Archive of Our Own

Vaggi pulled Charlie along as she weaved her way through the carnival crowd, putting as much distance between them and Alastor and Lucifer. She was not about to let either of their nights be ruined by some macho competition between the most prideful beings in all of Hell.

Charlie's steps faltered, becoming deadweight in Vaggi's hold.

"Are you sure it's okay to leave them?" she asked nervously. "I know they promised, but..."

Cue the second-guessing. 

Vaggi sighed, stopping and turning to Charlie, taking both of her hands in her own.

"Charlie, they're adults; whatever is going on between them, they can figure it out," Vaggi said patiently. "Remember what we talked about? It's not your job to make sure they're getting along all the time."

Charlie folded in on herself. "I know, I know. It just worries me."

Vaggi knew how much Alastor and her dad getting along meant to Charlie--they'd talked about it a lot. While Charlie had every right to expect civility from the two grown adults, it had taken a long time for Vaggi to convince her it was okay if they never liked each other.

Of course, as soon as she had convinced her, Lucifer and Alastor suddenly started acting like perfect saints, not antagonizing one another in the slightest. It gave Charlie hope that they were making strides towards a genuine friendship, but Vaggi wasn't convinced. 

No one changed that quickly, and there was always a weird edge to their interactions that kept her skeptical. There was also that one time she could have sworn they were fighting before she walked in; Lucifer had even looked like he was bleeding from a stab wound.

Vaggi's expression softened, and she reached up to caress Charlie's cheek. 

"Hey, you deserve to enjoy this. You've worked so hard to make your dream a reality."

Charlie smiled. "Well, I couldn't have done any of it without you."

"So let's have fun tonight together!" A mischievous smirk pulled at Vaggi's lips. "Besides, I've never been to a carnival before."

Charlie's jaw dropped.

"Vaggi!" she exclaimed, aghast. "You should've led with that! Come on, I need to show you all my favorite rides!"

Vaggi chuckled as Charlie grabbed her hand—she knew that would work. Charlie led her to the center of the bustling crowd, eventually stopping to survey the rides. As her eyes landed on one in particular, Vaggi watched her light up.

"Moby Dick!" Charlie declared.

Vaggi's brows furrowed. "Mopey Dick?"

"No, no. Moby Dick," she clarified, laughing. "It's a ride named after an old book about a whale. Tons of fun, I promise!"

Having never been on any ride before, Vaggi had no expectations whatsoever, let alone a comparison, but the exclamations of glee from the participating sinners seemed like a positive recommendation. The ride was a huge pendulum attraction that swung side to side, building enough momentum to spin around entirely. Vaggi followed Charlie onto the short line as the current run was winding down.

The fair wasn't too crowded, and since Lucifer had added so many attractions, there were hardly any waits. If one ride was busy, you could hop on another in the meantime. With one exception—a massive contraption called "The Zipper", resembling a caterpillar track with spinning cages on the treads—you could get on an amusement ride in moments.

Before she knew it, Vaggi was already being strapped in at the end of a long row of seats following Charlie's insistence; she swore it was the best experience. Vaggi shifted in her seat as the heavy restraint locked into place over her chest. It was a bit snug.

"Here we go!" Charlie said, shimmying with excitement.

Vaggi followed her gaze to the ride attendant, who did a visual scan, his thumb tracking his line of sight. He ended his inspection on Vaggi, making direct eye contact with her. 

A twinge of unease pierced her chest.

A buzz sounded, and the pendulum began to rock. It wasn't bad at first—a slow shift to the right, a little further to the left.

But the momentum kept building.

And building.

Vaggi's grip tightened on the handles of her restraint as her stomach flipped for the first time on the way down. Her heartbeat quickened as the platform swooped the other way, dread filling her veins with ice as she realized it hadn't reached anywhere near its peak.

Vaggi didn't get scared. She didn't get scared. So why did the harness suddenly feel suffocating?

Charlie whooped in glee with every drop, but Vaggi was dead quiet, jaw clenched and lips thin. This was supposed to be fun? It was torture. Every muscle in her body was tense, as if pushing against the platform would stop the ride from moving.

Eventually, it did.

At the very top.

A murmur of excitement rippled through every demon on board, slowly growing louder the longer they stalled. Then, a low, drawn-out creak crawled up the supports, tension releasing. The platform started to fall.

"Oh shit," Vaggi breathed. Her eye squeezed shut.

The ride plunged faster than ever, looping around the pivot in a full circle. Vaggi's knuckles turned white on the handlebars. Nausea gripped her stomach as a dizzying sensation washed over her.

"Vaggi?" Charlie called out in concern.

Vaggi barely heard her with the wind rushing in her ears. She wouldn't be able to speak even if she could.

Finally, the ride began to slow, losing the force that had carried it over the top. The seesaw motion gradually became more bearable, and Vaggi finally let go of the breath she had been holding. Her eye blinked open as the ride came to a stop, turning to find Charlie looking at her, brow furrowed.

"Are you okay?" she asked.

"Yeah!" Vaggi responded, a bit too quickly. She swallowed, forcing her nerves down. "Yeah, no, I'm fine. I just wasn't expecting that to be so... wow."

The restraints popped open with a hiss, and Vaggi immediately pushed the harness over her head and shot to her feet, her anxiety easing once she was free.

She cleared her throat. "So, where to next?"

Charlie still looked hesitant.

"Are you sure you're okay?" she pressed.

Vaggi sighed. She appreciated Charlie's concern, but she'd really rather not linger on her momentary loss of composure.

"Charlie, I promise. It was just my first time on a ride; I had to get used to it," she insisted. "That doesn't mean it wasn't fun."

That's exactly what it meant, but it was fine. The ride was over, and Vaggi doubted they would have to do it again since there were so many other attractions to try. Just because she didn't like "Moby Dick" didn't mean she wouldn't like any other ride.

