Probably don't need the trigger warnings by now, but just in case...

WARNING: THIS CHAPTER CONTAINS REFERENCES TO SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND SEXUAL ASSAULT! READER DISCRETION ADVISED!

Title Song by Britney Spears (obviously)

"Hey, kid." Husk knocked on the bathroom door. "You alright in there?"

He heard a sniff. "Y-Yeah. Just, uh—oh damn it!"

There was a series of small clatters, as if several tiny objects fell to the floor. Confused and concerned by this noise, Husk ignored the rules of bathroom privacy and opened the door. Fortunately, the spider had been in too much of a frenzy to bother locking it.

Angel Dust was on his knees, picking up colorful pills that the cat demon immediately recognized.

"Fucking Christ." Husk shut the door and knelt down to seize the pills before the spider could. "The fuck ya doing with ecstasy, kid?" He looked over Angel's tight dress. "And where were you even keeping 'em?"

"None of your business!" Angel snatched for the pills. "And who you to judge anyway when you're fucking wasted all day?"

Lines of mascara stained his furry white cheeks. His eyes were bloodshot and smothered in shadow.

"Ecstasy's another thing entirely, and you know it, dumbass."

While demons could not die of an overdose, ecstasy caused hallucinations and could put one out of touch with reality. And cause seizures that were a pain to go through even in the afterlife.

Once he had procured all the pills, Husk got up and headed for the toilet.

"Don't you fucking dare!"

Angel lunged for the cat, but he'd already dropped the drugs in. To Husk's disgust, Angel reached into the toilet, but thanks to Husk's military training, he was able to restrain the spider long enough to flush.

"Shit!" Angel shook the cat with four arms. "Any idea how many dicks I had to suck to get those?!"

"Any idea how many of those can put ya into a fucking coma?" Husk gripped Angel's upper wrists. "You're right. I'm not the guy to criticize on substance abuse, but do ya really wanna get high when your abusive ex-boss is in the next room?"

"Well how else am I supposed to deal with this shit?" Angel sounded angry, but the tears forming in his eyes suggested a different emotion.

"And what if that sleazebag walks in, sees how doped ya are, and takes advantage of the situation, huh? Ya wanna add that onto shit to deal with?"

The spider's lower hands let go of Husk. Then Angel sank to his knees, burying his face in his upper hands, the other two wrapping around his middle.

"I didn't think I'd have to look at his dumbass face again," he muttered. "But he…and here…I was…I was supposed to be safe here." He sniffed and wiped his tears. "Oh, what am I saying? You don't wanna hear this shit."

"Hey." Husk crouched to his level. "I get it, kid. I mean…" He sighed. "I didn't go through the exact same thing as you, but…I know what PTSD looks like. I've had it since 'Nam."

He glanced at the toilet where he'd flushed down the drugs. "Seems like the easy way out, don't it? Taking whatever ya can get your hands on to stop those bad memories from screaming at ya night and day, not caring if ya puke or pass out or…never wake up again."

Angel lifted his eyes slightly, cracking a smile. "So ya heard how I died, huh?"

Husk shook his head. "Seeing that scumbag brought all those bad memories back, didn't it? You wanted to shut 'em up. Normally, I wouldn't stop ya, but kid, I saw what he did to ya, and I ain't gonna sit around and let him do that again."

"Why? What do you care?" Angel looked at the floor. "You don't even like me. And quit callin' me 'kid,' alright? We were born in the same decade, damn it"

"Look, k—" Husk winced. "Angel."

That was the first time the cat had called the spider by name. Without an accompaniment of swears, anyway.

"I know how hard this is for ya, but this ain't the time to get doped. Ya don't have to go back out there, or go on that stage. Here." Husk moved his paws to Angel's shoulders. "Why don't we just go up to your room and—?"

"Ah." Angel pushed him off. "So that's it, eh? Should've known. Ya act all noble, but in the end, ya want the same thing as every other fucking john."

"The fuck ya talking about?"

Tears trickled down the spider's teeth as he forced a manic grin and gestured to his body. "So this is what gets ya off? I flirt with ya every day for six weeks, and all I had to do to get your attention was turn into a pathetic crybaby?"

