Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

VeeTower

Vox’s Office

“Hm...no, no...the audio does not sound right,” Vox muttered to himself as he made another adjustment. Actually, the background music may not suit this clip at all. Tapping his chin, started checking through his audio library to see if there was a better fit.

“Vox.”

He found that sounded better and replaced the audio with it. Ah yes, that works. Now for the next-

“Vox!”

Vox jumped at Velvette’s voice. After taking a second to ensure his heart was still working he turned in his chair to glare at Velvette, whom was standing beside him with her hands on her hips.

“What the fuck, Velvette!” He growled. “Ever heard of knocking first?”

“I did!” Velvette sneered as she rolled her eyes. “For two minutes! And that was after I sent you several texts and a phone call!”

“Oh.” Vox quickly checked his settings. He hadn’t set his phone functions on silent and there were indeed a number of notifications from Velvette. “Sorry about that: I must have been really focused.”

“Not long ago even a mention of Alastor would get your attention, no matter how ‘focused’ you were,” Velvette pointed out.

He raised a brow and looked at the texts that were sent. Velvette had indeed mentioned Alastor in them. “Why would I care if he’s walking with the Princess, Velvette?” he asked. “It’s old news that he’s working with her.”

The doll demon’s mouth dropped opened. “Something has definitely changed with you,” she huffed, pacing around his office, Vox watching her in mild confusion. “First you stopped sending as many drones to that Hotel, then I saw that silly body pillow cover in the wash for the first time in months, then I noticed how much dust is collecting on your ‘Fuck Alastor’ mug...now this!”

She stopped in front of his desk and turned toward him. “It’s like some kind of...switch...was flipped the moment we kicked Valentino out over a month ago!”

Vox’s expression dropped, the circuits in his head firing as he recalled what Alastor told him...

“You didn’t start lusting for me until after you met Valentino!”

“You work with an Overlord that can manipulate feelings of arousal.”

“You really think he was manipulating my emotions?” Vox recalled asking him the day they expelled Valentino from the Vees.

“I am almost certain of it.” Alastor had replied, Vox remembering how he had a growl in his voice. “Time will reveal the truth, either way.”

“Fuck...he was right about that too…,” Vox muttered.

“Who was right about what?” Velvette asked.

“Alastor…,” Vox replied looking at his hands. “He claimed Val had been manipulating my emotions towards him.”

Velvette was quiet, a slight stunned expression on her face. “Unholy shit that’s right...you did mention something like before,” she breathed. “That would explain it...but why would he do such a thing?”

“The Radio Demon is known for taking out the worse of the worse,” Vox reminded her as he rose from his seat. “And the porn industry has always had...factions of it that were questionable and even down right disgusting.”

He walked over to a window and stared out at the city beyond, looking at the lights of the distant Hotel. “Val...must have felt threatened by my friendship with him.”

“OK, that makes sense, but how did he know making you go all lust crazed over him would work?”

“I don’t know…,” He admitted. That was a good question. Vox thought back, way back...to when Valentino first started making suggestions.

~~

Vox smiled as he and Alastor waved and parted ways. He always had enjoyed spending time with him, talking, drinking, making jokes. Sometimes exchanging show ideas, though that was limited due to their different mediums. Still, different perspectives never hurt.

“He’s totally into you.”

Vox looked over at Valentino, his new friend having joined them tonight.

“Pardon?” he asked.

“Alastor...he likes you,” the moth repeated. “And I mean in more than the friendship way.”

A chuckle escaped his throat. “Come on now, Val...we’re just friends!”

“That’s what they all say...until reality hits them.” Valentino had a sly, knowing smirk on his face. “Sometimes...they just need a bit of a...push...to see it.”

Vox laughed it off, but in his mind he did start to wonder.

~~

Vox recalled how Alastor kept looking at Valentino. It was extremely subtle, only really noticeable by those that had known how to read Alastor’s expressions behind his smile, but Vox seen that Alastor wasn’t...comfortable with Valentino. He had shrugged it off as meeting someone new anxieties, which would have been understandable, but….

~~

“Is something wrong, Al?” Vox had asked. It had been a week since he had introduced Valentino to Alastor and every time Vox had mentioned the moth he caught a very faint flinch in the Radio Demon.

“Valentino...I don’t trust him,” Alastor had stated bluntly.

“You’ve only known him for a week,” Vox pointed out. “Maybe he just needs more time?”

