Hazbin Hotel: Another Adam

POV Charlie

When they started… I didn't even believe it at first.

As soon as Alastor appeared, everything immediately went to hell. Adam wanted a fight, Alastor did too, and they weren't going to just hold back their desires.

"Stop, Adam! Alastor! Don't fight!" I shouted. But it didn't help extinguish this fire one bit.

Adam was already in the air. His golden wings spread, a look of anticipation on his face. Light streamed down his fingers, shimmered over his body as if alive. His eyes sparkled, filled with anticipation and excitement.

Alastor continued to smile. At first, he stood on the balcony, but suddenly tentacles sprouted from his back, huge, hideous black appendages, and he descended like a spider on threads, hovering in the air. Now his smile was calm, but I felt he craved this fight even more than Adam.

Do they hate each other that much? What connects them? Maybe they're old enemies?

They were both silent. And that scared me.

"Adam, don't! Alastor, stop!"

But it was too late; they quickly moved a considerable distance from the hotel and…

The world exploded.

First – the sound.

A hum. Heavy, deep, unnatural. Not like an explosion. Not like an impact. But as if all of space was cracking from the sheer power.

Then – a flash. A line of light erupted from Adam's hand, cutting like a blade. In response – a trail of black, viscous shadow, swift as a whip. They clashed.

A second later, the Darkness evaporated, but Alastor had moved aside, avoiding the immensely powerful beam of pure Light. He then began to grow and open hundreds of portals, tentacles bursting from each, trying to grab Adam, who deftly dodged, incinerating them with beams of Light.

Somewhere off to the side, Pentious was shrieking about "spies," Husk was swearing, Niffty was trying to make out what was happening, and Vaggie stood beside me, distraught and pale.

But I – I wasn't listening. Inside, there was only one thought: They'll kill each other.

"Adam!!" I screamed. "You're… you're not like that! Please! He's not an enemy!"

But Adam didn't hear.

He moved precisely. As if he knew in advance where the next blow would land.

Every movement – as if by template. Hand – forward. Light – curves in an arc. Space – splits. He wasn't flailing, not lunging. He was conducting a battle. Without unnecessary movements or thoughts, dodging tentacles at the last moment, apparently assessing Alastor. It was clear he had plenty of battle experience.

Alastor – quite the opposite. Graceful, even playful. His movements – like a dance. But this wasn't a waltz – it was jazz, ragged and unstable. He seemed to be improvising, delivering hundreds of blows without looking, which was uncharacteristic for him. Tentacles danced around him, repelling light, taking hits for him, drawing various patterns in the sky. His laughter echoed across the sky, reaching even the hotel.

I realized that only I could stop them now.

POV Adam (MC)

Oh, as soon as I saw him – I knew who it was. This dandy with a face like it was sculpted from porcelain. And not the cheap, Chinese kind, but the antique sort, with little cracks. White skin, like Charlie's, even whiter, it seemed. Red circles on his cheeks – as if someone had poked a finger in watercolor (on Charlie, it looked cute; on him, cringey).

And that fancy hat with a golden snake coiling around the crown (Author's Note: the top part of the hat, yes, yes, broaden your horizons reading silly fanfics) – supposedly a symbol of power and eternal wisdom, but it looked like an accessory from a cabaret show about Satanists. And a crown on his head. A crown, Carl! Not some symbolic trinket, but a literal crown. And an apple too. As if one crown or a little snake wasn't enough for him, so hell no, he shoved an apple on there too.

This whole look screamed: "I am the king here. And I am fucking fashionable." Surprising his wife left him. Although… heh, no, not surprising. His cane, by the way, also had an apple. Some kind of apple-fucker.

But, jokes aside, he wasn't in combat form. And he looked almost relaxed. Almost. Because even so, power emanated from him. Not physical, but energetic, dense, pure, potent. It flowed from him in invisible waves, thick as molasses.

And what particularly pissed me off – he radiated both Light and Darkness simultaneously. He had two, maybe even three times more Light in him than I did, but less Darkness. Well, at least there's that... But, damn it, the quality... Both types of energy were top-notch. On Sera's level. And if it got to me, that says something, you'll agree.

"Lucifer?" My voice broke into a smirk, while inside, Adam's feelings were already boiling: anger, gloating, tension. "Didn't expect to see your mug. What'd you drag your ass here for?"

I delivered this with such nonchalance, as if we'd met at an ice cream counter, not in the middle of Hell amidst the ruins of an epic clusterfuck. He clenched his fists, and I saw a shadow pass over his face – irritation mixed with fatigue.

"Drag my ass here?.." he ground out. "This is my territory. But what the hell are you doing here, next to my daughter, and not even during an extermination? What have you stirred up here that's made all of Hell flare up with Light?"

"I do what I want, asshole!" I roared. "None of your business. Go make your ducks, condom."

He winced, as if I'd splashed holy water in his face... Does holy water even affect demons? And if so, does it affect Lucifer?

"Ducks?.. Are you fucking kidding me!"

We strode towards each other (insert JoJo meme here). There was anger in our eyes; mine from the influence of the damn Darkness, his… Well, he clearly had his reasons, which, oh the horror, he didn't inform me about.

Lucifer spread his wings – massive, red and white, feathers vibrating with tension. His eyes flashed, and horns began to sprout from his forehead. Not decorative deer antlers like some radio-phile, but full-fledged demonic horns, red in color.

