Summary:

We are going back to the Pride Ring! Let's catch up with the others at the Hotel while Charlie is dealing with "Family Drama".

Angel Dust gets called into work and Val saddles him with a new idea. A hotshot pipeline to get new star-class meat out to the masses quicker. His first encounter with the new face may or may not send Angel back behind his walls again. He doesn't need a front row seat view as Valentino breaks another young soul in front of him. Meanwhile Vaggie is trying to continue on as normal, or as normal as possible, and bring more sinners into the Hazbin Hotel while Charlie is gone. She tackles a solo trip into the city and starts to hear rumors about something strange happening in the lower Rings from the Hellborn she passes. On top of that she runs into someone she did not expect.

Notes:

Writing has been HARD. But, I can say that with these few weeks off that I now have a more definitive direction for where we're heading in this fic. I've been trying to keep the narrative more narrowed and focus driven since I have a tendency to ramble and get distracted but No More! Everything's back on the table.

This is gonna be a much more involved plot than I initially intended at chapter 1 and you will just have to deal with it. Hahaha!

But no, seriously, I'm super glad you've decided to hang with me on this. I've had to change a lot of future plot because it's all expanding so the breaks in-between may be a bit longer than a monthly update. Hmm, me and my ambitious plot gremlins.

Look to Our Worst Angels
Chapter 5

It was too early in the day, at least where Angel Dust was concerned, but Val called him into the studio anyway. He at least felt lucky enough that he was able to see Charlie off on her little trip. A blessing in disguise as Angel could, at least, skip the princess's concerned side glances as she obviously held herself back from trying to convince him not to go. Whenever he had to tell Charlie that he'd be missing the day's activities it was always a weird feeling of discomfort as his heart fell into his stomach. She'd pat his arm with an understanding (worried) expression. For all his bluster and sarcasm around the hotel the lanky pink demon really did hate disappointing her.

'One thing I can give her is that she can learn from her mistakes. She don't make one twice.' Angel thought to himself as he came within eyeshot of Val's studios. 'Stubborn as they come though.' The porn star let a small smile linger on his face as he thought about the overly optimistic princess.

He walked right through the doors without anyone stopping him. They all knew who he was there for.

"Angel, baby," Valentino crooned as Angel Dust walked onto the usual set. He rolled his eyes at the Overlord. Something he knew he could get away with since he was still far enough to get away with it due to Val's bad eyesight.

Though, now he was at the studio, he had to do whatever Val told him. Angel took a deep breath, smelling the lingering odor of the pimp's cigarettes, and forced a smile. Time to put on the act. "Hey, Val, what's with the early call? I need to get ready for something big tonight?" He hoped not. The last "big" idea Val had was a gang bang in the back of an old limo on the set. It was crowded and cramped and left Angel Dust sore and limping for a whole day afterward.

Husk had helped keep Charlie and the others distracted from it back at the hotel. At least until he could walk straight again. Lucky thing he was used to this and could hide everything easily once the worst of the pain was over.

The moth pimp waited until Angel had walked over to the set that was still being worked with light checks and other crew moving props and stuff around. For a moment he watched the goings on with interest, he'd never paid attention to what went on before the shoots before. Then he looked to his boss with a raised brow. "So, uh, what's up?"

"Ugh," Valentino whined. "Vox wants me to try out a new idea to get some fresh meat on set and ready to sell quicker." He took a long drag of his cigarette. "Shadows. Or whatever you wanna call them." He shrugged lazily with a roll of his upper shoulders.

"Uhh, shadows?" Angel questioned in confusion. The only shadows brought to his mind were the ones Smiles kept around.

"A buddy system," Val clarified with a scowl.

"One of the new prospects I see that has the star potential," he pinched Angel's cheek, "gets partnered with one of my bright shining bitches."

Angel fought the urge to smack Valentino's hand away. He internally cringed. 'I haven't felt like that in a while. Gotta be more careful.' He stamped his emotions down harder. Even though he didn't like where this was headed there was no way he could actually show it. His feelings were getting too near the surface, which could be dangerous around Val, so he sucked it up and nodded.

Valentino took another long drag of his cigarette as he glared at Angel through his heart shaped glasses. Like he could tell what was in his head right now. Then the Overlord spun away and called over his shoulder. "Get the annoying little bastard set up in the studio before his photoshoot and get yourself ready. I've got plans for you tonight, Angel-cakes."

