Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

It started with an offhanded comment, that Angel would let him bite.

Alastor had clearly not understood what he'd meant, looked at him funny, then walked away.

"You ain't gonna win 'im over like that." Husk said. "He don't want no-one, an' if ya let him bite, you'll probably end up dead."

Angel sighed, and conceded. For the time being, at least.

He next saw Alastor in the library, reading something in silence, wearing fucking glasses, sipping...was that tea?

"If you're here to explain your joke, I don't want to hear it." Alastor said, sounding kinda offended.

"Jus' here fer a book, dumbass." Angel said, stepping closer to the bookshelf a few feet from where Alastor was. "It...wasn't a jab at you bein' a cannibal, if that's what yer thinkin'. Wasn't a joke, eithah."

Alastor glanced up from his book. "So...what was it?"

"Thought y'didn't wanna hear it." Angel said, grabbing the book he'd been looking for. "Changed yer mind, now that y'know I wasn't tryin' ta be offensive?"

Alastor produced a bookmark from nowhere, closed his book around it, and placed it on the small table in front of him. "I'm more curious now, I'll admit."

"Okay, so, you've turned down every single one'a my services." Angel said. "I think I've figured you out a little. You ain't inta sex."

"How could you tell?" Alastor said, dryly.

"...Well, what if I told you y'could do somethin' ta me that I think we'd both enjoy, that don't involve gettin' yer dick wet at all?"

Alastor sighed. "It seems we both enjoy reading classic literature." He said, gesturing to the book Angel had forgotten he was holding.

"Somethin' more...active." Angel said. "Wanna torture me?"

"Who doesn't?" Alastor asked, apparently taking that as a joke, playing a laugh track.

"I ain't kiddin'." Angel said. "You like hurtin' people, I like when someone hurts me. That's good fer both'a us."

Alastor seemed to be...buffering? He was staring at Angel, but not responding or moving at all.

"'Kay, I'll...leave ya to think about it." Angel said, starting to back away from him. "You know where ta find me. G'night."

The knock on his bedroom door came close to midnight. Angel wasn't asleep yet, so got up pretty quickly to answer it.

"The fuck d'you-" Angel paused. "Alastor?"

"Ah, good, you're still awake!" Alastor said, stepping past him into the room. "This is...very pink and purple."

"Yeah?" Angel said, shutting the door, very confused. "What d'you want, Al?"

"I've considered what you said." Alastor said. "I've concluded that I need more information, if I am to make a decision."

Angel stared at him. "...More...oh! Right, yeah. What d'ya wanna know?"

"You correctly observed that I enjoy punishing people who are deserving of it." Alastor said. "I'm...not sure what you meant...that you like being hurt? Wouldn't that be unpleasant?"

Angel shrugged. "Guess I got some pretty important wires crossed." He said. "I'm a masochist. Pain feels good ta me."

"I see." Alastor said. "And...what makes you think I'd want to torture you?"

"Who doesn't?" Angel asked, smirking.

"Let me rephrase." Alastor said. "I don't think you're deserving of a punishment. It wouldn't feel right to hurt you."

Angel sauntered closer to him. "But I want you to."

"Observe the five foot rule."

"You gonna hurt me if I don't?" Angel asked, going so far as to touch Al's shirtfront, challenging him.

Alastor grabbed his wrist tight, pulled his arm away from himself, then closed the other hand around Angel's neck. "I might." He started to squeeze, cutting off Angel's blood supply in a way that felt practised.

Angel moaned. "Fuck, oh yes, harder!"

Alastor released him immediately. Angel attempted to catch his breath.

"You're...serious?"

"Yeah." Angel said. "Should prob'ly talk 'bout it first. Set up some safewords, in case it does get too much. Set up some boundaries. That sort'a stuff."

"Hold on, I haven't agreed to this yet."

"Yer gonna. I can tell."

"...I'll think about it." Alastor said, heading quickly towards the exit. "Goodnight, Angel."

Chapter Text

Alastor woke in the dead of night. The sound Angel had made when he'd grabbed his neck, ringing in his ears, the spider's words playing and replaying in his mind over and over and over.

"Fuck, oh yes, harder!"

He found his mind wandering, he supposed...fantasizing about Angel, wondering if he'd scream, if he'd beg, if his blood was as sweet as he looked.

He'd never had a victim who wanted it before.

Though...Angel wouldn't really be his victim, would he? Since he was literally asking for it.

And, if Alastor let him heal, he'd be right as rain in two days, thanks to their demonic healing.

If Alastor...helped him heal...that would take even less time.

What was he thinking? He was the Radio Demon. Why should he help Angel recover from the injuries he requested?

'So maybe he'll come back for more.' His shadow suggested. 'Treat him right, you can have him any time you want.'

"Mmm, that would be wonderful." Alastor muttered, staring at his ceiling. "He has weekends off work, so...I'd imagine he'd be able to use that time to heal, if he agrees to doing this on Friday nights."

He imagined having the spider bound in rope, begging for Alastor's knife. He imagined red staining his perfect white fur, imagined breaking the skin with his teeth, imagined tasting his blood...

...And realised from the tent in his blankets that he was hard.

Ah. That...might be a problem. He'd have to think of a way to hide his arousal, since Angel was someone he intended to let live.

He sighed, bit his lip, and reached down to poke at the length through the sheets. From the incredible discomfort, combined with the slightest amount of relief, he knew that attempting to achieve orgasm tonight would be too frustrating for the time and effort to be worth the temporary state of bliss.

He rolled onto his side, simply so that he couldn't see his own hardness, and attempted to ignore the memory of Angel's moaning at pain that just kept on replaying in his head.

"Oh yes!"

Alastor flipped to the other side.

"Harder!"

Alastor clawed at his ears, hoping to somehow turn off that broken record player.

"Wanna torture me?"

Oh, god, he wanted to.

"You gonna hurt me?"

Alastor threw his blankets off of himself, and headed to his bathroom for a shower.

A very cold shower.

It didn't matter that it was nearly 3am, all of those thoughts made him feel like he couldn't control himself, couldn't make some of the most basic bodily functions do what he wanted.

He needed to calm down.

"Angel, I need to speak with you." Alastor said, at the end of breakfast.

"Can it wait?" Angel asked, following him regardless. "I gotta go ta work."

"I'll walk with you."

"I take a company taxi."

"Talk with me, and I'll teleport you to the front doors."

"Deal." Angel grabbed his phone out of his pocket, and started tapping away. "And...taxi's cancelled. What d'you wanna talk about?"

They made it to a quiet, out of the way hallway. "That...activity you mentioned yesterday."

"Yeah? You considered it?"

"...Yes." Alastor said. "What would you get out of it?"

Angel smiled. "Well, if you hurt me enough, an' y'do it right, I get ta cum from it." He said. "It's all good fun, an' y'don't even gotta touch me down there. 'Less y'wanna, but I ain't gonna be an ass if y'don't. I get that you ain't inta that."

"...I see." Alastor said. "You mean to say...the pain excites you...sexually?"

"Yeah." Angel said. "Told ya, I'm a masochist. Oh, uh...are you okay with that?"

Alastor was...confused. "Would...you be okay if...I got the same...kind of...satisfaction?"

"Ooh, yer really a sadist, huh?" Angel said. "Hurtin' people turns ya on, Al?"

"...I-I suppose...pain has always...appealed to me." Alastor said. "My pain. That of others. I...I'll admit, I...woke early this morning...thinking about how I'd-"

"You were fantasizin' 'bout hurtin' me?" Angel asked, before gasping. "You thought 'bout it so hard, it turned you on?"

"Indeed." Alastor said, solemnly. "I was...concerned that seeing me like that might...disturb you, but it seems...that was already what you were thinking of. Hmm."

"...That a good 'hmm', or a bad 'hmm'?" Angel asked.

"Good, I suppose."

"So...you wanna try it?" Angel asked. "I'm dancin' today, but I got the weekend off, so I can do tonight, if you can."

"...Yes, I'm available tonight." Alastor said. "Though, I'm...sure we should first discuss safewords and boundaries, as you said. I also assume I should...take care of you, afterwards, and pay for your time."

Angel was staring at him. "No, no...uh, safewords, yes. Boundaries, yes. Aftercare, wasn't honestly expectin' that, but yes." He said. "Payment? Absolutely not. This ain't a work thing. Plus, I asked you, you didn't start this. When I'm off the clock, whatevah I wanna do, it's fer fun, not 'cause it's my job. Got it?"

"My apologies. I didn't mean to...offend you." Alastor said. "Yes, I understand."

"Good." Angel said. "So, uh...I'll be back about seven, you want me ta come ta your room, or somewhere else-"

"I'll collect you." Alastor said. "After dinner would probably be best, so you'll need at least an hour after that...how does nine sound?"

"Half eight, so we can talk before, an' start at nine?" Angel offered.

"Excellent idea, darling." Alastor said, grinning maniacally. "Now, if that's all sorted, I promised to take you to your place of work. Would that be Valentino's Studio, or one of his many clubs?"

"Three Snakeheads club, by the Clock Tower." Angel said. "My shift starts at ten, but I gotta get my makeup done, an' the outfits're there."

Alastor wasn't familiar with the club, but was aware of one of the V's buildings near the Clock Tower. "Take my hand, I'll teleport you there. Do you have everything you'll need to take already with you?"

He offered his hand, which Angel hesitantly took hold of. "Y-yeah. Jus' my phone an' wallet."

"Perfect. Now, do try not to move, it'll only make this worse." He snapped his fingers, and the two of them were falling through the void.

Angel did not take that form of travel very well. He did not move, as instructed, but clearly looked nauseous, and very nearly doubled over when they arrived outside the club.

"That should pass within a few seconds." Alastor said. "I think you'd have actually thrown up, if you'd moved while we were halfway. You did very well."

Angel kept pressing three arms to his stomach, and didn't respond any more than a slight nod.

"Here we are, as promised." Alastor said. "Would you like me to stay, until you're feeling better?"

"That's how yer fuckin' everywhere all the time?" Angel asked, finally looking up. "Holy fuck. I-I'm okay. Thanks."

"Very well. Shall I see you tonight?"

"Yeah. See ya tonight."

Instead of waiting all day for Angel to get back, Alastor busied himself by doing all of his tasks for Friday, and most of the ones for Saturday (that could be done early). This ranged from pre-recording some content for his radio show, to getting rid of that thing that was trying to make a nest in the attic again, which Charlie had forbidden him from killing (he had no idea why it kept coming back, there were no food sources or brood of any kind), to switching the 'HAPPY HOTEL' sign on the roof to his 'HAZBIN HOTEL' one (as a running joke/competition with Charlie).

After lunch, he continued, filing away some paperwork Charlie had given him, and resetting the fire safety system when Niffty accidentally triggered it.

When he was done, he started setting up a space in his room, where he and Angel could...do this torture thing. Somewhere to tie him up, something to catch the blood, various tools, knives, and lengths of rope, enough towels and bandages to get him clean and patched up afterwards, and some ointments to speed up the healing process.

This would be...an interesting combination of things he was good at. He was only used to hurting and torturing people to kill them, and he was only used to healing people he cared about after someone else hurt them, or they otherwise injured themselves. Hurting then healing the same person? He'd never had cause to try it before.

It was...almost 6pm. Hmm. Angel wouldn't be back for another hour, and Alastor had run out of things to do. He headed downstairs, to see if the other residents of the hotel had any tasks for him.

"Charlotte, darling." Alastor said, approaching her. "Is there anything I can-"

"Not now, Alastor. I've too much to do, and I have to get dinner on in fifteen minutes, and-"

"Breathe. I'm asking for tasks, because I am bored." Alastor said. "Would you like me to do dinner today? How does gumbo sound?"

Charlie finally looked up from what she was doing. "Oh. Y-yeah. That...sounds good." She said. "Thanks, Alastor."

"Do you need assistance with this for the next fifteen minutes, too?" Alastor asked, taking a seat beside her on the couch. "What needs doing?"

"That'd be great." Charlie said. "I'm sorting these bills by date, could you check that I haven't missed any?"

Angel arrived back from work a few minutes before the gumbo was ready, and was fairly quiet while they ate together. Even when asked how work was, he only responded 'good', and kept eating.

Charlie had brought some paperwork with her, and was focussing more on it than the meal. Alastor didn't mind. The poor girl was swamped.

Alastor kept making himself useful over the next hour. When asked why by Vaggie, he simply said that he had plans that could easily stretch into the following night, so he wanted to get on top of things now.

At half past eight, he knocked on Angel's door. The spider answered within seconds.

"Is tonight still alright for you, dear?" Alastor asked.

"Uh, yeah." Angel said. He was wearing a casual T-shirt and shorts. Easy to remove, inexpensive to replace. "Was startin' ta worry y'were backin' out. I'm so fuckin' ready."

"Wonderful." Alastor said. "I've set something up in my room. Would you like to come with me?" He offered a hand.

"...Walkin' there, right?"

"Yes, of course." Alastor said. "You had a rather strong reaction to my transportation spell, so we won't be repeating that unless absolutely necessary."

Angel smiled. "Thanks."

"This is pretty good." Angel remarked, scrutinising what Alastor had set up. "I'd have done the wrists a little lower, but-"

"You stand on that platform, not in the container." Alastor said.

"Oh! Then it's fuckin' perfect." Angel said. "Okay, safewords first. How 'bout we jus' go with traffic lights? Y'know green fer go, yellow fer slow down, an' red's a hard stop?"

"Yes, I'm familiar with traffic lights." Alastor said. "That makes perfect sense. Boundaries?"

"Y'can pull my hair, but not my fur. These clothes're all old, so y'can bloody them up, or tear them all y'like. My socks stay on, I don't like people seein' my feet." Angel said. "Uh...no really degradin' shit, y'can call me a whore an' a slut, but nothin' worse than that. Don't break any bones, 'cause they take fuckin' forevah ta heal. Don't cut too deep, or bruise where my fur ain't long enough ta hide it. Do not call me a 'good boy', I will freak out. Any fer you?"

"Those are all reasonable." Alastor said. "Do not touch me without permission. Do not call me anything other than 'Alastor' or 'Al'. Try not to move enough to get blood everywhere, I want to gather as much as possible." He paused, and gestured to the tub under the apparatus. "Don't hesitate to tell me if it's too much...oh, and don't hold back your screams. I want to hear you, and this room is completely soundproof."

"Got it. None'a this leaves this room?"

"Correct."

"'Kay, uh...can I have yer word that y'won't actually kill me?" Angel asked.

"That's also reasonable." Alastor said. "I swear on my mother's grave that I will not permanently kill you, and I will not intentionally temporarily kill you."

"Great. An'...were you serious 'bout takin' care'a me after?"

"Of course I was."

"Don't use anythin' with peppermint in, I'm deathly allergic." Angel said.

"Understood." Alastor said, taking off his jacket, and draping it over the back of a nearby chair. "Shall we begin, or is there anything else you'd like to discuss?"

"Um...don't get freaked out if y'see my junk." Angel said. "I'm intersex, an' my dick's retractable, so it don't look very normal. Y'can touch if y'want, but it's fine if y'dont."

"...I see." Alastor said. "That shouldn't be a problem. I don't plan on doing anything with that...area...but thank you for the warning. Now, are there any tools you'd not like me to use?" Alastor asked, gesturing to the various things he'd prepared. "Or, perhaps, something you'd like to start with?"

Angel took a long, hard look at the options, and ended up selecting a few smaller blades, among other things. "I'm okay with these. The rest are a bit...much, fer the first time we're doin' this." He said. "Can we start with the flogger? After that, y'can do whatevah you want. You okay if I undress?"

"As you wish, darling. Wear whatever you're comfortable getting blood on." Alastor said, taking the tool from Angel's hand. "Would you like to only have your top sets of arms restrained, or your third as well?"

"I'll keep my third hidden, if that's okay." Angel said, quickly stepping out of his shorts, and pulling his T-shirt off. "Y'know, like an extra little bit'a defense, in case I safeword, an' you don't stop. We ain't quite got to 'fully restrained' yet. I'm...honestly surprised you've got all'a this stuff."

"Angel, I torture people to death on my radio show." Alastor said. "Everything has been thoroughly cleaned since its last use. I fully understand that you don't fully trust me, but I'm not entirely sure why you do at all."

"Gimme a hand?" Angel said, stepping up to the frame. Alastor helped him up, almost completely unfazed by the almost naked body before him. Angel's private parts were still covered by his boxers. "I laid out my terms, you laid out yours, an' we agreed on it. I trust that you'll stick ta them, 'cause you're you, deals are yer thing. I'd say, maybe go slow this time, jus' so we can test the waters, figure each other out, y'know?"

"I understand." Alastor said, carefully securing Angel's wrists in the leather cuffs. "Is this alright? Not too tight? Too loose?"

Angel tested each cuff, one by one. "Top left's too loose. That thumb can dislocate, I can slip out'a this."

Alastor nodded. "Thank you for telling me." He said, tightening that one slightly. "Better?"

Angel tested it again. "Yeah." He said. "Gonna do my ankles?"

"I am." Alastor said, leaning down to fasten them. "Good?"

Angel tested them. "Good." He said.

"Lovely." Alastor said, before quickly testing the flogger on a nearby table, then his own arm, since it had been so long since he'd used it. "Mmph! Perfect. Are you ready, darling?"

Angel was nodding. "Yeah. That was hot." He breathed. "Hurtin' yerself first, testin' yer skills so y'know how exactly hard yer gonna hit me. That's really hot."

"...I'd...prefer not to hear that kind of comment about me, please." Alastor said, stalking around the restrained spider. "As I mentioned earlier, this room is completely soundproof. Feel free to be as vocal as you need."

Angel nodded again. "Okay."

"I'm going to stike you now." Alastor said, raising the flogger, and aiming for Angel's right thigh. "I'll warn you, I'm testing the waters, as you said, first. What's your colour?"

"Green." Angel said.

Alastor brought the flogger down. Angel yelped.

"Harder."

Alastor struck the other thigh, slightly harder, loving the way Angel was moving, loving the sound of the leather hitting his skin through the fur.

Another yelp. "H-harder." Angel said, trembling slightly.

Alastor struck again, slightly lower, a fair bit harder, and Angel moaned loudly.

"F-fffuck, oh, that's it!"

"That's how hard you like, darling?" Alastor asked, trailing the flogger across the red mark he'd left on Angel's skin. Angel nodded. "That's good. I like leaving marks like this." He struck that same spot again, just as hard, and Angel practically screamed. Alastor grinned. "Do you want more?"

Angel nodded. "O-on my back? Please?"

Alastor lifted himself on two shadow tentacles for the perfect angle. Angel was quite tall, at least a foot taller than him, plus the apparatus he was standing on. He struck across Angel's back, as hard as the spider liked. "Are you enjoying this, my dear?" He asked, striking again, a little lower, before moving around to Angel's front.

"Y-yeah." Angel said, breathing hard. Alastor could smell his blood, and his arousal. Such an interesting combination.

"Good." Alastor said. "I...think I want to bite you." He moved himself so that he and Angel were face to face. "Where should I?"

"Not my neck." Angel said. "Anywhere else."

Alastor selected the upper right shoulder, estimated how much fur he'd get in his mouth, decided he didn't care, and moved in close to bite down hard. The taste was far sweeter than he'd imagined. Angel made a truly beautiful noise, keening long and high, begging for more, for harder, but...it was different. Alastor released him, and pulled away to look at him.

Angel's knees had buckled, so he was practically dangling from his restraints. His pupils were blown wide, clearly not able to focus on anything. The way he was speaking was more like babbling than actual sentences.

Despite his obvious lack of awareness, Angel still seemed to want more. Alastor decided he had to be very careful, if he was going to continue.

Alastor struck him again, across the front of his thigh, and while Angel did react, it was neither as vocal nor as instant as the previous times.

Still, the spider was begging for more, so Alastor obliged. Again. And again. And again.

After the sixth, Angel trembled hard, and the scent of his arousal grew much stronger.

But still, he was begging for more.

"That's what you wanted from this, isn't it?" Alastor asked. "Aren't you satisfied?"

Angel didn't stop for him to speak, and didn't answer the questions. It was like...he couldn't hear him.

Alastor looked at his face, really looked.

Angel was crying. Still trembling. Still begging.

"Darling, is this too much?" Alastor asked. "Do you need me to stop?" Why aren't you telling me to stop?

Angel kept mumbling, kept crying.

"Angel, what's your colour?" Alastor asked.

Angel didn't respond.

"I-I'd like to stop now, darling, so...I'm going to bring you down." Alastor said, unfastening all of Angel's restraints with a snap of his fingers, and wrapping an arm under his shoulders so he didn't fall.

He placed the spider's limp body on his couch (which he'd laid a towel on), and started tending to the wounds.

"It's alright, darling. You're safe." Alastor had no idea why he was saying this. Angel wasn't reacting like he could hear him. "I've got you. I'll take care of you, mon Ange."

He made sure the salve had no peppermint, as requested, before applying it to the welts across Angel's skin. The bite on his shoulder, Alastor wrapped firmly but not tightly with strips of gauze.

"You're doing wonderfully, my darling." Alastor said. "I'm going to wrap the rest of the wounds now, alright?"

Angel had long since stopped his mindless begging, but was still crying softly, and sniffling occasionally. "M'kay." He mumbled.

Chapter Text

Angel had not been expecting to get to subspace. He hadn't thought to explain that part to Alastor, but he seemed to figure it out himself, because the next thing Angel was aware of was that he was laying on a couch, and Alastor was taking care of him.

This was...familiar. It was safe.

Angel must have fallen asleep.

Either that, or Alastor's room was in a different time zone to the rest of the hotel, because he was definitely still there, and it was morning outside Al's window.

"Good morning, cher." Alastor's voice rang out brightly from one corner. "I brought you breakfast. You do like pancakes, yes? I also took your porcine pet into the hotel's garden, and left him in Charlie's care."

Angel blinked at him, slowly, very much not yet awake, still very confused. "Mornin'?" He asked.

Alastor seemed to take that as a response, instead of a question. He smiled, and offered Angel the plate of pancakes. "Normally, I wouldn't let anyone eat in my bed, but I'm willing to make an exception, just this once."

Angel stared at the pancakes. "Y-your bed?"

"Well, I don't use it very often, but if Niffty finds crumbs on it, she'll have questions." Alastor said. "I...hope it wasn't too warm for you. I wasn't sure if you'd want a fluffy blanket, or just a sheet-"

"Al, you...let me sleep in yer room?"

"Of course." Alastor said. "...Oh, do you prefer to sleep in privacy? I'm sorry, I didn't think of that."

"Al, stop." Angel said. "It's fine, I just...I didn't think you'd let me stay. You nevah let anyone in yer room, except Niffty. I thought...you'd want me out as soon as..."

"Oh, I see." Alastor said. "You thought staying would be an imposition? Darling, if I wanted you gone, trust me, you would be, but I saw no reason to kick you out last night, when you were already sleeping so soundly, and I have an obligation to take care of you after our activities."

Angel blinked. He hadn't been expecting the Radio Demon to be so...hospitable. "Oh. Right, that." He said, poking at the pancakes with the fork Al had given him. "Sorry, I...ain't used ta bein' taken care of like this, after."

Alastor stared at him for a moment. "This part is essential, is it not? With how much I hurt you, darling, you were bleeding from multiple wounds, how is care like this after not essential?"

Angel scoffed. "You sound like one'a my exes." He said. "Yeah, yer right that it should be, but with where I work, an' who I work for, I only really get taken care of if I'm...nearly dead, or...if I've got another shoot the same day."

"That's ridiculous. If you're hurt-"

"-Val doesn't care. I have ta suck him off twice if I want even half a chance he'll treat me like you are." Angel muttered, starting to eat his pancakes. "These're fuckin' good. Thanks."

"...Valentino? He owns your soul, yes?" Angel swallowed, and nodded. "How would you feel if I were to purchase your contract?"

"Don't, Al, I'm his best-earnin' bitch, I'll be fuckin' expensive, an' people would know you were the one ta buy me. They'll assume we're fuckin'. Yer whole schtick is that you don't do that ever." Angel said. "Don't fuckin' buy me. I ain't worth it."

That had seemed to be the end of it. Angel managed to change the subject to Al's pancake cooking skills. Again, it felt so very familiar, but Angel couldn't place it. In fact, now that he was really thinking about it, that whole scene with Alastor last night had been familiar, from the way Al had looked at his not quite naked body, to the sound he'd made as he bit into Angel's shoulder.

It was strange. It reminded him, strangely, of someone he'd dated for a month or so when he was alive. Fucking asshole who seemed perfectly nice, hurt Angel good, took care of him after, then ditched him with no warning or explanation, and Angel never saw him again.

"When did you say you'd learned how ta cook?" Angel asked, after not paying attention to what Alastor was saying for a few moments. "Sorry, I...sorta zoned out."

"It's fine, darling." Alastor said. "My Mother taught me, when I was young."

Angel nodded, and emptied his plate. "It's really fuckin' good."

"I'm glad you liked it." Alastor said. "Now, as I said earlier, I've taken your pet downstairs, since you were asleep."

"Shit. What did you tell Charlie?" Angel asked.

"Just that I noticed you'd slept in, and that I really couldn't blame you for wanting to rest on your days off work." Alastor said. "All of that was technically true. I hope you don't mind."

"No, that's fine." Angel said. "Thanks."

"Yes, well, she was mostly focussed on the fact that I'd done something nice for someone else, completely unprompted, and am, therefore, entirely redeemable in her eyes, and as Heaven-bound as you are." Alastor said. "This should be entertaining, don't you think?"

"Entertainin', sure." Angel said. "You jus' wanna see her dreams fall apart."

"True." Alastor said. "However, if you enjoyed last night, we could make this a regular arrangement. In the event that Charlie's ideas are not doomed to fail, a backup source of entertainment for myself would be nice, but if they are, a backup rent-free escape from your employer will hopefully be enough to get you to come back?" His smile was...slightly more intense than normal, but his ears were tilted back slightly, and his eyes looked almost hopeful.

"You...askin' me on a second date, Smiles?" Angel asked.

Alastor practically flinched. "My name." He said. "And...I suppose, yes. If you'd count last night as a 'date'."

Angel nodded. "Same time next week, then, Al?"

"If you'd like." Alastor said. "I...should check on your wounds, and change your bandages."

"Sure." Angel said. "Go ahead."

Angel didn't fully remember getting at least half a dozen of these wounds. Alastor tended to them all carefully, and apologised in a gentle tone when he pressed on one hard enough for Angel to hiss.

"I should...prob'ly fill you in on...where my head went last night, huh?" Angel decided. "You ever heard of subspace?"

"Heard of it, yes." Alastor said, gently wrapping Angel's thigh. "An old associate explained it to me in the thirties, but I only discovered the name of it recently."

"Yeah? Well, that sorta...happened ta me." Angel said. "Guess I must'a...trusted yer 'stickin' to the deal' thing a lot. It's fuckin' hard ta fake, an' I don't trust any'a my co-workers like that, so I think I only have two films, total, where I get there, in sixty years'a doin' this shit."

"I see." Alastor said. "And...did I behave appropriately?"

"As far as I can remember, yeah, you did." Angel said. "Yer fuckin' good at aftercare. Thanks."

"But I didn't notice for six strikes, at least." Alastor said. "I should have-"

"You didn't know to look for it." Angel said. "Now we know y'can get me there, we can talk about what y'should do when I'm there. Alright?"

They must have spent close to an hour talking, and eventually got onto the topic of their lives. Al told him about some of his murders, and Angel tried to one-up him, by recounting one of his hits.

"The man who was found hanging upside-down from a fence, in some alley in New Orleans? That was you?" Al asked. "I thought you were from New York."

"I am." Angel said. "But I was the son of a mafia boss, and he had enemies everywhere."

Alastor suddenly looked very panicked. "You didn't die that weekend, did you?"

"In '33? No, 'course not." Angel said. "Stayed there...'bout a month, though. And a week before, so it didn't look suspicious. Why?"

"Sorry, I...killed the person I believed to be responsible for that particular murder." Al said. "He was my Mother's closest childhood friend's son, and they were both understandably distraught. I suppose you were my target, then, after all."

"You're from New Orleans?" Angel asked. "Bullshit. Where's yer accent?"

"I haven't spoken in my natural accent since before I died." Alastor said. "I'm afraid, if I try it now, it'll sound fake."

Angel nodded. "Makes sense. My parents are both from Italy, so I had a real thick accent when I was little." He said. "Got bullied for it when I started school, one kid used ta beat me up every fuckin' day, so I learned ta drop it. Haven't used it since...fuck, over a century ago. Am I that old?"

"Angel, a century isn't old, we're practically immortal." Alastor said. "I'm a hundred and twenty five years old. Husker is nearly the same. Some of my other associates are older than that. Other Overlords, Rosie died before I was even born, as did Carmilla, and Zestial has been in Hell since the fifteenth century. You're not old."

Angel smiled. "Thanks, Al." He said. "Um...sorry 'bout killin' yer buddy. He'd...stolen from one'a our guys, cost my dad nearly-"

"No, it's fine, he'd stolen from me, too." Alastor said. "I only went out for revenge because I cared about his mother. I hated him."

"...Oh. Okay."

Angel went downstairs close to lunchtime, after making sure he was wearing something long enough to cover all of the bandages. He didn't want any questions, mostly because he wasn't nearly as good at lying as Al was.

"Which'a youse took Nuggs out, an' left a plate'a cold pancakes in my room?" Angel asked, tiredly.

"Um...Al brought Fat Nuggets down, but...I didn't know he'd taken you breakfast, too." Charlie said. "Wow, if I can redeem him-"

"Alastor? Seriously?" Angel asked. "Yeah, I wouldn't get yer hopes up too high on him, toots, whatever he's doin', I wouldn't trust it."

Chapter Text

Alastor wasn't entirely sure what to do with all of the information he'd been given. Angel could easily enjoy anything in that submissive state, and he wanted Al to do whatever he wanted to him.

"Don't give me that kind of freedom, darling." Alastor had said. "What if, in the moment, I want to kill you?"

"That's fine, Al. As long as you bring me down properly, after, I'll enjoy it." Was Angel's reply. "Clearly I trust you. I know you ain't gonna actually kill me. You, uh...got any other kinks I should know about?"

Their discussion had then evolved into one on cannibalism, Angel's anecdotal bringing up of vore as a kink, and a question of whether Al would be willing to try it with Angel.

"Surely it's more a question of whether that's something you'd enjoy." Alastor had said. "Would you?"

Angel had hesitated, apparently unused to a partner asking what he'd want. "Yeah, I'm into that." He'd said, eventually. "Maybe not...right away, but...yeah, I'd wanna."

Alastor had been surprised at that, and reminded Angel that he was The Cannibal Overlord, and would potentially struggle to make himself stop if Angel gave himself so willingly. Angel had said that this would make it hotter, and he'd be even more into it if Al lost control on him.

Angel was clearly insane. Or...maybe intense was the right word.

When Angel left his room, worried about Charlie coming to look for him, Alastor was confused. He decided that the best thing he could do was to go about his day. He'd already secured his new playmate coming back for more.

"Alastor, did you take Angel breakfast?" Charlie asked, a little while after lunch.

"Look at him, my dear, he's skin and bones. Of course I did." Alastor said. "Purely selfish reasons, I assure you."

Charlie looked slightly disappointed, and also sceptical. Almost enough to make Alastor doubt himself.

No, no, he'd taken Angel food so that Angel would come back to him the following week. Yes, that was all.

Angel let him check on the wounds again at nine. They were healing very well, and very fast considering Angel was a contracted soul. Hmm. Perhaps this would open up some more options for them. If Angel was willing, of course. Alastor would be delighted to thoroughly test out the limits of Angel's demonic healing.

The remainder of the weekend was uneventful to the point of boredom. Alastor watched from the shadows as Angel left for work, entirely unsure if anything but the spider's willingness to welcome pain was pulling him in.

Whatever it was, Alastor didn't like seeing Angel go. Perhaps it was simply that the dangers outside the hotel were out of his control, and Angel could end up hurt by someone other than him, or that he could be convinced to try someone else's blade, if his wasn't satisfactory enough, before he'd really had the chance to-

Was Alastor jealous?

No, no, that was impossible.

"Charlie, may I make a request?" Alastor asked, finding her alone in her office after breakfast.

"Sure, Al, what is it?" Charlie said.

"Define 'jealousy' for me." Alastor said.

"Oh, um...sure." Charlie said. "Feeling or showing an envious resentment of someone or their achievements, possessions, or perceived advantages."

"I wouldn't...exactly call it 'resentment'." Alastor muttered.

"No? Okay." Charlie said. "Fiercly protective of one's rights or possessions."

"...No." Al said. "That's not..."

"Okay." Charlie said. "Feeling or showing a resentful suspicion that one's partner is attracted to or involved with someone else."

Alastor remained silent. Angel wasn't his partner. Why should it matter to him who else was taking up his time?

"Is that one...the least likely, or have I completely misunderstood you up until now?" Charlie asked.

"...I'm not sure." Alastor said. "It's not that I...have a partner. I...I suppose it's just someone who I'd...like to spend time with, but...I'm worried because they're with someone else now, and what if I don't get the chance to...why are you looking at me like that?"

Charlie was watching him in absolute awe. "You want help making friends with someone?" She asked. "Oh my gosh, do you have a crush on someone?"

"No. Goodness, no, not that." Alastor said. "Though...being friends with him...would be nice, I suppose."

Charlie beamed at him. "I can help you with that." She said, turning towards her bookcase, and grabbing a few, which soon turned into a pile, of books. "These could be helpful."

"That's a lot." Alastor said. "Maybe...one that summarises everything? I don't want to...skip over anything important."

Charlie scrambled over her desk for a moment, then took one book from the middle of the pile, and offered it to Alastor. "This one is basically a summary of the others."

Alastor took it. "Thank you, my dear."

The book wasn't nearly as helpful as Alastor had been hoping. For starters, it seemed to be aimed at troubled teenagers, giving general guidelines for an absolute fool to attempt to go out and find someone that might be interested in friendship with them, then stating how not to scare them off.

Then again...perhaps that was how Alastor had come across, when he'd gone to Charlie. A troubled individual, not entirely sure what to do with his emotions, or even how to understand them.

Did he understand them?

Did he need to?

Well, he was definitely at least possessive of his newest playmate. He wanted Angel to be his, and only his.

No, stop, that wasn't fair. Angel was a very sexual creature, and Alastor knew he himself was limited in that area. He would not be able to satisfy Angel's needs. If he did buy Angel's contract, he'd have to give the spider some way to deal with his urges, but the thought of having Angel to himself in every way except the one that probably mattered most to the other demon...

Alastor didn't know what to do.

He didn't know who to talk to.

He didn't know if this was normal.

Probably not, right? He'd always known his mind wasn't really wired right. Ever since he was a child, he took more satisfaction from finding and torturing small creatures, than making friends with his classmates.

But now, when he finally found a creature who wanted the torture, who might come back for more if only Alastor could play his cards right, he had no idea what he should do.

Think.

Was there any experience in his life or afterlife that was even remotely similar to this one?

He supposed...that one man, who he'd...initially tried to get close to as his next victim...

But he'd known Anthony in his last month of life, nothing more. The memories with him were so blurry, they might as well not exist. He barely remembered his name. His face? Voice? Anything about him? Alastor had no idea where to start.

He didn't know what he'd done, and he certainly couldn't repeat it, nor assume that the same things would work with Angel.

But he had done it right once.

One time.

And he didn't remember it.

So, to put it simply, he was screwed. He'd mess up in one way or another, and Angel would be out of his reach.

Damn it all.

"May I return this?" Alastor asked, offering the book back to Charlie, in her office, only an hour after borrowing it.

"Yeah, sure." Charlie said. "Did it help?"

Alastor shook his head, smiling thinly.

"Oh. I'm sorry." Charlie said, looking thoroughly stumped.

"It's alright, it was just...that's not really how my mind works." Alastor said. "I can't just...go out and talk to somebody. I need a plan, a solid course of action. In the past, I've observed the...potential friend for several days before approaching them. This has...not always given the best results, and I really don't want to mess up with him."

"...I get it, if you don't wanna tell me stuff like who he is, and what kind of friendship you want with him, but what's your relationship with him already?" Charlie asked.

"Other than...a few mutual associates, we have spent...a day and a half...talking and taking care of each other, I suppose." Alastor said, suddenly and inexplicably terrified of Charlie finding out it was Angel. "There are only really two days and a night where I can see him, and since he has a life outside of me, my tasks here and as an Overlord can't realistically be ignored, and we only began the arrangement this last week, I am worried that the time he spends away from me could come between us. I'm also worried that if I try to adress that with him, I'll come across as controlling, which would also push him away."

"Okay." Charlie said, slowly. "So you want to spend more time with him-"

"-Not particularly." Alastor said. "I just want to...I suppose, preserve the arrangement that we have now. I've proposed that I could buy his contract, which he refused. Do I truly have no choice but to trust that he won't want to change what we're doing?"

"You could talk to him?" Charlie said. "If this...arrangement you have with him is new, he probably needs a bit more time before he'd let you consider buying his contract, if at all. I think you should wait until the days you can see him, I'm guessing it's probably at the weekend, when he's not at work? Wait until then, and talk to him. Tell him what you're feeling."

Alastor gave her a truly blank expression.

"You've got no idea how to put that into words, do you?" Charlie asked.

"Not the faintest." Alastor said. "I don't normally have to care."

"Do you want me to help?" Charlie asked. "I've finally got some spare time, now that I've figured out that new filing software...thing."

"...I would greatly appreciate assistance, yes." Alastor said. "Thank you."

Chapter Text

Angel fucking hated working for Valentino. Mondays were fine, mainly because he had nothing to get mad over yet. Tuesdays were...okay, depending on how Monday went. Wednesdays, Angel was always at one of the clubs, so didn't have to deal with Val, unless Val happened to go there. Thursdays...were usually when Val had a tantrum and/or breakdown over how production was going, and Angel was usually the one who got hurt over it. Fridays, Val was strict, but if Angel got hurt bad enough the day before, he'd be at one of the clubs all day, so wouldn't have to deal with it.

That was his life. Wanting to get hurt bad enough on Thursday that he wasn't fit for the cameras on Friday.

He had reason now, more than ever, to get through Friday unscathed. He didn't want Alastor to realise he was damaged goods, and toss him aside like they always did. Not so soon after finding something he enjoyed.

It was Friday. Angel had managed to avoid the incident on Thursday, by being in his dressing room when it happened, so he was unfortunate enough to be in the Studio today.

Standard scene. A few cheesy lines. Get thrown around a bit. Moan on cue. Come when he's told to. Suck the guy off after. Let it show on his face how much he loved the feeling.

It should have been easy. It would have been, both Angel and his co-star were happy with everything that had been shot. Even though Val had made them retake this again since yesterday, even though Angel had seen him scowling in the middle of filming, he'd still dared to hope this would be the final shoot of the day, and he could go home after.

Oh, how wrong he'd been.

So, here he was, walking from the cab to the front doors of the hotel, a whole hour late, barely able to open his left eye, and with a limp so pronounced he almost felt like he was exaggerating it, but it hurt so much. He could feel every bruise rub against his clothes. He could feel the two broken twigs of ribs floating somewhere they probably shouldn't be.

Everyone else would be in the dining room, eating their food. Angel headed straight up to his room.

They couldn't see him like this.

Alastor knocked on his door at quarter past eight. "Angel? Are you back? You were a little bit late, so Charlie voluntold me to take you some food." He said, brightly. "I suppose that's only because I'm the one who made it. I did need to talk to you, before our arrangement, anyway."

Angel didn't open the door. He remained still, on his bed, and squeezed around Fat Nuggets. "I'm...not sure I'm up fer tonight, Al." He muttered, quietly. "Bad day at work."

Alastor didn't respond for a few moments. "May I come in?" He asked.

"...Sure, jus'...leave the lights off." Angel said. "I really don't feel like bein' seen right now, y'know?"

Alastor opened the door, stepped inside, and closed it behind him. "I've brought you some jambalaya." He said, placing what Angel could only assume was a bowl of it on the bedside drawers.

"Thanks." Angel said, still not moving.

"You had a bad day at work?" Alastor said. "Would you...like to talk about it?"

"No." Angel said.

Alastor paused for a few more seconds. "Angel, are you bleeding?"

"Dunno." Angel said.

"What happened?" Alastor asked. "Were you attacked?"

"Why the fuck d'you care?" Angel asked.

"Because I can help." Alastor said. "If you're not up for our time tonight, we can skip directly to the aftercare, and I can see to your injuries. Do you object?"

Angel bit his lip. "...I don't want you ta see me like this."

"...Whyever not? I've seen you hurt before." Alastor said. "Is it because I'm not the one who gave you them? Or perhaps because you're embarrassed about them?"

"I don't want you ta pity me." Angel said. "Charlie would. Please don't tell her. I-I can't fuckin' stand when people look at me like I need savin', especially people I care about."

"I won't. I promise." Alastor said. "Let me see where it hurts. Please."

Angel didn't move for almost a minute. Alastor remained silent. "Fine. Flick the fuckin' lights on."

Alastor snapped his fingers, and the room lit up. "Now show me."

Angel rolled onto his back, and let Alastor see his swollen eye.

"Who did this?" Alastor asked, calmly summoning his box of salves and ointments.

"Val." Angel said. "Fer talkin' back ta him. Fer tellin' him ta go fuck himself when he said we had ta retake a whole film."

"Hold still." Alastor said. Angel did. Alastor gently applied something that smelled strongly of tea tree oil to the bruise on Angel's face. "That should reduce the swelling, alleviate some pain, and prevent infection. Is there anything else that needs attention?"

"Sprained my ankle, tryin' ta get away from him." Angel muttered. "And...broke a couple ribs when he...slammed me against his desk."

Alastor nodded. "Ribs first. Which side?"

"Left." Angel said, pulling up his shirt. "At the bottom. I-I think it's two."

"I can bind them in place, so that they heal quicker." Alastor said, touching the area gently, and quickly finding the break. "This isn't the first time I've wished my powers came with some way to heal others. I'll have to set them. This will hurt."

Angel nodded, relaxed, and let it happen. Al was right. It fucking hurt. But Angel didn't physically react, didn't push Alastor away, trusted that this would work.

"You will come to me immediately if he hurts you like this again." Alastor said. "I don't care if it's the night we've planned to play or not, I will not allow you to suffer without assistance. That's not pity, darling, I just don't like to see something I consider mine be damaged."

"You...consider me yours?" Angel asked, still in a lot of pain.

"Yes. You're my newest playmate." Alastor said, smiling brightly at him. "Is that alright?"

"Yeah. Sure." Angel decided. "I'm yours."

"In every way except the one that would have you free from him?" Alastor asked.

"Sure." Angel said.

"Have...you reconsidered me buying your contract?" Alastor asked. "I could have you free from him."

"I ain't-"

"You are worth it, to me, Angel." Alastor said. "How often does something like this happen? I've seen how short his fuse can be."

"...Usually once a week." Angel said. "I...tried ta get him ta do it yesterday, so I'd be at one'a the clubs again today, but I missed his tantrum."

"Right, well, I can't stand to see a creature as interesting as yourself be mistreated that way." Alastor said. Angel tried to object, but Alastor raised a hand to silence him. Not to hit him, just to shush him. Angel still flinched. "In fact, I rescued Niffty from a similar situation, to which I won't divulge any details more than as a comparison to yours."

"I don't wanna be rescued." Angel said. "I wanna get out on my own."

"And, have you the means to do so?" Alastor asked. Angel turned his head away. "Thought not. Now, which ankle?"

"...Right." Angel said. "Fuck you."

Angel didn't want to admit that it felt better after Alastor had intervened than before. He'd managed to convince him that it wasn't his blood he could smell, if only because he couldn't stand the thought of Al touching him more. Not there. Not now.

Alastor had left him some of the ointments, in case the pain got worse, and specified which one was safe to use internally. As though he knew.

Fuck.

He couldn't stand knowing that Al thought he might have been hurt like that. He couldn't stand it because it was true.

When he checked, the bleeding had stopped, which meant whatever Valentino had torn was stitching itself back together. It fucking hurt. More so now, because it was the only thing that hadn't gotten any treatment yet. Angel read the instructions on the back of the tube of ointment carefully, before touching the stuff. And...yeah. It did help. It made some of the pain go away, a few minutes after Angel used it.

The food Alastor had brought him was fucking amazing, as always. It'd help with the healing.

Angel felt so pathetic.

And Alastor knew he was pathetic.

He had no way out.

Maybe he should just...accept the out he was being offered. No matter that it felt cheap.

He'd always wanted to earn his way out. Val had told him that his soul was payment for the debts Angel owed him. He'd let him believe there was a way out, if only he worked hard enough, looked good enough, sounded sexy enough to make money. But now Val was telling him he owed for the image, too, that Val had built him up from nothing, so there was nothing he could do to repay that. He made it make sense, he got Angel high every time he had the balls to say it was wrong, he beat Angel within an inch of his afterlife if he dared to talk back.

Angel shivered, and curled back into his bed.

He wanted it all to stop.

"Angel, what happened to your eye? Are you limping?" Charlie asked, full of concern, the following morning, when he dragged himself to breakfast.

"Just a little fight at work yesterday, nothin' ta worry 'bout." Angel said. "I'm fine."

So Alastor hadn't told her. That was good.

"Hey, Al?" Angel said, finding him in the library, reading. "I'm...sorry I couldn't-"

"You have nothing to apologise for." Alastor said, not looking up from his book. "You had a bad day, it's perfectly reasonable for you to not want to play."

"I did wanna. I-I do." Angel said, quickly. "I just felt like I'd throw up if ya hit me last night. Al, I've been lookin' forward ta this all week. I can't...let Val ruin the first good thing I've found in years."

Alastor looked up at him. "I refuse to injure you further, until you're fully healed." He said.

"I will be, by four." Angel said. "Can we play, then? Please?"

"You...still want to?" Alastor asked. "Even with...how you were hurt yesterday, you still want me to-"

"It's different, when I'm askin' for it." Angel said. "You did it right last time. You hurt me good, the way I like, you took care'a me after. I'm sorry I snapped at you, yesterday. I was stressed, an' in pain. You were helpin' me, you didn't deserve that."

"I suppose...in a way, I did." Alastor said, saving his place, and closing the book. "I was disrespectful. You set out a boundary last week. I had the nerve to question it. You gave me a very good reason. I challenged that reason in the most thoughtless way I can currently imagine. I am sorry."

"Jesus fuck, it looked like it hurt you ta say that." Angel said. "I forgive ya. So, uh...can we play, today?"

"If you'll be healed by four, I...won't be available until quarter past, is that alright?" Alastor asked. "Niffty discovered that creature making a nest in the attic, again, and since Charlie keeps insisting that I don't kill it, I'm having to instead remove it to increasingly distant locations. It keeps finding its way back."

"Oh, yeah, sure." Angel said. "Um...what kinda creature is it?"

"Some kind of giant bird? I-I think." Alastor said. "With...paws. And a long tail."

Angel sighed. "Show me."

"Alastor, that's a fucking gryphon." Angel said, after seeing the creature in the attic. "It's picked its nest, it's gonna keep comin' back. We had one in the Studio, Val had it killed after it came back the third time. You can't get rid of it."

"So...what should we do?" Alastor asked, helping Angel climb down the ladder, and closing the hatch with a snap of his fingers.

"Let it be." Angel said. "She has wings, so she's a girl. They only lay one good egg a decade, so she ain't gonna have a big clutch of brood or anythin'. The rest'a them, the shell's gold, like actual gold, so we can sell it, an' the yolk is fuckin' delicious. If we feed her, she'll just let us take them."

"...Seriously?" Alastor asked.

"Yeah." Angel said. "I tried ta take the one from the Studio, but she wouldn't lay any where she wasn't comfortable."

Alastor looked like he really didn't know what to do. "Well, then. I suppose I should apologise-"

"Don't. They hold grudges." Angel said. "Feed her a couple times, she'll forgive ya."

"...What do they eat?" Alastor asked.

"Raw meat." Angel said. "Organs an' shit like that. Don't care what animal it's from."

"How was she getting in?" Alastor asked. "I could never find any entrance."

"They can teleport short distances, and they're immune ta certain enchantments, prob'ly includin' the ones on the hotel." Angel said. "Makes it easier ta keep warm in winter, makes it harder fer predators ta get their eggs, an' makes it so their one baby a decade can't get somewhere that ain't safe 'till it's old enough, if they have a fully enclosed nest. Fuckin' smart."

"I see." Alastor said. "We should tell Charlie, yes?"

"Definitely." Angel said.

Apparently, Charlie thought gryphons were extinct, and was very excited and confused when she found out that the thing in the attic was one.

"Where did it come from? Oh my gosh, we can study it! This is so exciting!" She said, while Vaggie made an attempt to calm her down.

"It ain't really all that, she's jus' a little grumpy with Al fer takin' her away so many times." Angel said. "When she starts layin' eggs, we can sell them. It's easy ta tell which one's fertilised, 'cause that one'll be white with gold on, an' the rest are plain gold. Little extra money fer the hotel. Maybe a...I don't fuckin' know, conservation project? If they're...nearly extinct."

