Chapter Text
Azrael was getting used to being able to walk freely around the hotel without his disguise.
He could appear and sow a little chaos, and then effortlessly appear as ‘Alastor’ and make it worse, or smooth things over and get brownie points from Charlie for being so helpful. Husk and Angel Dust didn't know what to make of Azrael, and had no idea that he was anything other than an oddly indifferent Angel, who was sticking around for some unknown reason.
Needless to say, the entertainment value in the hotel was suddenly much higher since the Angel of Death checked in. Vaggie’s glare could melt steel, knowing what he was doing, and being powerless to say or do anything about it. Lucifer was more active in trying to cut down his fun, but Charlie, bleeding heart that she was, had taken to trying to ‘repair the relationship’ between the two of them. Which was hilarious, considering she was also trying to get Alastor and Lucifer to be friends at the same time. She was really trying to get her poor old father a friend , whoever that may be.
Overall, Azrael didn't have much reason to complain at the moment. A full week of duel identity with no issues was well spent. So he thought nothing of it when he saw Niffty skipping down the hallway, giving her a polite nod of acknowledgment as he went to step past her.
“Alastor!” Niffty greeted, all excited with a manic grin on her face, her eyes lighting up like he was just the person she'd been looking for “I need some more bones for my puppet show. Are you going hunting tonight?”
Azrael blinked, glanced down at his black military jacket and then over to the mirror in the hallway, just to confirm that, no, he was definitely not in his Radio Demon disguise right now. “Darling, I think you're a little confused?” He chuckled, tapping her head lightly with the blunt side of his cane.
“Huh? Oh! Are we playing a game?” She bounced on the spot like a child who'd been given too much sugar, giving a low creepy giggle. “Hehe I love games ?”
“It's not a game. I am not Alastor. Which I'm sure you already know. My name is Azrael, my dear.” Had Lucifer or Vaggie slipped up and revealed his secret? If so, he was going to have to take action quickly to make sure this news didn't spread too far…
“Well, yeah. That's who you pretend to be.” She rolled her eye with a frown, as if Alastor was the one making a joke, before suddenly looking as confused as Azrael felt.
“What a curious creature you are.” The Angel chuckled affectionately. This was why he liked her, and kept her close. She was a mystery onto herself. As much as Azrael had a fondness for her, even he couldn't work out how her twisted little mind worked. He doubted she understood it herself most of the time. “You think I'm pretending?”
He knelt down on one knee to be closer to her height, fascinated if she could have figured it out by herself. Yes she'd gotten it backwards, but no one else had even suspected him of being the same person. “Now, why would you think that? Did you hear that from someone? A certain fallen Angel prehapes?”
He suspected Lucifer over Vaggie of running their mouths. If it was the ex-exorcist, then Charlie would have already had a breakdown and came to him, screaming and crying. But he had no idea who Lucifer would have spoken to. He seemed frightened of the manic maid, probably rightly so given her relationship with sharp pointy objects, and her now being in possession of an Angelic blade. But the king of Hell wasn't particularly close to anyone but his daughter.
“No?.” Niffty shrugged, before getting distracted and attempting to reach for Azrael's glowing black halo, which made him very quickly pull back out of reach.
“Ah ah. Halos aren't safe for sinners to touch.” He chided with a genuine smile, much like he would to a curious child who didn't realise they were in danger.
Somehow, it seemed Niffty just instinctively saw through his dual identity, and assumed the one she was more familiar with was the original one. She didn't seem to realise that his Angelic attributes wouldn't be possible to fake.
“I'll tell you what. Let's make a deal shall we?” He grinned, leaning down to address her face to face, keeping his halo out of her reach just in case.
“Uhhh…” Her hesitation was unexpected, but at least showed that she wasn't clueless or as easily manipulated as people might assume.
“Not a binding one, I promise. Just a friendly agreement.” He clarified, his voice full of mirth and amusement at her reluctance to make an actual deal with him. “All I'm asking, is that we keep playing pretend. Looking like this you call me Azrael, and how I usually look to you is Alastor. And in return, I'll let you accompany me on a hunt tonight.”
“I can come with you?! ” Niffty gasped, singular eye impossibly wide and practically sparkling with excitement. She wasn't usually allowed to join him when ‘Alastor’ went after sinners. The few times she had tagged along were messy and unpredictable, but she seemed to thrive at being able to let loose the violence she usually reserved for bugs.
It was dangerous for all involved, and Azrael didn't like having to keep an eye out for her when she would suddenly disappear in the middle of a battle, or get carried away. But he could humour her for the assurance that she wouldn't out him. As ditzy as she was, he knew she was able to hide certain secrets very well.
“Just stay close, and mind you don't get caught in the crossfire.” He laughed, cocking his head to the side as his visage glitched and changed. Horns reshaped into fluffy tufts of ears, his halo sank and morphed into small antlers. Black and gold eyes shifted into the blood red stare of the demonic Deer, while his grin widened even more. “I'll take that as a deal well made.” His voice flickered with static, until it was once again the transatlantic crackle of an old Radio Host. “Now then, Niffty Dear. Let's go and have some fun .”