Chapter Text
Charlie hummed a soft tune to herself as she walked through the halls of the Hazbin Hotel. Things had been going surprisingly well for her hotel after Vox almost killed everyone. Heaven was working with her, the hotel had so many new members, redemption was possible. Yep, everything was great, as long as she didn't look at the door to Angel's room. Cherri Bomb was very insistent that no one go into his room, except for her when she took Fat Nugget's food and bed out to put in her room. Cherri had put up a sign on Angel's door that read ‘Keep Out’. Charlie stopped at the door next to Angel's and knocked. The door had several signs and pictures pinned to the outside, ‘Beware: Explosions’, ‘Knock First’ and she had pictures of her and Angel, a couple of Pentious that looked to be from a turf war, and some of Fat Nuggets.
“Who the fuck? I’m busy!” a thick Australian accent responded to the knock.
“It's Charlie!” The princess spoke. “I just wanted to make sure you were still going to the group therapy session today.”
“Yeah, I'm still goin’.” Cherri Bomb responded. After a few moments, she opened the door, holding Fat Nuggets in her arm. Her hair was all pulled into a ponytail and she was wearing a white crop-top shirt with a pair of black shorts. Well, Charlie assumed the shirt was supposed to be white, it was covered in ash and blood stains that Charlie chose to ignore. Cherri’s room always smelled of smoke and metal from her bombs.
Charlie smiled at the pig in her arms. “Can I pet him?” She asked.
“Yeah, sure.” Cherri adjusted her hold on him.
Charlie reached out and patted Nuggets on the head. “Hello, little guy!” The pig had been slowly warming up to her for months now. Nuggets oinked happily at her, and he didn't try to bite her finger this time!
“Well, uh… I'll see you down there?” Cherri asked, scratching the back of her head. Fat Nuggets squirmed around in her arms until he was able to reach her hair and began chewing on it. “Fuck! You little shit, I just fed you!”
Charlie nodded and tried to hold in her laughter as she waved at them before continuing down the hall. Once she was away from the door and it was closed she let out her laughter. Charlie kept walking down the hall to the next person on her list, Vox.
Vox had been at the hotel for about a month now. Velvette and Valentino dropped him off at the Hotel a week after the incident. It went something like…
The door to the hotel flew open to reveal Velvette standing in the doorway with Valentino behind her. Most every guest in the lobby quickly left at the sight of them. Some were former Voxtek employees, others just didn’t want to be there if the two caused any trouble. As Velette walked in, Valentino followed closely behind her. He was holding Vox in his arms. The TV demon in question looked like he was just waking up from being knocked out or something, slowly blinking his eyes and looking around. Vaggi immediately went on the defensive, holding out her spear as she stood in front of Charlie and flared out her wings protectively. Velvette looked her up and down for a moment, unimpressed, then turned to Charlie. “We aren’t here to kill anyone. Today… So you can tell your attack angel to put the angelic steel down.”
Charlie put a hand on Vaggi’s shoulder and she lowered the weapon. “What brings the three of you here?” Charlie asked cautiously.
“Valentino and I have decided to drop Vox off here until he gets his fucking shit together.” Velvette stated. “We still have to re-build our image and he’s been nothing short of a bloody nuisance since we put his fucking head back on.”
Vox seemed to realize he was at the hotel and pouted, folding his arms over his chest.
“I see. Well, the hotel is meant to be voluntary.” Charlie muttered, glancing at the TV demon in Valentino's arms. He clearly didn't want to be here, and from the sound of it, he might still be in his ‘kill everyone’ mood.
“You saw the shit he pulled last week! This mother fucker needs a whole lot of therapy. And unfortunately, you're the only place that offers therapy in this hellhole.” Velvette argued.
Charlie nodded. “I see. Well, we would be happy to accommodate his stay. If you could just have him fill out these papers here.” Charlie handed them a few papers on a clipboard.
Vaggi frowned. “Babe, are you sure this is a good idea?”
Charlie frowned. Vox did just try to destroy all of Hell and Heaven last time anyone saw him.
“Oh please, the fucker is harmless now.” Velevette muttered, sitting down with the papers as Valentino set Vox on the seat next to her.
“And what, we're supposed to believe that?” Vaggi glared at Velvette.
“He nearly killed all of us. You think Val and I would leave him powerful enough to do it again?” Velvette glared at them.
