A/N:

Hello everyone! Here's the latest installment and the initial aftermath of the radio siege! I hope you enjoy!

Partners

Chapter 15:

Welcome Back

Alastor woke up in a cold sweat and was distinctly unhappy to realize that he couldn't move.

Actually, scratch that - he could move - but it was awful to do so. Everything felt stiff and raw and aching. And his chest burned beneath his… He blinked and realized he was in a long red buttoned-up shirt and pants: his nightclothes. He did not recall changing into his nightclothes which left the distinct possibility that someone else had changed him into his nightclothes. And… he had bandages all around his chest and back which he did not recall applying, which left the distinct possibility that someone else had wrapped him up. And this place looked like a room in the hotel - this wasn't his office, this wasn't the radio tower…

The radio tower.

Alastor's eyes became radio dials for a moment but then he hissed in pain and brought a hand to his chest - his eyes returned to normal. He took a breath and snapped his fingers - nothing happened except for a jolt of microphone feedback between his ears and his head spinning. "Well, that's quite unfortunate." He tried to laugh, though he swallowed nervously as well. Then he focused and his shadow appeared, faint and wavering but still there. Alastor tilted his head at the sight. "My, I hope someone got the license number of the jalopy that hit us - ha!"

His shadow was not amused.

Alastor sighed and sat up a bit more against is pillows. "I require Husker but I don't seem able to conjure him here. We really must have encountered quite the entertaining experience. I recall most of the details but the end is a blur, and I would like clarification. Can you fetch him?"

The shadow weakly nodded and willed itself through the floor to the lobby.

Alastor settled back agains the pillows. He tried to tune his ears to catch a radio wave so he could at least know the time but the effort made him queasy. No matter, Husker would fill him in. For now, he caught sight of a fresh bottle sarsaparilla at his bedside - the Radio Demon managed to pour himself a cup by the time Husker burst through the door, eyes wide.

Alastor's smile grew. "Good morning, Husker!"

Husker scowled and shut the door behind him. "Try good 'late afternoon' - THREE DAYS since we brought you up here!"

"My my, was I reposing for that long?" Alastor sipped. "I must have been put through quite the tussle. Speaking of which—"

"I can't believe you're actually fucking ALIVE after all that, and the first thing you want to do is have witty banter over crap soda pop!" Husk grumbled and stomped over to the bed. "Do you have any idea how much shit I've had to keep together while you've been snoozing? I've been keeping Niffty busy and listening to Charlie's emotional outbursts and putting off Vaggie's angry questions and helping Abel stop Louise from marching across town to give Vox and company a piece of her mind, AND keeping Steve in bed so he gets better too, AND distracting Fat Nuggets so the damn pig doesn't crawl in here to see you. I know I sold you my soul, but I have been putting in some serious fucking overtime and you'd better appreciate it!"

Alastor's eyelids fell slightly as he eyed Husker. Then he sighed. "I'm afraid I'm unable to conjure up your usual 'cheap booze' or anything else to repay your efforts at the moment. Would you like the rest of my bottle of sarsaparilla for now?"

Husk just sighed deeply and swiped the bottle. "It's a start…" He tilted his head. "You can't conjure? So, you blew a fuse in your powers again, huh? That usually clears up pretty quickly."

"Pretty quickly when it's from overexertion due to hunting and when I've had a proper demon to sink my teeth into, blood, heart, soul and all. But this circumstance is…rather different." Alastor sipped and swallowed. "I suspect I've barely eaten these last three days. I feel…antsy, to put it mildly."

"Managed to slip some soup into you to keep you from starving to death or going on a cannibal rampage…" Husk mumbled.

"Oh, Husker, I didn't know you cared enough to attempt such a reckless feat as feeding me. In my condition I could have ripped off your arm without thinking."

"I didn't do it." Husk took a long sip and made very steady eye contact with Alastor.

Alastor paused for a moment and then sat up far took quickly. "Angel! Where is Angel?" He brought a hand to his chest again, wincing in pain until the feedback in his head went away.

Husk blinked. "Whoa, whoa, lie back down! I'm not doing three more days of cleaning up your messes." Husk lowered his voice. "And Angel's fine - you never laid a claw or fang on him."

