Ace in a Hole (Undertale x Hazbin Hotel)

Chapter 18

Alastor hadn't played any sport in quite a while. He was always much more keen on not showing off much physical exertion in hell, much less walking around in something that showed any hint of his skin. Perverts were free-roaming down there, after all.

Yet there Alastor was, watching as Sans settled onto a towel underneath a tilted umbrella he had set up while Alastor was all but manhandled into a team with Papyrus, Lilac, and Toriel. Across from them stood Frisk, Undyne, Grillby, and Alphys, all murmuring some game plan amongst themselves and occasionally peeking over at their group. Alphys tried to make obvious movements to go join Sans out on the sand, with Undyne wrestling her back with the team with a large smile and promising words.

Papyrus looked positively ecstatic to have Alastor on his team, glancing over at the demon once every five seconds. As if he wanted to ask more questions and go down that get-to-know-you list that was positively drenched in glitter. Alastor would rather throw himself off a cliff, but sadly there were none nearby. So he'd have to settle.

A simple game of volleyball, they all had agreed upon. First to three points wins.

Alastor so deeply did not want to play. He wanted to be beside Sans in the sand, lying back against a towel and ridiculing Sans' friend choices while Sans ridiculed his ridiculing. Truly, a pleasant night.

But here, Alastor would be able to show off to Sans a bit. Which was nice, he supposed. But he came out here to spend time with Sans and show everyone their spectacular bond. He couldn't exactly do that separate from him.

And of course Papyrus had to snatch up Alastor onto his team. So bothersome, that man.

He would have to make sure to introduce Charlie to him, though. If he gave them both a playmate to distract each other, it left him with more free time away from them. And conveniently more time to spend with Sans. How nice.

That was a tragic dynamic pair to make befriend one another after Papyrus died, though. A useless idea for when Papyrus still had pumping blood.

"So, team, what are we planning?" Lilac mumbled, rubbing her hands together. A sly, competitive grin crept onto her face. "I was in volleyball for a majority of my childhood, so I can spike real good."

"Oh, you were?" Papyrus perked up, smiling over at her. "I was in volleyball camp every summer!"

The two of them high-fived. Alastor folded his hands behind his back and watched, content to not be interacting with Papyrus for even a second longer than he had to. Toriel seemed to refrain from jumping in right away, smiling blankly at the group. She looked nearly dull as she did so, mouth in a tight grimace. Ah. So she did dislike Lilac. How fun.

"So here's the plan!" Papyrus decided, his typically high-pitched voice narrowed down into a strained whisper. "Lilac will be in the back and I'll be up front. We can put Alastor with me, since we're both taller, and can spike more easily."

"And we win, of course," Alastor added on.

Papyrus giggled, pointing to Alastor. "And we win! That's also part of the plan! We cannot lose!"

They couldn't. Alastor wouldn't let them. The two most important people to Sans were on this team, and he was watching. Letting them lose would simply be unacceptable.

Alastor flexed his fingers, stiff and jointed. He wouldn't be as flexible trapped in this old human body of his. Unable to twist and contort to his playing pleasure. Alastor had been fine walking around in this body and wrestling in creeks with Sans, but diving after a ball in loose sand may be a bit of a challenge.

A light click of his fingers drew out his shadows, seeping into his natural shadow sprawled out across the sand. For later use, of course. Just in case.