A/N:

Hi everyone! More story time - some emotional moments and romantic moments and dramatic moments for all. I hope you enjoy how everyone's nights start to wrap up! Thank you for reading!

Cw / Katie is verbally and physically abusive to Tom before Vox quickly intervenes

Partners

Chapter 108:

La Vie en Radio Part 4: Dark Sacred Night

As Alastor's show left the airwaves, Mimzy and Rosie couldn't help but stare at their now silent radio with blushes and astonished faces. All had seemed violently normal until the final moments as Alastor ate his victim's heart…and then, along with his usual laughter and growls, a very distinct moan had escaped him. Perhaps other sinners might think it was just the result of an excellent kill and feast. As for the cannibals, though, they had listened to Alastor's shows far too closely over the years to miss how unusual — and clearly erotic — the sound was.

Mimzy glanced at Rosie and whispered. "Do ya think Angel was in the studio, and that's why Alastor got a little…"

"Hot under the collar?" Rosie supplied. "Oh I would not at all be surprised. I also wouldn't be surprised if we don't see Alastor for his usual post-show gloating until at least tomorrow afternoon since obviously the rest of his night will be otherwise occupied."

Trying not to grin too much, the two ladies cleared their throats and turned to face the crowd of cannibals still gathered for the airing of the show. They were all talking even more feverishly now, grins wide and eyes glowing red and gold and green with animation.

Rosie cleared her throat. "Well, thus ends another delightful show from our dearest Alastor. I know we normally wait for him to come to us after the show and accept his accolades in person, but…I do believe he might retire early this evening. Two shows today, and all."

There were giggles and tittering from the crowd.

Mimzy put her hands on her hips. "And when we do see him, no one's gonna have anything to say about how…jazzed he got at the end there or about him taking the rest of the night to himself or about where his cohost is, right?"

The cannibals all nodded firmly with smiles, even Alastor's little fan club.

"He will appreciate your support and discretion most dearly," Rosie assured with a satisfied smile of her own. "Now then, let's all turn in as well. It's been a rather overstimulating day." She turned to her companion and held out her hand. "Mimzy, dearest?"

Mimzy chuckled and nodded, putting a hand in hers. "Rosie, darling—Oh!" Rosie scooped up Mimzy in her arms and proceeded to carry her past the cannibals toward the Emporium. The onlookers cooed and laughed at their sweet antics. Mimzy grinned up at her lover. "Distracting them from Alastor's smitten state by using our own?" she whispered.

"It's very effective…and very fun," Rosie assured with a wink before giving Mimzy's hip a quick squeeze and earning a firm kiss (and maybe a little nibble on her neck) in return. She practically sauntered them home while the cannibals waved goodbye then returned to their own haunts for the night, satisfied and ready to accept whatever tomorrow would bring from Alastor and his new special friend.

XXXX

At the television studio across the Pentagram, Tom Trench was a bundle of anxiety barely concealed by a cheap gas mask. Speaking of which, he was at least grateful for how the mask was hiding his sweating and frowning and eye twitching along with its normal primary purpose — helping him breathe.

Sinners bodies were occasionally subject to ailments from their bodies on earth, and Tom's body down here had picked a doozy — his chronic emphysema. It was a condition developed from exposure to noxious fumes and chemicals during his few years as a draftee in the army, eventually killing him at a relatively young age. Hell's air, meanwhile, was littered with sulfur and ash, and when he'd first arrived he'd felt most days like he could barely breathe. The gas mask gave him relief and the freedom to eventually pursue media, a goal in life that he'd never had a chance to make real.

He tried to pass off the gas mask to the masses as a gimmick. But he'd always had a bad feeling that Katie suspected it was actually a need, and an even worse feeling that if he ever pissed her off enough, one day she would rip off the mask and smash it just for fun and watch him gasp for air like a fish on land.

Here, tonight, he really sincerely believed that moment might be about to happen, because he had been stalling her for nearly half an hour about getting them on the air, and she was pissed. The bad kind of pissed. The worst kind of pissed he had seen from her in a while.

"What THE FUCK is taking so long?" Katie smacked a mug off of the anchor desk, shattering it on the floor, eyes glowing red in rage. "You are good for one damn thing, Tom, and that is taking care of tech shit so I can take control with the audience. So quit dicking around and get us live NOW! Or ELSE!" She came up behind him, looming, ready to strike.

She was violent toward things around him often — it was her way of keeping him on edge and under her thumb. She was less often violent directly toward him, but it did happen. And it was clearly close to happening again. And even with his gas mask on he felt like he suddenly couldn't breathe because she was starting to suspect something.

She'd kill him if she knew he'd ratted her out to Vox.

"I…" Tom started shakily, "…uh…the console got pretty fried when we were yanked off the air after the last show. I'm just…trying to make sure it all works so we won't get cut off again."

He gasped as Katie suddenly grabbed his collar and yanked him up so his feet dangled just over the floor. "Bullshit. You're keeping us off the air on purpose. And if you think you're gonna get away with it…you're NOT." She leaned in close, snarling. "What the hell is your game?"

"Katie, I just..wanted you to think this through…" Admitting he was stalling wouldn't exactly make her calm down, but lying again would definitely escalate her anger to a bad place. "Please. I know we don't get along well. But I don't want you to ruin everything we've worked so hard for."

