Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Charlie, despite being the princess of hell, was not really used to an excessive amount of violence. She knew that it happened, she knew that it happened to a lot of sinners, hell, she even saw it with her own two eyes. But there’s something different about one of her friends getting hurt, and she can’t do anything about it.

All she wants to do is to prove that hell can be hope, and it keeps falling apart over and over. First Adam, then the meeting with Heaven, then bloody Adam again. She just wants to help, and she can’t.

Well, maybe she can. If her hotel is going to be destroyed in the next few days, the one thing she can do is make everyone in it as happy as possible. She’ll let Sir Pentious make some weapons, let Niffty run wild on the bugs in the hotel, and even maybe let Husk have the day off, they could all just celebrate getting to know each other and being such great friends.

It’s a little harder to plan for Angel, she doesn’t want to invite a sex party, or a drug bonanza, and there’s not much else that makes Angel happy. Only things that make Angel sad.

And with that, she gets an idea.

She wipes her eyes dry and tiptoes out of her room, and then down the hallway until she’s standing in front of Angel’s room. She knocks a little nervously on the door and is greeted with a very dishevelled Angel Dust, in a t-shirt too big for him.

“Charlie, it’s like fucking 3am, I need my beauty sleep.”

“Oh, Angel, I’m sorry to bother you so late,” she bites her lip, “I just had a thought, about your work.”

Angel’s eyes widen and he glances away, “You don’t have to worry about it, Val got the studio cleaned up and everything. No more apologies needed.”

“No, no,” Charlie says, waving her hands, “well, yes. I didn’t mean to ruin your shoot, and I’m sorry about that, but …”

Angel cocks his head slightly, “I can’t even imagine what you’re going to suggest, but my advice is to not get involved in Val’s bullshit.”

“Iwannabreakyourcontract!” Charlie blurts out.

Angel blinks, “huh?”

“I-“ Charlie takes a deep calming breath, “I don’t like the way he treats you, I want to break your contact.”

“You can do that?” Angel asks, sceptical.

“Well, yeah,” Charlie shrugs, “or at least, I know my dad can. I’ve seen him do it once or twice.”

“You’re not fucking with me?” Angel asks, and Charlie shakes her head rapidly.

“Of course not!” She holds out her hand, “Can you give me your contract, if you’re okay with it of course.”

Angel summons it quickly, placing the scroll in Charlie’s hand. It takes her a second to focus, but she can feel the contract alive and pulsing. She pulls at it, trying to unravel it, and finally, she locates the thin gold shine of Angel’s soul. She pulls, and pulls, until the whole thing unravels. When she opens her eyes, the contract is in tatters, torn into a million tiny pieces like a tapestry falling apart.

Angel breaths sharply, and Charlie worries that she’s hurt him, but then a watery smile fills his face, more genuine than she’s ever seen.

“Thank you,” Angel says, “oh fuck this is the best fucking day of my life.”

He leans forward and wraps all six arms around Charlie, who hugs him back just as tight.

Maybe all her friends will die, but at least she can make them all happy before that happens.

Chapter Text

It’s unfortunately normal for Husk to be patching up Angel after a particularly hard day at work. After Angel had opened up to Husk, he had been the first stop if Angel needed patching up. Husk didn’t mind, he was often up late anyway, manning the bar, and so staying up just a few minutes later didn’t matter if it meant Angel went to bed a bit healthier.

Today he’s helping Angel reset a dislocated shoulder, pulled too hard during filming and no one had bothered to help patch him up. He would be better by morning, hopefully, but that didn’t mean it didn’t hurt like hell. Everything always hurts worse in hell.

“There,” Husk says, after it’s finally back in place, “anything else.”

“Nope,” Angel says, popping the p. He’s still breathing heavily from the pain, “just some rope burn.”

“Here, I’ll get you something for it,” Husk says, “I don’t know if you can get an infection in hell, but, y’know, don’t want to risk it.”

“Heh,” Angel huffs, sitting on the bar, “yeah, would hurt like a bitch, would have to cut my arm off and hope it regrows.”

“Well, we don’t want that,” Husk says, grinning a little, “you’d be all lopsided then.” He uncaps a bottle from the shelf, “this’ll sting.”