"Why you..."

BAM.

I don't even have time to escalate the situation further. Charlie stepped between us. In her combat form.

Her eyes blazed, just like Lucifer's, her sclera turned red, and her pupils filled with gold. Small, neat horns and a tail had sprouted, elegant but tense, as if ready to whip across a face. Claws – well, let's just say panthers could be envious, and so could I; my gloves had claws, but they were no match for her "battle manicure."

"Enough! Stop it!" she roared, and the whole world seemed to hit pause. Even the air froze.

We both froze, rooted to the spot. Lucifer returned to his normal form. And I, honestly, was flabbergasted. We both were.

"Adam! What have you done?! First, you beat up Alastor, and now you want to fight my dad? Are you out of your mind?!"

The scene looked like I'd been caught behind the school with a cigarette in my mouth. I involuntarily scratched the back of my head.

"Yeah, you're right, I really overdid it," I muttered.

"Overdid it?!" she threw up her hands. "You destroyed half a block!"

And how am I supposed to explain to her that one deer simply wanted me to feel his full power? Charlie is a fragile girl; all these "secrets of the universe" won't do her any good.

"Listen, this was all necessary to..."

"And what kind of example are you setting, Adam? For the souls trying to redeem themselves!"

"Yeah, yeah, mommy, I get it," I rolled my eyes. I don't want to argue, especially since I really did screw up a bit due to Hell's influence. I need to try to find a way to "shield" myself from it somehow; it's already annoying that in Hell I become some kind of dopamine-adrenaline junkie.

Lucifer placed a hand on her shoulder. As if to say: "Calm down, daughter." Perfect. Now my worst enemy is also my defender. Where is this world heading?

"Alright, Luci, since you're here… let's go talk. I have information. Important."

He wanted to brush me off. I saw it in his eyes. But I looked at him seriously, without a smirk, and he finally nodded.

"Fine. Charlie, you have a… hotel here, I believe? You don't mind if your friend and I stay for a bit?"

Later. The meeting room. Yes, yes, that very one.

The room where all important things happen. It seems they have one meeting room for everyone here. At the table – Lucifer. On the couch – me. Charlie is going on about redemption (and has been for about 5 minutes now). Lucifer mumbled something about "sinful souls," but Charlie didn't notice, as she had left the room, finally giving us a chance to discuss super-important matters.

"So, what did you want, Adam?" he asked.

"Listen, one sinner made a deal with Loa spirits. The guy was almost as strong as Goetia demons. For real. This isn't some illusion or trick. Power. Pure. Now imagine if one of the Sins decides to sell their soul to these Loa. Got it?"

He was silent. His gaze became more serious.

"Heaven demands that you sort it out. Who they are. What they are. Where they're from. And most importantly – who they're working with. Goetia? One of the Sins? Or something else?"

"I'll sort it out," his voice became quieter. "But I have questions too. And you'll answer them."

I sighed.

"Go on, ask already."

"How's Lilith?"

"No idea. Haven't seen her, haven't heard from her. If she's not asking to come home – means she's fine."

A pause. The King of Hell looks at me with a suspicious gaze.

"And what is one of your Exorcists doing next to my daughter… in the role of her girlfriend?"

I slapped my forehead.

"Are you serious? Do I look like a lesbian to you? What they're doing there, figure it out yourself, you old pervert."

"That's not what I was asking," Lucifer didn't appreciate the joke. Well, yeah, what was I expecting?

"Listen, they genuinely love each other. If you think I had anything to do with it, then congratulations, you fucked up, because I have nothing to do with it; there's no point."

"Well, fuck you then." (Lit: "A dick into you.")

"Correct is: 'To hell with you'." (Lit: "A dick with you.")

"And how did I say it?.."

Silence.

"Well, last question. Why are you getting close to Charlie? Think I don't notice how she feels about you? If you hurt her – I'll tear you apart."

He started to exert pressure. Not with words. With power. The air hummed. An invisible grip tightened on my chest.

"Are you a fucking idiot? I'm an angel, for fuck's sake. How can you suspect God's angel of such a thing?"

"I know what you're capable of, Adam. For your goals, you've always been willing to cross the line. Even if, thanks to you, our armies lost far fewer warriors than they should have back then, it doesn't change the essence. You can, and I know it."

"No fucking reason to suspect an angel. I won't do anything to Charlie. She's a good girl and, unlike some assholes, she didn't destroy my life. Didn't turn my wife into a giant, fucking, monster. And didn't bring damn Darkness into our world."

I stood up. It was time to bail. Hell was affecting me. For too long. I didn't just dislike it anymore – I was nauseated, and emotions crashed over me like waves, overwhelming me completely.

Lucifer didn't answer. It seemed he had nothing to say.

The portal opened with a dull thud. And in that same second, I noticed: the door was slightly ajar. Curious little ears. It seems Charlie was interested in listening to our conversation, but nothing important for her was said; I'm not in the right state now to talk normally with Lucifer, I'm already holding myself back as it is.

I stepped into the portal – and immediately felt lighter. Physically. Hell no longer pulls at me. My lungs filled with Light, my head cleared.

Okay. Next step – to Sera.

Gotta sort out this Loa shit. Let her head ache too; it's not fair for only me to suffer.