"We?" Her eyes stopped glowing; her glare was suddenly so cold. "Tom. There. Is. No. We. There is ME. And the only person to ever ruin anything around here is you. And if you can't even give our audience what they want tonight — again, ME — then you're done." With those words, she growled and tossed him roughly out onto the audience floor.

Tom hit hard. There was a small sound, like glass cracking.

He blinked a few times in dizziness, but when his eyes refocused he realized there was a crack in one lens of his mask. His breaths became quick and shallow in panic. It felt like an agonizingly long moment before he realized that the crack hadn't pierced fully through the glass. The integrity of his mask was still in tact. He was so grateful, he could have cried and laughed all at once. He tried to push himself up but one of his arms was at a bad angle. The fall had broken something. He suddenly tasted blood and realized he had busted his lip too. Katie hadn't hurt him like this in a while. He had sworn a long time ago to never let it happen again — not by standing up to her but just by going along with whatever she wanted. It was easier. And it always worked, more or less.

Things between them hadn't always been so bad, honestly. Once they had been like partners, finding their way through the media hierarchy of hell. Once she used to smile and mean it when she was on the air. Once he had even…almost liked her in a special way. But hell and power and time had made her so bitter, and now whatever decent person she had been was eclipsed by the conniving abuser she currently was. And he couldn't keep pretending things were okay when they weren't.

He clenched his jaw against the pain and managed to turn to see her slamming buttons on the broadcast system, clearly hoping some combination would work. "Katie…" He coughed. "You need to stop or else…"

"Or else what, you pathetic has been?" She spat back.

"Or else me."

The lights all went out for exactly five seconds, showing only a glowing blue screen in the dark, simmering with electricity. Then the lights came back on and, like a flash, Vox was in front of Katie, standing between her and the broadcast console.

Katie stumbled back in shock, eyes wide. She blinked in sudden realization and whipped her head around to Tom. "You…you fucking ratted me out to Vox, didn't you? Oh you little spineless little shit, you are off the air PERMANENTLY."

"Someone's off the air, but it's not Tom," Vox replied, cables whipping out and securing Katie tightly.

She gasped and struggled, fuming as she looked at the overlord. "You…I'll…Oh…" And then she was laughing wickedly. "You think this is over, seriously? You're both such predictable little bitches, kowtowing to whatever the princess wants instead of using her fucked up dreams and her falling-apart family to take her down and seize some damn real power! I could rule television and streaming and the whole goddamn internet as an overlord if I wasn't busy having to suck up to you and your bullshit, Vox!"

Vox didn't take the bait to rant and rave back at her and get distracted and maybe give her an opening for an attack. Instead his gaze remained cold and focused, scowl firm. "No, you wouldn't last a week as overlord of any of it. Because you're impulsive and greedy and don't think — you'd be so damn easy to take out, it's almost a joke. I have half a mind to cede power to you just to give myself a vacation and watch you fall apart." He shook his head, his look almost pitying now. "I'll do you the mercy of not actually letting you get yourself killed like that. But that's all. You're done here. I gave you this job because I liked your style. I don't like it anymore. Newsflash - you're fired."

She raged, eyes flashing red and limbs elongating. "This entire show is NOTHING without me, you pixelated panty-waste!"

Tom had just managed to get standing and limp a little closer, wanting to be near Vox and the safety of his presence. Katie's gaze went right to him again. "Who do you think would replace ME? That pathetic shit?" She pointed at Tom.

Vox smiled a little. "Yeah, actually Tom WILL be replacing you. He tests better with viewers anyway — we just never wanted to tell you because we knew you'd have a fit. Oh and if you try any bullshit like attacking the studio or sabotaging shows or threatening Tom again, I actually will kill you. And I'll make sure it's in NONE of the papers or newsfeeds anywhere. Hell, I'll pick out your unmarked grave myself." His eyes narrowed, and he pulled her closer with his cables. "Seriously, you do not lay a hand on him again. EVER. Work out your abusive shit on your own time." And then he released her with just a bit of force — not enough to knock her down but enough to leave her unsteady on her high heels for a moment.

She shook her head and went to lunge for him. Vox, unfazed, shot another cable out of his wrist and gave her an electrified zap. Katie swayed on her feet and then collapsed backward, resting on the desk, knocked out for the moment.

Tom frowned. Some small part of him felt bad for her, even now. Maybe she was right, he really was pathetic.

"Fuck, I'll need to send at least four bouncers to pick her up and get her out of here. Can't risk any fewer if she wakes up and starts fighting back." Vox shook his head at the sight of her then turned his attention to his other news anchor. "Tom, are you okay?" He came to Tom's side with a concerned expression as he eyed the anchor's state. "I'm sorry I couldn't get here sooner, I had to get Vark a sitter first. I…I didn't realize she would… I know she's been an ass to work with, but…has hurt you like this before?"

Tom swallowed. "I…" His eyes burned with tears. "Not for a while. It's fine, I learned how to handle her. She mostly takes things out on the furniture, not me, heh. And it's okay that you needed time to get here. I just appreciate that you came. I…" He stumbled to one side, and his injured arm hit a wall and sent a jolt of pain through his body that made him see stars. "I, uh…Oh."

