A/N:

Hi everyone! We're back, and it's time or Alastor and Angel to start their first date : ) And some other people are going to have some romance too lol. I hope you enjoy!

Partners

Chapter 32:

First Dates

Arackniss had decided to keep an eye on the general area of the Hazbin Hotel when he could - maybe Angel was okay at that place, but he had Molly to worry about now. And if, while checking up on them, he ran into his snake friend Sir Pentious again…that wouldn't be so terrible.

Today Niss finally managed to slip away from his usual mob duties and head deeper into the Pentagram. And he was surprised to find that that running into Sir Pentious again did not turn out to be an issue. The airship was flying in full view over the Pentagram, and from it Sir Pentious was broadcasting dramatic threats of doom and destruction. Niss smiled - the guy was a little over the top but funny too, and he sort of liked his flair. And he even liked when Sir Pentious started to include occasional invitations for his new 'special friend' to join him in wreaking havoc. On an impulse Niss tailed the ship. He couldn't talk to the snake in public of course - the mob might find out or worse. But he also hadn't had a real friend in a long time. So even though getting close was a risk, he was too curious to resist.

Eventually the airship stopped above a desolate area of abandoned buildings. Arackniss hid and realized why - that pain in the ass television overlord from the party was standing out in the open and challenging Sir Pentious. Niss was ready to fire a few rounds from a distance into that flat screen face…but he stopped when the snake ignored the challenge and instead began to loudly and publicly lament not finding his intriguing friend from the party last night who had nearly been taken out by the chandelier. Niss swallowed - Sir Pentious was dangerously close to describing him directly and to suggesting that the two of them had developed an 'emotional attachment'. He couldn't let it get back to 'the family' that he was hooked up with this guy so deeply. He had to put a stop to this… and maybe he also wanted to comfort the snake and assure him that Niss liked and missed him too.

Before he could figure out a plan, Sir Pentious had suddenly recognized the television overlord and called him out for daring to hurt his friend (which had made Niss blush). Then Sir Pentious nearly - and impressively - beat the other overlord to a pulp. The tv guy escaped. Before he could stop himself, Niss ran over to where the airship was descending, black smoke coming from one damaged side. He found a door then swallowed and made himself knock. He just needed to tell Sir Pentious to keep their friendship under his hat, and then he'd disappear right back to his mob work. Simple.

He heard an angry Sir Pentious from inside. "Still here, Sir Vox? If it's an old-fashioned round of fisticuffs you want, so be it!" The door opened and there stood a scowling snake with his fists raised. Upon seeing Niss he blinked, nearly tripped over his own tail, then tried desperately to settle himself into a casual, confident position against the doorframe. "It's you! I mean… Oh Arackniss what a pleasant surprise bumping into each other like this!" He smiled brightly.

Niss managed a small smile in return and gave him a little wave. "Uh, hey, Pen… Yeah, I, uh…couldn't help but hear the fight so I rushed over. Everything…" One of the engines fell off the ship with a crash, "…okay?"

Sir Pentious laughed. "Oh of course - damages are part of the overlord job!" He turns and called out into the ship. Egg Bois, see to the repairs! And bring more cocoa - we have a guest!"

Niss's eyes widened and he held up his hands. "Oh, I can't stay! I just needed to tell you…"

"Just for a moment? It'll be nice to chat without the hubbub of a crowd." He smiled hopefully.

Niss smiled a little in return. If they were going to talk, it might take some time considering this guy's flair for conversation. Better to hash things out inside in private than out here exposed. Niss nodded. "Okay, for a little while." He stepped over the threshold. The door closed automatically behind him, making him hop an extra step forward on instinct - he ended up very close to Sir Pentious. Niss had never liked snakes much in life but this one was different. Sort of pretty - those cobra flaps of his almost looked like long, dark hair.

Sir Pentious watched him with a curious, amused smile. Then he blushed a little and moved to the side to gesture forward. "You're going to meet the Egg Bois now. You may want to brace yourself. And whatever you do, please don't shoot them no matter how much they ask for it. I still haven't worked that compulsion out of their programming."