“Gee, thanks, Vel.” Vox muttered.
Velvette glared at him. “Shut up Vox.”
Vox gave her an offended look. “Val, defend me!” He ordered, turning to the moth demon.
“I’m not talking to you.” Valentino responded, turning away and folding his arms over his chest and stomach.
Vaggi leaned toward Charlie. “I’m starting to wonder how their whole media empire didn't collapse way earlier.”
Alastor appeared seemingly out of nowhere, standing next to Velvette. “And what of his souls? Where did all that power go?” He asked with a grin.
“Bloody Hell, stop doing that.” Velevette muttered at Alastor’s sudden appearance. “The souls he owned that didn’t get vaporized during his little tantrum were split between me and Val. He only has a little more power than the average sinner.”
Alastor looked over at Vox pouting on the chair next to Velvette. “Interesting…” he muttered before disappearing.
Vox watched as Velvette wrote on the papers. “What are you doing?” He asked.
“Signing you up for everything on here.” Velvette answered. “And you will participate, and you will not give the princess any trouble.”
Vox rolled his eyes. “I’m not doing some dumb friendship exercises, I’d rather you and Val just kill me.”
“Well unfortunately, you’re still useful.” Velvette muttered. She looked at the ‘extra notes’ section and put down ‘do not let him near sharp objects, specifically angelic steel.’
She finished filling out the paperwork and handed it to Charlie along with a business card. “Call me if he causes any problems. Val or I will sort the fucker out.”
It had been a month since then, and Vox had made some progress since then. He didn't argue about showing up as much as he did in the first week, and he actually participated…somewhat. He didn’t fight with the other guests…except for Alastor…
It doesn’t matter, he’s making progress, even if it’s slow. The good news was that Charlie hadn’t had to call Velvette about his behavior so far. Charlie knocked on Vox’s door. They had personalized his door during one of his earlier therapy exercises.
“One thing that can make you feel at home, or like you have a safe place to go is decorating your room! So, if you could, write a list of things you would want and this weekend we'll decorate your room!
Vox had asked for a lot of shark stuff and the color blue. His list included a lot of notes about his sharks at the Vee tower, so Charlie had sent a message to Velvette telling her that he was doing well, but he missed his sharks and asking her if she could bring over stuff from his room.
“Hey, Vox! Can you come here for a second?” Charlie called. Vox walked into the lobby. “What is it?” He asked.
“I got this package for you! We’re gonna decorate your room today.” Charlie smiled. “Open it up!” She pushed the large box over to him.
Vox rolled his eyes and cut the tape holding the box together with his claws. he pulled out several large shark plushies and some small ones, all ones he remembered from his room at the tower. Next he pulled out his old hammerhead shark blanket and wrapped it around himself with a smile. It was the first genuine smile anyone had seen from him, though Vox quickly cleared his throat and set the blanket with the shark plushies. He pulled out a stack of picture frames and looked at it. The first was Shock.wav, the next two were of his other sharks, and the last was a selfie of Valentino and Velvette. Val had written on it in pink letters, “Miss u, Voxxy xoxo” Vox sniffled a little, but forced himself to not cry in front of the princess and her girlfriend. Instead he picked up the last item in the box, a letter from Val and Vel. He would open that later.
“I also got a few things based on your list.” Charlie added.
Soon after, Charlie helped Vox carry all the stuff to his room and they spent the day painting the walls a dark blue. Vox seemed to enjoy the simple task, and once the walls were dry and his furniture moved back, Charlie left him alone to hang up the pictures and posters, as well as make the bed and pick places for his sharks. Later, she found him asleep using the Shokc.wav plush as a pillow
That day was probably the happiest she'd seen him, and his mood stayed a little more positive since then.
Vox opened the door and looked at Charlie. “Huh? Oh, what did you need?” He asked. He was wearing a t-shirt that had pictures of sharks and the words ‘shark week’ on it and holding a plushie of his shark, shok.wav. The plush was almost taller than him.
“You said you would be at the group therapy session today, so I just wanted to remind you that it starts in thirty minutes.” Charlie stated.
Vox hummed. “Okay. I'll be down there. Anything else?” He asked.
Charlie thought for a moment. “Oh, could you bring down the paper you were supposed to write affirmations on from last session? If you still have it?”