"Tom!" Tom felt himself fall but suddenly be caught in Vox's arms. "Hold on. I'll…I'll get you to Val's studio. We've got some medics on the payroll in case one of the customers gets really rough and a dancer needs to get patched up asap. I have to go there to give the bouncers instructions about Katie anyway. Just try to stay awake, okay?"

"I'm sorry…" Tom mumbled, curling up a little bit against Vox.

"Sorry? You're a hero, Tom. And you're gonna be okay, and Katie's never gonna hurt you again. Let's go."

Tom winced as Vox guided him to the doors. The anchor drifted in and out of consciousness as he felt himself stuffed into the back seat of a car — a limo — and then driven through the streets of hell. He wouldn't remember anything else until morning.

When Sev hesitantly climbed the hotel stairs after talking to Steve, he found Charlie and Vaggie huddled together in the third floor hallway, talking in low voices — Charlie with a very distressed expression and Vaggie trying to be soothing but seeming worried as she patted Charlie's shoulder.

Sev walked up to them and asked a question before he could lose his nerve. "Vaggie, Char — would you both mind if I talked to Char about this alone? I just…some of what I have to say is very personal about Helsa, and I don't want to share it with others without her permission. And, Char, you're the only one she meant to confess to tonight, so…"

Charlie bit her lip, her look of distress growing. But Vaggie just nodded to Sev and hugged Charlie from the side. She pulled back with a small smile. "It's okay. You two talk. I'll be right here when it's over. And I'll keep an eye out for Helsa, and for Alastor and Angel too."

Charlie raised an eyebrow at Vaggie at the same time as Sev. But then the princess nodded to her partner and gave her a hug and a small smile in return. "Thank you, Vaggie." She looked to Sev. "Sev…come with me. I know where we can talk." She headed down the hall.

Sev followed after her, trying not to glance back at Vaggie too many times in confusion. But when he did, the demon only gave him an encouraging smile and a wave. Sev managed a wave back then turned in Charlie's direction again. Vaggie really was great… He felt so good thinking about how Charlie and her had found each other. Sinner and princess, together forever.

Charlie stopped at a door at the far end of the hall. She opened it with a key and let them inside, turning on the lights. Once Baxter entered, she closed the door behind them. He looked around. Unlike the guest rooms, this one was cleared of all furniture except a desk and a few chairs and a small sofa and coffee table.

Charlie managed a smile. "I've been thinking about taking a room as an office. Alastor has an office downstairs, I think it would be good for me to have one too. I like being on a higher floor though so I can look out over hell and my people. Seeing the Pentagram inspires me to keep wanting to do better things for it." She gestured to the window showing the black and red night sky of hell. Then she headed over to the sofa and took a seat and looked to Sev.

He carefully took a seat at the opposite end. His heart was racing a little. He bit his lip.

"Sev…" Charlie finally started, eyes down at the bloodstain on her shirt — the one that had worried Helsa so deeply and started everything tonight, "Please tell me whatever you're comfortable telling me about Helsa…and about you and us. I really want to understand."

Sev let out a breath, starting with something he needed to say before getting into this long-overdue story. "Char, the first thing you have to know is that I did love you. You were my first love, actually. I was happy with you and wanted us to work. Okay?"

Charlie blinked but nodded. "Of course. But why wouldn't I think that, Sev? I thought we both…"

He took a deep breath. "Because I know I'm the one who broke us up, and I know I did it very suddenly. So maybe it seemed like I didn't care that much. But I did care. I just… I didn't want you to care. I didn't want you to ask why. And maybe I wanted you to hate me a little so you'd give me some space and Helsa too… Because she and I were both hurting in different ways, and it was too hard to be around you."

"I-I don't hate you though!" She insisted sincerely. "Did I do something to make YOU TWO hate ME? I—"

"No, nothing!" He looked into her eyes. "You are such a good and kind and loving person, Char. You did nothing wrong…except get involved with two siblings who have a lot of drama and baggage and no good ways of coping with it all, heh…" He wiped away a tear.

Charlie smiled again with such patience and understanding. "I'm glad I didn't do anything wrong. But please tell me exactly what happened, Sev. It's okay, I promise I'm past it being able to hurt me. But it seems like you and Helsa are hurting and like you both might feel better if you tell the truth."

He nodded, summed up his courage, and began "When you and I were together, I loved you. But…I was still figuring myself out. My orientation. I started to realize I wasn't straight — I was Bi, like you. Or, I thought I was, but I wasn't sure yet and I wanted to explore it — maybe with other partners — but I didn't necessarily want to leave you. And I wasn't brave enough to tell you how I was feeling. I think that was the start of the end of us for me. Because you deserve someone who's committed all the way. And I realized that if I felt this strongly about possibly seeing other people, then maybe…us being together wasn't quite right anymore." He wiped away more tears. "You have seriously been my Bi hero over the years. The way you own that part of yourself is so inspiring. I wish I had been that brave from the start."

"Sev, I wasn't brave from the start. I was confused and scared too sometimes," Charlie admitted, frowning a little. "I know I seem positive and confident so often but…figuring out that part of myself wasn't easy for me either."

Sev blinked and frowned. "I didn't know… I'm sorry, Char." He looked down in thought then shook his head. "I should have just talked to you. I might have realized… Then maybe we could have supported each other and figured things out, as friends even if we didn't want to still be together."

