Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

“Well, I wouldn’t have done it if you didn’t make it so easy, I mean seriously , sleeping on the couch ?! Man, you’ve really fallen off, haven’t you Luci ?” Adam twisted the red feather between his fingertips before pulling out with a second thought and threw it behind him. “At this point you should be thanking me for doing this, I’m saving your ass! But hey, maybe when I kill you, you’ll ascend to Heaven , huh? Pft , as if!” Insults spilling from his lips, Adam continued this pattern of feather pulling for a few more times before he got bored.

With a long, drawn-out sigh, he stepped back, hands on his hips, and admired his work with a grin, only for it to fall to a frown when Lucifer finally spoke. 

“S -stop , p… Please just k-kill me already… Please …”

Adam sighed and brought a bloodstained hand to the side of the blonde’s cheek, cupping it gently enough that you could almost assume he cared. “Nah, that’d be way too easy, for now, I think I’m gonna have my fun.”

With a rusted nail in one hand and a hammer now in the other, the nail was brought down upon the carpals of his wing, and Lucifer screamed .

Yet no one heard his sobs.  

The funny thing about Hell was despite how expansive it was, just like a small town rumors spread fast. Which is how Angel sat here, surrounded by a group of strangers being told that the King of Hell, Charlie’s dad , had been fucking killed. 

“You’re fucking jokin’ with me, right? Ain’t no way,” He raised a brow at the sinner who only nodded in return before showing him a photo on their phone. A photo from a news article published by fucking Vox , meaning, if they had it…

Angel Dust got out of his seat without a second thought and went looking for Husk. 

It wasn’t that hard to find him, it was like looking for the color red in a sea of blue, obvious . 

Pushing through the crowd of people, he caught the other sinner by surprise, moving him along towards the exit without a word. 

“Hey! What the hell do you think you’re doing? Just cuz’ we’re friends doesn’t mean you can push me around like some fuckin’ ragdoll!” Husk scolded, planting his feet flat on the ground with a slight growl.

“There ain’t no time to explain, we need ta find Charlie and get outta here, more importantly, don’t let Charlie see what’s on de’ TV.” Grabbing the cat by the straps of his suspenders, he pulled him along, earning a yelp in response. 

“What in the hell is on the TV that you can’t let her see? ‘Sides, it’s a little too late for that, she’s already looking at it.” 

“Wh- Charlie !” His feet moved before his mind could even register what he was doing. Pushing through the crowd- nearly stumbling on his two feet - and towards the princess of Hell, only to falter as he saw what was actually on the television. “Charlie it’s not what it… Holy shit … ”

“Breaking news today in Hell!” Started Katie Killjoy, that same unnatural grin stretched across her face, yet somehow the maliciousness of it had been amplified. “Turns out our demonic head honcho is just as useless as his failure of a daughter! Not only is her little project still dead in the water, but she’s back to square one with two of its residents getting murdered right on site. Both by Heaven’s favorite boy toy Adam .” 

There on the TV screen was a video feed of the princess of Hell's father, strung up from the lights and poles that decorated the hotel, golden blood gleaming in the light, wings severed, and a bloody message of ‘ LOVE, ADAM ’ written in gold. 

“So if any of you filthy sinners have a death wish. You know where to go. To the Had Been Hotel!”

Charlie wasn’t sure whether to cry or scream, but she was pretty sure she did both.

Chapter Text

Cannibal Town was lively, however it wasn’t the usual joyful type of vigor he was accustomed to, but instead, one ravaged by salivation and hunger. Muscles twitched, hands shook and weapons were sharpened as the people gathered around the newspaper stands with empty wide eyes, their faces sunken in. The stir caused Alastor to raise a brow at the citizens, especially considering the time it was occurring, why it was nearly midnight ! He’s heard of some people being night owls but not an entire town!

With an odd feeling of trepidation blooming in his stomach, dread weighing heavy on his shoulders, he made his merry way to his favorite place in Cannibal Town:

Rosie’s Emporium!

