And That’s The Heartbreaker

by NORPEZzz

Summary:

Vox is not doing great, to say the least. Dealing with re-emerging feelings from the past and Valentino’s outbursts has started to take more than a toll on his mental state. Alastor, the unstoppable nuisance on his afterlife, isn’t going to be making anything better for him… he assumes… probably… maybe?

Chapter 1

Notes:

Backstory on fic: This was something I’ve been working on in my free time for a little while now. After realizing I’ve made 4 chapters of this thing, I decided to finally post it here. So, it’s my first post on ao3, yayy. Hope you enjoy.

All art is illustrated by me with Procreate. If art does not appear for some mysterious reason then uh oh, I will try to get on fixing it.

               
The doors of a bar burst open as two gleeful sinners exited the establishment. They laughed and wise cracked like no tomorrow as they strolled down the surprisingly vacant side walks.

“A fond memory that was, seeing the unbridled look of horror on that man’s face before removing his intestine.” Alastor laughed with a diabolical joy.

Vox’s expression grew even brighter at the sound. “Twisted as ever, Al.” He snorted. “I should be glad I’m on your good side.”

“Ha! Barely, dear.”

The television’s heart was turning to nothing but mush. His fondness of the deer had become nothing other than overwhelming. Beyond Alastor’s immaculate appearance, he always held this alluring mystique. He’d show you enough to keep you questioning but never quite revealing the full picture. He encapsulated a fascinating balance of vicious terror while also retaining his gentlemanly exterior straight from the 1930s. Vox had already fallen smitten to the Radio Demon long ago, not like he was ever aware of this fact.

“It has been far too long since our last night on the town together.” Alastor gave the TV demon a slighted look. 

That made a twinge of sadness start to ache at Vox. He was right.

“I am sorry, Alastor.” He frowned. “I’ve been getting bombarded with work ever since Voxtek has taken off, don’t even get me started on the Vees.”

“Hmmm… Well, keep in mind you wouldn’t have been successful as you are now without my assistance.” He tapped his cane to Vox’s bezel.

“Alright, you have a point.” A faint cyan blush aroze from his screen.

Coming to an intersection, Alastor abruptly stopped, eyes poised at the other.

“I suppose it’s time I depart from here.”

Depart? Shit! He wasn’t keeping track of time, damn it! Vox swore to himself that he would ask him tonight.

“Oh, y-yes… Um… Wait!” He blurted as his voice glitched.

The Radio Demon tilted his head to the side while raising an eyebrow.

“What’s the matter, picture box?”

“I wanted to ask you about something before you go.”

“Very well then, spit it out.”

Vox took a deep inhale then finally spoke. “So about us not hanging out as much as we used to, I think I found a solution.”

“And what would that be?”

“I want you to join me and the other Vees.” The television gained a sudden burst of confidence.

“The Vees-?”

“But that’s not all!”

Vox hesitantly reached into one of his pockets and wrestled with an object before pulling out a petite, red rose. It was in remarkably good condition for being shoved in his jacket the majority of the night.

Mentally rehearsing the lines he spent countless hours talking into the mirror over, he finally felt ready. The mouth on his screen curled into an anxious smile.

“Alastor, you’ve been here with me since the very first day I fell to Hell. I lost everything from my life in the living world. I was a fucking nobody but…” He held the flower out. “You were always there for me. You picked me up from my lowest point and look where I am now!” He chuckled slightly and threw his hand out, screen getting warmer by the second. “I couldn’t imagine any possible feature where you aren’t in it. I love you. I want you to be my boyfriend.”

Vox’s triangular pupils widened and he patiently stood, awaiting a response from Alastor. He attempted to evaluate the buck’s expression but they were as tricky to decipher as ever. His eyes were first blank but then shifted to what might’ve been shock and lastly to a twinge of something unsavory. The TV demon’s anxiety grew vastly at the sight but Alastor had seemingly turned back to his normal state. Thank god or Lucifer or whatever.

As Alastor reached out and took a delicate grasp on the rose, Vox felt as if his heart was about to explode from within his chest.

He rotated the flora with his red tipped claws and inspected it like a foreign relic. His eyes relaxed as ever, looked up at the television.

“How pathetic.” The Radio Demon uttered in pure callus.

The expression on Vox’s face fell. “Wha-?”

“I would’ve assumed life in Hell had taught you much better.” Alastor theatrically held the rose out to the sky with a sadistic laugh. “And part of your offer is asking me to join your circus of a team! Pitiful, really.”

The rose, in all its glory, combusted into a show of fiery, green flames and cascaded into black ash on the concrete. A wave of regret overcame Vox.

“You’re right, Alastor. I was stupid for thinking of any of that shit.” He frantically spat the words out, attempting to undo his error. “Just forget everything I said.”

Alastor then raised his hand. “Not even the slightest possibility of it. You’ve proven your insolence well enough, I’m afraid.”

Seeing the Radio Demon begin to walk away, a whole new fear unvailed itself to Vox.

“Wait! Don’t go! Please!”

This was enough to halt Alastor in his tracks, his head snapping back around with the crack of his neck and followed by the rest of his lower half.

“I’ll admit that your presence was more entertaining than most, getting to see you try and fail then finally succeed at climbing the ranks of Hell. I’ll almost miss it.”

“Alastor, I need you.” Vox spoke with a final heave of desperation.

His eyes narrowed “Put those emotions to rest, my dear, They’ll only weaken you.”

And with that, a shadow engulfed the buck from beneath then scurried off into the hellish night. His dearest friend whisked away in an instance.

Vox peered into the emptiness, his eyes frantically dashing between where the Radio Demon once was and the pile of ash left behind from the rose. The overpopulation of the Pride Ring had suddenly felt as if it had twisted itself into a barren wasteland, the buildings surrounding the street boring down onto the television’s bleak existence.

Vox’s arms leached around his dark jacket tightly as a wave of tears rushed down his screen. A frigid loneliness crawled up through his spine and struck into his demonic soul.

Unable to collect himself, he paced down the street unsure if he could ever accept his new afterlife.

 

---

 

Vox’s eyes sporadically flickered back open from the memory ungracefully redelivered into his slumber. His weeps were washing down over the sides of his screen as he attempted to prevent the cascade with little effect.

Like a child, he wrapped his arms around the blue, fluffy plush shark knelt next to him in his bed and squeezed it tightly.

“Fuck you… Alastor.”

Chapter 2

Notes:

Trigger warning for abuse/ implied abuse.

Also, this chapter was written at an older date than the others. Do with that as you will.

The dreary moisture upon the edges of Vox’s screen had begun to dry, revealing a faint cyan flush from underneath. What the Hell?! Was he really- and over that shitty memory? Ugh, stupid fucking deer can’t even leave him alone in his sleep.

Begrudgingly he lifted himself up from the bed sheets and shut off his alarm. Look, the whole “Crush” on Al thing is something of the past. He’s better than falling for that insolent Radio Demon since his return.

Vox’s bedroom was quite a work of art in his opinion. Most of the space was enveloped with dark blues with bursts of cyan about it. His king sized bed is what he’d consider to be the centerpiece of it all and carrying forth the modern architecture style represented in any of his floors. The right half of the room’s wall is lined with an aquarium of cybernetic sharks peaking into his living space (Though there were curtains for Vox to conceal his area from them if he so desired). Lastly of note was the demonic fauna he kept strung around.

As Vox walked to the fairly well kept bathroom, his half opened eyes wandered over to the dark desk in the bedroom. An array of scrambled papers sat upon it, one depicting Alastor confessing his love back to Vox, drawn sketchily with a black inked pen.

Quickly redirecting his course, Vox rushed over and burnt up the lovey dovey imagery in a show of electricity. Dark ash fell as he exhaled. Okay, so maybe it’s a baby crush, but that was it.

 

---

Hours passed, and most of Vox’s regular work had already been dealt with. All in all, he was feeling quite superb. Currently, he was in the surveillance room of V Tower. It was grandly sized with his seat placed in the center and a pathway leading up to it over what looked to be an abyss. The cherry on top of this magnificent area was the plethora of neon TVs that surrounded his chair, primarily used for as the name of the room foretold. Oh, and don’t forget the shark tank, of course.

Vox took a sip out of his “FUCK ALASTOR” inscribed mug as a smug smile formed on his face. In his free time, he often enjoyed watching foolish sinners use his products. It was one of the best forms of an ego boost.

He cackled to himself as he viewed the upper left screen reveal the forming of a crowd around one of his television displays for the news. It was SO priceless! Their sheep-like minds couldn’t even process they were being hypnotized either. 

What a splendid afternoon to have so swiftly soiled by the encroaching of a certain red figure. Who else would it have been other than Alastor. 

Vox slammed his mug down and leaned himself upwards and closer to the screen, his smile morphing into an infuriated grimace.

He was on one of his damn strolls for sure as he passed behind the unaware crowd, rectified as soon as one of the civilians noticed. Everyone fled in a bout of entropy. At least this gave Vox the opportunity to remind Al of who’s really in charge. A simple mockery to him.

Energy flew out from his fingertips, changing the current news channel to expose Vox’s digitized face with a malevolent grin that could rival Alastor’s own.

“Good evening, Alastor.” He elegantly accosted him.

The Radio Demon’s attention was successfully diverted from his current path and his head cocked over to the side to look towards the TVs, his hair following in a swoosh. He raised a brow.

“Really, Vox? This old trick again. My, you will have to start finding new ways to attempt to startle me.” He laughed and put a hand to his chest.

“What-?”

Vox’s face twisted up into an enraged yet confused expression as Alastor continued to walk but just before he was out of his field of vision, he looked back once again.

“Silly, aren’t you?” The deer cheekily added.

Like clockwork, he was gone once again, leaving Vox in pure befuddlement and like an old enemy, a hesitant blush had crept onto his face.

Why the Hell did Alastor keep making him feel fuzzy like this? Why can’t he just accept the fact that Alastor is an asshole who rejected him years ago? Abandoned him. Why is he experiencing that admiration he had for him in the fifties and beyond?

He planted his screen into his hands in a spell of self pity and his legs curled up with him. 

Alastor, Alastor, Alastor seemed to be the only thing ringing through his mind. The way his red bob cut hair perfectly cupped his pointed facial features, the fluffy deer ears sticking up from it, and his crimson red eyes. Vox hated him so damn much but of course Al had some way for Vox not to just simply despise him. Stupid, stupid, STUPI-

His head suddenly vibrated as a chime played along with it. He brushed his hand over his screen and flicked the incoming call onto the main surveillance TV. As Vox suspected, it was Velvette.

“VOX! You won’t believe the shi-!” She barked from the other end.

“Something with Val, I presume?” He interrupted her whining.

“Yes, and you know what he did?!”

“Through a temper tantrum over pointless bullshit?”

“He’s been causing havoc on every floor here, shooting up every worker who even looks at him weird, nonetheless destroying our property.” She pouted while looking off to the side.

“It’s that bad?” he cocked his head and raised a brow.

Abruptly, the boom of a firearm and the screams of a male sinner came from Velvette’s side of the line as she put a hand over one of her ears.

“What does it look like to you, smart TV!”

“Fine. I’ll have a talk with him.” He loudly groaned.

Vox ended the call and slumped over to the lift in the center of the pathway.

Valentino’s outbursts had become very routine, even more so than they were before. It felt like any other task of the day to Vox. 90% of the time it had to do with this hoe, Angel Dust, and that Husker guy owned by Alastor. Frankly, he wasn’t sure what the ladder had to do with anything but also he’s been starting to tune out Val’s incessant rantings.

 

---

It was taking longer than expected to track down the moth man this time around as he would usually retreat to his penthouse by now. It seemed Vox only followed in his trail of destruction as many of the aforementioned workers laid strung across the floors Vox had visited, bleeding profusely if not completely unidentifiable. The furniture and technologies didn’t fare much better.

Another elevator he went, still no pissy Valentino in sight, though it appeared his quest would soon be over. The moment Vox entered the pinkly hued porn studio, he heard that oh so familiar vociferous yelling.

Walking further inwards, he found the purplish moth, wings flattened behind himself evoking the appearance of a cape. The demon being degraded in question was Angel Dust, the white and pink furred arachnid demon. Speak of the devil.

They stood in front of what looked to be some type of ship wreck scene. The other porn actors for the degenerate material huddled away in fear, keeping an understandable distance from Val. 

“You think your whore ass can just show up to work, acting like the shit you just pulled didn’t fucking happen?!” Valentino spewed with a vile screech as he towered over the spider.

“Haven’t I told ya enough times already? I can do whatever the Hell I want outside of work. Ya know, what the shit on your contract said?” Angel exasperatedly retorted.

It seemed to be just another one of his squams with his porn star as per usual. This time it came off somewhat more heated than the previous, if Val’s rampage earlier wasn’t already enough of a sign.

 Vox moved up closer, ready to intercept the altercation but Valentino shouted before he himself could speak up.

“I’ve had it with you, Bitch! First you move out, next you start talking back, Now you’re running around dating that bastard free of charge!”

“I’m dating Husk whether you like it or not! You don’t control my life anymore!” He proclaimed on the brink of tears.

Suddenly, the moth snatched for Angel’s neck. Vox jumped back slightly, but was mostly unphased by it. Husk and Angel dating he was not aware of but now he had at least an explanation to valentino’s fury. He doesn’t listen to one or two of his boyfriend’s rants and this shit happens.

“Val, can we talk before you kill the whore?” Vox said with a halfhearted smile.

He let go of Angel and snapped backwards.

“Who the Hell-!” He blinked twice “Ah, Voxxy~ Sorry for the mess but as you can see, someone’s being an issue at the moment.”

“Yes, and speaking of that, how about you take a quick breather with me so we can talk about it.” He spoke while lending out a hand.

“Hahaha, this better be quick.” Val growled and looked back at Angel, who was understandably pissed.

Reluctantly obliging, he thankfully took his hand. He brought him to a hallway deeper in the studio. Standing in the pink absorbed space, Vox took a long inhale before speaking.

“Val, your frustrations with Angel are reasonable but do you have to go around wrecking all our shit and committing a massacre on roughly half of our employees?” He stressed.

“I really am sorry, baby, but you know, he just makes me so mad sometimes.” Val replied theatrically.

“Look, you can do whatever you want to him, but please, Valentino, these outbursts are starting to hurt our reputation more than he is by kissing that drunk for free.”

Val didn’t act hostile in the moment but there was an uncomfortable aura emanating from his exterior. Vox realized some of his sourness had unwittingly escaped into his tone. To remedy this, he reached out for his hand and held it gently hoping this would soothe away the rest of it.

“Just try to have better control of your emotions. I’m doing this for the Vees.” He stated, hoping this would finally ease him.

Valentino's expression didn’t shift an inch, until his mouth finally opened.

“Vox, I’m beginning to hate being babysat by you like this.” He completely dropped his fake affection from before into one of venom.

His posture suddenly morphed into something much more daunting, as if he were trying to emphasize his already obvious greater stature than Vox. His body instinctively tensed up, feeling an unannounced sense of fear. He had regrettably been familiarized with this from Valentino more than a few times before.

“I apologize, Val.” His eyes shifted to his feet and he began to plead.

“I’ll buy anything you want or-”

Vox was abruptly thrusted up by the moth’s lilac hued arms. It felt like his claws could bore into his skin at any moment. He drew his face only a few inches from his own.

“Shut the FUCK up!” He spat the words as if they were poison.

He was swiftly released mid-air and collided down on the cold tile floor. Vox scurried back like a wild animal on the ground, every ounce of his being trembling, tears unwillingly falling from his screen.

                     

He was pierced by another scream from Val but was too jostled to comprehend even the slightest vowel.

Involuntarily, Vox’s flat screen head jolted. Valentino’s heel remained only a few sparing inches more from his head. 

---

 

Vox stepped out from the grand doors of V-Tower but was unable to convince himself to move much further than that. His whole body was frozen, incapable of emoting.

The spectacle of neon lights and imagery Vox had once admired twisted into a brightly burning haze, washing out the hoards of demonic citizens before him.

Vox snapped out of his daze and removed his tux then lifted it up to cover the assortment of cracks scattered throughout his whole screen. Thanks, Val. 

Speaking of him, he’s the one who kicked him out. Valentino said he'd do much worse shit to him if he stayed. The bitch really exiled him from his own damn place! At least it would be only for the night.

He started to pace himself forwards through the diverse crowd of sinners without them getting an inkling of who he was. This proved to be quite the challenge.

Out of the blue, he rammed into a fashionably dressed demoness, her purple and pink appearance topped off with two sets of black horns and a third eye.

“Get out of the way assho-!” She cut herself off mid sentence.

The lady began to analyze him but before she could let out another peep his right eye paralyzed her in place. Trying to flee from the scene as fast as possible before any other sinner could notice, Vox zapped away in a show of electricity, hearing baffled chatter from behind him as he flickered elsewhere.

 

---

 

Finally reaching a barren street to rest for the night, he exhaled a large sigh of relief. It was fleeting however as a freezing loneliness tore through Vox’s chest. Streets like this seemed to always bring back memories of when… Alastor had abandoned him. That sorrowful night he trudged home still felt like yesterday.

Wanting to wash away the horrid sensation, he distracted himself by searching for a half decent spot to rest. The road he found himself on was somewhat decrepit but very much not to the level of the Doomsday District.

Turning his head from side to side as he maneuvered around, Vox’s sights stumbled upon a broken down bench off to the right of himself. Not ideal but at least it looked like no one had shit on it as opposed to others.

Accepting his fate, Vox lightly brushed off the leftover scum and took a seat. He put his legs up then uncomfortably laid down on his side, having to contort himself a few times before finding a position that could maybe be considered snug.

Making sure his tux would cover his screen as he slept, he prepared to shut down until dawn.

“Goodnight.” Vox whispered to himself.

Quiet darkness had encoated his surroundings until an abrupt dull light pierced into his retinas. Someone had lifted his Tuxedo up. It took a moment for him to process the figure before him, but he soon realized it was no one else but the Radio Demon, raising it with the foot of his cane.

His red eyes peered down from above and he crooked his head to the side along with an ear twitch, reviewing the odd scenario.

“Hahahaha! Whatever are you doing out here, picture box? This is the most pathetic display I’ve seen from you in ages! Your state rivals when I first found you after being mugged! Oh the good ol’ days.” Alastor continued to heckle him.

Vox jumped up to reseat himself.

“What the Hell are you doing out here in the middle of the night?! You have that fucking hotel to maintain, don’t you?” He barked with his eyebrows furrowing.

“Ha! No. Today was surprisingly uneventful. I was simply out looking for a meal.” He added with a twinge of malevolence.

The CEO scowled. “Could you just leave?! It’s been shitty enough as it is.”

“Oh, but I want to enjoy this miserable ocasion of yours for a wee bit longer. This is quite the entertaining sight.” Alastor motioned with his hands.

“Is this just some circus act to you!?”

Vox pounced off the bench and went face to face with Alastor. The red hued demon first gave a smug grin ready to come at the TV with another snarky retort but then his eyes narrowed, examining his electronic head.

“Hmm, What peculiar cracks. Hadn’t you got your screen repaired since our last battle?” The Radio Demon’s hand drew surprisingly close to his head.

“Don’t take the credit for this, you cocky asshole. Valentino did this shit!”  

Sparks flew off of Vox, but he immediately recognized what he had admitted to his arch-nemesis in his fit of rage. Something flashed in Alastor’s eyes. Was it concern? No way in Hell. That son of a deer bitch never has given a damn about him.

“Valentino…?” He momentarily held his tongue.” Isn’t he your partner?”

His triangular pupils shrunk, but only for a second. “This is none of your business!”

Vox’s emotions flared up again and the lights on the streets flickered with, but then he deflated like a balloon. Vox flopped back down on the bench, moving his tux over his head.