Charlie nodded. "It's okay… we're past all of it now." She swallowed. "Except the thing Helsa said about…loving me. I still don't quite understand, I… How could I not realize?"

Sev blushed. "Char…it's true, Helsa's been in love with you since we were kids. Like full on over the moon and hopelessly devoted. But she kept it hidden — like suppressed it even from herself for a while. It makes sense you never realized. I didn't realize either." He rubbed his temple. "By the time you and I got together as teenagers…she couldn't deny her feelings to herself anymore, and it was painful for her. She got extra mean and difficult during those years. I didn't realize why, and it kind of drove us apart a little. Meanwhile, you and I got closer… so of course Helsa just kept getting worse." Sev bit his lip. "One night, when I was really upset trying to figure out my sexuality, she caught me crying and she softened up enough to ask me what it was about. So I came out to her. And I told her how I wasn't sure if I belonged with you anymore. And she…she broke down, Char. Completely." Tears poured down his face, his eyes haunted by the memories. "I never saw her like that before. When she finally stopped crying enough to speak, she called me a jerk and told me I was so damn lucky to have you cuz if she had you she would worship you without any hesitation. She told me she'd loved you for years and she was Bi too but she'd never felt any doubts. She told me she just wanted me to be happy but also couldn't understand how anyone who was with you could be happy without you. It was a long night. I… Char?" He looked over. "Are you okay?"

Charlie barely nodded. She was crying streams of quiet tears now as well, fully absorbed in his confession.

Sev knew he needed to wrap this up so she could go back to Vaggie again and be comforted. "After that talk I realized you deserved someone who loved you without any doubts, and I deserved to explore my sexuality more, and Helsa deserved not to watch in silence while her brother hemmed and hawed about dating the love of her life. So I broke us up and kept the truth from you." He cringed. "I wanted to be friends still, back then. But we couldn't risk I you finding out the truth abut everything — it was too much for us to handle back then. Lately, though, seeing everything you're doing for hell and seeing people actually trying to stop you… Seeing your parents trying to stop you…" He scowled and gripped his fists. "We couldn't stand aside and do nothing! We wanted to help you because we both still care about you — as a friend." He swallowed, his frustration softening again. "It seemed safe enough. Helsa…has moved on a bit from you. And I've moved forward, and you have too. We thought coming here and reconnecting would be okay now." His lip wobbled. "Maybe we messed up to badly to ever try at all though. We're sorry for all of the pain, Char, because you deserve so much better."

"Sev, YOU AND HELSA deserve better too!" Charlie suddenly took hold of Sev in a tight hug. "It's not too late. I just…I didn't know. I wish you'd both told me the truth sooner. We could have…we could have found a better way."

"I know, I know… We were just so young and confused…and stubborn and caught up in useless. But I know, it could have been better." He hugged her back fiercely. "Are you sure it's not too later? If…If we can't be friends now…it's okay…"

"No!" Charlie tightened her hug too. "I want to be friends! All three of us. And Vaggie too. Please." She pulled back and looked into his eyes. "No more lies or protecting each other. No more punishing ourselves, all right?"

Sev sniffed and nodded, smiling with hope. "No more of it. Just finally being all together again."

When she smiled too, his heart felt so light.

Charlie stood up and held out her hand. "We should tell Vaggie things are okay. Then maybe we can all just…talk a little to catch up while we wait for news from Cherri or Helsa. What do you say?"

Sev reached out and took her hand to stand. "I'd like that more than anything. You're so kind, Char. You and your guests and Vaggie. I…I wish me and Helsa could do more than just offer money and the hotel expansion. I don't know what to say."

"Sev…even if you and Helsa just offered your presence here and your friendship that would be enough. You're doing more than you realize." Her smile warmed.

Sev's smile warmed too and he wiped away one more tear, this one of happiness.

Charlie chuckled and hooked arms with Sev then lead him out of her office and into the hall. He followed her, smiling more as they went.

Vaggie was there, of course, waiting patiently for them with a smile of her own. And that smile only grew when she saw Charlie's smile returned. Charlie raced over to her and hugged her.

"Things okay now?" Vaggie asked, gently stroking her back.

Charlie nodded and pulled back to look up at her. "Yeah, very okay." They gazed into each other's eyes for a moment.

Sev watched them curiously. It was like they were sharing something without words, like they had a special secret together. It made him wonder… He really had missed out on so much between them over the years after all…

Before he could think on the matter more, Charlie glanced between Vaggie and Sev. "Sev and I figured we could all go downstairs and catch up a little while we wait for news about Helsa." She blinked and glanced down at herself. "Oh! I'll change my shirt first though. I don't want the bloodstain to upset her again when she comes back." She gave them a wave then dashed into her and Vaggie's room.

Sev stood there awkwardly for a moment then swallowed. "Thanks for being okay with us talking in private, Vaggie. I appreciate it. I really value my friendship with Char. And I hope you and I can be friends too."

He was prepared for hesitation, but Vaggie immediately held out her hand. "Of course. I'd like that, Sev."

Sev shook hands with her, eyes wide in surprise. "Wow, you're…very understanding considering I'm your girlfriend's ex and my sister just admitted to being in love with her too." He blushed, a bit dazed.

