Author's Notes: for those of you reading on FF dot Net, you should now that this work will only be 14 chapters long because I never intended this to be a very big story.
Moxxie and Millie went to the V.I.P lounge designated for Verosika's group. Moxxie began going over his past as the son of mafia don Crimson Knowlastname in the Greed ring.
When Moxxie was done telling his life story, Millie hugged Moxxie.
"That's all in the past now Moxxie," Millie said comfortingly. "Your dad can't hurt you no more now so let's focus on building a future."
"Sounds great," Moxxie agreed as he returned the hug. They stayed like that for a while.
"Ah do want to clear up one thing," Millie said as they broke apart. "Ah was the one to punch your V-card, right?"
"Yes," Moxxie confirmed. "Chaz and I were together but we never did the deed, so to speak."
"Trust me, you did not miss much," Millie commented bitterly.
"I'm going to stay here for a bit longer," Moxxie said. "I was getting close to being overwhelmed before Chaz showed up and would like to recenter myself before going out again. Could you stay with me?"
"Sure," Millie agreed. They talked for a while before Coco and Apple walked into the lounge.
"Oh Moxxie," Coco began. "Glad I found you two. There's something I want to discuss with you."
"What's that?" Moxxie asked.
"I know that your living arrangements aren't great right now," Coco resumed, "what with you two sharing a small apartment with Vortex."
"It gets worse," Millie bitterly piped in. "While Vortex was hired on permanently, Moxxie and ah were hired on a temporary but indefinite basis so we can't go lookin' for something permanent and we're still payin' rent on our apartment in Imp City."
"Which isn't a lot," Moxxie brought up, "compared to what we're now making but it's not ideal either."
"I can't do anything about that," Coco said, "but how would you two like to move into mine and Apple's guest room?"
"You'd do that for us?" Moxxie asked with almost tangible gratitude.
"We only use it like three or four times a year," Apple explained. "More importantly, we saw the pics of food you posted on your Sintrest account and we definitely want to benefit from your kitchen skills."
"And even better," Coco continued, "I can make it so that the money the label is using to help with your rent can be used to help with our rent."
"Then when we'd love to move in you," Moxxie said.
"Shouldn't we run this by Vortex first?" Millie asked.
"Somehow," Moxxie began to counter, "I think he'll be fine with anything that involves him moving into the one bedroom and no longer sleeping on the fold-out couch."
"Good point," Millie agreed then faced Coco and Apple. "When can we start movin' in?"
"Tomorrow if you want," Coco answered.
"Great," Moxxie said.
—-
Beelze flew over to Vortex.
"Enjoyin' the party, Vortex?" Beelze asked.
"Oh yeah," Vortex answered.
"Glad to hear it," Beelze said.
The two of them made small talk for a while.
"So you seein' anyone?" Beelze asked.
"No," Vortex answered.
That's just what I wanted to hear, Beelze thought with a wide grin.
"What are you smiling about?" Vortex asked.
—
Verosika was walking through the party, looking for a Vortex since it was now his turn to look after her. After a few minutes, Verosika found Vortex and saw that he was in the middle of a very passionate kiss with Beelze.
Verosika was some distance away but she could tell that there was more to their kiss than just physical attraction. This got her thinking about how she hadn't had an actually serious relationship since Blitzo and how badly that went. She remembered coming back to her apartment following the get together at Apple and Coco's place and thinking that her penthouse apartment felt emptier than usual.
This was followed by conflicting thoughts about whether she'd want a serious relationship again. While she did enjoy her time with Blitzo and would want something meaningful like that again, it did end horribly and that was partly because she let him get close to her.
Besides, Verosika thought, I can't try meeting someone new while this assassination shit is ongoing. My libido is too obvious a weak spot for assassins to not consider exploiting and if I tried going out with someone, I'd be wondering if they're waiting for an opportunity to kill me.
Verosika's heartbeat raced, her breathing quickened and her hands shook as these thoughts went through her head. She walked away to go get a drink. She got herself some Beelze-juice and took a big gulp, bringing her anxiety down to manageable levels.
She next thought about how Moxxie and Millie were so sickeningly sweet with each other and how the two imps had smoothly integrated themselves with her crew, including having a three-way with Milky just last night. That got her thinking about the time she spent with Milky at her uncle's cabin following the attack that got Donnie killed.
Even though she and Milky only really fucked to relieve boredom, Verosika looked back on that time as the most not alone she had felt recently.
