a bad idea. What if one gets angry if they find out they're not the only one?"

"They won't." The boss insisted. "Now come on, one of the Vees agreed to meet us and we're about to be late."

Vaggie waits a few seconds to make sure they've walked away before she jumps up and runs back to the toy display. 

"Cmon Al, it's time to-" the words die in her mouth because Alastor isn't here.

She checks under the table to make sure but Alastor isn't there.

"Fuck!" She shouted and several customers gave a look at her but she didn't care.

She runs back to the aisle with Niffty and Charlie who seemed so happy with their findings. 

"I lost Alastor." Vaggie gasped out.

They dropped what they were doing instantly to look at her with wide eyes. "What?!" Charlie exclaimed. 

"I turned around for a second!" Vaggie tried to explain. "I found those thugs from the other day and over heard them talking about their clients who want Alastor and now I can't find him!"

"Ok, we should split up and-" Charlie tried to suggest but Vaggie interrupts her. "No! They're after Niffty too!"

"Me?" Niffty said then brought her hands to her face as a small blush bloomed. "The bad boys want me?"

"Niffty, not now."

Niffty clicked her tongue and grumbled. "Fine, can't let a girl have any fun."

They dashed through the store. Looking high and low but Alastor was nowhere to be found. Charlie peaked through the hundredth clothing rack. "Not here."

Niffty gets up from where she was checking under a display table. "Not here either."

"It's all my fault." Vaggie said. "I shouldn't have left him. I should've realized he would've moved!" 

Charlie grabbed Vaggie by the shoulders and steadied their shakiness. "Hey, it's alright." She calmly said. "What happened today, happened. But now we need to stay calm in order to find him, ok?"

Vaggie nodded and took a deep breath. "Ok."

"We don't need to worry about them taking Alastor quietly anyways." Niffty added as she adjusted some shirts on the table. "What? Why?" Charlie asked and Niffty giggled.

"Because he'll never go down without a fight!"

As if on cue, there's a loud crash. There's lots of yelling and shouting. The three girls run as fast as they can because they knew exactly who was over there.

The two thugs from earlier are there, they had Alastor backed into a corner and he hissed and swiped his claws every time one got too close.

"Cmere you-" one tried but Alastor swiped his claws and the thug shot his hand back.

"Oh quit being a coward." The boss thug complained and pushed aside the other. He reached for Alastor and he swung his claws but the thug caught his arm. Alastor growled and tried to cut at the thugs arm with his other hand but the thug caught that one as well. "No!" Alastor cried. He kicked his legs as he dangled in the thugs grip. "Let me go!"

"Shut up brat." The leader grunted. Then he suddenly doubled over and gasped. Alastor's kicking managed to hit a target. "Why you little-!" He dropped one of Alastor's arms so he had a free hand and clenched his fist, Alastor's eyes went wide and he pushed and pulled against the thug. He chocked out a sob and his ears pinned back as the thug yanked him up and raised his fist.

That's when Charlie decided to throw a mannequin at him. 

The mannequin broke to pieces along conact and the thug stumbled before whipping his head around to see who threw it.

Charlie smiles innocently. "Hi asshole!" She said cheerfully. "Can't you see he doesn't want to go with strangers?"

"Ugly ones at that." Vaggie added. 

"Horribly cliché." Niffty piped up.

The thug scoffed. "Scram, he's not your problem anymore."

Vaggie snapped an arm off another mannequin and held it in a threatening way. "I'd love to agree," she admitted but Alastor's face was damp with tears and he clawed at the thugs arm like a desperate animal that sat with Vaggie wrong. "But I have a peeve about harming kids."

The thug laughed loudly and dangled Alastor on front of him. "You're gonna fight for this?" He laughed louder. "You gotta be sick in the head to care for this thing!"

"Yes. Yes I am."  Niffty said straight and simple with a grin that had too many teeth before she threw a knife right at the thugs shoulder. He howled in pain and dropped Alastor, who wasted no time scrambling away before the other thug could grab him and dashed behind Niffty. She pulled out another knife and giggled as Alastor poked his head out from behind her skirt.

"Are you stupid?!" The thug with a bleeding shoulder spat out. "You're actually protecting it?"

Vaggie shrugged and the thug scowled. "Unbelievable."

"I know." Vaggie agreed.

The thug pulled the knife out of his shoulder and growled. "He's more trouble than you realize, sweet cheeks."

Something moved in the shadows of the display table to the side. Alastor's shadow smiled and winked at Vaggie. She wondered why it wasn't jumping to Alastor's defense but it answered her as it pointed up towards the store lights. Vaggie gripped her makeshift weapon and chucked it as hard as she could towards one of the lights.

It shattered. There wasn't much difference in lighting but it was enough for the shadow to emerge from it's hiding spot. It both hissed and cackled at the same time, almost sounding a radio tuning to life. It didn't give the thug a chance to react and bit his top half clean off. The other thug screamed and the shadow both growled and grinned with blood dripping out of it's mouth.

Vaggie grabbed Charlie's hand. "It's time to go." Charlie nodded and tapped Niffty. She sighed disappointed, wanting to watch the carnage but scooped up Alastor and the three of them ran.

"Hopefully we didn't attract too much attention!" Charlie said as they looked for the entrance. 

"Probably not!" Vaggie points ahead and there's more thugs. They recognize either Niffty or Alastor and yell after them as they run past.

"They were having a meeting with one of the Vees!" Vaggie explains as more and more thugs are right on their tail. "Well crap!" Charlie exclaimed and glanced behind her. "So much for a discrete errand!"

They run as fast as they can, barely dodging the thugs. Things got worse when some Vee security guards saw the commotion and decided to chase them as well.

"What are we gonna do?!" Vaggie yelled. 

"I don't know! But I really don't want to fight them!" Charlie answered. 

Niffty grumbled. She held up her skirt up to run easier and held a squirming Alastor under her arm.  "Quit moving!" She scolded but Alastor kept wiggling.

They reach a cross road and Charlie frantically skimmed over the store map. "No!" She moaned. "We went the wrong way!"

Niffty was really fighting against Alastor now. He pushed away from her but she kept him close to her chest. "What's wrong with him?" Vaggie asked. "I don't know!" Niffty struggled out. Just as Vaggie moved to help her hold Alastor, he went limp. Niffty caught his head and pulled him close.

Charlie gasped. "Is he ok?"

"He's still breathing." Niffty said then she glanced up and her eye narrowed in disgust. "We need to keep running." She gestured with her head at the thugs who are catching up. Charlie glimpsed over the map one more time before pointing down a path. "That way!" She exclaimed and the three of them began running again.

"Are you sure it's the right way?" Vaggie asked. "Nope!" Charlie replied. 

She runs straight into a black object and falls on her backside. Vaggie and Niffty skid to stop to help Charlie get back up. "Oh, I'm so sorry!" She apologized frantically. "I didn't mean-" the words die in her mouth as she recognized who she bumped into. Alastor groans about his head hurting but Niffty tucked him away from view and tried to muffle his sounds.

The man smiled and Vaggie felt the hairs on the back of her neck stand up.

Vaggie suddenly realized their situation as the thugs caught up to them. They're trapped between a rock and a hard place.

Alastor pushed against Niffty and peeked passed her shoulder.

"Vox." Alastor mumbled and laid his head back on Nifftys shoulder and closed his eyes.

Vox smiled with his sharp teeth. "Why Princess Charlotte!" He gleamed. "What a wonderful surprise!"

Chapter Text

Vox stood straight with a smile that literally glowed. "Is that truly Princess Charlotte, shopping in my store?" He asked in a tone that sounded like he was reading off a script. Charlie glanced at Niffty, who was hiding Alastor as best as she could from Voxs sight and smiled politely. "Yes, we were simply doing some browsing."

Vox clapped his hands. "Why, I'm honored that you chose one of my stores." He bowed dramatically and then spoke in a voice that sounded like a used car salesman. "And how has our experience been so far?"

"Oh it's been great!" Charlie happily informed but Vaggie awkwardly coughed and gestured around the room, reminding her of their little problem. 

"Oh uh-" Charlie fiddled with her hands. "At least it was great until some of the other customers decided to hunt us down." She looked away as her face grew red with a lie. "For- for no apparent reason whatsoever."

Vox didn't notice her beet red face and gasped dramatically. "Oh no! That's no way to treat our most gracious Princess!" He snapped his fingers. "Security!" 

Dozens of soldier like men popped out of nowhere. "Kill them." Vox gestured to the goons and thugs surrounding them but Charlie grabbed his arm. "No no!" She exclaimed. "Just a misunderstanding, there's no need to kill anyone here!"

Vox sighed deeply. "As you wish." He snapped his fingers again. "Security! Kick these nitwits outside immediately!"

The thugs scram and security chased after them, Finally leaving them alone but Vaggie was still on edge. She kept glancing between Vox and Alastor, who was hidden from view and couldn't help but feel like she was waiting for a bomb to go off. Niffty, looked extremely stressed. Stress didn't suit her face at all. Vaggie thought for sure that she would've yelled about a bad boy or some other Niffty nonsense but instead, she kept her body turned and slightly hunched over. Clutching Alastor, who was still limp and gave Vaggie a desperate look that said one thing.

Alastor needs to get out.

