~~Hello, readers, I'm back with a new chapter.
I don't own anything from Pokemon or Hazbin Hotel.
Only my original characters belong to me.~~
It was now early morning in Pentagram City.
The second floor of the hotel was almost completely silent.
In her room, Sioku woke up sobbing in bed.
Tears rolled down her cheeks as she held Flareon tight.
Sioku's entire body trembled like a leaf.
Flareon tried to comfort Sioku by nuzzling her.
"Thank you, Flareon," said Sioku while petting the fox's head gently.
Sioku let herself calm down before she decided to get out of bed.
She released her grip on Flareon, then slid off the bed.
Flareon hopped down after her trainer, then shook off.
After opening her door, Sioku quietly led Flareon down the carpeted staircase.
Flareon panted happily while wagging her fluffy tail.
Once downstairs, Sioku and Flareon began to wander the lobby.
Sioku couldn't help but giggle to herself at the sound of Flareon's nails repeatedly tapping on the floor.
Flareon's ears perked back with curiosity as they traveled.
They heard voices coming from the bar and decided to follow them.
Sioku perked up a bit as she listened to Angel having a conversation with the bar tender.
She stood patiently near one of the bar stools with Flareon by her side.
A cat demon sat at the bar across from Angel.
Both demons had a glass of liquid on the table in front of them.
"Angel, why are you up at this hour? What brings you here?" asked the cat.
The spider demon breathed a heavy sigh and answered somberly, "Isn't it obvious, Husk? I had another nightmare about Valentino. That man is a vicious monster."
Sioku's face drooped with sadness when she heard the pain laced in her friend's voice.
Seeing him upset made her heart sting.
The cat demon, now known as Husk, reached across the table and placed a paw on Angel's arm for comfort.
Angel petted Husk behind his ears in return.
"I know, Angel, please try to calm down. I'll help you get through this," he said smoothly.
Angel paused suddenly, then scanned the area.
He sensed Sioku and Flareon's presence in the room.
"Is something wrong, Angel?" asked Husk.
Husk was only met with silence.
Without a word, Angel rose from his seat.
"Angel, where are you going?" wondered Husk.
The spider demon still didn't answer his friend.
He walked slowly to the spot where Sioku and her Pokemon continued to stand.
Flareon started to wag her tail as she saw Angel move closer to them.
"Hi, pretty fox," Angel greeted before petting her.
Flareon nuzzled his arm in return.
Angel calmly approached Sioku, then placed a hand on her shoulder.
He noticed a blank expression in her features.
Sioku felt Angel's touch and looked up at him.
Flashbacks from Sioku's recent nightmares echoed in her head, preventing the girl from reacting to the demon.
"Hey, Sioku, what are you doing here? Are you all right?" the demon asked softly.
Sioku hesitated, then slowly stepped toward Angel.
The girl's heart pounded rapidly in her chest.
She continued to stare into his eyes without saying a word.
Angel carefully pulled the frightened girl into a hug.
The spider demon's concern for Sioku immediately replaced his bad thoughts about Valentino.
He pushed those awful memories aside in order to focus on helping his newest friend.
"Can you tell me what happened, Sioku? Why do you look so scared?" he asked gently.
Sioku shook her head, then buried her face into his shoulder for comfort.
Her body started to shake against his.
Angel brushed loose hair away from Sioku's face.
"Hey, Sioku, is something bothering you? You can tell me anything," he whispered in her ear.
Sioku wrapped her arms around the demon and held him tight.
She tried to slow down her racing heart by breathing deeply.
"I'm right here, Sioku," said Angel as he rubbed her back soothingly.
Flareon sat next to them, then leaned against Sioku's leg.
Sioku lightly scratched Flareon behind her pointy ears.
A few minutes passed as Angel and Sioku continued to hold each other.
After finishing his drink, the cat demon curiously joined Angel and Sioku.
"What's going on over here? Are you two okay?" he asked.
"We're fine, Husk," answered Angel dismissively.
"Are you sure?" Husk inquired.
The cat demon stood a few feet away from Angel and Sioku to give them their space.
"Yes, please be very careful around Sioku. She startles easily," answered Angel protectively.
"Is there anything I can do to help her?" offered Husk.
"No, but I do appreciate your concern for her. I'm going to take Sioku and her fox to my room now. Thank you for helping me earlier, Husk," answered Angel graciously.
