Chapter Text
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When Vox finally woke up, he felt groggy and slow.
Booting his systems up, he sat up on his bed. Letting his head sit up on the headrest.
Vox peeked around the room, upset to find that it was pitch black. Looking at the time, 4:34, he felt like he was suffocating. The air was too stuffy, he has dust in his fans and he can barely move his pathetic body.
It's to heavy for him, it weighs him down like how a anchor weighs down a ship.
Vincent used to love ships, he thought.
He wasn't Vincent anymore. He wrecked that side of himself so long ago. He had replaced himself with a machine. Incapable of breathing or having fun or doing anything excpet work.
Maybe that's why he hates Alastor. Because Alastor was the last person who has seen him as a person. Not the mechanical monster he sees in the mirror everyday. Not the magical and perfect entertainment sensation people used to beg for.
He took a trembling breath, letting his fingers linger down his chest, as if he was deciding if it was still real.
Is allowed to be alive right now?
Is he allowed to be here?
Would someone let him know if he wasn't?
Would someone save him?
He wants a better body. He pleads for better skin. Real skin. His skin.
Not the fabric that Velvette made or the skin reincarnated on top of him.
He feels disgusting. A piece of plastic that could be easily replaced or burnt down.
Vox should've took himself with the machine.
Sure, taking over Heaven wasn't his brightest idea, but it was so close to getting rid of Alastor.
So close to getting rid of the one person who makes his skin prick.
He brings his hand to smooth over his antennas. Rubbing over them softly to let his smooth static fuel the room.
He sat in silence for the next 10 minutes bathing in his own sick.
His heart was racing as if it was the only truly functioning part of him.
He was snapped out of his thoughts when the door creaked open to reveal a weary shark demon.
He beamed, letting the smile take over his face regardless if it hurt or not.
His beloved pet scampered over to the edge of the bed, wagging it's tail repeatedly.
"Hey buddy," He gushed. Opening his arms to let the pet trot over into his arms. "How've you been, Varkkie?"
Vark nuzzled his head into the crook of Vox's neck. Breathing softly and sniffing his scent.
The shark let out a whimper, whining into his ear until Vox pet him.
Vox choked up to some extent. The fire in his throat bubbling back up.
"They've been treating you good? Haven't they?"
He rubs his hands over Vark's back, letting the pet melt into his touch, elated that his 'father' was back.
Vox ran circles into the demons back, itching his gills.
A sympathetic look sunk into his sharks face, his eyes slightly droopy.
"Vark," His voice was coarse from crying, squeezing his fins a bit tighter. "I'm okay. I won't leave you again. I promise. If I go some where, you're coming with me. Okay, sweetheart?"
He placed a chaste kiss on the top of his head, leaving the pet purring.
Vox positioned himself back on his pillow, his pet lying on his bear chest, curled up breezily.
Vox found himself fading back into a semisleep, his systems running in the background for awareness of attack.
────୨ৎ────
Valentino barged into the room, muttering nonsense.
"Voxxy! If you're done with your vacation, we have a company to run!" He rambled, his high heels slamming into the floor.
God Dammit, could he have at least 2 more minutes?
It's been a day how is his vacation already over? This didn't feel fucking fair at all.
He grumbled, frowning when Valentino gripped his screen to pull him up and out of bed. He scared Vark. Who then began nipping at him.
"Ai! Control your damn dog Vox. We have so many meetings, how did you deal with this? This is insane!" Valentino retracted his hand back, rubbing it tenderly.
"Oh? You're surprised that running a company actually takes time and work? Shocker." Vox rubbed his face, throwing on the nearest t-shirt to go over his boxers.
"This isn't a joke papi!" Val fake laughed, squeezing Vox's cheek once again, getting his fingerprints in the corner.
He'll have to clean that later, which is the most impossible thing in the world without working fans to clear away the smell. The first time he cleaned his screen in hell he choked on the cleaning supplies. Yippie.
"Look, Val, I get it, It's hard," Valentino smirked.
"And not the kind I like it I assume?"
"Shut it! I need rest!"
Valentino threw his head back, wagging his finger in his face angrily pressing his forehead until he backs him into a wall.