Niss laughed. "Hey, I'm used to intense families. Nothing they can do could surprise me."

Sir Pentious's eyes hazed and he smirked. "Perhaps I can meet your family one day. But for now, you asked for it…"

Before Niss could even respond to the impossible notion of Sir Pentious ever meeting his family, the snake snapped his fingers and suddenly dozens of little egg men in top hats were running toward them, some bearing mugs of hot cocoa. "Hey boss! Who's your friend, boss? Will he shoot us, boss? Where's the tv man - he wanted to shoot us!"

Sir Pentious rolled his eyes. "Enough about shooting. This is a new friend. You can call him Niss. He knows Miss Cherri."

"Miss Cherri!" They all beamed and surrounded Niss.

Sir Pentious grinned and whispered. "They've grown rather obsessed with Cherri since we kidnapped her a couple weeks ago. They organized a fan club - it's gotten hilariously out of hand." He wrapped his tail around Niss and lifted him away from the clamoring Egg Bois - the spider was too distracted by his pounding heart and the snake's strong tail to resist.

Sir Pentious explained. "We'll make much better time getting through them like this. Come on."

As the Egg Bois trailed behind them, a blushing Arackniss suddenly wished that he actually could talk to his brother Angel for a moment - or maybe longer. He had a lot of questions. But for now at least he would just have to feel his way through the answers alone.

Cherri was stunned when she went to open the door of the Hazbin Hotel at dusk and actually found it locked. "Damn." She put a hand on her hip and smiled up at the building, impressed. "They finally took security seriously." She shook her head and knocked.

There was silence and then a sound like someone was running to the door. It flew open and there stood a beaming Charlie, pulling Vaggie with her. "Cherri! You're here!" Charlie pulled her inside, and Cherri barely managed to keep her balance and her duffel bag on her shoulder.

Vaggie smiled. "We locked the door so you'd have to knock because Charlie wanted to make sure we gave you a big welcome."

"You're our only guest tonight who's not from the hotel after all." Charlie clasped her hands together. "And we are going to have such a great time! Niffty's finishing up the snacks, and I've got a bunch of pillows upstairs for pillow fights and there's music and scary movies and stuff for makeovers." She rubbed her cheeks.

Cherri laughed a little. "Charlie, calm down or you're gonna pass out on all of us by 9."

"Deep breaths, babe." Vaggie put her hands on Charlie's shoulders, and Charlie calmed a little.

The demon princess looked between them with a hopeful smile. "I'm just excited that we're all getting to relax together. I know some things around here have been a bit…stressful. But I think we're in a good place for now."

"You're in an even better place than you think," Angel's voice suddenly announced from the top of the stairs, "because tonight you get to have the best pet ever at your slumber party - Fat Nuggets!" Then the spider - dressed in a very odd-looking full length dark trench coat - descended the steps carrying Fat Nuggets.

Niffty burst out of the kitchen, her eye wide. "FAT NUGGETS WILL BE AT THE PARTY?!" She ran to the bottom of the steps, bobbing up and down on her feet.

Angel chuckled as he reached her. "That's right. I've got a late night, and Nuggets gets lonely. You guys mind looking after him? Seriously, he's the best - he'll eat any snacks you don't want, he loves cuddles, and you can dress him up." Angel held out Fat Nuggets who oinked.

Niffty grabbed the pig and hugged him tight. "Yes please!"

Charlie smiled up at Angel curiously. "Of course we'll watch him. But I wish you could stay for the party, Angel. Are you sure you can't take off?" She glanced at Cherri. "Maybe you can convince him to stay. He deserves a fun night here."

Angel glanced away as Cherri stepped forward with a big grin. "Oh believe me, he has fun at work too. Besides, he was cooped up here for a while taking care of Radio Head - he needs more time getting out of the house."

Vaggie eyed him and crossed her arms. "You don't have a bunch of weapons stashed under there, do you? This isn't some kind of weird turf war thing, is it?"

"Hey, if it was, I'd be doing it with him." Cherri high-fived Angel as he passed by.

