Chapter Text
The day of interview came faster than you expected though. Nevertheless you all were prepared. As you promised yourself, just next day you started to scheme once more. Charlie, Vaggie and you took your time to discuss each possibility that could happen during the second appearance on TV. Also, you three, prepared valid points that you wanted to present during the news. You had barely five minutes and it was obvious that those two hellish hosts would try to rob you from a few along.
Vox indeed kept his word and advertised the show through his multimedia channels and denizens of Hell couldn’t get any more interested. They treated it as free comedy though. Each time that you met cruel criticism you made sure to make the guilty disappear without the trace. Not that Charlie realized that. Nor anyone really, well maybe apart from Alastor. He joined you in that task, but did so quietly as well. He didn’t admit that even to you, but you knew better.
Soon you three, the princess, Vaggie and you, were going towards TV station. There was no need for anyone more to go with you. The travel by limousine was a quiet one. You were sitting there confidently, emanating the grace and calmness among the chaotic tension of nerves that were leaving Charlie and Vaggie in waves. They both displayed that differently though. Charlie was squirming in her seat, looking frantically through the window or examining her twiddling fingers, while the moth demon was sitting still, both arms crossed and the only a tiny eyelid twitch happening from time to time, being a hint of stress.
You sighed and adjusted brooch that was clipped to your decorative collar of the dress shirt. The brooch let out a static sound at your touch but otherwise it said nothing. Well, Alastor didn’t want to set a foot in the TV station, but as he agreed to help you with the advertising, you managed to encourage him to lend you his cane once again. Despite the fact that it was still a little bit sour towards you for the fact that you tried to drown it before, it warmed to you immediately as you suggested you would wear it on your chest once more. On the outside of your clothes this time though.
In the blink of an eye you arrived and invited yourselves inside the building. However you didn’t feel welcomed at all. All workers looked at you oddly or even mockingly and no one proposed any assistance to you. You were all lucky that Vaggie memorized the way to the studios from her first visit, otherwise you would walk aimlessly around.
And so you ended up at the backstage when Charlie started to actually panic.
She saw all those people that ridiculed her the last time, both hosts that mastered the art of humiliation to its perfection. The crew joked around between its members seeing you all ready to be embarrassed once more. Vaggie was looking around trying to intimidate anyone that looked your way but her attempt were treated like a joke as well. No one treated you serious there, and your presence didn’t help at all. Did you already lose your reputation?
“What if I will lose my temper like that last time? Or that I stutter again and no one will listen to me? I had my chance once…” Charlie let go of all her worries and you already could see how much of a strain her previous traumatic experience caused. Sighing in resignation you set your determined gaze at her. You already explained to her how to survive the second interview but she seemed to forget it all again. You couldn’t blame her though. And so you didn’t lose your patience.
“Charlie, it is very easy. Just read the statement and introduce them to the conditions we discussed before. The only thing you need to remember is not to let the hosts interrupt you because if they manage to, you may find it difficult to turn back to the most important subject. They will try to question you. Cut short everything, don’t let them pull you into elaborate discussion, you won’t win. And be confident. No matter what do not slouch and stutter. You know who you are and what you are here for. You are right with what you do, and this time you have validate proofs of that.”
“Yeah, that’s right hon! We both will be there with you, and I’m sure that this time we will put the message through.” Vaggie added with hopeful, slightly relaxed expression.
“And remember I always may try to distract Killjoy in case of emergency.” You winked playfully at princess and she smiled at you gratefully. At that you all approached set, standing in the line of cameras, and watched as both hosts was getting ready. Katie Killjoy looked at you and smiled ugly at the princess. She had something in store, something that you all probably wouldn’t like. What you didn’t like the most though was the fact that you were not informed beforehand when you would be welcomed in front of the cameras. Actually, no one really acknowledged you. So you would have to pay attention and play along.
The lights around dimmed and only those directed at the stage stayed blinding. The familiar intro music played and you all knew that the performance started.
“Welcome everyone! Today we are hosting unusual guest that you all well know already. The very princess of Hell visited us today, after all that happened recently I am surprised that she have guts to show you all her face!” Katie literally chirped and all enthusiasm of princess evaporated in thin air. Your eyes narrowed.
“Yeah, her idea of hotel seems to be fruitless so far. It works for a year and that seems that there are no new guests!” Tom Trench supplied and laughed quietly at the side.
