Chapter Text
It was Thursday. You were bored. So you decided to pay a little visit to Charlotte's up-and-coming hotel.
Was a part of you only doing this because you felt an itching, burning desire to see Alastor again? Maybe. You were getting a little impatient, feeling the desire to bathe yourself in his alluring, mysterious presence, his woody cologne, his red-eyed stare... Your next monthly torture session with him was soon, but you simply could not control yourself — once the day's duties were done, you shifted through space and time in a flash of glittering pink and gold light and wound up here.
You had not spoken much to Lucifer since your little argument. There was still a bit of tension there, one that would never quite go away until your little strange romantic issue was resolved (which, by the manner in which things were proceeding, seemed like never [you scowled at the thought at having to live the rest of eternity at Lucifer's side knowing you'd never have each other like you both so desperately wanted]), but it wasn't anything too unbearable. You flashed him small smiles when you passed by him in the halls, and he reciprocated. The things you had said to him and the things he had spat so viciously towards you tore at your being every waking moment, but you tried to ignore the entire squabble entirely — it was over with, now, and you had better things to put your attention towards.
Like being here, right now, standing in front of the glorious Hazbin Hotel — perhaps 'glorious' was a little generous. It wasn't very impressive, with cracks running down the exterior walls and the occasional pile of rubble falling down the sides when the tall, looming building would sway in the wind. It made your stomach churn for Charlie. How could she feel safe in such a poorly constructed building? You almost debated fixing it up for her, but perhaps that would be overstepping your boundaries.
After all, you never really saw her around much anymore since she began this endeavor. Resentment boiled in your core as you observed the raggedy hotel. Resentment towards what, you were not certain. It definitely wasn't towards Charlie — she could probably slaughter half of Hell and you'd still love her regardless. Maybe you felt a little hatred towards the fact that, irrevocably, time will fly whether you like it or not.
And that sentiment made you feel eerily old. I mean, you knew you were, but for that moment, you envisioned your youthful, angelic face sagging with age and decay, crow's feet and smile lines and all. It was revolting, to say the least, and you were grateful then that you were immune to human-like aging.
You tucked a strand of your hair behind your ear. You had your usual get-up on today, with a casual twist — an elegant white evening gown that reached your ankles with calf-high platform boots with pink, gold, and white heart and striped designs. You additionally sported a mature, regal corset that cinched your tiny waist in all the right places, with beautiful lacework and a circus-like striped pinkish-red and white design. As for your neck area, you kept it somewhat blank, to show off your prominent collarbones and smooth skin, aside from a gothic-style white and pink choker with a gorgeous, gold-rimmed pendant in the center. Of course, you wore matching white gloves that were attached to the dress, with a plethora of luxurious golden rings on your clawed fingers. Your hair, however, was fairly simple — it reached the base of your neck, brushing your skin, with styled curtain bangs that flared into bodacious hearts (think Queen of Hearts, but circus-themed and a pink/white).
Your outfit screamed royalty, and you could only pray it wasn't intimidating to Charlie. You could not care less about the other residents of the hotel, only that you do not make a bad impression for Charlotte's sake. She was your pride and joy, and for most your life, you had no desire for children until she came along — that's just how wonderful she was.
Your makeup was dark, sultry, and smokey, like it usually was, and somewhat clownish, for it was pale and you had those same two little heart-shaped pink blushes dusting your cheeks, near the sharp corners of your lips. Your eye makeup contrasted your glowing, hot-pink irises, mesmerizing to any Sinner brave enough to meet your gaze.
You took a deep inhale, and reached your knuckles up to the double doors of the hotel. You exhaled a stream of air from your lips as you knocked politely, but still loud enough as to where it was audible. You gave Charlie a short notice that you would be visiting her, but you didn't give her a whole lot of time to prepare, for your decision to visit her was sort of on a whim. You hoped she wasn't frazzled.