The door pleasantly jingled behind as he stepped in, taking in the sweet scent of blood. He let out a sigh of relief, feeling the dread leave his shoulders. 

“Oh my stars! You’re visiting me again Alastor? Does this mean it’s gonna become a monthly thing? I’ve been missing seeing you around here, it’s been too long!” With grace, Alastor accepted the side hug from the other Overload, returning her warm smile. 

“It’s only been a month Rosie.” The woman in question simply waved her hand as if to wave away his words.

“That’s still too long, really, you gotta come visit more often, I’ve been missing your company.” Grabbing his hand, she led him to the side of the parlor near the windows. 

“Can’t get enough of me, can you?” His words earned a chuckle from the woman, a low blush dusting her pale cheeks. 

“Oh shut it you!” She giggled, seating him across from her at a table where a teapot and cup was already present. “Now, what do I owe this pleasure to?”

Shoulders tensing briefly before he forced them to relax, he cocked his head at her, grin growing a bit wider by the second. “Can’t a man just visit his friend without any ulterior motives?”

She shook her head, leaning on her hand that was cupping her own cheek. “As nice as that would be I know you Alastor, you're all work no play. Makes you such a dull boy.”

“ Ah , you got me! Red handed and all.” He held up his hands in a sign of false surrender before putting them down and leaning forward, eyes dilating with interest. “I’m just curious what’s gotten everyone in town in such a tizzy my dear.”

“Oh, haven’t you heard? Ever since the Extermination everyone here has been trying to get another taste of those angel's blood, but can you blame ‘em? It’s absolutely addicting to the ordinary sinner, I’m surprised you ain’t worried about it.”

“Well, as long as it doesn’t pose a problem for my hotel I see no reason why I should worry.” The misplaced grimace that curved its way on Rosie’s face had alarm bells ringing in the sinner's head. His smile grew a bit tighter . 

“Ah, about that … I’m guessing you haven’t heard the rumors or seen the picture floating around then?”

“Ah ha, what picture?” Like an old TV, his voice crackled towards the end of his sentence, infested with static and white noise.

“Oh, I’d think it’d be betta’ for me to just show ya, here lemme go get the paper.” Getting up from her chair, she walked behind the counter and began to scourge around for something, accompanied by the sounds of ruffling papers. She let out an ‘Ah-ha!’ sound before standing up straight and sliding back across from him. She held up a newspaper, pointing towards the large headline plastered across from it, a black and white picture right beneath it. “ See ? You’re lucky I’ve been able to convince ‘em this long that storming the hotel won’t do ‘em any good but I don’t know how long it’ll last. So unless you want some hungry sinners at your door I’d recommend you go clean up this issue pronto .”

“...Tell me, dear, who exactly published this paper?”

“You know exactly who did it, don’t make me spell it out.”

In one swift motion Alstor got up from his seat, the light briefly flickering with his movements as he walked towards the exit. “As much as I love your company Rosie, it appears more important matters need my attention. Ta ta darling!”

“Good luck Alastor! I’ll try to hold down the fort over here.”

But the cannibal's words went through one ear and out the other, the demon already lost in his own gorey thoughts, the lights flickering above them. Rosie just rolled her eyes at him and resumed sipping her tea.

“I mean can you believe this shit?! Not only does the first man respawn in Hell but he also beats the shit out of the Devil, and I get the first scoop? I mean, like, how lucky is that?!” The two other Vee’s watched Vox animatedly pace back and forth in front of them as they both lounged on the couch. A large crooked grin was stretched across his flat face, nearly glitching in excitement, his words came out as half stutters, lagging in anticipation.

Velvette had given up trying to understand him half an hour ago, busying herself with scrolling through the latest posts on her Sinstagram and mentally noting which posts were getting more attention than others. She’s pretty sure Valentino had done the same except he was busy playing that stupid cracker clicker game he had gotten addicted to a week ago.

