A/N:
Hi everyone! Next update in the mob fight chapters is here — only one more chapter to go. Lots of drama and emotions and challenges are coming, all very intense. I hope you enjoy and thank you for reading!
Cw: Mild homophobia (no slurs), physical violence, people working through lots of family trauma
Partners
Chapter 70:
Mob Mentality Part 3: Calling Off a Hit
Husk gripped the ribbon around his wrist as he flew low over the fight, eyes darting around in determination, no longer attacking people — he only wanted to find Molly. She was passionate and impulsive and daring…he knew she'd end up being in the most dangerous and unexpected place possible. And he had a feeling that place would be wherever Henroin was.
Husk was still reeling a bit from everything he'd overheard during the spiders conversation with their father. He couldn't believe Molly had been left alone to suffer through so much…or how brilliantly she'd made sure to come out on top. She wasn't just a fighter, she was a hero. But he was starting to worry that she might fall on her sword to make things right. But she didn't deserve that. She deserved late mornings sleeping in, and fun shopping sprees with Angel, and eating delicious pastries made by Niss. She deserved to have the life here in hell that she'd never gotten on earth because of her family falling apart. She deserved to have someone take care of her for once like she had clearly taken care of everyone and everything else for so long.
She wanted to face everything alone, just like he had wanted to face everything alone for so many years…until the hotel and her. But she didn't have to, and he was going to let her know.
He surveyed the street from the air, trying to think about where Henroin might be from a military perspective. A wounded general would leave the ranks to keep himself safe (though of course Henroin's cut had been pretty superficial, and a less cowardly and selfish leader would have just bandaged it and stuck around to help their men). He'd want to be away from the brawling, quiet and secluded, but still close enough to call the shots. Somewhere inconspicuous.
Husk's eyes scanned the mouths of the alleys leading off the street very carefully. And finally he saw a flash of pink and blond. There she was. Pacing, biting her lip, trembling a little, scowling and shaking her head like she was fighting with herself about something. He saw her eyes flash pink for a moment.
He dove for her without even thinking. A few stray bullets nicked his wings, and he tried not to think of the irony that here he was rushing in without thought and getting hurt as a result when he had warned Alastor against doing the exact same thing. But he was tough, and Molly was worth a few battle scars and so much more.
Just before she could go around a corner and disappear into some shadows, Husk landed right behind her. "Molly!"
Startled, Molly gasped and turned, pink markings bright and gun raised and ready to fire (Husk…oddly found himself not scared so much as rather impressed and a little turned on by her preparedness — she would have won medals in the military, he just knew it). Once her eyes met his though, she lowered the gun and the glowing stopped.
"Husky, what are ya doing? I…" Her eyes widened and she gasped. "You're hurt?!"
Husk blinked and glanced at his wings. He was bleeding in one of two spots, and the feathers there were a mess. He pulled in his wings. "It's nothing, I'm okay. What about you?" He frowned. "You're…shaking and glowing…" He rubbed the ribbon on his wrist nervously.
"I'm angry…" left her in a cold voice, eyes darting from Husk's wings to the battle and back to herself before she took a deep breath and got steady again. "But it's passin'. I'm okay."
Husk shook his head. She was anything but okay. "Molly, why did you go off by yourself? We said we'd all stick together. This is dangerous."
She blinked and looked down. "It's personal. Something I've gotta do for me. With our father. You heard…you heard everything, didn't you? Everything I did… The kind of person I really am." She let her eyes meet his again, wary and hesitant as she blushed slightly.
Husk moved close and held around her shoulders, letting their foreheads touch. "What I heard is that you are the strongest lady who ever existed. But you shouldn't have had to be so strong. And definitely not without help. So let me help you now." He sniffed, trying to ignore the hot prickling sensation threatening to come to his eyes. "Just…let me take you to one of the rooftops or something. Please? I can't…I can't think about something else happening to you. Too much happened to you already! It's enough now. You don't have to fight any more, Molly." Okay, now he was definitely tearing up, and no matter how he tried to scowl it would't stop.
Molly's hand touched his cheek. She smiled, her own eyes teary. "Thank you, Husky. Ya wanna help me take care of myself. And I love ya for it. And you're right…pretty soon I won't have ta fight anymore. But for now I do gotta fight, just one more time. But I promise I'll win. I already kind of have, heh. I just need ta end this the right way — for me and for everyone. I know you understand. There's a right thing ta do sometimes, and ya just gotta do it as a decent person. Even if it's hard and even if you're tired. So one part of your life can end and another can start, free and clear."
He did understand, but he hated that he understood. He hated that he couldn't find a legitimate argument to make to get her away from all of his turmoil. He looked into her eyes. "I'm going to be right here. And if you need me, you call me. Because I love you. Promise?"
She nodded. "Ya have my word, Husky. I love you too." She gave him a gentle kiss on the mouth. And then she slipped around the corner with her rifle. He caught sight of her firing off two shots before she disappeared. The sound of two bodies slumping to the pavement followed by groans and swears told him she had obviously hit her marks.
He moved around the corner and decided to keep an eye on the two goons she'd decently winged while she dealt with her father. He also wanted to be as close as possible, because if he even got a hint that she needed his help, he'd swoop into that building and fight right at her side in a heartbeat.
