A/N:

Hi everyone! Here's this week's update : ) Enjoy seeing Al and Angel now that their bff's have suggested they might be becoming more than friends!

Partners

Chapter 7:

Plans for the Future

Between working at their jobs and moving all of their belongings over to Hazbin, Abel and Louise hadn't been able to spend much time alone together over the last couple of weeks. They would officially be living together as of this weekend, but still Louise was missing her significant other… And so she had decided to take the morning off and surprise him by knocking on his door to get breakfast together.

But it took several knocks for him to answer - and when he did answer he was flushed and wearing his apron.

"Louise!" Abel's voice cracked, and he quickly leaned against the doorframe as causally as possible. "Hi! Hello! I thought you had an article to work on."

She smiled, her tail wagging. "I finished it last night actually. I wanted to surprise you and get breakfast together." She raised an eyebrow at his outfit. "I thought your shift wasn't until later."

"Oh, uh…." Abel rubbed the back of his neck, "Sorry, Louise, I actually took the morning shift today—"

"Oh! Well, maybe later we could get lunch instead?"

"…And the afternoon shift. A double." He shrugged. "They needed me…and I could use the extra work." He blinked. "Not that I need money for anything! I just… I guess I'm just nervous about moving in next weekend." He swallowed and held up his hands. "Not bad nervous! And not about living with you! Only about moving in general - I work when I'm nervous, it helps me relax."

Louise's eyes hazed and she came forward and took his hands. "It's all right, Abel. I understand. It's a big change." She leaned up and placed her lips to his. He sighed through his nose and she felt him relax as he kissed her in return. She pulled back. "Maybe I'll just head over to the hotel and spend some time there. You have a good day at work, okay?"

Abel nodded with a goofy smile. "I will. Especially since I know that after work I get to come back to you."

Louise blushed very much. "I reckon I'll have a good day too as long as we get to come back to each other."

Abel smiled very much and gave her a big hug that lifted her up off the floor. Louise laughed until he set her down. She sighed and stepped back. "I'll see you later."

He waved. "Bye, Louise. Love you."

"Love you too."

Abel closed the door behind him.

With a sigh Louise turned and headed downstairs for the street. They would have breakfast together each day soon, so she wasn't too put out about their plans changing. But something else was bothering her a little - Abel usually wasn't jumpy like he had been just now, and he'd said something about money, and it was strange that he hadn't mentioned picking up extra hours. She furrowed her brow as she headed onto the street and started walking in the direction of the hotel. There was a reason she was heading there: if something was going on with him, the only other demons who might know the truth were all under the roof of Hazbin.

Alastor didn't return to the hotel until later the next morning after his night at the radio tower. However involved in this redemption venture he became, he was still the Radio Demon: a night spent at the place where he had made so many horrific kills shared with all of hell had been a sobering reminder of who he was and who he would always be in this eternal place. And it had meant a night away from Angel Dust. He really didn't want to think about what Rosie had suggested regarding their relationship. He just wanted a few hours in his office with a nice song playing between his ears while he reminded himself nothing was strange about his relationship with the spider. And then he and Angel Dust could resume being normal friends.

Alastor opened his office door with a wave of his hand and then flinched - Angel Dust was sitting in his chair with his feet up on the desk, arms crossed, scowling and tapping a finger.

"Sheesh, Al, at least when I stay out all night I call first. Where the hell have you been?" Angel stood up.

Alastor shook his head and blinked several times. "How in the blazes did you get in here? I keep this door locked!"

"I told you - six hands and I'm good with all of 'em! That includes picking locks!"

"But my magic! Only someone in my power should have been able to pass the threshold without me—"

Angel smirked. "I'm not gonna tell which one helped. But let's just say, if you get enough drinks in Husk or you ask Niffty nice enough, you can get them to assist with anything. Besides, this was an emergency." Angel swallowed. "I need to tell you something."

A high hum of static passed through Alastor's ears as his mind blanked of everything but the image of Angel confessing some impossible attraction and attempting to woo him on the spot.

"Al?"