Angel Dust frowned as his boss disappeared off the set. 'So, what? I gotta babysit-'

"Hello, Mr. Angel Dust, sir." The spider demon jumped a bit as a voice spoke up at his elbow. He whirled and saw that a young hellhound had walked up on him. A member of the stage crew or assistant, maybe.

Then Angel noticed a duffle slung over their shoulder and the subtle make up touches too basic for anything the studio assistants usually wore. "Ah, ya gotta be fuckin' shittin' me. A literal kid." Angel Dust slapped a hand to his forehead and glared at the younger demon. Like it was his fault.

Which it wasn't but... Ya know...

Convenience.

The sandy-furred hellhound, very wolf-like, stiffly put out one hand to shake. The nerves off his fur were almost visible and his pointed ears flicked tensely. Angel Dust shook his head, sighing, and plastering one of his "for the fans" smiles on his face. He reached out to take the offered hand.

"A'ight, kid-"

"Blaze."

"Eh?"

"I'm called Blaze, sir."

Angel nearly scoffed and told the Hellborn that he didn't care. Something stopped him though. He looked at the lanky wolf again and the annoyance and thin line of his lips softened. 'But, wasn't it just like me back in the day. Choosin' my own name was the only special thing 'bout me.' The kid clung to their duffle bag like it was a treasure and Angel could see the stars in his eyes from a mile away. Val really stuck him with a greenhorn to play out Vox's little idea.

With a sigh Angel Dust nodded his head back towards the wings. That's where the extras and the stable of others Val used in his movies had their dressing area. "A'ight then, Blaze, let's go get your dresser set up. I know who we can set ya up next to where they won't bite your head off."

The wolf saluted, then realized what they did, and laughed nervously. They quickly yanked their arm down. "Yeah. Yeah, of course, sir."

"You can knock it off with that "Sir" bullshit too." Angel said as he started leading Blaze backstage. "I ain't worth that kinda respect."

Blaze scrambled after the famous Sinner as they swept past the stage. "Will... will I be next to you, sir- uh, Angel Dust?"

Angel Dust stopped dead and twisted around to stare at the younger demon with an incredulous look on his face. Sensing the faux pas he'd stumbled into, the Hellborn took a halting step backwards. "Ya know, since I'm supposed to be, like, shadowing you and stuff. Like, all sensei and student bonding, and... whatever." The anxious grin was more like a grimace at this point, since he kept making things worse, and couldn't seem to stop himself.

"Kid, you think I been doing this for longer than you been alive, and I'm still fightin' for mirror space?"

The wolf's mouth worked in soundless horror, his eyes going wide, as he made a strangled noise before scrambling to apologize.

"No! No, of course not, I... I..."

For the first time in years Angel Dust let out a genuine laugh while in Val's studio. "Don't worry, kid. Nah, you'll be scrunched in with the others. This star's got his own space. You'll have to earn yours."

For the next half hour or so Angel Dust and the new kid, Blaze, set up his vanity space. Forcing aside the neighboring dresser's stash of make-up and supplies. The wolf demon asked question after question, they were very obviously a fan, and Angel kept the conversation light. Angel also walked over and claimed a corner of the cramped space for any clothing and accessories Blaze had.

"Word of advice," Angel said as he bundled an armful of clothes to hang over another chair down the line. Blaze looked up from his task of sorting a number of make-up cases. "I wouldn't leave anything here that ya particularly like. It ain't gonna last long before someone tries to snag it for themselves."

"Oh, right. Thanks," Blaze piped up with a wide and eager grin.

"So, where you from, kid?" Angel asked absently as he came to sit down next to the young wolf. "What's a Hellborn like you doin' up here?"

For a while Blaze seemed super interested in lining up his fur brushes and cleaners. Then they frowned for probably the first time since meeting the porn star. "I used to live in Wrath, got adopted outta one of the Gluttony pounds when I was a baby, but the badlands of Hell ain't the best place for growing up if you're different. Hellhound mutts belong back in Gluttony. That's what I always heard."

Angel Dust frowned deeply, his brow creasing. 'Well, shit, if that ain't a familiar sentiment too.' There were plenty of times in his mortal life where strangers on the street or his own family would throw slurs or insults at him on a regular basis. All for the reason of being different.