Charlie was nodding.

"I thought it was Alastor's job to get rid of it." Vaggie said. "Why'd you go with him?"

"'Cause we both happened ta be in the library, when he remembered he had ta do that, an' I asked what it was." Angel said. "An' I knew what it was when I saw it, 'cause Val had a problem with one at the Studio a few years back. I know so much about them, 'cause I was gonna take that one ta my old apartment, an' keep it, ta sell the egg shells."

"Huh." Vaggie said. "How much does a shell go for?"

"Well...the shell itself weighs between...8 an' 10 ounces, an' it's pure gold, so that's...about 25 thousand per shell, one shell a month, 300 grand a year." Angel said. "Actually, that's prob'ly why they're nearly extinct."

"I'm sorry, did you say that creature could be earning us three hundred thousand dollars a year, and all we have to do is offer it food?" Alastor asked. "Why have I never known about them?"

"'Cause they're fuckin' rare." Angel said. "You ain't exploitin' her, but she'll be good fer the hotel. Balancin' finances, an' all that."

Angel was, indeed, fully healed by 4pm, and with Alastor's afternoon task rendered void, Angel had been invited to Alastor's room on the hour.

"How did you know you'd be healed by now?" Alastor asked, leading him further into the room.

Angel shrugged. "Broken bones were the worst part. Bruising's gone in 14 hours, pulled tendons take about the same, bones take 22." He said. "I've had a lotta time ta figure this shit out."

"That's fast, for a contracted soul." Alastor said. "Even my strongest contractees hold on to bruises for a full 24 hours. You are...very interesting, Angel Dust."

"...Thanks?" Angel said. "Um...so, what're we doin' today?"

"What would you like?" Alastor asked.

"Hit me, but...I don't want you ta use yer hands. I...fuck, I...could you use that cane you got?" Angel asked.

"If you'd like." Alastor said, smiling brightly.

"You wanted ta gather my blood, last week, an' I didn't do a lotta bleedin'." Angel said. "Wanna cut me?"

"...May I?" Alastor asked.

"Uh...not with those bigger knives you got...maybe one'a the smaller ones?" Angel said. "Is...that okay?"

"Of course." Alastor said. "Would you like to be restrained again? I still have the apparatus from last week set up. It's been thoroughly cleaned. Niffty knows better than to ask questions."

"Yeah, that was good, last time." Angel said, shedding some of his clothes, as Alastor pulled the frame out of a closet.

"Same rules?" Alastor asked. "Or...any amendments?"

"I know I said it was fine if you wanted to, last time, but I don't want you ta touch my junk." Angel said. "...Or my feet. An'...y'can bite my neck, if you wanna, but...don't touch my face."

"Fair enough." Alastor said. "Do you need a hand getting up there?"

"Sure." Angel said. "Um...when yer...liftin' yerself up with yer...shadow things...can ya not make yerself taller than me? Same height's fine, just-"

"I understand, Angel." Alastor said, offering both hands to steady Angel as he climbed onto the platform. "Now, would you like to keep your third set of arms hidden?"

"Yes, please."

Angel was trembling in anticipation by the time Alastor had him properly restrained. He pulled against the leather cuffs. Al had remembered his top left needed to be extra tight.

Alastor was holding his microphone cane, and a small but wicked-sharp knife. "Which first?"

"Surprise me." Angel said.

Alastor stalked around him, judging every inch of him that wasn't clothed. Angel was expecting the same as last time, a hard strike across the back of his thighs nearly enough to make him collapse. A barely-there touch of the knife's blade was what he got instead. Either barely-there, or too sharp and too clean of a cut to notice properly. Angel hoped it was the latter. He'd be done quicker, but it'd burn twice as bright.

"Blood stains your fur as beautifully as I imagined." Alastor muttered. "Angel, may I talk to you about feelings, while we do this?"

Feelings? "Sure." Angel said.

"Wonderful." Alastor said, carefully cutting into the back of Angel's other thigh. "Since last week, I've been feeling possessive of you." He struck across Angel's lower back sharply with the end of his cane.

Angel yelped loudly, and quickly realised that Alastor had cut him first so he'd bleed more. "P-possessive?"

"I want to own you." Alastor said, striking again, then gently trailing the cane up Angel's spine. "I want you to be mine and no-one else's." Again. "I want to be the only person allowed to touch you." Again. "You said I couldn't hit you with my hands, may I scratch you with my claws?"

"Yeah." Angel breathed. "Um...not on my shoulders. L-lower?"

Alastor's hand was touching his lower back. "Here?" Angel nodded. Alastor dug his sharp claws in, and didn't stop until Angel was full-on screaming, and then he suddenly pulled down. Angel sobbed at the loss when Al's hand withdrew. He could feel the blood dripping down his legs. "I wanted to take you from him, when I saw what he'd done to you, how he'd disrespected you." Fuck, Al's breath was right next to his face, like he was right behind him, getting ready to bite. "I wanted to save you. You said you didn't want that." He broke the skin of Angel's neck first with a claw, and licked at the blood. "Now, instead, darling, may I steal you from him?"

"Fuck! Fuck, y-yeah, sure." Angel whimpered, thrashing against his restraints.

Alastor chuckled darkly, and scraped his teeth against the side of Angel's throat. He was close enough to be practically pressing his whole body against Angel's back, now, and Angel could feel that Al was at least partially erect.

"C-careful." Angel muttered. "You'll get...blood on yer suit."

"They're red for a reason, my darling." Al whispered, gently clawing at Angel's sides, not quite hard enough to bleed, but enough to leave marks. "May I bite you, Angel? Your neck. I...can't promise it won't kill you-"

"Please." Angel said, firmly. "Jus'...take care'a me?"

He could actually feel it, when Alastor grinned. "Of course."

And then there was pain, so fucking pure, and Angel couldn't think. Al's teeth, his claws, all digging into him at once, and he was screaming, and he was coming, and his mind was blank.

It took him multiple hours to even start to wake up. He was on Alastor's couch, in Alastor's room, laying on his front, so Alastor had access to the wounds on his back. Everything was tingly. Angel had no idea if he'd survived. He groaned as he came to, fully unable to move his legs, probably entirely due to the pain he could still feel, and the blood loss that was still affecting him.

"Ah, there you are." Alastor's voice said, somewhere in the direction of Angel's feet. "Welcome back, my darling. I hope you're hungry. I've brought snacks. They'll give you the energy to heal."

Chapter Text

Angel tasted divine. The way he was moving as Alastor bit into him, pulling against his restraints, making his claws sink in deeper, it was incredible. Alastor removed himself from on Angel, and set himself down on the ground in front of him, kneeling, so he could watch the spider bleed out as he palmed himself through his trousers. Angel wasn't aware enough to remember this part, nor was he really conscious enough to see it.

It only took a couple of minutes of stimulation for Alastor to be trembling through an orgasm, covering his mouth with a bloody hand to keep himself quiet. This was never that easy.

By the time he was done, Angel was hanging completely limp from the apparatus, and the container on the floor was easily at the six pint mark. He wasn't breathing.

That was perfect.

He'd engineered this situation as soon as he'd acquired Angel's consent. This was the easiest way to steal a demon's soul. A completely untethered soul, temporarily bound neither to the demon's body nor to their contract holder, could be snatched by a powerful enough Overlord, as it re-attached itself to the body. He'd have a window of about three minutes, between the process starting, and Angel's soul rebinding itself to Valentino, in which he'd have to grab on, and refuse to let go. There wasn't really any way to tell if it worked, until Angel woke up.

Until it started, he'd have between forty minutes, and three hours; plenty of time to clean them both up, and patch up Angel's injuries.

"Charlie?" Alastor asked, approaching her in the lobby. "Angel and I won't be at dinner today."

"What? Why not?" Charlie asked.

"An incident with the gryphon, he was trying to show me how to feed her safely, and I suppose I did it wrong, or perhaps she just hates me." Alastor said. "He shoved me out of the way, before she could kill me, and ended up getting pretty badly hurt, himself. Don't worry, I owe him, so I'm taking care of him."

"Oh my gosh! Let me help. I-I can-"

"Hun, I hate to be that person, but we are too busy to help." Vaggie said.

"Why? I thought that new computer thing was handling finances now." Alastor said.

"We have a new patron staying here from tomorrow." Charlie said. "Um...Sir Pentious..."

"I don't know who that is." Alastor said, grinning. "You two focus on that. I can handle the situation with Angel." He turned towards the bar, where Husker and Niffty were chatting over a bottle of cheap booze, and a pile of dead bugs. "Niffty, darling, could I bother you?"

Niffty grinned up at him. "What is it you need, sir?"

"Could you bring some snacks for myself and Angel in about...three hours?" Alastor asked. "We won't be making it to dinner, and he needs to heal."

Niffty nodded, and stabbed one of the dead bugs when if toppled from halfway up the pile.

"Thank you, dear."

It had been easier than last time, to dress Angel's wounds. He hadn't had to worry about hurting the spider further, because he was dead, and currently not feeling any of this. That being said, as Angel got closer to conscious, Alastor would have to be constantly checking that nothing was too tight.

It took an hour and a half for Angel to take a weak, shaky breath, and for his heart to start slowly beating. That was Alastor's cue. He could see the energy of Angel's soul binding itself back to his body, so he quickly inserted himself between where Angel was, and the presumed direction Valentino currently was, towards V Tower, lifted Angel's limp body in his arms, and hugged him tight. If he did it right, this would force Angel's soul to bind to Alastor's instead of Valentino's.

He could no longer tell what was happening, couldn't sense the movement of energy, or feel Angel's soul or even his own. That might have been correct. He wasn't sure, he'd never done this before. Niffty's situation was easier, due in no small part to her willingness to be rescued. Angel would only have agreed if there was no exchange of money for his soul.

He kept hold of Angel for longer than necessary, at least twice as long, in an attempt to make sure it had worked, but he truly had no idea. He wouldn't know, couldn't know, until Angel woke up.

At Angel's uncomfortable wriggling, Alastor turned him onto his front again, guessing that the wounds on the back of his body were hurting. As long as his new spider continued to breathe, it was fine.

Hopefully, Angel was his new spider.

Angel was still unconscious, when Niffty brought the food. Various cheeses, crackers, and probably chicken mini skewers, on a platter for Angel, and the same with sinner venison instead for Alastor. Al thanked her, and calmed her down when she expressed concern over Angel.

"He will be fine. He's healing." Alastor said. "You've helped."

"Those don't look like gryphon claw marks, they look like they're from a knife." Niffty said. "Is that a bite on his...they're your teeth. Did you..." She gasped suddenly. "You and him? Are you keeping him?"

"Hopefully." Alastor said. "I trust you'll keep this to yourself."

Niffty nodded frantically. "Won't tell a soul, sir."

What that really meant was she'd hint at it to Husker, until he either guessed it, or got bored with keeping her entertained. That was fine. Husk knew she only did that when Al told her to keep something to herself, he'd keep it private, too.

Angel groaned, but didn't move. His arms twitched, and his markings started to glow faintly. He was awake.

"Ah, there you are." Alastor said, voice gentle, welcoming, what he hoped was the opposite of his previous owner. "Welcome back, my darling. I hope you're hungry. I've brought snacks. They'll give you the energy to heal."

Angel hummed, tilted his head, and opened one eye.

"Take your time to fully wake up, Angel." Alastor said. "It's been four hours. Tell me, does anything feel too tight?"

When he spoke, Angel's voice was hoarse and shaky. "Legs're kinda numb."

"I can check that your bandages aren't too tight, but that's probably due to blood loss." Alastor said. "I suspect you'll lose consciousness if you so much as sit up, as you are."

"Heh. Yeah." Angel muttered. "Did I...die?"

"It was unavoidable." Alastor said. "I know I said I wouldn't do it intentionally, but it was the fastest way to attempt to steal your soul, and I acquired consent for that, first."

"You already...oh." Angel said. "Um...d-did it work?"

"I don't know yet." Alastor said. "Tell me what you're feeling, Angel, everything you're feeling."

"...Cold. Tingly all over." Angel said. "Um...kinda light-headed, an' dizzy. A little numb." He shivered. "Less horny than normal. Like...fuck, a lot less."

"Hmm. It could be." Alastor said. "If I managed to steal your soul, we don't have a contract yet. We'd have to fully set out the terms before I could test our bond by using it-"

"Does Val know?" Angel asked. "Um...d'you know if Val knows? 'Cause I can prob'ly...make him test it."

"It won't be necessary. I think I can try to sense it, but I'd have to touch you." Alastor said. "He won't know until he tries to use it."

Angel attempted to push himself up, and immediately collapsed. "...Where?"

"One hand on your head, the other on your chest." Alastor said. "Our bond, if it exists, will be weak, since we don't have a written contract, but I will be able to sense it, if it's there. May I?"

Angel nodded, weakly. Alastor helped him roll onto his side, and touched where he needed to. Angel quickly started to struggle, as his heart tried to deliver more blood than could get to it. His pulse quickened, and his eyes squeezed shut. He started gasping for air.

Alastor turned him back onto his front, so he could catch his breath. "It's alright, my darling, I've got you." He whispered, smiling more genuinely than he had in decades. "I've got you. You're safe. He will never touch you again, darling, I've got you."

"...I'm yours?" Angel asked, barely a breath.

Alastor nodded. "You're mine."

Alastor's first priority was getting Angel healthy again. They could discuss the terms of their contract after. Angel was hesitant to eat, and even more hesitant to wait.

"Are you uncomfortable with the terms being uncertain?" Alastor asked.

"...Kinda." Angel muttered. "Um...I'm worried what...Val might do when he finds out."

"I swear he won't touch you." Alastor said. "He'll never lay a finger on you again."

"What if he tries ta hurt you? What if he tries ta take me back?"

"He can't have you, you're mine." Alastor said, firmly.

"And...what about when you get bored'a me?" Angel flinched immediately after he said it, as though he expected Alastor to strike him.

"Angel. I want to make something clear." Alastor said. "I will never hurt you, outside of our playtime. I will never strike you as punishment. I don't want to hear any self-deprecating comments from you, but I understand that they aren't something you can control, and I won't punish you for them."

"What will ya punish me for?" Angel asked.

"I suppose...if you attempted to kill me." Alastor said. "If you ignored a direct order. If you touched me without consent, past three warnings."

"What's 'past three warnings' mean?" Angel asked.

"It means if you touch me, I will tell you first to observe the five foot rule." Alastor said. "That's the first warning. If you ignore it, and continue to touch me, I'll outright tell you to stop, and that's the second warning. Ignore that, and I'll warn you that if you don't stop, you'll receive punishment, and that's the third warning. I'll give you ten seconds to respond to each."

"That's...really fuckin' fair." Angel said. "What's the punishment?"

"A temporary decrease in power." Alastor said. "Typically lasting 24 hours. Do you think that's fair, too?"

Angel nodded. "Very." He said. "Um...if I ask before I touch ya, would ya give me consent?"

"...I might." Alastor said. "It...depends on how I'm feeling. You shouldn't assume, unless I've told you to. If I initiate a contact, you should assume it's alright to continue, until I pull away. If I've said something is alright, I don't want you asking if I'm sure, I will be."

"Okay." Angel said. "Um...will you...use our contract ta...make me consent ta things?"

"Never." Alastor said, fully aware that Angel was only asking, because his previous contract must have been abused that way. "I despise those who'd do such a thing."

Angel visibly relaxed. "Good. I-I didn't mean ta...offend ya, I just...didn't ask Val that, at the start."

"I understand completely." Alastor said. "Please finish your plate."

Angel nodded, and started picking at his little slices of cheese, and some of the crackers.

"Is there anything else you'd like to make clear before I write up a draft of the contract?" Alastor asked.

"I still wanna work." Angel said. "N-not fer Val, definitely not. I might...try makin' some self-tapes. Y'know, where it's just me, playin' with myself, maybe usin' some toys?" He paused, waiting for Al to hesitantly nod his head. "Ooh, could I try doin' audio erotica? Like, uh...sound porn, not visual."

"I don't see any reason why not." Alastor said. "Anything else?"

"Does anyone else know you stole my soul from Val?" Angel asked.

"Niffty suspects it. She's probably hinted at it to Husker enough for him to figure it out. Other than that, Charlie and Vaggie believe we were absent from dinner due to a mishap with the gryphon." Alastor said. "Also, I discovered that we're getting a new patron, tomorrow. Mister Pension?"

"...Sir Pentious?" Angel asked. "I can't tell if you actually don't know his name, or if yer just fuckin' with everyone."

Alastor chuckled. "One of the two." He said. "Regardless, if you don't wish for people to know, I won't advertise it. Alternatively, if you're wanting to celebrate being cut free from him, I'd be happy to assist. It's up to you."

Angel cursed under his breath. "Um...Husk an' Niff knowin' is fine." He said. "Charlie...would make too big a deal out'a it. Vaggie'd prob'ly ask if I had a death wish, signin' on with you. Maybe...don't tell them fer now?"

Alastor nodded. "As you wish."

Angel spent the night in his own room. He'd healed well enough to walk with assistance, and he was insisting that this looked less suspicious. When he stumbled into the dining room at breakfast the following morning, and tripped over something, Alastor had thought nothing of catching him before he could hurt himself more.

Charlie was smiling widely. Angel looked like he wanted to melt into the floor.

The remainder of the Sunday was quiet. Charlie introduced Sir Pension to everyone, with a little bonding exercise that Alastor wisely didn't take part in. Angel, already stressed, called the exercise stupid, and stormed out of the lobby.

Alastor took the opportunity to show him the first draft of their contract. He followed to Angel's room, and knocked.

"Fuck off, Charlie-"

"It's Alastor." Al said.

"Oh. Um...y-yeah, come in." Angel said.

Alastor opened the door. "How are you feeling?"

"Really fuckin' weird." Angel said. "This is...the first time in, like, fifty years that I haven't...had ta care what Val thinks'a me." He looked away from Alastor, and groaned. "Why the fuck do I keep checkin' my phone fer a message from him? I-I don't wanna hear from him. I don't wanna find out he knows. I don't want him ta fuckin' explode when he finds out. I don't know why I care."

"You've been conditioned to care for decades, Angel, you won't be able to simply turn it off." Alastor said. "I think you need time to process. I was...going to show you the draft of the contract, but I'm not sure you're ready to sign it. Do you need more time?"

"No, Al, I need ta fuckin' sign it." Angel said. "I need ta move on. I need you ta order me ta block his fuckin' number, or some shit, so I can stop with...all this."

Alastor hesitated. "This is only a draft." He said. "I want you to read it, and tell me if there's something you don't like. Don't just sign it to get it over with. We can review it in three months, and then again in twelve months."

Angel looked at him, and blinked. "Review?"

"Yes. Make small changes, if there's anything you don't like, or if circumstances change...he didn't review your contract, did he?" Angel shook his head. "Not once?"

"Never." Angel said. "Shit, I...I knew you'd be better than him, but I didn't think you'd be this much better, holy fuck. Can I...see the draft?"

Alastor nodded, and summoned the sheet of parchment with the draft on, to hand it to Angel. "I'm serious, you have to read it all." He said. "If there's anything you don't understand, you should ask. If there's anything you don't like, we can talk about it."

Angel took a couple of minutes to read it through. "Can I sign it as is?" He asked.

"I suppose. If you're sure." Alastor said. "There's...nothing you want to ask me about?"

"...The, uh...gotta wear somethin' red or black every day thing? What's...that all about?" Angel asked.

"My colours, red and black." Alastor said. "It's mainly to mark you as mine through clothing, and it's useful if you're out on your own, and need to use my name to get out of any situation. Say you're being surrounded by a group of thugs. You show them, for example, your red bowtie, and tell them that messing with you is messing with me. If they don't back off right away, you can send me a distress signal through our soul tether, and I can come to your aid."

"Huh. Val nevah...did anythin' like that fer me." Angel muttered. "Um...what about this...acceptin' any nickname you give me? Y-you don't speak Spanish, do ya?"

"No, French." Alastor said. "He speaks Spanish, doesn't he?" Angel nodded. "Then, I'll try to avoid anything that's the same in both languages."

"N-no, it's...mainly just the accent." Angel said. "And...mi amor, and...amorcito-" He cut himself off, gagging at the word. "Th-they were...his favourites."

Alastor nodded. "Is mon Ange alright?" He asked.

"Yeah." Angel said. "Can we...talk about it, if...you wanna use a new one?"

"Of course." Alastor said, taking back the contract Angel was giving him, and changing 'accept any nickname' to 'nicknames to be discussed'. "Better?"

"Yes." Angel said. "Can...I sign it now?"

Alastor nodded, and offered Angel the quill he'd used.

"You want...my real name, or just 'Angel Dust'?" Angel asked.

"Ah, I'm afraid nothing but your real name would be binding." Alastor said. "If it helps, you need only use your given name, not your family one, too."

"Sure." Angel said, taking the quill, finding a felt cushion in his drawers, and resting the contract against his dresser to sign it carefully. He had a little tub of sand in that same drawer, and tried to use it, before realising the ink had already dried. "Oh. That's..."

"Magic." Alastor said. "Though, I'm impressed with your knowledge." He stepped up to the contract, and signed on the other line. The parchment immediately glowed faintly red. He snapped his fingers, teleporting it into his most recent contract folder.

Not before noticing Angel's signature, of course.

Anthony.

Chapter Text

Angel wasn't quite sure how to feel about Al stealing his soul right away, without discussing the plan first.

Then again, soul bonds were fickle. If Angel knew what would happen, it might not have worked. Al did get consent to steal it, and warned Angel that biting him there might kill him, before he did it.

On Sunday night, Husk and Niffty both posted welcome cards under his door. Niffty's was a cute little thing, with lots of colour, and her neat, tight handwriting welcoming him to Alastor's employ. Husk's was clearly written while drunk, with two misspellings, one crossed out and corrected, the other not noticed, again welcoming Angel to working under Al.

Angel headed down to breakfast on Monday, entirely unsure how he was going to tell Charlie and Vaggie that he wasn't going to work, and ended up coming up with exactly nothing on his walk down the stairs.

Alastor had told him not to answer Valentino's calls or messages. If the temptation to do so got too great, he was to give his phone to Al. He'd also been told not to post any self-tapes, or audio tapes for at least a week, so that whatever was going to happen wouldn't affect his focus while working.

Val was going to have fucking kittens when he found out he'd lost Angel.

"Why aren't you rushing through breakfast, to get to work?" Vaggie asked, as Angel took his time with his meal.

"Not goin' in." Angel said, taking another bite of pancake.

"You've got a day off?" Charlie asked. "That's great! You were so stressed before."

Angel shook his head. "Ain't gonna help with stress right away, toots, but thanks."

It was twenty past eight, five minutes after he'd usually be picked up by a company taxi. Angel's phone buzzed with a text. He didn't check it. It would be Val, asking him why he was running late. He hoped the driver didn't get in trouble for it.

These were the best pancakes he'd ever tasted. Angel grabbed another from the platter in the middle of the table.

By half past, when his shift should have started, Val was calling his phone. Angel let it ring off.

Between debating telling Charlie and Vaggie he'd gotten away from Val, or telling them he was with Al, instead...Angel wasn't quite sure what to do. If he told them he was free, but didn't mention that he wasn't the one who owned his soul, he wouldn't be lying, and Vaggie wouldn't get mad at him for letting the Radio Demon have his soul. Charlie would probably still throw a little celebration about it.

'Tell them you're free, if you'd like.'

Angel glanced at Alastor, who was watching him closely.

'This is our soul tether. We can communicate across it.' Alastor whispered in his mind. 'Is that alright?'

Angel nodded slightly. Al tilted his head a little to one side.

'Think it. I will hear if you want me to.' Alastor said.

'You got fuckin' telepathy?' Angel asked.

'This is new, actually. It's in your contract, instant communication.' Al said.

'Thought that meant a phone, or somethin'.' Angel said. 'You can just...read my thoughts?'

'The ones you have loudly enough, yes.' Alastor said. 'Or...I suppose, the questions you'd like to ask me. This is new for me, too, darling.'

Angel hesitated. New. He wasn't sure if he liked this. Shit, could Al hear his entire internal monologue? "Um...Charlie?" He said. "I...got some news."

Charlie started paying attention to him. "Yeah? What is it?"

"Val doesn't own my soul any more."

Charlie gasped, then smiled brightly, then squealed in excitement. "Oh my gosh, that's great!"

"Y-yeah." Angel said. "Um...can you...not make a big deal out'a it? I-I ain't-" His phone was ringing again. "-really ready ta celebrate, or anythin'." He slid his phone across the table, towards Alastor. Al put it in some sort of sound bubble.

Charlie nodded. "Yes, I understand. This is a big change...why does he keep calling you?"

"...'Cause I kinda...found a back door in my contract, so I...sneaked out...s-snuck out? Whatevah. H-he doesn't know. He thinks...I'm really fuckin' late ta work."

"He doesn't know?" Vaggie asked. "Don't you think he'll come here looking for you if he doesn't know?"

Angel nodded. "That's why I'm fuckin' tellin' youse."

"Congratulations on you newfound freedom, Angel Dust." Alastor said. "I must say, as a resident of this hotel, you are under my protection. If he comes here looking for you, I will be your defence."

Apparently, Husk and Niffty knew better than to say what they knew, or Al had told them to keep it secret.

"Angel? I don't see an ounce of red or black on you." Alastor said. "I understand that you're dressed down for your time off, and you don't intend to leave the hotel, but rules are- w-what are you doing?"

Angel was reaching into the waistband of his shorts, to show Al the bright red lace of his underwear. "Sorry, this was kinda the only red or black thing I...wanted ta wear." He muttered. "Um...Val bought me the rest. I was gonna...go out an get some more, but...I was already livin' paycheck ta paycheck, I got nothin' saved up, an' you said I shouldn't start workin' again 'till this shit's over."

Alastor was silent for a few moments, then he summoned a bank card, and handed it to Angel. "Order yourself something online from Rosie's Emporium. Anything you'd like. Return this to me when you're done."

"I...fuck, are you serious?" Angel asked.

"Yes. I can't allow you to have no choice in what you wear, but if you'd like to replace your entire wardrobe, I'd recommend actually going to the Emporium, for a better fit." Alastor said. "Order something to last you the week, and I'll take you there at the weekend."

Angel hesitantly took the card. "Thanks."

He ordered an outfit on the computer in the library. It was similar enough to what he was used to wearing, with red stripes instead of pink, and black lapels. The skirt that he picked out to go with it was a little longer, still black, but a much more breathable fabric.

Alastor told him in his mind to also order a casual outfit, and some sleepwear, if he wanted. Angel did. He payed with Al's card. The stuff would be arriving tomorrow. Angel took the card back to Al, and thanked him again for letting him use it.

"He's called you thirty five times." Alastor said. "Other missed calls include one from 'Arakniss', and five from 'Cherri'."

"Shit. Um...Niss is my brother, an' Cherri's my best mate." Angel said. "Val prob'ly got someone ta call them, ask if they've seen me-"

"Angel! There you are." Charlie called, from the other end of the hallway. "Phone for you."

"If it's Val, tell him ta fuck off." Angel said. "I quit."

"It's not. It's that friend of yours. Cherri?" Charlie said. "I've got her on hold in the lobby. She sounds really worried."

"Fuck. Okay." Angel said, starting to head towards her. "Al, I owe you."

"You don't. You ruined your favourite outfit saving me from a gryphon, I owe you a replacement." Alastor said.

Oh, yeah. That was the lie they were going with. "Yeah, one outfit, not three."

Cherri was very worried. In fact, she was half way towards the hotel, because he wasn't answering his calls.

"No, I'm fine, Cher, I just quit." Angel explained. "I don't have my phone, 'cause he jus' keeps callin' me. I'm sorry I missed yer calls."

"You can't quit when he still has you under contract, Angie." Cherri said.

"He doesn't. I got my soul back." Angel said. "On...Saturday. Ain't my fault he's bein' such a dick about it."

"You got your...let's fucking go, mate! Night out, drinks on me." Cherri said.

"I...don't wanna leave the hotel, 'till everything blows over." Angel said. "Maybe...next week?"

"Yeah, sure." Cherri said. "Well, I'm glad you ain't dead."

Angel laughed. "Yeah, me too."

Arakniss was easier to talk to, if only because Angel only had to tell him he was alive, and seriously, you should ignore Val.

It was lunch time, before anything else really happened. There was commotion outside the front doors of the hotel. Husk took Angel into the dining room for safety, under Al's orders, probably because he'd told the deer that he might panic if he heard Val's voice.

"I...don't mean t'be rude, but...how'd you get in with Al?" Husk asked.

Angel shrugged. "I let him bite. He's fuckin' possessive." He said. "Stole my soul."

"Shit." Husk said. "You let him?"

"Yeah." Angel said. "Would'a done it sooner, if I'd known all'a his rules. At least I know fer sure he ain't gonna rape me."

Husk's ears flicked, and he looked straight at Angel.

"Yeah. That's...one'a Val's punishments fer talkin' back." Angel said. "Frames it like he's doin' you a favour, puttin' you in yer place, showin' you who's in charge. An' he's got venom that makes you submissive, so y'can't fight back. Don't apologise, or say shit like I didn't deserve it. I...I know. I'm tryin' t'move on."

'It wasn't Valentino, it was a small group of ruffians, who are no longer living.' Alastor said, in Angel's mind.

A second later, Charlie opened the dining room door, to tell them it was safe.

Angel took a breath, and let it out.

It wasn't Val.

Monday ended. Charlie, beyond happy with Sir Pentious's redemption efforts (which seemed too quick to be genuine to Angel), and Angel's 'freedom', was definitely planning something. Angel went to bed.

He woke up screaming. Alastor was comforting him. He didn't remember the nightmare, but he felt all gross like he did when it was Val.

"It's alright, my darling. You're alright." Alastor was saying. "He's not here. He can't touch you."

"W-what?" Angel asked, still shaking, still crying, in Alastor's arms.

"You had a nightmare. I didn't mean to look into your thoughts, Angel, but I did, and I'm sorry." Alastor said. "I felt that you were in distress, and I came to your aid. You were...crying and clawing at the sheets when I got here."

Angel swallowed around the lump in his throat. "You...saw that? I...don't remember it."

"That's good. It...had the perfect clarity of a memory, so...it's good that you didn't have to live through it again." Alastor said.

Angel nodded. "Thanks fer...comin' ta comfort me." He said. "Y'didn't hafta."

"You're early in your recovery, at a stage of absolute uncertainty. Of course I had to." Alastor said.

Angel shivered, and tugged at his blankets. "Sorry I woke you."

"I couldn't sleep as it was." Alastor said. "It's no trouble at all. Now, can you get back to sleep on your own, or would you prefer I stay until you're gone?"

Angel's breath caught in his throat. Al was willing to stay with him?

"I assure you, it's no trouble for me, Angel." Alastor said. "You're not annoying me. I'm more than willing to stay, if you don't feel safe on your own."

"...Stay." Angel whispered, hardly daring to believe what Al was saying. "Please, stay."

"I know it's not very much, but you asked me not to make a big thing out of it yet." Charlie said, one hand on the dining room doorhandle, not opening it, just to be dramatic.

"Yeah, yeah, I know, you thought you'd do somethin' fer me anyway. I'm sure it's more than I could'a hoped for." Angel said, having followed her down from his room. Alastor wasn't still there when he'd woken up.

Charlie smiled brightly, and opened the door. The other five residents of the hotel were standing around the table, holding party poppers, and set them off when Charlie and Angel stepped inside, all saying their congratulations at once.

There was a cake on the table. Not very big, but easily enough for two slices each, and very obviously Niffty's handiwork, from the neat, tight lettering on the top; 'Congratulations on your freedom!!! <3', in bright pink icing.

Angel wasn't quite sure how to...act. He stood in the doorway, sort of stunned, for a few seconds. The other residents of the hotel were watching him with care, not with expectation, they weren't expecting him to do anything, to say anything, and it was...overwhelming?

He could feel his jaw trembling. He could feel the tears starting to gather in his eyes.

He was safe here.

Charlie's 'little celebration' lasted all day. The four people who knew Angel wasn't technically free, just under a new Overlord, managed not to slip up, even as alcohol was being drank more and more.

Angel noticed mainly that the new guy, Sir Pentious, wasn't drinking very much, and wasn't really interacting with people much, either.

"Hey, uh...sorry 'bout the whole...turf war thing. Cherri's my best buddy, I couldn't leave her on her own." Angel said.

"Yess, I undersstand completely." Pentious said. "I...apologise for attacking the hotel in looking for you. That wass uncalled for."

"Yeah, I get it. Emotions were high." Angel said. "So...we're alright? I mean, if we're gonna live together, we gotta be on...at least resonable terms, right?"

Sir Pentious nodded in agreement.

Angel was happily drunk by the end of the day, but was struggling to get to sleep. Something didn't feel right, didn't feel safe. He felt trapped in his room, so he'd started wandering around the hotel.

So, really, he supposed it was only by chance, that he found the snake planting cameras in various rooms. Angel watched him for a few minutes, silently, wishing he was a little more sober, thinking the guy just liked watching people, but then he heard Vox's voice on Pentious's device. And then Val's.

'Al. Al, help. I-I'm in the third hall off the lobby. Please tell me yer awake.' Angel practically prayed. "You gotta be kiddin' me. Yer workin' for th' Vees?"

He was too drunk, too worked up, too fucking scared to remember what the slimy bastard said, but at some point, Pentious called him 'Whorebug', very obviously trying to bait him into fighting, and Angel lunged at him.

This was Val's fucking play? This was how he was doing this? Angel was scared, and angry, and hurt. How dare he? How dare this stupid snake man come in here under false fucking pretenses, drink with them, eat that fucking cake Niffty made, and still be reporting back to the Vees? How dare Val not get his hands dirty himself, not fucking care enough to come find Angel himself?

He felt worthless and unwanted.

'Angel, breathe.' Alastor whispered, in his mind. 'Use your third set of arms, grab him by the tail, and slam him into the wall. Trust me, darling.'

Angel did as he was told. Pentious collapsed into a heap on the floor.

And then Charlie and Vaggie were there, in their pyjamas, clearly woken by the noise, and Angel realised how this might look, if the little rat could get a story together faster than he could get the truth out. He was drunk. Pentious was making progress with redemption that he simply wasn't. They had a history of turf wars.

Angel lifted Pentious's body by the shoulders. "This little rat's been sellin' us out t' th' Vees." He slurred to Charlie, trying his best to look sober.

Pentious, much more sober than Angel, quickly regained his wits, and pulled out of Angel's hold. "No! I'm not. We're all friendss here, aren't we?" He asked, again aimed at Charlie, who honestly looked too tired to be dealing with this.

Angel quickly found the camera, carelessly hidden behind a vase, and revealed it to their audience. "Oh yeah? Explain this, then."

Pentious didn't even try to explain or defend himself. He attempted to bolt down the hallway, towards the nearest window, screaming into his smartwatch "Abort! Abort! Agent Pentious requesting extraction-"

He didn't get far. Alastor was right there, blocking his path one way, Vaggie had her spear, and was blocking the other way. And then Vox spoke.

"Wait. You actually got caught?" Vox asked. "I-I-It's hardly even been a-a-a day. You pathetic, worthless creature. I-i-i-if they don't kill you, go ahead and do it yourself." The feed went dead.

Sir Pentious dropped the device, and gave up completely, kneeling in front of Vaggie, ready in a heartbeat to be executed. "Make it quick. Not that I...deserve it."

Vaggie raised her spear. Charlie stopped her.

Pentious's first lesson really was apologising, after all. Angel couldn't stay for the song Charlie used to teach it, instead retreating with Alastor to a nearby room.

"Are you alright? Did he hurt you?" Alastor asked, tone too gentle.

"No, I'm fine, Al." Angel said. "Um...did you hear...some'a what I was thinkin', earlier?"

"When you felt worthless and unwanted, because Valentino hadn't cared enough to come to find you, himself?" Alastor asked. "Yes, I did. I see worth in you. A lot. I want you. And I want you to be able to see that. I want you to accept that."

"Thanks, Al." Angel said. "Why...didn't you help me?"

"I did. I saw an opening, and I told you how to exploit it." Alastor said, smiling brightly. "You needed a victory, darling. You needed to succeed. I felt that not physically stepping in was the best thing I could do for you. If you couldn't handle it, I was right there, but you're stronger than him, you're brighter than him, and you didn't really need me."

"Alastor, I was...I'm drunk. I was panickin'. I heard Val. I-I wasn't thinkin'."

"Yes, exactly." Alastor said. "You weren't fully aware, or at your full strength, yet you still handled it perfectly, called for backup in case you needed it, and revealed the rat snake's wrongdoings to Charlie. You did well, Angel."

Angel blinked. He'd...done well. His Overlord was happy with him. "...Thanks, Al."

Chapter Text

Alastor hated going to meetings. This would have been true, regardless of whether he owned Angel's soul or not, simply because all three Vees were in attendance.

He hated Vox, for good reason. Velvette was incredibly disrespectful. Valentino was his newest soul's decades-long abuser.

Put simply, the Overlord meeting would have been difficult no matter what.

Angel being no longer under Valentino had been all over the news for days. The theories included that he'd been permenantly killed, he'd found a loophole in his contract, he'd simply been let go, or some other Overlord had bought his contract. Valentino was convinced he'd found a loophole, because he knew the last two weren't true, and they had evidence that Angel was still alive. In fact, the main talking point of the meeting so far had been Valentino forcing every other Overlord to analyse the contract for any loopholes, any at all.

Of course, no-one could find anything, because there wasn't anything to find.

Zestial then suggested a very old piece of magic, where a soul could be stolen by another Overlord, since the contract was, indeed, airtight.

Of course, then Valentino started blindly accusing everyone else of stealing Angel from him, to the point that the other Vees looked incredibly embarrassed, and Carmilla had to ask him to step outside.

After the meeting was over, Alastor told Rosie it was him. She asked, of course, if he'd done it to rock the boat, or to assist with his redemption.

"Neither." Alastor said. "He lets me torture him. I want him to keep wanting to play. He last saw Valentino on Friday last week, and had to delay our arrangement by a day. I concluded that Valentino had to be removed from the equation, so I removed him from Valentino."

"You're saying that was the only reason, but the colouring on your cheeks is saying there's something more." Rosie muttered.

Alastor's ears flicked. "I...believe I may have...known him in life." He said. "In my last month. I'm wondering...if he has any answers..."

"Because you lost the last month of your memories by losing your life to a bullet to the head?" Rosie finished. "I don't think that's all, but if that's what you're willing to admit, I'll leave it there."

"That's all." Alastor said. "I would like to make an appointment to have him fitted for a set of clothing."

"I can fit you in on Saturday." Rosie said.

"We won't be available." Alastor said.

"Then it's Tuesday. 3pm." Rosie said. "Is that alright?"

"Yes, it is." Alastor said. "Thank you."

'We're going to Rosie's on Tuesday, mon Ange.' Alastor said, directly to Angel, as he entered the hotel. 'Valentino was an absolute mess at the meeting. I'll tell you all about it, if you'd like.'

Angel answered immediately. 'Sure. I'm in my room, if you wanna come here, or I can meet ya somewhere?'

'Head up to my room. Take Fat Nuggets, if you'd like. I'll be there in a few minutes.' Alastor said. 'I have to imply to Charlie that I'll be doing paperwork, and shouldn't be disturbed, unless you've changed your mind about keeping this between us.'

'They'll overreact. I'll tell them when I start workin' again. Or...I-I dunno.' Angel said.

'It's alright to be unsure, darling.' Alastor said. "Ah, Charlie, there you are. That paperwork you left for me last night, it's on my desk, yes?"

Charlie nodded. "I just need it sorting, and getting on the system." She said. "You can handle it, right?"

"Of course. I'd...prefer not to be disturbed. You understand?" Alastor asked.

"Yeah, totally." Charlie said. "Thanks for taking the time to learn how to use it."

"It's no trouble at all."

When he got up to his room, Angel was sitting on the couch, with Fat Nuggets bundled up in a blanket in his lap. He still looked slightly nervous to be in here, to be allowed to be in here whether Alastor was or not, to be allowed to retreat here whenever he needed, but definitely less than before.

"...You saw Val at the meeting?" Angel asked.

"He was there. He is an Overlord." Alastor said. "I can tell you what he said, if you'd like. What he did. May I sit beside you?"

"You don't gotta ask permission."

"I believe someone has to. If it falls to me, so be it." Alastor said. "Answer properly, please."

Angel blinked up at him. "Yeah. You, uh...may." Alastor smiled, and took a seat on the couch. "So, um...what'd he do?"

"Well, at first he tried to get every Overlord there to find the loophole you used to escape." Alastor said. "This means every Overlord saw your old contract, and read it through. I'm pleased to announce that this has prompted an investigation into his use of unfair clauses, which will hopefully improve the lives of the other souls under him."

"Fuck, that's good." Angel said, relaxing into the couch. "My old one was that bad, huh? Makes sense, pretty sure I signed it when I was really fuckin' high."

"It was bad. I'm so glad I got you out of it." Alastor said. "Zestial figured out that, since the contract was airtight, it was most likely that another Overlord stole you, if they were sure you're still alive. Valentino started accusing everyone, including both Vox and Velvette, of taking you. His behaviour made the other Vees visibly embarrassed, and Carmilla sent him out of the room."

"Put him in his place, fuck, yes." Angel said. "Um...any chance they figured out it was you?"

"None whatsoever. I have an excellent poker face." Alastor said. "Although, after the meeting, in private, I did tell Rosie it was me. I've known her my entire afterlife, she's trustworthy, and she was going to find out when I booked the appointment with her, anyway."

Angel nodded. "You trust her, I trust her." He said. "She's the one you built up that empire with, right? The one that turned into Cannibal Town."

"That's right. You've been studying, I can see." Alastor said.

Angel shrugged. "Jus' those books you gave me." He said. "If I'm gonna work under you, I gotta know yer history, things I should avoid, things I shouldn't. Y'know?"

"I know." Alastor said. "And, have you found anything you'd like to ask about?"

"Why d'you hate Vox?" Angel asked. "There's so much about you an' him hatin' each other, but nothin' says why."

"Vox?" Alastor said. "We were close in the fifties. Allies. Perhaps even friends. I-I thought he was my friend. He didn't understand the requirements of my sin, that I have to eat a certain way, so tried to 'convert' me multiple times, the most recent of which had me nearly dying. Before that, well, I was aware that he was attracted to me, I didn't reciprocate, I thought he could get past it. There was more than one occasion where he started our late night discussions with the intention of getting me drunk, so he could...have his way with me, without me...objecting."

"And...did he?" Angel asked, clearly afraid of the answer.

"Yes. Once. I-I don't remember it...most of it. There are...a few moments that I...still have nightmares about."

Angel sighed, clearly understanding completely. "It's hard, Al, I know." He muttered. "If...you evah wanna talk about it...I'm here, an' I'll understand."

Alastor looked up at him, and smiled. "Thank you, mon Ange."

Angel had another nightmare that night. Alastor went to his aid immediately, and held him while he cried, tried to help him calm down, told him he was safe once he was aware.

"I-I'm sorry." Angel mumbled, still trembling, still holding onto Alastor.

"What for, darling?" Al asked.

"Fer w-wakin' you up...three nights out'a five." Angel whispered. "Fer...gettin' tears an' snot on yer shirt. Fer grabbin' o-onto yer arm, an' not bein' able ta let go."

"I was already awake. I've been wearing this shirt all day, it already needed washing. I initiated this contact, and I'm yet to try to pull out of it, so you don't have to let go." Alastor said. "You have nothing to apologise for."

Angel sniffled, and hid his face in Al's chest. "Thanks, Al." He muttered. "I'm...sorry I feel like I gotta apologise fer things like that."

"It's not your fault." Alastor said. "I'll keep telling you, until you believe me. Is that alright?"

"...Yeah." Angel said. "Um...c-could you stay?"

"Of course I'll stay." Alastor promised.

Chapter Text

Angel was getting used to Alastor owning his soul. It was slow progress, but Alastor made sure to tell him he was proud of that progress every night. He was quickly getting used to the telepathy, too. It felt natural, now.

Before he knew it, it was Friday, and he'd gone a whole week without seeing Val. He realised how lucky he was. He realised that the last time he'd been hurt bad enough to leave a mark was when Alastor had stolen him, and that was the only time since last Friday.

He hadn't realised how quickly he was healing.

In the moment, every victory felt small, every little piece of his life coming back together felt...little, but when he took a step back, and realised this was how far he'd come in one week, it made it all feel like more, like he was achieving something by continuing on.

And he was.

And Alastor knew it.

He'd been invited to Alastor's room at 3pm. To play.

This was going to be their first session with the new power dynamics that came with Al owning Angel's soul. Angel was nervous. It had felt so good the first two times they'd played. He hoped it could stay the same. He hoped Alastor wouldn't start to change, like Val had in the early days. He hoped Al wouldn't get bored of him so soon.

He'd been stumbling through Charlie's rehab programme all week. She'd let him take what he needed, when he'd needed it, for the first three stressful days of worrying Val was coming to drag him back, but she had been getting him to slowly cut back on everything.

The other option was to quit cold-turkey. Alastor and Charlie had both separately insisted that he didn't do that, at least not right away, and not for everything at once, for fear that he'd get overwhelmed at the harsh withdrawals. The only thing he really hadn't had a choice with was Val's venom, which was addictive, of course it was.

But he wanted to quit. He wanted everything to stop. He wanted to move on.

He headed up to Alastor's room. They would play, and hopefully Alastor would hit him hard enough to drown out the pain.

"Right on time. Come on in, darling." Alastor called from in his room, before Angel even touched the door. He opened it. Al was waiting at his desk, smiling up at him. "How's your day been, Angel?"

"Pretty good. Had a headache, it's gone now. Cramps last night, also gone now." Angel said, smiling back at him.

"You're having withdrawals?"

"From Val's venom." Angel said. "Other drugs don't help."

"Have you been taking the other drugs?" Alastor asked.

Angel nodded.

"When?"

Angel looked away from him. "Not since Tuesday."

"Angel." Alastor said. "Have you asked for any help with it?"

They both knew he hadn't. Angel shook his head.

"I see." Alastor said. "You want to quit as soon as possible, don't you?"

"Yeah." Angel said.

"Alright. Let me support you, then." Alastor said. "Please."

Angel looked at him. His smile was genuine and hopeful, like he really wanted to see Angel get through this. "Okay." Angel muttered. "Um...y-you don't have the...frame...thing."

"I don't." Alastor said. "I thought we could try something a little bit different, today. If you're amenable to the slight change in our normal routine."

Angel took that as a prompt to ask questions. "What's the change?"

"For starters, I don't want to use any tools. I want to use my hands, claws, and teeth. Is that alright?" Alastor asked.

Fuck. "Yeah."

"Good. I don't want you restrained. I want to feel you react to me. I want you to allow your hands to explore me." Alastor said. "Is that alright?"

"Um...o-only if yer sure yer okay with that." Angel said. "If you need me to stop, you'll tell me, right?"

"I'm sure. Of course I will." Alastor said. "Next up is the where. I have a padded, cut-resistant, waterproof mat large enough for you to comfortably lay on, and I can either set it up on the floor, or on my bed. Which would you prefer?"

Holy shit, what was Al planning? "Um...floor might be better. No chance'a fallin' off the side." Angel said.

"I was thinking the same thing, but I like hearing your opinion." Alastor said. "Now that that's all settled-"

"What are we doin', Al?" Angel asked. "Can ya...tell me?"

Alastor blinked at him. "Yes, of course. My apologies, darling, it was not my intention to keep you in the dark." He said. "The last time we played, when I killed you, I...don't know if you felt-"

"You were hard? Yeah, I felt that." Angel said. "Wait...shit, d'you wanna fuck me?"

"No. I...have tried before, it's hard for me to...stay like that for long enough." Alastor said. "And the...insertion is frankly the most awkward and off-putting part. Not to mention all the fluids. No. But...last week, I did...manage to finish. I'm not sure if it was the blood, or the fact that I'd been pressed against you while I hurt you. It isn't usually very easy for me. It's usually long and frustrating, with very little payoff, and there's not really any point in me trying, but, last week, it took me two minutes, Angel."

Angel smiled. "You wanna test if it's contact, but you don't actually wanna have sex?" Alastor nodded. "Okay."

"Really? That's...okay?" Alastor asked. "You don't...feel like you're being pressured, do you?"

"No, Al, yer curious, you wanna test somethin' out, an this is the way yer most comfortable doin' it." Angel said. "Yer worried that I wasn't expectin' intimacy of any kind, so y'think I might think yer like Val? You ain't. Val wouldn't have asked. Yer better than him. So much better."

Alastor sighed. "Thank you for the reassurance." He said. "I...was worried you might...jump to the conclusion that I'd treat you like he did. I was worried that you might need more time."

