Chapter Two: Angel Dust
Gripping the handle to the door with the exit sign above, Kevin stepped foot into the stairwell, shut the door behind him, and fell back against the wall. Working to slow his breathing down and get his emotions back in check, Kevin pursed his lips and reminded himself that, while he was back with Charlie, it wasn't Earth and it certainly wasn't Heaven where he now would spend the rest of his existence.
He was an angel, banished from Heaven, and even though he still had all of his powers, down here he was—just as Alastor had warned—a potential target for any demon or overlord who may want to set an example or make a power play using him as a tool against the princess. Even Lucifer's influence was limited, and Kevin could not rely on their positions to shield him. It was his duty to protect them, and to do his job, he had to get his emotions under control and keep in mind that—as the story goes—he wasn't in Kansas anymore.
Though he still wanted to see this motley crew as friends, even family, Niffty had just proven to him that he had to bury all of his preconceived notions that most of those currently living in the hotel were allies. His research of them while planning the execution was focused on their fighting skills, but he just learned by Niffty's change into her full demonic form that he'd missed a lot.
He knew Charlie would sometimes lose her temper, and when she did, her demon side would flare out, and it brought up a tense memory of that night in the hotel room when they'd almost made love. He'd stopped her when she'd made a move on him, telling her it wasn't a good idea because she wasn't human, and her change had been instantaneous. If she'd wanted to, she could have gutted him on the spot.
Luckily, their bond had grown so strong that they worked past that, and now, when she changed, not only was he not frightened, but in truth, he was a little turned on. His girlfriend was the literal Princess of Hell, and her demon form was absolutely stunning in its own demonic way. Another positive was that when he had questions about how her powers worked, she would change into her demon form so he could better understand the mechanics of the change. It was something he couldn't ask anyone else.
But for dealing with the rest of Hell, and the characters living in the Hazbin Hotel, he knew Charlie and Vaggie would have his back. It helped a bit, but he did not understand enough about this world—not it's politics, power struggles, and the monsters that stayed in the shadows or in his face like Alastor—to feel as ready as he thought, and he admitted that this was a major weakness he had here, and it frightened him.
Kevin thought about his sister, Cassie. As a witch, she had been a huge part of their success on Earth, tracking down and rescuing the children that Bible had kidnapped and sold overseas, and pretty much taking over Charlie's role on the team. She had saved his team—Brute, Shrapnel, Snapshot, Spiderbite, and himself—on a few occasions with her powers, which he'd noticed were growing significantly. She had told him what Lucifer revealed to her—that with her connection to Charlie, she'd absorbed a fraction of her demonic power and was able to tap into the Frequencies and ley lines in ways no other Earth wiccans could. I'm glad you're still alive, sis, but oh, how I could use your wisdom and guidance right now.
All his life, Kevin had been a leader—strong, resilient, and capable in the face of every challenge. Dying, he'd reached Heaven and no longer had any fears or worries, despite later on when his memories returned, realizing just how crappy that really was, but at least he could finally have peace. Yet now, here in Hell, he was the little fish in an acidic ocean, and he was still wearing floaters.
Once he felt himself calmed enough, Kevin looked up. The staircase would lead to the foyer outside of Charlie's suite and the hallways leading to Lucifer and Alastor's suites at the far end of each side of the hotel. A final staircase would then lead to the roof.
Deciding to start from the top and work his way down, Kevin grabbed the railing and took the flight of stairs upwards. He skipped past the door to the suite level and took the next flight to the door leading out to the roof. When he reached the top, he paused and had a glimpse of memory of opening the door to his sister's rooftop dojo and let a small smile ghost his lips.
Gripping the handle to ensure it was locked and secured, he gave it a firm twist and was surprised when the handle dropped and the door swung open without a sound. Going on high alert, Kevin grabbed his halo and imagined a shield. The band expanded, with energy snapping into place inside the rim and a handle shaped around his grip for him to hold the shield securely. On the off chance there was an attack waiting outside, taking up a defensive stance first would let him calculate his opponents and devise a counter-attack.
Stepping through, Kevin did a quick scan of the rooftop, and just as quick as his defenses had risen, they fell and the shield fizzled out. Feeling a little bit silly, Kevin clipped the halo back onto his head and walked towards the tall, lithe figure of Angel Dust leaning against the tall ledge, staring out towards the city and apparently lost in thought.