“Yeah yeah, whatever, we all know the only reason you’re excited ‘bout it is cuz’ it fuels your lil’ hate boner for that crummy static demon or whatever his name is.” Feigning innocence, she waved her hand with a facade of dismay on her face. Resisting the urge to let the corners of her lips curl upwards. 

“Oh, fuck off Velvet, that’s-” But as soon as the words left the man’s mouth a grin stretched itself across her face in tangential with her hearting a post. 

“That’s not my name cunt .” Not missing a beat she cut him off, resuming her scrolling. 

“ I don’t care - that’s not the point here! The point is I’m about to get more business than ever!” Starting up his pacing once again, he rubbed his hands together as distorted cackles slipped past his lips. “ Ohoho , this is gonna be great ! Oh, I can already see it now , I’m about to write so many articles on that fucking coward that he’ll regret ever crawling out of that filthy hole of his!”

“Dios mío Vox, I don’t get why you're so obsessed with that thing, he’s not even that hot.” Velvette scoffed at Valentino’s comment but didn’t add on anything more than that. 

“I could say the same about that little boy toy of yours.” Vox hissed, sharply turning on his heels to glare at the moth man. 

“Don’t get him start -” But Valentino cut her off before she could finish her sentence. 

“Don’t you DARE say that about-”

With a roll of her eyes, muttering unsavory words underneath her breath she switched to scrolling through her newsfeed instead. It was booming with views and comments, differing sources- even those from other Rings! - adding their opinion or throwing their hat in the ring. Misinformation galore, she ignored the words in lieu of descriptions of the incident and some of the pictures. Like a splash of water in a gas fire, her mind suddenly burst aflame with ideas and inspiration. 

Dresses laced with golden latin, or gold wire, white dripped in gold or fading into it. Feathers dusted with golden sparkles, vermillion red clashing brilliantly with hot molten gold . A fervor of motivation flowing through her veins, she opened a drawing app and got to sketching, not caring how messy the initial sketches were as long as she could ride the waves before it settled into a swell.

Or at least, she would have rode them if it weren’t for the loud crash of glass in the glass wall a few meters behind her, followed by a large gust of wind that ruined her hair. An obnoxiously familiar yet slightly foreign voice broke through the chaos and she could imagine the aggravating grin on the fallen angel’s face. Oh she just wanted to punch him so badly , knock his kneecaps out and leave him writhing in pain.

“HEYYYYYY BITCHESSSS! Just letting you all know I’m going to be crashing here for a while while those has-been bitches are after me, alright?” And now they were going to be after them as well, great, fucking fantastic. 

Sometimes she wonders why she didn’t ever move her business back to the Greed Ring instead. 

“Oh, fuck me .” She sighed, languidly sinking back into the surface of the couch.

“Oh hell no! There is no way I’m sticking this holy dick into something that unholy!” Velvette could already feel the upcoming migraine coming on as she flopped onto her stomach and started to scream into the satin pink pillows. 

Why her ?

A lurid of colors decorated the scene before them, far different- far more real - than what they had seen on the TV. 

Crimson feathers dotted in gold gathered around the surface where the King was hanging from, bits of flesh still stuck to the edge of the quills. Parts of his wings were messily flayed, some hanging off by a sliver, others laying around somewhere randomly on the ground. Meanwhile, his two bottom most smallest wings were completely severed, a small part of the humerus and scapula were all that was left of both of the wings, meanwhile his middle and top ones weren’t in the best of state.

His middle wings had crudely been nailed to the columns at the entrance of the hotel, straight through the carpals of each wing, another added right between the radius and ulna. His top most wings were the most damaged. Nearly all the feathers on it were broken or plucked off, the skeleton of it was exposed, though that wasn’t the worst part of it. The worst part was how it was hanging off of his back by a simple thread of muscles. 