“Pathetic indeed… But I wouldn’t even call it a hotel anymore! It is more like a slaughter house!” she grinned mischievously. “For those that don’t remember what happened recently we’ll show you the freshest footage we gathered after Extermination Day! Yes, you heard that right . AFTER. It seems that not only during the first day of the year there are scheduled exterminations but, at that hotel, they may happen any other day!” she replayed the records you knew well already, partially showing you again and you gritted you teeth in frustration. How many times would they play that on repeat?! “I wonder what our princess wants to sing us today.” She laughed and, in the background, there was already a fragment of the song Charlie presented last time, when she was a guest in the studio.
You look to the side and saw Vaggie that was looking worryingly at her girlfriend and Charlie, pale and nervous once again. The whole audience laughed cruelly, some of them even dare to whistle or boo her! She shrunk getting smaller, trying to disappear once for all. No. You wouldn’t have that at all. You bumped her shoulder slightly with yours in casual gesture and she looked at you. You nodded your head once with pointed look and she blinked and after a deep breath she nodded back. Just then she was introduced and invited on the stage. Finally! To your delight she put on determined expression and strode proudly ahead, just as you told her to do.
“Here goes the disaster!~” the microphone-brooch snickered quietly but you threateningly squeezed it between your fingers. “Oh, Darling I like you like that! Squeeze me more!”
“Hush up now… just do your job, kind sir…” you whispered harshly.
“That I will!” it replied with enthusiasm and turned its glowing eye towards the stage. At this point you knew that Alastor’s frequencies were in action which meant that demons within hearing range of any device that used radio waves would hear the presentation. Whether they liked that or not.
Charlie stood on the side, yet the camera was entirely focused on her. Killjoy was already snickering at her, waiting for any slip up, while Trench looked quite bored. You didn’t know as the mask he had instead of his face was quite expressionless. The princess took a deep breath and looked toward the audience that was gathered in the studio.
“Today I would like to make quick appearance. We all, as the hotel crew, would like to make just a short statement as you probably already all know what our hotel is. If someone doesn’t, then I let you know that our hotel strives to redeem sinners, allowing them to leave Hell. All that took place after this year’s Extermination Day, you also probably saw due to generosity of this news channel.” She glanced at grinning Katie and shot her ireful frown. “It was severe misunderstanding and conflict of interests. But, despite all that chaos, loss and sacrifices on both sides… We came to an agreement.” Without farther ado, she pulled neatly folded document with beautiful seal.
“What?!” Katie perked and pushing head of Tom Trench down, so he nearly disappeared under the desk, she lifted herself to look over Charlie’s shoulder. “Why was I not informed of that?!” she hissed to Charlie who looked at her fully and move the paper in her hand more to the side to hide it from her gaze.
“According to the officially sealed document sent to us as establishment which objective is to redeem sinners…” she continued glancing back towards camera. Her stance proud and confident, complete opposition to her previous interview year ago. “The Hazbin Hotel,…” she hung her voice for a moment “…previous Happy Hotel,” she added hastily and then continued the reading. “is officially allowed to take an attempt to redeem sinners that are also willing to partake in its program of redemption. Due to that building, and the area belonging to it, are excluded from annual cleansings.” As she was reading, on the screen behind her appeared the scan of the document you requested beforehand. The small bribery was not entirely bad sometimes. You stood next to the cameraman who stared at the scene before, leaning out from behind the device. Your grin widened at shocked expressions of the hosts and all demons gathered as a live audience.
Charlie folded the paper quietly and looked at you and Vaggie and you both smiled at her with encouragement. There were still plenty to say. Clearing her throat professionally she looked back, straight ahead.
“Of course as much as the statement is terse in its form, there were much more specific conditions sent along. So it all would be fair and square. So firstly, we will not be allowing new patrons within month before Extermination Day is scheduled, unless we will be proven that the sinner came to Hell within the said time, and our door won’t be opened during it, no matter what. Also I, as owner, and managers of the hotel will be preparing special list of sinners that genuinely try to redeem themselves. The said list will be a document of immunity during cleansing and will be send above before the whole Extermination starts. It is to prevent situation where a demon enroll only for the possible shelter. It doesn’t work that way. You need to be honest about what you do and we will help you no matter what.”
“But… how can you announce something like that!? You still didn’t even confirm that redemption is possible in the first place!” Katie tried to oppose, already wearing that annoying smirk of hers. Trench was frantically nodding his head in approval but didn’t say a word.