"Please feel free to come back any time," Husk added before returning to the bar.
Angel gently picked Sioku up and held her close.
Sioku twitched nervously in his arms.
"It's okay, Sioku, I've got you. Calm down," said Angel softly as he tightened his hold on her.
Sioku laid her head on Angel's chest and closed her eyes.
Angel carried Sioku toward the staircase with Flareon trailing behind him.
They ascended the stairs, then headed into Angel's bedroom.
Once inside, Angel closed the door behind them before settling down on a sofa with Sioku.
Flareon curled up on the floor beside the couch.
She closed her eyes and let out a soft sigh.
A long period of complete silence passed by.
Sioku kept her arms around Angel, clinging to him in fear of the complete silence in his room.
Angel soothingly stroked Sioku's back as he waited patiently for her to calm down.
"You can relax now, Sioku. I'm not going anywhere," he assured.
Sioku's muscles began to relax as she rested in Angel's warm embrace.
She let his calming aura take her mind to a better place.
"Sioku, can you talk to me?" asked Angel.
Sioku looked up and explained, "I had another recurring nightmare. This one was about my former accademic assistant Julie embarrassing me in front of a huge audience at my graduation from the Trainer School several years ago. She humiliated me for being a fan of a children's cartoon called VeggieTales. I can't watch it anymore because of her."
Angel's face drooped with sadness as he took in Sioku's words.
"I am so sorry, Sioku, a sweet person like you never deserved to go through any of that pain. Why would she do that to you?" he responded sympathetically.
"A day prior to my graduation, I asked my science teacher if I could go get my laptop out of the computer classroom. The teacher said no because she didn't allow anyone to leave the classroom until the end of the period. I accepted her answer and played a game with my best friend until class was over. Fortunately, I was able to grab my laptop before I returned home. Julie's annoying daughter Mira must've made up a lie to convince her that I got upset at the teacher. My best friend and I know that I didn't mind waiting to get my computer," Sioku explained sadly.
Angel hugged Sioku close to him.
"Sioku, has that woman had any contact with you since the day of your graduation?" he asked.
"Fortunately no," answered Sioku briefly.
A brief period of silence passed by.
"That awful woman will never hurt you while my friends and I are around. You can count on it," Angel assured.
Sioku gazed up at Angel as a thought crossed her mind.
"Hey, Angel, what were you and that cat demon talking about at the bar?" she asked.
"I had a recurring nightmare about my boss, Valentino. Valentino owns my soul, and he's both physically and verbally abusive toward me. I can't get a break from Val unless my contract with him is broken," he explained quietly.
Sioku could hear the sorrow in Angel's voice as she listened attentively to him.
She affectionately petted his head.
"I'm so sorry, Angel, you don't deserve to go through any of that. This Valentino guy sounds like a terrible person. Hopefully somebody can set you free from him," she responded sympathetically.
The spider demon smiled sadly at her.
"Angel, what does Valentino do to you at work?" Sioku inquired.
Angel breathed a disappointed sigh before answering, "Val would usually tie me up, drag me across the floor, punch me, slam my body into things, and shove me out of his way. That psychopath would also tear me down mentally whenever he gets the opportunity."
Sioku felt her heart sink to the floor.
She held the demon tighter and said, "oh, Angel, I wish I had the ability to break your contract with Valentino. He almost reminds me of Julie. You never deserved to get hurt like that."
"Thank you, Sioku, I really appreciate your concern for me. Would you mind staying with me for a while?" Angel replied.
"Of course, Angel, You've been here for me since I entered this new place. It's my turn to be there for you," answered Sioku softly.
Angel kissed the top of Sioku's head, then pulled a fuzzy blanket over both of them.
He laid his head on Sioku's shoulder and closed his eyes.
Sioku stroked Angel behind his ears until he drifted off to sleep.
She then rested her head on Angel's chest before drifting off.
Sioku and Angel slept peacefully without having any nightmares.
~Morning~
Angel woke up to the sunlight shining brightly through the windows in his room.
He looked down to see Sioku still asleep in his embrace.
A soft knock at the door suddenly caught Angel's attention.
"Come in," responded the spider demon quietly.
The door opened slowly, and Alastor walked in.
Flareon woke up, then shook her head.
She stared up at Alastor while wagging her tail gently.
Alastor happily petted the fox's head.
