A/N:

Hi everyone! Here's the next chapter - things are getting a bit intense and Alastor's finally putting on his show. Thanks for reading!

Partners

Chapter 12:

Guardian Angel

There was something big going on across the airwaves of hell…

"Greetings and salutations, my loyal listeners! It's been far too long since I've broadcast myself to you through the airwaves of hell! But I've been watching and waiting - and always listening! And I've finally found a guest who meets my impeccable standards for your entertainment needs! Say hello, my good - or rather not so good - man!"

Muffled screams and yells sounded.

"Now, now, don't be shy - this is the radio! You have to articulate yourself! Ha!"

A growl and the sound of thrashing came next.

"Oh, what a lively fellow! You know, I would loosen your restraints so you could at least tell us your name but…" Alastor's voice became distorted, "that would be playing with my food."

There was a high whimper.

"Ha!" Alastor's voice returned to normal. "Besides, your name won't matter soon enough. Let's begin, shall we?" There was the sound of careful footsteps. "Squid… I don't believe I've ever dined on a squid demon before." Alastor hummed to himself and pulled two knives against each other to make a slicing sound. "I do wish you had waited a little while before letting me discover you. I have a new…acquaintance of Italian descent - I've become intrigued by his stories of fried Calamari, but I haven't learned the recipe yet."

Sounds of intense struggling came over the airwaves now.

Alastor remained unfazed. In fact his voice darkened and slightly quieted. "But I can make do on my own with my usual methods. And I'm feeling a bit restless tonight, a bit ravenous, a bit - dare I say - regretful? So why don't we take our time? You're an ideal guest to work through every point I want to hit with this show. I'll be removing each of your tentacles using a different excruciating technique before I begin feasting. First - ripping one off with my bare fangs!"

The squid yelled against his gag, then there was an awful wet sound and a violent scream of agony.

There was heavy breathing and then rich laughter. Alastor's voice was more distorted than ever. "Stay tuned, folks…"

A light tune played in the background as the show went on.

Cherri clenched her hands at her sides and strode right up to the edge of the Cannibal Colony like it WASN'T the skeeviest place in hell to her. She'd sworn to herself never to come back to this twisted territory of Alastor's, but right now she wanted to see Rosie. When they had last talked, Rosie had agreed to send Cherri a message when she wanted to meet and that Cherri would send one back to her with a meeting place on neutral ground. But that left Cherri unable to initiate a meeting, and she'd never had patience to wait around for someone else.

This visit would be fine. Cherri had learned her lesson last time anyway: just say Rosie's name right away and then remind any of these hungry homicidal maniacs that a move against her would seriously piss off the uppity demoness.

Fortunately, instead of getting roped into another mob, Cherri rounded a corner and slammed right into another familiar cannibal - the short chick who had stopped the others from eating her last time.

Mimzy stood up, rubbing her head. "Hey! Watch where you're - " She blinked. "Oh, Cherri! The friend of Alastor's beau!"

"Ugh, don't call anyone a 'beau'! This isn't some weird French romance novel." Cherri dusted herself off. "And yeah, it's me. I need to talk to Rosie, now. I set it up so the princess'll ask Angel and Alastor to play a duet at the hotel open house. I figured it might be a good way to get those two slow burn idiots to get a move on. I want her to give Radio Head a big nudge if he's on the fence about going through with it."

"There's no time for that!" Mimzy shook her head and grabbed Cherri's arm. "Come with me, I'll take you to the Emporium! To Rosie! You need to get off the streets!"

"Why?" Cherri hesitated as the smaller demon tried to pull her.

"Because Alastor's doing a show!"

"So his band is playing - who gives a—"

"A RADIO SHOW!" Rosie's eyes narrowed and glowed.

"You mean he's…" Cherri's stomach twisted.

"He's two legs into dissecting a squid demon live on the air!" Rosie clutched Cherri's arm now with both of her own and pulled harder. "This place gets like a fight to the death buffet when he puts on a show, and he hasn't done one for a while! Demons are antsy! And now that you've got your scent here, they're in such a tizzy that they'll hunt you down even if you try to leave!"