“Indeed, it was clearly stated that it never happened before.” Charlie replied seriously and Katie laughed at her, again. Vaggie wanted to jump at the red-cladded woman but you grabbed her forearm and pulled her back. Charlie would deal with this on her own, you were sure. “However, the process of redemption is completed with an acceptance. They, up above, need to grand their acceptance to a sinner and if they do, the said sinner is redeemed, and let into Heaven. So if we got the positive answer from above on that matter, it means that they consider giving that acceptance to someone that actually deserves it.”
“But… But you cannot know that!” the mantis in pretty suit weakly argued but Charlie didn’t pay any mind to her. Oh how wonderful!
“As a princess of Hell, I am positive that it is possible to redeem, given all the circumstances. And I am not alone in that belief.” She glanced in your direction and you both, with Vaggie, smiled at her in exchange. “With that I thank you for all your attention and I hope we will be able to meet and work together for your better afterlife!” she added cheerfully and just like that she walked out from the camera range and hugged you and Vaggie in excitement. However one of the cameras followed her and soon the whole Hell could see you from head to toes, elegantly clothed and fully healed. You sensed that the device was directed on you and smiling mildly you lifted one of your hands and waved it timidly to the possible spectators on the other side.
“But…” Katie started still gaping after the princess. After a few seconds she forced a grin and turned to the camera that was still facing her. Tried to compose herself. “Well, it seems that quite a bomb was thrown out of nowhere! We’ll come back with details after the short break, so stay with us!” she grinned forcefully to the camera, but as soon as she was off air it fell drastically. “What the fuck was that?!” she turned to you three, jumping from behind her desk.
“The statement.” Charlie answered simply not really wanting to start another discussion. What you really liked was her expression. It was that rarely seen mischievous one that you remembered Lucifer mentioned fondly. Charlie was a demoness too, it was very unwise to forget that.
“Yeah, that one that we were not told about!” the TV host hollered in exchange, towering over the princess and you found it proper to interject yourself.
“But what are you talking about? I discussed everything with Vox, he agreed giving us limited amount of your air time, which we used to its fullest…” you explained already readying yourself to leave.
“Vox is not the boss of mine! This news program belongs to ME!” she growled at you.
“Mind to repeat that? I am not sure if my Dictaphone caught that right…” you fumbled with your phone ostentatiously and Killjoy paled, gulping nervously.
“You wouldn’t!” she backed off slightly. Her confidence evaporated for a blink of an eye and the ghost of fear appeared on her face.
“Try me.” You lifted your eyes on her, putting on completely serious expression.
“No matter! I am not afraid of you, and I’m sure that Vox himself wouldn’t be happy to know the stunt you pulled!” she composed herself quickly once again, a trait perfectly practiced for television, and you almost complimented her on that ability. But of course you didn’t.
“As I said, he agreed on the statement, even if it was under construction at that time. So I guess it was the matter of trust. He risked and he gained. That’s for sure.”
“Humpf, you know shit about television!”
“You seemingly know shit about your audiences.” You gritted your teeth ready to fight but you didn’t have the chance.
“Ok, we need to go. The job was done and we should return to the hotel.” Charlie interrupted and already linked her arms against your and Vaggie’s. You all turned around, heading towards the exit as if the previous conversation was already done and forgotten. “Come on, boys wait for us, we need to make sure that the hotel still stands!” she laughed lightly but her face showed discomfort. You knew why. Killjoy was still following you shouting, demanding not to be ignored, which you obviously all did.
“Oh, don’t worry, I’m sure Nifty keeps them all in check.” You answered offhandedly. You were sure she did. Alastor treated the one eyed demon like his own child but you had a feeling that Nifty saw you more like a danger and obstacle, so you weren’t sure how fond of him she was… You didn’t plan on being jealous though. As you approached and entered lift you used your magic to slam door shut just in front enraged blonde’s face. You were finally done!
“You seriously recorded what Killjoy was saying?” while the lift descended and you all were surrounded by the music which was as ambient as it was annoying, Vaggie asked curiously and glanced at you.
“Hmm… let’s see…” you made your phone disappear and instead you turned to the brooch. “Did you catch it?” Vaggie blinked at you in surprise and then her eyes travelled down to the one-eyed object clipped to your shirt. She didn’t even notice it before.
“Oh darling~ I got every single word for you!” the radio voice exclaimed proudly.
“I told you you’re my favorite…” you praised playfully and it emitted weird static sound as if it was genuinely embarrassed. “It seems we do have some material for blackmail… Just in case…” you declared smugly but the girls didn’t comment anything on that, merely looked at each other.
