Chapter 2
(ANGEL POV)
Angel was running. Fast.
His heart was pounding in his ears, his boots hitting the pavement hard. He could see Cherri in his peripheral vision, also running like a bat out of hell. Angry voices echoed after them.
Angel grinned at his best friend. This was exactly what he needed.
~
The doors of the hotel burst open, startling the residents in the lobby. Angel and Cherri stumbled into the lobby, dishevelled and bloody. Angel was clutching his side as he leaned on Cherri for support. They were in stitches laughing.
“Did ya see his face?!” Angel exclaimed.
“Best thing ever!” Cherri replied loudly.
They then seemed to notice the others in the lobby. Vaggie and Charlie had been sitting on the couch talking, but Charlie had started to rush over when she saw Angel. Now she was paused a few feet away from him and Cherri. Angel glanced over at the bar to see that Husk had also left his usual position, as if he had been meaning to rush over to them. He caught Husk’s eye, and after giving him a quick once-over, Husk returned to the bar. Charlie still looked very concerned.
“Is that blood?” Charlie asked.
“Yeah?” Angel tried to wipe some of it out of his hair, but only ended up spreading it more, “Not mine though.”
“Is that supposed to reassure me?” Charlie’s voice was a little strained.
“Uh, yes?” Cherri answered, squinting in confusion. Angel shared her sentiment.
“Don’t worry bout it Princess,” he said, “We was just letting off a lil’ steam.”
“Angel!” Charlie snapped, taking a step towards him, “You’re not meant to be going off and getting into fights just for fun! We are trying to get you redeemed!”
Angel couldn’t help rolling his eyes a little. Charlie meant well but she could be overbearing at times.
“Chill Princess, it's not that big a deal.”
Oops. Wrong thing to say. Even Cherri backed up a little at the death glare Charlie was giving him. Angel noticed out of the corner of his eye, Alastor had appeared and was watching the situation unfold with much amusement. Vaggie was hovering nearby ready to intervene.
“Don’t tell me to ‘chill’ Angel,” that familiar fire was lighting in Charlie's eyes, “You are our only resident right now! We are depending on you! But all you care about is fighting and blowing stuff up with Cherri!”
Ouch. That hit a nerve, mainly because it couldn't be less true. Agnel was achingly aware of Pentious’s absence, and was starting to feel the pressure of being the only resident. Which was why Cherri had suggested a day out, hitting stuff.
“Listen Charlie,” he snapped back, his face an inch away from hers now, “not all of us have a damn stick shoved up our asses! Some of us like to have fun! Sorry for not being fucking perfect Princess!”
“OKAY! Break it up kids!”
Angel took a step back in surprise. He’d been so busy arguing he hadn't noticed the king of hell had entered the room. Lucifer stepped between the two.
“Alright, I think we could all benefit from a calming breath here,” he smiled awkwardly up at them, “We just rebuilt this hotel, I'd rather we not trash it right now.”
Angel attempted to swallow his frustration, and saw Charlie doing the same. Lucifer beamed.
“There! Isn't that much better?”
“I disagree,” said Alastor, appearing right behind Lucifer.
There's nothing like seeing the king of hell yelp and jump about four feet in the air in surprise to help cheer you up. Angel choked back a giggle, and locked eyes for a second with Husk, who bit down on his paw to stifle his own laughter.
“ALASTOR! We’ve talked about this!”
Even Vaggie was quietly giggling now. A smile was slowly spreading across Charlie’s face, and Cherri looked delighted.
“Do try not to drip on the carpet my dear,” Alastor said to Angel, completely ignoring the king, which only infuriated him more, “My, my, Nifty will have a field day when she sees you.”
“Al! I was talking to you!”
“Oh I’m sorry you’re majesty, were you speaking? Only it’s so hard to hear you from down there,” Alastor smiled down at Lucifer.
Lucifer was losing it. He was growing in height, horns elongated, literally flames in his eyes. He was pretty mild mannered most of the time, but something about Alastor made him lose control every time. Angel made a mental note to observe that behaviour more closely in the future.
“I AM KING, YOU WILL SPEAK TO ME WITH RESPECT!” he thundered, getting in Alastor’s face, “OR ELSE.”
“Um Dad?” Charlie hesitantly tried to interrupt, but was cut off. Good. Angel was enjoying the show.
“I have nothing but respect for you, your majesty,” Alastor was completely unfazed, but leaned forward challengingly, “Even if I doubt you would follow through on that threat.”
Wings unfurling, Lucifer looked ready to unleash his unholy fury upon Alastor. Alastor was also changing into his overlord form, eyes turned to dials, towering over Lucifer, like a true eldritch horror.
“YOU MAY THINK YOU’RE STRONG DEMON,” Lucifer spat, “BUT I WILL FUCK YOU!”
Pause.
Alastor looked like he glitched, registering Lucifer’s words. Husk choked on the drink he had been sipping. Vaggie coughed, trying to hide a laugh. Cherri burst into hysterical laughter. Angel bit his lip hard, trying to contain himself. Charlie groaned. Nifty gasped delightedly, (when did she appear?). Lucifer blinked, noticing his mistake. All this happened within seconds.
“Dad?”
“I did it again, didn't I?”
“Yeah.”
Lucifer returned to his normal form, as did Alastor. Angel was having a field day. He’d never imagined the Radio Demon could look mortified, but he certainly did. So did Lucifer.
“Ahem,” Lucifer cleared his throat awkwardly, “Sorry. Slip of the tongue.”
“Freudian slip more like,” Angel muttered, earning himself a chuckle from Vaggie and Cherri.
Lucifer looked around awkwardly for a way out of this situation. Alastor was staring at the King of Hell, still horrified, two spots of red blooming on his cheeks. Angel narrowed his eyes at him. Was he blushing?
“Hehehehe, I ship it,” Nifty whispered from Angel's shoulder. Angel yelped, jumping in fright.
“Christ Nifft!” he clutched his chest, before rubbing her head affectionately, “Your a sneaky lil’ fucker ain’t ya?”
His exclamation seemed to be the distraction Lucifer was looking for.
“You two should make up,” Lucifer muttered hurriedly, nodding at Charlie, “Talk it out, hug it out whatever. Dad out!” He vanished.
Everyone stared at Alastor. He stared back, seemingly unperturbed before melting into the shadows.
“That was amazing!” Cherri stared at the spot Alastor had vanished from, “Angie, if this is what it’s like all the time here, I’m moving in!”
“Yeah those two need to fuck already,” Angel chuckled.
“Yes.” That was Niffty. Angel tried to ignore her unsettling smiling stare.
“Right, Imma head out Angie,” Cherri gave him a quick hug, “See ya!”
“Use the door!” Vaggie tried to tell her, but it was of no use. A few moments later there was a new hole in the lobby wall. Charlie awkwardly shuffled over to Angel, wringing her hands.
Angel sighed, “Sorry for losing it on ya Princess.”
“No, I’m sorry,” Charlie grabbed his hands, “I’m stressed and I took it out on you. I shouldn't have. I know you're trying just as hard as we are.”
“Thanks Charls,” Angel’s face felt a bit warm, but that may have been the warmth from Charlie’s smile.
She gave him a hug, and he felt a genuine smile spreading across his face. The smile widened when he caught the fond glance Husk was giving them from across the lobby.
"Alright Princess, I'm sorry for saying you got a stick shoved up your ass," Angel said, then continued, "I know you're kinda touchy bout that."
He let out an "Oof!" as Charlie thumped his shoulder, hard. But she was grinning, and so was he, so he didn't really mind.