Angel turned to Vaggie and waved her off. "Not quite, Vaggie. I've got a special client tonight and this outfit is too 'X-Rated' for the streets. I'd be beating guys off with a stick. I'm a professional - gotta keep the goods under wraps except for paying customers."

"Just promise you're taking care of yourself Angel - and making good choices." Charlie tried to smile but he saw the worry in her eyes.

Angel couldn't help but think of Molly for a moment. He sighed and bent down, looking back at her with a warm smile. "I promise. I'm actually making some of the best choices for myself these days. And finding you and coming here helped me start."

Charlie's eyes widened and she blushed and blinked away big tears. She hugged Angel tightly then pulled back with a smile. "I knew you would be a good hotel guest. I felt it the first time I saw you."

Now Angel's eyes went a bit wide and he blushed slightly. And he tried to ignore the prick of a tear at the corner of his eye.

Luckily Cherri helped by putting an arm around his shoulders with a grin. "Aww, see Angie, I always knew you were special."

Angel laughed and slipped out of her grip. "Yeah, yeah - anyway, you girls have fun tonight. Charlie, Vaggie, tell Cherri about when we first met and I asked if Vaggie's name was short for Vagina. That still cracks me up."

Vaggie blushed and rolled her eyes while Cherri laughed a lot.

Niffty zipped up to Angel, holding up Nuggets. "Nuggets wants a kiss goodbye, Miss Angel."

Angel kissed the pig on the head. "You have a good night too, Niffty. I'll see you for breakfast with everyone tomorrow." Angel waved over his shoulder. "Bye, sinners!" And with that he strolled out the door.

The girls heard some bottles clink together across the lobby and turned to the bar to see Husk gathering a few full ones in his arms, scowling.

Niffty frowned. "Husk! Are you sure you don't want to come to the slumber party? I won't let any glitter get in your fur."

He sighed. "No thanks, I'm just gonna drink in my room far away from all the glitter and rainbows and girly giggling. I do still have a scrap of dignity left."

"Really? How surprising! Kudos to you, Husker!" Alastor put on his laugh track - he had just strolled out of his office, twirling his cane and dressed in his usual suit. He had a pocket watch in hand. He headed in the direction of the front door.

"Is everything okay, Alastor?" Charlie asked.

Alastor nodded over his shoulder. "Right as rain! Now that my powers are restored I merely intend to make a regular surveillance of Cannibal Colony each week to spread the news. And no time like the present! I'll be back late. I'll say hi to Mimzy and Rosie for you if I see them."

Vaggie sighed. "Okay - just stay safe. And please don't bring any corpses home for breakfast."

"We'll see!" Alastor replied in a singsong voice with a laugh. He nodded to Cherri. "Cherri."

"Alastor." She eyed him with a little knowing grin, and he glanced away, his face glowing.

Alastor looked to Niffty. "Niffty! Do be a dear and enjoy yourself tonight! You work so hard."

Nifty laughed and nodded. "I will. Nuggets and I will miss you, Alastor." The little pig wiggled in her arms and looked up at Alastor.

The Radio Demon gave him a light tap on the nose with his finger. "You guard Niffty and the others - you have my full confidence, Nuggets!" He straightened up then glided over to the door. "Farewell, ladies and Nuggets and Husker!" And then with a snap of his fingers he teleported away in a flourish of magic instead of using the door.

They turned as they heard a door close across the lobby - Husk was already locked in his room with his drinks. Charlie sighed but then put on a smile again. "Let's help Niffty bring the snacks upstairs and then get started!" She lead the way to the kitchen - they others followed her, smiling and talking.

Alastor and Angel had decided to meet on the hotel roof. Alastor had teleported there but he was surprised to see that Angel had managed the ascent so quickly on his own and arrived first. When he asked about the feat, Angel just winked and said spiders had their ways.

And now they stood alone together, facing each other.

