A/N:

Hi everyone! Okay, the final segment of the News Special arch is here — thank you all for waiting and I hope you enjoy! There's definitely some angst and hurt again but also a lot of love 3 Thank you for reading!

Partners

Chapter 89:

No News is Good News: Part 3

Dinner passed effortlessly between Angel Dust and his delightful Radio Demon beau. Each bite of Italian food and each shy glance from Alastor and each glance of the spider's around the decorated room made Angel forgive the deer demon more and more for any distress he had caused Angel about the emotional status of their relationship. Alastor was clearly going all out and doting on him in every way a person could be doted on — there was love here. Angel had no idea how he could have ever doubted it. Well, he certainly had no doubt now that those words — 'I love you' — were going to come from Smiles' smiling lips tonight sometime between the main course and dessert. And then they would eat cannolis and Angel would try not to absolutely come undone at the table watching the man he loved put a long, thick, sweet object in his mouth and suck out the cream…

Very flustered and nearly ready to giggle, Angel came out of his thoughts just as Alastor snapped away their empty dinner plates.

The deer smiled back at him, eyes bright. "Well then, mon ange, shall we?"

Angel was up in an instant, strolling around the table to stand right at Alastor's side. He leaned down with his eyes hazed. "Let's shall…" he teased.

Alastor blinked at the sudden advance then chuckled, glowing a little. "Eager, are we?"

"For longer than you could possibly know, babe." Angel winked.

Alastor tilted his head in curious amusement but then stood and took his hand. "Very well. I'll teleport us to our destination then. But first, I would like to maintain the element of surprise for what I'm about to share with you, so would you consider wearing a blindfold?"

Angel raised an eyebrow, not sure how 'I love you' could need to be visually hidden. But when Alastor shyly pulled off his own tie and held it out to act as the blindfold, Angel stopped caring. The show-stopping sweetheart might have a whole little staged song and dance planned, who knew? He giggled and took the tie. "Anything you want, mio cervino." Angel used two of his other hands to tie the blindfold around his eyes.

"And pull it down over your pretty minor eyes please, darling," Alastor playfully scolded. "No peeking."

"Ooo so sneaky." Angel chuckled and pulled the blindfold down a little to cover his pink 'freckles'.

Alastor laughed too. "Very well, off we go!" He snapped his fingers.

Angel felt them disappear then reappear somewhere new but quiet. They must still be inside and probably still in the hotel.

Alastor cleared his throat. And Angel's heart fluttered and his stomach did twists and all of his attention went to the deer as he spoke. This must be it. "Darling…Angel…Anthony… I know we've only been together a short time. But quite frankly, my life already feels incomplete without you, my beau. So much so that…I would like to further solidify our pursuit of living a life together." There were sounds of Alastor moving around, tending to something.

Okay, suddenly just a little panic was coming over Angel because Alastor's words were sweet but intense, and Angel was getting that 'proposal' feeling again tonight and having to try very hard to ignore it. Because the deer COULD NOT be proposing, right? And Angel wouldn't have wanted him to yet even if he was…right? Wait, 'yet'? No, Angel…Angel could not handle a proposal AT ALL.

Things really wouldn't come to that tonight. Somebody as old-fashioned as Alastor would definitely want to say 'I love you' first and of course date for at least a year or some other respectable timeframe before taking that kind of plunge. They weren't even living together yet (that secret door between their rooms did not count…technically)! And as for Angel, he just…just had never been able to picture… Deep down, he had always felt more like a 'cheap date' than marriage material. And Alastor probably wouldn't go in for something so sentimental, so public, anyway. Overlords never settled down…

Yet Alastor wasn't like any other overlord Angel had ever met, was he?

And maybe these days Angel…was feeling a lot less like a 'cheap date', which definitely left him open for feeling like something else if or when the time came…

Alastor spoke again as he continued with his set up. "I was going to wait to share this with you until you were all healed — your physical wounds and the angelic one — so as not to overwhelm you, and to have more time to prepare, but…then we talked the other night and… Oh, how could I deny you any longer, mon ange? I can't keep secrets from you, and telling you what's on my mind and in my heart is such a joy to me. So with a little help from Husker I managed to get everything ready for this evening…"

Angel's smile got wobbly. He was bringing up their talk — their talk about love! And Husk had helped, and Angel knew the cat knew a thing or two about sweeping a spider of their feet with a confession. Okay, yeah, this little speech was definitely just some safe and adorable build-up before 'I love you'. Alastor would say the words in style, and then the two of them would kiss and eat erotic cannolis and hopefully cuddle for hours. And Angel could panic about marriage another day.

