Chapter Text
1976 – Some club in Pride
It wasn't uncommon for Anthony, or on stage known as Angel Dust, to perform at any random club for an easy cash grab.
It was simple, it’s his job, and he loves it. He's a great performer, from dancing on a pole to singing, he could do it all.
Most of the time after shows, he’d spend some time having a drink and a flirt with those in the crowd, no harm done, he’d managed to wrangle up a couple of one-night stands, that sometimes turned into one month boyfriends, never anything too serious, he said he liked it, but in reality he wanted someone that really liked him, someone that he could be freaky under the sheets with one day, and the next falling asleep on him while watching some shitty rom-com film.
That’s when one man walked in.
Tall blue man, heart shaped glasses, a suit that revealed enough of his chest to make anyone swoon over him, a large extravagant feathery hat adorning his head, and behind him, two gorgeous wings, he was some sort of moth demon. And damn was he hot for a moth.
He chatted up a few people in the club, before sitting down by the stage, surrounded by women just waiting to get in his pants. He watched Angel with such intent and awe, it was hard not to notice. Once Angel had finished his act, Anthony dropped down from the stage to grab a drink. The moth man strutted over to him and placed some cash on the bar.
“He's on me” The demon said, nodding his head to angel, the bartender grunted and took the cash, giving Anthony his fruity cocktail.
“I must say” The moth started “That was quite the performance, but I’m sure a handsome boy like yourself has been told” He said, Anthony laughed a little “Thanks sweetheart” he said “You come here often?” the demon asked, Anthony nodded after taking a small sip of his drink. “Yeah, I bounce around a few clubs.” He explained, “What if I offered you something more permanent?” The demon said, “I run a lot of clubs on the eastern side.” He explained.
The eastern side of pride was the designated porn town, every sex worker who was someone worked down there, Anthony usually stuck to the clubs west and north, easier to find a job there, the eastern side was something he never thought he’d see, so it was quite the offer.
“Maybe drop by tomorrow” He said “See what else your made of” Anthony smirked “If I was to drop by, where would I be going, there's hundreds of clubs in those parts” The moth smirked, and pulled a card from inside his coat.
It was a simple business card, one side had his number, office address and name, Valentino.
A fitting name for the moth.
The other side had what Anthony presumed to be his logo, it was a large pink V with smoky trails coming from either side.
“Any club that has that symbol on it” He said, tapping the logo “Show the bouncer this card, then call me” He said, Anthony folded the card and put it in his bra. “Then I guess I’ll see ya tomorrow, Valentino”
----
The following evening, Angel dust found a club with Valentinos symbol on it called Players Mistake, he walked up to the bouncer and showed him the card, he was immediately let in.
He found a dressing room with a phone, and dialed the number “Hello?” Said Valentino's sultry voice “Hey handsome” Anthony dust said, he heard valentino laugh “Where are you?” He asked “Players mistake, I'm gonna be on in 10” He said “I’ll be there in 5” valentino whispered.
Sure enough, five minutes later, Valentino walked into Anthony’s dressing room. “You know it's funny” He said, angel looked up at him “You got my name, but I never got yours'' Valentino said “Anthony” He said “But on that stage, I’m Angel Dust''.
“Well then, Anthony” He said “What would you say to Angel dust stretching beyond the stage” He walked towards Anthony, slowly “You offering me a job?” Anthony asked, “I suppose,” Valentino said. “4 nights a week, I tell you where to go, 2 hours a night” He explained “And we’ll see where we go from there” He added. Anthony nodded, no harm in racking up some extra cash.
----
The last few months had been exhilarating, Anthony had everything he wanted, a man who loved him and he loved back, a home, and the whole of pride knew him as the greatest porn star.
Though Anthony had to admit, when Val first approached him with his offer to put him on screen, he was skeptical to say the least.
Sure acting had been a dream of his while alive, but instead his time was devoted to the family business, running around brooklyn and more, doing jobs for dear old dad, in between finding sanctuary in underground bars, where he could find men like him.
But still it was a distant dream, and Anthony had been in hell for a while, at the time he was happy bar-hopping for gigs.
But Aalentino made it sound so promising, giving him hope in what the future could look like, so Anthony agreed, and angel dust graced the cameras, captivating all of hell.
Sure it took a while to convince the television overlord to stream Val's programs. Anthony spent many nights listening to Valentino’s complaining.
“That red freak has Vox wrapped around his finger, hes a stubborn fuck” Valentino would complain. And Anthony would run his delicate hands over vals chest, assuring him that he would convince them, one way or another.