"I used to watch your movies; you know? Videos on Sinstagram of the old club performances too. I'd do whatever I could to get my hands on 'em." Blaze admitted bashfully, their gaze trained on their claws as they traced patterns on the vanity countertop. "I liked your stage acts best, you made it look so easy. Every part of me knew that's what I had to do. As soon as I could, I left home and, after a little detour, I wound up in Pentagram City a year ago."

Surprisingly, Angel found himself halfway liking this kid, as an hour passed easily. Once the fanboying wore off that is. Blaze told him more about the clubs he'd danced in and what style he was inspired by. The Hellhound's other favorite topic, aside from 'Angel Dust: Porn Star', seemed to be the musical remixes he was working on the side.

"And now, ya workin for an Overlord instead of bein' a free agent? Ya can go anywhere, Blaze, even to Lust. What ya doin' under someone like Val?" Angel rose a brow and leaned back in the chair with confusion written on his face.

"I chose to come to Pride even though I know you Sinners and us Hellborn don't mix well up here. Trust me, it's worse for us in the lower Rings. The royalty make sure of that." The young wolf demon explained while their ears and tail lowered. Blaze looked so disheartened that even Angel Dust had half a mind to offer some kinda comfort.

Why? He wasn't sure. A year ago, half a year ago, the young wanna-be wouldn't be worth his time.

The phone on the vanity beeped a message suddenly, then another one, and once more for emphasis. Blaze cocked an ear curiously at the string of notifications. "Wha-"

Angel Dust chuckled a bit darkly. "That'll be Val callin' ya, probably time for the shoot. Somethin' ya gotta get used tah's the impatience. The big boss don't like to be kept waitin'."

Giving the younger demon a teasing wink Angel Dust grabbed the phone before Blaze ran off without it. He dialed Val back and placed the phone back in the nervous Hellborn's hands. The spider sinner then fluffed up the fur between Blaze's pointed ears and finally gave them a push out of the backstage area.

As he watched the sandy colored wolf rush off, his phone stuck to his ear, Angel Dust frowned. He closed his eyes against their lids and shook his head. Almost like he was coming back to himself after a good high. 'What am I doin'? Some kid shows up and acts like I'm somethin' good and I'm gettin' mush-brained over it. Whatta buncha crock. They shouldn't put so much faith in me.' Angel scoffs with an angry sneer and turns his back on the long-gone Hellborn. He hunched his shoulders against the tickle of memory knocking on his crumbling walls. When did he let that happen?

"Anthony, please, you don't have to go out again tonight."

"Is that right? What would I do instead, Molls?"

"We could listen to the radio? My favorite program is on."

"Molly, I need the money. Pops ain't lettin' me back in the house this time."

"I'm worried about you, big brother. You're a good person and I know what they do to those poor souls on the street corners. How much they hurt them. I love you too much to see that happen."

"I'll be fine. I always am."

"Aww, you can't tell me you enjoy standing on the side of the street waiting for someone to pay you to... uh, well, you know."

"No, I don't know. Please finish that sentence."

"Charlie, he's not a good candidate."

"He's good, Vaggie, I can tell."

"Pfft-! Like Vagina?! Hahaha! You broads don't know me, I can be whatever I wanna be."

"Oh yeah? Then prove it."

"A'ight, I'm in."

"Really?!"

"At least it's free room and board."

"It's an investment, in you. There's a lot more to you than what you think there is, Angel. We want to help you."

Angel Dust grabbed at his hair as he slammed the door of his dressing room shut. "That damn kid is gonna get himself broken. Val does it with everyone, don't matter who they are." Body and spirit were crushed in the vice grip of the Overlord and the souls under contract couldn't do a damn thing to stop him. Angel Dust growled and threw the nearest thing, which luckily happened to be a couch pillow, across the room. Why couldn't he just look past it? How many times has he ignored the very same thing, for years? Just say: 'Thems the breaks, furball.' and continue on with his night without ever wondering about what the Princess of Hell would want him to do.

"FUCK!"

+X+

It was strange.

The slightly disheveled room felt strange to Vaggie as she stood in the center of her and Charlie's bedroom.

It still showed the signs of the whirlwind of her girlfriend packing, unpacking, and repacking. Charlie and Lucifer had been gone for all of an hour and the hotel felt quiet and empty. It was to be expected Vaggie guessed. With those two gone, and Angel being called away by Valentino shortly after, all the noisy ones in the hotel were elsewhere.