Alastor swallowed and glowed as his look went a little dry. "Perhaps a silly question, but I overheard your excuse to Vaggie that what you're wearing beneath that coat is too 'X Rated' for the streets. I'm assuming you were joking - otherwise I'm afraid I'm vastly overdressed. Ha!" He swallowed, gripping his cane.

Angel giggled. "Well, I guess it depends on what some guys find sexy. This isn't a usual style I wear since people want me playing up the girly aspect of myself most of the time but, well…you were right that first time we took a walk together. Sometimes a fella just likes to wear a good suit." Angel let the trench coat drop. He was wearing a sharply-cut dark purple suit and pants with a pink shirt and black tie. He pulled a purple fedora out of the inside of the trench coat and placed it on his head. He wore black boots with thick high heels.

Alastor thought Angel was the prettiest and most handsome spider he had ever seen. His tail wagged beneath his coat. "You are a vision," he remarked.

Angel blushed a lot. "Thanks." He grinned more and stepped closer. "So, wanna get going, handsome? You got me all night." He chuckled.

Alastor's smile grew and his eyes hazed. "A moment, first. You're not the only one of us who decided to dress up, darling." He snapped his fingers. In a flash he was dressed differently: still in a long jacket and pants and a bowtie but new. His coat and pants were a dark garnet color with red pinstripes, and his shirt was red with gold buttons down the center. His bowtie was black with gold accents. He wore a straw hat on his head tied with garnet silk around the brim. His shoes were polished black, so shiny they caught the last of the red sunlight in the sky.

Angel's smile grew a lot. "Wow. I mean, you always look real sharp in your classy get-ups but that's…wow. That one of your creations, Alastor? Al! Smiles, heh…" Angel blushed and looked at him shyly.

Alastor felt a pleasant static hum throughout all of his parts. "Rosie's actually. I kept the secret of our date but I did tell her I had an important evening ahead of me."

"Yeah, I kind of did the same thing with Cherri. I'm no good at lying to her - she didn't buy I was going to work for a second."

"No work tonight, no politics tonight - just you and I and this date we've been threatening to go on." Alastor's ears perked up. "And the activity is first - that's your department, mon ange."

Angel chuckled, eyes hazed. "Come on, ya flirt. We're gonna start by taking the scenic route to where we want to go. You up for a little daring travel, Al?"

"Lead the way, Angel."

"Okay than! We're going by rooftop." Angel strolled past him and glanced over his shoulder. "You can either jump it like me or teleport."

"Shall I teleport us both? You're certain you have no fear of falling, darling?" He tilted his head.

"Nah - I'm very agile, Smiles. Just try to keep up." Angel took a running leap and cleared the space between rooftops in a single bound, landing gracefully.

Alastor's eyes widened and his smile grew. He snapped his fingers and teleported with a flourish of smoke and magic to stand right beside Angel. "How entertaining! Let's continue!"

"Race ya to the next one!" Angel ran to the other side of the roof ledge and vaulted over a chimney to reach the next rooftop while Alastor laughed and teleported himself to follow.

Husk was content to drink himself asleep alone in his room tonight. Sure, the girls would have welcomed him upstairs but the last thing he wanted was to sit in a brightly lit room and get prodded and coddled and teased. Besides, a night alone with Charlie and Vaggie and Cherri would be good for Niffty - she needed more strong ladies to look up to.

He was about to uncork a fresh bottle when one of his ears twitched. Someone was out in the lobby by the bar - he heard a couple bottles lightly clink. The girls couldn't be down here for refills already…unless it was Niffty getting nervous and getting into the Schnapps again. And he refused to deal with another round of that fiasco so soon. Husk headed across his room, opened the door, and padded quietly into the lobby.

When he caught sight of the bar, his eyes widened and the bottle in his hand fell to the carpet with a hard plop - the spider lady was sitting behind the bar in her coat and hat playing with a bottle. And at the sound of his bottle falling, she looked to him.

Husk was ready to say something, but she jumped the bar and put a finger to his lips. He blinked, swallowed, then gestured for her to follow him. She nodded. Husk led them both outside to the garden and closed the door behind them. She turned to him with a smile but before she could say a word, Husk spoke. "You gotta know - I'm not the only one who saw you at the open house. And now some other people here are real interested in finding out if you come back - Angel and Alastor especially."

