Chapter Text
It was a normal day in the Hazbin Hotel. Well, as normal as a day in hell could be. Lucifer Morningstar had been living in the hotel for two months now, he had been there since they all rebuilt the hotel after Adam had destroyed it. Lucifer hadn’t heard anything from Heaven about Adams death yet and he was terrified of the letter arriving.
Other than that, the hotel had picked up in patrons. Sinners looking for redemption, sinners that feared trying had given it a go. Sir Pentious could ascend so why couldn’t they. Charlie had been busy running exercises with Vaggie as her assistant, Alastor would sometimes be down to greet new guests and help them get checked in, Nifty was always hiding in or around the vents cleaning, and Husk remained at the bar unless he was taking part in exercises with Angel. Lucifer stayed mostly in his room and away from the other sinners, after all it was his daughter's hotel, and he didn’t want to take the attention from her. He was there to attract sinners and it did work, they flocked hearing the King is finally in public after seven years. Not that many, if any of them got a chance to see Lucifer.
A knock on his door distracted him from the work he had been doing, for once in the past 8 years he had actually decided on doing some Kingly work, schedule meetings that had been long overdue, he had thought about scheduling a TV show interview, but he thought against it, he was never one for interviews, or TV, it scattered the brain. Another knock, more insistent this time, broke his train of thought.
“Yeah, coming!” He called out, putting the stack of papers down to be sent out later and he headed for the door, opening it to see his daughter. “Duckling! To what do I owe the pleasure?” His face broke out into a grin, hands on his hips.
“Hi Dad! Are you busy at the moment?” She looked at him hopeful, her eyes like stars in the sky of the human world.
“Uh, actually I...” He looked back at the papers on his desk before back to his daughter, he had been gone almost 8 years, what’s another few hours. “Not at all Char, I always have time for you.” The smile on his face was soft and genuine.
Charlie smiled back at him, bright and beaming. “Amazing! I was hoping you could actually help us downstairs! We have too many sinners today trying to check in and they’re swamping Alastor and he can’t keep up. Vaggie and I are trying to help this group trust each other so they will stop fighting.” She groaned and rubbed her temples.
Lucifer watched her, chewing on his bottom lip. He was willing to help Charlie, but he did not want to help Alastor, they had a rocky start and they stayed rocky. For Charlies sake he decided to have little interaction with the radio demon all together. He sighed, raising a hand to his head. “You sure you want me to help check in guests?”
“Of course!” She smiled wide, looking at him with nothing short of love and hope. “It would be the biggest help!”
“Okay.” He snapped his fingers and his usual white and red suit materialized on his person, hat resting on his head. “But in exchange, when you aren’t so busy you have to help me build a duck like you used to.”
Charlie squealed and hugged him. “I would love to! Thanks dad! I’ll see you down there, I’m going to let Alastor know that you agreed!” She ran off, leaving the king to watch her back.
Lucifer chuckled softly, stepping out of the room and shutting the door behind him. He was worried to be in front of his sinners again, worried how they would react to his presence, and worried about getting into a scuffle with Alastor. But, Charlie had asked his help and he was not going to disappoint her. Not again.
He walked down the hall, and down the stairs, giving Charlie time to speak to the radio demon and time for him to muster up courage to face his people. Lucifer stopped at the balcony above the foyer and looked out at the sinners. Groups of them chatting, laughing, sharing drinks or waiting in line for Alastor. His daughter stood beside the deer demon speaking to him, it was clear Alastor was overwhelmed and frustrated, it was clear with the way his smile was tight and his back was ridged.
Lucifer wondered if his obvious discomfort was because he was coming to help. He didn’t dwell on the thought to long, instead he started thinking, should he make a flashy entrance or should it be low-key? Flashy always made a statement, and being the king he needed to make statements, it was his thing. He unfurled his wings and stretched them out wide before he hopped up onto the railing.
“Now or never Luci. Its time to face the music!” He flapped his wings a few times before he lifted himself into the air.
The beating of his wings caught attention of a few sinners, they started gasping, pointing and whispering and soon the whole foyer fell quiet and stared up at their king. Lucifer grinned and threw his hands out, sparks flying from his finger tips as he back flipped falling a few inches and soaring through the air, he had everyones eyes. He laughed, loud and proud and landed beside his daughter and the radio demon, a little bit off to the side, with an explosion of gold.
“Helloooo my sinners! Welcome to the Hazbin Hotel!” He projected his voice through the halls. “Now kindly form a single file line for check in! If you are currently enjoying you leisure time then continue to do so by the bar! If you are with Charlie and Vaggie because you can’t settle a little disagreement please meet them outside! Let’s get things a'rolling!”
The sinners moved to do as Lucifer said, too scared to disobey their king. Charlie came over to him and grabbed his arms.
“Thank you so much! But next time maybe we can not command them to do things?” She said softly, smiling nervously.
“I wasn’t telling them to come in Charlie, I promise! I wont force them to do anything they don’t want to do. Think of it as directing. Nothing bad going on, promise.” He smiles at her.
Charlie sighed softly and nods. “Okay. Okay. As long as no one is being forced.”
“Of course not! They’re here because they want to be. No mind control, just directing, making sure things run smooth, no chaos. Now scram! Don’t you have trust exercises to run? Don’t leave poor little Vaggie out there by herself.” He smiled wide, showing off his teeth.
Charlie pulled her dad over to Alastor and took both their hands. “Then, I leave this to your capable hands!” She let them go and ran off, joining her girlfriend outside.
“I am quite capable of handling this myself.” Alastor narrowed his eyes at the king, straightening out his jacket. “This is nothing.”