Alastor settled against the pillows again. "Yes…How silly of me. I must rest…heh…" His smile was shaky and he felt both cold and hot. "And it's good to know Angel is as dandy as usual. I simply wanted to make sure I hadn't…disrupted Charlie's hotel aspirations by putting her first guest out of the picture." There were tears threatening to come into his eyes that he willed them away with the little bit of rage always present in his heart. "So Angel has no need for bed rest due to me… or anything that happened at the tower?"

Husk sighed. "Angel got out of the radio tower mess without a scratch on him from anyone. He's out right now handing out flyers for the open house next week. He's been trying to rum up business for the hotel. And decorating with the girls for the party. And helping me with Niffty and Nuggets. And yeah, in case I have to spell it out for you, he's been feeding you the soup - something with noodles and meatballs, I don't know…" He rolled his eyes. "And also water and sarsaparilla, and he'd probably have shoved a zeppoli down your throat if he could have."

Alastor swallowed. "Indeed." He glanced to Husker. "Husker, you know that…if I don't get some fresh 'meat' very soon - something a little more fiendish than a few bovine meatballs - I may be a bit…difficult to manage. And to restore myself completely I'm going to need a lot of it. But I suppose Charlie would frown upon me sending you to fetch a few live demons for me. And…I wouldn't want to disturb Angel any further." He swung a fist through the air as best he could. "I'll simply have to rally myself and go out on a hunt."

Husk glared at him. "Absolutely not. You couldn't take down a fucking field mouse like this."

"And who's going to stop me?"

The bar cat smirked. "Oh, not me - I've done my part to help you. But you've got three stubborn women and a porn star in this place who will watch you like a damn hawk until you're better. And even if you got out, Rosie has her crows flying - she'll have Cherri capture your ass and bring you back here faster than you can say 'off the air'."

Alastor's ears fell and his smile flattened a little. "Well, if you all would prefer that I potentially lose my senses from cannibal starvation and magical weakness, and dine on each of you before I can stop myself…"

Husk groaned and downed another gulp of sarsaparilla. "If I'd known you'd be this dramatic for eternity, I'd never have shaken your hand for my deal." He rubbed his temple in exasperation. "Angel's got a plan for what to do about your situation. He figured out how important meat can be to you after all the stuff at the tower."

Alastor felt sick and his ears flattened more.

Husk went on. "Told me about it while he was making this god awful smelling old Italian concoction to put on all those deep cuts you got. So if you stink like garlic and parsley for the next ten years, you know who to blame."

Alastor was very still for a moment. "Are you…telling me that Angel applied this substance to my body himself."

"Yeah, and he got the bandages around you too." Husk could already see dark symbols swirling over Alastor's head. "And don't have a fit! You were practically feral - you wouldn't let anyone else touch you, but you clung to Angel like a freaking port in a storm. It did take the two of us to shove you in the shower though…."

"THE SHOWER!" Alastor was giving off full blown static now, his eyes radio dials. But pain overtook him again and the anger display faded.

"You were covered in about six different demons' blood, which was definitely part of why you were acting like a pissed off alleycat. You were a fucking mess!" Husk took another swig. "Relax, we just took off your jacket and I didn't let him put your head under." He smirked. "Figured I'd let you keep your dignity there."

Alastor pouted as much as one could with a smile. "And then what happened?"

Husk sighed rubbing his temple. "Your clothes were shredded and soaked in blood. We got you out of the jacket and shirt. And calm down!" he could see Alastor's eyes narrowing as his smile tightened to display all of his fangs, "Angel left to make that fucking diabolical salve of his while I got you into a fresh pair of pants. Then he came back. I was going to get you bandaged up but you were still in a goddam fighting mood and also I HATE the smell of that stuff, so Angel took care of it. You were calmer with him. He put the salve on the bandages and wrapped them around you. He's been changing them once a day."