The spider continued to wait patiently as Alastor sounded like he was stepping to one side. The deer demon cleared his throat. "So, without further ado, please remove your blindfold, darling, so I can show you what has been consuming my mind so thoroughly lately…"

Angel took a deep breath, reached behind his head and slowly untied Alastor's tie. His mind was imagining a makeshift brightly lit stage full of banners and streamers and balloons all bearing the words 'I love you'.

Instead he found himself face to face with dusty hotel room doorway on the third floor across from Baxter's lab. There was a blue piece of paper taped to the door.

He blinked a few times. "Heh, Al, uh…sorry what is this?"

Alastor smiled so shyly and gestured to the door. "This…is where I intend to build my first satellite radio studio!" He gestured to the paper hanging before them. "I have the blueprints all drawn up! I figured building the studio up here would be perfect — excellent height for an antenna, and its out of the way of most of the guests so construction shouldn't be too disruptive. I was originally going to inform Charlie and then bring you up here once we broke ground to surprise you, but letting you in on the secret early is so much better. And I'm certain Charlie will say yes to my plans when I tell her later — she does love seeing her 'guests' passionate about new projects after all, ha!" He beamed. "I'm bringing my show right to the hotel! Well, not the cannibalism part but the broadcasting part certainly! I promise it will be lovely, and it's all due to you, Anthony!" He threw open his arms wide, gesturing to Angel in a grand display of showmanship and pride.

Angel just stared at the door, his jaw fallen. He blinked a couple of times. And Alastor's tie slipped out of his hand to the floor.

"Anthony?" Alastor's head tilted, though his enthusiasm remained in tact.

He swallowed and managed to speak. "That's…great, Al… That's really…great." And then tears were rolling down his face. Goddamnit, he always got so easily emotional when he was sick or recovering. "That's…lovely…Ah!" And then his ankle burned in pain, making him sway on his feet.

"Anthony?" Alastor's ears went down now, and his eyes widened, hands out like he was ready to take hold of him for support.

Angel put up his hands and stumbled back. "I…I just need a minute!"

Before Alastor could respond or, worse, try to touch him again, Angel moved as quickly as he could and started heading down the stairs, trying to ignore the pain throbbing in his shrapnel angel burns.

The moment he reached the bottom, Alastor teleported in front of him. "Angel, please! You're clearly in pain! And clearly so sad. What's wrong?"

"What's wrong?" Angel almost started laughing. "Just…it's…fuck!" He turned away and hobbled to his room, Alastor trailing behind him, and suddenly they were both inside. Angel shut the door and leaned against it. He desperately wiped at tears that kept falling. He tried to slow down his breaths so he could talk as he grit his teeth against the pain. "That was your big surprise for me — a tower for YOU!?"

Alastor blinked. "Well, I'll be the one using the tower, I suppose, but you inspired it! And I'm happy to tell you exactly how!" His smile brightened. "You see, Angel, I—"

"That's what's been on your mind lately? Nothing to do with me?" Angel glared through his tears, clearly still reeling.

"But it DOES have to do with you!" Alastor assured, wringing his hands now. "Indirectly, but—"

"You gave me candy and got dressed up and cooked Italian and decorated your damn office and blindfolded me and sweet-talked me upstairs, and all to celebrate…some overlord expansion?!" He was practically shaking.

"Ha, this isn't about territory though! It's symbolic!" He actually started to smile fully again like all of this really was okay somehow. "You see—"

"Alastor, why won't you just tell me you if you love me?!" Angel shouted. And then his eyes widened and he screamed as a lightning-sharp burst of pain, the worst he had experienced yet, exploded in his ankle and dropped him to the floor.

