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It was one of Angel’s rare days off. Charlie had managed to scare Val enough to give him at least one completely free day a month. Most of the hotel probably thought he adored a day where he could lay around and do nothing but he hated it. He hated being alone with his thoughts more than anything else. And now he didn’t have drugs to keep his mind quiet.
Most sinners weren’t coherent enough to remember their lives top side but Angel found that no matter how deep into addiction he threw himself, a silent moment made the past creep up on him like a ghost. It wasn’t fair that he remembered. That it only took one look into those red eyes that he knew who Alastor was. It wasn’t fair that he saw no recognition in those eyes. Being in hell wasn’t God’s punishment, it was that.
They met when Angel was still Anthony and Alastor’s eyes were still brown. Alastor had accepted a year-long position in New York at one of the big radio stations and they had met at the little restaurant where Angel worked during the day after his father had given him the boot for being queer.
Alastor was the one who called him Angel or mon ange. Angel could still remember asking him why.
“Because you're pretty as an Angel, mon cœur.” Their year together was a whirlwind romance. Angel had never wanted it to end but it had to come to an end. Alastor had to go back home to Louisiana and Angel had to stay in New York, something that Angel would always regret. The rest of his life he had been plagued by what ifs.
They wrote to each other constantly for six months until Angel’s letter came back to him unopened. It must have been a mistake so he sent another which was returned in the same manner so he sent another and then another. But nothing ever came back from Alastor. It broke his heart in a way he had never recovered from, not even in death.
When he finally came to understand that it was no mistake Angel cried till he threw up. It didn’t stop him from writing those letters at least once a week, always addressed but never posted.
From there his life spiraled out of control. But he kept all the letters he wrote Alastor no matter how deep into his addiction he fell. When he died Molly, bless her soul, made sure he was buried with them. So he awoke in hell at the tender age of twenty two with the letters to his lost love.
“Angel?” Charlie’s voice made him jump.
“Shit doll! Trying to kill me again!” Charlie looked sheepish as she settled on the window seat beside him.
“Sorry, I did knock.” Angel realized early on he couldn’t give the princess too much grief; the poor thing was the nicest thing in hell by a mile.
“It’s okay I was stuck in my head. What can I do for you?” The princess worried her lip before she spoke.
“Are you okay with Alastor being here?” She asked oh so gently like she was talking to a frightened animal.
“Of course I am. Besides, when am I quiet about something I don’t like.” He winced at the last part knowing it was a clear lie but he hoped it would put an end to whatever else she was going to say but alas he always had rotten luck.
“You just look at him sometimes with such-” She shook her hands like she didn’t know how to put it. But then again neither did Angel. He always watched the other with a jumbled up mix of disbelief, heartbreak, and love that it left him dizzy.
“I knew him before the hotel.” She nodded in understanding but Angel knew she didn’t.
“He was a client?” Angel laughed.
“No honey, no. I knew him top-side.” Gasping, the princess grabbed onto one of his hands.
“He didn-”
“No!” Angel cut her off. “He did not kill me if that’s what you’re worrying about.” Those people probably shit themselves before running for the hills when they saw the Radio Demon.
“Oh thank Satan!” She shouted slumping over. “So why do you look at him like that?” Like he had both made and ruined Angel’s day he had been itching to tell someone. He couldn’t bring himself to tell Molly or his ma because they would shake their heads and tell him to move on.
“You’re in love with Vaggie right?” The princess nodded. “Well Smiles lived in New York for a year, in an apartment down the street from where I worked as a waiter and we-I fell in love.” He couldn’t bring himself to make it a mutual thing. He could accept that he loved the radio demon but he wasn’t naive enough to think the feeling was mutual. “We wrote each other back and forth for a while but then the letters just got sent back to me. I never heard from him again. I figured he moved on. Forgot about me.”
“What happened?”
“I don’t know but I know it destroyed me. He was the first person who accepted me and who seemed to love me. God I loved him. Fuck its been almost a century and I still do. You know his accent is put on because he's cajun. My heart melted the first time he called me cher.” Tears pricked in his eyes at the memory.
They had taken to going out dancing at least once a month, Angel would get all dolled up and in the night and dark dancehall people thought he was a gal. Walking home one night Alstor wrapped his arm around Angel’s waist.
“I have not had a night like this in a dog’s age, cher.” Angel always flushed at the name hell he still flushed when he thought about it.
“Does he know? Because I imagine you’ve changed.” Angel snorted.
“Nope, and I’m never going to tell him.” It was easier that way or at least Angel had been able to convince himself of that.
“Why!” The princess shouted looking distressed.
“Honey, he is one of the most feared and respected people in hell. The other overlords fear and respect him, hell the Goetic won’t cross him. You parents, the king and queen of demons respect him. And we both know exactly what I am.” Wrapping his arms around himself, Angel turned away from the princess.
“You’re more than you think you are Angel.” Angel’s heart warmed at the thought. He had been dubious about the little princess before but she had grown on him rather quickly even if she was foolish.
“Even if that’s true he’s forgotten about me-” Charlie laughed.
“Angel, it is impossible to forget about you, trust me.” Angel let out a giggle. “When did you two meet?”
“We met in 1932 and we wrote each other for part of 1933-”
“He died in 1933.” Angel looked at her wide eyed, “Did you not know that?” She looked at him in disbelief.