Vox had waited long enough for a sign of Henroin so he could tell the demon off. He'd deal with making sure the mob was off their back later. Right now he had to stop another hothead's shenanigans.
Vox walked briskly up to Valentino as the moth continued to stubbornly drag himself through the melee toward Angel, getting battered by mobsters shoving him aside and barreling past him for other targets. He was bruised and bleeding and had a few ray gun singes on his coat as well.
"Val!" Vox finally called out as he got close to him.
Valentino spun around and bared his fangs, eyes glowing. But then he blinked a few times and wobbled on his feet. "Vox? Oh for fuck's sake, you really are here, aren't you?" he snarled.
Vox crossed his arms. "Yeah, well, I didn't feel like having to arrange your second funeral." A few mobsters tried to surround them, but some well-placed live wires frying them within an inch of consciousness thankfully put an end to that interruption. Vox went on. "Now come on, let me get you out of here before this whole block goes up in smoke. With any luck these mob guys will stop giving a fuck about you after dealing with this much shit from Alastor and Angel and everyone else who's here." He tried to guide Valentino away from the battle, but the moth growled and pushed him away. Vox stumbled and nearly fell to the ground. He glared at Valentino. "Val, I'm trying really hard to be patient because clearly you've been through a lot since you got kidnapped from your own damn office, but DO NOT lay a hand on me! Got it?"
"Fuck you!" Valentino was seething. "I'll do whatever I want! And right now I want to put the fear of god in Angel and then sneak up on Radio Freak to throttle him! If I get nothing out of this whole damn fiasco, it'll be that much! I have just enough juice left in me, I can still make this work!"
"You are not thinking clearly! Make WHAT work?" Vox threw his arms wide in desperation. "Look around you, you didn't just LOSE, you're not even a PLAYER in this game! You're getting torn apart for NOTHING but your own delusional ego!"
Valentino was shaking, teeth chattering, fists clenched in rage.
Vox blinked. For a moment he wasn't sure if Valentino would pass out or take a swing at him or…maybe cry. Or some strange combination of the three.
Valentino swallowed and, though his voice broke at first, he managed to yell out with full strength, "WHY DO YOU EVEN CARE? WE'RE DONE, REMEMBER?! GET THE FUCK AWAY FROM ME, VOX! I HATE YOU!" And then he turned and, with a faint second wind, barreled his way forward through the crowd again.
Vox just stood there, his face blank.
There wasn't even any point in running ahead of him to warn Alastor or Angel as a courtesy — in the state Valentino was in, either of them could knock him out cold with barely any effort. And there was no point in warning Valentino to stay away from them since Angel and Alastor were both too busy to kill him…and since he obviously wouldn't listen anyway.
But those weren't the only reasons he stayed silent and still right now. Vox felt like something inside of himself, a piece beyond flesh or wires, had suddenly cracked a little. He'd been told off by Valentino before, and he knew the moth was stressed and upset right now, but something about his words in this moment had seemed rawer, deeper, truer.
Before he could get sappy and sloppy and get his ass kicked too just like the moth, Vox turned around and stalked away from the battle. He had tried, but he couldn't take being abused and unappreciated by that man for a moment longer in his life. If he never saw him again it would be too soon. Vox tried to make himself believe that sentiment fully as he carved a path through the brawl with live wires and barely a glance at who he was frying.
Overhead, meanwhile, above all the chaos and drama, a stealthy little drone flew by.
At the hotel, Baxter held a large control in his hands with a screen displaying everything seen by the drone as it observed the battle. He used the buttons to fly the device around to capture as much footage as possible.
Niffty sat right beside him in the lobby, leaning over his lap, biting her lip as her wide eye stayed glued to the screen. Louise sat on Baxter's other side, wringing her hands as she looked on too…though every once in a while she couldn't help but smile and turn her attention to how extra close and cozy Baxter and Niffty were and how sometimes Baxter would glance over at Niffty and blush.
Suddenly Niffty gasped. "Baxter, make the drone fly down that way please. Ah, there's Alastor! Aww, he's fighting alongside Angel!" She beamed.
Louise beamed too, eyes back on the screen again. "Oh, I've wanted to see Alastor fight again for so long! Especially in a big display like this! He's really something!"
Baxter raised an eyebrow. "You two enjoy their friendship quite a bit, don't you?"
Niffty giggled. "I enjoy a lot more than th—" Her eye widened as the words slipped out, and Louise met her gaze, biting her lip. Niffty cleared her throat nervously. "I mean, um…yeah, their friendship! Isn't it nice when they get along?" She brought her eye right back to the screen, blushing a little.
Baxter tilted his head with an amused grin. Then he looked back to the screen again and angled the drone to get in close on Alastor and the spider brothers.
"I'm glad they're keeping each other safe." Louise sighed in relief. "I hope Molly's okay though, I don't see her anymore with her brothers." Her brow furrowed in worry.
Niffty nodded. "Can we look for Husk now? I bet he's with Molly. I'm worried about him too."
Baxter nodded. "I'll find him — you have my word as an inventor and a scientist."
Niffty beamed in appreciation, and Baxter's lantern started to glow a little, and Louise held back a giggle at the sight.