“And that’s why Charlie asked me for help? Be grateful I’m even helping you. Let’s split the tasks. I’ll check in a group and you can take them on a tour. If we do groups then it will lessen the amount of times you have to walk around the hotel.” Lucifer made his way to the counter, resting his cane against the desk.
“I don’t appreciate being told what to do.” Alastor watched.
“You know the hotel better than I do, besides do you have a better idea?”
Alastors ears flattened against his head, he had to admit that the plan was a good one, but he hated admitting that Lucifer was right.
“Exactly. How big of a group do you want?”
That was how the day was spent. They got through everything relatively quickly that way. Some of the sinners didn’t stay or check in and that was fine. Some of them kjsg wanted to see what the big deal was, but the idea of redemption was too much and they left. But they did end up with a surplus of sinners checking in. It was later afternoon when they stopped getting new sinners.
Lucifer collapsed against the bar, sitting in the seat. “Husk, can you make me a drink?” He pouted, exhausted. He never got around to sending out the letters, it was becoming a growing problem in his head, a worry gnawing at his consciousness.
“Of course your highness.” Husk mixed a drink and placed it in front of the king.
“Just call me Lucifer.” Lucifer sat up, smiling and he sipped his drink.
Alastor sat to the left of Lucifer and tapped the bar. “Husker, one here too.”
“Oh? The almighty radio demon indulging in an after work drink with the king? I don’t remember inviting you.” Lucifer grinned, his glass to his lips.
“Well your highness, I do believe this is my home too, so I don’t think you have to invite me to sit anywhere I please.” He watched the bartender pour whisky into a glass, keeping Lucifer in his peripheral vision.
“Ha! Well you could always sit at the other end instead of beside me.”
“And miss the opportunity to annoy you? I had so many complaints about you from many of the sinners.”
“I disagree, I am absolutely lovely.” Lucifer rolled his eyes.
Another occupant dropped to Lucifers right, half laying on the bar, a martini placed beside him without a word.
“Thanks Husk.” Angel groaned. “It has been a horrible night.”
“Work troubles?” Lucifer turned to the spider demon, he heard a bit about what he does for work, most in passing.
“Yes! I fucking hate it! Its always, Angel do this. Angel do that, Angel spread your legs more and open your mouth wider.” He groaned loudly and tossed the drink down his throat, Husk already making him another.
“And you work as a uh-“ Lucifer rolled his wrist, trying to remember the word. He knew it started with a P.
“Pornstar? Yes.” Angel rubbed his eyes.
“You don’t seem to be enjoying it?”
“I don’t. Stupid Valentino. I’m so stupid.”
“Valentino? What the fucks a Valentino?” Lucifer looked at him, and started piecing his words together. He held a hand near the spiders face and clicked his fingers.
“What the fuck? How did you do that?” Angels eyes went wide and he stared at his contract now floating in the kings hand.
“What’s this?” Lucifer looked at the contract, reading it.
“My contract to Valentino, Sir... I don’t think Val would be happy with someone else looking at it, even if it is your majesty.”
“Oh please. Call me Lucifer, Angel. This is stupid. Y'know what? Valentino is a dumb fucking name.” Lucifer snapped his fingers again and the contract went up inflames, ashes dropping to the bar, ashes Lucifer swept away.
Angel's eyes widened, the purple chain around his neck appeared only to go into Lucifers hand. “Did you-“
“Oh heavens no! I don’t deal in souls!” Lucifer laughed and he broke the chain, the whole thing disappearing into purple smoke.
“What did- Its gone? How is it gone?!” Angel placed his hands to his throat, he could feel it, he had his soul back.
“I’m Lucifer fucking Morningstar. You are in my house, I do whatever the fuck I want.” The grin on the kings face was wide, he could see Angels relief and it was over powering his fear. “And if this, Valentino guy or whatever has anything to say, he can come speak to me.”
Angel felt tears fall from his eyes. “Thank you. Oh thank you isn’t even a strong enough word.”
“Well, you can thank my by helping me build a duck for the hotel!” Lucifer laughed and sat back in his seat.
“You can destroy contracts?”
“Of course I can. I have the power to do whatever the hell I want, whenever the hell I want. You need contracts to have power, thats how you become an Overlord correct? You have souls, and they give you your power. Weather they are in your contract or not, all of these sinners souls belong to me, all of the hellborn belong to me. I can make anything whatever the fuck I want and I can strip you of your status if I so pleased.”
“Thats-“
“Incredible. I know.”
“Don’t touch my contracts. They are not your business.”
“Well your name is dumb, so maybe I should.” A grin spread across his face again at the threat. He could have easily removed them, but Husk and Nifty, they seemed complacent and happy, he wasn’t going to remove them without a reason too. But Angel had been hurt to many times with the contract, now he was free to be Anthony again if he pleased.
Husk laughed at the face the radio demon was making. “I think the boss is finally realizing the power difference as if it wasn’t obvious.”
Lucifer laughed and he nudged Alastor. “You are just lucky I’m growing fond of your little radio show. It would be a shame if it stopped now. Anyways, I have business to attend to.” He finished his drink and stood up. “Goodnight gentlemen.” He bowed and disappeared in a cloud of gold.
“That snake.” Alastor let himself be swallowed by his shadows.
Lucifer got his letters sent off that night, he knew it was late and he wouldn’t hear from his people that night, but at least it was done with and he didn’t have to worry about it. He thought about the interview again, he remembered hearing about Charlies interview, one he ended up looking up online to watch, he was angry at how his daughter was treated. Maybe he could go on, maybe he could go on with Charlie and they would have to take her seriously. Maybe he would talk to her about it.