Cherri suddenly became aware of a lot of screams not too far off in the distance that were getting closer. "Fuck! This is why I hate going anywhere near Cannibal Colony!" She glared down at Mimzy. "And full offense, how do I know you and Rosie aren't in demon flesh heat and about to take a bite out of me?"

"Ha!" Mimzy laughed. "Rosie's right, you are a firecracker! Literally and figuratively!" She smirked at Cherri. "First of all, you're important to Angel Dust who is very important to Alastor who is very important to us, so of course we won't hurt you. Second of all, we like you - you've got spunk! Hell needs all the strong ladies it can get! And third of all…" She flashed her teeth…which were currently a rusty color. "We've already eaten."

Cherri gritted her teeth. "Ugh…FINE! Shit - Radio Head and Angie better be fucking meant for each other, because if I'm doing all this so they can go on two dates and realize they're better off as 'just friends' I'm gonna be pissed!"

"Oh come now!" Mimzy grinned as she finally pulled Cherri along, "Rosie sees their chemistry and you must too - friends can always tell when friends are head over heels for someone."

Cherri lowered her eye as they went around a corner (and she tried to ignore flashes of demon eyes in dark alleys). "Whatever the two of them want to have to be happy, I'll do anything to let them have it - even racing through this twisted little sub circle of hell."

"That's the spirit!" Mimzy laughed. "Let's keep going - and pick up the pace! I've only got so much authority around here, and someone might try to take a bite out of you and worry about all the trouble it could cause later."

Cherri ran much faster and pulled out a few bombs just in case. In the far distance she could see the radio tower aglow. And for just a moment she was actually worried a bit for Angel… Alastor put on a class act, but this show thing was a reminder that he had his own fucked up baggage. The two of them seemed good for each other but there were levels of sin Angel didn't deserve to deal with. She just hoped Angel knew what he was getting into with Alastor.

They turned another corner and came in sight of the Emporium. Rosie stepped out, tilted her head in surprise at the sight of Cherri, hissed at several demons ready to block Mimzy's path, and then ushered the two demons safely indoors.

As Angel headed to the studio, he thankfully didn't have much time to linger on Alastor's heavily implied rejection since he had a bigger problem at the moment. Valentino, Vox, and Velvet had been expecting him to fill them in asap if Alastor was going to put on a show…

Angel had to let the three of them know about Alastor's broadcast as soon as he got to the studio - if he gave them no warning, even if he lied and said he knew nothing about it, they would be pissed. But he also knew they might get pissed anyway when he told them for not managing to let them know sooner. This 'taking down Alastor' thing was important to Valentino and…Angel cringed to imagine what Valentino might do if he felt like Angel had messed it up. There really wasn't a risk-free choice he could make here. So he would just have to go in, deliver the news, and hope for the best.

But at the same time, regardless of how Valentino, Vox, and Velvet would react, Angel was just grateful that Alastor was finally putting on a show. Those three had been too happy lately about Alastor's absence from the airwaves. Now they could go back to just grumbling about Alastor being too powerful and feared and unstable, and they would leave him alone… Angel wanted Alastor to be safe in a way he'd only ever wanted very few demons down here to be safe.

Angel shook his head - he had to stop thinking about Alastor and what had happened tonight. Because the more the reality of Alastor's rejection sunk in the more Angel kept remembering little things that he liked about the deer demon very, very much. The way he made corny jokes and the way he rolled his eyes at innuendo and the way he deftly chopped up food in the kitchen while playing a tune from his ears, and the way he could quip back and forth with Angel at a moment's notice, and how happy he looked bending at the waist to water a plant. Speaking of which, the sharp figure he cut in a suit in general… What it might be like for Angel to touch that suit covering Alastor's body and let his hand linger. And how nice it was whenever Alastor lightly touched him.