Verosika started walking away from Vortex and Beelze. She took out her phone and began texting Milky.
Verosika: I'm not feeling well. How would you like to go back to my place to have a repeat of our time at your uncle's cabin?
Verosika only had to wait less than 30 seconds to get a reply.
Milky: sounds great. I'll meet you by the front entrance in 5 to 10 minutes.
A little less than 10 minutes later, Verosika was outside the front entrance when Milky walked up to her.
"What took so long?" Verosika asked with a hint of irritation.
"As you seem to have forgotten," Milky began to retort, "we were Millie and Moxxie's rides over here. I had to find Moxxie and gave him the keys to my car so that it and them didn't get ditched here."
"Fuck, that's right," Verosika said and she rubbed her head in frustration.
"It's not that big a deal," Milky countered.
It is but not for the reasons you think, Verosika thought. I was thinking about how I don't want to be alone anymore and after that, my first instinct is to think the world revolves around me. That's a real Blitzo move.
Verosika and Milky began walking to Verosika's car. When they got there, Verosika took out the keys.
"Would you like to drive?" Verosika asked, not feeling sure if she was in the right mindset for driving.
"Yes, please," Milky answered as she took the keys.
So in the last 24 hours, Milky began thinking, I added Millie as a notch to my metaphorical bed post, had surprisingly great sex with Moxxie, Verosika does a 180 on her decision to have our time at the cabin be a one time thing and I get to drive her sports car. I should put in a request for a few days off and hit one of the casinos in Greed with the kind of luck I'm having.
Milky got into the sports car and adjusted the seat for her height. The two of them drove for a while without saying anything, the only sound coming from music that was playing. Milky could tell that something was bothering Verosika but was worried that trying to pry it out of the popstar would make her less interested in sex.
That seems like more of a morning after problem, Milky thought.
They drove in silence for a while before Verosika spoke up.
"You should know," the popstar began, "that on the ride over here, Moxxie and I talked about the three-way between you, him and Millie. I blurted out something about how good your mouth skills are and then told him about what happened at your uncle's cabin. I'm sorry about that."
"It's fine," Milky said. "You're the one who wanted to keep that between us so it's fine if you felt like sharing with Moxxie."
"I thought keeping it between us was a mutual decision."
"It was mutual in the sense that you wanted it and I didn't care enough to fight you on it."
This took Verosika by surprise. She remembered Milky wanting secrecy as much as she did. After some thinking, Verosika concluded that the discrepancy was because of the same self-centeredness that made her irked at Milky not showing up immediately after being texted.
Satan damnit, Verosika thought in frustration. It looks like fame and power have really gone to my head. Like I need another roadblock when it comes to forming meaningful relationships with other demons.
Scene removed due to not wanting to risk running afoul of FF dot Net's rules on sexually explicit content. If interested, read the A03 version.
—-
The next morning, Verosika and Milky woke up following their night of attachmentless sex.
"Wanna stay for breakfast?" Verosika asked as she got out of bed. "I'm making waffles."
"Sounds great," Milky agreed.
Sometime later, they finished eating breakfast.
"So Verosika," Milky began. "Do you want to tell me what happened last night that led to you making the uncharacteristic decision to leave a party early?"
Verosika paused for a bit as she considered what she would say.
"Short version," Verosika said, "I'm going through some shit. Long version, I saw Vortex look like he was about to get lucky with…"
He probably wouldn't like me telling everyone about him and Beelze, Verosika thought.
"With some hell hound chick," Verosika resumed, "and it got me thinking about my last serious relationship. I was happy for a while but it ended very badly. Then I started thinking about 'do I want that kind of relationship again', 'can I even open myself up like that', then I started thinking about how well Vortex, Moxxie and Millie have started getting along well with everyone, including the two imps having a three-way with you and ….. it all started to get to be too much. I needed to leave and I asked you to help me take my mind off all those things. Thank you for that by the way."
"You're very welcome," Milky replied with a playful smirk. "What you need to understand about what led to me having sex with Millie and Moxxie is that I recognized Millie from her performance at the Pain Games a few years ago and decided that I wanted to have sex with her mostly for bragging rights. At the same time, she and Moxxie were looking to spice things up by getting a third person involved. Our getting together for a three-way wasn't because we all hit it off spectacularly. It was just a bunch of stuff that just lined up the right way."
That does make me feel better, Verosika thought.