He pours the bottle over Angel’s wrists, and the spider hisses as the liquid runs down to the floor. “Shit fuck,” he swears.

“Tut-tut,” A voice chides from the doorway, “you shouldn’t make a mess on the carpet.”

Husk quickly tips the bottle back up, and he watches as Angel slaps a smile on his face, “ooh, sorry Daddy,” he purrs in that fake saccharine voice, “Don’t worry, we’ll clean it up for you.”

Alastor’s eye twitches at the display, and he shakes his head, “Oh no need, I am the hotel host after all.” A shadow creeps across the floor and the puddle disappears into it. “Now, what are you both doing up so late, I am to believe you need your rest for tomorrow’s activities.”

“Just chatting,” Husk offers, but Alastor tips his head and Husk knows he’s too invested to take that as an answer.

“Yeah,” Angel agrees, “just some casual hotel bonding, y’know?”

“At,” Alastor looks at an invisible watch, “4am in the morning?”

“Just got off work,” Angel deflects, somewhat nervous now, and Alastor latches onto his like a dog with a bone.

His shadow creeps along the wall behind them, and then grabs onto Angel Dust’s arm and drags it up into the air. Alastor is over in a second despite Angel’s protests.

As much as Husk wants to stop Alastor, he knows he can’t, and all he can do is keep watch and hope that Alastor won’t do anything to hurt Angel more.

“You have a substantial amount of injuries,” Alastor says, offhandedly, and the shadow releases his grip on Angel’s arm, “all from work?”

“It was a busy day,” Angel defends, before sliding his smile on, “not too much to give you a ride, Daddy~”

Alastor takes a step back, and brushes invisible dirt off his jacket, “Well, we can’t have that can we, how would Charlie feel about her resident getting so injured?” He shakes his head, “Tut-tut, Valentino should really take better care of his things.”

“I’m fine,” Angel protests, “I’m heading to bed.” He pushes past Alastor and heads up the stairs to his room, leaving Husk alone with the radio demon.

“It seems our resident guest is somewhat...out of sorts,” Alastor drawls.

“Don’t bother him,” Husk asks, “Valentino is a piece of shit who pushes him too hard, that’s all.”

“Hmm, quite,” Alastor hums, his smile never wavering. “Valentino was never taught how to handle his toys properly.”

Husk snorts, but then stops. It’s hardly fair to say that Alastor was as bad as Valentino, in fact, Husk only really got warnings from Alastor if he really fucked up. He’d never gotten even half what Angel had.

“Val keeps calling him in during his hotel time,” Husk says quietly, and Alastor tips his head slightly, the only indication he’s heard him, “it makes it hard for him to concentrate, makes Charlie upset.”

“Hmm,” Alastor hums, “it is putting a dampener on our dear Charlie’s plans for redemption. But, I feel you are suggesting something that oversteps.”

“No,” Husk denies quickly, “just, when he’s in the hotel he’s under your roof, right?”

Alastor turns to face him, “You’re getting very close to telling me what to do, Husk my boy.”

Husk swallows, but he cares about Angel, truly cares about him enough to put his soul on the line again, “I’m not telling you to do anything, but, I’m sure it would be appreciated by more than just me if you kept him out of Val’s hand for a while,” he shrugs, pretending to be nonchalant, “Charlie, Nifty, hell even Vaggie would be grateful if you helped him out.”

Alastor considers. The shadow dances around the wall behind him, giving away his racing thoughts as he thinks.

“I don’t do favours,” he says, voice staticky, “but you and Nifty are some of my most useful souls, and it would be good to sharpen my claws on the Vees again.” He twirls the microphone in his hands, considering, “You think Angel would be open to a change in contract holder?”

“I can convince him,” Husk offers, “would fucking piss off the Vees too, but don’t know how you can do it without killing Valentino.”

“You let me worry about that,” Alastor says, “and you get Angel signing a contract with me.”

Husk nods, already half regretting this whole conversation, and Alastor wanders off back up the stairs.

——

It’s a few days later when Husk is brave enough to bring it up. Angel is chatting away in his room about something or another, putting together an outfit for a night out, but the black eye keeps grabbing Husk’s attention.