Alastor gripped the end of his blanket and tried not to let his face glow too much. "Well…now that I'm alive and present again, I'll certainly be able to handle my care on my own. He has no need to…"

Husk shook his head. "Are you kidding? Everyone is going to want to be part of getting you better. Brace yourself." He pointed at Alastor. "And Niffty is coming up here, and you're telling her face to face you're all right - she's been worried about you, you ass."

Alastor sighed deeply and laid back on his pillow. "Very well… But please refrain from telling them I'm awake yet. Just until the end of the day. I need some time to rest and think."

Husk nodded and finished off the sarsaparilla.

"How bad was what happened?" Alastor asked. "I'm afraid I was quite blacked out at the end there. All I remember are those three lowlife overlords attacking my tower, Rosie and Mimzy of course coming to the rescue, the squid dead on the floor, and then…Angel, I suppose."

Husk stood up. "Well, for a quick run down, your tower is standing but it's a fucking wreck - fire, flood, wiring shot. The cannibals are working to get it back together, but that could take weeks. Rosie…she took a hit but she's back on her feet. Mimzy's been keeping the Colony going with her. And the official word on the street is that you're here plotting revenge and planning to show everyone how fucking well you survived at the open house next week. That should be a fun pipe dream to go for."

Alastor considered. "So none of our compatriots were hurt. And I have a social obligation to be front and center at the party. What an interesting turn the game has taken." He tried to laugh heartily but his chest still hurt. And it burned in a small place over his heart. "Husker…do you know exactly what happened to me? Why do I feel…very unwell? My chest hurts…"

"Ask Angel that later - he was there." Husk headed to the door. "He visits you each night. So get ready soon for your first guest." He glared at Alastor. "And don't pick at those bandages or I'll convince Niffty to put a cone around your head, you problematic jackass." Then he left and slammed the door behind him.

Alastor sighed deeply, his eyes closed. He both wanted to think about and to fully avoid the idea of Angel up here taking care of him when he had been in such a vicious state. Angel wrapping up his chest and cleaning him up. Angel visiting him at night as he slept. If Angel had been at the tower…then he must have seen many things.

Suddenly Alastor felt sick inside but there was nothing inside of him to hurl up. He was ravenous and nauseas all at once and his body was still tender, and his chest still burned. Oh, whatever those three overlords had done, he would make examples out of them - provided he hadn't already killed them in his blind rage. He actually hoped he had taken them out. If Angel had seen him in such a horrific state, the least he could have done was remove some of the most problematic demons from Angel's life. Then Angel would have no one to be afraid of…except perhaps Alastor now.

And yet the spider had come to him every night according to Husker.

Whatever had happened, Alastor needed to know. He needed Angel.

"Come one, come all, to the best damn open house in hell!" Angel put on his flashiest smile as he stood on a street corner, all six arms full of flyers. Everyone demon who came within reach got one shoved into their hands. "We're learning to live up to heaven's standards down at the Hazbin Hotel! There'll be music, there'll be dancing, there'll be food and booze - all hosted by the Princess of Hell herself! And also me, Angel Dust, live on stage! And the Radio Demon too!"

A fish demon with a long dangling appendage on his head and a lab coat stopped and raised an eyebrow as a flyer came into his hands. "It seems highly improbable to me that the Radio Demon would be capable of performing after the obvious severity of the battle at his radio tower."

Angel's smile hurt it grew so much. "Naw are you kidding? Sure there was a big fight, but that guy never gets taken down! He's just spending some time planning how to repair his tower and how to make our open ouse the best bash ever!"

"But logically - "

"Get out of here, kid - ya bother me! But do come to Hazbin, and tell your friends!" Angel ushered the demon away and focused on new passersby.

Angel heard someone come around the corner and already had one of his hands shoved forward with a flyer when he blinked and saw it was Charlie with the remainder of her own stack in hand. "Angel - I think that's enough for today. We should head back and maybe get some lunch. And you definitely deserve a rest - you were out here working the streets before I even got up this morning." She blushed. "I-I mean, you were working the streets handing out flyers—"

Angel chuckled and put a hand on her shoulder. "Relax, hun, I know what you mean." His smile brightened as hers relaxed. "Why don't YOU go? I'm not hungry or tired - I'll hand out more flyers, maybe pick up some party decorations, get some groceries—"

"Angel." Charlie took his hand in both of hers. "I know it's…hard for you to slow down right now. But please? I don't want to see you burn yourself out. Everyone's helping, so everything will get taken care of."

