Chapter Text
Charlie awoke to the flash of lightning followed by a powerful wave of thunder that shook her to her very bones. The dimmed lights flickered and then cut off.
Fuck. Charlie hated the dark.
Wide awake after the thunder that had seemed to shake the very foundation of her hotel, Charlie pulled back her covers and climbed out of bed.
She blinked, willing her eyes to readjust to the darkness. Another flash of lightning dashed those hopes away.
Stumbling to her night stand, Charlie groped around for the drawer in the darkness. The occasional flash of lightning would provide her temporary bearings before the accompanied roll of thunder kept her nerves on edge. She hated Hell’s thunderstorms. They were rare, but ever since she was a child they filled her with a sense of dread for seemingly no reason. It was embarrassing, honestly. Hell’s fearsome princess scared of a little bit of thunder.
She used to be able to cuddle up to her partner, letting another person’s body help her forget her fears. But that role was currently empty. After defeating Adam, Charlie had thought her relationship with Vaggie had been mended but it just wasn’t. The breakup conversation had been one of the most difficult things Charlie had ever done, but the feeling had ended up being mutual. They were better off as friends.
Vaggie had moved to a different floor, leaving Charlie alone on hers. Well, that wasn’t entirely true.
One other shared her floor and that was the infamous radio demon himself. He had been wounded during the extermination, Charlie knew. He had been more unhinged since then, despite his best efforts to put on a good show. Desperate, was the word Charlie would use, though she was unsure why. They didn’t have the type of relationship that could really unlock those feelings but Charlie desperately wished they did.
I bet he’s awake now, she thought. He probably enjoys the thunder and lightning. Objectively, it was beautiful. A single charge could produce so much power from the sky. Really it was invigorating and the thought sent a shiver up Charlie’s spine. Or, she thought, maybe he despised it. He seemed to loathe anything that overpowered him. Was nature immune to those feelings?
Ah-hah! She pulled the gold-plated lighter from her drawer. She worked to light it, a few failed attempts before it sparked to life.
Maybe others had been woken up? Charlie knew she didn’t want to be alone right now. Razzle watched her as she got dressed in a simple nightgown, haphazardly throwing her hair up and stepping out of the room. She was greeted with the pitch black of the hall until she turned towards Alastor’s room at the far end of the hall. She could see a faint orange glow from beneath the crack of the door.
Her breath caught. Did she dare intrude on his space?
She had never visited his room. I could just check on him, make sure he’s ok?
The radio demon that never asked or wanted help, even at his most vulnerable. Yes, she definitely wasn’t nervous about potentially overstepping her bounds. But tonight, the desperate need to not be alone overrode her usual logic.
Stepping carefully through the dark guided only by her lighter, Charlie approached his door.
As she got closer she heard the soft melody of classical music. Classical? She had never heard such music from him. It always seemed to be some type of jazz melody from his eras on earth.
Maybe the storm affects him too? She thought.
Steeling her nerves, Charlie knocked. Once, twice. One more for good measure.
She waited in anticipation, listening for footsteps.
For several moments nothing happened. Minutes or hours went by, Charlie was unsure besides the jackhammer of her heart.
Then the door opened. Alastor stood, dressed impeccably as usual although his overcoat was missing. Charlie’s mind blanked seeing him in just a dress shirt as his eyes took her in.
“Charlie,” he greeted warmly, “It’s well past visiting hours. To what do I owe the pleasure?”
Charlie blinked. Ah, it was rather late wasn’t it?
He’s going to think I’m being silly, she thought bashfully, a blush creeping up her cheeks.
She cleared her throat, finding it difficult to speak, “You know I, um, wanted to see if your power had gone out too?”
Behind him, it was clear Alastor’s fire going in the hearth was the only source of light. He leaned on the doorway, his forearm above her head on the threshold. She had to crane her neck back to look up at him.
“I’m afraid so. However do not fret, my dear. I believe the power will be back on shortly and I don’t believe any other patron of ours has been affected. I do believe just about everyone, company excluded, is still fast asleep.”
Charlie nodded, feeling foolish. “Right, right. Well don’t let me bother you anymore,” she chuckled nervously, retreating from the door.
Alastor took in her disheveled appearance. “Charlie,” he interrupted her. She blinked her doe eyes up at him. He tipped his head. “Would you like to come in?”
Would she? Charlie worried her lip at the idea.
She was alone with him several times a day. Not once did she question it. Nor his small touches he would grace her here and there. A hand cupped to her cheek. A finger flicking her ponytail. A squeeze of the shoulders. She knew it didn’t mean anything to him so she dismissed it. But now?