Alastor was immediately at his side. "Angel! Angel, let me see your angelic wound. How badly does it hurt?" "Go away, you don't even love me!" Angel pulled his leg closer, crying in pain and overflowing emotion. "Fuck, it's like fire. Damn it, I'll…I'll fix it myself! I'll hobble down the street and get it whacked off by the nearest sawbones I can find. Boom, problem solved!"

Alastor gasped as Angel tried to stand up. "You will do no such things! Neither amputating a perfectly curable and lovely leg OR dragging yourself out into the streets in this state! Please at let me help—"

"I'll do whatever I want! And without you!" Angel sobbed angrily, a hand on the doorknob. "I just need to get out of here, I can't… Everything's too much, and I just need some time. I can't fucking be here like this anymore."

Alastor teleported to appear right between him and the door, putting them nearly chest to chest. His voice was level, eyes wide, ears tilted down in worry. "If you need a moment alone — or simply with someone besides me — I will leave you to it. But you cannot leave the hotel in this state."

"I've gone out in plenty worse states than this and lived to tell the tale," Angel retorted, trying to sound fierce but knowing his tears and tiredness and the fact that even his nose was starting to run weren't helping.

Alastor looked at him with some confusion…then sadness. Angel knew it was sadness because Alastor's smile almost disappeared; the thin line of his dusky lips nearly leveled out and the ends turned down.

The rare sight really did give Angel pause for a moment. But he still refused to back down. This fucking man… Why was he so perfect and so damn clueless all at once?

Finally, seeing Angel's determination, Alastor sighed and gave him a single nod, his smile barely returning to a shadow of its usual self. "Very well. If you really do wish to go out…then fight me. If you win, you'll prove you're still capable of handling yourself, and you can do what you will. But if you lose, you have to lie down and let me get your sister or Charlie or Cherri — whoever you need. And then perhaps in the morning you and I could talk?" He added the last part hesitantly.

Angel blinked then rolled his eyes. "Oh… this is the same damn thing we did when YOU had a divine wound and tried to go out cannibal hunting before the hotel open house!" He crossed his arms. "Well, unlike you with the goddamn angel cut over your heart that time, I can handle myself with my injury just fine — so what if my leg's fucked up? I've got seven other perfectly functioning limbs, baby!"

"Then besting me shouldn't be a problem." Alastor removed his jacket and set it aside. "You can use all your limbs, and I can use my microphone. No magic or firearms — just like before. Do you agree?"

"It's a deal!" Angel huffed. He reached out his hand like he was going to offer to shake with Alastor… but then went to snatch the microphone. Alastor blinked in surprise then lunged forward (barely making a sincere effort) and guided Angel to fall back on to the bed.

Of course the deer demon fell on top of him, the microphone between them.

Angel panted. Fuck if they weren't fighting right now, this would have been so hot.

Alastor spoke again. "The other option for us, you know, is that you and I talk right now and spare ourselves all of this," he suggested, looking into Angel's eyes.

Angel looked away. "Why, so you can give me some pity 'I love you' after I got all weepy about it — or maybe not even that much? No thanks." Angel used his good leg and two of his hands to flip Alastor (gently) off of his body with a grunt. He underestimated the strain of the action on other leg though, and ended up hissing in pain and curling up on the bed, clutching his injured ankle.

Alastor was sitting up in an instant, full of concern and ready to help, and Angel used the distraction to summon the rest of his arms and lunge for the microphone again, tugging hard. The deer sighed, struggling a little to hold on to the object but still managing to best Angel. "Angel, you are naturally stronger than me yet you aren't winning, which means you're clearly not well. You have been through so much trauma, I know what that's like. Please…"

Angel glared. "I'm just getting warmed up!" The spider let the microphone go, causing Alastor to stumble back and nearly fall off the bed. Angel dove for him, causing them both to drop to the floor below. Suddenly then they were on the ground together, rolling around and trying to pin one another — an abysmal display of poor communication at its finest.

Molly and Husk first realized something very bad was happening in hell this evening when they went to test the phone reception in Molly's room, and a notification for 'Tonight's Channel 666 News Special' popped up. Molly tapped it, ready to see if she could stream something in this part of the building. When the picture came up, she tilted her head then narrowed her eyes curiously and asked Husk if the King and Queen of Hell usually went on local cable news shows.

Husk went wide-eyed and was instantly at her side, because no, he explained, no they did not.

