Pardon The Way That I Stare

Announcement!

The atmosphere of the Hazbin Hotel was still buzzing with laughter and energy after trivia night. Everyone had gathered in the common room, recounting their favorite moments from the game, when Charlie stood up and called for everyone's attention, her face brimming with excitement.

"Hey, everyone! I have a special surprise!" she announced, clapping her hands together.

The room fell silent, all eyes turning toward her. Lucifer, still feeling the lingering tension from trivia, leaned back in his chair, curious about what Charlie had in store. Alastor stood beside him, his usual grin in place, though Lucifer felt a strange pull of anticipation whenever their gazes briefly met.

"Alright, so..." Charlie began, her eyes twinkling with enthusiasm. "I've arranged something super fun for us all—a three-night cruise!"

The room erupted in surprised cheers and applause, with Angel Dust nearly toppling off his chair in excitement.

"A cruise? Oh, honey, this is gonna be fabulous!" Angel shrieked, throwing his arms in the air. "I can already picture the sun, the drinks, and maybe a little poolside action!"

"Calm down, Angel," Vaggie muttered, shaking her head, though even she couldn't suppress a smile. "Charlie, this is amazing! How'd you pull this off?"

"I've been planning it for a while now," Charlie admitted, her cheeks flushing slightly. "I thought it would be a great way for everyone to relax, get some fresh air, and just have some fun together outside the hotel."

Lucifer couldn't help but smile at his daughter's thoughtfulness. She always had a knack for bringing people together, even in Hell.

"Now, there's one little catch," Charlie continued, holding up a finger. "Since space is limited, everyone's going to have to share rooms. I've already arranged some of the pairs to make sure things are as fair as possible."

The room grew quiet again as everyone waited for Charlie to announce the room assignments.

"So, Vaggie and I will be sharing a room," Charlie said with a smile, glancing fondly at her girlfriend. "Angel, you'll be with Husk."

"Ugh, do I have to?" Husk grumbled, though there was a faint smile on his face.

"Yes, Husk, you'll survive," Charlie said with a giggle before continuing. "And... Alastor, you'll be sharing a room with Lucifer."

Lucifer froze, his heart suddenly pounding in his chest. He glanced over at Alastor, who arched an eyebrow but didn't seem the least bit surprised. In fact, there was a flicker of amusement in his eyes.

"Well, well," Alastor said, his voice as smooth as ever. "It seems we'll be roommates, dear Lucifer. How delightful."

Lucifer opened his mouth to respond but found that words failed him. Sharing a room with Alastor for three nights? The idea was both thrilling and utterly terrifying. What would happen? Could he keep his feelings in check? Or would spending such close, intimate quarters with the Radio Demon only make things more complicated?

"That's not all!" Charlie's voice cut through his thoughts, and Lucifer forced himself to focus on her. "The rest of the guest sinners get to choose their own bunkmates, so make sure you pick wisely!"

Excited murmurs spread through the room as the guest sinners began discussing their pairings. Meanwhile, Lucifer sat in stunned silence, trying to process what had just been announced.

A cruise. Three nights. One room. With Alastor.

Angel leaned over, a sly grin spreading across his face. "You two? In the same room? Oh, this is gonna be fun to watch."

Lucifer shot him a glare. "Not a word, Angel."

Angel raised his hands in mock surrender, clearly enjoying every moment of Lucifer's discomfort. "Whatever you say, Luci."

Across the room, Alastor seemed entirely unfazed by the arrangement, still wearing his signature grin. Lucifer tried to swallow the lump in his throat as a million thoughts raced through his mind. How was he supposed to navigate this? Would Alastor pick up on his feelings, or worse—was it possible he already had?

As the evening wound down, the preparations for the cruise began in earnest. Charlie explained the details, handing out information on departure times and activities. Lucifer barely registered it, his thoughts consumed by the idea of being alone in a room with Alastor for the next few nights.

Finally, as the group began to disperse, Alastor approached him, his smile never wavering.

"Well, Lucifer, it looks like fate has decided we'll be sharing more than just a few conversations," Alastor said, his tone as playful as ever. "I do hope you don't snore."

Lucifer let out a nervous chuckle, trying to mask the turmoil inside. "I'll do my best."

"Good," Alastor replied, his eyes twinkling with mischief. "I'm sure we'll get along famously."

With that, Alastor turned and walked away, leaving Lucifer standing there, feeling as though the floor had just dropped out from beneath him. Sharing a room with Alastor, with all the tension between them simmering just below the surface, was going to be more of a challenge than he could have ever anticipated.

As Lucifer made his way back to his room for the night, the weight of the situation settled heavily on his shoulders. The cruise had the potential to be relaxing and fun, but the idea of being so close to Alastor for three nights in a row?

It was both a dream and a nightmare wrapped into one, and Lucifer had no idea which it would turn out to be.