Regardless of his consistent battle against the company, Valentino made it to overlord status, owning several clubs and sex joints gave him such benefits.
A few years later, some point in the 90’s Valentino approached him with another proposition.
He promised Anthony more than he could ever imagine, and showed him a contract, a soul binding contract, that would allow Valentino to do whatever he wished to the spider in the studio, he was also granted protection from exterminations.
Valentino made it sound like a marriage contract, which Anthony longed for, he remembered how etherial he felt whenever he was with Valentino, wrapped in the safety of his arms.
So obviously Angel dust signed the contract.
Then everything changed.
Hours got longer in the studio, Valentino started getting angry at him, those once safe arms now made every hair on Angel’s arms stand up, his smoke that used to make the job easier felt like nothing more than a shit drug.
Valentino was home less often, barely in the studio, he said he was in negotiations with Vox.
Years later, Angel lived at the studio, Valentino was nothing more than an abusive boss that would assure him that he did love him, only after punching him in the face and forcing him into acts he didn't want to do.
One day, Valentino came into his studio between a shoot. He had finally convinced vox into an alliance.
When Anthony asked how he got Alastor to agree
Valentino said that alastor wasn't an issue anymore.
Angel dust thought that meant he’d killed the radio demon, not an issue for him
But as the years went on, everything just got worse by the day, his only solitude found within shitty bars downtown where he could get high without a care in the world, Cherri by his side some nights to help him through the breakdowns and the detox.
Angel dust graced the screens of pride and everyone loved him, Valentino ‘rewarded’ him for his work.
So how come everyone else could love angel dust.
Except for himself.
Maybe it wasn't because he hated the hands on him, or the drugs unwillingly put in his system.
Maybe it was because he never wanted Angel dust to be who he was.
He wasn't to be anthony.
But Anthony was dead, buried in the studio walls, never to be heard or seen from again.
—
Two weeks after the extermination, Angel dust returned to the hotel after a long 18 hour shoot at the studio.
That wasn't even the worst of it, Valentino was pissed at him, why? Only God knows.
He’d been drugged enough to barely even know how he managed to get out of the studio to the hotel, his entire body hurt, he was fairly certain something was bleeding.
His head was throbbing, his vision was weird, sounds were muffled
He remembered leaning against the door, then voices calling out his name, but he couldn't quite hear them, like his hearing was glitching.
Someone red came to his side, gently holding his shoulder and one arm, guiding him to the couch. The red one left, and another person sat beside him.
“Angel, can you hear me?”
Oh it was Husk.
His vision came into focus, and he realized that Lucifer, Husk and Cherri were sitting around him, Alastor came back into the room, with some medical supplies and sat on the other side of Angel dust.
That's when he noticed the thing was bleeding was his upper right arm, Alastor looked at him.
“What is it?” Angel asked, Alastor looked at his arm, then back to the spider “Can i help you?” He asked.
Angel slowly nodded, and Alastor gently grabbed his upper arm and started cleaning off the blood from his white fur.
Angel didn't talk much, he hissed a couple times while Alastor helped him, each time receiving apologies from the man he once believed to be cold-hearted. Once Alastor had finished wrapping the wound, he went to put the medical supplies back.
Angel could feel the drugs starting to wear off, the world was coming more into focus.
“You alright?” Husk asked, Angel shook his head “I dunno what i did” he said, Cherri sighed. Lucifer seemed to be thinking.
“Valentino he was just- he was so mad” Angel said, trying not to cry, Alastor came back into the room, he stood beside Lucifer his arms crossed, he looked down to the king.
He said something but the Angel couldn't hear it. Then he felt his chain appear around his neck, that continues reminder that weighed upon his shoulders of who he really belonged to.
A soft golden glow appeared around the pink chain, small parts of it cracking into the chain like an infection. His shoulders felt lighter.
Angel looked up to Lucifer and the chain disappeared “Valentino is dangerous” he explained, sitting where Alastor once sat “I can't free you of his deal yet, as i don't think he’ll be too happy about it, and i fear what he may do to you, but i’ll find a way” He explained “Until then, you have my protection against him”
Angel looked at the king in shock, Lucifer just smiled “He won't hurt you” Angel didn't believe him “Unless the guy has a death wish, he won't lay another hand on you for as long as I can prevent it”.
Angel, for the first time in years, didnt feel like Angel Dust.
He felt like Anthony.
Present day
Anthony sat in the lounge, it was some ungodly hour of the morning but he couldn't sleep, everytime he closed his eyes he saw him.