"I wanna move on." Angel said. "You've been so fuckin' good ta me, yer so reasonable, you take care'a me, an' you always ask fer permission. I trust you. Um...y'were gonna...be on top'a me, right?" Al nodded. "I like bein' choked like that. Just...don't tell me ta take it, an' don't cover my mouth or nose. I-if you wanna...do that. Where are you gonna sit?"

"Depending on what we're doing, either your lower abdomen, or your thighs. Is that alright?" Alastor asked.

"Yeah, that's alright." Angel said. "Wanna get started?"

Alastor was being more gentle than he normally was. He was yet to draw blood.

"I quite like seeing you like this, darling." He said, squeezing his hands around Angel's neck a little bit tighter. "You know, this is the most intimate way to murder someone."

Angel made a small, choked sound, and twitched as Al subconsciously rubbed against his dick. He gasped when Al let him breathe, and then flinched when Al leaned down so that they were chest to chest.

Al licked at his neck, gently clawing up his sides. "This was never really my style, when I was alive. It took far too long, and all they could do was lock eyes with me, and try to wriggle free." He repositioned his left leg, to release one of Angel's arms. "Go ahead, darling, touch me all you like."

Angel obeyed, lifting the three hands that were available, and gently stroking Al's back, and rubbing slow circles into his sides under his jacket. The deer above him groaned, and bit lightly at his throat, rubbing his clothed dick against Angel's a little faster for a few seconds. Angel remembered something Al had said, two weeks before. That pain, his, or that of others, had always been appealing to him.

"Al?" Angel asked, voice small and hesitant. "C-can I...scratch you?"

Alastor released the skin of Angel's neck from between his teeth, and looked him in the eyes, surprised, maybe a little confused.

"Make it like...yer killin' me." Angel whispered. "An' I'm fightin' back a little. Is...that okay?"

"Yes." Alastor breathed, and Angel could feel how hard he'd just got.

Angel grinned, and let his claws dig into Al's sides just a little. Al returned the favour, definitely drawing at least a little blood, still grinding against him. Angel wriggled his fourth arm free, and used it to hold the back of Al's head. Al started nibbling at his throat again.

"Fuck. Fuck, bite me, Al, please." Angel whined. "Make me scream, Al, please make me scream."

Alastor fucking growled into his neck, and dug his claws in deeper. "How could I possibly deny you, mon Ange, when you're begging so beautifully like that?" He asked. "All for me. Mine."

Angel screamed as Al sank his teeth in, not holding anything back, gripping his claws in deeper, getting Al to do the same. The rush that came with the pain was addictive. Angel wanted more. He struggled against the warm weight pinning him down, hoping to get him to do more, hoping for more pain, more pleasure.

'Is this too much, my darling?' Al asked in his mind, apparently mistaking the struggling for Angel actually trying to get away.

"Fuck, no." Angel said. "I-I want more. I want harder, fuck, Al, please."

Al pulled back a little, licked at the wound until it stopped bleeding, then nuzzled towards Angel's shoulder to maybe bite there. "I can go deeper here. Do you want that?"

"Yer voice has no right bein' so fuckin' sexy, Al, yes, I want it."

Alastor grinned, and positioned his mouth at the very top of Angel's arm. "Claws in deeper, darling. I-I believe I'm nearly there."

Angel nodded, and pressed harder on Al's sides, definitely drawing blood, as Al bit down hard on his arm.

Angel screamed again. Al moaned, and rubbed against him harder, faster. Angel's orgasm had him trembling, choking on spit, and tearing into the sides of Al's abdomen. Alastor's, only a moment later, nearly broke Angel's arm with how tightly he clenched his jaws.

So, they were both bleeding quite a bit, as they caught their breath. Angel didn't dare remove his claws, for fear that Al would bleed more if he did. He didn't know anatomy well enough for this, he could have severed something important, and his claws could be stopping it from bleeding.

"Angel? I...oh." Al said, pulling away enough to see all of Angel's wounds. He carefully removed his claws from in Angel's sides, and summoned the supplies to patch him up. Angel let him, lifted himself as best he could so Al could wrap the wounds, and stop the bleeding. "Are...you alright, darling? Th-that was..."

"A lot? Yeah, I know." Angel said. "I'm okay. That felt so fuckin' good, Al. Are you okay?"

Alastor had only just realised that he had a wound that needed seeing to, as well. "I wasn't...expecting it to feel like that." He muttered, lifting himself up so Angel could get out from under him without removing his claws. "That rush, darling, that was incredible."

"That's called dominant masochism." Angel said, grabbing some of Al's supplies. "Um...yer gonna hafta take yer shirt off, else I can't..."

"Oh, yes, of course." Alastor said, snapping his fingers to remove the garment, revealing the full extent of the scarring Angel had seen only glimpses of, previously. "Go ahead, darling."

Angel nodded, removed his left claws, and stopped the bleeding there as quickly as he could. "So, you like ta be in control, that makes you dominant, we already knew that." He explained. "Then, you like ta hurt me, that makes you a sadist, we already knew that, too. You also like when I hurt you. That rush, that floaty feeling, the pleasure you got from my claws? That was masochism. Congrats, Al, you got both."

"It did feel different." Al admitted, holding the pressure on his right side, so Angel could focus on the left, where his right claws were still buried. "It was nice. I'm...not sure I could fully take the role you've been in, but I wouldn't mind a little pain from you, when we play."

"You ain't submissive. Yeah, I get it. That's totally fine, Al." Angel said. "Luck you, I'm a sub through and through. That ain't just an exaggeration Val perpetuated through the films, I'm really like that. Where d'you want this tying?"

"At the front is fine." Alastor said. "Thank you, Angel."

For the next two hours, they took care of each other, both physically and mentally, each making sure the other didn't pull anything open, and that the other didn't start to drop. For the next two hours, they kept each other company, and kept each other safe. Alastor would heal faster than Angel, not only because he had fewer and lesser wounds, but because he had stronger demonic healing.

They headed down to dinner ten minutes before it was served, Al wearing a fresh, clean suit, Angel wearing the casual outfit he'd ordered from Rosie's; a bright red T-shirt, pink sweater with a white heart outline, and some grey trousers. It wasn't far off what he used to wear on weekends, but Charlie had already noticed and commented that it was new, and she liked it.

Both of them wanted to help out, while they waited, but they stayed close together, to keep each other from hurting themselves accidentally. Angel was setting the table, and getting everyone glasses of water, while Alastor cleaned the pots and utensils Niffty had already finished using in the sink.

Dinner was nice. Husk immediately noticed that both Angel and Alastor had injuries, and wisely didn't mention it at all. Niffty, meanwhile, noticed that Al had changed his suit, and did ask why.

"I spilled something on the other one, darling." Alastor said. "Nothing to worry about. The shirt was torn, anyway."

The conversation shifted towards Sir Pentious and Angel's progress in the redemption and rehab programmes, respectively. Charlie told them how proud she was of them, and how far they'd come in such a short time.

'Next time, I'll have to take my shirt off first, I suppose.' Al whispered in Angel's mind, nearly fifteen minutes after he mentioned his torn shirt.

Angel felt his markings light up. 'I love and I hate that you can flirt in my fuckin' head, Al.'

Chapter Text

"Is...something wrong, Angel?" Alastor asked. "You seem...hesitant to go to bed."

Angel glanced up at him. "Oh, um...yeah, I'm fine." He said. 'I was wonderin' how long you stayed, after I had nightmares.'

'Until a moment before you wake.' Alastor admitted, aware that Angel wasn't speaking out loud because he still wanted to keep their arrangement secret, and they were near Charlie and Vaggie. Al took a seat nearby, and summoned a newspaper, to look less strange.

'Al, you don't gotta...yer readin' 2012's news?' Al abruptly realise Angel was, in fact, correct about the date, because the page he'd randomly opened had articles about the London Olympics. Damn. He really needed to replace these with less old ones. 'You don't have to stay that long.'

Alastor gave up, and banished the newspaper. 'You seem to sleep better when I'm there.'

Angel's head turned towards him, slowly so as not to pull the bite there open. 'Wanna test that?'

'If you'd like. You head up first, so it doesn't look like we're going together.' Alastor said. 'Unless you're ready for people to know.'

'I...feel like Charlie'd be disappointed in me fer lyin', an' I can jus' tell Vaggie's gonna explode when she finds out.' Angel said. 'Bettah not to.' He stood up. "Right, I'm gonna head up to bed. G'night."

Alastor followed him, ten minutes later. He checked Angel's room, and Angel wasn't there. Instead, Fat Nuggets was alone, asleep in a fresh pile of blankets, with a clean puppy pad, and full food and water bowls. Ah. Angel must have done what he needed to here, and gone up to Al's room.

He wasn't expecting what he found when he opened his own door at all. Angel had set up a not-very-comfy looking bed, out of three fluffy blankets and a pillow, on the floor next to Al's, and was laying there, on his back, staring up at the ceiling.

"You realise I'm not going to allow this, don't you?" Alastor asked. "You can't sleep on the floor. Get up."

Angel hesitantly did. "You...want me ta take the couch?"

"Firstly, we need to check on each other's wounds. I expect mine are near-fully healed by now." Alastor said. "Second, you are sleeping on the bed. You know I don't mind, you've slept there before."

Angel's markings were glowing again. They did that, sometimes. Alastor had always assumed he was in conscious control of it, because that control seemed to be completely gone when the spider was in subspace, but perhaps they marked emotions like confusion. Whatever it was, Angel was sitting on the bed, letting Alastor remove his bandages, to check on his wounds.

"You're healing well, darling. I suspect there will only be a faint mark by morning." Alastor said, reapplying the anti-inflammatory ointment to Angel's skin, and replacing fresh bandages where was necessary.

"Thanks." Angel said, when he was done. "Your turn."

Alastor smiled, and allowed Angel to remove his bandages.

"Wow. Fuck, I can really tell yer an Overlord, holy shit." Angel said. "Do these even need anythin' doin' to them?"

"Probably not." Alastor said. "Sometimes, my flesh heals wrong, like it doesn't remember how it's supposed to be. If it does, I have a cream that reverses the healing so it can try again."

"...Why does it...not heal right, sometimes?" Angel asked.

"Because of how I died." Alastor explained. "The sheer amount of injury I received, paired with a bullet to the head. I woke up in Hell with dozens of open wounds. Nearly half of them never fully healed, and I don't dare try to make them."

"Fuck, you...lose some memories, when you die like that, don't you?" Angel asked. "Um...y-you don't gotta answer, if that's...too personal."

"No, it's alright." Alastor said. "Yes, I lost my entire last month of life, except the hour of my death."

"Have you...found anyone ta fill in the gaps, or are you just...still in the dark about it?" Angel asked.

"I believe I might have found someone, but I haven't known them very long in Hell, and I haven't even confirmed that they're the same person yet." Alastor said.

"Huh." Angel said. "Um...who?"

"You." Alastor said. "I remember thinking 'Anthony's gonna kill me if I miss tomorrow', in my last hour. I also remember that I'd thought a man named Anthony might have been my target. You recall, technically, you were supposed to be my target."

"That was the month you died?" Angel asked. "I-I was in New Orleans the month you died? I didn't...know anyone called Alastor."

"It's possible I used a fake name." Alastor said. "I died on October 28th, if that-"

"No fuckin' way you were Magnus." Angel said, suddenly.

"...That is one of the names I used to use." Alastor said.

"You died? Y'didn't show up, 'cause you died?"

"That would seem to be the case." Alastor said. "I'm...sorry. It wasn't my intention."

"I thought you fuckin' ditched me. I-I thought you hated me." Angel said. "You don't even remember what we did, do you? You lost that whole fuckin' month, didn't you?"

"Yes." Alastor said. "Would you...care to fill me in on...any of it?"

"I fuckin' thought you reminded me of him-of you, with how y'were talkin' 'bout aftercare an' stuff." Angel said. "We used ta play, like we do now. Little less extreme, 'cause we were only human, an' y'didn't wanna kill me. I...w-we were...kinda dating."

"Oh." Alastor said. "Y-yes, I...can feel what you're saying is true. Th-this feels strange."

"Like I'm givin' back a piece'a you y'didn't even realise was missin'?" Alastor nodded. "Wanna hear more?"

"Yes, please." Alastor said, settling on the bed properly, tugging Angel a little bit closer to himself.

Angel smiled. "Well, you approached me. The way y'did it, I knew you were thinkin' if you should kill me. You'd been watchin' me fer days." He said. "Either that, or y'were attracted to me. One'a the first things I asked when we started talkin' was if y'were a friend of Dorothy, an' y'said y'were, but not a typical friend'a hers. Figured out the second day that y'meant y'weren't into gals, but y'weren't gay, either."

Alastor chuckled. "I was vaguely familiar with the slang, but I had used that particular one to, I suppose, bait certain people into proving they deserved for me to kill them." He said. "I had a younger cousin, for example, and he pointed out to me the man who had touched him. I approached him, talked to him, and when he asked if I was a friend of Dorothy, I told him what I must have told you. He assumed that meant a certain thing, and when I told him he wasn't right, he still tried to, so I killed him. I only ever did it to confirm, rather than fully trust the word of a child, to make sure I wasn't killing an innocent man. With you, I...might have done it to test you."

"Well, I didn't push it, so I guess you were okay, so long as I was okay not havin' sex." Angel said. "Um...how asexual are you? Like...fully sex-averse, or grey-ace, or...s-somethin' else?"

"The act itself doesn't appeal to me." Alastor said. "I have a bad experience with it. I have functional limitations, too. I'm not sure I'd be able to...but I wouldn't say I'm entirely averse to it."

"So...if I told you that...you got curious one night, an' we had sex...would you be okay with that?" Angel asked.

"If you respected my boundaries enough for me to want to be around you for an entire month, and I'm the one who got curious and asked, yes, of course I'd be okay with it." Alastor said. "...Are you telling me that?"

"...Yeah." Angel said. "We, uh...combined it with knifeplay, so y'could...stay hard fer long enough. Y'didn't really like...puttin' it in me."

Alastor swallowed. "Did I...enjoy the rest?"

"You said you did, but then you disappeared two days later. I thought...you left me 'cause you didn't." Angel said. "You only left 'cause you died. If...you remember not wantin' ta miss meetin' with me the day after that, I guess you must have enjoyed it."

Al hummed. "I must have. I wouldn't have lied to you, darling." He muttered. "At least I know I didn't lose it against my consent."

"...Yeah." Angel said, gently wiping the tear from Al's cheek. "S-sorry, I didn't mean ta-"

"It's alright, Angel, this is a highly emotional process, and you didn't agree to guiding me through it." Alastor said, quickly. "You don't have to continue."

"I'm the only one with the answers, Al. If you wanna keep goin', I'll help ya through it." Angel said. "D'you...need a break?"

"I probably should." Alastor said.

"D'you...want me to stay?" Angel asked.

Alastor took a breath, and let it out. "Yes, please."

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK

"Alastor, are you in there?"

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK

"Please, this is really important."

At the third set of knocks, Alastor dragged himself out of Angel's hold, and headed towards the door. He cracked it open, so Charlie could hardly see in his room. "What is it?"

"I can't find Angel anywhere, and the window was open in his bathroom, and I'm worried Valentino took him, or something." Charlie said. "You have to help us look for him."

'Angel. You left your window open, and Charlie is worried you've been abducted.' Alastor said. "Well, I'm sure we'll find him."

"Al, it's fine." Angel said, coming up behind him, pulling the door a little more open. "Sorry fer makin' ya worry, Cha-Cha. Was gettin' cravings like crazy, an' Al's promised I could stay with him if it got bad." Alastor nodded.

"...Oh." Charlie said. "Okay. You just didn't leave a note, or tell anyone you were doing that, so when Niffty went to get you for breakfast, and you weren't there, we worried the worst."

"Sorry 'bout that. It was the middle'a the night, an' I jus' couldn't."

"That's okay. Just...um, next time, I'll...check here first." Charlie said.

Angel nodded. "Thanks fer understandin', Charlie."

"Was...what I said okay?" Angel asked.

"Of course it was, darling." Alastor said. "Why wouldn't it have been?"

"'Cause I lied. I-I could'a jus' told her, I could'a-"

"Angel, you aren't ready. That's fine." Alastor said. "Darling, please look at me."

Angel did. "You didn't want her ta see me here."

"What? No, Angel, you've expressed discomfort at other people knowing about this." Alastor said. "We hadn't discussed what I should do if we were discovered. If I should allow her to see you, or if I should keep it secret. I'd never be embarrassed to be seen with you. Darling, if I had my way, I'd have you by my side every second of every day."

Angel blinked. "...Really?"

"Yes, really." Alastor said. "You're gorgeous, and you're smart, and I like you. I...I liked you long before we started this little arrangement. I will never be ashamed to be found with you. I will only continue to keep this secret if you wish it to remain that way."

"...If...Val finds out it was you...won't he try ta take me back? Won't he try ta hurt you? I-I don't want him ta hurt you." Angel said. "We're goin' to Rosie's on Tuesday, right? Then...I'll start workin' again on Wednesday, an' we'll jus' keep it between us, Niff, an' Husk, unless someone finds out. I don't want you ta get hurt because'a me."

"Angel, I won't get hurt, and he won't get you back. I can promise you that much." Alastor said. "Will you trust me? Tell people when you are ready. I will support you."

"I...I ain't ready." Angel said. "I'm...not quite ready ta believe I'm really safe. But...I do trust you. You've let yerself be vulnerable fer me. Yer genuine with me. Yer nothin' like him. I just ain't ready."

"That's okay." Alastor said. "May I ask what you'll be doing for work? If you've decided?"

"Was gonna do a couple self-tapes. Post them online, not explain where I've been, let the mystery get me more views, 'cause more views means more ad revenue." Angel said. "You...wonderin' what a self-tape is, or what it's gonna look like?"

"Well, I would guess that it's a film where you pleasure yourself." Alastor said.

"Yeah, pretty much." Angel said. "Might use some toys, might jus' use my fingers. People'll watch it jus' 'cause it's me, an' I've been out'a action all week, but I gotta make a new account, 'cause my old one's wired ta Val, an' I don't have the password ta change it."

"I see. Well, if you'd like to try doing audio tapes, as well, I happen to host the most popular radio station in Hell." Alastor said. "I have a recording studio in the building you live in, it won't look as though you're particularly associated with me, unless you outright say it."

"Heh, thanks." Angel said, glowing again.

"Of course. Anything you need, any way I can support you, I will." Alastor said.

"What are you doing with Angel?" Vaggie asked, dragging Alastor into a hallway after breakfast.

"What do you mean?" Alastor asked. "I'm only helping him."

"Why? What's in it for you?" Vaggie asked.

"If he manages, I watch him succeed. If he doesn't, I watch him fall further than he would have without me." Alastor said. "Both should be entertaining, to someone of my preferences, shouldn't they?"

Vaggie glared at him. "Why are you being so vague?"

"Just to annoy you, dear." Alastor said, grinning.

'Angel, darling? I'm making lunch, would you like to join me?' Alastor asked, gathering the vegetables he'd need.

'Sure. Was gettin' a headache from these fuckin' withdrawals, anyway.' Angel replied. 'Feels so fuckin' loud in here.'

It took him two minutes to explain himself, and escape from the lobby.

"Hello, darling." Alastor said. "How are you feeling?"

"Got a headache, an' my upper arms an' thighs are achin'." Angel said. "Can I jus'...sit here?"

"Of course you can. I'll attempt to be quiet." Alastor said. "Would you like a glass of water? It might help with the headache."

Angel nodded. "Yes, please." He said, sitting down at the dining table. "Not got any delusions or anxiety any more...I think, an' I ain't had a seizure since I last took PCP, on...Sunday? Fuck, that's six days ago."

"I believe that was Monday, when you didn't have your phone." Alastor said. "That was the most stressful day for you overall, as far as I could tell. You're really doing well, darling. How long do you expect the symptoms to last?"

"Um...I'm already out'a some'a them, others can be...a week or two." Angel said. "But...'cause'a the diazepam bein' a long-actin' benzo, I might be a little restless, an' get the aches fer...up to eight weeks. Might stop gettin' them after two, though. An' we're at...four days, fer that one."

"I've very proud of your progress, Angel." Alastor said.

Angel smiled softly. "Thanks."

Alastor was halfway done with the recipe, when Angel made a pained noise behind him, likely due to muscle cramps. Al turned down the heat, and attempted to help or comfort him.

"May I hold you, darling? Would that help?" Al asked, tone as gentle as he could manage.

Angel nodded, and leaned into him as soon as he was close. Two arms were clutching at his stomach, so Al guessed that was what hurt. He snapped his fingers, filling Angel's empty glass with fresh, cold water, and quickly returned his hand to Angel's shoulder, stroking gently.

"I'm...going to summon Niffty, so she can finish the recipe, is that alright?" Alastor asked.

Angel hummed in general agreement, and hid his face in Al's suit jacket.

Alastor focussed on his soul tether to Niffty, and sent a signal down it. The small cyclops entered the room within ten seconds. "What is it you need, sir?"

"Could you finish dinner, dear? I've done all of the preparation, already, but I can't mind all of the pans and assist Angel at the same time. It's shredded barbecue chicken and grits." Alastor said. Niffty nodded, and stepped up to the stove. "Thank you."

Angel shivered, and whined quietly. "Suh- Sorry." He sounded very close to tears, so Al pulled up a chair next to him, to hold him closer. "'M sorruh-hic-rry."

"It's alright, Angel, it's not your fault." Alastor whispered. "You'll get through this. Everyone here supports you, darling, you will be alright."

Angel didn't quite empty his plate. He blamed the loss of appetite on withdrawal, and asked to save the remaining quarter for later. No-one doubted him, and Charlie covered his plate with cling film, and put it in the fridge.

When he headed upstairs, for some time with his pet, he paused briefly to tiredly hug Al, and thank him for helping. Alastor nodded, and let him go. Vaggie looked pissed off, and Charlie looked slightly concerned.

"Hey, Al?" Charlie asked, approaching carefully. "I know you agreed to help Angel with his withdrawals, and I can see that he was struggling today, but you have to tell him when you're not comfortable with touch."

"If I am, I will." Alastor said. "You don't have to tell me that."

"Yeah, I know you do with everyone else, but I haven't seen you put your foot down with Angel in weeks." Charlie said. "Did...something happen?"

"Nothing at all, I simply haven't had any reason to, in weeks." Alastor said. "I don't understand why you're pushing this, Charlie."

"I just don't want you to feel uncomfortable." Charlie said. "It's great that you're helping him, and you're accommodating his needs right now, but I don't want you to neglect your own."

Alastor decided it would be easier not to argue. "I understand. Thank you for your concern."

Chapter Text

This was the stage he hated the most. Tremors, headaches, muscle aches, and insomnia. The increased tiredness from stimulant withdrawal had concluded, leaving him unable to get to sleep and stay there. Charlie was still allowing him to access the other three substances, supervised and in low doses, but he refused to take any. He was making progress. He just had to wait the worse symptoms out.

It was close to four in the morning when he felt it. An overwhelming fear, and panic that wasn't his own. At first, he was worried that it was the anxiety coming back, another symptom, but then he realised it was coming in through his soul tether to Alastor.

He got up immediately, and headed towards Al's room. He didn't knock.

Al was trembling, murmuring in his sleep, clawing at the pillow, and kicking lightly with his legs.

Angel held his wrists so he wouldn't hurt himself, and hugged Al, hoping to comfort him. It took a moment for him to fully understand Al's murmuring, that it was him begging for someone to stop, to get off of him.

Angel told him he was safe, reminded him where he was, specified that he wouldn't hurt him. After a few minutes, Al had stopped struggling, but was crying into Angel's shoulder.

"Are you awake? Yer safe, Al. It's okay, I'm here fer you." Angel said, softly.

"I...I'm awake." Al muttered. "Let go of my wrists, please, darling."

"Sorry." Angel said, letting go of Al's wrists. "Looked like y'were gonna hurt yerself. I couldn't let that happen. I'm sorry, Al, I didn't mean ta make you uncomfortable."

Alastor nodded. "Thank you, dear."

"You've done the same fer me, Al." Angel said. "An' yer safe now. D'you...need ta talk about it?"

"Eight seconds." Al said. "I remember eight seconds of that night, with Vox, when he was...you know. The way he...acted when we woke up...like nothing had happened, like the marks I had were...self-inflicted, even the ones I couldn't really reach for the angle they were at. I keep...trying to figure out if...he just got me drunk, or if he put something in my drink. Sometimes, when...I have a nightmare about it, the whole night replays in my mind, trying to catch him, trying to find exactly what he did."

Angel just held him, and let himself be held. "I understand, Al." He said. "I know exactly how it feels, how hard it is when y'don't know what could'a stopped it."

"I...wish I remembered you." Al whispered. "I wish...I'd found you first, when you died. We could have protected each other."

"Can't change it now, Al." Angel said. "Can only help each other through it."

"Did I wake you?" Alastor asked.

"No. I couldn't sleep." Angel said. "Insomnia, withdrawin' from diazepam. Would...Husk an' Niffty have felt it through their soul tethers, too?"

"They wouldn't have. I can only consciously send signals to them."

"Why am I different?" Angel asked.

"With...how early you were in your recovery, I wanted to be able to feel when you needed help." Alastor said. "And I wanted to be able to reassure you, even if I wasn't there. A telepathic link was the best way to do that. I can remove it, as soon as you no longer need it, if you'd like."

"Why would I want you ta get rid of it?" Angel asked. "Unless you don't wanna keep it, can we keep it? I...I really like bein' able ta talk to you like that."

"You like it?" Alastor asked, pulling away to see him.

"'Course I do." Angel said. "I like you."

Al's cheeks coloured slightly, and he hid his face in Angel's shoulder again. Angel didn't mention that he'd seen it.

This time, Angel headed down to breakfast before someone could come looking for him. He was physically tired, but his mind was too aware. His limbs ached. His head hurt.

At his obvious tiredness and pain, everyone else agreed to be quiet for him, and as such the argument between Pentious and Niffty over a spilled glass of water was done in whispers.

Angel groaned. "Please fuckin' stop, guys, it's sudden sounds, not just loud ones." He muttered. "Y'can talk, jus' don't shout, or say things at me suddenly."

Everyone nodded, accepting to help him.

It was better, when people were only taking softly around him, and the TV was on dead quiet.

It probably would have been better, if his body didn't feel like it was about to collapse from tiredness, and if his mind would stop running for a few minutes. When he stood up, to retreat to his room, his legs felt like jelly, and he stumbled and tripped, only to be caught by Charlie.

"Where are you trying to go?" Charlie asked, gently.

"To my room, to lie down." Angel muttered. Charlie started helping him towards the stairs. "Thanks."

He didn't go to sleep. He did try to, but he didn't. The majority of the three hours he spent alone in his room was wasted away staring at the wall, ceiling, or carpet, depending on which sides hurt to lay on the most. When he could open his eyes enough to focus, he set up a new account on the website he was going to use. He wouldn't need to add a payment method until he started using it, so he didn't have to worry about it being traced back to him yet.

At midday, Alastor brought him a plate of food, and asked if he needed anything.

Angel shook his head. "Unless you fancy finger-fuckin' or tongue-fuckin' me in an hour or so, I'm okay." He muttered, mostly joking. "Thanks, Al."

The food was great, as always. Angel even managed to empty it. He left the plate on his bedside drawers, and collapsed back onto his bed.

God, would his thoughts shut the fuck up? He was so fucking tired, and his head hurt, and he wanted it all to stop.

Someone knocked on his door. More of a light tap, really. Probably either Al or Charlie.

"Yeah?" Angel asked.

"It's Alastor." Al said. "May I come in?"

"'Course y'can, Al." Angel said. "Just, uh...quietly? Please?"

Alastor opened the door, and stepped inside. "How are you feeling, darling?"

"No change." Angel said. "You jus' checkin' in, or d'you need me ta do somethin'?"

"Mainly checking in." Alastor said. "Other than that...was your request earlier today genuine, or in jest?"

"My...reque-oh." Angel said. "Uh...n-no, that was mostly a joke."

"Mostly?" Al asked, crouching beside the bed so they could both talk more softly.

"Sex is a pretty potent drug, Al." Angel muttered. "Oxytocin, an' all that shit."

"It would help relieve your symptoms?" Alastor asked.

"I don't want you to, if it'd make you uncomfortable, but if yer serious, I can talk ya through it." Angel said. "Maybe not while I've got a headache?"

Alastor's cheeks flushed more than Angel had ever seen. "No need, darling." He said, not quite looking at Angel. "I've been briefed on how to perform both acts, and I'm perfectly capable of stopping if I become uncomfortable."

"Okay."

...

"W-what?" Angel asked, finally registering all of Al's words. "You've been...briefed? On what? By who? Fuck, this's hurtin' my fuckin' brain, owww, fuck."

"The acts, as you called them, 'finger-fucking' and 'tongue-fucking'." Alastor said. "By Husker. He's quite well-versed in both feminine and masculine anatomy. It's been over an hour since you made your request, and I'm ready to deliver, if you're still wanting that."

"You mean...you wanna touch me? I-if I still want that?" Angel asked.

"Yes, of course." Alastor said, smiling brightly. "I...understand that our normal style of play might be a bit...much, at the moment. I'd like to help you through your withdrawals."

"Al, I...I think I'm too tired."

"You don't have to do anything, you can just lay there. I'll take care of you." Alastor said.

"Alastor." Angel said, a little more firmly. "I don't think I can, right now. I think I ain't aware enough, or awake enough, or somethin' like that, ta give proper consent. Yeah, it'd help, an' I fuckin' love that yer tryin' ta learn this fer me, but I ain't really comfortable sayin' it's okay right now. Y'know?"

"I...understand, yes." Alastor said. "Is there...anything else I can do to help that...you are able to consent to at the moment?"

"Wouldn't say no, if you wanted ta kiss me." Angel muttered. "Again, mostly jokin'. Please don't take it as a fuckin' request."

Alastor was definitely blushing. "Darling, I was fully prepared to touch you, to use my fingers or my mouth on you. What makes you think I wouldn't want to kiss you?" He asked. "Would it help relieve your pains?"

"...A little bit, yeah." Angel said. "Um...it's pretty intimate. A-all of those things are. I don't want you ta...rush into it."

"Surely we kissed when we were dating, no?"

"Yeah, but...I wasn't goin' through withdrawal, then, an' you don't remember it, an'...y'know, we were dating." Angel said. "We...ain't datin', now."

Alastor was silent for a few moments, thinking. "Would you like to be?" He asked, softly.

"Last time I tried datin' the guy who owned my soul, it really didn't go well." Angel said. Al tried to object. "No, I ain't done. It didn't go well with Val. You ain't like him. I...might be a little hesitant with some things, just 'cause'a him, you get that, right?" Alastor nodded. "Okay. Then, would you like to be dating?"

"I'd like it very much, darling." Alastor said. "Would you?"

Angel nodded. "Yeah. Fuck, yeah."

"Then...may I please kiss my boyfriend?"

"Yeah. C'mere." Angel said. "First time?" Al nodded. "Start slow, then."

Alastor leaned in close, stroked Angel's cheek, and kissed him gently, chastely, only lasting a couple of seconds. "Was that right?"

"Yeah." Angel muttered. "You wanna keep goin'?"

"Yes, please." Al whispered. "I-I liked that."

Angel smiled. "Wanna try it with tongue? You, uh...used ta like that quite a bit." He said. "Jus' follow my lead at first, then I'll let you take control when you've got the hang of it, okay?"

"Okay." Al said. "I...start the same?"

Angel nodded. "Jus' don't pull away after two seconds. I wanna taste ya." He said. "Don't you wanna taste me?"

"Yes." Alastor said. He leaned in close again, and kissed him again. Angel pressed closer, and brushed his tongue against Al's lips. 'What do you want me to do, darling?'

'Open yer fuckin' mouth, so I can get my tongue in there.' Alastor obeyed immediately, and copied when Angel slipped his tongue across, learning what to do. 'Yer allowed ta breathe through yer nose, y'know.'

Al opened his eyes, and stopped moving. His cheeks went red, and he pulled away. "S-sorry."

"It's okay." Angel said. "That was good. The first time, y'didn't like the taste'a the cocktail I'd just had, too fuckin' sweet, so you threw up. Then, y'didn't realise y'could breathe the first few times, so you held yer breath, an' the fifth time, you nearly passed out."

"You taste quite nice." Alastor admitted, face practically glowing. "I...must admit, I prefer your blood, but...I could get used to this."

"You prefer my blood?" Angel asked. "Yer allowed ta bite me, y'know."

Alastor shook his head. "Not while you're already in pain, darling."

"It ain't so bad, now. I jus' wish I wasn't so fuckin' tired."

"You can't get to sleep, can you?" Alastor asked. "If you'd like, I know some magic that might help."

"What, you gonna spell me ta sleep?" Angel asked. "...Would that work? I-I ain't gonna get addicted ta that, or...fuckin'...dependant on it, am I?"

"You're clearly exhausted. I can have you asleep for...two or three hours, now, I'll wake you before dinner, and then I'll keep you asleep overnight." Alastor said. "You should wake up tomorrow feeling fairly well-rested, but there is a small risk you'll have similar symptoms to withdrawal, when I stop using it, or if I can't. They'll be milder, and last...a week, at most."

"Al. You mean ta say you could'a offered me that from the start, but you chose to offer me kissin' and oral sex first?" Angel asked. "Yer fuckin' cute, tesoro."

"...Um, I...only just thought of this." Alastor said. "What is 'tesoro'?"

"Means treasure, or honey, or darling." Angel said. "My family's from Italy. I'm...more or less fluent."

"I like it. Keep using it for me?" Alastor asked, hopefully.

"'Course I will, Al." Angel said. "Put me ta sleep?"

Alastor nodded. "Make yourself comfortable, you won't be able to move until you wake." Angel rolled onto his side, and tugged a thin blanket over himself. "Alright?" Angel hummed. "This might feel strange, but you tell me right away if it hurts, because it shouldn't."

"Okay." Angel said. "...Stay with me?"

"Of course I will, my darling." Alastor promised. "I'm going to start now. To you, it should simply be like closing your eyes, and opening them again in three hours, and you should feel less tired after. Are you ready?" Angel nodded, and took hold of the hand Al was offering him. Al gently placed the other one on the side of Angel's head. His eyes started to glow faintly, and the room around them seemed to darken. Angel's head felt fuzzy. He couldn't move. "Just breathe, look at me, and let it happen, darling. I've got you. I'll keep you safe."

Angel felt weak. He felt tired. He trusted Alastor. Alastor would keep him safe. Angel let himself give up, let his mind turn off, let his eyes fall closed.

"Come back to me, darling. It's time to wake up."

Angel slowly, warily opened one small eye, to find Alastor watching him.

"How are you feeling?" Al asked, smiling much more softly than he normally would, with less sharp edges and less teeth.

"...Less...tired?" Angel mumbled, slowly.

"You look it." Alastor said. "The only person who came looking for you was Niffty, she wanted you to know that dinner is at seven fifteen, tonight. It's seven, now."

Angel opened his main eyes properly, and nodded. "Thanks." He groaned as he pushed himself up. "I'm...still a bit tired."

"You only had a few hours, and it's more effective if it's actually nighttime." Alastor said. "You'll probably be much closer to normal tomorrow, if I stay with you, tonight."

"Yer stayin' with me tonight?" Angel asked. "Or...am I goin' in your room?"

"You've stayed in my room twice, now. I'd like to stay here, if that's alright with you." Alastor said. "May I?"

Angel nodded. "Yeah, 'course y'can." He said. "Um...I gotta change clothes. These're comfy, but I've been wearin' them since yesterday mornin', pretty much the whole time."

"Angel! You look so much better, did you get some rest?" Charlie asked, as Angel sat down at the dining table.

"Yeah, got a few hours'a sleep." Angel said. "Headache's gone, too. Or...mostly gone. As long as...no-one screams at me, I'll be fine."

Charlie nodded. "Al, thanks for stopping by his room on your way down, to help him."

"Not a problem at all. I was passing, anyway." Alastor said. "He only really needed help on the stairs. I know the muscle aches are one of the more difficult things to manage and predict, even though the sleep disruption is more inconvenient."

"You...say that as though you've been through withdrawal." Charlie said, carefully.

"I have. I was addicted to amphetamine in the 1920s." Alastor said. "I'd started using it medicinally, for low blood pressure, and it got out of hand. As it turns out, I didn't actually have low blood pressure in the first place, I just wasn't attracted to any of the nurses, and I wasn't nervous about being there, so it was comparitively low, but completely normal."

"You'd been misdiagnosed?" Charlie asked. "That's awful. I'm sorry you went through that."

"It's alright, it's alright. It's in the past." Alastor said. "And I killed the woman who'd pushed me towards the drugs. Medical malpractice. I wasn't her only victim."

Charlie looked...highly uncomfortable about that.

"Al? Were you serious 'bout killin' yer doctor?" Angel asked, drying the plates as Al cleaned them.

"I am. She'd been on my radar for about three months, after I managed to quit, but she was directly involved with the completely avoidable death of a three year old boy." Alastor said. "She'd given him medication he didn't need, and had told his parents to simply give him more if he didn't get better. He got worse, they gave him more, and he died of an overdose. The father came to me, because he'd heard I could make people disappear, so I made her disappear. I doubt she's been found, even to this day, but considering where I left her body, the modern authorities will likely conduct an investigation anyway, and will only give up when they realise she's been in there for over a century."

"You dumped her in a bog?"

Al nodded. "The bayou near where I grew up is littered with bodies. Some of them are mine, others are not." He said. "In fact, my body is probably in there somewhere, too."

"Yeah." Angel muttered. "Um...all done?"

"All done."

Chapter Text

Alastor couldn't quite believe what he'd offered his spider. Multiple sexual acts. And Angel hadn't accepted it. Al couldn't understand why he'd felt so disappointed about that. He wanted to. He was ready to. But Angel was too tired.

And now, Alastor was laying awake thinking about it, staring at Angel's ceiling, with Angel holding him, asleep under Al's magic. He'd never once offered something half so intimate to anyone, certainly not a soul he owned. Why was Angel so different?

It wasn't just that he had answers on Alastor's life. Al had found him before he knew that, been intimate with him before that. He'd had sex with him in life...and liked it...

He had no idea what he was supposed to feel. He wanted...to feel more.

Alastor decided he would try everything with Angel. Everything his spider was comfortable with, of course.

He woke Angel at the agreed time, quarter to eight. Angel tried to argue, then fell back asleep. This was probably a good sign, as far as his withdrawals were concerned, however annoying it might be. Al gave Angel the requested five more minutes, then woke him again.

"Huh? What?" Angel mumbled, clearly not yet fully awake.

"It's time to wake up, darling." Alastor said. "I allowed you five more minutes, because you asked for it-"

"I did?" Angel asked. "An'...I fell back asleep?"

"Yes. Should I have not allowed you to? I'm sorry, we didn't discuss this."

"No, Al, it's good." Angel said, pushing himself up. "Yer...magic thing has...really fuckin' helped with my- Owww, my fuckin' legs hurt." He'd tried fully standing up, and collapsed back onto the bed.

Alastor was standing in an instant, helping Angel up. "You're alright. What do you want to wear?"

"The, uh...blazer an' skirt. 'S'on the desk." Angel muttered. Al snapped his fingers, instantly switching Angel's pyjamas for the requested clothes, dressing himself at the same time. "Oh. Thanks." Angel said, reaching up to touch his neck, where he used to wear a black choker.

"You miss wearing that?" Alastor asked.

"Miss havin' somethin' 'round my neck." Angel said. "Got so fuckin' used to it."

"Well, we're going to Rosie's in two days, I'm sure she'll have something similar." Alastor said. "Let's go to breakfast?"

"Yeah."

Again, they allowed Charlie to believe that Alastor had simply stopped by Angel's room to help him with the stairs.

"You're looking so much better, Angel, that's great!" Charlie said.

"Yeah. Thanks." Angel said. "Um...slept all night. Still got the aches, though. Still...a little tired. That's what happens when you fuck up yer sleep schedule."

"This is progress, Angel, you're doing so well." Charlie said. "I'm proud of how far you've come."

Angel smiled, and started to glow faintly. "Thanks."

'Al? Can I...sit next to ya?' Angel asked, after breakfast, when Al was going through some of his Overlord-related paperwork, in the lobby.

'Yes, darling, of course you may.' Alastor replied. Angel lit up a little, and quickly curled up on the couch beside him.

"What ya doin'?" Angel asked, out loud this time.

"Reading through some paperwork." Alastor said. "The software Charlie found is much easier to handle than physical copies. I'm in the process of moving everything over."

"You gonna keep a physical backup, just in case?" Angel asked.

"Yes, I am." Alastor said. "This system does rely heavily on technology, and, should it fail, I want to be prepared. As my Mother always said, 'failure to prepare is preparing to fail'."

Angel nodded. "Yeah. It really is."

They sat together in comfortable silence for a while.

"Al, I'm scared." Angel whispered.

"What of?" Alastor asked, equally quiet.

"Jus'...I-I'm worried 'bout...what Charlie an' Vaggie will say when they...find out about us." Angel said. "I know it's silly, but...I don't wanna...insult them? I guess. By not trustin' them ta trust me sooner. I dunno."

"Charlie will not take it as an insult, darling, trust me." Alastor said. "She knows that she'd struggle to keep something like this from Vaggie, and she'll understand the reasons you didn't want this getting out. You're right when you worry that Valentino is likely to try to take you back, if he finds out, and Vox will support him. You're also right that Vaggie is highly unlikely to understand my motivations, or even believe them."

Angel sighed. "When should I say somethin', then?" He asked.

"Whenever you're ready, Angel." Alastor said. "I'll support you, I'll protect you, I'll keep you safe."

"Can I hug you?"

"Yes, you may." Alastor said.

Angel brightened, and leaned closer to Al, before wrapping two left arms around his back. Al responded by moving his right arm around Angel's shoulders.

"Um...Al?" Charlie asked, approaching them nearly an hour later. "What have we talked about?"

"Enforcing my boundaries." Alastor said. "Five foot rule, Charlie."

Charlie, absolutely taken aback, stepped outside the radius.

"There, enforced." Alastor said, smiling brightly. "Was there anything else you needed?"

"Alastor, please don't neglect your boundaries. It's great that you want to help Angel, and I don't know exactly what you've agreed to, but from the outside, it looks like you're letting him break every rule you've ever had in the hotel." Charlie said.

"Angel asked for a hug, for physical reassurance that he wasn't alone, and I granted him permission." Alastor said. "I don't appreciate you pushing this again."

'Again?' Angel asked, pulling away from Al. "S-sorry, Al, I-I-"

"Angel, you've done nothing wrong. You have my permission." Alastor said. "Come back. Let me hold you."

Angel was clearly panicking, eyes darting between Charlie and Al.

"See what you've done?" Alastor asked, looking at Charlie. "He's panicking that he was pushing a boundary. Please stop bringing it up." He turned back to Angel. "Come back, Angel, I want you next to me."

Angel hesitantly moved closer, and let Al hold him, still trembling.

"Shhh, there. It's alright. You're allowed to hold me." Alastor said, as softly as he could manage. "You're safe, Angel. Breathe with me, now. Come on."

It took him a few minutes to get Angel to calm down, by which point, Charlie had apologised three times.

Tuesday came quickly. Angel was recovering well, and had slept through a whole night without Alastor's assistance. Al had been there, just in case.

At 3pm, Al and Angel arrived at Cannibal Town, for the appointment with Rosie. They had discussed beforehand that Angel was fine with her knowing everything, since Al trusted her so fully.

"Alastor! Great to see ya!" Rosie called from across the store. Al gave her a small wave as she approached. She hugged him briefly. "Here for your appointment?"

"Yes, we are." Alastor said. "Angel, this is Rosie, my dearest friend and closest ally in Hell. Rosie, this is Angel Dust, my boyfriend."

"I knew it." Rosie said. "You're smitten, aren't you, deerheart?"

Alastor's face felt warm. "Maybe."

"Hi, Rosie." Angel said. "Um...I got a...fittin' appointment...thingy."

"Yes! Let me get your measurements taken, and we'll pick some designs out." Rosie said, practically dragging Angel further into the building.

Alastor took the time to look around the entire store, while Angel and Rosie discussed things. Al had specified to Rosie that there was no limit on how much Angel could spend, and she should assume anything he showed interest in was something he could have. Alastor would buy his spider anything that caught his eye.

It took him a while to find everything, mostly because the different things were in different areas of the Emporium, but he eventually had a few gifts for the other residents of the hotel, as well as a black silk choker for Angel. When he got back to pay for everything, Angel and Rosie were still looking through designs.

Rosie had promised Al she'd only tell Angel the price of the things he'd picked, so he wouldn't feel bad for how much Al was willing to spend on him. Still Angel did see how much Al was paying.

"Holy fuck, Al, what else d'you have?" Angel asked.

"A few other things for people. It's not all in this bag, darling, I haven't spent a small fortune on something little." Alastor said. "Some is custom made. I imagine it'll take a few weeks."

Angel nodded. "Okay. S-sorry, that was rude, wasn't it?"

"It's fine." Alastor said. "I'll never punish you for being curious."

When they got back to the hotel, they were questioned by Vaggie. Alastor explained that he'd had errands on the same side of town as an appointment Angel had, so they'd gone together, for Angel's safety. Vaggie reluctantly accepted that this made sense, then failed to ask what the errands or appointment were, or which side of town they were on.

"I've gotten a few small gifts for everyone." Alastor announced. "As a sort of late celebration of Angel's freedom, Sir Pentious's first week, and both of their progress in their programmes."

"Thank you, Alastor, you didn't have to do that." Charlie said.

"Well, I was getting Angel something, anyway. I know how hard the first few weeks are." Alastor said. "I didn't want him to feel...singled out."

'Didn't want me ta feel singled out, huh?' Angel asked. 'No, y'just spent 700 bucks on me. Don't feel singled out at all.'

"In any case, Charlie, this one's for you." Al said, lifting each brown paper package from the bag, and handing them to who they were for. "Husker. Niffty. Pentious. Vaggie, I had no idea what to get you, so I just went with something that looked dangerous. And finally, Angel. Here you go. Enjoy them."

Charlie looked absolutely ecstatic. "We have to open them together! Let's sit in a circle, and thank Alastor for being so thoughtful."

Within moments, the chairs had been moved into a circle in front of the couch, and everyone except Alastor was sitting down.

"Angel, why don't you go first?" Charlie asked. "You know, since you were our first patron?"

"...Sure." Angel said. "Why not?" He carefully unwrapped his package. "Holy shit. Is this a fuckin' 4k video camera?"

"You mentioned you would be needing one. Look underneath it." Alastor said.

Angel did. There was a small, flat box, which he curiously opened. "Fuck. Al, y'didn't hafta."

"You liked wearing the old one, but can't anymore, due to its association with your former employer." Alastor explained. "I saw a replacement, made sure it was the right size, but a different material-"

"It's fuckin' silk?" Angel realised. "Al, I-I don't know what ta...fuck, thank you."

"It was no trouble at all." Alastor said.

The other gifts were all either something the person wanted or needed; a new laptop case for Charlie, a new pair of cufflinks for Husk, various mechanical parts for Sir Pentious, and a new set of insect killing equipment for Niffty. The only person he'd really had no idea for was Vaggie, so he'd simply settled on a small, ornate dagger.

"Um...this all looks...really expensive, Al." Charlie said, after everyone had opened them, and thanked him for them.

"Not at all. You deserve nice things." Alastor said.

"No, seriously, is there some...special occasion, or something?" Vaggie asked. "This isn't like you at all."

Husk huffed. "Yeah, it is. He got me gold fuckin' clubs cufflinks, which makes a full set he's got me since '66, fer no fuckin' reason." He said. "He does this sometimes. Usually means he's feelin' good about somethin', or that he wants somethin'. Sometimes it's both."

"Oh, I can assure you, it's both." Alastor said, smiling brightly. "Although, I didn't do this to procure what I want. I'm confident I've already secured it."

"So, you're celebrating by giving us things?" Vaggie asked. "That's...i-is this Angelic steel?"

"It is." Alastor said. "Do you like it?"

"...Yes." Vaggie admitted. "It's...really nice, and...practical."

"Alright, then. So, everyone is happy?" Alastor asked.

"...Alastor, you shouldn't just..." Charlie tried.

"You needed that, didn't you?" Alastor asked. "And it's brightly coloured, with rainbows. Don't you like it? I can take it back-"

"No. No, I...I like it." Charlie said. "Um...it's great that you...surprised everyone, today, but...you understand that this might make us feel like you want something from us?"

"I don't want anything from you, Charlie, this is simply how I like to express my positive feelings." Alastor said. "By sharing them."

"...Aww. That's...really sweet, Al, thank you." Charlie decided.

"I must admit, I'm doing this very late." Alastor said. "A week and a half late, but we've been so busy at the hotel, making such progress." He paused, smiling at them. "Well, then. If that's all, I'll be in my room, if anyone needs me." He teleported there, without another word.