“Some people you just know aren’t safe to be around, Vox,” Alastor growled. “Trust me on this.”

“I think you are being paranoid, old friend.” He knew Alastor didn’t trust people easily and this would fall right in line with that.

Alastor had shaken his head and sighed, Vox catching a brief sigh of worry in his eyes before he had stood up and placed a hand on his shoulder. “Just mind yourself around him,” he had told him softly. “I don’t want to lose you….”

~~~

“I don’t want to lose you.”

Those words had echoed in his head back then...as they did now. Back then, thanks to Valentino’s ‘suggestion’ he had interpreted those words differently...saw them as proof of Valentino’s claims. Now…

Fuck.

Vox placed a hand on the window and touched his head to the glass. Why didn’t he listen? Or had it been already too late? Had Valentino already secured his hold on him?

You lost me…. A pixel tear rolled down his face, before manifesting into a real one and dropping onto the floor. Because of what he did...

“Vox? Ya alright, mate?” Velvette’s voice broke into his thoughts. “You spaced out there.”

“Just...thinking…,” Vox replied, sighing, stepping back from the window. He stared at the distant Hotel a bit longer, wondering….

Their last talk had ended very well. Perhaps…

He had to try.

Vox turned sharply and started heading for his office door, determination on his face.

“Where are you going?” Velvette asked, looking confused and a big concerned, the doll demon quickly following him.

“To try to fix what Valentino broke,” Vox said as he reached the door and opened it.

There was a brief pause in Velvette’s footfalls behind him. “You seriously think that red freak will let you back into his good graces after all that’s happened?” she asked.

Vox slowed his pace, doubt creeping in. Then he remembered the hand on his shoulder...and how Alastor allowed him to do the same. A hint...a suggestion…

A chance.

“I believe he left open a door for me to at least try,” Vox replied.

“Well, don’t expect me to come save your ass if he, or one of his powerful friends, decide to rip ya to pieces,” Velvette warned.

Fair enough.

---

Moments later

Hotel landing

Vox had debated on whether nor to take the limo to teleport using his powers, ultimately deciding to do the latter. He didn’t know how long this could take and he’d rather not pay the driver for sitting and doing nothing during that time.

Things were a bit tight right now, after all.

The moment he started to approach the Hotel itself on foot, he felt it. The tingling of protective wards of various types all around the place. Most of it felt decidedly angelic in nature, but he could tell that Alastor’s magic was also woven into them as well.

There was...something different about his old friends magic, but he couldn’t put his finger on it. He recalled the brief glimpses of light he caught during Alastor’s little power display at their last talk. Was that another hint at the changes Alastor said he had undergone?

Not important...right now-

He jumped back with an undignified yelp as a burst of multicolored magic swirled in front of him, the Seraphim Akos appearing with in it.

Vox froze, remembering how this being so easily subdued and ripped his limbs off the first time they had met. A well deserved ass beating, he now realized. Thankfully, the draconian-looking Seraphim was just looking at him, appearing more curious than threatening. They stared at each other for a tense moment.

“You come alone,” they finally spoke, their polyphonic voice almost echoing in their ears. “Is your presence out of honest need or foolishness?”

Perhaps a bit of both? In truth, he really didn’t know how Alastor would receive him. He didn’t exactly think to announce his visit before hand….

“I...I need to speak with Alastor,” he stated after untangling his vocal cords from the lock fear had on them.

“About?” Akos pressed, talking a slight step toward him, their eight foot tall frame leaning forward. A warning.

“To clear the air with him.” Vox replied honestly. “He...he was right about Valentino’s influence on me...and I...I want to make amends, if he is willing.”

Akos had straightened, their red eyes studying him for several seconds. “A moment,” they said, before disappearing in a swirl of multi-colored magic.

Vox fiddled and shifted as anxiety threatened to overwhelm him, before forcing his hands behind his back and taking several deep breaths to calm himself. Best case...Alastor will agree to talk. Second best case...Alastor tells him to fuck off.

Absolute worse case? Either Akos or Lucifer go smite town on his ass.

He’s really hoping for one of the first two options, with the second leaving the possibility open for future reconciliation.

It was both hopeful and worrying that Akos had returned so soon, suggesting the decision had been made quickly. He felt himself tense in both fear and anticipation as Akos regarded him, then spoke the answer.

“He will see you.”

Chapter Text

It took a few seconds for it sink in that he wasn’t about to be smited. Once he had he let out the breath he hadn’t realized he had been holding and nodded to Akos.

Akos had a faint smirk on their face, suggesting they had been...amused by his reaction. Were all Angel’s sadistic fucks or something? Or was he just that unlucky? Regardless, Akos had beckoned for him to follow and he did so a few paces behind them. Mainly to avoid stepping on their tail...well...avoid it in general. The last thing he needed right now was to set this angel off by having an accident with a randomly swaying tail!