"One," Husk said, holding up a claw, "you're not pathetic. Two, I was just gonna suggest you get some sleep. I ain't like that. Damn it, Angel, do ya really think everyone's out for your fucking ass?"

Angel blinked. "Uh, yeah. Cuz everyone fucking is." He pointed to his chest fluff. "Porn star, remember?"

"Well, I ain't." Husk stood. "So stop crying, get off that fucking floor, and let's get ya to your room." He held out a paw. "You can cry all ya want there."

Angel stared at the outstretched paw. It was strange. Six weeks ago, he would've leapt at any chance with the brash, brooding, yet hunky cat demon. But with most of Angel's crushes, the attraction had been purely physical, and Husk wasn't suggesting anything of the sorts. Hell, the offer wasn't even romantic, just out of concern for the spider's wellbeing.

It wasn't that no one had ever shown genuine compassion for Angel before. There'd been his sister Molly, Cherri, Charlie, and most recently, Tina.

But coming from a man, a very attractive man, it was completely foreign. And scary.

Before Angel could raise his hand to take Husk's, the door opened.

"Oh, dear," said the voice that haunted Angel's nightmares. "I didn't realize this bathroom was occupied."

The spider shivered as he turned his head to see Valentino looming in the doorway, his eyes locked on him through those sinister heart-shaped glasses.

"You really should consider locking the door while doing your business."

Husk quickly planted himself between Angel and the pimp, spreading his arms out protectively. "Angel doesn't wanna talk to your stupid shit face."

"That's fine." Valentino stepped inside and shut the door. "I'd rather talk to you. What are you, anyway?" He lowered his glasses as he sized the cat up. "I've seen you around the Radio Demon, but what you doing playing bodyguard for this pathetic whore here?"

His lower finger pointed to Angel, who shrank back. Husk moved in front of the finger.

"That's none of your business."

"This piece of trash belongs to me." Valentino smirked. "He'll always be my business."

"Not anymore." Husk narrowed his gaze. "You sold him to Tina. And knowing her, she set him free." He glanced back at Angel. "That right?"

Angel hesitated as he looked up at the pimp, but nodded.

"A temporary setback." Valentino waved an upper hand, placing a lower one on his hip. "Given how weak Bat Girl's protection is, Angel Cakes will come crawling back to me eventually. I heard she's even forcing him to go sober." He scoffed. "As if Angel Cakes can last a day without a hit."

Angel's gaze focused on the toilet.

"Twinkle can't give him the good life he's used to. The fame, the fortune, the fucking." Valentino chuckled. "He may pretend to be clean now, but the moment he slips, those goody-goody broads'll kick him to the curb for the slutty junkie he is. Only I can give him what he wants, what he needs. And I won't ever abandon him."

"What he needs," Husk said, taking a step forward, "is toxic assholes like you outta his afterlife!"

"Oh, ho, ho, I get it now." The pimp poked the cat in the chest. "Instead of paying in cash, you're paying him in protection, ain't ya, kitty? Seems like a lotta work for a good time."

At this insinuation, Husk growled as he raised a fist. "It ain't like that, you fucking piece of—"

"Husk, stop!" Angel jumped up and grabbed his arm with two hands. "You crazy pussycat, you tryin' to get yourself—? Oh, hey." He squeezed his arm. "Lotta muscle under that fur there."

"Really?"

"Sorry." Angel released him. "Force of habit."

"You're wastin' your breath, kitty," Valentino said. "That thing ain't worth the trouble. Sure, the sex is good, but ain't worth nothing beyond that."

For a moment, Angel took the words to heart.

Then Husk shouted, "Who the fuck are you to say what he's worth? And he's a person, not a thing."

That caused Angel's fear to melt away, and sparked something that had been sleeping for a long time.

The door flung open. This time, by Tina. "Thought I heard something shady going on in here."

"Excuse me." Valentino turned with a hand to his chest. "Can't a man use the facilities in private?"

Tina looked over at the other two men. "Didn't I tell ya to leave my employees alone?"

"You said to leave my former employees alone, but this," the pimp said, pointing to Husk, "has never worked for me. Nothing in our deal says I can't chat with him."

