This one is where Alastor was already dead, but Angel was still alive. Alastor had been proclaimed as the serial killer after he was found dead. His picture was passed around in the newspaper and that paper landed in the hands of Anthony who read about Alastor's targets, and what he had been like. He fell for the image of Alastor and wished that he had been alive to take out his father.

Also, have no idea how old they were when they died, but they died tenish years apart. (Alastor died in 1933, Angel died in 1947). Both said in their mid 30s, but that is just speculation(did find one site saying that Alastor died at the age of 33). So for ages here, it doesn't really matter.

Anthony sat in his room, holding his arms together. He lived alone, away from his family. Sure he saw his family every day as his father wanted him to take over the family business, but that meant he had to cut ties with his sister. Without his twin, he felt lost, alone, and he didn't have anyone who understood him. Things would be so much better if he wasn't born into this family, or even if his father was to just drop dead.

Anthony thought about it many times, what it would be like if his father had been killed. The young man had come across an article ages ago about a serial killer. Now, Anthony had looked into other serial killers before, out of curiosity if he could find the courage to take out his father, but in the end, he was too much of a coward.

Not to mention, the serial killers he had looked into were already dead. If only they had managed to kill his father before they were caught or killed.

Anthony had read most of the articles he could find, but there was always one he always came back to. This man named Alastor Hartfelt. He was a serial killer in Louisiana and to Anthony, he was perfect. He killed people who had wronged others. The article said the first person he had killed was his father. A man Alastor claimed to be a bad man and hurt him and his mother. He had killed him when his father had been drunk out of his mind and began to beat his wife. Alastor, seeing as he had acted to protect, was given a light sentence from that act.

It was from that point on, his killings had begun to go up. Anthony got a chill up his spine when he read about how Alastor would kill his victims and at some point even began to have a taste for their flesh. Even with that, Anthony knew that he would feel safe by the man's side.

The sadistic radio host was one he could admire. If only his time wasn;t cut short in life. Being killed while hiding his latest victim's body. A tragedy that Anthony had to lose a hero he had yet to hear of.

The young mob boss had Alastor's picture secured in a safe. It was there to provide him comfort with his own fantasies when things were low. Even when he was higher than the clouds, he would find himself wishing he could have met the murderer. To him, he was a hero.

It didn't matter that they were a few years apart, that he had a taste for human flesh. To Anthony, it didn't matter that he killed people. Hell, he was having to kill people for different reasons. He didn't have a choice like Alastor did.

Part of Anthony knew that if his father was to find out about this, it would only lead to more trouble, so the only one he had ever told was Molly. His dearest sister. His twin tried to be there for him, but it was only getting harder. Anthony looked at Alastor's photo, and even managed to find some of the man's broadcasts. The 1930s was still experimenting with recording sounds, but they did have a few that were saved. It was hard to get his hands on them, but Anthony wanted to hear Alastor's voice.

When he did hear the soothing voice of the Louisiana man, he was whisked away to his own world. One where Alastor was his hero. One where Alastor had come down from the Bayou just to take him away from this awful world that he was being raised in.

Anthony would think about meeting him, hearing his voice speak his name, saying sweet words that would make the other man just melt.

These visions became more and more frequent, especially when Anthony was alone and drugged up.

One day, Anthony had the worst day of his life and that is when he wanted the visions to stay.

"What is wrong, Anthony?" Alastor's voice would ask.

Anthony would tell him everything. From the start to the end of his day. From how his father treated him, to even him missing his sister.

"I don't want ya to ever leave, ya know?" Anthony said, with tears in his eyes. "You are what is holdin me together."

"I know, and I wish I could stay, but I leave when you are off this." Alastor adjusted his glasses, eyeing the bottles and packets of drugs.

"I…" Anthony thought for a moment. "If I take more of 'em, then I can see you longer!"

"That isn't what I-" Alastor's voice seemed a bit muffled as Anthony went to take more of the drug. Heroin was already a deadly drug in the first place and he knew his family gave it out to people, but he always snagged a little here and there until he had his own stash. He took the needle and gave the vision a smile.

"I hope that even when if I die, I will get to meet the real you." He muttered slowly as he closed his eyes slowly, fading to an empty abyss.

Years had gone by and Angel had never forgotten Alastor, but when he had died, he realized he would never be able to meet the man as it turns out, when you die, your form changes. He looked nothing like his human self and he doubted Alastor would look anything like his picture. He never forgot the man that had become part of his escape. He needed him in the afterlife as well. Val was just as bad, maybe even worse, as his father. Angel turned to the vision he had made, but it was in vain.

It wasn't until he found himself at the Hotel after a turf warren he met someone he was a little unsure about.

The man was more deer like than anything. He wasn't bad looking, either. Angel, however, played the fool and acted like he never heard of him, but he knew very well who this man was. He would hear it from Val how much Vox would complain about the Radio Demon. He knew him well, for he knew of him in life. Angel knew that this was the man he had so long to meet. After all, Angel had the man's voice imbedded into his mind. He sounded just as he had over the recordings of the radio. It would have been nice if the man had been interested in Angel, but he knew it would just take time to wear Al down.

After a rough day at the studio, Angel sat in his room, sobbing. He took hold of one of his hidden stashes and held the needle to his arm. "Al… I want you to come back to me. I miss ya, pal. I miss ya so much it hurts. The real you is here, and I can talk to him, but he will never return my feelings. He will never be my hero. He will only see me as entertainment."

"Are you sure you want to do that, mon ange?"

Angel turned around and saw Alastor standing before him. The spider demon smiled at the vision. "Al… I missed seeing your face."

"You see me everyday."

"Yeah, that's the real you. Not the you that helped me."

Alastor tilted his head at the comment. "Mon ange?"

"To think I could be so stupid. Yeah right, you get to Hell and you think that if you find the person you only love from seeing him, reading about him, and then listening to recordings of his old broadcasts. I love you, Alastor… but I know the real you will never love me. He doesn't know me. I am just a fool at heart." Angel turned and looked out his window. It wasn't until he felt a hand on his shoulder that he realized that he never took any drug to mess with his head. He only thought he did.

Looking at his shoulder, he saw Alastor's hand placed gently there. "You talk in your sleep. I already knew. Plus, you were wasted at the bar one night and I happened to be there. You told me everything. I will say, I am flattered by this, Angel. Never thought anyone cared about me like that in the land of the living. Never cared for it either. You seem to hold me high regards. I have been talking to Rosie about the matter and she thinks it was, how did she put it? Delightful that I didn't push you away so quickly after you made a comment toward me during our first meeting."

Angel blinked. "Al-"

"Ah-uh, not done. I have thought about it, and to see you sad like this, I do not like it. I like misery too, don't get me wrong, but that is by their own hand. You were mistreated by your father, as was I. I have tracked him down and took him hostage ages ago. He is close to making a deal to sell his soul to me and then he will never bother you. As for Valentino. I can make a contract with him, and get you out from his chains." Alastor said. "I believe that will make things right. Only fair as you wanted this since you found out about me."

Angel went to speak, but Alastor had already made his leave. He did all of that, for him? It was unlike the Radio demon to hold someone with regards like that. Maybe Angel was wearing him down. Maybe. For now, Angel felt happy. He held his pet pig and smiled.

A/N: I liked this one, not gonna lie. Of course, I tend to enjoy what I write, but still this one was a bit fun. Got to explore a bit with Angel. Also, Anthony is such a wonderful name. I have a feeling though that there will be one person who reads this and when said person sees Anthony… first thought is Tony Stark. Mark my words, that will be someone's thought. See you tomorrow!

~Akira

Posted: 2/23/2024