"I really don't see," Milky continued, "what I've got with the two of them going on for much longer."
"Why is that?" Verosika asked with a quirked eyebrow.
"I don't think I can take," Milky began, "being next to their lovey-dovey crap. That stuff makes me sick. It's why I stick to one night stands and friends with benefits arrangements."
"I see," Verosika said. An awkward silence fell over the two as they thought about everything that had just been shared.
Milky considered mentioning how she originally saw having sex with Moxxie as a necessary consequence of having sex with Millie, she actually enjoyed sex with the dorky sharpshooter more than with the savage wrath girl to illustrate the point that people can pleasantly surprise you if you give them a chance. Hopefully, this would help Verosika with opening up more. But after a little thought, Milky decided not to press this point.
She's not in a great place right now, Milky began thinking, to open up to new people while being so on guard because of this assassination shit. Plus the point I'm trying to make about Moxxie is completely about sex and it sounds like her stuff is about everything except sex so it wouldn't do any good.
"I promise," Milky began, "that I will help in whatever way I can."
"Even if it means" Verosika began to ask, "staying in with me on some of your nights off?"
"Say what now?" Milky responded in alarm.
"While I have no intention of becoming a shut-in," Verosika began, "I am pretty nervous about the idea of going out in public when I don't have to. At least not without several people I know will have my back. But with the issues I have with being alone right now, I'm worried that on any night where I don't have to worry about work the next morning I may try to self medicate with booze and pills and mess up with the doses."
"Shit," Milky commented in regards to the severity of Verosika's situation. "Maybe we should get everyone else to help with this."
"I don't know if I trust everyone else that much," Verosika disagreed.
"Well, it's not fair to put all of this on me," Milky countered.
"Good point," Verosika admitted. "But having to order them to hang out with me. It seems so pathetic."
"Anything is preferable," Milky started, "to becoming another example of a musician who died of psychological and substance-abuse issues at the height of their popularity."
"Oh yeah," Verosika agreed.
Verosika began thinking things over. Milky was absolutely right about how she needed to ask more people for help. It would let Verosika work on her issues with opening up and not make Milky responsible for everything.
She decided she would ask for additional help from Vortex, Moxxie and Millie. Even though she's only known them for about a week, she trusted them greatly due to them being her security detail, whereas she'd only just stopped thinking of everyone besides Milky on her crew as 'those people who work for me'.
Maybe not Vortex though, Verosika thought. At least not for anything not work related. I don't want him quitting on me because I tried to pull him away from what might be his new girlfriend. Can't say I blame him if he ended up choosing Bee over me.
—-
It was the Tuesday evening following the party at Beelze's. Verosika and everyone closely associated with her all went to a bowling alley to celebrate Ace's birthday. Verosika, Kiki and Moxxie all went to the bar that was inside the alley while everyone else got set up to bowl.
Moxxie and Kiki decided to play pool once Moxxie had been warned by Verosika not to have anything at stake. They had to borrow a stool from the bar so that Moxxie would be able to take his shots. Kiki ended up winning when they were down to just the eight ball.
"It's been a while so I got that close to losing," Kiki complimented. "I'm impressed Moxxie."
"Thank you," Moxxie replied. "What would you say to a rematch with darts?"
"Sounds good," Kiki accepted.
"What do you say we make this interesting?" Moxxie suggested, took out his phone and handed it to Kiki. "Best three out of five. If I win, I'll fix you a meal from any of the ones I have presented on my Sinterest account here."
"I'm not sure," Verosika interjected, "that trying to entice her with food is the right way to go about this." Kiki looked at her with a glare that seemed to say 'what are you talking about'. "You look like you only eat enough to keep yourself mostly alive."
"I've heard worse," Kiki shrugged off then faced Moxxie. "What do you get if you win?"
"I'm sure that you have a few arousing stories," Moxxie began, "about you and your high school girlfriend being lesbian cheerleaders. If I win, I'd like you to share one with me and Millie."
"Of course you remember that," Kiki said in frustration. "Game on, imp boy."
The two of them got set up at the dartboard, Moxxie using the same stool as earlier to put himself at the same level as the dartboard. Moxxie won the first two games, Kiki won the third but then Moxxie won the one after that.
"So this is what getting played feels like," Kiki said in defeat. "No wonder all those people I beat got so mad at me."