Charlie seemed reluctant to accept Vaggi's answer, but eventually she nodded.

"Okay, if you're sure," she said, giving Vaggi one more chance to be honest. "Moby Dick was a bit of an intense ride to start with, so let's do something more lowkey—oh, I know! Follow me!"

They arrived at the next attraction just as the last rider was being secured. Several seats hung from long chains attached to a circular crown atop a layered tower. The sinners on board chatted happily as they waited for the ride to start, some kicking their legs to make their seats swing back and forth.

"The Swings!" Charlie announced triumphantly. "This was my favorite as a kid because it felt just like flying."

Vaggi scrutinized the attraction, far more cautious after misjudging Moby Dick so badly. The crown rotated quickly, but not too intensely; Vaggi could still make out individual faces as the tower extended upward. Sinners occasionally whooped in glee, but no one was screaming, even when the top tilted slightly to the side. It seemed tame enough.

Just like flying.

"Sounds fun," she said.

She hoped she meant it.

Once the first group had exited, the ride operator waved them in. Vaggi and Charlie sat next to each other, Vaggi taking up the swing closer to the center. It was a small precautionary measure. In case The Swings was worse to ride than watch, at least she wouldn't be flung as far outward.

The restraints weren't as restrictive as the previous ride, which allayed some of Vaggi's worries. She hooked the lap bar into place and secured her seatbelt, pulling on it twice to confirm it had locked.

"Just like flying," she repeated to herself.

She swallowed, watching the distance between her and the ground grow as the tower rose, the crown beginning to spin. The height wasn't a problem; Vaggi had wings, for God's sake. But when flying on her own, she was in charge of what happened. She could control whether she stayed in the air or plummeted to the ground.

Vaggi glanced up at the simple chains suspending her in the air. How many people have sat in this exact seat? Had whatever secured the chains to the top worn down over time? Could there be a fault in the metal no one noticed?

The rotational speed picked up, and the swings began to fan outwards, pulling Vaggi away from the tower. It wasn't especially fast, but the steady outward drag of the motion made her acutely aware of how little was holding her in place.

Vaggi exhaled slowly, trying to keep a handle on her rising anxiety. "It's fine, it's fine, it's fine—"

The swings lurched sideways.

On instinct, Vaggi shot out her wings.

"Vaggi!" Charlie yelped.

The wind caught in her feathers, twisting her sharply off balance. Breath catching in her throat, she tried to adjust, pulling one wing in and extending the other further. It only made her spin harder the other way.

"It's fine, it's fine, it's fine!" Vaggi repeated, her voice climbing an octave every two words.

"Vaggi, you have to put your wings away!" Charlie shouted. "You're going to crash into someone else!"

Vaggi was not putting her wings away. Her heart beat erratically as she twisted violently back and forth. She knew it couldn't be good for the suspension mechanism—if she was going to fall, she needed to brace herself.

Suddenly, the ride slowed. Boos erupted from the sinners around her, but Vaggi could only breathe a sigh of relief as her swing began to lose momentum. Before Vaggi's feet even touched the ground, an irritated imp was already storming towards her.

"Do you think you're being funny?" he snapped, tail whipping back and forth behind him.

Vaggi blinked. "What?"

"I happen to take my job very seriously, and you're making a mockery of it!" he went on, ignoring her confusion. "Taking out your wings to make the ride 'more exciting' is absolutely unacceptable!"

"Hey!" The chains rattled as Charlie let herself off her swing. "Calm down! This is her first time on the swings—she didn't know better."

Vaggi's face burned with miserable embarrassment. Charlie shouldn't have to make excuses for her childish panic.

"First time or not," the imp said uppishly, "I fear a bit of common sense should be applied in this case!"

Charlie's eyes blazed, the sclerae bleeding red. "Excuse me?"

Vaggi quickly hopped off her own swing.

"Charlie, it's fine," she said, voice tight and placating. "It was my fault."

"Oi! Imp boy!"

Vaggi turned instinctively towards the voice. Leaning over the safety fencing was Cherri Bomb, cupping her hands over her mouth to shout louder. Behind her, Angel Dust was loudly booing.

"You're killin' everyone's vibe, asshole!" she yelled. "Let the girls out and move on already!"

The imp's lip curled. He shot one last glare at Vaggi and stalked away.

Vaggi grabbed Charlie's wrist and quickly led her out, not wanting to bring more attention to herself. Any other day, Vaggi would have kicked that imp's ass herself. But right now, her hands were still shaking.

Get a grip, Vaggi scolded herself. These stupid carnival rides should not be affecting her like this.

"Christ, who put his tail in a twist?" Cherri said as the two approached her and Angel. "Fuckin' dick."

Angel snickered lightly. "That bein' said, I've never seen someone nearly shit themself on the kiddie swings of all things."

Vaggi turned away, hiding the lower half of her face with her fist. Was her panic that obvious?

"Charlie said it was like flying," she mumbled. "I got carried away."

"It wasn't your fault, Vaggi," Charlie said, still glaring at the imp ride operator over her shoulder. "He was out of line."

Taking a deep breath, she smoothed out her hair that had begun to grow wild in her anger. Then she turned back to Cherri and Angel with her usual bright smile.

"Sorry about that. How are you two enjoying the carnival?"

At that, Angel sighed dramatically. 

"Well, I lost my dinner and dignity on The Himalaya after the seventeenth time around," he lamented. "Now I'm out fifty bucks, and we haven't even hit the game booths."

Cherri grinned wickedly. "And I'm fifty bucks richer. Funny how that works."

"Yeah," Angel agreed dryly, rolling his eyes at her. He shook his head and turned back to Charlie and Vaggi. "We're about to grab something else to eat, if you wanna tag along."

Charlie brightened at the suggestion. "I could go for some food! Vaggi, what do you say?"

