Chapter Text
You woke up about three days later.
According to Charlie, it had taken a while for the Angelic poison in your system to kill out- cause you still needed to heal the wound in your stomach. It healed so completely there wasn’t a scar. Not like the wound on your leg.
And now, here you were, rotting in your room. Your hands shook as you examined your form. Your room is different now. Of course it was, the old Hotel went down. And thanks to Magic and songs, the New Hotel was built to be different. Bigger. Your room was now on the top floor, alongside the others. Looking out of the window, you spot the Radio Tower of Alastor’s, no longer an add on, but a part of the tower. You spy Lucifer’s apple themed tower on the opposite side. It was strange to think that he was staying here, but it seems he and Charlie’s relationship was improving despite everything.
At least something good came out of this. You put on some clothes, a simple pair of jeans and a simple button up shirt. It’s something, but it covers you while being somewhat professional. You head downstairs, tired out of your mind. The scene in front of you stunned you. Crowds of people were in the lobby, checking out the lobby. You freeze, your ears pinning back- though not anyone could see it since you had your hair loose today. You spy Husk working at the bar- this one with a matching theme of the red and gold theme. Angel Dust was nearby, talking with Cherri Bomb…
You remember the kiss Sir Pentious gave Cherri. The way the beam hit him. The way he raised his arms. There was no body.
You feel something clog your throat as you run, something in you telling you to hide. The walls weren’t familiar, there were no familiar smells to follow. Everything was new. Floorboards didn’t creak under your feet, the place didn’t have that old popcorn smell, and it didn't have that casual thrum of power in its walls. It’s too new.
But you find your way into a small kitchen- the one open to the others and you. There was a bigger kitchen somewhere on the bottom floor for you and the others. Though calling it small seemed silly when it had about three ovens. Lucifer really didn’t hold back when it came to rebuilding this. You knew he was one of the main architects, with everyone pitching in. You and Alastor were the only ones not involved with the process, you having passed out- and Alastor having to not only help carry your heavy ass back to the Hotel, but also hiding and trying to heal his wound. I wonder if he’s okay… You hadn’t woken up to see him by your bedside, not that you expected that from him. It had been Charlie who been by your side, tears rolling down her face as she held you.
It…had been nice.
Either way, now here you are. Hiding out in a “small” kitchen from the crowds of people checking out the Hotel that beat Heaven’s Angels. Yay… You sigh as you make yourself a drink.
“Hey Boss!”
You shriek, coughing up water. “The fuck-!?”
“You okay Boss?” You look to see Asta looking up at you.
“Asta…” You clear your throat, kneeling down to his level (or close enough). “Hey…You okay?”
Asta grins, thankfully not looking too worse for wear despite his close encounter with death. His body was still cracked in places, looking as if he was just one hit away from becoming a sunny side up. Yet his beady little eyes look up at you with glee.
“Yeah! I’m okay, Boss! We were waiting for you to wake up!”
“You were?”
“Well yeah!” Asta says, as if it were obvious. “Why wouldn’t we want you to wake up?”
Static rises in your ears, as if your radios were going off inside you. Maybe they were, god knows you’re over do for a magical kickback. You swallow, as you smile.
“Yeah…Sorry, my head is still a little slow.”
Asta grins. “That’s okay! Our brains can be a little slow too.”
You chuckle. “Yeah…” You frown. “Why are you calling me Boss?”
Asta shrinks a little, fiddling with his fingers. “Well…Our old Boss is dead…As are the others…” He frowns, looking quite upset. “The others don’t tell me much, cause they think I’m breakable and all, but I know we’re all sad about Boss’ death.” He shakes his head. “But you! You helped us! And you worked with the Boss to make sure we were okay! Nobody but the Boss has done that with us! You play with us, and talk to us! You listen!” He grabs your hand. “You gave us names….And with the Boss gone, we don’t really have anyone to follow. Frank’s trying, but he ain’t good at thinking just like the rest of us. But I wouldn’t mind following you. And the others wouldn’t mind it either!”
You look down at small Asta, his hand barely bigger than yours. You didn’t want to replace Sir Pentious, the Egg Boiz were his creations as far as you knew. And yet…You knew he would someone to look out for them, and the others…Would be busy with their own things. Angel with his work with Valentino, Husk, Nifty, Vaggie, Charlie and Alastor will all be busy with the Hotel. Lucifer is…here, for Charlie mostly. Cherri doesn’t even live here. Who else did they have to depend on?
Hot tears land on the tile floor, shocking you. I’m…crying…? You sniff, picking Asta up as you hug him.
“Okay…I’ll try my best.”
Asta simply grins, holding onto you.