Molly turned up the volume so they could hear the interview

When the King and Queen started talking down about the hotel and their daughter, Molly felt her demonic power rising up inside of her and wasn't so sure if she wanted to keep it at bay.

When they showed the mob fight footage and talked about Alastor and Angel and Husk all being failures at redemption, she felt herself start to tremble and tears come to her eyes.

When they said Charlie was too angelic to be a good leader, Husk had to stop her from throwing the phone out (or possibly through) her newly-fixed window.

He held held her for a moment while she cried and tried to calm her anger. Then she looked up and grabbed Husk's hands. "Oh Husky, we need ta get the others and go talk ta Charlie. What if she doesn't even know this is happenin'? She doesn't deserve this! I know what it's like, having a parent who just…ruins ya inside. We have ta do somethin'!"

"We'll help her. We'll fix this," Husk assured in serious grumble. They held hands and headed out of the room. The cat paused for a moment though, looking across the hall. "Should we get Alastor and Angel? I know they're on a date tonight, but…"

"Later," Molly assured, "this is the first date they've had since Angel got hurt, and Angel really needed to talk to him about some stuff tonight. I don't want to interrupt them yet." She glanced to the third floor landing where Charlie and Vaggie's room was and then to the stairs leading to the lobby. "Come on, let's check the lobby for people first, then we can go to Charlie. She's gonna need all the support we can find."

Husk nodded, and they dashed downstairs.

Niss and Sir Pentious only realized that a serious problem was at hand when some of the Egg Bois rushed into Niss's room with a contraband phone with internet access. The little guys were full of distress, talking about how some people on a show were saying not nice things about the hotel and the princess!

Up until that point, to celebrate packing up Niss's final trunk, the two men had just been sitting on his bed, saying their goodbyes…which had quickly escalated into making out while Niss eagerly crawled into Pen's lap, and Pen curled his tail around both their waists to press them close.

Needless to say, at the entrance of the Egg Bois and their announcement, they flew apart, bashful and breathless.

But it was a necessary interruption. Because when they saw the screen of the phone, revealing none other then the King and Queen on the evening news and footage of the mob fight airing behind them and a headline about the hotel being a horrible mistake, their hearts dropped into their stomachs and they said one word together. "Charlie."

They were up and moving immediately. Niss got his jacket back on…and his tie…and he re-buttoned and tucked in his shirt (Pen had been feeling a little handsy during their time together). Sir Pentious put back on his hat (Niss might have…tossed it off his head in a moment of passion), took away the phone causing the Eggs such distress, assured the dears he and Niss would fix everything, and then ushered the Eggs toward the kitchen with promises that they could have as many of Niss's cookies as they pleased to help them feel better.

Once they were gone, Sir Pentious went right back over to Niss. "We'll head to the hotel right away. That poor girl. She doesn't deserve this. She told me she was worried about her parents, but I never thought…"

"Shitty parents don't just happen on earth." Niss scowled. "Charlie was there for me and my brother and sister about our Pops, and I'm gonna be there for her about this." He stood on the bed, looking Pen in the eye. "And then once everything's settled I'm coming back to this ship and finishing what we started up here before I officially move out, because you are a beautiful man and you deserve to have the living daylight's kissed and caressed out of you every chance you get, Pendleton, mio serpente!"

Sir Pentious beamed and nearly swooned. "Nissy, you're so commanding — I love it…and you." He smirked, voice low and playful as he dragged the end of his tail under Niss's chin. "I'll look forward to it once we set right everything for the hotel."

"I know. Me too" Niss gave the tip of that tail a little kiss that sent a shiver though the snake. Then he smirked too with a determined gaze. "But first, ta Charlie!"

"Yes, to Charlie!"

They both headed to the control room to steer the ship toward the hotel.

Louise and Abel and Crymini busted in through the front doors of the hotel just as Husk and Molly headed down to the lobby and just as the shadow of the airship fell over the building. And then a horn honked from a car outside — a glance through the window showed that the old-fashioned vehicle was carrying Cherri and Rosie and Mimzy. A moment later, the three ladies, along with Niss and Sir Pentious, were all in the lobby with the others.

"Didya all see?" asked Molly.