The spider didn't look enthused about leaving either. Then again, he never did lately. Not after finally admitting how much he hated his boss. The fallen angel had to hand it to him, Angel had taken Charlie's "exercises" more seriously since the battle with the exorcists.

Vaggie shook her head lovingly and started picking up Charlie's discarded clothes to put them away. On the way past her dresser, she unconsciously tapped the radio to fill the quiet, and then switched the bouncy pop music that Charlie usually had on to the chiller tones of the Spanish guitar that came from her life on Earth. The vibrant music filled the room but she still kept expecting to see her girlfriend out of the corner of her eye. Playfully sneaking over to change it back or hear her tease words into the song she didn't know the language of.

Charlie never meant anything to it. She'd always told Vaggie that Latin music was really beautiful and she'd love for a private concert sometime. The lavender angel blushed for no reason thinking about it. It'd started as a joke one day and they just kept at it after a while. As she was hanging up the last of her girlfriend's shirts Vaggie paused. The angel sighed heavily as her hand ran down the red tailored sleeve.

Vaggie looked up to see Charlie in the corner of her eye as the tall blonde was very obviously sneaking across the room to where the radio was playing an upbeat salsa now that Vaggie was in control of the music as the pair were engaging in a hotel cleaning day. "You're not going to change that, are you, Princess?" Vaggie called out with a teasing smirk when she noticed the exaggerated moves from across the room.

Charlie dramatically froze with her hand hovering over the radio dial. "Wha-? No... psh." She playfully grinned back to Vaggie and ticked the volume up a notch instead.

Vaggie chuckled, shaking her head, and went back to making up the bed. She thought Charlie had gone back to continue her dusting. So, after a minuet, when long arms wrapped around her waist; she jumped in surprise.

The music had been just loud enough to cover her girlfriend's sneaky approach and Charlie was actually able to come up behind her unnoticed. "You scared me, babe. Not that I'm complaining," Vaggie sighed contently, leaning back into Charlie's chest. She felt warm lips press into her cheek and the rumble of Charlie's laugh as she was held close and they swayed to the Latin strings for several songs.

Vaggie opened her eyes and let the empty shirt sleeve drop back into its limp position. Walking out of the huge closet, she glanced around the empty bedroom that felt even more lonely, and far too big now that Charlie had left.

Looking at the time on her phone again Vaggie saw that her cleaning had taken about 2 hours. She groaned, running a hand through her long silver hair in frustration. Just being in the quiet room, alone, was suddenly getting under her skin. She had to get out of here. Vaggie didn't know what she'd do but she couldn't stand the "lack of" anymore.

On her way out she switched off the radio.

The fallen angel made her way downstairs to the hotel lobby. Thanks to Lucifer they at least had working elevators now, gilded gold, quick and smooth.

The lobby was empty when Vaggie stepped past the sliding doors but with two of the loudest and brightest residents all the way in another Ring the hotel was bound to feel a little less lively. Even though Vaggie saw a handful of the new faces talking quietly on the parlor couches.

The sight made her smile. She knew that Charlie would be so happy to see this. To see the sinners getting along in the hotel. 'In fact, it'll be such a surprise if Charlie came home, and a new soul had joined the hotel.' Vaggie blatantly ignored the cynical part of her brain and stopped off in Charlie's office to grab some flyers. The large room was mostly unused still. Though it had all the office amenities: big fancy desk, plush chair, tall bookshelves. For the most part though, Charlie didn't know what to do with it, except storing her hand drawn posters and fliers.

'Maybe getting out of the hotel will take my mind off things.' Vaggie figured as she left the office with the papers in hand. It was later in the day than her and Charlie would normally go out but she figured it'd give her a few hours. She'd make the effort anyway.

'The fresh air wouldn't hurt,' she thought, pushing aside the fact that Pentagram City smelled of grime and blood, with the undercurrent of decay, and probably hadn't had a breath of fresh air for the last few millennia. Vaggie made sure she had her phone and the fliers in hand as she headed for the large double doors. As she reached for the handle of the hotel entry a tall gangly shadow popped up in front of her, the angel gasped and jumped back, but a grating voice made her freeze when it spoke behind her.

Vaggie whirled around to face the tall, red-suited, Radio Demon who'd appeared behind her. "And where are you off to, my dear?" His staticky, menacing, voice cut through the emptiness of the foyer.

