Another short chapter, but it just works that way.
Title is actually derived from two songs: "Addict" by SilvaHound, of course, and "Addicted" by Kelly Clarkson.
"So," Charlie addressed the circle of demons, "in light of yesterday's, err, incident…"
All eyes were on the Radio Demon. A crackling hiss turned them away. The only ones who had the courage to keep glaring were Tina and Vaggie.
The Princess ignored the silent blame game. "Today's topic will be…"
She flipped the chalkboard. One word was underlined at the top.
"Addiction!" Charlie cheered with jazz hands.
"Cuz let's face it," Vaggie said, her gaze still locked on Alastor. "Nearly everyone here has been guilty of an addiction at some point."
Vodou symbols floated around Alastor's head. A clearing of Tina's throat reminded him of his promise to behave.
"For starters," Charlie said, picking up a piece of chalk, "let's brainstorm some examples of what someone might be addicted to."
"Alcohol," Tina murmured.
Charlie wrote it on the board.
"D-Drugs?" Carrie said.
"Obvious ones, yes. But an addiction does not only apply to harmful substances, but certain behaviors too."
"Sex," said Dr. Cougarton.
"Stealing," said Proxy.
"Gambling," said another demon.
"Does incest count?" Dana asked.
"If you do it repeatedly," Vaggie said, "without considering the consequences, yes."
"Oh." Dinah put her fingers to her mouth. "I suppose it does, then."
"All good examples," Charlie said as she wrote INCEST in block letters. "Anything else?"
This time, Tina spoke loud and clear. "Cannibalism."
"Excuse me!" Alastor crossed his arms. "Cannibalism is no addiction, but a lifestyle! In fact, it is a crucial part of Hellish culture!"
"No mystery why you're down here," Proxy said with adolescent boldness. "Ever heard of 'thou shalt not kill?'"
Alastor snapped his head towards the racoon. "Ever heard of 'thou shalt not steal?'"
Proxy shrugged. "Least my addiction doesn't hurt anybody."
"Hey, you ain't so innocent either, Stripey," Angel Dust said. "By the way, still waitin' for ya to gimme back my dildo."
The racoon's fur stood on end. "Wait. That was…?" She looked down at her shaking hands, as if they were covered in blood. "And I touched…"
Her chair fell over as she stood and raced out of the room. "Sorry. Gotta go bleach my hands."
Alastor jerked his thumb towards her. "How come she gets to leave early?"
"BRB!" Proxy called from the hall.
"Back to our topic," Vaggie said, gesturing her hands inward. "As you've all so graciously demonstrated, addiction often leads to sin. Indulging in alcohol and drugs, for instance, not only hurts yourself, but can lead you to hurting others, because you're not in full control of your body."
Alastor noticed Tina clutching her skirt. He wanted to take her hand, but didn't want to risk angering her more than he already had.
Why was she so angry? Alastor had thought they'd come to an understanding. Despite her obvious aggression, Tina really was keeping to her word and holding back on the arguing. The small, physical punishments were nothing. It was his own fault for saying he enjoyed them.
In return, he had not made any romantic attempts since their deal was struck. So then what could he have done to infuriate her this time?
"As a bonus," Charlie said, "Dr. Cougarton here has volunteered to explain the psychological causes and effects of addiction."
"Thank you, your highness." Dr. Cougarton joined her at the chalkboard. "Now, I've worked in rehabilitation centers for seventeen years. One common misconception is that addiction is caused by one solitary factor. While yes, a traumatic event can serve as the catalyst for an addiction, it is actually due to an amalgamation of negative factors building up over an individual's life. For instance, environmental factors, psychological factors, genetics…"
Alastor made no effort to maintain his focus. The last time he'd tried listening to a psychiatrist had resulted in an hour-long lecture on Freud and his cockamamie Oedipus complex. At least Alastor had gotten dinner out of it.
Come to think of it, I've never tried cougar before.
He shook the thought out of his head. The Princess and her partner were sure to notice if their resident psychiatrist went missing.