She grunted. "Stupid loopholes." She stepped in front of Valentino and took Angel's arm. "Come on, Angie. Forget the show. Let's get ya outta here."

As the spider was led out of the bathroom, he looked at the two demons shielding him, then at the scowling Overlord. Within Angel's chest, the flame of that unfamiliar feeling burned brighter and brighter. And he decided to do what might possibly be the riskiest thing he'd ever done in his long history of doing risky things.

He said, "No."

Tina and Husk glanced at him and said, "What?"

"No." Angel shrugged out of his friends' hold. "I said I was gonna do a number tonight, and I'm gonna do it."

"No way," Husk whispered. "The whole point of you getting your soul back was so ya wouldn't have to perform in front of that asshole."

"It's fine." Angel turned around and approached the pimp with a sultry smile. "You know, Val, I really would like for us to have a talk. But right now, gotta get ready for the show. You don't mind, do ya, boss?" He traced a finger down Valentino's chest. "After all, I'm dedicatin' this number to you."

Tina and Husk exchanged a confused look, while Valentino grinned.

"I'm sure we can continue this conversation later," the pimp said. "You know how much I love watching ya perform, Angel Cakes."

"Later then, Mr. Valentino." Angel winked and did a finger wave as he strutted back into the ballroom.

"The fuck ya think you're doing?" Husk demanded. "You're not seriously considering going back to that creep, are ya?"

"Trust me, Husky. I got it under control. Hey, Tee." Angel turned to the Songbat. "Mind if I ask your hubby for a quick favor?"

Tina raised an eyebrow. "Ya know his favors don't come for free, right?"

"Oh, I'm aware." Angel smirked. "But I think he'll go for this one."

While the spider went to find the Radio Demon, Husk asked, "Any idea what he's talking about?"

"Uh-uh." Tina shook her head. "But if I didn't know my husband, I'd be worried 'bout this 'favor' Angel has in mind."

Backstage, Angel Dust relayed his plan to the Radio Demon.

"So, can ya use your Voodoo to do all that shit?"

"Hmm. I don't know. Sounds rather complicated." Alastor rubbed his chin. "What's in it for me?"

Angel leaned in closer and whispered, "The satisfaction of pissing off one of your greatest enemies?"

The Radio Demon snickered at the image. "You've got yourself a deal."

"Good!"

This was one deal Angel didn't hesitate to shake on.

The minute the Radio Demon walked onstage, Mimzy sighed in relief and skittered off, tapping her sore throat.

"And that was Mimzy, everyone!" Alastor said into the mic. "Singing for six songs straight! Give the girl a hand!"

As he waited for the applause to die down, he eyed the Three Vs, who were huddled at the bar. Husk and Tina stood in front of the stage, glaring at them.

"Now to spice things up a bit!" With a wave of Alastor's hand, the curtain closed behind him. "Our next performer has quite the scandalous reputation! Of course, I've never heard of him, but apparently, he's a famous star of some, shall we say, adult shows."

While the Radio Demon cringed, the microphone whistled. Most of the audience hooted and hollered.

"Anyway, he asked me to announce that this number is dedicated to his old boss, Mr. Valentino. Now, he gave me a very specific message to read." Alastor pulled a notecard out of his pocket and squinted. "My, this handwriting is atrocious!"

A laugh track emitted from the mic while Alastor held the card up to the light and adjusted his monocle. "I can't seem to make out… Ah, yes! It says…"

He flashed a grin at Valentino. "'F—BLEEP—you, a—BLEEP—hole.'"

Everyone, including Vox and Velvet, burst out laughing. Valentino sneered at Alastor.

"Now give it up for the one, and thank Satan the only, Angel Dust!"

The pimp forgot his anger at the mention of his favorite star and clapped two pairs of hands.

The room went dark on a downbeat. Lights flashed on the subsequent beats.

Angel's voice cut through the darkness. "Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah."

Pink light washed over the stage, revealing the spider at the top of a set of stairs, dressed in a brown crop top and shorts, donning a long, curly, blonde wig. His tall, lean frame was stretched against a pole.

"Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah."

While this got several guests flocking to the stage to get a better look, Vaggie was fuming. "I fucking told him not to do a pole dance! Where did he fucking get that thing?!"

