Pardon The Way That I Stare

Games Of Chance

By mid-afternoon, the Hazbin Hotel's lobby had been transformed into the site of Charlie's latest event—her so-called "Trivia Extravaganza." A large board with a haphazard mix of questions and challenges was set up at the far end of the room, and the residents were gathered in clusters, either lounging on sofas or standing in nervous anticipation. Charlie stood at the center, beaming with excitement, as she explained the rules with an enthusiasm that would have been infectious... if anyone else cared as much as she did.

Lucifer, however, was only half-listening. He was keenly aware of Alastor standing next to him, the Radio Demon's unsettling grin as present as ever. After the previous night and the day's events, Lucifer had hoped for some space, some room to think—but, of course, Charlie had once again paired him with Alastor for the trivia competition.

"You and Alastor are going to make a *great* team, Dad!" she had chirped with a knowing wink before hurrying off to explain more rules to the others.

Now, as he stood there, arms crossed, Lucifer tried to focus on the absurdity of the situation instead of the odd sense of anticipation bubbling under his skin. Trivia. In Hell. What was next, a book club?

Alastor, seemingly reading his thoughts, leaned closer and said in that vintage radio crackle, "I didn't think you'd be the trivia type, Lucifer. Or perhaps you're more knowledgeable than you let on?"

Lucifer shot him a sidelong glance. "I know enough to get through this ridiculous charade."

Alastor's grin only widened. "We shall see, won't we?"

Before Lucifer could retort, Charlie clapped her hands, signaling the start of the game. "Alright, teams! The trivia will cover everything from Hell's history to the living world's pop culture! Points will be awarded for speed, accuracy, and creativity! Remember, this is about fun!"

Lucifer groaned inwardly but said nothing, casting a glance at Alastor, who seemed far too amused by the entire situation. His red eyes glittered with that usual air of mischief, but there was something more, something playful that Lucifer hadn't noticed before. He found himself looking just a bit too long before shaking his head and focusing on the task at hand.

The first round of questions began, each team taking turns as Charlie read aloud the prompts from her trivia cards.

"Alright!" Charlie exclaimed, drawing the first card. "Here's an easy one to start! 'Who was the 33rd President of the United States?'"

Lucifer smirked slightly. Easy enough.

Before he could answer, though, Alastor leaned in and answered smoothly, "Harry S. Truman."

Charlie beamed. "Correct! One point to Team Lucifer and Alastor!"

Lucifer shot Alastor a look. "You know *human* trivia?"

"Of course," Alastor replied with a sly grin. "I always like to keep up with the world. It's fascinating what the living get up to, wouldn't you agree?"

Lucifer snorted, but couldn't help the small smirk that tugged at the corner of his mouth. "You would find it fascinating."

The game continued, with more questions ranging from Hellish history to obscure pop culture references. Lucifer found himself surprised at how quickly Alastor answered, and even more surprised when they began working together seamlessly, each complementing the other's knowledge. Where Alastor had an encyclopedic memory of human world events, Lucifer was sharp with Hell's history and its intricacies. Their competitive natures fueled the pace, each eager to outdo the other but still working as a team.

As they played, something unexpected happened—Lucifer started to enjoy himself.

The banter between them was lighter than usual, less charged with animosity. Alastor made snide remarks, and Lucifer responded in kind, but beneath the surface, there was a strange ease. They began stealing glances at each other between rounds, though neither acknowledged it. Whenever one of them answered particularly well, they'd share a brief look—a silent acknowledgment of their teamwork, a flicker of amusement in Alastor's eyes, and a rare, fleeting smile from Lucifer.

At one point, Charlie posed a particularly tricky question. "Alright, here's a fun one! What is the national animal of Scotland?"

Lucifer paused, trying to dig through his knowledge of human trivia, but Alastor, standing beside him, leaned in just close enough for Lucifer to catch a faint hint of something—what, he didn't know. His voice was low, smooth as he answered.

"The unicorn."

Lucifer blinked, turning to Alastor. "The *unicorn*?"

Alastor's grin widened. "Believe it or not, it's true."

Charlie giggled. "That's right! Two points!"

Lucifer raised an eyebrow, giving Alastor an incredulous look. "You're serious."

Alastor shrugged, clearly reveling in Lucifer's surprise. "I know the most absurd things, darling. It's part of my charm."

Lucifer's reaction was immediate. His face grew warm, and before he could stop himself, he felt a faint blush creeping up his cheeks. He quickly looked away, hoping Alastor wouldn't notice. But judging by the Radio Demon's widening grin, he had.

Lucifer cleared his throat, trying to maintain his composure. "You certainly enjoy showing off."

Alastor's smile softened just for a second, his voice a little lower. "Only when it's worth it."

Lucifer froze for a heartbeat, caught off guard by the shift in Alastor's tone. The easy banter between them was still there, but something was underneath it now, something neither of them was willing to acknowledge out loud. The glance they shared lasted a fraction too long, and Lucifer felt the strange tension return—the same tension from the night before, the one he had tried so hard to ignore.

Before he could overthink it, Charlie announced the final round. "Alright! Last question! Whoever gets this wins the game!"

The room quieted as Charlie pulled the card from the deck. "This one's a little more abstract, so get creative! 'What's the most valuable thing in Hell?'"

The room buzzed with murmurs, each team contemplating the answer. Lucifer leaned against the bar, thinking. The most valuable thing in Hell? Power? Control? He glanced at Alastor, wondering what the demon's answer would be, but Alastor was already looking at him, that signature grin still plastered across his face.

"Well, Lucifer?" Alastor asked softly. "What do you think?"

Lucifer was about to answer with something logical, something fitting his usual stance. But then, to his surprise, Alastor turned to Charlie and answered first.

"Hope," Alastor said, his voice quieter than usual but filled with conviction.

Lucifer blinked. "Hope?"

Alastor nodded, his gaze flicking toward Lucifer for the briefest moment. "The one thing that's almost impossible to find here, but if you do, it's invaluable."

Charlie smiled warmly at the answer, clearly moved. "I love that answer," she said softly. "And... it's correct! Alastor and Dad, you win!"

The rest of the room groaned as Charlie cheered, clapping her hands in excitement, but Lucifer barely registered the celebration. He was still staring at Alastor, his mind racing with questions he didn't know how to ask.

Alastor, for his part, gave Lucifer a knowing smile before turning away, but there was something unspoken in his eyes, something that left Lucifer both intrigued and unnerved.

As the game ended, and the day wound down, Lucifer couldn't shake the strange feeling that had settled in his chest. For the first time, he realized that maybe—just maybe—Alastor wasn't the threat he had once believed.

And maybe, that was even more dangerous.