"No, no and no! We graciously gave you a day! That should be enough! We are trying to fix your fucked up mess! Everyone thinks your dead and everyone thinks you are a huge screw up! Guess who has to clean up that mess?! Me and Vel! We have to make everyone believe that you were on your period or something!"
Vox swiftly grabbed Valentino's finger, dragging it down and throwing it back at him in rage.
"Get your finger off of my face!" He snarled. "My period? I'll show you period fuckface! I will fix it! I always do! I can do it! This is - "
Valentino smashed him into the wall, holding him back tightly. "Your company? We know! But newsflash! Its the Vees! V3! Valentino, Velvette and Vox! This isn't Vox nation!" He lessened his grip, letting his hands drop to Vox's hands and intertwine them.
"We three can fix this, Voxxy. We just need to think." He gave him a fond look.
Vox couldn't tell if it was real or not.
What sick game was Valentino playing?
Are they really helping him? Which sounds like a stupid question, but it seems to make him feel a bit better. He should have faith in Velvette and Valentino. He wasn't alone anymore. He needs to remember this.
He took a shaky breath, clasping Valentino's hand tighter.
"You're right. We can do this. Trust us."
He glanced up at Valentino and embraced him.
The latter hugged him tightly, flicking his antenna.
Letting Vox go, he groans. "We have a meeting with the princess today!" He whines, flapping his wings out.
Vox's sweet expression quickly soured. "What about?"
"Little Miss Cupcakes and Rainbows," Val jazzed his hands out. "Thinks that all Overlord should be at her retarded hotel to see what to do next. God, what a pain."
Vox rubbed his temple, smearing his screen more. "We can work with this. We just have to manipulate what the princess truly wants. Having me there will cause problems. I won't go, but you and Velvette will."
Valentino winked. "I'll be my best Vox daddy I can be!"
Vox grimaced. "Never say that again." Crossing his arms, he leaned against the bed and let Vark lick the corner of his screen to try and clean it to the best of his slobbering ability.
"Ill call the doll, you just stayed here until we're done, k?" He whipped his phone out, tapping on his phone aggressively.
Valentino swayed his hips and waved him off as he trotted out the door.
────୨ৎ────
Velvette finished braiding her hair, tugging on the corner to get it straight.
"Val, are you sure Voxxy doesn't wanna come? I'm not sure what the hell we're even supposed to do at this bloody thing." She rolls her eyes, taking her straighter and flicking her ends up to make then curl.
"Yes, baby doll. We can do this! We're business people, aren't we? I mean, c'mon how hard can it be to listen have hear a girl bitch and moan. I hear it all the time." He giggles, fluffing up his chest before blowing a kiss to mirror. "Now, model, we have a car to catch."
Velvette chuckles, snapping her fingers to make a sleek coat appear. "I'm gonna show all those old hags who's really in charge. Especially after helping miss prickly princess with her 'friendship is magic' show."
Valentino steps out, hearing the raging street noises of Hell fill the air. God, blood and lust. Just how he likes it.
Opening the car door for Velvette the step inside the hot pink limo, decorated to perfection.
Valentino let himself slyly take a drink laid out on the corner of the snack table of the car.
He took a deep sip of his drink, letting the sweetness gurgle in his mouth.
He let his finger trace around the rim.
"I'm assuming that bitch will ask about Angel Dust. Poor sweetheart must be so scared."
Velvette stopped tapping on her phone, looking up at him devilishly. "Well, he came with us did he not? We're gonna have to tell her sorry babes. He chose us. Not like he actually wanted to be there anyways!"
They had a laugh before going back to their respective positions.
"I cannot image what she has planned. If she thinks that she can control Overlords she's got shit coming to her."
────୨ৎ────
Charlie scrambled to find her very very important papers! She only has one shot to get all Overlords on her side! One chance! How can she even get people on her side! She still hasn't sen Alastor which, would be such a help right now!
Vaggi said that we, 'didn't need another deadbeat' but he's hardly that?! Right?!
She was freaking out! Drumming fingers on her desk, rewriting the same thing twice, putting water on her hair to make sure it isn't staying up!