With a flick of his wrist the door slammed shut behind Alastor. He took a deep breath and all static disappeared (as well as his pesky sudden delusion about Angel's motives). "Ha! Well, aren't you resourceful! Niffty I can forgive - she's practically programmed to be helpful, and especially to demons she likes. Husker will get quite the talking to though just for good measure." He leaned on his cane, still fatigued. "But come now, I'm sure nothing dire could have happened overnight. Perhaps if you just take some time and think about it you'll see there's really no need to—"

Angel stepped forward, arms held out. "I've already been thinking about it all night AND worried I'd see some news report that the Radio Demon was DOA. This isn't me being dramatic or having a problem with some silly hotel thing! Alastor, I think you're in danger!"

Alastor blinked several times. No one had ever worried about him since his mother… He shook his head to move past the thought then had to laugh at Angel's mistake. "Ha! Angel, my good fellow - I am never in danger…" His eyes became radio dials and distortion appeared over his head. "I AM the danger…"

"Don't give me that spooky song and dance either!" Angel huffed in frustration. He frowned, and his voice softened. "Al, I'm really worried. Just listen, okay?"

Alastor's appearance returned to normal. He raised an eyebrow then gave a single nod.

Angel sighed and sat on Alastor's desk. He crossed his arms. "Look, they'd kill me if they knew I was telling you this… But maybe they expect I'm telling you this… Or maybe they know that I know they expect I'm telling you this… Fuck, I hate their stupid mind games!" Angel grabbed his hair and cringed.

Alastor stepped forward and tapped his microphone to the top of Angel's head. "There there, no need to muss your hair, Angel. Just let me know what you need to say, and we'll work everything out from there."

Angel released his hair and nodded. He crossed his legs and braced his hands against the edge of the desk. "Yesterday at the studio after my shift, Val stopped me in the hall."

"…I hope this story ends with you riddling him with bullets."

Angel smiled a little but shook his head. "He fed me some bullshit about how I'm such a good worker that he wants me to be a partner - along with him and Velvet and Vox."

"Please tell me you would never consider keeping such poor company."

Angel smiled more. "No way! First of all I'm spoiled by my time with choice demons like Cherri and everyone here, including you." Angel blinked then cleared his throat and glanced away.

Hearing Angel say those words made Alastor feel good - too good. "And second?" He prompted, ready to move the conversation along.

"Huh?" Angel blinked and turned back to Alastor. "Oh! And uh, second…" he rolled his eyes, "like I'm that stupid - Val doesn't see me as an equal. He's not going to make me a partner. He only treats me decently when I'm pulling in big money, and then the rest of the time he…" Angel's eyes went down and he crossed his arms over his chest again, hugging himself close.

Alastor gripped his cane very tightly. Angel needed to get far away from Valentino. And on an impulse Alastor decided that he would help him do so when the time was right, deal or no deal between them. That overgrown moth did not deserve the company of his friend.

Angel quickly looked up and pulled himself together. "Anyway, I played along because you don't say no to Val. He said he knows we've been hanging out so he wants me to tell him things about you. It's bad enough when they dump on you when I'm there, but this is different." Angel frowned, his tone serious. "Al, I mean it - I've got a bad feeling. I think those three are gunning for you. I was even worried that maybe they'd done something to you last night. And I know you're a big powerful scary overlord of death, but those three… At least you've got some principles, Alastor - THEY don't have any."

Alastor considered very carefully for a moment. Then he walked forward and sat in his chair behind the desk, his fingers tented. Angel turned to face him, an eyebrow raised. Alastor met his gaze. "What are you going to do?"

Angel blinked. "What?"

"Are you going to tell them things about me?"

Angel pouted and held up a hand. "Of course not! Sheesh, you're my friend! I'll make up stuff and play dumb and be the silly slut they think I am, and hopefully they'll get bored with the whole project and find some other power trip! I'm a fucking fantastic liar when someone's pissed me off enough and when I've got time to plan. But I needed to warn you." He sighed and his gaze went down. "But look, if you're not comfortable hanging out anymore because you're worried they're gonna get something out of me, I get it. I'm connected to them, and the farther away from anything to do with them you are, the better."