As he walked towards the tall demon, Kevin thought about Charlie's explanation about who Angel Dust was. She and Vaggie had approached him with an offer of a free room and board if he would accept their proposition of him being a test subject for the Happy Hotel. Charlie admitted that at the start the only reason he accepted was because Vaggie had challenged his ego and quoted him, saying on another occasion he was only there because "Crack is expensive."
One of the first things Kevin had told himself upon hearing Angel Dust's story was that he wasn't going to judge him for his actions. In fact, living down here, Kevin was going to be doing a great deal of retrospection about good and evil. But he did know that Hell required a strong spine or a strong leash, and he knew the porn demon had both. The latter of the two, Kevin, was already wondering if there was a way to severe it. Charlie had been very clear about how she felt about the spider demon, as well as how she felt for all her family at the hotel. For her sake, Kevin would do everything he could to help and support each and every one of her friends on their journey to find redemption—a journey he spent a long time on himself.
Well, for most of them anyway.
Reaching within easy hearing distance, Kevin did the polite clearing of his throat, and Angel Dust turned around. Pulling his cigarette out of his mouth, he gave Kevin a slow, appreciative once over, "Hey there, handsome, what brings ya to the top of the world?"
Kevin smirked. Charlie warned him that Angel Dust was a very saucy flirt with everyone and wasn't shy about hitting on the staff. The way she fondly talked about him also told Kevin that this sinner demon was a softy with a big heart and a lot of masks. Masks that Kevin was not going to try to remove. He knew that Angel Dust would need to drop them on his own. Kevin hoped the kind giant would find the redemption he deserved. Rather, this was a good opportunity to set the tone between them.
"The staircase." Kevin quipped back and leaned against the ledge, "Like your legs, they go all the way up."
Angel Dust blinked in surprise, then let out a genuine warm laugh, "Okay, you got me, sugar! Nice one! I usually do all the flirtin' round here!"
"So I've been told." Kevin smirked, "I figured I'd let you know I'm comfortable with people and who they are." Then he winked, "Just don't get any ideas or make any passes. I'm spoken for."
Angel Dust faked a pout, "Just have to be a good boy for the princess, huh, babe?"
"It does seem that being the good boy around here disappoints." Kevin let out a light laugh, reflecting on Niffy's tease and feeling a little less shaky.
"Takes some of the fun out of it, that's for sure." Angel Dust took a drag and blew the smoke out as his eyes drifted towards the city-scape.
Kevin noticed him drifting. "Are you okay?"
"Yeah, I'm always okay." Angel Dust took another drag of his cigarette, then cast his eyes at Kevin and pulled out a pack from somewhere between his rather ample top, "You smoke?"
"Nope." Kevin shook his head. "And I'm obligated to give you the lecture." He paused for half a second, "And the lecture's over."
"Well, down here it's not like it's gonna make me double-dead." Angel Dust shrugged, slipping the pack back in… wherever it was it came from.
"I know." Kevin nodded, turning his head to look out over the city. Despite everything Hell meant to sinners, it was actually kind of beautiful in how it was designed. Pentagram City wasn't so great in terms of ascetics, but while researching the hotel for the battle, he'd taken the time to review all the rings and what they meant. Over all, for demon kind at least, it wasn't anything like the scriptures. But for the companion to his right, from what Charlie had told him about the spider demon's situation, Hell had a far worse meaning.
"Ya know?" Angel Dust suddenly spoke with what sounded like a lump in his throat.
"Hmm?" Turning to give him his full attention, Kevin gave him an encouraging look.
"Eva, since I met Charlie, I've been hard on her." Angel Dust sighed, "Teasing her, telling her this whole redemption idea is a joke." His frown deepened. "But when this place was in danger? When Heaven threatened the ones I'd come to love? I didn't think it was a joke anymore." He took a long drag on the cigarette and, with it nearly spent, dropped it and crushed the butt under his heel. "Then Sir Pentious got killed and…" He sniffed, "The damned fool. He didn't need to be no hero."