It was two hours before someone came knocking at his door. When he opened it, there was Angel, wearing his new choker.

"Hello, my darling." Al said. "What is it you need?"

"Um...Charlie says dinner's in an hour." Angel said. "Vaggie's chilli stuff. It's nice."

Alastor nodded. "Okay. Thank you."

Angel bit his lip, and stayed hovering in the doorway.

"Is there...anything else?" Alastor asked.

"Um...when Husk said...y'were feelin' good 'bout somethin'...or you wanted somethin'...y'said he was right." Angel said. "What was it?"

"What am I feeling good about?" Alastor said. "You."

Angel's markings started to glow faintly. "Me?"

"Yes, you." Alastor said. "I want you. I want to be close to you. I feel good when I'm near you. I want you to feel good, too."

"Shit. I...can I come inta yer room?"

"Yes, of course." Alastor said, stepping aside.

Angel shut the door behind him. "So...you want me. I...I want you, too, Al." He said. "Can I kiss you?"

Alastor felt his ears press back. "Yes." He muttered. Angel wanted him. "Anything, darling."

Angel pressed a kiss to Al's cheek. "Anything?" Angel asked. "What if I wanted you ta fuck me?"

"If...you'd talk me through it, I'm sure I-"

"Al, this is the part where yer supposed ta set up yer boundaries." Angel said, tone suddenly incredibly serious.

Al shook his head. "If you want it, I'll try." He said. "I want to try. Could we...perhaps start with the things you requested at the weekend? I've already researched those."

"Wh- Now?" Angel asked.

"If you'd like." Alastor said. "I know I'd like to try it."

"You actually wanna...oh. Okay." Angel said. "...Now?"

"You aren't overtired, anymore, and are therefore able to give consent, if you'd like." Alastor said. "...Would you like to?"

Angel looked truly stunned. "Would I...yer fuckin' propositionin' me, ain't you?"

Alastor grinned. "I believe Husker called one of the acts 'eating someone out'." He said. "I could eat you out."

Angel whimpered, and pressed his thighs together, attempting to hide the arousal which Alastor could already smell.

Alastor pointedly looked down at the poorly concealed tent in Angel's skirt. "Happy to see me, darling?" He asked.

"Fuck. Okay. Yeah." Angel said. "Bed, now."

Chapter Text

"Fuck, Alastor! How're ya so fuckin' hot?" Angel asked, near-breathless, as Al simply kept kissing him. They'd started with the mouth, but Al had moved on, to ravish Angel's neck with kisses, gently sucking faint marks into his pale skin. "A-am I allowed ta call you 'hot', when we're doin' somethin' that's actually sexual?"

Alastor stopped, pulled his head up for long enough to make eye contact with Angel, nodded, and moved back down, kissing Angel's neck some more.

"Thanks." Angel said. Al's hands were tugging at his blazer, slightly unsure. "Yer allowed ta undress me, if y'want." Alastor finally focussed enough to find the top button, and undo it. Within moments, his hands were kneading the fur on Angel's chest. Angel whimpered. "Kinda sensitive there, Al. Jus' gentle?"

"Sorry." Alastor said, making his hands slow down, pulling away from Angel's neck to gently trace the outline of the heart in Angel's fur with one finger. Angel shivered, somehow growing more aroused. The way Al's eyes were studying him, watching so carefully, like he was mapping out Angel's body, finding everything that gave a reaction...it was really hot.

"Can I touch you?" Angel asked, without thinking.

"You...may touch my waist, arms, neck, face, or ears, if you'd like." Alastor said. "Do not touch my antlers. Or...my chest."

Angel nodded. He let his secondary hands rest on Al's waist, and his primary ones linked behind Al's neck. "Y'can touch me wherever you want."

Alastor grinned, and moved down Angel's body, to gently groom Angel's chest fur with his tongue. Angel relaxed completely, and brought his primary hands up to play with Al's ears, which were sinfully soft, and his secondaries up to Al's shoulders. Alastor snapped his fingers, and Angel's skirt was gone, and so was the red, lacy thing he had on underneath. Holy fuck, Al was serious. This was the barest Angel had ever been in front of the deer.

When Al moved down again, to settle between Angel's legs, Angel bit his lip, and stared up at the ceiling for a few seconds. He looked down when Al curiously touched around the base of his dick with two gentle fingers.

"You are...very big, darling." Al observed, possibly slightly intimidated, staring intently at Angel's cock. "Do the pink stripes mean anything?"

"They glow when the other markings do, but they ain't more or less sensitive than the rest." Angel said. "An' I'm only long. It ain't any thicker than it was when I was alive. It's usually the girth that brings the most pleasure, not length. Length don't matter, if y'can't get it all in."

Alastor swallowed, still not looking away.

"Here, you don't gotta do anythin' with that." Angel said, grabbing his dick with one secondary hand, and laying it flat against his stomach, keeping it out of Al's way. "I get that it really ain't a starter dick."

"A-apologies, darling." Alastor said. "May I...try again?"

"Don't worry, it's okay t'be intimidated by a fuckin' nine inch cock, Al. I know I was, when I woke up in Hell with it." Angel said. "'Course y'can try again. I ain't gonna be upset if you wanna back out, though."

Al shook his head. "I don't want to...I-I want to try again. I don't want to back out." He said, moving his fingers a little lower. "You're wet, mon Ange."

Angel moaned softly, as Al's fingers stroked the lips of his pussy. "Y-yeah, that's...what happens when...yer turnin' me on." He mumbled. "All fer you, babe, please."

Alastor growled, and bit into Angel's thigh lightly, not enough to break the skin, but enough that Angel understood he didn't like something he'd said. He was still exploring Angel's pussy gently, slowly, curiously, and Angel didn't want it to stop, wasn't sure if pointing things out would help Al, or frustrate him, wouldn't dare risk breaking whatever trance Al seemed to be in.

"What didn't ya like? You gotta tell me, or I can't avoid it." Angel said.

"Don't call me that." Alastor whispered. "'Babe'...I don't like it. I want...you to use my name."

Angel nodded. "Okay, I will." He said. "Thanks fer tellin' me, Al."

Alastor's ears flicked. He broke eye contact with Angel to glance down at his pussy for a second, then looked back up.

"Alastor. What is it you wanna ask me?" Angel prompted, gently.

Al's face flushed bright red. "I-I...you smell incredible, darling." He stammered. "M-may I...taste you?"

"No biting my junk." Angel said. Alastor nodded frantically, almost desperately. "Go ahead, then, gorgeous."

If Alastor didn't like that, he didn't mention it. He simply leaned in closer, and licked into Angel's pussy. Angel let his more vocal reactions spill out freely, but managed to stop himself from grabbing Al's head by the antlers. His head fell back to Al's pillow, panting already. Al was so warm and wet, and it felt so fucking good.

"Y-you...want a tip, Al?" Angel asked. Al's claws dug into his thighs. "That a 'yes'?"

'Yes.' Alastor said, not coming up for air, continuing to lick him inside.

Angel pushed one finger between himself and Al's face. "This little bit here? That feels the best fer me." He explained. "That's my clit. You wanna lick it, an' see what it does ta me?"

Alastor answered by immediately licking it. Angel jolted, and moaned loudly, as electric pleasure suddenly flowed through his whole body. Al definitely liked that reaction, because that was where he had started focusing all of his attention, and soon Angel couldn't help but grind into Al's mouth, to the point that Al was gripping his hips to keep him still.

"Please! Please, fuck, please!" Angel babbled, eyes squeezed shut, hands blindly pulling at Al's ears and hair. "I'm so fuckin' close, Al."

'Go ahead, darling, whenever you're ready.' Al told him. 'Scream my name, Angel.'

Angel definitely did just that, as his orgasm crashed into him. Alastor licked him through it, through the aftershocks, through a second and maybe a third orgasm, until Angel was begging him to stop.

And then the next thing Angel knew was that he was warm, and safe, and Alastor was stroking his back as he came down, shushing him and gently rocking him. His face was against Al's chest, only the few layers of fabric Al was wearing separating them, and Angel quickly realised that was true for all of him, not just the face, because he was still more or less naked.

Angel's cheek fur was damp. So was the front of Al's suit jacket.

"Are you back, darling?" Alastor asked gently.

"Mmmaybe?" Angel mumbled.

"Well, wherever you are, I've got you, and you're safe." Alastor said. "Oh, darling, that was wonderful. You taste divine. Your voice, mon Ange, those sounds you made were like music."

Angel pulled back a little bit, to look at him. "Shit, Al, I...how many-"

"Three. You had three orgasms." Alastor said, smiling brightly. "I would have given you more, but you were so sensitive, you said it was too much for me to keep going."

"Thanks." Angel said. "Um...did you?"

"...Did I, what?"

"Did you come?" Angel asked.

"Ah. I did not." Alastor said. "I did, however, recieve a great amount of satisfaction, and checked twice during, and once afterwards that I was entirely too sensitive to comfortably touch myself, or allow you to."

"Oh." Angel said. "Um...so you don't wanna?"

"No, I don't. I only checked for you." Alastor said. "I don't have to have an orgasm to enjoy having sex with you." He paused for a few seconds. "That's...what we did, isn't it? O-oral sex?"

"Yeah, that's the one." Angel said, finally feeling present enough to start moving. "Are you...okay with that?"

"Surprisingly, yes." Alastor said. "I suppose, since I know we've already had penetrative sex, it's less...daunting?"

Angel nodded. "Yeah, that prob'ly helps." He said. "You don't...remember that, though. Oh shit, what time is it?"

"Ten minutes 'till seven." Alastor said. "We aren't late for dinner, darling, trust me. I've cleaned you up, so only Husker is likely to guess what happened. He knows not to mention it. Shall we get you dressed?"

"Yeah, that's...a good idea."

"Hey, Al?" Angel asked, making sure his sweater covered up his hickies, and his hair was tidy-ish. Enough that he didn't look like he'd just been tongue-fucked into subspace. "Um...earlier, when I called ya 'gorgeous', was...that okay?"

"It wasn't a nickname, it was a descriptor." Alastor said. "Those are fine, however much I simply don't see in me what you must."

"So...I can call ya things like 'pretty boy', 'gorgeous', 'beautiful'?" Angel asked.

"Yes, those are all fine." Alastor said. "I must admit, I prefer the other one you used...'tess...'"

"'Tesoro'?" Angel asked. "I'll use that one more, then."

Husk had been glancing between Al and Angel in a way he must have thought was subtle all through the meal. Angel had shaken his head at him twice, and Al had sent him three death glares, in an attempt to get him to stop before someone else figured out that something had happened.

Thankfully, Charlie was too focussed on keeping Niffty and Vaggie from showing off their new sharp objects at the table, and Pentious was tinkering with the parts Al had given him, so no-one noticed.

Husk then approached them after dinner, when they were on their own in the kitchen, washing dishes.

"So, am I allowed to ask?" Husk asked.

'Fine by me.' Angel told Al.

"Yes, Husker, you are." Alastor said.

"Did you fuck?" Husk asked.

"Jeez, Husk, straight to the point." Angel said. "What's yer nose tellin' ya?"

"You did, but...he didn't-"

"Okay, I'm gonna stop ya there." Angel said. "Yeah, we fucked. No, it wasn't a 'both'a us hafta come' thing."

Husk was silent for a moment. "Um...how'd it go?" He asked. "Did you...figure it out okay, Al?"

"Yes, I think I did." Alastor said. "...Angel, did I-"

"Y'made me come three times, Al, you fuckin' did it right." Angel said. "Husk, don't go tellin' anyone 'bout this. I ain't ready fer...Vaggie to explode at me over Al ownin' me."

"Fair enough." Husk said. "Yeah, I was jus' curious. Al, the whole time I've know you, you've never done anythin' like this."

Alastor seemed to be getting used to sleeping in Angel's bed. Or...pretending to be asleep in Angel's bed. He just...didn't have to sleep, sometimes.

Fat Nuggets was getting used to him being there, too. This meant he was no longer defending his nest of blankets with small growls any time Al got close, nor getting startled each time Al spoke.

Angel had emptied a few drawers in his dresser, for Al's things, should he need them. Alastor had moved exactly one suit, and one set of pyjamas into these drawers from his room.

When Alastor offered him a kiss as he climbed into bed, Angel didn't really think much of it, and happily went along with it, kissing back. Then Al pushed him onto his back, and climbed on top of him, pinning him to the bed, still kissing him. And then he broke the kiss to groom Angel's neck fur again.

"Should'a known you'd have a groomin' kink, Al." Angel muttered. "Very deer-like, ain't it? Y'didn't have it when we were alive. Or...I didn't see it. I like it. I'm...glad yer comfortable enough ta share it with me."

Alastor pulled away, looking slightly shocked at himself. "I...didn't realise I was...I'm sorry, Angel."

"What? No, Al, it's okay." Angel said. "I like it. Yer fuckin' cute when yer followin' yer instincts."

"It was...the saltiness, I think I was...trying to get." Alastor said. "May I..."

"Keep goin'? Sure, Al." Angel said. "I told you I like it."

Al's cheeks were quite red. He smiled softly, and leaned down again, to keep going. He gently groomed the fur across Angel's clavicles, and up his whole neck, before pressing his body on top of Angel's, and nuzzling into one side of his neck.

'May I bite you, darling?' Alastor asked. 'Just a little bit. I won't draw blood, I promise.'

"Yeah, Al." Angel said, stroking Alastor's ears, like he had done before. "I don't mind if ya make me bleed a little, you know."

Those gorgeous ears flicked in his hands, and Alastor shivered. His teeth nipped at Angel's skin, chewing gently. After a few light bites, Al gave him a slightly deeper one, and they both moaned softly, Angel at the pain, Al at the taste of the blood.

It was now that Angel realised Al was at least half hard, and was rubbing himself against Angel's belly carefully, almost like he didn't want the spider to notice. "Hey, Al?" Angel asked. Alastor hummed in acknowledgement. "It's okay if you wanna come."

Alastor froze. He pulled away slightly, and noticed his state of arousal seemingly all at once. "Oh. I...I'm sorry, I..."

"It's okay." Angel said, gently stroking Al's cheek. "I can help you out, if ya want? I'll go slow. Gentle. Guide ya through it. Only if you wanna. I'm never gonna force you ta try anythin'."

Alastor quickly shook his head, and moved off of Angel, curling up with his back to him. "I'm sorry." He whispered.

"You nervous? It's okay." Angel said. "We don't gotta do anything you don't wanna. What're you sorry for?"

"I...I don't know."

"Fer comin' onto me?" Angel asked. "Fer gettin' turned on by the taste'a my blood?"

"For assuming you'd be alright with it." Alastor said. "I...should have asked."

"I am alright with it. I would'a told you, if I wasn't." Angel said. "Lemme ask again. Do you wanna come?"

Alastor hesitantly nodded.

"D'you want me ta do it for you?" Angel asked. "I'll take it real slow, use my hands or my mouth, whatever you wanna try, an' it's okay if y'don't like somethin'."

"...Okay." Alastor whispered. He then didn't move at all from where he was curled up on Angel's bed.

"You wanna come back here, pretty buck?" Angel asked. "Big strong Radio Demon, got spooked by a little intimacy? You want yer doe ta take care'a ya?"

Alastor shivered. His ears had been pressed back for a while, but now Angel could hear a soft thudding, coming from Al's lower back.

"D'you have a tail, Al?" Angel asked. "That's fuckin' cute. Waggin' yer little tail fer me. D'you like the way I was talkin' just now?"

"Y-yes." Alastor whispered.

"Can I hold ya?" Angel asked. "Just a little hug from behind, with yer doe's arms wrapped all around you. Does that sound nice, pretty buck?"

Alastor nodded. "Please. W-would you?"

Angel moved very slowly, and gently touched Al's arm, before pulling them closer together, and held him close. "Here we go. Is this okay?"

"Yes." Alastor said. "Um...I-I'd like to..."

"You want me ta touch you?" Angel asked. "I can make it feel real good, but you gotta say it's okay first."

Alastor didn't move for a few seconds. "I...I'd like that."

Angel smiled. "Is it that it's uncomfortable ta touch yerself, or that yer too sensitive down there fer anythin'?"

"I suppose...it's that I can't focus on it enough, without making myself uncomfortable." Alastor said. "It's...easier when I can distract myself. I think that's why I could, on Friday. Because we were hurting each other."

"Okay, so I can distract you with some other stuff, while I touch you." Angel said. "Is that okay?" Al nodded. "So, can I touch yer dick?"

"You may."

Angel started by moving his primary hands up, to touch Al's ears, and at the same time rubbing gentle circles into his back with his secondaries. He summoned his third set of arms, and carefully palmed Al's cock through his pyjamas.

Al immediately made a noise like he was in pain, so Angel stopped moving completely.

"Sorry. Too much?" Angel asked.

"I-I forgot you had six arms." Alastor said. "And...I'm not sure I'm comfortable...not being able to see you."

"Okay. I'll put the third set away, and you can just roll over." Angel said. "Anything else?"

Al slowly turned around in Angel's arms. "You were right when you asked if I was too sensitive for anything down there." Alastor said. "I rarely touch myself, just because it's too frustrating to reach the end. Sometimes it hurts. I-I need...something else to focus on. Sometimes I...bite my tongue to...taste something else...feel something else."

"Fuck, that's...hard." Angel said. "Bite me, while I touch you? Might make it...less?"

"Angel, I...you know I don't like not being the one in control, don't you?" Alastor asked. "I...don't know if-"

"It's okay. You are in control. Y'can stop me from doin' anythin' with a word, Al, remember?" Angel said. "I'm tryin' ta figure you out, so I can take care'a ya the way you like."

Alastor nodded. "Could we...try again?" He asked. "I-I'll bite you if it's...too much. Is that alright?"

"Y'can bite me whenever you need, Al." Angel said. "You ready fer me ta touch you, now?"

Alastor was clinging to his shoulders, claws digging in. "Yes." He whispered. "May I...be on top of you, or is that-"

"'Course y'can, Al. C'mon." Angel said, rolling onto his back, and tugging Al with him. "This okay?"

Alastor nodded. "Thank you. I...you may."

"Okay. I'm gonna put two hands here, so y'can lean on them if you need to." Angel said, putting a primary hand on either side of Al's waist. "And I'm gonna start on the outside'a yer pyjamas, so there's a bit of a barrier. Might make it a little less. I'll go slow. Are you ready?"

"Yes, Angel, please." Alastor said. Angel gently touched at Al's dick through the fabric, not pressing hard, not rubbing, just a light touch. Alastor looked uncomfortable. "This is usually where I'd give up." He said. "Too much frustration, and a very small payoff, if I even manage to get there."

"Does it not feel good, when I touch here?" Angel asked. Alastor shook his head. Angel moved his hand away. "Okay, that's fine. D'you wanna try something else?"

"What do you suggest?" Alastor asked.

"I could touch yer balls. That feels good fer some guys." Angel said. Alastor sneered at the thought. "Okay, not a fan of the idea. I could massage your perineum."

"Why would that feel good?" Alastor asked.

"Well, apply the right pressure, at the right angle, I can stimulate your prostate." Angel explained. "You might prefer that, plus it's a little way in, so I'm not gonna be touchin' it directly. Might be a bit...less sensitive."

Angel watched Al think for a solid twenty seconds. "I...will try it." Al said, eventually. "We can give up, if I don't like it, yes?"

"'Course we can." Angel said. "Yer the one in charge here. We stop when you say." He switched his left primary with his secondary, and brought his primary up to Al's shoulders. "Yer gonna wanna lean close ta me, okay?"

Alastor nodded, and leaned close. "May I groom your fur, while I'm here?"

"If you want. Might be worth havin' a distraction." Angel said. "I'm gonna slip my hand under your waistband now, okay?"

Al hummed and nodded, already focussed on Angel's fur. Angel carefully slipped his right secondary under the waistband of Al's pyjamas, watching his ears for any signs of discomfort. There were none.

"Can I touch yer tail for a sec?" Angel asked. "Might get you used ta bein' touched back here-"

"No." Al said, suddenly. "No, please don't."

"Okay, I won't." Angel said. "Um...I'm gonna touch yer perineum now, okay? I'll be gentle, an' I'll go slow."

"Yes, alright." Al said, clearly not expecting much from this.

Angel was gentle, and he took it slow. He quickly found the soft skin behind Al's balls, and started to carefully rub into it with the first joint of his finger. Al's ears flicked, and he stopped grooming Angel's fur, but he didn't complain. "Okay?" Angel asked. Al nodded. "Any pain?" Al shook his head. "Any urges ta bite yer tongue?"

"None so far, darling." Alastor said. "It's...quite relaxing, I think. Not particularly pleasureable, as I've heard these things described, but it's nice."

"I haven't started reachin' yer prostate yet." Angel said. "You wanna know what that feels like?"

"Yes, please, darling." Al said.

"Okay. This is kinda similar to the clit, so you remember, when you licked that, I sorta suddenly, involuntarily moved, like I'd been shocked, but not quite?" Angel asked. Al nodded. "Well, I don't want you ta panic, if that sorta thing happens ta you, when I do this. Are you ready?"

"Yes, Angel, I'm ready." Alastor said. "Would you stop stalling, and get on with it? I'm not a fragile little fawn, too afraid to allow myself to be touched."

"You got it, tesoro." Angel said. He started pressing in a little bit, looking for the perfect angle to-

"Ah! Oh." Al said, burying his face in Angel's shoulder. Angel changed the angle back a little, and Al gasped, bucked his hips slightly, then moaned loudly when that made Angel's finger move against him.

"Al? Is this okay?" Angel asked.

"My goodness, Angel, I...I've never..." Alastor trailed off, shaking his head a little. "Again."

Angel grinned, and obeyed, pulling a beautiful little noise out of Al's mouth. "You like this." Angel said. "You wanna come like this?"

"Mmm, please."

"Okay, I'll get ya there." Angel promised, rubbing in more, making his deer make surprised little sounds. The best way to describe them would probably be squeaks and bleats. Yeah, not a fawn, definitely not.

Al was rocking above him, now. Not quite touching, except that he was pressing his forehead into Angel's shoulder. Whining like it was too much, and he couldn't get enough.

He did bite Angel hard, as he came, several minutes in. Angel stilled, and let Al start to come down. Then Al pulled his teeth out, and growled.

"Did I tell you to stop?" He asked, still a little breathless.

"No." Angel said, removing his hand. "You'll be oversensitive, Al, it's-"

"Keep going." Alastor demanded. Angel hesitated. "That's an order, Anthony, keep going."

Angel's heart sank. Images of Val abusing their contract, making him allow things, making him feel sick. Al had promised. He'd promised he wouldn't be like that.

But it didn't feel like it used to, when Val would give him orders. He didn't feel like there was something pulling him towards just doing it. It felt like he still had a choice, like he could decline, if he wanted to.

"Red." Angel said. Alastor pulled back to look at him, angry at first, but then less. "Red, Al, I can't."

Al's eyes widened, as he realised what he'd done, realised how it might feel to Angel. "I...I'm sorry." He said. "Oh, god, did I sound like him? Angel, I'm so sorry, I-I wasn't thinking, I didn't mean to."

Angel swallowed. "It's okay." He breathed. "Y-you stopped. I...I need a moment, can I..."

Alastor nodded, and climbed off of him. Angel gathered himself, and retreated to his bathroom.

He hadn't been expecting that from Al, at all. But...he did stop. Valentino wouldn't have. Angel didn't know if he should just forgive him, or drag this on a little longer. He didn't want to kick Alastor out. In the moment, he had, but the way Al had acted when he realised told Angel it truly wasn't intentional, and now Al probably felt like shit.

Angel breathed. Aftercare. They both needed a healthy dose of aftercare. He grabbed a clean washcloth, wet it under the hot tap, and rung it out, then found one of his softer towels.

When he went back into his room, Alastor was sitting on the bed, looking entirely lost. He looked up at Angel. "Do you want me to leave?" He asked.

"No, Al." Angel said. "You stopped when I used a safeword. You apologised. Yes, you sounded like him, but only for a moment. You scared me. I...don't want this to hurt our relationship, because everything else with you has been fuckin' incredible, so I forgive you. I don't want you ta go. I wanna clean you up, an' I think I've got a bite mark you need ta see to."

Alastor was visibly relieved. "Yes, I...think you're right." He summoned the supplies he'd found Angel responded best to. "Angel, I'm deeply sorry for what I did. I swear, I will never use your contract like that again."

Angel sat down next to him. "I believe you." He said.

Chapter Text

Alastor woke up in Angel's bed. Again.

This time, it wasn't because he sensed Angel waking up, or that the spider's phone was making that horrible shrill ringing noise. It wasn't even because he'd simply slept all that he'd had to.

No, this time, it was because Charlie was knocking on Angel's door, asking loudly why he was late to breakfast.

Alastor quickly shook Angel awake. They had no explanation for Al staying in Angel's room, certainly not practically naked as he was (they'd both been a little too warm, and had removed or fully unbuttoned their night shirts), nor so completely entangled in Angel's limbs, wrapped in the comfortable softness of his fur. He had no idea if Angel was comfortable being found out like this.

"Huh? What?" Angel asked, blearily blinking at Al.

'Charlie's looking for you, we're late for breakfast, what should I do?' Alastor asked.

"Shit, uh...Charlie?" Angel asked. "Sorry I'm...fuck, twenty minutes late? I, uh...must'a turned off my alarm by accident. Gimme five minutes, I'll be there."

"Oh, that's okay, Angel." Charlie said, muffled by the door. "I'm...glad you're getting more able to sleep, now."

"Yeah, thanks." Angel said. "It's...gettin' easier."

"That's great." Charlie said. "Also, do you know where Alastor might be? He's late, too."

"Um..." 'Gryphon?' Alastor nodded. "He said...last night that he was gonna feed the gryphon in the mornin'. He's prob'ly doin' that. I wouldn't disturb him if I were you. Could get you both hurt, that thing is a beast."

"Oh, okay." Charlie said. "Well, if you see him before I do, his breakfast's ready, too."

They were both silent for a moment, until they heard Charlie's footsteps on the stairs.

"Shit. Al, I'm sorry I couldn't..."

"It's alright. You aren't ready." Alastor said.

Angel hid his face in Alastor's chest for a few seconds. "I'm sorry, anyway. That...we gotta keep this secret 'cause'a me." He muttered. "We should...get dressed, shouldn't we?"

"It's probably a good idea to, yes." Alastor said. "Darling, I don't mind keeping this between us, for now."

Angel lifted his head, and gave Alastor a small smile. "Thanks, Al."

Alastor headed down a few minutes after Angel, to better sell the lie that he'd been in the attic.

He knew that he very much smelled of Angel's shampoo, even though he hadn't used it, simply because they'd slept in each others arms. Angel didn't really smell much of him, but that was more because Al didn't smell of much, which was better for a deer. He also knew from the way Husk was looking at him that the cat could easily tell that they'd spent the night together.

After breakfast, Angel had work, and asked that no-one disturb him for at least an hour. Alastor took the opportunity to take some entrails up to the gryphon.

He'd been getting on better terms with her, recently. Angel had showed him the proper way to give her food, and he was getting better at it. She was yet to lay any eggs. Angel had guessed that it was due to the stress of Al trying to rehome her so many times, and they just had to be patient with her, and show her she was welcome to stay there.

After that, he was very curious about what Angel was doing, because the spider was thinking very loudly about him, but he managed to avoid going into Angel's room, instead heading down to the bar, where Husker was apparently waiting for him.

"So, how was it?" Husk asked.

"I have no idea what you're talking about." Alastor said.

"Your night. How was it?"

"Oh, very nice." Alastor said. "I've recently acquired a very fluffy blanket that smells of strawberries."

Husk huffed. "Yeah, blanket." He said. "Lemme guess, white an' pink, glows when he sees you, and...being very patient with your lack of experience?"

"...He glows when he sees me?" Alastor asked.

"Oh, please. You practically glow when you think about him." Husk said. "How long are you guys planning to keep this secret?"

"Until he's ready." Alastor said.

"You really care about him, don't you?" Husk asked.

"I'll be honest, Husker, I think I love him." Alastor said. "We...haven't used that word yet. I'm not sure if he'll-"

"Alastor. The kid's fuckin' head over heels fer you." Husk said. "He'll wanna use that word. If he doesn't, you should apologise fer movin' too fast, or...what are you guys callin' this?"

"...Dating." Alastor said. "We're boyfriends."

"An' you haven't used 'love' yet?" Husk asked. "Honestly, Al, he's prob'ly frightened ta death of scarin' you off, or of makin' you snap. As far as I can tell, that's what happened with Valentino, Angel tried ta make them a couple, an' he shut off completely, an' started treatin' him like shit."

"I would never-"

"I know you wouldn't." Husk said. "He knows you wouldn't. His mind's the one who ain't gonna be convinced right away. Everythin' real you do could remind him of somethin' false that Valentino did, before that went to shit."

"I know. He's told me that." Alastor said. "Your advice is to be patient?"

"Pretty much, yeah." Husk said. "The other thing, though. You need to know where he's gonna struggle, and you need to know how he's been hurt, so you can help him heal. Do you know how he's been hurt?"

"I know some." Alastor said. "He...has nightmares. I can see them, when I'm comforting him. He's told me some things. The day before I acquired his soul, he had...injuries, which he mostly let me see to, that indicated...a specific kind of abuse. I shouldn't...go into the details-"

"He already told me that Val used to rape him." Husk said. "Monday, last week, when those guys were makin' a fuss outside the front doors, an' you sent me in the dining room with him, to keep him safe. He said that he knew you were an upgrade, 'cause you definitely wouldn't do that. Now that you guys are getting sexual, you really need to be careful around the power-play aspect of things."

"I'm...painfully aware of that, yes." Alastor said.

"'Painfully aware'?"

Alastor looked down at the bartop. "I...did something which I'm very much not proud of." He said, slowly. "I attempted to...invoke his contract, while we were...being intimate. He used our safeword. Regrettably, I took several seconds to fully respond to it."

"Shit." Husk said. "Did he...kick you out?"

"I was fully expecting him to, but he didn't." Alastor said. "He let me apologise. He let me take care of his wound. Then, he fell asleep in my arms."

When he looked up, Husk's expression was one of genuine surprise. "Wow, he...must really want what's between you two to work." He said. "You want it to work, too?"

"Of course I do." Alastor said.

"Then, you ain't gonna be so careless again, are you?" Husk asked.

"Never."

At lunch, Charlie announced a mandatory bonding activity on Friday night, that everyone, including all staff members, had to attend.

"Ain't that what 'mandatory' means, toots?" Angel asked.

"Well, yeah, but I was just making sure everyone knew it applied to them, and there is no getting out of this." Charlie said. "I'll tell you guys more, closer to the time, but it's an all weekend competition-type thing you'll be doing in pairs."

"Hun, there's seven of us." Vaggie said.

"I'll be the supervisor, making sure people adhere to the rules, and, uh...counting points?" Charlie said. "I'll check in frequently."

"What are the pairs?" Husk asked.

"I'm not telling you yet. That could give you an unfair advantage." Charlie said. That really meant she hadn't decided yet. "It's fairly straight forward. The last pair to give up will win."

Angel groaned. "It's gonna be one'a those impossible tasks, ain't it?" He asked. "Buildin' a tower out'a bricks that are all the wrong shape, or some shit."

"Not impossible, just difficult." Charlie said. "And, it's personalised, so you'll win by doing something you struggle with, and you can only win if your partner does, too."

Angel's phone had been pinging with notifications near-constantly throughout lunch. He eventually turned the device onto silent mode.

Alastor got curious. "Darling, may I ask why your phone kept making noise?" He asked, when they were alone, half an hour after everything was tidied away.

"Oh, yeah. I posted my first self-tape, just before lunch." Angel said. "Every one'a those pings was either a comment, or someone subscribing. Comments mean my thing'll be near the top of the algorithm fer longer, so more people see it, an' I get more ad revenue, an' subscriptions are where someone sends me money every month, so they get the exclusive videos, better resolution, an' a notification every time I upload."

"I see." Alastor said. "...People pay to watch you touch yourself?"

"Al, we're in Hell." Angel said. "There's a lot of creeps out there who'd wanna watch people doin' that, who I'd rather they be payin' ta scratch that itch watchin' me, than do it ta someone else, without consent."

"Doesn't that make you uncomfortable?" Alastor asked. "To know there are people like that watching you?"

"Not really." Angel said. "An' it pays really fuckin' good, when someone ain't takin' a massive cut of my earnings."

Alastor wasn't sure he liked that.

"Hey, Al?" Angel said. "Ain't it thrillin' ta know they're all allowed ta see me, but you're the only one allowed ta touch me? You're the only one that gets the real me, Al."

Alastor shivered. "I suppose...when you put it like that, it's fine."

Angel was making another self-tape in the afternoon. Alastor busied himself with tasks around the hotel, while he waited for Angel to be done.

If he was being honest with himself, he'd admit that he missed the spider, and he wanted to stop keeping their relationship secret. Alastor was rather good at lying to himself.

He was getting frustrated. He only realised this when Charlie asked him what was wrong, and why he'd been glaring at the busted lightbulb he was replacing.

"Just...waiting to see someone, dear." Alastor said. "He's...working, and it seems my weekend has just been filled up."

Charlie gasped. "Your friend. I'm so sorry, Alastor, I completely forgot." She said.

"It's alright." Alastor said. "I can see him through the week, now."

"You can? That's great." Charlie said. "Um...can I ask how it's going?"

"Incredibly well." Alastor said, smiling much more genuinely. "I don't think I've ever enjoyed spending time with someone as much as I do with him."

"You should invite him around to the hotel, sometime." Charlie said. "Maybe on game night, next week. I'd love to meet him."

Alastor felt his ears flick. "Yes, I'll...ask if he'd like to." He said. "No promises."

Angel's new account was on the news. All rumours that he was dead were, obviously, dropped. He hadn't used any Overlord's seal as a watermark, instead using his own, so there was a massive controversy over whether some other Overlord had bought him or stolen him, or if he'd simply wormed his way out of his contract.

Valentino, in particular, had some very strong opinions about Angel doing solo-work, and had attempted multiple times to get his account deleted. Since none of the Vees owned the website it was on, he hadn't gotten very far.

"He's being ridiculous." Alastor said. "Getting this worked up over a single lost soul? Incredibly childish."

"Finally, something we can agree on." Vaggie muttered, sitting on the same couch, as far from him as possible.

Alastor nodded. "If I lost, say, Husker's soul in the same manner, that being that he found some loophole, and was driven to take it because of how he'd been treated, I'd be sad to see him go, but I wouldn't try to tear him down any further." He said. "It's selfish and immature. He isn't yours, anymore. Let it go."

The news was over, and the TV turned off, by the time Angel got back downstairs. Vaggie immediately asked him if he'd seen the news.

"Val bein' an asshole? Yeah, I saw it." Angel said. "Al, can I sit next to ya?"

"Yes, of course." Alastor said.

'I could hear when y'were thinkin' 'bout how much you don't like keepin' this secret.' Angel said, sitting right next to Al. "I have ta send the fuckin' streamin' company proof that he doesn't own me, 'cause Val's reported my account. What the fuck am I supposed ta send as proof?"

"I can deal with that for you." Alastor said. "Where are they based?" 'I've told you before, darling, I don't mind people knowing you have a contract with me. If you're not ready for people to know, I will keep it secret for you.'

"Envy district." Angel said. "You don't gotta, Al, I can figure it out."

"Nonsense, Angel, Valentino is an Overlord. I'll have a better chance of countering his claims." Alastor said. "Honestly, I'd count what he did today as an attack on your livelihood. It's my entire role here to protect the residents from attacks of any kind I am able."

"That...actually makes sense." Angel said. "You'd do it?"

"Of course." Alastor said.

"Um...Angel, are you sure it's a good idea to owe Alastor something?" Vaggie asked.

"Do I fuckin' care?" Angel asked. "What's he ever done, that you've seen, that'd prove he ain't trustworthy?"

Vaggie stared at Angel for a few moments. "Fine." She said. "Just don't make a deal with him."

"Don't worry, toots, I won't." Angel promised. 'Already got one.' He added, just for Al.

Alastor smiled softly. "I'll have the issue sorted by tonight." He said. "All you need to tell me is the company's name, and I might need your username, to ensure this doesn't happen again."

It was, indeed, as easy as Alastor thought it would be, to secure Angel's account, once he knew where he needed to go. He marched straight into the head office, and calmly talked to the right person, who clearly knew who he was, and thought he'd kill her if she didn't make Valentino's claim on Angel's account disappear. She was very helpful, and showed him how to block user accounts. Alastor thanked her, and left the building.

Angel was waiting for him, when he got back to the hotel.

"I got an email, like, two minutes ago, sayin' my account's been secured, Al, what did you do?" Angel asked.

"I simply talked to the right person." Alastor said. "My influence is far stronger than his."

Angel smiled, and glowed a little all over. "Thanks." He said. "Um...can I hug you?"

Alastor glanced further into the lobby, where Charlie was sitting on the couch, with her back to the door. "You may."

Angel took him by the shoulders, pulled him close, and held him tight. Alastor gently hugged him back. "Thank you so fuckin' much." He whispered. "I love you."

Al tensed slightly at the words, thoroughly surprised that Angel had been the one to say it first.

Unfortunately, Angel took this as the bad kind of surprised. He pulled away. "Shit. I-I'm sorry, Al, I-"

"I love you, too, darling." Alastor said, quickly, quietly. "I wasn't expecting you to...say it out in the open like this. You know, since you'd prefer to keep this between us?"

"Oh. Y-yeah, yer right." Angel said. "Um...Charlie's mediating a serious conversation between Husk an' Vaggie about the difference between a latte an' a cappuccino, so I thought they'd be...occupied fer a while."

"Ah. Fair enough, then." Alastor said. "How was work?"

"Work was good." Angel said. "Got no co-workers, no-one ta argue with, no script ta follow, an' no threats of violence if I fuck up, 'cause there's nothin' I can fuck up."

"It sounds delightful." Alastor said. "I will admit, I could hear you thinking about me, while you were working."

"Shit. Um...those were jus'...fantasies of...you. I-I can stop doin' that, if you-"

"Not at all, it's quite alright." Alastor said. "I'm actually rather flattered. You could have chosen anything, anyone to think about, and you chose me. Dare I ask what these fantasies were about?"

"...Oh, y'know, pretty standard." Angel said, a little hesitantly. "Insertin' you into some weird amalgamation of porn plots, then tryin' ta twist them a little, inta how I think you'd actually be like. The first one, you were fuckin' me. The second, you were ridin' me."

"I'll...have to ask you to explain what that second one is, later." Alastor said. "For now, it's my turn to make dinner. Gumbo, or jambalaya?"

"Um...which one's the more soupy one?" Angel asked.

"Gumbo." Alastor said.

Angel nodded. "That one."

Chapter Text

Angel watched Al cook, helping out a little by passing him a few things, setting the table, and going to get people when it was ready.

The food was incredible. A little more spicy than what Al usually did, which both Angel and Vaggie had been requesting for a while. Angel wondered if that was because Al just wanted to, or because of him.

'It's for you, my darling.' Al told him. 'You really are easy to read, when you question things like that. Especially now that I know your tells so intimately.'

'I ain't easy ta read, yer just in my fuckin' head.' Angel said, definitely glowing. 'Don't talk about sex an' intimacy while we're at the fuckin' table, eatin' with everyone else, please.'

'My apologies, darling.' Alastor said, silently eating his bowl of food.

Charlie had asked to talk to Angel in her office. Angel reluctantly went there, and knocked on the door. Charlie opened it in seconds.

"Hi, Angel. Come on in." Charlie said, smiling brightly.

Angel did. "So, uh...what's this about?" He asked. "Did I...do somethin' wrong?"

"Firstly, I just wanted to go over your progress." Charlie said. "How are your withdrawals?"

"Um...mostly gone?" Angel said. "Still gettin' the aches an' pains sometimes, but that's less. Still strugglin' ta get ta sleep, a little bit, white noise helps, but, as you saw this mornin', I ain't havin' any trouble stayin' asleep."

"That's great." Charlie said. "You're at nine days, aren't you?"

"Yeah, today's the ninth." Angel said. "Holy shit, today's the ninth."

"Well, if you can get to a month, without taking any banned drugs, you get a bronze star badge." Charlie said, summoning one to show him. "Then, it's silver, for four months, and gold, for a year. Just as a little reminder of how far you've come."

"Oh, uh...can't wait." Angel said.

"Okay." Charlie said. "Second, I wanted to talk about next steps. I know you originally came here to get away from your old boss, and the redemption programme wasn't really what you wanted to do, so you asked if we could just start out with getting you off the drugs. Have you...changed your mind about that?"

"Charlie, I...just got my life back down here. I can't try ta leave." Angel said. "I really appreciate everythin' you guys have done fer me, an' I'm so happy ta be makin' progress on this, but I feel like...if I tried ta go ta Heaven? That's fuckin' far. I'd miss you all too much. An' what if they hate me? I'm a fuckin' porn star, Charlie, you think there's many'a those up there? I fuckin' love that you wanna give people a chance to try, but...I still don't think it's right fer me."

"Okay. That's fine." Charlie said.

"Does that mean I gotta move out, when I'm clean?" Angel asked, quietly.

"No. No, you don't have to." Charlie said. "I mean, you can, if you want to, but I'm not going to make you go."

Angel bit his lip. "Will I have ta pay rent? C-can I work here? Like...Husk an' Niffty do?"

"We'll work something out, yeah." Charlie said. "But you're still in a...kinda unsafe place, in terms of...potential relapses. I don't want you to make any decisions about that, until you're at least four months clean."

Angel nodded. "Okay."

"The last thing I wanted to talk to you about." Charlie said. "Is there something going on between you and Alastor? Just, he lets you hug him. He lets you stay in his room, if you need to. He's told me to stop trying to make sure he's okay with it, but it really looks like you just have a free pass on all of his boundaries."

"What can I fuckin' say 'bout that, Charlie? He knows what this part'a withdrawal's like, he knows how much reassurance an' encouragement it takes, an' I don't think I would'a got this far without him." Angel said. "There's nothin' goin' on. He's just helpin' me out."

"So...you don't owe him something?" Charlie asked.

"No, I don't." Angel said. "Watchin' me struggle was entertainin' for him. That's the whole reason he came here, to watch us struggle. He's told you that from the start."

"I know, it just...really looked like he was making progress, too." Charlie muttered. "I guess I shouldn't get my hopes up with him."

Al came into Angel's room, just as he was feeding Fat Nuggets.

"Hi, Al." Angel said, smiling at the deer.

"Hello, Angel." Alastor said. "Um...I know I haven't been invited, but-"

"D'you wanna sleep with me tonight?" Angel asked. "Not...sexually, just...actual sleeping. Fuck, I'm so bad at this."

Alastor chuckled softly. "I'd love to stay with you tonight."

Angel felt his markings light up. "Uh...I-I actually...need a shower. Like...I prob'ly reek of sex an' sweat. D'you wanna just...hang out in my room fer ten minutes?"

"Yes, of course." Alastor said.

"Thanks." Angel said, grabbing a towel, and stepping towards his bathroom.

"It's not that bad." Alastor said. "I can tell what you've been doing all day, but I think myself and Husker are the only ones who'd be able to. You were on your own."

"I...still wanna." Angel said. "Don't want you smellin' gross 'cause'a me."

"Angel. It's fine. Go." Alastor said.

Angel nodded, and headed into the bathroom.

When he got back, wrapped in a towel, starting to brush his fur, Alastor was sitting on the floor, with his back against Angel's bed, wearing pyjamas, and cradling a sleeping Fat Nuggets.

"Aww." Angel said. "Al, did he come ta you?"

Alastor looked up at him, smiled, and nodded. "Progress." He whispered. "Or...maybe he just likes that I'm warm."

Angel quietly finished drying himself, and sat down beside them to finish brushing his fur. He abruptly realised Al could see his feet, and tried to hide them-

"I've seen them, darling, you don't have to hide them anymore." Alastor said. "True, they're far from human, but so are mine." He moved one of his hooves closer to Angel, so that it was almost touching Angel's claws. "They're beautiful in my eyes, Angel."

"Yours are cute. Mine are fuckin' horrifying." Angel said. "I never liked spiders when I was alive. Too many legs, an' they could get anywhere." He shivered. "The extra arms were...a lot ta get used to, but they're really fuckin' useful, an' the fangs are...fine, I guess, venom, I hate usin' it, but it's-"

"You have venom?" Alastor asked. "S-sorry. Continue."

"...I...hate usin' it, 'cause it acts kinda similar ta Val's, 'cause'a my sin. Makes people...horny an' submissive. It's a last resort." Angel said. "The whole 'bein' intersex' thing, that's fuckin' useful, especially with what I do. Love the fur, so fuckin' soft, as long as I take care'a it, but it's white, so it stains like a bitch. Then...the dick sheath? That's not really any better or worse than normal, I do like havin' my balls inside, 'cause it hurts less if I get kicked there. It's all either okay, or good, or somethin' I don't gotta use. But then the fuckin' feet? What am I supposed ta think'a them? They're fuckin' awful. Claws I can't cut, or they'll bleed, the dew claw gets caught on fuckin' everythin', an' I was sick every time I fuckin' saw them when I first got down here. They look gross, and I hate them."

"Angel. Why do you think they look gross?" Alastor asked.

"...It's a punishment fer bein' born into the mob." Angel said. "An' fer not leavin' the second I turned 18."

"No, Angel, why do you think it?" Alastor said. "Not why do they look that way."

Angel turned away from Al, curled up against the bed. "Val told me they're gross, an' I gotta keep them covered up." He muttered. "Said if he saw them, he'd kill me."

Alastor sighed softly, and Angel heard Fat Nuggets scurrying away as Al moved. "I have to say, I disagree." He said, pulling Angel closer, to hold him. "How many times do you think I'll have to tell you that every part of you is gorgeous, before you'll start to believe me?"

"I...I don't fuckin' know." Angel whispered. "Dunno if y'can."

"Let me try?" Alastor said. "Please, darling, I want to try."

"...Okay."

Apparently, 'trying' included Al giving him a very slow, very gentle foot massage. Angel was...a little uncomfortable with Al touching his feet, at first, but did manage to get himself to relax. It was kinda weird, how well Alastor knew how to do this, how easily he adapted to Angel's demonic form.

"Hey, you don't have a thing for feet, do you, Al?" Angel asked.

"What? No." Alastor said. "I just need to show you that they aren't something you need to hide, or be ashamed of."

"So yer just showerin' them with affection?"

"You said your limbs ached." Alastor said. "Or...you thought it, when you were in the shower. I wanted to help alleviate that."

"Shit. Y-yeah, it's kinda working." Angel said. He recoiled slightly when Al touched around his left dew claw.

Alastor paused. "Sensitive?"

"Not used ta bein' touched there." Angel muttered. "C-can we stop? I...wanna stop."

"Of course." Alastor said, removing his hands entirely.

Angel pulled his legs closer to himself, until his knees were against his chest. "Al?" He asked, softly. "Thanks fer...trying. I...don't think it helped, but...thanks anyway."

"It's no trouble at all, darling." Alastor said. "Now, cuddles then sleep?"

Angel smiled. "Yeah."

Alastor was so warm. Angel wanted to be as close to him as possible. They both had their arms around each other, pressing their bodies together. Al was a little lower down, with his face hidden in Angel's chest fluff, using one of Angel's arms as a pillow. Neither of them were asleep. Alastor didn't need to, tonight, and Angel couldn't. This must have been the milder withdrawal Al mentioned his sleep spell could cause.

"Al?" Angel asked, deathly quiet.

"Yes, my darling?" Alastor said, equally quiet.

"Are...you awake?" Angel asked.

"I am." Alastor said. "Are you uncomfortable?"

"I...need a piss." Angel said. "An'...my arm's fallin' asleep."

Alastor carefully moved his head, and they untangled themselves. "You weren't asleep, before?"

Angel shook his head. "Couldn't." He said. "Think I'm withdrawin' from yer magic. I'll be fine."

"I'm sorry." Alastor said.

"Al, it's fine." Angel said, heading towards the bathroom. "It's not as bad as diazepam, trust me."

Al was right where he'd left him, when Angel got back. Angel quietly climbed back into bed, and nuzzled into Al's chest, laying more or less fully on top of him.

"You should try to sleep." Alastor muttered, pulling the blanket up to Angel's shoulders. "It's 3am."

"Ain't...really all that tired." Angel whispered. "...I'll try."

He had no idea if he actually managed to get to sleep, or not. It was barely past seven, when he gave up, and dragged himself out of Alastor's hold, to get dressed for the day.

"I think you had an hour, at most." Alastor said. "You definitely got to sleep, at some point."

Angel nodded. "Thanks." He said. "Wanna...go ta breakfast? Surprise everyone with, uh...mini frittatas, or somethin'?"

"If you'd like." Alastor said. "I must admit, I'm not familiar with frittatas. May I try to help?"

"'Course y'can." Angel said. "Get dressed, an' meet me in the kitchen in...ten minutes? I'll go up an' check if the gryphon's laid an egg yet, an' use that if she has."

