Chapter Text
The night air clawed at his cheeks, sending a shiver down his spine. His lips pursed, and his eyes wandered to the motel room.
Three types of sinners bought Angel Dust for the night.
Wannabes throwing money around, sycophants who could find no other company, and his favourite, those with nothing else to lose. Tonight's client was apparently all three.
He checked his phone: no messages from Val. Good.
He squared his shoulders, took a deep breath, and pushed open the door.
The girl on the bed was wrong. She sat quietly, smiled politely… She was real, but she was wrong.
She opened her mouth to speak, and something stronger than muscle memory kicked in. He had to stop her, stop this. His mouth forced itself into a smile, and his hips began to sway with each slow, deliberate step he took towards the bed. Anything to keep her from talking for just a few seconds more, anything to stop this from being real.
“Angel?”
Some distant part of him recognised that look in Charlie’s eyes, the uncertainty in her voice.
Did she actually think?…
The laugh tore itself from his throat. Fuck it. If she wanted him, she could have him.
“Hey Doll,” he whispered. “Always knew you had a dark side, but I never thought…” he let his voice trail off, and he began to unbutton his jacket before turning to face her once more. “You coulda told me you wanted a little fun.”
Charlie blanched. This wasn’t going to plan at all.
“No! God no, it’s nothing like that. I’m not here for sex, you have the wron-”
“This why you were constantly sniffing around the studio? Around my work? Vaggie not doing it for you anymore?”
“Stop it!”
“That’s one of my best films. I had no idea you were such a fan.”
“I’m here because I care about you!” She snapped.
Angel felt his entire body tense. He should’ve stayed at the fucking studio.
He sank into the armchair, crossed one leg over the other and laughed dryly
“Whatever you say, gorgeous.”
“Please! I just… I just want to talk.”
He leaned forward, pushing his chest fluff together in just the right way.
“But you paid such good money for me,” he purred.
Charlie felt her skin crawl, and her eyes began to smart.
“Just tell me what to do, tell me how to fix this. Angel, please, I’m begging you.”
He fell silent and stared at the princess for a long, long time, eyes blazing with every emotion he’d refused since arriving in hell.
“The way you told me what to do?” he asked, voice soft and threatening.
Charlie winced as she digested his words, then nodded.
She looked so desperate.
She looked like Molly…
Goddamit.
He sighed, suddenly feeling older than Hell itself and sank further into the armchair.
“Whatever you’re into, toots,” he muttered, defeated. “Fine. If you wanna talk, let’s talk. You first.”
It was Charlie’s turn to hesitate as she scrambled to find words. Any words. Words would be real good right now.
Shit.
She really hadn’t thought this through.
“Sorry,” she squeaked. Then, “No, wait… fuck. No, I am sorry! But that’s…”
Angel tilted his head and scoffed.
“Don’t bother,” he spat.
“What?”
“You bought me to sit here and make you feel better? That it?”
“No! I wanted to talk to you. I’m your friend, and-”
“No, you ain’t!”
The words were harsher than he meant them to be. They ricocheted off the motel walls until they finally burned their way into the foundations.
“How’d you convince Val to let me come here, Charlie?” Angel asked quietly. “How much did you pay? Double? Triple? Or didya have to do something special?”
“That’s not impor-”
He rolled his eyes and got up to leave.
“I’m done. Goodbye, Charlie.”
He barely made it two feet before she threw herself between him and the door, eyes bright and wild.
“Get out of my way.”
“No.”
“Why?”
She opened and closed her mouth, trying to find the right thing to say.
She settled on the truth.
“We miss you, Angel. So much.”
He hesitated, pushed her aside and stormed out.
He ran into the limo that was waiting to take him back to the tower, covered his tears with his glasses, and gave the motel one final look as the driver put the engine in gear.
I miss you too.