"Well, your highness," Vox began and patted Charlie's hand where it still rested on his arm. "I apologize about your visit here. How about we move somewhere more private?"

Charlie pulled her hand back. "Uhm- sorry but we'll be leaving now." She said and Vox hummed. "At the very least, allow me to walk you ladies to your car."

"Oh no that's alright-"

"I insist." The guards have come back, almost too quickly, and surrounded them, boxing them in.

Charlie had uncertainty written all over her face and glanced to Vaggie for help. Every minute that Vox stands here, the chances of him spotting Alastor increase. But refusing his offer may make them suspicious.

Vaggie nodded at Charlie, both knew it was a bad idea.

Charlie grinned her flashiest smile and interlocked her arm with Vaggies. "Thank you, Mr Vox, that's very kind of you."

Vox smiled and turned to look at Niffty and for just a split second, barely seen moment, his face flashed to one of confusion. Niffty partially hid behind Charlie and Vaggie and kept her head low like a common maid, trying her hardest to not call attention to herself. Vaggie makes a note to award her for her efforts. 

"So tell me, Princess," Vox began as he lead them through the store. "From one business person to another, how is your hotel?"

Vaggie knew he had absolutely no interest in the hotel and was making polite conversation as they walked, but Charlie didn't care and was more than happy to talk about it even though he was probably turning her out. Literally. 

She took this distraction to check on Niffty, who watched Voxs back like a hawk.

"Is he still out?" Vaggie whispered, motioning towards Alastor. Niffty nodded. "It's the TV."

"What?" Vaggie asked confused. Niffty pointed down where Alastors shadow was pooled at her feet as she walked. It's beady little eyes also didn't leave Voxs back. Like a predator waiting for the enemy to make the first move.

"Alastor would always complain that Vox gave him a headache." Niffty muttered.

Alastor groans and Niffty is quick to shush him. He mumbled something but buried his face into Nifftys shoulder. Her hair drapes over him like a cloak in a way that hopefully helps hide him.

Charlie was doing a wonderful job in distracting Vox as they walked, but his guards were at a consistent few paces behind them and all the security cameras shifted to stare at them as they passed. Vaggie wipes her sweaty palms and swallowed a lump in her throat. All it takes is one wrong move. 

But Vox could know something. Those thugs were having a meeting with him, surely they blabbered about something important.

Vaggie sped up until she's walking aide by side by Vox and links her arm with Charlie.

"So Mr Vox!" She began and titled her head in what hoped to look like curiosity. "How do you feel about kids?". She decided to just rip the bandage off, getting straight to the point and catch him off guard. 

Vox appeared to be taken back by the strange question. "I- kids?" He asked. "What do you mean?" 

Vaggie studied his reaction to see if he was hiding something but he seems genuinely confused by the question. 

"Oh, just curious, Since so much of these clothes are so small." Vaggie hoped she was a good actor, it may be the only way to get out of here alive. Remembering Alastor's words about how a smile can hide your true intentions, she puts up the biggest one she can muster.

"And such adorable designs as well!" She compliments and Vox stood up straight and smirked at her words. "But of course! I only offer the best!"

Good, an ego boost gets people cocky, then they like to talk.

"These small sizes are actually for the hellborn and their children." Vox explained with a wave of his hand.

"That's.. oddly nice of you." Vaggie said surprised.

"Just a business choice, more customers mean more money."

Ah, there it was. No genuine care, just profits. 

Charlie grins brightly anyways. "Well I much appreciate it!"

Vox bowed as they walked. "Nothing but the best for the princess!"

Vaggie gave Charlie a pat on the arm that's intertwined with her as a warning before she asks her next question.

"So were you and Alastor good friends growing up?"

Somewhere, a camera blew up. Vox stopped walking and turned to Vaggie with a strained smile and his eyebrows pinched in disgust. 

"We.. did not grow up together."

Vaggie knew that, Charlie knew that, Niffty knew that, half of Hell probably knew that. But Vaggie is more focused on how he reacts. Body language is still a language. 

Vox is offended at the question, but there's no tension that indicates he's hiding something. 

Vaggie smiled in a hopefully polite way. "Oh, well with the way Alastor would talk about you, I had simply assumed."

Voxs screen buffered for just a second. "He.. talks about me?"

No.

"Yup. All the time."

Vox grips the front of his shirt and turns away. Vaggie wonders what would happen if he had a heart attack and if he'll receive cpr or a computer restart.

Vox spun around and clapped his hands with an actual physically bright smile thanks to the LEDs in his screen head. "That's great to hear!" He exclaimed and ushered for them to begin walking again.

"It's nice to know he still cares." He added with a somber expression that only lasted a second so Vaggie couldn't tell if it was real or fake. 

Vaggie swallowed a hard lump and hoped her lie won't bite her in the back later. "Ahaha, of course."

Charlie must've sensed her stress and rubbed her arm. Vaggie was very grateful for it. 

"Besides, I can imagine Alastor was a horrible child." Vox clasped his hands behind his back and stood tall with a amused smile at the thought.

Vaggie risked a glance behind her. Alastor had begun to pull at his ears, perhaps in a desperate attempt to muffle a noise that she couldn't hear. Niffty was trying to comfort him, she really was, But Vaggie could tell she was out of her element. Alastor's shadow was getting agitated at its masters stress and was leaking out from under Nifftys feet. Vaggie waved her hand no and the shadow hissed. Niffty stomped her foot on it and it flinched to look up at her. With a shake of her head, the shadow got the message that it will make things worse if it reacts and slicked back in its hiding spot.

Vaggie turned back to the conversation with a small smile. "Oh yes, probably a nightmare of a kid!"

They continued in conversation while walking. Any time Vox attempted to look at Niffty, Charlie and Vaggie step in the way and ask about the clothes or other things. He liked to talk about himself a lot. Vaggie used that to her advantage and kept him distracted with a curious question or compliment. Thank God his ego was as big as his head. But even with that, It was terrifying. The guards at some point left but the cameras were still on them. Niffty kept her head down to both, keep up the illusion that she was just a common maid, and so she didn't accidentally freeze if she glanced at a camera. 

The entrance was finally spotted. Vaggie would've collapsed in relief had it not be suspicious. 

Vox held the door for them. Vaggie could practically taste the freedom as Charlie bidded Vox goodbye. They were almost out. The limo spotted them and began to pull up to the curb. So close!

But as Niffty walked past Vox, he frowned deeply. 

"You know," he began and placed a hand on Nifftys shoulder and she went stiff as a stick. "Something about you feels familiar." He took a strand of her hair and twisted it between his fingers.

Vaggie panicked and couldn't come up with an excuse to dial down the situation. Charlie grasped her hand in fear, not knowing what to do either. 

"Have we met before?" He asked and Niffty slowly shook her head no.

Vox smiled in a way that showed he was expecting that answer. "Ah too bad." He continued to twirl the strand of hair. "It's just that.." he trailed off and glanced down at the ground. "..Alastor's shadow normally never leaves his side."

Everyone looked down to see that Alastors shadow had begun to leak out again. 

"Who are you?" Voxs teeth glowed maliciously. Then he brushed aside more hair and Vaggie felt a shiver as Voxs eyes lit up with both excitement and confusion. "Oh? And who is this little-?"

Niffty shot back immediately and practically dove into the car. Vaggie right behind her. Charlie attempts to give a polite goodbye and thanks for everything but Vaggie grabbed her arm and pulled her in.

The limo drives off quickly without delay. Vaggie risked a peak through the back window, Voxs figure gets smaller but the bright pink strand of hair still rests in his hand.

There's suddenly a ear piercing screeching as Alastor groans. Niffty looks at the other two girls with worry.

"He's really warm." She said. 

Charlie shoots off her seat and kneels on the floor. "Lay him down!" She gestured and Niffty does that. Charlie felt his forehead and bit her lip. "Crap."

Vaggie slides down and kneels next to her to support her. Alastor opened his eyes but they had a glossy appearance as he looked around in confusion.

There's another high pitched wave and Alastor starts crying. "Oh, you poor thing." Charlie soothed and brushed his hair out of his face as he sobbed. He leans into her touch.

"It's got to be the radios waves." Vaggie said as Charlie brushed Alastors head. 

"But he's supposed to control them." Niffty says and gets off her seat, clearly uncomfortable with the situation.

Vaggie did not care for radio at all, nor will she ever care. But Alastor did, and he made sure people were listening when he was talking. So she remembered all his complaints about the tvs in the hotel. She thought he was being petty because they weren't from his time. But maybe they were an actual pain to him.

"He's probably too young to have control, so he doesn't know how to use them. and with Vox being a TV who also runs on radio waves, It must've completely overwhelmed him." Vaggie theorized.

Charlie frowned as Alastor continued to lean into her touch. "So we need to get somewhere without tvs. But where would we?-" her eyes lit up with an idea.

"I'll be right back, just keep him calm!" She instructed and she dashed to the front of the limo to talk to the driver.

Vaggie glanced at Niffty and hoped she would do it.

"Absolutely not." 

"What?! Why not?"

"Because he's all snotty and wet." Niffty said crossing her arms and looking away. Vaggie made note of her tension in her shoulders and refusal of eye contact. She's not telling something. Vaggie decides not to press her and focus on the problem at hand. 