Her eyes widened and she looked down. "Maledizione! Now I really do gotta talk to Angel." She raised an eyebrow. "Which one is Alastor again?"

Husk tilted his head. "Radio Demon - slim, short, red suit, antlers, talks like he's coming through a shitty speaker. Really powerful and well-known pain in the ass? It's weird that you and Angel both didn't know who he was at first."

"Angel's never liked politics. And I'm…not very up on events around here." She shrugged. "So… ya gonna rat me out?" She laughed a little. "Get it? Kitty…rat?"

Husk fought back the urge to crack a smile. He clenched his jaw then shrugged. "Angel and Alastor are both busy tonight so it's not like I could tell them right now even if I wanted to. I could let Alastor know by radio…" he sighed, "…but, fuck it - I have a feeling Angel should know first. And since I can't tell Angel yet, I guess I won't be telling anyone." He uncorked his bottle and took a swig.

Her smile grew. "Thank ya, Husky." She bit her lip. "Do ya already know everything about Angel and me?"

Husk lowered the bottle. "If I didn't know Angel was as gay as a picnic basket I'd think maybe you two were an item once. But now I'm starting to think it's a different kind of connection - like a family one. You're both spiders."

"You ain't wrong, heh…" She shrugged then wrapped her arms around herself. "Could I have a swig of that? It's cold out here."

Husk handed over the bottle. When she tipped it back and wrapped her strawberry lips around the end to drink, showing off her long white neck and fingers, he blushed again.

She finished and handed the bottle back. "I didn't mean ta surprise ya tonight. I was gonna try to talk ta Angel. Went to his room but it was dark."

"How did you get upstairs to his room without any of the girls noticing? They're having a slumber party up there."

She smiled more. "I didn't go upstairs - I scaled the side of the building. Spiders make silk you know - it's a pretty strong rope for climbing." She giggled as Husk rolled his eyes. "Anyway, even though I couldn't find him, I didn't want to just go. I thought maybe I could say hi to you again. And here ya are. And ya remembered me and everything."

"You're not exactly easy to forget." Husk blushed a little. "Do you…need a place to stay for the night or something?"

She chuckled. "Are you offering?" She batted her eyelashes.

Husk glared, blushing more. "You know what I meant! This is a hotel, we've got tons of rooms."

She smiled up at the building. "I appreciate the offer, but it's okay. I'd like to stay until Angel gets back at least though…" She swallowed. "I don't wanna lose my nerve, heh."

"Fine. Just don't tell him I kept it a secret - Alastor would have my ass."

"Thank you." She smiled. "I can just wait out here - the garden's nice. You go back to sleep or whatever - don't let me put ya out."

Husk rolled his eyes. "I'm not leaving you outside in the middle of hell at night. Besides, it's kind of cold or whatever. And I'm basically all alone downstairs right now. We can go into the kitchen and wait together or whatever. I'll get us a couple glasses for this bottle and heat up some leftovers. Angel left some carbonara in there I think."

"Carbonara?" Her eyes went wide and starry. She dashed forward and hugged him tightly then pulled back before Husk could get in a huff about it. "Grazie! I'd like that! You…sure you want to stay with me? I know you said you might get in trouble…"

"Yeah, I want to stay with you," popped out of Husk before he could stop himself. He cleared his throat. "Don't worry about it," he added.

"You're a swell fella, Husky."

Husk's feathers puffed up in embarrassment. "I've just got one condition. I want to know your name - I can't keep just thinking about you as 'she'."

"You've been thinkin' about me?" She smirked and crossed her arms.

Husk scowled and blushed, getting even more flustered.

She sighed. "I suppose since the beans got spilled to Angel it doesn't matter anyway. I'm Molly. Nice to meet ya." She held out her hand.