“I can get you away from Valentino,” Husk blurts out and Angel freezes.

“Don’t pull my leg, Husky baby,” Angel says, though his smile is brittle, “I know you used to be a big bad overlord but Valentino is a son of a bitch I don’t think you can take on.”

“Alastor could though,” Husk says, pushing forward, “he said he’s open to taking your contract from Val.”

Angel frowns, “but you hate being under Alastor’s thumb?”

Husk nods, “it sucks about as much as expected,” he shrugs a little, “but it’s better than what you get.”

“So what, I just change hands, do whatever Alastor wants me to?” Angel laughs, “he doesn’t even like sex, what would I do?”

“Honestly, I think he would just want you to stay in the hotel.” Husk grabs Angel’s hand to stop him from pacing erratically. “He, for whatever reason, just wants Charlie to succeed. He doesn’t even care about the big Overlord stuff, not really.”

“He forces you to work here though,” Angel argues, “he’ll make me a busboy or something.”

“He just needs you to be a resident,” Husk assures, and hopes he’s correct, “and this is the first thing he’s made me do in ages. Usually, he doesn’t care, as long as I’m around when he needs me to be.”

Angel chews his lip, his golden tooth glinting in the light, “you sure he’s not an asshole?”

“Oh, he’s an asshole,” Husk laughs, “but he only cares about keeping his power and this stupid hotel.” He gently tugs Angel until they’re sitting next to each other, “If you gotta belong to someone, he’s honestly your best bet.”

“And you’ll be there,” Angel whispers.

“I’ll be there.”

Angel takes a deep shuddering breath, “Okay, I’ll talk to Al about signing something. As long as he gets me out of that damn studio.”

Husk hugs him close, and Angel returns it, and he barely lets himself feel the flutter of hope that they might be okay in the end.

Chapter Text

A date usually involves food, conversation, and maybe, if Sir Pentious is lucky, some light cuddling. Sir Pentious had never really imagined a date would include a slew of bombs slung across buildings as Cherri beat the shit out of some random demons.

Sir Pentious was helping! Of course he was, he wouldn’t let his darling go in alone. Except, maybe, she had most of it covered. He let her blow away most of the mob, only picking off a few that threatened to escape. His egg minions enjoyed watching Cherri go as well, as impressed as Sir Pentious was, and it made his chest puff up in pride.

He felt it deflate though, when Cherri came back and she wasn’t as happy as usual.

“What’s wrong?” Pentious hissed out, “Usually you are overjoyed to blow up these low lives.”

“Oh, I am,” Cherri assured, before sighing as she chucked her next grenade, “but Angel told me some fucked up shit this morning and I can’t get it out of my head, no matter how many of these fuckers I blow up.”

Pentious frowns as the bomb goes off and the demons scream in the distance, “Did he make you upset?”

“Nah,” Cherri shakes her head, “it’s just his boss being a fucking dick. Kept him overnight and Angel had me check in on Fat Nuggets.” She shrugs, hugging herself a little, “I think Val said something about hurting that pig, sent Angel into a tizzy.”

“That’s horrible!” Pentious exclaims. Angel is not his favourite hotel guest, especially since their rocky start, but they have grown closer. He's nice to the eggs, he is slowly warming up to the snake, and his pet is a treat to be around. Besides, he’s Cherri’s best friend, and him being upset makes Cherri upset.

“I just wanna kill that fucker sometimes.” Cherri fiddles with her bomb, and Pentious watches her.

“Why don’t you?” He asks, before cursing himself internally as his big mouth runs away from him.

Cherri looks up at him and cocks her head, “You want me to go up against the fucking Vees?”

“No!” Pentious says quickly, nervously, “But well, us together could probably take out Valentino by himself.”

Cherri scoffs, but then she stops and considers. “You reckon we could?”

Sir Pentious smiles nervously. He doesn't really want to agree, but Cherri has that dangerous look in her eye that means business, “if it would make you happy.”

“It would,” Cherri agrees, grinning, “you know you’re kind of hot when you’re bloodthirsty.”