Alastor had curled into a ball and pulled on his ears. His eyes are darting around the limo, wide with a confuse daze and-

She hesitates. Because her instincts are still screaming at her that it is, after all, still Alastor. 

But Alastor squeezes his eyes shut and pulled at his ears more harshly.

Vaggie takes a deep breath and pushed all thoughts and doubts because a child needs comfort right now, no matter who the child is.

She gently rubbed his back and pried his fingers off his ears before he could hurt himself. "Hey. It's okay. It'll be okay."

"Hurts."

"Yeah? Can you tell me what hurts?"

He motions towards his chest. "Head hurts too." He mumbled out. "Everything's too loud."

"Too loud?"

He nods. "I can hear the car, the people on the sidewalk. I can hear Vox pacing, arguing in the alleyways, and screaming. So much screaming."

Sounds like a crappy experience...Wait-

"You can hear Vox?" Vaggie repeated and Alastor nodded. "He's frustrated." Then his eyes swelled up with tears. "Is he angry at me?" He asked. "I didn't mean to make him angry!" He chokes out a sob.

"Why did he look different!?" He demanded as his body shook. 

Vaggie pulled him close to her chest and took deep breaths. "Just focus on my heartbeat." She said. "You don't hear anything but my heart."

Alastor gave a shaky nod and leaned close. The first few breaths were quick and shallow but after a few attempts, he managed to slow down.

"Why did he look different?" He asks again. 

He's still on about Vox. Vaggie rubs his back and keeps her answer short. He can't take another attack. 

"Because he decided to change."

Alastor stiffened. "..Oh."

He closed his eyes and curled up against Vaggie. "Then he lied."

"He said he wouldn't change. Wouldn't be different. For me."

"Everyone always lies to me."

He slumped against Vaggie, exhausted. 

He doesn't move for a while. Then he takes a deep breath and Vaggie realized he fell asleep. 

She laid him back down on the seat and wiped the tears off his face. He's tense with a scowl even in his sleep. How strange, That the infamous RadioDemon who's never seen without a smile, seems to rarely have it as a child.

"How do you do it?" Niffty asked suddenly. 

"Do what?" Vaggie asked and kept a hand on Alastor as she turned to Niffty. She sat there awkwardly as she fiddled with her skirt.

"How do you.." Niffty trailed off and looked away but Vaggie waited. 

"How are you able to care for him when he's not the real Alastor?"

It took a minute to understand what Niffty was asking but then it clicked. She let out a small chuckle as she realized.

"What's so funny?" Niffty demanded. 

"You've been struggling because you don't think it's Alastor?" 

"Y-yeah?" Niffty answered confused and Vaggie let out another little chuckle. "It's just that it's been hard for me because I can't help but think it's Alastor."

Niffty has nothing to say and Vaggie gently brushed Alastors hair as he slept. Her hand trails down to his chest and she can feel his heart beat at a steady pace.

"Look," Vaggie began, a lot calmer about this ordeal than she was the day before. "I know it's hard, dealing with things you don't understand while in what feels like the wrong skin. I would be calling myself a hypocrite if I told you to just deal with it. I am struggling with this too. But you and I have to accept that this is Alastor, it's just not the one we're used to."

Niffty is silent, fiddling with the helm on her skirt. Vaggie had no idea if she was even listening but it felt good to get it off her chest. Simply talking out loud made the tension easier to bear.

But Niffty was listening. She got off the car floor with her lip bitten in either frustration or determination and sat back down in her seat. She pulled Alastor onto her lap and he immediately latched onto her blouse in his sleep. Niffty wrapped both arms around him with a tight frown.

"It's still him." Niffty whispered and Vaggie pretended not to hear. Then she began rocking. "He's still here."

Alastor completely relaxed in her arms and lost the scowl that he had. 

There's a hand on Vaggies shoulder. Charlie gives a soft smile and Vaggie returns it.

"We'll be reaching the outskirts of Cannibal Town soon." Charlie says. "Don't want the limo to catch attention."

"The cannibals? What will they do?" Vaggie asked.

"Well, theyre an outdated town, it would give Alastor a breather and to talk to a particular cannibal." Charlie explains. "I'm hoping she'll be able to help us."

"Ah." Niffty said. "Oh yes. Good idea. Yes."

"I don't really follow." Vaggie expressed. 

"She's a good friend of Alastors, and she's the one that gave us the cannibal army for the extermination." Charlie assured. 

"And now I'm surprised Alastor has a friend." 

"Oh trust me, they're friends. Alastor has demonstrated that he has affection for her."

"That does nothing to convince me."

"Physically."

"Oh." Vaggies one eye widen. "OH!"

Niffty cackled loudly. "No silly, not like that!" She patted Alastors head like one would a cat when he stirred at the loudness. "But Madame Rosie is a favorite of Alastors, her gossip, stubbornness to change with the time, and her similar taste in..multiple things." She smiled dangerously with all her teeth.

Vaggie leaned away from the suddenly very blood thirsty cyclops. "I see, no wonder they get along then."

"Anyways, I asked the driver to take us a little aways from the edge of town, we'll have to walk the rest of the way." Charlie explained and Vaggie nodded. "Ok, if you say they're friends, I trust you."

The town is full of life.

Cheerful, giddy and well dressed, life. 

Vaggie feels nervous and exposed but Niffty and Charlie don't share the feeling. Some residents tip their hats or courtesy at the sight of them and Charlie waves cheerfully. Niffty doesn't even bother hiding Alastor and props him on her hip.

Alastor shot his head up. almost like he never was in pain or hitting a fever, the second they took a step inside the town. "Feeling better?" Charlie asked and Alastor nods.

"Oh good!" She cheers. "That solves at least one problem!"

The deeper they go into to town, more and more cannibals greet them. Some even fawn over Alastor. 

"Oh, I could just eat him up!" One older woman cooed. 

"Figure of speech." she added quickly at Vaggie and Charlie's look of horror. 

"Uhm- Tiffany, right?" Charlie says and the older woman nods. "Is Rosie busy right now?"

"Oh she's busy alright." Tiffany informs.

"Swarmed with work to the brim!" Her friend pipes up.

"Well, I'd hate to bother her, but it's kind of an emergency. I really need her help" Charlie pleaded but Tiffany shook her head. "No can do, your majesty. Madame Rosie is busy for a good reason." 

She leans in close to whisper. "I'm not supposed to tell outsiders this but-" she glanced around to make sure there were no other eavesdroppers. "But recently, almost all Overlords had a break in at their territory." She nudged her friend. "Tell em Bridget!"

Bridget jumped slightly. "Oh yes! Carmilla had weapons stolen, Zestial had potions and so and so. And now there was reports of murder right here! So Madame Rosie has issued a full on emergency and won't take in any appointments today."

"I think she'll make an exception." Niffty says getting the attention of the two women. 

"And what makes you think-" Tiffany's pit black eyes widen. "Miss Niffty?!"

"What on earth? She's got legs!" Bridget exclaimed. Then they both noticed Alastor and their eyes widen even further and their jaws dropped.

"Well I'll be!" 

"I think Rosie will want to see this!"

The women wave them in a direction, popped open their parasols and began to lead them. "Goodness, goodness." Tiffany mumbled to herself. "How curious indeed." Brigdet agreed and leaned to get a good look at Alastor. 

He leaned away from the close contact and wrapped his arms around Nifftys neck securely. "Oh my," Bridget awed. "I'm getting baby fever!" 

Tiffany clicked her tongue. "Don't you dare! I'm not cleaning up your mess again!"

"Oh please, that imp didn't even notice that I took her baby!"

"That doesn't mean you take it!"

"It would've been better off with me anyways."

"I'm sure that's true, but don't go kidnapping kids!"

"Oh Darling, did you forget why I'm in Hell?"

"Oh look, we're here." Tiffany stopped the conversation and closed her parasol. 

They've reached what looks like to be the heart of town, an emporium. The lights are off and there's a closed sign but it's not hard to imagine this place swarmed with traffic. 

"Tata darlings! Do tell Rosie hello for us!" Bridget says and Tiffany nods in agreement. "Oh yes, do tell!" They intertwine their arms and walk away.

Charlie takes a deep breath and smiles. "Welp, Here go's!" 

She opens the door and one by one they step in.

It was exactly like how Vaggie imagined. A gorgeous, Victorian interior with a display case showcasing body parts in different flavors, A few racks hold clothes and there's a table sprinkled here and there. When you ignore the obvious red flag, it was very homey. 

Alastor pushed away from Niffty and she set him down so he could dash to the display case, he smashed his face against the glass to get a closer look. 

"Sorry dears, but I'm closed for today!" A sweet voice calls out and Alastor's ears perk up.

"Oh we know!" Charlie yells back. "But we hoping to get your help on a.. small problem!"

There's the sound of footsteps. "Oh, Charlie sweetie!"

The voice is attached to a surprisingly nice looking woman. She's wrapped in what was probably nightwear from her time. that paired with her short, white hair almost made her look like a grandma. But her pitch black eyes and sharp smile tear out any sweet thoughts. 

"I had no idea you were coming to see me!" She greetings and gives Charlie a hug. "And how rude of me to be so underdressed!"