“Can you go already?” The TV demon whimpered, incapable of hiding his misery.

He curled up tightly. There was a pause and instead of a response he felt a hand hover above him, but it quickly drew itself back.

“Very well then, old pal.” Alastor radio filter briefly lifted.

At last he could finally hear the click of dress shoes departing from the area. Vox thought this may finally put him at ease but… it could never be that easy.

The moment he thought he was gone, a yearning for his presence replaced it. Even if Alastor stayed to solely degrade him, it would have kept him from feeling slightly less cold. That would’ve been enough.

“You know-”

“Why the FUCK are you still here?!”

Alastor stared at him with half annoyance then adjusted his black bow tie.

“As I was about to say, the Hazbin Hotel is still mostly vacant despite our marvelous victory against the exorcists.”

A brief pause made interlude and Vox moved his suit downwards. Was Alastor really- no, no, that couldn’t be the case.

“What are you suggesting, old timer?”

“You can stay in a room there until the morning, dear!” Alastor uttered with vigor.

Holy shit, he had to be dreaming. He was seriously inviting him over?

“Is this some kind of trap?”

Al put a finger to his chin, his crimson eyes darting away playfully. “No, I wasn’t planning on it.”

“At this point, I honestly wouldn’t care if you slaughtered me or not.” Vox sighed.

“Is that a yes I hear?”

Before he could get anything else out but a scoff, a dark shadow had engulfed them both.

Chapter 3

It had remained dark for a few moments longer until the shadows unveiled the unmistakable tacky red apple patterned wallpaper of the Hazbin Hotel. Alastor had warped them through his shadows to one of the hallways. It was surprisingly long and lined with endless amounts of dark brown doors, antique wall lights squished in between each.

“The fuck?” Vox said before tumbling over in the whirlwind of evacuating darkness.

His leg criss crossing, he plummeted to the ground. Alastor, of course, burst out into laughter.

“You could’ve given me warning before using your weird voodoo to teleport us here.” He scolded while brushing off his waist vest.

“Don’t you prefer a good surprise now and again? It wouldn’t have been even half as fun otherwise.”

“Whatever you say, dick head.”

Vox took in the sight of actually being inside the hotel, only having viewed it before thanks to Sir Pentious smuggling a camera indoors. What a pathetic bastard he was getting himself caught in less than a day. Getting himself caught… FUCK!

“Wait, uh, shit, Al. What if the other hotel residents see me here?” His screen darted back to the Radio Demon.

“I believe that’s nothing to concern yourself with. I can assure you everyone here is fast asleep.”

A figure concealed then skittered across the far right end of the hall and stalled in their direction. Vox froze, unsure of what to do. He looked to Al for an answer, but he paid no mind to the predicament, arms followed behind his back and eyes half closed as usual. The tiny creature then gasped in what had to be excitement then flung itself out from the shadows.

“Is that a bad boy?!” She squealed.

“What?” Vox’s mouth went agape. It was the little freak janitor Niffty who slaughtered Adam.

She was a cyclops demon, pale white skin and one big red eye in the center of her face, framed by her equally red hair that poked out from the sides with a singular blonde streak. She was of a very short stature but this never conflicted with her often violent nature.

He twisted around, prepped to flee and zap away but she left him no time to get to such safety. Niffty dashed at the speed of light and pounced for his neck, grappling him to the vintage red carpeted floor.

“Get off me, you-!” He was abruptly cut off from being strangled in her arms. It felt like his eyes were about to burst from his head like a cartoon.

“I can’t believe it, a bad boy! Who is he? Where’d you find him, sir?” She nuzzled the bezel of his head, making him wince.

“Please, this isn’t just any “bad boy”, Niffty dear, he’s one of those nobody Vees I had mentioned previously.” Alastor leaned down to their current level.

“Are we going to keep him?!” She screeched, her singular red eye opening up wide.

“Only for the night.”

“Awwww.”

Alastor grabbed Niffty by the back of her baby pink sleeping gown as a mother cat would by a kitten’s scruff. This lone action made her release Vox from her choke hold and he collapsed out of breath.

“Now scurry your little legs back to bed and don’t go making another peep about this, are we clear?” Alastor ordered while snapping his neck.

“Yes sir…” She trugged away.

Vox, after taking a moment to recover from THAT, unsteadily got up once more.

“What was that about?” He grumbled and readjusted his waist coat.

“Niffty always had an odd fascination with “bad boys” as she puts it. Nothing out of the ordinary I must say.”

He rolled his eyes at the response, he was ready to go and pass out already. Vox needed his beauty sleep, especially after Valentino.

“Could you just give me a key to one of the rooms here already?” He splayed his hand out.

Alastor’s ears perked up.

“Why of course. Thanks for reminding me.”

A green flame poofed from his hand and then in its place came a petite black key. Alastor dangled it by the tip in front of Vox.

“Here you go, my chum~.” He sang.

Vox stared at him, deadpan, then quickly snagged for it but harmoniously, Alastor pulled it back. He waved a finger before speaking.

“Nuh, uh, uh. Not so fast there, picture box. I have a simple request before you can receive this room of yours.”

“And what would that be?” He scowled.

“We have a little chat in my room over drinks beforehand.”

 Momentarily his heart skipped a beat but he swiftly forced back that naive younger side of himself. Alastor, here, was definitely planning a scheme to slaughter his arch nemesis. Tragically, he was too deep in already and couldn’t muster up enough in himself to truly care.

“How could I not? That sounds simply splendid.” Vox mimicked Alastor’s transatlantic accent.

“That’s the spirit!” Alastor quipped with a hint of annoyance.

He moved forward and motioned him to follow. As they began to walk Vox couldn’t help but notice something odd about the environment.

“Alastor, why does the hotel look the exact fucking same? Your associates rebuilt this whole shit show from the ground up and took quite a lot of liberties with the exterior.”

“Oh, that? Let’s just say, I developed a fondness for this place’s previous architecture. I bargained with the Princess to have any areas near my quarters remain as they were before the battle.”

Vox almost laughed. “Stuck in the past as ever.”

“And that is just what I strive for.” Pride leaked into his voice.

Alastor abruptly stopped and flipped around to open the door next to himself then held it for Vox. Taking a cautious step inwards, he noticed how the room was strikingly similar to Alastor’s usual home at the radio station. He likely had conjured it to have the same appearance as there. Hit with a wave of nostalgia, memories of the days Vox had spent with Al there flooded back to him.

“Don’t be shy, come on in. Make yourself comfortable, dear.”

Vox took to one of the two chairs by the fireplace. Sitting in it, he shuffled around and squeezed the armrests a few times. Admittedly, it was as cozy as it was back at Alastor’s station. It easily surpassed the shitty bench from earlier that evening.

The room itself was as strange as ever too. Though the first half may fool you by its classy 1920s aesthetic, decorated with mounted antlers and warm red brown hues, the other half told a completely different story as it morphed into a Louisiana bayou swarmed by fireflies.

“Now, Vox, would you be a dear and light the fireplace while I go fetch us some whisky?”

He slowly nodded, and shot a bolt of electricity at the unlit wood. He looked back to Alastor as he went to a cupboard opposing him. He rhythmically flung the door open and poured two drinks from the bottle of whiskey inside. Why the fuck was Vox still staring at him? Phone! He should check his Vmails.

As soon as he did though, Alastor was already by his side once again and snatched the hellphone. The tech promptly exploded in a burst of demonic green magic.

“Asshole! That was new! Version 22.5 to be exact!”

“Using your phone now would be in very poor manners.”

Alastor handed him the glass of whiskey and sat in the chair opposite to Vox.

                                 

“Anyways, have you listened to any good songs in recent? I’m impartial to Jazz but I’m sure you remember.” He let out a jovial laugh and took a swig.

Vox looked down at the faintly brown liquid, swirling it around before speaking.

“I’ve heard some good dubstep, I guess. I haven’t been listening to music as much because of work.” He sighed and let his eyes meet with the red hued demon across from himself.

He slightly cleared his throat and threw the whiskey down the hatch. Vox could already assume it had to have been poisoned. Alastor was trying to lull him into a false sense of security after witnessing his vulnerable state. He did mention he was searching for a meal out there, right? Soon he was gonna fall ill and get brutally eaten alive by him or whatever.

“Can’t say I’m aware of what this dubstep is but I suppose the modern people have run wild with what they consider to be music.” He replied.

 It fell into silence, the only ambience was of the crackling of the fire and the occasional sip of their respective liquors. Vox waited for whenever this poison would kick in finally, but nothing came. Thinking of it, he couldn’t in any way tell the drink was tampered with. Vox reached eye contact with the deer again, taking note of his relaxed exterior, one leg crossed over the other.

“Alastor, what is this?” Breaking the silence.

“Whiskey as I said, rye to be specific.”

“What? No, not that. I’m talking about all of this.” Vox motioned his arm outwards.

Alastor’s head crooked to the side and he blinked twice.

“I’m not sure what you mean.”

“The inviting me to stay at the hotel, wanting to have an actual talk- Why the Hell are you doing all of this? You’re acting as if we weren’t beating the shit out of each other the literal o-other day-ay.” Vox cut himself off as his voice began to glitch.

Alastor turned away and he locked onto the fire next to them. He didn’t say another word for a good couple of minutes. Taking the last sip from his glass, he evaporated it and finally spoke.

“I’m not sure I know why either.” He whispered.

Vox’s mouth fell open, but before he could say anything more Al continued and leaned back in his chair.

“Maybe an investment in your suffering, I suppose?”

The TV demon shrugged.

“Probably, you went out of your way to fight for this hotel because of that, right?” He grumbled, folding his arms together.

“How keen of you.” Alastor chuckled.

Seemingly trying to avoid the current aspect of the discussion, he summoned another whiskey and poured more drinks.

Vox was still unsatisfied with the explanation he had received. It made complete sense for someone as sadistic as him but there was something blatantly off he couldn’t put a word to, other than they were both aware of what it was. Not letting the ambience envelope them again, he nagged a bit further.

“Is watching me suffer your only incentive? Really?”

“You are more of a stickler than I thought.” He laughed out.

“Cut the bullshit and answer the question, Al.”

Vox peered directly into Alastor, meticulously averting a break of eye contact. Evaluating the deer demon’s expression, his retinas revealed a familiar flash of concern but he immediately replaced it with irritation.

“Fine, fine,” He sighed, “I admit I found myself curious about your moth friend.” Alastor awkwardly motioned with his hands.

“Valentino, my boyfriend?” He scoffed.

“Yes, him. ” His ears flattened enunciating the words.

“What about it?” Vox looked downwards, dragging his finger in circles across the brim of the glass.

Alastor, returning to his usual shtick, composed a calmer demeanor.

“How often has he done this to you?”

“I don’t know.” He anxiously blurted. “Val gets pissy sometimes, alright? If anything, I have it better by ten fold in comparison to our sore ass workers. This was a special occasion because of a certain relationship Angel’s in.”

Alastor’s eyebrows furrowed and he muttered something under his breath.

“It’s nothing that out of the blue, Al. It’s normal, this is normal.” He winced at his own voice crack.

Vox sensed how tightly he grasped the side of his armrest, enough to where rips had formed, even frayed from his electricity. Not only that, his heart was racing, and he sporadically tapped his foot. He attempted to speak out once again but only glitches and sparks arose. Vox was making an utter fool of himself. This is what Alastor wanted, didn’t he? To get a show of him at his worst as if he hadn’t gotten enough of that already.

The Radio Demon folded his hands together and slowly opened his yellow fanged mouth.

“Would you like to dance?” He earnestly questioned.

Vox sat motionless but Alastor’s expression nearly reached what could be described as sentimentality.

“You recall how we used to dance together, don’t you?”

“Y-yes… I would like that a lot… You mean it?” He fumbled over his words, doing his best to gather himself.

“Hmmmm…”

He scratched his chin then snapped his fingers. A voodoo minion poofed into existence but unlike times in the past, his purpose wasn’t to gnaw Vox’s arm off. Instead, it fluttered over to an old timey record player and frantically searched the box beside it. Finally finding the desired music, it squawked and threw it on the player, looking back to his master with a devilish glee.

What else would have come from it other than jazz.

“It appears I do mean it!”

Vox wanted to exude irritation at Alastor’s overly upbeat attitude but couldn’t help the way his triangular shaped eyes expanded into a puppy dog glare.

“Well, what are you waiting for, silly picture show? Come along now!”

Alastor suddenly grappled for his hand and tugged him away from the chair. His heartbeat fastened again but out of something ambiguously good. It had felt like melania since Vox had gotten Alastor’s touch that didn’t involve being punted. His hands, despite the claws, were undeniably soft due to the black fur that encoated them. It was only now he realized how much he missed the sensation.

Alastor ushered Vox to the center of the room, not removing his grasp, but he had gone completely blank from the overjoyed shock of the situation. Al waved a hand in front of his face.

“Looks like you’ve lost your signal.” He let out a small chuckle and put a fist to his mouth.

“What? No!” His flusteredness was too blatant to hide even as much as he desired to appear pissed.

Before he knew it, Alastor gripped his hand once again and abruptly spun him around. Vox regained his composure and stabilized himself into a decent twirl.

“Better than I expected.”

“Damn right it was.”

A dance continued from then on, hesitance loomed in the beginning but transformed itself into a somewhat playful exchange. The two gleefully tossed each other around to the jazzy rhythm. The tune took time for Vox to reacquaint himself with as he had grown much more accustomed to the modern dubstep and electronic music of the era. With time though, they reached an equilibrium.

Turning, twisting, spinning, tossing. Alastor kicked his leg out, and Vox spun him around once more. Taking him by the hand they’d dip and pop right back up. A childish happiness and nostalgia wafted over them both, giggling as the dance went on.

It was as if any animosity between them faded into a memory of the past. For once, Alastor’s smile didn’t seem artificial, it was genuine. A genuine smile from a constantly smiling freak. It was rare his facade of mystique ever lifted to unveil the man underneath. If he could, he’d encapsulate the moment in a jar and keep it forever.

As the music on the record phased out so did their dance. Vox couldn’t help an aching disappointment in his chest. Momentarily afterwards, their feet stumbled about the wooden planks of the room and halted to a stop.

“Impressive! Just like old times when we would dance in the jazz clubs together. Rosie would be proud.”

“What? Did you think I’d forget?” Vox jabbed.

“Can’t say, dear.” Alastor’s expression twisted up slightly, “Could you let go of my arms?”

“Oh. Um, Sorry.” He awkwardly pulled back and brushed his sweaty palms on his pants.

He let out a short laugh but it was quiet after that, both seemingly unsure of what to say. Alastor’s ears then flicked and he stretched his hand outwards, revealing the black key from earlier. Vox’s memory had almost completely vanished of it up until now. 

“Thanks, Al.” He took it a bit unwillingly.

“It was my pleasure. Good night, picture box.”

Vox sighed. “Good night, Alastor.”

Half heartedly turning his back to the other demon, he walked out the hotel room’s door. Before it shut entirely, Alastor’s red tipped claws intercepted past.

“Vox, before you go.”

“Yes?” He looked back, unbothered by Al’s incessantness for the first time that night.

 Instead of a reply, Alastor extended his hand out to Vox’s screen and he heard the clink of his claw as he tapped upon its center. His expression crooked back in confusion until a dazzling display of green light cascaded down from his screen and onto the buck’s face, illuminating his features in a near ethereal tone.

Then he drew back, his hand returning to his side though wisps of the green aura followed it. Despite the television’s inability to see it, he immediately sensed an altercation had been made to his face. 

He brushed his hand across his screen… The cracks were gone. Not even a scratch was left in their place.

“Thank yo-”

“Remember to set your alarm early. It’s best you leave before any of the residents may see you.” Alastor shut the door.

A fuzziness fluttered through Vox as he shed a few petite, yet happy tears. He was warm.   

 

Chapter 4

It had only been a few sparing days since Vox had slept over at the Hazbin Hotel, via Alastor’s insistence. His mind in the aftermath had been wavering through an overall sense of a warm fuzziness and befuddlement in the fact Al showed him any endearment at all. With the added fact that their rivalry had remained unsettled throughout all of this, a layer of hatred still was left looming. The whole thing was just a twisted soup bowl of emotions that failed to ever be unstirred.

In the living area of his floor, Vox stared down at his sorrowful cup of coffee and Voot Floops cereal while meandering his spoon into it.

The rest of his apartment mimicked the same aesthetics as his bedroom and other floors, AKA blue, hightech, and with a shark tank but it was also of note that  the Vees had their respective spaces setup in a similar structure to one another. Like Val’s, his floor included an indoor balcony that he currently sat under in his kitchen space.

“Vox!” Velvette impatiently waited for him to return his attention back to her. “Are you even fucking listening to me?” She growled.

Oh, and Vel’s here right now too, he supposed. She had been standing in front of the kitchen island while ranting and looking down at her phone.

“Yes.” Vox flatly replied and shoveled some of the cereal into his mouth.

Velvette made a slight scowl. “As I was saying, the fashion show that I was planning for literal WEEKS went to complete shit thanks to Val’s little tantrum, not to mention how many employees he put out of commission and…”

Then the fashionista’s ramblings shifted right back into ambience. Look, it’s not that Vox didn’t give a shit about the number done on their workers. Trust him, he’s pissed the Hell off too, but his thoughts were incapable of not wandering back to the Radio Demon.

Reluctantly, he had been letting himself grow comfortable in the idea that Alastor really does have a fondness for him, at least a little. He seemed to have actually taken some pity in his current dynamic with Valentino. At the end of the day, though, Vox could only hope they may dance together once more, to feel his hands, and see that slightly softer portion of his demeanor.

Dazedly, he grasped for his coffee mug and lifted it to the lips of his screen as his glazed over eyes stared off to the shark tank on the other side of the room.

“For the last fucking time Vox!” She slammed her fist to the counter top.

Vox sharply inhaled and promptly choked on the liquid. His hands released the mug in immediate response as he went to cover his sporadic coughing. 

Consequently, the coffee mug careened down onto his lower half as the scolding liquids flew out and splashed over his lap.

“FUCK, FUCK, SHIT! My dick!” He yelped as the mug broke across the tiled kitchen floor.

Velvette’s expression twinged in mild disgust and disbelief at the pathetic sight as Vox jolted off from his stool then rushed up the stairs to the top of the balcony and into his room.

She lightly shook her head and went right back to her ornately encased phone, now ironically contacting the sinner she had been complaining about this whole time.

 

Velvette: Is it me or has Vox been weird as hell? 

 

Velvette: More than usual that is.

 

Valentino: Trust me, babydoll, I’ve noticed. Sure, he’ll be a little avoidant of me after I have to put him in his place but Voxy sucks right back up to me by now at least.

 

Velvette: I’m not talking about that. He's happier than normal but also kind of out of it? Idk but he spilled a cup of coffee on his balls while I tried to talk with him about your shitty behavior.

 

Valentino: Ouch. Feisty as ever.

 

---

 

Vox found himself collapsing into bed after finally quelling the burning pain that had unwillingly engulfed his lower half. In a new pair of shark themed pajama pants, he rested in the comfort of his blankets.

The television reached for his phone on the corner of his night stand and set it to wake him an or so before his TV broadcast to get ready. 

He heavily savored the times he had for sleep. Vox’s occupation of being the CEO of Voxtek (And overlord) often enveloped the majority of his time if not all of it. This was a consenting sacrifice he had already agreed to long ago with his workaholic nature and unquenchable need for attention. Some days felt harder to get out of bed than others, though. That he couldn’t quite explain.

All those restless nights he spent answering Vmails had provided him with a more than luxurious afterlife, hadn’t it? He should be in a constant state of reveling in his own power but so many days he’d open his eyes, look around his estate, and just… feel empty, cold… he hated it.