Vaggi glanced behind her. The seats she and Charlie had vacated were already filled, and the swings were slowly lifting into the air. Sinners laughed and kicked their legs, every one of them having fun.

She suppressed a shiver. Anything was better than risking another carnival ride at the moment.

"Yeah, sure."

There were snack stands interspersed throughout the fairgrounds, but one small section was dedicated solely to a handful of stalls serving more substantial meals. Greasy, fatty, and fried foods, but more substantial nonetheless.

Vaggi supposed it was the novelty of carnival foods that had no one worried about how gross the options really were. Or maybe she had just gotten used to gourmet meals at the hotel over the past week or so.

There were probably more choices in the eating area than necessary for only a hundred or so attendees, but Lucifer was nothing if not extra with his surprise for Charlie. Regardless, it meant there were hardly any lines and plenty of seats available at the picnic tables. Once the four of them had all gotten their food, they headed back to the table to sit, eat, and talk.

Well, Vaggi tried to eat and talk.

Cherri, Angel, and Charlie quickly entered a lively conversation about their favorite rides, and Vaggi suddenly became nauseous all over again. They debated the best types of attractions, going into detail about which terrifying aspects they found the most enjoyable. Each claim was backed up with a story—loud and enthusiastic—about their first time, or their most memorable ride, and Vaggi's stomach flipped in real time. She picked at her mozzarella sticks, her appetite quickly fading.

It was more frustrating than anything. She was a former Exorcist angel who had trained for years in aerial combat, facing far greater dangers involving high speeds and G-forces. She had been raised to stay calm under pressure and not let emotions take control in stressful situations. 

It didn't make sense that something as simple as carnival rides would shake her like this.

"I didn't think you'd have such an opinion on all this," Angel said to Charlie, talking through the pizza slice he was still biting into. "You secretly an adrenaline junkie or somethin'?"

Charlie let out a sharp puff of amusement through her nose. 

"They might be called thrill rides, but I wouldn't go that far," she said. "They're fun, not scary, and that's about as intense as I get."

Vaggi winced.

"Aw, and I was just startin' to think you were fun," Cherri teased.

"I am fun!" Charlie insisted, sitting up straighter. "You'll see when we start redemption activities..."

Vaggi wasn't listening anymore. Misery settled over her, heavy as a lead blanket. What would Charlie think if she found out how much of a coward she was?

With a quiet sigh, Vaggi dropped her mozzarella stick back into the basket, untouched. She wasn't hungry anymore.

Her skin prickled with the weight of someone's gaze. She looked up to find Angel watching her closely, brows drawn together in mild concern. Suddenly self-conscious, she straightened her posture and pretended to be engaged in the conversation at hand.

"Alright, alright." Cherri waved Charlie off, trying to stop her from going full-on passion project infodump. "I'll maybe believe you if you show me you know how to properly ride The Teacups."

Charlie giggled. "Do you know anything about Nephilim strength? I used to spin the teacups so fast as a kid that even my dad would get sick!"

Vaggi paled at the suggestion.

Angel cleared his throat, drawing the group's attention.

"Not to be a buzzkill," he drawled, wiping his hands on a napkin, "but I literally just ate. I'd rather not puke it back up again." He looked at Vaggi. "Wanna sit with me, Vaggs? I won't spin it like these lunatics."

Vaggi would prefer not to go on any ride. But the alternative—apparently spinning into oblivion—seemed far worse. At least Angel's proposal sounded manageable.

Forcing away any evidence of anxiety in her expression, she nodded. "Sure."

"Great!" Cherri tossed one more cheese fry in her mouth and gathered up her trash. "C'mon, let's go!"

Charlie glanced over at Vaggi, noticing the untouched food.

"Oh, Vaggi, did you want to finish your food first?" she asked.

Vaggi shook her head. "It's okay. I wasn't hungry after all."

There was no one waiting for The Teacups when the four of them made their way over. Vaggi wasn't sure if that was a good or bad sign. All she knew was that she would be going into the ride blind, with no idea what to expect. 

Her stomach was already churning.

The moment the ride attendant opened the gate, Charlie sprinted towards an oversized yellow cup on the far side of the platform, Cherri hot on her heels. Angel shook his head with an amused snort and followed leisurely. Vaggi trailed behind him, forcing her steps to stay steady.

Angel led her over to a blue cup, holding open the gate so she could climb in first. 

Vaggi forced a smile, willing her face to cooperate, but the expression felt brittle. She could feel the tension pulling at her mouth, twisting it into an uneven grimace. 

Angel raised an eyebrow.

Ducking her head before he could comment, Vaggi slid into the seat, tucking her legs under the large metal disk in the center of the cup.

The first thing she noticed was a lack of restraints. Neither a seatbelt nor a lap bar was connected to the bench. As suffocating as the restraints on the other rides had felt, something about the absence of them entirely made her pulse spike. Even if Angel said he wouldn't "spin" the cup like Cherri and Charlie, the ride itself would still rotate in some capacity.

Vaggi blew out a slow breath. It's fine, get over yourself.

She glanced across the platform and caught Charlie's eye. Her girlfriend waved cheerfully, and Vaggi lifted a hand in turn, smiling weakly.

The gate clicked shut, making her jump. Whipping her head around, she saw Angel had taken his seat across from her. His top set of arms draped lazily along the backrest, while his free hands typed something on his phone—the picture of relaxation and nonchalance.

Vaggi tried to mirror his calm, loosening her shoulders, but her gaze flicked nervously towards the ride attendant as he completed his visual scan. Instinctively, her hands reached for the central metal disk for something to anchor herself.

"Careful," Angel warned, not looking up from his phone. "You mess with that, and we'll end up spinning as fast as those two."

Vaggi immediately took her hands back, gripping the edge of her seat instead.

The ride started up.

