Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Charlie looked around the new lobby with affection. They had a victory party. It wasn't too long since everyone was tired from the fight and rebuilding. Angel and Cherry Bomb slept on one of the couched, limbs entangled. On another Niffy slept leaning over Husk. His wing covered her like a blanket. Vaggie had passed out on an armchair. She couldn't see Alastor. Now that she thought about it she hadn't seen Alastor in a while. He had been there at the start of the party but he had vanished somewhere in the middle.

She walked to his room. She knocked. No answer. She hesitated. She didn't want to intrude on his privacy. Then she thought of Adam. Alastor was supposed to take care of him. If he didn't then he was probably injured.
She knocked again.
"I'm coming in if you don't answer!" She warned. "I'm serious, Alastor!"
She took a steadying breath and opened the door.

The room was dark. It was similar to his old one. Minus the swamp. At least she hoped he hadn’t managed to make one a part of his room yet. She saw a bundle of fabric on the bed. It was the right size to be the deer demon. Or a random demon’s corpse. She walked to the other side of the bed. Red hair, antlers. It was definitely Alastor. He was curled up on his side.

"Al?" Nothing. She tiptoed closer. He was asleep. His breath came a bit fast and shallow. His face was twisted in a frown instead of its usual smile. Something was definitely wrong.
"Alastor?" She asked louder. He twitched. It startled Charlie. She took a step back. He lifted himself on his elbows. He blinked at her. His usual smile in place.
"Charlie?" He sounded dazed.
"Hi, it’s me.” She grinned. “Are you alright?" She writhed her hands. He blinked again. His ears straightened. Then he sat up.
"Of course, there's nothing to worry about little ol' me!" He exclaimed with an attempt at his usual enthusiasm.

"Okay, if you say so." His posture was too stiff. His hair stuck to his forehead in wet strands. His creepy, shiny eyes should be brighter.
“You don’t look too good. You look terrible actually.”
His ears twitched slightly back, his eyes narrowed.
“I’m a tad tired. Used a lot of power today.”
He was usually a better liar than that. She added it to the ‘worrying things about Alastor list’.
“Are you suuure you’re alright?” She tried again.
He sighed. “I’m actually exhausted, so I would be grateful if you left me to rest in peace.”
Ouch.
She hung her head and headed to the door. Then Adam slashing the hotel in half appeared in her mind's eye. She turned back.
"But I can't help but think you aren’t alright. You wouldn't let Adam get away if you could help it and I know you or I like to at least think that I know you a little and you wouldn't let him go if you weren't injured enough to think that your life was in danger and I fought him and he did hit hard and you did make a shield so you must have used a lot of power even before fighting him-" She stopped when she realized she was rambling.
"I just want you to know that I'm worried about you and it's okay if you're not okay and that I wouldn't think anything less of you if you weren't."
Alastor just stared at her. His smile had turned more forceful somewhere along her rant. His ears laid back. His hand squeezed his waist lightly. Weakness was dangerous in hell.
"You know I wouldn't hurt you, right?" She asked.
That snapped him out of his stupor. "Of course!"
"So, will you be honest with me?"
Sheets twisted in his grip. "I-" He swallowed. "I may have came out of this fight a little worse for wear. But it's nothing I can't handle!"
Well, that was more than she expected.
"Can I see?"
His ears twitched back, body stiffening.
"Maybe I could call” Who would Alastor let take a look at his wounds? Veggie is a big no. Angel is also a no. Husk - maybe? Someone he trusts. “Niffty?"
He loosened a bit. He looked at the hand squeezing his waist. His smile twitched.
"Maybe that would be a good idea." He admitted.
She wants to see. To confirm with her own eyes that his hand was stained with blood. That would definitely be past his boundaries. She was afraid that he wouldn't let anyone in if she crossed them.
"Okay, I'm gonna' get her. Be back in a sec!" She rushed to the door.
She found Niffy curled over Husk's tail. She was quite an active sleeper.
"Niffty, dear, wake up." She whispered as she shook her shoulder. Niffty sat up, yawned and rubbed her eye.
"Do I need to clean something?" She asked sleepily.
"No, but I need your help. Come with me."
"Okay!" She exclaimed and jumped from the couch.
"What?" Husk's tired voice came from the other end of the couch..
"Nothing, you can go back to sleep." Charlie hated lying but she had a feeling that Alastor wouldn't like the cat demon to see him like this.
"I'm gonna' help Charlie!" Niffy exclaimed.
Charlie cringed.
"What's wrong?" He asked more awake.
Charlie sighed in defeat. "Come with me."
They followed her.
"So what's this about?" Husk asked.
"Alastor is injured."
"The fucker told you?"
"No, yes, more or less." She laughed awkwardly. "Wait, you knew!?"
Husk snorted. "Yeah, he's been off all evening."
"Oh" She bit her lip. "You didn't think to check on him?"
"Like he would let me."
"Ah, he wouldn't let me see so I asked If it was okay to bring Niffy."
"He agreed?" Husker frowned.
"I'm pretty sure he's still bleeding."
"It's been a good few hours since then."
"Exactly!" Charlie exclaimed in worry.
"I can sew him right up!" Niffty said excitedly with a needle already in hand. Her smile was very far from reassuring.
Charlie knocked on the door. "Alastor, it's me. I came with Niffty."
"Come in. Only Niffty." The swift reply bought her some relief.
The small demon entered and slammed the door behind her.
"I guess we wait."