Alastor stood up. He leaned over the desk a little. A human-born demon who truly cared, and especially about a soul as fallen as himself - in all of his years he had never encountered one. Perhaps Charlie's instincts had been right: if any damned soul could crawl out of hell this one was certainly the most deserving. But he pushed these thoughts to the back of his mind, and his smile grew. "I'm afraid I can't do that, Angel Dust. You see, I simply refuse to have the company I keep dictated by three such oafish overlords. You and I will continue our time together as usual without any change."

Angel blinked a couple of times and smiled in such a happy way that Alastor's smile became more genuine too.

"I am also going to give you some simple instructions. Will you follow them for me?"

Angel nodded, alert.

"Excellent!" Alastor brought his hands behind his back, and his eyes narrowed. "You will talk with those three about me whenever they require - laugh about me, insult me, describe me as the most boring creature on the planet. I really don't care as long as it satisfies them enough to keep you safe. And if needed, you can tell them things about me - provided, of course, it's not information I specifically ask you to keep to yourself."

Angel laughed a little and actually wiped a tear from his eye. "Heh, I come here trying to keep you safe, and instead you're giving me instructions for how to keep myself safe." He shook his head. "Okay, I'll do everything you asked. But you have to do something too." He pointed at Alastor. "You have to take this seriously - don't get cocky. I want you to be on alert if they try something, I want you to know you can come to me or any of us at the hotel for help. And I'll let you know if I overhear any plans to overthrow you. Okay?"

"This sounds very much like a deal, Angel." Alastor smirked a little.

"Just a friendly exchange of services between me and my favorite customer." Angel winked.

Alastor felt his face warm. Angel blinked and swallowed. They became aware that they were somewhat close to each other despite the desk between them.

And then there was salvation in the form of a knock.

"Come in!" Alastor flicked his wrist, and the door opened. In stumbled a familiar sheep demon.

"Oh, Alastor, hello!" She straightened up, smiling. "And Angel Dust!" She looked from one to the other. "I'm sorry, was I interrupting anything?"

The two demons stared back at her with wide eyes.

They spoke at the same time, Alastor smiling far too widely and Angel making far too many dismissive gestures with his hands and rolls of his eyes.

"Ha! Of course not! Nothing to see here - just day to day demonics!"

"Whoo, no, not a thing! You know Smiles and I when we get started - we love to gab!"

By the time they finished, Alastor was clinging to his cane and Angel was smiling sheepishly.

Louise tilted her head at them but then cleared her throat, smiling. "Well, as long as I'm not interrupting, I wanted to ask you about Abel." Her eyes were on Alastor - she couldn't help but look to him for guidance.

The Radio Demon made eye contact with her. "I am not the best resource for romantic advice!" He clenched his jaw and swung a fist through the air.

"Oh, no," Louise shook her head, "it's not really advice. It's just…have you…or you, Angel…noticed Abel acting a bit funny?"

Alastor's eyes darted from side to side. "I am still not the best person to ask about these matters!"

"It's okay, Al. I got this." Angel's smile softened and he stepped forward to Louise. "He's acting 'funny' how, exactly?"

"Well," Louise shrugged, "he's taken some extra shifts at the cafe without saying anything and he mentioned money and he's acting skittish as a junebug. I'm not sure what to make of it."

Angels' eyes widened. Then he put his hands on his hips. "Oh, is that all? Hun, he's just…excited to finally get to live with you! All nice guys get like that before moving in with a dame."

"Really?" Louise smiled more and clasped her hands together.

Angel waved her off with an easy grin - Alastor just watched the exchange playing out with interest. "Oh yeah! Trust me, before I died I was about the age most people were back then when they found a serious squeeze. The sweet guys were always torn between being over the moon and nervous wrecks about taking the next step with their girls. But once they did it, everything settled down." His eyes hazed.

Louise considered then nodded to herself. "Thank you, Angel Dust." She looked to the Radio Demon. "And thank you too, Alastor."

"I didn't contribute at all!" Alastor announced in his bright tone.

"You listened," Louise offered. "That contributes a lot in my book. More than most people realize."

"Hmm…" Alastor hesitated then nodded. "Well, you're welcome, I suppose."

Louise beamed a little at him. She was always doing that around him and looking to him like she was waiting for something special. But she would realize sooner or later that he really wasn't a good person. And…Angel Dust would too one day, surely.

