The first morning at the Hazbin Hotel did not start with a sunrise. In Hell, the sky just turned from a dark, bruised purple to a sickly, glowing red. Vane woke up on a bed that creaked every time he breathed. He looked around the room. Because he was a "guest" now, his body had changed again to fit the vibe of the hotel. His sharp, black combat gear had softened into a dark purple sweater and slacks. His skin didn't look like glowing metal anymore; it looked pale and tired, like he had spent the night worrying.
He walked down the grand staircase and was immediately hit by a wall of noise.
"Niffty! Put down the knife! The bacon is already dead!" Vaggie's voice screamed from the kitchen.
"I have to make sure!" the tiny maid squeaked back.
Vane stepped into the lobby and saw Angel Dust sitting on the floor, wearing pink pajamas and feeding a small pig a piece of toast. At the bar, Husk was already cracking open a beer, looking like he wanted to fall back asleep right there on the counter.
Then there was Charlie.
Vane stopped and watched her. She was standing in the middle of the room with a giant clipboard. She looked exhausted. Her hair was a mess, and there were dark circles under her eyes, but she was smiling so hard it looked like her face might break. She was humming a little tune and checking off boxes on a list.
"Good morning, Vane!" Charlie chirped when she saw him. She ran over and gave him a quick squeeze. "Did you sleep okay? Was the room too dusty? I can have Niffty deep-clean the floorboards again! Or I can get you a different pillow! We have one that isn't filled with rocks!"
Vane put a hand on her shoulder to calm her down. "Charlie, I'm fine. I've slept on trash and in scrap yards. This is a palace compared to those."
He looked at her more closely. He could see the stress she was hiding. The failed interview and the fight with Katie Killjoy had hurt her more than she wanted to admit. She was trying to act like everything was perfect because she was the Princess of Hope, but Vane knew her better than that.
"How are you doing, Charlie?" he asked quietly.
Her smile faltered for just a second. "Oh! I'm great! Really! We have a staff now! We have a bar! We have a Radio Demon who hasn't tried to kill anyone in at least six hours! It's all coming together, Vane. My dream is finally happening."
"It's okay to be tired," Vane said. "You don't have to be 'on' all the time when I'm around."
Charlie sighed, her shoulders finally dropping. "It's just... everyone thinks this is a joke. Even the people who moved in to help think it's a joke. Alastor is only here to watch me fail, and Angel just wants a free place to hide from his boss." She looked up at Vane with watery eyes. "Am I crazy for believing they can be better?"
Vane looked across the room. Angel Dust was currently arguing with Husk about which brand of cheap booze was better. Niffty was chasing a spider with a sewing needle. It looked like a disaster.
"Maybe you are crazy," Vane said, making Charlie look sad. "But in Hell, the sane people are the ones who have given up. If being crazy means you still care, then stay crazy. I'll be the one who stands behind you and hits anyone who tries to stop you."
Suddenly, a blast of jazz music filled the room. Alastor appeared in a cloud of dark smoke, holding a plate of steaming food.
"Good morning, everyone!" Alastor announced, his voice crackling like an old record. "Who is ready for a breakfast that will make your soul sing? I've prepared a special batch of pancakes! Though I must warn you, the syrup has a bit of a bite!"
Vaggie walked out of the kitchen, rubbing her temples. "As long as it isn't made of people, Alastor, I don't care."
"No promises!" Alastor laughed, his eyes glowing. He turned his gaze toward Vane. "And how is our 'King' doing this morning? You look quite... domestic in that sweater. It's a very charming look for a man who usually spends his time commanding things.
Vane didn't take the bait. He walked over to the table and sat down. "The sweater is comfortable, Alastor. You should try one. It might help you relax that permanent grin."
"Hah! I am never fully dressed without it, dear sir!" Alastor replied, sitting across from him.
As the group sat down to eat, Vane watched them. It was a mess. Angel was trying to steal Husk's food, Vaggie was watching Alastor like he was a ticking bomb, and Niffty was cleaning the syrup off the table before it could even touch the wood.
But Charlie was laughing. She was telling a story about a dream she had, and for the first time that morning, the sadness in her eyes was gone.
Vane realized that he wouldn't be doing much "King of Chaos" work here. He wasn't here to lead an army. He was here to be the anchor for this sinking ship. He reached out and grabbed a pancake, feeling the strange purple energy in his hands settle down into a warm, steady hum.
He had a feeling that life at the Hazbin Hotel was going to be the hardest job he ever had.
Please go check out my other stories by the way whichever story has the most interest I start with that one first and give more chapters