Her loneliness was a chasm that could swallow her up and she was worried the emotions she might project onto him under the circumstance of her being alone in his room at night during a thunderstorm. One of the few times when she felt unnaturally afraid.
Alastor observed her inner turmoil, her thoughts flashing across her face like words on a page in a book. He was contemplative of his next words.
“I also become unsettled when the thunder gets too close. Perhaps we can keep each other company until the storm passes?”
Charlie brightened at the idea, grateful for his easy words. “I would really like that, Al.”
He stepped back so she could enter.
Cautiously, Charlie stepped forth.
His room was somehow, exactly how she had expected it and not at all. The swamp taking up the other half of the room was unexpected, but not a surprise. The deer skull trophies decorating the wall were also not a surprise. But the fireplace accompanied by a large cushioned red couch and bookshelves? That was unexpected. It appeared comfortable and cozy. Her eyes swept through the room however she did not see a bed. There was a hallway that, in a normal layout, led to the closet and bathroom. Perhaps his remodeling had extended to moving his sleeping quarters further from prying eyes.
Alastor closed the door behind her with a soft click and she heard the door lock. She couldn’t help the nerves that sprang up from the implications however she tried to reason with herself. This is Alastor, she thought. He doesn’t think of you like that.
Sadly.
Charlie jolted mentally. Sadly? Where had that thought come from?
“Can I offer the lady a drink? I apologize I don’t have a large selection, but I have some flavored sparkling water and-“
“Whiskey,” Charlie cut in. “That’s what you drink, right?”
Alastor’s eyes widened in surprise but he recovered, “Why yes darling, I like to keep some on hand when our favorite bartender is otherwise occupied and his services are unavailable.” Not that Husk was ever completely unavailable to him.
Charlie nodded, “I’ll have some of that then. I think tonight kind of calls for it, you know?”
Alastor chuckled, “As the princess wishes.”
Alastor walked over to his desk he kept the spirits in and pulled two crystal glasses. He pulled his top shelf stuff and unscrewed the cap, “I must admit I’m rather fond of thunderstorms but even this one is rather unsettling with how close the lightning is.”
Charlie nodded numbly, suddenly very self conscious she was only in a night gown. Thankfully it was a deep red and was not any type of see through material, but she still was careful to keep the neckline adjusted appropriately.
“This is one of the worst ones we’ve had in a while,” Charlie admitted. “Although I’m embarrassed to hear it seems like everyone else is sleeping through it.”
Alastor poured the two drinks and brought her glass over to her.
“Why would you be embarrassed? If anything I would take it as a compliment. In the midst of a nasty storm that has cut the power, your patrons still feel safe enough to sleep. Truly that’s more of a testament to the home you’ve built for them.”
Charlie blinked, awed by Alastor’s compliment. “You think so?”
“I do! Surely you don’t need reassurance of the good job you’ve done rebuilding this place after fighting tooth and nail for it?”
Charlie laughed lightly, swirling her drink before taking a sip. It was pleasantly smooth and she found herself licking her lips, relishing the burn that settled in her stomach quickly after. Charlie missed the way Alastor had tracked the movement.
“I can’t take all the credit. Everyone had fought valiantly that day. Yourself, especially.”
“Ah, my dear. You flatter me with your kind words. I merely fulfilled the promise I had made to you as your hotelier,” Alastor responded, but he couldn’t help but feel pride at her words.
Even if the close call was driving him up a wall.
Charlie took another sip, “Still. We were all really worried for you, Al. You disappeared for a long time.”
Long enough for herself and the team to rebuild the hotel. She doubted he would have missed out willingly on the renovations since he liked to tack on his own flare to things, and finding out he had been wounded had only been a passing comment after being asked about his staff. Or lack of it’s presence, rather.
Alastor tsked, “Nonsense, darling. Nothing can hurt me. I’ve survived against worse odds, have I not?”
Charlie really wouldn’t know, but if he wanted to keep the walls up she wouldn’t push him too hard. After all, she truly was appreciative of the company.
“Come, darling, let’s sit closer to the fire. These dreadful storms really do drop the usual scorching temperatures around here.”
He led her to the plush couch and offered her a steady hand as she sat. Ever the gentleman, he sat on the opposite end, crossing his legs and sipping at his drink.
Charlie copied him subconsciously. Crossing her legs, she sipped at the liquid honey. Her eyes watched the fire, the burn that settled inside her soul seemed to align with the glow perfectly.