“Then let’s go kill Valentino!” He slithers to his airship, Cherri laughing her head off at his incredibly red cheeks.

——

The airship pulls up to the infamous porn studio, and through the windows, they can see Valentino throwing one of his famous fits.

A chair smashes through the window, and Cherri pops open the airship door.

“Looks like he’s inviting us in!” She grins and jumps out with a whoop.

“I don’t think-“ Sir Pentious tries, but Cherri is already halfway across the studio and chucking around enough grenades to cause utter chaos. “Egg boys, charge the laser,” he commands as he puts his hat on, “I’m going to help save Cherri.”

He doesn’t really need to save her, per se, as she has everything completely under control, but he does help distract Valentino from hitting her directly. Two targets are much harder to hit than just one, and Valentino isn't a good enough shot to hit them both at once.

Cherri gets a hit in with a bomb, and before Valentino can strike back Pentious shoots a net around his legs. He stumbles, letting Cherri dart back in as the porn stars scream and run out. They follow the same pattern, and while Cherri gets thrown across the floor and Pentious gets nicked in the side, they both bounce back. In the smog of the room, they have the upper hand, working together to throw Valentino off his rhythm. His security attempts to help, but a few shards of shrapnel are all that is needed to keep them at bay and out of the main fight zone. They give up eventually when Pentious flicks the door to the room shut with his tail.

And then Valentino lets out a violent and guttural scream, his wings unfurling to blow the smoke out of the room. Cherrie gets bowled over as it happens, and Pentious gets knocked into a table.

“You insolent little worms!” Valentino screams, “You attack me, in my own studio! I will end you!”

His smoke pours out of him as his wings spread wider, readying himself for whatever powerful attack he has an overlord. But that slight second of overconfidence gives Pentious a chance, and he yells out the window to his henchmen.

“Fire the laser!”

Valentino barely has time to blink before the airship unleashes its power straight into his chest, leaving a chunk missing. He stumbles back, his smoke dissipating and his wings curling back around himself. He's injured, downed, he tries to speak but only a gargle of blood pours out.

Cherri jumps up to meet him as he falls to the ground, running to kneel over his vulnerable form as he chokes. “This is for Angel Dust, you cunt,” she sneers as she shoves a grenade into the cavity left in Valentino’s chest. She scoops Pentious up and leaps them both out of the building as it blows. It’s one of the biggest explosions that Pentious has ever seen in his life.

They stand there in the airship, panting from the fight, both injured and covered in blood and soot.

“Did you make that?” Pentious finally asks, motioning towards the massive fire that’s still burning.

“Yeah,” Cherri puffs, “new concoction. You like?”

Pentious sweeps her off her feet and kisses her as hard as he can.

—

Later, when they get back to the hotel, Angel is standing at the bottom of the stares, mouth agape in shock.

“Did you fight Valentino for me?” He asks, incredulously.

“Don’t get ahead of yourself, we did for Fat Nuggets,” Cherri deflects, sauntering up to throw an arm over his shoulder, “and we killed that motherfucker so he’s dead dead.”

“Well,” Angel says, tears in his eyes, “Nuggets is very appreciative.”

Chapter Text

Lucifer is enjoying staying in his daughter’s hotel, the bartender is surprisingly funny, the maid is hardworking if not a little creepy, and Alastor is carefully keeping his distance, probably plotting something.

The only one he doesn’t quite get along with is Angel Dust, who turns every light-hearted conversation into a flurry of innuendo and flirting. Lucifer knows his way around sex, don’t get him wrong, but he’s committed to Lilith now and he doesn’t feel comfortable taking advantage of someone so close to his daughter.

He keeps watch over Charlie’s redemption tactics, noting how Angel Dust doesn’t flirt as much with her or Vaggie, his jokes are still full of innuendo, sure, but he doesn’t use it like a weapon. As soon as he spots Lucifer though, the sleazy smile is back, and he uses getting close as a way to keep Lucifer at arm's length.

It’s unnerving then, when he is awoken one night to someone tripping his wards, and finds Angel stumbling through the door.

He only realises after pointing his sword at his throat, which takes them both a little by surprise.

