Chapter Text
Your body is finally done with you. You swayed as you watched Blake ground his heel of a little pile of blood and organs. Juliette.
Despite your heavy breathing, you couldn't seem to get oxygen into your head and as the final pang of exhaustion crashes into you, you collapse.
Angel catches you, Charlie and Vaggie rush to your side. They're confused. Angel shakes you, hoping for a response but none came. It's like watching you die again. "Take her to her room." Husk says, he recognizes this from his time as an overlord himself. Burn out.
Meanwhile, Blake and Alastor disappeared into the shadows.
~☆~
It was dark. Pitch black. Blake couldn't see a thing. Except for one person. Alastor. He tried to run but the shadows caught him. Forced him to face the ever smiling Alastor.
"Hold on- wait." Alastor didn't wait. Before Blake could even blink, Alastor had Blake in a fist, his body grown in size large enough to hold Blake like a doll. "I can- you like Sylsie right?" "Do not call her that." Alastor knew what it was. What it meant. He hates how he got it from Blake of all people. "Okay! Okay! Jane! You like Jane right? I can tell you wh-whatever you want about her!" Alastor laughed at that.
"Whats wrong? Where's the facade now, hmm?" The hum crackled with static, Blake could feel it in his head, wrapping around his brain like teeth. "I thought I made myself clear." Radio dials tick in his eyes and his grip tightened around Blake enough to make the man groan out a yell. "I don't want to hear you do anything to my dear Jane that isn't full of respect and sincerity with good intentions for her own. If you do, then I'll make sure your screams are the loudest on my broadcast." Alastor repeated but his mouth was closed, his teeth glowing with each word as if replaying a recording.
"And look what you did." Alastor grabbed Blake's leg, still small splatters of blood on his heel and he felt a sense of dread. A scream broke out as Alastor twists and snaps Blake's leg, forcing it infront of Blake's face.
Alastor laughs, laughs at Blake's pain but he was hardly done. "Please- please, it's just a fucking rat-" another scream tore through him as Alastors grip tightened impossibly. "Just a rat? Oh how foolish you are. I'll show you exactly how much that 'rat' meant."
~☆~
"She's gonna be okay." Husk reassures, "Just burnt out." Angel smiled, relieved at the fact. But Charlie stepped away without a word. She held herself up, using your desk to balance. She glanced at the empty cage on your desk, treats still hidden under the dirt, a small sticky note as a reminder to replace said dirt, and broke down.
The radio on your shelf burst into life; startling everyone conscious in the room. Screaming and crying. It was Blake. Blake on Alastors 'special broadcast'. Vaggie ran to turn down the volume but the damage has been done. Charlie sobbed harder, slumping down against your desk onto the floor in broken cries.
Vaggie sat down next to her and placed a gentle hand on her shoulder. "He's right. How am I supposed to redeem someone like Blake? Afterall he's done to Jane... how could I have been so blind, focusing on redeeming him that I didn't see Jane right infront of me." Charlie cried, trying to wipe her tears with her sleeve but they just kept coming. "You tried, hon, thats-" "No! It's not all that matters. I've been dragging and holding you all back for a year now and I still have no proof any of this works!" Charlie hiccuped and her shoulders slumped.
"Maybe... maybe redemption is fake." Charlie pulled her knees closer to her chest, hoping she could just shrink and disappear. "No, no don't say that. It's your dream, Charlie." Vaggie took hold of Charlies shoulders, forcing the princess to look up at her but Charlie shook her head. "And that's all it is. A dream. Dad was right. Alastor was right. Even Jane is right! But I didn't believe them and now... now Jane's passed out, Alastor is off torturing someone and dad just left- I... I'm a failure."
Vaggie pulled Charlie into a hug, letting her cry into her chest while Angel, Husk and Niffty watched. Angel decided to look around, hoping to find something that could help. "The fuck are you doing?" Husk asked, eyes tracking as Angel started looking around the room. "Seeing if there's something we could use. Like- a ice pack or a bucket of water." "Why the fuck would she have that." Their tone went to a hushed whisper as they passed by the two girlfriend and to your desk.