After that, the trip back home was eventless. Nothing particularly happened and nothing changed your moods, which were beyond good this time. Charlie was bouncing on her seat and you, along with Vaggie, smiled at her barely contained enthusiasm. Alastor was already at hotel, his broadcast ended simultaneously with the TV news so he waited for your return and welcomed you all with opened arms. He praised Charlie for her marvelous performance and you was very happy with him for doing so. You approached him, planning to give his microphone back, but the said one-eyed gentleman wailed like a baby at the mere thought of being separated from you so Alastor was generous enough to let him stay on your shirt a moment longer. He also didn’t admit that aloud but he liked to see you with something of his on display.
It was late evening so you all just agreed on dining together and retired for the night, but the whole next day you decided to celebrate. So in the morning, after the breakfast you distributed some chores between you all and started to prepare back garden for the evening home party. Husk was responsible for drinks obviously, Nifty Vaggie and Charlie cleaned, decorated and generally prepared the garden, they even managed to encourage Angel to help them, while you and Al were tasked with food and music. You planned to grill some meat and chill out, nothing fancy, just a moment to catch some fresh air after the latest events.
So when the evening came you were all sitting in the back garden of the hotel, celebrating the TV performance, the official letter of approval and of course Lucifer’s acceptance. And it all happened in the past two weeks. Who would say that the hotel would keep you this busy…
The garden itself was very homey and refreshing. Girls dragged soft-cushioned sofas to sit on outside and a few low coffee tables. They also took care of the lights and distributed a lot of small fairy lights around so when it got slightly darker they introduced quite pleasant atmosphere. Alastor summoned some of his shadows and set them on the outside makeshift stage, so you all had live music played by them. You prepared a few types of foods that you could grill, meats and vegetables alike, but again Alastor, as a head of the household, declared that he would take over and grill them for you. Not that you complained. It was a job for the whole evening. He, realizing that finally, summoned one additional shadow of his, ordering it to keep the fire on, and promptly joined you on one of the couches.
“Um… hello! I am sorry to intrude but I knocked and no one was inside…I invited myself in…” suddenly, a timid voice called from the opened door to hotel lobby. The said lobby had the direct access to the gardens so you all could perfectly hear if someone was inside the building.
“Oh hello! Sorry for that! We all have a little party out here! Would you like to join us? I am Charlie by the way! Do you want to redeem?! Oh I am so excited!” the princess jumped to her feet and approached the newcomer confidently.
“Pipe down Charlie, you’ll scare her off!” Vaggie smiled at her girlfriend with amusement and she deflated immediately smiling sheepishly. “Who are you?” she turned to the new demon with serious if not a little threatening expression. You turned towards commotion and your eyes widened.
“Margie? What are you doing here?” you called and the newcomer, Margaret, froze in panic, looking at you immediately. “Is something wrong with the business? You ought to call me…” you started but she interrupted you.
“No, the clinic is fine. I didn’t call because….The case is that I… I would like to redeem myself Y/N…” she started and Charlie squealed on the side. You on the other hand blinked in confusion at your personal assistant. “I.. I know we have a deal, but…”
“HA! My dear wife owns you for the whole eternity, soul and all!” Alastor first laughed and then got serious suddenly. “How ingrate.” He glowed in greenish hue and Husk and Nifty looked at him in slight fear. You on the other hand, just stared at the rabbit without much of the expression. Until it clouded slightly. You rolled your eyes around looking for a focal point while you started to speak with venomously indifferent tone.
“We work together for over 80 years now… But I guess… it is not like you are irreplaceable, Margaret…” you started and Al turned to you, but you stared intently at the glass of wine in your possession. “I have plenty of other useable pawns to choose from…” you carried on, still in quite a shock that the change you fought so fiercely for Charlie sake would, in the end, concern you personally. “But don’t come back to me crying if you will not be able to achieve anything…” You finished coldly still refusing to lift your eyes.
“Really?!” her ears perked, lifting up like dog’s ones tend to do while the animal is excited. Comical sight when it comes to a bunny.
“Do I need to repeat myself?” you finally lifted your eyes to her for the first time and she shook her head frantically. The unspoken tension grew between you two but no one seemed to notice it. At least Charlie didn’t.
“Yay! Sooo we do have our first volunteer ever!” she exclaimed jumping at the rabbit demon and hanging herself against the newcomer’s neck. “Welcome aboard!”