The warmth he felt in Alastor’s presence after so many years of being apart, finally appeared like the light at the end of the tunnel. A lone fire curing the frostbite of a winter storm.

Like a lullaby, he eased himself into a nap with the new memories they had somehow shared together in a hopeful but hesitant peace.

Then, unceremoniously, a knock occurred from the other side of his room. Some piece of shit had a question for him. Too lethargic to get up and properly answer it, he grumbled to himself and called back over.

“Who is it? What do you want?” Vox’s voice began to trail off.

“It’s Papermint, sir… uhhh…” He heard his anxious assistant flipping through his clipboard. “There’s a certain sinner in the lobby who’s really adamant on meeting with you.”

“Tell them to fuck off. I don’t need an idiot trying to talk with me this damn early in the morning.” Vox scolded.

Papermint muttered something before speaking again. “Sir, I’m not sure you understand. The sinner’s kind of-”

Vox threw the door open with it colliding into his assistant’s face with a thunk. Papermint, a fish like demon, readjusted his glasses with obvious annoyance but was too fearful of the mogul to ever properly speak up. That got a snort out of himself before he curled back into spite.

“I don’t fucking care. Let’s just get this over with, okay?”

He trudged back down stairs with Papermint following closely behind and took another turn to visit his kitchen again. Vox first went over to his fridge and pulled a neon energy drink out and chugged it down in a matter of seconds. He then crushed the can in his claws then tossed it backwards, hitting his assistant in the face, again. 

The residue of the elixir dripped down from the side of his mouth but he wiped it away with his hand and smeared it on his light blue shirt.

Papermint anxiously tapped on his clipboard. “Sir, the sinner who wants to meet with you is kind of important” He paused to click his pen. “You know, may wanna get into some professional wear? Prepare yourself?”

“Oh great, an Overlord. Just my luck.” Vox uttered with false enthusiasm. “I honestly couldn’t give a shit.”

The television demon’s hand burrowed into the Voot Floops cereal box sitting on the counter, pulling out a pile of the sustenance. He ate it along the way as he exited his room, went down the hall, and into the elevator.

As it went up, Papermint finally blurted. “The overlord is-!”

“Lucifer himself could be behind this door when it opens, I wouldn’t give a shit. Also, if you speak again, you’ll be working 24/7 for the rest of the week.”

With his assistant’s mouth thoroughly shut at last, he looked back to the elevator doors as they opened. Vox was greeted by the pinkly hued lobby with its stylized architecture and flora, somewhat juxtaposed by the abundant advertising littering the area. Due to it still being early morning, the amount of sinners was surprisingly minimal.

As he scanned for the demon in question, his heart nearly imploded within his chest.

It was Alastor. 

The deer was a decent distance away from him and seemed to have been casually chatting it up with another one of his employees while he waited, though they were blatantly terrified. His ear flicked, then his head followed by the rest of his body swiveled towards his direction.

“Ah, there you are, dear!” Alastor swung out his arm. “Took you long enough-”

Vox leapt for Papermint’s shoulder and tossed himself and his assistant behind one of the pillars in the lobby before Al could view his less than presentable state.

“Why the fuck didn’t you tell me the Radio Demon was here?” The overlord hissed.

Papermint stared at him blankly and blinked twice.

Vox sighed “You’ve made your point, don’t sass me.”

He poked his flat screen head out from behind the pillar and looked back to Alastor. “I’ll be a moment…” He briefly paused “Bitch.” and added. Gotta keep up their reputation for the public.

The television shot a bullet of electricity out to a nearby camera and teleported back to his apartment, though he could see Alastor’s bewildered gaze as he left.

 

---

After approximately ten minutes, Vox came back up through the elevator, now with his much more iconic navy blue tux and red bow tie combo. It was a remarkable improvement from his stained T.

How was he going to greet Alastor after that last spectacular flop? Maybe he could try playing it cool? He went to lean on the right side of the elevator and pulled out his phone. Yes, an uninterested yet enchanting mystique. Vox mentally patted himself on the back for that one.

The doors opened once again. The TV demon’s cyan eyes quickly flickered up to see Alastor was frustratedly staring down at his deer themed pocket watch until finally noticing the other’s return.

“Back at last, I see?”

“Oh, hey.” He nonchalantly slid his phone away. Nailed it. 

Vox walked up to Al and folded his arms, some scepticism leaking onto his screen.

“So, why are you here?”

“I was hoping to have a simple discussion with you.” He cupped a hand to his permanently grinning mouth. “Preferably not in public.” 

His eyes widened slightly, curious of the Radio Demon. “Private, really? There’s barely anyone here.”

Vox could tell by the annoyed twinge he got from the deer’s sharpened face that he didn’t have much of a choice in the matter.

“Fine, We’ll head to my meeting room. Follow me.”

“Splendid.”

And Alastor did just that as they entered the elevator together. Pressing a button to one of the lower floors, he looked back through the slim crack of the enclosing doors to see a mild confusion spreading amongst the spare few workers and sinners scattered amongst the lobby. Shit. Played it too cool for his known nemesis.

As the two ventured downwards, Vox couldn’t help but attempt to catch a few glances at Alastor. Eyes cautiously wandering over to the other, his pupils widened at the sight. Before they could safely flicker back, however, Al had already taken note and made eye contact.

                                       

Vox blushed and a few sparks bursted from his antennae as he turned away. He heard a slight chuckle from the deer demon, likely musing at his embarrassment.

With the sudden stop and opening of the elevator doors, he felt an air of relief wash over himself. Vox motioned Alastor over to the large, dark blue, rectangular table in the center of the room.

The TV demon considered pulling a chair out for Alastor himself but he had already plopped himself in a seat near the head of the table before he could do so. Vox sighed and sat where he often did at the head, now besides Al.

Before even a word could escape from either of their lips, a slim robotic arm intercepted the two and placed a small glass of water in front of Alastor. It was Kitty, the Vees’ jester-like and scantily dressed robot servant. It was commissioned straight from Mammon by Val’s steadfast request .

As Alastor looked over to the creation in befuddlement, Vox could tell he mentally frowned upon it.

“That’s Valentino’s. It would usually be following him around but he isn’t at the tower currently.”

“The moth would enjoy something like this, wouldn’t he?” His voice rang with a twinge of spite.

On that note, Alastor had seemed to always hold a large disdain for anything of a sexually provocative nature. It had been that way ever since they first became acquainted. He could vividly recall times where the deer demon would even ask to leave bars because of sinners getting too “Affectionate” with one another. Vox could only presume that it was just another byproduct of his peculiar attachment to the 1930s lifestyle.

Alastor nudged the glass of water a fair distance away from himself and Vox opened his mouth to speak again.

“Anyways, what did you want to talk about, Al? Was it actually worth showing up here at the crack of dawn over or are you just trying to tick me off?”

He hummed to himself “I can assure you that my arrival was wholly necessary, dear, but I suppose both could be a possibility.”

“Yeah, that seems about right for the Radio Demon.” Vox snorted. “Enough with your theatrics, though. I have a morning TV broadcast I need to get to in about an hour or so. I suggest you cut to the chase.” He paused and tapped his claws along the table. “Unless you actually just wanted to chat with me for a little.”

“Cut to the chase, it is.” Alastor swiftly replied.

Ouch. Vox was hoping for the ladder but okay, fine. Not like he cares. He doesn’t.

“Now, how do I suppose I phrase this? Hmmm…” He put a finger to his chin in thought. “I’ve taken interest in your offer.”

The television froze. What did Alastor have up his sleeve now? “Offer? What offer?”

“The one you made back in the 2000s before our falling out.” Alastor replied calmly.

Not a second or more passed before the answer clicked in Vox’s mind. This couldn’t have been real. 

“No fucking way… Are you asking me to…?” Vox’s voice trailed off, completely engulfed by the impossible situation. A cyan blush brightly gleamed off his screen.

“To date you?” He completed the sentence. “Yes, excluding the part where I join the Vees. That’s not even in my wildest dreams, old pal.”

“You want me to date you?!” Vox jumped up and slammed his palms onto the table, causing the glass of water to momentarily leap into the air. Holy shit, this was real.

Alastor blinked “Yes, as I’ve already stated.”

“What the fuck?!”

Vox fell back into the office chair while losing all steam. The initial overwhelming joy and excitement from the interaction began to cool, letting in a surprising sense of irritation creep in. He wouldn’t describe it as being unwarranted, however.

“Are you finished, now?” Alastor brushed off the top of his microphone/cane thingamajig.

Vox could only silently nod back in response as he cupped his screen into his hands.

“Then, there’s a few requests more I’ll have to ask of you.”

He briefly poked his TV head back up, curious of the deer demon.

“First, I’ll like to keep this oncoming relationship of ours a secret. It’s in the best interest of us that we do, considering the level of attention it would arise from the public. What would the papers say?” He made jazz hands.

“Okay? I suppose that makes sense…” 

Alastor’s smile widened, clearly satisfied with the TV’s reception up to this point. “My final ask of you will be then-” He suddenly stopped, his eyes darting off in what might have been an uncharacteristic sheepishness.

“What, Al? Cat got your tongue?” He lightly jabbed.

“No, no. That’s not it.” Alastor paused. “I would like to not engage with intercourse.” He put a hand up before Vox could reply. “I find the act entirely unsavory and would enjoy going my whole afterlife without it, thank you very much.”

His eyes pierced at the buck. This bitch can’t be fucking serious. Does he even know how a relationship-? That’s it. Vox was putting his foot down. All the aggravation that had been welling up inside his guts was readied to we’re its ugly head.

“Alastor, I’m not gonna go along with all that bullshit.”

“Pardon? You seemed to be enthused at the prospect of dating. Are your other desires that all consuming?”

“This isn’t just about the no having sex thing, though it’s fucking weird as all Hell. You have no interest in actually joining me and you're so ashamed you want to keep it a damn secret? That sounds lovely for me, doesn’t it?” 

“Vox, this isn’t the time for a hissy fit.” Alastor massaged the bridge of his nose.

“Hissy fit? Okay, fuck you, but I’ve got more.” Vox removed himself from the chair and began to pace around the office. “A little over seven years ago, I poured all my damn heart out to you. I told you that I was fucking in love with you, and guess how you reacted? You could’ve let me off easy, say you weren’t interested, but no. You had to embarrass me and make me feel like the scum of the Pride Ring for feeling even an inkling of endearment towards you!”

Alastor looked to the polished ground. “I have my reasons for the handling of you that night-”

“Shut up!” Vox heaved, his voice now overlaid with a thick static. “You abandoned me and I felt worthless. The most important sinner in my afterlife was gone, just like that. And what now? You think you can simply come stumbling back into it and act like nothing happened then ask me out?”

Vox stilled his pacing coming face to face back with Alastor, now anything but pleased. His right eye developed a black swirl interwoven with its reds and the Radio Demon’s antlers threatened to grow outwards with the darkening of his sclera. At any moment, a duel of gargantuan proportions could’ve erupted into the scene. 

Then, Alastor’s antlers retreated and his grin lost any demonic venom it had to it. He readjusted his black bow tie and pushed himself out from the cushiness of the office chair.

“I’ll see myself out.” he said, with near total indifference as he started back to the elevator.

“Go! You're more than welcome to leave!” Vox’s staticy voice slammed back like a hammer, attempting to contrast the others.

Alastor’s hand levitated over to the elevator door’s button, time slowing to a snail’s pace. The sight was enough to put Vox’s blind rage on the brink of questioning itself.

“Al, that night you invited me to the hotel… It was nice. Like really nice, but…”

The doors to the lift had already begun to shut before he could finish. In the brief moments Alastor remained in his vision, Vox swore he saw his shadow frown from the back of the elevator.

Sometimes, he really fucking hated himself.

 

 

Notes:

Yeah, Vox does not know what asexuality is nor sex repulsion. To be fair though, Alastor doesn’t know either.

If you’ve read all the way up to this point, thanks! This is something I’m doing mostly for fun so posts for future chapters probably won’t be very consistent. On that note however, I should be able to get chapter 5 out by next week.

Chapter 5

I’ve squandered any damn chance of getting with Al. Could’ve gone on at least a date or two with him. Instead, I chose to completely fuck everything up with him this morning. I was in the right this time wasn’t I though? Why the hell would I ever date someone who’s been a complete jerk to me for over seven years but actually was being really nice recently and I regre-

 

Vox gave up on his sloppy writings inside his journal and slammed the cover of it closed. He pulled one of the drawers in his desk open and threw it in. This whole writing down your emotions thing had to be a damn scam. He slumped back into his office chair in the bedroom and groaned. 

Burying himself in endless piles of work had proven to be the much more productive method of suppressing unsavory thoughts. The TV Demon could just go blank and work himself to the brink of dawn. It was either that or be bedridden with sorrow for the next 24 hours.

He reached over to his laptop on the modern style desk and opened it wide. His eye bags grew heavy under the fittingly dreary lighting while the computer screen beamed brightly across his own.

 

---

 

 

Hours of time flashed by as if they were mere minutes. Vox was put under a trance of sporadically typing across the keyboard, unbreakable until the door from behind him slammed open. He couldn’t care enough to turn back and see who it was.

“Vox, why the Hell haven’t you answered any of my calls or damn texts?! I’ve been trying to contact you since it was noon!” Velvette hissed from behind.

The TV shrugged. “Put my head in silent mode.” 

She loudly scoffed. “You, Mr. The Leader of The Vees, practically ghosted the public today! You can’t be pulling that kind of shit when we have PR to make up because of Val. Don’t even get me started on the Hazbin Hotel apparently going to announce its relations with Heaven anytime now!”

The fashionista waited for a response but was rewarded with nothing but a sigh from Vox. That was her final straw. Fists clenched, Velvette marched up to Vox’s chair and grabbed the back of it to spin him around.

“Our power could be in serious risk! Why the fuck don’t you care?! What the Hell is wrong with…” She paused, eyes narrowing as she gazed upon his miserable state. 

“... You?”

Vox’s eyes flickered back over to his laptop, desperately wishing to continue on burying his problems under mountains of work. Unluckily for him, he was practically cornered. 

He dragged a palm across his face. “You know how Val kicked me out after our last fight?”

“Yeah?”

“While I was trying to find a place on the streets to rest, I ran into Alastor. He took me in.”

“Took you in?-”

“Let me finish.” Vox began to uncomfortably fiddle with his hands. “I kind of reconnected with him when I was at the hotel and we danced for a bit. Then this morning he came to the tower and offered to… date me.”

The television demon felt a small weight lift from his chest as the last two words dripped from his mouth. The fashionista’s face scrunched up in a mixture of utter shock and confusion, her hands failing to emote in any meaningful way.

“Then what!?” She snapped.

“I yelled at him.”

Velvette grumbled to herself, taking a few brief moments to actually calm down before continuing. “I sure hope you would’ve.” She walked over to Vox’s desk and sat on the right corner. “We both know that the old timer was just trying to take advantage of you.”

Vox shook his head. “No, I don’t think so. He’s been very… considerate to me.”

“Let it go, V. He’s been ‘considerate’ to you before when you were friends and he’ll do it again.” She began to scroll on her phone. “Why did you even reject him in the first place when you’re so adamant about this?”

“It’s complicated. I got freaked out when he asked to date me, I guess. Alastor had all these requests like not joining us, keeping our relationship a secret, not having sex. The other stuff I can get but the no sex thing actually makes no fucking sense.” Vox’s TV head fell to the keyboard as he moped.

“You are a sad, sad man.”

Vox grumbled back and slowly raised himself back up to continue on the work from his laptop. Velvette promptly put her hand over it and shut it.

“Hey!” He yelped.

“Look, if it helps you to stop being such a sad sack, I’ll offer you an explanation on one thing.”

“And what would that be?”

“Why he doesn’t want sex.” She replied.

Vox rolled his eyes while crossing his arms. “Oh, I’m sure Alastor’s a devout nun.”

“No, it sounds like he’s ace.”

“Ace?” He said back in confusion.

“It’s short for asexual.” Velvette’s nails clicked across her phone screen as she started to search. She shoved the device in front of Vox’s face for him to read some definition on it. “Your deer crush doesn’t experience sexual attraction and in his case, he’s disgusted by sex too.”

The television eyes widened. “Okay, that explains a lot.” He briefly paused. “Why does he even want to date then? Fucking is at least 90% of a relationship.”

“When you’re with Valentino, it is.”

“... Yeah, I can’t argue with that.” Vox said despite wanting to retort.

Velvette gave a smug smile then hopped down from the desk. “The rest of your complicated and sad relationship is for you to figure out. I have to assist my employees in cobbling some dress designs.”

“I’ll get my crap together, Vel. Have fun with those idiots.”

Her pigtails traced behind her as she neared the exit of the bedroom, looking back one last time to comment.

“I don’t recommend dating that buck but just do whatever will make you passably normal again.” Velvette warned as the door clicked behind herself, then popped right back open with her head poking through its crack. “If this ends up fucking us over, it’s on you.” She finished and shut it once more.

A small grin had grown on Vox’s screen. Sure, she was a sassy bitch but he appreciated her words nonetheless.

He got up from his office chair and took a short stretch, raising his arms above himself. The TV then walked over to the other half of his room, where his aquarium of sharks were and gazed upon the deep blue abyss it held. He leaned his screen on the side of the aquarium, briefly letting himself rest there.

“You're the only ones who understand me.” He whispered to the sharks within it.

Vox let a small burst of electricity escape from his fingers to lure a hammerhead near him. He pretended to boop it through the glass.

“Should I get with Al?” He asked in all seriousness to the aquatic beast.

The hammerhead momentarily opened its mouth, causing a few bubbles to warily float from it. The TV demon’s smile widened even more. He’ll be taking that as a yes. 

Vox was gonna do it. He was gonna go up to that deer and apologize for being a total jackass this morning, and then hopefully win his unconditional love in return. Assuming the hotel’s power grid had been connected to the rest of Pentagram City’s since reconstruction, he should be capable of traveling through to see Alastor.

The television tapped a claw to the side of his bezel and silently nodded to himself. Yes, sounded like a solid enough plan.

He turned away from the shark tank and pointed a finger out to shoot a bolt of electricity at his laptop. In seconds, he dematerialized into pure energy and began his venture through the power grid of the city.

 

---

 

The process of getting to the hotel went by smoothly enough, all things considered. After reaching his destination, Vox found a suitable light to remineralize out of near the door to Alastor’s room.

The light briefly flickered, then a burst of cyan electricity erupted from it, reforming into Vox’s figure. Taking a moment to reacquaint himself with the environment, he spun around to see that the electronic had shattered upon him warping through it. He groaned, then shoved the pieces off to the side of the hall with his foot. The freak janitor will probably clean it later.

Some invisible cement must have encoated his lower half as he attempted to force his body to trug over to Alastor’s room. He’s a fucking Overlord, why is he pussyfooting around this shit?

He took one last deep inhale before he clenched his hand and shakenly raised it up to knock on the now infinitely foreboding entrance. Then static hissed from behind himself.

“May I ask why you are standing outside my room?”

“Holy shit!” He blurted, flipping himself around to see Alastor. His face scrunched in minor irritation. “Don’t fucking do that.” Vox huffed. “I thought you would be in there.”

Viewing the deer, he still emanated that same indifference from earlier, though hot, red blood was splattered across the left side of his cheek.

“I felt the need to hold a radio broadcast tonight.” He tugged a handkerchief out from his pocket to wipe away the rest of the blood. “That does not answer my inquiry for you, however.”

Vox sighed, a small shame overcoming his screen. “I was going to apologize to you for being a fucking dick head.”

“And now you have.” Alastor bumped Vox out of the way as he walked to his room. “I suggest you go, dear.”

