John could hear the sounds of the video game from down the hall as he approached apartment 12. Already, he had a good idea of what game the brothers were playing.

"God dammit, how are you so good at this, Benny?!"

"Because I played with John more than any of you!"

Two voices, though muffled, rang through John's ears as he slowly went to open the door.

Being Hellhounds, the two should've heard and smelled John the moment the door creaked open. It just proved to John that they were too engrossed in their game to pay attention to anything else.

And true to his guess, they were playing Mortal Kombat X.

"Only John is scary with Jason!" Beartrap shouted, doing pretty well against his brother in the game. John found himself leaning down between the two, watching intently as the match progressed.

Beartrap, being only five, was a small hellhound. His fur was white like his mother's, but one unique feature he had from his father was a small pair of underdeveloped horns on the top of his head. On his left arm was a black colored birthmark, which was shaped like a bear trap.

"I thought he was easy to use, dammit!" Razor replied, his brow furrowed in annoyance.

Razor was about 18, and his fur was a mix of red and white in different spots. His eyes matched his mother's. He was taller than his mother, but he wasn't quite as tall as Andre.

John let out a grin as he listened to the brothers bicker as the match carried on.

"The machete version, maybe, but the other ones aren't!" Beartrap remarked with a laugh, giggling like a maniac.

John nodded. Beartrap was right about that.

John watched as the match culminated in Razor's defeat, with Beartrap effortlessly executing a fatality.

"Yeah!" Beartrap said, raising his hands in victory as he dropped the controller. "I win!"

Razor, meanwhile, was grumbling in annoyance at his defeat. "Yeah, yeah."

John smiled, and he took that moment to make his presence known. "So, who thought they could steal my crown?" He asked two, causing both hellhounds to jump and snap their gazes towards him.

"Jesus Christ!" Razor gasped, though Beartrap's gaze immediately became one of excitement.

"Johnny!" The hellhound shouted with glee as he jumped up from his spot on the couch, wrapping his arms around John's neck as best as he could, considering the size difference between the two.

"Hey, little guy!" John said, smile wide on his face as he hugged the pup back, though much more gently than he would anyone else so that he didn't run the risk of hurting him. "How've you been doing?"

"Awesome!" Beartrap said, his sharp teeth on full display as John put him back down on the ground. Uncle Cage yesterday!"

Uncle Cage was Beatrap called Arya's older brother, Cajinton. He found it easier to pronounce vs the hellhound's full name, and John found it to be a rather fitting name, considering the hellhound's main source of income.

Cajinton was a cage fighter who frequented the local bar, and though he didn't live at Grundy's Plaza, he frequented the place as another hang out spot all the same.

And in spite of his main source of income, he rarely ever actually drank, if only to set an example of sorts for his nephews.

"That's good, buddy!" John said with a grin, gladly indulging in the pup's own glee for his own joy. "Did you rough him up for me?"

"Yep!" Beartrap nodded vigorously.

John smiled down at the pup, taking joy in the child's excitement, before turning his gaze towards his older brother. "Razor."

"Hey, Johnny." Razor greeted with a smile, leaping over the back of the couch with ease as he approached John, taking his hand as John pulled him into a one armed hug, patting the back of his shoulder. "How've you been, man?"

"Been helping at the Princess's hotel." John answered as he seperated from the hellhound. "You know me. If I ever get any chance to help, I will take it."

"I know." Razor acknowledged with a grin, followed buy a slight chuckle. "Gotta be a hero, don't you?"

"Just cause you're in Hell-"

"Doesn't mean you can't do the right thing." Razor interrupted John's motto with a small smile and an eyeroll. "You and I both know that's Andre's line, not yours."

"Applies, doesn't it?" John retorted with a raised eyebrow, accompanied by a small grin of his own.

"So, what's it like there?" Razor couldn't help but ask curiously. "How exactly does the Princess plan to rehabilitate sinners?"

