Potions and Coffee | 𝓐𝓵𝓪𝓼𝓽𝓸𝓻 & 𝓒𝓱𝓪𝓻𝓵𝓲𝓮

Chapter 18 - You're a Lifesaver

Charlie was going through her music sheets to try and make the harmony between Alastor and her more fluid when appeared in the room through a black fog. She looked at him and immediately knew something was off. He didn't look distraught but his jaw was clenched and she noticed some scuff marks on his jacket and pants. She got up from the piano and made her way over to him.

"What happened?" Charlie began a visual scan all over Alastor's body for any more evidence of a scuffle. 

"Oh nothing. Your father just had a few things to discuss with me is all."

Charlie looked up slowly to Alastor's face. He was damn good at keeping a straight face. He really didn't seem bothered.

"By 'few things to discuss' you mean...?" Charlie couldn't imagine what could've triggered her dad to act like this but it was Alastor. Most likely he poked at the bear until he went off.

"I mean exactly what I said. He just wanted to have a little chat is all, nothing too serious." Charlie knew he was keeping some things from her and she was going to get it out of him one way or another.

"Did he hurt you?" Charlie asked in a lower register.

"Oh please, do have some more confidence in me Charlie. I'm perfectly fine. Your father is just animated when he communicates is all." Alastor was trying his best to play off the confrontation but he could see that Charlie wasn't going to let it go. She was certainly stubborn, much like her father. 

"Alastor tell me the truth now." Charlie crossed her arms defiantly. Alastor sighed and rolled his eyes. She had backed him into a corner with no way out unless he spilled it. 

"He threw me across the parlor like a rag doll then threatened to send me over the edge of the balcony but-" Alastor rushed out but Charlie put a hand up. He could see her blood pressure rise and he was reminded that she was the princess of Hell. 

"He what?" Alastor noticed her horns start to peek from the crown of her head. The white of her eyes now a ruby crimson. Her long fangs gleamed from the light and Alastor forgot about her rage for a split second and just became lost in her. She reminded him of a deadly viper. So beautiful and unique, but piss them off and you can easily lose your life. He tended to forget about the deadly side of Charlie but moments like these where he's shown it, he becomes enthralled. 

"Don't blow a blood vessel Charlie, I can promise you it's not that serious. You know he's not my number one fan. You know what? I'm not even sure that he's on the list." Alastor put a hand under his chin, pretending to be deep in thought. Charlie began to have flames lick at her heels. Mental note, don't try to joke with Charlie when she's enraged.

"Did you say something to him?" Charlie asked in a calm voice, which was honestly kind of disturbing given that she was currently looking like the true spawn of Satan. Alastor couldn't wrap his brain around why she was so upset about this. 

Could it be because he got hurt?

Technically he didn't, but the dirt scuffs on his attire could paint a different picture. Surely she didn't care if he got a few scrapes and bruises. He just had wishful thinking and for some reason his stomach lurched at the thought that she probably didn't care.

"He questioned me about the duet we are scheduled to perform. I confirmed that we were and he was...well let's just say he won't be sitting on the front row for the show." Alastor kept his tone light to show Charlie that he really wasn't worried about Father of the Year's threats. He probably should be because he was all powerful but he couldn't help but see him as a pebble trying to show himself as a boulder. He pushed Charlie to the side for years and all of a sudden he comes back and acts like he cares about her well being? Alastor couldn't help but call malarkey. 

"Charlie dear, if I'm not worried about it then neither should you." He brought his knuckles up to gently touch her cheek. This seemed to have grounded her as her normal facial features started to come back. It was a bold move on Alastor's part but it seemed to have worked anyway.

His breath caught when she reached up and grabbed his hand.

"Are you sure you're ok?" Alastor cocked his head and took a good look at her. Her eyes went from homicidal to caring in a split second. How in the hell did she do that? One minute he thought she was about to burn down the hotel in rage and the next she looked like she was going to start weeping. Her neck must hurt from the insane whiplash of her emotions. 

"I'm fine, darling." His thumb began to carress the back of her hand reassuringly. She looked down at their conjoined hands and as if realizing what she was doing, she let go.

"Ok um as long as you're telling the truth." Alastor chuckled and made an X over his chest.

"Cross my non existent heart."

Charlie smiled at Alastor's attempt at humor. He was slowly improving, compared to his old jokes of "I pulled a few limbs too". 

"Oh! Were you able to finish making the catering reservations? Did Angel and Cherry practice enough? Did the light's guy bill us yet?" Alastor placed both of his hands behind his back, still tingling from her touch.

"Painfully finished, more than enough and already paid." Alastor let his grin stretch a bit more. He couldn't help but feel the tiniest bit proud of what he was able to accomplish. Sure it ended in a brawl with Lucifer but Alastor was actually able to do a lot of chores for Charlie that were causing her stress. Seeing her sigh in relief was worth the migraine he had been rocking all day.

"You're a lifesaver." Charlie walked back over to the piano with Alastor trailing behind.

"Technically you saved me. I just did a few favors, nothing I couldn't handle." He wasn't going to let her know how much those favors actually grated on his last nerve, which was already raw. 

"I'm just surprised you did me a favor and didn't demand a deal in return." Charlie said nonchalantly as she got herself comfy on her stool again. Alastor stopped walking as it dawned on him. He did do her a favor without a deal mentioned. It didn't even cross his mind to bring one up. He genuinely helped Charlie with no ulterior motive or plan hidden underneath good intentions. He felt a small bloom of panic in his chest. What was he becoming? Within a week he has not thought about deals, helped Charlie with no strings attached and to be honest with himself, had his entire world painfully revolve around her. He was getting worse. 

"Alastor? Everything ok?" Charlie waved a hand to get his attention. He shook his head slightly making his monocle fall off. He placed it back with a shaky hand. He needed to isolate himself a second. A minute. Fuck it, the rest of the day. 

"I do apologize Charlie but I just remembered a prior engagement. I'll have to postpone our practice together. Perhaps tomorrow?" Alastor was backing up towards the door, truly feeling like a deer in that moment. He wanted to sprint away from all of this and quickly. 

"Did I say something?" Damn it all, Charlie looked hurt. He just couldn't win today. 

"No! No, not at all. Something just slipped my mind and I must see to it. Please forgive me." He put his hand behind him and let it feel around for the doorknob. It gripped it firmly.

"O-Ok. That's ok. I'll see you tomorrow?" 

"First thing tomorrow morning, dear." With that, Alastor opened the door and left quickly. 

Charlie didn't understand what made his emotions change direction so quickly. She was slightly disappointed that she wasn't going to practice with him today afterall but this did give her an opportunity to see to something herself.

It was time for her and Lucifer to have a conversation of their own.