Vaggi squeezed her eye shut as the entire plate of colored cups began to spin slowly. She tensed, bracing for the usual surge of speed.

She waited. 

And waited.

The pace never changed.

Vaggi blinked her eye open, cautiously glancing around. The ride had settled into a steady, gentle rhythm, seemingly having no intention of picking up speed.

This wasn't bad at all. It was actually... nice. Relaxing even.

Charlie and Cherri's excited whooping swept past a moment later, and Vaggi looked up to see their cup whip by in a blur. Both of them had their hands on the central plate, torsos bent forward with the effort of spinning it.

Vaggi let out a quiet breath of relief, realizing that the intensity of the ride was completely optional. Finally, an attraction she could handle.

"So, Vaggi," Angel began casually, sliding his phone in his pocket, "you gonna tell Charlie ya hate rides or are ya gonna suffer through the rest of your date?

Vaggi tensed again.

"I don't hate rides," she shot back, a scowl twisting her features. "I'm on one right now, aren't I? Does it look like I hate it?"

Angel chuckled. "Yeah, actually. You looked like you were about two seconds from pukin' the moment we sat down."

"I'm fine," Vaggi replied sharply. "It's just a bit of spinning. I've handled a lot worse than this."

"Oh?" A mischievous glint flickered in Angel's eyes. "Then you won't mind if I—"

His hands closed around the rim of the center disk.

A jolt of panic ran through her.

"Don't!" Vaggi blurted, lunging forward and grabbing his wrists before he could spin it.

 The word came out too fast. Too loud. 

Angel smirked, raising a brow at her. Vaggi recoiled with a wince as heat rushed to her face. Letting his wrists go, she sank back into her seat.

Angel's expression softened with sympathy. 

"Charlie's not gonna judge you or anythin'," he said gently.

"Don't tell her," Vaggi snapped, shooting him a glare.

Angel frowned. "Why not? What's the big deal with tellin' your girlfriend you're not havin' fun?"

"It's not a big deal," Vaggi retorted stiffly. "I just don't want to ruin her night."

"The only person's night you're ruinin' is your own."

Vaggi looked away. Her gaze drifted across the platform to Charlie and Cherri, whose cup had picked up even more speed. They were merely a streak of color, shrieks of laughter being tossed in the air as they spun faster and faster.

Charlie seemed lighter than she'd been in days, the stress of preparing for reopening finally slipping from her shoulders. Vaggi swallowed. It was... wrong to take that away from her.

"I get that you're trying to help, Angel," Vaggi said, her voice low, "but you really don't need to. I'm fine. If I couldn't handle a couple of carnival rides, I wouldn't be here."

Angel's lips thinned as he studied Vaggi. Eventually, he sighed.

"Alright," he conceded. "Just remember there's no shame in callin' it quits."

Vaggi felt the spinning platform begin to slow, the ride easing to a stop. Angel quickly let himself out, but Vaggi lingered in her seat a moment longer. She watched as the brakes of the yellow teacup fought against the high speed, struggling to slow the spinning enough to let its passengers off. Charlie was still laughing and smiling, her joy brighter than anything else in the vicinity.

Vaggi shook her head. She wouldn't burden Charlie with the embarrassing reality of her fear. She followed Angel to the exit.

Charlie and Cherri soon caught up. Cherri's hair had been whipped into total disarray, while Charlie's somehow remained perfectly in place—no doubt thanks to Lucifer's magic from earlier in the day. Both of them wore wide grins, twin gleams of excitement shining in their eyes. The second they rejoined the group, Charlie wrapped her arms around Vaggi's shoulders. Despite herself, Vaggi melted into her embrace with a small, genuine smile.

"That was so much fun!" Charlie squealed, squeezing Vaggi with enthusiasm.

Cherri barked out a laugh. "Damn, I'm impressed! You weren't kiddin' about those neph-whateva muscles—I barely helped!"

Charlie giggled.

"Hey, what do you say about giving The Himalaya one more go?" She shook Vaggi's shoulders. "Vaggi hasn't ridden it yet!"

Vaggi went rigid. The ride Angel threw up on? A cold knot formed in her stomach. She swallowed hard, forcing the surge of fear back down before it could reach her face.

"Definitely!" Cherri punched Angel's shoulder. "C'mon, Angie, your stomach's had plenty of time to recover."

Angel met Vaggi's gaze and raised an eyebrow. Her expression hardened, silently warning him not to say a word. In response, Angel shrugged.

"Fine with me," he said easily.

Charlie led the way, practically skipping. The Himalaya was far more popular than The Teacups, with a line of sinners impatient to board. When Charlie realized the operator was already loading the next batch of passengers, she broke into a run to catch it before the gate closed. Angel and Cherri were quick to follow.

Reluctantly, Vaggi hurried after them, unease prickling along her spine. She wished she could've at least watched the ride first, gotten a sense of what to expect. Being thrown blindly into yet another ride had her heart already pounding.

The four of them just narrowly made it onto the coaster, taking the last open carts. With the remaining seats scattered, they ended up on opposite sides of the train.

Charlie guided Vaggi to their cart, letting her go in first and taking the outer edge of the bench. She said something about not wanting to squish her, but Vaggi barely caught it over her pulse thundering in her ears.

As Charlie pulled down the bar, Vaggi's gaze darted around the ride, trying to piece together how it worked before it started. The Himalaya was a circular track with a long chain of connected cars. The entire train moved as one unit, rising and falling along a shallow slope. One of the carts ahead of them had been taped off with bright yellow caution tape.

Vaggi's grip tightened around the lap bar. That didn't inspire confidence.

Too soon, the coaster started moving. 

Vaggi felt their cart dip forward before climbing slowly into a covered section of the track, meant to mimic a cave. The tunnel swallowed them in shadow, cutting off the lights for a brief, disorienting moment.