"I don't fucking know, okay! Jane's the calm and composed one and look at her now! What... what would Jane do...?" Angel hummed, opening your junk drawer and shutting it, he sat in your chair and tried not to focus on how comfy it was. "Not snoop around? She'd be fucking pissed if she was up." "Well she ain't so..." Angel trailed off as he opened the drawer with the Polaroid pictures. "Huh. Would you look at that?"
Angel took some and sat down on Charlies other side, "Hey check these out." He said softly, showing some of the pictures to Charlie and Vaggie. Charlie sniffled but looked, her eyes widening at the photos. "Why... would she have these?" She asked, shaky hands taking one of the photos of her and Vaggie on a date in one of the hotels balcony. "Cuz whether she likes it or not, she cares. She's not here for redemption but she's here anyways." Husk sat down next to Angel, making a small circle when Niffty sat down between Husk and Vaggie.
"Redemption may not work but we're here anyways. And we'll be here until your dreams come true. We believe in you." Vaggie held Charlies hand, her grip gentle. Charlie looked at the polaroid photos in the middle, then at all of them and she couldn't help but smile. Despite the gnawing in her chest, she sighed and relaxed. "Yeah... thanks you guys." She muttered, letting Vaggie wipe a tear from her eye. If only she believed it too.
~☆~
"It's been twelve hours. She should be waking up now right?" Vaggie whispered, Angel, Niffty and Charlie having gone to sleep in your bed with you; somehow fitting. "Not really, she must've really pushed herself to the fucking brim if she's not up by the time they wake up." Husk muttered, taking a swing of whatever you had in your cooler. "I just... never expected it from her, y'know. I know she has her mystery; it's what overlords do. Just... to survive that; it's no suprise she's how she is now." Vaggie admitted. "Don't be drowning in guilt now. Your other half is drowning enough for the both of you."
Vaggie sighed and reached over to the radio. Turning it up just enough to hear that the screams are still going. Twelve hours. Alastors been torturing him for twelve hours. "That has to be exhausting even for him, right?" Vaggie ran a hand down her face, the wet sounds and agonizing screams making her stomach churn; forcing her to turn it down to nearly nothing again. "Probably. He likes it that way, though. He's a fucking masochist like that." "Pfft, you're kidding." "Nah, you should see how he is with Jane. You'd think his knees would buckle everytime he sees her."
The two shared a quiet chuckle before their eyes landed on the sleeping ones. Vaggie softened at the sight of Charlie, eyebags under her eyes, mouth slightly open and jacket tossed onto a chair. Husk couldn't help but watch Angel. Fully vulnerable; fully real. No act, just peace. "That's love isn't it?" Vaggie smiled, heart threatening to break out of her chest and embrace Charlie. "... maybe. He'll never admit it though." "Oh not at all."
Vaggie looked down at the Polaroid in her hand. "You think she reciprocates?" She flips to one from Angels birthday and smirked at the memory. "I know she does. Somethings holding her back, though." Vaggie opened her mouth but Husk cuts her off to clarify, "I mean... more so than the usual denial bullshit. Like there's actually something holding her back." Vaggie glanced at you now, her eyes questioning.
"Maybe. We should go to bed. No use getting burnt out like her." Vaggie nodded to the bed but Husk scowled at sleeping with the pile; a second time. So he takes the desk.
~☆~
The broadcast was still going. "He's probably torturing him repeatedly until Jane wakes up." Niffty pressed her ear into the speaker, savoring each sound with a giggle, "How romantic." "Okay! Let's just keep an eye out for the both of them." Vaggie stepped infront of the radio, blocking everyone's line of sight of Niffty and the radio. "Charlie?" Vaggie offered, face encouraging. It took Charlie a little to snap back into her thoughts, "Huh? Oh yeah, uh... just, do whatever I guess." Charlie rubbed the back of her neck, doubting her every move.