Charlie and Vaggie came down the stairs now. Charlie was clutching her two way radio and biting her lip while Vaggie rested a hand on her shoulder in comfort.
"Charlie, Vaggie!" Niffty waved. "Do you want to see the fight from the drone? It's a very big battle, but everyone's doing really well!"
Charlie shook her head as she and Vaggie reached the lobby. "No, it's better if I don't. I'll just worry even more."
Vaggie sighed with a frown. "Come on, hun, let's go to the kitchen and I'll make you some tea. That'll help take your mind off it."
Charlie nodded with a tired look, eyes drifting to her radio. "I almost want to check in with Cherri. But I'm worried about interrupting her if she's in the middle of something. And I know she said she'd call us again if she needs us or anything bad happens." She hesitated then tucked the radio into her jacket pocket before turning to Vaggie with a small smile. "But tea does sound nice. And maybe afterwards I'll try Cherri, just to check in. The fight'll have to be over by then…maybe." She tired to look hopeful.
With a supportive smile and a nod, Vaggie led her over to the kitchen.
Niffty frowned as she saw them go then turned to Baxter again. "Even if Charlie's scared to look, I think she appreciates that we have a way to see what's going on. Thank you again for setting this up, Baxter."
He smiled a little. "Thank you for watching with me, Niffty. I just…hope it's a comfort to you too."
"It is!" Her eye hazed. "You're a very nice man, Baxter. I'm happy you decided to come to the hotel."
Okay now his lantern was glowing immensely and his palms must have been sweating as well because the control suddenly slipped from his grasp. The screen instantly flickered and then went black. Baxter blushed and picked it up again, pressing some buttons. "Oh no, I wasn't paying attention and the drone must have knocked into something. It'll take a few minutes for the video feed to load again. Sorry…"
"It's okay," Niffty assured with a supportive smile. "We can all wait for it to come back together!"
At this point, Louise decided to take her leave…though she hoped that later Niffty would share any interesting developments that might happen. She stood up and cleared her throat. "Actually, I'm gonna make sure we've got enough firewood for all the rooms, just in case it's cold tonight. You two keep us posted on the battle!" She waved and quickly dashed upstairs.
"Oh, okay — thanks, Louise! We'll keep watch!" Niffty called out, waving goodbye.
Baxter managed a small wave to her too, then his focus returned to the smaller demon still at his side. He swallowed. "You know, speaking of coming to the hotel… I, um…I'm really glad I decided to come here too. You're so kind, Niffty, always saying how much you enjoy my presence. It's made me feel exceptionally welcome."
She smiled brightly, legs swinging over the edge of the sofa. "It's the truth. Having nice, friendly people here is wonderful! And it's helped me a lot too." She shrugged. "I get a lot of anxiety around people, especially guys. But you and Angel and Abel have made it all a lot easier for me."
Baxter frowned a little. "I'm happy you feel better now, but I'm sorry that you can feel anxious like that. Is that why you don't leave the hotel?" He blinked. "If it's rude for me to ask about that, I'm sorry! Still learning about friendship and socializing, heh."
She shook her head. "It's not rude. And that's sort of the reason. I get a little overwhelmed out there, at least on my own. Especially if I end up around a lot of men." She half smiled. "Because of my deal with Alastor, I don't really remember why they can upset me, but the upset feeling is still there. Alastor actually made it so that when I first meet any demon I sort of process them as being a lady, to help me not get upset. The only problem with that is if I'm alone and on the street, I can make mistakes, and then I'm not really sure who I'm with."
"Oh…" Baxter's eyes were so wide. He blinked a few times. "Niffty, is that why you called me 'she' when I first came to visit the hotel?"
She nodded. "Yeah. My head was still a little cloudy. But all the clouds are gone now. Promise."
His smile grew. "Oh, good. I-I mean, not good, just…" He blushed. "It's complicated."
Her smile grew too. "I'm here to listen if you'd like."
He shifted a little in his seat. "Can it stay between us?"
She nodded.
He bit his lip. Then he pointed to his lantern. "I thought maybe this made you think I was a girl. In the wild, female angler fish are the ones with lanterns. But, um…" He took a breath. "I was born with the body of a female but I'm really a boy." He blushed. "I believe the term currently used up top today is trans."
Niffty looked at his lantern and then to his eyes, and her smile softened. "I didn't know that about angler fish. And I didn't know that about you. Thank you for telling me both things." She frowned a little. "I'm sorry I called you 'she' that day. I do know you're a boy, Baxter. And from spending time with you, I'm remembering that boys can be really, really fun."
He was blushing and beaming, his lantern all aglow. "I like when we have fun together. I like…I like YOU." He swallowed, no longer breathing as those words suddenly popped out of his mouth.
Her eye widened considerably, and the golden hue in her face flushed to a cherry color as she bit her lip. "You…do." That lip wobbled.
Suddenly the drone video feed came back online, and the sounds and brightness from the screen made them both jump in surprise. And as their breaths started to calm, the pair realized that Niffty was now clinging to Baxter's arm. She was frozen for a moment, little cheeks on fire, and Baxter felt like his heart was having the most chaotic chemical reaction possible.
Before she and Baxter could even think to say anything though, Vaggie and Charlie suddenly came back through the lobby with their tea, and Niffty instantly gasped and placed both of her hands behind her back.