Vaggie noticed the sly tilt to his ever-present smile, and she rolled her eye, crossing her arms defiantly. "I'm going for a walk," she flashed the stack of papers at him. "Not that it's any of your business but I'm actually trying to get Sinners into this hotel."

"Oh, and here I thought you were off for more exciting activities, now that our dear Charlie is gone on her own adventure?"

"Is that a problem?" Vaggie replied, trying to keep her voice steady.

Alastor chuckled stepping closer to her and Vaggie automatically took a step back in response. "Oh, no problem at all. Just wouldn't want you getting lost in the city without your usual protection around."

Vaggie scowled and tried to open the door again but Alastor was in front of her once more with a conniving gleam in his eyes.

"You know, dear, I've been thinking that maybe we should bury the hatchet; as they say." Alastor's claws twirled his microphone with a swift arc through the air before placing it firmly on the floor once more. "After all, we are both here to support the princess. It would be a shame if things got even more... unpleasant."

"I can take care of myself Alastor. I don't need your fake concern and I don't need Charlie to hold my hand. I can help the hotel on my own. Unlike some people." Vaggie's piercing glare didn't faze him at all even as heated as she was right now. She forced her way past him to the door and finally got her hand on the handle. As she swung the door open her eye turned downcast for a moment as the thought of going recruiting without Charlie finally took hold. Vaggie refused to look back, however. 'It's not like I need her with me but I want to be sure she's protected. It's just better when I'm with her.'

Vaggie clenched her fist and reigned in her temper. She knew Alastor loved pushing her buttons and it was so easy today because she wasn't used to not having Charlie around to act as a buffer. Her princess was always the one to smooth over annoyances or disagreements in the hotel.

Alastor's smile twitched with a more calculating look as the small angel brushed past. "Suit yourself, darling. Remember that I'm always available to help. Do enjoy your walk."

Vaggie shot him a glare as she slammed the door behind her. She walked down the hotel's long drive muttering under her breath. She couldn't stand Alastor and his constant need to antagonize her. But she refused to let him ruin the rest of her day. She quickened her pace, determined to put some distance between them. As she walked, she couldn't shake the feeling that their tense encounter was only the beginning of a much darker chapter in the complicated partnership with the dangerous demon.

As she began walking through the bustling streets of the city, Vaggie couldn't shake the feeling of being watched. She kept glancing over her shoulder, half expecting to see Alastor following her, but the was no sign or shadow of the powerful Overlord. The tension between them weighed heavily on her mind as Vaggie decided on what section of the pentagram to hit first.

The lavender skinned angel walked down the streets of the Pride Ring and absently gauged which demons she passed seemed a good target for the Hotel. Vaggie walked by several drunken groups and one mugging taking place without really seeing it all. No one paid attention to her either. She'd started out strong and determined. Wanting to greet Charlie with good news when she returned and to prove Alastor wrong.

The creepy feeling of being watched didn't help matters. The prickly feeling continued to tingle the back of her neck even though nothing strange seemed amiss when she looked around her. With a sigh Vaggie pinpointed a coherent Sinner sitting on a bench a block away and figured she finally had to start somewhere.

From there she worked into Carmilla Carmine's district but afterwards kinda lost track of where she was. She'd already talked to several demons. Surprisingly it was actually talking with them. Not being laughed at, or mocked, like had been a common occurrence for both her and Charlie since the start.

It took Vaggie a while to notice it but there was almost a thin layer of respect in some of the less hostile demons when she mentioned her name or the Hazbin Hotel. Two or three even asked real questions. Which puts the day on the scale of being one of the better days she thinks to herself as the city's shadows lengthen.

Maybe some of that Charlie optimism was rubbing off on her or something.

Even with this new attitude Vaggie did not want to be caught in the city after dark. Especially without backup.

It was nearly dinner time and she knew many of the better souls would be on the same track as her. Vaggie walked away from one demon, a horned Sinner with three eyes and hot pink skin, after actually managing to lay out what Charlie was trying to do. She stopped at the next corner and tried to orient herself. As she looked around the city block Vaggie couldn't help but wonder what Charlie was doing right then. Usually, they would end a day like this by going out for a casual bite to eat at one of the princess's favorite places.

'I hope she's at least having fun catching up with her uncles and aunts. She deserves to have a good time with her family.'

For the briefest moment Vaggie wondered if she'd ever meet any of them one day but then shook her head. From what little she'd heard, the Sins were a crazy bunch, and meeting Lucifer for the first time was enough for her. Thank you.