His waist coat had been ripped off in an apparent fervor, enough force to rip through his button up too, revealing the pale white skin underneath it, now coagulating with golden streaks of blood. His velvety black gloves had been torn to shreds, revealing the burnt, lacerated skin underneath it. His blonde hair had been ruffled, parts of it caked in blood, though the same could be said for most parts of his outfit that was still left. His hat was just a scrap of white with an apple with a bite chewed through it nearby his body, his cane ultimately destroyed in all the chaos. 

“What… The fuck… ?” Seemingly at a lost for words, that was all either Angel Dust or Vaggie could say as they approached the scene. Even Niffty appeared in a solemn mood as they all looked upon what remained of the King after Adam’s fury on him had subsided. 

Charlie however, was the most heartbroken of all. Ironically enough, that was no anger in her eyes for Adam, but anger at herself for letting this happen. 

Silently, she approached her father’s body, tears dripping down her wet checks. Her girlfriend gently squeezed her hand and walked along with her, ignoring how gold painted both of their shoes. 

“I’m so sorry… Dad…” She whispered so quietly that if Vaggie wasn’t by her side she wouldn’t have heard it.

Silently, the other fallen angel hung her head in shame, mulling in her own failures. 

.

.

.

Sudden footsteps echoed behind them, sloshing in blood.

“Well well well! Looks like the big strong King of Hell isn’t so strong after all! How pitiful …” And it was Alastor’s voice that broke through the sorrowful silence.

“Not needed jackass.” Squeezing her girlfriend’s hand, Vaggie turned towards the demon with a growl. 

“Alastor!” With unbridled tears shimmering in her eyes, Charlie stumbled to her feet nearly tripping over her own feet she clamored over to the demon’s side, gripping tightly at his shoulders. “Y-you can help my dad r-right? Y-you can help him right ?!”

With a twitch of the corner of his mouth and the blink of his eyes, the radio demon knocked away her hands with his cane. Walking past the trembling girl, he waved his hands nonchalantly in a circle as if he wasn’t currently staining his shoes with the holiest blood imaginable . “There’s no need to worry my dear, I’ll have this problem fixed up in a jiffy!”

With a snap of his fingers- as tentacles grew from his shadow - the nails pinning the fallen angel disappeared, and the tentacles caught the blonde before he could make impact with the ground. The others busied themselves with scooping up the two cut off wings and making their way inside the hotel with them. 

Alastor turned sharply on his feet towards Vaggie, his grin growing a little more sickening by the second as his nose twitched eagerly. 

“From what I’m aware, you angels are regenerative types, yes? ”

She just rolled her eyes at the man, crossing her arms over her chest. “Even if we are, that still doesn’t solve anything! Adam is here and he clearly is trying to kill us .”

“I prefer to work on one problem at a time , now, do you heal your own injuries or not?” He was starting to sound somewhat petulant.

“What’s it to you?”

“Well if that’s the case then other than some basic medical care Charlie’s father should be fine and all our worries will be solved. Now. Answer the question .”

Vaggie briefly glanced to the side as she rubbed her arm, nervously biting the bottom of her lip. “From what I know, we aren’t, really,” Then, the fallen angel began to pace as she rapidly waved her hands. “I mean it might be different for him since he’s like, the First Angel , but it took a long time for even me to get my wings back and those were under specific circumstances so I guess it just depends…? ”

At those words, Charlie burst into tears.

“Awh, shit, babe- that’s not what I meant- I’m sure your dad will be fine, he’s the First Angel after all, there’s no way he won’t recover from this.”

“B-but wha-what if he-he doesn’t ?!” She cried, nearly choking on her own hiccuping breath.

“If he doesn’t th-then we’ll be here for him- for you! We’ll get through this together, alright?” Despite Vaggie’s words, Charlie’s eyes glimmered with unshed tears breaking the fallen angel’s heart. “Oh, sweetheart, come here.”

Heaving out broken sobs, the princess of hell clung tightly to her girlfriend, heartbreaking cry after cry leaving her chest as it felt like her whole world came crashing down around her.

Why must someone else’s heaven be her own personal hell?