Archive of Our Own ^beta

Ever since Lucifer had moved into the hotel full time, Alastor had been incessantly working to prove how much better he was than the king. He wanted to prove to everyone that he was needed more, that he did more - he wanted Charlie to see it. 

And this drive had only been stronger since it was revealed that Lucifer couldn't hurt sinners. 

Suddenly, the man who he feared would take his job, it was now able to do just about nothing. Sure, he could help out on the hotel, but it's not like you can actually fight anyone off or defend the hotel in meaningful way. And so, Alastor felt like he could prove his usefulness now.

And despite the fact that the Vees were no longer, at least actively, posing a threat to the hotel, there are still the occasional random sinners who tried to cause chaos at the property. After all, it seemed like quite the good target for someone who wanted to prove their worth in Hell. 

And that is where Alastor stepped up.

It was usually relatively easy, especially now with his deal broken. There was no one to stop him from doing what he wanted to do, when he wanted to do it, and how he wanted to do it. 

Of course, sometimes Charlie wasn't the biggest fan of his newfound boldness, but it wasn't like he cared much. It's not like she had any better options.

It was just the way he wanted it.

But sometimes, it wasn't as easy as it should've have been. Especially with that pesky angelic wound down the middle of his chest. It still burned with every step that he took, it was still actively trying to drain his magic, it was sometimes hard to breathe - but Alastor would be fine. Alastor would always be fine. 

One night, fairly late, while everyone was sitting around and playing card games, an explosion was heard nearby. Everyone jumped, except Alastor. He simply stood up and stretched his arms above his head. Another fight to go take care of, he supposed. 

He would never admit it, but he wasn't feeling his absolute best. He hadn't gotten much sleep the night before, and his wound was absolutely killing him. The skin around the laceration felt like it was on fire, holy energy doing its best to pull the demonic energy out of his body. Oh well, he had a fight to win. 

Thankfully, the battle wasn't all that complicated. But it still took much longer than Alastor had expected, and it made him far more tired than he had hoped. By the time the fighting was done, some stupid goons from the Wild Western part of Hell, Alastor was absolutely spent. 

But he couldn't let it show. He walked inside, trying to mask his limp. 

"Alastor, are you ok?" Vaggie asked the moment that she laid her eye on him. 

"I can handle it, thank you very much!" Alastor immediately hobbled over to the bar. He didn't even bother to ask for Husk's help; he poured himself a glass of whiskey and immediately started to sip it. 

But for as much as he was trying to hide how he was feeling, Vaggie couldn't help but notice the way that he swayed as he walked towards the couch. 

He looked pale, and like he was trembling slightly. She stood up, knowing far better than touching him. He just looked like he was about to fall. "Are you sure that you're ok? Would you like a glass of water, or something?"

"What's wrong with him?" Charlie asked, turning around in her seat. She immediately noticed the very same thing that her girlfriend did, too. Her eyes widened. He looked sickly. "Al? You should sit down, come here, let's sit!" She stood, and threw the pillow off of the couch. 

Alastor took a few steps back, dismissing the two girls with a wave. Unfortunately, every eye in the room was now on him. He looked up at the stairs; he didn't know if he would be able to drag his exhausted body up to his room, and he was surely too tired and drained to use his magic to teleport. Maybe he should just sit down, like Charlie had said. Or maybe not. 

"I'm fine, I swear! Why are you so adamant that I'm not!" He faked a smile. 

"I don't believe you," Vaggie replied bluntly. She took another step forward, closer to the deer demon. "Are you feeling dizzy? Sick? It's ok to admit that."

She didn't get a response. His eyes had gone eerily blank, like he was looking right through her, and not at her. 

"Alastor," she repeated, a bit more forcefully this time. "Alastor. Are you alright?"

His lip twitched slightly, and then suddenly his knees gave out. He fell forward, Vaggie able to catch him, even if it was a bit hard because of how tall he was, in comparison to her tiny frame. He was surprisingly light. She lowered him to the floor, glad that he didn't hit his head. 

"Why did he - why - huh - Vaggie what do we do what do we do?" Charlie was beginning to panic, shaking her hands nervously in front of her. 

Everyone in the room now had circled around Alastor's currently passed out body. 

Angel watched on, listening to Vaggie's instructions and grabbing Alastor's legs, holding them so that they were elevated above his head. He almost looked peaceful like this, peaceful in a way that Angel could have never even imagined seeing the Radio Demon. 

He still had his smile on his face, despite being unconscious. His breaths were slow and deep. He didn't even look dangerous, even though Angel knew that, if he were to wake up with Angel touching him like this, Alastor would make a meal out of the spider. 

"He just fainted, hon. He's ok, he's probably just overworked," Vaggie responded to Charlie. Despite her calm demeanor, she was anxiously checking his pulse - it felt steady and fine - and his forehead. He didn't feel all too warm. "He's gonna be ok... Alastor! Alastor!" She shook his chest. 

And that made him suddenly wake up. His chest burned, the pressure on it unwelcome. He coughed, suddenly shooting to sit up. "What. The fuck. Happened."

"You passed out," Vaggie immediately replied, putting her hand behind her back, in case he fell backwards. "Be careful. Go slow. You were probably overworked - have you slept lately?"

He grumbled in response to her, "I am fine. I am not overworked, and I shall have you to know that I do not need sleep like the rest of you, and besides, my sleep schedule is none of your business, anyways."

Alastor stood, probably a bit quicker than he should have, dizziness threatening to overcome him, but he quickly steadied himself. His magic felt much stronger, strong enough that he felt like he could access his shadows. Before anyone could get another word in, he enveloped himself in them, quickly fading away. 

"Fuck," Vaggie said. She watched as the last remnants of the shadows left from the floor. 

"Should I go - should I go get him?" Charlie asked. She still seemed anxious as she stood, taking Vaggie's hand in hers. "He's probably in his room - hopefully - maybe? Or maybe Rosie's? I don't know -"

"Deep breath," Vaggie encouraged. She wrapped her girlfriend in a tight embrace. "Let's give Al a little break, ok?" We can go get him later. He probably doesn't want to talk right now."

Charlie nodded, not all that excited about Vaggie's answer, but she knew that she was right. If they wanted to have any chance of him talking, they had to let him be for a bit. 

And Vaggie's assumption was right. Upstairs, Alastor had arrived in his room, and had already collapsed onto his bed, almost immediately falling asleep.