John gave a small smile. "Well, we ain't had enough people long enough to really try anything concrete." He admitted as he gestured towards the couch. "Seat? I'll give you guys some stories while ya'll show me if you can actually pose a challenge to me on Mortal Kombat X."

"You're on!" Beartrap accepted eagerly, clearing the back of the couch as he jumped over it and into a seat, snagging a controller in the process.

"Let's go, man." Razor agreed, moving to take a seat on the couch alongside John. "So, how did it all start?"

John gave a chuckle. "Well…"

Needless to say, Charlie had Andre, Madrox, and Arya in stitches from sheer laughter.

"Shitlord?" Madrox managed to push out between fits of laughter.

Charlie herself was giggling like a madwoman. "Yup! Cheesy, Pompous,Talkshow Shitlord! Every word, while pointing a spear in his face!"

"This woman has balls of steel." Andre chuckled. "Kind of reminds me of when Vortex pulled the same stunt down at the deli." He remarked, glancing towards Arya. "You remember that?"

"You mean when he called Alastor a cherry colored prick?" Arya recalled with a small smile on her face. "John stepped in almost immediately when Al made a move on Tex."

"Yeah." Madrox nodded. "And he leveled half the block as well."

That cut Charlie's amusement. "What?"

Andre nodded. "Yeah, but don't feel bad. No one was hurt."

Charlie slightly relaxed at that added bit of news. "Really?"

The three smiled at the Princess' genuine concern for her citizens, her people. "Yep." Arya assured with a smile, patting Charlie's leg reassuringly. "Doesn't matter how destructive the battle is, anyone is rarely hurt or killed when John is involved."

"He has that quirk." Madrox commented, a tone of admiration in his voice. "Andre here has a saying. You wanna tell her, Dre?"

Andre smiled. "Just cause you're in Hell doesn't mean you can't do the right thing." He told the Princess. "And I've met no one in my life who embodies that more than John Gallagher. Well, except maybe you."

Charlie admittedly blushed under the praise, not used to such words from anyone except… Well, Vaggie, honestly. Even John didn't often praise her, outside of the day he showed up. "Me?"

"Sure!" Arya nodded with a smile. "You're trying to help the sinners of Hell, truly help them. And not just them, but all of Hell."

"Even if only sinners can redeem themselves and ascend to Heaven, these yearly exterminations need to stop." Andre said, his voice hardening as his tone shifted. "They are a poor excuse to exterminate demons without care, regardless of if they are actually bad."

Charlie nodded at his words, her tone somber. "I… I'm not the most mature for my age, but I'm almost over two hundred years old. Two Twenty-Five, to be exact. I've watched these exterminations since they began fifteen years ago." She recalled, her voice cracking slightly. "I know there are some truly bad people in Hell, but John, Vaggie, Angel, Vanessa, all of you… all of you prove that there are good people in Hell as well."

"Not all demons are evil." Arya muttered sadly. "Just like not all sinners are evil. Look at John."

Charlie smiled at the Hellhound's words. "John is a perfect example. I assume you all know what he did?"

"Crushing the windpipe of the guy who finally killed him after years and years of attacking him?" Madrox piped up with a raised eyebrow. "Can't really blame the guy."

"No, you can't." Charlie admitted. "In his position… I don't know if anyone can. But even though he's in Hell for committing what is supposed to be the most evil sin of all, John doesn't let Hell change him." She smiled as she spoke of her spikey friend. "Sure, he's scary looking at first glance, but he is a good man at heart. He's kind, thoughtful, helpful, not even mentioning how heroic he is from what I've seen and heard… he's a good man, a good friend, and I think he might me the single most kind person I've ever met in Hell."

Though her words seemed like a rather winded speech, she meant everything. John had been a blessing to the hotel, and every day that he'd been there seemed like it was pure luck for the hotel. After all, if he hadn't been around…

Well, who knows what would've happened to Angel, Husk, and Niffty, and Vanessa and countless other girls would still be under Valentino's thumb.