The Radio Demon twisted the door knob open and entered. Before he could safely close it though, Vox impulsively wrapped his hands around the edges of it and halted its movement. The deer glared back at him, his sclera momentarily fading black. The television doubted being slaughtered for this transgression and continued.

“Can we talk about it first?” He asked with all earnesty.

The annoyance in Alastor crimson eyes didn’t truly dissipate, but his expression was beginning to lend itself to one more of curiosity at the TV. “If you believe it is so necessary, picture box.”

Vox let go of the door and stood back as Al, in blatant begrudgement, stepped out from his living quarter. More bizarrely however, he passed by Vox and continued down the hall instead. He refrained from following at first, only looking back to Alastor with an eyebrow raise. That was until he snapped his head backwards at the television. He winced slightly at the crack that reverberated from his neck, then finally decided to catch up to the deer by zapping besides him.

“Where are we going exactly?”

“To a balcony. The breeze is quite lovely from up here.”

Vox rolled his eyes. “Or do you just want to toss me off the edge of that thing?”

His brows furrowed at the sight of Alastor’s ears flattening, though they swiftly popped back up.

With an exhale, the buck spoke again. “No, my dear. I will have to admit that your reaction this morning wasn’t entirely unexpected.”

Vox stopped in his tracks. “Are you serious, Al?”

Alastor’s hooves mimicked, rotating his head to look directly at the TV demon. “Yes. I’ve taken well note of the fact that your emotional state has a tendency of being volatile, most often in the presence of myself.”

His screen flushed with embarrassment and he put a hand to the back of his TV head, refusing a reply.

“The majority of the time I find it to be rather amusing, but-”

“I ticked you off today.”

That actually got a small chuckle from the deer demon, his microphone cane tapping against the ground as they went back to the walk.

“Not the phrasing I would use but your statement remains truthful nonetheless.”

Vox looked to the wall on the right side of himself, only now realizing they were at last exiting the portion of the hotel transformed by Alastor. The rough edges of the outdated blended into the modern, guided by a petite, glowing, green seam. The new halls they entered through were greatly more saturated than the previous, now with pinker hues scattered among them.

“Tacky, wouldn't you agree?”

“Nah. Seems they actually hired an architect who knows what the fuck they’re doing.”

The deer demon laughed out louder than before. “I should expect no less from someone with such tastes.”

“Old timey prick.”

Approaching the doors to the balcony, it appeared Alastor was feeling courteous enough to hold the opening for Vox as they went out. The sky above was the ever familiar dark reds and Pentagram City was as entropy infested as any other day.

The television demon took a breath of the lightly warm, yet acidic air as Alastor moved forth to the edge of the balcony, motioning him to join. The deer folded his arms over the railing and let his cane rest to the side of himself. Vox went to his left and in contrast let his arms hang loose over the edge while keeping some distance between himself and the buck, wary of irritating him further.

He let a not entirely welcome sense of calm imbue his nerves, feeling freed from the constricting maze of the Hazbin Hotel’s halls. The ensuing conversation is something he knew would be unavoidable, despite how his cold feet protested.

Vox’s triangular pupils, in all their hesitance, wandered over to Al and successfully caught his attention before opening his mouth.

“... So, first of all I’m sorry,” Vox paused, a subtle way of testing the waters. “And I should probably explain myself for what happened this morning.”

Alastor’s response was nothing more than minimal, only returning a slight hum of agreement.

“Look, I can’t forgive the way you abandoned me. Like, that really fucked me up, Alastor.” His voice strained, head tilting downwards to look at the grounds below them. “You were practically with me throughout my whole afterlife but you just tossed me away like trash. It was like our friendship meant absolutely nothing…”

Vox lifted himself up a little, sights drifting back to the deer demon who had surprisingly moved in closer proximity to his being. It wasn’t a significant jump but notable nonetheless. Though Alastor didn’t reply, he still took comfort to be returned within his presence.

“That said, I want to be your partner more than anything else.” He spoke, feeling as daring to make his own progression to the deer. “You’ve been a lot nicer recently so I can look past that for now.”

Alastor seemed unperturbed by the television’s closeness, almost leaning his head on Vox’s. It was enough that his ears graced the corners of his screen, the light fuzziness almost ticklish.

“Then, how about my wants? You seemed more than off put by them.”

Vox shrugged. “You don’t need to be a Vee and keeping our relationship hidden for now is fine.”

“And intercourse?” He added.

The TV demon took a moment to select his next few words with care, letting his dress shoe drift on the ground. “Not having sex is gonna be strange for me, I mean like really fucking strange. I won’t even lie, I still can’t understand why someone wouldn’t want that in a relationship.” He sat an arm upon the railing. “On the other hand though, I haven’t been fawning for you all these years solely because I thought you were hot. Not that you aren’t, I just-” He sputtered the ending to his sentence.

That got a good rise out of Al, bursting out into a jovial laughter and throwing his head back. It was precious as Hell.

With his screen thoroughly blushed, Vox slowly began to move his hand over to the other’s. He first brushed a pinky against the side of Alastor's dark hand and after not revolting against the touch, he felt the reassurance to wrap his hand completely around Al’s.   

 He savored every second of the soft sensation, feeling ever starved from it since their last dance. It was something he regrettably knew he’d never get enough of. It was the purest definition of an addiction and he was gonna love every fucking second of it. 

That was until the deer’s abrupt movements jolted him right out of this harmonic state. First hit with a wave of regret, this was swiftly eased away by the realization Alastor was only intertwining his fingers with his own, as he fully rested his head on the side of Vox’s flatscreen.

A voltage of electricity shot down his arm and into the deer demon’s palm. Miraculously, Alastor could care less, only musing with a chuckle at the TV’s reaction. Vox couldn’t help but to return a snicker back, even with an awkward smile stretched across his screen.

“That leaves me with a final question for you, picture box.” Alastor’s crimson eyes met his own.

“And that is?”

“Do you think we will remain as a couple?”

Vox turned his head away, letting his vision roam into the city that they had become oh so detached from. The average screams, depravity, and gun fires stabbed into the red skies with all terror, but leaving it unbothered despite all their mite. The hollowness of Heaven’s light devolved ever more thin as it skittered down on to the sinful brimstone grounds, trickles of the scraps rarer than gold. In adamant contrast, the two sinners huddled together as if they had somehow been liberated from it all, basking in each other’s warmth. His antennae waved within the wind's gentle force.

“Who knows.” The television’s mouth reopened at last, giving the buck’s hand a squeeze.

                                

“Very well then.”

And so they remained like that, for how long? He had no damn clue. For all the TV cared, they spent millenia nuzzled up to one another on that balcony. Okay, at most it was probably 30 minutes, but it was enough to convince Vox that anything those angels had to offer was a scam.

Chapter 6

Notes:

Trigger warning for cannibalism, gore/ implied gore, and abuse.

This is very inspired by A Day in The Afterlife.

Vox’s hands pinched the ends of his red bow tie as he meticulously adjusted it to perfection. He let his arms fall to the counter under him and inquisitively stared down the reflection in the wide bathroom mirror, turning his TV head from left to right. Something was off but he couldn’t quite put a finger on it.

“More screen cleaner.” Vox whispered to himself as soon as the idea popped into his mind.

The television reached for his cleaner laying off to the far side of the counter, firmly gripping it as he gave his screen one last spray. He then lifted a small sky blue towel to his face to wipe away the residue, unveiling his finished look to the mirror Vox.

Smoking. That’s all that really needed to be said.

More than satisfied with his appearance, the TV demon took a moment to relish in his looks. He struck a pose, placing his hands on his hips and tilting his head upwards with a flirtatious wink. Absolute fucking perfection.

Like the pompous ass bitch he is, Vox strutted out from his bathroom with all the pride Hell had to offer. His get up was the same as ever, navy blue tux, red and black striped waist vest. He saw no major detractors in keeping his usual look and knew for a fact Alastor wouldn’t be changing any of his shit up.

From his room, he ventured down the stairs of the balcony, and into what could be considered the living area of his floor. With it mimicking the layout of Valentino’s, His modern designed, deep blue couch neared the center of the space. A wide screen Voxtek television was placed in front with a plentiful amount of speakers to suit. Spare vases of Hell fauna were darted around as the ever present shark tank acted as the grand backdrop to it all.

With a kick in his step, he willingly let his body fall backwards onto the couch to be embraced by its cushy pillows. A growingly familiar sense of giddiness overcame him as he pulled his phone out from his pocket… that quickly drained seeing what could only be thousands of missed messages from Val.

Vox did his best to force his eyes away from reading these despite catching the passing “Bby where have u been?” and “Which fucking whore are you sleeping with?!”. They were nothing more than a common example of what anyone in the moth’s circle would face.

After the TV escaped through the digital tirade, he made it to his call contacts. Vox clicked and patiently (Impatiently) awaited for the buck to pick up.

“Hello! Who is this?” Alastor’s voice rang out like a symphony through the speaker.

“It’s Vox. I just wanted to tell you that I’m about to head out.”

“Sounds splendid, my dear. I was also planning on leaving my quarters soon. Shall we meet near one of your TV stands as requested?”

“Exactly, Al.” The television moved himself upright on the couch. “You know, I’m shocked they had telephones back in the 1600s.” 

The deer demon let out a slight scoff, though there was a clear level of amusement to it. “1930s, picture box. It is a candlestick telephone and we would have both used them in our living years.”

“Either way, you’re a fossil.”

“Ha, ha. Very humorous.” He flatly replied. “Well, for now I must bid you adieu. Till we meet again, dear.” 

“See you, too.” He tapped his phone screen as he ended the call.

Vox ceased his hold of the electronic, permitting it to carelessly drop onto his chest. His sights drifted upwards, almost glazed over. The fact that he was about to go on an actual date with Al was… surreal, to say the least.

After he fell to Hell and met the Radio Demon, it hadn’t taken much time before he caught feelings. The idea of something like this happening however, was nothing but an absurdist daydream to the TV, until now. They planned it and after one long week of waiting it was finally the day.

Vox hopped back from the couch, making sure to retouch up his suit before exiting the tower. In a flash of electricity he went into the television across from him.

 

---

 

Alastor crossed by one of Vox’s lone television stands, just the right spot for him to reform by the deer. Electricity shot out from a smaller proportioned TV airing a news program and twisted into the shape of his being.

The other was seemingly oblivious to his arrival, or perhaps knowingly so. In whichever case, Alastor continued forth and hummed a small tune, despite the unmistakable light show from his rear view.

Vox smirked to himself, taking the opportunity to stealthily walk up to the buck from behind. As the television demon slid up to his right side he leaned over to just barely poke into Alastor’s field of vision.

He snapped his fingers, smirk unwavering. “Hey, over here.”

The deer’s crimson eyes had only been open a slither, relaxed, finally revealing themselves to Vox in his presence. “Ah there you are. Spiffier than usual, I see?” His words bordered on a whisper.

“And if it weren’t for that comment I would’ve thought you were blind.” He straightened his posture.

Alastor lightly chuckled. “I only mean to keep our profiles low at the moment. Not until we get a bit further along, at the very least.”

Vox nodded in agreement, keeping the necessary, but pitiful distance from Al as they went on their brief stroll to the destination. The street they selected to meet at was somewhat pre planned for its sparser density, though admittedly Alastor was quite the natural deterrent for most average sinner folk. 

This wouldn’t prevent the nosier citizens from spying, as they predicted.

Before even the TV demon himself had noticed, Alastor’s head snapped to the side peering directly over to a sinner from a nearby alleyway.

The demon himself, scrawny, green, and lizard-like, had hardly raised his phone up to take a picture of the two. The Radio Demon wouldn’t let this transgression by nonetheless.

The weakling sinner’s pupils shrunk in a sudden overwhelming terror, his arms barely remaining up right in front of himself.

Without Alastor even daring to raise a finger, the phone held between his hands combusted into a flurry of green flames.

He yelped out a blood curdling scream, burns already sprawling over his upper half.

If that weren’t enough as is, the deer demon at last motioned to snap his fingers, leaving the sinner with a friend to be mauled away by. One of Alastor’s horned minions poofed into existence, pouncing upon the lizard’s face.

Al let out a psychotic laugh at the demon’s suffering as he and Vox moved past the progressively grotesque scene. He snickered along with the buck. Holy shit, he missed being able to enjoy others' misery with Alastor, a remarkable improvement from being on the receiving end of it for who knows how long.

“You’re as much of a twisted bastard as I remembered.” Vox’s snickering continued.

“What else must I say? It is my speciality after all.” He flicked his hair like a fucking diva, his roaring laughter topping anything the TV could offer.

Their jovialness began to settle and the television couldn’t prevent himself from being stricken with a fuzzy feeling, even when Alastor was just being a crazed serial killer. Vox let his view drift to the deer, taking in the usual features that he admired, bob cut and all.

He wanted to kiss him.

The buck’s ear flicked. “Yes, dear?”

“Nothing.” He quickly redirected his sights to the street ahead.

It would be a bad time for that anyways, likely improper by Alastor’s standards.

Taking only a few more strides forwards, they reached the reassuring signage of Cannibal Town. Minimal, made of wood, and painted over in white and red. A large eye sat above the lettering along with thorns curling around the rest of the exterior. The marker itself wasn’t exactly necessary with the architecture’s unmistakable shift into something more akin to a 1910’s style.

If Vox was being completely honest though, it was Nostalgic, but he’s been enveloped with it ever since reconnecting with Al.

He glanced further around the area, taking note of the fair level of civilians. “Are you still sure that Cannibal Town is a good place for a first…” the TV demon’s tone turned to nothing above a whisper. “... Date? I’m pretty damn certain sinners are gonna pick up on that.”  

“Silence those worries, Vox. The Cannibal Colony is a close-knit group, therefore I can assure that any rumors will be spread solely amongst themselves.” Alastor replied near equally as hushed. “Besides, it has been quite some time since you’ve been around these parts. Why not just for the good old days?”

In an abrupt swiftness, the deer demon hooked his arm around Vox's, causing him to almost topple over with the sudden force.

“My dear, where shall we head first? The possibilities are more than plentiful! Why, we could visit the rose garden, listen to a street performer or-”

“The cafes here are somewhat nice.”

Alastor’s permanent grin widened. “A cafe? Sounds splendid.” He quickly took a steadfast charge, marching the television down another street.

What the Hell was he in a rush for?

“But can we go to one that has some NON-cannibal dishes on the menu?”

“Yes, yes. I know your preferences.” His arm remained hooked around Vox’s like a bear trap.

Once they came upon the cafe, the TV demon was jostled by Alastor’s twist into the doors before even processing more than the large windows of the outside.

At the counter, there was a decently young cannibal lady with her curly hair put back in a bun. Vox ordered an iced tea with a bagel to play it safe and the deer got black coffee with a sandwich. Who the Hell knows whatever “meats” were on it.

Alastor led the way to an outdoor dining area behind the cafe, finding them at least a somewhat secluded space among the greenery. They set their food down on the small black dining table and the TV pulled a chair out for Al. He acknowledged the gesture with a bow of the head before sitting.

Vox went and sat across, then plucked an eyeball wedged on the rim of his iced tea and plopped it onto Alastor’s plate.

“Really, picture box? I appreciate your generosity but you’ll have to learn to be less picky.”

“Yeah, no thanks. I’ve already tried some of the wonderful cuisines from around here.” He folded his arms.

Alastor swallowed a portion of the sandwich before he replied. “Ah, I remember now. It was when I first brought you to Cannibal Town, not long after we met. Me and Rosie had successfully convinced you to have a taste of our meal.”

“And I was left vomiting in a toilet for an hour and a half afterwards. It’s been like seventy fucking years and I still recall what that shit tasted like!”

The deer chuckled. “May I add you’ve only had the small intestine? Maybe you are more partial to the large or in this case, an eye. You never know what could be a new favorite, my dear.”

“Nah. Not doing that again. That eyeball’s all for you.” He motioned to the other’s plate.

“Suit yourself.”

Alastor momentarily set down the sandwich and plucked the delicacy off his dish with glee, tossing it into his yellow fanged mouth. Vox heard a distinct pop as he bit down. He wasn’t exactly sure how to feel about it but was nonetheless compelled to compliment his date.

“You’re handsome, Al.” The television said with all the confidence of a highschool boy.

“Thank you.” The buck replied, somewhat flatly at that.

Vox’s smile waned. Something about Alastor just felt detached, or maybe it was just him setting his expectations too high. He’ll go for the ladder.

The TV stared down to his untouched bagel, finally picking it up and inspecting it for any bodily ingredients. It appeared safe enough so he took a brave bite into the snack and began to chew.

Looking back up to the deer, his expression twisted into something of disgust.

Alastor exhaled. “Dear, could you please close your mouth while you eat?”

Oh, this again. Always a pet peeve of Al’s.

Vox rolled his eyes, opting to chew the bagel louder than before.

“It is simple to not eat your food in such a manner.”

“Huh? Sorry, can’t hear you.” His screen turned smug.

“Well, you would be able to if your chewing wasn’t deafening.”

The deer demon leaned over the table, attempting to snag away the bagel as an alternative to Vox’s lack of compliance. He raised it high enough to be out of Alastor’s reach, laughing as he did so. More often the victim of the buck’s teasing, he took great pride in getting the upper hand whenever possible.

 

---

 

Alastor ended up relenting in the small play fight, letting Vox loudly finish the snack to his dismay. Afterwards, they left the cafe and entered into the rose garden of Cannibal Town by the deer demon’s suggestion.

Their arms were hooked as they strolled deeper into the winding, pavement path guiding them through the fauna. It was a scenic area. Bushy trees stood tall blocking the red sky above from ever reaching the ground below. It would’ve been completely dark if it weren’t thanks to the sparse street lamps lined along with the plentiful shrubbery of roses.

Alastor’s crimson eyes drifted off into the surplus of nature, the pace of his hooves slowing and eventually bringing him and the TV demon to an entire halt.

“Why don’t we stop and smell roses? That would be pleasant, wouldn’t you say?”

“I don’t see why not.” Vox gave an assuring smile.

The two broke away from the path and went to the nearest rose bush. Vox took the opportunity to unhook his arm and instead grasp for Alastor’s soft, fur coated hand. He was never going to get over the sensation of it, was he? Holy shit, he’s pathetic.

Al gazed at the flora when a question suddenly entered into the television demon’s mind.

He turned to the deer, studying his face before speaking. “Al, how much have you dated?”

He didn’t return a look back but Vox could sense surprise in Alastor’s pupils.

The deer demon chuckled then adjusted his monocle. “Not since I arrived to Hell, I’m afraid.” 

Vox’s television head quirked. “That makes sense, I guess. I’ve never heard of you having a partner. If you did, I would’ve remembered it.”

“I have no doubt you would, dear.”

“Yeah, I’m hopeless. What’s new?”

Alastor laughed again, letting go of the television’s hand as he wandered to another bush. “As a young man I had a relationship with one gal.”

“And how did that go?” He raised a brow.

“It was short lived, Vox, if only for a few months. She was a darling but we had our fair share of differing wants. Not to mention…” His claw graced over a rose, feeling the petals before plucking it. The deer then threw his arms out while lifting the rose up to the leaves above. “She wanted to move away for stardom!”

Vox unconsciously flinched, the imagery before him far too reminiscent of… He gave his head a light shake.

Alastor, rose in hand, patiently walked up to the television demon and leaned in.  
                            

“You are the first gent I’ve ever had the pleasure of being on a date with by proxy.” He moved a bit closer to give him the flora with a light pat on the hand

For a moment, Vox thought he would receive that oh so desired kiss, but it seemed the proximity was only a tease as he pulled away. His heart would have broken if he hadn’t looked down at the flower, finding a strange comfort in its red hues.