Alastor smiled, and nodded. "There's a plastic tub of entrails in the bottom of the fridge." He said. "She can have those."

"Got it." Angel said. "Can ya take Nuggs outside?"

"Yes, go." Alastor said.

The gryphon was a little more growly than normal. Angel carefully slid the tub towards her, before stepping high enough up the ladder that she'd be able to see his head. She kept looking between it and him, so he lifted all of his hands where she could see them, to show her he had no weapon. She hesitantly climbed out of her nest, and sniffed at the food. She glanced at Angel again, then grabbed what looked like a whole kidney out of the tub, and started tearing into it.

Angel climbed the rest of the way into the attic, and checked in the nest. There, nestled between the layers of torn up blanket they'd sacrificed for her, was a single golden egg.

"Holy shit." Angel whispered. "You've settled?" The gryphon rustled her wings. "That ain't a fertilised one. D'you want me ta take it, so it doesn't go bad, an' make yer nest stink of rotten eggs?"

The gryphon paused in the middle of something dripping with blood, looked up at Angel, then down at the egg, and approached quite quickly. She considered for a moment, Angel knew she more or less understood what he'd said, because gryphons were almost as intelligent as hellborn children, and then she gently nudged the egg towards him with her beak.

Angel carefully picked it up, and cradled it in his lower sets of arms. "Thank you." He said.

When Angel got down to the kitchen, Al was already there, waiting, and Fat Nuggets was visible through the window, digging in the hotel's garden.

"Al, look at this." Angel said.

Alastor turned around, and saw the egg immediately. "Oh, wow. That's...really big."

"Prob'ly enough fer everyone, twice over." Angel said. "I'm makin' fifteen mini frittatas, two each for today, plus Nuggs likes them when they're cooled. This is bigger than I thought it'd be. Nearly four fuckin' pounds. That's, like...thirty chicken eggs."

"What will you do with the rest?" Alastor asked.

"Uh...leave it in the fridge, in a bowl, covered with cling film so whoever cooks lunch or dinner can use it if they need to." Angel said. "If not, I guess I'm makin' the same tomorrow."

"I believe it's Charlie's turn for lunch, and Niffty's, for dinner. I'm sure one of them will be using eggs." Alastor said. "What's first?"

"D'you wanna chop the onions, or grease the ramekins?" Angel asked, grabbing a few of the ceramic bowls from one of the cupboards.

"Onions, darling. I have a high tolerance to them." Alastor said. "Fine, or coarse?"

"Fine." Angel said, collecting various ingredients from the fridge and the shelves net to it. "Uh...mushrooms, red pepper...chives an' parsely, then all the cheese...salami...found it. What is it you have to eat? And...how much? Sorry, I don't cook fer everyone very often."

"It's on the bottom shelf, in a tub labelled 'Alastor's, do not eat'." Al said. "It's sinner meat. Beef, to be specific. I'll need...about a quarter of what's there."

"Got it." Angel said. "Um...I should do Vaggie's first, an' yours last, right? Just so there's no chance hers gets any meat in, or yours gets in anyone else's."

"That's generally what I'd do, yes." Alastor said. "Don't some of those have a red or a green mark on one side?"

Angel nodded, quickly finding two of each of them.

They ended up using a little less than half of the egg. Alastor used a bit more, making some French toast.

Charlie was absolutely delighted when she and Vaggie got downstairs. She rushed back up to get everyone else to hurry, even though Angel told her not everything was ready yet.

"How long have you two been awake?" Vaggie asked, setting the table.

"Couldn't really sleep." Angel said. "Withdrawals."

"And, I didn't need to sleep." Alastor said. "I heard him going upstairs for the gryphon egg, asked what he was doing, and offered to help."

Vaggie nodded. "Is...that the shell?"

"Yeah." Angel said. "Fuckin' huge, ain't it? Pure gold, an' the inside should taste amazing. Half of it's left, covered up in the fridge, clearly labelled."

Everyone loved the mini frittatas, and the French toast went really well with it. Charlie asked when he'd be doing this again.

"Whenever you want me to." Angel said. "I got time every mornin', now that I don't gotta go to the Studio fer work."

Charlie looked ecstatic. "Any time you want. Your cooking tastes so good." She said. "How's it so rich?"

"That's the gryphon egg y'can taste." Angel said, smiling. "We've got the shell to sell. It's quite thick. Was kinda hard ta break properly, so Al did it with magic."

Chapter Text

'Al? Could...we play tonight, if Charlie's got an activity planned fer tomorrow?' Angel asked, a little while after breakfast.

Alastor looked up at him. 'Yes, if you'd like.' He said. 'After dinner, or between lunch and dinner?'

'After, please.' Angel said, smiling softly, and glowing a little more all over. 'Can we...do it in my room, this time?'

Alastor smiled. 'Sure. Why not?'

'After dinner' could not come quick enough.

Alastor wanted to play.

He wanted to make Angel forget every time he'd been hurt before.

He was going to take every mark on Angel's soul, and make it his.

He would fix everything he could, everything his spider would let him.

It was only a matter of time and effort, before Angel would let Alastor past all of his walls. Alastor had accepted that the inverse was also true, that he was letting his walls down for Angel, too. That was only fair, wasn't it?

"If you don't stop starin' at him, people will figure you two out." Husk muttered.

Alastor quickly turned his gaze away from Angel. "I wasn't smiling. If anything, people might think I'm angry at him." He said.

"You smile wider when you're angry." Husk pointed out.

"In most cases, yes." Alastor said. "In a situation where I very nearly fully trust everyone in the building, I might feel comfortable enough to drop my mask entirely."

Husk sighed, and shook his head. "Yer fuckin' weird." He said. "What's botherin' you?"

"I used magic to help him sleep." Alastor said. "He's now going through withdrawal from that magic. I'm concerned...that I made this worse for him. He said it...wasn't as bad, but, Husk, he barely slept last night. Look at him, he's exhausted."

"You used...okay. Did he tell you it was worse?" Husk asked.

Alastor shook his head. "He said it wasn't as bad."

"Then it ain't as bad." Husk said. "He's not gonna lie to you."

Alastor hummed. "I suppose." He said. "It's...not in his contract. That he must be truthful with me. In fact, I think his is the most...lenient one I've ever written."

Husk groaned. "So, somethin' else is botherin' you, an' it's that you're lettin' him get close."

"That's not bothering me, Husker, I've accepted that getting close to him means I have to let him get close to me." Alastor said.

"And, you won't even admit it. Great." Husk grumbled, grabbing a new bottle of something, and taking a long drink. "What is it you actually want with him? What makes you keep going back?"

"I...w-well, at first, I was just curious." Alastor said. "You were there, when he first said he'd let me bite him. After he explained himself a little, I was...intrigued. And then we played, and I discovered his noises, and tasted his blood, and...I don't know. I wanted more. Then I saw him being mistreated, and that delayed when he wanted to play, so I took him. I...wanted him safe? I-I wanted...to be the only one allowed to hurt him. You were an Overlord, you know it takes a complete un-untethering to steal a soul, I-I had to kill him, a-and he let me, and he e-enjoyed it, a-and I-I-I-"

"Slow down, Al, you're shaking." Husk said, firmly. "Breathe." Alastor did. "Okay. Wanna try again?"

"...He let me kill him, and he enjoyed it." Alastor said, slowly. "A-and-" He paused, and took a few breaths. "And I...enjoyed it, too. You know I don't like not being the one in control. Last week, I...when we played, I...goodness, Husker, I acted like an animal, I...rubbed myself against him, and that's...something sexual, isn't it?"

"Fully clothed?" Husk asked. Alastor nodded. "That's dry sex. Before you asked me how to eat him out, you'd already-"

"I didn't know what I was doing. I don't know if I acquired consent appropriately. Husk, I feel like an animal, a monster, I-I shouldn't-"

"Hey, stop." Husk said. "How'd you try to 'acquire consent'?"

"I...explained what I wanted to try, and I made sure he didn't feel pressured." Alastor said. "We took care of each other, afterwards. He...said he'd enjoyed it."

"Right, so it's fine." Husk said. "That's appropriate. You did it properly."

Alastor considered that for a moment.

"Has he said anything that'd indicate that you did somethin' wrong, that time?" Husk asked. Alastor shook his head. "Right, so you didn't. Anything else botherin' you? Be honest."

"The...other night, when I...attempted to invoke his contract, we were...doing something very intimate." Alastor said. "He insisted I was the one in control, but the second I felt that start to slip, I-I panicked, a-and I acted like Valentino, and I-I can't be like him."

"You're not. You regretted it right away, and you stopped, and then you took care of him." Husk said. "You think Valentino would'a done that?"

Alastor shook his head, and steadied his breathing again. "Angel said I sounded like him for a moment, though."

"Yeah, a moment." Husk said. "One moment, an' you've already apologised, already made it right. As long as it doesn't happen again-"

"But what if it does?" Alastor asked. "He's a lust demon. He's going to want to have penetrative sex, at some point. What if I do something like that, while we're doing that?"

Husk stared at him for several seconds. "You...do realise you don't have to have sex with him, if he asks, don't you?"

Alastor felt his ears press back. "Well, yes, but...I want to." He said, hesitantly. "I want to try it. I just...think that, when we do, maybe...I shouldn't be the one in control. If...that was how I acted, as I felt my control start to slip, shouldn't I just...not have any control, to begin with?"

"Uh...you could try that, if...you're both comfortable with it, whenever you...get to that point." Husk said. "I think you should talk to him."

Alastor nodded. "I will. I just...wanted a second opinion, I suppose."

"Yeah, I get it." Husk said. "This is new, yer nervous, an' you know I ain't gonna tell anyone."

Alastor knocked on the door lightly. "Angel?"

"Yeah? Come in, Al." Angel said, opening the door, and stepping to one side.

"You...wanted to play, tonight?" Alastor said, setting up a simple soundproofing charm on the room. "What would you like to do?"

Angel took a breath. "I want you ta hurt me. Bite me, claw me, cut me, hit me, anythin'." He said. "An'...I wanna be restrained. I've got...handcuffs?"

Alastor quickly found that Angel's bedsheets had been changed to a set that looked much older, already stained in at least two places, and he'd gotten three sets of handcuffs out from...somewhere. When Al really thought about it, they were probably from Angel's box of sex toys, under the bed. "We could use these, if you'd like." Al said. "The other option I'd like to offer..." He paused, summoning a few tendrils or shadow. "...we could use these, instead. It's up to you."

Angel cursed under his breath. "That. Definitely those, please, fuck."

"Would you like to undress, or should I just..." Alastor gently wrapped one of the tendrils around Angel's lower left wrist. "...take control?"

Angel whimpered, and seemed to shrink in on himself a little. "Please, Al, I'm wearin' this stuff 'cause it's old, an' easy ta take off." He said. "Take control, Al, please."

Alastor grinned, and took hold of Angel's other arms, too. "So polite." Angel yelped in surprise as he was lifted by the wrists and ankles. "Such a pretty spider. And you've set up your bed for me, so I don't ruin your clean sheets. So thoughtful of you."

"Got two matress protectors on there, too." Angel said, already a little breathless.

"Excellent." Alastor said, setting Angel down on the bed, still keeping him completely restrained. "You really won't mind if I want you to bleed, then?"

"Fuck, no." Angel said. "Anythin' ya want."

Alastor carefully climbed on top of him. "May I kiss you?" He asked, stroking Angel's cheek. Angel nodded. Alastor leaned in close, and pressed his lips against Angel's. He pulled away after only a moment, still slightly unsure about this part.

Angel definitely picked up on his hesitation. "Bite my neck?" He asked, softly. "Might make ya more comfortable."

"I won't be able to move on, without letting blood get on your pillow." Alastor said.

"'S'fine." Angel said. "Old pillowcase, plus I got an old towel in it, too. It's the set I use when I'm in heat. Doesn't matter if it gets stained."

"...Okay." Alastor said. "Do you mind which side, or how deep?"

"I...don't want you ta kill me, so not very deep there, but anything else you want." Angel said. "Al, please." Alastor gently started to bite into one side of Angel's neck, only enough to barely start to draw blood. Angel moaned loudly, and writhed in his restraints. "W-wait, fuck, Al, I...y-yellow."

Alastor's eyes widened, and he stopped everything completely, unsure what was wrong. "Angel, what did I-"

"My room ain't soundproof like yours. I'm...sorry, I didn't think'a that before." Angel said, quickly.

"Oh, is that all?" Alastor asked, thoroughly relieved. "I've handled it. It's quite a simple spell. Only temporary, of course. It should last...four or five hours, or until I counter it."

"You did? Oh. Okay, then." Angel said, also relieved. "Um...green. Y-you can keep goin'. I just...didn't want someone ta hear me screamin', an' think y'were murderin' me, y'know?"

Alastor nodded. "I understand. I...probably should have mentioned it, when I did it, shouldn't I?"

"Prob'ly, yeah." Angel said, smiling up at him. "Also, I love how quickly you responded. Didn't really need ta take away the shadows, but that was a huge fuckin' improvement. Yer gettin' better at this."

Al felt his face grow warm. "I didn't want to make a mistake again." He said. "So...shall I restrain you again? And...keep going?"

"Yeah, please." Angel said. He whimpered quietly, as the tendrils of shadow took hold of his wrists and ankles again. "I, uh...got a ridin' crop in the box under the bed. Wanna hit me with it?"

Alastor had another shadow find it, and pass it to him. "If you'd like, darling." He said. "Where?"

"Thighs." Angel said, right away. "Um...ass, if you wanna flip me over. Back, same. Not my arms."

Alastor shifted slightly, and lightly cracked the crop against Angel's left thigh. Angel squeaked, and his back arched a little.

"Fuck. Y-yeah, um...harder?" Angel asked.

"...On your front." Alastor said, lifting Angel up, and turning him over. "Clothed or nude?"

"Fuck, uh, could ya take it off?" Angel asked, already panting, letting the shadows brace against his chest.

Alastor snapped his fingers, banishing Angel's clothing into a neat pile on the desk. He then slowly dragged the crop up Angel's thigh. "You wanted it harder?" He muttered. "Then, I'll give you harder, my love." He struck again, very high on Angel's thigh, much harder than the first time, and the spider cried out in pain.

"F-fuck, Al! Oh, d'you want...me ta count?" Angel asked.

"...If you'd like." Alastor said. "Let's go for ten, and see how you're feeling."

Angel nodded. "That was one, Sir."

Alastor's ears flicked at the new nickname. He wasn't quite sure if he liked it. He struck again, slightly higher, but just as hard.

"Ah! T-two, Sir."

"Stammering, already?" Alastor remarked. "You're so...reactive, darling. I wonder..." He hit Angel's behind again, right in the centre of his left buttock.

Angel practically screamed, nearly sobbed, would have collapsed if not for Alastor's shadows holding him up. "Three." He whined, starting to quiver all over.

"Darling, what's your colour?" Alastor asked, gently. "Would you like to continue?"

"Yeah. Green, Al, I...I'm okay." Angel said, between heavy breaths. "Three?"

Alastor nodded, and they continued. Angel's screams were so sweet. And the way he moved, like one part of his brain wanted to get away, and another part wanted more. It was thrilling to be the one holding the crop.

By the time they reached ten, there were tears streaming down Angel's face.

"Angel?" Alastor asked. "Darling how are you feeling?"

Angel didn't respond for a few moments. "...Sore." He muttered, eventually. "Can I...go on my back now? I-I wanna see you."

"Yes, of course." Alastor said, carefully turning him over. Angel winced as he was set down on the bed. "Oh, look at you. You're gorgeous, mon Ange."

Angel's markings glowed a little brighter, and he hastily broke eye contact by turning his head away.

"...Darling, may I touch you?" Alastor asked. "I'd...like to see you finish."

"Um...w-with yer fingers, or..."

"I was going to use my tongue. You seemed to like that, last time." Alastor said. "I must admit, I rather enjoyed it, too."

Angel whimpered, and squeezed his thighs together. "Shit. Why the fuck is that so hot?" He asked. "Yeah, go ahead, pretty boy."

Alastor smiled, pulled Angel's legs further apart, settled between them, and lifted them onto his shoulders, because that seemed like the easiest place for them. He then dove straight in, licking into him, pulling more sweet sounds out of him. He was so wet, and he tasted so good, and Alastor couldn't get enough.

Angel was panting, head thrown back against the pillow, chanting curses and Al's name. Alastor kept alternating between teasing Angel's clit, and thrusting his tongue in and out, loving the way his every move seemed to be making Angel involuntarily grind against his mouth.

When Angel started twitching more suddenly, and babbling incoherently, Alastor knew he was close. He let his claws break the skin of Angel's thighs, and focussed wholly on Angel's clit. It took a few seconds, at most. Angel screamed Al's name as he came, pressing his ankles into Al's back, trembling all over.

Then, he started crying. So Alastor stopped.

He moved up the bed, to hold the spider, released him from his restraints, and cradled his head close to his chest, gently stroking through his fur. Angel continued crying, and started clinging to Alastor. Al let him. He shushed him, told him it was alright, he'd done so good, and he was safe.

Eventually, Angel came down enough to shakily apologise for his tears.

"Non, mon cher, ce n'est pas ta faute. Tout va bien." Alastor muttered. "It's alright, darling."

"I-I'm sorry." Angel whined. "No-one's evah...I-I fuckin' love you."

"No-one's ever, what, Angel?" Alastor asked.

"Taken such good care'a me." Angel whispered.

"You deserve to be taken care of like this, my darling." Alastor said. "If I have to get you used to it, I'll do my best. Let's get you cleaned up, hmm?"

Angel nodded. "Okay."

Chapter Text

Angel woke up in Alastor's arms. He could feel the bandages under his pyjamas, and the bruises on his thighs and ass. Breakfast was going to be...uncomfortable.

When he checked his phone, he found that it was 5am. Alastor was still asleep, or he still looked asleep. Angel snuggled back into the deer's arms, and closed his eyes.

It didn't feel like this was this first time he'd woken up. It felt like he'd barely slept.

Breakfast was very uncomfortable. Angel had practically stumbled down to it, blaming his unsteadiness on aches from withdrawals, not on Alastor fucking him until he cried last night. Al, of course, acted like he'd simply collected Angel from his room that morning, to help with the stairs.

Neither of them wanted to be keeping this secret, anymore. Angel definitely wanted to be able to hold hands with his boyfriend, without Charlie worrying over Al's boundaries. He was also fairly certain Al was one gentle 'Angel, have you asked if that's okay?' away from pulling Angel into a kiss in front of everyone.

The mystery bonding activity started tonight. Charlie was announcing the pairs, and explaining the rules, after lunch.

There was a shouting contest between Vaggie and Husk, over the composition of an Old Fashioned cocktail, Vaggie suggesting a syrup would be simpler to use, and Husk insisting on using a melted sugar cube.

"Would you two shut the fuck up?" Angel asked. "Some'a us are tryin' not ta get a fuckin' headache today."

Charlie, instead of mediating the argument, which quickly moved away from where Angel was, and got a lot quieter, seemed to be taking actual notes. Weird. Angel had noticed the clipboard she was using a few times that week.

Shit, was that about this fucking bonding activity? If Vaggie and Husk were going to be a pair, they'd definitely struggle to get along, no matter what it was. Which meant...Angel was with either Niffty or Sir Pentious. There was no way Charlie would put him with Al, if they were supposed to struggle. He got along fairly well with Niffty, so Pentious was more likely. Great.

Had they ever actually confirmed that the snake wasn't still reporting back to the Vees? No-one had found any hidden cameras, again, but he could still have been messaging them. If Velvette was the one doing the planning, getting caught and earning trust by apologising was probably part of the plan. Shit, had he been obvious on purpose that night? Angel would have to be extra cautious.

Angel slumped into the couch, right next to Alastor, and sighed. "D'you wanna tell them?" He asked. "'Cause I really wanna tell them."

"After this bonding activity would be best, darling." Alastor said. "I have reason to believe we'll be paired up."

"Bullshit. Why?"

"Multiple reasons, actually." Alastor said, smiling. "You've already deduced that Vaggie and Husker will be a pair, due to their two large recent arguments over coffee and cocktails. I can therefore be paired with one of three people, but I can't be paired with Niffty, and neither can you. We can't both be paired up with the snake, so we must be together. Furthermore, Niffty has had three disagreements with him, one over intentionally spilled water, one over tracked in mud from outside, and the third over him stealing other people's laundry. They must be a pair, and we must be a pair."

"Shit. Really?" Angel asked. "So...we've got a huge advantage?"

"Put simply, yes." Alastor said. "However, if Charlie realises this before the activity starts, she will rearrange the pairs so we aren't together. As such, I order you to annoy me all day."

"...What?"

"Angel, if you appear to be making me uncomfortable on purpose, she's more likely to put us together." Alastor said. "So, don't make it too...forced. Perhaps you'll flirt with me, try to touch me, anything that would have annoyed me before the first time we played."

"...You got it, Deer Daddy." Angel said, grinning. Alastor's ears flicked. Angel knew he hated that old nickname. "What's the mattah, Smiles? I thought you liked me?" He was leaning in closer, now, walking two fingers up Al's chest. "I'm out'a my contract with Val. I've been looking fer someone like you. Wanna be my strawberry pimp?"

"Angel! Stop. You're making him uncomfortable." Charlie said, quickly heading towards them.

"What? I'm fuckin' bored." Angel said, making a point to still be touching Al. "I got a free pass on all'a his boundaries, anyway. Might as well abuse that 'till I'm out'a withdrawal. Ain't that right, Deer Daddy?" Alastor made a weak and unmotivated attempt to push Angel away. Angel leaned in closer. "Oh, c'mon. Just one little fuck? I jus' wanna prove to ya-"

"Angel, stop." Charlie said, more firmly this time, starting to pull Angel off of him. "You're making everyone uncomfortable. Please stop."

"It's a free ride fer you, Al, any time you want it." Angel said, no longer sitting on the couch, but still holding Al's sleeve. "Feels like you'd wanna hurt me."

"Seriously, Angel, you need to stop." Charlie said. "My office. Now."

It felt like he was in trouble.

"I thought y'said there was no point gettin' yer hopes up with him." Angel said. "Why're you punishin' me fer messin' with him? He knows I didn't mean any'a that shit." Technically, that was true.

"Angel, I...I don't understand." Charlie said. "You seemed to be making an effort with him. I thought...maybe you two were friends. Or, maybe you could be, if you got a little push in the right direction."

"You don't understand? I'm fuckin' bored." Angel said. "It's been two weeks today since I fucked anothah guy, an' he was shit." Also technically true, if he didn't count oral sex. "I dunno, Charlie, maybe I'm just fuckin' pent up, or some shit. Al's just the easiest ta mess with."

"Okay. That...kinda makes sense." Charlie said. "But, can't you just go out somewhere, and-"

"If Val sees me, he'll kill me." Angel said. "He nevah loses his bitches, they're either his, or they're dead. It's one'a those 'if I can't have you, no-one can' sorta things. I can't leave the hotel. The rules say I can't invite someone 'round fer sex, an' I can't hire a hooker. There's three other guys here, one'a them's straight as a nail, one jus' doesn't react to any'a my shit any more, an' the other one is Alastor. I'm gonna wear him down, I can feel it."

"I'm...adding a new rule." Charlie said. "You can't pressure the other residents for sex."

"I ain't pressurin' him. I'm just offerin'." Angel said. "If I fuck him, without pressurin' him, that's fine, right?"

Charlie took a breath, and let it out. "If it's entirely consensual, which, he's not gonna give you consent, he's asexual, but if he does, then yes, that's fine." She said. "You can't pressure him in any way, and if he's uncomfortable, you have to back off. You also have to apologise to him for what just happened."

Angel nodded. "Okay."

"Good." Charlie said. "Let's go."

"Um...I-I have a headache." Angel said. "From...all the shoutin'. I...shouldn't ask fer...him ta help, should I?"

"No, you shouldn't." Charlie said. "I...it's too late to change the activity, tonight. I was gonna pair you with him. Do you think...I should just let you two sit it out? I could...no, that wouldn't work. Um-"

"If he doesn't wanna, I got no say." Angel said. "Sorry fer fuckin' that up fer you. I...don't mind bein' with him, but if he doesn't wanna, I understand."

"Okay." Charlie said. "Let's go back into the lobby, so you can apologise."

"I'm sorry 'bout...everythin' I did, earlier." Angel said. "It was...uh, over the top? A-an' I shouldn't...try ta make you uncomfortable like that." He glanced at Charlie for guidance. She just gave him a thumbs up. "Yeah. Um...it won't happen again."

"It's fine, Angel." Alastor said. "Next time you want attention, you'll go about it in a different way, yes?" 'Angel, darling, I'm so sorry you got in trouble for that.'

"Yeah, 'course." Angel said. 'It's fine, Al. We're paired if you wanna be.'

'I can feel your pain, darling, a headache?' Alastor asked. "Are...you feeling alright? That got a little bit loud. I know my ears hurt from it."

"...Y-yeah, um...headache." Angel muttered. "I-I shouldn't...bother you."

"Angel. Come here. Sit with me." Alastor said. "You won't touch my chest, and you'll call me by my name."

Angel hesitated, glanced at Charlie, then nodded at Al, and moved closer. Al held out an arm, inviting Angel to sit right beside him, so Angel did. He ended up with his head resting on Al's shoulder, Al hugging him with one arm, and stroking through his fur with the other hand. It was very soothing. Angel was careful not to touch Alastor's chest, keeping his hands on himself, or on Al's arms or abdomen.

"Um...Alastor?" Charlie asked. "Are you sure-"

"He was calling for help, let me help him." Alastor said, firmly. "He very clearly didn't mean a word of what he said to me, earlier."

Angel shook his head. "Ride's free fer you, if you want it." He muttered, tiredly. "Only if you want it. I ain't gonna ask again."

"Okay." Alastor said. "Most of what he said, he didn't mean. Charlie, being like that is how he's been taught to get attention from people in a position of power for decades. Perhaps not the kind of attention you or I would want, but doesn't that mean he's desperate?"

"I...guess, but...it really looked like he was just annoying you on purpose." Charlie said.

"He was." Alastor said. "He wanted a reaction out of either you or me."

Angel sighed. "I'm sorry." He whispered, abruptly realising that he was falling asleep, and he couldn't stop it.

"I've already told you, it's alright, Angel." Alastor said.

"'M'tired." Angel whispered. "I can't..."

"Oh. That's alright, too." Alastor said. "How much sleep did you get last night?"

"...Dunno."

"I...thought you said your sleep had improved." Charlie said. "Why is it getting worse?"

"Charlie, the symptoms can get worse again. He's only on the eleventh day." Alastor said. "We should let him sleep, whenever he can."

Angel closed his eyes. He was vaguely aware of some hushed talking around him. Alastor was moving him to more laying down. He could still feel the deer's warmth.

And then Al was gently shaking him awake, telling him that lunch was ready.

"Charlie's brought ours here, because she didn't want to disturb you too much." Alastor said. "She's revealing the other pairs over food, and she's expecting it to get a bit loud."

Angel looked up at him. It took nearly ten whole seconds to realise he was using Al's legs as a pillow, and probably had been since Al moved him. "...Okay."

Al helped him sit up, and placed a plate of food in his lap. "Alright?"

Angel nodded. "Thanks."

Angel was still tired after eating. This time, he couldn't get to sleep, no matter what he tried.

"Does something hurt?" Alastor asked. Angel shook his head. "Angel, you have to tell me. I want to help."

"Nothin' hurts. I'm just...tired." Angel said. "...Brain's goin' too fast."

"Ah, I see." Alastor said. "Do you need a distraction, or quiet, to get it to slow down?"

"Uh...try quiet, first?" Angel asked. "I'll tell ya, if it makes it worse."

Alastor nodded, and held Angel close, in complete silence.

It didn't work. It felt like he had at least three little creatures in his head, trying to include him in a loud argument he knew nothing about, screaming at him when he couldn't pick any side. He was disorientated and hurting, and every little sound felt like fireworks in his ears.

Charlie and the others were very accomodating of his request for quiet, as they had been since his withdrawals started. Still, it wasn't working.

"Al?" Angel asked. "Um...distraction might be bettah."

"Shall I ask Charlie to explain the activity to us?" Alastor asked, softly.

Angel nodded. "Yeah, please."

Alastor, careful not to jostle Angel too much, stood up and headed towards where Charlie and the others were sitting, by the TV. He spoke quietly, and Charlie was nodding. Then, they were both walking towards Angel.

"Hi, Angel, how are you feeling?" Charlie asked, voice quiet, tone soft.

"Thinkin' too fast." Angel muttered. "Quiet didn't help. Distraction might."

Charlie nodded. "Okay." She said. "Alastor said you'd talked about the bonding activity, and you both still want to do it, in a pair together."

"Yeah." Angel said. "Talked through lunch. Decided we should prob'ly do it, to avoid...what happened this morning."

"That's a good reason." Charlie said, smiling. "Okay. So, the activity is framed like a competition, and the last pair to give up wins. You two will be staying in one of the live-in suites on the fourth floor, 4B, and you can't leave until Monday morning, or if one of you gives up. The task you have to attempt is tailored to your skills. You both know how to crochet, so I want you to design and make a blanket together, and it can't be just one colour. I've given you...um, a lot of materials. You both have to contribute."

"Al, you...know how ta crochet?" Angel asked.

"Yes, I made Charlie that woollen hat for her birthday, last month." Alastor said. "You can, too?"

Angel nodded. "Scarf fer Vaggie, a week before you got here." He said. "Um...Charlie? That's...a lot of work."

"Then, you'll have to work together." Charlie said. "You don't have to finish it. There are two categories you can win in. The first, obviously, is to stay in there the longest. The second is about how far finished your task is. If you're half done, but the other two teams are both only a quarter done, you'll win."

"And...what are the rules?" Alastor asked.

"You can't leave, unless it's an emergency." Charlie said. "You can't hurt each other. You shouldn't argue, if possible. You can't use magic to make the work go quicker. No deal-making. No taking drugs. No sexual coersion. No killing each other. Got it?"

Angel and Alastor both nodded.

"If you need to give up, you can just text me." Charlie said. "Alastor, I've got you an old flip phone, you can use it if you need to. There's no password, the messaging app is open, all you'd have to do is type out that you give up, and press send. It's on the dresser in 4B."

"Thank you, dear. I'm sure I won't need it." Alastor said.

"You'll start after dinner, tonight." Charlie said. "There's food in the kitchenette, it should be plenty for six meals, but if you need something that's not there, like herbs or spices or something, just ask me for it. I made sure there's...enough of what you have to eat, Alastor. Angel, if he has a reaction, you have to tell me. Um...Alastor, you're really good at handling Angel's symptoms, but if you need any help, again, just ask me. I'll check in twice a day, at nine am, and six pm. Any questions?"

"Yeah, um...does Nuggs stay in there with us, or...not?" Angel asked. "Just...he needs ta go outside more often than that."

"I'll take care of him." Charlie said. "I'll bring him with me when I check in with you guys, too. Alastor, any questions?"

"...How big should this blanket be?" Alastor asked.

"Any size you want, as long as you have a use for it." Charlie said.

"So...we could make a baby blanket, for Fat Nuggets, and you'd be fine with that?" Alastor asked.

"Yeah, that's fine." Charlie said. "As long as you do it together."

"Hmm. Simple enough." Alastor said.

The tension between the other four residents could easily be cut with a knife. Angel was struggling to keep up the act of not wanting to be locked in a set of rooms with Alastor for a weekend.

'We could go and see what it's like, darling.' Alastor said, and it felt like he'd shot Angel in the head with a nail gun.

Angel shivered. 'Shit, Al, don't do that.' He said. 'Hurts my head.'

"I'm sorry, darling." Al whispered. "Would...you like to?"

"Yeah." Angel said. "4B?"

"Okay, that's...just a fuckin' corridor." Angel muttered, after opening the door labelled 4B.

"It's a suite, darling, it's a set of four or five rooms." Alastor said, leading the way inside. "Look, here's a bedroom. Fairly standard, for the hotel, set up for two. This one is...a lounge. TV, couch, coffee table, bookcase."

"Huh. So...it's kinda like an apartment?" Angel asked.

"Bathroom, also standard." Alastor said, continuing down the corridor. "And, finally, this is the kitchenette. Smaller than the main one, downstairs, but perfectly functional for just two people."

"Um...Al?" Angel asked. "There's only one bed."

"Charlie's definitely set up potential points of argument for us." Alastor said. "I suppose we'll have to compromise. I don't mind sharing with you, darling."

"He says, like he hasn't been sleepin' with his arms 'round me fer, like, a week." Angel muttered. "Wanna find these materials Charlie's left us?"

The balls of wool were in a box in the lounge. There were...a lot. Definitely a lot. And in so many colours. Angel didn't know where to start.

Alastor did, though. He was sorting the wool into three piles, based on yarn weight; DK, aran, and chunky.

"When the time starts, we should start by deciding on a weight and a stitch." Alastor said. "Chunky would get big the fastest, but DK might give us something that looks nicer, or a thinner, more versatile blanket."

Angel nodded. "Wanna use, like, squares or hexagons, or somethin'?" He asked. "'Cause, if I'm doin' units all the same, I can do three at once."

"We can decide, later." Alastor said. "Units that are the same size and shape would work, so long as we have similar enough tensions."

"Yeah." Angel said. "Um...were you fer real when y'said we could make somethin' fer Nuggs?"

"I was, when I thought we'd be going three times as fast as I would, on my own." Alastor said. "Now that I know we're going five times as fast? I think we should make it for us."

"Al, if I'm gonna use it, it's gotta be eight feet long, at least." Angel said. "Um...we're goin' four times as fast."

"Charlie didn't say I couldn't use my shadow." Alastor said. "It's not magic, it's just a split off part of my consciousness. It's no different from you being allowed to use your extra arms."

"You loophole abusin' motherfucker." Angel said, grinning. "Love how yer fuckin' brain works."

"Speaking of brains, how is yours feeling, now?" Alastor asked.

"Definitely distracted enough ta calm the fuck down." Angel said. "Thanks, Al."

Chapter Text

"Angel, we can't possibly finish this blanket over a single weekend." Alastor said.

"Yeah, I know." Angel said. "That's why I thought we'd do a smaller one."

"We have five pairs of hands, I can crochet at three seconds per single stitch, I'm assuming you're the same." Alastor said. "If we use DK, single crochet, and hexagons, for a ninety by sixty six inch blanket, twenty row hexagons would have a side length of three and a half inches, giving them an area of thirty two point six square inches, and we need ninety by sixty six, which is six thousand, four hundred and eighty square inches. We'd need to make two hundred hexagons."

"Yeah, I know, it's a fuckin' lot, Al." Angel said. "You've...worked the whole thing out, haven't you?"

"I have. May I finish?" Alastor asked.

"Sure, Al."

"Two hundred hexagons, one thousand, two hundred and sixty stitches per hexagon, that's two hundred and fifty two thousand stitches." Alastor continued. "Or, fifty thousand, four hundred stitches per pair of hands. Three seconds a stitch is one hundred and fifty one thousand, two hundred seconds, or two thousand, five hundred and twenty minutes, or forty two hours. If we used aran or chunky, it would be a little better, but thicker blankets aren't as useful in Hell."

Angel was nodding. "Did you jus' do all'a that maths in yer head?" He asked, smiling. "Fuck, did you jus' know how big a twenty row DK hexagon is? An' the area? An' how fast you crochet?"

Alastor felt his ears press back, and his face grow warm. "...Yes."

"So fuckin' smart, I love it." Angel said.

"You do?"

"I love you." Angel said, leaning closer on the couch.

Alastor closed the distance, and kissed him. "I love you, too, my darling." He said. "For sanity's sake, we're making a forty by forty, or a forty by sixty, for Fat Nuggets, which should take fifty to seventy five hexagons, which is ten to sixteen hours between us."

"...Prob'ly for the best, huh?" Angel said. "Can we...make a pillowcase, instead? I feel like Nuggs is just gonna chew it."

"Twenty by twenty six, doubled for both sides, is forty by twenty six." Alastor said. "That's about seven to eight hours, between us. If we make two, one each, matching, of course, that's fifteen hours."

"Can we ask Charlie?" Angel asked. "It's more practical. Or should we just do it?"

"We should ask." Alastor said. "She'll appreciate the thought we've put into this. Also, I'm fairly certain her only rules about what we made were 'functional', 'designed together', and 'made together'."

"And 'blanket'." Angel said. "Pillowcase is close to blanket, though, right?"

"Hopefully, close enough."

"Absolutely not." Charlie said. "I specified 'blanket', Al. A pillowcase isn't even close."

"I...disagree, but-"

"No, Alastor, you are making a blanket." Charlie insisted. "As a gift, or for Fat Nuggets, or for yourselves. Blanket."

"...Fine." Alastor said.

"We are making a blanket." Alastor said. "She wouldn't accept a pillowcase."

Angel groaned. "So, it's fer Nuggs?"

"Yes." Alastor said. "Or, it's for Niffty."

"Nuggs is smaller, forty by forty." Angel said. "That's...fifty hexagons. Ten per set of hands."

"We could make the hexagons smaller, if we want a more intricate design." Alastor said. "If we go for, say, twelve hours, total, we'll have a decently sized blanket, and time to spare."

"...What're we sparin' time for, Al?" Angel asked.

"Fun, obviously." Alastor said, smiling. "I expect you to bring a bag with things we might need."

Angel's eyes widened, and his markings started to glow bright. "What...kind of things?"

"Anything you'd be willing for us to use on each other, darling." Alastor said. "If there's something that doesn't appeal to me, I'll simply tell you."

Dinner came quickly, with everything they had to gather for the weekend. Alastor had one small bag of clothes and essentials. Angel had two.

Unfortunately, Charlie was doing bag checks.

"Angel, why do you have...all of this?" Charlie asked, while checking through Angel's not-clothes bag. "You can't...why is there so much? I-I don't wanna...oh my gosh, no, you can't take any of this in."

"You fuckin' serious?" Angel asked. "I gotta make money, somehow, Charlie. My camera's in there, too. It's fer work. Al's already said he's fine with me workin', so long as he ain't in the room, an' I put a blanket over whatevah I'm doin' it on, an' I clean up properly, after."

"...Alastor?" Charlie asked, hesitantly.

"It's his job. I've nothing against it." Alastor said. "He asked me if it was alright, earlier today."

"Oh." Charlie said, giving Angel the bag. "Okay."

"So, we're fine?" Angel asked.

"...Some of that stuff doesn't look...safe? to be using by yourself." Charlie said, looking slightly worried.

Angel shrugged. "I've always been fine with it, before." He said. "If I'm really fuckin' stuck, I can jus' shout Al fer help."

Charlie hesitantly accepted that, and moved on to check other people's bags.

So, now Alastor was bored. They couldn't go until after dinner, and Charlie wasn't putting dinner out until she'd finished this.

"Husker, I have a proposition for you." Alastor said, quietly. "Three years."

"Three...oh." Husk said. "One task, or both?"

"Three for one, five for two." Alastor said.

"Shit, uh...ain't one a tie?" Husk asked.

"No. I have a feeling I won't actually lose either task, and neither will you." Alastor said. "If you win either task, it's three, and if you win both, it's five."

"...Five fer one, eight fer two?" Husk asked.

"Three, five." Alastor said.

"...Four, seven?" Husk asked.

Alastor grinned at him. "Two, three."

"...Fine. Three, five." Husk said. "Can I...suggest a third category?"

"You can try." Alastor said.

"In...private?" Husk asked. Alastor snapped his fingers, creating a soundproof bubble around them. "...Go all weekend without fuckin' him."

"Are you suggesting that, if I can't abstain from sex with Angel, you get a point?" Alastor asked. "Hmm...I suppose that's fine-"

"Any kind. Oral, dry, anythin' else." Husk said. "And...seven fer three?"

"That would leave you with twelve years, Husker, are you happy with that?"

"Fuckin' ecstatic." Husk said. "What if you win everything?"

"We could put a whole decade between winning and losing." Alastor suggested, knowing full well it wouldn't be happening. He would just give Husk one of those points. "Three?"

Husk was nodding. "So, then I'll have twenty two. I can live with that."

Alastor dispelled the soundproof charm. "It's a deal, then?" He asked, holding out his hand, letting more static than normal leak into his voice.

"W-what?" Charlie asked, suddenly paying attention.

"Deal, Al." Husk said, shaking Alastor's hand. There was a burst of red and orange light, and Alastor could feel the pull on his soul.

Alastor had always loved the rush that came with the feeling. "Wonderful." He said. "You'll know right away for that third term, and Charlie is the judge for the rest."

"I said no deals!" Charlie practically shrieked.

"We're not starting the activity until after dinner, my dear, it's fine." Alastor said. "Besides, Husker and I have been making little wagers like that for decades."

"That was a soul deal, Alastor, you can't call it a little wager." Charlie said.

"It's a little wager." Husk said. "Especially compared to the one I lost to get in a contract with him. I've only got three years on the line, he's only got seven. That's nothin'."

"...Years of what?" Charlie asked.

"Added to, or taken off of, his contract." Alastor said. "If I win, I own his time for three more years. If he wins, he'll be free seven years sooner. We've been doing this right from the start. Husk's a gambler. Our original bet was for a century, in the sixties, and he's already whittled it down to nineteen years, either by winning these little wagers, or by spending the time in servitude."

"That's...deals can be like that?" Charlie asked, looking thoroughly confused.

"The time limit was originally a safety net, in case I lost that first bet." Alastor said. "It was a 'winner takes all' sort of deal. He knew what he'd owe me if he lost, but he also knew that he'd be safer with me than without."

"I didn't agree to judge the rest?" Charlie said.

"Yes, you did." Alastor said. "You framed this activity as a competition. We're simply placing bets on the outcome, to increase the competitiveness."

Charlie sighed. "Fine."

Vaggie was not happy with the deal. Well, Alastor wasn't sure she was 'happy' to be taking part in this activity to begin with. While she certainly couldn't deny that she and Husk had argued multiple times in the last few weeks, she definitely didn't seem to want to improve it.

But Husk was freshly determined. He'd make this into a real competition.

Alastor had no idea how many of the tasks Husk's team would beat his on.

"Hey, uh...Al?" Angel asked, over dinner. "What's the third thing? I get that it's the two tasks, but-"

"It's private." Alastor said. "Nothing to do with you." 'It's just a little bet between us, nothing really interesting.'

There was relative quiet for a few more minutes.

"So...when the time runs out, he's free?" Vaggie asked.

"Not quite." Alastor said. "He'll be out of servitude to me, but I'll still own his soul. He'll get all of his other assets back, but he won't be allowed to gamble them to anyone but me. He'll also get his contracts back, rewritten, of course, and become a secondary Overlord."

"An' I'm nineteen years away from it." Husk said, smiling widely. "Twelve, if Vaggie an' me win everythin' this weekend. Twenty two, if Al and Angel do."

"...Secondary Overlord?" Vaggie asked.

"It's from the old power heirarchy system, mostly ain't used any more, except by the four more traditional Overlords." Angel said, immediately. "Y'know, Zestial, Carmilla Carmine, Rosie, an' Alastor? Hardly anyone younger than Al even knows about it, unless they're a secondary or tertiary Overlord, themselves, or they're in the runnin' ta become one, like Husk."

"How do you know that?" Vaggie asked.

Angel shrugged. "Val told me I'd be one'a his secondaries, then he nevah fuckin' did it, doesn't even use them, an' I found out he only told me that, while I was high, so I'd sign without readin' the contract properly." He said. 'He didn't, I read about it, 'cause'a you, Al.'

Smiling at the second thing probably wasn't the best response, considering everyone else had only heard the first thing.

"Why the fuck are you smiling, Alastor?" Vaggie asked.

"He does that when he's angry 'bout somethin', Vaggs, chill the fuck out." Angel said, reaching across Husk to touch Al's shoulder. Husk groaned, leaning back. Charlie glared at Angel. Angel laughed, and pulled his hand away.

"Hey, Alastor?" Charlie asked, just as everyone was heading up to the rooms. "I just wanted to make sure you'd be okay with Angel. If he makes you uncomfortable, you need to tell him to stop."

"Yes. I know. I will." Alastor said.

"Al, please don't compromise your own boundaries, just so he's happy, I'm being serious." Charlie said.

"Charlie. We're both grown adults. I'm sure we can manage a weekend together." Alastor said. "He's actually rather respectful of my boundaries, behind closed doors. I'm sure he only acts out to get a reaction out of you."

"...Oh. I'd...forgotten that you let him sleep in your room, when his withdrawals were bad." Charlie said. "Still, I'm giving you a bonus task. Keep your boundaries enforced with him."

Alastor sighed. "You do realise that each person I interact with has a unique set of things I don't like them doing, don't you?" He asked. By this point, they were alone in the lobby, and Angel was waiting for him at the top of the first set of stairs. "I allow you to hug me, sometimes. I allow Niffty to stand on my shoulders, to reach high shelves. Husker is allowed to forcefully assist if necessary. Angel may touch me as he pleases, within reason."

"Okay, but I think you're giving him too much, and he's just taking it." Charlie said. "Try to be careful." She paused for a few moments, looking slightly confused. "'Forcefully assist'?"

"Yes, if I'm panicking, the best way to get me to stop is to grab me by the wrists, force me down to the ground, and hug me tight." Alastor said. "It's not usually necessary, reminding me to slow down or breathe, or telling me I'm shaking is normally plenty."

Charlie was staring at him. "You...suffer from panic attacks?"

Alastor sighed. "Occasionally." He said. "He knows to pay attention if he hears me stuttering frequently."

"Why didn't you say anything to me before?" Charlie asked. "There's ways I can help prevent them."

"Not necessary, my dear." Alastor said. "The current system works perfectly well. I panic because of the stutter, and I stutter when I'm stressed, anxious, or nervous. I've tried speach therapy, if that's what you're offering. It doesn't work."

"I was going to offer help managing the causes, stress, anxienty, and nervousness." Charlie said. "Alastor, I think you need to learn to ask for help."

"Yes, well, I think I have a blanket to design." Alastor said. "I'm going to go upstairs, now. Goodnight."

"Alastor, tell Angel what to do if you have a panic attack." Charlie said.

"Yes, I will. May I go now?"

"Alright." Charlie said. "Goodnight."

"Al, when...were you gonna tell me?" Angel asked, apparently having overheard Al's entire conversation with Charlie.

"When...it became relevant." Alastor said. "I wanted to help you through this, first. I can handle it just fine."

"Alastor, when's the last time you needed Husk ta hold you like that?" Angel asked, closing the door to their suite.

"Two years ago." Alastor said.

"An', when's the last time you needed him ta remind you ta breathe?"

Alastor looked away from him. "Yesterday." He said. "Not for months, before that, though."

"...Wanna talk about why?" Angel asked.

"No."

"Al, I need you ta know y'can talk to me." Angel said. "How about we design this blanket, huh?"

"...Yes, I've brought hexagon print paper, and a few coloured pens." Alastor said, smiling, getting them from in his bag.

"Ain't they fer chemistry?"

"Well, can you easily draw hexagons, freehand?" Alastor asked. Angel shook his head. "Right, then we need the paper."

"I don't like the sides on that one." Ange muttered, scrapping yet another design. "Looks too...weird."

"Well, the only other option is to make the blanket itself hexagonal." Alastor said, marking out a new outline. "Here. Now, we can use different colours to make it look like a 3D cube."

Angel was watching him closely. "Huh. Nevah would'a thought'a that."

"Even numbered sides, we'd need three colours. Odd numbered, we'd need four." Alastor said. "What do you think?"

"Red an' black fer you." Angel said. "Uh...pink an' white fer me?"

Alastor nodded, marking a section of the hexagons as pink. "Either black or white should be the middle lines." He said, switching to red. "I think black, it's more commonly used for lines. Plus, we can have the other three sections with white as light, and red as shadow, implying the cube is meant to be pink."

"Sure." Angel said. "How big?"

"As I said earlier, we should limit the work to about twelve hours." Al said. "That gives us time for about seventy two thousand stitches. This design uses twenty two black hexagons, and forty nine each of the others, so each hexagon should have about four hundred and twenty stitches. We should use either eleven row hexagons, three hundred and ninety six stitches each, or twelve row hexagons, four hundred and sixty eight stitches each. You can choose, just over eleven hours, or just over thirteen hours."

Angel bit his lip. "Let's go fer twelve row. Even number's easier ta work with."

Alastor nodded. "...Angel?" He asked. "Are you trying to get me to do a relaxing activity for longer?"

"...Maybe." Angel said. "Or, y'can talk to me 'bout what happened yesterday."

"I was mostly stressed over how I'd acted on Tuesday, and worried if I'd been similar last Friday." Alastor said. "Husk was reassuring me that it was fine, because I'd acted appropriately, and you'd said it was fine. I'm...s-sorry I discussed it with him, with y-your permission, I-I-" He stopped, when Angel gently placed a hand on one of his.