Angel blinked and his smile faltered for a moment, but then he finally swallowed and nodded as he put it back on. "Well, I guess I could head back and check in on Niffty and Nuggets. And I mean, hey, the sooner I put on a fresh pot of soup for - you know - the better…" His eyes went away from hers.

Charlie nodded. She pulled out her phone and sent a message. The limo came around the corner. "Come on," she opened the door for them, "I told Razzle and Dazzle to take the long way back to the hotel. Sometimes it's just nice to sit in the car and get driven around, away from everyone for a moment."

Angel shrugged as he got in. She entered behind him and closed the door. The car drove off.

Charlie sat across from Angel with a hopeful looks. But Angel was gazing out the window, his arms crossed and his smile faint.

She considered. "Angel…I know you're worried about Alastor but...are you sure YOU'RE okay, after everything that happened?"

He grinned and glanced at her. "What do you mean? 'Course I'm okay - not a scratch on me."

"I know but…there's other ways to not be okay. And I know everything really upset you. But Alastor's going to be fine and you're going to be fine too and…Angel?"

She stopped talking. Angel was still smiling casually but there were tears at the edges of his eyes. "What? Sure, I know everything's gonna be fine. He's fine, I'm fine. We're in hell and everything's okay…" He blinked, and a set of those tears fell despite his smile.

"Oh Angel." Charlie felt tears in her eyes too. "You can talk to me about anything, you know."

"No - there's things a person can never talk about." Angel shook his head, his eyes down, "because when you talk about them…they become real…" He pulled up his knees and wiped at his eyes, his head completely down.

Charlie got up and sat beside him. She put her arms around him. She held him for a moment as he quietly cried.

Then he took a breath and spoke softly. "If…when Al is better, please still let him stay, Charlie. And please still let me stay. At the hotel. I don't want to leave."

"Stay?" Charlie released him and raised an eyebrow. "Why would I send you away?"

"Charlie, for christ sake!" Angel threw out his arms and rolled his eyes. "We are clearly fucking bad for this redemption hotel of yours! We're RUINING it! You didn't even have to take him in at the hotel that night, but you did, and I'll owe you one forever for that! But come on, Charlie - the two of us attract turf wars and overlords and all the worst sinners in hell. Abel and Louise should be your poster kids for the place, not us. But if I can convince Al to lay low and if I promise I'll never drag the hotel through the mud again with the stupid dangerous shit I get into, can we still just stay?" He was frowning now, teary-eyed, gripping the seats. "Al needs a place away from that radio tower. And I need a place away from the studio. And I need…I want to be here with Al - and everyone else. I won't do anything else to ruin everything, I promise.:

Charlie grabbed his face in her hands and looked him right in the eye, her gaze stern. "Angel Dust, I was never going to kick out either of you! You're not just a guest and Alastor is not just a sponsor. And I don't care about overlords and turf wars - I care about you! You and Alastor! I would never have turned you away the other night. And you two are staying here for as long as you want to because we're fa—…" She bit her lip and quickly wiped away tears.

Angel blinked. "You…feel like family too?"

She nodded, her eyes down. "My family - the royal family - never felt like how I feel with all of you at the hotel." Her eyes met his again. "I'm not giving up on any of you or punishing you for making mistakes. We are here for each other. We're all in this together. The hotel isn't about judgment and being better than other demons - it's about peace and a place where you're accepted and loved and can remember to love yourself and others."

"That is the corniest crap I have her heard."

Charlie blinked.

Angel smiled - a real one this time - and hugged her tight. "I'd forgotten what it was like, to be part of a real family… The studio - isn't one. And in my life I only had a couple people who were good to me." He pulled back. "Honestly, kid, if anyone should be going to heaven, it's you."

Charlie blushed then smiled sheepishly. "Thanks… but I'd rather focus on you guys." She took his hands. "So are you really okay?"

Angel considered; his voice was low. "I saw some things…"

"Yeah…cannibal stuff probably isn't the easiest thing to stomach up close."