Her dad creaked open the door, slowly moving in. "Hey Char-Char! You...uh...y'know, doing okay! Big meetings are hard to run..I would know."
"Dad! Yes! I'm fine! I'm old enough for this! I can do it!" She pumped her fist in the air, even though it was shaking.
Lucifer softened, snaking behind his sweet daughter to kiss her on the head.
"I'm taller than you when you're in a chair!" He joked, rubbing her shoulders.
"Dad.."
"What?!" He squeezed. "My baby girl is almost as tall as her mother." He said with a breathy tone.
"Heaven is listening to us. We finally have some form of communication with them. Sera wants to change the hate and turn it into love. No more cosmic tension." She wiped a tear from her eye. She then placed her hand on top of her dad's.
Charlie looked up at him with a small smirk, holding his hand a bit tighter.
"I'm sure Mom would be so so proud, my angel."
"I just wish she could see this."
────୨ৎ────
Alastor paced around his rotten room. The smell trapping him in. The deer corpse stinking up his room.
Typically, the deer would make a wonderful smell to start his morning with his coffee! But today was like no other, my dear.
Today was the day he would find out if Vox was truly dead.
He was a free man.
A lonely free man.
A man who should be able to make his own pathetic, crushing decisions.
A man who misses another.
He threw his fist into the wall, breaking it within contact.
His ears lowered, a hungry snarl coming out of him.
────୨ৎ────
Valentino and Velvette trudged in, giggling to themselves as they walked through the gnarly reddish halls.
"I told you, Val! Absolutely disgusting! How much red can one have! It looks like me on my period!"
She was right for sure. No doubt that dumb deer bitch designed this nightmare of a painting job.
Sniffing around, he smelled the air freshener was a Candy Apple scent.
Ironic.
Opening the door for Vel, he walked in after her to reveal Overlords whispering and discussing matters in peace. What do these wimps have to talk about? Clearly not their skincare. Eugh.
He took a seat and was quite surprised to find that instead of the weaponry bitch, it was princess cupcakes at the head of the table.
Her head was held high as her shining eyes scooped over the table, awaiting more Overlords.
Holy shit, even her suit was red! Can we have another color!
Velvette hasn't looked up from her phone, taking photos of the place and posting about this dump. Tagging him in every one.
Then finally the last one walked in, smile quite happily for a weak bitch.
Alastor trotted next to Charlie, giving her a reassuring tug on the cheek. "Remember dear! Your never fully dressed without a smile! You can accomplish many great things!"
He sat down next to the ' dazzling ' Rosie as one could describe, but Valentino thinks she looks a but plain. Good hips though!
Charlie cleared her throat. She stood up proud, gleaming over the room.
"Overlords! Thank you so much for meeting me! We have so much to discuss! I wanna start by thanking everyone for helping us last month!" The Overlords stiffened as looks grazed over the two Vs fearfully.
"Heaven wants to thank all of you! As you know, they have paused exterminations until further notice!" She gleefully prances around the circle of Overlords and hands out papers.
She passes one to Vel, who rips it out of her hand.
Snickering, she passes it to Tino.
Tino have her a look back.
Oh, this was horrendous.
On the paper was a poorly drawn portrait of redeemed sinners and a list of 'to-do's'
Carmila was the first to speak up, a calm voice booming throughout the room.
"Princess, as great as this is, what if sinners don't want to he redeemed? Some people enjoy the chaos and bloodshed. Some sinners do not deserve redemption, this is a big ask to have Overlords try to redeem sinners."
Charlie deflated a little bit before perking up. "I know, but someone's sins who are small, should be redeemed. Heaven thinks the Overlords can be a huge solution in this. They believe that if we redeem sinners, that could fix the population problem, and if we have Overlords managing the killing and keeping, we could fix this!"
Lucifer, peeking from behind Charlie's chair, finally spoke up.
"It's a big ask, yes, but as your king," he joked, flapping his wings out. "We want to ask all Overlords to stay here at the Hotel until further notice."
Overlords stiffened, whispering filled the room as soon as screams broke out. 'Outrageous!' 'Blasphemy!' 'Does thee truly ask this?'