The television brushed a thumb across the side of a petal as he knowingly let his screen flush.

His head lifted back to Alastor who had turned away onto the path, ready to continue the venture. The TV followed suit by his side as their hands intertwined once again.

“So… Why did you decide to date me then?” Vox earnestly asked.

The buck snorted. “You’ve prodded me far too much already, my dear. That is only for me to know at this time.”

The TV demon let out a sigh. Fine, keep your secrets to yourself, Radio Demon. Somehow with that a little smugness was able to sneak into him as he opened his mouth again.

“Then, I’ll just have to assume I’m irresistible. It wouldn’t exactly be a shocker since I did win the hottest in Hell.” He flashed his most attractive smile. 

Alastor just stared back at him blankly. “Hmmm. Angel had mentioned that. He said the competition was entirely rigged in your favor.”

Vox blinked twice. “Well I… I was obviously going to win it! I only had to ensure my victory!”

“Uhuh.”

 How the fuck was he supposed to flirt with someone who isn’t attracted to his body like that?

 

---

 

It was becoming late as they had just finished listening to a street performer, now well on their way to a butchery for the last stop of the date. Of course the buck wanted to pick up some more meats.

Vox casually looked to one of the 1910s buildings as they walked by. There really wasn’t anything of note except for three eyes that sat on the outer walls of its structure. It was far from unusual in the Pride Ring, they practically sprouted across any building.

Then one of the eyes suddenly looked over at him with a blink. He winced.

The television turned to Alastor at his side. “Do you ever feel like the eyes on these places watch you?”

“No, I have to disagree. They are nothing more than Hell’s moss.” He paused. “Why do you suspect otherwise?”

Vox shrugged. “Nerves, I guess.”

Alastor’s smile turned devious. “Is that your way of saying you are shy to be around me?” He put a finger to his chin teasingly.

“Hey!” The TV’s screen was overrun by a cyan blush.

Then, as if appearing before the two, was the butchery. The building followed the same theme as the rest but a bit more dull, almost gothic in its nature.

Alastor rhythmically walked up to the door, acting like it was a candy store rather than a cannibalistic butchery. He flung the opening wide while turning back to Vox with a bright smile.

The TV demon followed at first, but the moment he stepped in he was immediately repulsed by the scent. Look, he’s smelled blood before but in this place it was vile in its potency. His dress shoes tugged him back before he even made the decision himself.

“I’m not going in there. It fucking reaks, Al.”

Alastor raised an eyebrow. “But, my dear, you lack a nose.”

Vox dragged a palm across his screen. “I can still smell but it’s complicated. Go pick up your venison and flesh while I wait out here.”

“Well, it seems you will be missing out.” The door clicked as the buck shut it behind himself.

He snickered with an eye roll then went to lean against the side of the butchery’s walls. Only then did the uncomfortable thought from earlier creep into his mind. Did Alastor even care?

Sure, his weirdness so far could have been chopped up to lack of experience and all that, but something about him just felt less genuine then the previous times they shared. Vox saw it peak threw now and again, but it was like Alastor was only going through the motions of a date. 

Out of pure habit he pulled out his phone ready to mindlessly scroll on it, until he saw that same wall of texts from Valentino, now having only tripled in size.

Text after text, voice mail after voice mail, it was the same fucking poisonous shit Val spewed. Whatever restraint Vox had before from taking in the venom seemingly had banished itself.

 

Val: “I’LL SPLIT YOUR FUCKING SCREEN IN HALF!”

 

Val: “WHERE THE FUCK ARE YOU?”

 

Val: “ARE U ACTUALLY LEAVING ME BITCH??”

 

The texts went on almost endlessly and Vox felt something inside himself begin to crumble. Electricity was sparking off of Vox in small but pugnate voltages, his hands betrayed any instinct as they shivered.

He finally flicked his phone off and shoved it back into his pocket, promptly burying his face in his hands as he attempted to regain control over his emotional state. His breathing only quickened in active retaliation.

Then, in complete contrast to the TV’s hushed whimpers, he swore he heard a shout from inside the butchery. Dear Lucifer, what the Hell has Alastor gotten into?

He unborrowed his head just an inch, waiting to hear if the screams would continue.

Another yell came followed by a thunk.

Nope, going in.

Vox took the handle and swiftly opened the door to reveal the scattered scene.

Alastor stood tall in front of the counter, mostly transformed into his demon form. His sclera was blackened and his antlers peered large and proud out from his scalp. Blood dripped from his right claw that seemingly punctured through the grizzly and pig-like butcher’s left arm as he did his best to quell the gash. Lastly a petite, female cannibal sat in the corner of the butchery crying and curled up tightly in on herself.

The three turned and peered directly at him, the television too bewildered to move only opened and closed his mouth.

Alastor’s gaze remained fixed on Vox, then the butcher suddenly grappled for the meat cleaver on the counter and promptly launched at the deer’s demonic face.

Before even the television had begun to process it, by second nature his arm shot out with a bolt of cyan electricity.

It collided with the meat cleaver only seconds away from Alastor and threw it completely off course onto the ground with a sharp cling.

This didn’t satisfy Vox, however, as he zapped up to the butcher with an unannounced sense of fury flooding through every inkling of his being.

A cable pierced out from the TV’s back and wrapped around the butcher’s throat, effectively strangling him as he fell to the floor.

While he gasped for even the slightest gust of air the television returned burning voltages of electricity into his flesh. Strike after strike, it went on without end. Vox wanted him to hurt, he wanted him to feel every damn bit of pain he-

Then suddenly he was lifted from the floor, dangling like an ornament. He looked to his upper right to see that Alastor was the one holding him by the back of his tux. 

The deer demon’s head crooked, large and fanged mouth opening wide. “Your valiance has been much appreciated, but I implore you to take a break.”

Vox sighed, relinquishing the cable from the butcher’s throat as Alastor placed him off to the side near the cannibal lady. He slowly turned to her and her pupils shrunk, slinking a fair distance away from him.

“Now, this is where the true entertainment begins!” The Radio Demon uttered with a sadistic vigor.

The television let himself relax as he watched Alastor tear into the butcher’s burnt flesh leading into a show of blood and guts.

 

---

The town had begun to quiet by this time, most cannibals likely settling in their homes or attending a bar. Vox and the deer demon chatted amongst themselves as they neared back out the town.

“Basically, the butcher wanted to make that girl into one of the cuisines?”

Al nodded calmly. “I find it to be distasteful when sinners pick on weaklings for their meals. I try to hunt only those who challenge me or are near my level.” He clenched a fist and jested it outwards, the bag of the butcher’s flesh swung from his arm as he did so.

Vox chuckled. “Well, I guess that mentality is what led to you meeting me.”

“There was no other choice when I saw a strange picture box man getting mugged. I had to interfere for the absurdity alone.”

“And look where you are now. Somehow he’s your boyfriend.” The television tilted his head to Al with a grin.

“It appears so.”

The two were greeted by the sign of Cannibal Town once more. Vox was hit with a small dosage of melancholy but was prepared to wave Alastor goodbye nonetheless, until the buck grabbed his hand and pulled him to sit down at a nearby bench. The television went along without the slightest hesitation.

Al plopped the bag down and crossed his leg over the other, staring at Vox inquisitively. “I am grateful for your assistance at the butchery today, but I did note something off in your demeanor.”

“That I was a bit pissed seeing a meat cleaver get launched at your face.”

“I have no doubt that played a role, my dear, but it seemed like another thing had been on your mind.”

Vox tilted back with a groan. “It’s mostly just stupid stuff, okay? The only real thing that’s been messing with me is some bitchy texts from Val.”

“Insolent modern technology.” Alastor growled.

The TV demon rolled his eyes. “It's not the phone’s fault.”

“If you didn’t have it then maybe you would be a little less upset.”

“Keep telling yourself that.”

Silence snuck between them on the bench after that, unsure of what to say but not willing enough to leave. It remained like that until the deer demon’s ear flicked and he tugged on Vox’s hand to pull him closer. The TV with all his mite tried to suppress the flush on his screen though it obviously failed. Damn it! Whatever happened to his playing it cool shtick? 

“How about I lighten the mood with a pun?” Al said in a giddy whisper.

He’s not exactly sure what he expected from the Radio Demon. The television had somewhat forgotten his affinity for puns.

“Okay…?”

Alastor cleared his throat then proudly raised his head to the red skies. “Why is television considered a medium?”

Vox opened his mouth to answer but was immediately cut off.

“Because anything well-done is also rare!”

“Haha.” He flatly replied.

Al’s eyebrows furrowed. “It did not do the trick, I see? No worries, I’ve got more.”

Lucky him.

“Where do sharks like to go when they visit Europe?” He paused, Vox didn’t even attempt to answer. “Finland, of course!”

“Is this the best you’ve got, Al?”

The buck quirked his head. “How strange. I thought you would have found that quite amusing with your liking of sharks,” He tapped a finger on the side of the bench. “Though I do suppose your fawn-dness of deer might be even more.”

Vox so badly wanted to just grumble at it, shrug it off, but that blush on his screen was doing anything but leave. Whatever snarky remark he could’ve said back turned into a mumble, then a small yet awkward laugh. The buck joined in on it.

“... Fuck you.” He finally spat.

The TV, like it or not, found himself snickering with the deer demon a few moments longer, still sitting close to one another on the bench. When that faded, there was silence again but in a different tone than the last time. It was more reminiscent of the balcony. Familiar, comforting.

Alastor’s crimson eyes peered directly into his own, unbreaking but relaxed. Vox felt compelled to lean a little further into him, hands gently holding the buck’s arms. He didn’t resist it, getting even closer himself.

At this point, the TV couldn’t hide his shaking with the acceleration of his heartbeat. He knew what would happen, he was gonna kiss this fucking deer. For decades he’s dreamed of it, literal decades. How the Hell was this even real?

Now only mere inches away from Alastor’s face he shut his eyes, anxious and  overjoyed. His antennae sparked and his lips met with… not the deer’s.

Vox’s eyelids opened to see he was blocked by Al’s finger. He had a wide, mischievous grin strung across his face as he pulled away.

The television’s expression was first blank but then twisted into a scowl as he gritted his cyan teeth.

“Really, Alastor? Really? I’ve wanted to kiss you this whole ass day. Scratch that, century, and you just cheated me out of one like it’s some fucking joke! But no, I’m the Radio Demon so I have to screw with every damn person I know including my partner!”

Alastor leaned in again and gave Vox a peck on the screen that nearly touched his lips or something- he doesn’t know or care because he’s not fucking finished!

“What I’m trying to say is you're a twisted guy, Al. Vindictive, evil, all that kind of shit!” The buck straightened his bow tie then got up from the bench as he walked away. Vox stood up but only to continue ranting as he paced around the bench. “And honestly, that only confirms my suspicions that you just don’t really care about-”

Failing to make another circle around the bench, his foot froze in place along with the rest of his body. Electricity began to flare off of Vox with the cyan blush completing consuming his screen. He traced a hand over the edge of his lip.

Did Alastor just…?

 

Alastor well knew he had left the picture box’s sights by this point so he raised a hand up to countdown.

Three, two, one…

“HOLY SHIT!” Screamed Vox.

There it was.

His pupils briefly darted behind to see the essence of a light show on a now distant street. He felt a twinge of something he couldn’t quite identify but it was washed away as soon as it came.

With the ever present tap of his cane, Alastor walked off into the nights with a hum.

Chapter 7

The clicking of Vox’s dress shoes and the pounding of his heart were the sole noises he could perceive in the vast extent of the hallway. The sparse days he had gone through since their previous date were nothing but terrible to him, this second date of theirs being the last light of hope he could grasp onto. At least the scattered aching that had struck his body was finally dissipating. Once the television saw the door’s number he latched onto the handle knowing he could be next to Alastor again.

Vox opened it wide, familiar warm hues entering his retinas followed directly up by blues and greens that all guided him to the room’s centerpiece, Alastor. Any heartache he would have felt was promptly obliterated.

“Hello.” The deer demon spoke in his iconic transatlantic accent.

Alastor stood with a calming elegance, hands and cane safely tucked behind his back while he patiently awaited for the other on the edge of where the room morphed into bayou.

“Hey.” Vox replied softly, letting himself the rest of the way into Alastor’s room.

The TV already knew Al had planned dinner for the both of them and he could imagine vividly how delectable the cuisine was going to be and… HOLY FUCKING SHIT there was a dead deer on the table.

A tongue hung out of its agape mouth while flies swarmed above the rest of the deceased creature. In an odd juxtaposition, there was an ornate candle placed beside the beast.

Vox gritted his teeth. “I am not gonna fucking eat an entire rotting deer carcass with you, Al!” He snapped while clenching his fists downwards.

Alastor cocked his head to the side. “You’re not, my dear?”

“Of course I’m not!”

The buck shook his head before he promptly shifted into a shadow to slither across the floor and up to Vox.

He touched a hand to his shoulder. “What a shame! I was really in the mood for some venison. I’ll have to admit I'm a bit offended by your disapproval.”

“You’re offended? Please.” The television brushed him off.

Alastor slided his arm fully over Vox’s shoulder. “Hmmmm.” He snapped his fingers. “Well, I wouldn’t turn down a bowl of jambalaya and luckily for us I have pre prepared.”

The television demon blushed while noticing the deer carcass had already been replaced by two steaming hot bowls of jambalaya; the candle remained, however.

“Thanks.”

Alastor chuckled. “You could be more grateful than that, Vox.”

The deer demon hooked his arm around the other’s and walked him to the table, being the one to pull a chair out for Vox. The moment he sat down he was hit by a savory waft from the meal, overcoming him with comforting nostalgia.

The TV demon grasped for the spoon right of it and swiftly dug out a large scoop for himself to enjoy. The flavor brought upon all the same emotions but a thousand times more intense. Fuck, it was delicious.

“Enjoying it, my dear?” He uttered with a subtle yet booming confidence before picking up his own silverware.

Vox nodded enthusiastically as he chewed. “Hell yeah! You always cooked this for me after we’d battle Overlords or some shit.”

Alastor’s left eye twitched. “Vox, do not speak with food in your mouth.”

The television was fully ready to fire back with some snarky remark but held his tongue. Fine, he’ll oblige this once. The meal was a great peace offering in that matter.

“Much appreciated, dear.” The buck paused to swallow a scoop of shrimp. “Anyhow, what has it been like at your company?”

Vox flinched, nearly dropping the spoon held between his fingers. Alastor definitely noticed. Shit. He quickly recomposed himself and painted his face over in a charismatic grin.

“A lot better than before, I’ll give you that. We’ve been hiring new employees and the others are finally starting to recover.”

The deer demon eyed him keenly, mouth opening then sealing shut a moment later. His expression relaxed to its original state, aborting whatever he truly desired to ask.

“Splendid. I’m doubtful an insolent moth man could destroy your business.”

“Do you have anything happening with the hotel?” Vox shot the question back to Al at light speed.

“There are only negotiations to be worked through at this point in time.” He answered harmonically, stirring the contents of his bowl.

“With Heaven?”

Alastor’s ear flicked. “Ah, did that get out?”

Vox gave a slight shrug. “Eh, we at Voxtek keep an eye out for anything.” His voice shifted to his commercial tone while he swung an arm. 

The buck rewarded him with a chuckle for that. “That indeed adds up. Those ‘Drones’ of yours are more than obvious, especially since you have the tendency of hovering them around me.”

The TV’s screen flushed. “Wha-what?” He glitched.

“Did you not catch onto my awareness of it?

“I-I uh-h.” He only continued to glitch.

Alastor erupted in a short squawk of laughter, eyes doing that thing where they drift off to the sides.

“You are an amusing picture box, I have to admit.” He snapped and summoned a devilish minion that dashed over to his box of records. “Shall we dance this embarrassment of yours away?” The buck stood up and lended a hand to Vox.

The television grumbled to himself instead of answering, begrudgingly knowing he couldn’t resist the offer put forth.

“Fine.” He forced himself to sound as unenthused as physically possible, which failed. Damn it, Alastor made him such an emotional wreck.

Hand in hand, the deer demon led Vox to the room’s center where the record player began to emanate a fast, upbeat jazz tune. Risky considering… Yeah, he needs to play it safe. The TV just wanted a nice, romantic date with Al and not to have all that other shit get brought into it.

He cleared his throat. “Can we dance to something slower?”

“For a slow dance, I presume?” Alastor gave him a conniving grin as he sent back the minion to replace the record.

Good job, Vox, two birds with one stone. THIS is why he was a mother fucking CEO.

The TV demon wrapped an arm over the deer’s back with reinvigorated certainty, while he placed a hand on top of his shoulder. With the assistance of the swapped melody, they took a step into the dance.

It hadn’t been the first time they swayed to a song like this together, though neither of them were ever sober if they did. Always immensely enjoyable for the television in those days and thankfully in the present they would no longer be brief moments of the past to relish in.

They both spun in a methodical pace upon the wooden floor boards, warm and fuzzy being the two words Vox could describe himself as feeling. Alastor's face had what he assumed to be ease written over it, eyelids entirely shut as his radio filtered voice hummed along to the music. The television felt as if he were about to melt into a pile of mush. 

Drawn in further and further by the siren song his screen unexpectedly neared the cheek of Al’s face, returning the kiss given to him before Vox even realized it himself.

Their movements hit an abrupt stop and the TV sharply tore his head back from Alastor, cyan pupils shrinking to the size of peas. The buck’s eyes opened a slither but his expression remained unaltered. Then, an unforeseeable cascade of mischief washed over it.

In a split second Alastor snapped his fingers, switching the tune to its original state while tossing Vox into an unprompted spin. 

If that were all, the TV would’ve been able to restabilize himself easily enough but the deer had other plans for him.

He forced a foot under Vox’s unstable legs causing him to lose balance and topple over before he was swiftly caught in Alastor’s arms. It could’ve been charming in the buck’s own strange form of it, but instead the jolt of pressure forced upon his bruises caused an unpleasant surge of pain.

“Fuck!” Vox yelped and shoved the deer demon away from himself.

Alastor brows furrowed and he returned to his upright posture, reclosing the space between them as he analyzed his screen.

“Vox?” He questioned with sincerity.

The TV demon adjusted his navy blue tux. “Sorry, Al. You startled me, that’s all.”

The buck couldn’t be thrown off the trail that simply to his dismay. Alastor stepped forward again, enough to where he could poke a finger to the side of Vox’s rib cage.

The television demon suppressed his cursing but barked once more at the deer. “DON'T do that!” He swatted the other’s hand away.

There goes the nice, romantic date.

“Are you injured, dear?” He tilted his head.

Vox stared down at his irritated side while massaging it, refusing to meet the deer’s crimson eyes. Generously, he gave him the slightest of nods.

“And had it been the moth’s doing?”

He didn’t move a muscle after the last few words. Like it or not, Al knew it as a yes. His ears twitched downwards but not fully flattening. Was Alastor preventing them from doing so?

“When did it-?”

“After our date.” Vox interrupted. “I was doing work around the tower before heading to my floor. At some point Val ran into me, we both started yelling, then he hit me, and… I can’t remember a lot after that. Turns out he wasn’t bluffing in those texts but you can never know with him.” He forced a pained laugh through his fangs.

Vox progressively bent down to meet with the floors, his legs curling in on himself. Alastor remained fixed to the TV and followed him down with a criss cross. He seemed to be mustering a final question to conclude the interrogation. 

“Then, why haven’t you broken up with him? Expel him from the Vees?” His radio filter lightened.

The television wanted to snap at the mere suggestion as a flare of electricity zapped off of himself.

“That would be fucking fantastic, right?” Vox hissed. “Too bad if I even attempted it I’d get a gun to the screen. Let’s say I actually got away with that, well I lose the majority of my income and the business I’ve spent my entire afterlife building up tanks. Porn makes a shit load of money, Al.” 