"I think we're going to keep watch out the windows," Charlie smiled at them. "Don't mind us."
They went to one of the far windows, and Vaggie pulled over the piano bench so they could sit together and observe.
Baxter just remained perfectly still and quiet on the sofa, lantern fading slowly as he frowned.
"Baxter?" Niffty finally asked in a hesitant whisper, wide eye not looking up.
"Y-Yes?" His voice cracked a little, whispering too.
She swallowed, her look a bit faraway. "Could we go back to checking on Husk please… for now?" Her little blush was still growing.
"I…of course…" Baxter pressed buttons, eyes on the screen, trying to decide if he should be heartbroken or intrigued. Because on the one hand she hadn't said she 'liked' him too. But on the other hand, her saying 'for now' sounded like she might be inclined to do so soon. And she had held his arm in a moment of fright. And she was still blushing.
Niffty didn't take hold of his arm again but she did keep sitting next to him. And eventually some of her usual smile returned. Baxter just hoped all of those things would turn out to mean something good.
Molly stood in the open doorway of rundown building, rifle at her side. She took a deep breath in and out. Ever since finally looking her father in the eye and laying out the truth, she had been on edge just under the surface. Her pink marks kept flickering with their demonic glow, and she felt like she wanted to scream and tear something apart. But she had to keep herself together. She was a demon in control. That was the only way this would work.
Seeing Husk for a moment had helped. She felt truly steady again. Molly cleared her throat then spoke. "Poppa! It's me. I know you're here. Come out! We gotta talk one more time."
A floorboard creaked and she heard a familiar chuckle and saw red eyes glowing in the dark off to the side. "Of course you're here, my Maria. Come to finish the job and take me out? You really were a worthy successor, weren't you?"
Molly rolled her eyes and headed toward him. "Oh shut up, I'm not here ta wrap a piano wire around ya neck or put ya in cement shoes. So dramatic…it's the one thing you and your kids all had in common, ya know." She pulled a cord for a hanging bulb overhead. It flickered on to show her Henroin sitting in a chair with a blood-speckled bandage around his head and a half-smoked cigar in his hand.
He slowly got himself standing. "My children? What children? At this point to save face I'd need to disown YOU just like I did Angel for what you admitted to pulling in life after I was gone. And Niss is barely hanging on by a thread to me. Still can't give up on him though. At least I know he CAN listen to orders, he just needs to be forced back into the habit."
Molly cocked the gun, just for good measure, and shook her head. "No sale, Poppa. Ya can't have him. Or Angel. Or me. That's firm, no negotiatin'. And if you ever lay a hand on either of my brothers again, then I really will kill you."
Henroin glared at her. "You're lucky I don't hit women, Molly, otherwise I—"
"Ha!" She snorted as she laughed. "Come on, if you'd ever even looked at me like you were gonna touch me, I'd have torn you apart. Ya know I'm a little vicious when I'm backed into a corner, Poppa. All that wrath, remember?" Her eyes narrowed, and she felt her eyes threatening to flash brightly. "I don't keep the company of men who are disrespectful. That's why I love my brothers. And some other new fellas I've met. They're decent and they listen."
Henroin hesitated, eyeing her. Then he laughed, bringing the cigar to his lips with a cocky smirk. "Other fellas…? Molly, ya finally let yourself get hooked by a man, didn't ya? I knew it would happen eventually. Thank god only one of my kids ended up with unnatural tastes."
Molly fired and shot the cigar clean out of his hand. He winced as the gunpowder and tobacco singed his cheek. "Tony ain't unnatural. He's gay, you bigoted bacciagalupe." She smirked. "And my fella's open ta people of all gender persuasions, if ya must know."
Henroin sneered, "Disgusting."
"Oh and we ain't married, and I don't know if we're gonna get married, but we do know that we're gonna do whatever the hell we want and be happy together. And also he thinks I'm brilliant!" She grinned, head held high.
Henroin sneered. "Ah…then we're back to me just having Niss. Archie…my first born. My nice normal boy. He knew how to be a real man. Should have lived, found a girl, made lots of babies. I had plans for him."
Molly swallowed. "He doesn't need your plans anymore. Ya don't even know him, Poppa — you never did. He tried so hard ta be everythin' me and Tony couldn't be. Now it's time for him to be himself."
Henroin snarled. "There's nothing else for him to be that I haven't seen yet."
"Poppa—"
"NOTHING!" Henroin's eyes glowed with rage. But then he blinked, gripping his head in pain. "Just because Tony couldn't control himself…and now you…doesn't mean Archie… He's normal, you'll see. I've spent his whole life making him that way." His eyes narrowed as he composed himself.
Molly watched her father with a frown as she realized that maybe Henroin suspected some things that Niss hadn't even realized about himself until now. And it was just sad to see how determined he was to never accept any of his children for who they were. Molly sighed. "Enough about Archie now. We need ta talk about what's next — for everyone. Cuz this can't stand, Poppa. You can't be tormentin' me and my brothers, and they don't deserve ta have ta spend their time fightin' against you."
"What do you want?" He hissed, sitting back down.