“Oh, sorry!” Lucifer says, folding the weapon away, “I didn’t realise you were still out!”

“No problem, Daddy~” Angel grins, “just working late, and hard~.” He throws in a wink, and Lucifer’s smile turns brittle.

“Well, I won’t hold you then,” he says, “I’ll let you get back to your room.” He’s about to retreat back up the stairs when Angel’s legs give out from under him.

“Shit,” Angel hisses, curled up on the ground, one leg held to his chest.

“Whoa,” Lucifer says, kneeling down to get next to him, something he remembers doing when Charlie was four and had just skinned her knee, “hey what’s up?”

“Oh, nothing,” Angel lies, unconvincingly, “just a little sore, heh.”

Lucifer frowns, and looks down at Angel’s legs, and promptly pales a little, “Did you walk home with a shattered kneecap!?”

Angel blinks, a little scared, and looks up at Lucifer, “I’ve had worse?”

“Oh, this is-“ Lucifer huffs, “here.” He waves a hand over it and the wound heals, it takes barely a fraction of a thought. “You know we have a chauffeur service if you need it!”

“A chauffeur service- you mean the King’s Limo?” Angel asks incredulously, “Wait, you healed my knee?” He looks impossibly confused, and Lucifer frowns.

“Well, I wasn’t going to leave you with a broken leg,” Lucifer says.

Angel Dust blinks at him, all eight eyes at once, “thank you,” he whispers quietly, “I wasn’t sure I could make it up the stairs.”

It’s the soft voice that does it, Lucifer is a sucker for a soft scared voice, probably because it reminds him of Charlie when she was younger. “Who did this? Some rogue demon on your way home? I thought everyone knew I was in charge now.” He can feel his eyes glow red, and Angel shrinks back a little in fear.

“Nah,” Angel shakes his head, “it was just work.”

“You do porn though,” Lucifer says.

“Val is into some weird BDSM thing, hit me too hard.” Angel shrugs, “it’s just work.” He says it again like it explains the severity of the injury.

“He-“ Lucifer growls, “did he know he broke your knee?”

“Yeah,” Angel looks uncertain now, “it’s not the worst he’s done.”

“Why the hell would you go back then?” Lucifer asks, shouting now.

“He owns my soul,” Angel says quietly.

Lucifer spins around and paces, just once, before he stands back in front of Angel, his wings in full force, “Give me your contract.”

Angel summons it, the golden page unfurling in his hand. Lucifer snatches it and tears it in half. It hurts, Angel’s soul being torn, just for a second, before it snaps into place.

“There,” Lucifer says, “I broke the contract.”

“You can do that?” Angel asks, still reeling from the new feeling.

“I’m Lucifer,” Lucifer explains, deadpan. “Now, to bed with you, you need to rest up before tomorrow. Charlie is planning something or other, and you can’t be called out of it.”

“Valentino is gonna be pissed,” Angel says, incredulous.

Lucifer scoffs, “Then, I will have to remind him on why he shouldn’t be messing with my daughter’s project.” He folds his wings back, “and she cares about you, so you’re under my protection too.”

Angel scampers up the stairs after that and collapses onto his bed. Lucifer does the same, and the next day Charlie comes up and gives him the biggest hug she can, thanking him for helping Angel Dust out.

Lucifer hugs her back, just as grateful, and thinks that he perhaps can get used to this whole hotel business.

Chapter Text

Extermination days are always hell. Well, more hell than usual hell. Angel had it better than most others, but it certainly wasn’t good.

Valentino holed him up in the Vees hideout, along with some high-ranking souls that they needed to run their company. From here, they could hear the commotion and the chaos, and Vox had a screen set up to watch over if any Overlord needed replacing.

He’s curled up slightly on Val’s lap, Val’s hands wandering up and down Angel’s torso. Sometimes they fucked, but Val’s feeling lazy this time. Maybe after the extermination finishes, or if he gets bored of riling up Vox. They’re shooting insults over the top of his head, and Angel lets them, preferring to pretend he doesn’t exist. He hopes Cherri is okay, and Fat Nuggets. He hadn’t been able to bring either of them with him to the safe house.

Then the door swings open, and a demon rushes through, panting with exertion.