As they entered the lobby, Vox too a moment to examine it. He had only caught fleeting glimpses of it with his drones after the Hotel had been rebuilt. While it certainly was in much better condition compared to the old one, the aesthetic wasn’t to his, personal, taste.

Passing by the lounge, he saw the kids, including Selene, playing a game on the floor. Looked like Uno? One of them griping about being skipped again, before they all noticed his presence. Vox met Selene’s gaze briefly before looking away with a grimace, what he did to her he still felt guilty about.

At the bar he saw Angel, he believed his friend Cherri and one of Alastor’s owned souls.

No...wait...Husk’s eyes no longer bared the sign of soul ownership. That Alastor would free him….

You really have changed old friend….

“Looks like some fireworks may start.” He heard Husk mutter as he cleaned a glass.

“Nah, doubt Akos would even let him in here if he was here to start trouble,” Angel had countered. “Be stupid if he was, considering Smiles is with Short King.”

Did Angel mean that as ‘in the same room’ or ‘in a relationship’? Considering the looks they were giving each other last time they spoke….

Regardless, that Alastor was on good terms with the King of Hell in general would give anyone with two brain cells pause and reconsider any threatening action toward him.

“Place has really improved,” Vox mentioned as they started passing the dining room and kitchen.

“And more improvements are on going as we speak,” Akos pointed out before stopping and turning before a set of double doors. Around the doors Vox saw circular placards had been placed, seven of them. He quickly noticed each one had the description of one of the Great Deadly Sins.

Huh...why would they make a room like this? Oh right, that silly redemption thing.

“He’s in here?” Vox asked, starting to reach for the door handle, but Akos raised a hand.

“He is, but know that while he is willing to speak to you, he is yet to trust you,” Akos warned.

“I understand,” Vox sighed. “Th-that’s why I am here...to hopefully...fix things between us.”

Akos’ hand turned upright and a black piece of cloth was conjured on top of it. Vox looked at, then at them, a brow raised. Then Akos pointed at their left eye and he got it.

He took the cloth and wrapped around the left side of his head, covering his left eye. It wasn’t completely opaque, so he could see through it and likely his expressions could still be properly read, but the covering was enough to render his hypnotic ability useless. He was certain either Akos or Lucifer had spells that would protect against hypnosis, but he understood the logic here. If he ‘silenced’ the ability himself, trust would be more likely to be rebuilt.

With a nod, Akos had turned toward the doors, opened them and stepped through, Vox following. This room was massive, but with little in the way of decor within. The carpet was a simple red plush one, while the walls were maroon with a mix of black and gold trim. On the left wall, there were two picture frames. One contained the image of Sir Pentous, while the second was blank. He knew the snake demon had died during the last extermination, but this room was way too big to be a memorial for his loss.

At the far end, he saw him. Alastor. Oh, he was wearing a white casual shirt. Something Vox only saw him in on occasion in the past. Standing beside him was Lucifer, in his usual pink and white vest and white pants. They appeared to be in some kind of discussion.

“..isn’t a throne room.” He heard Alastor saying once they were close enough to hear, Akos stopping their approach at this point. “I don’t want visitors to feel intimated when they come in here.”

“Are you saying I am intimating?” Lucifer was protesting.

“Right now? No….” Alastor then put his elbow on top of the King’s head, with a playful smirk on his face.

Vox watched with his mouth slightly open, as Lucifer started to scowl at him, but in response, Alastor just put his other arm on his head! This was followed by a quick tackle to the floor by the King, but they were both laughing!

Akos then cleared their throat, and the two of them quickly got to their feet, brushing themselves off, masks of professionalism on their faces.

Riiight...like he didn’t just see that.

But he was also a smart man to know this was something to keep to himself if he valued his afterlife.

He had no interest in visiting smite town. Nope! Not at all!

“Alastor…,” he began with a soft smile, focusing on the reason he was here. “Glad to see you are doing well.”

“Like wise,” Alastor replied, taking a few steps toward him. He then nodded toward Akos, whom nodded in turn before turning and leaving the room. Lucifer, Vox noticed, had stepped away and was leaning against the wall, making no move to leave the room itself. The King was watching him, Vox almost able to ‘hear’ the King thinking ‘don’t try anything funny’ through those eyes.

He had no intention to.

“How are you feeling?” Alastor asked, drawing his attention to him. The Radio Demon’s head was tilted to one side, a hint of concern and curiosity in his eyes.