He shook his head. "No, not that. I mean, yeah, but…Charlie, I've seen some nasty sides to hell, so the cannibal stuff was nothing I couldn't handle. But I saw…" He sighed. "Alastor's supposed to be this untouchable guy and I saw him touched and twisted until…I wasn't sure if he was in there anymore. Charlie, if I hadn't been there, if anything else had gone wrong, he…" He shook his head. "I'm so stupid. I only just met him a month ago. But the idea of hell without him is awful." He blushed and knew it and couldn't help it.

Charlie smiled and nodded. "You two have a very special bond. It makes sense, Angel." She swallowed, blushing a little herself. "I know he would have done the same for you."

Angel blushed more but tried to cover it up by wiping away tears and fixing his hair. "When he wakes up, don't tell him I got this upset. I know he'll already probably feel weird about all of us saving him - showboating son of a bitch likes to do everything himself."

Charlie nodded with a smile. "I promise."

Then Angel considered and smiled a little too in an all-knowing sort of way. "So…why exactly did you guys put Smiles' room next to mine?"

"Oh, uh…" Charlie was such a horrible liar. "Well, Husk just knows how well you and Alastor get along and we all agreed and…you know, it just happened, heh."

"Right." Angel crossed his arms. "Well…thanks. I like being near him." He blushed again.

A beaming smile came over Charlie's face for a moment before she cleared her throat and added quickly, "Oh, well, great! Stay together as long as you'd like!"

Angel took a deep breath, finally at ease. "So is this why Vaggs didn't come with us today? You wanted a little heart to heart with me?"

Charlie laughed a little. "That and she wanted to give an update on Alastor to Cherri - then Cherri's gonna give it to Rosie and Mimzy. The most important thing is keeping Alastor's condition a secret." Charlie raised an eyebrow. "And…have you heard from the studio yet?"

"Not a peep from any of them." Angel's gaze went forward and his smile tightened. "As far as I'm concerned that means I'm off duty til further notice. Wish I could let you know what their…condition is but…" He shrugged.

"Did Alastor hurt them badly?"

Angel didn't look at her. His stomach twisted. The truth almost came out of his mouth but then something that merely wasn't a lie came out instead. "No, he didn't hurt them too badly at all."

"Well…at least you get a break from work and some good time off." Charlie smiled again.

"And I get to party plan, which is my favorite thing!" Angel put on a grin and winked. "We're gonna make this bash a total success!"

"I have a really good feeling about it too!" Charlie clasped her hands together in excitement.

Angel watched her, happy to see her happy. Inside, he wasn't sure what he felt worse about: the idea of lying to Charlie about taking out Val, Vox, and Vel himself or the idea of her finding out that he had sinned to the point of attempted vengeful murder with no regret.

He pushed past the confusing distress and instead just focused on a special hope: an image of Alastor, alive and well, strolling through the open house…in his suit that matched Angel's dress. Angel wanted to see that smile and hear that voice and touch that demon's hand again. Angel missed Alastor very much.

Abel and Louise were seated on the bench in the hotel backyard overlooking the garden while Fat Nuggets ran around, rolling in dirt, and Niffty ran around after him, cleaning him as he went. She laughed and Fat Nuggets oinked, and everyone was happy.

Louise held Abel's hand. Abel felt the tension in her touch and glanced at her. "Louise, do you want me to go in and get you a book or a cup of tea? Something to relax you…"

"No." She shook her head and smiled a little. "Sorry, I'm fine. Better than I was. I just…" her brow furrowed, "I know we're in hell, but it shouldn't be this bad. WE'RE not THIS bad. Alastor didn't deserve to have three demons come into his tower and try to tear him and his friends apart! Even if he was doing one of those shows…." She pouted. "He has issues and a lot to work on, but there's a good person in there. And if good people go to hell…do bad people sometimes end up in heaven?" She sighed. "None of this is right somehow. Someone should do something - people deserve to be safe no matter where they are." She wiped a tear away from the corner of her eye.