Meanwhile, the other three had smiles on their faces at Charlie's declaration.

"You care for John a lot, don't you?" Arya stated more than asked with a warm smile.

Charlie smiled. "I do. I've only known him for a week, but he's been a great help." She explained. "I don't think the Hotel would be doing as good as it is now if it weren't for John."

"I believe John may have found a place in your heart." Andre remarked with a raised eyebrow, causing Charlie to visibly blush.

"I don't know about that…" She admitted, bringing a hand up to rub the back of her neck. "I'm already taken anyway."

"You don't control who you love, Princess." Madrox stated, a small grin on his face as he leaned closer to the Princess.

"But I love Vaggie." Charlie said, sincere in her words. "We've been together for the last two years. She's a good person. A little rough around the edges, but she has a good heart, and she can be a sweetheart when she wants to be."

"I don't doubt you love this woman, Princess." Arya spoke up, laying a reassuring hand on Charlie's leg. "None of us do. But what we're saying is that it's not wrong to love more than one person. Considering your age, no offense, you should know that better than us."

"Maybe you end up having to choose between two lovers, maybe you already have one and refuse to forsake them for another… or maybe you can get both." Andre proposed with a smile. "All are very real possibilities… it simply depends on the choices you and your loved ones make."

Charlie averted her gaze. In spite of her age, the three demons in front of her most likely held more wisdom within them than she'd had in a lifetime. Well, the two lifetimes she'd been alive, anyway.

"I… I love Vaggie. Even if there is anything for John, as small as it is, I can't give up what I have with her on a whim." Charlie reinforced.

"We ain't saying you should, Princess." Madrox chuckled. "All we're saying is that it's a very real possibility, and you may not control your feelings like you think you do."

"But we aren't judging your choices either." Andre assured the Princess. "We're simply trying to give you some advice for the future."

Charlie was silent for a moment, before she finally replied.

"I… I do appreciate the advice." She nodded, smiling at the group of three. "But I love Vaggie, and even if my feelings for John grow, I can't just discard her. I thank all of you for your advice, but it's just not something I'm comfortable with."

"We understand, Princess." Arya assured, with a smile on her face, though admittedly, she was a little disappointed inside. However, she couldn't fault the Princess' decision.

She'd kept in contact with Verosika after the stunt she'd pulled, because no matter her disappointment, Verosika would always be her little Rose.

After the incident with Verosika and the one called Blitzo, John had been absolutely heartbroken. He had been hurt, and he had masked it with anger at the mere mention of the succubus. And Arya had secretly hoped that John could find someone else good for him.

He deserved it.

Upon arriving at the mall, Vanessa had found herself tailing Alastor, while Husk and Niffty had run off somewhere else to shop for cleaning supplies, while she and Alastor got the main groceries he was looking for.

At first, she was more than afraid. Even though she'd agreed to go with the Radio Demon in the first place, admittedly it was only because Husk was there.

Husk was… blunt. He wasn't necessarily nice, but he went out of his way to make sure she felt safe and welcome, and his magic tricks could be pretty entertaining.

Niffty was… well, Angel wasn't kidding when he said she was psychotic. She was nice, but she was also a monster when it came to men. Literally. She could also be kind of… the best way she could think of to describe it would be 'in your face.'

But Alastor… out of the three of them, Alastor did scare her. He hadn't done anything to her, heck, he had offered to bring her on this trip to make up for how the last outing she'd had ended. She felt bad that she was scared of him, but she couldn't help it.

Alastor towered over her, and his razor sharp smile that was always on display and his fox-like ears, not to mention wide, blood red eyes… and then throw all of that in with what John had told her…

Well, she couldn't help it. At first anyway.

"My dear, what is it that you like to eat?" Alastor asked her, looking down at Vanessa, his usual smile replaced with one of genuine care and curiosity. "I didn't come here only to pick out ingredients for my jambalaya! This is a shopping trip for you too!"

