Chapter Text
As fun as the prospect of having a front row seat to the inevitable failures that would fill the hotel was, he found himself increasingly more worked. Now Alastor found no qualms with hard work, but currently he was constantly swamped, which was draining his mentality. He could see it clear as day, after last day’s incident involving the forgettable serpent. Normally there wouldn’t be anything left of the demons who had the audacity to cross him, but alas, his opponent had survived. Not to mention that the attack itself, which normally wouldn’t have cost him anything, felt inexplicably tiring. So he could conclude that the hotel had been causing him fatigue, the burn out kind, which would not pan out well for him if any of his adversaries realized this.
Currently Alastor was humming along a catchy jazz tune while swirling his microphone absentmindedly. The radio static that accompanied his voice buzzed a few times at certain parts of his humming, offering the whole action an ominous vibe. One that did not go unnoticed by the other residents, as they practically avoided him like the plague, which in all was quite amusing. What wasn’t quite as amusing was the debilitating headache he was having. Which made the hallways at the hotel feel longer than they should, and the decorations more tackier than they actually were.
A hotel resident, an ant demon of some sort Alastor concluded, froze to his spot at the sight of Alastor. As Alastor was feeling extra cruel, he gave the petrified demon a malicious ear to ear grin, and to Alastor’s delight the demon passed out from the sight alone. He chuckled darkly, seeing as he was the only one left at that particular hallway anymore. Until another demon opened their door, and was clearly calling someone with one of those handheld picture shows, even though the screen was facing him? He wasn’t an expert on these things, so what would he know? He did know that he’d seen this particular demon quite a lot these past few days, she’d taken a picture of his fight with the annoying serpent demon. Demons these days...he mused.
Truthfully, he had left to go tell Charlie his morning report on the current residents check ins. He really wanted to get this over with quickly, and he would’ve used magic to speed his trek to her office, if he wasn’t sure that the use of magic would increase his headache. That meant he had to stick to walking, it was only down this hallway anyway. The apple’s on the wallpaper seemed to be taunting him, as they seemingly kept moving out of line, until he would give them a closer look. He glanced around him, and it appeared that the demon from before was heading the same direction, he found it interesting on how they seemed to hold no fear for him.
Alastor stopped right in front of Charlie’s door, and elected to knock, instead of just barging in as he tended to do sometimes. Luckily he only had to wait a few moments before Charlie swung the door open, an excited grin on her face. He found her enthusiasm endearing, compared to all the other frown prone demons in hell.
“Soooo, how did it go?” She practically bounced with excitement, to which he had no idea what caused her extreme excitement this time.
“Quite fine my dear.” He responded casually, grin not wavering despite the pounding inside his skull. “I have brought the documents.”
“Perfect!” She held out her hands, and Alastor supplied her with the aforementioned documents.
“Now I’m afraid I must be going.” He was about to clarify before clutching his head as an intense pain hit him. His ears rear back from the pain, and he puts a hand to the wall to steady himself for the moment.
“What’s wrong Al?” She asked incredibly worried.
“Just a headache, it will pass.” He assures her, as he fixes his composure to his cheery self, as if nothing had ever happened.
“Oh. Well you can take the rest of the day off then.” She ensures him with a smile. “And there’s this really good medicine shop close to the hotel. The medicine sold there is really useful, I’d suggest going there if it’s really bad.” She says before excusing herself back to her office to do some work.
He rubs his chin thinking, he really did want to alleviate the symptoms, it’s been awhile since he’s felt this vulnerable. With a shrug he proceeds to head for the main entrance and exit of the former Happy Hotel, current Hazbin Hotel.
In his haste he missed the piercing eyes of the demon just behind the door, who had been listening. She pulls up her contact list, stopping at the one with a TV-emoji as it’s identifier. She dials it, waiting for the response.
“This better be good.” Is the greeting she gets.
“Awww, don’t be so cold Voxxy〜!” She chuckles at the deep sigh from the other end. “I am doing you a favor after all!”
“I assume you have something?”
“Always to the point with you.” She pouts. “But I think you’ll like this.” She switches to a grin while twirling her hair.
“Mhmm, and what would that be?” The voice sounds intrigued now.