Her breath hitched.

They dipped back into the open air, the cart picking up speed. Each lap came faster than the last. The motion wasn't violent, but it was relentless, and every dive into darkness seemed irregular, the acceleration unmeasured. Vaggi couldn't seem to predict when the cart would rise and fall; every moment she braced for came too soon or too late.

Despite her iron grip on the lap bar, Vaggi felt herself sliding across the smooth bench. Eventually, she pressed against Charlie, incidentally pushing her up against the side of the cart.

Her eye widened.

Charlie was laughing, completely at ease. Vaggi forced her jaw to unclench, terrified Charlie might feel how rigid she had become, or how shallow her breathing had grown.

Light then dark.

Up then down.

Faster. Faster.

The rhythm blurred into unpredictability, the runs stacking on themselves until Vaggi gave up anticipating the next dip. She squeezed her eye shut, hoping to shut out the chaos.

It only made the dizziness worse. Her eye snapped open again. She grit her teeth, silently begging the operator to end the ride.

Then, the ride suddenly slowed.

Vaggi exhaled shakily in relief. Charlie glanced down at her, still beaming with excitement, and she forced a small smile in return.

At least Charlie had enjoyed it.

But the ride didn't come to a stop. The moment it should have, when the lap bar should have unlocked, the carts picked up speed again—in the opposite direction.

Is this thing going backwards?!

Panic flared hot in her chest.

The sudden reversal threw off every sense of balance she had. The brief, disorienting moments of darkness didn't hold a candle to the blind acceleration in a direction she couldn't see coming.

Vaggi's whole body froze in terror.

The lap bar dug into her stomach as the force pulled her backwards. All around her, delighted screams and laughter erupted, but Vaggi swallowed hard against the rising surge of nausea threatening to spill out of her throat.

Were they going faster now? She couldn't tell. All she knew was that she was very, very grateful she hadn't eaten those mozzarella sticks after all, as her stomach flipped with every unexpected dip and incline.

After what felt like an eternity of spinning, the coaster finally began to slow again. Vaggi couldn't even bring herself to trust it after going in reverse the first time. For all she knew, the track would suddenly flip over, and they would go another round upside down.

A sharp click sounded from the safety restraints. 

Vaggi went limp in relief. The breath she'd been holding rushed out of her lungs as her head tipped back against the seat. Beside her, Charlie cheered and popped up with an excited clap.

After a moment, Vaggi cautiously eased herself out of the cart and flexed her fingers. Her hands were stiff and trembling from how tightly she'd clung to the lap bar.

"Wasn't that awesome, Vaggi?!" Charlie asked, practically vibrating with excited energy.

Vaggi's mouth felt bone-dry. "Yeah... great... so fun," she rasped.

Slowly, she followed Charlie out the exit gate, her legs unsteady beneath her. They headed over to rejoin Cherri and Angel, and Vaggi could hear them bickering from several feet away.

"Yeah, no way I'm goin' on that spinnin' death machine," Angel was saying. "That's too much, even for me."

Cherri threw her hands up in frustration. "Oh, come on! It'll be fun!"

"Fun for you, maybe," Angel shot back. "It's cramped as Hell in there, and I'm like seventy-five percent legs."

"What's going on?" Charlie asked once they reached them.

"Cherri wants to go on The Zipper," Angel explained flatly.

Charlie brightened immediately. "Oh, I love that ride!"

"Yeah, it's fuckin' awesome." Cherri flicked her hand dismissively, more focused on winning the argument. "But you can't ride solo, so I need Angel."

Angel rolled his eyes. "Ya don't. You can go with Charlie. I'm sure Vaggi doesn't want—"

"I want to."

The words came out sharper than Vaggi intended.

She hadn't really been paying attention to the conversation, still trying to steady her breathing and settle her lingering nausea. But now she fixed Angel with a hard stare, chin lifting in challenge.

Angel met her gaze, taken aback by the intensity. He opened his mouth, as if to argue, then closed it just as quickly. 

Rolling his eyes again, he threw his hands up in surrender. 

"It's your funeral."

He turned pointedly and started walking away. 

Cherri let out a frustrated groan and hurried after him. "C'mon, Angie!"

Cherri's voice was swallowed by the buzz of the crowd as she chased after Angel. Only when she and Charlie were left alone did the full weight of what Vaggi had agreed to sink in.

Her stomach dropped. Looking away, she worried her lip between her teeth. From the corner of her eye, she saw Charlie turn towards her, concern softening her expression.

"Are you sure you're up for this?" Charlie asked gently. "The Zipper is a pretty intense ride.

In the distance, the spinning monstrosity that Vaggi and Charlie had passed earlier in the light loomed over the fairgrounds. It looked like the unholy union of all the worst parts of every attraction: unpredictable, caged in, and unstable.

Every instinct in her body screamed at Vaggi to turn and run, but she was in too deep now. She couldn't let Charlie see how scared she was.

Vaggi forced a smile into place and turned back to her girlfriend, taking Charlie's hands in her own.

"Come on," she said lightly. "It'll be fun."

The words felt flaky in her mouth, almost crumbling on the way out.

Charlie grinned. She laced their fingers together and tugged her forward, her long legs forcing Vaggi to jog to keep up.

Vaggi didn't mind. Trailing behind Charlie gave her the cover she needed to let her smile drop.

The line was as long as it was the first time Vaggi had seen it, a dense queue of eager sinners waiting their turn to be sealed in a spinning metal cage. Vaggi swallowed, her eyes glued to the contraption as Charlie led them to the back of the line.

Immediately, Charlie launched herself into an enthusiastic stream of conversation to pass the time. About the grand opening, about Lucifer's surprise, about all the little details that made the day so special. Her voice bubbled with excitement, jumping from one thought to the next without pause.