You waited a few seconds, but nobody came to the door. You furrowed your brows and leaned towards the door, hearing panicked, hushed whispers on the other side. Most of the voices were unfamiliar, but you did hear Charlie's the most among the mix. Poor thing. You smiled. She must be so nervous, since this is your first time ever seeing her hotel.
"Charlotte!" you called kindly, leaning back from the door. You were growing quite impatient. You huffed, waiting a few seconds and when the doors still did not open for you, you added: "Please, darling, don't worry about extravagancies! Just..." You sighed, bringing a hand up to knock again, and slowly lowering it. You didn't mean to make her so stressed, but you were quite flattered that from what you had gathered from the situation, she wanted to make everything just perfect for your first ever visit.
You perked up as the doors swung open. You plastered on a smile as light from inside of the hotel spilled out onto your tall, looming form. There was a plethora of blurred characters of all shapes, sizes, and attire standing behind her, but your attention was focused solely on Charlie.
You gasped in delight once you saw her, her eyes wide and full of glee, pearly white smile broad and fanged. She was in a red doorman's outfit, not quite complimentary to her royal status, but she looked pretty nonetheless. You embraced her tightly, burying your nose into her long, shiny blonde hair.
"Ah! Hello!" you said happily. "I've missed you, kid."
"Hi, [Y/N]," she giggles sheepishly. Her arms reach around your back to embrace you with equal enthusiasm. "It's great to see you too."
You pulled away and folded your arms under your bust, grinning contentedly and gently brushing aside Charlie to see two little lamb creatures, their coats different shades of red, and squeal happily, squatting down to pet them as they flap their tiny wings in glee, squeaking.
"Hello, Razzle, Dazzle!" you exclaimed, Razzle flying up to nuzzle your cheek, and Dazzle burying its face in your leg, squeaking excitedly. You put on a high-pitched voice in adoration of the little creatures. "How are you, my little devils?! Oh, Mommy missed you both so much!" You giggled as you scratched behind both their ears. Then, you perked up as you saw a black cat-like creature half-bouncing, half-floating towards you from behind a grand staircase.
You gasped, putting your hands together as KeeKee emerged from what seemed like nowhere. "KeeKee! Oh, hello!" You chortled joyously. "Oh, all of my little pets are all here! How great it is to see you, my babies!"
To put it simply, you had a soft spot for animals, more particularly, Razzle, Dazzle, and KeeKee. Lucifer gifted them to Charlie when she was merely a toddler, and although the little devils spent most of their time playing with her around the palace, they accompanied you everywhere else. Razzle and Dazzle were almost always by your side when you were reading or studying, and you would even tell them bedtime stories when it was time for bed. KeeKee, however, was your personal favorite, for she could appreciate your more twisted side — she liked to sit with you in the dungeons, sleeping peacefully as if nothing was happening at all, as you maimed and tore apart Sinners.
You sighed in satisfaction, standing up and dusting off your dress. You intertwined your fingers and decided to finally look around, your smile slowly fading as you observed your surroundings.
The interior had high-walls with a grand, red-carpeted staircase in the center of it all, with faded, torn red patterned wallpaper with damaged wooden trim, arched entryways to other rooms, and a bar in the corner that made the place look like some sort of brothel or man cave. It severely contrasted the red-theme of the hotel, with its neon-green hues and a plethora of different options of alcoholic beverages placed haphazardly on shelves behind the counter, surrounded by an orange glow. It also has strange animalistic skull designs as decor, and three barstools, one with a broken wooden leg. On one of these barstools lounged a pink and white spider-like creature wearing a striped top, bow tie, tight black shorts, and knee-high ebony boots. He had four arms with individual pairs of gloves adorning them, fluffy, gorgeous hair that you envied, and half-lidded eyes with different colored sclera. You narrowed your eyes, was he drunk? He stared at you blankly.
"Sooooo," Charlie said, standing in front of your and blocking your view of the spider-demon, grinning nervously with her hands behind her back. Joining her was a Sinner with long white hair with a dramatic red bow, an eyepatch with an enormous red 'X,' a simple red and black outfit, tanned gray-purple skin, and an angelic spear in her left hand. "Whadduya think?"