Vaggie just chuckled and separated their hands, giving a shrug. "Actually, I was a little on edge when you two first showed up. But you've been really cool and helpful and respectful, so that's a plus." Her gaze went a little dry and her smile grew as she lowered her voice to a playful whisper. "Also I've noticed you making eyes at Steve, so that helped me feel a bit less threatened too."

Sev's eyes widened and he started coughing. "I…He…We…" He sighed deeply, rubbing his temple. "I like musicians, I like cat demons, I like very chill sinners… so yeah, I like him. Does…Does Char know?"

"Not yet. But she'll probably figure it out eventually. She's got a good sense for when people develop a connection," Vaggie explained.

"Do you think she'll be mad that I'm…trying to make a move on one of her guests?" He cringed a little.

Vaggie blinked. "Are you kidding, she'll love that more people here are finding love. Don't worry so much. As long as you're happy and Steve's happy, she'll be happy. Trust me."

Sev smiled in such relief. "Thanks,Vaggie."

She winked.

Charlie came out of the room in a new white shirt, grinning as she returned to her partner and old friend. "Come on, let's check on Abel and Louise again as long as we're up here and make sure they're still comfortable and asleep. Then we'll head downstairs to check in with Cherri."

Sev nodded. "Sounds perfect."

Charlie took Vaggie's hand and they headed to the lab to visit their injured guests while Sev followed beside them, feeling perfectly at peace about the past for the first time in a very long time.

In Alastor's penthouse at the radio tower, passion and impulse and love still reigned over the actions of the two utterly smitten and needy young men who occupied the space together.

Indulging in this way with his sweet Angel after a vicious and victorious hunt and radio show had been… heaven, if the term wouldn't be too ironic. Alastor had never known such escalating and enduring and enthralling joy and satisfaction and peace from a physical moment with the spider before.

There was one small issue though at this point in the evening. The escalation was reaching a certain critical point, and they could no longer ignore the looming 'climax' of their love.

The deer's mind (and to an extent his body) was at odds about what to do next because, on the one hand, this sensual, heated, handsy indulgence with Angel had filled him with such delightful tension and satisfaction that the only thing he had left to crave was release. But on the other hand, the very idea of…releasing…in front of another person, even Angel, was still too raw, too new, too uncharted. He didn't want to abandon their sacred space right now, but he also didn't want to burst and taint this perfect experience with doubt and embarrassment.

Complicating matters further, Alastor had a strong feeling Angel was right on the edge of losing himself too due to all of Alastor's ministrations (combined with the deer's sudden 'new move' of grazing one boot up and down the length of Angel's elegant shin to the heel of his exquisite foot (the spider had almost dropped to his knees, in fact, when Alastor had first experimented with the action, requiring the deer to summon an extra tentacle to help keep his beau secured).

So perhaps they should indeed talk about what to do next before they both lost all control of themselves.

Of course, talking meant prying his own agile tongue out of Angel's moaning mouth and separating their searing lips and loosening his grip on Angel's writhing body and maybe signaling Angel to stop dragging fingers down his back and stroking his tail even though Alastor could barely think straight in the best possible way from both actions.

For a moment, a tear came to Alastor's closed eyes. An old, shameful feeling washed over him again — the wish to be 'normal' so he could just eagerly progress this moment to sex and be done with it to Angel's satisfaction. So much easier and simpler than dealing with all of his hesitations and special considerations and limitations.

But Angel never made him feel like he wasn't normal. Angel simply loved him without conditions or demands or deals. Angel saw him as a person who was already enough as he was, and…

Oh dear, now Alastor really was about to pop, his heart suddenly aroused to the heights of affection to match the state of his body.

He finally managed to tear his mouth from Angel's, panting heavily, blazing eyes gazing at the spider's perfect pink ones as they fluttered open and the glowing pink marks of Angel's body dimmed slightly. "Al? What's next…?" His back arched more, upper arms still pinned tightly overhead by a tentacle. He grinned a little. "Do more with me… I love being touched and I love you, and I love tonight most of all, ya studly stag."

Alastor snorted, glowing throughout his face. "Anthony…" He barely stayed composed, trying to ignore a vision of pressing himself mercilessly against the spider until… "I think we're both…at the end of our physical rope, as it were. And I think…I'm still not ready to have certain experiences…in front of each other." His ears went down, he couldn't help it.

Angel tried but failed to suppress a faint groan at the back of his throat. "Smiles…no pressure ever, but ya know that if or when you decide to do that near me, I'm just gonna be there to support ya, right?"

Alastor nodded, smile smaller. "I know. I just…not tonight. I need to prepare first, mentally."

Angel nodded in return and pressed their foreheads together, gazing tenderly at his beau. "Al, I'm completely fine with cooling things down now. But if we do, I need some private time cuz…I know we're ignoring whatever's going on below the belt but quite frankly I'm on a hair trigger for a toe-curling orgasm or three."

Alastor's heart thundered, and his legs felt weak. "Likewise…" left him in a shy whisper. "I-I mean…except the toe-curling part. I have hooves, so…"

"You have hooves?!" Angel squealed in delight.

Alastor glowed even more, realizing that he rarely took off his shoes and never his socks with Angel so of course the spider might not have known. "I…well…yes. You can…see them sometime if you'd like." His brow furrowed shyly. "I, but, er…anyway, I likewise feel capable of great physical pleasure in this moment," finally tumbled out of him.