"I want an official treaty. You declare us and ours off limits, and we don't interfere with you. Tony and Archie and I will give up the family name in exchange. Separate and safe all around."
"And you've considered how humiliating it would be for me to make an announcement like that in the middle of this little war that's going on outside?"
"Considered it… and don't care." Her look went dry. "Get over yourself and do right by us for once in your existence."
He sighed. Then he shook his head, laughing again. "You really should have been a boy. Maybe you don't need to be though? Maybe I should just get with the times and offer you the top spot alongside me. All that power. It's not too late. If I hadn't been so distracted with the failures of the boys… I could have put you in charge once I realized you weren't gonna make babies like a good girl. I'd have shipped Niss off to the army or the priesthood or something honorable like that. Still would have kicked out Angel though cuz who needs a back up son who's just a—"
Molly's second set of arms appeared, and all four shoved the butt of Molly's shotgun directly into Henroin's groin on the chair. The spider gasped and released a pained whimper.
"Shut. Up. Poppa." Molly lifted the shotgun back up. "And agree so I don't have ta keep talkin' ta you." She glared down at him, pink lines glowing a little once more. "In case ya didn't hear me over your own hatred, here's my offer again. Go home. Lick your wounds. You don't bother us, and we don't bother you. But if ya do ever hurt one of us again…not even god will keep you safe from me." She said the last words with pure venom.
Henroin just grinned up at her. "Admit you're like me, and I'll agree."
She blinked, her glow disappearing. She took a deep breath. "Of your three children, I'm the one who's most like you. The one who can be so consumed with makin' things turn out the way I want that I lose sight of everythin' else." Molly looked into Henroin's eyes. "But me personally…however much I'm like you, I'm twice as much like Momma. I'm all the care and love and passion she had and more. And I always will be." She leaned down, smile sweet but deadly. "Now call things off and make the treaty."
Henroin sneered. "I don't hit women…and I also don't make deals with 'em."
Molly's smile only grew at the refusal to hold up his end of the bargain. "Then I'll call it off myself. I know all the mob protocols. Sorry if this hurts, Poppa." She raised her knee and dug the end of one of her high heels into Henroin's wrist against his chair, making his eyes tear up in pain. She reached down to his pinned hand and pulled off a red and silver ring from his finger. "The don's ring. This'll get some results. Pleasure doing business." She removed her heel and straightened her skirts as Henroin clutched his hand. "I'll show this around and let your men know you're hurt worse and need to retreat now. And I'll remind 'em that while you don't have this ring, your authority is in question…and the Don's seat is technically up for grabs. You're welcome. Goodbye forever, Poppa."
He glared at her, eyes teary and glowing in pain. "You are not your mother or me…you're your own kind of unnatural."
"I'm my own kind of brilliant, just like my fella says. And you're the saddest man I've ever know. Take care of yourself. You're all you have left."
For just a moment, it looked like a bit of fear flashed through Henroin's eyes, and the realization made Molly…feel a strange satisfaction but mostly just some peace. All their suffering could be over now. She walked out the door and into the alley.
Husk came right up to her, looking her over, guiding her away from the mob guys she'd shot who had passed out by now. "What happened? Are you okay?"
She nodded, wiping away a few tears that were suddenly falling as she shook a little, her markings flickering again. "Yeah. Yeah… Oh Husky, all I wanna do is hold ya close and talk about everything. but first I gotta put a stop to this. And now I can. Come on, I gotta get a few floors up in one of these buildings so everyone can see me… And then we gotta all get out of here." She took his hand and ran them to the next building over. Husk followed, smiling in so much relief that she was safe.
She found a window on the third story and forced it open. She looked down at the crowd. "I've gotta get their attention."
"Leave it to me," Husk pulled out his radio. "Alastor? Molly and I are in the red brick building on the west side of the street, three floors up. She's got an announcement to make — can you broadcast her?"
"Ah, you found her! Splendid! And ha! Yes, indeedy! Hand her the radio…"
Smiling curiously, Molly took the device. On the battlefield Alastor, held up his microphone — it emitted a flash of green magic that stunned the crowd for a moment. He held his microphone to his mouth, broadcasting on his end as he gestured to her building. "Ladies and gentlemen and all persuasion of demon friends, may I direct your attention to your right where you'll learn a most entertaining bit of information from a very entertaining demoness!" He snapped his fingers. His shadow appeared beside Molly now and touched the radio — the device glowed green with magic. The shadow grinned, saluted, then disappeared again.
Everyone down below was looking at her suddenly. Molly took a deep breath and spoke, holding the ring high. "Attention! Your Don is deeply wounded, and I got his ring! According to mob protocol I demand your surrender and retreat. And take your boss with you. And before you ask, no, this doesn't make me your new Don. Donna. Whatever. Start thinkin' for yourselves about who should be in charge of your organization, especially after you all were dragged here away from important business for a family fight that never concerned ya in the first place." She looked at the ring. "Either way, this symbol of authority is ending." She tossed the ring in the air, pulled back her rifle, and shot it. The mangled bit of silver and red glimmered in the air then dropped to the ground, clattering over pavement until the band fell in the sewer grate and the stone was lost among the black and bloodied streets.
She looked down at the crowd, her face pure defiance, and held her gun high. "Go. Pronto! Capiche?"