You paused, everything else melting around you as you stared at the girl beside Charlotte. Your lips parted as you brought a finger up slowly to point at her in disbelief. Could it be...?
Charlie's brows furrowed, noticing the odd exchange as the one-eyed girl looked back at you in bewilderment, her once shy, awkward, and somewhat concerned countenance transforming into one of confusion. You recognized her, well, not her specifically, but her type.
"Hm," you hummed, curiously grabbing the girl by her shoulders and turning her around abruptly. She yelped, her face flushing as your eyes scanned up and down her back, and then you flipped her back around looking above her head.
Maybe not.
"Uhm, [Y/N]..?" Charlie said, gently grabbing the girl once you were finished looking at her. She placed one hand on her shoulder and rested the other on her hip. "Is something wrong?"
You weren't sure if... You had to confirm it.
You leaned forward, putting your nose to the girls purple-grayish skin of her neck, and inhaling briefly. She tensed, and you could feel her body temperature rising, making the scent of her blood even more prominent.
That smell... You furrowed your brows as you backed away, the disheveled girl staring at you in both awe and discomfort. Angelic blood.
You looked at Charlie with an unreadable expression. Did she know that this girl was an angel? Even... You scrutinized the angelic spear, the 'X' over her eye... An Exorcist? Maybe she did. Maybe she didn't. It wasn't your business. You looked at the frightened young girl again. She seemed nice enough. Best not to comment on it.
"...Do you know each other?" Charlie asked in confusion.
You smiled kindly, tilting your head and patting the moth-like girl once on the shoulder. "No, child, simply making sure your girlfriend is worthy enough to be dating the Princess of Hell!" You slid your hand off the girl's shoulder, and she shivered, unsure of what to think. You stared at your gloved nails casually, playing off your little experiment with expertise. "She seems kind enough..."
Charlie flushed in surprise, jumping. "H...How did you know-?!"
You smiled, simply darting your eyes between Charlie and her hand resting on her girlfriend's hip. Charlie blushed more intensely and, embarrassed from the public display of affection, dropped her hands and folding them together awkwardly in front of her midsection.
"She's lovely," you smiled, sharing a knowing glance with the girlfriend, who seemed to slowly to be catching on as to why you had just treated her so strangely. She had a pleading look in her eye, and, like the master people-reader you were, understood immediately that Charlie did not know she was once an Exorcist Angel... Charlie must have taken her in at some point. What warranted this girl to be cast out of Heaven, you wondered? So much so that she had no wings, no halo, and even a missing eye...? She must have done something quite honorable. You liked her already. "What's your name, kid?"
"Vaggie," she said, lifting her chin to put on a display of confidence. She stuck her hand out, and relaxed a bit once she realized you weren't going to spill out her secret. "M-Ma'am."
"Ah!" you said, waving your hand in a flourish and then grasping Vaggie's hand to shake it. "Please don't call me that. It makes me feel old."
Vaggie dropped her hand and smiled, trying again: "Y-Your.. Majesty?"
"That's ol' Luci, dear," you chuckled.
Charlie whispered hurriedly in Vaggie's ear, who had blushed from her misstep, and then she nodded, meeting your gaze again with more confidence. She chuckled awkwardly.
"...Your Grace?" Vaggie said.
You laughed, brining your hand to your lips. "Oh, kid..." You leaned down to her level, and her eyes widened nervously. You cusped one hand around your mouth to whisper to her. "For you, [Y/N] will do. Take it with pride — I don't like when people call me by my name, but you're lucky I like you."
"Y-Yes, Your Grace," Vaggie nodded rapidly, beaming with pride at your little comment, but too afraid to try out your name in front of everyone else. You smiled and winked at her and instead faced Charlotte.
"...I think the hotel is a great start," you answered Charlie finally, and her eyes sparkled.