Vanessa smiled at the Radio Demon's words.

So far, he'd been nice, and admittedly, a little funny. He acted like he was a comedian at times, and the Trans-Antlantic accent was definitely something he pulled off in a way that so few could.

Now, she was… somewhat comfortable, with his presence.

Okay, she was completely comfortable with his presence.

Yes, he admittedly looked terrifying, but it wasn't the stuff of nightmares, and to be fair, John was more likely to induce nightmares in her than the demon in front of her. And John was practically a teddy bear!

"I love biscuits and gravy." Vanessa answered with a smile on her face. "My mom used to make them every Saturday. I'd wake up and the smell would always hit me." She recalled those moments with fondess, a happier time in her life before…

Before him.

"Biscuits and gravy, hmm?" Alastor repeated with a raised eyebrow, a hint of genuine and sincere emotion making it's way into his normally terrifying smile. "I do believe John used the last we had for breakfast this morning, so we will get more, but I'm referring to snacks, my dear!"

"Snacks?" Vanessa repeated. "Like Cheezits and Doritos?"

"Precisely!" Alastor nodded in confirmation. "I myself prefer strawberries, but I will sometimes indulge myself in a chocolate chip cookie." The Radio Demon actually licked his lips at the thought. "And occasionally, I sneak and steal some of Johnathan's onion ring chips. Funyuns, I believe they're called?"

Vanessa giggled at Alastor's admission. "You're not the only one. I remember last night when we were watching TV, I snagged a couple from his bag and he didn't even notice."

Alastor let an amused chuckle escape him at Vanessa's words. "He usually has the nose and hearing of a bloodhound, but put him in front of a TV and you could probably let a bomb go off and he wouldn't notice!"

Vanessa laughed at Alastor's words. "Yeah." She agreed with a nod.

Alastor eyes the succubus next to him, before his gaze snapped forward. "Well then, let us go and see if we can find some of these Funyuns!"

"Yes, sir!" Vanessa laughed, following the Radio Demon closely as he pushed the cart out of the aisle they were currently in.

Admittedly it could be somewhat disheartening watching the other denizens of Hell avoid Alastor like a plague, but she'd prefer that to the possible alternative any day. Especially considering some of the less than pleasant looks she was getting from some of them.

"I see you've made use of your new wardrobe?" Alastor noted, glancing towards Vanessa out the corner of his eye. "I feel the butterfly in particular suits you."

Vanessa glanced down at the shirt she wore with a small smile. Butterflies had always been her favorite animal, and pink was her favorite color. So she agreed with Alastor's assessment wholeheartedly. The pink butterfly on her shirt suited her perfectly.

"I've always loved butterflies." She remarked.

Alastor nodded at her words. "You know, I've always preferred dears, myself." He admitted to the succubus. "Creatures of elegance and grace. You'll never see any other animal be able to move so fluidly, in my opinion."

"Dears are beautiful animals." Vanessa agreed with the Radio Demon's assessment, glancing up towards the top of his head. "And I suppose it would make sense that you like them, considering your antlers."

Alastor smiled at the girl's words. "You know, I believe that was a happy coincidence, considering how I died." He admitted, glancing over towards Vanessa.

Vanessa's mood saddened a little. "Oh…"

Alastor chuckled at the teen's change of mood. "Don't worry, Vanessa. My death happened 80 or so years ago, and I have to say that it doesn't sadden me a bit!" He admitted, a little too gleefully in Vanessa's opinion. "I'm more disappointed, if anything."

"How did you die, if you don't mind me asking?" Vanessa couldn't help but ask out of curiosity.

"I don't mind at all, darling, though do be cautious as not every sinner is the same as myself." Alastor advised, looking at Vanessa. "But to answer your question, I was burying my latest victim in the woods, and a hunter with poor eyesight mistook me for a dear and shot me clean through the skull after his dogs mauled me."