Vox nodded. “Sure. Now shoo, I have very important business to attend to.” He closed the door.
Charlie nodded. “Bye Vox!” She turned and went to the elevator. She pressed the button and waited. Once it opened, she saw Niffty step out and smiled at her. “Hey, Niffty! Uh, the first floor women's restroom has a clogged toilet. I put a sign on the stall.” She explained.
Niffty nodded. “I'll get it, thanks!”
Charlie nodded and got into the elevator, pressing the button for the staff floor. She waited, listening to the beeps as the elevator moved up. It opened again and she stepped out, making her way to Alastor's room. She stopped at Alastor's door and knocked. Surprisingly, he had agreed to go to the therapy session, he had been a lot more involved in the hotel activities recently, and she was happy about that, but this would be the first therapy session he attended at all. She was hoping that this would make him want to attend his own therapy sessions, as a few others had.
Alastor opened the door, smiling down at her. “Hello Charlotte. What did you need?”
“Hey, Al.” Charlie smiled back. “Just wanted to remind you that this week's group therapy session starts in roughly thirty minutes. You said you'd be there?”
Alastor hummed. “Is that today?” He asked, adjusting his monocle.
“Yes.” Charlie chirped. “But it's totally fine if something came up and you're busy, or you just changed your mind.” She added. “No pressure.”
Alastor took a moment to think. “Alright. I'll be down there in fifteen.” Alastor closed the door.
Charlie nodded. Now she just needed to get the lounge ready for the therapy session. A therapy session both Vox and Alastor would be attending. Vox and Alastor did not get along, that much had been obvious for a long time, but they were constantly bickering every chance they had since Vox joined the hotel. And any activity they were both part of was bound to end poorly. Too bad she was determined to make it work! Or, at least try…
Once everyone was settled in in the lounge, Charlie began. “Okay, so. Those of you who were here last week, you should have the positive affirmations I had you write last session.” Several sinners nodded, along with a couple mutters.
“How many of you have looked at that paper at least once each day since last session?” Charlie asked. Multiple sinners raised their hands.
“I didn't do it every day, been busy. But, I tried my best.” Cherri spoke up.
Charlie smiled. “Well, that's progress too. How many of you have looked at your affirmations at least once since last session?” Now almost everyone raised their hands. Alastor hadn't been there last week, which just left Vox, and the mouse sinner. Charlie didn't want to say she expected that from Vox, but he still thought some of the therapy exercises were stupid.
“Okay, great. On to the next thing for today, we have a new face here.” Charlie stated. “Alastor has decided to join us!”
Alastor waved. “I am just here to see what you all do here. After all, as the facility manager and host of the hotel, it's my job to make sure things run smoothly here.”
Charlie nodded. “And just a little reminder since Alastor is new, we don't share what others said in therapy without their permission, and we don't use anything in therapy against anyone. This is a safe place.” Everyone else nodded. Alastor nodded as well.
“Okay, now let's get on with the rest of the session. So, last week we talked about positive affirmations, and I had you write some on a paper for yourself. This week, I would like to talk about friendship.” A few sinners stood up, about to leave, and Alastor hummed, looking bored. Cherri looked at the floor with a frown, and Vox looked like he was trying to hide his reaction to the word, though he kept looking at Alastor. Charlie was about to lose half her audience. “As always, if you get uncomfortable, feel free to leave, however, no one has to speak on a topic, if they would rather just listen in to hear guidance from others.”
That stopped a few sinners from leaving immediately. Good, that's good. Vox still looked upset, but Cherri tuned back in. “So, unless someone else wants to lead the conversation, I think I'll go first.” Charlie stated. She cleared her throat and got ready to go on a bit of a ramble about everyone at the hotel that she saw as a friend…which was everyone.
As Charlie spoke, Vox stopped paying attention. This was boring, he was bored. He was hungry. When was the last time he ate? After a moment he deduced that it was yesterday at lunch, he didn’t eat dinner because he was protesting. It was Alastor’s night to cook last night and Vox had refused to eat it. Alastor would have probably poisoned it anyway, or added some weird cannibal shit. For some reason, no one chose to join him in his little Alastor boycott. They were all probably already too far gone, the deer must have convinced them his cooking was safe. Speaking of food, Vox should sneak some extra snacks to his room tonight, it's the maid's turn to cook today. He had the maids cooking once. Only once. It hadn't been half bad, but the next day he found her doing a puppet show with dead bugs and he hasn't been able to stomach the idea since. He doesn't care that she most likely washes her hands, given that she is the maid and the hotel does stay clean. She's one of Alastor's souls anyway. Another reason he doesn't go to the hotel's bar either.
