The Forgotten Celestial (Hazbin hotel AU)

Chapter 6: Cracks in the Plan

The usually lively atmosphere of the Hazbin Hotel had dimmed, tension thickening the air like a storm about to break. Charlie paced frantically around the lobby, her bright demeanor now clouded with frustration. Her hands tugged at her hair, and her eyes darted around as if searching for an answer that simply wasn't there.

"I don't understand! Why can't I get through to Heaven?!" she muttered, her voice tinged with desperation. "I need to speak to Sera. If I could just explain my rehabilitation plans, maybe-maybe we could make this work! I've done everything I can, but no one's listening!"

Y/N stood quietly at the edge of the room, observing the chaos with the others-Vaggie, Husk, Angel Dust, Niffty, Sir Pentious, Alby, and Alastor. Charlie's growing distress was hard to ignore, especially as her movements became more erratic. She grabbed sheets of paper covered in scribbled ideas, tossing them onto the floor in frustration.

Vaggie stepped forward cautiously, her expression soft with concern. "Charlie, take a breath, okay? We can figure this out together. You're putting too much pressure on yourself."

Charlie shook her head, her frustration boiling over. "You don't get it, Vaggie! This isn't just about me. It's about everyone here. I promised them a second chance, but I can't even get Heaven to listen to me! How can I keep this place running if no one up there believes in my plan?"

Husk, leaning lazily against the bar, took a swig from his flask and raised an eyebrow. "Maybe they're ignoring you because they think it's a lost cause. No offense, kid, but Heaven's probably got its hands full already. A rehab project for sinners might not be high on their list."

Charlie glared at him, her hands trembling. "I have to make them see that it's not hopeless! I have to!"

Angel Dust stretched out on a nearby couch, blowing a strand of hair out of his face. "Babe, freaking out isn't gonna make 'em call you back any faster. Maybe just chill for a bit?"

Charlie clenched her fists, her voice cracking with desperation. "I don't have time to chill, Angel! Every day that passes is another day I fail the people here. They're counting on me, and I'm letting them down."

Alastor, standing with his usual eerie smile, chuckled softly. "It's quite the predicament, isn't it? You're trying to redeem lost souls, and yet Heaven refuses to even entertain your ideas. Perhaps it's because they think it's... amusingly futile."

Y/N's gaze flickered between the residents, watching the scene unfold. She felt a surge of empathy for Charlie-her drive to help others, her passion for redemption, and the pain of feeling like she was failing. It stirred something deep within Y/N, a desire to offer comfort, to give Charlie hope.

Her mouth opened, the words forming on her lips. "Maybe I can help-"

But she stopped herself. The mission. Y/N was there for a reason, and it wasn't to help Charlie solve her problems. She was supposed to observe, gather information, and stay under the radar. Getting involved could jeopardize everything. She quickly swallowed her words and stood silently, fighting the urge to intervene.

Vaggie, still trying to calm Charlie down, placed a hand on her shoulder. "You're doing your best, Charlie. Maybe we can find another way to reach Sera. There has to be a way."

Charlie sighed, rubbing her temples. "I've tried everything. Every spell, every ritual, every prayer-it's like Heaven has completely shut us out. I just don't understand why."

Sir Pentious cackled from his spot near the window, amused by the whole situation. "Perhaps Heaven just finds your little project... beneath them! After all, who would want to waste their time on a bunch of misfits and failures?"

"Shut up, Pentious!" Vaggie snapped, her patience wearing thin.

Y/N glanced at Alastor, who watched the scene with unsettling amusement. She couldn't shake the feeling that he enjoyed seeing Charlie struggle. His smile never faltered, and the faint static that accompanied his presence filled the silence.

"Isn't it fascinating?" Alastor mused. "The very beings you seek approval from are the ones who refuse to acknowledge you. It's almost poetic, don't you think?"

Charlie sank into a nearby chair, burying her face in her hands. "I don't know what to do anymore..."

Y/N's heart ached at the sight of her despair, but she remained still, torn between the desire to help and the weight of her mission. She knew she had to play her part and keep her distance, no matter how hard it was.

As the room fell into an uncomfortable silence, Charlie's voice broke through once more, softer this time. "I just... I just want to give them a second chance. That's all I've ever wanted."

The weight of her words hung in the air, and Y/N felt the tension in the room shift. Despite the bickering, the skepticism, and the doubts, everyone knew that Charlie's heart was in the right place. She believed in redemption, even if Heaven didn't seem to.

But as Y/N looked around at the faces of the hotel's residents, she couldn't help but wonder: Was there more to this than just Heaven's disapproval? Could there be a deeper reason why Charlie's efforts were being ignored?

For now, Y/N would stay quiet, observe, and wait. But as she watched Charlie continue to spiral, Y/N knew that her mission was about to get a lot more complicated.