Alastor X Reader: Blood For Freedom

36. Solutions

*** Lucifer's POV ***

The pair proofed up in smoke and shadow leaving the rest of us conflicted and confused.

"Should we go find them?" Angel Dust asked tentatively.

"Oh fuck no." Husker responded immediately. "Did you not see the look on his face? Don't know about you, but I don't have a second death wish."

"Are we not worried he could try to make a deal with Y/n while she is all upset like that?" Angel looked concerned, remembering the last time someone was left alone and in emotional distress.

"That's not a concern." I chimed in.

Charlie, Vaggie and I knew about your situation, particularly that your soul wasn't in your possession so you couldn't make a soul deal. Smaller deals maybe, but nothing really binding. Presumably, Alastor knew that too. That raised more questions, including why he insisted on bringing you to heaven, and why he took you with him just now. Charlie never told me what she meant when she said she heard laughter that made her change her mind about asking me to transfer you out of the hotel, just saying that it was better not to say. So that just added to the mystery as I didn't know if Alastor had something to do with that too or if it was completely unrelated.

"If you say so." The spider shrugged.

"Bottom line either of them is out of the question." Vaggie said crossing her arms with a grim expression, "We will need to find some other brand of evil to redeem. Any idea? Charlie? Char....lie?

Charlie was sill standing in the same spot clearly distraught. "I.... yes." Was all she got out, but instead of continuing she just walked away, leaving the rest of us sitting in an awkward silence. That is until the yelling and arguing started about how to deal with this predicament, and if you were right to talk to Charlie that way. Angel Dust knew where you were coming from, even if he did think you were harsh. Nifty was just upset that Alastor was upset. Husker's main concern was making sure none of us got the butt end of Alastor's wrath.

"He is generally reasonable. I hate to admit but as far as overlords there are worse ones to be stuck with." Husker said giving Angel a quick glance, "But when he is pissed, he is fucking pissed. So lets all just... take it slow for a little while."

"We can't Husker, we have to figure out some horrible sinner to try to redeem. He was our best bet." Vaggie reasoned. She was pushing to move on and try to find somebody else.

"What about the Vs?" Angel suggested, "Valentino is out of the question but maybe Vox or Velvette?"

"Bringing Vox into the hotel more than absolutely required is a recipe for disaster." Husker noted, taking a swig of his beer.

"Velvette then." Vaggie finished. It was worth a try.

*** Alastor's POV ***

I was very reluctant to let go of you. But we had to return to reality eventually. We agreed I would talk to Charlie, as I didn't want to pull you into the mess any further. You weren't even supposed to be in that room, it was my own selfish desires to have you near me that caused you to end up in there, and in heaven. I took you straight to your room before returning to my own, hoping you would manage to get a bit more respite and I would have a chance to smooth things over before you had to deal with any of it.

"You are pensive." My shadow observed. It was true, since popping up in my room I have been in deep thought. It felt like something in my brain chemistry changed and the rest of me was trying to catch up.

I searched my insides as to what it was talking about until I landed on the words. The realization hitting me in the chest like a ton of bricks and making me very nervous. I whispered the words, putting a couple of fingers on my forehead. "I'm in love with Y/n."

"No shit." The shadow responded with a smug grin.

"Its your fault." I accused it, but it only shrugged at me, clearly it regretted nothing. But then again I knew it had decided its loyalties way before I even so much as gave them a chance to develop. And if I was being honest with myself neither did I regret anything, but it didn't change that this feeling scared me now that you weren't right here in my arms. "She doesn't own her soul, she could be pulled away from here in an instant. And its a liability, what if she gets targeted? What if I can't protect her?"

"So change that." It said, as if it were so simple. "You are afraid of failing so you just aren't going to try?"

Answering yes to that would make me a coward and I knew it. "Besides," it continued, "She makes you, us, happy. Isn't that more worth fighting for than anything else?"

The question shut me up for good. I just didn't have anything to respond with, the stupid shadow was right. There was no one else that could bubble these warm feelings in me, and this was before you had witnessed me loose my smile and cry. You stole my heart and made me feel like a person again along the way. Even despite all the turmoil of the last day I was happy with you in my arms and I felt cold and lonely otherwise, chilled to the bone again like those few days when you had withdrawn from everyone. If there was anything worth taking risks for it was this and I was not dumb enough to not see it.

Once I had got my wits about me I headed downstairs to find the crew still sitting around, though it looks like most of the arguing had died down.

"Where is Y/n?" Angel Dust asked.

"Resting in her room." I twirled my cane behind my back as I answered.

"Alastor..." Charlie came over from the other lounge area, it looked like she was crying. I noted in my head that the sight by no means made me feel the same as when I've seen remnants of tears in your eyes. With you, I wanted to immediately do anything and everything to make you happy again. But looking at the princess's red face I didn't feel much of anything. Perhaps I was still upset, or maybe my ability to feel anything for the day was spent, or maybe I had grown more resentful of the way the battle had gone than I realized. Regardless at some point I think I did feel something, before the battle, but not right now. "Alastor I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to suggest for something so horrible."

"Its alright dear, you are not that type of sinner, or one at all for that matter, so it would not have been something you are used to taking into account." I smiled and gave her placating words. It all still came so easily, but the difference in my own voice between now and just a little while ago when I was comforting you was startling even to me. It had been so long I actually meant things like that I guess I had forgotten how I sounded doing so.

"Are you sure? When you left you seemed so angry, and... Y/n seemed so upset."

"I'm sure. Y/n..." I paused trying to figured out what to say here. It wasn't my place to tell them your life story, neither did I know how much of it could come back to bite you if others knew. But I needed to say enough that Charlie would leave it alone, I decided on a vague truth, "has some unfortunate experiences that make the topic quite sensitive. I would appreciate it if you don't bring it up with her around again."

"Of course." She nodded eagerly and I nodded in approval.

"Good." I was satisfied with that. This should smooth things out enough for at least there not to be active conversations about it, and you would be kept out of it as much as possible.

"You should know we have decided to try asking Velvette." Vaggie let me know, coming up from behind Charlie.

"Mmmm." I hummed pondering over the idea briefly. "Not a bad candidate to try. But frankly I have my doubts she will agree."

I said this for multiple reasons. I didn't know what exactly her sin was, but it seemed very core to her identity as person, similar to Y/n, and my self, in some senses. But also, as much as they were a fucked up trio the feelings between the three of them were real, and if they got a wiff of the memory issue then all of them would refuse on the spot. This is part of the reason I had to keep that secret, and was grateful that you understood the importance of that as well.

We continued chatting about the possibility, and agreed to hold another meeting with the Vs in due to time. The whole time however, I could feel Lucifer's burning gaze on me as I talked to Charlie. It was almost like me talking to her like this reminded him of something on my account and it was making him absolutely furious.