𝐇𝐇 𝐒𝐇𝐈𝐏𝐏𝐄𝐑𝐒 𝐆𝐔𝐈𝐃𝐄 - Hazbin Hotel

pt 3

Lucifer had kept his note from Alastor tucked away in his jacket pocket until he'd made it back to his room. He'd noticed how the demon had hesitated to give him a note at all, and figured he'd appreciate him not making a big deal out of it in front of the other demons. He shrugged his jacket off and flopped down onto his bed, note in hand. He felt a little nervous to read it, and he wasn't really sure why. It was just a note from his friend Alastor. Just a few words from the hotel's facility manager. Just a very out-of-character token from someone he really wanted attention from.

He forced himself out of his own head and opened the note, which was hand-folded into a little envelope. It had been sealed with a tiny duck sticker that made the king smile.

'Lucifer,

I will not pretend to understand your strange little mind and why you seem so determined to
acquire a friendship with me, but admittedly, the idea is not entirely repulsive. Thank you for
tending to me and for what you do for Charlie and this hotel. Enjoy the gifts I've enclosed. ~Al'

There were 3 little vouchers that had fallen out, hand-drawn in the style of carnival tickets that read, 'Good for 1 Platonic Lunch Date,' 'Good for 1 Random Favor,' and 'Good for Winning 1 Argument.' Lucifer giggled. He loved it. What a funny guy. He imagined Alastor sitting at his desk, hunched over and focused on sketching out these cute little coupons. The thought warmed his cheeks and gave him butterflies that he decided to ignore.

He tucked the vouchers away into a special little trinket box that he kept his keepsakes in. He didn't want to risk misplacing them. The king fell into an easy sleep that night, undisturbed by the horrid dreams that usually plagued him.

-

Early the next morning, there was a knock at his door. Assuming that it was his daughter, since no one else really thought it proper to knock at the king of hell's door, he opened it with an easy smile. He froze up when he was suddenly looking up at the Radio Demon, who was fixing him with a look that he couldn't decipher for the life of him.

"Uh...hello," Lucifer greeted, doing his best not to seem put-off. He didn't mind that he stopped by, of course, but it was not what he was expecting.

"How did you get the book?" Alastor's voice wasn't shrouded by radio interference. It held none of its usual sarcasm. If Lucifer didn't know any better, he'd say he sounded...emotional?

"I have my ways," the king said casually, trying to play it off. In truth, it had not been a simple task. Heaven did not like when he visited the mortal realm. He had to choose very random days, and keep a very low-profile. Time worked differently for angels, fallen or not, and he could slip into Earth at any point in history. Blending in with the people of the time, he'd visited Alastor's childhood home a short while after Alastor himself had died. They were holding an estate sale at the humble home, selling everything inside for a quick buck. He'd combed through absolutely everything, wanting to find the perfect gift that would be both sentimental and practical. When he'd come across the cookbook, it felt almost warm in his hands, like it was begging to be picked up. When he saw the note from Alastor's mother written inside, he knew immediately that he'd found the right gift.

Lucifer was pulled from his musings by the taller man suddenly advancing toward him. He instinctively stepped back, worried he'd fucked up somehow. Alastor reached out and grabbed his shoulders, just holding him in place and staring at him. It was goddamn unsettling.

"Are you okay?" Lucifer whispered, searching the demon's face for a hint at what was happening.

Alastor didn't answer him. But he did close the distance between them and was holding the smaller man with no warning. Lucifer gasped involuntarily, Alastor squeezing the air right out of him. Lucifer wanted to return the gesture, but the demon had him held so tight that he couldn't move his arms. As quick as it happened, Alastor released him and left the room, slamming the door behind him. The king stared after him blankly before a big, dopey smile slowly spread across his face.