Chapter Text
For once, it was a peaceful day at the Hazbin Hotel, despite everything that had happened. After the war that almost happened due to Vox’s dumbassery, the hotel was going to be closed down for the next few weeks, on account of most of the staff being injured/traumatized. No one was especially excited to open up too soon, they just needed a break after the trials that were the past few months.
After the dust had fully settled and Charlie had the time to fully rest and process everything, she realized what an absolute asshole she’d been acting like for the past few weeks. Desperate to find some way to make it up to everyone, and oh there was a lot to make up for, she got to making gifts and heartfelt letters for everyone, finally apologizing properly to everyone now that she didn’t have an impending war with heaven bearing down on her mind. Even after everyone insisted that it was fine, they had forgiven her, just listen to us next time, she still didn’t feel like she had done enough to show how awful she felt about how she treated them, because she really did feel terrible about what she had done.
She had pushed Angel’s boundaries, was too busy failing to fix the hotel’s reputation to notice Alastor quitting and getting himself kidnapped, bothered Husk enough that he almost quit, made her dad feel terrible over something that, in hindsight, would have happened anyway, which led to him getting kidnapped and getting seriously injured, and almost ruined her relationship with Vaggi. All because she thought she could fix things by herself, could fix the hotel’s reputation if she just tried harder. Her friends weren’t telling her anything, but she can tell they’re still mad. She needs to do more to make sure everyone is really okay, to really show how sorry she was, so she can finally stop feeling so on edge with everyone, even though she knows she deserves to be on edge after what she’s done. So she made a surprise apology party for everyone!
With the I’m Sorry banner hanging over them, cupcakes with hearts on them and takeout from everyone’s favorite restaurants for food, and all the hastily put up party decorations spread around the lobby like a tornado blew in, it would seem insultingly over-performative if they didn’t all know this was just how Charlie worked. She would always put 110% into whatever she was doing and never stop, for the better and, as the last few weeks had proven, very much for the worse. None of them really thought this was necessary, and were planning to tell her she can chill about the apologies in a few hours, but until then, no one was complaining about free food.
Alastor and Lucifer were on the second floor of the lobby, arguing over whatever petty slight annoyed them this week, though not as aggressively as before. Husk and Angel were awkwardly sitting at the bar with some plates of pasta between the two, unresolved tensions and anxieties still clinging in the air. Husk and Cherri had managed to just barely convince Angel to come back to the hotel, but even after being convinced that he should stay with his friends, Angel couldn’t trust himself around everyone else, staying locked up in his room most days. Honestly, it was a miracle he agreed to come down for the party. Niffty was off somewhere cleaning, and Charlie and Vaggi were cuddling on one of the couches, a sappy romcom from earth playing on the TV, finally able to have some time as a couple. Everything was great.
Then the wall explodes and in comes a sinner with the sketchiest trenchcoat imaginable, a plague mask that appeared to be covering a head of feathers, and talons for feet.
Charlie quickly got up from the couch and rushed to meet them, getting there before anyone else could. Slightly out of breath, she cheerfully greets the intruder, “Hi, I’m sorry, but we’re not taking new guests right now. But if there’s anything else you need, I’ll be sure to see what I can do”. The sinner turned their head to meet Charlie’s eyes, muttering “Don’t worry, I’ll get what I’m looking for.”
That was all the warning everyone got before the sinner threw down some sort of smoke bomb, covering Charlie and themself in some sort of purple-pink smoke before Charlie could even think of escaping. As the smoke receded, Alastor used his tentacles to grab the sinner before they could flee, with Vaggi rushing in to catch Charlie, who was falling to the ground. Vaggi quickly checked Charlie over, and thankfully it seemed she was just asleep. When Vaggi tried to wake her up however, she couldn’t wake up, lost in her dreams.
“What did you do to her!” Vaggi yelled, with Alastor squeezing the sinner's frail body as he approached them. “Yes, I would recommend explaining yourself before the rest of the staff gets their hands on you.” Alastor calmly states, motioning to the others who had since come closer, surrounding the crow sinner, ready to deal with whoever was messing with their hotel.
“I give! I give! Just please let me go!” the sinner shrilly cried out, “I wanted to prove I was on the same level as an overlord, and with my magic, taking down that princess seemed like the fastest way to do it!”
“And what exactly does this magic entail?” Alastor asks, giving the sinner’s body another threatening squeeze.
“I can force someone into their worst nightmare, It’ll only last an hour though, and-” that was all the sinner could say before getting thrown into one of Alastor’s portals.
“Alastor…” Vaggi growled out. Alastor grinned, “What, we got the necessary information, and with powers that strong, I think it best he’s dealt with sooner rather than later.”
“Hate to say it, but the bastard has a point” Lucifer drily quips, getting down on the floor to check on Charlie’s condition. As he looks closer he can see faint smoke starting to come out of her mouth, billowing outwards, the same shade as before. Suddenly feeling slightly woozy, he looks at Charlie’s girlfriend only to see her starting to fall asleep. Angel slowly approached to ask what was going on, but one whiff of that smog had him falling over.
Alastor manages to notice what was happening before he was affected, and quickly yells out to Husk and Niffty “Leave now! Ensure no one comes here until the hour is up!” before trying to teleport away. Unfortunately, he was too late, and he succumbed to the smoke as well.
Husk quickly grabbed Niffty and flew up to the second floor before the smoke reached them. So much for a peaceful day, Husk thought as he went to warn everyone not to go down into the lobby.
He’d like to think Charlie’s worst nightmare wouldn’t be so bad, but unfortunately, being a bartender meant he was all too aware the princess was keeping some fucked up stuff locked in her head, just begging to come out. What that stuff was, he didn’t know, though he had some guesses. But now Angel, Alastor, Lucifer, and Vaggie would have to see it all up close, and help Charlie when she woke up.