"You drop really fast with this, don't you?" Angel asked. Al nodded. "It's okay. Breathe for me. 'Course y'can talk to Husk, if y'need to, Al. If yer doubtin' yerself as my boyfriend, I want you ta talk to me, though. I'm the one who knows how I feel, an' I'm lovin' how much you improved between Tuesday an' yesterday. Okay?"

"Okay. Thank you." Alastor said. "Um...Friday?"

"What about it?" Angel asked. "Al, that was fully consensual, an' y'were curious, but not comfortable enough to actually fuck me. If you were, I would'a happily talked ya through it. Y'were more gentle that time than the two times before, an' you let me hurt you back. I thoroughly enjoyed everythin' we did that time."

"...Angel?" Al asked. "May...I hold you for a few minutes?"

Angel took hold of him, and pulled them closer together. "'Course y'can, tesoro."

Chapter Text

"Angel, are you quite done?" Alastor asked. "I've had mine picked out for ten minutes."

"They're all wrong." Angel said. "Too bright, too dark, too washed out, too fuckin' purple. I have a nice pink DK that's so fuckin' close ta my markings, in my room. A whole bag'a twelve...well, ten an' a half, 'cause I used some, but that ain't the point. These are all wrong."

"I...describe to me where in your room they are." Alastor said. "Be as specific as you can."

"Uhh...in my closet, in a little box on the far...left...of the floor." Angel said, trying his best to picture it. "I think it's there. Plastic bag, ten an' a half balls-"

Alastor snapped his fingers, and the bag of wool appeared in his arms. "Please tell me this is correct, because Charlie will have sensed that."

"Yeah. That's it. Thanks." Angel said. "You've...never looked in my closet, how the fuck did you do that?"

"It was where you said it was." Alastor said. "I don't like blindly teleporting things that can easily be damaged, but yarn is a little easier."

There was a knock at the main door. Angel and Alastor both went to answer it.

"Did one of you just use magic to teleport something into the room?" Charlie asked.

"Yes, I did." Alastor said. "This yarn. Angel didn't like any of the pinks available, so asked me to summon one from his room. Is that alright?"

"Oh. Yeah. That's fine." Charlie said. "Um...next time, tell me first, okay?"

"Of course. My apologies." Alastor said. "Was that all?"

"Um...are you both...settling in alright?" Charlie asked. "Any...big disagreements yet?"

"Yeah, we're doin' good, Cha-Cha." Angel said.

"That's good. Have you...explored the rooms yet?" Charlie asked.

"We have." Alastor said. "It's quite nice."

"Okay." Charlie said. "I'll see you in the morning."

"If we start now, we can get a ten piece head start in less than an hour." Alastor said. "I'll start with black, so we-"

"D'we have five balls of each colour?" Angel asked. "We do, right?"

"...Yes, I believe so." Alastor said.

"Wanna start with black, an' do all the black ones first?" Angel asked. "Jus', darker colours are harder ta work with, an' easier ta make mistakes with, 'cause y'can't really differentiate the yarn from the shadows. If we get the hardest colour out'a the way first, the rest will feel easier. An', that way, we can make sure our tensions are close enough to the same, an' our speeds are the same."

"That sounds like a plan, darling." Alastor said. "Are you starting with a chain ring, or a magic circle?"

"Chain ring." Angel said. "I could nevah figure those fuckin' magic circles out."

"I can teach you, if you'd like." Alastor said. "I prefer them, because they're quicker, and I can always find the first slip knot, if I don't use one."

Angel hesitated. Did he really want to be trying to learn something new, when they had a deadline? But...if Al thought they'd be quicker, and easier to hide...

"Just try it, darling." Alastor said. "Here, I'll show you." He took a ball of yarn and a crocheting hook, and held it so Angel could clearly see. "You start with the tail end between your thumb, and your index and middle fingers, like this." Angel watched, and copied with his own yarn. "Then wrap around your fingers twice, like this."

"...Yeah." Angel said. "This is the bit I can nevah get."

"Grab with your thumb, and pull your middle finger out." Alastor said. "Then, with the working length, loop through from behind, and crochet on there, holding the tail end carefully."

Angel hadn't moved since the previous instruction, thoroughly lost. "Um...english, please?"

Alastor smiled, patiently. "The yarn in the direction of the ball? Hold that with your other hand- don't pull it." He said. "Bring it around the back of the tail end." Angel hesitantly did. "Gently pull a loop through the ring."

"Like...that?" Angel asked.

"Yes." Alastor said. "You want your hook through that new loop. Now do a chain stitch, and six singles into the ring." Angel did. Alastor did, too. "Are you there?"

"Yeah."

"Good." Alastor said. "Now for the magic part. Pull on the tail end, gently." Angel did. "Did you see which loop of the ring got smaller?"

"Yeah." Angel said.

"Pull on the smaller loop from this end, until the other one is tight." Alastor said. "Other end, darling. That's right. Now, pull on the tail end, until that loop is tight, too. Perfect, darling. Now, you can join to the first single with a slip stitch. Count back from the sixth single, so you don't miss one."

Angel did. "...Was it jus' me, or was that really fuckin' complicated, for the very first thing you gotta do?"

"If you'd like, I can start all of yours for you." Alastor said. "Here's the one I did, and the ball. Here's the one one my shadow did. Do you have two more hooks?"

Angel quickly checked all of the supplies Charlie had left them. "Uh...here's one more set. Fuck, there's only four this size."

Alastor sighed. "Inform Charlie that I'm summoning one from my room, please."

"'Kay." Angel said, pulling his phone out of his chest fluff. "...'Al's getting crochet hook from his room, okay?'" He sent it. Charlie responded quickly. "She says there's already some in here."

"Tell her mine are specialised." Alastor said. "More comfortable to use."

Angel nodded, and told Charlie that. "...She says that's fine, you can get it." Alastor snapped his fingers, and a single crocheting hook appeared in his hand. "Al, that's a normal one."

"Yes, I know." Alastor said. "She doesn't need to know that, though."

"Sure." Angel said. "Eleven rows on top'a this, right?"

"Yes." Alastor said.

Angel carefully positioned the balls and his hands so that he could clearly see all three pieces, and then he started, moving all three pairs in unison. Alastor watched for an entire row. "'Kay, this ain't gonna work, if you ain't crochetin', too."

"S-sorry." Alastor said, tearing his eyes away.

"It's okay, tesoro." Angel said. "I jus' wanna win."

Angel definitely zoned out, in counting his stitches. He was five into a row, when Alastor stopped him.

"You've finished it, Angel." Al said. "That's the thirteenth row."

"Shit. Um...I-I got so..."

"It's alright." Alastor said. "I've just finished, so you're slightly slower than me, maybe a stitch every minute or two. Undo those five, tie off with a long tail, at least long enough to go the whole way around, and we can check our tensions."

Angel nodded. "God, that's so fuckin' embarassin', Al, I didn't even realise."

"Angel, it's fine." Alastor said. "It's adorable how focussed you were. I'll have my shadow start some more, if you'd like to keep going before bed."

"Yeah." Angel said. "Um...do they fit?" He asked. "Are they...the same size?"

"More or less." Alastor said. "I think mine are just slightly tighter. I should probably use a slightly bigger hook."

"Jus' hold yer yarn properly, Al." Angel said.

"Hmm?" Alastor asked. "I am."

"No, yer shadow's doin' it right. Look how he's doin' it, an' I'm doin' it, an' copy one'a us." Angel said, accepting the start Al's shadow was offering him. "I think I saw how y'were doin' it, before. Like, grabbin' it with yer index finger? But, you still hold yer work between yer thumb an' yer middle, same as I do. Y'see how I'm puttin' my yarn 'round my pinkie?"

"I...always felt like that would hurt." Alastor said, quickly making another magic circle, and starting his hexagon.

"It doesn't, you'll be fine." Angel said. "Hold it with yer pinkie, an' it goes over yer index finger, so keep that straight. Then you wanna move yer finger a little, so y'can grab the yarn with the hook."

Alastor was clearly trying, but definitely wanted to be bending his finger to hold the yarn.

Angel put his down, and went to help. He touched Al's hand carefully. "I want this one straight, tesoro." He whispered. Al shivered, and straightened his finger. "Good."

Al's breath hitched in his throat.

"...Shit." Angel said. "Al, d'you have a praise kink?"

"W-what?" Alastor asked, looking up from his work. "Angel, how is that relevant right now?"

"You don't know?" Angel asked. "You've nevah experimented with that sorta thing, have you?"

"Only with you." Al said.

"Al. Look at what yer doin', an' keep goin'." Angel said, firmly. Alastor obeyed immediately. Angel waited a few stitches, to confirm Al was doing it right. "Good boy."

Alastor practically whimpered, pulled away from Angel, and needed to take a few breaths to calm himself down. "I-I...don't know, darling, it's...rather late, and we should...probably be getting some sleep, soon?"

"Yeah? Okay." Angel said. "D'you wanna go now?"

"Yes." Alastor said, setting his work down, and heading towards the bedroom.

Angel followed him. "Al, did I try goin' too fast? I'm sorry."

"It's fine, darling, I'm just...tired." Al said. "You've done nothing wrong. I...would like to talk, before we...are intimate, again. About something I'm...less than comfortable repeating."

"...Yeah, 'course." Angel said. "Wanna talk now?"

"First, Angel, it's not something you've done. I don't want you to worry about that." Alastor said, sitting down on the bed, and grabbing his bag to fish out his pyjamas. "I...suppose I'm afraid of...repeating what happened on Tuesday."

"Oh, Al-"

"Let me finish, please." Alastor said. "You kept insisting I was the one in control, and you let me be on top of you, and I know you were just doing it to make me more comfortable. The second I felt my control start to slip, I panicked, and tried to pull it back in the only way I knew how. I'm not...trying to justify it, I'm just trying to avoid it."

Angel nodded. "Okay. How d'you wanna avoid it?"

"I want you to be the one in control from the start." Alastor said. "I know I'll find it hard, but I trust you, and I think I'll be okay as long as I know I'm not just falling."

"...Al, I ain't very good at bein' the one in control."

"Is that something you know, or something you've been told to believe?" Alastor asked.

It probably wasn't intended to be offensive. "Fuck you, Al." Angel said, regardless.

"Oh, would you?" Alastor asked. He then looked entirely surprised by his own boldness, and unsure what to do next.

"Wh- Now?" Angel asked. "Are you serious?"

"I fully understand that the submissive role comes more naturally to you, but I would like to see for myself what you're like, in control." Alastor said. "I'm willing to submit to you, if that would allow me to make my own judgement. Who knows, I might find something I thoroughly enjoy."

"...Tonight?" Angel asked.

"Perhaps tonight, if you'd like." Alastor said. "I trust you to take it slowly, you see, I'm not the most...experienced at this."

"Yeah, I got that." Angel said. "Um...you prob'ly won't want me ta touch yer dick, right?"

Alastor hesitated, then attempted to touch himself through his pyjamas. He winced. "No. Definitely not."

"Okay. Would you wanna touch me?" Angel asked.

"If you'd like, darling." Alastor said. "I...want you in control, though."

"Would you want me ta touch you where I did on Tuesday?" Angel asked.

Alastor shook his head. "I'd prefer not to risk that."

"That's fine. We can work you up to it, if you want." Angel said. "We don't gotta think about it yet. D'you wanna eat me out? Yer pretty good at that. Or..." He paused, taking a moment to look at Al properly. He looked very submissive right now, with his eyes wide, and his ears pressed back. "Yer a switch, Al. More dominant, sure, but it's very normal to wanna be submissive, sometimes."

"...Okay." Alastor said. "Or?"

"We could try a different kind of oral sex, if you want." Angel said. Alastor's ears flicked. "You could suck my dick. That's pretty fuckin' versatile, so I can easily be in control, an' I can go slow, 'cause yer not very experienced-"

"Yes." Alastor said. "Yes, I...I'd like to try that."

"Shit. Really?" Angel asked. "I don't exactly have a starter dick, Al, are you sure?"

Alastor stood from the bed, and stepped closer. "I want to try." He said, taking Angel's hands. "This sounds like a simple enough introduction. I trust you to guide me through it."

Angel gasped when Al fell to his knees, and looked up at him, eyes wide, almost begging. "Al, right now, are you sure?"

"I'm sure." Alastor said. "I want to."

"Let me take the lead, then, yeah?" Angel asked. Al nodded. "Let's go to the bed, so you ain't on the floor."

Alastor followed him, silently, and perched on the bed where Angel indicated he should.

"Is it my turn t'be in control, pretty buck?" Angel asked, trying to build himself into something Al might like. "You need ta take care'a yer doe, don't ya?" Alastor nodded. "Good boy. Can I hold yer ears, yer hair, or yer antlers?"

"...Ears or hair." Al said, face very red. "Antlers are too delicate this time of year. If they bleed, they'll grow wrong."

"Well, we don't want that." Angel said, settling onto the bed, laying on his back. "Don't worry, Al, I ain't gonna touch them. D'you wanna undress me?" Al nodded. "Go ahead, then, pretty boy." Al apparently had forgotten he had access to magic, because he started carefully removing Angel's skirt, and then his underwear. Angel was fully expecting Al to get intimidated when his dick started to emerge from its sheath, but Al didn't. He watched, and he waited for further instruction.

"Does it...only hide when you aren't using it?" Al asked.

"Pretty much, yeah." Angel said. "Wanna touch it?" Al nodded. Angel reached down, and demonstrated with one hand. "Jus' like this, okay? One hand 'round here." Alastor hesitantly replaced Angel's hand with one of his, which was a fair bit warmer. "'Kay, with yer other one, I want you up here, and I want yer thumb teasin' the head, okay?"

"I...think I understand." Alastor said, doing exactly as he was told.

Angel's head fell back as Al started, and he had to remind himself he was supposed to be in control. He couldn't relax as much as he wanted to. "That's it, Al, good boy." Angel muttered, making himself watch. "Find what I like, where gets you a reaction- oh, fuck!"

"So the stripes do mean something." Alastor said, smiling widely, gently massaging the pink stripe closest to Angel's head. "Are the other two the same?"

"Y-yeah." Angel said.

"You're fascinating, darling." Al said. "Though...I feel like you're not very comfortable being in control, are you?"

"Uh...out'a practice, that's all." Angel said, mostly trying to convince himself.

"You're an expert, Angel, don't doubt yourself." Alastor said. "Take me by the ears, and make me do something."

Angel's eyes widened, and he stared at Al. "You...wanna try suckin' me off?" Al nodded, maintaining eye contact, then slowly licking the head of Angel's cock. Angel sucked in a breath, and grabbed some of Al's hair without thinking. "Shit. Y-you wanna...choke on it, Al?"

"Yes." Al said, seeming a little surprised at the taste. "You'll tell me, if I'm doing something wrong, yes?"

"'Course I will." Angel said. "I want you to relax, but keep yer eyes on me, okay?" Al nodded. Angel gently took hold of both of Al's ears, and gently guided Al's head onto him. Alastor let it happen, seemed to just know to keep his teeth out of the way, and was moving his tongue curiously, not really tasting Angel, but getting him to react.

Al was struggling to maintain eye contact, and Angel was, too. Angel's mind kept falling from the dominant role, even though Al had easily settled in the submissive one. After a few moments, he realised he was most of the way in, and he hadn't felt Al gag once.

"That's it." Angel muttered. "Good boy." Alastor moaned at the praise. "Shit, Al. Your fuckin' tongue. Feels so good." Al hummed, and swallowed around him. Angel moaned loudly, and forced Al's head the rest of the way down.

Al tensed, and Angel abruptly realised he had his whole dick in a cannibal's mouth. The danger of it should have scared him. As it was, he'd never been more turned on. Al didn't look uncomfortable. In fact, he looked like he was thoroughly enjoying the rough treatment. Angel pulled him all the way off, so he could check in properly.

"You doin' okay, Al?" Angel asked.

Alastor nodded frantically. "Please."

"Shit. Yer right on the edge of subspace, ain't you?" Angel asked. "Hey, when you get there, I know you ain't gonna wanna come up for a while. D'you want me to...return the favour? Doesn't gotta be me suckin' you off, could be somethin' like fingering, since you liked the massage I gave you on Tuesday."

"I...I'd like to try that, yes." Alastor muttered. "The...second one, if...you're sure I won't...do that again."

"Okay." Angel breathed. "Lemme get what I'll need, then. Just lube an' wipes, from my bag, okay?"

Al nodded, and moved out of the way, so Angel could lean over and grab them. "...What do you...need that for?" He asked, hesitantly.

"To clean up, after, an' so it doesn't hurt, when I get my fingers in you." Angel said. "This'll be like what we did on Tuesday, but...a bit more."

"And you'll be...in me? I-in my...oh." Al muttered. "Okay."

"You sure that's okay, Al?" Angel asked.

Al nodded. "I trust you." He said. "May I continue?"

"Yeah, 'course." Angel said, settling back on the bed, and taking hold of Al's ears again.

Alastor took Angel's dick into his mouth more eagerly this time, straight away licking the first stripe, before coming up to tease the slit with the tip of his tongue. They spent a few minutes with him bobbing up and down, then suckling, learning how to move his tongue the way Angel liked best.

"Al? I'm...r-really close." Angel said. "Yer doin' so good, pretty buck, makin' me feel so good. D'you...want me ta come inside?"

"Mmm." Al hummed, nodding slightly, then really started to give it his all.

Angel barely lasted another ten seconds. He pressed Al's head down as he came, curling his body over him. Al stopped moving completely, swallowing everything Angel gave him, and let Angel lift him off when he'd come down from his high a little. "Oh, tesoro, you're gone, aren't you?" Angel asked, softly. Al hummed quietly, staring at Angel totally dazed. "It's okay. C'mere, Al, lemme hold you."

Alastor crawled closer, and practically fell into Angel's waiting arms. "D' I do good?" He asked, quietly.

"Yeah, gorgeous, you did so good." Angel said. "You want yer reward, now, good boy?"

Al nodded slowly. "Yes, please."

"D'you wanna be able ta see me?" Al nodded. "Okay, I'll stay where y'can see me, then." Angel said, grabbing and pulling on his pyjama bottoms with a spare hand, then carefully removing Alastor's. This was the first time he'd really seen the deer in this state of undress. He'd felt it, before, but Al's dick was visually very appealing, almost seven inches long, more or less human, and mostly flaccid, despite everything they'd just done. Al wasn't aware enough to feel self-conscious about Angel looking at him, which was probably good.

"Are you...going to touch me?" Al asked.

"D'you want me to?" Angel asked. Al nodded. "Then yes, I am. I'll need you to relax."

Alastor went completely limp. Angel reached for the lube on the nightstand, and started warming some up between his fingers.

"Angel?" Al asked. "Is it gonna hurt?"

"No, sweet fawn, it won't hurt, 'cause I'm gonna be gentle." Angel promised. Al whimpered at the new nickname. "You like that? My sweet, pretty fawn?"

Al hummed, and nodded. "Only like this." He muttered.

"I got it, pretty fawn." Angel said. "I'm gonna start now. I'll go slow, so y'can tell me if it feels wrong, okay?" Al nodded, and made a little noise that was definitely a bleat.

Angel started slowly, moving Al's leg to reach around the back easier, touching the skin around Al's hole, gently guiding his tail out of the way. Al squeezed his eyes shut, trying to steady his breathing, making himself go completely limp again.

"I'm gonna put one finger inside, now. You gotta relax." Angel said. Al buried his face in Angel's chest, and nodded. Angel carefully pressed one finger in. Al whined, and grabbed Angel's lapels. "Oh, good boy, Al, let me in. That's it." He started to slowly pump in and out, easily finding Al's prostate, and pressing against it.

"Ah! Angel!" Al cried out.

"Yeah?" Angel said. "Talk to me, Al, what're you feelin'?"

"Full." Al said. "Feels good. Feels so good, Angel, I-I like it."

"Y'think yer full with jus' one, Al?" Angel asked. "D'you wanna try two?"

Al pulled away, surprised, and stared at him, apparently only just remembering that Angel had multiple fingers. "Please." He whispered. "Show me more, darling."

Angel grinned, and carefully added another finger. Alastor keened as both pressed against his prostate again and again. Soon, he was rocking with Angel's fingers.

"That's it, sweet fawn. Yer doin' so good, Al." Angel said, keeping up the pace as he added a third finger. He knew from Al's jerky, involuntary bucking against him that the deer was close. "C'mon, Al, it's okay. You gonna come?"

"Please. Please. Please." Al chanted, in time with Angel's thrusts.

"Go on, then, pretty buck." Angel whispered, right in Al's ear. "Come for me."

Alastor screamed Angel's name, laced with static, as he came hard, squeezing around Angel's fingers, pressing his forehead into Angel's chest. The lights flickered, and one bulb on the far side of the room burst. Angel carefully removed his fingers.

"That was the hottest thing I've ever seen, Al, holy shit." Angel muttered, reaching behind himself to clumsily grab the wipes. "You did so good."

Alastor whined quietly, as Angel started cleaning him.

"It's okay. Yer safe, sweet fawn." Angel whispered. "I've got you. Lemme get you cleaned up, an' in yer pyjamas, then we can jus' lay here, nice an' quiet, calm, while you come down."

Alastor hummed, and let Angel roll him onto his back, to get his pyjama bottoms back on.

"You look so blissed out, pretty boy." Angel said, quickly changing his own jacket for pyjamas, too. "Oh, yer gonna love it when we work our way up to my dick. Bet you'd be a power bottom, wouldn't you? No wonder yer so good with yer mouth."

Al grumbled, and blinked at Angel. "Feels like I'm floating."

"Yeah? That's okay." Angel said. "I'm here ta catch you, when you need ta come down."

Alastor rolled into Angel's arms again. "Thank you, darling." He whispered. "I love you."

Angel smiled, and held him close. "I love you, too, Al."

Chapter Text

For the first time in years, Alastor didn't have to think. Nothing mattered more than Angel's gentle arms around him. He was safe.

He didn't know how long it lasted, and he didn't care. He couldn't. Angel was keeping him safe, whispering reassurances in his ears, grounding him with his presence. The spider smelled faintly of strawberries. It was safe and familiar.

Angel was so caring, even as Alastor started to come back, started to...wake up? It felt a little bit like waking up. Alastor knew he hadn't been asleep, but he hadn't exactly been fully aware, either.

Al pulled away, to see Angel properly, and Angel smiled at him. "Hi, there, pretty boy."

"...Hello." Al muttered. "I...I've never...felt like that, before."

"That was definitely subspace." Angel said. "How'd it treat you?"

"Good, I suppose." Alastor said. "I...still feel fuzzy."

Angel nodded. "You did really good, Al." He said. "How much d'you remember?"

"All of it, I think." Alastor said, moving closer again, to snuggle with Angel. "But...like I was watching, not like I was living it. I tried to stay close to you, darling, I tried so hard to hold on. It took...a while for me to realise I didn't have to. It felt so good, when I let go." He buried his face in Angel's fur, and sighed. "And you caught me, like you said you would. Thank you."

"'Course I caught you, Al, I love you." Angel said. "If you feel like yer fallin', you gotta tell me, okay? Doesn't matter if it's hours from now, or if I'm asleep. You'll wake me up, an' I'll help you properly."

"...Hours from now?" Alastor asked, hesitantly.

"Subspace is caused by a rush of serotonin, an' when that starts ta wear off, y'can feel really down." Angel explained. "It's called subdrop. Can feel like yer falling, or drowning, or like a panic attack. I don't want it ta happen to you."

Alastor nodded. "I'll tell you."

Angel sighed, evidently relieved, and held Al a little tighter. "Thanks, Al." He muttered. "Um...I should tell you, you kinda made the lights flicker in the whole hotel, an' Charlie came ta find out what happened. She's pretty much convinced you had a panic attack."

"No, I...don't normally lose control of my powers when I do, especially if someone's helping me through it." Alastor said.

"Well, she doesn't know that, an' did you really want me ta tell her that I'd barely had my fingers out'a you fer three minutes?" Angel asked. Al shook his head. "Right."

"The whole hotel?" Al asked.

"Well, at least as far as the second floor, so everyone who was awake saw it." Angel said. "It's okay, no-one knows what it means, right?"

"Yes. Niffty will have her theories, and Husker can probably figure it out, but yes." Alastor said. "I...don't remember hearing Charlie."

"Y'were pretty out of it, then. It's okay. It happens." Angel said.

"Does it?"

"Yeah." Angel said. "Don't worry, it's okay. Breathe fer me, Al, I've got you."

Alastor took a breath, and realised it was the first in almost a minute. "I-I'm sorry, darling, I..."

"It's okay. This is new fer you." Angel said, holding him tight. "I'm here ta catch you when it goes wrong."

Alastor squeezed his eyes shut, and nodded into Angel's chest. This was new, and he would learn. "I'm...not sure I'll always be able to...let myself submit to you like that."

"That's okay, Al." Angel said. "There's a few things I think you'll really like, that you can be in control for, but one'a them, I really think I should be in charge the first time, jus' 'cause it can hurt bad if y'don't know what yer doin'."

"Then...could we try that, the next time I'm in a more...submissive mood?" Alastor asked.

"I'll suggest it, then, but y'don't have to." Angel said. "We go at the pace you're okay with."

Al nodded again. "Thank you, mon Ange."

Alastor woke up wrapped in softness, too warm. He groaned, and tried to push the quilt cover down, only to find it was already only over their legs. He kicked it fully off of the bed, and sighed. It was probably too early to get up, and start making breakfast, so Alastor just stayed put. Angel was still fast asleep.

Angel was holding him protectively, as if to remind him he was there in case Alastor needed to wake him. The spider was laying more or less fully on his back, and Alastor was in his arms, resting on his chest. He could hear Angel's heartbeat, and his breathing.

It took him a few minutes to realise what was different. He slept comfortably in both Angel's room and his own.

Al's room had a section that was bayou, which gave him a great deal of fresh air, sometimes even a cool breeze in the bedroom section. Angel had a habit of leaving the window in his bathroom open. The room that they were using as a bedroom did not have windows, and did have a centrally controlled heating system, so the building was heating up the space, and the heat had nowhere to go. Alastor didn't like that. He got up, opened every door in the suite, and the two windows in the bathroom and the kitchenette, before heading back to bed, because it was only 4am.

"Where'd you go?" Angel asked, tiredly, staring up at Al with only one eye open.

"I was too warm." Alastor explained. "There aren't any windows in here."

"Shit. Is that what it was?" Al nodded. "You fixed it?"

"Doors and windows are all open." Alastor said, smiling.

"C'mere, then." Angel said, rolling onto his side. "Want you on top'a me."

Alastor nodded, and crawled into Angel's arms. He was tired. Within minutes, he was asleep.

The next time Alastor woke up, he was fully on top of Angel, being held there by all six of the spider's arms, and he didn't want to move. He had no idea what had woken him, but Angel was soft and comfortable, so he nuzzled into his fur, and let his eyes fall closed again.

"Hey, Al, are you awake?" Angel asked, softly.

"Mno." Al mumbled, shaking his head.

Angel chuckled. "C'mon, pretty buck, it's time ta wake up."

"Don't wanna." Al said. "Comfy."

Angel rolled onto his side, and let go of Al, so that he'd tumble off of him. "Yer so fuckin' clingy."

Al whined, and tried to hold onto Angel, as he was pushed away. He was still tired.

"See? I told you it was him holdin' me." Angel said, letting Al press them together again.

"...What?" Al asked, pulling his head back to look at Angel.

"Charlie's behind you." Angel explained.

Alastor turned his head back, and found that Charlie was there, which meant it was 9am. "...Oh. Good morning, my dear." He said, slowly.

"Hi, Al." Charlie said. "I was just...trying to make sure Angel wasn't...pushing your boundaries, but you seem...fine."

"Absolutely fine." Alastor said. "Was something wrong with the heating? We were both far too warm."

"Oh, um...no, I don't think so." Charlie said. "I can look into it for you."

Alastor turned around, and settled into Angel's arms again. "Thank you, dear." He muttered. "We're both...rather tired from waking up through the night."

"I'll get it sorted, and I'll come back to tell you what the issue was." Charlie said. "It's...nice to see you two getting along."

"We really should get up, Al." Angel said. "C'mon. I'll make breakfast. You go an' make a start on the crocheting."

Alastor groaned, and tried to keep hold of Angel, as the spider sat up.

"Let go'a me, Al. Come on." Angel said. "Don't you need to eat often enough, or you'll try ta eat me?"

"We're nowhere near that, darling." Al said, clinging to Angel's arms. "And, I didn't think you'd mind, if I wanted to bite. I won't lose control of myself like that, unless I didn't eat at all until tomorrow night. You don't need to worry."

"...Okay, but I'm hungry, an' you're prob'ly still in that kinda mindset where you ain't gonna take care'a yerself properly." Angel said. "Y'can come with me, if you want, but I am goin' in the other room, an' makin' food."

Alastor conceded, and followed Angel into the kitchenette.

"Got any requests?" Angel asked.

"I liked those fritatas we made the other day." Alastor said, smiling hopefully.

"...Yeah, I can make those." Angel said, looking through what they had in the fridge. Alastor was still holding him, just an arm, but tightly. "Shit. Um...gotta do normal size ones. That okay?"

"Yes, of course." Alastor said.

"I'll make enough fer tomorrow, too." Angel said. "Re-heat them, easy."

Alastor nodded. "May I lend a hand?"

"Onions, like before?" Angel asked, handing him one.

"Yes."

"How long?" Alastor asked.

"Literally three fuckin' minutes." Angel said. "I'll take tomorrow's out now, so they ain't overcooked."

"They smell good." Alastor said, watching Angel closely. "As good as last time."

Angel smiled at him, setting the two dishes down on the limited counter space they had, to cool. "Thanks. Hope they taste as good, too."

"I'm sure they will." Alastor said. "Shall I set up the coffee table, for us to eat at? Would you like a drink?"

Angel nodded. "Glass of water, please."

"Ah. Did I not..."

"What's wrong?" Angel asked.

"Darling, I...forgot to tell my shadow to stop, last night." Alastor said. "It has...made all of the black hexagons, and...at least ten red ones."

Angel stepped into the room, with their food. "Holy shit." He said. "Thanks, little buddy. That's real helpful."

Alastor's shadow grinned up at them. 'More time for you to spend with him.' It whispered in Al's mind.

Al's ears flicked, but Angel didn't seem to hear it at all.

'He can't hear me.' It said. 'Ask him to fuck you again. I want to feel him hurting you, stretching you out. Or suck him off again, so I can feel him in your throat. I'll keep working. I've saved so much time, already.'

"Hey, Al? Are...you okay?" Angel asked, nudging Al to get him to sit down.

"Yes, I...my shadow is teasing me." Alastor said. "It does that, sometimes."

"Well, yer blushin' like crazy." Angel said. "What's he sayin'?"

"Nothing important." Alastor said, quickly starting to eat what Angel had placed in his lap, and immediately burning his tongue. He squeaked loudly, and recoiled from his fork.

"Fuckin' Hell, Al, be patient, it's hot." Angel said, passing him one of the glasses of water. Alastor drank some. "Must'a been really not important, if yer that eager to move on."

Alastor refused to answer, or even make eye contact.

"...Okay." Angel said. "Um...so he can just...keep going?"

"It is a split off part of my consciousness. It can function while the main 'me' is resting, following basic or repetitive instructions." Alastor said. "However, I estimate that it will need to rest for about two hours, fairly soon."

"Huh. That's fuckin' cool." Angel said. "So, yer always at least a little bit aware?"

"I am." Alastor said. "It's...helpful, mostly, but I often find it hard to relax, when I'm...always aware. It's a defensive mechanism. I can't possibly be caught off guard."

This time, Alastor was a little bit more patient in eating his food, and managed not to burn his tongue again.

"That was delicious, darling. Thank you." Al said, gathering both of their plates and cutlery, to clean up.

Angel nodded. "It's easy, once you know it." He said. "Um...any chance yer shadow can make me a few starts, while you do that?"

Al's shadow materialised next to Angel, giving him three balls of red yarn, with the magic circles already done. 'You want to kiss him, don't you?' It asked, grinning, as Al stood up with the plates.

"Oh. Thanks, buddy." Angel said, taking the yarn.

"...Angel, put those down." Alastor said. "Just...for a minute." Angel did, looking up at him confused. Al took a breath. "May I kiss you?"

"Fuck, yes." Angel said, immediately.

Alastor smiled, as his shadow took the plates from him. Angel moved the yarn out of his lap, and invited Al to sit there. He did, carefully settling on top of him, so that their heads were almost at the same level, Al's slightly higher.

The kiss was slow, but Alastor was getting more confident, so it was as deep as when Angel was in control. He pressed their bodies a little closer together, inadvertently grinding against him a bit. Angel groaned, and bit into his own tongue. Alastor moaned at being able to taste his blood.

Al's ears flicked at a noise behind him. He broke the kiss, and turned towards it, to find Charlie standing in the doorway. "...Charlie? What are you doing here?"

Charlie's face was bright gold. "Um...I was...here to tell you that Sir Pentious hacked into the central heating last night, and...didn't tell me when their team gave up early this morning, so...the heating was on full blast all night." She said. "I...can see that you're busy, so...um...s-sorry?"

Alastor hummed, turning back to face Angel, who was struggling to contain his laughter. "Well, darling, I suppose the cat's out of the bag, hmm?" Al said, grinning.

"Yeah, no way we can pin this on me, when you're the one grindin' yer dick against mine." Angel said, grinning.

"Are you alright with her knowing?" Alastor asked.

"Easier, ain't it?" Angel said. "Hi, Charlie."

"Hi, Angel." Charlie said. "Um...so you two are..."

"Dating." Alastor said, moving out of Angel's lap, and sitting down beside him. "We have been since Sunday."

"All week?" Charlie asked. "And you didn't...say anything?"

"I didn't want Vaggie ta find out, 'cause she really doesn't trust Al." Angel said. "And...I didn't want any chance'a Val findin' out. Did we ever actually confirm that the snake ain't still bein' a snake?"

"Vox betrayed him, of course he's not." Charlie said.

Angel shrugged. "Unless he was workin' fer Velvette, not Vox." He said. "She's a fuckin' psycho, I wouldn't put it past her."

"No. Sir Pentious hasn't been in contact with any of the Vees, since you caught him." Charlie said, firmly. "I...need to do some trust exercises, don't I?"

"Yes, well, the heating is fixed now, is it not?" Alastor asked. "You can go, can't you? We have a hundred and thirty hexagons left to make, after all."

Charlie nodded. "I won't tell anyone, anyway." She said. "Um...have fun?"

Chapter Text

Angel watched Charlie leave with the biggest smile on his face. It felt good not to have to hide.

It had felt so good to have Al on top of him like that. Angel wanted to keep going, to make out with him some more, but they had hexagons to make.

Shadow Al had made the remaining seventeen black hexagons, and also fourteen red ones, which left thirty five red, and all of the pink and white ones. They could easily get halfway down the pinks, today.

"Let's get some'a these done, yeah?" Angel asked, picking up his crocheting again. Alastor hastily nodded, and started a hexagon of his own.

"We'll be on our own for two hours." Alastor said. "That's probably...twenty four hexagons? Twenty five, if I can pull ahead."

"You are holdin' yer wool wrong again, Al." Angel said. "Look at me, an' copy me."

"...Couldn't I just...use the next size of hook?" Alastor asked.

"You'll hurt yer fingers."

"Demonic healing, darling, I'm an Overlord." Alastor said. "I'll be faster, if I use the method I'm used to, rather than the one you're so fond of. I'll get a different hook."

After an hour, a little over three hexagons per set of hands, Al was trying his best not to mention the very obvious cramping in his fingers. Their pile of hexagons was really starting to look impressive.

"You've...never done this fer this long, have you?" Angel asked, close to the twenty hexagon mark, watching Al get slower as it started to hurt more. "Take five minutes, Al. It's fine."

Alastor's cheeks were red, and he wouldn't look at Angel. "It's fine." He said. "I...want to finish this one, and the next."

"Take a fuckin' break, Al." Angel said. "Finish this one, then we'll take five minutes. D'you wanna make lunch?"

"I...suppose that's logical, since...you can do more than me." Alastor said, slowly. "I don't want to take a break, darling. I'll heal-"

"I don't want you healing, Al, I don't want you ta hurt yerself in the first place." Angel insisted. "Finish that hexagon, then come here."

Al's ears ticked back. "...Fine." He said.

"You...don't like givin' up, huh?" Angel asked.

"I have been referred to as a stubborn deer, yes." Alastor muttered.

"My stubborn deer." Angel said. "Finish yer hexagon, then come here an' hug me."

Alastor nodded, and looked down at his work.

It wasn't much harder to crochet the next three hexagons, with Alastor clinging to his shoulders. Al was hugging him mostly from behind, with his chin resting on one of Angel's shoulders, so he could watch him work.

"It doesn't pull on your fur?" Alastor asked, as Angel started the eighth row.

"Fur's silky enough that there's basically no friction." Angel said. "It'd only pull if my hands weren't clean."

Alastor hummed, and buried his fingers in the fur of Angel's shoulders. "You are very soft, darling."

"Thanks, Al." Angel said, leaning into the touch. "You're warm. Cozy ta sleep next to. Nice. Makes me feel safe."

"You are safe, Angel." Alastor said.

"I know. I jus' like ta feel like it, too." Angel said. "So, uh...what did yer shadow say, earlier? Before we kissed."

Alastor's skin grew warm against him. "Nothing." He hissed. So, clearly, it was something.

"Was it about me?" Angel asked.

"What would you like for lunch?" Alastor asked.

"No, you ain't changin' the subject, Al. If you won't tell me, I'll jus' get yer shadow to." Angel said.

"It won't. It can't." Alastor said. "Honestly, darling, it's nothing. My shadow was simply teasing me. May we please move on, and pretend it didn't happen?"

"...Okay." Angel said. "If...yer sure it was nothing."

"I'm sure." Alastor said. "What would you like for lunch?"

"Uh...surprise me?"

Alastor climbed out from behind him, and nodded. "One surprise coming right up."

Angel had finished those three hexagons, and was nearly done with the next three, when Alastor's shadow sheepishly approached him, ears pressed back.

"Hey, little buddy." Angel said, softly. "Did you have a nice rest?"

The shadow nodded.

"Is the...food nearly ready?" Angel asked.

The shadow nodded again.

"You...can't talk, can you?" Angel asked.

The shadow shook his head. His glowing eyes and mouth suddenly brightened, and his ears flicked up. He mimed writing.

"Oh. Yeah." Angel said, grabbing a pen and notepad from on the coffee table. "You can use these."

The shadow smiled, and took them. He started writing, then showed it to Angel. 'Don't tell Alastor.'

"'Course I won't." Angel said. "You can tell me anythin' you want, okay?"

The shadow nodded, and started writing again. 'Wanted you to kiss him.'

"Yeah? You liked that, huh?" Angel asked. "Is that what made him light up like a glowstick, earlier?"

The shadow shook his head. 'Told him I wanted you to fuck him again.' He wrote.

Angel's eyes widened. "You did?" The shadow nodded. "Holy fuck. Okay. So you, uh...liked that? You...felt it?"

The shadow nodded, smiling brightly. 'He wants it, too.' He wrote. 'He won't admit it.'

"But, you don't have his inhibitions?" Angel asked.

The shadow shook his head.

"Do...you have a name?" Angel asked. "I've kinda been referrin' to you in my head as 'Al's shadow', an' that seems a little...impersonal. Especially when I'm...fuckin' yer master."

The shadow's ears pressed back, again. He shook his head.

"Can I...call you 'Ombra'?" Angel asked, hesitantly.

The shadow's ears perked up. He nodded frantically, then dropped the notepad and pen, and snuggled up close to Angel.

"Aww, cute." Angel muttered.

Ombra made a little warbling static noise, almost like purring.

Angel smiled, and picked up his crocheting again. Ombra wriggled beside him, and grabbed the hook and ball Al had been using from the coffee table. Leaning with his back against Angel, he started crocheting, too.

After a few more minutes, Alastor came back with two plates of food. Angel could smell it before, but he still couldn't tell what it was.

"Here you go, my darling." Alastor said, brightly, setting the plates down on the coffee table. It was...one of the three Creole dishes that Al loved to make. Angel tried to figure out which one.

He put his crocheting to one side. "Um...not jambalaya, 'cause it's over the rice?" Al nodded. "And...it's thicker, so it ain't...gumbo, it's...the other one...that sounds really French."

"Étouffée, Angel." Alastor said.

Angel smiled up at him. "It looks great, Al." He said. "Thanks."

As they ate, Angel managed not to mention the enlightening written conversation he'd had with Ombra. Alastor didn't seem to know it had happened at all.

The food was as good as it looked. Angel didn't stop until his plate was empty.

"So fuckin' good, Al. You gotta teach me, sometime." Angel said.

"When we've time, yes, of course." Alastor said, setting his empty plate down on top of Angel's on the coffee table. "Exchange a few recipes, perhaps even combine them a little bit."

"Mostly just tomatoes an' peppers, right?" Angel asked, curling closer to Al, hugging him, almost climbing on him.

"And celery." Alastor said, wrapping his arms around Angel's shoulders. "Well, darling, shall we continue with the blanket?"

"Don't you wanna...continue with that other thing, first?" Angel asked, looking up at him with wide eyes. "I know I wasn't done."

"...The...other-"

"Kiss me, Al." Angel said, firmly.

"Ah. That other thing." Alastor muttered, smiling, pulling Angel a little more onto himself. "You know, you're always allowed to kiss me, darling."

"I wanted you ta do it, though." Angel said. "Love when yer in control. Kiss me. Bite me. Make me feel it, Al. Please."

Al moved Angel's face closer with a hand on his cheek, and gently kissed him. It only lasted a few seconds, but Angel was already hooked. "You make it so very tempting, Angel." Al whispered. "But I'm afraid hurting you would break Charlie's activity rules."

"Doesn't count, when I want it." Angel said. He knew Al could smell that he was wet, and he didn't care. "I want you so fuckin' badly, pretty buck."

Alastor hesitated for a few more seconds. "I...will kiss you." He said, slowly. "I'll pin you to the couch, and bite you. I'll claw you. When you've finished, I'll clean you up, and take care of you. Then, we will continue making the blanket. Deal?"

"On the couch? Sexy." Angel muttered. "What about you?"

"Later." Alastor said. "It wouldn't do for us both to be in that state at once, and I think I can be submissive for you, tonight, if you'd like."

"Oh, I'd like it." Angel said, grinning. "Yer so pretty, fucked out'a yer mind like that."

"I thought I was your 'pretty buck' all the time. What happened?" Al teased.

"That's a...specific kind of pretty." Angel said. "All vulnerable fer me. Like you'd let me reach inta yer chest, an' hold yer heart, knowin' I wouldn't hurt ya like that, or, maybe, knowin' I'd do it right. That trust is beautiful."

"...I...think I understand." Alastor said. "Now, are we playing, or not?"

"Definitely." Angel said.

A minute was all it took for Angel to be comfortably positioned on the couch, with the back cushions removed so they had more space, and an old blanket under him in case there was any blood. He hoped there would be.

"How far do you want me to go, darling?" Alastor asked, carefully settling with his weight mostly on Angel's thighs.

"As far as you want."

"...In terms of killing you, not pleasuring you, Angel." Alastor said.

"Make me come, I'll be happy ta let you kill me." Angel said, shivering as Al undressed him slowly, looking at his body like he was planning out how best to butcher him. "You wanna cut me? I brought a knife. There's not a good one in the kitchenette."

"I can cut you?" Al asked. He then summoned Angel's toy bag from the bedroom, and found the case with the knife in.

Angel nodded. "God, fuck, the way I've imagined you eatin' me, ever since you told me y'were a cannibal." He muttered. "That fantasy starts kinda like this."

"It does, does it?" Alastor asked, testing the knife on his own palm. "How fast would you heal?"

"It'd all be gone by this time tomorrow, even if it kills me." Angel said. "Al, please."

Alastor smiled down at him. He leaned forwards, with one hand on Angel's chest, in his fur, and kissed him slowly. Angel whimpered, when he felt the knife's blade against his throat. Al hummed in response.

Angel whined when he felt a few tendrils of shadow wrap themselves around his wrists, holding him in place. Al pulled away from the kiss, and dragged his gaze down Angel's body, almost hungrily. Angel gasped as Al touched his chest, parting the fur to see his chalky white shin underneath.

"Do you want me to draw something on you?" Alastor asked. "Or I could simply let myself explore. It's up to you."

"Either. Both? C-could you do both?" Angel asked.

Alastor smiled. "Of course, darling." He said. "Where?"

"Fuckin'...anywhere." Angel said. "You wanna eat me? Take a bite of some internal organs? Anything you want, Al, I'm all yours."

Al made a little radio noise, kinda similar to Ombra's warbling purr, and moved the knife down Angel's chest. "All mine." He muttered. "Angel, are you sure you know what you're offering?"

"I know." Angel said. "We've done shit like this before."

"I've collected your blood, and only bit to pierce your skin. I've never eaten directly from you." Alastor said. "What if I can't...stop myself? What if it's too much for you?"

"I trust you, Al." Angel said, firmly. "Won't you trust yerself fer me?"

Alastor squeezed his eyes shut for a few seconds, took a breath, and nodded. "Yes. I will." He said. "I'm going to hurt you, now. What's your colour, darling?"

Angel smiled up at him. "Green as grass, pretty buck."

The next thing Angel knew, there was pain. A single burning cut down and to the left, slightly curved, and Angel couldn't help but scream. He looked at Al when it stopped, and the deer's face was flushed, clearly turned on by either the act or the sound.

"That's it, darling, sing for me." Al muttered, moving the knife back up, and starting a second cut that felt entirely symmetrical. Angel choked on a moan, and cried out. Fuck, he was so hard already, so close from just two cuts. "You're so receptive, mon Ange. May I take something to cook for dinner?"

Angel nodded shakily. "I-I ain't...eatin' m'self...Al." He muttered.

"Of course not." Alastor said, moving forwards a little, so Angel could see his grin. "I'll have my shadow make you something easy to digest, so you can heal more easily."

"M'kay." Angel said, struggling to breathe a little. "Thanks...Al."

Alastor settled back down on Angel's thighs. "...Darling?" Angel hummed in response. "May I...touch you, after this? If...you haven't already-"

"Fuck, yes please." Angel said, as soon as the first part of the question registered in his mind. "Al, please keep goin'. Wanna feel. God, please!"

"Two more, then I'll...take a piece of liver, is that alright?" Alastor asked.

"Green, Al, so fuckin' green." Angel whined. He heard Al breathe, then he was screaming again, as Al cut into him some more, and it felt so good. He'd stopped trying to figure out what Al was drawing on him somewhere between the third cut and the fourth. And then Alastor's hands were in him, and he could feel things being moved inside him.

"You have a very pretty set of organs, darling." Al said, carefully cutting a piece of flesh out. "So compact and efficient, to accomodate your altered skeletal structure." He pulled on the piece, and sliced through whatever was still tugging on Angel's insides. "It's beautiful, Angel."

Angel had gone completely limp and silent. He was staring up at the ceiling, barely able to think over the pain, trying to process the pleasure he was feeling. Alastor was stitching him closed, neatly binding his skin back together, and that hurt good, too. It was all starting to blur together.

"You didn't finish, darling. May I touch you? Angel?" Al asked, tone soft, voice kinda distant.

Angel tried to nod, or hum, or something, and he didn't know which one had worked, but Al's warm fingers were stroking him, on his clit, and up and down his dick. Angel's eyes squeezed shut, as he gave in to the pleasure, let it wash over him. His orgasm hurt, making his stitches pull at the tender parts of his skin, and it felt so good, crashing into him like a tidal wave, drowning him in feeling. He was vaguely aware of Alastor's warm hands holding him after. Maybe putting bandages on him? He wasn't sure. The shadows were lifting him, supporting his back between the shoulders, keeping his head at a healthy angle. It felt so safe.

Al was talking to him, had been for a while, but Angel couldn't hear the words, only the soft, gentle tone of Al's aftercare voice. His deer was taking care of him. He was safe to let go, and let it happen.

Angel felt like he was falling for half a second, and Alastor was there, wiping away his tears, holding him, keeping him safe.

This was safe. Angel took a shaky breath, and let himself fall asleep in Alastor's arms.

Chapter Text

Angel had fallen asleep against him. Alastor spent some time moving the spider's hair out of his eyes.

"That was fun, darling." He whispered. "You make such beautiful noises. It makes me...want to hear more."

His shadow was watching them, grinning. 'You wanted his-'

"Oh, shush." Alastor said. "Don't ruin this. What I wanted doesn't matter. Right now, I want to take care of him."

'I like him.' The shadow said. 'Charlie's at the door.'

"Let her in, if she knocks." Alastor said.

His shadow nodded, and melted into the floor.

Alastor sighed. "It's alright, mon Ange." He muttered, gently touching his spider's face, keeping him close. "I'll keep you safe."

Angel made a little noise in his sleep, almost like humming, but he didn't move. Al covered him up a little bit with the blanket they were on.