"Not the whole thing, but enough," Niss replied.

"Too much," Sir Pentious groused.

"This is awful, I can't believe the King and Queen could be so selfish!" Louise stomped her foot.

"It's okay, we'll make this better," Abel soothed, patting her shoulder.

"Has anyone seen Charlie yet?" Cherri asked, already looking at the stairs.

"Or Alastor?" Asked MImzy, glancing around. "And where's Angel?"

"On a date — we didn't want to interrupt 'em," Husk explained. Then his eyes found their new guest — the young girl who had come in with Abel and Louise. His wings puffed up — he couldn't help it, it was a cat instinct thing whenever he was around dog demons or hell hounds. "Who's the kid?"

Crymini pouted. "I'm nineteen! And it doesn't matter, I'm no one." She looked down. Husk frowned, reaching out to her, and Molly looked on in worry as well.

Suddenly Niffty and Baxter entered from the kitchen. "Is everything okay? We were making dinner and heard a lot of talking," asked Baxter.

Niffty looked the group over. "Why are you all here? And where's Alastor and Angel and Vaggie and…Charlie?"

The crowd looked back at her with nervous expressions and suddenly they were all talking at once, trying to catch up Baxter and Niffty on the News Special and also trying to decide what should be done next. Finally Rosie cleared her throat and addressed the group. "I think we should act immediately. Alastor and Angel can join with us shortly if they need some personal time for now. What's most important is that we talk with Charlie and Vaggie." She looked to the top of the stairs.

Everyone else did too. Then they all nodded and slowly began to head up, Rosie leading the way and Crymini hesitantly following last.

When they reached the third floor landing they suddenly heard the sound of something large breaking. Faces all full of concern, the group dashed down the hall just as Vaggie opened the door of her room and stumbled out, holding a waste basket laden with shards of glass while some trails of red smoke escaped behind her. Her eyes were so wide. She looked to the group, surprised and speechless for a moment.

Rosie frowned, stepping forward. "Vaggie…she knows…doesn't she?"

Vaggie swallowed and nodded, tears falling from her eyes. Then she shook her head and took a breath to find her voice. "She…don't go in there yet. She doesn't like to be seen like this. Wait here. I need…I need Alastor." She shut the door, put aside the waste basket, and then she was gone down the hall and down the stairs in a flash.

The others waited and watched, no longer hearing any sounds from Charlie's room.

Alastor had to admit, Angel really did put up a good fight. After all, the spider had the advantage of his greater height and physical stamina, and Alastor had no access to magic as per their rules. However, the spider was also tired and wounded, which hindered his performance considerably. And deep down Alastor suspected he wanted to lose and remain here and maybe stop fighting.

They ended up lying side-by-side on the floor, Angel's halter top bunched up under his chest, all the white and pink fluff spilling over (which had not been Alastor's intention at all, just a mere intriguing byproduct of roughhousing). Alastor's shirt sleeves were rolled up and a few buttons at the top of his shirt had popped off (again, utterly unintentional, just a result of a starched shirt struggling against a shifting body). They were both flushed and sweating a little, not talking.

Alastor had some hope that talking would happen soon though. Perhaps Angel had worked off the edge of his emotions and frustration now, just like when he had done that intense gym routine at Cherri's hideout after his fight with his siblings on Sir Pentious's airship.

Besides, Alastor knew the two of them really needed to talk now, not later. Because the deer was starting to understand the mistake that had been made, and he needed to explain things to Angel with such desperation that the feeling burned hungrily within him, right at the core of his heart just under where his own angelic wound had once been.

Angel finally spoke now, definitely sounding calmer thankfully. "Well, it's a tie or whatever, I guess. One day we really should try this but allowing guns and magic — make it interesting."

"Oh, but I like the physical contact of doing it this way." Alastor suddenly glowed, eyes wide. "I mean to say…the goal to best one another through simple roughhousing distracts from some of the usual anxiety I have about physicality. I enjoy being close to you like this. It's quite fun."