“Your darling deer appears to be under the weather.” She can practically feel the interest from the other side. “And what’s more, he’s leaving the hotel on his own to the pharmacy down the street.”
--
Vox ends the call at that, a smirk on his face, things couldn’t be more perfect. He really would owe Velvet for this, but for now that didn’t bother his rather short temper. He would have to hurry to intersect Al before he made it back to the hotel, after all, he wouldn’t want to invoke the wrath of Lucifer’s daughter if he didn’t have to.
“What’s got you so excited?” Valentino sends Vox a predatory grin from behind his heart shaped glasses.
“Let’s just say it’s deer season.” Vox matches Valentino’s expression, as he lifts himself from the couch opposite to Valnetino, and his personal whore.
“Oh, is it now〜?” Valentino chuckles silently eyes narrowing. “Good hunting to you then, and do keep me updated, partner.”
“Whatever you say Val.” Vox responds dismissively before leaving the room to Valentino and his whores. He feels more giddy then he has in awhile, after all, this was a once in a lifetime opportunity for him, one he had waited for.
--
Alastor looked at the assortment of medicines, all of them worked via injection, which did not exactly offer him any comfort. He supposed injections were the only way to get medicine to add to the punishment that is hell, this was hell after all, minor comforts did not exist here.
He grabbed the one that would work for his headache predicament, wanting to just return back to the hotel and sleep. That day off was starting to sound nice to him, maybe he’d eat that demon from last week.
As he opens the door of the pharmacy he takes a moment to breathe in the awful air before beginning his trek back to the Hazbin Hotel. His headache only seems to have amplified along his journey, and honestly, he swore nothing else could go more wrong--
“Long time no see Al.” A slightly mechanical and familiar voice says from behind him. Alastor doesn’t turn around. This timing, there’s no way he could be this unlucky. He couldn’t panic, he just had to somehow scare off the other, before his vulnerability was discovered.
“Vox, what a terrible surprise.” Alastor grins, voice filled with contempt, as he turns to face the TV-demon. “What brings you here?”
“Why, I want a rematch.” Vox gestures to Alastor dramatically. Vox’s screen is filled with a victorious smirk, one that even unsettles Alastor slightly, not that he’d ever show it.
Vox’s own aura had increased in intensity, sending off signals that messed with Alastor’s own radio signals. This only served to worsen the growing headache. Vox had a weird effect on other demons who didn’t have the power to protect themselves. It’s almost as if his signals weakened the minds of those affected by it. He was told it was like a TV left on too loud, frustrating, distracting, mind numbing, except in one’s own mind. This was the first time he felt the effects of it himself, not too strongly yet, but it served as a reminder of his handicapped state. He’d once seen Vox use it to cause an entire room of lesser demons to pass out in mere seconds, he’d scoffed at it then, now...
“I’m quite busy actually.” Alastor said, as his radio voice sounded slightly distorted, until it completely disappeared at the last word, showcasing his real voice. How could the reverse TV-signals be affecting him so much? Worst of all, it seems Vox noticed as well, if the widening of his smile is anything to go by.
“I’ve never seen that happen to you before.” Vox laughs at Alastor’s expense. “Could something be the matter with you?” Vox walks closer, increasing those signals of his. It was clear to Alastor now that this was no mere coincidence, he’d have to resolve this quickly.
He summoned his microphone, he’d need it now to keep his voice steady. His alternate form would not listen to him and so he proceeded to call for his eldritch based magic instead, but as soon as he did, another explosive wave of pain flooded him, but at least he got something going to keep Vox busy for a second or two. Vox did not take much effort to avoid the attack.
Alastor heavily slanted on top of his microphone, hand desperately clutching at his head, it hurt, hurt so much--No! he had to keep going, losing was no option. He lifts his gaze from the floor, eyes unfocused, still heavily leaning on the microphone stand.
“You look worse for wear Al, just looking at you is hurting me.” Vox kept his approach steady, a malicious expression occupying his screen. Alastor did not trust his voice at the moment, and so he settled for narrowing his eyes at Vox, eyes still hazy. Alastor called for more of his powers, but received nothing more than another wave of blinding pain. This time the pain was too much for him, and he collapsed onto his knees, hand once again holding his head for dear life. His vision was blinded by white for a few moments, before returning to the haziness. His ears twitched at the pounding inside his head.