Al's ears flicked, as Charlie finally knocked, and his shadow let her in. "Hey, A- oh. Um...hi?"

The shadow took her by the hand, and led her into the lounge, so she could talk to Alastor.

"Hello, Charlie." Alastor said. "Is something wrong?"

"The, um...alerts were...um..." She faltered, as she saw Angel. "What happened?"

"Nothing." Alastor said. "He was tired, he's asleep. We're ahead of scedule on the blanket. It's fine."

Charlie was silent for a long moment. "You know I can see when someone's healing, don't you?" She asked. "Every time he's been hurt since he got his soul back, he's seemed fine, so I've let it slide. You...you're hurting him, aren't you? Oh my gosh, you have been for weeks."

"Charlie, I always take care of him." Alastor said. "I check in frequently, and I stop if it's too much. You're right, he's fine, and it's not your place to tell us how to navigate our relationship, or judge us for doing what works for us. Now, if you don't mind, I would like to let him rest."

"No. No, I can't allow this." Charlie said. "You don't get to hurt him. He's a patron at the hotel, you can't...he's under my protection, and...I will protect him from you, if I have to."

"I won't fight you, Charlie." Alastor said. "He doesn't need your protection. How do you know he hasn't allowed this, himself, hmm? You don't get to tell me what he wants."

"He's unconscious, and you're telling me he wanted this? Are you insane?" Charlie asked.

"Maybe, but does that matter? Yes, he wanted this. I can wake him, if you'd like to hear that from him." Alastor said. "Or we can wait, you can give me the benefit of the doubt, and he'll tell you you're wrong when he's a little more healed."

"I'm not leaving you alone with him." Charlie said, firmly.

"Fine. You can stay." Alastor said. "Don't get in the way."

The next half an hour was...awkward, to say the least.

Alastor held Angel close to his chest, while he chrocheted another red hexagon. Charlie watched, apparently looking for any sign Al might hurt Angel more.

"If I were going to hurt him, why would I do so with you watching me?" Alastor asked.

"Exactly. As long as I'm here, you won't." Charlie said.

"He's healing. I won't, anyway." Alastor said.

"I can't know that."

Alastor sighed. "I know you mean well, but I truly do care about him, and I don't need you watching me like a hawk to make sure he doesn't get hurt."

"I'm sorry, Alastor, but you've broken my trust." Charlie said. "You're lucky I'm waiting for his side of the story, instead of just disqualifying you from the activity."

"You're accusing me of torturing him regularly, and your first concern is still that I've broken the rules of the activity?" Alastor asked. "Seriously? Prioritise, Charlie."

"...I never said 'torture'." Charlie whispered. "You're...torturing him? I-I don't know if I'm comfortable with...you staying here at all, if you're...doing that."

"Fair enough." Alastor said. "If I'm going, I can't promise any of my contractees would want to stay."

"We'll figure it out." Charlie said. "As long as you can't hurt Angel-"

"You misunderstand." Alastor said. "I like to keep them close, to keep them safe." He glanced down at Angel, then back up at Charlie. "I don't recall Angel ever actually saying that he owned his soul. Do you?"

Charlie blinked. "He said he was free."

"He said Valentino didn't own his soul." Alastor said. "He never said he was free."

"...You?" Charlie asked, looking absolutely horrified. "I...h-he can say 'no', right?"

"Of course he can. I'm not a monster." Alastor said. "You caught us after a particularly...intense intimacy. I assure you, I'm not always the one in control."

"How long have you...been doing this?"

"How long have I been playing with him?" Alastor asked. Charlie nodded. "You recall that friend I asked you for advice with? That was him."

"That was three weeks ago." Charlie said.

Alastor nodded. "We've had multiple safewords set up since then. I've only ever hurt him during our sessions." He said. "I always take care of him properly, after. Stitches, bandages, hugs, food. Anything he needs."

Charlie looked very conflicted. "I...I need to talk to him."

"When he's awake and aware, of course." Alastor said. "He's fairly close, now. Give him a few more minutes."

Charlie nodded, and kept watching him. Alastor cut his yarn, and set the new hexagon aside, before starting another new one.

"My tension is tighter than his, because of how I hold my yarn." Alastor said. "It results in slightly smaller hexagons. To compromise, I'm using a larger hook."

"That's...sensible." Charlie said.

"You're still looking at me like you expect me to bite him if you so much as blink." Alastor said. "My first priority right now is letting his wounds close. I wouldn't hurt him more."

"You expect me to believe that?" Charlie asked.

"Under these circumstances, no, not at all." Alastor said. "You're right to be wary-"

Angel groaned, and nuzzled into Al's shoulder.

Alastor quickly set his yarn and hook aside. "I've got you, darling, you're alright." He said, gently. "You're safe, Angel, I'm right here. How are you feeling?"

"Mmm." Angel hummed, quietly. "Fuckin' sore. A-am I...still bleedin'?"

"You're not." Alastor said. "I'm fairly certain you'll need those stitches out in a couple of hours, before they start to itch." Angel nodded, tiredly. "How aware are you?"

"A little." Angel mumbled. "Enough ta kiss you, pretty buck."

"Enough for company, darling?" Alastor asked.

Angel pulled back a little, and blinked at him. "M'hungry?"

"Yes, of course." Alastor said. "Something simple, yes?"

"Not spicy." Angel muttered. "Rice? D'we have salmon? I kinda want salmon."

"Cooked, or smoked?" Alastor asked.

Angel let his head drop back onto Al's shoulder. "Smoked, I think. That's nice." He said, quietly. He clumsily grabbed at Al's ear. "Fuckin' soft."

"I'll have my shadow prepare you some." Alastor said. "Until then, Angel, how much of this would you be comfortable Charlie knowing about?"

"I don't fuckin' know." Angel mumbled. "You okay her knowin' we're fuckin'?"

"I am, yes." Alastor said.

"Don't tell her 'bout when you killed me, she'll fuckin' overreact." Angel muttered. "Uh...maybe not the whole-"

"Angel. Talk as though she's here." Alastor said.

"Um...fuck, is she behind me?" Angel asked, quietly. "Shit, I...I jus' woke up, is she...shit. Al."

"Just...slightly concerned about the state you're in." Alastor said.

Angel turned his head back to see her. "Fuck. Hi." He whispered. "Um...I'm okay."

'Are you alright with Charlie knowing I own your soul?' Alastor asked.

Angel looked back at him, quickly. "Um...I guess. I was gonna tell people that after the activity, anyway." He said. "...Does she know that?"

"I didn't explicitly say it, but I...may have implied it." Alastor said. "I...hoped it would get her to back off. I'm sorry."

"You two can communicate telepathically, can't you?" Charlie asked. "What did...you say?"

"Al owns my soul." Angel said. "I...let him steal it from Val. Got me away from him. Contract's so fuckin' good, Charlie, you don't even know."

"Your contract is lenient, but fairly standard for me, darling." Alastor said. "The telepathy was new, slightly experimental, I'll admit. I...wrote it after I grew to care about you, but before I could admit I loved you."

"You couldn't admit it. That's fuckin' cute." Angel said, grinning. He pushed himself up on three arms, and poked the tip of Al's nose. "Yer fuckin' cute."

Charlie stepped a little closer. "Um...Angel? Can I talk to you?" She asked. "In private?"

"You mean without Al, don't you?" Angel said.

"She'll want to make sure you're speaking freely." Alastor said. "It makes sense. She doesn't know how much of your behaviour I'm influencing. She probably wants to make sure I wasn't lying about anything, while you were asleep."

"The fuck'd you tell her?" Angel asked.

"It's probably best for her purposes if I don't tell you." Alastor said. "Right, Charlie?"

"...Yeah." Charlie said, quietly.

Angel nodded. "Okay." He said, wincing as he tried to move. "Fuck, I'm still sore."

Alastor gently helped, lifting Angel's waist to get him settled on the couch without any part of Al under him. "Your rice and salmon bowl is ready, so I'll leave you with it. Will you want anything else, later?" He asked, as his shadow left the bowl and a fork on the coffee table. "Or...a drink?"

"Uh...water?" Angel asked. "You took some liver, so I shouldn't-"

"Hold on, 'took some liver'?" Charlie asked.

"You try datin' a cannibal, Charlie." Angel said. "Don't worry, it's fine. Fully consensual, he did it safe, an' made sure I was okay the whole time."

"I'll leave you two to talk." Alastor said, heading towards the door. "If you need anything, Angel, just tell me. I want to take care of you."

Alastor took a few moments to breathe. That had not gone how he'd hoped.

She'd seen straight through him, when he'd said Angel was simply tired. He had to admit, the way she cared was incredibly admirable, if a little annoying. The state Angel had been in when she'd entered the suite was definitely questionable, as was Alastor's avoidance of mentioning the injury.

He took another two breaths, before teleporting a glass of cold water into the other room.

Charlie had soundproofed the lounge, which was entirely fair. Alastor could easily find out what they were talking about, but he refused to. That would not help at all, in this situation.

It was only 3pm, so several hours before their next meal, but what else could he do? He checked what they had in the fridge, and on the shelves, for anything he'd be able to throw together as a slow cooked meal.

There wasn't a slow cooker in the kitchenette, and he couldn't realistically use the oven. Without thinking about how it might look, he found himself knocking on the door of the lounge.

Charlie opened it, looking a little pissed off. "What?"

"May I summon the smaller slow cooker from the kitchen?" Alastor asked. "So I can make our food for later. You know, since there's not really any other way I can take care of my boyfriend from the other room?"

"Oh, um...yes, that's fine." Charlie said, expression softening in a way that told Alastor the sternness had become an act.

Alastor smiled. "Is...Angel alright?" He asked.

"I'm okay, Al." Angel called from the couch.

"That's wonderful to hear, darling." Alastor said. "I'm making a start on dinner. You don't have to have any, if you're not hungry by then, but it will be available."

"Thanks, gorgeous." Angel said.

Alastor had eventually settled on barbeque pulled chicken and grits, simple enough, and he could do the chicken slow. He seemed to remember Angel had liked it, the last time he'd made it for everyone.

Hopefully, Charlie would decide it was alright, soon. He wanted to start showing Angel these recipes.

It was fine. It had only been five minutes, at most. They were talking. It was fine.

But what if Angel decided this was wrong?

What if he'd been too much?

What if Angel wanted to end their arrangement, their relationship?

Would he ever be allowed to hold his spider again? Or even see him?

Alastor guided himself down to the floor, and pressed his knees into his chest in an attempt to get his heart to stop racing so he could breathe. He didn't want to panic. Not like this, not with Charlie here.

How would that make him look?

He started clawing at his ears to make it stop. It wasn't working. He pulled harder, until it hurt and burned. He couldn't stop. He couldn't breathe. This looked so bad. He looked so bad.

What would Charlie think?

Oh god, what would Angel think?

Would he assume Alastor was trying to manipulate him?

Would it make him want to leave?

Arms around him, squeezing him tight.

Strawberries, blood, chicken.

Sweet fawn.

Safe.

Alastor opened his eyes, and tried to take in his surroundings.

Angel, visibly in pain, holding him tight. Charlie, watching like she had no idea what to do. Alastor was on the floor. He'd been trying to hold himself right, to stop the panic, and it hadn't worked.

"There we go, sweet fawn, you're okay." Angel said, softly. "Got yerself all worked up over not bein' able ta take care'a me, huh? I'm alright, Al. You did good."

Alastor looked at his mate...where had that word come from? Angel was in pain. He'd hurt Angel. "M'sorry. Ange, I-I..."

"Breathe, pretty fawn, yer okay. I've got you. I'm okay." Angel said. "You got nothin' to apologise for, Al, it's okay."

"...I hurt you." Alastor whispered. "I'm sorry."

"You were panicking, Al, it's fine." Angel said. "Only hurts a little. I'm more worried 'bout yer ears. Fuckin' Hell, did you try tearin' them off or somethin'?"

Alastor distantly registered the pain where his claws must have broken through the skin around his ears. "Tried to make it stop."

"All those bad thoughts?" Angel asked. Al nodded shakily. "Yeah, I know. You remember last night, when I told you how y'could fall after a scene, so you should wake me up if you felt bad?"

"Subdrop." Alastor muttered.

"There's somethin' like that fer the person who's in control, too." Angel said. "Domdrop. Happens when you ain't sure yer takin' care'a me properly, or y'can't see me gettin' better, or y'think you might'a hurt me too bad. You gotta see I'm okay, Al, I'm fine."

"I...I didn't know." Alastor whispered. "I would have told you, if I'd known, darling, I'm sorry."

"Al, it's fine." Angel said. "You know now. How 'bout we get those ears sorted out, so you ain't bleedin' down yer face, huh?"

"...Is that why I can smell blood so strongly?"

"Yeah, that's why." Angel said. "C'mon, pretty fawn, it's alright."

"I'm sorry I hurt myself." Al said. "I...didn't mean to."

"I know y'didn't. It's okay." Angel said, helping him stand up, then immediately nearly falling, probably due to lightheadedness from blood loss. Alastor held him steady by the secondary arms. "Shit. Sorry."

"My fault." Alastor said. "You're hurt, and I'm...I-I shouldn't be...panicking over this."

"You can't control it, it ain't your fault, Al." Angel said, leading him back into the lounge. "Where're yer medical supplies?"

"On the shelf, under the coffee table." Alastor said. "I'll be fine, Angel-"

"Yer right ear's practically hangin' on by three strips'a skin, an' yer left's bleedin' like you cut through its main blood supply." Angel said, firmly, practically pushing Al onto the couch. "I know you'll heal, but I don't want it ta hurt as it does."

He quickly found Al's box of supplies, and dug through it for a curved needle and suture thread. He started on Al's left ear, which tried to flick at the contact, tearing something more. Al flinched as a drop of blood fell in front of his eye.

"So, uh...yer ears, are they...the bit you normally hurt like this?" Angel asked.

"Yes." Al muttered. "Easy to grab. Pull or claw. Makes it stop, sometimes."

"Pain grounds you? Makes you focus on what's happening?" Angel asked. "Don't move yer head."

"It does, yes." Alastor said. "Makes everything else..."

"...Everythin' else goes quiet fer a minute." Angel said. "I get it."

"I'm sorry." Alastor said.

"You were tryin' ta comfort yerself, Al, it's okay." Angel said. "Next time, you tell me. I'll hurt ya any way you want."

Alastor whimpered, and curled in on himself a little. God, he wanted that. "W-would you?"

"'Course, sweet boy." Angel said, wrapping Al's ear tight enough to keep it still, to stop the bleeding fully, but not tight enough to hurt. "Let you heal up, an' I can hurt you any way you want." He moved Al's head a little, so he could reach the right ear properly. "Shit. You pulled this one hard. Dunno if it's still got any blood supply. Hey, can you feel this?"

"...Feel what?" Alastor asked. "I...probably not, if you're...doing something."

"I'm touchin' it, an' you...can't feel this, can you?" Angel asked.

"Not in the slightest." Alastor said. Angel was touching his scalp, where the ear was supposed to be attached. "I can feel that. On...my head."

"Um...you heal super fuckin' quickly, Al." Angel said. "There's a new little flap of skin growin' here. I think I can jus'...get it ta close up, an' you'll grow a whole new ear. Can ya hear me properly?"

"Yes, fine." Alastor said. "It's...there's a new..." He reached up, to try touching it, and found the cold, wet one first. Angel guided his fingers to the baby ear. "Oh. That...has happened before. I lost a hand in a fight in the fifties, and it...grew back in a few hours. I'll...be fine, if you...cut the old one off."

"Takes a lotta energy ta regenerate, though, don't it?" Angel asked, grabbing his knife that Al had left in the medical box, to clean later. "Hold still."

Alastor didn't feel it at all, when Angel cut through the bits of skin his old ear was still holding on by. Angel cursed quietly, when it started bleeding anew.

"Don't wanna...hurt the baby one." Angel muttered, gently pressing a cloth against it. "Shit."

"Harder is fine, Angel, you won't hurt me." Alastor said, pressing into Angel's hand.

"Give it a few minutes like this, yeah?" Angel said, starting to apply the right pressure to make it stop.

"Yes." Alastor said. "I'm sorry I interruped your conversation with Charlie."

"It's fine, Al, we'd pretty much gotten to an understandin', anyway." Angel said. "You ain't always in control, I can say no, you listen if I do, you always take care'a me right, an' I feel safe when we're playin'."

Alastor nodded slightly. "I'm...sorry I told her so much, while you were asleep."

"No, that's okay, baby, you were on yer own. The fuck were you supposed ta do? Oversharing's, like, a quarter'a yer problems." Alastor had recoiled slightly at the nickname. "Shit. You back enough ta not be okay with that one?"

"I-I think so, yes." Alastor said.

"Sorry, pretty buck." Angel said. "You feelin' a little better?"

"Now that I can see you're alright, I think so, yes." Alastor said. "Thank you for holding me. That...really helped."

"'Course, Al." Angel said. "What kinda boyfriend would I be if I let you drop, huh?"

"When...you weren't there, it felt...really bad, so...bad?" Alastor said.

"Yeah, I'd be bad."

"You're not bad, Angel, you're wonderful." Alastor said. "I love you."

Angel smiled at him. "I love you, too, pretty boy."

Chapter Text

"Your rice and salmon bowl is ready, so I'll leave you with it." Alastor said, as his shadow placed a bowl of food on the coffee table for Angel. "Will you want anything else, later? Or...a drink?"

"Uh...water?" Angel asked, after deciding against coffee, despite how tired he was. "You took some liver, so I shouldn't-"

"Hold on, 'took some liver'?" Charlie asked, suddenly.

Shit. He'd forgotten she was there for a moment. "You try datin' a cannibal, Charlie." He said. "Don't worry, it's fine. Fully consensual, he did it safe, an' made sure I was okay the whole time."

Al stood up, and started heading towards the door. "I'll leave you two to talk." He said. "If you need anything, Angel, just tell me. I want to take care of you."

Angel felt his markings light up, and he smiled at Al as he shut the door.

"Angel. What exactly are the terms of your contract?" Charlie asked, clearly very worried.

"Honestly? It's nothing like my old one." Angel said, grabbing his bowl of rice and smoked salmon. "He has ta protect me from Valentino, obviously. I gotta wear red or black, so I can use his name if I have to." He pointed out the red stripes on his blazer. "Um...the favours thing, uh...equal fer equal sorta thing, to be decided as an' when. Then...orders, I should only follow direct orders if I'm okay with doin' that. I can safeword out, if he pulls that shit when we're playin', an' I know he'll stop, 'cause I've had ta do it once, an' he was so fuckin' apologetic about it-"

Their attention was diverted by Alastor knocking on the door. Charlie went to answer it. "What?"

"May I summon the smaller slow cooker from the kitchen?" Alastor asked. "So I can make our food for later. You know, since there's not really any other way I can take care of my boyfriend from the other room?"

"Oh, um...yes, that's fine." Charlie said, sort of sinking in on herself a little bit.

"Is...Angel alright?" Al asked.

"I'm okay, Al." Angel said, a little louder than was probably necessary.

"That's wonderful to hear, darling." Alastor said, and Angel could hear the smile in his voice. "I'm making a start on dinner. You don't have to have any, if you're not hungry by then, but it will be available."

Angel grinned. "Thanks, gorgeous." He said.

Alastor closed the door again.

"So...where was I?" Angel asked.

"Direct orders, and safewords." Charlie said, joining him on the couch.

"Yes. Uh, he kinda...ordered me ta keep doin' somethin', which would'a been fine, if he hadn't...y'know, done it as an order." Angel said. "All I could think was that he was actin' like Val, so I said 'red', an' he took a second ta realise what had happened, but then he looked like he was gonna cry. He's so fuckin' scared'a doin' that again that this was only the second time he's properly dommed me since then. Fuck, 'then' wasn't even proper, I was the one in control, more or less."

"When was 'then'?" Charlie asked.

"Tuesday." Angel said.

"How long have you two been...doing this sort of thing?" Charlie asked, gesturing to the bandages on Angel's abdomen.

"Three weeks yesterday." Angel said. "I asked him. First session was jus' figurin' each other out a little, playin' with the flogger an' his teeth. He liked the sounds I was makin'. I liked the way he hurt me, an' the way he took care'a me after."

Charlie nodded. "He...always takes care of you?"

"Yeah, even when it wasn't him who hurt me." Angel said. "Last day I was with Val, I was...hurt pretty bad when I got home, an' I didn't want anyone ta see me. You'd sent him ta take me food. He saw right away that I was hurt, an' I told him I didn't wanna play, 'cause that was the night we'd arranged ta do it, so he asked if I wanted ta skip directly to the aftercare. Said he didn't like seein' somethin' that was his be damaged. Kept twistin' my words so I'd let him help me. Fuckin'...wholesome manipulation."

"So he manipulated you into...asking for help?" Charlie asked.

"Pretty much, yeah." Angel said. "Then the day after, I asked if we could play, 'cause I wanted to, I'd been lookin' forward to it all week, but he straight up wouldn't hurt me 'till I was healed. After, though? You remember when he told you he'd tried makin' peace with the gryphon, an' she'd attacked him, an' I'd saved him, but got hurt myself?"

"...I knew he was lying." Charlie muttered. "I just...assumed it had been an accident, or something."

"Or something." Angel said. "That's the day he stole my soul from Val. D'you know how you steal a soul from another Overlord?"

Charlie shook her head. "I know...it can only be done for sinners."

"Yeah, that's prob'ly 'cause my soul had ta be fully untethered from Val's fer it ta work, an' that untetherin' can only be triggered by...temporary death." Angel said, slightly worried about how she'd take this part. "He...had ta kill me, an' he snatched my soul from Val as it was re-attachin' ta me."

"...That...does make sense, but-"

"Fully consensual, don't you worry." Angel said, taking a sip of the water Al had sent him.

"What about...the cannibalism?" Charlie asked.

Angel shrugged. "I offered." He said. "Any chance y'can just accept that we're both okay with havin' hardcore BDSM in the middle of our relationship? I'm a masochist, Charlie, I ain't exactly kept quiet about it while I've lived here. Al's a sadist, mostly-"

"Mostly?"

"Uh...fuck, um...you remember last Friday?" Angel asked. "I'm guessin' you could see us both healin'?"

"You said that was an accident." Charlie said.

"Yeah, no, it wasn't." Angel said. "He, uh...likes that I've got claws, an' he...likes when I fight back a little. I'm the one who suggested it."

"...You hurt him?" Charlie asked.

"He ain't always the one in control, Charlie." Angel said. "The thing where...the lights flickered, last night, an' when you came in, he was, like, gone, an' I was holdin' him? That was his first time in subspace."

Charlie was quiet for a long moment, long enough for Angel to pick up on the panic that Al was feeling in the other room. It felt like...he was dropping. Shit.

"I'm gonna go an' check on Al." Angel said, setting his bowl down on the coffee table.

"Is he talking to you?" Charlie asked, standing up and blocking the door. "What's he saying? Is he ordering you to go to him? Angel, what haven't you told me?"

"Get out'a my fuckin' way, Charlie, he's havin' a damn panic attack, 'cause you got in the way of our aftercare." Angel said, taking her by the arms, and moving her to one side. "You stay right there, don't fuckin' do anythin', an' fer fuck's sake, don't make it worse."

Charlie looked like she didn't know what to think. She stopped resisting, and moved to the side. Angel rushed into the kitchenette.

Al was on the ground, with his knees pressed into his chest, bloody from clawing at his ears, crying and trembling.

"Oh, sweet fawn, breathe fer me." Angel muttered, crouching down beside him, holding him as tight as he could without hurting himself. "It's alright, baby, I'm here. I've got you, Al."

Alastor whined, and pulled on his ears more, enough that Angel heard something tear.

"Shit, Al, gimme yer hands." Angel said, quickly taking hold of Al's wrists, and pressing his thumbs in to force him to let go. "Come back ta me, Al, yer safe. We're safe. Couldn't you see me? Is that why yer head's full'a bad thoughts?"

Alastor groaned, pressing his head into Angel's shoulder.

"Yeah? I'm here now, baby. Y'can see I'm okay." Angel tried. "Please, Al, come back to me."

There was movement behind him, and his head snapped back to see Charlie. "Angel, I-"

"Don't you fuckin' dare." Angel said. "You fuckin' did this. Look what he's done to himself. What, did ya treat him like a fuckin' criminal, huh? Please don't tell me ya tried takin' me away from him."

"I didn't, I...I'm sorry." Charlie said.

"Don't fuckin' lie ta me. Did you treat him like he was gonna kill me if you looked away fer a second?"

Charlie very much looked like she didn't want to be there. "I...yes. But I didn't try to take you away."

Angel glared at her for another moment, then turned his attention back to Alastor, who was softly sobbing into his chest, and bleeding all over his shoulder. "You're okay, sweet fawn, I've got you." He whispered. "Focus on me, baby, try ta come back." He squeezed a little tighter, because Al clearly needed it, even though it was really starting to hurt.

Al seemed to melt into his arms, and he gasped a little, then stopped trembling completely, as though he was starting to come back properly.

"There we go, sweet fawn, you're okay." Angel said, as softly as he could manage. "Got yerself all worked up over not bein' able ta take care'a me, huh? I'm alright, Al. You did good."

Alastor was trying to pull back a little to look at him, so Angel let him. "M'sorry." He practically whimpered. "Ange, I-I..."

"Breathe, pretty fawn, yer okay." Angel said, starting to rock them slightly. "I've got you. I'm okay."

Angel wasn't quite sure what to do with Alastor's severed ear, and it was temporarily sitting on a bloody cloth, on the coffee table. He'd patched up the damage as best he could, but...Al currently had one ear. With his left more or less completely immobilised, and his right gone, he was much harder to read. He looked tired.

As an apology, Charlie had taken over making the food. She'd helped Al and Niffty make it enough times to know what to do.

Alastor was refusing to let go of Angel's arm. Angel didn't try to make him. It had quickly become clear that Al was in a very delicate state of mind, when he started crying again.

"It's alright, baby, I'm okay." Angel said, holding Al close. "Don't cry, sweet fawn."

"B-but I hu-urt you." Al sobbed. "I don't wanna h-hurt you."

"That's okay, tesoro. You don't have to hurt me." Angel said.

"Do you h-hate me?" Alastor asked.

"No, baby, I love you." Angel said, wiping away Al's tears.

Al's head fell onto Angel's shoulder. "Angel?"

"Yeah?" Angel asked.

"My head's telling me bad things again." Alastor whispered. "C-can I...can you...make it stop?"

"Aww, d'you need me ta hurt you a little bit, baby?" Angel asked, one hand already moving to Al's side, and another moving towards his neck.

Alastor nodded slowly. "Pull me back?"

"Use yer colours, if y'need me ta stop." Angel said, pressing his fingers into the spaces between Al's ribs, and starting to gently choke him at the same time. "I don't know yer limits. I wanna take care'a you."

Alastor remained fairly calm, as Angel slowly cut off his oxygen more and more. He was struggling to breathe at all, when he reached up to grab Angel's wrist, but he didn't pull it away. 'Stay. Like this, just for a minute more. Please.'

Angel nodded, and stayed at that pressure for a little bit longer. "'Course, baby. Anythin' you need."

He watched Al's face for any sign that he wanted to stop, but there were none. It almost seemed like Al was perfectly content to let this make him pass out. Angel briefly wondered what would happen if he killed him.

And then Alastor tapped on his wrist. Angel stopped, and he gasped for air. "Okay?" Angel asked, softly.

Alastor hummed, and nodded. "I...I've never...been choked before."

"Did it bring you back, baby?" Angel asked.

"Yes." Alastor said, nuzzling into Angel's shoulder. "Thank you."

Alastor's shadow had taken over with the food, after he came back from wherever he'd gone when Al had dropped. Charlie came into the lounge to apologise again.

"I'm alright, now." Alastor said. "It was...difficult, in the moment, and entirely your fault, but it's over now. Angel's healing, and I can see that he's okay."

"Yeah, prob'ly best if you jus' go, Charlie." Angel said. "Don't worry, he ain't gonna hurt me fer a long time. You've fucked up his confidence enough t'be sure'a that."

Charlie looked thoroughly defeated. "I'm...really sorry." She said. "Um...do you want me to check in, tomorrow, or just...leave you alone?"

Angel gently stroked Al's cheek. "Up ta you, sweet fawn." He whispered.

Al shook his head. "I...I don't...think I should...be the one deciding this."

"Al, are you comfortable with her bein' here?" Angel asked.

"...Are you?" Alastor asked.

"Fuckin'...no." Angel said. "No, I ain't. But you're the one who dropped, so if you feel like y'shouldn't be left alone with me fer that long, I gotta know."

Alastor pulled back to look at him properly. "No, I don't feel like that." He said. "I want to take care of you. If you'd prefer her not to, then I don't want her to, either."

Angel looked at Charlie, who clearly regretted everything, and sighed. "Guess that's yer answer." He said. "Hey, don't feel too bad 'bout what happened, Charlie, I get where you were comin' from. I can think'a worse ways y'could'a handled it, but...not many better ones, especially since you had no way'a knowin' if it was consensual 'till I woke up."

"...Yeah, I guess." Charlie said. "Okay, I'll...leave you alone. Um...text me if you need anything."

"Thanks, Cha-Cha." Angel said.

Angel was a little bit hungry, when the food was ready. Letting Al take care of him seemed to be helping more than trying to take care of Al, so that's what he was doing.

Alastor placed a bowl of food in front of him. "Careful, darling. It's hot." He said.

"Yeah, I know." Angel said. "Thanks fer remindin' me, though."

"So...we're pretty bloody, ain't we?" Angel said, not even daring to do any more crocheting. "Wanna have a bath together?"

Alastor looked up from his empty dish. "Could I...wash you?" He asked.

"Sure, if I can wash you, too." Angel said. "The bath's big enough fer both'a us, easy, an' I've brought a shampoo that works on blood stains. Strawberry scent. Wanna use it?"

"That...sounds good, yes."

Alastor insisted on filling the bath himself, and carrying Angel to it, naked except for the bandages around his wound. Angel didn't argue. Al checked that it wasn't too hot, before setting Angel down inside. The water didn't come up to his bandages, if he stayed still, but Al was already untying the knot, taking them off.

"Gonna show me what ya did, huh?" Angel asked, moving his arms out of the way.

Alastor smiled at him. "I hope you like it." He said, quietly. "I didn't plan it, beforehand, so I apologise if it's a little...asymmetrical, but-"

"Al, baby, jus' show me." Angel said, after noticing the way Al's ear had tried to flick back. Al looked up from the last few layers of bandages, and nodded. He unravelled them, revealing the thin, mostly healed lines in Angel's fur. Angel leaned back in the water to properly see what it was. His markings lit up bright. "Oh, Al."

"I tried to...mirror the one on your chest." Al whispered, gently tracing both hearts with a finger. "I hadn't...taken into account that you'd be moving, or that I'm not used to working this precisely on someone who's...both alive and covered with fur, but...do you like it?"

"Alastor, I fuckin' love it." Angel said, grinning up at the deer. "Can I kiss you?" Al's eyes brightened, and he nodded. Angel carefully pulled him closer with a hand on the back of his head, and kissed him slowly. "Thank you, Al." He whispered, staying close, even after stopping. "Come on, pretty boy. Come in the water with me."

Still smiling, still a little bit dazed, Al nodded, and snapped his fingers, undressing himself completely, including the bandages on his ears, which didn't start bleeding again, before climbing into the bath.

"Wanna start with your blood on my shoulder?" Angel asked, offering Al the bottle of shampoo.

Alastor nodded, and started using a jug to wet Angel's fur. He was so gentle, thoroughly working the water in, before adding some shampoo, and working that in, too. "Angel, darling, I'm sorry for bleeding on you."

"No, baby, it's alright." Angel said. Alastor winced a little, looking away. "You...ain't gone?"

Al shook his head. "I'm not attempting to assign blame, I'm acknowledging that blood is annoying in white fur."

"Oh. Yeah, it is annoying." Angel said, thoroughly relieved that Al was staying present. "Can I wash yer hair before there's too much blood in the water?"

Alastor smiled. "Darling, we can change the water as many times as we need to." He said. "I'm the one who handles finances, and I got a good deal with the water company. We pay a fixed rate for water, regardless of how much we use, within limits that we absolutely will not reach."

"'Course you did." Angel said, filling the jug directly from the tap. "Now, lemme wash yer hair."

Chapter Text

Alastor smelled like Angel. It was nice. Comforting.

They were sitting on the couch, side by side, in their pyjamas, crocheting, and they had been for a while. The red hexagons were all done, so they were on pink. Angel's yarn was considerably softer than what Charlie had left for them.

Alastor was taking a break every four hexagons. Angel was doing the same, so Al wouldn't feel bad for not helping. It was working.

Al set his work down for his third break, and waited for Angel to catch up, watching the spider's many hands move in perfect sync. Angel finished, and cut his yarn.

"That's thirty pink. We got nineteen pink, an' forty nine white left. It's gettin' kinda late. Wanna go to bed?" Angel asked. "I can hold you all night, if you want."

Alastor's face felt warm. "Yes, I...I'd like that, darling."

"I kinda don't feel like it's a good idea to fuck around any more, tonight." Angel said. Alastor nodded. "Yeah? How 'bout we jus' kiss an' cuddle, huh?"

"That sounds nice." Alastor said, letting Angel lead him towards the bedroom.

Angel giggled as Alastor gently groomed his fur. "Fuckin' cute." He muttered, between Al's ears.

Al tried to nuzzle closer, pressing their chests together more, as he licked the side of Angel's neck. Angel's hands were on his back and his shoulders. Their legs were hooked around each other.

"Deer instincts, huh?" Angel asked, quietly. "Wanna keep yer mate clean?"

Alastor practically flinched at that word. Mate. Did...did Angel think of him that way, too?

"Al, baby, yer thoughts are in my head." Angel whispered. "You've been thinkin' of me as yer mate since last night."

"I-I'm sorry, I-"

"It's okay. I like it." Angel said. "You wanna be my mate?"

Alastor shivered. "Yours." He said. "Your mate. I...m-may I? May I be your mate?"

"'Course, baby, that's why I asked." Angel said, holding him tight.

Alastor couldn't sleep. He wasn't tired. Angel had been gone in his arms for at least two hours, breathing against him, making sweet little noises. Alastor could keep him safe.

It was two in the morning, and Angel had gradually wriggled down, until Al was on his back, and Angel's head was on his chest.

Alastor decided that, if he wasn't going to sleep tonight, he might as well be doing something productive. He summoned his hook, and a ball of white yarn from the other room, since his shadow was seven away from done with pink, turned the bedside lamp on dim, and started crocheting.

By the time Angel woke up, Alastor was on his fourth break, had started a second ball of yarn, had done sixteen white hexagons, and had piled them up on Angel's back. His shadow had finished pink, had done ten white ones, and was currently resting.

"...Is it...mornin' yet?" Angel mumbled, refusing to open his eyes.

"It's eight." Alastor said. "I believe breakfast only requires a few minutes in the oven. We can relax today, darling."

"We've got...most of the white ones ta do, right?" Angel asked. "And...we gotta put it together."

"Three hours is all we'll need." Alastor said. "I predict we'll be done before lunch."

Angel pulled back, and stared at him. "How many's left?"

One of the hexagons fell onto the bed. Then the rest did.

Angel picked one up. "Al." He said. "How long have you been awake?"

"Twenty three hours." Alastor said. "I thought I'd do something productive, while you slept and I couldn't. There are twenty three white hexagons left to make."

"Fuck, that's...that ain't many." Angel said. "That's, like...five per pair'a hands."

"My shadow's resting, it's six." Alastor said. "We can have that done in two hours."

Breakfast was just as nice as it had been the previous day.

After, Alastor cleaned up, while Angel made a start on the last twenty three hexagons.

When he got back into the lounge, Angel smiled up at him. "Come here an' sit with me, tesoro."

Alastor felt his face grow warm. He moved onto the couch, and snuggled up beside Angel. "I love you." He said, quietly.

"Yeah?" Angel asked. "I love you, too."

"Angel?" Alastor said, after finishing his last hexagon.

"What's up, pretty boy?" Angel asked, still working on his last three.

"The first one I made...the black one? Was it...considerably smaller than all of the ones since?" Alastor asked.

Angel paused for a moment, then shrugged. "Check. It's at the bottom of...one'a the piles on there." He said.

Alastor took a few seconds to find it. "I think it's too small." He said. "Should I...make another one? I think I should make another one."

"Okay, make another one." Angel said. "I'm gonna start on lunch, when I'm done with these. D'you wanna start puttin' them together?"

"I can do that." Alastor said, nodding.

Alastor had let himself get pretty engrossed in putting the hexagons together, to the point that he didn't respond the first time Angel asked if he wanted a bit of Parmesan, or a lot. The second time, when Angel's hands were on top of his, Alastor realised he had no idea what Angel was making.

"...Um...I defer to...your expertise?" Alastor said.

"You got no idea what I'm cooking, do you?" Angel asked, smiling.

Alastor shook his head. "I'm sorry, I must not have been...listening. It smells divine."

"That's okay, Al, I know yer busy." Angel said. "I hope it tastes as good as yer nose is tellin' you it will. I've never done this dish with liver, definitely never my own."

"...You used that?"

"Yer shadow showed me which one it was." Angel said. "I'm surprised y'didn't use it last night."

"Charlie had already started preparing a portion from the other container, I didn't want to waste that." Alastor said. "It didn't make you...uncomfortable, to be cooking...a piece of yourself, did it?"

Angel shrugged. "Meat's meat. I ain't the one eatin' it, so it don't matter that it came from me." He said. "Pretty fucked up, that you have to eat other sinners, though."

"It's because of my sin in life, the same reason you're intersex." Alastor said. "Would you like me to help plate up the food, or have you got that handled?"

"I got it." Angel said. "I wanna surprise you."

It was definitely pasta, and most likely hand made, since Alastor didn't remember seeing this kind of pasta in the cupboards.

"You...made this from scratch?" Alastor asked. "It looks incredible."

Angel nodded, smiling proudly. "We got tortellini, mine's filled with chicken, yours has...um, me? Then we've both got my Ma's Asiago an' Parmesan sauce." He said. "This is one'a my favourites. Reminds me of home, y'know? Of my life, before everythin' went ta shit."

Alastor nodded. "That's...how I feel about some of the meals I used to make with my Mama." He said, shuffling to one side, so Angel could comfortably sit beside him. "Jambalaya, especially. I feel like you can learn a lot about someone, by tasting a recipe they taught their child to make. I can't wait to meet your Mother through it."

"Al." Angel said, wiping his eyes on the back of his hand. "Yer gonna make me cry."

"My apologies, darling." Alastor said.

"It's fine, Al." Angel said, smiling at him again. "Let's eat."

"This is, without a doubt, the best pasta I've ever eaten." Alastor said, using one of his last few pieces to wipe up the sauce on the plate.

"You've said that three times already, it ain't that good." Angel said. "Anyone could do it, with the right ingredients."

"That doesn't make it any less true." Alastor said. "You're delicious, Angel. You pair very nicely with this cheese sauce. The slight sharpness pulls out the barely-there bitter undertones of your flesh. It's wonderful."

Angel was blushing quite brightly. "Th-thanks."

"Al, I think it's done!" Angel called, while Alastor was cleaning everything up in the kitchenette.

"Check every seam." Alastor said.

"Yeah, I'm doin' that." Angel said. "I really think it's done. It looks good."

Alastor dried the last plate, and returned it to the cupboard, before heading into the lounge. Angel was meticulously marking off with spare yarn which seams were done. The blanket looked really good. Smaller than he'd initially been expecting, but given the time limit, and that it was for Fat Nuggets, it was probably perfect.

"Wanna help?" Angel asked. "Jus' tie a little thingy on, if it's done."

Alastor nodded, and sat down beside him. He started in the red section, where, as far as he could tell, everything was done.

They found exactly three seams that weren't done. One between a red and a black, one between two white, and one between two pink. It was easy to fix.

"So...that's our task done." Angel said. "What d'we do now?"

"Anything we want." Alastor said, smiling. "I suggest we fold this up, and put it out of harm's way, first. We wouldn't want it to get ruined before we can present it to Fat Nuggets."

Angel nodded, and carefully folded the blanket in his lap. "I think I'll put it on the dresser."

"Hey, Al? I was thinking." Angel said. "Could we play?"

Alastor felt his ears press back. "Not...like yesterday."

"'Course not." Angel said. "I'll be in control. Only if yer up for it."

"...I...think I'd like that." Alastor whispered. "Yes, darling, I'd like to play."

Angel grinned. "How far d'you wanna go?"

"...In what aspect of it?" Alastor asked.

"Well, can I hurt you?" Angel asked.

Alastor barely had to think. "Yes." Of course he wanted that.

"Okay, what's the upper limit on that?" Angel asked. "How far can I go?"

Ah. Alastor hadn't really considered that. "...Don't kill me. I'm not a fan of...how it feels to come back." He said. Angel nodded. "You may claw me, choke me, bite me...I doubt that I'd enjoy being struck, but I'm open to trying it. I'd...like to experience your venom, but I understand if you don't want to this time."

"No, Al, my venom's like a drug. It's a bit addictive, so you might withdraw from it, it usually makes you drop really fuckin' fast, an' if I give you too much, y'could have a really bad reaction to it." Angel said. "I'm talkin' nausea, vomiting, a rash that's itchy as fuck, dry eyes, runny nose, seizures, that...thing where yer blood doesn't clot, and...it can kill you, if it's really bad. It's...kinda hard to tell how much is too much. Especially 'cause I don't use it very often. It's my last resort, what I use if a client's bein' too pushy, or tryin' ta drug me, or bein' too rough, or ignorin' safewords. I don't have ta care if it kills them. I do care if it kills you, 'cause that breaks the one boundary you've set so far."

"I see." Alastor said. "I'd still like to try it. Perhaps...when we're better equiped to handle the consequences."

"I'll think about it." Angel said. "Okay, so that's how I can hurt you, none'a that enough ta kill you, but I need ta know how far I should go."

"Angel, I'll be honest, I don't know." Alastor said. "I've never done this before. I don't know what's too much."

"That's fine." Angel said. "I'll just go slow, check in regularly, an' pay super close attention to yer reactions." Alastor nodded. "Okay, what about in pleasuring you? How far d'you wanna go with that?"

Alastor's face felt warm again. "As far as you'd like, darling."

Angel sighed. "You can't say that." He said. Al looked at him, questioningly. "D'you want me ta touch yer dick at all?"

"...No?"

"Alastor. I don't know the answers. You can't ask me." Angel said, firmly.

"Then...no, definitely not." Alastor said.

"Okay." Angel said, nodding. "Would you want my fingers in yer ass?"

Alastor's tail quivered at that. "Yes, please."

Angel's smile returned. "What about my tongue in yer ass?" He asked. "Different texture might feel nicer."

"That...can't be sanitary."

"It's fine. Mouthwash exists fer a reason." Angel said.

Alastor wasn't convinced. "I'd...prefer not to." He said.

"Fair enough. It's your ass." Angel said. "Okay, what about my dick in yer ass? It's longer than my fingers."

Oh, god, Alastor's tail actually raised at that idea. "I...might be open to considering that." He said, not wanting Angel to realise how much he wanted it.

Angel was smiling softly, as though he knew. "Okay, we'll keep that one in the bank." He said. "What about any toys in yer ass?"

"...Maybe?" Alastor muttered, shyly. "I'm...not sure."

Angel nodded. "Anything you absolutely don't wanna try?" He asked.

"Don't touch my tail." Alastor said. "The...large scar across the right of my upper back? I'd prefer...if you'd avoid that, too."

"Got it." Angel said. "Any kinds of dirty talk you wanna try, or wanna avoid?"

"...I don't know?" Alastor said.

Angel nodded. "We'll figure it out as we go."

Angel had started by laying a waterproof sheet on the bed. He'd gathered lube, a crop, and a few other toys Alastor didn't recognise, on the bedside table, along with two different kinds of wipes, and, Al shivered when he saw it, a condom in a shiny lime green packet. Angel was prepared to play, to hurt him, to touch him, and maybe even to fuck him. Alastor was...a little nervous.

"Okay, so I'm thinkin' we start simple, just kissin', touchin' each other's sides, an' see where the mood takes us?" Angel asked.

Alastor glanced between the items on the table, and Angel on the bed. This was going to be thrilling, for sure. "Yes, that sounds good." He said. "Should I undress us? Either of us?"

"Shoes an' suit jacket off, but leave the rest fer me, pretty boy." Angel purred. Alastor nodded, stepped out of his shoes, and hung his jacket on the back of a chair. "Good boy." Angel whispered. "Now come here, an' lay down, so I can take care'a you."

Angel knew he'd been hesitant to take the submissive role, initially dismissing it completely as something he'd never allow, so the spider was easing him into this slowly, and Alastor very much appreciated it. He nodded obediently, letting his ears press back as Angel tugged him onto the bed, and moved him into position. "W-what do you have planned for me, darling?"

"I can see yer nervous, so is it okay if I kiss you?" Angel asked, moving to straddle Al's waist, and gently touching the sides of his abdomen through his shirt.

Alastor nodded. "Could you...keep to two hands, for now?"

Angel leaned down, and kissed him slowly. "'Course, baby." He whispered, before kissing him again, this time for longer. Alastor followed along, matching Angel's rythm, giving back everything until Angel was sucking on his bottom lip. Then he bit into it, and Alastor moaned into his mouth. Angel paused for a moment, but barely pulled away. "Okay?"

"Mmm." Alastor said, nodding.

Angel was grinning. "Can I hold yer wrists?"

"Yes, please, darling." Alastor said, hardly thinking, until Angel had him pinned to the bed. This was...interesting. He supposed this was almost the same as him using shadow tentacles to restrain Angel, especially since Angel still had hands to use. Angel kissed him softly, and every little movement felt like more. "A-Angel?" Al muttered, when he stopped. "You may...use two more hands, if you'd like. I...this is nice."

"Aww, thanks, baby." Angel said. "You like bein' restrained, huh? I can work with that." Alastor blushed, and nodded. "Hey, yer lookin' a little warm in all'a those clothes. Want me to...help you out'a them?" Angel asked, gently grasping the fabric near the top button of Al's shirt.

The thought of letting himself be so exposed should have frightened him, perhaps would have, if he didn't trust Angel so implicitly. "Yes, yes, please." Alastor said, half-watching, as Angel started to undress him. "I want...to be good for you." He muttered. Angel kissed him again, while pulling his arms out of his sleeves. Then Angel was kissing his cheek, and then his chin. "Angel?"

"It's foreplay, baby." Angel explained, before moving on to Al's neck. 'You've done this fer me, before.' He continued, in Al's head.

Alastor nodded, realising he was right. Foreplay? It was nice. Alastor quickly found himself melting under Angel's touch, leaning his head away, exposing more of his neck to Angel. He yelped when Angel lightly nibbled at the side of his neck, immediately showering the tiny mark with licks and kisses.

The second bite was bigger and deeper, lower onto his shoulder, and he moaned loudly when Angel's sharp teeth just barely breached the skin. Angel licked it for a few moments, then pulled away, only to kiss Al again on the lips, letting him taste the blood.

Oh, it was incredible. He should have been objecting, and that somehow made it hotter. Heat was pooling in his abdomen. It took him until now to realise he was at least half-hard.

"This feel good, baby?" Angel asked, noticing Al's state of arousal. Alastor nodded frantically. "Can I hurt you a little bit, now?"

"Oh, god, darling, please." Alastor whined, writhing under Angel's hold.

Angel was smiling at him. "I'm gonna take yer pants off, an' start preppin' you at the same time, okay?" He asked, moving to unzip Al's trousers.

"Yes, yes, I want you so badly, Angel." Alastor said, as Angel wasted no time in grabbing the lube once Al was bare, on display for him. "Angel, I..."

"What is it, baby?" Angel asked. "There's no silly questions, okay? You can ask me."

Alastor blushed more, and looked away. "I'd like...to feel you finish inside me." He whispered. "Could we...do that?"

"God, yeah, baby. I can do that." Angel said, starting to gently probe at Al's ass.

"And..." Alastor looked up at Angel. "You...said you'd hurt me?"

Angel nodded. "Squeeze this hand, if you need me ta stop." He said, repositioning one of his hands from Al's wrist to his open palm. Alastor whimpered at the finger inside him, and nodded at the instruction. Angel carefully placed his spare hand on Alastor's neck, and started to squeeze.

Al's head fell back onto the bed immediately. His body relaxed completely, and his breathing sped up slightly. Angel squeezed tighter, cutting off the blood supply to Al's brain almost completely, so much that it felt like he was floating, like he maybe shouldn't be breathing so fast, to try and conserve oxygen...somehow. He slipped a second finger in, and brushed against Al's prostate. Alastor jerked, clumsily bucking into his fingers, and trying to twist his neck free. It felt like so much more. Angel loosened his grip on Al's neck enough for him to take a full, deep breath, and fully register everything. The scent of their combined arousal hit him like a punch to the gut, so much so that he moaned aloud, and squeezed his eyes shut.

