Flames

Everyone needs an Alastor

Charlie paced in her 'room' which hadn't actually belonged to her in a few years, the crew had to take refuge in one of Lucifers many palaces. Charlie was firm and would not let Lucifer argue with her about it. Vaggie sat on their bed with a worried expression on her face. Charlie refreshed her messages, calling Alastor again.
"Where is he? Please tell me he's not with Valentino. We can't have this right now." She said, sighing when she went to voicemail once more, he'd been gone for an hour and a half. Vaggie stood up and went towards her girlfriend,
"Charlie, he's not there, he's a piece of shit who doesn't listen to anyone, but he's not an idiot. He'll come back anyway. You know he always does."

Charlie smiled at Vaggie, nodding, even though she wasn't sure anymore. She didn't know what to do. She was stuck, she didn't want to say it, or even think it, but this might be the end of her rehabilitation hotel...

Wait? Was that the doorbell? Her father has no home appointments today, who would be here to see her? She left the room, Vaggie trailing close behind her, and went to answer the door. Stepping down the overly decorated and expensive staircase. She walked over to the large dark oak door, opening it slowly. Her eyes went wide.

"Hello dear... I believe I left a little suddenly, let's-" he was interrupted by Vaggie grabbing him by the neck and pulling him down to her level.
"Where the fuck did you go? Do you know that Charlie has been worried sick about you? Please tell me that you didn't do anything we'll regret? Te juro por lucifer patético señor supremo!" Vaggie began, both hands around Alastor's neck.

Alastor teleported out of her grasp, she fell forwards and swore in Spanish. Alastor took hold of his own neck and rubbed the spot she had been strangling him by.
"Yes yes dear, I completely understand, my departure was quite unhelpful and I understand my mistake. No, I haven't done anything by the way, I've come back to be of service." He said, calmly, as Vaggie almost turned red in hatred, listening to him speak as if he hadn't almost abandoned all of them,
"How can we trust you? You just left for an hour and a half, we had no idea where you were or what you were doing and you expect us to just forget it?" Vaggie argued, protectively putting an arm around Charlie who waited for his response.

Alastor sighed,
"Well, I don't understand how you could have expected me to stay in that building? Hospitals are honestly so unethical, although I do feel respect for the nurses who have to put up with all of the screaming all day. I just went for a walk to get away from it." Alastor explained. Charlie and Vaggie looked at eachother in confusion,
"Uh... Al? I don't think that's what hospitals are meant to be like, sure, they can be loud, but most of the time you can't hear much other than machines." Charlie responded, watching as Alastors smile became strained and awkward.

"Well, my mistake! Well I'm here to help now, how about I make us some dinner, it's getting late and bad food doesn't help a bad mood!" Alastor said, going off to find the kitchen to start preparing it.
"Alastor! What do you mean by screams?" Charlie said, making Alastor spin around and grin at her.
"I might explain later, but first, let me make the food will you?" Alastor said to Charlie. She sighed, putting a hand to her face,
"How did I get here? Yes Al, make the food then, but this isn't over." Charlie replied, watching him walk into the kitchen and then going back upstairs. Vaggie followed her,
"It's a good job he cooks well, we need some food other than Chinese on our system." Vaggie tried to joke, earning a weak smile from Charlie.

Alastor looked in the cupboards and the fridge, it was great to have so much food to work with compared to the food at the hotel. He would go all out, Gumbo Aux Herbes maybe? That was always a family favourite when he was alive. Before he could make the decision though he had to address the elephant in the room, or, the cat in the room,
"Husker! Hello old friend!" Alastor said in his usual enthusiasm, almost like nothing had ever happened in the last three days.

Husk jumped,
"Fuck! Can't sneak up on you can I? What's up Al." Husk said, emerging from the shadows of the kitchen holding a bear bottle in his paw.
"Hello Husk! Come to make a suggestion on what I should make, I've got many ideas." Alastor said, grabbing a black apron off of the door and tying it around his waist. Husk sighed,
"No Al, I'm here to talk about something else." Husk said, watching Alastor take vegetables out from the fridge and laying out a cutting board. He shuddered as he saw him pick up a knife, it was never a good thing to see a serial killer holding a knife.

Alastor looked at Husk cautiously,
"This better not be anything to negative, the air has been sour lately." Alastor said, cutting the vegetables quickly and sweeping them into little bowls. Husk knew he was going to act like this,
"God fucking damn it Al, why can't you take this shit seriously. I know that you're upset about it but being a piece of shit and pretending nothing happened isn't going to do anything!" Husk yelled, and Alastor's ears perked up. He placed the knife down carefully,

"Husker, dear, there's no need to raise your voice. Besides, what would I be upset about?" Alastor gave him a grin, the mask that is his smile unshaken by Husk. Husk scoffed,
"Yeah right, your more pissed and upset than anyone else here you fucking idiot. The hotel burned down! And that was terrible. But you also couldn't save someone, Angel." At the mention of his name, Alastor stood frozen, Husk knew that he had gotten him.

But Alastor persisted,
"Husk... I don't know what your implying, are you saying that I have some sort of, care? For the demon? Preposterous!" He said, laughing a fake laugh, before turning around back to his vegetables,
"Now, are you finished? Could you leave now?"
But Husk was as ready to fight this as Alastor was, this was a big part into why they were friends, but irritated Alastor deeply.
"I'm not done Al, I know your upset, fucking man up and admit it! You like him, I don't know how much but I know you do!" Alastor spun around, ears twitching in annoyance,
"I do not. Please leave Husk, I will not discuss this any further."

"Oh yes you will! Admit it! I don't want to help or anything but Charlie does! Nifty does! They are worried about you. Stop ignoring it!"
"Leave Husker."
"No! Your such an asshole you know that? You ignore problems that you can't fix along with emotions, if you don't stop you will lose whatever the fuck is happening in your head! And you'll lose us, you'll lose Angel."
"Be quiet, be quiet..."
"Do you want that? Do you want everyone who's ever cared about you to leave you? Your pathetic Al, I'm sorry to say it but you are. Angel could die and you chose to do this-
"FŨÇK ØFF HUSK! G3T ÕUT OF MY K8TÇHËÑ."

Husk was taken aback, he stayed silent, Alastor breathed heavily. His eyes twitched and he was sweating, he was panicking, his smiled was leaving his face and he quickly ripped off his apron before leaving the room,
"When I come back you better be out of this room Husk, or I'll have your head on my wall." He said, pushing past.

Husk was quiet, he had never gotten this reaction from Alastor. But now he knew. This was far worse than he'd imagined. If Angel did die, who knows what would happen next.