Saved By An Angel
"Ugh, that hadda been the longest fucking night of my damned life!" Angel Dust moaned. He stretched, his joints and spine crackling, absolutely exhausted after working a 12-hour shift. Fucking Val and his stupid all-night filming sessions! Valentino had become relentless ever since he started standing up to him outside of work hours, punishing him with longer hours and rougher scenes. He could take it though as long as Val stayed away from the hotel and his friends. It wasn't like the stupid moth could do too much damage, not without losing his top-grossing employee.
Cherri laughed and threw another small bomb at a passing car, her eyes lighting up with excitement as it exploded, throwing the street into chaos. Angel rolled his eyes and adjusted his chest fluff, a nervous habit of his. He just wanted to go home, take a hot bath, cuddle his piglet, and sleep for a solid 10 hours. Hopefully, Charlie wouldn't ask him to do anything for the Hotel before he went to bed. Or when he woke up, for that matter. He needed a freaking break, he deserved one. Meh, maybe there will be someone or something distracting her. That would keep her off my ass for a bit.
"Come on, let's go clubbin'!" Cherri grabbed his arm and started dragging him in the direction of the clubs, but Angel shook her off gently and shook his head.
"Bitch, ya know I love ya, but I seriously need some shut-eye! This job is so much more fucking exhaustin' now that I'm sobe'!" Well, from drugs, at least.
"Yeah, yeah..." Cherri pouted but didn't argue, for which Angel was grateful. She had gotten a lot better at respecting his sobriety (from all but liquor) and supporting his "redemption" over the last couple of months. She hadn't fully committed to the program herself, but after the fight with the exorcists and losing Sir Pentious, she had become an occasional visitor of the Hotel. She even participated in some of Charlie's weird bonding exercises from time to time. Charlie was thrilled, and Angel enjoyed having his bestie around more often.
"All right, fine, but I'm comin' with ya! I fucking love tormenting Husk, and he is so chill about givin' me free drinks." Her eye had taken on a mischievous glint that made Angel snicker.
"Cherri, everything there is fucking free..." Angel rolled his eyes sarcastically, trying to hide his grin. Husker was not going to enjoy dealing with Angel's bestie, especially with him not even there to help buffer. It made him smile softly, imagining the gruff demon's annoyed face. The more time they spent together, the easier it was to read him. He didn't particularly care for Cherri's more boisterous antics, but he knew deep down, that the kitty was a big old softie. He wasn't nearly as bothered as he pretended to be, and was actually a pretty good sport most of the time, giving as good as he took, and was probably the only one besides him capable of deescalating Cherri's more... enthusiastic moments of boredom.
She grinned mischievously. "I know, slut! Why do you think I prefer to drink there?"
They both broke into laughter, continuing to walk down the street, gossiping about this and that as they went. Angel was totally exhausted, but the conversation helped keep him awake and walking. The last thing he needed was to not be paying attention and trip or be taken off guard by a "fan". Thankfully, with it still being fairly early in the evening, this district hadn't really started to get that busy yet, so there weren't that many bystanders on their route. A few annoying catcalls as they walked by, but nothing too serious, and the more lewd ones were quickly scared off with some of Cherri's fireworks.
They turned a corner, and Angel nearly tripped.
Fuck, it's fucking Val!
Thankfully, his boss was turned away from him and hadn't noticed him yet. He really, REALLY didn't want to have a conversation with him. Especially after dealing with him all night at work. He nudged Cherri and motioned for them to go a different route, and she was quick to agree without skipping a beat, but then he caught a glimpse of what Val was doing and hesitated.
Val was talking to a cute little sinner with unique features, who looked like a little short-stack doll, with an outfit to match. She was adorable, and innocent looking, and he knew Val really liked to pray on those kinds of people, especially when they were such a unique look. He was obviously trying to get her to sign a contract with him, which Angel knew from experience would be far worse than any potential gain for her. He probably wanted to add her to his collection of rare sinner types, and in return, she would get only the bare minimum of protection... from other demons, but not from the Vees.
She was so different from any other soul he had seen, because, come on, who would think a rag doll would be in Hell of all places? Someone who was that innocent and pure looking was probably a sweet, charming softie who would be better situated in Heaven. Then again, looks could be deceiving. Maybe she was some kind of psychopath or pervert. Who knew, but this was Hell, and she obviously did something of note to end up here.
Angel started to turn away (he didn't know her, obviously, so why intrude) but suddenly, their eyes met. For the briefest moment, before Val's wing blocked her from view again, their eyes had locked onto each other, so fast, had he blinked, he might have thought he imagined it. But it was enough to see something that made him stop dead in his tracks.
Terrified violet eyes, screaming for help. He knew that look. It was the same he had made before, when he had already experienced trauma from predators, and was about to be taken advantage of again. His heart ached at that look in her eyes, and for a brief moment, he wanted desperately to help. He couldn't see her now, Val's stupid wing blocking her completely from view, but that look was now etched into his soul.
But he was so exhausted, and his boss would likely increase his awful time at the studio if he fucked up a deal for him. I am not responsible for a stranger....