"Wait." Charlie grabbed her partner's shoulder. "Let's see where he's going with this."

With his upper hands gripping the pole, Angel thrust his hip out. "I think I did it again."

He walked around. "I made you believe we're more than just friends."

He kicked up a leg, hooked it on the pole, and winked in Husk's direction. Tina turned in time to see the cat blush.

"Oh baby," Angel continued the song as he climbed up the pole. "It may seem like a crush."

With only his ankles holding him, he hung upside-down. "But it doesn't mean that I'm serious."

He blew a kiss towards Valentino, who grinned as he watched the spider's seductive form.

"Cuz to lose," Angel sang as he swung around, "all my senses."

He landed at the bottom, his third pair of arms joining the others to clutch the pole. "That is just so typically me."

Angel smirked at the pimp as his sextupled grip tightened. "Oh baby, baby."

Suddenly, the pole shattered like a candy cane. "Oops, I did it again!"

That wiped the smile off Valentino's face.

"I played with your heart." Angel strutted down the steps. "Got lost in the game."

He crouched down, earning excited screams from the demons in the front row. "Oh baby, baby."

He arched his back, running his hands all over his curves. More modest demons like Charlie, Vaggie, and Alastor shielded their eyes.

"Oops, you think I'm in love." Angel laid on his back, stretching a leg into the air. "That I'm sent from above!"

He propped himself on a lower elbow and wagged a finger at the audience. "I'm not that innocent."

A third hand flipped Valentino the bird. Vox's and Velvet's laughs were quickly silenced by the pimp's death glare.

"The fuck is he doing?" Husk asked.

Tina glanced at the metal shrapnel that was once a stripper pole, and smiled. "Makin' a statement."

What happened next proved she was right on the money.

"You see my problem is this."

Shadowy figures sprang up behind Angel Dust.

"I'm dreaming away." One by one, he took the shadows by the hand and allowed them to spin him around. "Wishing that heroes, they truly exist."

"So that's what he wanted from Al," Tina murmured.

Sure enough, the Radio Demon was backstage, his glowing hands controlling the shadows like marionettes.

"I cry, watching the days."

Angel dramatically put a hand to his head as he fell backwards.

"Can't you see I'm a fool," he sang as the shadows caught him and hoisted him back to his feet, "in so many ways?"

The shadows morphed into a larger silhouette that looked eerily like Valentino. Complete with red heart-shaped eyes and a toothy grin.

"But to lose all my senses." Angel wore a distressed expression as the shadow's arms encircled him. "That is just so typically me."

Then he looked up at the real Valentino and scoffed. "Oh baby, baby."

The moment Angel spread his arms, the shadow vanished in a puff.

"Oops, I did it again.
I played with your heart, got lost in the game.
Oh baby, baby.
Oops, you think I'm in love.
That I'm sent from above.
I'm not that innocent."

During the instrumental break, the fans at the edge of the stage screamed and reached for the former porn star as he busted out the sexy moves. Some even threw money at him, much to Vaggie's disapproval.

Back at the strip club, this would've been the moment Angel would tease the audience with the slightest of touches, including the sole of his boot, enough to make them want to pay extra for some alone time. Oh, the sick fantasies he'd fulfilled for those perverts. Sometimes fun, sometimes downright disturbing even for him. Not that they ever asked his opinion on the matter.

But Angel wouldn't let anyone touch him. Not tonight. This dance wasn't for them, or Valentino, or even Charlie.

No. Tonight, he was dancing for himself.

This was to show everyone that Valentino didn't own him anymore. That he was a free demon, with his own mind and body.

And boy was he going to rock it!

As Angel approached the last chorus, he made eye contact with Husk and Tina. While this performance wasn't for them either, the spider wouldn't be here if it wasn't for these two. Tina had secured his soul, and Husk, for whatever reason, had stood up to Valentino for him.

Angel had to thank them in some way.

Aw, what the heck, he thought, extending an arm towards each of them.

Tina took his hand, but Husk said, "Uh-uh."

"Come on, ya old stiff!" Angel shouted over the music. "Have some fun!"

"Nope." Husk folded his arms. "I ain't fucking—HEY!"

Two of the spider's arms grabbed Husk and dragged him onstage along with Tina.