Niffty looked around. There was blood on the carpet. She wiped it.
“Niffty.” Came Alasto’s exasperated voice.
The small demon climbed on the bed. She looked at him. “You look like a mess!” She exclaimed. “Good that I’m great at cleaning messes!”
Alastor laughed. It ended with a slight wheeze. The hand clutching his vest tightened. He undid his vest buttons without prompting. Then his shirt. Both came away wet. Niffty looked at the wound. Lights turned on.
"Thanks!" She said.
"Mhm."
"I will need to do a lot of stitches!"
"Good you have deft hands, darling."
"Yep. Lie down and don't move."
"Wouldn't dream of it." He did as instructed.
Niffty started. Stab, stab, pull, stab, stab, pull, wipe, stab, stab, pull, stab, stab, pull, stab, stab, pull, a hitch of static.
She checked her patient.
"Mm, go on." He was still smiling but he had his forearm over his eyes. His breath was ragged. Definitely in pain.
Whipe, stab, stab, pull, wipe, stab, stab, pull, stab, stab, pull, stab, stab.
The skin was hot beneath her hands.
Stab, stab, pull, stab, stab, pull, wipe, stab, stab, pull, stab, stab, pull, tie, cut, wipe, wipe.
"I'm done!" She exclaimed.
She looked over at the deer demon. No reaction. His lips parted slightly.
"Alastor?"
She shook his shoulder. She shook it more vigorously. A sharp sound. A snapped. "Stop that."
"You didn't answer."
"Must have fallen" a sigh "asleep."
"Mhm, look how neat I made the stitches!"
He lifted himself on his elbows. "Very neat, my dear."
"Now sit up. I need to wrap these."
He sat all the way up. Not without some more sharp sounds.
"Bandages?" She asked.
"Ah, right." They appeared on the bed in green smoke. He swayed to the side. She steadied him.
"Careful!"
"Mhm." He breathed for a moment before he straightened. "Let's get this over with."
She quickly got to tying his wound.
"Thank you, dear."
"No worries!"
He laid back down.
"You can go now."
"Take it easy! I don't want to clean more blood!"
"Yes, yes." He waved his hand. His voice already sounded half asleep.
She exited. And nearly ran into Charlie.
"How is he?!" She grabbed the little demon by the shoulders.
"Stitched up!" As if it explained everything.
"Uh…"
"How many stitches did you do?" Husk asked.
"Twenty seven!"
Charlie and Husker exchanged glances.
"You can come in if you want!"
"We can?" Charlie asked.
"He's dead to the world anyway!"
She skipped away. Charlie looked at the door conflicted. Husker briskly walked in. The radio demon was indeed unconscious. Husk took a look at his stained clothes. Sniffed them.
"Uh, Husk?"
"Demon blood. Definitely his." He explained.
He checked the bandage. Pulled them a bit. It seemed to satisfy him. He touched Al's forehead. Clicked his tongue.
"You've done this before." Charlie more stated than asked.
Husk looked at her.
"Yeah." He looked at Alastor. "Not the first time he bit off more than he could chew." He shrugged.
"How is he?"
"Lost a lot of blood, feverish. The stitches should help."
Charlie bit her lip.
"Come on, let's let him rest." Husk walked to the door.
"But-"
"You really don't need to worry about him. He's really hard to kill and believe me a lot have tried."