The battered and barely-standing men looked around at their remaining ranks and their undaunted challengers and their Don who wasn't anywhere to be found. And then they started to shift away down the street, back to the shadows.
Molly let out a deep sigh of relief and stepped away from the window.
She slowly dropped to her knees, just sitting for a moment. Husk came beside her and wrapped his wings around her. She was crying now, shaking a bit. He patted her shoulders. She tried to catch her breath. "I wanna go home, Husky. This was all so hard, and I wanna go home… I'm real tired. I'm gettin' so close ta havin' one of my bad times…"
He nodded. "We're gonna go home. At ease, shh… You did such good work. I got ya. It'll be okay."
Husk's radio crackled to life. He grabbed it, ready to tell Alastor that they needed some time here before they could rejoin him and the others, when suddenly a different voice sounded.
"Husk?" Sir Pentious's voice called. "Are you there? I don't know who else to call, you're the only one of us who can fly! It's about the airship!"
Husk blinked. "Pen? What about the airship?"
Someone else sighed, and then Cherri's voice spoke. "These mob fuckers broke his airship remote while we were all fighting, and his radio too. He's using mine right now."
"The Egg Bois can't pilot the ship on their own for too long! And there's a very good chance it might crash into the middle of the street any minute!" Sir Pentious added.
"Shit…" Husk considered. "I can get up there, but I don't know how to pilot your steam punk blimp! And you're too big for me to carry up there with me!"
"Do you think Alastor could teleport me?" Sir Pentious asked anxiously.
Husk sighed. "Yeah, but he's gonna insist on coming…"
"Good, fine, yes, perfect! The more hands the better! I'll go to him now. Please meet us up there when you can! Over and out!"
Husk frowned. Then he felt Molly touch his cheek. She smiled. "Go help Pen with the Eggs Bambinos and his ship. I don't want anyone else gettin' hurt. I'm okay for now." She hugged him and wiped the rest of the tears from her face. "And hey, I remembered to wear waterproof mascara this time just in case, heh."
He took her hand in his, almost smiling a little as he looked into her eyes. "When we get back to the hotel, I'm making you a really big hot buttered rum and then you're gonna go to sleep and you're not getting up tomorrow til at least noon. And I'm gonna be with you the whole time."
"Sounds like heaven." Molly winked, some of her joyful nature returning again. "Now you go to the ship with Alastor and Pen, and I'll go to my brothers." They shared a nod and a smile (and a quick kiss), and then they headed out of the building together.
Valentino just stood there, dumbstruck as mobsters suddenly pushed past him and pushed him aside, going in the opposite direction as before, the fight somehow over all because that chick spider (Angel's sister) had shot a ring and yelled a few words in Italian.
There was really no way around it, was there? Angel had won…Alastor had won… Their whole side had won. The mob had lost. And Vox had been right — Valentino had never had a horse in this race after all.
Even if he could admit now that he had never mattered in this war though, he was still painfully aware the he could have at least gotten a small personal win by springing a surprise attack on Angel or Alastor in the heat of the fight — a quick silencing blow to Angel thanks to how much the spider had been trained to fear him, then a smart heavy blow to Alastor that would have sent the cocky son of a bitch reeling just enough for the mob to have taken care of the rest.
It could have worked. Only under absolutely perfect circumstances, but still…
Now though… if he tried anything, he'd just be a sitting duck. It would be suicide. Embarrassing, desperate, stupid suicide. And suddenly all he wanted was to stumble away before the mob could notice him again or anyone in Angel's group could see him or before the spider could remember that he had been here from the start, bound and gagged like a cheap whore.
Valentino felt so sick and tired, and everything hurt. He let the flow of the mob carry him until he swayed on his feet. Then Valentino went off into an alley, a hand to his chest as he panted against a wall. He had to figure out what to do next. But everything was too damn much.
Suddenly he heard someone groan and step out of a building ahead of him. He sighed, wiping some dried blood from his mouth. "Oh great, I can't even find a fucking private place to wallow…" He still had the remains of some rage in him. Maybe with just a glare and a growl he could scare off whatever mobster was here recovering.
He looked up and paused.
There was none other than Henroin himself, head bandaged, and holding his arm with his hand clenched in pain.
At first the spider remained still, eyes down like he was thinking. But then he finally noticed Valentino's presence. He glanced up, a tired look in his eyes, mouth in a thin and dangerous line. "Oh, it's you. What, did my men let you go as part of the retreat?"
"I escaped…" said Valentino, too stunned not to reply obediently, just like back at the warehouse.
Henroin sighed, obviously trying to hold himself together as he stepped forward. "Well then you'd better be leaving, hadn't you, Mister Valentino? You're no longer of use to me."
Valentino just tilted his head, watching the spider.
Henroin's red eyes glowed and a scowl came to his face. "Look, I may have lost this fight, and I may have suffered a blow to my authority, but I am still the man running this situation. Now get out!" He pulled a gun out from his jacket and aimed it at Valentino's chest.
But Valentino could see Henroin's hand shaking.