“Uh...normal?” Vox honestly wasn’t sure how to answer that. “I mean...I….”

He let out a deep sigh.

“It’s...hard to know what is ‘normal’ any more when you’re emotions were tampered with for over a decade…,” he admitted. “I...I didn’t even notice the change until Velvette pointed out I wasn’t...reacting like I ‘normally’ did when it came to sightings about you.”

Vox started to pace in a tight circle, Alastor silently watching as he continued. “When I realized that...that you were right about Val...I started thinking back...back to when it started. How you tried to warn me...but, by then I think he had...already worked his...’magic’ on me. Put ideas in my head that didn’t belong...changed how I saw you and...well...you know.”

He stopped pacing and faced Alastor. “I’m sorry…,” he told him, hints of pixel tears in his eyes. “I...I wasn’t myself...and...and I made you so uncomfortable. Crossed boundaries I had known better than to cross but did anyway under the manipulated belief that there was more to us”

Vox then looked at the floor. “I...I can’t take that back...any of if back, no matter how much want to,” he said, before looking back up at him. “All I can do is ask for forgiveness and a chance to...rebuild what was broken between us.”

Alastor hadn’t moved, not even a flick of an ear or a twitch in his lips as he regarded him, the expression in his eyes neutral. Then his gaze shifted upward, to somewhere above his head: did his irises just shimmer gold for a second?

Then the Radio Demon’s expression shifted, first to relief, then...joy...as he placed a hand on his shoulder.

“Welcome back, Vox,” Alastor told him, his smile soft. Genuine.

Vox huffed a breath in shock, half not expecting this to be so easy. “You-you forgive me?” he asked, wanting be sure.

“I do,” Alastor confirmed, his hand leaving his shoulder. Then his expression turned a bit sad. “But that doesn’t mean trust is given, not fully.”

Vox lowered his head and nodded. “I understand...influenced or not...I still did those things….” He raised his head again. “But...if you were so certain if was Valentino’s doing….”

“I wasn’t sure how he was doing it, as my understandings of...attraction...was...limited at the time. An understanding that wasn’t...completed...until fairly recently,” Alastor explained, a hint of embarrassment in his eyes. “And I feared losing you either way if I did anything to him at that time. A...damned if you do…”

“...damned if you don’t…” Vox completed the phrase with a sigh. Now that he knew that Alastor was asexual, he could understand why Alastor wasn’t certain want to do in that regard.

“There’s...one thing I’d like to know,” Vox began. “The day I offered you a place at my side...both in business and...intimacy...you reacted so violently. Yes I...I am to blame for not taking the rejection well but…before you just, left. What was different that time?”

He wanted to think it was just Alastor was just finally so done with him that he had snapped, however...thinking back at that moment, the thought he saw...fear….

Alastor had stiffened, then let loose a long sigh as he looked away, his ears drooping. Lucifer, whom had thus far not really reacted, had suddenly straightened, looking like he was going to approach. Alastor had held out a hand, stopping Lucifer in his tracks. The King then leaned back against the wall, a look of worry on his face.

“It wasn’t just me being fed up with your antics, Vox,” Alastor began, his voice low. “But how you acted when I rejected you. How you grabbed me that day...it….” A shudder passed though his body, his ears going back.

Vox was already regretting asking the question. “Al...if it hurts you don’t have to-” he started to say, but Alastor held up a hand.

“My second kill in life…,” Alastor stated, a mix of fury and fear in his eyes. “Was a man that had grabbed me the same way you had that day….”

Vox blinked and mouthed ‘oh shit’….

Chapter Text

Vox could only stare in silence as Alastor began to pace, his hands clasped behind his back.

“He was someone I knew, William Foster was his name,” Alastor began. “Wasn’t Creole like me, no, he was a full blooded Brit. We were about the same age and we both started apprenticing at the local radio station at the same time. I hadn’t cared for how he treated the fairer sex, but we got along well enough other wise. Still, there had been something about him that unsettled me. A look I could catch him giving me at times I wasn’t sure was disgust or...something else. At the time, I thought I could have been envy, as the with segments of our broadcasts I did outperformed his every time.”

Vox didn’t comment as Alastor paused in his pacing, a quiet, unsettling tension in his gut.

Alastor then faced him and said with a faint growl. “It wasn’t until after my ma passed and I...dwelt with...my step-father that he made his feelings toward me very clear.”

He almost asked what he meant by ‘dealing’ with his step-father, but realized it was a stupid question. Alastor was a serial killer...and while he had not shared many details with him about his life, Vox had been told enough to know that Alastor did not have a good relationship with his step-father. That said man was his first kill, did not come as a surprise.

“Cliche...but it was particularly dark and stormy night when it happened,” Alastor sighed. “We had both just finished our shift at the station and I was walking home...for some reason, he was following me….”