“I don’t understand why material such as that would.” The deer said with a hint of disgust.

The TV demon sighed. “I know you don’t but most sinners are into it, believe it or not.”

Alastor had gotten his fill of information from Vox or at least he presumed. The buck stood upwards and dusted off his black pants, walking to the edge of where planks morphed into bayou.

“Rest may suit you better than a dance.”

Vox’s eyes shifted to Al. “Can I get a key then?”

Alastor put out a hand in refusal. “I will allow you to sleep beside me this night.”

A spark shot between his antennae with a bright cyan blush returning upon his screen.

“Are you serious?”

“Yes, we do not need to dilly dally around it. Follow me.” He motioned to Vox.

The television put his hands on his hips. “To where? I Don’t exactly see a bed.”

Alastor chuckled then pointed to the swamp before them. “My bed is out there. I prefer sinners to not walk in on me during my slumber.”

The buck was such a fucking weirdo. A handsome weirdo but a weirdo nonetheless.

“How far is it?”

“Enough to make for a minimal but pleasant walk.” He hooked his arm with Vox’s.

From the planks they trekked into the marsh, trees and fireflies spreading endlessly into it. A peaceful quiet surrounded the two from then on, the only ambience left being the croaking of frogs and the chirping of crickets.

“Lovely, is it not my dear?” Alastor’s crimson eyes drifted to the treetops.

Vox joined in with his line of sight. “It’s beautiful, Al. I can’t lie.”

Alastor’s smile waned into genuinity at the comment, not barring his yellowed fangs if only for that moment.

“I lived next to a bayou as a boy. I practically played there everyday, not to mention it was my favorite place to hide. I would fall asleep there but of course my mother would always find me and bring me back indoors.”

The TV fiddled with his hat. “Hide?-”

The deer demon then abruptly left his side and meandered over to a tree. He crouched onto the muddied grounds before he laid down completely and rested his head on the roots of a tree stump.

“I slept like this whenever I was out.” He spoke as if it were as common as slicing bread.

Vox let loose a hardy laugh while he reached for Alastor’s hand to lift him back to his level.

“The roots better not be your bed still.” He remarked.

The buck patted the dirt off the edges of his red tux. “Not anymore, picture box. Trees don’t feel great as pillows, hence I have a more proper bed in my bayou.” His gaze moved past the TV. “And I believe we are nearly to it.”

Alastor brushed past Vox, going off to somewhere behind him. He turned around only to see that the deer was walking over to a more generous patch of trees. Though still befuddled, the television demon followed along without an inkling more of hesitance.

The buck waited by the bunch of trees for Vox until he was beside him again. He then snapped his fingers and a luminescent green swirl traveled up above his hooves and to the tips of his pointed ears transforming his classy clothes into sleep wear. 

Alastor was now dressed in striped, red button up pajamas with a paler red bath robe wrapped tightly around the set. On a side note, the lack of his shoes allowed for his crimson hooves to peak out. Adorable.

“That looks good on you,” Vox smugly complimented. “But what about me?”

“Thank you, dear, and you have made an excellent point.” He snapped his fingers once more.

The same luminescent swirl graced over the TV demon transforming his current outfit into… a long, baggy nightshirt tragically completed with a nightcap on top of his screen. Vox stretched out his arms and peered down at it with utter disappointment.

“Alastor.”

The deer demon put a hand to his chest in false offense. “Do you not like it? First you are upset with the meal I provided and now you disapprove of the clothing I have chosen especially for you. My, you are pickier than I expected, Vox.”

“Just put me in something normal, okay?” He huffed.

“Fine, fine.” Alastor snapped his fingers again.

The pajamas were morphed into a frilly nightgown decorated with a hefty amount of bows.

“Do you like this one? It's very elegant.” The deer knowingly teased.

“Alastor, put me in a t-shirt and sweatpants! I’ll repeat, t-shirt and sweatpants!”

“Horrendously boring but I suppose your tastes will suffice.” He snapped his fingers for the third and hopefully final time.

Evaluating the last set of pajamas, Vox had gotten what he asked for but with Alastor’s own personal touch added onto the T. There was text written in all capitals that read ‘I AM WEARING THIS SHIRT BECAUSE I AM INCREDIBLY PICKY AND WOULDN’T STOP COMPLAINING ABOUT THE OTHER CLOTHES GRACIOUSLY OFFERED TO ME, VOX’. Under it was a sketchily drawn stick figure of himself.

This was quite literally the best he could get out of the deer.

“I’ll cherish it forever.” The television demon stated in blatant sarcasm that he might have actually meant.

Alastor encroached further onto the bunch of trees, sticking his hand into some of the hanging greenery and moving it upwards. Vox still couldn’t make out what laid under it other than some warmly hued wooden planks. They were the same type Al had in the non bayou portion of his quarters.

“Now then.” The buck stepped into the trees, hooves and cane clinking onto the planks.

Alastor still held out his arm to support the leaves so the TV demon could enter. The vegetation tickled his antennae as he burrowed through into the scenic space. Wooden planks spread out into a bedroom with the trees acting as substitutes for walls. In the center was a king sized bed laid over the top with striped patterned sheets. Nightstands were snug against each side with a lone record player shoved into a separate corner.

The deer demon took to the left of the bed and flung his lower half under the blankets, sitting upright to set his cane against the nightstand.

“You don’t need to be so bashful, dear. You deserve some rest.” Alastor tapped a finger on the pillow next to him.

Vox attempted to shake himself out of his daze. “Sorry, I guess I never expected to be in your bed.”

The deer’s face scrunched in on itself. “Please do not get any ideas, Vox. I’ve made my wants very clear on that matter.”

“That’s not what I meant.” He took the empty spot besides Al. “I know we’re never going to have sex and I won’t force any of that shit onto you either.” The TV covered the buck’s hand with his own. “Do you not trust me?”

Alastor’s stare was all he got in return leaving him unsure of how to decode it. The deer demon then leaned in and gave Vox a gentle peck on the top of his screen where his forehead would’ve been. That was probably a good sign.

“Al.” The television demon snorted while his TV head began to overheat.

The deer went in a second time, placing his hands on his shoulders to kiss him on the cheek. The smile on Vox was the dopiest yet. If that were all, the television would’ve been happy. Fuck it, more than happy but Alastor had to go above and beyond, didn’t he?

The buck suddenly pressed his mouth onto the other’s, sparks bursting off of Vox as he did so. 
                           

His lips were soft, softer than the TV had even expected. How was this shit even real? There was the kiss, the one he awaited so long for. He took in every second of the euphoric experience, closing his eyes while holding Alastor’s in his arms. If Vox had the choice he would’ve kissed him forever so he wouldn’t have to think about any of the pain he felt. The cold that struck him on lone streets, the venomous yelling of Val, the sadness in the mornings, and the aching of his bruises could dissipate into a faint memory of the past if they had stayed like this.

Then Alastor pulled back. He supposed what had happened would be left as something brief but enchanting.

The buck chuckled ever so slightly. “You gave me a zap.”

“Yes.” Vox said, eyes glazed over.

The TV fell back on his pillow while his mind attempted to process all of it. The deer snuggled into his blankets then to the television demon’s side. Vox used the opportunity to maneuver his arm under the buck and squeeze him.

“Comfy, dear?”

“Absolutely.” 

Alastor nuzzled his bezel. “Good night. May you have sweet dreams.”

“Good night.” He whispered back.

It was odd knowing that the two of them would never go much further than a kiss, he had to admit. In fact, Vox couldn’t recall the last time he was invited to someone’s bedroom and didn’t fuck. By all means he should’ve been disappointed and yet… his sights drifted down to the cozy red deer he held within his arm… He was in heaven.

There was only one thought capable of irking him in the back of his mind, what if Alastor didn’t care? It was ridiculous, he knew it by now, so he put the thought to rest along with himself.

Chapter 8

Slowly, Vox’s eyes blinked open. Greeted by abundant greenery rather than a deep blue ceiling, he had initially forgotten where exactly he was. His gaze aimlessly drifted around the area until he landed on something that was pressed up against the left of himself, Alastor.

The deer demon sat upright on the bed with a hefty book on his lap, his pupils meticulously gracing over the words held within it. 

With Vox’s screen snuggled to the other’s torso he could feel the soothing sensation of Alastor breathing. The TV made an effort to count each inhale.

“I know you are awake, Vox. It’s rude to stare.” He turned a page.

The TV scoffed despite the smile that snuck onto his lips. “Good morning, Al.”

“Good morning to you as well. How did you sleep?”

Vox rubbed his eyes then sat upright in the red blanket, the corner of his screen touching Alastor’s shoulder.

“Fine.” He meant the best sleep he’s had in years but it came off too needy to say aloud.

The television demon noticed a new item on the buck’s nightstand. It was circular with a light golden hue and a translucent center that revealed dark red makeup.

“Is that eyeshadow? I thought you said you didn’t wear any and that your eyelids just looked like that.” He playfully lifted a brow.

Alastor refused to let his gaze peel away from the book as he nonchalantly opened the nightstand’s drawer and placed the makeup inside.

His head finally poked up. “What was that, dear?”

Vox’s mouth went momentarily agape. “...Uh, nevermind?”

He supposed that was the response the deer demon wanted, returning safely back to the pages.

The television let his screen fully relax onto his shoulder and took a deep breath of the bayou air. Fireflies danced thoughtlessly above the two of them while the trees that created the walls made rhythmic sways. Vox was really starting to get the appeal of falling asleep in a place like this, don’t get him wrong though, he still adored his aquarium of sharks.

“How much longer will you be capable of staying?” Alastor’s voice put up a dam to his stream of thought.

The TV reached into the pocket of his sweatpants and pulled his phone out. He checked the time then jumped into his schedule to settle on a conclusion. With it still being reasonably early in the morning, that abided for a more than decent amount to spend. 

“Four hours, maybe. I have to head back to V Tower by noon for a meeting.”

The buck tossed his book onto the nightstand and tapped a finger to his pointed chin. “That should be enough.”

“For what?” He moved his phone downwards.

Please say to kiss him, please say to kiss him-

“Well, assuming that visiting the hotel is going to become a common occurrence from you, I think it would be best to introduce you to the residents.” Alastor clasped his hands together.

Okay, not really what Vox was hoping for. 

The TV narrowed his eyes. “Considering Angel hates my guts and those other guys know me for planting a shitty spy in their place, that doesn’t sound like a fantastic idea.”

The buck waved him off. “There’s no need for negativity, my dear. You may have gotten off on the wrong foot but I’m sure Charlotte will be more than ready to make amends.”

“Of Course Little Miss Bleeding Heart would but my point about the others still stands.” Vox scrolled through his phone.

“Maybe so, but a CEO such as yourself should know a thing or two about taking chances.” He shortly lectured then stood up from the bed and straightened his robe. “I’ll make coffee for us before we go down.”

Alastor walked to the trees and maneuvered his hands into the leaves for an exit. The television would have normally joined him in a heartbeat but his attention stayed fixed on the phone with a sudden memory that creeped into his mind.

“Coming?” The deer demon quirked his head.

“In a moment. I have to check something real quick.” 

There was slight skepticism written over his face. “Very well then, but I rather that not be the second phone of yours I destroy.” He side eyed Vox as he left the makeshift bedroom.

Once he knew Alastor was a fair distance away he clicked on his photos. There sat the image of him and the deer sleeping next to one another on a bed. Vox’s screen barely inched onto the image while Al in his pajamas and bathrobe took up the majority cuddled to him.

So maybe he hadn’t quite fallen asleep and in his dreary daze took a photo of the buck. Not his proudest moment, that was without a doubt. On the other hand, it was surreal to have obtained another of the very slim images where the deer demon wasn’t distorted.

Vox had to delete it… but not right now. He’ll get to it later.

The TV demon slipped his blue cased phone back into his pocket and left the bed.

 

---

 

The staircases the two ventured down were practically endless, Alastor had at least assured Vox this would be the very last of them. His cyan claws graced over golden rails that trailed pinkly hinted, bright red walls. With only a few more strides, they found themselves on a balcony that hung over the Hazbin Hotel’s lobby.

The television demon took a moment to rest against one of the balcony rails, throwing his back on the edge.

“How many are down there?” Vox huffed.

The deer demon joined his right side on the balcony. “Hmmm, almost all of them.”

“Lucky me.” He adjusted his hat as he walked away from the edge. “Let’s hope my charm can make this go by smoothly.”

Alastor nodded. “Charm can go a long way but not without a smile.” He gestured to his forever grinning mouth.

“You don’t have to tell me twice.” The TV snorted. “Still, I imagine they’re going to be a bit frazzled seeing me here unannounced.”

“And you are stalling now, my dear. If you’re so nervous about this then why don’t I greet them first? Prepare the residents for your grand entrance?” 

“Sounds like a plan. I’m not nervous though.” He flatly remarked.

Vox watched the buck promptly leave him to head down another stairwell to the large lobby. Despite all the improvements in this rebuilt hotel they apparently didn’t have enough in their budget for a damn elevator.

He saw him as he strode up to his fellow residents. They were gathered in front of a wide screened, yet strangely elegant TV, and probably babbling about some pointless shit.

The princess was sat on one of the long red couches next to her girlfriend, Vulva or something. Quickly noticing the deer’s presence. She flipped around with her blonde hair in a swoosh and wide puppy dog eyes.

“Good morning!” She chirped with a smile that let her fangs peak out. Pathetic.

Alastor bowed his head. “I wish a good morning to you as well.”

From there began a run of the mill conversation without much of note. Vox could assume it to be a tactic employed by the buck to warm up the residents before introducing him. Slow and steady wins the race, or at least in this context.

The television’s eyes took the opportunity to get a full analysis of the lobby area and who was currently in it. By the large TV were the two previously mentioned women on a couch with another to the side of them where Angel and his one eyed friend sat. In the other half of the room was a lavish bar with the heavily contrasting, washed up Husker tending to it. Only their sad sack king and Niffty were missing from the occasion.

Progressively, he tuned back into whatever Alastor was rambling about.

“With that being said, I would like to introduce you all to someone.” Alastor stated calmly whilst he leaned onto his cane. That was Vox’s cue.

“We don’t need another fucking Mimzy incident.” Charlie’s girlfriend audibly groaned.

Alastor chuckled. “Now let me remind you that I also brought Niffty and Husker into this facility, one of whom even slaughtered the first man, Adam.”

She didn’t appear any more pleased with his retort, her eyebrows shifting into a deep furrow.

Charlie put a hand on her shoulder “Come on, Vaggie, this could be… interesting.” She did her hardest to prevent her boundless positivity from waning.

“It WILL be.” The deer replied.

Alastor flattened into a shadow and warped next to the bottom of the stairs. Vox tugged on the ends of his red bow tie and forced his lethargic screen into a charismatic smile, a talent he had become well versed in with his time on television.

His dress shoes quickly led him to face the residents from the top of the stairwell.

“Vox, CEO of the Voxtek corporation. It’s a pleasure seeing everyone in person.” The TV demon spoke as if he were filming a morning broadcast.

An opening such as that was usually quite the crowd pleaser yet the lobby fell into complete silence, the emanations of whatever TV show they were watching being the only sounds to fill the void. 

Thanks to Angel, he immediately broke it by jumping out of his seat and shouting. “I already see this asshole’s screen enough at work! Why the fuck is he in here?!” He paused to insert a few curses under his breath. “I thought you and smiles despised each other?”

The one eyed girl leaned forward. “Yeah, weren’t you guys battling like last fucking month?”

Vox rolled his eyes with the false smile still nailed onto his being. He didn’t expect to be hearing applause anyways. He traveled to the bottom of the steps with a slight swagger despite the poor reception.

“I know you sinners don’t get Overlords in your place everyday but there is no reason to cause a fuss.” He retained the demeanor.

The moment the television demon made contact with the lobby’s shiny floor Vaggie jumped up from the couch with an angelic spear in hand. Where the Hell did she pull that out from?

“That’s it!” She snapped then gritted her teeth.

Like a warrior heading to battle, Vaggie charged to Vox with the weapon and shoved the tip inches away from his screen.

                               

“Leave now or this is going through your fat ass TV head.”

“I’d like to see you try, vagina.” His eyes flashed with malice.

Charlie’s pale face was stricken with alarm as she finally rushed between them both as an attempt to intervene.

“Mr. Vox,” Her red eyes shot over. “Vaggie.” She paused. “I understand your concerns but maybe we should try to listen to Alastor’s intention with bringing him here before we remove him.”

The purplish woman lowered her spear. “Fine.”

“So…?” Charlie turned to the deer demon with intrigue.

Alastor’s smile grew wide. “For the longest time, me and Vox were enemies but in recent we have managed to put our differences aside.” He placed a hand on the television’s shoulder.

Vaggie scowled with her arms crossed. “And why?”

The buck snickered. “The story itself is much too complex to tell. Let’s just say a chance encounter during a walk may have been the reason. All you must know is that we have become the dearest of friends.”

The word ‘friends’ pricked into Vox’s heart like a thorn. Sure, he knew he agreed to keeping their relationship under wraps but it still hurt. With the glitch of his screen he subtly reminded himself to retain his composure. 

“I wouldn’t have put it any other way.” The TV said with the fakest form of sincerity.

Charlie studied the two of them for a few more moments. “Are you saying that Vox is like our ally now?”

“I suppose that interpretation is accurate.” Alastor calmly replied while looking over his red tipped claws.

The princess went quiet as she fell into thought, murmuring something to herself. Then, a lightbulb must have flickered on in her mind as excitement washed over her face with her red eyes lighting up.

“Holy shit!” Charlie squeaked out and cupped her hands to her rosy cheeks. “That’s ah-mazing! No, not just amazing. Perfect!”

“Perfect? How so?” Vox tilted his head.

The princess twirled to her girlfriend. “Should I tell him?” She whispered with a pleading gaze.

Vaggie sighed. “Alright, but please don’t spill everything. I don’t trust this guy getting any more information about the hotel than he has.”

Charlie eagerly nodded and returned her sights to the television demon. “So, we have some really important events going on at the Hazbin Hotel soon and we were all worried that you and your team might get in the way of it. You know, wanting to keep your grip on Hell.” She fiddled with her hands.

“Go on.” Vox looked at her keenly. She was most definitely referring to whatever they have with Heaven.

“Alastor actually brought it up first. He said that you and him being enemies was a factor.” Charlie cocked her head to the deer. “Did I recall that correctly?”

“To a T, my dear.” Alastor said.

Something struck into Vox’s mind like a violent bolt of lightning. The discovery hadn’t fully awakened itself yet, only its essence overcoming with unannounced shock. He wanted to be wrong. He hoped so badly he was wrong.

His triangular pupils darted back and forth from Alastor, in shame or disappointment he didn’t know.

“Now that you’re friends though, we won’t have to worry! Maybe we can even collaborate.” The princess paused, her expression somehow even growing brighter. “Wait! That just gave me the perfect idea. Do you think you can bring a film crew here for an event next week, Mr. Vox?”

The TV demon could barely track her voice, his whole being fading between something numbed but painful. He blinked a few times.

“Yes.” He finally forced the sound from his mouth.

“Great!” She beamed. “Okay, I’m gonna go now because I have lots of planning to do. I’ll update you with any more information as soon as possible. Bye.” Charlie fled the scene.

She booked to the top of the stairs in lengthy strides, belting a song out the moment she hit the top and going forth another flight until she was out of view. Vaggie stared in near awe then shook her head with a chuckle, calmly following her partner.

Alastor stepped in front of Vox. “See, my dear? That was simple enough and we still have one or two more hours left before your meeting.”