A few young imps were standing across the street and staring at her curiously. Vaggie realized she must've wound up closer to Imp City than she thought. The angel was about to turn around and head back the way she came. There wasn't any reason to continue further into the Hellborn territory of the Pentagram.

Sinners and Hellborn didn't stick together all that often, and she was trying to recruit Sinners, after all.

Another small group of imps passed by, too busy talking to notice her, and she was about to ignore them and head back to the hotel. At least until she heard part of the conversation they were having.

"...Same thing's happening in Lust. My girlfriend's got family there and swears it's true. Demons are running from the lower Rings. They're freaking out."

'Lust? That's where Charlie is...'

"That's crazy. Why haven't we heard about it?" One of the other ones said.

The group didn't seem to believe whatever the first one was trying to say. "That's the thing...it's all covered up. Being kept quiet by the King himself. It all has to do with the Princess and that Sinner lot fighting the angels a few weeks ago. Lucifer shows up there after years of being gone. Then this happens..."

Vaggie didn't get to hear what else Lucifer was supposed to have done as the group of Hellborn crossed the street and was quickly out of hearing range. The fallen angel had half a mind to follow them and hear what else was going on because that's exactly where Charlie was right now. However, before she could make to follow the imp and his friends a large garbage truck roared by, and she lost sight of them when the view was clear again.

'God, what am I doing?' Vaggie sighed and rolled her eye. 'Trying to ease drop on some random imp conspiracy theory... and for what?' Even the idea of Lucifer being the leader of some shady cover-up was laughable. Leaning back against the corner light post Vaggie looked at her watch again. She'd be late getting back already.

Was there something really going on in the lower Rings? Like that imp was saying?

Lucifer would've known about it though and definitely wouldn't have dragged Charlie into danger. Maybe. Suddenly, she needed to get back to the hotel. Charlie was supposed to call later tonight and, even though it'd only been half a day, no sound would be more welcome than her girlfriend's voice.

"You are the one called Vaggie?"

"Yaaah?! Wha- the fuck?!" The angel yelled in surprise as she launched herself several feet forward. Her foot hit the curb and she tipped dangerously toward oncoming traffic.

For several seconds she teetered on the edge of crashing into the street. Due to either angelic grace or dumb luck Vaggie swung her arms back and was able to right herself with minimal damage to her ego. Or, at least, no one else was around to witness it. Not wasting a breath once her feet were steady, she immediately summoned her spear, and whirled to face the demon who...

...Was not there. The defensive angel blinked upwards at the empty space.

"Down here, woman. I didn't realize you would be so violent." The annoyed voice drew her gaze downward several more feet than she expected.

Vaggie was short, she knew it. Charlie's 6 and a half feet towered over her, but even her girlfriend had to look up at the majority of Sinners that surrounded them at the Hotel. So, who could blame her for automatically shooting her glare to a space above her head. However, apparently, she'd run into a demon much shorter than even herself.

The strange Sinner was small, not much bigger than Niffty, with dark gray skin and dark blue- almost black- fins. A thin antenna, with a ball of light, hung from the top of his head. He was dressed in a long coat and gloves, almost all of himself was covered. The stranger looked vaguely fish-like but not one Vaggie's ever seen before.

She took a step back from the suddenly too close stranger. "The fuck- who the hell are you? How do you know me?"

The short fish demon shot her a thin-lipped frown and pushed the pointed spear away from him. "You are the one that's been going around with the princess spouting her theory about redemption to every Sinner on the street? Is that correct?"

"Y-yeah." Vaggie pulls her spear away but doesn't quite relax enough to put it completely away.

"My name is... Baxter!" The little demon flourished widely. "A scientist!"

Vaggie looks confusedly at the fishy Sinner. "Oh, well, that's nice. Uhh... do you want to hear abo-"

Baxter huffed impatiently, crossing his arms over his chest. "No. I don't want to hear what you think redemption is. I deal in what's actually feasible, not a fantasy. I also happened to hear that pompous snake had been roped into the princess's unverified experiment as well."

"You- you mean Sir Pentious?" Vaggie felt something like dread creep into her voice.