The radio demon paused as he noticed Sioku sleeping in Angel's arms.
"Good morning, Angel, I just came in here to check on both of you. Is there a reason why you brought Sioku in here last night?" he greeted.
"Neither of us slept well, so she and I were helping each other. Sioku came down to the bar while I was having a conversation with Husk. I carried Sioku back in here after she had another panic attack," Angel explained.
"I'm glad to see you two helping each other out," said Alastor with a smile.
"Thank you, Alastor, will you please do me a favor? If Sir Pentious is awake, can you bring him in here? I want Sioku to see him when she wakes up," replied Angel.
"Of course, Sioku has really taken a shine to you and Sir Pentious. You're a good friend, Angel," answered Alastor proudly.
"Sioku and I are going through a similar situation. I want to be her protector," Angel added smoothly.
Sioku grinned in her sleep as she listened to Angel's conversation with the radio demon.
Angel playfully ruffled Sioku's hair.
"I'll go find Sir Pentious for you now," said Alastor before exiting Angel's room.
The silence returned in Angel's room as he continued to watch over Sioku.
Flareon stretched her body, then started to explore the room.
Angel watched Flareon curiously as she sniffed around the area.
Several minutes later, the door opened once again to reveal Alastor and Sir Pentious entering.
"Welcome back, you two," greeted Angel.
"Good morning, Angel Dust," replied the snake demon.
Alastor stood near the door while Sir Pentious slithered over to the couch.
Flareon sat down beside Alastor.
The radio demon petted Flareon's back gently, causing her to lean against him.
Sir Pentious' face lit up with joy when he saw Sioku sleeping peacefully.
"Sioku looks so cute with you, Angel Dust," he commented with a blush.
"Thanks, Pentious, but you must be very calm and patient with Sioku. I don't want you to scare her when she wakes up," responded Angel firmly.
Sir Pentious nodded, then leaned against the sofa while staring at Sioku.
A brief period of silence passed by.
Sioku opened her eyes, then looked around.
The sight of Alastor and Sir Pentious helped her perk up immediately.
"Good morning, everyone," she greeted softly.
"Hey, Sioku, did you sleep well?" replied Angel.
"I slept fine," answered Sioku with a yawn.
"Hello, Sioku," Sir Pentious chimed in.
The snake demon gazed lovingly into Sioku's eyes.
"Hi, Sir Pentious, I'm so glad to see you. Thanks for coming to visit me," responded Sioku with a smile.
Sir Pentious rubbed Sioku's arm affectionately with his tail.
Sioku petted his back gently in return.
Her heart started to race with joy at their reunion.
"Good morning, Sioku, you're looking well today. Angel asked me to bring Sir Pentious in here for you," greeted Alastor as he smiled at her.
"Thank you, Alastor, I'm glad to see you too. My Flareon really likes you," replied Sioku graciously.
Sioku hugged Angel, then slowly released her grip on him.
Angel patted Sioku's shoulder lightly before giving her some space.
Sir Pentious wrapped his tail around Sioku, then carefully pulled her toward him.
Sioku couldn't help but blush at Sir Pentious' affectionate gesture.
She wrapped her arms around the snake demon and held him close.
In that moment, all of Sioku's previous worries about her past began to melt away one by one.
She took a deep, relaxing breath.
"I've missed you, Sioku," whispered Pentious softly.
"I've missed you too, Sir Pentious," she replied while stroking his head.
Sir Pentious laid his head on Sioku's shoulder and closed his eyes.
Angel smiled at Sir Pentious, then looked at Alastor.
"I'm relieved to see Pentious being calm and careful around Sioku. He's great with her," he commented.
"I couldn't agree more," replied Alastor as he continued to pet Flareon.
Flareon laid down, then closed her eyes.
Alastor carefully sat on the ground beside her.
The fox Pokemon snuggled against Alastor's leg.
Sir Pentious perked up as a thought crossed his mind.
"Sioku, would you like a tour of Pentagram City today?" he asked.
"That sounds like a wonderful idea, Sir Pentious. Thank you," answered Sioku happily.
"I do agree with you, Sioku, but I want you to be safe. Please don't travel alone," Alastor chimed in firmly.
Sioku gave the radio demon an awkward look before turning back to Sir Pentious.
"She's not a child, Alastor," Angel pointed out.
"I know, Angel, but Sioku seems very shy. She is also new here. We don't need to put Sioku in any danger," Alastor explained.