Angel almost smiled a little but then just sighed and closed his eyes. "Al, I'm sorry I freaked out. Your new tower sounds nice. And I never meant to pressure you about the love thing. I know you got your own way of acclimating to things, and when I tried bringing it up the other day you were sweet. Really." His eyes opened, and he stared at the ceiling as he tried to explain his thoughts. "I just…I'm insecure. And it's lonely. And no guy ever loved me. And now having my brother and sister around with their guys, all four of 'em saying 'I love you' all the time…I'm happy for 'em but it hurts. It's hard not to…not to ache for what they have." He winced again and pulled in his injured leg. "And damnit, this burn keeps going on fire at the most random of times, which has really fucking not been helping. I ain't gonna cut it off, but I won't say I'm not tempted."

Alastor breathed such a sigh of relief. His Angel was calmer, his Angel was talking, his Angel was making jokes. His Angel needed him, and he would be here to provide for him no more mistakes or misunderstandings. "Oh Anthony, you have no need to apologize. I'm sorry I've kept you in such distress. It wasn't my intent, I simply…wanted to make sure I was doing thing right, to respect both of us. I was caught up in my own showmanship. Look at me, I haven't even tried to help you heal that burning ankle in days." He sat up a little and observed Angel, eyeing the ankle curiously. "Hmm… Darling, you know my divine wound hurt when I felt the sin of wrath — the sin I'm most prone too."

"Yeah, well, the sin I'm most prone to is lust, but I ain't exactly horny right now," Angel replied, sitting up a little, rubbing his leg.

"Indeed," Alastor shyly cleared his throat. "But have you considered that you might be more prone to an alternative sin lately? Perhaps…envy? About all the openly-displayed love between others?"

Angel blinked then pouted and raised an eyebrow. "Wait…are you seriously saying that when my burn hurts, it's cuz I'm feeling envy about the fact that 90 percent of the people in this hotel are in love with each other and shouting it from the rooftops?" He considered for a long moment then his eyes widened and he smacked his forehead with his hand. "Fuck, no, that actually tracks! Goddamnit." He threw his arms out in front of himself. "I don't even know how to control that! I can't make you love me, and I can't make everyone else pretend they aren't in love. Shit…"

"But Angel…" Alastor shifted closer, smiling in a special way, looking into the spider's eyes, "Angel, darling…"

Angel's eyes instantly widened and he blushed, but then he scooched away from Alastor on the floor. "Oh no, no, no, no, no! I told ya, I don't need any pity displays of affection. You're better than that, and so am I!" He crossed his arms and scowled. "Let's just go back downstairs and eat your cannolis. Trust me, that'll help. Ricotta and sugar ain't love, but it can sure feel close enough in the moment."

Alastor only shook his head moved closer, his bright smile never wavering. "Darling… I was going to show you this over dessert after the tower reveal and…some further explanations, but…" He reached into his pocket and pulled out a sheet of paper. When Angel raised an eyebrow, he unfolded it to reveal a sketch of something like a logo — two letter A's layered over each other, surrounded by antlers curved i to resemble a heart.

Angel's face went blank with confusion. "What's…?"

"It's for the marquee for my new studio," Alastor shyly explained. "Of course I'll…I'll make some public excuse that the two A's merely represent how this new studio is my second one. And if anyone notices the heart shape of the antlers, I'll assure them it's a coincidence. But none of that is true. The two A's are for us. And the heart is for you… Because what is a famous radio host without a cohost, hmm?"

Angel's breaths went shallow, and he seemed both captivated and on the verge of another emotional moment, shaking slightly throughout his body. Alastor set aside the paper now and spoke gently. "Darling, perhaps I did things tonight not in the best order, so please allow me to explain. Do you know why I showed you my plans for the tower? It's not just because I'm proud of them. It's because you inspired them. I want to forge a life that combines all of my passions. By having a tower here, I can be close to the radio and you all at once. I'm building it to show you how serious I am about a future together. And I wanted you to be one of the first to know about it because…it's yours too in a way. I planned this whole evening because I have been very confused for quite a while now, but I think I'm starting to understand myself better thanks to our time together…and to some good old-fashioned advice from Husker, ha." He shrugged, tears burning at his eyes. "Did you know there's a term for how I am? Asexual."

Angel's shocked look was gone. He nodded. "Yeah. I…I didn't want to throw labels at ya yet. Did ya hear that from Husk?"