The little demon huffed again. "Yes. Yes, of course, I mean that braggy serpent. It's to be expected from someone like him that he'd fail to do the basic study before-"

Vaggie stopped listening as he droned on about the friend that they lost during the battle a few weeks ago. 'Wait, he doesn't know. Does he? Maybe it's the best thing, after all, that Charlie isn't here with me for this. I don't know how she'd handle this kind of reminder.' Charlie had taken Pentious and Dazzle's death very hard. Very personally. Despite her attempts to put on a brave face in front of the others she couldn't hide the turmoil she felt in those quiet moments in their bedroom or when it was just them alone.

Vaggie tiredly opened the door to her and Charlie's new bedroom in the rebuilt and rechristened Hazbin Hotel. It'd been a long day of moving everyone back into their brand-new rooms. Even with Lucifer's magic. She was ready for a good sleep but not before some sweet cuddles in their huge fluffy bed. Vaggie expected to see Charlie already under the covers or in the middle of her usual nightly routine. She'd supposedly turned in early but what greeted the fallen angel wasn't what she expected.

"Babe, are you alright?" Vaggie stopped just inside the room as her eye found the blonde hunched over at the head of the bed. She'd changed clothes, in a simple t-shirt and loose shorts, but didn't seem in a state for sleep. The thing that caught her immediate attention was the almost unnoticeable shake of her shoulders and the quiet sniffle that reached her ears.

She walked over and climbed in next to Charlie's bent form. Slowly, so as not to startle her. In her hands was a torn and ragged picture. The blonde froze for a second before slowly looking up at Vaggie. Tears were welling up in those shining eyes again.

Reaching down she saved the picture from falling out of limp, pale, fingers. Vaggie's heart broke seeing what it was that had Charlie crying alone in her room.

"Vaggie, I, uh-" Charlie started quietly as her eyes followed Vaggie's hands as she moved to place the frayed photo on the nightstand. "I found it earlier, when we were clearing stuff away."

It was a candid group shot, sans Alastor, in the parlor of the hotel. Pentious was there and seemed to be telling a story to everyone. They all had smiles and the snake Sinner had the biggest grin. Vaggie sat next to tearful princess and gently held her. Charlie fell into her comforting arms and the angel felt the taller woman cuddle close, head buried into her shoulder.

"I miss him." Charlie's soft voice admitted into her hair where she'd nuzzled tiredly.

"Oh Charlie," Vaggie rubbed her hand up and down her lover's back.

The pair sat together quietly in each other's arms. Vaggie wasn't sure how long she'd held her, long enough that she'd wondered if Charlie had fallen asleep, but then the barest whisper reached her ears. Almost like it was something too secret for even the room itself to hear.

"Are you sure I'm doing the right thing?"

Vaggie stilled her hand and held her breath. Her heart ached with the pain and doubt in her partner's voice. Charlie's breath caught in her throat as she clung to Vaggie like she alone could save her from the dark thoughts in her mind. The fallen angel wrapped both arms around Charlie's middle and squeezed tightly. Trying to convey as much comfort as she could through the touch.

"I ke- keep thinking about losing you and everyone else. I don't want to lose them, Vaggie. I couldn't imagine if Angel wasn't saying something pervy to Husk every night. Or Cherri not being here to make those random explosions, I know annoy you. Or even Alastor not popping out from the shadows to be horrible and snarky. It wouldn't be the same without all of them. I couldn't do anything without you with me. If I lost you-"

Charlie nearly broke out into tears again as she leaned up just enough to stare fearfully into Vaggie's worried gaze. Gently bringing a hand up Vaggie brushed loose strands of long blonde hair away from Charlie's face and her thumb wiped away the gathering tears at the corner of her eyes.

"You won't lose me, mi amor." She promised softly.

"It seemed so much simpler when it was just 'save the sinners'. It was all just some grand morals that Mom taught me. I thought it would be enough. Does it...does that make me a bad person?" Charlie leaned her cheek into Vaggie's palm, suddenly seeming as frayed and fragile as the photo on the nightstand.

"Hon, all we can do is keep fighting for each other. With each other. Let the future be what it will. We have to love the people in front of us while we can." Vaggie kissed Charlie's forehead and held her close until the blonde demon fell asleep.

"I am looking forward to schooling that sloppy snake in the proper way to run a field experiment." Baxter was saying as Vaggie blinked back into the present.

Vaggie knew she had to be the one to tell him. It really didn't sound like the arrogant scientist had heard the complete story yet. She sighed heavily. This was not going to be the highlight of her day. "Baxter, that was your name, right?" She said, her voice firm but gentle, as she interrupted him. "I need to tell you..."

