Chapter Text
"Happy Valentine's Day, Alastor!" Charlie beams up at the radio demon, holding out a card to him. He stares blankly at her.
"Happy what now?"
"Oh... you know, the holiday celebrating love and relationships and stuff! I thought it would be nice to celebrate it here! It's technically a Heaven holiday, but I thought it would be better to have a good faith holiday instead of..." She twirls her hand in a vague motion. "The other holidays Hell celebrates."
Angel Dust pipes up from the couch where he's laying, a card of his own in one of his four hands.
"S'no wonder he's never heard of it, Charlie. Don't think the guy's ever been in a relationship!" He cackles to himself, and Alastor narrows his eyes.
"Why, I'm quite flattered Charlotte!" he exclaims, plucking the card from her hands. He opens it, revealing a childish drawing of the two of them holding hands, a rainbow over their heads. His smile twitches. How sweet.
He tucks it into his jacket pocket, before spotting Vaggie coming downstairs. He waits for her to stop next to Charlie before addressing the two of them.
"May I assume you two will be spending the day together?"
Vaggie shuffles her feet, suddenly looking uncomfortable.
"Uh... no, not really. Got a lot of stuff to do and... yeah," she trails off. She smiles sheepishly at Charlie, giving her a quick peck on the cheek before darting off. Charlie's eyes follow her, noticeably sadder.
"She doesn't like Valentine's Day for whatever reason. Got all freaked out when I said we should do something for it," she explains. Alastor nods. He can certainly guess her reasoning. A Heavenly holiday... she probably doesn't want the reminder of her past. Still, abandoning her partner on a day of love? Why, that's just heartless.
"Hm..." Alastor hums, examining Charlie's forlorn, puppy-dog expression. An idea springs to mind. His smile spreads as he moves beside Charlie. "Now, now, don't frown, dear! If your beloved has left you, why not spend the day with me?"
Charlie looks up at him, sputtering.
"A-Al, I'm flattered but-"
"Oh, not a real date! But wouldn't you rather have some..." he trails his finger down the side of her cheek, curling a piece of hair around it, before letting it spring back to normal. "Company today?" He watches with amusement as she swallows hard, her throat bobbing.
She clasps her hands together. Angel Dust is blessedly silent, which is a smart move, considering Alastor would have to push him into the nearest fireplace should he protest and ruin this. He can't forego any opportunity for him and Charlie to bond afterall.
She looks up at him, and her sweet, sweet innocent, trusting eyes, make him soften just a bit.
"Okay... thank you, Alastor."
And then she's smiling, and though his grin is permanent, he gives a real smile right back at her.
"Let us set out then, hm?" He offers his arm, and Charlie links hers in his. He catches a glimpse of Angel Dust as they make their way out, who puts his fingers to his eyes, then gestures to him. He shifts closer to Charlie. "Goodbye for now!" He waves, and the doors shut behind them.
Charlie is a bundle of energy as they make their way into town. It's almost adorable how much she's overcompensating.
"So, where do you wanna go? We could go out for lunch oooor go clothes shopping? You know, I haven't seen you change your outfit, like, ever. I guess I haven't either... well, it's never too late to try something new!"
He listens and watches her flit about the store windows, rambling about what she sees inside. Occasionally, she'll grimace at something, and Alastor will let out a small chuckle. It's almost peaceful, despite the background noise of screaming and terror. When she drifts back to his side, he wraps an arm around her shoulder.
"Come, Charlie. I have just the place for us to go!"
Like a sheep to slaughter, she follows without question.
They lapse into a comfortable silence. They walk side-by-side, Alastor leading. When he glances down at her, he notices that her fists are slightly clenched, even as she gives him a polite smile. He's taught her well; she's gotten better at hiding her outward emotions.
"Don't worry, princess, I'm not bringing you somewhere dangerous! I would never dream of it!" He chuckles. A lie of course, but he'd like for her to have her guard down around him.
She wrings her hands together. "I know, Al. I'm sorry, it's not you, I'm just... still thinking about Vaggie."
"Ah."
"I mean, if she doesn't want to be together anymore, she'll tell me, right? She wouldn't leave me in the dark about it! She wouldn't... leave without telling me..."
Alastor's expression softens. She's referencing her mother. He heard her phone call, that day he came to the hotel. And he knows of Lilith Morningstar's absence. He pities her. His own mother would never have done something so cruel.
"Why don't we discuss it more up there?" He gestures to the looming radio tower above them. Charlie blinks up at it, mouth slightly agape.
"One of your old towers?" she asks, tapping at one of the rusty metal supports. It shudders slightly, and she steps back. He's right there behind her, clutching her shoulders.
"Yes! But nothing to worry about. I said I wouldn't bring you anywhere dangerous!" he grips her tighter, summoning his shadows to whisk them away to the top. Charlie stumbles, gathering her footing.
"Woah. Never been teleported like that."
"Well, it's never too late to try something new, right?" he winks at her, and moves to sit down in one of the lounge chairs. Back when he had towers all over the city, he made sure they were decorated to the nines, the comfiest they could be. For him, of course, not his unlucky victims. He can still smell the faint scent of blood, never fully cleaned from the carpet.
Charlie looks around the space, eyes lingering on the broadcasting equipment. She shudders, probably remembering what he used to use that for. He grins, patting the seat next to him. She sits, curling into herself.
"Alastor... why'd you bring me here? Why'd you offer to take me out today?" He blinks, taken aback by the question. Vaggie's actions really knocked her down.
He sets his radio cane to the side, and grabs Charlie's hands in his own. She looks up at him, and she's on the verge of tears. So much for hiding her emotions.
"I wanted to give you a piece of myself. You're always doing so much for others, you know. You deserve a little something special for yourself sometimes." He stands, guiding her to the window. She gasps.
Before them lies a view of the centermost part of Pentagram City. Her city. Demons bustling, fighting, fucking. The perfect view of Hell.
"Oh, Alastor..." she squeezes his hand. A few stray tears drip across her cheeks, but he helps her wipe them away. "It's... home. My home." She beams, turning her gaze to him. "Thank you! Thank you, Alastor." She rocks back on her feet before wrapping her arms around him. He freezes, not quite knowing how to react. She's warm as hellfire, and when she parts from him, all too quickly, he feels cold, for once.
"Sorry! I know you don't like touch." He snaps back to himself. He really does not like how warm he feels looking at her. And he really does not like the next thing that comes out of his mouth.
"It's alright, if it's you." His voice lacks most of his usual static filter, a sign of his own vulnerability. But in the safety of his radio tower, with the princess of Hell before him, he finds he doesn't mind the slip-up.
Charlie, of course, nearly bursts into tears again, and he can definitely feel wet stains forming on his jacket when she hugs him again. Tentative, he embraces her too, closing his eyes.
And if his tail begins to wag beneath his coat, no one needs to know.