A blush came to Sioku's cheeks as she listened to Alastor speak.
She admired his fatherly attitude toward her.
"Don't worry, Mr. Radio Demon Sir, I won't leave her side. I promise," assured Pentious.
"I'll be fine, Alastor," Sioku added.
Alastor let out a concerned sigh.
"I'm sorry, Sioku, but I've been worried about your safety since Angel brought you to our hotel. My friends and I care about you," he said sincerely.
"Thank you, Alastor," replied Sioku.
A long period of silence passed by as everyone relaxed.
"I would go with you and Sioku, Pentious, but I have work today. Val would kill me if I took a day off," said Angel sadly.
"That's understandable," replied Sir Pentious.
Sioku looked at Flareon who lay curled up next to Alastor.
"My Pokemon trusts you, Alastor," she said.
"Your furry creature is quite adorable," replied Alastor.
"Alastor, would you mind taking Pentious and Sioku downstairs?" asked Angel.
"Sure," answered the radio demon briefly.
Sir Pentious and Sioku released each other, then stood up.
She and the snake demon stood side by side.
Angel placed a hand on Sioku's shoulder.
"I'll meet up with you and Pentious as soon as I can. Enjoy your day, Sioku," he said smoothly.
"Thanks, Angel, but you shouldn't distract yourself by worrying about me. Flareon and I can trust Alastor and Sir Pentious. We'll see you after your shift," replied Sioku happily.
Angel and Sioku embraced each other tightly.
"Have a good day at work," said Sioku.
"I'll try," whispered Angel hesitantly.
Sioku petted Angel's head sympathetically before releasing him.
"You'll be okay, Angel," she assured.
Sioku lovingly wrapped an arm around Sir Pentious as he leaned on her.
The snake demon smiled brightly in response to Sioku's kind gesture.
"Shall we go, Sioku?" asked Pentious.
"Hold on a second," answered Sioku as she shifted her attention to Flareon.
"Let's go, Flareon," she commanded.
Flareon stood up immediately, then shook off.
The fox Pokemon then trotted over to her trainer's side.
Alastor grinned at Flareon as he watched her.
Sioku ruffled Flareon's fur, causing the Pokemon to wag her tail.
"Welcome back, pretty fox," greeted Pentious.
Flareon affectionately nuzzled Sir Pentious in return.
Sir Pentious led Sioku and Flareon toward the doorway where Alastor had been waiting for them.
"Please follow me, everyone," urged Alastor.
Sioku and Flareon followed behind Alastor with Sir Pentious beside them.
Alastor led his three guests down the stairs and into the lobby.
As they were making their way to the dining area, Charlie happily intercepted the group.
"Good morning, everybody," she greeted with a bright smile.
"Same to you, Charlie," replied Sioku.
"Would you like to join us?" offered Sir Pentious.
"I'd love to have breakfast with you guys," answered Charlie as she skipped ahead of the group.
"Where is Vaggie?" asked Alastor.
"She is still asleep," answered Charlie.
"Vaggie is Charlie's girlfriend. You'll meet her later," said Sir Pentious to Sioku.
Sioku gave a nod in response.
Alastor led his three friends and Flareon into a large dining area where they gathered around a rectangular, wooden table.
Sioku and Sir Pentious sat across from Charlie and Alastor.
Flareon laid down under Sioku's chair.
A small, cyclops demon dressed in a maid outfit approached the table,
Sioku smiled at the female demon with red-pink hair.
"Who is that little cuty?" she asked.
"That demon is Niffty, and she is our housekeeper. She cleans the hotel," answered Alastor.
"She is so adorable," commented Sioku.
Niffty smiled at Sioku in return and said, "Hello, mis, I'm Niffty. It's nice to meet you."
"I'm pleased to meet you as well, Niffty. My name is Sioku Marie," replied the brown haired girl.
"Good morning, everyone, what can I get for all of you?" greeted Niffty cheerfully.
"Hello, Niffty, may we please have a tray of hot breakfast foods?" responded Charlie.
"Of course! I'll start preparing your meal right away," answered Niffty before she scurried into the kitchen.
Sioku giggled as she watched Niffty's swift movements.
"Niffty has a lot of energy," she pointed out.
"That little darling is a bright light in our lives," responded Alastor.
Sioku couldn't help but smile at that.