"Oh no, you're fine!" Charlie assured and pulled away.

"And you must be Vagitha!" The woman said with her sharp smile. "Charlie mentioned you."

"Uhm- just Vaggie ma'am." Vaggie greets and the woman turned to Niffty and stopped abruptly. There's a look of confusion on her face.

Niffty pulled Alastor away from the glass and fiddled with his outfit, correcting any wrinkles. 

"Hello, Madame Rosie." Niffty says and wiped her hands on her skirt. She's nervous. 

Rosie doesn't say anything but looks back and forth between everyone in the room.

"Oh my." She says, finally breaking the silence. 

"What kind of trouble did Alastor get himself into this time?"

"It's uh- it's a long story." Charlie said.

Rosie hummed and Alastor squirms under Nifftys grip. "Well, then you better get comfortable and I'll make some tea, because I want to know everything."

Chapter Text

The Vee tower is thick with static. But not one person has any courage to acknowledge it.

Vox is in his office, hunched over his desk as he stares at a strand of pink hair, sealed in a bag for safety. 

Vox tears at the desk with his claws and the room shook with his anger. Where has he seen this woman? He knows her. But her name is just on the tip of his tongue. 

She's associated with Alastor, thats obvious. His shadow, that shadow, was at her heel like a dog, It's never left his side before. At the thought of that, he throws everything off his desk and collapsed in his chair. Who is that woman!?

He paced the room in thought before picking up the bag and toyed with it. Frustrated, he tossed it to the side and began flipping through some security footage. He growled at some of the glitched footage and clawed at the desk. 

The door slides open and Vox snapped out of his rage at the smell of the sweet smoke. 

"Voxxy, baby." Valentino purrs. "What wrong?"

"Nothing. Just trying to figure out something."

Valentino lets out a puff of smoke and drapes an arm across Vox's shoulder. "Could you perhaps figure it out without blowing a couple breakers?"

Vox tensed. "I did it again?"

"You always do it. at least, when the Radio Demon is involved."

Vox scoffed and fell back in his chair."This time Alastor wasn't the cause." Valentino raised an eyebrow and pointed at the tvs that showed Alastor, horribly glitched, but it was him.

"Alright fine, it's kind of about him." Vox admitted. "But it's different this time."

"No it's not but go on." Valentino corrected. Vox resisted the urge to tear at the armrests. "For starters, the Princess and her girlfriend were at one of our stores this morning."

"Ah! The lesbians!"

"Shut up, anyways. I didn't think much of it but I head was swarming with static the entire time."

"Well, you are a tv."

"Val, if you don't shut up-" Vox warned but Valentino waved him off.

"It's just-" Vox continued. "-Only Alastor gave me headaches like that. It took us years to balance our waves so we didn't kill each other on accident."

"And y'know, I still do it instinctively too." Vox admitted and rested his head in his hand in frustration. "And feeling this pain again, made me so confused, because not only has it been decades, but it was because of some girl!"

"Oh?" Valentino perked up at that. "A girl? What did she look like?"

Scowling, Vox flipped through some security tapes from earlier that day at one of the stores. It's horribly glitchy and spotty, making it difficult to see anything out of it.

"All the footage with her looks like that. I know what she looks like, But getting an image of her is impossible."

Valentino lets out a long drag of his cigar. "Seems like she's almost bad as Alastor."

Vox agreed. At least Alastor liked to pose in front of the drones every now and then.

Speaking of the drones, one got real close last night, closer than any other drone had before. 

Vox sat up and reviewed what footage survived before Alastors stupid little guard shadow finally decided to show its ugly head.

Alastors radio tower is dark. Off air. Alastor hadn't broadcasted in near 10 hours, 54 minutes, and 34-35 seconds at the time. 

The drones gets so close, that Vox can clearly read some documents left on the table. (Useless, outdated, nothing worth it.)

But Alastor's green magic light is here. But not it's normal place where Vox assumed his bedroom is. ( highest floor, middle room.), instead, he finds the magic light from a window on the floor where the Princess of Hell resides. (What the fuck.)

Why did he move? He hates change. What's going on?

The shadow came from that window as well, not from Alastor's bedroom or radio tower like it should've. The drone was eventually destroyed. Surprise surprise. But it took way too long.

And now Alastor hasn't broadcasted in 29 hours, 34 minutes and 19-20 seconds!

He expressed his worry to Valentino but he just laughed. "Oh, how I wish I could keep your attention as easily as the Radio Demon can."

Vox taps the table with his claws. He has to push down the error codes he inputted when he gets too deep in a problem. 

"The girl.." Vox hesitates telling Valentino this because he is a sinner that showed no boundaries but he has resources and influence that may be useful.  "This girl had a kid."

"So? Probably some imp bastard."

He's probably right and Vox is looking too deep in the situation. But the second he spotted that kid- Vox couldn't see, It was like his systems took a whole reset. His head swarmed up with so much fog that he barely noticed the girl leaving. 

It took a couple minutes for him to gather his senses, and when he did, it was like it never happened. The only proof he had was the pink strand of hair left in his palm.

"No." Vox said and stood up. "Somethings off. I need to know why."

Valentino discarded the dead cigar. "Maybe this this girl is the new you."

Vox clenched the desk. "What." 

He didn't say it as a question as more of a threat. But either Valentino didn't notice or care as he kept going. "Oh yeah, you were definitely a favorite of his for a while. But maybe he decided to settle down, you did mention a kid no?"

The desk sqeeked under the intense pressure. "Not possible. He was a human."

"But falling in love?" Valentino asked. "It's not impossible. Even for the Radio Demon." Valentino caressed Voxs face. "Even you know love, and your heart's full of wires and oil."

"He just never loved you back, Vox."

Valentino got up and left. The door slid shut and Vox sat in silence and alone for a while before he stood up and flipped the desk. The lights went out and alarms blared down the hall. 

"WHY HER?!" Vox screamed.

"WHAT DOES SHE HAVE THAT I DON'T?!"

No answer. Of course, because he's alone but he growled and kicked at the fallen desk anyway.

Several of the tvs were still showing some of the footage. One showed the princesses limo leaving and another showed those hooligans from earlier chasing the princess and-

Ah.

Those hooligans mentioned that they had an advantage over the Radio Demon. Of course Vox didn't listen and shooed them away like the lower class they were. 

They weren't chasing the princess, they were chasing that girl!

Vox smiled and dialed his assistant through the Bluetooth connection. "Bring those Nitwits from earlier back in."

"The ones you kicked out?"

"Now."

"Sir?!-"

"Oh and where is the royal limo currently?"

"Uhm- it's on the outskirts of Cannibal town, sir."

"Track them." Vox ordered. "I want consistent reports of where, when and why. Especially the girl."

"Sir, the maid?-"

Vox ended the call before anymore questions were asked and flipped on a drone camera. He flew it all the way up to Alastor's radio tower. The drone pried open a window with its little robotic claws and flew right in.

He directed it to a hiding spot and turned on power saving mode.

He's in. 

Vox is going to find out what's going on. One way, or another. 

Chapter Text

"Mmhmm."

Rosie placed her tea down on the coffee table and clasped her hands in her lap as she took in everything she was told. Charlie continues to sip from her tea while Vaggie left hers in in her lap. She doesn't trust it.

Alastor had busied himself at a bookshelf and was pulling books off and reading a couple pages before he tossed them to the side. Niffty was behind him, picking the fallen books up and reorganizing the shelf. There was wonder if Alastor was doing it on purpose. 

"I can't help you." Rosie said.

"What?! But-" Charlie began to protest but Rosie held a hand up. "I can't help you, because I don't have any information or anything that I know of." Then she smiled and winked. "Yet."

Charlie scooted away on the couch. "Well, what do we do now?" 

Rosie got off the couch and walked over to where Alastor was reaching for a book out of his reach. "I suppose you keep doing what you already were." She gave the book to Alastor and he took it with surprise. He mumbled a thank you and plopped down on the floor and begun to read it.

She smiled and tousled his hair. Surprisingly, he didn't cringe at that one bit.

"Can't he stay with you?" Vaggie asked but Rosie frowned and shook her head. "I can't offer the protection and attention he needs right now."

"Surely not, Madame Rosie. You are a very influential overlord." Niffty said as she sat on the couch, no longer able to clean.

"Oh thank you dear! But influence is all I have, and I don't hold a candle to the Princess of Hell and her power." At that, Charlie's face grew red.

"Plus, you, Husk and the other residents of that lovely hotel can keep a much closer eye on him than I can, I'm swarmed with work and..." Rosie grew a bitter expression like she ate something nasty. "..Susan's been a real hoot recently."

Both Niffty and Charlie nodded in understanding but Vaggie was still confused. "But he likes you. He's comfortable here."

Rosie laughed, covering her mouth like an elegant lady. "It's taken me way too long get him to trust me, You have to do the same as well."

She then turned around as Alastor frowned at his book. "Having a hard time, dear?"

He nodded and Rosie sighed. She opened a drawer on a nearby side table and pulled out glasses with the biggest circular lenses. "Tut, tut. It doesn't hurt to use your words." She scolded and handed Alastor the glasses. 

"Sorry." He whispered and placed the too large glasses on his face. Everyone in the room bit back their aws. He began to read again and in amazement, giggled. Giggled! That's good!