Abel turned to her more and leaned closer. "Louise, I know you want to fix everything everywhere - you've got a good heart and you're strong and passionate." He smiled more. "But it's okay to take it one step at a time. We came here to support this redemption hotel - that's a good step. And we made friends. And we have each other. This is a small safe place. It'll grow soon. For now it's okay to just enjoy it sometimes."

Louise smiled and leaned against him. "You're the greatest guy in hell, you know that? No matter what happens, as long as I'm with you, I feel like we'll be okay…and like things will be okay for other people too."

Abel blushed a little. "I try. And I feel the same way too about you." He leaned against her as well and fantasized about pulling out the ring now and asking her his question.

But then Niffty dashed over, Fat Nuggets following behind her. "Aww, you two look so sweet together! It reminds me of how Alastor and Angel always look sitting out in the garden!" She sighed and scratched behind Fat Nuggets' ear. "Nuggets misses spending time with them out here. I know Alastor needs his rest but I wish he would come out of his room soon."

Louise bit her lip. But Abel just smiled and leaned down toward Niffty "He will - he just wants to make sure he's extra prepared for the big open house party. It'll be such a fun night for all of us. Then you can tell him all about everything he missed while he was resting up."

Niffty's smile returned. She got on her tiptoes and hugged Abel. "Thank you!" Then she looked to Nuggets. "Come on, Nuggets, let's go inside and get you something to eat."

She dashed inside with the pig.

Louise smirked a little. "You're mighty good with her, Abel. I know she's closer to our age, but she's like a bright-eyed kid sometimes."

Abel shrugged. "Oh. Yeah, well…I always liked kids. And I was just trying to help."

"You'd make a nice dad."

Abel blushed completely and froze up.

Louise giggled and held out her hand as she stood. "Come on, let's get a snack and then check on Steve. Then maybe we can go up to our room to 'relax'."

Abel stood up, a stumbling awkward mess. But he did take her hand. "Louise…" He chuckled.

They headed inside just as Husk came down the stairs and Charlie and Angel entered through the front door.

"Oh Husk!" Charlie dashed over to him. "I wanted to go over the drink menu with you for the party."

"Uh, maybe later." Husk stepped past her. "Why don't you go see Niffy and get a snack - she just went into the kitchen. And I'll bring you guys some Shirley temples in a few minutes." His eyes went to Angel. "First I've got to ask Angel some questions about the other night."

Charlie hesitated but then nodded. "Okay, you two talk about whatever you need." She glanced to Louise and Abel. "Would you like to join us?"

Abel shook her head. "We're going to check on Steve and then spend some time upstairs."

"But if anything happens with Alastor, please let us know," Louise added.

Charlie nodded. "Of course." She gave one final smile to Angel then headed to the kitchen as Louise and Abel headed upstairs to their room

Angel sauntered over to Husk, suspicious. "So, I'm pretty sure I went over all the gory details with you about the fight already. What else could you possibly—"

Husk lowered his voice. "He's awake."

Instantly Angel's mouth opened and Husk grabbed his bow tie to shut him up. "Not a word," he hissed. "He didn't want anyone to know til tonight but you're gonna visit him in a few hours anyway so congrats - you get to know first. And yeah, he's just as sensitive and dramatic and wrecked as you'd think. So go slowly. Also he knows about you and the bandages."

Husk released him, and Angel blushed a lot as he glanced at the stairs. "Husk…" he said quietly. "Thanks."

Husk just shrugged and headed toward the bar to start on the drinks for Charlie and Niffty.

Angel dashed upstairs at full speed, his heart pounding. Alastor was awake - he would truly be okay. And even though Angel obviously wasn't going to do it this very moment, he had made a promise to himself after the night of the siege. If Alastor survived, Angel was going to tell that antlered idiot about the special place he had come to hold in his heart. Because if Angel had been on the brink of falling for Alastor before the battle, the entire ordeal had pushed him over the edge. He loved that crazy deer.

For now though Angel just needed to see him and hear him and be near him - that much would be enough to make Angel's whole world shine a little brighter again.

A/N:

Thank you for reading and reviewing! The next few chapters will be about Alastor's healing process and finally the open house. I hope you enjoy what's to come : )

Take care!

-Azure129