Vaggi pretended to be engaged, nodding along automatically, offering the occasional word or hum of agreement. Normally, she loved listening to Charlie talk. It was her favorite sound in the world.

But now, all she could hear were the screams.

Every time the ride roared to life, the deafening chorus of shouts and shrieks cut straight through Charlie's rambling, dragging Vaggi's attention back to the spinning machinery overhead. The cages whipped through the air in violent arcs, flipping end over end as the entire structure rotated.

Her stomach twisted.

The line was moving too quickly

Already, more people had filled in behind her and Charlie, pairs of demons chattering excitedly and closing off the exit. Vaggi felt boxed in from all angles, the press of bodies and noise tightening around her.

A cold bead of sweat dripped down the back of her neck. 

With every step forward, her shoulders curled inwards just a little more.

Slowly, the current group of riders was released, pair by pair. Sinners stumbled out of the cages, hair and fur mussed. A few wobbled on jelly legs, gripping the railing for balance. 

Most of them wore wide, exhilarated grins.

But it was the others, with pale faces and wide eyes, that rattled Vaggi to her bones.

Then the ride operator began to load new passengers.

There were only eight people in front of Vaggi and Charlie.

Then six.

Four.

Two.

Vaggi's heart beat erratically in her chest as the pair secured ahead of them screamed when the tension holding the cage steady released with a sharp, metallic snap. The tread lurched forward, rotating slowly along its caterpillar track, dragging the empty cage into position.

It locked into place with a heavy, final clunk.

The ride operator reached over and pulled the gate open. Like lifting a lid to a coffin.

Fear rooted Vaggi to the ground.

Charlie stepped forward automatically, still holding her hand. When Vaggi didn't budge, the motion tugged sharply at her arm. Charlie turned back, confusion creasing her brow.

"Vaggi?"

The name sounded distant. Muffled. Like Vaggi was hearing her from underwater. Her lungs refused to fill properly, so she must be. Each breath came thinner than the last. The roar of the crowd swelled in her ears, drowning out everything else. The ride towered above her impossibly large, the creak of the spinning cages deafening.

Everything felt too close. Too loud. Too much.

"I can't do this," Vaggi whispered.

The words slipped out before she could stop them.

Saying it out loud forced reality to come crashing down around her. The tide that had been drowning her suddenly receded, and the world around her came rushing back with startling clarity.

"Charlie, I can't do this," she said again, her voice rising frantically.

Charlie's hands were suddenly on her shoulders, her concerned expression filling Vaggi's vision.

"Vaggi, are you okay?"

Vaggi stumbled backwards without meaning to, bumping hard into the couple behind her. Someone called out in annoyance, but the sound barely registered. Her breathing turned ragged, each inhale scraping violently through her chest. The world tilted and her vision swam.

Her hands started to shake.

"Charlie, I can't. I—" Her voice died out. The words tangled uselessly on her tongue. "I can't. I can't do this."

"Hey, hey!" Charlie said quickly, her voice soft but urgent. "It's okay. It's okay."

Vaggi barely felt it when Charlie pulled her into an embrace, wrapping her arms firmly around her. The contact was solid and grounding, but the panic still churned wildly in her chest, refusing to settle.

Step by step, Charlie began guiding her away. Vaggi's legs moved automatically as Charlie steered her out of the line. The clatter of chains, the irritated muttering of displaced riders, the mechanical grinding of the cages starting up again, all of it faded into the background.

By the time Charlie eased her down onto a secluded bench, Vaggi's entire body was trembling.

For a few seconds, Vaggi just sat there, shaking, her breath still coming in uneven gasps.

Then the guilt hit.

Hard.

"Charlie, I'm so sorry," she cried, the words spilling out faster than she could control. "Every ride—it just kept getting worse. I thought I could handle it, I really did, but I couldn't. I felt trapped, and everything was moving so fast, and I didn't know what was going to happen next and—"

Her voice cracked. Tears welled in her eye, blurring her vision.

"I'm sorry," she repeated helplessly. "I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to make a scene. I didn't mean to—" Her breath hitched sharply. "Fuck, this is all wrong. I'm just—I'm sorry."

The words tumbled over each other in a frantic rush. Vaggi never rambled like this. She was usually measured, controlled, careful with what she said. Now it felt like every thought in her head had been shaken loose at once.

Her hands trembled in her lap, fingers curling tightly together as her compsure slipped further and further away. Why was she falling apart like this? It was just a ride.

"Vaggi."

Charlie's gentle voice cut through her spiral. 

Warm hands folded over Vaggi's shaking ones. She forced herself to look up. 

Charlie kneeled in front of her, smiling softly.

"It's okay," she said reassuringly. "I promise."

Vaggi's chest tightened. She couldn't bring herself to believe it. She pulled one hand free and rubbed roughly at her eye, her face twisting with shame.

"It's not okay," Vaggid insisted hoarsely. "I just ruined this whole night for you."

"Of course you didn't," Charlie said sternly. "Why would you think that?"

"Because you were so excited about this!" Vaggi burst out. "You worked so hard to get the hotel back up and running. You deserved to enjoy your dad's surprise."

She buried her face in her hands.

"And here I am," she muttered bitterly, "freaking out over stupid carnival rides. God, I'm pathetic."

"First off, you are absolutely not pathetic," Charlie corrected, gentle but unmistakably firm. "Second, it's everything we've done to reopen the hotel. Not just me."

Vaggi felt a hand slide under her chin, and her hands fell away as Charlie lifted her face.

"Third, you could never ruin my night," she continued softly, smile warm and unwavering. "Not when I get to spend it with you. My girlfriend. Who I love more than anything."

Vaggi looked away. She still felt weighed by guilt and embarrassment, but the knot in her chest eased ever so slightly at Charlie's reassurance. After a moment, she gave a small, reluctant nod.