And Valentino was so sick of being pushed around and beaten down and feeling like shit lately, especially thanks to Henroin. And if he couldn't take a piece out of his own uppity bottom bitch or the virgin radio freak, he might just make do with this bastard who had emasculated him at every turn. He was not going to live the rest of his afterlife being afraid that this fucker would kidnap him in the night again just to toy with Angel. Angel, Angel, fucking Angel — this guy almost had Angel's eyes if he looked close enough.
Henroin raised an eyebrow. "Che cosa? What the hell, can't ya hear? I said go or I'll—"
Valentino jumped at Henroin so fast that the tarantula didn't have a chance to get off a single shot — the gun clattered to the ground.
Instantly, both men's eyes were glowing and their fangs were flashing and their claws were out. Somewhere at the back of his mind, Valentino knew they were both so weak and tired that their struggle probably looked like a joke, but to him it felt like a battle for life and death. So he gathered the remains of all of his anger and frustration and pain to toppling this man who was even more of a bastard than he was (and part of Valentino was humbled enough in this moment to admit that that was saying something).
He had the spider pinned to the pavement now, and quite frankly he wasn't sure if it would feel more damn satisfying to punch the guy right in his smart mouth or to plant a kiss on the great big homophobe. For a moment he almost could have taken a page out of Radio Freak's book and given Henroin a hickey that would also sever his jugular.
He noticed Henroin reaching up but didn't try to stop him. It looked like he had nothing in his hand anyway. He was probably just trying to make some last effort to push away Valentino's face or tear at his collar.
But when something sharp suddenly dug into the back of his neck, Valentino realized that Henroin had indeed had something in his hand. "Aghhh!" Valentino screeched. He released Henroin and clawed at his neck as the spider suddenly flipped them around and pulled in the opposite direction against Valentino's throat, choking him.
Henroin smiled as he continued to pull harder. "Friendly tip, Mister Valentino. It may be cliche, but keeping a piece of piano wire on one's person is a very handy thing for businessmen like ourselves. It gets the job done so quick and neat. And it's easy to grip, even when you're hurt. Sharped this on an Angel spear, so it's not holy per se, but it does sting, doesn't it?"
Valentino had tears in his eyes as the metal pressed into his neck and felt like it was going to sear through his throat. He scrambled and spit and glared but nothing was making it stop and nothing was making it better, and fuck, even if he could regenerate after something like this, what would this fucker do with his body in the meantime? Probably put it on display for everyone right out in the street — a defeated waste of an overlord, a humiliating castration in every way but cutting off his balls…
Suddenly, from behind, he felt someone push him and Henroin apart. Valentino stumbled into the wall of the alley and he heard Henroin drop to the pavement.
Valentino coughed and unwound the piano wire from his throat as quickly as he could. His vision was hazed, but after a moment he could see who was here now and what was happening.
Vox had arrived…and he was currently kicking the shit out of Henroin with live wires and a few genuine kicks. The spider ended up crumpled against a stoop, bleeding and coughing.
Valentino tired to get up, tried to say something, but he couldn't manage it. Blood was dripping from his neck.
Vox glared down at the spider as he finished his assault. "Listen up, you fucking piece of work, because this is how things are going to go! You stay the hell away from the studio, from Val, from me, and from Vel too for that matter! And I'd fucking toss in Angel except him and those siblings of his pretty much told you where you can go all on their own. And if I ever do catch you anywhere near our lives again, I will drop your entire organization's cell service, cut all your lights and power, and come and electrocute the fuck out of you personally — and I'll televise it! Get it?" He glared down at the spider, eyes glowing electric blue.
Henroin just coughed a few more times.
Vox bent low, eyes narrowed. "I want a clear yes. A guarantee. Your word. As a businessman or a professional or a don or whatever the hell you call yourself that matters to you. I want a fucking verbal contract, because I am done with this asinine, lurking in the shadows, bullshit drama." His antenna sizzled and his face glitched with raw sparks of power.
Henroin looked at him with such ice in his eyes. Then he gave a single nod and whispered, "We have an agreement."
"Good." Vox let out a deep breath and stood up. "Now go the hell home. We all need a rest. The last few weeks have been an exhausting cluster."
He turned on his heel and went toward Valentino.
Valentino couldn't help scrambling back a bit on instinct. "What?" he croaked out. "You left…"
"No, I didn't!" Vox scowled. "I thought about it, but I didn't go. Because I care about you more than you hate me. And your ego can suck it. Now come on, no more fucking around, I'm getting you out of here. Can you walk?"
Valentino blinked a couple times and tried to stand. He got up and took a few steps but then swayed and fell hard against the wall, rubbing his neck.
"Damn it." Vox sighed and got in front of him with his back facing Valentino. "Put your arms around my shoulders, I'll carry you."
Valentino glared. "THE FUCK you'll carry…"
Vox glared, voice full of static. "I am exhausted and pissed and I have things to do. You don't wanna respond to me asking nicely? Fine, respond to this then — you get behind me and hold on tight or so help me I will shock you unconscious and drag your tall ass out of here through all the dirt and bodies and blood out there. So what's it gonna be?"
Valentino scowled deeply, but his head was hurting again and he was exhausted enough to know Vox was right. He put his arms around Vox's shoulders.
