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Today was his day. Angel had determined as much the moment he awoke. He had woken up earlier than Alastor, a rare occurrence but one he loved as he watched his love sleep peacefully. He hummed softly to himself as he pulled out his makeup. Today marked a year of being with Alastor, and he was going to doll himself up so he and Alastor could finally make their first outing as a couple.
Angel sighed wistfully and picked up his mirror. It wasn’t his usual set up the room around him blacks and reds, unlike his own overflowing with pink and glitter. Angel turned his head to examine the man asleep in the bed behind him. Alastor didn’t sleep much but when he did, he slept liked the dead.
Angel smiled fondly at him. He’d never felt like this about any man, and he had never expected to. When he was alive, he had always loved romance novels, a strong hero sweeping a beautiful maiden off her feet, taking her away from her troubles saving her from those who wished to harm her. Angel had given up on love decades ago while he was still topside. No man who ever fell into his arms treated him like that beautiful maiden.
No, he had gotten used to just being someone that people used till they had their fill, leaving him empty and alone. He had been fine with it. Or he had tried to convince himself it was all fine. He still read those silly little romance novels he still hoped. Then he met Alastor, the Radio Demon, who would have thought it would be one of the most feared people in hell that could make Angel believe in love again.
God, he was a sap. Angel sighed, rubbing a hand over his face and pushing back his hair before he got to work. He picked up his compact and began the process of making himself up. Makeup used to be part of his job, a mask applied before a performance, but now it helped empty his mind when his thoughts ran wild.
Angel was finishing his makeup by the time Alastor awoke. Angel watched the man grope the side of the bed Angel slept on and then make a whine when he could not find a warm body next to him.
“Miss me already?” Angel laughed softly at Alastor’s drowsy face. It made his chest burn and his stomach twist, knowing he was the only person in hell who got to see Alastor like this. The fire in his chest spread throughout his body at the soft smile Alastor gave him. Angel did not know what he did to earn the Radio Demon’s trust and soft smiles. It set his very soul on fire, but Angel’s mind always ruined whatever affection he felt. The crippling self-doubt Val had burned into his soul always got to his head. Did he deserve any of this happiness he felt? A part of him told him not, and he was inclined to listen to it. Angel knew he must have been on the verge of tears because when he looked at Al again, the man was staring at his eyes soft, eyebrows knit together, and mouth pressed together.
“Angel, dear, what’s upset you?” Alastor asked as he moved to the foot of the bed to be across from Angel. Angel gave a wet laugh in response.
“Nothing’s wrong with me, Al. Just being silly old me.” Alastor made a noise, indicating he did not believe Angel’s excuses. Angel sighed and dabbed his eyes. “I’ve just been thinking a little too much.” Alastor’s expression remained concerned, but he smiled slightly.
“So that why I smell smoke?” He laughed and kissed Angel’s cheek. Alastor stood cracking his knucks before summoning his microphone. His sleeping clothes morphed into his usual daywear. “Now Angel dear, I am afraid I must be off. I will be back late tonight, so don’t worry about waiting up, dear.” Alastor kissed his hand before making his way out.
Angel’s heart must have stopped as he watched Alastor walk out the door. Maybe this was just his way of surprising Angel. That must be it. Wringing his hands in anxiety, Angel continued to doll himself up. It wasn’t until midnight that Angle got up from his vanity where he had been waiting all day and began to undress. He took off his heels, followed by the metal mesh dress that fell from his body onto the floor with a heavy thud. He crawled into bed. Maybe if he had been better, Alastor wouldn’t be doing this to him. He stayed up till morning light flooded the room the following morning, hoping that Alastor would just punish him as Val did, and this entire night could be forgotten about. But he never came.
Yesterday had marked one year, one year of feeling special to someone. Someone who apparently couldn’t even remember their first anniversary. Angel had understood not doing the six-month anniversary they were adults, but a year was special. The only person Angel had been with longer was Val. Even fucking Val remembered all of their anniversaries till things got bad, Not those things were ever that good. What he and Val had paled in comparison to him and Alastor. Fuck.
Angel sighed, crossing his legs and resting his chin on his hand. He stared out the window; the sun was slowly climbing higher in the sky. Glancing at the clock, it was only 8 am. Angel groaned before looking at his reflection in the vanity mirror. His eyes were heavy and tired. The remnants of yesterday’s makeup stained his face. He sighed at his own appearance before turning his attention back to the window.
It was not fair for him to be upset at Alastor; it wasn’t fair to be upset at himself, either a small voice in the back of his mind pointed out. But he had done something wrong, something that drove Alastor away on the day Angel was so excited. It’s not like he told Alastor how excited he was for yesterday. After spending a year being loved and loving someone so much. The internal debate was clearly getting him nowhere; he had to talk to someone. Angel frowned but who. Molly would want to fight Alastor on the principle of upsetting her brother, and Cherri would want to fight him for the hell of it. Charlie was going to be his best bet.
