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Angel woke up before Val did and had a moment to breathe. He picked up Fat Nuggets and walked outside. Then, he looked at the sky from the Vee’s Tower. It always had a stunning view. He could see so much from Valentino’s apartment. He wished it was this nice when Val was awake. He really hated himself for signing that damn contract. Why would he sell his soul to some asshole? No. He knew the answer. He didn't have to ask himself. He remembered that night very well. Too well.
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He was at a club. It was not long after Anthony had died and went to Hell. He had always felt so alone and unloved. His dad hated him and showed it by beating him regularly. He was gay and his dad really didn't like that. He felt even lonelier now because he didn't have his siblings. He loved them. After he died, everything was gone. He had been single his entire life. He’d never felt anything romantic.
He was new to Hell and had been trying to figure things out on his own. That's all he would ever have anyway, right? He decided to try to get some alcohol from the bar on the side but they didn't hear him. He sighed and tried again to no avail. He gave up. He went to turn in exasperation when an unfamiliar, but smooth, low voice spoke.
“Want a drink?”
Anthony turned at the voice in surprise. Surely the voice would be talking to someone else. He saw a moth demon beside him, eyeing him. Anthony’s face scrunched up in confusion. He asked quietly, “M-me?”
“Yes, you, gorgeous. Drink?” responded the other demon, smirking slightly at him. Anthony couldn’t help but blush a bit at that. No one had ever called him that. Nothing like that. He looked down and nodded slowly. The mysterious man ordered him a sex on the beach and handed it to after the bartender finished mixing it. “I’m Valentino.”
“Anthony,” he said shakily. Why was this man being so kind? He bit his lip. “Thanks… for the drink.”
“Anthony. Nice name. You seem new to Hell,” said the same deep voice. Valentino. He was beginning to like this voice. They talked for a while, about random things: how they had died, about Anthony’s past life. Then, Valentino asked Anthony where he was staying when Anthony was quiet. He had been not really doing much in Hell. He had no job, no place to live, no friends. He had nothing. Valentino seemed to understand what he wasn't saying. He kept his eyes on Anthony. “If you need a job, I can help with that.”
“A job?” Anthony asked quietly. He hadn't thought that once he died, he would have to get a job in Hell. Valentino nodded.
“Yeah, and I know you’ll love it!” The purple-haired demon smirked down at him again.
“U-um, okay,” he couldn’t help a small shy smile as the other man eyed him up and down. “Thanks.”
“Do you want another drink?” Valentino offered.
“Sure. Thank you,” Anthony responded, starting his second drink.
“A pretty thing like you deserves new clothes, too,” Valentino said. Anthony blushed red again at that compliment. He really was not used to compliments. Not at all. Someone thought he was pretty? “And if you need somewhere to crash, you can stay with me.”
Anthony didn't know why this man was being so kind to him. He was not worth anything good and clearly Valentino was a nice demon. He didn’t know how to handle nice people, especially handsome people being nice. He bit his lip in thought. He looked at the other and nodded softly. “Okay.”
“Shall we get going, then, sexy?” Valentino asked, offering his hand for Anthony. The blonde demon blushed once again, nervous about holding another person’s hand, especially an attractive one. He shakily took the hand offered.
”Sure,” said the spider demon. Then, Valentino smirked at Anthony, who gave him another small smile. Valentine took him back to his place.
They started “dating” a few weeks later. Anthony had stayed living with him. He thought the moth demon and him were madly in love. Years later, Valentino had handed him a paper. Valentino told him that if Anthony signed they could be together forever. Considering
Anthony really believed what Val had said. He believed that he loved him. He truly believed he was telling the truth about the paper. He had never had any reason to doubt the other. He'd always treated him so well. He’d gotten him presents randomly. He’d always been there for him. They would drink together often. They had fun together. He’d never hurt him. He realized how lucky he was. He grinned widely at his lover. “Yes, Val.”
Then, he signed, adding a little heart beside his name.