Vox took the paper out of his pocket and started folding it up into a paper airplane. He focused on making the end pointed enough that it would fly across the room well. Once he was happy with it, he glanced around the room. He decided to try flying it between Alastor's antlers, or at least his ears. Those were easier to see. He aimed it, and threw it. The airplane flew across the room and got stuck on one of Alastor's antlers. Alastor's ear twitched as he glanced up at the paper and plucked it from his head, green fire burning it right then and there.
“Hey!” Vox shouted, interrupting whoever was talking. “That's my therapy homework, you ass!” He glared at Alastor.
Alastor hummed. “Well, maybe you shouldn't have thrown it at me.”
“Yeah, well, maybe you-”
Charlie interrupted them. “Guys! Cherri was talking.” She frowned. Charlie was getting sick of their bickering. This happened every time they were both in the same activity. Vox would do something, or Alastor would say something and the other would respond and the two just kept fighting. Every time Charlie tried to bring it up in Vox's therapy sessions, he would refuse to answer, and every time she talked to Alastor he would cite him attempting to kill everyone with a big laser, which she knew wasn't the real reason they hated each other, since their rivalry was older than the hotel.
Vox hummed. “I don't know what you're talking about, Princess. I was listening.”
“Okay, then what did she say last?” Alastor asked.
Vox blinked. “Uhh…do you even know the answer to that?” Vox shot back.
Alastor looked away. Charlie’s eye twitched. This was getting on her nerves. If they didn't want to even listen, they shouldn't have agreed to come. “Okay. Alastor. Say two things you like about Vox. Vox, say two things you like about Alastor.”
“I like that Vox isn't an Overlord anymore.” Alastor stated.
Vox glared at him. “I like that Alastor doesn't care what other people think of his fuck ass hair.”
“I like that the Vees are doing much better without you!” Alastor shot back.
“Oh you son of a-”
Charlie had enough of this. “That's it! I'm sick of both of you. Every day you always have some way of fighting. You two can't seem to talk to each other for five minutes without arguing. I have tried ignoring it, I've tried talking to both of you, nothing is working!” Charlie was mad mad, everyone in the room could tell that when her horns poked out of her head and a spaded tail twitched agitatedly behind her. “You're both throwing stuff, and shouting childish insults, you never pay attention or listen, and you barely even try in the activities you do participate in!” Charlie paused, noticing as well, that she was letting her anger show more than usual. “I-I'm going to go cool off. Alastor, Vox, come back to me when one of you decides to be the bigger demon.” She muttered before storming out.
Cherri blinked, then looked over at Alastor and Vox. “Good going, you two!” She glared. “You made the princess mad!”
“He started it!” Vox shouted, pointing at Alastor.
Alastor glared at him. “You’re the one who threw your paper at me!”
Nearly all the rest of the sinners sitting there left, not wanting to be caught in the crossfire of Alastor and Vox…again.
—------
Vaggi could smell the scent of ashes before Charlie fully walked into the room. Once she could see her girlfriend, the horns and tail poking out that she rarely got a good look at, she knew something was wrong. Vaggi waved away the sinner she had just helped and moved toward Charlie.
Charlie sighed, she had calmed down a bit, but not enough as her demon features were still out, tail flicking around behind her.
“Charlie, are you alright?” Charlie heard her girlfriend's voice.
Charlie sighed. “I-I yelled at Vox and Alastor in therapy today. I've tried to calm down, but these are still here.” She gestured to the horns with a frown.
Vaggi hummed. “Well, I'm not going to say they don't deserve to be yelled at…”
“Vaggi!”
“Okay, okay. Sorry, hun. It’s just that they’re constantly at each other's throats like-”
“Like dad and Alastor?” Charlie frowned.
Vaggi nodded. “Yeah, but they’ve started to leave each other alone, and they’ve only known each other for a little over four months. Vox and Alastor have known each other for much longer.”
Charlie sighed. “I hope they start to get along, maybe it’s the hotel atmosphere that caused Al to leave dad alone.”
Vaggi sighed. “I hope so.”