Moxxie got off the stool he was using. He was going to go brag about his victory to Verosika and see if maybe she was also interested in hearing whatever story Kiki had to tell. He saw Verosika by the bar and she was talking to two incubi: One had short dark hair and was on the skinny side while the other one had short blonde hair and was a bit muscular. Verosika did not appear to be enjoying herself.
"Come on baby," the blonde one said to Verosika with his best attempt at being seductive. "What say we all leave and my friend and I show you a good time?"
"What part," Verosika began angrily, "of 'fuck off and leave me alone' do you not understand?"
"Obviously, the part where we don't have sex with you," The blonde incubus answered.
"Is there a problem, Vee?" Moxxie asked, careful to avoid using Verosika's name in case it emboldened the creeps.
"How about you leave us alone, pipsqueek?" The blonde incubus asked as he pulled out a knife.
"How about, no," Moxxie countered as he pulled a sawed-off shotgun out of his fanny pack.
"How the heaven did you stuff that in there?" The blonde incubus asked in shock.
"You've got bigger things to worry about," Moxxie said.
"Now let's calm down here," the blonde pleaded as he put away his knife.
"Oh, now you want to try being reasonable about this," Moxxie said in disgust and anger. "Now that you've realized that I'm in a much stronger position to push back than you believed. Just how many people tried to talk things out with you only for their pleas to fall on deaf ears?"
"We're just going to go now, kay?" The blonde said. Without waiting for a response, he grabbed his friend by his wrist and they both left. Moxxie stashed the shotgun away as he watched them leave.
"What was with you snapping at him just now?" Kiki asked Moxxie. Moxxie took a deep breath and had a look on his face like he was going to bring up something uncomfortable for him.
"I had bully issues growing up," Moxie began. "Especially from this one bully who treated me like shit and then demanded I respect him for it."
And to make matters worse, he was also my dad, Moxxie thought.
"That guy pulling a weapon on me," Moxxie continued, "then acting like me pulling out a better weapon made him the victim struck me as similarly hypocritical. That and him asking for the kind of restraint that I'm sure he's never given anyone. It all struck a nerve with me."
"Fair enough," Kiki said and understanding, then faced Veronica. "You're OK with him stepping on your toes by not giving you a chance to handle that yourself? Especially since he's her as your work acquaintance and not your bodyguard."
"Are you saying," Moxie began to retort, "that I should see Verosika wanting to be unharmed as just an on the clock issue?"
"Well, obviously not that," Kiki replied in frustration.
"I could've handled it," Veronica said, then opened the purse she was holding to show that she had her snub nose revolver on her, "but I've started keeping this on me because I think there's no such thing as too much protection. Can't really be mad at Moxxie for feeling the same way."
"Yeah," Moxxie chimed in. "If it escalated to the point where she obviously needed help, it might have been too late by then. My mindset was along the lines of 'better put out the fire before it spreads'."
"All right," Kiki conceded. "I thought that maybe you were going to be a condescending asshole with wanting to protect Verosika or try to nudge gratitude sex out of her but I see that your heart was in the right place."
"I wouldn't do that gratitude sex thing," Moxxie began, "even if I wasn't dating Millie and Verosika wasn't my boss."
"Really, Moxxie?" Verosika asked.
"Yes," Moxxie answered. "Now I'm going to see what's going on with everyone else."
Moxxie walked off to join the ones who were bowling. Verosika and Kiki decided to go with him. The three of them started chatting with everyone else. A while later, the bowlers finished their first game and everyone set up some food on a few tables near the lanes: pizza, chicken wings, drinks and cake. They ate and talked for a while. The bowlers started their second game and the non-bowlers decided to stick around for a while.
Some time later, Verosika motioned for Moxxie to follow her aside.
"Moxxie," Verosika began. "I need your help with something."
"What is it?" Moxie asked, eagerness to help all over his face. Verosika was touched by this.
Verosika began explaining what she's been going through recently and how she was less inclined to go out than usual.
"This is OK," Verosika continued, "Because there's several people nearby I can count on and I'm keeping my drinking in check. But with other things… I don't know. Fortunately, it's pretty easy to keep myself busy with work since I'm working six-day weeks to ensure that the new album is ready before I go on tour in a few months. What I'm getting at here, Moxxie, is that on nights where I don't go out, I'd like you or Millie to hang out with me so I don't do something like mix booze and pills in a very wrong dosage."
"Of course I'll do that, Verosika," Moxxie replied.
"Thank you," Veronica said and then they both re-joined the rest of their group.