“So…How are you?” Your Pa asks, his blue eyes focused on you. The two of you were sitting out on the porch, overlooking the fields and the woods nearby. Your ear flicked, picking up on the familiar sounds of home. Having Lucifer around sure helps. It made it easy to ask him to allow you to portal home for visits. You aren’t sure what he saw when he looked at you, but he accepted your request easily. In his words, “You have this weird ability to ignore cosmic barriers, might as well get some use out of it”, so here you were. Talking with your Pa a week after the battle.
“Adjusting.” You answer, downing your drink of hot chocolate. Your Grandmere had shoved it in your hands the moment you arrived. Grandma had thrown a new scarf at you, apparently picking up her habit of stress knitting again, Grandpa had given you a big hug that threatened to pop out your spine and Granddad had offered to look at your new wings to make sure they didn’t need repair.
Pa hums, his hair, still the messy black bird’s nest it was, tousled in the air. Not that your hair was better.
“You know…That it’s okay to not be okay…Right?” He probed, looking at you. You snort.
“Like you did with your drinking?” Your radio hands let slip. You wince, covering them. “Sorry.”
“No..No” He shakes his head. “That’s fair…I…” He chuckles weakly. “I was never a good example on healthy grieving, was I?” He looks down at his drink. “I abandoned you. Neglected you.”
“You didn-”
“I Did.” He stresses, cutting you off. “You had lost a mother. You were 6 when it happened. And later finding out that…She wasn’t the person we thought she was doesn’t negate the harm I did by leaving you alone.”
“She hurt you too.” You simply state, no emotion in the words. “She…trapped you. Like a bird.”
“So? I still had a responsibility to you. I was your world when she worked, and then I left you. First by drinking myself into stupors till I couldn’t tell left from right, then by shoving the duty of caring for you to your grandparents and then I ran off to become a pilot.” He states, gripping his cup tightly. “Chasing a dream of mine…I shouldn’t have.”
“It was your dream…She stole it from you. I don’t…I don’t blame you for chasing it.”
“Still…I should have balanced it. Instead I left you without both parents.” He looks at you. “Tell me. Tell me about it…Even if I can’t fix it, I’m here now. So tell me.”
You look at the man who you barely know. Who you mainly heard and saw through phone calls and zoom calls, pleading with you to open up. And a part of you wants to shut down, turn it back, ignore him like he did you. He’s trying! A very annoying Charlie-like voice tells you. You sigh, leaning back in your seat, careful of your wings.
“Charlie’s not been taking Sir Pentious’ death well…Those two had been fairly close, they match each other’s vibes well, being the sweeter of us lot.” You state, avoiding yourself for now. “Vaggie’s been better though, she’s really been stepping up with Charlie’s role…And between you and me, all the better for it. Charlie is good at the therapy shit, I’ll give her that, even if sometimes she can be naive and accidentally condescending…But Vaggie knows how to run things. She’s also been trying out new names, said she wanted a change. Hasn’t settled on anything yet.”
“What’s wrong with Vaggie?” He asked, tilting his head.
“Adam named her. Now he’s dead…I guess she feels secure enough to shed her past behind. Or something like that.” You roll your eyes, letting your masking slip a bit. “Husk has been busy with how popular the Hotel has gotten. He’s coping, suppose it helps he’s got Angel Dust with him. Seeing them together is cute. Angel’s been working a lot, but he’s grown more…himself, he’s been doing therapy and shit with Charlie and it seems to be working for him. Cherri’s been around the Hotel more…” You sip your drink. “I wouldn’t be surprised if she joins sometime soon. Nifty’s been fine, still cleaning. Though she is careful with the painting. And since taking in the Egg Boiz, I mainly get them to help Nifty with cleaning, or help Razzle with tasks. Simple stuff, but it’s what I can do for the moment.” You shrug.
“And that Alastor guy?”
“Distant…” You comment. “But he did tank a hit during the battle. He mainly gets his kicks pissing off Lucifer, those two argue a lot. I’ve mainly been helping around here and there, the Hotel has gotten so busy lately.”
“And have you…considered therapy?”
You snort. “My options are Charlie and that’s about it. And she’s not any better.” You glance at him. “Plus you and I both know that therapy doesn’t work well with me.”
He winces, likely remembering the state mandated therapy after your trial.
One of the conditions of you being a victim was that you and Evie were required to go to therapy, all paid by the state. You had encouraged Evie to go, seeing that it was helpful for her. But for you? It had mostly been hours spent talking about feelings you already knew were dumb, and advice that didn’t work at all.
He sighs, pulling you close into a side hug. “Look…Just…Don’t let it get bad. Not like last time, okay? I…I won’t be able to help you down there.”
“I know.” You say, leaning into his touch.
“I love you, my treasure.” He kisses your forehead, brushing back your curls. “I’m sorry I couldn’t love you in the way you deserved.”