Chapter Text
“Husk, have you seen Angel?”
Husk looked up from washing a lip-sticked stained glass at a worried Charlie, who was wringing her pale hands anxiously.
“No, I haven’t seen him around,”
Alastor turned a deer-like ear to the conversation, pretending not to be listening as he smiled tightly at the patrons coming in. Charlie continued, her eyes looking horribly heartbroken, like a beloved pet just died.
“He’s missed three of the mandatory AAA meetings, and I checked his room, and he wasn’t there, and I called him like 50 times - ”
Alastor then decided to jump in, pretending like he was not eavesdropping.
“My dear Charlie, you seemed distressed. Whatever is the matter?”
He could see Husk rolling his eyes out of the corner of his eyes, as he knew the red-haired demon was always listening.
In a worried tone, Charlie turned her dark eyes toward Alastor and exclaimed.
“Angel is missing – I haven’t seen him in four days,”
Alastor’s smile tightened; he knew already because how could anyone not notice the distinct lack of obnoxious yet charming laughter and the biting tongue of Angel? Still, he could not show it.
“Ah, Charlie, he is likely getting himself into trouble,”
“But what if he’s really in trouble? I’m worried about him – he hasn’t even responded to my texts or my calls, and he usually replies at least in a few hours,”
Vaggie, Charlie’s loyal shadow, put her hand on Charlie’s shoulder, her typical hard face softening into a comforting expression.
“I’m sure he’s fine,”
Alastor gave an unnecessarily dramatic sigh and tsked his tongue.
“I suppose I can go look for our local rabble-rouser,”
“Oh, Alastor, you would do that? Thank you,”
Suddenly Charlie wrapped her arms around Alastor in a grateful hug, which froze before relaxing bit by bit.
“Yes, now it’ll be no problem at all,”
Alastor said, patting Charlie awkwardly because, as an overlord, he does not get hugs.
Charlie let him go, saying.
“Please don’t be mean when you do find him, I want a nice approach, not terrifying Alastor,”
Alastor shook his head lightly and, in a teasing tone, turned and started walking towards the main doors.
“Fine, dear Charlie, fine,”
As he walked out of the bustling hotel, the bitter wind blew. He looked up at the darkening red sky, colors turning from bright red to a troubling bruise-like purple – a blizzard must be coming. Yes, Hell does indeed freeze over – After all, frostbite burns too. Alastor was loathe to admit his increasing worry. Between the last interaction with Angel being the night he came to the hotel covered in bruises, refusing to talk to Alastor, gone for days to a point where he didn’t even come back for Fat Nuggets (And if anyone asked – Alastor did not feed the stupid pig. At all) and the upcoming winter storm, the snow here was enough to inflict mother nature’s cruelty, except worse, because it was hell. All this combined to contribute to the foreign feeling of caring for another demon aside from himself. He hated this feeling and felt tempted to pick up a few demons to strangle to feel better, but he needed to find Angel now.
A warm, tingling feeling swept over Alastor as his shadows came to life and looked at him, smiles carnivorously wide.
“You know what to do,”
The snowfall increased as Alastor contacted his associates via the radio tower as to the whereabouts of the spider demon. The only contact amiss was that disgusting bug named Valentino. Alastor would love to crush the overlord like the parasite he is but knew he has allies, just like Alastor. So not yet.
Suddenly, a grinning shadow appeared in front of him, and he knew it had found Angel. He hung up with a click and immediately used his powers to follow his shadow at a fast speed.
The winds howled, sounding like a banshee as they soon arrived at a forest. A forest seemed the last place Angel would be – besides a church – but perhaps that’s why. The tangled and blackened trees seem to try to grab Alastor, but he ignored it. Soon, he stood at the jagged mouth of a cave. He commanded his shadow to return as he stepped in.
“Angel?”