~~

There were no fireflies out to help light his way this night, the rain having forced the insects to stay in the foliage. Alastor, however, had walked this trail through the bayou many times and knew every twist, turn and dip. Just over the sound of the rain, he could hear old One Eye rumble, an old bull gator blamed for many a disappearance on this path.

Alastor was not worried, however. He had spent long enough to know the signs of when a gator was about to strike and was familiar enough with One Eye himself to know his temperament and how best to avoid him.

However, it wasn’t the sound of gators that made him nervous.

He could hear footfalls behind him, when there shouldn’t be. Not at this hour. A drunkard from Frankie’s? No...the steps sounded too...sure.

Alastor turned around and his eyes widened in surprise to see William standing there. The young man was smirking at him, his overcoat flung over his shoulder and looking as bothered by the rain as he was.

“Are you lost, William?” he asked. “Last I heard, you don’t live on this side of town.”

“Oh, I don’t,” William replied, one arm wide. “I’d thought I’d give you some company on the way home, considering your...recent losses.”

Alastor flinched, the muscles in his body starting to tense. William never appeared to give a damn about his family before...why now? He really didn’t want the company on top of that: what he did to his step-father was still fresh...still processing...in his mind.

“I appreciate the thought, but I’ll pass,” Alastor told him, starting to turn around. “You best go back the way you came, before it gets too dark and unclear for you to see the path. You don’t want to become food for One Eye, after all.”

“Oh I am not worried about that stupid gator,” William stated, stepping closer to him. “It’s you…”

Alastor didn’t miss the slight hostile tone in his voice. “I am fine, please go home,” he said, turning fully and started to walk once more.

“What does the old man see in you...muddy?” He could hear the disgust in his voice.

“I beg your pardon?” Alastor paused in his stride and looked over his shoulder. Racist slurs like that he was no stranger to, but hearing something like that from William was a first.

“You have no business in our station,” William continued. “Your kind and mine are supposed to be separate, in both business and causal affairs.”

“Clearly our boss doesn’t believe in that nonsense,” Alastor sneered, facing him fully again.

“Or he is blind to see that you are..a touch too dark to be working there.” William was right in front of him now. “You may ‘almost’ pass as a white man...but anyone with working eyes can see that you are not.”

“It shouldn’t matter what my skin color is to be able to do honest work,” Alastor stated stiffly.

At this William laughed. “Perhaps for hard labor jobs like farming, fishing, mining...lumbering….” The then placed a hand on his chest, fingers splayed. “But for a job that requires refinement like radio? Please….”

Alastor scoffed at this. “Your just jealous my segments are always better received by our listeners,” he remarked.

William’s expression turned livid. “It won’t matter in the end,” he hissed. “Soon, the old man will retire...and who will it be to take over? ME. Not some muddy half-blood!”

“You don’t know that,” Alastor said calmly.

“Oh ho ho...I do…..” William leaned in close, forcing Alastor to take a step back. “And when I do...oh what to do with you? Reduce you to being a janitor? To make my coffee...polish my boots?”

Alastor rolled his eyes, turned and started walking away from him as fast as he could. He was tired of this debate, this argument...this day: he just wanted to get home and relax.

“Or….”

He heard him run up to him. Before he could react, he felt his hand on the back of his neck and he was shoved into the trunk of a Cyprus tree. His vision swam, pain erupted on his nose and forehead, something warm and smelling like iron starting to run down his face: blood. He could still feel William’s hand on the back of his neck, before it slid around to his throat and he was roughly pulled back, flush against William’s body.

“You can keep your job,” William purred into his ear. “So long as you do...certain...favors...for me….”

Alastor’s eyes widened as he felt William’s free hand slip around to his front and slide downward, stopping just below his waist line. His hips pressing firming against his rear….

“I wouldn’t mind trying out something more...exotic...on my cock.”

Shock came first, followed by fear. Quickly replaced by revulsion. While he wasn’t exactly a faithful practitioner in the Catholic faith, he still remembered the teachings.

“Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind!” Alastor cried as he elbowed William in the side as hard as he could. This loosened William’s grip and he quickly pulled away and faced him once more once he was a few paces away.

“Think you’re smart, don’t you?” William laughed, rubbing where Alastor had elbowed him. “But as far as I am concerned...that bollocks only applies to actual humans.”

Alastor took a sharp intake a breath, his eyes widening in shock. He’d been referred to as a ‘lesser human’ before...but the implication that he wasn’t considered human at all?

Anger flooded his mind and with a scream of rage he rushed him….