“Hey! What about me?!” Angel complained feeling that he ultimately lost his spotlight that very moment.
“You just wanted to get a free room!” Vaggie jabbed at the scoffing spider. They started to banter very soon but at that point you didn’t pay any mind to all that happened around you. No, instead you watched the color of your wine trying to name it, just to distract yourself. You know all that ridiculously flamboyant names of wall paints that ought to leave a more lasting impression? That was exactly what you tried to do with the color of your wine. Such an exhilarating game!
You also started to drink it faster than you did before, so it disappeared from your glass much sooner than you would like to. You always could refill it and try to distract yourself even more with color naming or other game that your mind could manufacture just for your use, but the empty glass actually had given you a certain opportunity. And you gladly took it.
“Excuse me for a moment..” you set the empty glass on the table and got up slowly.
“Darling…?” Al tore his eyes from spider and moth demons who started to fight to his amusement, and looked at you.
“I just need to powder my nose… You know… Wine has this effect on me…” you smiled at him hoping for his understanding. You needed a moment for yourself. He merely nodded at you gladly but you didn’t notice that his gaze followed you as long as you were within his sight.
As soon as you entered girl’s bathroom attached to the common area on the hotel’s ground floor you approached sinks and mirror. You leaned on the ceramic and stared ahead, gazing into your own black eyes. Sometimes you hated them. No matter how much you still could pose as a human, those two bottomless black holes reminded you that you are no human anymore. And that no one around you was one. You were in Hell for the whole eternity, there was nothing beyond that stage, and if your leave Hell, you do so permanently. Just like Margaret wanted to do. Leave you behind. You were once left behind, for the whole decade. You didn’t want to be left alone again. Because if Margaret wanted to leave, it meant that anyone that surrounded you could. And in the end you will be forgotten. After all, everyone at the hotel were aiming for redemption. You realized it just now.
“Peekaboo!” a playful voice stirred you out of a slight panic attack. You looked to the side noticing a head poking through the gap between door frame and its wing. “There you are, darling~” the owner of the head mocked and pushing the door to open it fully, he entered the enclosed space, joining your side.
“It’s ladies restroom.” You commented, merely stating the fact.
“So I am in the right place!” Angel adjusted his fluff, in front of his own reflection, making it even more generous. He winked at you through the mirror. “What’s bites ya’?”
“Pardon?”
“Oh come one. Spill it.”
“Tables turned? Wanna play therapist now?” you scoffed with unamused smirk but he shrugged indifferently. “Too bad, I don’t see myself as a patient…”
“Oh, come on, I know ya’, you know? You glare like that only at someone that pissed you off, never yourself. Actually sometimes I think your ego beats the hell out of Smiles’! And now you glare at your own reflection as if it killed your mother!” it was kind of funny that he proposed that comparison. You didn’t share warm relations with your own family so you doubted that the murderer of its member would invoke as extreme emotions as you were feeling right now.
“I think you are missing your point with that..”
“Yeah… whateva’...” he scoffed and started to leave the room.
“Why did you even come?” you weren’t entirely sure if you wanted him to leave you alone.
“Isn’t it obvious? To powder my nose. Wine has this effect on me…” He mocked again, using your own words against you. SO he did hear you. You glared at him and he glared back at you. “Pathetic excuse, by the way. What, you came here to cry your black eyes out? Because your rabbit girlfriend wants to join?” he jabbed at you and you actually managed to bare your teeth at him. How did he even notice?! He wasn’t fazed though.
“Why do you care?!”
“Sure. I don’t.” he shrugged but this time he didn’t move. You growled at him and seeing as your animalistic instincts had little to no effect, you turned away from him and grabbed your head in painful grip.
“It’s just… I didn’t think that she would like to leave Hell for real…” you finally admitted aloud and you already felt as some tension left your body.
“Oh, come on toots… after all that shit you’ve done to get the hotel work out and all? Still, redemption is probably bullshit, but you should be happy that our princess is finally happy, no? And you own her soul, like Val owns mine…” he hung his voice for a moment. “You can just forbid her or something..”
“That’s the case… I can’t…. I don’t want to.” you growled at him but it was just voiced frustration. You didn’t mean to scare him off, not this time. “She shouldn’t be here in the first place… It was all my fault that she ended up here…” Sometimes you needed someone to confess your own anxieties, you also had them. But if you were there to listen, who was there for you? Mostly Alastor, but he didn’t understand many things. And often he didn’t want to understand. Sometimes you admired him for that. “But she was there since the beginning… like… we got here together…and now she may leave… but I won’t…”
“But Smiles will stay too, won’t he?”