"Yes, he mentioned the term, and he suspected as much as to why you hadn't used it yet. He's suspected that aspect of my nature for some time actually and assumed I already knew about it myself, ha…" Alastor wiped at one of his eyes. "He also suggested the term aromantic… Because, Anthony, the love I see in you for me — the intoxicated and extravagant joy — it doesn't quite reflect my own feelings for you." He saw Angel's features fall, and instantly reached out to hold his hand. "Angel, the feeling you give me is one of deep, quiet comfort and warmth. It's more modest. But I realize now that its simplicity doesn't make it inferior. Even if I don't fully understand romantic feelings, I can still love in so many ways. And now that I know my affection is worthy enough to offer you, I…" They were moving closer, Alastor's smile was growing smaller, and his radio glow was dimming, "…J'taime, ma raison d'etre."

Angel sighed, wide eyes looking back into the deer's glowing ones, a blush building in his features, from his cheeks down his throat, into his chest over his heart. "What the fuck does that mean, ya big French-talking flirt?" he asked in a whisper.

"Ha! It means…It means…" And then Alastor's smile fell completely. His glow was all gone. And the words that came out were said in a beautiful southern lilt that he had always felt self-conscious about in hell, except for right now in this moment. "Means I love ya, cher. You're my reason fo' bein'…"

Angel turned completely red. "Your voice…" left him in a squeak.

Alastor quickly put back on a small smile to resume his radio tone. "It's my real voice, n'orleans accent and everything. It only comes out when I stop smiling. If the change is off-putting, I—"

"No!" Angel grabbed his shirt, pulling him close, tears in his eyes. "Do it again…speak like that again…and tell me you love me again…please…"

Alastor was almost shaking, eyes so wide. His smile was gone once more, and his natural voice returned. "I love ya powerful, cher." Then just before Angel could clearly burst into tears, Alastor pressed forward to lock them into a wild kiss, holding him tight, nearly knocking them to the floor.

Angel groaned and guided one of Alastor's hands to the burn on his ankle. "Make it better, Smiles…" He kissed him again. "Make ME better…" More kisses. "The other night…Fuck, I always hated my feet, but you made them into a turn on for me! I love you!" Kisses. "I love you!" Kisses. "I love you! And you love me…"

"Yes…yes to everythin', cher…Ma cher with yo' perfect feet…" Alastor managed between kisses, his free hand grasping Angel's waist just to keep himself steady. "I'm so sorry… I didn't know I was hurtin' ya. I just wanted to take my time…make sure everything' was perfect fo' this. A good first time fo' you, just like all the good first times ya give ta me…"

"Oh…" Angel groaned, kisses even more fervent, pressing his chest urgently to Alastor's. "Ya did! It's perfect! I'm sorry too, shoulda just told ya… Oh Alastor!" Angel cried his name when another loose button twisted off of Alastor's shirt, and now they two of them nearly had their bare chests pressing together.

Alastor felt so free and worshipped and delighted in this moment. All he wanted to do was keep kissing his darling and never let go. Under his hand he could feel the injured area of Angel's leg becoming warm, and he could sense the pain leaving forever. With his other hand he held Angel even closer around at the waist. He couldn't help smiling again, putting away his natural accent (for now) and making his radio tones as warm and inviting as could be. "I would do anything for you, mon ange… Carry you from any battles, dance with you on a stage or a pole or a ballroom floor, fake my way through creating cannolis and hope to high heaven they've come out good."

Angel laughed, combing hands through the ends of Alastor's hair, and the sound was beautiful. "Oh, and we're totally getting some of those beautiful cannolis after this. But not for a while. I've been dying to kiss you for days." He peppered Alastor's face with kisses now.

Alastor blinked, melting under the ministrations. "You kept saying your were too tired though. And I didn't want to press you of course, especially not while you've been recovering—"

"Screw recovery." Angel pulled back and smirked. "I was 'tired' because I was being stubborn and feeling confused. Now, enough cannoli talk — more love talk. Moaning and swoons are also acceptable." He winked.