~~~

Vox shivered as Alastor paused in his recollection. It was clear...everything was clear...the how’s and why’s….

Then horror dawned on him that he hadn’t grabbed Alastor like that just once…

...but twice….

Chapter Text

The first time was the day of their big fight...the second….

While it hadn’t been exactly the same from what he recalled...it was the day he had Alastor chained up and helpless.

Actually...that day he did worse than that to him...and nearly….

Fuck. Vox rubbed his arms, shame coursing through his body. Valentino had really fucked up his perception of Alastor. Shit...did he even deserve his forgiveness?

“I only remember bits and pieces of that fight,” Alastor had began again, snapping out of his thoughts. “I was a terrible fighter then...and William had a few pounds on me on top of that.”

“But you still won, right?” Vox asked. Probably a stupid question but...

At this Alastor laughed. “Technically the gator did,” he said before he elaborated. “We ended up in the water at one point...and William was both trying to strangle and drown me. Somehow I got my feet under him and pushed him off, into deeper water. One Eye...well...he wasn’t about to pass up free dinner.”

“Well...can’t say the bastard didn’t deserve it,” Vox sighed, folding his arms. Alastor had chuckled once more before continuing.

“I was tired...hurt...and would have become desert if an old voodoo priestess hadn’t arrived and helped me out of the water,” Alastor added. “Told me the spirits had warned her someone needed her help.”

“And let me guess...that’s how you got into Voodoo.”

“That’s tale for another day, old friend,” he said simply with a light chuckle.

A moment of silence passed before Vox said. “So that day...our fight...it wasn’t just...me...you saw, but William.”

Alastor nodded. “At least...at the start,” he admitted. “As it progressed, my frustrations...my anger...over your refusal to let go, to take no for answer...boiled over. I...I wanted to kill you that day, Vox...but something stopped me...made me hesitate...long enough for the other Vees to get involved.”

Vox remembered that. Being pinned in the middle of a broken building by tentacles and Alastor’s own hands. They were both nearly fully magically drained from the fight and panting with exhaustion. He could no longer remember his own emotions clearly that day, but he could recall the conflict in Alastor’s eyes he hovered over him, a fist raised and ready to punch him in his face.

Then Valentino showed up in his demonic form, swatting Alastor off. He didn’t remember much after that, aside from Alastor managing to damage one of Valentino’s antennae before disappearing, rendering the moth unable to fly properly since that day. It was something Valentino had resented ever since.

Not that he gave a fuck about that stupid moth now.

“Then you disappeared for seven years…,” Vox sighed, before asking out of curiosity. “So where did you go during that time?”

Alastor’s ears went back, his expression one of discomfort, but he had started to open his mouth to answer. Then his eyes widened, pupils dilating. His breaths started coming in short and fast as both hands rose up and started to pull at his hair and ears.

“Al? Whoa...easy!” Vox placed a hand on his shoulder and took one of his hands in the other. It must have been a very bad memory if he was having a panic attack over it...and Vox felt guilty over triggering it. “Breathe...deep breaths, Al.”

“Focus on our voices, Al,” Lucifer said, Vox jumping slightly when he noticed King had taken up position on the opposite side of Alastor, but he had no idea how long he had been there. The King was rubbing Alastor’s back with one hand, while holding his free hand with the other.