“I'm going to go take a cold shower. Dad says it helps with uh-” Charlie gestured to the horns on her head.
Vaggi nodded. “Good idea. I'll keep things running down here. Do you need someone to take over therapy?”
“Hmm, no, no I’m pretty sure everyone else left already.” Charlie muttered. “But could you keep an eye on Alastor and Vox? I don’t want them to kill each other.”
Vaggi nodded. “No problem babe.” Vaggi kissed Charlie’s cheek. “You go relax.”
Charlie smiled and nodded.
—------
Alastor hummed as he walked down the hall. He made his way to the kitchen, planning to cook some food. It seemed Vox had the same idea.
Vox was digging through the cabinets, looking for something to eat. He eventually picked out a bag of chips.
Vox was holding the bag of chips in one hand and holding the door to the cabinet with the other when it happened. There was a bright flash of light in the room. It was blinding, but over quickly. When the light was gone, the whole room looked bigger to Alastor. Or, maybe he was smaller. He looked up at the Cabinet to see that Vox had shrunk as well. The TV man was hanging from the cabinet door, though he had dropped his chips in the process.
Vox was clearly saying something, Alastor could hear the sound, though it wasn't clear what he was saying, being further away now. Alastor grinned. Oh, how will he ever get down? This will be entertaining.
Vox held tight to the cabinet door handle, looking down. Slowly, he started swinging his body, back and forth a little. This inched the cabinet door closer to the cabinet itself. Once it was close enough that Vox thought he could pull it off, he moved so that he was holding onto the edge of the door and jumped from the cabinet door to the ledge of the cabinet.
Vox smacked his screen on the ledge and fell onto the counter. He landed on the bag of chips and the force of his fall caused the bag of chips to open a little. Alastor burst out laughing. “Truly a wonderful show, my dear!” Alastor called.
Vox could hear Alastor's voice, though the words were still a little hard to make out. He'd better not be talking shit.
Vox stood up after a bit and dusted himself off. His next goal would be to get off the counter. Vox surveyed the area, trying to find something that would help him. There was a small towel hanging on the handle of the stove. Vox started walking to the stove, which took longer than it should have thanks to now being small.
Alastor watched Vox walk to the stove. The towel hanging there wasn't long enough to shorten the fall in a way that he thought would be worth it.
A deep, rumbling sound was heard behind Alastor, it was a short noise that ended in a snort. Alastor, confused, turned around to see what made that sound. Angel Dust's pet pig stood in the doorway, what was its name? Nuggets? The pig, usually a little thing, was now larger than Alastor. “You again?” Alastor complained.
The pig just seemed to stare at him.
“I'm busy, go away, you porkchop-in-waiting.” Alastor glared at it.
The pig moved closer and licked Alastor, which wet his whole face. “Disgusting! You beast! Do you know who I am?” He shouted at the pig, who did not seem to acknowledge his words. Alastor and the creature had a staring contest for a good while. After a bit the pig stuck its tongue out, about to lick Alastor again, but Alastor dodged it and stepped away from the pig.
A small thud caused both of them to turn their attention to the stove, where Vox was face-planted in the towel he had dragged down to the floor with him. Vox got up and dusted himself off rather quickly this time. The pig started walking up to him though, curious. Vox turned around when he heard hoofsteps. The pig oinked at him and licked his screen. “Hey! What gives?” He looked at the pig. “You're Angel's pet, aren't you? Haven't seen you in about a year. I'm surprised you remember me.”
The pig oinked again and tackled Vox to the floor, sitting on him and licking his screen. Alastor chuckled, finding that amusing.
After some time, Vox managed to escape Fat Nuggets and walked back to Alastor. Alastor was still snickering.
“Shut up.” Vox muttered.
Alastor hummed. “You said something about that thing remembering you?” He asked.
Vox nodded. “Oh, it's Angel's pet. Val got it for him years ago, way before Angel first came to this hotel. I was stuck watching the thing sometimes, and apparently it grew attached.” Vox explained.
“I see. Well, we should look for someone to try fixing this.” Alastor stated.
—----
Cherri walked into the kitchen to find Fat Nuggets chewing on a towel, and a bag of chips that had been left partially open sitting on the counter. “Who the fuck left a half-open beg of chips in here?” Cherri shouted as she picked Fat Nuggets and the towel up, taking it away from him.