“I guess… he will.” He told you that himself. Alastor could be a liar, but he lied only to gain something, to trick someone. Since you both were in Hell you doubted he lied to you even once…
“So why the long face, huh?”
“… It’s…” more complex than it seems. You wanted to say but the words stuck in your throat. You knew that the spider had the point. You didn’t care for anyone apart from that husband of yours. You stayed in Hell for him.. but also for yourself. It was obvious that others didn’t share your sentiment to that place. Not even Charlie. She wanted others to be redeemed, to be welcomed in Heaven.. Another patron, a person that willingly believed in her dream made her so openly happy…But you wondered. The princess cared for you all. She cared for Angel, Husk, Nifty, even for Al and you. She cared for Vaggie obviously. And yet she wanted you all to reach that redemption, leaving her behind in Hell… Didn’t she realize that in the end her own dream will lead her to the ultimate loneliness? Or perhaps… she already accepted he own doom?
“You are like partners in crime, no?” Angel teared you out from your thoughts. “I swear you share one brain! He is that more smexy part of the whole, but I suppose you would share that opinion with me~” he wiggled his eyebrows at you playfully and actually you had to fight off the tiny smile that tried to appear on your lips. “Oh you are so lucky, toots! Had I had Al for myself… uh babe, I already can imagine what kind of activities we would indulge ourselves in…” he said dreamily and your urge to smile disappeared immediately.
“Oh, must you always be so crude speaking of an intimacy?” you complained but, to be honest, you already felt better. Angel did have a point and even if you were subconsciously aware of that, you simply needed someone to voice it for you. You would expect Charlie to be the one, Vaggie at most, but Angel surprised you. Maybe your therapy indeed worked on him well?
“Crude?! Babe, I even used your blunted vocabulary for your own good! It is as if I put a censor on my own mouth! If I were saying any more on that matter I would use words like: ….” He started but you jumped to silence him. No. Your therapy wasn’t even half as effective as you hoped it would be.
“Just don’t. I got the point.”
“Good. Sooo…. Does Al have any fetishes?” he changed the subject swiftly, seeing as the previous conversation reached its completion.
“Angel. NO!”
“Oh come on! Don’t be so prude! I also don’t believe he is a virgin deer! You are fucking married! You must have gotten a little nasty! He has to hide something only you know about…~”
“And it will remain that way…”
“Oh, so there is something!” he caught on and invaded your personal space.
“Leave me alone.” You mumbled covering in yourself as if he was an actual danger to you.
“Come on, I won’t leave without a payment! There is nothing for free, right?! Give me something to work with, just one kink!” he bargained and you glared at him finally giving up. You snapped and a bottle full of innocently looking pills manifested in your hand. One of your best batch but he deserved that this once. You threw it carelessly to the spider who caught it effortlessly despite his surprise.
“One time thing, and don’t you dare to tell anyone.” You glared at him through the mirror, trying to seem intimidating but you already knew he felt way too comfortable around you. But wasn’t that the case? You were his therapist after all.
“Ahaha, you really don’t want to be redeemed! Thanks babe-….” He got interrupted by your phone’s ring tone. With surprise you reached to the pocket, where you kept it and pulled the cell out, eyeing the screen. You stared at it in surprise longer that you usually did. Then you accepted the call and lifted the phone to your ear.
“Why hello, Vox.” You started with calm tone, but you gulped in your actual nervousness. Angel paused all what he was doing and looked at you in surprise. You supposed he would call or contact you otherwise directly after when the news edition were aired. But he took his time. That made you slightly wary. You didn’t want another war with Overlord, even if he already had a row with Alastor. “What do I owe the pleasure to?”
“I have a matter to discuss. I guessed you shouldn’t be so surprised by my call.” The electronic voice replied you confidently and you sighed slowly. You needed to be very careful with the way you would lead this talk. The last thing you needed was new enemy in form of another Overlord, and indeed, you guessed, Vox could be angry that you dared to trick him, even if only slightly.
“Well, I cannot say that the contact is surprising. After all the show happened to be rather popular…” at that point Angel approached you and bend down, so he could eavesdrop your conversation shamelessly. You sent him annoyed look but he only smirked and shrugged again.