Angel smiled more. Alastor was ready to pout at possibly being teased, even in a loving way. But the spider only softened his gaze and replied, "I'd like to see your hooves one day. And also I like knowing you found things tonight to make your body happy and my body happy."

"I adore your body…" Alastor couldn't help the words as he eyed Angel's beautiful chest and arms and face.

"Oh…" The spider's back arched more at the admission, and his lips parted in desire. "Al…whatever we're gonna do…we gotta do it soon please. I need it."

"I'll send us to our rooms at the hotel. But not alone, not exactly, if you wish…" When Angel raised an eyebrow Alastor brought a hand behind his back to dig a claw into his wrist and draw blood (remembering Angel's dislike for seeing him injured). Two fresh tentacle appeared behind him, writhing. "Some assistance…but more intense this time?" He raised an eyebrow.

Angel eyed Alastor's tentacles and then the two of his own (one pinning his arms, one steadying his waist. He looked at Alastor, almost in a daze. "You mean…wait, so you're saying they won't just touch my legs like last time or even just hold me steady. They'll touch…"

"Everything…" Alastor purred. Then, insides fluttering and inner legs growing hot, he added, "they won't be like a 'partner' in the sense of… I mean to say — they will remain outside of your body as opposed to inside. They are not properly calibrated for anything so…dangerously delicate." He felt so flustered, but it was bearable enough to meet Angel's gaze.

Understanding dawned on the spider and he nodded. "Just my outsides, huh? I can work with that. They're fine just as they are. They're sexy and make me think of you, because they come from you. That matters most. And I'm glad you'll have some too, to help you…" He bit his lip. "Can I see you after?"

Alastor swallowed. "Perhaps. I…Tonight is different from the other times I've separated from you for some release. I need a very thorough experience this evening. And then I might need to be alone afterwards…though I think I'll want to be near you again. But I may be…quiet?" One ear went down in thought. "It's hard to gauge, I've never tried sharing these experiences with another person before."

Angel smiled tenderly. "You just be however you need to be afterward. And I'll see ya when you're ready."

Alastor felt his heart lighten and his smile bloom.

Angel swallowed and grinned sheepishly. "But, uh, before we separate, just ta get the grand finale started right…would you say things to me again? The 'guest' things but sexy?" He gave a little hopeful shrug.

Alastor giggled. He knew exactly what Angel meant. Earlier he had started flirtatiously modifying the way he talked to his radio show 'guests' to tease Angel, and the results had been very successful for stoking the fires of the spider's delight and pleasure. Alastor put his voice at a low pitch and crooned. "You are the most intoxicating dish a man could acquire. A delicacy like no other, fit to reside on a silver platter with a full adornment of garnishes. I've never tasted finer…and I crave more." And then he leaned in and tenderly kissed the center of Angel's chest, right over his beating heart.

Angel's pupils dilated and his muscles strained as he groaned to the heavens. "Oh, yes…" He wantonly breathed. "Al, I want you to taste me. And I want to taste you too… Always… All of you."

Alastor pulled back and saw the desire burning in Angel's eyes and the way the spider's gaze barely resisted drifting downward, and he knew what Angel meant. The idea of being 'consumed' in any sense by his beau was almost too much for Alastor to bear without coming undone then and there.

Now or never.

Quickly, Alastor gave Angel a final burning kiss and then teleported them and their tentacles away to their separate soundproof bedrooms of the hotel.

In the dimness of the familiar space, Alastor couldn't focus at all. Usually releases were a slightly tedious but simple enough affair for him. Releases after radio shows, naturally, were a little more complicated and thorough. But this one was entirely different and new. He couldn't just sit in a corner and hold on to a tentacle for support while he undid his belt and dealt with the matter at hand. No, he needed to indulge his body as he so rarely did. No more doubts, just his own desires freed in the hush of night.

Alastor let one tentacle utterly tear off his clothes while another slid around his waist to keep him supported, and then he utterly lost himself to the notion of Angel and their love and their future over and over and over until his head swam and his bones ached. And just when he thought he was done he let himself use his microphone listen in to Angel calling his name in ecstasy and it sent him reeling into the oblivion of physical release once again, his voice bleating in joy each time until the whole world was sweet and quiet.

Tonight he was a sensual creature, and even if the transformation wouldn't last until tomorrow, he was utterly determined to satisfy his needs just like Angel had reminded him he deserved to do.

All along the streets of hell, in the dead of night, Cherri tailed Helsa — through town, into different districts, around to the docs, past the red light district, through the park, and then finally…to the end.

More specifically to the end of one of the give star points of the Pentagram. Each one was a train station with lines leading to other circles of hell. No sinners allowed, ever. They were all stuck in Pride for probably some cosmically absurd reason like Lucifer losing a poker game to the powers that be. Fine. Most sinners didn't want to deal with whatever extra hellish hell stuff was going on in the other rings. Although it had always rubbed Cherri the wrong way, getting told she couldn't leave whether she wanted to or not.

Whatever. The point was, Helsa was here and…she was standing outside the station and looking up at the departures board.

Helsa was a born demon, could leave if she wanted. But Cherri had a bad feeling about it. Helsa could't avoid her problems like this, it would only hurt her. She had to stop the impulsive demon before she made a mistake and got far enough away that Cherri couldn't follow.