Alastor's eyes went down and a sigh left him as Louise departed the room and closed the door.

"Abel's gonna pop the question."

Alastor's attention perked right back up, his eyes wide. "Beg your pardon?"

Angel was beaming. "Fish guy - he's gonna propose. Being secretive, worried about cash, acting like a goofy idiot around a girl who's already nuts about him. It's a proposal for sure."

"How could you tell from so little information?" Alastor raised an eyebrow. "Frankly all that made sense to me was her junebug comparison."

Angel laughed. "Funny, that was the one thing I didn't quite get but I figured it might be a southern thing." He shrugged. "Al, I just know these things. In my life, girls who were friends with, er…someone in my family… used to come to me all the time about relationship stuff. It was like they could sense the supportive gay best friend in me just waiting to come out." His smile softened. "And Louise was right you know - you just listening to her definitely helped too, especially since she's such a fan of yours despite the fact that she's not a cannibal." Angel raised an eyebrow. "Anything you want to share about why that is?"

Alastor's smile tightened a little. "…It's a rather complicated story."

"Well, if you ever want to tell it, you know where to find me." He pointed up. Then he blinked a few times and crossed his arms, looking sheepish again. "You know, my room."

Alastor remembered his last encounter with Angel in his room. He had never entered another demon's bedroom before, come to think of it. But two friends could have breakfast and talk anywhere, he supposed. Rosie's thoughts on their relationship really were such a stretch.

"Uh," Angel went on, rubbing the back of his neck, "so, anyway, before Louise came in what were we… Oh!" He blinked. "Okay, so…you'll look out for yourself and stay safe. And I'll smokescreen those three overlords with all of my skills. Good." He stepped back toward the door. "Well, I didn't sleep so good last night - seriously, you need to start letting people know when you're gonna disappear at night - so I think I'll get a drink and maybe take a nap. Leave you alone to plot whatever overlord stuff you're gonna plot against those guys."

"Of course!" Alastor cleared his throat and quickly sat behind his desk, "I have some hotel matters to see to, and then I'll consider your warnings further." He hesitated, and his voice softened a little. "Angel Dust - thank you for coming to me."

Angel had the door open - he hesitated then smiled over his shoulder. "Friends gotta look out for each other, Al. Always."

Alastor's smile grew. "Tell Husker the drink at the bar is on me."

"You are definitely better than Val, Vox, and Vel, and you always will be." Angel winked.

Alastor felt his tail twitch. "Yes, well, I have to agree with you."

They shared a small laugh and then Angel departed.

Alastor put on a light tune between his ears and dropped his head down. His shadow appeared. He eyed him in concern. Alastor sighed. "I'm fine. Merely… confused about what is going on around me and what I want to be going on around me." He rested his head on his hand. "I really should do a show soon to clear my head." His shadow smiled and nodded then disappeared. Alastor wanted to think about his show…but instead he found himself trying to fathom, on top of everything else, how any demons could attempt to bring matrimony into a place like hell… And yet he was also glad for Abel and Louise just the same. They were good and they were good together. And strangely he felt some relief knowing they would be safe here soon. He had never followed the story of any demon he had directly or indirectly saved. But watching a life turn out well was entertaining in a newly satisfying way.

Angel strolled over to the bar and sat himself down just as a yawning Husk came out of the kitchen with a cup of coffee and got behind the counter.

He glared at Angel. "What are you doing here?"

"I want a screwdriver."

"It's 10 in the morning."

"That drink is like fifty percent orange juice!"

Husk sighed deeply and grabbed a glass. "Whatever."

Angel smirked. "Oh and Alastor says it's on him."

Husk raised an eyebrow as he poured. He slid the drink over to Angel, rubbed his eyebrows, then made himself say something. "So…what's the deal with you and Alastor? I mean that literally and figuratively."

"No deals!"Angel grinned. "What, you think I want to be stuck with you all eternity? Niffty, possibly, but that's my limit." He sipped, looking down. "And in general? You know Smiles and are friends. We're both seem like pretty damaged fuckers who've learned to laugh about it and just prefer to laugh together."

Husker's grumpy look softened a little. He sighed and wiped the counter. "Fine. Both of you leave me out of the loop then. But if there's any drama I'm not helping fix it."