The quiet greeted him as he went in further. The caves seem to twist and turn alive, contrasting with the dead silence that would drive someone insane. But soon, an opening appeared, cold light shining through. It opened to the other side of the forest; giant black rocks surrounded the clearing. And leaning against a mangled, snarled tree was Angel.
“Angel!”
Alastor approached Angel, but it was not the lively Angel he had grown fond of. No, this Angel’s breathing was laborious; his usual white fur darkened with many things, but most startling, blood from open gashes. His knuckles were blackened with bruises that seemed to match the bruises under his closed eyes. Alastor hated this sight, and he hated himself for hating it. He gently put his hand on Angel’s shoulder and attempted to wake him. No luck. Alastor summoned his shadows, feeling the exhausting effects of using his powers too much. Still, he picked up Angel and left.
Angel groaned as he slowly woke up. He knew he shouldn’t have taken, let alone mix drugs. But the pain was so bad. He blearily opened his eyes and noticed he wasn’t where he passed out. He was in a mess called his room.
“Ah, so deviant finally awakens,”
Shit, Alastor. God damn it, why did it have to be him? Now he was going to-.
“Here,”
Alastor held out red pills he recognized as the rare mild painkiller that wasn’t a full-on drug like most found in hell. Angel slowly took it out of his hand.
“I haven’t told Charlie yet,”
Angel groaned in response.
“Why?”
“Because I want to hear the real, not fake, story of why you disappeared without contact for four days, making Charlie worried sick,”
Angel winced and turned away, observing the wrinkles made by his head on the pillow like it was the most interesting thing in the world.
“You wouldn’t understand – just fucking rat me out to her, and I’ll fucking deal with it,”
His hand clenched, grabbing the sheets, and he could feel the comforting sting from bruises pulse through him.
“No, I want to hear the truth,”
Angel glanced back slower upon hearing his quieter, almost somber tone that was unexpected from the deer demon.
“Please,”
Angel’s eyes widened and closed as he looked away to the floor, unable to look Alastor in the eyes as he spilled his guts.
“I – I had to do work for Valentino. And as much as I like sex, it was – it was rough because – he was mad that I stopped for a bit cause I’m his moneymaker and I’m not good for much else, so I had to”
In a flat tone, Alastor cut in.
“You had no choice,”
Angel gave a bitter laugh, fighting back tears as he stared at the nonsensical patterns on the carpet.
“That’s the funny thing. I did once – when I came here. But I fucking chose wrong. Now, I’m trapped, and I can’t do shit,”
Angel fought his tears of frustration and closed his eyes, curling into himself as he muttered.
“God, I shouldn’t have said anything. Just, please, just fucking leave me alone,”
I deserve it.
“I’m afraid that’s not an option,”
Angel gave an annoyed huff.
“Why, because of Charlie and whatever scheme you’re cooking up?”
“Because I care for you,”
Eyes shot open as Angel quickly sat up and stared at Alastor incredulously. In turn, Alastor had a tight smile that gave away his uncomfortableness.
“W-what?”
“You’re my friend, Angel; somehow, despite our… differences, I’ve grown to care for you. And while I may be a selfish bastard, I hope to be a good friend,”
Angel gave a laugh, googling at Alastor in pleasant shock despite his raging headache.
“Charlie’s influence got you good,”
Alastor chuckled in return and relaxed his shoulders a little.
“Horrifically, yes. But I mean it, Angel. I want to help,”
“You don’t think… I’m disgusting?”
“Well, you are indeed gross, but not because of what you do. But you should be happy with what you do, not forced,”
Angel looked at Alastor, feeling both elated and heartbroken. He was in love with a demon who, amazingly, cared for him but would never love him back the same way.
If he leaned a bit closer, though, they’d be kissing. Would Alastor kiss back or get mad? Should he try?...
Before he could do it, several things happened – Fat nuggets burst through the bathroom door- the shower curtain curled around his fat little body, then Charlie banged open his door with an excited “ANGEL!” which then knocked over his mirror, shattering it.
Of course.