Helsa still just stood there with her lip wobbling and her brow scowling, like she was frozen in indecision but angry with herself for it. She took a step forward to the station doors.

"Helsa, wait!"

Helsa whipped around and nearly stumbled on her heels. "Cherri!" She blinked and pulled her hands through her hair like she was trying to fix herself up. "Oh my god, why the hell are you here, you're a sinner! Oh fuck, did you follow me? Shit…" She scowled again. "Damnit, this is a REALLY bad time, Cherri…" She took a breath and tried to lift her head high in her usual haughty way, but her trembling lip showed she was barely keeping things together. "I-I'm late for a trip! Almost forgot about it. Radio show today made me so busy, I barely knew what I was doing or saying after it was over." She shrugged and tried to laugh carelessly, but it sounded broken.

Cherri took a step closer. "Helsa, please don't go — on your trip. Just…let's just talk, okay? I promise tonight wasn't that bad. Things'll be all right."

Helsa kept it together for another second. But then her eyes shone with tears as she scowled as hard as she could and said acidly, "I told half the hotel I was in love with my brother's ex. No, it's not gonna be okay. It's really fucking not, Cherri. Cuz I'm not okay." She laughed hollowly. "I'm a selfish, impulsive, home-wrecking, spoiled, high-maintenance, dramatic queen of bitchyness." Her expression started to fall. "And it was a mistake for me to try to come back into Charlie's life. To try to come into any of your lives…" She turned away, like she was looking to the departures board again. But Cherri could see how her shoulders hunched and shook a little, and she heard the tremor in Helsa's voice as she went on. "So let Sev have her back as his friend. They deserve to be in each other's lives. And he deserves a break from me. He can handle supporting the hotel fine. I should go away for a while. It was nice meeting you, Cherri. It was very…very new and nice…" her voice broke entirely. She was obviously silently sobbing.

Cherri frowned and came to stand just behind her. "Helsa, you're only right about one thing — you being dramatic. Everything else, all those bad thoughts about yourself, are not true." Cherri saw her stiffen a little, probably about to deny the reassurance, but she went on before Helsa even had the chance. "You had feelings for someone — that's OKAY! You needed time away from them for a while — that's OKAY! And you finally confessed — that's OKAY TOO! You are a good person or you wouldn't care this much about everyone's feelings or how your actions affect them. No one wants you to leave. That's the only thing that would hurt Charlie and Sev and the hotel…and me." Cherri swallowed, trying not to blush. "Please… you don't have to go back to the hotel tonight if you don't want, but please don't go away like this. I'd miss you."

Helsa shook for a moment more. And then she slowly turned, head down, and collapsed gently against Cherri. She buried her face into the demon's shoulder, silently sobbing. Cherri blinked then held her close and patted her on the back. "Shh, it's all right. Come on… Just tell me where you want to go tonight and I'll get us a ride and make sure you get there safe, okay?"

Helsa just shrugged against her.

Cherri blinked. "You…still don't know where you want to go?"

Helsa shook her head.

"Okay," Cherri stroked her hair, "then how about I take you somewhere — somewhere safe. Huh?"

Helsa nodded.

"Good." Cherri tried to smile. "But for now we can just stay here like this til you're ready to go, okay?"

Helsa just hugged her tightly and continued to cry.

Eventually the tears ebbed enough that Helsa could pull back, wet eyes not meeting Cherri's. She wiped at her running mascara and sniffed, finally composed enough to follow the other demon's lead. She let Cherri guide her through the city and eventually up an old fire escape and into what looked like an abandoned building. Helsa gazed around the entire time like a very fragile deer in the headlights.

Cherri smiled as she lead her down a hall and through a curtained doorway into a large living space overlooking a sunken floor. The space up here had some soft couches and a small fridge and a few tables. Bomb pieces were scattered about. "This is my main hideout," Cherri explained. "I've got other smaller places where I crash in the city but this is mostly where I live." She blushed a little. "You can stay in my room. I'll head back to the hotel. I won't tell anyone where you are, I'll just let them know you're safe, okay?"

Helsa flushed and instantly reached back, grabbing hold of Cherri's wrist. "I…please don't leave me alone."

Cherri's heart raced and she bit her lip and quickly replied, "Helsa? Listen, remember how I said one of my rules is no spontaneous drunk hookups? Well, another one is no spontaneous hookups after emotionally scarring events. So, uh…."

"I'm not trying to have sex with you, fuck!" Some of Helsa's attitude resurfaced. "I meant you stay in your bed and I'll stay on one of these couches or whatever. I just don't want to be by myself in a general sense, okay?"

Cherri nodded. "Yeah. I just…uh…" She cleared her throat. "Sorry, it's been a while since I had anyone over who I…sorry." Helsa raised an eyebrow but before she could turn around and ask for more info, Cherri quickly went on. "I'll text the hotel that you're okay. But you take the bed and I'll take the couch. I can sleep anywhere, and you…I mean…"

"I'm a little rich girl who probably hasn't slept on anything but a luxury mattress her entire life," Helsa rolled her eyes. "Don't worry, you're not wrong."

Cherri almost smiled. "Well, my bed here isn't exactly luxury but it's better than the sofa and gets the job done." When Helsa cracked the smallest of smiles, she felt better. "I can, uh… lend you some pajamas. I think we're about the same size. Then just rest. Tomorrow I'll make us some grub and we'll figure out what's next.