Charlie sighed and took a seat on the bench next to Vaggi.

"Is that why you didn't say something sooner?"

Vaggi nodded slowly. 

"I just wanted you to enjoy yourself," she confirmed. "I didn't want you to stress about your dad and Alastor getting along, and you seemed so excited about the rides. I thought they would be a good distraction. And I'd never been to a carnival before. The game booth was fun, so I figured... maybe I'd like the rest of it too."

Another wave of embarrassment washed over her, and she turned away, staring at the ground.

"I wasn't expecting to be so scared," she admitted quietly. "I'm not... used to being scared. I'm military. I'm supposed to be ruthless, disciplined, and brave." Her voice wavered slightly. "That's the person you fell in love with. So if I can't handle something as simple as thrill rides, then who even am I?"

"Vaggi," Charlie began gently, only a hint of exasperation slipping into her voice, "I didn't fall in love with you just because you're fearless."

She reached over and took Vaggi's hand again.

"You're compassionate. You're fiercely protective. You're always looking out for the people you care about, even when they make it difficult. You listen. You show up. You fight for others when they can't fight for themselves." She squeezed Vaggi's hand. "That's who you are. Being a total badass is just a bonus."

Leaning forward, she made sure to meet Vaggi's gaze.

"I love all of you," she continued. "Not some perfect version you think you're supposed to be. And I would never want you to pretend to be someone you're not."

Against her better judgment, the tension finally began to ease from Vaggi's shoulders. She felt a flicker of guilt at how hard it was to believe Charlie's words. It wasn't fair to her—Charlie had never given her a reason to doubt her love. Even years after her time in Heaven, it was still difficult to reconcile that Charlie viewed her differently than Adam and the other Exorcist angels did. 

To Heaven, she was a tool. To Charlie, she was a person.

Maybe you should start acting like one, she thought to herself. 

Drawing in a steadying breath, Vaggi turned back to her girlfriend.

Charlie raised an eyebrow, her expression shifting into something teasing.

"What, do I need to remind you that you're also super sexy?"

The unexpected comment broke through the last of Vaggi's lingering tension. She let out a startled laugh, shattering the final shard of ice piercing her chest.

Wrapping her arms around Charlie's waist, she leaned her head against her shoulder. Charlie hugged her back, squeezing her tight as always, as if Vaggi could slip away at any moment. 

Vaggi couldn't count the times people have complained about soreness after one of Charlie's infamous bear hugs, but she wouldn't trade them for anything. She melted into the embrace, breathing out slowly as her body finally began to relax. 

Her home was in Charlie's arms.

"You really liked the Water Race game, didn't you?" Charlie asked after a moment.

Vaggi let out a soft laugh. "I really, really did."

The two of them laughed again before finally pulling apart. Vaggi sat up and let out a small sigh.

"But your dad and Alastor kind of took over the games," she said, rolling her shoulders to loosen them up. "And if I'm being honest, I really don't want to get caught in the middle of that measuring contest."

"Hey, they're getting along now!"

Vaggi's lips pressed into a thin line, her face scrunching with skepticism. "Hon, you might be the only one who actually believes that."

Charlie rolled her eyes, shaking her head with a fond huff.

"Well," she said, shifting gears, "did you like any of the rides?"

Vaggi's immediate reaction was a resounding no. But she paused for a moment, considering. There had been one. Still, it seemed a little childish to admit. Who went on thrill rides for gentle spinning? At that point, she might as well sit in a rocking chair on a porch somewhere.

"I didn't mind the teacups," she admitted sheepishly. "It was... relaxing."

She braced herself for gentle teasing. Instead, Charlie's face lit up.

"I know just the thing."

Before Vaggi could ask what she meant, Charlie sprang to her feet. She grabbed Vaggi's hand and pulled her back into the bustling crowd. The bench they'd been sitting on was secluded in a small alcove behind an unpopular snack stand, so it was a bit of an adjustment being thrust back into the thick of it.

The carnival was still in full swing, with lights aglow, music playing, and sinners laughing and shouting over one another. Without the crushing weight of fear and shame pressing down on her chest, Vaggi found herself actually able to take it all in. A small smile settled on her face, the joyous atmosphere infectious.

She glanced around at the spinning attractions and colorful booths, but her attention kept drifting back to Charlie. A determined expression sharpened her girlfriend's features as she wove through the throngs of sinners, seemingly with a destination already in mind. 

A flutter of anxiety stirred in Vaggi's chest. She took a deep breath. 

Charlie knew how she felt now—she would never make Vaggi do something she was uncomfortable with.

It soon became apparent that Charlie was leading them to the tall, circular attraction at the center of the carnival—the Ferris Wheel, Vaggi remembered her calling it. A few sinners were waiting patiently in line, but Charlie marched right by them.

"Sorry, sorry!" she called cheerfully. "Princess of Hell coming through! Sorry! Enjoy the fair!"

Vaggi's eye widened, and she shot apologetic glances at the startled sinners as Charlie pulled her to the front of the line.

"Charlie, what are you doing?" Vaggi asked, hushed.

"What?" Charlie said innocently. "I can be aggressively kind for my girlfriend,"

She winked, and Vaggi felt heat creep into her cheeks.

They quickly reached the front of the line, stepped onto the loading platform, and were let into a gondola by the ride operator. As the small door closed behind them, Vaggi felt herself instinctively curl inward at the realization that it was, technically, another cage.

Charlie noticed immediately and gave her hand a gentle squeeze.

"It's a really slow ride," she promised. "All you do is go up and around in a circle, stopping every once in a while to let other people on and off."

The explanation eased a good deal of Vaggi's tension. The unpredictability had been the worst part of the other ride: sudden drops, unexpected turns, the loss of control. This sounded much more tame.

She gave Charlie a grateful smile. Now all she had to do was get over the trapped feeling that was still making her heart beat against her chest like a caged bird.