“Popular? It is understatement, but… I guess that you were not completely honest with me during our deal making.”
“Ah~ you mean the letter? You see it was as shocking to us as it was to you that the document as such was sent down at all. But I assure you that during our meeting it was not delivered to us yet.” You lied confidently. He couldn’t check that fact in anyway.
“I actually don’t mean the letter.”
“No?”
“No. I mean, yeah you omitted that during our deal making, but we earned small fortune because of that interview so yeah, we are even..” his way of speech was weird… he seemed to be uncertain of something. “I call because of something different…” his voice sounded sharper and forced suddenly and that put you back on guard.
“What is it?”
“As you perhaps know already I and Valentino are not a couple anymore. I couldn’t stand that prick anymore and I’m done with it for a while.”
“Yeah?”
“Yeah, and I think I would like to try different approach. I wondered if you’d like to meet again.”
“Oh, I am happy for you. Really. If you mean starting therapy to overcome that atrocity, I am willing to help.” You expressed in light tone. It went even better than you expected. Al wouldn’t be happy, but you could tie an Overlord to yourself which would benefit in the future.
“No, I actually meant dinner.”
“A… dinner…?” you repeated in confusion.
“Yeah, like a date dinner. We should get to know each other better. I know quite a nice place.” That… made you pause.
“No fucking way! YOU SLUT! Hahaha!” Angel whispered harshly to you, already laughing openly at your misery but you only stood there with cellphone against your ear, staring ahead without any expression on your face. It went in… unexpected direction.
“V-Vox… you know.. y-you flatter me… haha…but, you know…” you actually started to sweat. “I might have not expressed it clear enough... but I’m married.”
“Yeah, and I don’t care. We are in Hell.”
“Y-yeah but… I actually do, you know. And it is Alastor who I am married to.”
“Listen, I felt like we were on the same page. You like technology and I like it too. You know how to do business. And despite all that fucked up rumors about you, you seemed to be honest and nice. I think we really hit off quite nicely from the start. You waste yourself with that deer. Just like I wasted myself with Val. Does that guy have even a cell phone?”
“Um…. Does it matter?”
“And as I said you weren’t honest yourself about this. I know you felt good around me too. Those small gestures you did with your hands, and those smiles. Y-you… have n-nice smile.” He started to stutter nervously but you didn’t find it adorable in any way. Not like when Alastor stuttered out of excitement of awkwardness. His voice sounded like circular saw to your ears. Your mannerism and body language just backfired at you. First time ever. Your brain lagged and face froze in expression of horror. You glanced at Angel pleading for help with your gaze but he was already heavily laughing at your misery.
“Eh… I… thank you really, I didn’t expect… well, that. You rendered me speechless…”
“So what do you say? My schedule is adaptable, depends on you really.”
“I’m busy like all the time. You know, the hotel and Alastor are time consuming…”
“Oh give me a break, I told you forget about that jerk! What do you even see in him?”
“Plenty of things to be honest… I really don’t want you to feel bad or anything but I don’t really look for romance right now and I am, no matter like you look at that, taken… I really appreciate the compliments, they meant a lot to me, but I think it will be the best if we manage to keep our professional, business only, relation. Do you understand what I mean?”
“No, I don’t. What does that fucking deer have that I don’t?!”
“Darling~! Where are you?~” Alastor sung from lobby and your eye bulged out in panic. Oh, nonono. NO! If Alastor knew that you had any kind of contact with Vox behind his back he would skin you! You could already imagine yourself hanging on the wall like some poorly made taxidermy… Oh he would hang just your detachable head! There were so many options of what could be done to you if he knew that Vox actually offered a date! At this point Angel’s face was completely crimson, as he choked trying to breath in between waves of barely suppressed laughter. He’d never seen you so distressed and panicked!
“I need to go! Thank you for the invitation…” you started hurriedly, literally whispering to the phone, but as you heard that Alastor was getting closer and closer you took a deep breath and spit out the rest without any pauses in between “… but-I-must-decline!- However-if-your-ever-needed-someone-to-listen-I-can-be-there-to-listen-but-as-therapist-only-ok? Bye!” you took the phone off your ear and even at arm distance you heard offensive shouts that Vox presented you with at your rejection. So much for a peaceful deal without drama and another threat of war…You didn’t manage to hang up yet as the door opened with a kick. You simply crushed the device in your hand.
“Darling?” Alastor blinked at you, frozen as if someone caught you red-handed. “Did you just crush that cellphone of yours?”