Apparently, Angel had three fingers in him, now? He seemed to be actively avoiding Al's prostate, perhaps saving that for later, for when he penetrated him.

The realisation that this was actually happening sent little electric shivers of excitement down his spine. He'd let Angel claim him. They'd come out of this as a mated pair. Alastor was going to let Angel br-

"Hey, Al?" Angel said, suddenly. "Yer physically ready, are you...there mentally, too?"

Alastor whined. "Yes! Yes, Angel, please! I'm ready for you, darling, I want to feel you."

"Okay." Angel said. "We got three more things to agree on, first. D'you wanna use a condom? It'd only really be to help handle the mess, or if yer still a little...nervous, it'll give you a bit of a barrier, but we don't have to. I'm clean, I got tested regularly fer all sorts of STIs when I was...y-y'know, fuckin' other guys, so there's no chance'a you gettin' anythin', an' we're both sinners, so it ain't like I can knock you up."

"Would it...feel different?" Alastor asked, feeling slightly more present and grounded than before. "Is one...better?"

"Uh...fuck, that's...kinda subjective?" Angel said. "Depends on the person."

"What do you prefer?" Alastor asked.

"...Um, when I'm bottoming? I prefer with, jus' 'cause I don't usually know where the other guy's dick's been, unless it's with someone I really trust, then it depends on how I'm feelin'." Angel said, releasing one of Alastor's wrists to grab a wipe. "When I'm topping, it ain't my call. I always have them in my size, an' I always offer it."

Alastor nodded. That made sense. "I'd like to try both." He said. "Maybe...this time, without, next time, with? Then I'll know what I prefer."

"Without, this time? Got it." Angel said, moving off of Al, to wriggle out of his skirt. "Okay, the second thing. Position. Usually, fer my first time with someone I really care about, I wanna be in missionary. That's real intimate, face to face, an' I think you'd enjoy it. However, this ain't just our first time together, it's your first time takin' dick ever. I'd rec-"

"It's not." Alastor said, suddenly. "Vox."

"Shit, um...still, this is yer first time that you want, an' you don't really remember that, an'...it was a long time ago, so I'd still recommend doin' this from behind, 'cause it's easier to relax the right way." Angel said.

The thought of presenting himself to Angel, tail raised high, letting Angel mount him...

"Yes. That." Alastor said, ears pressed all the way back.

Angel smiled. "Okay, tesoro." He said, softly. "Last thing I gotta confirm, before I'll fuck you. I'm gonna try a specific kinda dirty talk, an' you've gotta tell me right away what it makes ya feel, okay?" Alastor nodded. "Good boy. Turn around, an' let me breed you, then."

Alastor's eyes widened, and his ears flicked forwards, slightly confused. Angel wanted to breed him? There was that thought again, Angel mounting him, breeding him. He wanted it. He wanted so very badly to allow it. What would Angel say to him? What would it feel like? Would he truly believe every word? Would he want to be the doe, let Angel be his buck? Would he...want Angel's fawns?

"I need an answer, Alastor." Angel said, firmly. "D'you want me ta use that kinda language, or are you tremblin' like that 'cause you ain't comfortable with it?"

"Yes." Alastor breathed. "Oh, goodness, yes, do you want to? I want to. I'll be your doe, I'll be good for you. Please, darling. Would you breed me?"

Angel was shocked silent for a moment, eyes wide. "Fuck, that's..." He whispered. "Um...shit, I'm really fuckin' glad I picked up on those thoughts you had. Y'know, the mated pair stuff? I wasn't sure if I was overthinkin' it." He paused, stroking up Alastor's abdomen, like he was trying to figure out how many fawns he could carry. Alastor shivered. "You wanna be my doe? Fuck, I wasn't expectin' that. Love hearin' ya think about our fawns, baby." He laid his hand flat. "How many d'you think I could get in there?"

Alastor whimpered, uselessly bucking into Angel's hand, trying to show him how much he could take.

"Yeah? Maybe we should start with one, huh?" Angel asked, gently lifting Alastor, and helping him turn around. "See how well you take it. We've only got forever."

Alastor's ears pressed back again, as he figured out how he should have his arms. His tail raised up, presenting his prepared hole for Angel. His breathing was quick, and he could hear his heart pounding. He was so ready.

"You know, Al, I'm a twin." Angel whispered, right behind him, on top of him, barely touching, but so very there. "Y'think we could get lucky? Two beautiful babies. You'd be so fuckin' pretty, Al, all round, all full'a me."

He was...he was slowly pressing inside. Alastor almost thought it was his fingers again, at first, but it felt too much like it had done to take Angel's cock into his mouth. It was stretching him, so good, all at once.

"I hope they have your cute little ears an' tail." Angel continued, holding Al steady as he inched into him. Alastor couldn't help the whine that escaped him, as he felt Angel's body press fully against his. "There we go. That's as deep as I can get. Can ya feel it, pretty doe?"

Alastor shivered, and nodded. "Full." He said. "So full. Feels so good, mon Ange."

Angel had a hand on his abdomen, pressing lightly where it felt like the tip of his dick was buried. "Right there, Al." He whispered. "That's where I'm gonna put our babies. Gonna breed you so fuckin' good. Gonna pump you full."

Al whimpered and whined, moving against Angel in a way that gave him the slightest amount of friction. He wanted it so badly.

"I know, baby, I know you want it." Angel said, holding him still, and pulling out a little. "You ready fer me ta breed you properly?"

"Yes, Angel, please." Alastor choked out, trying to breathe evenly.

"Good doe. You jus' relax, so y'can take it, okay?" Alastor nodded, trembling. Angel, already somehow halfway out, thrust back in, and Alastor moaned, surprised. "That's it, good boy." Angel muttered, picking up the pace a little, now he knew Al could handle it.

"Ah! Angel!" Alastor cried out, as Angel started hitting his prostate over and over. He was trying to relax, he really was, but it was so hard with all this feeling flowing through him, all this pleasure that wanted out. Alastor groaned. "Ha-! Harder! A-A-Angel, please!"

Angel still had one hand under him, and now that one was pressing in more, making him feel more with every thrust. He had another hand at the top of Al's back, right between his shoulder blades, pressing him into the mattress, exaggerating the curve of his spine more, making everything more. He wanted Angel to come in him. He wanted it to hurt when he did.

It was over, as soon as Angel grabbed his hair and pulled. "You want it ta hurt, little doe?" Angel whispered, right between his ears, pulling on his hair harder. "You want me ta hurt you, while I breed you?" Two of Angel's hands settled around his neck, and started to squeeze lightly. "I'm really fuckin' close, Al, yer little noises are so fuckin' hot. Want me ta fill you up? Want me ta bury my eggs deep inside you?"

Alastor's mind went completely blank, as his every muscle pulled taut, and he came hard on the waterproof sheet. He was floating. He was shaking. He was gasping for air, as Angel continued to fuck him, to use him, to breed him, and it hurt, and he wanted it so very badly.

"I know. I know, baby, I'm nearly there. Jus' take it fer a little longer, yer doin' so good." Angel muttered, still choking him, still hurting him, and Alastor never wanted this part to end. He was so sensitive that every little movement hit him like a tidal wave of pure pleasure.

He wanted to drown in it, he realised.

He gasped sharply, when Angel loosened the grip on his neck, and everything felt fresh again, more again. "Can I bite you, baby?" Angel asked, voice incredibly strained. Angel's thrusts had become erratic, his hands were trembling. "Jus' here. I-I really wanna." He traced a circle on Al's left shoulder, the opposite side to the first two bites during their foreplay. "Please."

"Yes, A-Ah! Angel! Please." Alastor whined.

Angel didn't waste a second, sinking his fangs straight in. He pressed his dick all the way in, too, and pressed hard on Al's abdomen, so he really felt it as the spider pumped his load deep inside him. Alastor shuddered hard, letting the energy of it all flow through him, as he came a second time.

The next thing he knew, Angel was practically laying on top of him, and they were both breathing hard. Alastor couldn't move, felt completely limp and boneless as Angel pushed himself up.

"Holy shit." Angel muttered. "Al, did you...oh, fuck, baby, you did so good. Don't think I've come that hard in years."

Alastor whined, then cried out, as Angel slowly, gently pulled out, writhing weakly as everything became too much, all at once.

"I know, sweet fawn, it's okay." Angel whispered, oh so gently cleaning up the mess with a fresh wipe, touching carefully where Al was still too sensitive, then wiping up the mess Al had made on the sheet. "There we go, see? All clean." It wasn't. Al still felt sweaty. "C'mere, sweet boy. Lemme hold you."

After several moments of negotiating limbs that didn't want to move, Alastor found himself curled up in the safety of Angel's arms, both still completely naked, under a thin blanket.

It was okay. He was safe.

Chapter Text

And breathe.

Angel quietly cleaned Al's wounds, the three bite marks on his neck, while the deer seemed to be sleeping.

Alastor's thoughts had gotten really loud, while they were joined. Angel could pretty easily piece together that Al had really enjoyed the overstimulation.

One thing was clear; Alastor had a massive submissive streak, and Angel was discovering it pretty much as Al was.

This relationship was becoming more interesting than any Angel had ever been in before.

Alastor was fucking cute when he was in subspace like this. He woke up a couple of times, the first time wanting food, the second, wanting hugs. Angel made sure to speak softly, and made sure Al knew he was right there.

"It's okay, baby." Angel said. "I've got you. Yer safe."

"Ange?" Al whispered.

"I know, sweet boy. It was intense, you did so good." Angel said. "Let yerself feel this, baby. Yer in a safe place. I'll make sure yer okay."

Alastor hummed, and nuzzled into Angel's chest. Angel held him close.

When Angel woke up, Alastor was already watching him.

"Kinda creepy that yer glowin' red eyes are the first thing I'm seein', Al." Angel muttered. "Also kinda weird that I like it, an' I wouldn't have it any other way."

Alastor blinked up at him, and smiled. "You took care of me." He whispered.

"After somethin' like that? 'Course I did, Al." Angel said. "Lemme check on those bite marks, an' then let's get dressed, an' head downstairs fer breakfast, okay?"

"Yes, that sounds nice." Alastor said, letting Angel push him onto his back. "We're going to win, darling."

"Damn right we are." Angel said, gently removing the dressings from Al's wounds. "Fuckin' powerful, ain't you? There's hardly even a fuckin' mark left, Al."

"I'm sorry." Alastor said. "I can't control it. Not even a mark? That's...faster than normal, for the type of injury, and the location."

Angel shrugged. "Maybe they weren't as deep as you thought." He said. "An' don't you fuckin' dare apologise fer healin' fast. This jus' means Charlie won't be able ta see you healing, an' we can play again sooner."

"I suppose." Alastor muttered.

Breakfast was remarkably civil. There were no loud and pointless arguments between Husk and Vaggie. Niffty and Pentious had apparently been doing teambuilding activities all weekend.

"Okay, so, both remaining teams made it to this morning." Charlie said, after everyone had finished. "There was one small argument between Husk and Vaggie, yesterday, which has been resolved, and one small...um...bending of the rules? Between Angel and Alastor, that...turned out fine. So you're tied on staying in the rooms, and getting along. Now, for the unique tasks. Who wants to present first?"

All four of them quickly raised a hand. Charlie decided that Vaggie had been fastest.

To Angel's surprise, Vaggie grinned, stood up, and headed towards the bar. "Order from the list of cocktails Husk taught me." She said.

"Someone's gotta order an old fashioned." Husk said. "I'll go last, so, if no-one else does, I will."

Angel got to the bar second, after Charlie.

"Shirley temple?" Vaggie guessed.

"No, I know you could already do that one." Charlie said, carefully reading through the list Husk had used. "I'll have a strawberry daiquiri, please."

Vaggie looked genuinely surprised. "You know that's got rum in it, right?" She asked. "You've...never had rum."

"Mhm." Charlie said, nodding.

"Okay." Vaggie said, starting to grab everything she'd need. She was a little slower than Husk, but the drink she offered Charlie definitely looked right.

Charlie hesitantly took a sip. "Ooh." She said. "Oh, I can taste the lemon."

Behind them, Husk sighed. "Could everyone else get something they've already tried?" He asked.

Angel barely skimmed the list. "I'm allowed ta order anythin' on here?" He asked.

Charlie nodded.

"Cool. Sex on the beach, please." Angel said. "Um...without cherries. They're those fuckin'...glacé cherries fer this one, right? Texture's so fuckin' weird, especially with spider teeth."

"I knew you'd go for that one." Vaggie muttered, making the drink. Again, she made it more slowly, more carefully than Husk would, and it definitely looked right when she slid it towards Angel.

Angel tried it. Fucking perfect. "Holy shit. You're good at this."

Vaggie shrugged. "I just listened."

"Husk and Vaggie's task was about communication." Charlie said. "To avoid future arguments over little things."

"What the fuck was ours for, then?" Angel asked.

"Patience and teamwork." Charlie said. "Alastor's so powerful, I thought I ought to ban him using magic."

"Yeah, an' gettin' us ta work together on somethin' would help with...um...that thing I did on Friday." Angel muttered.

"Yes, that...you did that on purpose, didn't you?" Charlie asked.

"We...wanted t'be together." Angel admitted. "Didn't think you were done pickin' the teams, an'...I prob'ly shouldn't'a gone as far as I did."

Charlie nodded.

Alastor had scanned the list, and clearly wasn't interested in any of the cocktails available.

"Husk said you usually have whiskey, so how do you want it?" Vaggie asked, grabbing a bottle from the top shelf.

Al's ears flicked. "Neat." He said.

'Manners, pretty boy.' Angel reminded him.

Al looked at him, blushing faintly. "I'd like it neat, please."

Vaggie looked between them for a few seconds, registering that Alastor was blushing, and Angel must have nudged him somehow, but decided against asking. "Sure." She said, pouring Al's drink. "Simple. Next."

Niffty ordered a pomegranate martini. Pentious covered his eyes, and randomly picked a sweet manhattan. Husk ordered an old fashioned.

"This is what we argued over again, yesterday." Vaggie said, making Husk's drink. "This part, again. Melt vs dissolve, though, not sugar cube vs syrup. I'm not heating it up, it's not melting."

"It's just a word." Husk said. "It doesn't mean 'melted'. It just sounds better."

"I know." Vaggie said, handing him his drink.

The general consensus was that Vaggie had done every drink perfectly. Vaggie grinned, making herself a mojito.

Husk was going last, because 'everyone already has drinks', so Angel and Alastor were giving Fat Nuggets the blanket next.

"That's it?" Vaggie asked. "Charlie had us going over recipes and techniques for hours, and all you had to do was that?"

"Hey, this would'a taken one person with one pair of arms sixty fuckin' hours ta make on their own." Angel said. "We had ta design it, make sure our tensions matched, not get bored'a doin' the same thing over an' over again, then stitch them all together neatly, not get a single stitch wrong, 'cause you would be able ta see it, not miss any of the hundreds'a fuckin' seams, deal with how much it hurts our fuckin' fingers-"

"Okay, I get it." Vaggie said.

"And not kill each other along the way." Alastor added. "Almost."

"Charlie would'a fuckin' exploded, if you had, tesoro." Angel said, grinning. "I wouldn't'a minded."

Husk nearly choked on his drink at 'tesoro'. Vaggie looked severely confused at that whole interaction.

"Careful, mon Ange, you wouldn't want to overwhelm them." Alastor said. "They went into the activity thinking it was fair."

"You're...goin' public with that?" Husk asked.

Angel shrugged. "It's Vaggie I was scared'a tellin'." He said. "Hey, Charlie? Did me an' Al get full points on the blanket?"

"Definitely, yes. Look at Fat Nuggets, he loves it!" Charlie said.

Fat Nuggets was, indeed, curled up, asleep, in the blanket.

"Cool, so once Husk presents his half'a their task, we'll know if we're tied fer that, too, right?" Angel asked.

"Angel, you two did have an unfair advantage, so I'm deducting one point." Charlie said.

"...What's it out of?" Angel asked.

"Um...ten?" Charlie said. It sounded like she'd made that up on the spot. "Ten per task."

"And...tasks are time, gettin' along, an' doing the thing, right?" Angel asked. Charlie nodded. "An' we lost one point on Saturday, fer...bendin' the rules?"

"Yeah." Charlie said.

"Twenty eight ain't bad." Angel said, looking at Alastor.

Al nodded. "If Husker gets full points on his half of the final task, I completely lose our bet." He said, smiling. "I already have to take five years off of his contract. He has a chance to bring that up to seven."

'You look like you want him ta win.' Angel noticed.

'Oh, I do.' Alastor replied. 'To have a Secondary Overlord under me would make me more powerful. I want him to succeed, and I want him to feel like he earned it.'

'So, you lost the part'a the bet you wouldn't tell me about?' Angel guessed. 'What was it?'

'Husker bet that I couldn't go all weekend without fucking you.' Alastor said. 'I had no intention to actually try to avoid it.'

"But...you didn't." Angel muttered, blushing a little.

"I did." Alastor said. "On Saturday."

Angel blushed brighter, realising that, technically, Alastor had.

'You're so beautiful, all flustered like that, darling.' Alastor whispered, in his mind.

Angel tried to hide his face in the sleeves of his sweater.

The conversation had moved on without either of them paying any attention, and Charlie was now explaining how she'd picked the pairs.

"I couldn't put Angel with Sir Pentious, because of their...history of turf wars, and I couldn't put Alastor with Vaggie, Husk, or Niffty, and I couldn't think of any way to have Angel with Vaggie, Husk, or Niffty, so I had to put Angel and Alastor together, even though I thought there might have been something...going on between them." Charlie was saying, barely pausing for breath.

"I'm still confused." Vaggie said. "Why are they...like that?"

"Um..." Angel said. "Me an' Al?"

"Yes." Vaggie said.

"Why are we like...what?" Angel asked.

"You know, just..." Vaggie tried. "That. You're...you know, near each other, and...you know."

Angel looked at Al, slightly unsure what he should say.

"You don't have to, if you've changed your mind." Alastor said.

"Um..." Angel started. "No, I...I'm okay." He said. He then turned to look directly at the other five demons. "Me an' Al are dating. We've...been together fer a few weeks, but we started callin' it 'boyfriends' last Sunday. I wanted ta keep it secret, 'cause if Val finds out...um..."

"If Valentino were to find out that I care so deeply about Angel, he'd realise I was the one who broke their old contract." Alastor said. "This would most likely reignite my rivalry with Vox, and trigger Overlord-involved turf wars, which wouldn't be good for anyone."

"Charlie didn't know 'til Saturday." Angel said. "She nearly disqualified us from the activity."

Vaggie's expression was unreadable. "You're dating the Radio Demon?" She asked, flatly.

Angel nodded. "Yeah." He said. "I love him."

"Is he even capable of loving you back?" Vaggie asked, now looking a little concerned.

"I'm definitely feeling something for him, that I don't believe I've ever felt for anyone before." Alastor said. "I have been hesitantly classifying that feeling as love for quite a while, now."

Vaggie stared at Alastor, dead silent, for several seconds. "You can't be serious."

"Deathly serious." Alastor said, smiling. "I'm finding this arrangement quite enjoyable. Angel's company is exceedingly...interesting."

"...Angel?" Vaggie asked.

"Yeah?" Angel said.

"If he hurts you, I-"

"Relax, Vaggs, he's the one who got me away from Val." Angel said. "He's the reason I'm makin' any progress at all with the rehab stuff. He's not gonna hurt me."

"He's insane." Vaggie said.

Angel shrugged. "He's wired different. So am I."

"Whatever you do, don't make a deal with him." Vaggie said. "If he gets your soul-"

"What?" Angel asked. "What'll happen if he owns my soul, huh?"

"You seriously haven't heard one of his broadcasts?" Vaggie asked. "He's still doing them. He destroys people's souls. You can't trust him."

Alastor cleared his throat, and leaned forwards. "First, I haven't done a broadcast in two months." He said. "Second, yes, I destroy the guest's soul, but only because I use an Angelic weapon, the very same type of weapon you carry, Vaggie. Third, I would only broadcast the death of one of my contracted souls if they broke enough rules, enough times, and that's only happened three times in my nine decades of being an Overlord. Fourth, I have a very strict criteria to follow when I'm hunting, and, to put it simply, no-one in this building is even close to qualifying."

"Vaggie, is it so hard jus' t'be fuckin' happy fer us?" Angel asked. "We're happy. We make each other happy. We're helpin' each other. This is healthy an' good. Jus' accept it."

"Angel, he can't be trusted." Vaggie insisted.

"This is why I didn't wanna tell you." Angel said. "I get that you don't trust men, but Al's never given me any reason not ta trust him."

Vaggie clearly didn't want to accept that, but Charlie gave her a look, and got her to not argue more.

"Okay, so, Husk's part of the task?" Angel prompted.

Husk looked as hesitant with the coffee machine as anyone possibly could be. The thing was loud, it was definitely sourced from an actual coffee shop, and Vaggie was the only person who knew how to use it properly. Angel normally used the smaller one that had the little pods, but they weren't usually as frothy.

The latte Husk had made for him was actually almost as good as the last one he remembered Vaggie making for him, several weeks ago.

Alastor's double espresso with literally a single drop of milk looked...really bad, but Al seemed to be enjoying it. Niffty had a mocha. Charlie had a cappuccino. Pentious had an americano. Vaggie didn't have one at all, claiming that caffeine after alcohol would give her a headache.

Again, Husk got full points for the task.

"We...didn't win." Angel muttered.

"We lost two points because we're dating, darling." Alastor said. "Well played, Husker."

Husk's wings rustled, and he smiled. "Yeah, thanks."

Al held his hand out. "Your reward." He said. Husk took his hand, and shook it. There was a burst of red and orange magic. "Seven years deducted. Twelve remaining."

"Fuck yes." Husk said.

Chapter Text

"If you hurt him, you're dead." Vaggie whispered, as Husk was making Angel's drink.

"If it makes you feel any better, he had me begging to be choked and bitten last night." Al replied, just as quietly.

Vaggie stared at him like she didn't believe it at all.

"The marks are only gone because I'm an Overlord." Alastor overexplained. "He's very good at taking care of me. I'm trying my best to attend to his needs, too."

"That's not why I don't believe you." Vaggie said. "You don't just tell someone something like that, especially not someone you don't trust, who doesn't trust you."

"I'm not supposed to...I a-apologise. I'm unfamiliar with the customs around this." Alastor said, exceedingly embarrassed, definitely blushing. "I-I don't suppose you could...forget about this?"

"...Whatever." Vaggie said. "Don't hurt him."

"Is it...oversharing...if I say 'only ever with his consent'?" Alastor asked.

Vaggie walked away from him.

He took that as 'yes'.

Second place by just one point wasn't bad, considering they had bent the rules, and nearly gotten disqualified. Angel seemed happy with it.

And now, everyone at the hotel knew they were together, knew Angel was his, and he was Angel's.

And Alastor was allowed to just hold him.

He'd had plenty of time to consider things. He shouldn't have fully healed from last night by the time they woke up. Angel had bitten and clawed deep enough for it to take at least sixteen hours for the marks to be gone completely. And Angel healed fast, himself, for a contracted soul, he always had. Alastor had also healed properly, every time. He shouldn't have. Half of the injuries he'd recieved from Angel should have healed wrong.

There had to be something else going on.

"Darling? I have to talk to Charlie." Alastor said. "May I?"

"In private?" Angel asked. Al nodded. "Yeah, 'course y'can, tesoro."

"May I...kiss you, first?" Alastor asked.

"Oh, I dunno." Angel teased, grinning. "Not if I kiss you first."

Angel moved fast, pulling Al close and kissing him, before he could fully register the words. Alastor didn't fight it at all.

"Pretty deer." Angel whispered, breaking the kiss, but keeping him close. "All mine."

Alastor nodded. "Yours." He whispered. "Whenever, however you want me."

"Didn't you wanna talk ta Charlie?" Angel asked.

"...Yes." Alastor said.

"Okay. You go an' talk ta Charlie, then you come back here, so I can hold you." Angel said.

"Alright." Alastor said, untangling their limbs, and heading towards where Charlie was.

"Oh, hey Al." Charlie said. "Do you need something?"

"Just to talk to you about something." Alastor said. "In private."

Charlie nodded, and followed him towards the empty corner of the lobby. "What is it?" She asked.

"Firstly, he hasn't actually said it, but Angel seems uncomfortable with the idea of Vaggie knowing about our contract." Alastor said. "Would it be possible for you to keep it to yourself for now? Niffty and Husker know, so you can talk to them if you need to."

"That's absolutely fine. I wasn't gonna tell anyone unless Angel said it was okay." Charlie said.

"Wonderful. Secondly, you have the power to heal others, don't you?" Alastor asked.

"...Yeah. But...it's not...something I can teach people." Charlie said. "Or...do you need me to use it?"

"Neither. I was wondering how that power initially manifested." Alastor said. "Pure curiosity."

"Oh. Okay." Charlie said. "Yeah, it started as faster healing in myself, when I was a kid, and then I was...subconsciously healing people around me. When I figured out what I was doing, I started to learn to control it, and now I can use it whenever I want."

"That's fascinating." Alastor said. "Do you know anything about death-based healing disorders?"

"A little, yeah." Charlie said.

"How do you think a 60% death-based healing disorder might be affected by someone whose healing ability is at the stage of subconsciously healing others?" Alastor asked. "There's no right answer. I just want to know what you think would happen."

"Um...that would probably reduce the percent." Charlie said. "I'm not sure how much. It would probably speed up healing, too."

"Can you think of any other reason a 60% death-based healing disorder might suddenly be significantly reduced?" Alastor asked.

Charlie thought about it for a moment. "No." She said. "No, there's no other way. Why are you asking about this?"

"...Because I have a 60% death-based healing disorder, and none of my injuries since I started dating Angel have healed incorrectly." Alastor said. "He heals fast, for a contracted soul, I've been healing faster than normal, and I've been consistently healing correctly for over a week. Do you think it's possible that he has healing abilities?"

Charlie looked genuinely surprised by all of that. "Sinners don't normally...though, I suppose, if he already healed fast, just being near me could have prompted it to develop." She said, slowly. "You think he can...I can get an expert from one of the universities in the Sloth ring to confirm it, if he wants. Have...you talked to him about this?"

"Not yet, no." Alastor said. "I...wanted to make sure I wasn't overthinking it, first. Will you...be able to teach him to control it?"

"Absolutely." Charlie said. "We'll have to wait for it to develop a little bit more. It might not get to being as strong as mine, because this ability is almost unheard of in sinners, but yes, I can teach him."

"That's great. I'll go back to talk to him now." Alastor said. "Thank you."

"I have what?"

"Healing abilities." Alastor said.

Angel stared at him for several more seconds. "...What?"

"You heal fast, you're making me heal properly and faster, it's only a matter of time before you can control it." Alastor said.

"But...I'm a sinnah, I can't..." Angel trailed off, confused. "Can I?"

"It's the only explanation." Alastor said. "Being near Charlie probably triggered its development. You're subconsciously accelerating the healing of everyone in the building."

Angel blinked at him. "Is that...hurtin' me?" He asked.

"It'll be using your energy, yes." Alastor said. "Charlie can teach you to control it, when it's a little more developed, and she's offered to ask an expert from one of the universities in the Sloth ring to confirm that you've got it."

"...Prob'ly a good idea, yeah." Angel said, quietly. "Fer now...can I jus' hold you?"

"Of course." Alastor said, settling on the couch, where Angel could pull him close.

Angel wrapped him up in all three sets of arms. "Is it...helpin' you?" He asked.

"Yes." Alastor said. "I told you that I don't heal right, half the time?" Angel nodded. "All of my wounds have closed properly in the last week and a half, without my intervention."

Angel took a deep breath, and sighed. "I'm glad it's helpin' you." He said.

There was lunch, and then there was a trust/bonding exercise. Niffty and Husk were paired up. Angel was with Pentious. Alastor was with Vaggie.

Great.

Charlie was explaining the rules. "It's kinda like a scavenger hunt." She said. "All three teams have two unique lists of items you have to find around the hotel. One list has a clue for each location, the other has a clue for each item. You can't show your partner your list, or tell them the clue, you just have to trust that they'll take you to the right place, or find what item it is. You have one hour, starting now."

Alastor had a location clue list. He could only assume that Vaggie had an item clue list.

"Are the clues in order?" Al asked. "The same order? Between...our lists?"

"Nope." Charlie said, smiling brightly. "You have to figure it out."

"Can we say what our clue means, once we figure it out?" Alastor asked.

"No. You just have to go there, or find it." Charlie said.

"So...I have to trust entirely that she'll find the right item, and she has to trust entirely that I'll find the right location?" Alastor said.

"You two are having issues with trust, and so are Angel and Pentious, so I think it's necessary." Charlie said. "You should get going. You've only got so much time."

"There's five items." Alastor said. "Or...five locations. Vaggie, how many items are there?"

"Five." Vaggie said. "Where to first?"

Alastor read his first clue. "Um...I think..." It was either the roof, or the attic. "It could be two places."

"Pick one." Vaggie said.

"May I teleport us there, to save time?" Alastor asked.

Vaggie groaned. "Whatever."

Alastor offered her his hand. Vaggie looked at Charlie, scowled at her, and took Al's hand.

"Don't move, don't let go of me, and, until your feet touch solid ground, don't breathe." Alastor said. Vaggie nodded. Alastor snapped his fingers, transporting them both up onto the roof.

Vaggie nearly threw up, but managed not to. "What the fuck, Alastor?"

"It would have been worse, if you'd moved." Alastor said. "Well done."

"Couldn't you have warned me?" Vaggie asked.

"I did." Alastor said. "Now, this is one of the two possible answers for the first clue. I have no idea what we're looking for."

"We're on the roof, Alastor, there's nothing up here." Vaggie said.

"Read your list, and have a look, anyway." Alastor said. "This is the least dangerous of the two options."

Vaggie read her list, and looked around for a few minutes. Eventually, she found a ziplock back of screws on the floor, that had clearly only recently been placed there. "I guess it's this." She said.

"Wonderful." Alastor said.

"What was your clue?" Vaggie asked.

"'At the very top of the hotel, you'll find...'" Alastor said. "The other option was in the attic, and I didn't think Charlie would want us to disturb the gryphon. What was your clue?"

"'...Something sharp, that keeps things together.'" Vaggie said. "Where to next?"

Alastor looked at his clue sheet. The second clue pointed to a fold-out, which he opened, to find a crossword puzzle.

"What does it say?" Vaggie asked.

There were clues, but Alastor would have to figure out each word of the full clue individually. "It doesn't...it's a crossword, I can't..."

"Skip it, figure it out while I'm looking for the thing at the third location." Vaggie said.

Alastor nodded, and read the third clue. "Oh, she didn't. She put something there?" He muttered, figuring out that the only room that could possibly qualify was his own bedroom. He offered Vaggie his hand. "It gets easier, after the first few times. To teleport, I mean. I can take us there, if you'd like."

Vaggie stuffed the bag of screws in her pocket, and took Alastor's hand. "Let's do this." She said.

Alastor took them to his bedroom. Vaggie handled it better than the first time. "Feel free to search through my things. This is where the third clue points. I trust you not to break anything." He said, throwing himself onto his bed, and grabbing a pen from his bedside drawers, to start doing the crossword.

"This is your room." Vaggie said.

Alastor pointed further into his room, to the bayou section. "'Where would you hide a body?'" He said. "I'd hide a body in a bog. Charlie knows I would. Can you think of any other room in the hotel that has one?" Vaggie shook her head. "Right. I'll send my shadow with you, if you have to venture inside. It's a pocket dimension, you could easily get lost without a guide."

Al focussed on the crossword puzzle, while Vaggie searched the room. After five minutes of looking through his drawers and cupboards, she decided she had to head into the bayou.

By the time she came out, holding a small stuffed animal that probably belonged to Charlie, Alastor had figured out the second clue.

"We have thirty nine minutes left." Alastor said. "That's ahead of schedule. We should allow twelve minutes per item."

"Your clue helped me figure out which of my clues it was, I don't think you should have told me before I looked for it." Vaggie said. "Sorry. I should have...trusted you."

"Oh. What...was it?" Alastor asked.

"...'Depends on how I killed it.'" Vaggie said. "We were...me and Charlie were playing truth or dare, and when she asked me your clue, I answered mine. This is the bear I used to demonstrate to her why I'd...use a different location, depending on...how."

"Would you have figured that out, regardless?" Alastor asked.

"...Probably, yeah." Vaggie said.

"Right. Then, it doesn't matter." Alastor said. "She didn't make the rules clear enough. Can I reveal my clue after we arrive at the location, or only after you've found the item?"

"I...don't think we're supposed to reveal our clues at all." Vaggie said. "How about...we just trust each other, for now?"

"Deal." Alastor said, smiling.

"Where to, next?" Vaggie asked.

Alastor offered her his hand. "Trust me?"

She took his hand, and nodded.

They finished first, with eight minutes to spare. Husk and Niffty finished only a minute after them. Angel and Pentious finished in the last few seconds of the hour.

Charlie was really happy with all of them, and gave them a little gold star sticker each.

Chapter Text

Angel was absolutely pissed off at Sir Pentious by the end of the activity. He'd gone to the wrong locations three times, and waited until Angel had already searched all three rooms, and not found anything, to say something. Angel had found all five items.

He'd also found one of the stashes of drugs he'd hidden, right at the start of his stay at the hotel. Huh. He thought Vaggie had found them all.

"Hey, uh...Charlie?" Angel said, a few minutes after the activity ended. "I kinda...found this. I-I think it was mine." He gave her the bag of drugs. "Y'know, from...when I tried hidin' them everywhere, when...I thought you wouldn't...get how withdrawal works."

"Oh. Yeah, I remember." Charlie said. "Thank you for turning it in. That was the right thing to do. Um...do you know what's in here?"

"...Prob'ly PCP." Angel said. "I was...more stuck on that, wasn't I? I'd'a been more desperate t'be able ta access it. Why?"

"Well...I was thinking, if we're going to get more patrons wanting to try the rehab programme, I could-"

"Don't. I bought that on the streets, fer either a blowie, or a quickie, I don't remembah, but it ain't gonna be good quality." Angel said, quickly. "Could be contaminated with who knows what. Jus' get rid of it. I would'a done it myself, if I didn't think there was a chance you'd already found it, an' this was some kinda test t'see if I'd tell you I'd found it."

"I...hadn't thought of that. Um, no, it wasn't a test." Charlie said. "How would I...know...if something's contaminated?"

"Uh, if it's the wrong colour, or too heavy or light by volume, or if someone takes it, an' starts gettin' symptoms that don't line up with the drug, or...um...if it either doesn't fully dissolve in water, or if part'a it does, dependin' on the drug, um...there's definitely more, but those are the easiest ta look for." Angel said. "If you ever need any help with that side'a things, I'm pretty good at it, an' I have first-hand experience'a gettin' clean. I'm right here, an' I owe you so fuckin' much, if you need it. If in doubt, please fuckin' ask."

"I will." Charlie said, nodding. "Um...how do I...get rid of this?"

"Um...there's bins by the vending machines on...Fourth, but...people tend ta...pillage those." Angel said. "Um...I guess y'could burn it, but that might not be good, y'might...breathe it in. No, don't do that. The bins on Fourth might be the best option. Unless you wanna look into it more, maybe with one'a the bigger drug companies down here, possibly even one outside the Pride ring, I mean, you got a lotta influence, y'could use that a little bit, ta get this place off the ground a little more."

"Okay." Charlie said. "I'll look into it. Thank you."

"I fuckin' hate him."

Alastor gently stroked his hair. "Hate is a strong word, mon Ange." He said. "Why do you think you hate him?"

"He's useless." Angel said. "I know he's stockpiling weapons in his room, so he doesn't fuckin' trust us, after everythin' Charlie's done fer him. That hissing shit he does is so annoying. He wasn't fuckin' trying fer that activity. He's just...I hate him."

"Angel. I have reason to believe 'that hissing shit' is a speech impediment that he can't help." Alastor said. "How do you know he wasn't genuinely struggling with the activity?"

"'Cause he was...pretendin' t'be confident, an' he kept takin' me to the wrong places." Angel said.

"So, he was struggling to get it right, and he was trying to hide his insecurity with a mask of false confidence?"

Angel stared at Al for a few moments. "Shit." He said. "I...I yelled at him. I-I should...apologise, right?"

"That sounds like a good course of action, yes." Alastor said, smiling patiently.

"...And...the weapons?" Angel asked.

"As far as I can tell, he was born at the start of, or just before, the War of 1812, and his Father supplied weapons for the British." Alastor said. "He then went on to supply weapons for the British-allied forces during the Crimean War, and for both sides of the American Civil War, which he was killed for, as this betrayed both sides. He probably associates the procurement of weapons with both allyship and betrayal. He's stockpiling them in his room in case the hotel gets attacked, or in case we betray him, probably in preparation for both."

"You mean...he's scared?" Angel asked. Al nodded. "An'...me yellin' at him would'a just...made it worse?"

"Most likely, yes."

Angel sighed, pressing his face into Al's shoulder.

"...Hey, Pentious?" Angel said, as the snake slithered past them.

Sir Pentious narrowed his eyes at Angel. "Going to yell at me sssome more?"

Angel glanced at the ground. "No. I wanted to apologise." He said, quietly. "I went inta that activity not trustin' ya, with no intention ta change that, an' that made me...look fer things ta take out on you. Based on my clues, yours were prob'ly vague as fuck, an' it wasn't fair fer me ta get angry at you fer tryin'. I'm sorry. I shouldn't'a yelled at you."

Pentious crossed his arms. "Anything elsse?"

"I'm sorry I said yer 's' thing was 'stupid fuckin' annoying'. That was jus' rude of me." Angel said. "Whether it's an animal thing, an accent, or a speech impediment, I don't have the right ta say shit about it, an' I should'a known bettah."

"Yes, he certainly should have, especially considering his boyfriend has a stutter." Alastor said, firmly. "If you want me to punish him for it, I will."

Fuck, was that an option?

"Um...that won't be necesssary, but thank you for the mosst graciouss offer." Sir Pentious said. "Angel. I accept your apologiess. I don't...blame you. For not trusssting me, that iss. Do you think there'ss anything I can do to...earn your trusst?"

Angel bit his lip. "I-I guess...next trust activity Charlie puts us together on, we both agree ta try at it, an' I take it seriously an' try ta trust you a little?"

"I find thisss agreeable." Sir Pentious said. "You are forgiven."

Dinner was quiet. Charlie kept glancing between Angel and Pentious like she wasn't sure if things were okay between them, but she didn't ask.

After, Angel and Alastor had a couple of drinks at the bar, not enough for Charlie to be worried, but enough that Angel was...a little unstable on his feet.

"Wanna go ta my room?" Angel asked, taking a sip of Al's whiskey, and immediately scowling at the taste. He gave it back.

Alastor was grinning. "Are you asking because you're tired, or because you want to play?"

"...Maybe both?" Angel said, leaning closer to him.

"I won't hurt you, understand?" Alastor asked.

Angel shook his head. "Maybe a few claws in my sides or my back as I fuck ya?" He asked. "Please?"

Alastor was blushing brightly.

"You can stop doin' your fuckin' kink negotiations at my goddamn bar." Husk said. "Get a room. I don't wanna know."

Alastor grumbled, and slipped off of his stool, then headed towards the stairs. Angel, giggling, followed him.

"...So...what are we doing?" Alastor asked, already settled on Angel's bed.

"Can we try somethin' kinda new?" Angel asked. "I...wanna fuck you, but...I want you on top."

"...I'm confused." Alastor said. "I'm not sure...A-Angel, you know my...penis is too sensitive for...that kind of thing."

"Not what I mean, babe." Angel said. "You physically on top, but my dick in yer ass. I want you ta ride me."

"Ride you?" Alastor asked. "I don't know how to..."

"That's okay." Angel said. "We'll start by preppin' ya. I'll teach ya. I think you'll love this."

They started by gathering supplies; lube and a condom. Angel kissed Alastor, pushing him onto his back, and starting to undress him. Alastor's hands were on his waist, and he was kissing back. Angel removed Al's jacket, and unbuttoned his shirt. Al's hands slipped under Angel's blazer, and his fingers sunk into his fur.

"Darling, please." Alastor said. He ground up against Angel's dick, and he was definitely hard, too.

"Be patient, pretty boy." Angel said, trying to stay calm. "C'mon, baby, I want you ridin' me. Lemme get yer pants off, so I can get my fingers in you."

Alastor nodded, and started wriggling to pull his own trousers off. "Inside, please, please."

"Yer bein' such a sub, baby." Angel said, pulling Al's boxer briefs down past his ankles. "What happened ta that big sexy dom I fell in love with, huh? Yer lucky I'd only forgotten I was allowed ta dom, ain't ya?" He lubed up his fingers, and gently pressed one into Al's hole. Alastor whined. "Yeah, that's it, relax fer me. Can I...try yer dick? Jus' a little?"

Alastor reached down, and touch it himself. He was hesitant, like he already knew it wouldn't feel good, but Angel watched anyway, hoping he could figure it out. Al barely brushed his fingers against the underside of the shaft, and the skin looked too soft, and too dry. Alastor winced. "No. No, I-I can't."

"...Can I try?" Angel asked. "I'm a professional, baby, trust me. I think I can make it better. Please lemme try?"

Alastor bit his lip. "...Okay. Yes, you may."

"Thank you, baby." Angel said. "Are you that sensitive all over?"

"...More, at the tip, and...a little bit less on the other side." Alastor said. "A lot more at the base."

Angel nodded. "That's where yer knot is, so that makes sense." He said. "It looked ta me like you got dry skin. If I try with lube, it might be a little easier, but if yer still way too sensitive, I can try a lube that's a little bit numbing, jus' so it ain't overwhelming, y'know?"

"I thought...I was riding you?" Alastor asked.

"D'you not wanna try this now?" Angel asked. "We can try this some other time."

"...No, we can...try this now." Alastor whispered.

"Okay." Angel said. He pulled his finger out of Al, and added a very generous amount of lube to his hand, before gently touching the top side of Al's shaft. Alastor was watching him carefully, clearly fully expecting it to be too much. "Here's okay?" Angel asked. Al nodded. "Okay." Angel moved his fingers gently up and down the sides, and Alastor sighed. "Good?"

"...I...never thought..." Alastor trailed off, relaxing into the bedsheets. "Yes, it's good. Thank you, darling."

"I am so havin' you fuck me at some point, if we can figure this out properly." Angel said. "I'm gonna try the underside now, okay?" Alastor nodded, much more enthusiastically than the last few times. Angel smiled, and trailed his fingers down the underside of Al's shaft. Alastor whimpered, and squeezed his eyes shut. "Al? Is this okay?"

"...Y-yes. I'm...fine." Alastor said. "Any more would be too much, darling."

"Should I try the other lube, or should I get back to preppin' you?" Angel asked, stilling his hand.

"I think...try it, just...so we know." Alastor whispered.

Angel nodded. "Okay." He wiped the lube off of his hand, and rummaged through his drawers to find the other one. "This kind's usually used fer anal, 'cause that hurts if you don't prep right, but it really shouldn't be used for that, 'cause it only hurts if it ain't safe."

"...I wouldn't mind if it hurt." Alastor whispered.

"No, baby, you would." Angel said. "I'm a masochist, too, remember? That ain't a good kinda hurt."

"Can we...try it, anyway?" Alastor asked. "Not this time, but...when I'm more used to sex."

"I'll think about it." Angel said. "Okay, wanna try this?" Alastor smiled, and nodded. Angel poured some of the numbing lube onto his hand, and gently touched Al's shaft again. "I gotta get it on the too sensitive bits, so I'm just gonna go for it, okay?"

"Yes, go ahead." Alastor said. "Ah-! Oh, no, no."

"You need me ta stop?" Angel said, barely touching Al's knot.

Alastor shook his head. "No, no, I-I'm fine."

"Okay." Angel said, barely moving his fingers enough to get the lube where it needed to be. "I'm gonna get the tip-"

"Yes, fine." Alastor said, quickly.

Angel spread the lube over Al's tip, and Al whined, recoiling slightly in discomfort. "It's okay. It'll start workin' soon." He said, running his fingers down Al's shaft in an attempt to distract him. When he touched near the base, Alastor moaned.

"Oh. Oh, my." Alastor said. "Ah. Angel?"

"Yeah?" Angel asked.

"That...that you're doing now, I...it's not..."

"Not too much?" Angel asked. Alastor nodded. "Is it good?"

"It's...nice." Alastor said, clearly still expecting this to turn painful in a bad way any second.

"Yeah?" Angel said, smiling. Alastor hummed, and nodded. "Relax, then. It's alright."

"...I'm not sure I can." Alastor whispered. His eyes were still closed, and he was sort of refusing to look at Angel.

"Al, are you hiding?" Angel asked, rubbing his thumb over Al's tip, making him whimper and buck into his hand. "Aww, look at you. So fuckin' pretty. D'you wanna come from this, or d'you want me ta get back ta preppin' you? I know you love the overstim."

"No." Alastor breathed. "No more. I-I can't..."

Angel stopped moving, and Alastor whined. "Alastor? D'you need ta stop?"

Alastor looked at him for the first time in several minutes. His eyes were glowing. "May I?" He asked.

"Um...what d'you wanna...do?" Angel asked.

Alastor snapped his fingers, and his microphone appeared beside them. "I am so havin' you fuck me at some point-"

Angel's eyes widened at his own voice being played back at him. "...You wanna..."

"Please?" Alastor asked. "Let me learn? While...I am able?"

"Fuck. Um. Y-yes." Angel said. Alastor smiled at him. "Shit, first...um, c-condom? I don't want that numbing shit in my pussy."

"Yes, yes, of course." Alastor said, leaning towards Angel's drawers to rummage through the assorted condoms. "Um...what do the colours mean?"

"Go with pink, they're knot-safe, you want one that says '4'." Angel said. "Um...they're safe fer people with a knot, not...you ain't gonna tear it if you knot me."

"I guessed that was what you meant." Alastor said, finding a pink 4. "I must admit, I've never..."

"That's okay, Al." Angel said, honestly thrilled this was happening at all. What a way to get Al's confidence back. "Give it here, lemme get it on you, but I want you ta watch what I'm doin', okay?" Alastor nodded, watching him closely as he handed over the condom. Angel tore the packet open, turned it the right way up, and started gently rolling it onto Al's dick. "Jus' like that. Perfect fit."

"'4' is the size?" Alastor asked. Angel nodded. "How did you know my size?"

"Compared it ta mine, I'm a 3." Angel said.

"Yours is...longer, though?" Alastor said, confused.

"No, baby, the size means the width, not the length." Angel said. "If it's too tight, that's gonna be uncomfortable as fuck, an' it's prob'ly gonna tear, but if it's too big, it's gonna slip off, then either way yer riskin' a bunch'a stuff dependin' on why yer usin' one in the first place, from pregnancy, which ain't possible fer two sinners anyway, to STIs, I'm clean, an' I got no doubt you are too, to just makin' a mess, to gettin' the numbing lube in my pussy where I don't want it. I'm fuckin' good at gettin' the sizes right. Yer gonna feel so fuckin' good in me."

"...May I...have you now?" Alastor immediately cringed at the phrasing. "Um...I-I mean..."

"Wanna fuck me, pretty boy?" Angel asked, grinning. "How d'you want me? On my back, face ta face? Or ass up, presentin' fer you like a doe in heat? Maybe ridin' you?"

Alastor blinked. "I...o-on your back?"

Angel smiled. "Sure. Wanna swap places, then?"

Alastor nodded, and before Angel could blink, he lunged at him, grabbed him by the primary arms, and pinned him to the bed. Angel yelped. "You're so beautiful, darling." Al whispered. "Such pretty noises."

"Hah, m-make me make more." Angel said. "C'mon, baby, hurt me a little, lemme feel it."

"Don't tempt me." Alastor said, pulling Angel's skirt down.

"What if I wanna tempt you?" Angel asked, lifting his hips so Al could more easily remove his underwear. "What if I tease you?" Angel pressed his thighs together. "Will you hurt me then?"

"Never like that." Alastor breathed. "Only if you want it."

"I do." Angel said. "Make me scream, babe. D'you know how ta fuck me?"

Alastor blushed brightly, and he shook his head.

Angel smiled, patient, and reached one hand down to touch himself. "Line up yer tip here, an' push inside." He said. "Don't need lube, 'cause I'm already wet, an' y'don't gotta prep me, 'cause I'm already ready fer you. Jus' try it."

Alastor furrowed his brow, and clumsily took hold of Angel's hips, before lining himself up, and starting to push inside. It was slow, and the stretch was exquisite. Angel's head fell back. He relaxed into the bedsheets.

"Is this alright? A-am I hurting you? Do you n-need me to s-st-"

"Perfect." Angel breathed. "Holy fuck, Al, feels so good. Don't panic, baby. Doesn't hurt. I jus' haven't had anyone inside me since you got my soul. Ain't used to it."

Thankfully, that got Al to breathe. He had stopped pressing further into Angel, but he hadn't started pulling out.