She admired the radio demon's loving personality.
"Do you have any plans today, Sioku?" asked Charlie.
"Sir Pentious is going to take me on a tour of Pentagram City," answered Sioku.
"That sounds like fun," Charlie added.
Alastor gave the snake demon a warning look and said firmly, "Sir Pentious, I am not playing around with you. Do not leave Sioku and her creature by themselves during your tour."
An awkward blush came to Sioku's cheeks as she sighed internally.
Alastor's over protective behavior made her feel uncomfortable.
Sir Pentious immediately froze in place with fear in his expression.
"You have my word, Mr. Radio Demon Sir," he replied timidly.
Sioku sensed Pentious' fear and pulled him into a hug.
"I'm here for you, Sir Pentious," she whispered softly.
Pentious leaned into Sioku for comfort.
Charlie stared up at Alastor with a shocked expression.
"Why are you being so tough on Sir Pentious?" she asked in dismay.
"I don't want Sir Pentious to put Sioku in any danger. She just arrived here last night," answered Alastor sternly.
Sioku shifted her attention from Sir Pentious to Alastor.
"I appreciate your concern for me, Alastor, but you're causing an unnecessary scene. Flareon and I will be okay. Also, Sir Pentious doesn't deserve to get scolded like that. You scared him for no reason," she said with a glare.
"I am only trying to protect you, Sioku," argued Alastor.
Sioku let go of Sir Pentious, then jumped up from her spot.
She kept her glare fixed on the radio demon.
"Flareon and I don't need to be protected!" she yelled back.
"Please sit down and listen to me, Sioku," said Alastor smoothly.
"No, Alastor! You owe Sir Pentious an apology," replied Sioku roughly.
In the midst of their argument, Sir Pentious leaned against the wall and closed his eyes.
"Both of you need to relax and work this out. Fighting will only make the situation worse," Charlie chimed in.
"This discussion is over," responded Sioku.
"Calm down, Sioku," urged Pentious.
Sioku patted her snake friend's head lightly.
"I'll be okay, Pentious," she assured.
Sioku then slipped away from the table.
Flareon crawled out from underneath the bench, then took off after her trainer.
"Wait, Sioku!" called Alastor.
Sioku ignored him and quickly led Flareon out of the hotel.
She grabbed Flareon's fur collar and impatiently pulled her down the sidewalk.
~Inside The Hotel~
Still in the dining area, Sir Pentious glared daggers at Alastor.
The snake demon's heart pounded rapidly in his chest.
"Do you see what you've just done?" he screamed.
Charlie reached across the table and placed a hand on her angered guest.
"Hey, Sir Pentious, it's going to be all right. Calm down," she said gently.
Sir Pentious immediately shrugged her off.
Charlie's face drooped into a frown.
"I didn't do anything but try to protect the girl," answered Alastor calmly.
Enraged, Sir Pentious hissed and bared his fangs at Alastor.
Alastor only stared at his friend unfazed.
"You chased Sioku and her fox away from us! She probably won't come back here because of your stupidity!" hollered Pentious.
"Awe, your love for Sioku is really cute. She'll come back for you," Alastor teased.
Sir Pentious let out a growl of frustration.
"Quit joking around, Alastor! I'll never speak to you again if Sioku doesn't return to the hotel," he shot back.
"Whatever you say, Pentious," Alastor dismissed.
Charlie put a hand up to silence her friends.
"That is enough, you two. I don't want to hear it anymore. You'll never solve your problem this way," she said sternly.
Without another word, Sir Pentious slid off the bench before storming upstairs.
He disappeared into his bedroom and closed the door behind him.
Charlie and Alastor were now by themselves.
"I'm very disappointed in you, Alastor," stated Charlie.
"I didn't mean any harm toward anyone," responded Alastor in defense.
Before their conversation could continue, Niffty approached the table with a tray of food and drinks.
"Thank you for the meal, Niffty," said Charlie.
"You're very welcome," replied the cheerful maid.
Niffty set the tray down and asked, "Where did Sir Pentious and that new girl run off to?"
"They'll be back later," answered the radio demon casually.
Charlie gave Alastor a dirty look in response to his lack of remorse.
"I'll be on my way now," Niffty added before speeding away.
Charlie and Alastor sat silently as they ate their portions of the meal.
After breakfast, Charlie and Alastor cleaned up the area before going about their business.