“What are you doing?” Vox demands, “This place is sealed every extermination day!”

“They were going to kill me!” The demon yells, ducking under the coffee table in the middle of the room.

“They’re chasing you?” Vox asks, frantically switching screens, “And you lead them here?”

“I-“Whatever the demon is going to say, it’s cut off by the door being blown open, and a group of three angels standing at the door.

“Oh fuck yeah!” One of them cheers, throwing their spear and catching one of Velvette’s assistants before they can move, “like fish in a barrel!”

And then chaos erupts. The three Overlords scramble to make it out of the room, and Angel is knocked off of Val’s lap in the process. He’s thrown halfway across the room as the Angels sweep in. He frantically looks around for a weapon, cover, anything, and spots the bathroom door. He slinks in while the exterminators are busy spearing the demon under the coffee table and chasing Velvette out the door, and sits there in silence with the light off.

He can hear the screams from the souls inside the safe house, and he recognises some of them. He’ll fucking miss some of the nicer porn stars, even some of Vox’s assistants. He doesn’t want to look, but he has to see if any of them are coming towards the door.

He’s thankful he does, as he sees in the chaos a shadow of feet coming towards him, and he scrambles back. The cabinet under the sink is open, and Angel squeezes himself inside, grateful that his demon form can fold itself up so small.

There’s a slat in the cabinet door that he peeks through, and he sees Valentino stumble through the bathroom door. He’s injured, an obvious slice through one of his wings. An angel chases him in, and spears Valentino right through the chest, the moth has nowhere to go in such close quarters.

He watches in terror as the angel holds the spear in place, seeming to take joy in watching Valentino die again. Then, they rip the spear out, blood splattering across the walls, and turn to leave.

Angel stays huddled in the cramped bathroom cabinet for hours, until he hears the sirens that signal the end of Extermination Day, and then for another hour after, just in case. Finally, he slowly pushes open the cabinet door and unfurls from his hiding space.

Valentino’s corpse is still oozing blood, the puddle slowly spreading. He steps around him carefully and enters the rest of the safe room. There is blood everywhere, coating almost every surface, and Angel forces himself not to look. He can’t see Vox or Velvette, but that doesn’t mean they survived.

He leaves as quickly as he can, and the carnage on the street isn’t much better. He can feel the survivors look at him as he walks, and sudden discomfort fills him. He might be safe from Valentino, but he is the most popular porn star in hell, he is not safe from the rest of the public.

He skitters through the street quickly until he’s back in the porn studio. Everything is in tatters without Valentino’s control, and he dashes through the rooms before anyone can recognise him. Once he’s in his room he finally takes a breath and realises how fucked he truly is.

He has no protection here, no one would save him if the bodyguards outside decided to use him. In fact, no one would step in if they decided to kill him. He has to leave.

He packs a spare bag haphazardly, but makes sure to grab Nugget’s food and treats. Once it’s stuffed full, he grabs an oversized dark coat he used for some scene or another and chucks it on. It doesn’t do anything to hide his height, but it hides most of his fur. A scarf over the top hides most of his face as well.

He puts the leash on Fat Nuggets, but then scoops him into his arms and hides him under his coat.

“I know,” he whispers, “I’m sorry, but we gotta go.” Fat Nuggets squirms against him, but Angel quiets him with a treat and makes his way back out.

He creeps through the streets carefully, keeping his head down and sticking to areas he wouldn’t stand out. Finally, he makes it to the edge of town, where there are far fewer sinners and less billboards with his face on them. He looks around for a second to orient himself and finds a hotel in the distance.

“Hazbin Hotel?” He murmurs to himself, “Ah well, worth a fucking shot.”

He trudges up the hill and knocks on the slightly dilapidated door. He’s about to leave when finally someone answers on his third knock.

“Hello!” A cheering blond woman says, “Welcome to the Hazbin Hotel! We’re not quite set up for visitors at the moment, but-“

“I don’t have anywhere else to stay,” Angel says softly, “I’ve got money.”

The woman softens, “No need, come in, I’ll find something for you. I’m Charlie, by the way.”

“I’m…Anthony,” Angel says, and he walks through the doors.