“This is just too good.” It took a few seconds for it to register that Vox had just spoken to him and even longer that the demon was crouched right in front of him. Vox reached with his fingers to lift Alastor’s chin so they could maintain eye contact. Alastor immediately cringed at the contact, arm snapping to roughly grab Vox’s wrist.
“Don’t touch me.” His voice sounded raw, unpolished and distressed. Vox broke the grip Alastor had on his wrist quite easily.
“You’re hardly in any state to be making any demands.” Vox mused, while drinking in the vulnerable state of Alastor, The Radio Demon of all demons! Now all Vox needed to do was loosen up Alastor’s mind a bit, although with the lack of protection against his signals it wouldn’t be too long.
Alastor felt something, something painful hammering against his already aching head. It caused an odd sensation of numbness to wash over him. He paid no attention to Vox, who was watching him intently, a patient grin adorning his features. Whatever the outside force was, it was doing a number on him, his ears fully reared back again, despite him trying to keep them still. Vox found the action absolutely endearing, and watched the twitchy movements with great fondness, it wouldn't be too much longer Vox told himself. A fogginess had settled into Alastor’s mind--where was he again?--he shook his head, and groaned in protest at the action, hand practically ripping his hair out.
“Just give up Al, this’ll be a lot easier on both of us this way.” Vox said surprisingly softy, and then with both hands cupped Alastor’s lower back, pulling the deer demon into an embrace. Alastor barely noticed the sudden and normally intrusive contact, his mind felt broken into and damaged. The pain was slowly disappearing and turning into a blissful silence. Vox leaned Alastor’s head against his chest, after noticing most of the tension leave Alastor’s face.
“There we go, that wasn’t so hard was it?” Vox said quietly fingers tracing against the deer demon’s cheeks. Alastor closed his eyes, and with one last ear twitch, allowed himself to be enveloped by the darkness. The minute Vox noticed that Alastor had finally passed out, he pulled out his phone to text the groupchat he shared with Val and Velvet.
Vox: I got him!
Velvet: oooo〜! Picture or it didn’t happen!
Valentino: It’s good to see you had a successful caper, will we be seeing any of the infamous Radio Demon ourselves?
Vox: Oh no, I’ve seen what happens to demons under your care Val.
Velvet: Picture! Picture!
Vox: How about no.
Velvet: Voxxy :(
Vox closed the phone at that, and turned his attention back to Alastor, he couldn’t help but feel his heart lighten up at the sereness that was the deer demon’s sleeping expression. It was nice seeing an expression beyond disgust and annoyance from him. The flop of Alastor’s ears brought his attention to them, and he couldn’t help but be curious. He removed his glove and reached for the fluffiness that was Alastor’s ears and was not disappointed, they were very fluffy. After, finishing with the touching of the ears, he affirmed that Alastor did indeed also have a tail, it was also very fluffy, and then felt he was ready to take the deer demon back with him.
So getting ready to leave, he put his hand under Alastor’s legs and upper back, and hoisted himself up, carrying the other bridal style. He started heading back to his lodgings with a satisfied expression, Alastor in toe, willing or not. Leaving in his wake a few boggled demons and a devastated Angel Dust, who had been watching, knowing he had no chance to do anything.
Vox would erase him without so much as breaking a sweat. It took him a few minutes for his mind to catch up, before he went into full blown panic. Alastor had just practically had his ass handed back to him. What the--more like how the hell did that just happen?! Angel had to call Charlie and fast.
Angel pulled out his phone in record time, only to get a No Signal pop up to his phone. Although it disappeared after a bit, and he felt relieved until he saw he had just received a message from his boss.
Val: Angel Cakes, I’m going to need you to keep that troublesome mouth of yours shut, you got that Baby?
Angel felt himself blanch at the sight, but then again, he didn’t know Alastor that well...It wouldn’t matter that much, would it?
From above the dejected Angel Dust, Velvet swung her legs in a cheery manner, eyes glued to the text correspondence with Val. This operation had gone off without a hitch, another rival crossed off the list.