Angel made his way to the ground floor, he had to talk to someone, or this would drive him crazy. Charlie and Vaggie were standing close together, whispering to one another in the ballroom. Angel cleared his throat from where he was standing at the ballroom doors.
“Go away, Angel,” Vaggie said without looking at him.
“Lovely to see ya to toots.” Angel smiled as Vaggie grip on the clipboard in her hand tightened.
“How can we help you, Angel?” Charlie emphasized we by nudging Vaggie, who gave a defeated sigh. Angel wrung all four of his hand, shifting his weight; he suddenly was unable to look either of the girls in the eye. Charlie felt her eyebrows rise as she watched a nervous Angel as he kept opening and closing his mouth.
“Oh boy.” Muttered Vaggie. “Angel,” Her voice was direct but soft, “did you want to just talk to Charlie or—”
“If you ain’t gonna laugh at me, ya can stay.” Vaggie prided herself on not being overly invested in the comings and goings of her frenemy; she did care about him. He just made it so difficult to be in the same room as him sometimes. But now, her curiosity was peaked.
“Why don’t you take a seat, Angel.” Charlie gestured at two loveseats that had been added to the ballroom for therapy sessions. Angel nodded as he stalked over. As he sat, he curled in on himself. Charlie watched him with her own anxiety rising. She leaned in to whisper in Vaggie’s ear. “Please be nice.” She squeezed her hand and walked to take a seat across from Angel. Vaggie followed her a moment after. The three of them sat in silence for several minutes before Angel spoke.
“Maybe I’m being crazy. Val always said I was overdramatic when it came to shit like this.” Both girls tensed at the overlord’s name.
“Angel, could you tell us what’s going on?”
“I” He paused, rubbing his hands together, eyes focused on the floor. “I’m seeing someone.” Both girls made a noise of surprise, causing Angel to laugh. “We’ve been dating for a year. A year as of yesterday.”
“I have a sneaking suspicion that yesterday has something to do with why you’re upset.” Angel nodded.
“Even Val remembered anniversaries before everything went to shit. I just don’t understand. I love him. Listen to me, biggest whore in hell in love.”
Outside the room, Niffty had to cover her mouth with her hand to stop herself from saying something. She was the only one in the hotel that knew about Angel and Alastor, the perks of doing hotel laundry and cleaning rooms. It was impossible to miss Angel’s presents in the room. Pink and white against Alastor’s red and black. She thought it was absolutely charming the two of them together. Alastor knew she knew she had no idea about Angel, though, because their relationship was none of her business. But hearing that Alastor wasn’t even as good as Val bothered her to no end. As if summoned by her current ill will towards him, Alastor emerged from the shadows, looking exhausted. He noticed Niffty and straightened to his full height before disappearing once again. Niffty took off after him figuring he was heading to his room. She frowned as she saw him reappear in front of his door, no doubt not wanting to scare Angel.
“Alastor!” The harshness of her tone shocked them both. “What do you have to say for yourself.” Alastor blinked down at her, confused.
“My dear, what has gotten into you?” If any man ever did what Alastor was currently doing to Angel to her, she’d have his head.
“To think Valentino,” she spat out the other overlord’s name, “was better to him than you. It makes you some real hell scum.” Niffty put her nose in the air turned on her heel, leaving a darkening Alastor in her wake. Alastor took a deep breath to calm himself, a difficult task after being called worse than fucking Valentino.
“Niffty.” He kept his voice as calm as possible. Shadows surrounded Niffty, forcing her to turn around. Her earlier confidence was gone now as she stared up at him. “My dear, would you please entertain me with how I and worse than that scum.”
“You’re going to have to ask Angel about that. I shouldn’t have intruded in his business, but Alastor, he’s really broken up about it. I just wanted to help him.” Alastor’s face softened at the mention of his beau. “I—how long have you and Angel been together?”
Alastor’s ever-present smile slowly fell as he rolled back time in his mind. He and Angel…it must have been almost a year by now. Oh, Satan, help him. Alastor stood in the hallway, his mouth hanging open. The spot Niffty once occupied had long become cold.
Quickly he entered the room he and Angel shared to beg and grovel and his love’s feet. Yes, it was very unbecoming for a demon of his status to beg and grovel, but Angel was worth it. The room was empty. As he walked in further, Alastor saw his desk chair, well now really Angel’s vanity, turned towards the door. He had waited. By Angel’s side of the bed laid a red dress and heels. Hell help him.
No, he was the most powerful non-hell-born being. It was going to be fine, he hoped. He was off to find Angel. It turned out to be easier than he thought. All he had to do was follow the sound of crying and sniffles once he returned to the lobby. Ordinarily, crying would be fueling his ego, making him feel like the true killer he was. But knowing it was more than likely Angel and not some sniveling demon twisted a knife in his heart.
