Pardon The Way That I Stare

Paths Intertwine

The night had finally settled in, the gentle sway of the cruise ship lulling most of the Hazbin Hotel residents into a relaxed state. The energy of the day began to wind down as everyone retreated to their rooms.

Lucifer found himself standing in the shared bedroom he had with Alastor, staring at the singular queen bed in the middle of the room. He swallowed hard. He still wasn't used to this—sharing a space, especially not with *him.*

Alastor was already busying himself with his luggage on the other side of the room. He had changed into something more comfortable—still sharply dressed, of course, but without the stiffness of his usual attire. Lucifer, still feeling slightly embarrassed from the dinner conversation, kept stealing glances at him. His mind raced, not just from the emotional whirlwind of the evening but from the fact that soon they'd be sharing the same bed.

"Well, dear, I suppose this is where we make do with the sleeping arrangements, hm?" Alastor's voice broke through Lucifer's thoughts as he gestured to the bed.

Lucifer forced a smile, trying to shake off the awkwardness that was quickly settling in. "Yeah. It's just for a few nights, right?"

"Indeed," Alastor replied with a mischievous grin, taking the opportunity to eye the bed. "I'm sure we'll manage."

They both awkwardly climbed into the bed, careful to give each other plenty of space. The mattress dipped under their weight, causing the tiniest of shifts between them. Lucifer turned on his side, trying to find something to talk about to ease the tension. His mind raced through a dozen different topics before landing on something mundane. Something safe.

"You know," Lucifer said, adjusting one of the pillows, "there's a smart TV in here. We could watch something, I guess. Help pass the time."

Alastor, intrigued, raised an eyebrow. "Oh? What exactly is there to watch, Lucifer? I haven't paid much attention to modern human entertainment."

Lucifer chuckled softly, picking up the remote and flipping through the menu. "There's a lot, but... have you ever heard of YouTube?"

Alastor blinked, his expression blank. "You... tube? Is that some kind of human device?"

Lucifer bit back a laugh. "Not quite. It's a website—well, more than that now. People upload videos—everything from tutorials to music, even ridiculous pranks and things. I think you might find it entertaining."

"Hm," Alastor mused, clearly curious. "Show me, dear."

Lucifer couldn't help the warmth that filled his chest at hearing Alastor's intrigued tone. For once, he had something to offer that Alastor didn't know about. He quickly navigated to the YouTube app on the TV and scrolled through various video recommendations.

"What do you want to watch?" Lucifer asked.

Alastor leaned back against the headboard, folding his arms across his chest. "Surprise me, Lucifer. I'm open to anything."

Lucifer smirked, scrolling down the menu until he found a video titled *"Top 10 Ridiculous Inventions That Actually Work."* It seemed like something that might amuse Alastor—absurd enough to catch his interest.

The video started playing, and almost immediately, Alastor's eyes widened as the host introduced bizarre contraptions like automatic dog-petting machines and wearable blankets for chairs. His lips twitched as if he was trying to suppress laughter, but eventually, the ridiculousness of it all got the better of him.

"What in Hell are these humans thinking?" Alastor laughed, his voice rich and melodic. "An invention to pet your own dog? The laziness is astounding!"

Lucifer couldn't help but laugh with him, the tension between them momentarily forgotten. They continued watching video after video, ranging from absurd challenges to compilations of people falling into pools, to cooking tutorials that took disastrous turns.

The comfort of sharing lighthearted moments together eased the awkwardness that had initially filled the room. As the night wore on, Lucifer found himself relaxing more and more, the earlier embarrassment fading into the background. Alastor's laughter, his sharp wit—Lucifer couldn't help but be drawn to it.

Eventually, Lucifer put the remote down, resting his head on the pillow. He turned to look at Alastor, whose attention was still focused on the TV, though it seemed like his mind was somewhere else.

"See? Told you YouTube could be fun," Lucifer said, his voice softer now, the late hour making everything feel more intimate.

Alastor turned to face him, a playful smile dancing on his lips. "I must admit, I'm impressed, Lucifer. Perhaps I've underestimated the entertainment value of modern technology."

Lucifer shrugged, but he couldn't hide the pleased grin that tugged at his lips. "Glad you liked it."

They fell into a comfortable silence, the soft glow of the TV casting shadows across the room. Lucifer's heart still raced, though—Alastor was so close, just on the other side of the bed. He could feel the warmth radiating from him, and that strange flutter in his chest returned. He had no idea what to make of these feelings.

After a while, Alastor shifted under the covers, breaking the silence. "Lucifer, may I ask you something?"

Lucifer's heart skipped a beat. "Of course."

Alastor paused, his eyes locked on Lucifer's. "Do you ever wonder what comes next? For you?"

Lucifer blinked, caught off guard by the question. "What do you mean?"

"Hell is full of surprises," Alastor said, his tone quieter now, contemplative. "We're immortal, yes, but that doesn't mean we stop growing. You... you seem like you're at a crossroads. I can see it in your eyes."

Lucifer swallowed hard, unsure of how to respond. Alastor had a way of cutting right to the heart of things, and it made him feel vulnerable in a way he wasn't used to. He thought back to the conversation at dinner, to the confusion and the feelings he had yet to sort out.

"I guess I'm still figuring it out," Lucifer admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. "What about you? Do you know what comes next for you?"

Alastor's smile faltered, just for a moment. "I have my own path to walk, Lucifer. But... perhaps it intersects with yours."

The tension between them thickened, and for a moment, neither of them spoke. Lucifer could feel his pulse quickening, and his thoughts swirled in a chaotic mess. He wanted to ask more, to push deeper into the conversation, but the words got stuck in his throat.

Lucifer opened his mouth to speak, but the words got stuck in his throat. Instead, he turned back to the TV, allowing the low hum of the screen to fill the silence. The flickering images began to blend together, and he felt his eyelids growing heavy. The warmth of the room, combined with Alastor's steady presence beside him, was soothing.

Before he realized it, he had dozed off, his head slowly leaning against Alastor's shoulder. The rhythmic rise and fall of Alastor's breathing lulled him into a deeper sleep, feeling safe and oddly comforted.

Alastor glanced down, a fond smile tugging at his lips as he noticed Lucifer nestled against him. His heart fluttered at the sight—something he hadn't expected to feel so strongly. He took a moment to enjoy the closeness, but soon the practical side of him kicked in.

He carefully slid down the headboard, adjusting his position to make Lucifer more comfortable. With gentle hands, he moved Lucifer's head onto his chest, allowing him to rest there more comfortably. The weight felt good, grounding, and Alastor couldn't help but feel a surge of warmth at the intimacy of the moment.

But as he glanced back at the TV, he realized he had left it on. He reached for the remote, fumbling with the buttons in the dim light. After a few moments of frustration, he muttered under his breath, "Damn technology and its complexities," as he tried to find the off switch.

Finally, with a satisfied click, the screen went dark, plunging the room into a comfortable quiet. Alastor took a moment to appreciate the stillness, his gaze shifting to Lucifer, who was blissfully asleep against him.

With a small, content sigh, Alastor settled back into the headboard, holding Lucifer close, feeling as though everything had shifted just a little. Whatever came next, they would face it together.