Husk's eyes widened a little. On an instinct he took her hand. "Nice…to meet you, Molly." He blinked then pulled back his hand and resumed his usual scowl as he headed inside. "Come on, kitchen's this way. We just gotta be quiet so the girls don't come downstairs to investigate."

"Gotchya! Real stealthy - I can do that!" She winked then pranced inside after him while Husk tried not to smile again.

Upstairs, the slumber party suite was all lit up. In a circle on the floor sat Vaggie in a purple nightgown, Charlie in red pajamas with apples printed on the fabric, Cherri in black shorts and an old pink shirt, and Niffty in a long yellow nightshirt. Snacks and board games and pillows were scattered everywhere, and a big tv was plugged in with a pile of movies on the floor.

Charlie held out her arms and smiled. "Welcome to our official Hazbin Hotel slumber party! What does everyone want to do first?"

Vaggie raised a hand. "How about snacks and a movie?"

Cherri smirked and thrust her arm into the air. "Panty raid on the nearest rival hotel!"

Niffty stretched her whole body into the air. "Big pillow fight and then cleaning up the pillows!"

Charlie was beaming at the possibilities. "We can do it all! Except the panty raid part - we don't have any rival hotels, Cherri." She blushed. "And also that doesn't sound very…sociable."

Cherri shrugged. "I'm also down for punk makeovers, truth or dare, and overlord prank calls."

"Makeovers!" Niffty jumped up. "I always wanted to try a makeover, but Alastor and Husk won't let me give them one and they say they're not sure how to give me one.

The three older girls smiled at each other then turned to Niffty. Vaggie answered her. "Makeovers it is. I'll do your make up."

"Oh I'll do her hair!" Charlie volunteered.

"I'll do your nails - as many colors as you want." Cherri winked.

Niffty sat at the center of the circle on a pillow with Fat Nuggets at her side. "Thank you! I'm so happy this is going to be my first slumber party memory." The others gathered items to help with their part of the makeover. Fat Nuggets curled up in Niffty's lap and she patted his head in thought. "I wonder if this is my REAL first slumber party memory or if I went to anything like this back in my life?" She shrugged with a smile. "It's too hard to try remembering though."

"What do you mean?" Charlie asked and she pulled a brush lightly through Niffty's hair.

Niffty shrugged. "I don't remember much from my life. It's part of my deal with Alastor."

Vaggie scowled, about to apply some blush to her ace. "That brujo did what?"

"Oh, it's okay!" Niffty assured with a bright smile. "I ASKED him to take away the memories. I think I was unhappy with them. I feel better like this. And besides, my life down here is full of new memories to make."

Charlie and Vaggie shared a concerned look.

Cherri sat in front of Niffty with some nail polish, her smile faint. "I get it, Niffty. If that's what you needed so you could be happy…that's cool." She took her hand. "Whatever the fuck happened up there doesn't matter anymore. All we got is here and now and each other."

Niffty's smile grew so big. "Exactly. And I'm really glad I have all of you now and that Alastor wanted me to help him here. I hope we all stay together at this hotel for a long time."

Charlie wiped away a quick tear. "After makeovers, how about we dive into the snacks and then go from there, huh? We can make this a really good night to remember for you, Niffty."

Niffty nodded. "I can't wait to tell Alastor everything at breakfast tomorrow! And Angel too!" The pig in Niffty's arms oinked, and she grabbed a ribbon to tie around his neck in a bow while the others continued working on her and the conversation grew more light-hearted.

Alastor and Angel's teleportation trip led them to an abandoned building overlooking a wide expanse of parched land…with a bunch of makeshift targets set in lines at different distances.

Alastor tilted his head, curious.

Angel explained. "Since I don't get much chance for fighting these days because I promised Charlie and Vaggie no turf wars, and since any fights you have are kind of deadly and you're taking a break from them, I thought we could both work off some steam with a little target practice. Cherri and I come here for that sometimes. It's fun - watch." In a flash Angel whipped out a shiny pistol, fired into the field, and hit one of the targets dead center.

Alastor's smile grew. "A honing of skills? I've never had the opportunity to indulge in this kind of recreation. And yet I can see the appeal." He clenched his hand - a tentacle rose up from the ground, wrapped around a target, and dragged it beneath the earth below.