Helsa nodded, her gaze softening. "Thank you, Cherri."

Cherri nodded in return then lead the way to her room. Helsa followed her, so subdued and quiet. It was a relief to offer her some soft pajamas and help wipe away the rest of her makeup and give her a glass of water and tuck her in under the warm blankets. Helsa seemed to pass out as soon as her head hit the pillow. And the moment she did, she inhaled deeply and cuddled Cherri's pillow like it was the actual body of Cherri herself.

Cherri had walked away at that point and headed to the couch with a blanket and pillow of her own. She shot off a quick text to Vaggie that she had Helsa and things were okay and they'd come back to the hotel tomorrow. Then she just sighed deeply in the dark and tried to settle her thoughts.

This girl was so…complicated. Sad and passionate and furious and smart and cunning and high-maintenance and an absolute boss and complicated. She hoped Helsa would feel better in the morning. She deserved to feel better. And she also hoped that…maybe Helsa would explain why, during her long walk through the Pentagram, she had mentioned specifically regretting Cherri finding out about her feelings for Charlie.

Then maybe Cherri could figure out why exactly she cared so much about why Helsa cared so much.

Blushing, Cherri closed her eyes in the dark and pulled her blanket up close around her head. She tried to just be grateful that Helsa was safe and here at all. They could sort out the details later. She fell asleep, trying not to think about the unforgettable girl in her bed.

Upstairs at the hotel, no one knew the boys were home at this late hour, which was just fine with a certain spider demon. He and Alastor would let everyone know they'd returned in the morning. But in the meantime… Angel was using every trick in his very thorough book to satisfy himself, and Alastor's tentacles were absolutely helping.

Angel nearly passed out by the time he was done with himself. It wasn't a case of blacking out from orgasms so much as a case of feeling such a thorough state of contentment and physical and mental clarity and peace after this evening's activities that he had nearly succumbed to a blissful rest without meaning to. The tentacles even disappeared into shadows, like they could tell their purpose for the evening was done. But he did remember that Alastor might want him and that he had told Alastor he wanted to see him if possible. So he roused himself enough to safely dispose of all his bedding in the hamper (none of it was unscathed), open a window to air out the room, take a quick warm shower (maybe with one final little release for fun for himself), and then changed into pajamas. He sat on his stripped bed and groped for his phone, a pleasant smile permanently etched onto his lips. He hit the little radio receiver button on the back. "Smiles… You okay?"

There was silence and then some extra static followed by a faint. "Hmm…" The reply sounded quiet and close to something affirmative. Angel recalled that Alastor had mentioned maybe being a little quiet after things tonight.

The spider spoke again. "You want me to come in there? Spend the night? Make sure we're both okay?"

"Hmm…" Another soft affirmative sound. The door between their rooms gently clicked open, a faint aura of green magic dissipating.

Angel got up, nearly stumbled (his legs felt like jelly and his hips were sore to say the least), but managed to carefully head through the door, lightly closing it behind himself as he entered Alastor's room.

He found a dim fire glowing in the hearth, the room almost suspiciously cleaned and tidied to perfection (not a tentacle in sight either), and the curtains drawn. In the bed, Alastor lying on his side under the covers, breathing slowly, eyes hazed. His gaze went over to Angel, but otherwise he didn't move, though the faint smile on his face warmed.

Angel went over. "Hey. You're, uh, decent under there I'm guessing, heh?"

Alastor glowed but nodded, a faint chuckle leaving him. He shifted a little like he was making room.

Angel got into bed beside him and tucked himself in. He gave Alastor a bit of space though. He knew the deer could be overstimulated by touching after a lot of it. "I hope tonight was all good for you, Smiles. Seriously."

Alastor gave a pleased nod, cuddling against his pillow. He bit his lip and opened his mouth, brow slightly furrowed, but then he just sighed and hummed to himself, this one sounding a bit disappointed.

Angel observed him closely then smiled. "Al? You don't have to say anything. Ya know, after intense intimacy, going quiet for a bit is normal for a lot of people. It's called nonverbal. Don't press yourself. I'm used to reading you real good these days anyway." He smiled a little. "Besides, you did so much talking tonight during the hotel show and the hunt and the cannibal show and…back in your radio tower apartment. So you take a break now and I'll do the talking for now, my beau. Then we can talk together in the morning when you're ready."

Alastor smiled more and his eyes got a little teary. He slowly reached back, beneath the covers, and found Angel's hand.

Angel squeezed his hand gently, the warm leather of his gloves so soft and familiar. "You did swell today, Alastor, at everything. Rest now. We both deserve it. We love each other so good."

Alastor let out a pleased sigh of static, and his eyes drifted closed.

Angel smiled more and let his eyes close too. No one had ever given him such a safe and peaceful post-intimacy moment before. And all he wanted was more of them together forever.

As he drifted off, he dreamed of soft shared mornings as well as nights full of elegant touches…and maybe rings on their fingers that matched and glowed brightly though it all.

A/N:

And so Alastor and Angel's fun night ends lol. But they'll also have a really nice talk in the morning in the next chapter :) And so will some other characters .There's one more chapter to go in this batch. Thank you for your support and for reading!

Take care!

-Azure129