Max stood in the dusty back lot of the Hazbin Hotel, the reddish Hell-sky casting a dim haze over cracked pavement and broken concrete. Smoke curled lazily from the grill he'd conjured, thick and fragrant, carrying the smell of perfectly seasoned steaks, slow-cooked chicken, and roasted potatoes.
The scent alone felt illegal in Hell.
Loona sat on an overturned crate, already halfway through a steak, chewing with the satisfied focus of someone who hadn't realized how hungry she was until the first bite.
"So," she said through a mouthful, pointing her fork at him, "why are we hiding back here? If we were in front, the others would smell this and swarm."
Max flipped a steak with lazy precision.
"Well," he said, "if I timed it right… then…"
A thunderous BOOM shook the ground.
The hotel rattled.
Several smaller explosions followed.
Loona choked.
"What the fuck was that?!"
Max didn't even turn.
"Sir Pentious," he said calmly. "Saw his blimp when we teleported."
Loona blinked.
"How did you—"
Max pointed his spatula toward the front of the hotel.
Black tentacles lifted into view like writhing shadows.
"Ah," he nodded. "Alastor's late today."
Another explosion.
A long, offended snake scream echoed into the distance.
"…Should we help?" Loona asked.
"Nah," Max said, plating food. "Pentious'll be airborne again in thirty seconds. I'll fix the wall after."
He handed her another steak.
"You should go meet Charlie. Get your room sorted."
Loona nodded, already eating.
Max snapped his fingers.
The grill, plates, and leftovers melted into a pool of shadow and vanished.
They walked around front.
Charlie burst through the doors like a firework.
"Loona!" she squealed. "You're here!"
She grabbed Loona's hand and dragged her inside.
Max rolled his shoulders and looked at the smoking crater where part of the wall used to be.
"…Before Charlie sees," he muttered.
Shadows climbed his arms.
Inside the Hotel
Charlie practically vibrated as she guided Loona down the hall.
"This is our hallway! Vaggie and I are left, Max is right, and you can take any room near us!"
Loona drifted toward Max's door.
"Loona?" Charlie asked nervously.
"What? I'm curious."
"…Same," Charlie admitted.
She unlocked the door.
The room was simple.
Clean.
Warm.
A neatly made bed.
A tidy desk.
A nightstand forged from shadow.
The walls were covered in photos.
Little moments frozen in time.
Laughing.
Eating.
Teasing.
All of them together.
Loona's chest tightened.
She opened the chest at the foot of the bed.
Inside were dozens of small gifts.
Trinkets.
Notes.
Little things each of them had given him.
Carefully kept.
Charlie smiled softly.
"He's sentimental," she whispered. "That's adorable."
They closed the chest.
Turned.
Saw the book.
Massive.
Black.
Glowing faint purple.
Loona tugged.
Nothing.
Charlie tried.
Still nothing.
"…We should stop," Charlie said. "That's Overlord stuff."
Loona pointed to the wardrobe.
"That wasn't here last week."
She reached.
"Nope!" Charlie yanked her back. "We are not opening mystery furniture!"
They fled to the next room.
Loona's luggage was already there.
"…How?" Loona asked.
Charlie giggled nervously.
"Max predicts things."
Loona unpacked.
Charlie talked.
"Well," Charlie admitted, "Overlords avoid the hotel. And I might've… upset Heaven."
Loona shrugged.
"I love this family," she said. "But I can't fight angels. If Extermination hits, I'll go to Wrath with my dad. Unless… something changes."
A soft thump.
Max stood in the doorway, smiling.
Tail wagging.
"I'm sure Charlie will figure something out," he said.
A shadow stretched from his feet and formed into a tall scepter. He grabbed it casually.
Charlie blinked.
"Are you hurt?"
"Nope," Max said. "Dramatic prop."
He snapped his fingers.
A small black case appeared on Loona's nightstand.
"A teleport button," he explained. "Direct line to IMP."
Loona smirked.
"How do I get back?"
Max paused.
"…Working on that."
Loona face-palmed.
"I'll fix it!" he added quickly. "Promise. Get settled. I'll be in my room."
He left.
Loona stared at the door.
"For an Overlord," she muttered, "he's way too nice."
Charlie shivered.
"…Let's not ask how many souls he has."