"Oh…" Vanessa had to say, she was surprised at how nonchalant he sounded considering how brutal and horrific his end seemed.

"I suppose it's symbolic in a way, though my full demon form does also look like a version of the modern wendigo." Alastor remarked with a shrug. "But oh well, I can't change the past, and admittedly, I enjoy my time in Hell."

"How do you enjoy it here?" Vanessa couldn't help but ask. "My first two months here… I hate it here. The only good thing that's happened down here is John saving me and the Hotel." She admitted, rubbing her arms as she recalled the agonizing time she was forced to work for Valentino.

Alastor glanced at Vanessa for a moment, before he stopped the cart and turned to face Vanessa fully. "Look at me, Vanessa." When the succubus turned her gaze towards him, Alastor gave her a smile. "I'm aware that you shot yourself, yes?"

"Mmhm." Vanessa nodded, a little uncomfortable about the Radio Demon bringing up her death with a smile.

But his smile was soft, and genuine, an unexpected site when given the razor sharp teeth within his mouth. "Then, my dear, I do not believe you belong in Hell." He admitted fully. "Suicide is the murder of one's own self, and murder is a cardinal sin, of which I am completely guilty. However, with no ill will in your own heart, and the bad hand you were dealt, I believe that things just weren't fair to you."

Vanessa averted her gaze at Alastor's words. "I'm… I'm scared, Alastor." She admitted. "I've seen the looks I'm getting, and I know what a succubus has to do to sustain themselves." She rubbed her arm, clear discomfort on her face. "I don't know if I'd even have the will to leave the hotel without someone with me. I'm… I'm a coward."

"A lot of people are cowards, Vanessa." Alastor spoke. "I, however, do not believe you are one." He placed a comforting hand upon her shoulder, causing her to look up at him in surprise. "Your first day after being freed from that vile man's grasp, your first day after being somewhere safe, you agreed to leave. Whether it was for an amusement park, or with friends, you agreed to go outside of your comfort zone. So I believe you are braver than you give yourself credit for."

Vanessa was shocked by Alastor's words. She wasn't really sure how to respond them, especially considering all the credit was coming from a botched attempt at an outing the day before.

"And I can assure you, that no one will think less of you if you refuse to leave the Hotel without company, and most of it's employees will gladly keep you safe." Alastor added, removing his hand from her shoulder. "Including me."

"Why are you so nice?' Vanessa suddenly asked, genuinely curious.

Alastor's eyes widened in confusion. "I beg your pardon?"

"From what I heard from Vox when I was with Valentino, and from what John told me, you are a remorseless serial killer, a cannibal, and a deal maker with no sympathy." Vanessa explained, her brow furrowed in confusion. "I'm not trying to sound rude, and I'm sorry if I do, but… you act nothing like what I was expecting."

Alastor looked at Vanessa for a moment, before he chuckled. "My dear, I won't lie to you. You are correct. I am a serial killer. I have no remorse for my victims. I am a cannibal, though that came after I died." He let out a chuckle at that admission. "And I often have no sympathy for strangers."

Vanessa was only more confused.

Alastor let out a genuine laugh at the look on her face. "However, ever since meeting Johnathan, I've found myself growing more… sympathetic, you could say. I still feel no regret for my past actions of course, but… I've found myself truly caring for those close to me. John, Husk, and Niffty. And I suppose I've myself getting to know people, rather than simply enjoying their fear."

Vanessa smiled at the Radio Demon's words, finally understanding what he meant. "John rubbed on you?"

Alastor starred at Vanessa for a moment, before chuckling. "I suppose that's a way to simplify it, but yes. Johnathan rubbed off on me." He nodded in agreement with her assessment. "Besides, manners are important to me, even before I met him, and I know from personal experience that there's no manners in beating a dead dog."

Whether he was using the expression, meant it literally, or both, Vanessa's smile grew anyway. "You're a softie."