He started to turn away again, but Charlie's voice echoed in his head a recent lesson: "Good deeds are done because they are right, not because they are easy or because of what you get from it..."
FUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFINE!
He strode quickly towards her, before he could hesitate again, catching part of the conversation as he got closer.
"-and I don't even care about fame." Her voice was quiet and sweet, but somehow steady and firm. How she was able to keep her voice from cracking was a mystery, what with how her bottom lip was trembling. Her eyes kept darting around, looking for a reasonable excuse to escape. She was also subtly picking on her left arm with her right, as though she could keep herself calm if she just felt a little pain, and was able to fidget. Subtle signs, but she was definitely terrified. And not for the first time in her life either.
"Come on, sugar, you are by far the most unique woman I have ever seen!" Val pressured, his voice trying to be seductive, but actually was very creepy. "I can protect you from the rest of hell, so what do you say, doll?"
"I believe she said no, Val, so move along." Angel kept his tone annoyed, but polite, his body tense yet poised. Valentino spun around and glared at him, his eyes narrowed in anger. Angel was careful not to show his panic. You ain't afraid of him no more, just remember to breathe.
"Angel, baby, Daddy is working!" he warned, voice overly sweet, but dripping with venom, clearly telling him to back off or else. To someone who didn't know, the threat was probably too subtle to take seriously, but Angel knew better. If he pushed on, defended this chick, he was going to be punished, and quite severely.
"I'm off the clock, Val, ya can't order me around." An idea popped into his head. "And besides, she is one of Charlie's new guests at the hotel, ain't that right, hon?" Angel glanced at her from over Val's shoulder, and she blushed slightly and nodded her head vigorously as Val whipped his head around to confirm.
"Yes, that's right, Mr. Angel Dust! She sent me to fetch you, for a meeting among the staff." She said it with so much conviction and so naturally, Angel was almost fooled into believing she was telling the truth, and he knew she was lying.
Cute and clever, well done! "See, Val?" Angel smirked. "She is unde' the protection of the princess, and seein' how His Majesty has recently ALSO become active wit' the Hotel, I really wouldn't suggest ya tryin' to get a contract wit' her. Capiche?"
Val glared at Angel and growled, and shoved Angel out of his way as he left, though he stopped after a couple of steps, and turned back to the woman, his charming facade back in place. "Should you change your mind, darling, just let me know! Angel knows how to find me." he cooed. Then he disappeared around the corner.
"What a douche..." Cherri muttered under her breathe, her hand rubbing calming circles on Angel's back as she glared where he had vanished.
Angel took a deep breath, his heart pounding in his ears. But he had won, and it felt good. Probably wouldn't go well at his next shift, but since he had been able to use the hotel as a reason, there was a chance Val wouldn't be as harsh on him. With any luck, he'd get some of his anger out by fucking ranting to Vox, and by the time he had his next shift, he would be calmer. He turned to the rag doll demon, who was watching him silently with a mix of awe and concern. "You okay, hon?" he asked her, trying to be nonchalant.
"Yeah, I'm fine, are you okay?" Her voice was steady, her body relaxed, as though she hadn't been absolutely terrified a few moments ago.
He was taken aback. "I, uh- yeah, no, I'm all good, just glad I could, ya know..."
"Save me?" Her violet eyes were steady, unreadable now, yet her smile was warm and caring, with a hint of mischievous teasing.
"Y-yeah, somethin' like that." He shrugged with his second row of arms while his first row ran it's fingers through his hair and his third row had his hands nonchalantly on his hips. He coughed to dispel the nervous energy. "Anyway, not really sure if ya wanna try the ol' Hazbin, but I would recommend ya follow us there, ya know, in case Val tries to confirm our story 'bout ya livin' there."
Her eyes sparkled suddenly. "Oh, actually, I was trying to get there anyway, so thank you!"
What a weird woman... She had said "no" to an overlord, but was willing to follow strangers to a second location, and kept bouncing between being excited and being closed off...? "Hey, wait a sec- Ya look kinda new to Hell, so how didja know my name and about the Hotel?" he asked, suspicion now making him uneasy. There weren't a lot of people who could or would pick a fight with the royals by harming the hotel, but it wouldn't be the first time someone had tried to infiltrate the hotel. No offense, Pentious, ya brave serpentine fool, RIP.
Her eyes went back to cold and guarded, though her smile didn't falter. "Oh, well, I heard some other demons talking about it as I was wandering around, and as for you..." She pointed to the shop window across the street, where a giant advertisement for his latest film was front and center, his face and name fully visible. He had to think for a moment, because honestly, that did check out, weirdly. After all, she had already demonstrated that she was quick to think on her feet, and she had to be observant to have so flawlessly followed his lead with Val...
"Huh, well, that explains that! Let's go, I am bushed!" He wasn't fully convinced, but he was exhausted. She seemed harmless enough, and he just really didn't want to be awake longer than necessary. He would think about it later. After a long rest.
"Fuck yeah, booze!" Cherri cheered, grabbing the doll's hand, who flinched slightly at the sudden contact, but quickly giggled and got a firmer grip. "Name's Cherri Bomb, what's yours, short stack?"
"Stitches," the doll answered, a warmth creeping into her eyes. "Just Stitches."