He knew logically, Valentino could hurt him, Lucifer was working on breaking his contract and freeing his soul, he’d also issued a statement to Valentino that now Angel Dust had his protection, therefore Valentino could bring him no harm.
Nevertheless, that didn't stop the memories, and then voicemails, and the texts. Anthony always found it funny how one second Valentinos messages could be endearing and laced with concern, and not even a nanosecond later it was a stream of insults and threats.
But now, all Anthony could hear was Valentino, all he could feel were his monstrous hands, he could literally taste his venom.
He heard footsteps coming up behind him, he turned around.
“Well good morning my feminine fellow” Alastor said “Morning?” Anthony dust said in surprise, he checked the granfather clock that sat in the corner. 6AM.
It is morning. Well shit.
Alastor walked around the couch and put a mug on the coffee table beside Anthony, which was filled with hot chocolate.
“Nifty insists I make that horrid stuff whenever she's feeling down” He said, sitting on the other end of the couch with his own cup of coffee. “I figured you could do with something sweet”
Angel had to admit, pretty good hot chocolate for a guy that hated chocolate.
“Thanks” he mumbled “Now i must ask, it's rather unlike you, or anyone, to be up at this hour, what's got your mind running?” Alastor asked “My mind is not running races” Anthony defended, “You're a terrible liar”.
The two sat in silence for a while, until Anthony decided to speak “What happened, between you and Vox?”
Alastor choked a little on his coffee “What?”
Anthony put his cup down “Valentino, he was trying to get you both to air his shit for years” Alastor groaned, remembering the several meetings, and negotiations “Then one day, you disappeared and the vees happened” Anthony said, Alastors ears dropped down.
Anthony continued “Seven years later, Vox is knocking on this doorstep looking for safety, and the two of you are inseparable”
Anthony didn't say it, but they seemed much closer since the gala 3 weeks ago. Obviously he knew about what they really were all those years ago (thank you Velvette) and even without Velvettes insight, Anthony always had his suspicions, but he wouldn't dare say that either.
“So what happened?” Anthony asked, alastor sighed, and put his coffee down on the side table. “I don't particularly like talking about it. '' Alastor said, he seemed sad even thinking about it, his voice sounded pained and full of regret.
“It wouldn't have anything to do with Valentino would it?” Anthony asked, Alastor looked at him.
“It's not like it's hard to figure out, you leave and Valentino gets into the picture, I'm guessing he had something to do with it” Angel dust said, Alastor hummed in agreement “You're quite the detective” He said. “Yes Valentino was involved” Anthony had a feeling that was all the information he was getting. For now.
“You're still yet to answer my question” Alastor remarked,
Anthony sighed “It's stupid”
“Well that only makes me more interested”.
Angel had to admit he’d lost this battle.
“Everytime i close my eyes, I can feel him.” Angel shuddered and wrapped his arms around his torso. “I can hear his voice, I can feel his hands” He explained “I can see him in my shadow” He looked to Alastor. “Like I said, stupid” Angel laughed. Picking up his cup again in an attempt to ease the silence
“It's not stupid” Alastor broke the silence “That pathetic excuse of a man, has done horrible things to you for years, those sorts of experiences stick with you for a long time” Alastor explained.
“It's not like you can just leave that environment, and place up defenses, and it’ll go away, that's not how it works”
“Believe me, I've tried” Lingered in Alastors mind.
“The reality is that valentino craves power, and you give him that power” Angel looked at him puzzled. “The only reason valentino made it to overlord status was because of you, the majority of his picture-shows involve you” “Oh so you've seen them?” Angel jokes “no, you just don't shut up about it” Alastor remarked. Angel snickered.
“Ya point?” Angel asked “The only reason Valentino has all the power is because of you, meaning that you're more powerful than him” Alastor said, it was now Angel’s turn to choke on his drink.
“Hes a fucking overlord!” Angel dust said “I thought you were in a mafia family?” Alastor said
“Well yeah but-”
“And remind me how many exterminators he's killed” Alastor said
“Well, none” Angel said hesitantly
“I don't remember him being friends with the princess of hell, let alone being acquaintances with the king” Alastor said.
Angel laughed “My point is that, you are more powerful than him, the only thing he holds above you is your soul” Alastor said “But you’ve found yourself in a situation where regardless of that factor, he's still weaker” Alastor said.
He stood up, taking both empty cups “just a thought” he said, leaving the room.
Alastors words resonated with the spider.
Maybe Anthony was more powerful than Valentino. He wasn't in the mafia for nothing, he has powerful allies.
The only thing valentino holds above you, is your soul
Jokes on Valentino, that's Angel Dust’s soul.
Not Anthony’s.