That night in Alastor's office after he'd helped Angel avoid leaving the hotel for work: touching hands to teleport, being told his conversation was worthwhile, Alastor calling him darling…

Angel brought a hand to his head, holding back tears he suddenly realized were burning behind his eyes. "Shit…" He plastered on a smile and pretended to just be smoothing back his hair. "Pull yourself together. You're acting like you two broke up when you weren't even a thing in the first place. You're still best guy friends! He still likes you! He's just…not looking to hold your hand unless it's to teleport! No biggie…" He crossed his arms over his chest and whispered. "He can't have broken your heart or whatever. It's not like you were in love with him…" The fact that he could say the L word without breaking down into a mess was a good sign to Angel. It meant he really hadn't fallen that hard for the Radio Demon. But a severe tightness in his chest also told him that he had gotten dangerously close.

"Boo!"

"Fuck!" Angel rounded a corner and jumped, all arms extending out.

There was Velvet with one of her usual manic smiles. She laughed. "So sensitive, Angel. It's much more fun to scare someone with stronger guts." She eyed him up and down. "You do look distressed… Do you know what I know?"

Angel retracted his extra arms and composed himself quickly with a simpering grin. "All I know is you do scare people good, Aunty Vel. Sheesh, I practically died again, heh."

"Hmm…" She tilted her head. Then her eyes hazed. "You're funny, Angel. But now it's time to come with me. We were starting such a nice party but now Val and Vox are waiting, and they're not happy. Guess who's on the radio…"

Angel's eyes widened and he bit his lip but then nodded and moved close to Velvet. "Oh yeah! Aunty Vel, you scared me so much, I almost forgot - Alastor went out walking just before I left and he was acting even more creepy than usual. Damn, he really put on a show and it started already? I figured, even if he was going to, he'd spend a bunch of time lurking the streets first."

"Well, you were wrong." Velvet grabbed his tie and pulled him close, showing her teeth.

Angel swallowed.

Then with a laugh she released him and gestured for him to follow her. "Come on, we have a full night!" She skipped through the studio doors. And reluctantly Angel followed after her.

They were at the VIP room soon enough. Angel braced himself and entered.

Vox had every monitor on his wall lit up and was fully engaged with the screens before him, all from cameras showing different angles on the radio tower (Angel made a mental note to never get that obsessed with losing out on Alastor). Valentino was pacing the room with an old portable radio held to his ear.

"Found him!" Velvet announced proudly as she pranced to her seat and unfurled a sleeve of various cooking knives to polish.

Valentino stopped pacing and turned his steely gaze to Angel.

Angel came forward with a sad smile. "Daddy Val, I'm sorry - Radio Fucker left the hotel acting creepy. He got pissed that someone attacked some demon who plays music on the corner in front of the place. I wasn't sure if he'd put on a show, let alone do one so quick! I was going to tell you everything as soon as I got here!"

Valentino suddenly held up his hand, listening to the radio again.

"Well, at least we now know WHY he put on a show," Vox mumbled. "This is awfully small time for him though… Fuck, it is just like him to pull something random like this."

Valentino lowered his hand and lowered the radio from his ear as well. He tucked it into his coat. "That freak is cracking himself up with shit jokes about being on a 'see-food' diet - everyone he sees is food and he eats all the food he sees. He likes hearing himself talk: we've got a moment." He glanced at Angel and his mouth picked up on one side with a small smirk. "Angel Cakes, don't worry - Alastor is the trickiest son of a bitch in the world to predict. We never expected YOU to be clever enough to keep a step ahead of his game."

Angel wanted to glare at Valentino. But experience made him keep his trusting gaze…and so did the sobering thought that he had been wrong at trying to keep up at his own 'game' with Alastor. "Oh… so… I did good?" He raised an eyebrow.

Valentino's smile fell. "You're still in the middle of doing what we need you to do - as our partner. And you're ready to help the team, right?"

Angel nodded. "Always, Daddy. What do you need? I'll tell everything."

"No more talking." Valentino smirked. "Now is the time for action, baby."

Velvet stopped polishing her knives and glanced over her shoulder, eyes wide with curiosity.

"No," Vox grumbled, shifting his screens to more views on the tower, "the time for action would have been BEFORE this show - when he had a major gap between cannibal fill-ups and was distracted by the newness of the hotel. Now who knows when he'll take another huge break between shows? The hotel's set up - there's nothing to keep him away from his fucking tower!"