"Apparently his monocle is his reading lense." Vaggie observed while Charlie bit her hand so she didn't scream.

"Oh why can't he stay Madame Rosie?" Niffty all but begged. "I can't care for him like you can!"

Rosie smiled sadly and walked over to her. "I wish I could dear. I would have too even with my extra work but-" she tapped Nifftys face gently. "You're here, so I'm not worried."

Then she grabbed both of Nifftys hands tightly and spoke in a stern voice. "And what ever you do, don't ever leave his side. Ever." Niffty nodded and Rosie dropped her hands with a cheerful grin. "Wonderful! Now then-" she turned to Charlie and clapped her hands.

"To begin our journey together fix this delightful little problem, have you perhaps spoken with your father about this?"

"My dad?" Charlie questioned. Then she shot up from her chair, causing Alastor to flinch as the tea cup fell from her lap and shattered on the floor. "My dad!"

"Can your dad help?" Vaggie asked but Charlie's hands shot to her head. "No no no!"

"No he can't help?" Rosie tried but Charlie shook her head. "No no no, we had a phone call, and we discussed him possibly moving in into the hotel. Not permanently of course but so he had contact with society again, a home away from home, therapy, healing practice!-"

"Sweetie, you're rambling again." Vaggie called out and Charlie groaned and sunk back into her seat.

"Do you know when he's coming?" Rosie asked and rested her hand on Alastor's head, as he had came up and gripped the hems of her sleeve. 

"No I don't!" Charlie pressed the palms of her hands into her eyes in frustration and tried to sink deeper into the cushion. "But knowing my luck, he's probably already here!" Vaggie patted her knee in sympathy. 

"Is he mean?" Alastor asked, his glasses still perched on his nose with a hand gripping onto Rosie's night dress.

"No, he's not mean." Charlie answered. 

"Is he scary?"

"No?"

"Does he yell?"

"Not really."

"So why are you scared of him?"

Charlie says nothing at first, then she smiled sadly. "Oh Alastor."

She beckoned him to come near, he slowly walked over and she picked him up when he got close and sat him next to her.

"I'm not scared of dad, It's just that.. he can be a bit much." She began to explain and Alastor tilted his head.

"He means well and I love him for it, but I don't want to rely on him for every little thing. I want to be my own person."

Alastor twiddled with his hands. "So.. you like him?"

"He's my dad, of course I do."

Alastor said nothing and went back to his hands as he pondered in thought. 

"I don't think I liked him."

"Yeah, you two didn't get along at all." Charlie agreed.

"But.." Alastor looks away. "If he can fix me.."

Charlie sighed deeply. "Maybe, but just know, you aren't broken Alastor."

Alastor was silent but his shoulders hunched over and refused to make eye contact. 

"Always bent out of shape about something you don't have to be." Rosie teased with a smile but her pit black eyes had a trace of pity. Then she turned back to the bookshelf, that was now organized Niffty styled and pulled off a couple from the very top.

"Well, I suppose I'll start gathering up what I can find but I can't guarantee anything." She said and dumped the books in the three girls laps. 

"Oh thank you Rosie! Anything helps!" Charlie squealed and clapped her hands.

"Uhm, what these for?" Vaggie asked and held up one of the books.

"Oh, just some literature I think you may enjoy."

They held up their books with mixed expressions. 

"The Art of Babysitting." Niftyy read off with a nasty look.

"So Your Child Is A Cannibal." Charlie turned green at the edges. 

"Signs of Insanity in Young Women and Children." Vaggie frowned but decided it was the best choice and nodded to herself.

As they bidded their goodbyes, Rosie filled up a to-go box with as many treats from her store as much as she could.

She gave Alastor the box with a light pinch of his cheek. "You be good ya hear? I'll come over and visit real soon."

Alastor nodded eagerly with a smile.

"We really appreciate your help. The door's always open!" Charlie gleamed.

"Oh such a kind girl." Rosie patted her head. "But do start locking the doors, I smell a storm brewing." Charlie was confused and looked up and the clear red sky but Vaggie got her message. "Understood."

They make their way back to the car, with many goodbyes and promises to the residents, (Bridget especially.) To bring Alastor back for a proper visit. 

As the limo drives away, Charlie is bouncing her knee in a nervous matter.

"Calm down Honey, what even are the chances of your dad coming over today?" Vaggie tried to reassure. 

Charlie bit her tongue and glanced out the window. 

"CHARLIEEEEE!!!!"

Charlie, will deny this. It never happened, if you dare bring it up she will actually try to kill you. Because it most definitely did not happen. 

When Lucifer, her most lovely father, the actual Devil of Hell, ran up to her, his apron covered in flour with a smile that can rival the sun, she, like the mature adult she is, did not throw Alastor over his head and across the kitchen like a ball, right into Husk. (She did.)

Husk falls to the ground with an oomph but before Lucifer could look back she grabbed him in a bone crushing hug. "Daaaad."

Husk has some rather nasty words on the tip of his tongue but Charlie, Vaggie and Niffty all furiously shook their heads.

He glanced down to see what was thrown at him and his eyes went wide as saucers. Then he scooped up the cargo and raced out of the kitchen with speed no one knew the old cat had just as Lucifer pried himself out of Charlie's hug.

"It's so good to see you how are you I'm fine great I was just making some breakfast actually it's lunch time now so I was making lunch for your friends and- oh, Tusk is gone." Lucifer rambled. 

"Husk, he had an emergency." Angel quickly said, with a bite of pancake halfway to his mouth. 

"Dad, whacha doing here?" Charlie asked with a strained smile.

"I came to see my little girl of course!" Lucifer happily informed, clueless of the stress he was beginning to cause.

"Oh, that's wonderful." She tried to match his energy. "Uhm- have you found your room yet?"

"Pfft, no. I thought that was the hoteliers job." He answered with a tsk.

"Ah well.. Alastor is..." Charlie looked away, feeling guilty lying to her father. "Away on a business trip, he won't be back for a while."

Lucifer smiled wide. "Bellhop is gone?"

"No he's coming-" Charlie tried to correct but Lucifer giggled. "He's gone and now I don't have to deal with Mr tall dark and creepy and I get to spend time with just you!"

Charlie sighed. "Yup. Now how about I show you to your room?"

Niffty stepped up with a sharp grin and a glint in her eye. "I'll help with your bags, bad boy."

Lucifer leaned back. "Uhm, what happened to the maid? Wasn't she shorter?"

"I had a growth spurt."

"O-oh."

Lucifer follows Niffty and Charlie out the kitchen, leaving only Vaggie and Angel. They make eye contact.

"We are so screwed." Angel muttered. 

Everyone's acting super weird. 

Or maybe everyone's acting normal and Lucifer is the one being weird.

Really and truly, he's too giddy to care.

He kicks his legs under the cover like a child and giggles. Charlie wanted him here. That's all he wants. And there's no creepy radio man so he has Charlie aalll to himself. Well not actually, he has to share her with the girlfriend but that is literally no problem. She's a wonderful girl, good for Charlie. She won't mess it up like Lucifer did.

Aaaand there it was, the annual, nightly, depression pity party that he has.

He pulled off the covers and put on his duck printed slippers that matched his night gown and cap. May as well get up, he's not going to bed anytime soon now.

With a frustrated sigh,  Lucifer got off the bed and made his way to the door, admiring the interior of the hotel room that he helped rebuild. That's a good thing, right? Charlie said she loved it and his help.

He decided to take the stairs, instead of teleporting or even the elevator so he could take a proper look around at what may be the only good thing he's done. 

He immediately scowled at the first door he saw. 

He completely forgot that his floor mate was the one and only asshole of the hotel. Alastor, the damn daughter stealer.

At least he's away on a trip. Lucifer let's slip a smile and begins to turn away until a thought lights up.

He should go inside. 

No! That would be disrespectful. 

But you want to know what's inside. 

But it's so creepy! We haven't stooped down to stalking levels yet!

But what if there's something in there important?

But it would disappoint Charlie!

What if Charlie is in danger?!

At that last thought, Lucifer has snapped his fingers and popped right inside the room.

Guilt swarmed him instantly but he attempted to swallow it and take a look around. It's not what he thought it would look like at all.

He kinda expected a whole emo, stick up the ass, power hungry, torture chamber.

Instead it's.. dare he say it but.. Nice.

Definitely 1900s. Lucifer is a sucker for that time period. There's a lonely radio on a table that screams 30s and an old chair sits next to it. No bed, but there's a lovely wall filled with books. One shelf is dedicated to old fashioned recipes, others to radio manuals, one about hunting. 

Lucifer pulls one off in curiosity wondering if maybe he mistaken someone else room but quickly realizing he's reading a book about the history of hiding body's, he knew he was in the right place.

But other than that, very little was in the room, a antler decoration up there, a dated piece here, a shadowing smiling at him there.

Wait a minute. 

Lucifer whipped his head around. 

Yup, there it was. Ugh, it's his shadow.

The bellhops shadow lurks in a corner and watches with beady eyes. Ew, creepy.

"Go away, stinky." He tried to shoo but the shadow does nothing. 

Talking to shadows, now he's losing it.

He continues to explore the room, keeping the shadow in the corner of his eye.