"Yes. He did." Kevin countered. "For Charlie, you, the hotel, but most importantly, for himself." Kevin smirked softly, "As Charlie shared with me all that had happened in her life since she returned from Earth and starting up the hotel, she gushed over Sir Pentious and his heroism. All of you gave him purpose and a reason, a desire to change, and it worked. He found love here, thanks to all of you and Charlie, and that love meant having no limits to protect his family." Kevin placed a hand on Angel Dust's shoulder, "I wish I could have met him, but it's because of his sacrifice that I had the time I needed to face Adam and help save Charlie."
"And I can't tell you how much we all appreciate that. I'm sorry we were so mean to you."
Kevin shook his head with a laugh. "Are you kidding me? I was ready to be skewered by half a dozen sinners and a tiny demon on a stabbing rampage for kissing Charlie like that. I know we're cool now, but at the time, I deserved every death stare I got."
"Yeah." Angel Dust smirked, "But knowing all ya did for her? It means a lot."
"I'm grateful all of you gave us a chance to explain."
"I trust Charlie." Angel Dust shrugged, "And that's all that mattered at the time."
"And I appreciate that."
"And I appreciate that Angel's not your real name." Angel Dust stuck out his tongue at Kevin.
With a chuckle, Kevin nodded. "I said my friends get to call me Kevin. But out there?" Kevin thumbed at the city, "I'm using my old call sign. Only my friends and family get to see me with my walls down."
"Walls down." Angel Dust paused, his eyes glazing over, and he seemed to be in another world.
Kevin knew that look. He'd seen it before. The mask was firming up before it would fall. Turning back, he rested his arms on the ledge and took in the city from this angle while waiting patiently. Sometimes the best way to get someone to talk is to stay perfectly silent.
"When I died—" A ringing from somewhere on Angel Dust's body interrupted whatever he was going to say. Looking perturbed, he fetched the phone from the same spot he'd tucked his pack of cigarettes. "Hold that thought." He gave Kevin an apologetic look and lifted the phone to his ear. "Hey, Val."
Kevin didn't need to have Charlie's super powerful hearing to catch Valentino's screams coming out of the speaker. "Get your ass down here right now! Stupid Fritz fucked up his lines. It's going to take him a day to put himself back together after what I did, and we're going to start on the first ten scenes of the big picture. So hurry the fuck up!"
"Yes, Val. Right away." The solemn tone betrayed his promise to hurry. Clicking the phone off, he shrugged. "Sorry, sugar, wish I had more time to gab, but you heard Val, I gotta get to the studio for a shoot. New feature film parody that we're aiming to be ready for the 'Sex-x-x-i Awards' season. Talk later?"
"Anytime." Kevin nodded. He knew now wasn't the time to comment about the situation.
Giving him a sad smile, Angel Dust headed for the door. Kevin stared over the city a moment longer before turning towards the spider demon. "About anything."
Angel Dust had reached the door and had his hand on the handle, but those last two words caught his attention. He turned his head. "Gonna double up as security and resident therapist?"
"I'm no therapist." Kevin shook his head, "But I'd like to be a friend."
"Except for Cherri, I didn't have friends before Charlie dragged me into this hotel." Angel Dust admitted, "But that bitch showed me I deserve more than I eva thought I did, and now I have a family." His throat caught on the last word, "So no, I don't needya as a friend." His eyes softened. "But I welcome you as family."
The mask had slipped, but it seemed Angel Dust didn't want to confess anything else or get emotional about it. He quickly stepped through the door and closed it softly before Kevin could respond. He watched the door to the stairs close and let out a soft sigh. Charlie told him a lot about this motley crew, but so much was still a mystery, and Angel Dust was no exception. He wasn't a therapist and never would be, but he saw certain signs in Angel Dust and hoped the gentle sinner had someone special he could confide in. He certainly deserved it.
Taking a few moments to collect his thoughts, Kevin decided it was time to check out the suite level. He would have time tonight to go over Charlie and Vaggie's room—and his to a degree—when he and Charlie would finally have their first date night, so it was the two other suites he needed to secure. Lucifer's would be a joy, as he looked forward to spending time with the King of Hell, who blew every preconceived notion of his Catholic upbringing to bits. He would need the levity of the meeting before he moved on to the area of the hotel he dreaded most: the suite of the Radio Demon himself, Alastor.