Chapter Text

Charlie stared at the clock. 9.23 it read. She sipped her tea. She waited for the distinctive sound of static, a quiet tap of his staff, the soft sound of jazz. She waited in vain. Alastor did not come down for breakfast. A part of Charlie expected him to show up as if nothing had happened. To appear out of the shadows and tell them it was all a joke. And she wasn't the only one. Husk munched on his food absentmindedly, as if he was on autopilot. His ears moved at every little sound. Niffty was cleaning the countertop for the eighth time. She was filled with her usual energy but it had an anxious edge to it.

"Sooo, is anyone going to share what got your panties in a twist?" Angel Dust asked.

Charlie froze. It turned out Alastor didn't mind Husk and Niffty knowing of his injury, or at least she hoped so, but she was sure he wouldn't want Angel to know. 

“Nothing.” Husk said.

“So yesterday we were all celebrating and today you're all gloomy without reason?”

“We're mourning Sir. Pentious death.”

“You didn't even like him!” Angel threw his hands up. “I thought we had something but now not only are you lying to me but being shit at it.” Angel pointed Husk in the chest.

Husk's ears flattened to his head.

“Come on, Charlie what's going on?” Angel asked.

Charlie hesitated. “I- I'm not sure-” she looked in her cup.

“Y'all are keeping secrets now?” Angel crossed his arms.

Husk sighed. "You can go see but if anyone asks you barged in yourself."

Angel eyed him suspiciously. "O-kay?"

“Husk?” Charlie asked.

"Come on, we're all waiting to check up on him anyway."

"Check up on who?"

Husk kept walking.

"Oi, check up on who!?" Angel trailed after him.

"Come on! I'm going with you so why still keep it a secret?" Angel whined.

They stopped in front of one particular door.

"Oh." 

Charlie knocked on the door. "Um, hi Al. We're here to check up on you. We will walk in if you don't mind."

The door opened. "I actually do mind."

Charlie jumped back with a yelp.

The radio demon looked better than yesterday but only a little. He was still pale, his hair ruffled from sleep, eyes still dull. He leaned on the doorframe.

"Wow, Smiles, you look like shit."

Alastor gave him the best unimpressed stare you can give someone while grinning from ear to ear. And closed the door. Or at least tried to since Husk had stopped it from closing completely.

"Don't be an idiot! Someone should take a look at you!" He growled.

"There's no such need!" The deer demon argued.

"The twenty seven stitches beg to differ!"

"T-twenty-" Angel choked out in shock.

"Twenty six!" Alastor corrected.

"What?"

"There are twenty six stitches!"

"How is that important!?"

"Surely you have better things to do! Like teaching Niffty to count!"

"I'm very good at counting!" Niffty bristled.

"You're really not, my dear."

"Are you really going to ignore that you're actually wrestling with Husk over the door instead of just slamming it in his face?" Angel commented.

"You're not helping!" Husk bristled.

"He's got a point." Charlie said.

The resistance suddenly vanished and Husk ended up sprawled over Alastor's carpet. Then the door slammed shut behind him. Husk groaned.

"You couldn't let me in like a normal demon?"

He was expecting a quip in return. When none came he flipped on his back. Alastor leaned on the wall next to the door. He was clutching at his vest. His breaths were measured. It seemed that he used whatever energy he had regained. 

"All that moving around wasn't a good idea, eh?"

Alastor glared at him. Husk got up.

"Come on, let me have a look."

Alsator’s ears flattened then they straightened. He let go of his vest. "It would be better to do that in the bathroom."

"You're still bleeding?” Husk frowned.