He slid into the lobby’s shadows following the sound. He slipped into the ballroom, and his worst fears were confirmed. It was Angel crying he thought was not alone as Vaggie and Charlie sat across from him, looking concerned.
“Did you tell him how important the anniversary was to you?” Angel sniffed.
“No, and that’s why I feel terrible for being mad cuz he doesn’t know. He must have thought it was just another day, and there I was, getting my hopes up. Ya, know he hasn’t even taken me out on the town yet. Val always wanted to show me off, but it feels like he’s ashamed of me.” Vaggie frowned.
“Dump his ass.” She said, crossing his arms. Alastor felt a little shocked at the venom in her voice. “If he’s making you feel terrible about yourself, don’t stay. Stick up for yourself.” Angel hugged himself and nodded.
“It might be best to tell him first. Let him know. If you haven’t said anything to him, maybe try that first.” Charlie suggested.
“You’re right, Charlie.” Alastor silently thanked heaven and hell for the princess at that moment. “I should go talk to him.” Alastor watched as Angel let the room as he decided his best course of action. He was going to wait a few minutes to let Angel collect himself and what he wanted to say before entering their room.
“Al!” Alastor smiled at Angel.
“Sorry, it took me so long, mon ange.” Alastor approached Angel, who was sat at his vanity. As he leaned into kiss Angel on his cheek, he leaned away.
“Are ya ashamed of me, Al?” Hearing it for a second time did not make the accusation any easier to stomach. Angel kept his eyes on the floor, not wanting to see the answer on Alastor’s face. Maybe Vaggie was right. “It’s just we don’t go nowhere. No one in the hotel even knows about us. I just—I understand if you are. You’re the all-powerful Radio Demon, and well, I’m me.” Alastor got on his knees and placed his hands on Angel’s.
“I could never be ashamed of you, mon ange. I just—” He should be good at thinking on his feet, but he always struggled with Angel. “I’ve always been a private man. Even while I was alive. I’ve also this,” He gestured between the two of them, “with anyone else. Perhaps I am just a little lost, my love.” Angel sighed.
“I’ve been so mad at ya, and ya wouldn’t have even known why. I’ve been the shitty one, not you.” Alastor thought himself the worst kind of monster for making a creature as lovely as Angel feel such. He stood; he was the Radio Demon. For fucks sake, he knew when it was time for action.
“Mon ange, get dressed; we’re puttin’ on the ritz tonight!” Angel smiled grabbing the dress that laid on the floor and hurried off into the bathroom. Alastor’s smile widened, disaster avoided. Now it was time to pull out all the stops. Thinking back to his time alive, he remembered seeing smiling girls with flowers on her man's arm. Flowers rose a dozen red roses. Cliché, yes, but it was a classic for a reason.
“What do ya think?” Alastor’s head snapped towards Angel as he strutted in. “I got it cuz it’s ya color.” The dress’s metal fabric shimmered in the light. The dress was floor length with a thigh-high slit and a halter neck. “Al?” Alastor blinked.
“My love, you are the most beautiful creature hell has ever seen. But you are missing one thing.”
“I am?” Alastor’s magic flared in his outstretched hand. It faded away, revealing a bouquet of red roses. Angel flushed as he accepted the flowers. “It’s been a long time since I’ve gotten flowers. Never got roses, though.” He stroked the flower petals in admiration. “So, where are we going?” Angel asked as he hugged the bouquet.
“That love is a secret.” A secret because he had no fucking plan, but he could think on the fly like any good killer. Linking arms, the pair disappeared into the shadows.
They stepped out from the shadows before a small restaurant. Candlelight dinners were also romantic, again cliché but classic. The demon at the host stand snapped to attention at the sight of Alastor. She led them to a small table in a more private part of the restaurant. Angel kept oohing and aahing at the décor. The restaurant was small, lit mostly by candlelight with dark wood furniture and cream tablecloths. It was cozy romantic.
“This is so nice!” Angel exclaimed as Alastor pulled out his chair.
“I’m glad you like it.” Angel’s eyes shined with excitement as he kept looking around.
“Roses and a fancy dinner! If I didn’t know any better, I’d say ya loved me.” The knife in Alastor’s heart twisted once again at the sad smile that graced Angel’s face.
“Angel, I am so sorry.” Angel snapped to attention. “I should have paid more attention to you. Angel, I love you. I promise to take you out as often as you want.” Angel’s face split into a grin, and his cheeks reddened.
“I love you too. I’ll try to let ya know if something’s bothering me next time. You might have freaky shadow powers, but ya ain’t a mind reader.” Angel giggled as Alastor rolled his eyes. “Oh, and don’t think I’ll ever forget that promise.” Alastor smiled lovingly at Angel, fully knowing he would abuse said promise but that Alastor would never grow tired of Angel’s smile.