Everyone shared a concerned look before Vaggie finally took a step and led Charlie into your bathroom for them to talk. "So uh, what do we do?" They stood there awkward, their heads snapping to you when you shifted in your sleep. "Watch her?" Niffty offered, looking for something to clean in your suprisingly clean room. "Nah, feels creepy if I do it too long." Angel took a quick glance at you before looking away again. "Pentious would've been up for it." Husk muttered and the tension doubled.
"Jeez way to ruin the mood."
The blanket was pulled over your head and they all took a step closer, slowly they pulled the cover and... you were gone. "What the-" "Hello." The shriek Angel let out was a pitch too high for a boy and your ears pinned back at the sound. There behind them, you floated with irritation clear on your face.
"Snooping. Going into my space. Using my facilities." You listed, pointing at the polaroids still on the floor, gesturing you your messy bed then at your bathroom, "This is why I don't take my rest around people. Gosh, what time is it? What day..." You trailed off, eyes caught on the radio. It's on but the volume is down. Weird, you never have it all the way down. "Wait!" Someone called out just as you turned the radio up.
The screams hit your ears in an instant. You recognized that voice anywhere. But the tone was raspy, almost like he was wheezing through the pain. Like he had lost his voice from screaming. How long has this been going? The sound raised and raised, reaching the highest you've heard it before finally silence. "What the fuck..." You muttered, shaking the radio slightly as if it was the radios fault for the sudden cut off.
They gasps as you felt something looming behind you and you smelt him before you saw him. The overwhelming smell of iron. Turning, you looked up at the bloody Alastor, his suit and new shade of red. "Hm, look who's the mess now." You smirked, pulling out a hankerchief and wiping his face from some of the blood; he bent down for easier reach and smiled gratefully. "Seems I got carried away." He pulled out some... photos? "I'm not as talented as you in the picture media but I made do."
It was... disgusting, if you were being honest. It was a mess of blood, static and shadows but you could make out a few things. Like Blake's bloody face, twisted in agony.
But amidst your disgust you couldn't help but fluster. "I..." you tried, looking up at him then back at the photos. From the corner of your eye you could see your face getting red. "Gross." Someone whispered but covered it up with a cough. Alastor waited patiently for your response but all you could feel was your chest pounding. "I've never had anyone torture an enemy for me. Thank you, Alastor." He smiled wider at your gratitude.
You hummed, looking away for a moment before looking down at the photos. Yeah, they're gross. So you stored them in one of your pockets and cleared your throat, face still slightly dusted with pink. "Where is he now?" Alastors smile turned into a snarl at the mention. "Oh no need to worry. He won't be coming back. Now, who wants lunch?" The implication was there and everyone's eyes widened. "Seriously? Fuck no!" Angel said, his whole body bristling at the thought. "I don't mind." Niffty said cheerfully and Alastor nodded.
"This fucking hotel, I swear." Husk pinched the bridge of his nose, a deep sigh escaping him. Vaggie and Charlie came back just then, fixing their, for some reason, messy hair. In your bathroom, seriously? "Oh, Alastor!" Charlie said with suprise but with a quick sniff of the air her face soured, "Euh, Alastor.." Vaggies face had a similar disgusted expression but her frown was deeper.
"I'm making lunch!" Alastor announced, twirling his staff, causing the little bits of blood on it to projectile onto your floors. "Uhm alrigh-" Charlie was about to say before Angel placed a hand on her shoulder and shook his head with a grim expression. Charlies face fell and was quickly replaced with nervousness, "Actually- nevermind. We uh- we ate a biigg breakfast while you were gone so no need!" Angel nodded at Charlies fix as if she just did both a big favor.
Alastor turned to you, awaiting a reply but you were just glaring at the blood he spilled in your room. But as you looked at his expecting eyes, you couldn't bring yourself to scold him, not when he just did you a... mild favor. "... fine." Alastor practically cheered as everyone but Niffty groaned.
~☆~
You stood in the balcony, holding a cigarette. You never were a fan of smoking. But maybe, with your fear a little dampened, you could see what all the hype was about. Snapping a lighter into your hand, you put the cigarette between your lips and held the lighter to the other end with shaky hands.