The TV studied the buck’s light crimson irises and the dark feline esk slits that intercepted their center. They were the most precious of rubys to him, a warm comforting place to let his own settle into. Admiration would envelope him every time he could catch them. Now however, the irises felt like a loosely draped over veil concealing whatever unaffectionate cold laid beneath. Vox was a pon and at best entertainment but never a truthful droplet of love had ever been shared. It made him sick. It made him want to unfurl a rage filled below at the deer for this being the second time he miraculously deceived him in such a hideous way.

What came from his mouth paid barely a homage to what belted in his head. “Sorry, I can’t stay. There’s an interview I forgot this morning.” The television quickly spat and pulled his phone from his pocket. “Yeah, says it on my schedule.”

Alastor was nevertheless keen with the flick of his ear. “Really? What a shame. I thought you would be privy to catching those details.”

“Nobody’s perfect, I guess.” He swiftly turned his back to the deer demon.

There was a short silence but it didn’t appear the buck would be nudging him any further on the matter.

“I wish good luck on your business endeavors, Vox.” The other waved goodbye to him.

“Have good luck with the hotel.”

Vox kept his upbeat demeanor as he approached the doors to the hotel’s entrance. Sleek, modern, and golden, they were the TV’s preferred style of architecture.

They clanged as he pressed his palm on the handles to open them to the hellish outside world. He could still feel Alastor’s curious crimson eyes peering into the back of his TV head as he took the first steps out.

The doors shut and a shiver he thought would be long gone skittered up his spine. It was the same icy cold he could never escape. The deer demon had cured it for a short while with the warmth that washed over Vox whenever he would find himself in his presence. He should have known better than to take such safety in it.

That flash of concern he saw from the buck he could no longer be sure what to make of it. The television demon was depressingly certain that Alastor witnessed his vulnerability and was manipulating it for his own gain, to neutralize the enemy and nothing more. If only he heeded Vevette’s warning.

Vox gazed at the overabundance of lights outside the structure with desperation, shooting a bolt of electricity from his finger to send him back to the tower.

Chapter 9

Notes:

Trigger Warning for sexual harassment (It’s pretty much just one line of dialogue from a random sinner.)
Thought I might as well still put this here.

“Cameras further to the right!” Vox shouted while cupping his hand to the side of his screen.

He stood before his assortment of employees, each more idiotic than the last. The TV demon managed to successfully corral the camera operators on the left side of the grand stage but finishing the other half would be equally as infuriating.

It was ironic Vox came to the Hazbin Hotel with a camera crew at all. Alastor didn’t care about him, why should he show him any consideration in return? The question was as perplexing to him as it would’ve been for any other sinner.

Alastor, as a puddle of shadows, abruptly skittered to his side as he reformed into his usual elegant figure. Strangely enough, the deer had a shiny, dark blue, Voxtek camera in hand.

“Dear, where are the batteries for this?”

Vox narrowed his eyes in confusion before cautiously opening his mouth. “In the supply box over there.” He pointed next to a horned worker.

“Ah.” Alastor chirped.

He brushed past the aforementioned sinner and flipped up the box’s cover to pluck a thick battery from it. As if it were second nature, the deer demon opened a latch on the camera's side and popped it in with ease. Lastly, Al put the viewfinder against his crimson eye. Was he actually testing if it was working?

“What are you doing?” The TV finally inquired.

Alastor pulled the technology down from his face. “I was checking your filming devices on the right side of the stage to make sure everything was in ship shape. That’s when I discovered this lacked a battery so I went to fetch one.”

The television’s expression shifted into a mixture of curiosity and bewilderment. “And you actually remember that?”

“You taught me, did you not?” The buck chuckled.

The TV demon felt something inside himself momentarily soften. “Well yeah, but I didn’t expect you to retain that. You were practically kicking and screaming through the whole time I was trying to teach you. It’s been a damn while nonetheless.”

“I suppose my memory is proficient in that regard.”

Vox wasn’t pleased with the sensation of his screen warming. He supposed those moments of kindness from the deer is what kept drawing him back. As minute as they were, they never failed to infuse him with hope that he did care, maybe even loved him in return. It was the most fantastic trick the Radio Demon had up his sleeve and he could only wish this would be the very last occasion he would fall for it.

The television was going to confront Alastor on it. When? He didn’t know. What he hated the most was how much he really did need him which made sending him off not quite as enticing as it should’ve been.

Then, an unpredictable crash rang out from in front of him.

A worker had miraculously collided into another while attempting to re-adjust her film camera closer to the stage. 

The other sinner hadn’t taken so kindly to the accident with his setup collapsed, and twisted backwards to shove her into more supplies.

From there, all the meticulously placed filming gear crashed into one another, causing a cave in and an unidentifiable scrap yard of metal to fill the space.

A dark swirl intercepted Vox’s eye as his cyan fanged mouth sharply slit open. “MOTHER FUCKER!” He bellowed.

 

---

 

After hours of endless preparation it had turned to the afternoon at the hotel. Vox sluggishly dragged himself through the lobby and to a long red couch by the television where he at last went limp and threw his rectangular head back.

“Fuuuck…” He groaned.

“Nothing like a hard day’s work, my dear.”

The television demon’s body shot into an upright position realizing he had taken a seat beside Alastor.

Vox swallowed then straightened his tie. “It’s not significantly different from the bullshit I go through on an average workday.”

“Look on the brightside. Now that you have the filming equipment readied, the rest shall be a piece of cake.” The deer put a hand to his pinstripe tux and pointed his nose to the ceiling. “May I remind you that the party is beginning soon?”

He rolled his eyes. “Yeah, I know. That fuck ass celebration to lure in sinners for whatever shit show presentation Charlie wants me to broadcast.”

Alastor’s ear flicked. “Your poetry is more pungent than usual.”

If he hadn’t discovered the buck was still being a manipulative bastard then maybe he'd be a little more mannerful.

Purposefully shifting his attention away from the deer demon, Vox’s eyes roamed to study the residents in the room. Charlie and the useless king appeared to be discussing the lobby’s decor as he snapped his fingers to file through ribbon designs on the overhang. Niffty was bolting around the party tables and placing various snacks for the sinners to eat. Lastly, the trio of Angel, Husker, and Cherri appeared to be setting up speakers for music.

Whatever this presentation, the residents were going all out with it.

“Oh, that looks great, dad!” The princess clasped her hand together in excitement.

Lucifer puffed his chest out. “It’s a keeper.” He nearly mimicked his daughter’s tone.

Alastor snapped his head backwards with a snicker. “And not nearly as circus decor esk. What a marvelous improvement.”

Venom slithered into the king’s red eyes but before any retort could be made Charlie gave him her most endearing grin. His pale face calmed in mere seconds.

The ribbon they picked was decent. It had a light golden shimmer that was intertwined with simple baby blues.

The princess switched her attention to the others. “Is everyone almost finished?”

Niffty carefully set a plate of cupcakes on top of a white clothed table, meticulously adjusting their positions until satisfied. She snapped her sights to Charlie and vigorously nodded.

“How does this shit work again?” Husk grumbled under his breath while fidgeting with a speaker’s dial.

Angel chuckled. “Wrong one, Whiskers.” He flirtatiously pointed to a dial besides the previous.

Carelessly, the chimera spun the volume dial to max and nearly blasted his large cat ears off in the process. The speaker boomed with rock music causing Husk’s legs to buckle in, narrowly rescued by Angel gripping his hands before he made contact with the floor.

Cherri bursted into a hardy laugh while twisting the music down to a more palpable volume. The happy couple seemingly made a quiet, teasing joke amongst themselves, reeking with the cutesy-ness of a honeymoon stage. Lucky them.

Vox wondered if he stared at the two hard enough their heads would explode. God, he fucking wished.

“Okay, everything is pretty much done and…” Charlie eyed a golden bezeled clock on the upper half of the lobby. “Holy shit, we’re almost out of time! Close call, am I right?”

The purplish hued skin of Vaggie emerged from a nearby hallway, approaching her girlfriend. She opened her mouth before slamming it shut as she noticed Vox’s presence within the room.

Vaggie calculated her words a few seconds longer then finally spoke. “I can’t complain with anything on my end.”

“Coolio.” Charlie winked, knowing whatever Heaven related shenanigans they had choosingly left him out on. “Everyone, get ready. There’s only a couple of more minutes until we let sinners in for the party.”

Husker made an audible sigh of disappointment as he maneuvered away from Angel’s side, slouching his way over to the freshly cleaned bar stand.

Alastor turned to the TV demon. “Now where’s that smile?”

Vox unwillingly obliged and painted his screen over with a charismatic grin. He supposed it would be useful in greeting the party goers.

“Happy?” The television forced through his cyan teeth.

“Positively.”

The buck gave him a firm pat on the shoulder then stood up from the red couch and took a pause to fiddle with his sleeves. He paced near the hotel’s entrance with his arms neatly folded behind his back with Vox following suit. 

Charlie, giddy as ever, shoved past them and latched onto the handles of the large doors. The princess took a deep breath then flung them wide open.

The crowd that awaited outside wasn’t impressive by Vox’s standards, with his average product releases toppling whatever amount of sinners the hotel had managed to gather. He still wouldn’t refer to it as bad though.

“Hello everyone, we are super thankful for you showing up to this celebration! Just remember to stay for the announcement afterwar-!” Charlie was abruptly cut off from her magnificent speech as a group of more than impatient sinners tossed her to the ground and entered.

Her dad and girlfriend rushed to her side on the floor while Vox and Alastor warped themselves out of the way from the violent stampede.

The lobby, previously filled with the hum of rock and occasional chit chat of residents, was flooded by the quaking of sinners lusting for a party. Some went immediately to dancing, others opted for the bar, or third indulge themselves in the many snacks spread along the tables.

Obviously, this wasn’t the first damn party Vox had attended in his afterlife so he was quite capable of acquainting himself with the area’s shifting chaotic atmosphere. This didn’t negate his attempt to escape the crowd as the television struggled his way to a somewhat more emptied corner. 

Alastor, seemingly out of thin air, stepped in front of him.

“I may not be much of a fan of this ‘Rock’ music but I would still appreciate a dance together.” The deer leaned forward on his cane.

In an attempt to not let his mushy feelings win out, Vox simply answered. “No thanks, Al.” His triangular pupils darted away.

The deer cocked his head. “I will be careful if those are still-”

“It's not tha-” The TV interrupted despite failing to finish his own sentence. He could feel his heart rate rise in an uncomfortable manner. “I’m not in the mood.”

The dark slits in his crimson eyes studied Vox whilst he did the same. They both were aware something was wrong, they both analyzed every move they’d make as a fruitless effort to get to the bottom of the other’s psyche. It was an unannounced choke hold on his throat. Painful.

“Very well then, my dear.” His radio voice was imbedded with an unnatural glee. “I’m certain Niffty will enjoy a dance, assuming she wasn’t crushed in the stampede that is.” Alastor spun around to leave Vox with a sharp laugh.

Just before the deer was able to fade back into the crowd though, an absent minded sinner rammed into his side. 

Most would gawk in unnecessary horror at such an error but the stranger gave him a harsh grunt from under the yellow scarf tightly wrapped around his head. This guy practically had all of his features covered up with pitch black sunglasses and a beanie as part of his ensemble. The only aspect of him he could make out were horns that peaked out from the headware. Vox assumed that he manifested with a rather unsatisfying appearance.

Even with lacking visible eyes, it was clear he left a glare as he pushed past the buck.

That was enough for Alastor to reward the man with a squint but nothing more as he hummed his way back into the crowd.

Entangled tension loosened in the television demon’s chest somewhat as he was able to escape and compress himself against the reddish pink wall of the lobby.

Vox whisked his phone out of the pocket of his navy blue dress pants but with no discernable reasoning. It was out of habit, he presumed. The TV clicked on the screen to open it, already burying himself in piles of Vmails to search through.

It was impossible to deny that above all else he yearned to be near Alastor, to eat, to sleep, to dance, it didn’t matter. Those nights Vox had spent at the hotel had no hope of being extracted from his mind. They were his escape, regardless of how artificial the meaning of it really was.

 

---

 

The hours of the festivity went by almost fleetingly for the TV demon, the most he ever did being reaching for the scraps of snacks or dodging the Radio Demon’s line of sight. It wasn’t exactly something he enjoyed doing.

Looking to the clock on his phone Vox could be assured that it was nearly over with, though after this came Charlie’s presentation which he knew wasn’t going to be a significant improvement. The television NEEDED a drink before all the upcoming bullshit and the bar was undoubtedly the answer.

Vox snagged a mini sandwich off the edge of a table and shoveled it down his gullet then yanked a sinner who was seated at the bar off their stool. Of course with him being an overlord, they didn’t make any notable effort to fight back. 

He plopped himself on the seat and quickly gave Husker a stern grimace to pour a glass for him. The cat acknowledged the TV with only a glint of annoyance from his pupils then dragged his paws over with a bottle of liquor. 

“Rye, Vox?” He said with exasperation.

Vox nodded. Husk slided a medium sized glass onto the dark oak counter and filled it to the brim with the light brown liquid.

The chimera lowered his voice. “You and my boss are an item now, eh?” He snorted.

“Yep.”

The TV realized the word that oh so faintly had slipped from his lips. He slammed his hands onto the counter.

“How the fuck do you know?” Vox stated with the most threatening tone he could muster in that moment.

Husker didn’t react. He was 100% unphased. Damn it.

The chimera lifted a different glass to clean with a rugged towel. “I have a good read on people.”

The television demon silently gave up and let his arms pursue their previous slacking. “Just be quiet, okay?” He swiveled the liquor.

“You know, for a while there you two had me thinking that actually wouldn’t happen. I guess my instincts were right in the end.” Husk swiftly went to pour a rowdy customer a drink. “I’d be wary though. I suspect Al is using you for a plan but-”

Vox tore the glass away from his screen. “I noticed.”

Husker scoffed. “You didn’t let me finish. I was gonna say that I can’t be certain with him. We both are able to understand that overlord better than most but he’s still a fucking conundrum to figure out.”

“Tell me about it.” The television said lethargically before taking in a hefty gulp of the elixir.

“Well, I don’t have much more advice to give. Honestly I haven’t been rooting for you two to become a pair.”

Vox slided his emptied glass back to the cat. “Then I have some advice for you, Husker. Just because you and that whore have such a happy ass relationship doesn’t mean you should be sticking your kitty nose into mine like you’re a fucking romance guru.”

Husk stared daggers into his eyes while gritting his yellowed fangs. “Don’t ever call him that bitch!” He hissed.

Before the encounter could grow any more heated, a cheery feminine voice piped up from the other half of the lobby and successfully captured the attention of them both.

The TV left his place on the stool and flipped around to see the more than expected sight of Charlie Mornningstar. She was poised in front of a hallway.

“Everyone, it’s sad to say that this celebration will have to end but don’t worry!” She uttered with some strain. “We still invite you to stay for an amazing announcement in our brand new theater.”

The sinners were far from infused at the statement. They cursed amongst themselves while already stomping to the grand doors for an exit. Vox predicted this to a degree but couldn’t say he was left overwhelmingly distraught by the outcome.

Alastor’s shadow then slithered under the crowd’s feet and reformed into his figure once he positioned to block them from leaving. The buck snapped his neck and allowed for his smile to stretch eerily across his face.

“Rude of you all to reject such a fine offer, isn’t it?” The red in his eyes flared. “I sincerely recommend you stay for this.” 

What Al meant by ‘recommend’ was ‘Obey or you’ll be dinner.’ but it seemed the party goers received the memo. Even with obvious irritation, they listned and sluggishly paced in unsynchronized patterns to where the princess enthusiastically pointed down the hall.

Once a fair swell of sinners had begun to make their way, Charlie abruptly left her place and ventured over to Alastor, her face uncharacteristically scrunched. The television followed behind the crazed pack of demon’s before he could catch what she said but he could safely infer that the deer was being scolded for his threatening demeanor. Little Miss Bleeding Heart is standing up for herself finally.

At the end of the hallway was an agape door that led into the theater and its magnificent stage. To the left and right sides sat the camera equipment the TV demon had spent a painstaking amount of time setting up this morning.

To his disappointment, the camera operators he sentenced to film the broadcast were half asleep by that point so he pushed past the sinners in the crowd and stomped over with clenched fists to them.

“Wake up shitheads! Get yourselves put together, we’re about to start the broadcast.”

As if the fear of god had been struck into them, in unison they pounced out from their sleep deprivation and prepared themselves.

Vox exhaled then turned his back to the film crew as he walked over to one of the front seats reserved especially for him. He tossed his body into the dark red, cushy chair and folded his arms in on themselves.

The television tilted his screen upwards to the large red curtains that engulfed the majority of the stage. The whole ass thing was an impressive sight. Golden etched designs were plentifully dispersed around from the lower and upper halves of the stage and followed around the lower bottom of the curtain.

However, soon came the Radio Demon in all his glory as he placed himself next to Vox’s seat with crossed legs.

“I am certain you will enjoy what the hotel has planned, dear.” He said with ease.

Fine, he’ll indulge the buck with some attention.

He hesitantly shifted his television head towards Al. “As long as this doesn’t end up being a waste of my time, I’ll be happy.”

“It won’t, I guarantee.” Alastor moved his hand on top of the armrest next to the TV.

Vox’s fingers flinched, instinctually desiring to grasp the other’s palm. He mentally shunned his subconscious for even considering it.

With a few more moments of pause, the grand curtains were washed onto the outskirts of the stage, revealing the lone princess standing with a microphone in hand. Behind her was a plain white projector screen that was quickly painted over with the Hazbin Hotel’s signature logo. 

“To start, this is by far one of the BIGGEST announcements I have ever given for the Hazbin Hotel and maybe even Hell as a whole.” Charlie paused in her speech, likely awaiting oohs and awes that never came. She coughed. “Anyways, our relations with Heaven have never been good, per say.” 

The projector switched over to a new image that depicted a photo taken mid battle between the exorcists and the hotel. Charlie could be seen blocking herself with a shield.

“After that battle, I was almost certain it would only get worse but I was proven wrong.” Her words grew hopeful.

To the befuddlement of Vox, the next image from the projector was a beautifully illustrated portrait of Sir Pentious in some old styled military gear. Where the fuck was she heading with this?

“Sir Pentious died heroically trying to defend us,” Tears dripped from the corners of Charlie’s pale yellow sclera. “And because of that, he was able to be reborn in Heaven as a winner.”

The fuck?

The once lethargic crowd bursted into a miscellaneous frenzy of screams and chatter. The TV demon could only assume he got a boom of viewership along with the impossible statement. Had the princess become desperate enough to resort to scamming? It was something he absolutely wasn’t opposed to in his own business practices but he’s shocked she ever would or maybe flat out proud.

Before Vox’s doubts could continue any further, they were promptly remedied with the next image. 

If it was edited then it would’ve been the best he’d ever seen. Amongst glorious clouds and heavenly architecture sat Pentious with angels side by side next to him.

 His appearance remained predominantly snake-like as he was in Hell but softened into something that looked as if it had come straight out of a children’s book. The snake’s dark tuxedo and hat were bleached over in white and his scales were morphed into a calming deep blue.

The television’s mouth went agape.

Alastor snickered then leaned inwards to him. “Now what did I tell you?” He whispered mischievously.

“I obviously knew you guys were hiding some shit about Heaven but I didn’t expect that.” He motioned to the angelic Sir Pentious.

“That isn’t even the half of it.” The buck replied then pulled back.

Vox turned his screen to the princess on stage.

She put a hand to her chest. “Thanks to him, we proved without a doubt that sinners can make it to Heaven and that the Hazbin Hotel truly does work. We have been promised to never have an extermination acted on any of you again.”