Alastor glowed, and then they were lost to each other again in the sweet, warm moment, touching and kissing and whispering, necking like giddy 'hormonal teenagers' as Angel might put it if his tender mouth wasn't currently occupied by Alastor's own eternally curious lips. The deer was barely resisting an urge to climb into Angel's lap, leveling out their heights and giving himself a chance to card his fingers through the spider's hair and gently kiss each of his freckle eyes while letting his trustworthy Angel's dexterous hands rove almost anywhere they saw fit on his own person.

This evening was turning out rather pleasantly indeed.

Then there was a knock on the door.

They separated, panting heavily, Angel's chest fluff thoroughly mussed and Alastor's monocle fallen into his disheveled hair. Their hearts raced and their hands trembled, so in need of each other.

A very serious Angel whispered to him. "Alastor, if you get rid of whoever that is, I will kiss every inch of that golden throat of yours until you cry out my name in every accent you have…and sing it too." Alastor glowed so brightly that his face was practically golden as his ears puffed up with intense sparks of static.

Obviously, he was very open to the scenario in question. So he quickly nodded, pulled an amused Angel up to stand, then guided him over to the bed to sit him primly down on the edge. They fixed each other up as best they could, then Alastor took a deep breath and headed over to the door. He opened it and blinked at the sight of Vaggie. "Vagatha! My apologies, I'm with Angel at the moment, and w're very busy. I was, er…performing some healing on his divine injury. Could anything you need possibly wait until—" But then his hormonal rush cleared enough to notice how wide (and teary) Vaggie's eyes were and how her hands were fidgeting and how she was frowning — in a sad way, not an angry way.

Alastor felt his ears stand on end. "What's wrong?"

Angel came over, frowning. "Vaggie?"

Vaggie's breath came out shaky. "It's Charlie. Her parents… they were just on the news, they had footage of the mob fight, they said all these horribles things about the hotel…and about her. And she's not okay. I need a powerful demon. Please, help her." She looked to Alastor.

The deer demon instantly nodded. He and Angel clapped hands and followed after Vaggie right away. They made it upstairs, past an inexplicable crowd of everyone connected with the hotel, to the darkened doorway of Charlie and Vaggie's suite.

Vaggie led them inside and closed the door.

And there Alastor found their princess.

She was kneeling on the floor in front of a television, the screen shattered. Her horns were fully formed, an aura of chaotic power and red magic surrounding her, and tears and blood dripping through her pale hands. At her sides sat Razzle and Dazzle, giving comforting nuzzles and trying to wrap her up tight in their embraces. The effort seemed to barely control the shaking simmering through her frame.

Vaggie let her tears fall freely now, Angel gasped…

…And in that moment, Alastor lost his smile for a new reason tonight. He only had one thought. The King and Queen had clearly just hurt this hotel, which effectively hurt his lovely Angel and everyone else staying here… and most of all must have hurt Charlie, his…his princess? Business partner? His very good friend?

They had tried to break a good heart.

And Alastor DID NOT LIKE villains who abused the good nature of others.

So whatever horrible mess those two meddlesome had had the nerve to start, he would do everything in his power to let it go no further so he could protect the precious people in his life and the precious life they had all built here for each other together.

He vowed to himself, here and now, that everyone who wanted to would get to live in this hotel, in peace and in love, and not even the rulers of the entire ring would take that happiness away from them.

Many things would have to be set into motion to ensure that goal. But first, he had to help Charlie. She mattered more than any grand schemes of revenge or retaliation.

He asked Vaggie to go gather blankets and pillows — the young woman clearly needed a break from the sight of her paramour in such distress and something helpful to do. Then he asked Angel to gather Razzle and Dazzle and see to their comfort.

And then finally he sat before Charlie and prepared to help her through facing all of the darkness within. And considering the potential ancient and cosmic sources of her magic, her darkness had the potential to be even more of an abyss than his own.

It would be a long night indeed. Thankfully, at least, no one would be passing it alone.

A/N:

Woo, okay, Alastor has officially confessed, and Charlie may be hurt now, but she will only get better from here 3 Everyone is really ready to support her so she can heal and work through what her parents have done. It's going to take her a while, and involve some uncomfortable talks with Luci and Lilith. But Alastor is determined to make sure things go well for her and that she knows how appreciated she is 3 I'm going to be taking another small break from posting to draft new chapters for the next part of the story. Thank you all for your patience and support!

Take care!

-Azure129