empty spot by the fireplace
Their new room was gorgeous.
It was much like their suite in the old Hotel building; shades of red and purple, a big poster bed, golden windows and a balcony looking out at the Pentagram City skyline - but bigger and grander. It smelled new.
And it still felt like home.
Charlie spun around, taking it all in with a smile. She heard Vaggie crack her back and yawn from the doorway - she had to admit, she was a teensy bit sore from the battle and the rebuilding.
“It’s been a long day, hasn’t it?” she sighed.
“You can say that again, hon,” Vaggie traipsed closer, going up on her tippy-toes to kiss Charlie’s cheek. ‘C’mon, you deserve a rest.”
“We deserve a rest.” Charlie emphasised, taking Vaggie’s hands in hers, taking care with the bandaged scar from her fight with Lute earlier. She felt she should be even more reverent with her girlfriend now, more than she used to be. Her fallen angel was so pretty in her silvery nightgown; even moreso with her big new wings furled behind her.
The door opened with a scritch-scratch, and Keekee pranced in; Razzle fluttering behind her.
“Hey, Keekee,” Vaggie sighed. “You must be tired. Done a lot of work today.”
Keekee trilled, seemingly in agreement. Without any prompting, she bounded up onto the bed and curled up into a ball. Vaggie followed suit with a yawn, slipping under the blankets.
Charlie took off her hair ties and let her hair fall free and messy. She stretched, she pulled the front of her nightshirt back down, and clambered into bed too. A smile crossed her face at the sight of Vaggie, face smooshed in her pillow, half-dozed off already…
… and there was a sad little bleat from the corner of the room. Charlie rolled over to look.
It was Razzle, staring sadly at the basket that matched the one in the old Hotel; one half lined with pink pillows, and the other half with red. The bed he’d slept in with… with Dazzle.
“Oh,” Charlie gasped. “Oh no, Razzle, I’m so sorry…” She rushed to the Goat Boi’s side, lifted him, and hugged him close to her chest. He began to whimper. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry, we should have thought–”
Then it hit her. Dazzle was gone. Her trusty bodyguard and childhood playmate, who loved chocolate donuts, who was better at singing than piano… was gone. She’d never see him again.
Charlie went down on her knees and wept.
Vaggie was there in an instant, hugging Charlie from behind, wrapping them in her wings. Keekee curled around her feet and bunted her calf. And still there was someone missing, someone who was now just a body buried and a golden statue to be remembered by.
“I’m sorry, hon,” Vaggie croaked, rubbing her back.
“I - I miss him,” Charlie hiccupped. “I miss him too.”