Velvette slammed her hands on the table. "Excuse me?! This is the Radio Demons Territory! We better all be bloody fucking stupid then to stay here?!"
Alastor stood up, smiling crazily. "I think you'll find yourself very safe here. Little one."
"Call me that again!" She gawked, starting to climb over the table. " Call me that again you Bambi backboned red pricked bitch!"
Alastor simply engaged, antlers growing larger, slamming his fist one the table as she approached closer.
Overlords watched in anticipation. The tension was high as Charlie felt like she was drowning.
Alastor needs to keep his cool! He always does! Why are the Vees so hateful of one man! I thought Velvette and Alastor were friends! He said- Fuck! This meeting cannot go wrong!
Charlie grew her horns out, slamming her fist equally on the table, her hair flying out in a rage.
"No one will be harmed here! All Overlords who attend will be forced to sign a contact stating that 'No harm will come to anyone.'"
Velvette snapped back to look at her, her eyes narrowed, stomping her foot on the table. Alastor falled back, growing back into his regular smile.
Charlie continued, speaking quieter out of embarrassment of all the eyes on her. "I mean it. I..I want people to feel safe here. This is not a war zone. This is a chance for sinners to get a second chance. Everyone deserves a second chance. Everyone deserves to be heard." Her voice cracked.
Overlords looked around, no further arguments going around. Just distrusting looks and mean glares burning through the room.
A contract was formed and signed by each individual Overlord. Almost immediately leaving once it was done.
────୨ৎ────
One Alastor whisked away to his room, he crawled out of the shadows. Smile tight and drawn.
He wasn't there.
He wasn't even Overlord anymore.
Some part of him as elated.
Some part of him as aching and trying to scurry out his chest.
────୨ৎ────
Vox sat in his bed, scrolling on his phone until he received a text from Vel.
Daughter V ♡
-- voxxy, we had to sign a contract lammmeee bvt thankfully u didnt sign it so we have some leverage..!! nobdy mentioned u so youre our secret bby! me n val going out tn! kisses babes.
He smiled. At least something was working. I'm sure the contract as fine and had no meaning to him anyway and he can be kept up in this tower until he was back on his feet. He had been aching all day from training.
His head flew back, his thoughts swirling.
No one mentioned him. Did anyone care?
*
He remembers when everything was so simple.
When Alastor was gone. Of course, the name that plagues his life and tears apart his heart.
One look and he couldn't breathe.
Those old nights of dancing and intertwining over hard radio static at the old stations. One drink too many and one too many looks that are crossing way too many lines they didn't even know they needed drawn.
He grips on his raggedy t-shirt. Twirling it in his fingers until he starts to choke.
Vox remembers when he was alive.
A young, energetic, movie and broadway star. Adored by so many.
So many his fans became devotees.
He laugh turned into a choke filling this throat.
It's always a man. Always a man.
Trying to burn him down.
He remembers his husband. Poor, sweet, Emmett.
A cowboy sort of guy.
Strong, Handsome, and powerful.
The guy was an asshole though.
Married his sister to keep loving him private up until he killed him.
Well, no that's wrong.
He tugged on his t-shirt tighter pulling it up higher.
A strangled sound escaped his throat.
Vox killed himself.
A rally, he mumbled.
He took out as many people with him as he could. No one would ever see him cry.
That's long gone now. He's sure Velvette has tried to remove all clips of that by now.
He remembers running down the lengthy hall holding his sisters baby with his eye bleeding out from a gunshot wound.
An empire crumbling once again.
As much as he loathes Alastor, he despises Emmett even more.
A man who never truly loved him.
A man who only saw Vincent Whittmann.
A man who only saw -
He ripped on the t-shirt holding himself up with it, electricity kissing his hands.
Groaning he twirled the shirt tighter around his neck, memories flooding back as they broke the dam in the back of his mind.
Memories of his happy broadway and television days, memories of his childhood and getting beat by his mother, memories of letting that deranged monster touch him.
He threw his head back as the shirt started to burn on his skin from the electricity.
The smell of burnt skin brooming the air.
He screamed until the smoke made his alarms go off, powering himself down.
Maybe in the next life he won't love so deeply.
Maybe he doesn't want a next life.