Thunder boomed outside suddenly, causing Charlie to jump. She gripped her drink with two hands, trying to soothe the turmoil in the glass.
Alastor watched her, “I think it’s the volume that gets me,” he offered. “And the reverberations. Reminds me of the way someone describes an earthquake. It feels like the ground could open suddenly and swallow you whole.”
What an apt way to think about it. Charlie tilted her head, “I’ll say a window usually helps me see them coming. I admit that one got me a little harder than normal.”
“But without the window,” he said slowly, “You learn you just have to be ready. Not to let your guard down and not assume you’re safe.”
“Is that what you do? Not assume you’re ever safe?”
Alastor chuckled, “When you make the type of name that I have for myself, yes. But I would imagine that would be the same for yourself, Princess. After all, isn’t that why we’re both up and the rest of the hotel is asleep?”
Charlie hadn’t thought of it like that. She felt her lips turn up, “Well when you put it like that it makes me wonder what else we have in common.”
Alastor had spread one of his arms out towards her on the back of the sofa and he shifted slightly her direction, “What else, indeed? I know we already share a love for dance and music. I believe we both share a love for history.”
Charlie nodded, “Especially human history. I find it so interesting!”
“Yes,” he allowed with amusement, “Humans are interesting. Especially the ones with deprived souls.” He licked his lips at the thought.
Charlie zoned in on the movement, breathing catching. Alastor took note of that.
His half lidded eyes focused on her, leaning closer, loving the way she subconsciously copied him. “I can think of a few differences though.”
Charlie looked up at him from behind her lashes, “Like what?”
“Like my enjoyment of tasting my fellow sinners.”
Charlie jerked slightly, heart fluttering at the moment. Alastor took note of her pull back.
He chuckled, “Yes I thought so. Perhaps we’re just polar ends of-“
“I haven’t tried sinner blood,” Charlie said quietly.
Alastor’s eyes widened at her confession. He turned over the words of her implication-
“I’ve dabbled in blood rituals, it’s not surprising who my parents are of course, but that’s one blood type I’ve never tried.”
Now Alastor’s heart hammered away in his rib cage. What exactly was she suggesting?
He sipped on his drink as he worked to calm his nerves.
“Do you want to try it?” he asked.
Charlie worried at her lip, “Not someone I don’t know. Not someone innocent.”
Alastor was contemplative, and then, “I think I qualify for both of those things. You can try mine.”
Charlie sucked in a breath sharply, “You would let me?”
Should he? Absolutely not. Could he resist her? Also absolutely not.
“If the lady wishes,” he crooned, “I was never one to not encourage indulgent on tasteful desire.”
Carefully, Charlie set down her glass. She scooted forward slightly, not caring her night gown had slipped and now exposed her shoulder.
Alastor cared though. He watched her move towards him, his breathing turning slightly ragged. They sat in his domain, on his couch at his invite- yet he felt his control slipping.
“Is there a place you prefer, or..?”
Alastor tapped the side of his neck, “I always advised blood from the jugular. The deoxygenated blood has better flavor.”
She looked at his state of dress, “Do you mind if I…?”
Alastor lifted his chin up, baring his throat to her that only needed to be unwrapped by a flimsy bow tie and a few buttons.
With slightly shaky hands, Charlie undid the bow tie. Her eyes would glance up at his, only to find his intense stare trained on her. The firelight added a new dimension to his eyes.
Another thunderclap spooked her and she jumped. Alastor grasped her wrist and used his thumb to soothe circles, “Steady, sweetheart.”
Charlie blushed, but her eyes dipped lower to the strong lines of his neck. She pulled softly against his grasp and undid the top few buttons.
He was breathing audibly now, her mouth inches away from his skin as her fingers pulled back his collar.
She licked her dark colored lips and leaned forward, brushing the softest, lightest kiss on the column of his throat. Alastor nearly groaned.
Charlie pulled back slightly and was completely unprepared for the heady look of lust in his eyes.
Moving slowly, like one would around a wild animal, Charlie slid both hands up to his collar, grasping him as she leaned forward and placed another soft kiss on his jaw.
He still had a smile on that showed all of his teeth, almost in a grimace. Pulling back only slightly, Charlie moved one of her hands to cup his face, making small circles with her thumb like he had done to soothe her only moments ago.
“Charlie,” he said tense, “Be sure you know what you want before proceeding. They’re are some things that you can’t put back once you open them.”
Charlie looked at him through lidded eyes, “I know what I want, Alastor.”
With that, Charlie leaned forward and kissed him.