It doesn't seem to mind him rampaging through drawers and ducking under dressers or even getting poked at.

But it definitely seemed to mind when Lucifer's hand got a little to close to the radio. It let out a low growl and he pulled his hand back, not wanting to start a fight. 

Finally deciding there wasn't anything worth it, he snapped his fingers and popped right outside the door where he began. The shadow slips out from under the door to continue to stare at him and Lucifer can't help but think something is going on.

He snapped his fingers again, this time appearing right around the corner to the bar, no shadow lurks around. 

A nightcap could help him sleep, he thinks and takes a step until he heard a voice.

"You have to go back to your room now, he'll see you out here!"

Musk, the bartender, sounds a little stressed. 

He's talking to someone but they're speaking too quietly for Lucifer to hear.

Lusk must've regretted his tone of voice and spoke more gently. "Sorry kid I didn't mean-"

Lucifer dared to poke his head out to see that Busk is kneeling down, he can't see who he's talking to at all though.

Rusk had raised his paw or hand thing but quickly pulled it back. "Sorry, I didn't mean to scare you."

Pusk sighed deeply. "Look kid, it sucks being holed up in your room all day but we got no other choice."

There's the sound of hushed whispers. 

"It's hard for you to sleep because it's loud?"

More whispers. 

"Because of the voices. Oh my God what the fuck do I do with that information?" Kusk mumbled.

Lucifer leaned a little too far and tripped over his foot and fell right in the open.

"Oh shit!" Gusk yelled and suddenly there's black covering Lucifer's eyes.

He pried it off to realize that the stupid shadow from earlier was the one to block his view. He gave it a nasty glare and it shrugged and moved on over to linger behind Dusk, Who had stood up with one wing out.

He glanced around, trying to look for the second voice but no one else was there. Weird.

Except he's on the floor, where it was obvious he was eavesdropping. 

"Heeeeeey Musk." Lucifer awkwardly said. "Is the bar still open?"

"Husk."

"Righto, Husk."

Mother of a bitch. His freaking name was Husk this whole time. Way to make things even more awkward.

He should probably get off the floor. That's probably why M-Husk keeps looking at him funny.

He snapped right up causing Husk to jump back. Yuegh, maybe he should've done it the normal way.

"Soo what's a guy got to do get a drink around here. Hahaha ha." Lord kill him now, he sounds constipated.

Husk blinked and seemed to glance behind him. Then he did a really awkward side shuffle to get behind the bar, dragging the one wing behind him.

"What will his majesty have?" He asked.

"Uuuuuuuuh." Lucifer's mind goes blank and immediately forgets every name of alcohol he's ever had.

His eyes fall on the first bottle on display. "Rye."

Husk moved with ease and pulled it off the shelf along with a glass in one motion. "Will that be a single or double?"

Hmm, double sounds like a lot. "Single please." 

"Neat or on the rocks?"

Oooo, rocks sound like fun! "I'll take your finest rocks."

Husk gave him a weird look but prepared the order, A second later and the drink is pushed towards him. Lucifer nods his thanks and takes a sip. And immediately tries not to throw up. 

At Husk's arched eyebrow, Lucifer gives a shaky thumps up.

Husk turned around to put the bottle back up and Lucifer took that as his chance to lean over the bar and spit the drink into the sink that's right underneath.

Damn, now he remembers why he kept the French alive, they're the only ones who know what a good drink is!

Suddenly, just barely out out of view, the color of red is flashed. 

Lucifer zeros in on it and tries to get closer only for a weight to appear on his back.

"Ach! Razzle, get off!" He tried to shoo but the demon dog doesn't even budge, instead he starts chewing on Lucifer's night cap. He tries to ignore him and looks back to before only to have Keekee jump in his face.

"What in tarnation?!" He exclaimed and pulled back so he could pry the cat off his face. He does so and then yanked Razzle from his back. 

"What was that about?" He demands from them and they have the audacity to shrug like they don't know.

"What was what about?" Husk asks.

"Uhm-nothing!" Lucifer quickly replied and placed down Razzle and Keekee down. They both instantly raced to the corner where Alastor's stupid shadow lurked. Little traitors. The three of of them look like mischievous children who definitely did something wrong. 

"Uh huh." Husk says. "Enjoying your drink?"

Fuck.

"Oh yes, equidistant!" 

"You mean exquisite?"

Fuck.

"Oh haha yes my good man. Exquisite!"

Under Husk's look that is rather intimidating, he braves another sip of the abomination that dares to call itself a drink.

"Mmmm."

Husk gives another look and Lucifer can't take it anymore. "WELP! I SHALL BE HEADING TO BED NOW." He stood up and turned sharply on his heel and tried to go for the door and hopefully reach his bed or an endless pit so he can forget about this awkward and embarrassing interaction forever. 

"Uhm, your Majesty?"

FUCK!

"u-yes?" Lucifer answers and Husk points to his drink that he might have purposely forgotten. "Your drink?"

"Oh, right, thanks." He picks up the glass and heads back to his bedroom. 

... oh father..why must he be so weird?!?!

Chapter Text

Husk waits a few minutes, making sure Lucifer has left before breathing a huge sigh of relief. That one was too close.

Alastor's shadow clicks it's tongue in amusement. 

"Alright zip it! You were just as nervous as I was, you little punk."

It shuts its mouth as Razzle stiffled a laugh. 

Husk rolled his eyes as the shadow let out a growl, Razzles eyes narrowed and got into a fighting position. Then he pounced at the shadow and the two began to fight. Since Lucifer came over almost two days ago and Charlie ordered Razzle to keep an eye on Alastor, he's been getting into fights with the shadow over every little thing. 

They're like deranged toddlers with a thirst for violence. 

Keekee dodges the scuffle and jumps on the counter. Acting all innocent and sweet as if she's not the one who's caused one or two of said fights.

"You're lucky I need you." Husk warned. Keekee gave a stink eye hopped down on the other side so she could paw out Alastor, who curled up as small as he could in the darkest corner the second Husk shoved him under the bar.

She meows in frustration when Alastor refused to budge.

Something shatters and Husk diverts his attention toward the fight. "Would you two knuckle heads knock it out!?" He yelled but they didn't listen. 

Keekee meows again but Alastor shoved her away. 

With his patience running thin and the threat of being discovered too high, Husk ducks under the bar.

"Kid, you need to get out of there."

Alastor shook his head. "No."

"Kid."

Alastor shook his head again and curled into a tighter ball. "No."

"If you don't get out of there, I'm gonna drag you out." 

The kid tensed but didn't move.

Welp. There goes that bluff.

Husk is no idiot, he knows exactly what will happen if he tries to go through with his threat. 

A complete meltdown and then Alastor's power tries to strangle him.

He's very aware that Alastor doesn't like him.

Actually he probably does, normal Alastor at least. (Husk is probably the only person in Hell allowed to talk shit about him while he literally stands next to him.) But the kid however, wants nothing to do with him. At least, he acts like he does.

Right now, if Husk does something that bothers.. or even scares Alastor, it triggers a whole domino effect and Husk has a lovely reminder that Alastor's power does still exist and the shadows try to kill him.

But the suffocating feeling that Husk gets, the one where he thinks this is it, isn't there. Like Alastor gets scared halfway. 

So basically in a nutshell, The kid hates him but also doesn't hate him?

There's another crash. (Where on earth is that glass coming from?!)

"If you two don't quit, you're sleeping outside!" Husk threatens and this time it's not a bluff. 

The shadow hissed but Razzle hung his head in shame.

Husk can't help but feel a bit of pity for the demon dog. He's been moping around, barely doing anything since his counterpart and twin, Dazzle, died. Charlie assigned him babysitting duties to hopefully give him something to do but most he's done is get into brawls with that shadow.

And that shadow, Husk doesn't even know where to start. 

It's a extend of Alastor. That should sum up everything. But no, it didn't. 

He was kind of hoping that the shadow would've.. disintegrate or something because Alastor is at a disadvantage with his abilities. No, instead it acts more... Angry,

Snappy,

Human,

 Free.

When the girls went on their shopping trip, Husk closed up the bar, knowing there wouldn't be any customers and spent most of the day in the hotel library. 

He was hoping to find something so he could stop walking on eggshells around the kid. He didn't find anything obviously because who the hell would have a book on curing someone getting turned into a child. But he stumbled across an interesting one titled, The Book of Darkness.

Little cliché but whatever. 

The book was written by a sinner who had strange powers powers and how he learned to harness it, Husk flipped through most of the book, mostly bored and thinking it was mostly fiction until he noticed one chapter about how this guy discovered his shadow was acting strange. And way too many things matched with Alastor's own shadow. 

The guy wrote that one time he was knocked out cold, and learned from a friend that his shadow, dragged him to safety to that friend. 

The author claimed to have no idea how or why it happened. He had thought that the shadow would have simply cease to exist when it supposedly lost its source of power. And unfortunately it remains a mystery since he wasn't consciousness and his friend didn't know how shadows worked. 

Husk forgot about the book because that's when Charlie's dad barged through the door and now everyone's playing hot potato with Alastor.

The bright idea of, "lets keep Alastor in his room all day!" Turned out to be a pretty bad idea. Now the kid refuses to go back in now that he snuck out. 

Can't really blame him. Husk would hate that too, infact,

He did hate it.