Shutting your eyes, your thumb pressed into the button, not hard enough to press it down fully but enough to put pressure. Just as you were about to press it down fully, Alastor appeared behind you. "There you are." He said, startling you from your focus. With your eyes now wide open, you watched him walk up beside you. "I thought you were cooking." You said honestly, giving up on the cigarette and chucking it down to the ground along with the lighter. "I could've had that." He commented under his breath, you couldn't help the quiet chuckle that brought out of you.
"Too bad." You murmured, sniffing and being pleasantly suprise that the nauseating iron scent was replaced by a light musk with only a lingering smell of blood.
A sharp pain pierced in your ear suddenly, you flinched back, ears pinning down as you scowled at Alastor for pinching it. "Don't do that." You warned and he only smirked and poked your forehead with a sharp nail, "Ow." You said through your teeth, a warning in your eyes. Instead, he spinned his staff, the microphone end colliding with your jaw. "The fuck?!" Taking a step away, you practically shrieked as you caressed your jaw, ears still pinned back. "It's the least you could go through for worrying me." The confession melted away at your irritation, replacing it with confusion.
"Wh... you were worried?" You tried to tease but he wasn't taking the bait. He looked ahead at the city instead of you; his hair swaying slightly in the wind. "I was. I'm sure everyone was. But me especially." He wasn't joking. No humor or grandiose. Just honesty. "You? Why? Wouldn't it be better if I was gone? Then you'll have your soul back." Secretly, you were hoping he'd explain more; help you understand him. "It should have been. But when I saw you collapse it..." he didn't finish, his fist balling before he relaxed.
"Do you know how much you effect me? My focus? My thoughts?" He didn't turn to you as you leaned against the railing with him. He didn't wait for your answer that wasn't coming. Despite him not directly looking at you, you still turned away; not able to face him.
"Cut the act, fawn. Overlords like us are above that." You chuckled but it wasn't humorous. Who were you kidding? You always were attached. To one thing or another. "I lied. I lied to Blake to save face. I couldn't stand the thought of caring for someone other than myself." "'Cause it'll hurt?" "Because I know it won't with you. You don't just have control, you own it. It's what gravitated me to you." He suddenly seemed nervous. Alastor is nervous. You would've laughed at the thought a few months ago.
"Atleast I thought. But even when you lost control, when you seemed so helpless, all I wanted to do was take you somewhere safe. It's you I'm in... fatuated with, huntress." Infatuated. Right. That's all he'll let himself say, "I hate how helpless it makes me feel." Alastor sounded almost breathless, but he turned to you, smile shaky, "I loathe you, huntress." Something in you leaped at that, you felt like running in circles and screaming but you didn't. You stared at him with a blank expression.
So much honesty in such little time from the person you least expected. How are you supposed to respond to that? Tell him how much you do understand what it's like to think of him? Tell him you're not so in control when in comes to him? That you're all talk? That your more helpless around him than he thinks? Situations where you show off, or let him protect you just to watch him. You're not weak but you let your guard down and trust him to step up. Trust. You hated that. In hell you can't trust anyone.
A small smile lifted your lips followed by an endearing sigh, you shook your head and reached up to fix his wind blown hair, "I loathe you too, fawn."
~☆~
Niffty served your plate. No one else seemed to want to eat it. "Alastor said you needed it the most to get your energy back." She explained suprisingly calm before she stabbed a piece from your plate nearly the size of her and ran off with it.
"You seriously gonna eat that?" Angel asked, his face twisting in disgust as you cut up the pieces. "Angel, I've been in hell for over three hundred years. I was here when Zestial was a starting up overlord. I funded the creation of cannibal town. I invested in Carmine Industries. I've done every sin in the book; you think I'm above eating some piece of shit? Suprise suprise, I've eaten both types of pieces of shit." You reaffirmed it by shoving the fork into your mouth with a little more force than necessary.
Angel shrinked back with disgust but still watched you eat as if too fascinated to look away. After a few minutes of watching you tear into the meat, he gets a message that shot him out of his seat and to the lobby; you assumed it's from Valentino. The quiet of the dining area felt suffocating but you continued, practically licking your plate and disregarding all manners you've learned over the years.
