The Sponsor
Please work, please work, please work! Flug internally chanted, hand shaking lightly as he pressed the brooch-disguised button to test his latest invention.
There was a hiss, white smoke exuding from the dummy target as its consistency flickered for a second before it turned completely invisible. Success!
He turned to look at the clock, sighing in relief. Awfully close to 2pm, but he still had around fifteen minutes left to prepare Cam-bot and go upstairs to record the new product's functionality. He needed to hurry if he wanted to be able to go on his own accord instead of being forcefully dismembered, teleported piece by piece to Black Hat's office, body parts flapping like fish out of water.
He shivered at the memory.
No, it was better if he could just walk there.
Actually, this close to the deadline, he was surprised the eldritch hadn't come to see him in the morning. Black Hat usually visited him —giving Flug a heart-attack in the process — to see the invention's progress & results, either focusing on the one to be recorded or the projects in-process for the next catalogue.
Placing everything he needed for the presentation in a box, he gave it to a small Hat-bot to carry. After that he spared a moment to allow Cam-bot to fix his lab coat and other small details on his appearance, and then led both robotic inventions to the main office. Flug petted 5.0.5 on his way up, who was busy cleaning the stairs, and lightly jogged the last few steps.
He was already in front of the big doors, he was on time, he was—
Tackled by Demencia, who had apparently been hanging in the ceiling directly above the office's entrance.
His surprised squeak was muffled by her arm, his fall muted by the carpet, and she quietly hissed a "Don't ruin it!" at him, barely sparing a moment to squint warningly at the bots behind him before crawling back to the ceiling above the doors, obviously eavesdropping.
"What are you doing?!" Flug whispered agitatedly. Demencia gave him a crazed grin.
"They've been here all morning." She answered with something akin to glee, taking a small notebook from who-knows-where to draw and messily scribble, even when facedown. Her version of taking notes.
Under the paper bag, Flug frowned in confusion. The only ones allowed in the office other than the manor's residents were customers.
The interaction with most regulars was done either by phone or electronically. Only those of high status, with big orders, related to soul-payment, or that Black Hat found somewhat intriguing were granted an actual visit to the manor.
And even then, Flug and the others usually were immediately called to his office to learn about the request and handle it; the customers kicked out as soon as it was resolved.
So it was odd, the fact that this customer had been there for several hours already, and Black Hat had yet to call anyone to deal with the request.
"All morning?" Flug asked incredulously, but Demencia didn't even spare him a glance, apparently entrapped in the conversation within.
Unless it wasn't a customer? But why else would anyone be allowed entry?
The doors were slightly ajar. It was only noticeable now that he was right in front of them.
Curiosity picked, Flug stepped closer to the thin opening. Maybe he should take notes as well, if whoever was inside had managed to remain in one piece after so much time subjected to the eldritch horror.
"—of your office?" A male voice asked. It sounded like a young adult, but Flug could only see his back so he wasn't sure. The visitor was dressed formally with black slacks and a white long-sleeved t-shirt, sitting across from his demonic boss. There were refreshments on the desk's surface instead of the usual papers and adornments Black Hat preferred.
"Lighting's fine. Red as blood." Black Hat answered with a palpable grin, voice gurgling unnaturally, almost hungrily, on the last sentence. Flug trembled, thankful that he couldn't see the diabolical expression since it was obstructed by the visitor's head.
"Neat." The mystery visit replied, sipping at his cup unperturbed. "What about your voice?"
"There's nothing wrong with my voice!" Black Hat growled almost defensively, crossing his arms.
"I like it too. I'm happy you're happy with it." The man laughed freely, and Flug's jaw might as well have touched the floor at the boldness.
As was to be expected, the positive expression earned a disgusted Ugghh from the eldritch, but what was surprising was that nothing happened after that. It wasn't followed by a hellish shifting, no additional claws, eyes, black tendrils, or teeth appearing to torment the visitor and eradicate the light atmosphere.
Black Hat just… leaned back on his chair with a disgruntled noise.
Flug was so focused on the bizarre scene that he didn't notice the small Hat-bot rolling his way, apparently confused by the inactivity. The robot tapped at his arm, and Flug couldn't help the startled yelp, instinctually stepping back. His shoulder bumped with the door, which opened with a soft creak.
Ay Madres.
A quick glance upwards told him that Demencia was fast enough to get on four on the ceiling, successfully out of their boss' sight. Black Hat's single eye was glaring only at him.
"What. Are. You. DOING HERE?!" Black Hat roared, growing bigger so he could yell directly at him, bypassing the visitor completely.
Flug squeaked and cowered, absolutely terrified. The guest sipped at his cup like this was a common Wednesday.
"S-sorry Jefecito, but, the time is— is, um…uh—"
Black Hat's single eye looked at the grandfather clock, widening minutely. He seemed to realize that it was the scheduled hour to record their new product release. Yes, Flug had an actual reason for being here! Hopefully that would be enough to spare him—
The ancient clock freaking melted under the eldritch's glare.
"Wrong. NOW OUT!" The demonic being screeched with a multitude of mouths with razor-sharp teeth, before going back to a normal size. Flug could only nod silently in agreement, trembling uncontrollably while dragging his body back, out of the office and onto the hallway once more.
"Woah, it's so late already?" The visitor exclaimed with surprise, turning sideways to look at his cellphone. Flug had been right, the man was a young adult. As if his face and voice weren't enough indicator, the guest had also chosen to look at the time in his mobile instead of using an actual wristwatch. "Sorry I overstayed my welcome—"
"You haven't until I say so." Black Hat grumbled almost… softly, snapping his fingers so the other's cup was suddenly full again.