Alastor leaned his elbow on the back of his chair, his eyes lolling lazily over to Tina. Her thighs were pressed together, her fangs biting down on her lower lip. She was looking more and more upset by the minute.
If only he could comfort her like he used to. Take her in his arms, whisper words of reassurance, shield her from her troubles. He had really backed himself into a corner with this deal. How was he to convince her to kiss him by the end of the month, when he was barely allowed to touch her?
Grand romantic gestures were out. Even just a harmless pick-up line would set her off. Never mind the usual gifts.
Alastor tried to think of what Husk had told him in his drunken haze. That none of that romantic stuff would work, as he hadn't even tried to be romantic until he and Tina had confessed their feelings. Which begged the question the Radio Demon was now realizing he'd never thought to ask.
What exactly had made Tina fall in love with him in the first place?
With most women who fell for him, the answer was easy. Alastor was handsome, charismatic, and polite when it benefited him. But Tina had seen right through that façade from the start, and had made a point of it. She'd never ceased to call him a psychopath, or show her utter disgust for his diet, or criticize his old-fashioned ideals.
This wasn't even a shallow interpretation of the Radio Demon. Tina knew him better than anyone. So, what had changed her mind? If he could figure that out, he could remind her of her feelings.
"Al?"
Static whirled as Alastor snapped his attention to the Princess. "Hmm? What?"
Charlie gestured to him. "It's your turn to share?"
Alastor glanced around the room. Everyone was watching him expectantly, including Proxy, who had at some point returned.
"Oh!" He stuck his finger in his ear. "So sorry, Highness! I was tuned into another station just now. What were you saying?"
Vaggie rolled her eye. "I knew he wasn't listening to a word we said."
"More like he was too busy ogling his little missus," Angel snickered.
Alastor slammed the end of his staff into the spider's foot.
"Ow! What, is everyone gangin' up on me now?"
"We were just going around sharing our thoughts on addiction," Charlie explained.
"Like how I started stealing to get attention from my foster parents?" Proxy said.
"Yeah, yeah, really sob story," Angel placed his upper arms behind his head. "Trust me, orphan girl, you're better off not knowing who your parents are."
"Anyway, Al," Charlie said with an encouraging grin. "It's your turn. You don't have to talk about your own addiction, if that makes you uncomfortable."
Vaggie facepalmed. "Tact, hon. Use it."
"But maybe there's something you'd like to add to the discussion?"
Alastor glanced at the chalkboard, which was bore a list of addiction causes: childhood trauma, personality disorders, past failures, social anxiety. It made his blood boil.
"As a matter of fact," he said, holding up a finger, "there is one thing I'd like to say!"
Everyone leaned in. No one had thought the Radio Demon would share today. Tina was especially curious, and willing to listen.
Alastor cleared his throat. "You," he said, pointing around the circle, "are all pathetic washouts!"
Tina's shoulders slumped. Charlie's grin dropped. Vaggie muttered, "Saw that one coming."
"So you can't get enough of drugs or drink or stealing or…" Alastor snarled at Angel. "Less sanitary things. So what?"
He held out his hands in an exaggerated shrug. "We all fall into temptation every now and then. That's why we're here! The real question is not what you can do to stop, but why you should even bother?"
He gestured upwards. "I know, you're all hoping for a chance at Heaven, but let's be realistic! If the Man Upstairs was truly forgiving, don't you think He would've let us into those pearly gates the first time around? So what's the point in overcoming such a petty little vice? It's not like there are any consequences to your actions down here! And there's no more risk to drug overdose or alcohol poisoning! Which leads me to think you are all suffering from severe cases of wishful thinking and delusion!"
Alastor sent Dr. Cougarton a challenging glare. "Psychoanalyze that, Doctor."
Dr. Cougarton blushed. Vaggie clenched her hands into fists. Tears filled Charlie's eyes. Proxy looked like she was about to throw a tantrum. Angel looked like he was about to throw up.
Tina took a deep breath and stood. "Name's Tina. I'm a sinner."