"We don't want him away from his fucking tower!" Valentino raised his voice. "We want him contained. And we want him at his most vulnerable. And that time is when he's putting on a show - when he thinks he's invincible and he's high on his own supply of being some unconquerable fallen soul." Valentino stared down Velvet and Vox. Velvet tilted her head more and Vox blinked and glanced away from his monitors to look curiously at Valentino.

Angel had a bad feeling.

"We're going to attack him right now." Valentino turned off the radio and shoved it into his coat.

"Yay!" Velvet clapped her hands and proceeded to gather her knives.

"We can't!"

"We can't!"

Angel and Vox yelled these words at the same time - Angel in a moment of desperation and Vox in a moment of disbelief.

Valentino glared at Vox then slowly turned and raised an eyebrow at Angel.

Angel was grateful for an extra moment to think when Vox stood and spoke up first, walking right over to Valentino. "This is insane! Yes, maybe there's a slim chance that you're right, but there's a bigger chance he'll tear us to shreds in the throes of whatever sick trance he gets into when he eats demons alive! If you want to do this, it needs to be planned, not spur of the moment! I want Alastor dead, but I want to stay alive more!"

Valentino grabbed his collar, roughly pulling him close. "You don't decide what we do. And you don't make judgment calls about anything with Alastor. You know why."

Electricity sparked from Vox's antennae and he scowled and pouted but didn't protest.

Valentino lowered the television demon and sighed. "If we take time and plan this out, somehow the Radio Freak will pick up on any subtle things we do and know it's coming. But if we go for him out of the blue, he's flying blind. He's screwed. And we have the upper hand. But we have to go now before he starts eating that squid demon, heart and all."

"I'm all packed!" Velvet tossed her sleeve of knives into a sack along with a few bundt cakes.

"And you…" Val suddenly turned and towered over Angel. "What the fuck is your problem?"

Angel held up his hands, trying to smile. "Just worried about planning and stuff like Uncle Voxy. And…maybe it's dumb, but the idea of being near someone eating someone - in the literal non-sexy way - freaks me out. But you're right, Daddy - surprising Alastor is a big advantage."

"Hmm…" Valentino's stony look lost some of its chill and Angel felt like he could breathe again, "Well, it doesn't matter, because you're not coming into the tower with us. You're just going to ride with us there and feed us info about everything Alastor did tonight before he left. Got it?"

"I—"

"What the hell?"

Everyone turned to Vox who was pointing at one of the monitors. "There's fucking airship heading right to the radio tower. No way TWO demons would be stupid enough to—"

Valentino growled.

"I-I mean…" Vox cleared his throat and rolled his eyes, "No way two demons would be…I don't know… 'brazen' enough to attack Alastor during a show at the same time!" He squinted his eyes and zoomed in. "Who in the hell…"

Familiar pompous laughter that Angel knew well sounded from the monitor. And then the spider got a good idea quick. "That's Sir Pentious!" Angel spoke up. "He's a joke overlord snake demon. My friend Cherri and I take him down sometimes for fun. Alastor kicked his ass weeks ago outside of the hotel - he must be back for some dramatic revenge bullshit." Angel clasped his hands together, looking up at Valentino. "Daddy, Cherri and I are experts at taking him out. Let me grab her and fuck him up real good! I'll just tell her we're doing it for fun. Please, I want to be out in the field! I want to help you guys! I want to be a real partner!"

Years of sex work had made Angel a master at begging in a way to make even the most skeptical of johns believe him. But convincing Valentino was a whole other level of expertise.

Then, miraculously, Velvet helped. "Aw, let him, Val. He really is a big scared-y cat! He jumped a mile high when I surprised him coming around the corner. And if he fucks up, then the three of us can always slaughter the snake after we're done with the deer."

And Vox thankfully added, scowling. "Yeah, send him to the air ship. If we're really doing this then I do not want to spend the entire ride there doing more talking with Angel about Alastor. I just want to get this plan over with and do whatever needs to be done to move us all forward." Vox glared in Valentino's direction…then swallowed and looked off to the side, flushed.