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Now, thinking about his stupidity, he couldn't believe he'd ever let Val in. He tried to keep his weeps quiet so his boyfriend wouldn't hear. Angel never knew how Val would respond to anything anymore. That “charming man” that he’d thought he was when he had met the moth demon was not at all that man and probably had never existed. He hated himself for signing the contract and he hated himself for ever believing a word Val had said. Val had only done one good thing for him and that was getting him Fat Nuggets. He remembered Val picking out his new name and telling him it would help him on his path to stardom. No one knew who Anthony was, only Angel Dust. Angel hated his job and he only still lived with his “boyfriend” because at this point he was terrified of Val and his reaction if he tried to move out. He pet Fat Nuggets and gave him a small smile.
“I love you, Nuggie. I don't know how I would get through this without you and Cherri,” he mumbled quietly to one of his only friends. He was attempting to be quiet as he spoke, not wanting to wake Val. He watched the sun rise with the most calming feeling he had being with Val.
“Angel? What are you doing out here? It’s so early. Come back to bed, baby,” Val said, suddenly standing right beside the blonde. Angel tried not to flinch as Val started groping him. He bit his lip and simply nodded, not wanting to upset Val right now. He let himself be dragged back into the bedroom, practically thrown on the bed. Val pinned his body to the bed with his own, smirking maliciously at Angel. “If you can't sleep, I'm sure you can come up with something better to do than sit outside all alone.”
Angel already knew there was no getting out of this, so he decided to hopefully put Val in a good mood. Usually, he could get away with more when the moth demon was in a good mood. Unfortunately, the only reasons Val was ever in a good mood was sex related. Angel knew Val too well at this point to think he could get out of this bed in one piece, so he just bit his lip. The blond smirked back sexily at Val. Then, he pretended to be into sex as he was really forcing himself. This wasn't new. It was something Angel had gotten used to. He had been doing this dance with Val for decades now and he hated it. He couldn't do anything except just simply accept his fate. He just tried to pretend it wasn't real. He at least had drugs. Drugs, Cherri, alcohol, and Nuggie was how he somehow managed to get through. He wished he was with Cherri instead. He wished he could be anywhere else. At least Val wasn’t hitting him or anything else.
Eventually, it was over. For now. Thankfully, after they had gone a few rounds, Val passed out and Angel took the opportunity to go hunt down some booze and drugs, preferably the drugs. After easily finding some angel dust, he immediately took them. After a bit, they kicked in. He could barely see or walk. He was grateful for drugs and alcohol being so easy to come by in Hell. He hated his life. He wanted to finally just break enough so he couldn't work for Val anymore, or be Val’s “favorite.” He sniffled slightly at the dark thought spiraling through his body. He felt like a big dark hole. He hated himself. He hated Val. He hated having to wake up with Val. He heard some guys catcalling at him. Great. Just what he fucking needed. More assholes. If they tried ot touch him, he wanted to say he would fuck them up and shoot them. However, nowadays, he simply froze when anyone touched him sexually. He just hated being touched at all anymore. He'd been through too much with Val and others. He thought he heard some woman talking to him? She sounded like a fucking Disney princess? He tried to turn to the voice, and he could see blurry blonde hair.``Do you need help?”
Angel squinted trying to see anything more clearly, but the drugs were doing their job. He thought the blonde girl came closer. “Hello? Are you okay? My name is Charlie and I run a hotel to help people. Have you heard of the Happy Hotel? Do you - Wait, are you… Angel Dust?”
“That’s my name, don't wear it out,” he hummed, feeling he was about to fall and never be able to stand or move again. “Hotel? I don’t have money for a-”
“It’s free! I just want to help people! We are trying to help rehabilitate sinners. You can come stay in a room as long as you need, Angel. What do you think?” Charlie interrupted and he swore he could hear the girl smiling. A free hotel. No one was that nice. She said it was a place to help people. He may not trust the idea, but honestly anything would be better than living with and working for Val.
“I- I don't trust ya or anything ya just said, but it's free, so. Lead the way?” Angel agreed.
“Don't you have anything to bring? Clothes and things?” she asked him. Shit! He still had to tell Val he was moving. He still had to pack his stuff and grab Fat Nuggets. This would be so much easier if he could do it in secret, but Val owned him, so he could move out technically. The contract actually said that Val could do anything he wanted to Angel during work at the studio, so if he got out of the living situation, it would be terribly long days of work, he was sure, but honestly, he just needed to be anywhere else. He couldn’t keep waking up with Val. Every single day with Val, made him feel a step closer to digging his own grave. The less interaction he had to have, the best. He was so fucking terrified though.