"Oops, I did it again."

Angel twirled them at his sides. Tina laughed, Husk cursed.

"I played with your heart," Angel sang as he hugged them both, "got lost in the game."

Husk shoved him off, only for Tina to snatch his paw, forcing the cat to join them in a circle.

"Oh baby, baby."

The three of them danced round and round, Husk turning green as he was about to gag.

"Oops, you think I'm in love.
That I'm sent from above."

Angel let go, allowing Husk to finally faint. Tina caught him while the spider faced the audience for the last line.

"I'm not that innocent."

This was the loudest the audience had cheered all night.

Angel Dust bowed while Husk shouted, "Don't ever fucking do that to me again!"

"Aw, come on!" Angel elbowed him. "You know you had fun!"

"No!"

Angel laughed as he threw an arm around him. "Be grump all ya want, but your blush tells a different story."

Husk's face grew redder, but he didn't say anything more on the matter.

Valentino's face was also red. Not out of embarrassment, but fury.

The pimp had only agreed to gamble his biggest star's soul out of assurance from Vox that Valentino could easily win it back. And why shouldn't it be easy? The slutty spider had always obeyed him before. Even if he had rebelled once or twice, it didn't take much to remind him of his place.

But there Angel Dust was, dancing onstage and working a crowd, unfazed by the pimp's presence. As if the whore didn't need him anymore.

"Now that," Vox said, pointing to the stage, "was entertainment."

"Filmed the whole thing." Velvet waved her phone. "Already got three million hits."

Valentino lunged for her phone. "Take that down, now!"

"No way!" Velvet pulled it out of his reach. "It's going viral!"

"Exactly! And it makes me look like a fool!"

"What's wrong, babe?" Vox laughed. "You upset that the itsy-bitsy spider gave ya the finger in song form?"

Valentino scowled at the television, then at the Songbat, who was hugging Angel Dust onstage.

It was all the bitch's fault. Valentino should've never made that deal with her.

Fortunately, he had his trump card. That made the temporary loss of his primary moneymaker worth it.

"Send 'em," Valentino said.

"Send wh—?" Vox's digital eyebrows raised. "Oh!"

"Now?" Velvet asked.

"Now," Valentino said.

"Aw!" She pouted. "But the party was finally getting interesting!"

"And it'll get even more interesting if you send the pics now."

"Ugh, fine." Velvet rolled her eyes, then quickly perked up as her thumbs breezed across her touchscreen. "One centerfold bundle, coming right up!"

After giving one last bow, Angel waved at the audience and stepped offstage. Charlie rushed towards him, clapping.

"Angel, that was amazing!"

"It was…" Vaggie cringed. "Okay. We are gonna have to talk about that stripper pole, though. How'd ya get that thing onstage in the first place?"

"Smiles." Angel jerked a thumb behind him. "He and I have an understanding."

"Well, I'm glad you found an outlet for all your negative emotions." Charlie took one of his hands in both of hers. "You've really come a long way, Angel."

"Yeah, well…" Angel glanced uneasily at the trio at the bar. "Would I come off as a total asshole if I left the party early?"

"Of course not. You've been through a lot tonight."

"This, however," Vaggie said, pulling the wad of bills out of Angel's fake cleavage, "will go towards your living expenses."

Angel shrugged. "Should've seen that coming."

"Oh, you should see the comments on our website!" Charlie pulled out her phone. "See, someone posted a video of your performance and they're all saying…"

Suddenly, the usual rosiness in her cheeks disappeared.

"Mi amor?" Vaggie asked, peering over her shoulder. "Is something—? Oh!"

She paled as well. Curious, Husk went to see what they were looking at and his eyes widened.

"Where'd you get this?" he asked.

"It…" Charlie gulped. "It's all over our website."

"What?" Angel chuckled. "Someone post a porno? Vid of a guy sawing his own dick off?" He stepped behind the group to have a peek at the phone. "I swear you fuckers are too innocent to be in…"

But as soon as he saw what was on the screen, his expression became equally mortified.

"Holy shit." He grabbed the phone and put it up to his face to make sure he wasn't seeing it wrong. "Is that…?"

Vaggie looked around the room. "Where's Tina?"