The stunned silence delayed the collective response of, "Hi, Tina."
Alastor cast her a sideways glance. He had expected her to berate him, kick him or something. Not for her to address the group so calmly.
"We've been talkin' 'bout how addiction is the root of sin." Tina rubbed her arm. "But in my case, my addictions were because of sin."
After another breath, she lifted her head. "When I was alive, I smoked. And drank. A lot."
Her eyes flitted toward Angel, who kept quiet.
"Cancer made me quit," Tina continued, "but as soon as I fell down here, I turned right back to the bottle."
She looked down and tugged at her skirt. "It just seemed so much easier than dealin' with the reality of what I'd done. Even if I ended up hurtin' myself in the long-run, for a short while, the pain would go away."
She sniffed. "Then I'd sober up and the pain would come right back again. It was just a vicious, endless cycle. Like I was my own personal tormenter in Hell."
The Songbat paused to wipe an oncoming tear. "But then one day, someone came along and broke that cycle."
Alastor's smile tensed as she slowly turned his way.
"Just by being there, as an anchor, a confidant, a shoulder to cry on," she said. "Never judging, never forcing me to change. He told me that instead of focusin' on what I did in the past, I should focus on what I was doin' now. And that just made me wanna change. For myself, and for that person who took that pain away."
Her violet eyes locked with his, and suddenly Alastor's chest weighed with guilt.
Now he understood what had been bothering her all day. Here he was, treating this group therapy thing like a joke, insisting that getting over an addiction was pointless. While he had been the one to help Tina get over hers. Her striving to be a better person had been thanks to him.
Everyone else stared at the dysfunctional couple. There was no doubt the Songbat was referring to her husband, but the idea that the Radio Demon could ever influence someone to redeem herself was hard to believe.
"So that's why I started the club," Tina said, turning back to the group, "and takin' in all you addicts, so I could be that person for y'all. Cuz I know just how painful addiction can be."
Her voice grew softer. "Especially alone."
She squared her shoulders. "Heaven or no Heaven, I wanna make up for my past mistakes." Her gaze returned to Alastor. "All of 'em."
The fluffy deer ears fell flat against the Radio Demon's scalp. He desperately wanted to ask what she meant by that, but there were too many witnesses. Was she referring to the mistake she'd made ten years ago?
Or the mistake she'd made in marrying him?
There was silence as Tina sat down. Then came a slow, sincere clap. From none other than Vaggie.
Charlie added her own rapid clap, her eyes gleaming with tears. Everyone else joined in, even Angel Dust, though his clapping was soft and half-hearted. One would think a demon with six hands would provide more sound.
Only Alastor remained still. He felt if he so much as tapped his fingers, he would crumble into a ball of emotions. It was bad enough his face was redder than his hair.
Tina's own blush could rival his. As she peered at Alastor out of the corner of her eye, her lips spread into a bashful smile.
He wasn't dreaming. She was actually smiling. For him.
"So," Angel said once the applause died down. "What's this about Smiles being a shoulder to cry on?"
The perking of Alastor's ears was accompanied by a record scratch.
"Angel, don't make fun," Charlie chastised. "I'm sure Alastor did what any loving spouse would do in a situation like that. After all, Tina did the same thing."
The Radio Demon and the Songbat looked away from each other, muttering "errs" and "ums."
"Must say, Miss Tina," Dana said. "I never would've guessed your ex was so devoted."
"Considering you're always calling him a deadbeat," Dinah said.
"And a maniac."
"And a creep."
"And a son of a—"
"I-I'm addicted to coffee!" Carrie Canary shouted.
"No one cares, Carrie!" Angel said.
Nevertheless, Carrie's outburst was enough to change the subject before Alastor and Tina could wither away in embarrassment.
As the discussion continued, Alastor felt something lay over his right hand. He glanced down and saw that it was Tina's.
He didn't dare say anything, or look her in the eye. For it might ruin the moment. All he did was curl his hand around and trap hers in a firm yet gentle squeeze.
Neither of them let go until the group therapy session was over.