Alastor's eyes narrowed for a moment, and Vanessa thought for a second that maybe she'd made a mistake, before he let out a laugh. "Only to those I see as friends."

"But… we only just met… today, really." Vanessa noted in confusion at his words.

Alastor chuckled. "John considers you his friend, as does Angel, and though that vulgar spider is very irritating, I do consider him an… acquaintance. And any friend of either of them is a friend of my own." He explained his reasoning.

Vanessa nodded, smiling along with the Radio Demon's words. "Thanks, Alastor."

Alastor smiled at Vanessa for a moment, before letting out a small eye roll. "Call me Al, dear. All of my friends do."

Vanessa giggled at his words. "Well, my friends call me Ness, or Nessie."

Alastor raised an eyebrow. "If it's all the same to you, I think Vanessa is rather to elegant of a name to slander so horrifically."

Vanessa raised an eyebrow of her own. "Well, I think Alastor is a bit of a fancy name to shorten down to Al. Maybe if you were Allen, or Alex?"

"Oh, dear god, no." Alastor chuckled, shaking his head. "I happen to appreciate the name my mother gave me, thank you!"

Vanessa giggled at Alastor's response as he turned back towards the cart. "Well, Alastor it is, then."

Alastor shook his head as he began to push the cart once more. "Okay, come along, dear. I think we left those Funyuns waiting long enough."

Vanessa giggled as she moved to follow behind Alastor once more. "Yes sir."

THREE HOURS LATER

Verosika Mayday was many things. A drunk. A pop star. Admittedly a slut, but hey, this was hell and she was a succubus.

But one thing she'd never understood until two years ago was heartbreak.

She thought she'd found love. She thought Blitzo was the one. She'd even gotten a tattoo of his name on her arm.

Then the bastard stole her car and her credit card.

She'd never understood why John had reacted so badly. It was just sex! But…

Blitzo was a womanizer. He was good at seduction, far better than he should've been.

At first, it was a fling. But then she'd thought she'd grown to love him after making him her regular fuck buddy.

But when she'd woken up the next morning and found out what he'd done, rather than get angry at first, she'd cried. She was saddened.

The first thing she'd done was call the man who'd always been there for her. The man who'd been her friend for so long. The man she'd dated for six months.

She'd called John.

John had assured her that he'd always be there for her. Always be a shoulder to lean on, a friend to talk to. Even if they'd broken up.

But when she'd called him, all she'd gotten was a cold response.

"Now you know how I felt. Don't call me again."

She'd never understood true regret until that moment.

Blitzo had torn her heart out.

Well, she'd done the same thing to John.

To her, sex was just an act of pleasure. To her, there was a difference between sex and making love. She just didn't understand where the line was drawn.

Until then.

She'd cheated on John with Blitzo, because to her, she wasn't making love. When John had broken it off with her because she couldn't understand what she'd done, she'd said fuck it, and went off with Blitzo.

And in the process, she's lost one of the only people who ever actually cared for her. She thought she'd lost them all until her Mama Arya called her. But even though she was disappointed with her, though thankfully, she at least still kept in contact with her.

Vortex agreeing to be her bodyguard was the most amount of happiness, no matter how small it was, she'd had since Blitzo had left her.

But even Vortex had limits.

When she'd found out he'd seen John at Lu Lu World, Verosika had begged the Hellhound to tell her how he'd been.

But though Vortex was still friendly and helpful, even he was cold in regards to John.

"That's not my place, Verosika. You want to know, find him."

But Verosika was scared. Scared of how John would react to seeing her again. Scared of another cold response, or worse, an explosive one.

But she'd thought about it for the past two years. And Tex's words had only solidified it.

So that's how she found herself here, in the hopes that she could get her best friend back.

"Welcome home, Rose." Rose 'Verosika' Mayday muttered nervousness filling every fiber of her being as she glanced up towards the rather downtrodden building, dressed in casual clothes over her popstar attire. Because her home was the one place she didn't want to be noticed at.

Grundy's Plaza.