"Figured you'd like the chance to show off." Angel smirked.

"And you as well," Alastor observed. "Your marksmanship and confidence are impressive."

Angel blushed a little. "I was always a natural." He twirled the gun on his finger.

"I prefer close-up violence - nothing like plunging a sharp blade into a foe. But projectiles do make for a rather effective surprise attack." He snapped his fingers and made a dagger appear in hand . He threw it - the blade plunged into the side of one of the targets. His smile grew.

Angel pulled out a tommy gun and a few more pistols with his various arms. "If you want me to show you how to shoot, just let me know."

"While the offer is appreciated, I'm afraid not, my dear." Alastor gripped his hand then waved it forward in a cutting motion. A tentacle appeared and whipped across a line of targets. He snapped to set up the targets again. "I admire your use of firearms but I…prefer to avoid using them myself. Ha!" He aimed another dagger - it plunged right into the heart of a target.

If there were such a thing as happy static noises, Alastor was making them. Angel smiled more, let off a few rounds of bullets, then blew the smoke away from his gun nozzle. "Not your style? That's cool. I've never been big of knives myself - you're great with 'em though."

"Thank you. But it's not just a matter of style, darling. Unfortunate memories mostly." Alastor stood tall and symbols swirled over his head - a trench of green and black hellfire opened up in the earth, swallowing dozens of targets whole. Alastor's smile was it its most pleased and wicked. "I died from a gunshot, you see."

Angel paused, pistol cocked. He glanced at Alastor. "Oh." He stepped closer. "I didn't…" His eyes went to the x on Alastor's forehead that disappeared as soon as his magic ebbed. "Are you sure me using guns around you is fine then? I can stop —"

Alastor raised a finger, hovering it just in front of Angel's lips. "I find your violent abilities quite artful and charming. Please continue to use your artillery." His voice quieted lightly. "Besides, the gun shot may have been the fatal blow, but it was a mercy. I was experiencing a much more painful cause of death just prior to it." He considered. "I've never told either of those details to anyone. But I like that I've told you…" He smiled at Angel then he turned away and went back to having fun playing target practice.

Angel watched him for a moment then smiled a little again too. "You can tell me anything, Al." He fired off a few, tearing a target to pieces. "You know, target practice is just a warm up. I figured - as long as we're discrete and quick and maybe take a dive - we could go and do some live practice against Sir Pentious. Give him a thrill and have one ourselves."

Alastor's smile picked up on one side. "You mean a battle for the battle's sake alone?"

"No territory to gain, no politics to sort out - just a good time." Angel winked.

"Hmm…but why would we 'take a dive'?"

"Eh, I kind of owe Sir Pentious one. Long story. He'll like the ego boost."

"Fair enough. And I did miss out on witnessing your fighting abilities during the siege of my radio tower due to my state at the time," Alastor mused. "Yes, I would very much like to fight alongside you. I suspect despite our stylistic difference we would work quite well together."

Angel's eyes hazed dreamily. He imagined everything about them working well together - their whole lives. He imagined saying 'I love you' in the dark and Alastor saying it back in French and kissing Angel right over his heart. "I sure as hell wanna try, Al."

Alastor's eyes hazed. "I never knew a date could be like this one. I'm very entertained." He gripped his microphone. "Are you entertained too?"

Angel laughed. "With you, Smiles? Always." He pulled a grenade out of his pocket, ripped off the pin with his teeth, and tossed it forward - one of the targets burst into pieces.

Alastor joined him in laughing, his eyes wide and his face glowing. He reset the field for them again then made another tentacle appear to whip around and create more carnage. The Radio Demon moved closer to Angel and enjoyed seeing the spider's smile grow at the gesture.

A/N:

Thank you guys for reading! The date's going to go one for a little while since everyone is sort of on a first date. I'm really excited to share with you guys this big moment for Alastor and Angel as they finally decide to come to some kind of commitment together 3

Have a nice week!

-Azure129