The fish Sinner blinked, as if coming out of a trance as his monologue was cut off. "Yes, what is it?" He huffed, obviously unused to being stopped mid-rant by a stranger.

She hesitated slightly trying to find the right words for it. 'Damn, I'm just not good with things like this. Charlie is so much better at talking to people.' As Vaggie stood in front of Baxter and he scowled at her. Waiting impatiently for her to say what needed to be said. Finally, she took a deep breath, steeling herself for what reaction he had.

"Sir Pentious is dead." Her voice was filled with sorrow as she remembered the pivotal moments of the fight with the Exorcists. The blinding flash of holy light and the vaporized war-zeppelin.

Vaggie couldn't see the emotions behind Baxter's oversized glasses. For a moment, he seemed to freeze, one arm held up in the air as he was about to say something. His mouth left hanging in shock.

"Are you serious, woman? You don't need to entice me with such a lie. I'm already planning on moving my studies-"

Vaggie shook her head, her long silver hair flying around her face. "No, it's not a lie. I... I'm sorry but Sir Pentious really was killed by Adam while he was trying to defend us all."

She continued to recount the events of the battle, the fierce fighting, the final confrontation that had led to Pentious's demise. "It doesn't sound like you two were friends, but I think you should know how he died, fighting for something he believed in; and for his friends. I'm sorry I had to tell you like this."

When she had finished, there was a long moment of silence between them. Baxter went still with only the light on the end of his antenna flickering.

He'd encountered Pentious a few times over the decades. It was bound to happen when both dabbled in the scientific arts. The snake was annoying and loudly boastful. Still, a good deal more tolerable than the pair of egotistical self-titled "evil genius" business partners that insisted on bugging him whenever they were around. He and Pentious never agreed on much even when they did wind up in a real conversation. However, despite the differences of their clashing personalities he felt a bolt of shock as the news of his death was processed.

"I- I- This news will seriously affect my study of your theories. Those actions don't make any sense for that blasted snake. Now he's thrown off my variables. If you'll excuse me for now there are new calculations to make."

As she watched Baxter walk away, muttering, Vaggie couldn't help but feel the sense of loss all over again. It left her feeling like she should've gone after him. Charlie would've followed.

By the time Vaggie finally got back to the Hazbin Hotel it was well past dinner. She was physically tired and emotionally drained. Also, more than relieved to find Alastor nowhere to be seen. Probably cackling at some other poor soul's suffering. She let out a sigh of relief, grateful for the peace of being back in the familiar safety of the foyer, and among friends.

Notes:

This is my longest chapter yet. I officially hit 20,000 words and wow. Thanks to everyone whose been reading. Love to all. 333

Blaze is my own character. He's a wolf Hellhound with sandy golden fur, think Vortex but not as built or muscular, and uses He/They pronouns. He's around Loona's age, so 20-21. I needed someone for Angel Dust to interact with in the studio setting beyond Val. Honestly, I see Angel being one of those people who would (albeit reluctantly) take a fresh-faced kid in the industry and kinda show them the ropes before some really bad deal took place. Especially now that he's been at the Hotel for a while and learned to open up some. But he knows how painful it'll be to see Blaze be crushed and so instinctively backs off once he realizes it.

ALSO for those who haven't yet dug up the pre-comic 'Dirty Healings' the part of the conversation Angel was remembering between him/Charlie/Vaggie is from that. Thought it'd be a fun easter egg.

YES! I had already planned that Baxter was going to show up at the Hotel in some form but he had a drastic shift thanks to the minute clip of season 2 that dropped before.

Next time we return to the meeting of the Sins and Charlie really starts seeing where the breaks in her family are.

From down the table the sneering voice of Seviathan reached her. "Well then, Princess, what plans do you have?"

If her dad had proven anything it was that these powerful demons didn't care what happened to the human souls in the Pride Ring. Those who were so far beneath them. Charlie bit her lip. Looking into each face there and the only sympathy she saw came from Beelzebub and Asmodeus.

Sighing behind his hands Lucifer closed his eyes and a rumble echoed in his throat as he brought the room's attention to himself again. "No," he said with finality. "We will not attack Heaven. While the Host probably won't retaliate for Adam, as he was so clearly in the wrong, they would definitely take grievous action for an assault on the gates."