A memory floated up that is similar to what he's experiencing now. It's been so long, Husk can't remember all the details. 

It's the beginning of a long night at a casino. He recalled that there's a child still up.

He remembers the child got bribed to go to bed by striking a deal. Was the kid his own? Or has it been so long that he was the child?

It's all so foggy. But he does know how to make deals, and Alastor, no matter the age, does so as well.

While Razzle and the Shadow have stopped fighting, one has his teeth bared at the others growling. They're on the cusp of another fight but Husk decides to take the chance to duck under the bar again for his own round two.

"Alright, let's make a deal."

Alastor poked his head up and Keekee stole her chance to nuzzle under his chin. "Keekee-" He protested but it was too late, she made herself comfortable in his lap and had no intention of moving. 

Resigning to his fate, Alastor looks up at Husk, skeptical, but curious. "What kind of deal?"

"If you go to your room right now-" Alastor scrunched up his nose in disgust. "-I'll show you something cool in the morning."

"Like what?" He demanded. Keekee herself showed interest but stayed in her spot. 

"Like watching the sun rise."

Alastor doesn't seem interested. Of course, he's a kid and what kid wants to watch something so adulty and boring. 

"It's in a few hours," Husk continues. "All you have to is stay in your room, just for a bit and I'll take you up to the roof."

Alastor seems intrigued by the idea of not sleeping as much but he still doesn't buy it.

"We'll even set up blankets and have breakfast. We don't have to come down immediately."

"Will you sleep?" Alastor asks.

"Yeah, probably for a bit."

Alastor frowned. "Then we won't be able to do it then. You'll be asleep."

"How bout you wake me up then?"

Alastor's mouth fell open in surprise. "Wake you up?"

"Yeah."

"You won't get mad?"

Normally? Yeah he'd be pissed. He's been woken up at worse hours by Alastor for worse things, sometimes still hungover. What's a simple few hours to see the sun shine?

"Nope, I'll take you."

"Promise?"

"On my life." Literally. The shadow had started to drool at the sound of a deal being made and Razzle had to lean away when it began to shake with excitement. 

Alastor pondered in thought for a little bit. Then he unfurled himself and stuck out one hand. "Deal."

Husk shook the small hand and the room lit up with green flames and the sounded of a radio boomed. Then it was gone just like that.

"Great. Now go to bed." Husk said.

Alastor frowned but got out of his corner, with Keekee at his heel, and headed out the room. His shadow followed close behind but gave Husk a bow of its head before it left.

Razzle sat there with a small smile on his face.

"What, think I did good?" Husk asked and Razzle nodded. Then he got up and marched out with a spring in his step, probably heading for Charlie's quarters now that he's done his duties for the night.

There's furious thumping at the door. 

Husk groans and rolls over in his bed.

"Husk!" The voice yells and Husk shoves a pillow over his head.

"Lazy cat." The voice grumbled. 

Suddenly he's pulled off the bed. "What the fu-"

Alastor's shadow giggled like a teenage girl. Ah, right.

Husk grumbled and popped his back before he got up and opened the door to look down and see Alastor with one arm crossed over the other as he held a mug with a scowl. He's like eight going on eighty with that expression. 

"Bout time." The kid complained and turned sharply, going straight for the roof.

Husk yawned. "Hold on kid, I need something to drink."

Alastor stopped. "There's coffee in the kitchen."

"Wha-How?"

"Charlie's dad."

His heart skipped a beat. "Did he see you?!"

Alastor shook his head. "No I hid under the table until he left for a minute. For someone so short, it's a surprise he didn't see me at all."

He held up the mug. "Here, it's his, it's too gross."

Husk took it slowly and gave it a whiff. Cream, chocolate syrup, sugar, topped with whipped cream and a carmal finish. What an abomination of coffee. But hey, a free drink is a free drink.

He takes a sip of the overly sugary drink and noticed Alastors scowl. He seems different from the kid who several hours ago was flinching at everything.  "You seem... more confident." 

Alastor kicked one leg in a careless matter. "We have a deal and I did my part. You're under contract."

"I.. guess that's true."

Alastor decided the conversation was over and headed for the stairs. Husk followed right behind him. He briefly wondered if Alastor would go back into his shell once the deal is completed. 

It would be nice if he knew what sets Alastor off. 

Husk, as a bartender, learned that people usually act certain ways because of things that happened in their lives. For instance, Angel, who's harsh job led him to drink as a coping mechanism. (He's getting better.) Or Lucifer, who occasionally tries to drink his sorrows away because of past events. (Charlie gave him a cap limit.)

He's even dealt with one or two customers with the burden of crappy childhood. 

Point is, Alastor doesn't check any box that lumps him in a group. He's an egotistical bastard with a stick so far up his ass that there's splinters in his teeth and treats everyone like they're a minor convince. But the kid..

 Husk isn't one to assume but the kid's... showing certain behaviors.. Husk himself didn't have exactly the worst childhood but there was a moment or two where he wondered if he was loved. He's had one time he was terrified of an adult. The man didn't like being cheated out of and threatened to break Husks fingers so he would learn. Husk, respectively, recalled biting the man and vowed to be more careful with his cards since then. (How ironic he lost his soul in a card game.)

Maybe Alastor didn't get that privilege. Maybe he never had the chance to fight against his abuser and run for the high hills, never to be seen again. 

The only time Husk has managed to actually speak to Alastor, is right now. Because they have a deal. Something that proves to Alastor that Husk can't harm him. 

They make to the roof. Just in time as the sun has barely begun to peak through the horizon.

Alastor is quick to run and lean over the edge. Husk lingers behind him. It's not long until he can feel the warmth of the sun and he feels a gentle breeze. He sneaks a peak at the kid to see that he has a small smile. Taking in the view, Husk sighs deeply.

"I'd like to make another deal with you." He says and Alastor's ears perk up.

"I know you didn't sleep tonight."

Alastor froze and his hands twitched. "You said I had to go to my room. Not sleep."

"I noticed that as I went to bed." It's true. Husk realized he left a loop hole and the kid was going to reel in on that. "But I'll make another deal."

"You have to have good behavior, listen when someone tells you something, and go to bed when told."

"And in return, I'll make sure no harm comes to you when I'm around. Deal?" Husk held out his hand and waited.

 For the first time in a long time, he feels like he's doing something right as Alastor pondered in thought. Then he nodded and held out his hand.

"It's a deal."

Chapter Text

It's day... three.. no, five, of Lucifer's.... vacation? ?

Honestly, he feels like a thirty year old man that hasn't moved out yet and leeches off his mother.  Except he's as old as time and it's his daughter that's being leeched off of.

..That makes it worse.

Welp! Time to go make pancakes for breakfast for the third.. fourth consecutive day in a row because it's a perfectly healthy vent for your feelings!

At least the residents seem to like his pity party pancakes.  Miffty always seems to take a couple up to her room. Eh, she's a growing girl, she needs it.  And Dusty Angel appreciates the hot meal before he leaves for work.  Poor guy is stressed out, he should probably quit that job.

Snapping his fingers to his normal attire, Lucifer hums a happy tune as he prepares the batter.

He has most definitely enjoyed the moments with just him, Charlie and a nice tall and hot stack of these bad boys with not a worry in the world, Just like old times.  Girlfriend's a nice addition.  She's has been very sweet when he's had breakfast with her.

He should probably learn her name. 

Although he has noticed that when she, or Charlie have their fill, but then pile up their plates with some leftover scrambled eggs and fruit and go to their room.  Charlie hates having food in her room because she'll always forgets to take the dishes out.  Perhaps she's gotten better at that.

Lucifer piles all the steaming hot pancakes on a plate and placed his hands on his hip with a grin.  That's more than enough to go around and he checks the time because surely he's got plenty of time to-

Five am.

No one's awake yet.

His smile twitched.  He's made them too early again. 

Ah... well it's not like he can't keep them warm with his power so... 

Now he just needs find something else to do.

Again. 

He could try cleaning- no, that's a bad idea. The maid tried to bite him when he offered to help.

..

...

He has no idea what to do.

He slumps in defeat, hopeless and depressed, and dragged his feet out the kitchen.

He sighs dramatically.  He's such a disaster.  Can't even make breakfast at the right time.

He practically threw himself on the couch in the lobby area.  He doesn't see why Charlie is so insistent that he stay here.  He's too messed up.

He screamed into the lounge pillow then flipped himself over and rubbed at his forehead.  He lays there awhile in his wallow of sadness as he felt a headache brewing from all the over thinking.  No wonder he's divorced. 

He let's the other hand fall, accidentally hitting it on the coffee table.  He hissed and held the hand close. Not because it hurt but as a reaction. 

A book left forgotten on the table catches his eye. 

Reading is normal? Yeah?

In a flash of light, Lucifer quickly grabs the book in a desperate manner.  He gives a glance at the title. 

"The Art of Babysitting."  Not what he was hoping for but beggers can't be choosers.  He flipped open to a page where he recognized Charlie's bookmark and placed it somewhere safe.

He began reading.  Attempting to read modern day English was difficult at first but he managed to get into a rhythm. 

Some advice in this book would've been nice during Charlie's terrible 20s.  Others not so much because it's about human baby's and she's.. well.. his kid so...