Once you were finished, you sighed satisfactory. In the silence of your finished meal you heard muffled talking. Desperate. You just woke up so you decided to take your time. Whatever it was probably wasn't your problem but you'll solve it anyways.
The sight wasn't what you expected when you walked in. Vaggie and Angel were arguing with Alastor who had Husk and Niffty behind him. Charlie stood by, defeated. "Whats going on?" You asked, raising your voice to be heard over the two. "They're fucking leaving!" Vaggie said first, gesturing to the three of them. "Alastor's just up and taking them." Angel explained further, his stress obvious.
Dread knotted itself in your stomach but you didn't say anything just yet. "Jane you have to convince him to stay. He listens to you." And you know why now. He can't just leave. Not after... not after what he just did to you. "Is this true?" Turning to the three, you locked eyes with Alastor and his facade fully up. "Hm, well, I am getting bored of this mundane lifestyle. Truly, it's false advertising; I was promised entertainment!" He said with jolly. "Bullshit. You... you can't leave." The words left you before you realized it.
Charlie finally stepped up next to you, "Jane, you can't make people stay here. Just... let them go." Charlies tone was dimmed, none of the bright hopefulness you first saw in her. A part of you ached at the sight but you shoved it down. "Thats right. What could you possibly do if I do leave?" Alastor turned, looking at you over his shoulder like a challenge.
Fuck Charlie. "I'm warning you." You took a step forward but Alastor laughed, turning his head to face his front and made his way to the door, Husk and Niffty forced to follow him. "Alastor!" You called out, frustration bubbling. "Jane..." Charlies tone almost sounded like a warning but you barely heard her. So you chase after Alastor instead. As much as you wanted to pull him back by his chain, you knew that was only going to make this worse. Dragging him back physically should be better, right?
"Jane!" Charlie called out again, reaching out for you as you made your way to Alastor. You were so close, just a few steps behind, your hand reached out; so close.
You heard it before you felt it. The clang of a shackle shutting, the shifting of chains. You looked down at your hand just as Alastor whirled around, his hand by his neck instinctively; his eyes widened when he saw you. It wasn't around Alastor.
The shackle tightened around your neck and it didn't stop. It yanked you back as you yelped, dragging you mid air until you landed back on the ground. At Charlies feet. The shackle kept tightening and tightening; choking you.
"Release her. NOW." The air filled with static and the lights flickered green. "I don't- I don't know how! Holy shit what the fuck." Charlie thrashed her hand around but the chain stayed in her palm. You made a choked sound that only deepened everyone's horror. "Charlie. Relax." Husk said suddenly. And Charlie took a deep breath but kept shaking. Alastor was by your side in an instant, holding your should as your fingers tried to pry at the shackle. "Unclench your arm." He commanded.
Charlie closed her eyes, looking away as if it was hurting her but she did so slowly. And with a poof of gold smoke the chain disappeared and you gasped in as much air as you could, your vision spotty.
Alastor helped you up back to your feet but it was obvious you were distraught. Ears pinned back, gasping and shivering. Charlie stepped back, looking down at her hands in horror. "Wh... what? I don't- I didn't. I never made a deal with her!" Charlie said, spinning to face everyone. She glanced at you and her eyes filled with tears. No anger. Fear. Like she was someone she wasn't. Your eyebrows furrowed, your hand reaching back up to your neck and instinctively you leaned closer to Alastor who held you firm.
"I don't... understand." She said between heavy breaths, her breathing getting heavier with each inhale. She kept watching you, expecting you to do something but you stayed frozen. She wanted to beg for your forgiveness, convince you that she had no idea how or why that happened, tell you she's sorry.
You took a step back, away from Alastors grip. They all stared at you. No one said a word. They didn't know what to say. Your secret was out and no one knew what to say. Another step back. Alastor reached out but you flinched away. Your vision blurred but you knew there were no tears. You were stuck. Frozen once again. You couldn't fight, you shouldn't freeze. What else could you have done but run?