"Good. Now hold on tight and no bullshit." Vox grabbed under Valentino's knees and hoisted him up with a grunt. They were about to head out when the television overlord paused for a moment, just staring out of the alley toward the street. Valentino blinked a few times and looked out there too. He saw the Radio Demon standing alongside that fucking flying cat of his and that pain in the ass snake overlord not far from those smug spiders… The Radio Demon was looking Vox's way though.
Valentino fully expected himself and Vox to suddenly be crushed to death by crazy tentacles.
But Vox just gave the Radio Demo a single nod. And the Radio Demon gave a single nod in return and then turned back to his companions.
Vox started heading down the alley, away from the battle.
"What the fuck…" Val coughed. "What was THAT little moment about?"
"If you're asking why Alastor's not killing you right now, I think it's because he and I are doing some kind of truce thing. Today was sort of a trial run."
"Oh don't fucking tell me you're banging each other finally…" Valentino groaned. "Ow!" He winced as Vox readjusted his hold, jostling him perhaps a little extra than necessary.
The television overlord glanced over his shoulder, scowling a little. "No, we're not 'banging'. We're the opposite of banging. We're just…okay with each other. And I'm okay with him. Over him in that way. Now he takes care of his shit, and I take care of mine." Vox shrugged.
Valentino had tilted his head at this new revelation. He sighed now. "Are you calling me shit?"
Vox sighed too but smiled. "God, do you have to take everything personally? And no, for the record, I'm not calling YOU shit. I'm calling having to get in a brawl in a filthy alley shit."
"Ugh…whatever." Valentino swallowed, already woozy again, "How…how the hell…do you think we'll get anywhere? You gonna carry me across the Pentagram?"
"I don't know, I didn't plan that far…" Vox admitted, blushing a little. "I'll…see if I can get us a ride." He got his phone of his suit and pressed a button. "Vel?"
"Oh fuck, not Vel…" Valentino leaned against Vox's back.
Vox just rolled his eyes. "Yeah, I got him but he's hurt and out of it — we need a ride. How long for you to get to the studio and pick up the limo and get here?" He raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean 'zero seconds'?"
From around the corner a horn honked and headlights flashed.
"Damn." Vox almost sounded impressed as he put away his phone.
Valentino groaned a little.
Vox glanced over his shoulder. "Is that sound about Vel or about me or just about how shitty you probably feel?"
"The third one…with a little bit of the first two on the side," Valentino grumbled. "Also shut up."
Vox only smiled a little more.
They got around the corner and found Velvet standing beside the limo with the back door open. "Hey! I figured you'd at least need a getaway car, so I got the limo and came here as soon as you left, Voxxy!" She tilted her head at Valentino. "Oh wow, Val, you look like shit."
"Fuck you too, Vel…" he moaned.
"Vel, you left Vark alone for that long?" Vox asked, eyes wide.
She laughed. "No, silly! He's here with me!" She gestured into the car, and sure enough a bark sounded from inside.
Vox headed over and looked in. He genuinely had to try not to laugh. "Velvet, where the fuck did you get a car seat in hell?"
She shrugged. "People are just really nice and give you things if you stab them enough times. Or threaten to." She laughed. "He likes it a lot, by the way! We should do car rides with him."
"First things first…" He gave the little shark a wave. Then Vox slid a woozy Valentino off his shoulders to stand on his own for a moment.
"I should be the one driving," Valentino started. "It's my fucking…" Things went hazy and he dropped to his knees.
Vox was instantly at his side, propping him up. "Damn it. Val, you're not driving — cut the power trip. Vel, we gotta get him cleaned up and medicated and in bed. For like a week. At least."
"So we're going back the studio?" Velvet asked, curious.
Vox shook his head. "No, he's spent enough time there wallowing like a jackass lately. I know where we'll go…"
"I don't need…" Valentino started trying to say, but everything was getting to be too much again. His vision was hazy around the corners of his eyes, and his head pounded, and his throat burned. "Go away…" he mumbled as he squinted his eyes and refused to acknowledge that he felt tears trying to come.
"No," Vox said gently but firmly, holding him up. "No more going away. We're all gonna work this out. But first we're getting you fixed up. And I'm gonna take care of everything, whether you like it or not. Because I'm your friend. And even though you can be kind of a shitty friend back to me sometimes, I like you — and there's nothing you can do to stop me." He spoke looking into Valentinos's eyes. And he added the last sentence with just a little bit of a smirk. Then he helped lift up Valentino to place him in the car.
And then something happened that truly, sincerely, deeply frightened Valentino.
His heart skipped a beat.
He remained perfectly still as Vox got him into the backseat and Velvet shut the door. And then he listened as they got into the front together and the limo pulled away.
The little shark looked at him from across the car, panting and wagging its tail.
Valentino just swallowed and stared at the ceiling and slowly felt himself pass out. Passing out was good. Passing out meant he didn't have to think about a lot of things…definitely not Vox. Not at all. That was just silly. He wouldn't even remember this feeling once he woke up again — he was sure. Probably. Definitely. Maybe…
He let himself rest, and left himself to the care of his friends.
A/N:
Ahh Valentino's in love! I'm so excited to explore this in later chapters, he's gonna be so stubborn about it and clueless lol. Just one more chapter to go and then there'll be lots of fluff and romantic chapters to give everyone a break from all the drama lol. Thank you for reading!
Take care!
-Azure129