The Forgotten Celestial (Hazbin hotel AU)

Chapter 14: Tears in the Garden

I sat in my room, staring at the chat screen with Lily’s name on it, trying to catch up after being away for eight long months. The twins, Lily and Lute, had been my closest friends before all of this, but now, everything felt distant. I sent Lily a quick message, asking how they both were, hoping to feel some semblance of normalcy.

Her response came quickly: “We’re fine! It’s been so long since we’ve heard from you! How’s everything down there?”

I smiled weakly, about to reply when my phone buzzed again—this time, from Adam. My stomach tightened.

**"Y/N, you need to get ready. The extermination is in two weeks. Make sure you do what we planned."**

The words hit me like a punch. I hadn’t realized how much time had passed. I had been so immersed in the hotel, in the friendships I had built, that I lost track of time. The extermination was coming—and I was supposed to play my part in betraying the very people who had become my friends.

I replied to Adam with a short, reluctant **"Got it."** Turning my phone off, I felt a wave of dread wash over me. My heart pounded in my chest. I needed air, though I knew I wouldn’t find any relief in Hell.

I walked down to the small garden outside the hotel. It was a place where things still bloomed, despite the chaos surrounding it. I sat down beside the roses, their petals vibrant against the dark, as if mocking the darkness in my mind. I hugged my knees to my chest, feeling my tears start to fall.

“I can’t do it… I can’t betray them,” I whispered, the words catching in my throat. My tears flowed freely now, staining my cheeks as I sobbed quietly. Everything felt wrong. I didn’t want to hurt them. I didn’t want to betray the friends who had shown me kindness, who had accepted me.

I buried my face in my arms, letting the fear, the guilt, and the shame pour out of me. **I was scared.** I didn’t know what to do, how to navigate this. My heart ached, torn between the mission and the bonds I had formed.

Then, suddenly, I felt a presence beside me. A voice, smooth and familiar, cut through the silence.

“Well, well, what do we have here? The strongest commander in Heaven, crying like a little lamb in a garden of thorns.”

I froze. My breath caught in my throat as I slowly lifted my head. **Alastor.** Of course it was him. He stood there, that signature grin on his face, though his voice was softer than usual, almost… concerned?

“I—” I started, wiping my tears quickly, embarrassed that he had caught me in such a vulnerable moment.

He crouched beside me, his red eyes gleaming in the dim light, and tilted his head as he observed me. “Crying doesn’t suit you, darling. But I must say, it’s rather charming to see you so… human.”

I felt my cheeks flush with heat as I tried to compose myself, but the more I tried, the more I felt his gaze on me. He wasn’t laughing at me, though. His expression, despite the teasing words, had an unusual gentleness to it.

“You’re not going to ask why I’m crying?” I asked softly, looking at him with a mix of curiosity and vulnerability.

Alastor’s smile never wavered. “Why spoil the fun by stating the obvious? I already know.” His eyes gleamed as if he could see straight through me. “But, if it helps you feel better, you’re not as alone as you think.”

I blinked, taken aback by his words. There was something deeper in his tone, something that made my heart skip a beat.

He stood up and offered me his hand. “Come now, enough tears for one evening. Let’s go inside before the roses start weeping, too.”

I hesitated for a moment before reaching out and taking his hand, feeling his warmth through my fingers. He pulled me to my feet with surprising gentleness, his usual sharp demeanor softened in that moment.

As we began walking back toward the hotel, I glanced at him, feeling a sense of heaviness that I could no longer ignore.

**"You know, I’ve noticed something,"** I finally said, my voice quiet but steady. **"I’ve always known that you knew."**

Alastor raised an eyebrow, his grin twitching, intrigued. **"Oh? Do tell."**

I stopped walking, turning to face him directly. **"All those little comments, those hints about me hiding something. About my ‘mission’ here. You’ve known all along, haven’t you?"** I crossed my arms, trying to gauge his reaction, but Alastor, as always, was unreadable.

He let out a low chuckle, his eyes gleaming with amusement. **"You catch on quickly, darling. But yes, I knew from the moment you stepped foot in Hell who you really were. I could smell the scent of Heaven on you from a mile away."**

I wasn’t surprised. I had noticed the way he always seemed to linger around me, always making those sly comments about how I didn’t quite fit in with the others. But what baffled me was that, even though he knew the truth, **he hadn’t exposed me.**

**"Why didn’t you say anything? Why are you still…"** I trailed off, unsure how to finish the sentence.

**"Still what? By your side?"** Alastor completed it for me, his voice dropping a note lower, the playfulness fading just slightly. **"Let’s just say… I find you fascinating. And besides,"** he smirked, his eyes gleaming with something more, **"it’s more fun watching you struggle with your little secret."**

Despite the situation, I found myself smiling. He knew my secret, and yet, he was still here. **"You’re not going to out me, are you?"** I asked, half-joking but half-worried.

**"Now, where’s the fun in that?"** Alastor replied smoothly. **"No, I’d rather see how long you can keep up the act."**

As we walked back toward the hotel, his presence beside me felt different now. I was still cautious, still wary of his true intentions, but for some reason, it also felt comforting. He knew my secret, and yet, he was still here.

And for now, that was enough.