"Oh, really?!" she exclaimed giddily, grabbing your hands and jumping up and down. "Oh, [Y/N], that's so great to hear! It'll look better with time as Alastor and I make plans for improvements, and all, but right now we're just trying to get more patrons! So heading that is just.. wow!" She squealed.
You exhaled in content. You missed her little rants like that. It was like a breath of fresh air to hear her ramble about something so enthusiastically again.
"Well," you offered, sweeping your hand as a gesture. "Introduce me to your other residents, kid!"
"Ooh! Okay," Charlie said, and in a flash, she darted over to the bar where the spider-demon sat with a drink in his hand. You took a few strides over to meet her in the middle, looking over the bar again. This time, now that you were closer, you saw a humanoid, cat-like, gruff-looking bartender behind the bar, cleaning an empty glass with a rag. He wore a constant frown, and met your gaze with raised, furry eyebrows. "This is Husker! Our gracious bartender! He mans the bar and sort of acts as our concierge. He. is. awesome!" Charlie grins.
"It's nice to meet you," Husker huffs, nodding once at you and then turning back around to continue cleaning glasses. You raised a brow. Not much of a talker, huh?
"This is Angel Dust, our first ever patron!" Charlie practically squeals, moving over to Angel and placing her hands on his shoulders. You noticed that she was now moving around in a sort of excited bounce, now that you had asked to be formally introduced to the people of her hotel. "He is making—" she waved her hand dramatically, rolling her eyes to the ceiling, "—fantastic progress! We've done exercises, group bonding sessions, and more, and he's already doing much, much better! We're so proud of him!"
"Hiya, toots," Angel grins, placing his glass on the table and standing. He was taller than you by over a foot, and, gosh, were his legs fucking long. He was sultry, seductive, cute, and flirty, and you liked it. "It's a pleasure to meet the Duchess of Hell of all fuckin' things. Didn't expect ya to be here. 'Bout shit my pants when ya came through that door." He stuck out a hand for you to shake, and you smiled and took it. "It's crazy that I heard stories about ya in Sunday school as a kid and how awful ya were, but really, you don't seem that bad!"
"I'll take that as a compliment," you cooed, winking at the taller Demon. "I am curious, though, what kind of shit do they say about me in the human realm...?"
"Oh, only how your blind loyalty got ya damned for all eternity," Angel grinned. "And how you pretty much created the Sin of Lust. They don't give ol' Ozzie a whole lotta credit up there."
"Ooh, you're funny," you mused, delighted by Angel's persona.
"Ooh, ooh, ooh!" chimed an unfamiliar feminine voice, and you broke eye contact with Angel to search for the source, only to find a little Demoness latching herself on your leg. "A bad girl! The baddest girl ever!"
"And who is this..?" you smiled curiously.
"Oh! This is Niffty!" Charlie introduced, leaning over and gesturing to the Demon. "Alastor brought her. She's our maid! She keeps the place squeaky clean! Don't ya, Niff?"
"Mhm, mhm!" Niffty nods quickly, squealing as she darts around you, gently tugging at your dress. "Ooh, ooh! What a pretty dress! And it's so clean! Is this satin? Silk?! I can't tell the difference sometimes.." she shakes her head.
"Silk," you answered her simply, enjoying her chaos.
"Ooo, fancy!" she hops up and down, closing her fists tightly together as she flashes a grin full of rows of razor-sharp teeth.
Then, Niffty opens her mouth wide around your neck as if trying to chomp into your dress, and Angel plucks her off the ground immediately, glaring at her. Charlie steps forward, clasping her hands together and looking at you apologetically.
"She's harmless!" she reassures nervously. "...Mostly."
"A-hem.." someone clears their throat, and you look over to see a tall snake demon with a enlarged ebony and yellow steampunk hat, with on-theme attire of the same hues, slit eyes, and pitch-black skin.