“Huh? Oh this? Yeah, by accident. Your voice out of nowhere scared me and it… happened! You were right these are easy to break… But you know what? It doesn’t matter. I’ll get new one. With new number. And I’ll get you one too. You need to have a phone.” You said the last sentence with completely straight face. Alastor was not worse than Vox, oh no, he was the best man for you, and even if it was really petty, you wouldn’t let anybody to laugh at your husband no matter what!
“What? Whatever for, my Lovely? I told you I don’t need that.” Alastor asked honestly surprised at what you smiled innocently.
“Oh don’t worry. I’ll get you retro one. With buttons… And hard one to break.” You approached him and threw the remains of your poor device into toilet.
“You!!! SLU-…” Angel tried to yell still laughing but suddenly he was gagged and encased in white straightjacket that you invoked with a single snap of your fingers. He started to struggle immediately but all his limbs, apart from legs, were restrained .
“Hmm? What was that our effeminate friend? What did you want to say? Perhaps call my wife one of those disgustingly atrocious names of yours?” Alastor glowered, but you put your both hands against his chest and rubbed comfortingly. His attention was redirected back at you.
“Today is his worse day and I think that it is safe to assume he would need some therapy time in one of my clinics in situ…as you know… I don’t have all kinds of my equipment at hotel…” the air around you changed and you turned mechanically towards Angel who stopped struggling on the floor at the sight of your haunted expression. He whined in panic and even turned to Alastor with pleading expression but, as predicted, your husband ignored the spider demon. But his grin grew in sick amusement. The tension grew until Alastor interrupted your quiet rage.
“Darling, you disappeared for quite a moment. Are you feeling unwell?” your expression changed completely and you turned back to him.
“Unwell? Oh no, no. I told you I needed to refresh myself, it takes some time …” you smiled reassuringly but Radio Demon was not convinced.
“I think I told you not to lie to me… ever.” He glitched at the last word.
“… Yeah, you mentioned…” your false smile fell slowly and you let your gaze to fall as well. “I just felt overwhelmed for a moment and needed to… leave…” you mumbled and Alastor tiled his head to the side, flashing you confused grin. “But I’m fine now! I can go back!” when you lifted your head your lips were bent in gentle yet reassuring smile.
“What was that overwhelmed you, hmm?” he narrowed his eyes on you dangerously. “It was that rabbit, wasn’t it?” he knew you too well.
“Al, I’m fine now and I will be fine as long as you….” You paused feeling slightly insecure for a moment and he tiled his head more so his neck almost snapped “…as you won’t leave me…”
“Hahaha, where would I go? Darling don’t be ridiculous! There is no place in the whole Universe that I would go without my precious wife!”
“You promise?” you asked hopefully and he grinned down at you.
He cupped your cheeks, holding your head tenderly, he bent down and…He did it again! Just as that time you were injured. He kissed your forehead! And you didn’t ask him for that! He even let that ‘mwah’ kissing-sound resound in the tiled bathroom! An unrestrained, shameless grin bloomed on your face as you looked up at him.
“Would that be enough for you, my love?” he asked amused, seeing your toothy grin.
“For today, yes.” You admitted mischievously and an expression of shock appeared on his ashen face.
“Today?! Ahaha, you get more greedy each day, my Darling! I spoil you too much!”
“I like being spoiled!”
“Hahaha! And I admit I might like spoiling you!” he patted your head, just between your horns, and you barely stopped yourself from purring like cat, putting Husker to shame.
“So… are we coming back? We still have some ribs I prepared to grill… We cannot leave our guests hungry…” you prompted and keenly waited for his response.
“Well, I wouldn’t complain if some rabbit meat joined them! Oh and I heard that rabbit foot brings some good luck and I am willing to try if it really works!” he glowed menacingly, already in his own world of murder fantasies.
“Al!” you shouted outraged.
“Don’t worry, Darling, there are two feet, one for each of us!” he pivoted around gesturing his whole arms vividly. He walked out of the bathroom and you hurried just behind him hoping, that he wasn’t serious. Angel in the meantime scrambled back to his feet, which was not as easy as it seemed to be without help of his arms, so it took some time. He grumbled angrily cursing you openly, but the gag blocked it all. He, instead, headed to his room hoping that Fat Nuggets would munch through the straps, freeing him, before you would find him and indeed take to one of your clinics for deeper examination…He was just joking.. You wouldn’t do something like that to him.
Right?