Angel blushed a little and gave Husk a dry look. "We're big boys, I think we can manage." He smiled a little again. "And if we do need help, Niffty can referee."

Husk grumbled and poured himself a screwdriver too.

Angel considered for a moment, looking into his drink, then lowered his voice. "Hey, Husk? Part of your deal with Al was that you're bound in service to him right?"

"Don't remind me."

"So, like, that means you have to protect him?"

Husk raised an eyebrow. He lowered his voice too. "What's going on?"

Angel swallowed. "There might be some overlords looking to take a swing at him. Valentino and Velvet and Vox."

"Vox is shit." Husk scowled.

Angel smiled a little. "So you do have some of the same interests as Alastor."

"Shitty people are shitty to everyone, so EVERYONE thinks they're shitty." He took a swig, eyeing Angel Dust. "Does Alastor know about this?"

Angel nodded. "He says he's gonna be on guard but…I also think he's the cockiest man who ever existed. I don't want him to get hurt or for anything to happen to the hotel either if he did."

"Well…" Husk shrugged, "Alastor keeps me and Niffty safe, and we can't do anything to hurt him…which I guess kind of means not letting other things hurt him if we know about them. Which now I do. Thank you for that," he added dryly.

Angel smiled a little again. "So you'll keep an eye on him? Just in case?"

Husker nodded. "Yeah. But don't tell Niffty." He rubbed his head. "She's pretty attached to Alastor. She'd worry herself into a fit if she thought anything was going to hurt him. And when that little demon goes on a rampage it's like a whole new level of hell."

"Now that's a deal." Angel nodded. "Thanks, Husky."

"Whatever." Husk rested his head on his hand. "I'm used to this whole hotel situation now - anything changing would just be a pain in the ass."

There were footsteps on the stairs behind them and they both turned to see Niffty enter the lobby, a scarf tied over her head and a feather duster in hand. "Well, I've dusted all the floors! Now time to get started down here!" She clapped her hands together. "Husk, can I start with the bar?"

Husk groaned. "I guess, if it'll get it out of the—whoa!"

Niffty zipped over and was already polishing everything with her duster. She looked to Angel. "Good morning, Miss Angel Dust! I heard you come downstairs earlier. Does that mean Alastor is back? He stayed out all night last night!"

Angel smiled and nodded. "Yeah, he's back, and I told him to call if he's gonna do that from now on."

"Oh good!" Niffty cleaned all of the bottles and the barstools too. "I don't know why he'd want to stay away. This place is wonderful - and it has me and Husk and you too!"

Angel laughed. "Oh really? And why am I so special that you'd include me in reasons for him to stick around?"

"Because you'd make the prefect mommy for us!"

Angel raised an eyebrow, and his smile dropped to a look of utter confusion.

"Niffty!" Husk picked her up, sat her on a stool, and put a glass of orange juice in front of her. "Drink. You're going too fast again."

Niffty happily sipped.

Angel looked to Husk.

Husk just shook his head. "Do not ask. She likes you the same way she likes Alastor. She's confused. Just leave it at that."

Angel looked to Niffty and his smile came back a little. "Well, either way, I've never been a mommy to anyone except Fat Nuggets. But you're a good little demon, Niffty - I'd be willing to try it with you."

Niffty put down her glass to give Angel a big hug then went back to drinking.

Angel polished off his drink and sighed. "Hey, how about I make us breakfast after this? I'll do the dishes and put booze in some of the food and everything."

Husk belched. "Sold."

Niffty nodded. "I'd love some breakfast! Let's save some for Alastor too." She glanced at the office and frowned. "I feel like he might be tired. We should let him rest for a bit and bring it to him when he's ready."

"Great idea, Niffty." Angel winked at her and stood up. "Come on, sinners - my kitchen ain't open all day."

Husk sighed and trudged after him as Niffty skipped in Angel's wake all the way to the kitchen.

A/N:

I hope you enjoyed Alastor and Angel's first encounter following the realization that they could possibly be more than friends. Next time... Rosie and Cherri meet up to talk a little bit about their boys. Angel has his first VIP experience with the VIP and Alastor waits up for him 3

Take care, everyone!

-Jenna