The gate locked behind them, and Vaggi cautiously sat down. There were no seat belts, probably because of the safety bars around the passenger car. Vaggi wasn't sure which would have been better.

Slowly, the wheel began to rotate, lifting them into the air.

A few moments later, the ride shuddered to a stop to allow another group to board. Vaggi flinched despite expecting it, her shoulders tensing automatically. It was hard to adjust when she felt so confined.

She eyes the metal bars around her, subconsciously mapping out potential escape routes. She shook her head when she realized what she was doing. Old habits, she supposed.

Suddenly, the bars shimmered. In the span of a heartbeat, they dissolved into particles of warm, gold-orange light that scattered into the night like drifting embers.

Eye widening, Vaggi turned to Charlie just as the last traces of magic faded from her fingertips. Charlie shrugged, a small, knowing smile playing at her lips. Vaggi's expression softened immediately, and she finally relaxed back into her seat.

Charlie always knew how to make Vaggi feel safe. It was no small feat, considering Vaggi had been raised to be constantly vigilant and not to seek comfort in anyone, lest it be seen as a weakness. Even with her persistent efforts, Vaggi had still been hesitant to let her in; letting her guard down hadn't come easily.

She wasn't entirely sure why—Charlie would never hurt her. Not intentionally. Not ever. 

The truth was, there was still a lot of old conditioning left to unravel from her time in Heaven. Maybe it wouldn't be such a bad idea to take advantage of the therapist Lucifer had found for the hotel.

The wheel creaked softly as it began moving again, carrying them higher. Once more, it stopped, this time about two gondolas from the top. They had risen just high enough to see beyond the carnival grounds and across the city below.

Neon lights glowed and flickered in the distance, breaking through the sea of red and black in an oddly pleasant contrast. From this height, the usual chaos of Hell felt far away, almost muted. The red moon had long since climbed into the sky, casting a rosy glow through scattered clouds. A gentle breeze drifted through the open gondola, carrying away the heavy scent of brimstone and leaving the night air surprisingly fresh.

It had been a beautiful day that turned into a beautiful night.

"You know," Vaggi said, resting her arms along the edge of the gondola, "if you ignore what half the signs say, the city actually looks pretty nice from up here."

"Yeah." Charlie agreed softly. "Hell can be really beautiful."

Vaggi glanced over and realized Charlie wasn't looking at the skyline at all.

She was looking at her.

She knew it was cliché, but Vaggi couldn't suppress a golden blush from blooming on her cheeks.

"I'm proud of you, Vaggi," Charlie said after a moment.

The words were simple, but they carried weight.

"For being honest with me," she went on softly. "I know that's not always easy for you. You've had to carry a lot on your own for a long time. And I know there are probably still things you're not ready to talk about yet."

Charlie took a grounding breath.

"That's okay. I'm not going anywhere," Charlie promised with a quiet certainty. "Take all the time you need, and I'll be right here when you're ready. And no matter what you share with me, you'll still be you. I'll love you no matter what."

Emotion surged through Vaggi's chest so suddenly that it stole her breath away. Tears pricked at the corner of her eye. 

Part of her still felt shame for needing that patience, for carrying wounds that couldn't be fixed overnight. But beneath that shame was something lighter.

Relief.

Maybe the reason she'd kept her past from Charlie had less to do with her and everything to do with Vaggi herself. 

The truth was, she'd been scared all along.

Every time the memories surfaced, they brought back the same pain, the same guilt, the same sense of being trapped in a life she could never fully escape. On her own, she could control those feelings, push them down, and ignore them. Letting someone else see that part of her meant admitting it happened. It meant having to face her past... and let go.

The very notion was terrifying. 

But Charlie had shown her that it was okay to be scared.

It would take time. Vaggi knew that. Talking through everything with Dr. Calliope first might help her make sense of it before opening those wounds to Charlie. The road to healing was unpredictable, but she wasn't alone in walking it. She had support now, and the path forward didn't feel so impossible.

"I'm so lucky to have you," Vaggi said quietly.

Charlie smiled at her lovingly just as the wheel moved again. The passenger car rose the last few feet before easing to a stop at the very top. As they gently rocked back and forth with the momentum, Vaggi had a sudden daring urge. 

Carefully, she pushed herself to her feet.

Charlie's eyes widened as Vaggi wobbled on the unsteady platform. 

"Whoa—Careful!" she cautioned.

Vaggi stretched her arms out instinctively, steadying herself as the car swayed. Her heart hammered in her chest, adrenaline buzzing through her veins, but this time the sensation wasn't paralyzing.

It was exhilarating.

"I'm okay," she promised. For the first time that night, she actually meant it.

She took another slow step. Then another.

Suddenly, the ride jolted into motion, and Vaggi lurched forward, falling into Charlie's arms. 

A surprised giggle burst from Vaggi, bright and unrestrained, and Charlie caught her easily, laughing along as she pulled her in close.

The wheel carried them in a slow, gentle arc, and Vaggi's heart beat gradually slowed down. She rested her head on Charlie's shoulder, watching the cool glow of the city lights drift past in the distance while the warm carnival lights sparkled below. Feeling calm. Feeling safe. Feeling at home.

After a moment, she tilted her head up. 

Charlie was already gazing down at her. Her fingertips grazed against Vaggi's face as she brushed a loose lock of hair behind her ear, before sliding down to rest at the small of her back.

Vaggi wrapped her own arms around Charlie's neck, leaning into the touch as Charlie leaned down to meet her.

Their lips met in a soft kiss, warm and steady. It carried the gentleness of Charlie's patience and the strength of her unwavering promise. Vaggi melted into it, a small smile forming against her girlfriend's lips.

"I love you," Vaggi murmured.

Charlie hummed happily. "I love you too."

An explosion went off in the distance.