Valentino glanced at Velvet then at Vox. Then he turned back to Angel. "You keep your little pyro friend out of the goddam loop, and you take down that snake quick and neat. Then you stay the fuck out of sight and leave us to do the final dirty work. Got it?"

Angel nodded, almost holding his breath. "You know best, Daddy Val."

He gave a small nod. "Get the fuck out of here and make us proud."

Angel smirked and nodded back. "My pleasure." He gave the three of them a little wave, turned, and sauntered out of the room.

Once he made it out of the studio, he broke into a full run. He couldn't call anyone at the hotel for help - them getting involved would be a huge red flag to Valentino, and Vox might be monitoring his phone anyway. Angel shot Cherri a message just saying he needed her to meet him at the Cannibal Colony border NOW. He would tell her everything in person and then they could figure out a way to attack Pentious and fuck with the three overlords at the same time. Since Cherri was probably far from Cannibal Colony, Angel would have time to run in and also find Rosie. Fuck the risk of other cannibals trying to snap a bite of him - Rosie needed to know what was going on. She could help Alastor.

Angel almost stumbled in his mad dash to Cannibal Colony when Cherri sent back a text right away - and informed him that she was already there.

There was no time to question this new turn of events. Angel just kept running.

"Alastor, you big cocky idiot, just in case you're not as much of a dangerous fucker as all those stories about you claim, you're getting help from everyone I can get to go up against Val, Vox, and Vel." Angel wiped a tear from his eye, his gaze stern, scared for his friend.

He would not let Alastor get hurt.

Outside of the studio, Valentino, Vox, and Velvet got into the limo which sped off swiftly through the streets in the direction of the radio tower. Velvet ate some of her bundt cake, Valentino gripped his cane and stared foreword with a dark smile, and Vox looked out the window toward the looming radio tower, frowning with a blush. He glanced to Valentino only for a moment but blushed more and finally just looked down. He clenched his fists together and tried to smile. If this plan actually did work, maybe he would be the last face Alastor ever saw. That idea was something. But mostly he just wished the attack was over so that this strange blend of feelings he had for Alastor…and perhaps another… would all be behind him.

At least Angel wouldn't get to be near Alastor at the end - that was a definite comfort indeed.

"Voxy, you look even more grumpy than usual."

Vox glared at Velvet, and his screen glitched.

She tilted her head, smiling manically back at him. "What's the matter? Cannibal Deer got your tongue? Or is it just that you wish he did?"

Electricity sizzled off of Vox's antennae. "I wish you would choke on one of your shitty sweets!"

"Both of you shut up!" Valentino glared at them. "We CANNOT fight. We work together, or this whole plan goes to hell. We are going to have to make this attack flawless… because if we fuck up, Alastor won't give us another chance." He interlaced his fingers and brought both hands to his chin in thought, scowling. "We need to hit him with everything we've got - all the stops. If you two have any tricks up your sleeves, now is the time to lay the cards on the table." He looked to the television overlord. "Vox?"

Vox blinked a few times. "I…" He took a breath and considered. "That radio tower is like a big lightning rod. If I can generate enough electricity I can fry the whole thing." He smiled a little. "I can turn Alastor's crowning glory into a blackened husk. I've always wondered how many watts it would take - I guess now I get to find out." He managed a small smirk.

Valentino nodded, apparently satisfied, and turned to Velvet. "Velvet, what about you?"

She was fishing in her bag. "Oh I've got something! Let me just see where I put that thing…"

Vox mustered up the courage for eye contact with Valentino as he crossed his arms. "And what are you bringing to the table, Val?"

Valentino grinned widely. It was a rare sight and it made Vox swallow.

"Hmm." Valentino crossed his legs and pulled up his coat a little to reveal spiked heel boots and fishnet stockings. Vox felt the wires in his screen heat up. "Angel's cracks about Radio Freak have confirmed how much our little Radio Demon can't handle the big bad sin of lust. If things aren't going our way, I'll show him such a sexy demon that he won't be able to touch me. And it'll freak him out enough to give us a chance at the upper hand again." He lowered the coat once more.