Between them they coaxed Alastor to sit on the floor, both talking to him, helping him through the attack. After a couple of minutes, Alastor took in a deep breath and let out a long ‘fuck’ in exasperation as he threw his head back.

“It’s been a while since you had one of those,” Lucifer had remarked softly.

“Not long enough…,” Alastor grumbled, visibly leaning into the King.

“Al...I’m sorry, I...I didn’t know-” Vox started to say.

“Don’t,” Alastor cut him off. “It was a reasonable question to ask...it’s just...one that I am not yet strong enough to answer without….” He didn’t finish, instead he sighed, his ears drooping.

“It...took a lot for him to even tell me,” Lucifer informed him, the King’s chin on Alastor’s shoulder.

Vox swallowed, both at the implications of whatever trauma Alastor experienced and the ever increasing evidence that these two were together.

Then he saw them.

The rings on their fingers.

Lucifer wearing a ring was well-known, but this was clearly a different one...and that Alastor was wearing one as well with a similar color….

His mouth dropped open. “H-how long…?” he asked, standing up and stepping away. It wasn’t jealousy he felt, just simple shock.

“Long enough,” they both said in unison, as Alastor rose to his feet, Lucifer following, hand in hand.

Shit...this is going to case a stir among the other Overlords. “Um...got a date set yet?” he asked.

“Not yet,” Alastor replied with a chuckle. “But when we do we will be making this public.”

“So no telling!” Lucifer said with a smirk and a wagging finger. “Consider this a ‘trust exercise’ for you.”

“Ha ha…,” Vox said sheepishly, fiddling with his fingers. “My lips are sealed! Anyone else know outside of Hotel?”

“Zestial and Rosie,” Alastor replied. “Rosie, poor old girl nearly came apart at the seams in excitement. Keeps bugging me about the date every time we talk.”

“May have to settle on a date soon, Al, before she starts a riot in frustration,” Lucifer teased, Alastor chuckling.

Rosie he had expected, considering how good friends Alastor was with her. Zestial? That one was more of surprise, Vox had to admit.

Regardless, he was glad to see Alastor was over his panic attack..and genuinely happy with Lucifer. Oh boy...he couldn’t wait for the day he was allowed to broadcast about this!

“There is one more test of trust I’d like to impart upon you, Vox,” Alastor spoke up, his tone serious.

“What is that, Al?” Vox asked, curious and a bit concerned.

“We recently learned the asshole that gave Valentino those kids is planning to ‘reclaim’ them,” Lucifer replied, a scowl on his face.

Vox took a step back in shock. “Is he crazy? Does he not know what happened to Valentino when he tried the same?”

“Everything we know about Cyber suggests he does not do things recklessly,” Alastor put in. “And we are not about to take any chances. If you can use your drones to keep an eye out for suspicious activity near the Hotel, or any whispers of the same in the city….”

“I can do that,” Vox agreed quickly with a nod. “I owe it to Selene...and to you...at the very least. Do you know what he looks like?”

“I do,” Alastor replied. “Silver colored snake demon with yellow eyes and saurian-style legs. However, I doubt you’ll catch him on your cameras: from what we we know of his abilities, he appears to have light based magic and is very good with computers.”

Yeah...he could see why Alastor would say that. Sounds like even more of a pain in the ass to get on film than Alastor was. “Noted,” Vox said with a curt nod. “If I see or hear anything, I’ll let...someone in the Hotel know. You still don’t have a hellphone, do you, old Pal?”

“Nope!” Alastor vigorously shook his head with a hint of smugness on his face.

Vox laughed. “Well at least that part of you hasn’t changed!”

Alastor just flashed him a broad grin.

--

They spoke a bit longer, mostly reminiscing on the old days, promises of invitations to having drinks together made, before parting ways.

Vox then teleported back to VeeTower, a smile on his face, a warm feeling in his chest.

“OK..spill!” Velvette demanded the moment he stepped into his office. Did she even leave it while he was gone? No matter.

Vox chuckled as he walked past her and to a drawer of a small storage desk. After digging around a moment, and fully aware of Velvette impatiently tapping her foot, he found it. The other half an old torn photograph.

He then walked over and pinned this piece of photograph next to it’s other half. The old photograph of him and Alastor together whole once more.

“It went very well,” Vox finally replied.

This time, he hoped, this friendship will last for eternity.