"Oh, I'm sorry!" Charlie squeals, whooshing over to join the snake demon at his side, throwing out jazz hands. "This is Sir Pentious! Our... second patron! He has also made great progress!"
"Hello, Sir Pentious," you greet, your gaze leaving Angel's glaring face and instead looking towards the newcomer, walking over to him and nodding. "How are you?"
"Jusssssst fine, Your Graccccceee," Sir Pentious says kindly, bowing before you and grabbing your hand, brining your knuckles to his lips. Charmed, yet off-put by his appearance, you chuckle awkwardly. "It'sssssssss a pleasssssure to meet you, gorgeousssssss."
Charlie laughs uncomfortably, looking over to you and tugging on her bow tie. "He's not usually this—"
"Bold?" you finished for her, smiling and raising your brows. Your hand drops from Sir Pentious' grasp and rests on your hip. "Oh, it's fine, kid. I can appreciate a Demon with a little bit of confidence."
"Oh, thank you, thank you..." Sir Pentious says appreciatively, throwing his arm underneath himself and bowing dramatically, closing his eyes and smiling. "I'm sssssssssssso honored."
"Anytime," you said, amused.
Sir Pentious backs away and Charlie takes his place, grabbing your hands and meeting your eyes. Her gaze was full of hope and the more you searched into her stare, the glittering desire for approval. In that brief moment, you wondered if Lilith knew anything about the hotel, or had even bothered to contact Charlie at all. What would she say about it...? you wondered. It was clear that Charlotte desperately needed help, by the state of the place, and you knew Lucifer had done nothing to step in quite yet, much less Lilith. She needed a mother's approval, and right now, you were all she had. You'd always thought you acted more like her mother than Lilith ever did, anyway.
"So, that's everyone," Charlotte said. She tilted your head. "Was it everything you dreamed...?" She grinned, wincing a bit.
"And more, kid," you replied softly. The hotel looked a hot mess, on the inside and outside, to put it plainly, but it wasn't so bad. And for Charlie to already have so many residents considering the fact that you were in Hell of all places (with the shittiest, most evil people to ever exist here) was an impressive feat. You were proud of her. "...It's... great, really."
"You think so?" she said brightly. She tightened her grip on your hands, and Angel, Niffty, Sir Pentious, and Vaggie all came in closer around her, all staring you down with curious expressions. You felt the pressure of their stares, but you did not retract into yourself. "I mean, if we could just get Heaven to listen to us... to me-! I mean, this could be something great! I'm just..." her eyes watered, her yellow sclera glossing over, and she straightened her posture as her voice lowered, "...really glad you approve, [Y/N].. It.. It means a lot, coming from you."
You shook your head. "Charlotte..." you looked at your shoes and then glanced up and met her big, sparkly eyes, you chewed on your bottom lip, your heart swelling, "I-... Heaven's a tough crowd, kid. Take it from me of all people." Charlie looked dejected for a moment, but you held your hand up. "But if anyone can change their mind about redemption, it's you-"
She cut you off before you could say anymore, dashing forward and embracing you in another tight hug. She sighed into your hair. You stiffened, and then relaxed into the hug, bringing your arms up to return the embrace. She was slightly shorter than you, so you were able to bury your face into her scalp and softly inhale her scent... apples, like her father. Your heart ached.
You could feel the pressure of the other Demons' gazes upon the two of you like four walls closing in on you, and you were fearful to appear vulnerable in front of your people. You were like that, always putting walls up, afraid of people knowing who you really are on the inside... Lucifer was the only person who somewhat knew the real you, and even then, you felt like there was something blocking you from completely opening up to him.
But Charlie needed you, now more than ever since Lilith's absence, and you had to be here for her, because apart from Lucifer, she meant the most to you compared to anyone else in the universe. You would burn the world down to the ground to see her smile, and if that meant supporting her silly dream, you would do just that.
"Thank you, [Y/N]," Charlie whispered into your neck, and you slumped. You wondered what it would feel like if she called you "Mom."
"Anytime, kid."