“Right. What if ya give me the address or whatever so I can come over when I'm packed?” Angel suggested, trying to make sure no one would see how scared he was or notice anything wrong. He hated anyone except Cherri to know how he really felt about anything. She was the only person he ever had trusted, including through his life and after he died. He looked at Charlie, hoping she would go. She just looked at him with wide eyes.
“Or, I could help you carry things?” she said as a question, smiling widely at Angel. He sighed lightly. He looked at her.
“Fine. How about this? I'll bring my stuff out when I'm done and we can carry it together?” he gave in. He was most certainly not inviting her into Val’s apartment. She nodded excitedly, waiting outside with a smile. Angel did not get her. Anyways, he waved at her without knowing why. It's not like they knew anything about each other except their names. Charlie waved back as he walked into the apartment alone. Val was awake when Angel got there. He looked at the spider demon.
“Where were you, Angie?” Val asked with the same deep voice as ever. He took a long drag of his cigarette and exhaled the pink smoke. It entered Angel's nose and mouth. Angel couldn't help, but to inhale deeply. He remembered what he was going to do. He wanted to leave. He knew his plan, but suddenly Val was beside him, continuing the process of drugging Angel through his cigarette smoke. Angel coughed a bit. Fuck. Suddenly, Valentine was beside him, pinning him to the wall this time. Then, all Angel wanted was this. Right? Val pressed his lips to Angel’s neck, biting roughly. Angel couldn't help but moan a bit. His eyes closed in pleasure.
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Later, they were both naked in Val’s bed. Angel woke up from a nightmare. He had been poisoned by Val and he died. Angel suddenly remembered why he had come home. He looked at Val, naked in the bed they had spent so many decades in. Angel had needed this to be over and he had an out finally. Angel sighed, shaking like a leaf. He had never been so terrified.
“Val?” the spider demon asked quietly. Val turned to look at him, starting to take another drag and smirked.
“What? Didn't get enough, Bunny?”
“No, that’s- that's not it…” Angel mumbled in terror. He stood up and continued. “I-I, I’m moving out.”
“You what?! You, what, think you can just walk out? Where the fuck do you think anyone will even let you stay? No one gives a Fuck about you except me, Angel! Only me! But if you really think anyone besides me will let a dumbass whore like you, you’re wrong. No. One. Cares. But. Me. Good luck finding people who can listen to your fucking annoying whiny voice all of the time. I. Made. You. Good luck finding anyone else who can put up with you, slut,” Val hissed as he glared at Angel. The blond shivered at the eyes piercing through him. He could barely walk because of the feeling of everything that was happening. He didn’t expect Val to take it well, but he honestly expected a beating at least. Angel just quietly started trying to quickly collect his things, still shaking as the moth demon watched him.
“Angel, baby, I'm sorry. You know how crazy you make me. Please, just stay here, with me? We can be happy. Let’s just stay how we were, okay We were happy, weren't we? ” Val hummed with his smooth voice, taking a drag from his cigarette and exhaling. Angel just bit lip and tried to stay as far as he could from the other. The moth demon kept invading his space, though and the damn smoke was confusing him and messing with his brain. A part of Angel just wanted to give in and let Val fuck him and just be done with the fight, but he couldn't keep playing house anymore. Not when he had been dating a psychopath.
“No, Val. I can't do this anymore! Our contract says ya can do anything to me at the studio during work hours, but I'm free now. Free of this part of my life because I’m fucking moving out. Please just let me do this.”
Val growled at him and got closer to him. “You're going to regret this, Angel.”
Then, Val went to the other room to do who knows what. Angel finished packing and grabbed his baby from the bed he would never see again. He bit lip, trying to quiet the sobs that exited his body, having finally made it out. Then, he wiped his eyes and walked out. Then, Charlie somehow was still there.
“Hi!” she said happily, waving at him. “Are you ready?
“Yeah. Let’s get the fuck out of here,” Angel said.