Anyways here's the wonderwall. It's about some negative traits of a child may be the genetic makeup from either parent. Humans are so weird sometimes. 

Lucifer is just about done with the book with just a chapter or two to go, when he heard a loud thump.

He glanced around, but there's no one here. 

He's curious about that noise and figures there's no harm in looking.  Setting off on a journey with the book under his arm, he keeps his ears perked for any noise.

It's fruitless at first.  No sign of anything at all. 

He finds a lounge area, a cold cup of tea forgotten with a pile of books next to it with even more of Charlie's bookmarks.  The one at the top of the pile is about more babysitting.  Weird.

He hears another thump. 

He sets his book with the others and peeked down a long dark hallway.  Thump. Thump.

He takes a step into the hallway and his footsteps echo loudly.  He barely makes out the objects in the hallway and has to keep a hand on a wall so he won't bump into a table or potted plant.  The hallway seems to go on forever and Lucifer quickly grew tired of feeling around to see and lit a fire in his other hand.

"Ah ha!" He yelled in excitement because now he can see.

Something cold and wet suddenly slides down the back of his neck.

"ekoH@#%hJgh!!" He screamed in a language so old and forgotten that twenty first century technology can't even begin to translate. 

Both hands shot to his back in an attempt to touch what was on him, leaving him engulfed completely in darkness.  He trips over a table in his panicking. He sat up only to hit his head on said table.

He groaned. Out of frustration. Not pain.

He rolled over before he got up to avoid the table and shook his coat to find what ever he felt earlier only for it to feel-

Dry.

Like it never happened. 

Confused, he tries to feel around for a wall, only for him to flail his arms around, meeting only air.

He spins around several times just in case, but it seems he's left the hallway. 

Now he's got no clue where he is.

Thump.

Instinctively, he pulls up another fist full of fire. No wet feeling this time, but his flame is useless to the darkness. 

Thump

Lucifer doesn't like this journey of his all of a sudden. 

Thump.

He's the king of Hell. 

Thump.

This is nothing!

Thump.

Thump.

He decides what is in his kindom!

Thump. Thump.

He feels the faint touch of teeth on his neck.

Letting out a girlish scream, Lucifer punched whatever the teeth were attached to.

The darkness fades away as the thing simultaneously hit the floor.

He glanced around at his surroundings and sees the lounge area from earlier.  He didn't walk far at all.

He turned back to get a look at his attacker.  He instantly recognized that stupid smile. 

"you." He hissed at that stupid bellhops shadow.   The shadow curled up in the corner as deep black ooze leaked from the nose area.  It seemed to jump back in surprise at Lucifer's tone and began to melt into the shadows but Lucifer grabbed it by the neck.

"What the Hell was that about?!" He demanded with red in his eyes.

It snarled and contorted in his grip. It went still as it realized that it was firmly stuck and couldn't move into the shadows. 

"King of Hell dipshit, I say what flies here."

It squirms and thrashed, letting out an ear piercing screech, but to Lucifer, it's feeble attempts are almost cute. 

"You have been stalking me for the past four days. You better explain yourself."  He said but the shadow growled at him, saying some rather inappropriate things I'd rather not write down.  (of course he understands the shadow, there's not a language that the devil's tongue doesn't speak.)

"Fine then." Lucifer sat up straight. "Don't say I didn't give you a chance."

He summoned a chain around the shadows neck, it shined so bright it practically glowed.

He dropped the shadow and it crumbled at his feet.  It hissed and growled at him from the floor.

 Lucifer crouched down to its level and felt mildly satisfied when it flinched.  "If you did that creepy hallway shit to my daughter or her friends, you'd be lucky to die fast."

It growled again.  Lucifer grabbed its chain and yanked. "Acting like a dog got you collared like one." He explained.  It bared its teeth at him and pulled at its new collar.  He wants to squish it like a bug so bad.

"Lets try this one more time." He said instead. "tell me what i want to know."

"Because i know you're hiding something, aren't you?"

The shadow stopped messing with the collar.  It didn't say or do anything but Lucifer took its reaction as a sign that he's right.  He may not understand social cues, but the silent treatment?  Lucifer invented that.

"Is Alastor hiding something?" He asked.

The shadow kept its eyes to the ground. "Look at me." He ordered and pulled the chain, forcing it to look him in the eyes.

"Everyone in this hotel is acting weird and with your unusual stalking, I think I'm allowed to think something's up.  I can smell Alastor's energy off of you clearly, which tells me he relies on you often.  So tell me why you're here when he's gone."

At first the shadow does nothing, but Lucifer decides to be patient and wait.

Then he hears what sounds like dozens and dozens of voices.  They all say the same thing.

"you are a danger."

"I'm a danger?" He repeats, just on the brink of anger. "To what?"

The voices retreat back, but Lucifer isn't satisfied with their answer. 

"I am not a danger!" He yelled and yanked the shadows chain close.  "Not to this hotel, never. But Alastor better watch his back!"

Then a light went off in his head.  A little voice whispered something.  Not one of the outside voices.  It's Lucifer's little voice that says impossible things.  He's never been good at ignoring it.

"Is my daughter hiding something?" He voiced the thought. 

The shadow stiffened. 

Lucifer dropped the chain in shock.  Charlie?! She's- what- no she's..his baby girl? He's- No.

"You're lying." He denied it. "She wouldn't. Not to me."

He stood up, his eyes red with fury. He snapped his finger and the chain shortened, forcing the shadow to grovel at his feet. "How dare you do that to my daughter!"

His back itched, instincts screamed at him to let his wings out but he pushed them down. "This is your last chance. Tell me what's going on."

The shadow, despite being forced to kneel so low its chin scrapes the floor, stares at him head on with an icy glare.  Lucifer commends its stubbornness.

There's a sound just as Lucifer grew tired of the staring contest.  He wasn't listening well so he couldn't tell whether it was a gasp or a door squeaking.  Either way he turned to look but didn't see anything.

The shadow suddenly began to fight against its leash.

"Oh? Is there something you don't want me to see?" Lucifer taunted. 

The shadow is desperate now.  Kicking and pulling, even attempting to bite what little of the chain it could reach, it let out a high shrill, somewhat like an elk.

Lucifer is enticed by this.  With a wave of his hand, a muzzle that shined like the chain was snapped on its mouth so it didn't wake the residents of the hotel with its screaming.  He left it there as it continued to struggle like the animal it was.

He heads back to the lounge, no one is there but they can't be far away.  He almost had left to go look but he heard something under the table.

Gotcha.

He slowly reached the table and knelt down.  But just as he carefully ducked to see under, something collides with his nose.

He falls back and holds his nose in shock just as a red blur dashed across the room.

He sits there dumbfounded until he gets the idea of maybe he should follow that blur.

He goes back down the hallway because that's the direction he saw it go.  The sound of frantic panicking and the rattle of a chain reaches his ears.  Someone's trying to free the shadow.

Hands on his hips with the intention of confronting this person, he thinks he's got this.

He does not. 

What kneels on the ground, tugging on the muzzle with all his might, was a child.  In Hell.

The child's red hair and small antlers remind him of someone. 

The shadow noticed Lucifer and shook the child off of it and tugged and thrashed against the chain once more.  The child jumped and took several steps back until their back collided with Lucifer's knees.

They froze, Lucifer felt their heartbeat quicken as they slowly looked up.

Now Lucifer knows who the kid reminds him off with his sharp red eyes.

A perfect, small sized carbon copy of Alastor looks back at him.  The child's eyes widen and he flinched back and hissed.

"Woah!" Lucifer back away.  How in fuck did this happen??!!

Alastor can multiply!?

FUCK! 

Of all the assholes!?

What Lucifer thought was tufts turned out to be ears as they laid flat on the kid's head.  Lucifer takes a step towards the kid only for him to hiss and snap his sharp teeth.

Family resemblance is uncanny.

Lucifer reachs for the child, so confused on how Alastor, a sinner, managed to reproduce.  The kid ducks and dashed for the hallway.  Lucifer chased after him.  The kid stopped at the lounge table and Lucifer thinks he caught up with him only to be met with a hard object hitting his face.

He recoiled back.  Is it national hit the Devil day or something?

The mini Alastor had whacked him with one of the books that sat on the table.  One of Charlie's bookmarks fell out.  The title was written in old Latin and its cover was worn.  Lucifer recognized that book.  It's his book, as in he wrote it.  He wrote that as a journal or documentary in Charlie's childhood, he gave it to her if she ever had a child of her own one day.

If she-.. there's a kid here.. a sinner's... but Charlie isn't- after all, he has- 

His knees felt weak.  His eyes trailed to the other books with her bookmark.  "The Art of Babysitting." , "So Your Child Is A Cannibal.", "How To Be A Parent.", "How To Help A Damaged Child.", "Parenthood 101."

Oh please lord no.  Charlie didn't- not- With Alastor? Alastor?! 

Lucifer steps back in shock.  His knees feel really weak now and he reachs for something to grab onto for support but failed while his vision swirls.  He stared at the kid, still rigid while holding the book like a weapon.  His book.  The book he gave Charlie.  

It was hard to focus, his head swarming with a thousand questions and possibilities. Then his knees buckled and he hit the floor.  Everything went dark.