"I wasn't before someone decided to bring everyone here."

Like it was Husk's fault. He rolled his eyes.

Husk shrugged. "It's not like we could hide it from Angel."

Alastor had to grab the dresser for balance on their way to the bathroom. Husk wanted to steady him but sharp static grating on his ears was warning enough. The radio demon was banged up good but wounded animals are the most dangerous.

Alastor sat on the bathtub and started to undo his clothes. Husk noted that his hands shook a little. A barely noticeable shudder but nonetheless present. There was much less blood coloring the bandages than he expected.

"Did you change them?"

"Yes.”

"When?"

A pause. "It was still dark outside."

It had been a few hours ago then. He went to unwrap the bandages.

"I can do that myself." The radio demon said.

Alastor was still grinning, but his eyes were narrowed. That would normally be a treat. But his ears were flattened. He was in no touch mood. Did he have to make everything more difficult than it had to be?

Husk raised an eyebrow. "Go on then."

Alastor started to unwrap the bandages, got frustrated and just ripped them off. Which wasn't the best way to get rid of them but at least now the wound was visible. Blood welled at one edge of the slash but the stitches held. Husk was afraid they had ripped in all the commotion but they looked alright. He used a towel to wipe the blood. The skin along the wound was warm to the touch, swollen. His prodding resulted in a steady rise in static. His fur stood on end. 

"Calm down." He ordered.

"I am perfectly calm." 

Husk gave him an unimpressed look. Sweat had gathered at Alastor's temples. His smile was more a grit of the teeth than his usual grin. 

“You actually counted the stitches.” the cat demon commented.

“Hmm?” Alastor titled his head to the side. “Ah, yes, I did. Why so surprised?”

“Dunno. Though it's some bullshit to divert our attention.”

Husk reached for his forehead. He moved slowly. The last thing he needed was the red demon freaking out. The other's smile tightened but he made no move to stop him. The heat surprised Husk. He knew he was burning up but this was definitely worse than yesterday. 

"You need a bath."

"What?"

"We need to cool you down."

"No."

"What do you mean 'no'? You're literally boiling!"

"Isn't that supposed to burn out whatever causes this?" He motioned at his clearly festering injury.

"It may work on normal infection but I don't think it will help with holiness or whatever that shit is."

This was obvious. Alastor wasn't stupid even if his brain was a little scrambled from his temperature. So there must have been another reason for his reluctance. He already accepted help so what was keeping him from agreeing?

Ah.

"Let's do it like this - I will go, you take a cold bath and I will come in let's say half an hour to check up on you? I won't enter the bathroom without permission." 

That way he could check if Alastor needed some help getting out of the bathtub without him having to ask for it. It annoyed Husk that he had to do mental mathematics to get the red demon to do the simplest tasks. It felt like dealing with a child. A very dangerous, deranged child.

"That would be optimal."

"Though so. Don't wet the wound. See you in a while then." He exited without prompting.

He came face to face with Charlie. "How is he?!" She made a move to grab his shoulders but held back.

Husk made a so-so motion and grimaced. "The bleeding is fine but he's way too hot."

"Mmm" Angel hummed in a sultry tone.

"His brain is boiling." Husk snapped.

"Okay, okay, don't need to be so aggressive." 

Angel crossed his arms. "So, he's hurt bad?"

"Well, he definitely lost to Adam and ran with his tail between his legs."

"Husk!" Charlie scolded.

"What? That's the truth."

"You didn't have to put it like that. He got hurt protecting the hotel. "

"I'm not so sure about that." Husk muttered.

"What?"

"Nothing."

"I did nice stitches, right?!" Niffty asked.

"Very good. They held out nicely." Husk praised.

Niffty jumped in happiness. "Yay!"

"Did you do something about his fever?" Charlie asked.

"He's supposed to take a cold bath."

"Alone? What if he falls or passes out?" Charlie worried.

"Can you honestly imagine him letting anyone watch him having a bath?

I'm already shocked with how much he had allowed.”

Charlie looked conflicted but in the end agreed with his assessment. She would really like to help the deer demon but she couldn't do that by force.