"No, really, I don't think—"
"Lunch then?" Black Hat countered without missing a beat, turning to look at Flug again. The devil incarnated took in a breath—
"Wait." The man interrupted the soon-to-be order, and Flug was awed the guy wasn't torn to pieces for it. "I'd love to stay, but I gotta meeting to attend, so..."
Black Hat scoffed, but the refreshments that had been occupying the desk wordlessly disappeared. The… Visitor? Customer? The guest stood up with Black Hat in tow, the villain apparently choosing to politely escort someone out of the manor, for once in his eternal existence.
Flug, who had been still paralyzed by the door, caught his boss' murderous glare and hurriedly tried to stand up with a strangled "Compermisito!" tripping with his own feet in his haste to leave.
"It was nice to see you Flug!" The young man waved with genuine sentiment just before the scientist left. Against his better judgment, Flug halted mid-step.
"Wait, have we met before?"
"You could say that." The man said cryptically with a small chuckle. Flug blinked unimpressed. This guy… didn't seem to be in his right mind.
This point was reinforced when Demencia let herself fall from the ceiling, with a screech of "Hoooola Alaaaan~!" wiggling her eyebrows with a manic grin. The guest snorted and imitated the gesture almost flawlessly.
Bonkers, the both of them, but at least Flug had a name now.
"Soooo since you're taking requests—"
"Demencia!"
"—what about taking mine too~?" The lizard mutant finished with a wink, ignoring Black Hat's calling. It was a feat Flug would never have thought possible.
The guest — maybe the guy was actually a sponsor, if he was taking requests? — looked at her with obvious amusement.
"But you actually got it…?"
"But he left! Him and his GORGEOUSNESS!" Demencia lamented with a dramatic cry, exactly like she had done when the muscular Black Hat clone escaped—
"That mess was your fault!" Black Hat turned to accuse Alan with an affronted, mildly angered growl.
"Ah, yes— I mean, no— Bueno, not fully…?" Alan shrugged with a too-innocent grin while stepping back, away from the angered demon.
And right into a fluffy bear.
"Arooo?" The failed experiment asked, looking down at the young man. Alan made a help please gesture, to which the bear nodded and added "Arooo" with a tone of finality.
"See? Perfectly explained." Alan had the audacity to say, to Black Hat nonetheless, before hurriedly adding, "Aaaaand you'll get that one thing you asked for too. Yeah."
Demencia giggled at the man's expense. Black Hat's glare slowly turned into an evil, anticipating smile — sharp fangs glistening with green saliva as if he was looking at a particularly appetizing puppy — and Flug was so lost he wondered if all of this was nothing but a weird dream.
"Well, would you look at the time!" Alan exclaimed to no one in particular, sharply turning and jogging downstairs ahead of everyone.
5.0.5 waved goodbye, moving on to continue cleaning the hallway. Demencia cackled and crawled over the walls in the opposite direction, already done with the whole thing. Black Hat disappeared in a show of dark tendrils, swallowed by an ink-like substance into the floor, a single unblinking eye still fixated in Alan's attempt at running away.
Flug stood there frozen and ignored, mind completely blank for a long second before a figurative lightbulb blinked to life over his head.
If this was a dream— then he might as well, right?
"Wait!" Flug called to the escapee-wannabe, but the man was already out of sight. Internally cursing, he turned to the hat-bot. "Forget about the box, roll me downstairs!"
The small robot extended its arms to pick him up and rolled down with a speed Flug wouldn't have been able to achieve otherwise, even if the constant bumps were uncomfortable and a bit nauseating.
He barely arrived on time; the sponsor was already by the entrance.
"Time just flew by! It was good to see you." The freaking lunatic said with something akin to love and pride before stepping closer to hug the eldritch.
"GUACALA!" Black Hat screeched inhumanly —breaking the nearby windows in the process — with something akin to green rabies fuming from his mouth, but actually… allowed the embrace.
For a couple of seconds, at least.
Then he pushed Alan away from himself and out of the manor, with an order to keep the disgusting affection far away from him and his place.
The man laughed, bowed while tipping an imaginary hat at him, as in farewell, and then turned around to leave—
"Wait! Wait!" Flug shouted from behind, hurriedly jogging to the entrance. "I WANT TO PILOT AN AIRPLANE!"
If everyone was asking for something, then he might as well!
"Noted!" Alan laughed without turning to face him, his figure blinking out of existence as soon as he stepped a foot outside.
"Huh. Definitely a dream." Flug muttered to himself, watching the guy disappear without trace.
He discovered it wasn't when a set of claws trapped his shoulder menacingly.
"For your own good, I dearly hope you have everything ready for the commercial." Black Hat hissed with a growing grin, apparently in a good mood. "You're already behind schedule."
He had been on time! It wasn't his fault the office was already occupied!
"Y-yes Jefecito!" He squeaked in reply, knowing better than to voice that thought.
(x)
By the end of the day Flug was tired but not exhausted, so it was great.
Everyone had been in a good mood for the reminder of the day, really. There were no pranks from Demencia, no accidental explosions in his lab, no more traumatic experiences for 5.0.5. and no customers to request missions that risked their life. They just… had a good, calm day.
And Cam-bot had recorded the whole interaction in the hallway, so now Flug could run a photo-driven search to find and investigate the so-called "Alan".
He had been the only one off the loop regarding the existence of this powerful 'sponsor', but that would not be the case any longer. For the next visit, he would be ready to make the most of it!
AN:
I like to mark this work as complete since it can stand alone as is, but will probably continue to add chapters for as long as the plot-bunnies come. If you find the premise interesting, I'd suggest following the work!
That said, I need Villainous fics featuring Alan like I need to breathe! Guess who has seen Season 1 several times already? *wink* Please write more if this fic inspires you, no need to request any kind of permission from me!
Internal