Someone at some point thought it was a grand idea to put together an app with all of the available information on the overlords and it tracked their current territory which was handy. Angel had never cared too much about the overlords save for his employer. He deleted the app when he met Alastor again not wanting to tempt himself.
“I never looked into any of the overlords. I’ve been busy keeping my head above water with Val.” Charlie bounced beside him.
“You need to talk to him!” Angel nodded in agreement. Maybe he hadn’t been forgotten about.
“Okay I’ll give it a go.” Charlie hugged him.
“If it goes poorly we’ll get a bottle of wine and ice cream!” Wrapping his arms around her he nodded. It was more likely they would be cleaning him off the walls but it’s the thought that counted.
Four days after talking with Charlie he had yet to do anything. Val was keeping him on a short leash, not really Val was spending more and more time with Vox. He was busy with clients, he hadn’t taken any clients in days. He spent most of his time in the club dancing but even then his heart wasn’t in it.
On the night of the fifth day Charlie cornered him.
“Either you tell him,” She whispered, “Or I do.” Angel had the feeling that it wasn’t an empty threat either.
“Fine!”
He gathered up the letters, ones he had written before he died and ones he had written after he died putting them in an empty shoe box he writes the other a note and drops the whole mess at Al’s door before scurrying away.
Alastor hummed to himself as he walked into the hotel. He had had a successful day gathering guests for the broadcast he had just finished. Now back at the hotel he was looking forward to a nice glass of wine and a nice bath before bed.
The box in front of his door caught his attention right away. It wasn’t unusual for something to be left outside of his room, sometimes the princess if she had papers for him but he was out would just leave them by the door. It's not like anyone would steal from the princess of hell or the radio demon for that matter. But this box was different. Alastor could smell Angel’s perfume on it.
Sighing he scooped up the box and carried it into his room. Opening it he was surprised to see it was full of letters, old letters from the looks of it. On top of the letters was a simple note.
Smiles-
If I was wrong please return the letters unharmed. They are all I have left.
Angel
All he had left, how strange. Curiosity now peaked; he plucked a random letter out of the box only to drop it on the floor when he read who it was addressed to. It was his name and his address from when he was alive. Snapping up the letter once again he pulled the near century old letter out of its envelope.
Hello Alastor,
I don’t know what I’ve done darling but you haven’t answered a letter of mine in months. I hope and pray it is just a change of address and not something worse. If I have done something to offend you darling please tell me as to release me from this purgatory I find myself trapped in. I hope all is well. I went to our dancehall a few nights ago but I couldn’t find it in me to doll up or dance without you by my side. So far there is not a day that has not passed where I do not wish that I joined you when you returned to Louisiana but it is too late to have regrets isn’t it darling?
While it pains me to write I must tell you that this will be my last letter unless you send a response. So please darling please respond.
All of my love,
Your Angel
With shaking hands Alastor set the letter down on his desk. He remembers his Angel, Anthony, how could he ever have ever forgotten. He had gotten his mama’s ring size for his Angel but then the dogs had caught him in the woods that night. Not that they could have gotten married back then but he knew Angel would have loved it. They had buried him with that ring; he still had it tucked safely away in his radio tower.
Closing his fist he opened it slowly in the center of his palm was the ring. It was a simple ring, a gold band with a single diamond. It had taken his father years of saving to buy the ring and his mother had loved it and had given it to him for when he found his own gal.
He picked up the letter with the latest date he had to know if Angel had given up on the idea of him before he marched down there.
Hello Alastor,
You would be ashamed of me. I have fallen back into my vices. I thought losing my ma destroyed me but then I lost you. There is nothing I wouldn’t do to see you again. Hell you’re never going to see this letter but know I love you even though losing you has broken my heart.
All of my love,
Your Angel
Steeling himself Alastor left the box of letters, they were all addressed to him anyway, holding the ring he marched down to Angel’s room. Soft singing could be heard through Angel’s door when Alastor knocked. He could hear the demon moving around.
“Hey Prin-oh Smiles.” Angel’s eyes were big as he pulled his pink silk robe up from where it had fallen off his shoulder. His hair was in curlers and only one hand had nail polish.
“Evening Angel, may I come in?” Angel nodded as he stepped aside.
“Sorry about the mess I don’t get much time off so I try to do as much as I can on my day off.” He said as he moved the basket of laundry off his bed and onto the floor. “What can I do for you?” Alastor took a seat at the vanity, which was covered in clean makeup brushes that had been set out to dry.
“Something came to my attention today thanks to you.” Angel shifted uncomfortably.
“Oh?”
“I must say I had no idea who you were when we met again and I am sorry for that I can’t imagine how that felt especially if you recognized me.” Alastor’s heart clenched as he noticed the tears gathering in Angel’s eyes. “I am also sorry you thought I abandoned you when we were up top.”
“You know I never looked up the Radio Demon. I had no idea you died in ‘33 I thought you just moved on.” He dropped his head in his hands.
“No, mon cœur. I met my end being chased by hounds.” Static filled the room as he spoke. “Never did I forget you. I died with this in my pocket.” Fishing out the ring he held it out to Angel. Tears flowed down Angel’s cheeks as he stared at the ring.
“Really?”
“Really, mon ange.”
“I’m different now. It’s been almost a century I’m not the same Anthony any more.” Angel’s face was serious and Alastor could understand he had changed after he died; he was not the same as he once was.
“I would like to get to know Angel, that is if you would like to get to know the Radio Demon.” Angel beamed.
“There is nothing I would like more.”