Velvet giggled, still rummaging. "Vox is blushing! Naughty boys - did something happen between you two when I wasn't looking!"

"No!" Vox screamed.

"Not yet." Valentino shrugged.

Vox brought a hand to his screen and sighed.

"Kinky!" Velvet giggled. Then her eyes lit up. "Ah, I found it!" She pulled out a folded up cupcake wrapper, handling it gently. "Here's my surprise attack. I've been saving it for something special." She opened the wrapper to reveal something small and glinting and sharp.

"Fuck…" Vox sighed with a dry look. "Another razor blade? You're repeating yourself, Vel."

"That's not a razor blade," Valentino added in a tone of awe. "Fuck, Velvet… where'd you get a piece that small?"

Velvet held up the item and moved it closer to them. And then Vox saw the silvery white sheen of the sharp object and realized what it was too. "A piece of angel spear? But…those spears are unbreakable. How did you—"

"An angel made this when he accidentally crossed blades with another angel during a cleanse and broke his spear," she explained. "Alastor could see and avoid a full spear easily, but he won't see this coming. If I get close and cut him just right…bye bye, Radio Demon."

Valentino smiled very much and leaned back in his seat. "We can do this tonight. I feel it."

Velvet tucked away the piece of blade into her dress pocket and scowled as she grinned more.

Vox thought for just a moment about betraying these two and begging Alastor for a partnership before he pushed away the stupidly desperate idea and decided overlords were better off not needing anyone at all. Hell, he might even go off on his own for a little while - he needed a break from this shit. Maybe Alastor had the right idea, being a solo act.

The limo got closer and closer to the tower.

"Seafood is a delicacy there's really not enough of in hell. I suppose because the lakes are made of fire, ha! That's taking flame-broiled a bit too far in my opinion. What do you think?"

Faint moans sounded.

"Now, now, do not fade on me so quickly. We're barely done. And I've only sampled a bit of your flesh and blood. So be a sport and stay conscious until the main course, my sinful cephalopod!" Alastor's voice distorted and deepened. "I WILL NOT LET YOU LEAVE ME BEHIND!" Static filled the air. Then Alastor's voice returned to normal even though the tone remained low. "Perhaps we'll take a brief break so you can regain yourself. It's important that you make your last hours of existing entertaining for me and our listeners. And I'll take a moment to clean up before me move on. We're going to commercial, folks! Stay tuned!"

Alastor really tended to forget about everything outside of his tower when he was in the midst of a show. He didn't know about the limo or Cannibal Colony…or the repaired airship makings its way across the pentagram toward the glowing light of his tower, full of walking talking eggs and a hissing snake with a grin. "Alastor, you fool, you've given me a perfect beacon! And with the distraction of your show and the improvements to my ship, I'm afraid the Radio Demon will soon be silenced!" He laughed maniacally, and the Egg Bois joined in!

"Are you gonna turn off his show, boss?'

"No! By 'silenced' I meant - "

"Are you gonna put a gag in his mouth, boss?"

"Don't be stupid! We're going to - "

"Oh, oh, are you gonna silence him by shooting his mouth with your ray gun? Then his mouth will be too full of rays to talk!"

The eggs looked on. Pentious scowled and opened his mouth, about to protest…but then he considered and finally sighed. "Yes, I suppose that's one way to kill him. If it'll make you happy, we can shoot him in the mouth with the ray gun for starters."

Cheers rang out among all the egg bois.

"But be QUIET or we won't get a chance to shoot him with anything!" Pentious hissed.

The cheers continued at the level of loud whispers. Sir Pentious grinned smugly and went back to flying his ship right toward the radio tower's glow.

A/N:

We're getting close to a big climax in this story! Thank you for reading and reviewing if you can!

Please note: I'm going to be skipping next weekend, and the next update will be in two weeks. I need some extra time to work out what happens next in the story with the radio tower battle. Thanks for your patience!

Take care!

-Azure129