Charlie actually managed to get the crowd to cheer, some even pumping their fists. There was still a fair portion of outliers who didn’t give a damn either way but that was a given for Hell’s citizens.

“We have one last major announcement for this event but I won’t be doing the talking any longer.” Charlie said then moved to the far corner of the stage.

“Is this the part where I go on?” An unfamiliar voice to Vox squeaked out from behind a curtain.

The princess gave a thumbs up. “Yes.” She replied in the same cadence.

With a few quiet clicks, a different woman entered onto the stage, or for what the TV was certain, an angel. They got a motherfucking angel to step down onto their brimstone grounds.

She held her own microphone unsteadily between her gray fingerless gloves then brought it to her face. Her piercing white, feather-like hair came in waves down her back that slowly faded into blue and a dress made with more elegance than anything the Pride Ring could offer.

 The angel’s eyes graced over the crowd of sinful before her lips finally unsealed. “Hi everyone, I’m Emily, Em, Emmy, Or E, you can call me whatever. I’m a seraphim from Heaven.”

Before this ‘Emily’ could speak any further, she was interrupted by a particularly obnoxious sinner.

“Show us your tits!” Yelled a thin turquoise demon.

The unfortunate bastard caught his comeuppance in what was practically milliseconds as he was tragically sat behind Vaggie.

She spun around and shot a right hook to his face.

Emily winced but continued. “As I was going to say, I’m serving as Heaven’s ambassador and to get a better understanding of Hell and its people, I will be staying for six months at the Hazbin Hotel.”

In a bizarre instance, Niffty popped out from the seraphim’s lush hair. “She’s in the flesh!” Squealed the petite cyclops as she crawled over to shake her left arm.

Vox watched as a chill went up Emily’s spine before she screeched.

“Niffty.” Alastor said in a tone only audible enough for her to hear.

Her singular crazed pupil darted to the deer demon as she scrambled off of the angel and leaped from the stage and into Al’s arms. Majestic.

He got the feeling though that the maid only obliged to get in closer proximity to the TV demon. She ogled at him then attempted to reach for his navy blue tuxedo but Alastor quickly swatted her hand away.

In the midst of all the jumbled joy and indifferences resided Vox at the brink of mortification. He was painstakingly aware that if he and Alastor never reunited into a couple, or even basic allies, he would’ve been more than prepared to strike down the hotel’s newly formed peace with Heaven. The Radio Demon knew that just the same, they both did.

Every single sentence solely functioned as a means to reconfirm that blatant fact standing right before the TV. What may have sickened him as well was that the Radio Demon must have presumed he wouldn’t be intelligent to pick up on it.

Vox folded his arms tightly against himself while trying to prevent his legs from enacting the same.

Charlie took the lead once again. “With that out of the way, I suppose we should thank the CEO of Voxtek and his company for granting us the ability to broadcast this over the news. Afterwards, we’ll start a Q&A.”

The princess motioned her arm down to a chair in the front row where Vox would’ve sat. All she witnessed was a few lowly sparks of cyan electricity in his place.

 

---

 

The television decided against leaving the supremacy of the hotel as he only zapped a floor or two above the first. Maybe he’d come back down later once he got a hold of his emotional state.

As he stumbled into some living room area for the residents, he noticed a teardrop traveled far enough from his eye to be felt at the bezel below his mouth. With mild acceptance, the TV brushed it away. Holy shit, he was a mess.

Despite wanting nothing but solitude that as well had been whisked out from under his feet. He sensed another entity had joined him in the room and he knew exactly who it was.

Vox swiftly twisted himself backwards to meet the inquisitive Alastor’s gaze and the vivid crimson held within his irises. His ‘Partner’.

“Dear, may I ask what you are doing here? Charlotte would be very appreciative if you would remain in the theater.” The deer demon’s head tilted to the side.

Vox froze then gritted his sharpened teeth. “... You really think I’m stupid, don’t you, Alastor?” His voice sounded presentably calm.

The buck’s ear flicked while his smile curved a little wider as he walked over to him.

Alastor laughed. “Only half the time.” He jokingly replied.

With a final step forward the deer placed his hand on the corner of Vox’s screen and pressed his lips onto the other’s.

Regrettably, the TV demon knew he still enjoyed the sensation but the resentment that ached in himself was enough to convince his being to pull backwards from the deer.

“What? That’s not gonna solve it.” He nearly barked.

Alastor squinted his eyelids. “Solve what?”

“You think I’m a fucking idiot.” Vox took a further step back. “Did you not even consider the fact that I wouldn’t be naive to your scheme after spelling out that I was just another pawn over and over again? Really?” He sighed. “All you ever wanted was to neutralize your enemy.” 

The deer demon held his tongue while he clinked his claws on the top of his cane. “And what makes you so confident in this statement?” He questioned.

“When you saw how hopeless I was laying on that bench you knew you had an opportunity to manipulate me and I let my love sickness win.” His screen drifted away from Alastor's face. “The point is, I wasn’t going to remain your ‘pet’ forever. Surprisingly, there’s an inkling of intelligence in my TV head.”

The buck’s smile quirked, analyzing the other’s misery as precisely as possible. He reopened then closed multiple times in what appeared to be strangely warry in his choice of words. 

“Keen as always, Vox.”

Regardless of how minimal the response was from Alastor, it felt like a scolding hot knife pierced into his back. Burning, wretched, and bitter. It was a reminder of how desperately the television prayed to be wrong.

“I’m right?” Vox uttered with a hushed and shrill cackle.

Alastor bordered his shoulders on a shrug. “Well, I suppose so.”

The deer demon made the distance between them even more prevalent as he roamed away from the TV and sat down on a singular, lengthy, red couch.

“That’s fucking gre-eat-t.” Static layered over his voice as it started to glitch. “You’ve never car-r-ed about me! Not about our relationship-ip or even what Va-al has been putting me through. That-at’s GREAT!”

With his sights shifting over to a window that neared the couch, the buck spoke again. “Though it would be an inconvenience to myself, I won’t halt you from leaving this partnership if you so desire.” He offered while inexplicably relaxed.

 Vox shuttered and yelled out something before his mind could process the option any further. “NO!”

The television didn’t want to be separated from the deer ever again and that seemingly triumphed over any other discombobulated emotion he held within himself. He had never been so bluntly faced to face with it until now.

The shout was enough to shake Al out of whatever indifferent stasis he found himself in or maybe for just that moment. His eyelids fluttered before revealing their full reds.

“Interesting.” Alastor said flatly.

“It’s weird, I feel like you’re the only light in my afterlife. V Tower has sucked a lot recently, okay? You don’t care about me but I can’t even bare the thought of leaving you right now.” Vox’s eyes grew watery again. “I’m not even sure what this is anymore. I don’t know what to do.” 

He restlessly pulled his legs to the right side of Alastor on the couch, screen facing towards the patterned floor. A thick silence invaded the air making each inhale he took more stained than the last.

“I may then.” Alastor piped up.

Vox shook his TV head, recognising the electricity that flared off of himself. “... Excuse me?”

“We both necessitate each other in some fashion, don’t we? Hence, why not you help me with the hotel and its relations while I act as your… How do I phrase this…?” The deer momentarily fell into thought then snapped his fingers. “Emotional support. Once the hotel and you can sufficiently stand on your own two feet then-”

“We break it off and pretend like this whole shitshow never happened.”

Alastor’s smile twitched oddly. “Indeed.”

Did he-?

No.

“That sounds significantly more pathetic on my end but…” His screen fell onto the deer’s shoulder. “Alright.”

Vox’s arms wrapped around the buck. He should’ve understood by now that any real form of love was a luxury, the only luxury the universe wouldn’t care to grant him.

                   

Notes:

Complicated and sad ahhh chapter.

Chapter 10

Side by side with Alastor, Vox slowed his pace as he encountered a magazine stand on the bustling city street. It was a simple setup, a vendor who appeared as if he hadn't slept in years was working the stand with magazines displayed to the left and right sides of him.

The TV demon, intrigued, plucked one of them off.

“Dear, what are you doing?” Questioned Al.

“Eh, I don’t know.” He paused while analyzing the cover. “Guess I’m just curious on how the recent events were reported or, you know, beyond what I air.”

The outside of the magazine depicted an image taken of him and Charlie shaking hands with unnaturally giddy grins stretched across both of their faces. Yeah, keep smiling through the pain, Vox. That’s how he makes the big money, right? The title itself read ‘Voxtek Enterprises and Hazbin Hotel Announce Partnership.’ In bold.

The television flicked his cyan claws into the innards of the magazine and viewed a generally accurate transcription (AKA what he deemed as accurate to the public) on what went down at Charlie’s little announcement. Satisfied, he placed it back in its display and continued to move forward through the street with the deer demon. 

“So, you’re bringing me to that old bar we used to visit?” Vox said with a restless undertone.

Alastor nodded. “Correct. I thought it would be enjoyable for old times sake, wouldn’t you agree?” He cheerfully affirmed.

A small frown overcame the TV’s screen. “It could’ve been but considering… Well…”

The buck broke eye contact with him and darted his sights to the streets ahead. “That is understandable, I suppose.”

Vox was sparsely ever given genuine forms of love. He grew up in a big ass family so his parents hardly had the time for him, not to mention he was effectively ‘The runt’ of the litter. As he reached adulthood though he discovered a replacement, the endless adoration of fans weeping at his feet as if he were a God. It was a rush that brought him high enough to farm it until his inevitable death. In his afterlife, that craving obviously remained unsatiated.

Of course, this didn’t prevent the many downsides that came along with such levels of fame.

Out of the blue, a flud of reporters swarmed them from the other side of the street with cameras and mikes dispersed throughout their hands.

Alastor, surprisingly, didn’t even attempt to flee but the TV demon could only presume that he applied a static filter over himself to compromise.

“Mr. Vox, would you care to address your sudden alliance with the Radio Demon?” Inquired a female reporter.

This sinner lady was actually one the television had become somewhat familiar with for her sheer level of pestering. She had dark red frizzy hair that hid her eyes while her black horns still managed to peak out from it.

Vox forced his showman smile. “I’m aware Alastor and I haven’t always been on the best of terms but behind closed doors we realized how ridiculous all that fighting was. TV or radio? Who cares!” He made a passably authentic laugh. “Wouldn’t you agree, pal?”

“Absolutely, especially when the answer is most certainly radio.” The deer stated with confidence.

The TV demon shot him a brief glare.

Al’s face held a mixture of annoyance and amusement. “I jest.”

Vox cleared his throat. “I can abide time for a second question but that will be all.”

“Can you clarify the reasoning for your disappearance near the end of the Hazbin Hotel’s announcement?” The demoness shoved the microphone closer to the TV’s mouth.

It was as if Vox’s voice had been whisked away from his vocal cords. He was well versed in manufacturing excuses, fibs, and distractions in the blink of an eye yet nothing came. His mind was at a total halt, body entirely frozen. The TV demon could’ve been mistaken for a statue.

The reporter’s face twisted into confusion. “Mr. Vox?”

“What happened was- it was I had to leave for-” The television managed to croak from his increasingly rickety grin.

“For making a call to his investors.Those impatient fools demanded to talk despite the magnificent event that was occurring.” Alastor finished his incoherent sentence.

The TV demon’s triangular pupils became something akin to a puppy’s before shriveling down to their previous size.

“My apologies, my mind blanked,” Vox laughed while pointing to his flatscreen head. “But Alastor has it right. It’s about time we leave now.”

The television’s right eye swirled with black and red hues at the crowd of reporters, using his hypnotism to throw them into a trance so he and the deer could efficiently sneak away. Once each sinner’s eyes reflected his own he pushed past them on the sidewalk with Alastor.

“Thanks.” Vox said halfheartedly to the other. 

“You’re welcome.”

Vox knew immediately they were nearing the bar when he encountered the location that had been so harshly burnt into his memory. It generally lacked any distinguishing features with the ordinary street lights and dirtied pavement but he might as well have spent decades there. It was where he originally lost Alastor.

Successfully strolling past it with the buck, he could see the light of the bar oozing out from its sparingly placed windows. Somehow, that was enough to warm him ever so slightly.

The clicking of their dress shoes stopped in almost complete unison before reaching the dimmed glass doors.

“It’s been a long ass time since either of us have gone here, hasn’t it?”

“I haven’t stepped foot into this bar since your confession.” His radio filter lightened.

The television demon gave Alastor a slighted look. “Why? It barely affected you other than making you think I'm a loser.” 

“I believe I saw no reason to visit it afterwards.”

The buck stepped forwards in front of Vox as he reached for the handle of the dim glass doors and gently pushed it open. His crimson eyes were overwhelmed with befuddlement and maybe a hint of disgust at whatever was held inside.

The deer demon conveniently blocked the TV’s line of sight. “Al, what is it?”

The other remained unresponsive, expression unchanging at the mysterious scenery that laid before him. Vox’s eyebrows furrowed in irritation as he maneuvered past the deer and into the bar.

Though they’re hangout still followed the basic layout of what he recalled, the majority of its original essence had been polluted by the modern.

When they first began to visit the place in the sixties, it was still considered outdated by those times. That was why Alastor adored it so much with its 1910s-1920s aesthetics while Vox relished in the coziness the warmly colored woods brought.

Now with the bar’s apparent refurbishment, the area took on a modernized, classy style. The older wood planks were completely removed in favor of shiny blue walls and stainless bleached floors. The attendance also flourished with the upper class as opposed to it previously being rather vacant with only visitors from the lower. All that remained from the bar’s past life was the music.

“Insulting and tasteless.” The buck said flatly then flipped around back for the city streets. “Why don’t we leave and search for a different joint? You did not seem particularly thrilled about this spot either.”

“I don’t dislike it. I’ll miss the old bar, sure, but this is homey for me. Hell, if I didn’t have any nostalgia then I’d consider this better by ten fold.” Vox motioned with his arms in the air.

Alastor’s back faced the TV with his continuing silence. Carefully, he inched his head to the side, his bob cut concealing everything of his face.

“Are you certain?” The deer lowered his voice.

The television demon lifted a brow. “Yeah?”

Then came the second bout of silence followed by Alastor fluffing his black bow tie. It felt as if he were mentally preparing himself. 

In an enthusiastic step, he spun around back into the bar and shouted. “Splendid!”

An upbeat tune that was almost entirely washed out by the place’s own music emanated from the deer as he danced his way over to the bar. He plopped himself down on a sleek, metal stool and patted the one besides himself. Vox followed.

Aware of what Alastor’s true motives were, the artificial glee from him was becoming more apparent and that wasn’t strictly regulated to his relationship with him. The television witnessed it garnished in anyone the deer would conversate with. Vox took it as a sign of his bettering acuteness of the other.

The bartender was a sinner with piercing yellow eyes and a form that resembled a falcon with dark feathers.

“What would you gentlemen like?” He said with a mild country tang. 

“Rye for us both, thank you.” Vox replied.

Before the bartender could turn away to ready the drinks, Alastor chimed in. “Can I inquire on the bar’s scenery, good sir?”

“What about it?” He sighed.

“Oh nothing, I am only interested in why it was refurbished to this.” The deer demon gestured behind himself.

“The original fucker who owned this spot died in an extermination so someone richer purchased it.” He uttered with exhaustion then walked away.

Alastor clasped his palms together on top of the counter. “Hmmm.”

“Assuming the guy didn’t give his soul to a sinner with more power, it was inevitable.” Vox laughed under his breath. “Or at least that’s the selling point I use to get others to hand over their souls to me.”

“Effective indeed.”

The bartender soon brought over two generously filled glasses of rye and placed them down with a clink. The TV demon quickly reached for his and took a swig.

Vox didn’t used to be much of a rye drinker, primarily because of its rather strong taste. After his friendship with Alastor began though, he was compelled to mimic his crush’s alcohol preferences and through years of faking his love of it he gained an actual liking. To this day it had remained as a favorite for him. The TV hated that fact now more than ever.

The buck lowered his glass. “It was a shame the end of my living life occurred during the Prohibition. Going for a drink at the saloons was a treat but I did reminisce on the times where I could do so openly.” He took another sip. “Imagine my disappointment hearing that it ended only a month after my death.”

The TV’s lips weakly curved up on his screen. “That sucks. People were partying like they just won a war afterwards.”

“Fate can be quite cruel, picture box.” He paused. “Anyways, How have the other Vees taken to your partnership with me and the hotel?”

“Not as badly as I thought. Velvette mostly gets our current dynamic and I’ve just been keeping my distance from Val. As long as their branding stays separate from the Hazbin Hotel they’ll deal with it.” Vox swirled his rye. “What’s it like living with a seraphim?”

Alastor made a sharp cackle. “Emily has been somewhat off put by the culture of Hell, scrutinizing my choices in meat specifically. Hilarious! She’s like a second Charlotte Morningstar.”

“If that weren’t obvious enough.” The television demon grumbled.

The buck cocked his head to the side while his eyes thinned. “Where is the attitude coming from?”

“You know.” He scoffed then took another gulp of the drink.

Alastor swiftly averted the TV’s gaze as he brought to the counter where his half empty glass of liquor rested. He let out a small, vacant breath

“Yes, I do.”

 

---

 

Drinking lightly, an hour or so had passed as they made fruitless attempts to chit chat. Occasionally, they would get a squeak of laughter from the other’s lungs but the vast majority of what the television and deer discussed was bathed in awkward pauses and a passive aggressive undertone. Uncomfortable was all it had become.

They’re previous two dates had formed into a haunting ghost in the back of Vox’s mind. The enchanting and fuzzy aura had been gutted with the thin blade of reality. Did that diminish his desire for them? Tragically not.

After the deer demon finished his last drink and let go of the barren glass his ear flicked. With a notable neck crack, he drew his attention over to a space in the bar where an increasing number of the sinners were gathering to the music.

“Would you enjoy a dance, dear?” He uttered with untrue positivity.

Vox clicked his cyan claws on the counter. “Sure, why not?”

The TV demon as well as Alastor hopped off their stools that were promptly stolen by two other sinners. Progressively, they were able to configure themselves into the crowd where they clasped their hands together in preparation for a jovial dance. 

It would be a lie to say Vox wasn’t excited to get more proximity to Al despite their unsteady dynamic. He was still a pathetic bitch as ever.

He put his arm on the deer’s back who immediately took the lead. In a broad motion Alastor attempted to swing his date and himself in a circle which promptly failed thanks to the TV demon losing his footing.

The buck was able to keep the grip on his arms strong enough to prevent him from falling entirely. Vox quickly readjusted his posture as their bouncy steps continued.

Once Alastor felt enough confidence in him again, he brought his hand upwards to twirl the TV. Once again, it didn’t succeed as he lost balance mid spin and the other had to rescue him.

The Radio Demon ears tilted backwards. “Are you drunk, Vox? You’re sloppier than usual.”

“Shut up, I had three at most. I’m just not feeling it today.” He huffed.

Alastor dipped him downwards “Nor are you very mannerful.” He whispered.

                                                                      

Vox did his best to withhold a grudgeful sneer from covering his screen while moving back upwards. “Look at who’s the pot calling the kettle black.”

The statement only reinforced that previous bitterness in his crimson eyes while his wide toothy grin contrasted it. Luckily, that’s where their not so subtle smack talk ceased as they fully absorbed themselves into the dance.

This didn’t negate the television demon’s messy movements while trying to keep up with the buck. There was no reason to care about it for someone who lacked any significant care in return. It worsened even more so as they eventually lost all synchronism. A chaotic mishmashing of two misolined demons.

Vox was compelled to comment “Why the fuck did we come here anyways? We both know this has been shit.”

“May I remind you that I already suggested leaving?” Alastor asserted while guiding him into another turn.

“Al, the location isn’t the main issue. I actually enjoy the refurbishment.”

“Of course you would, always looking to the new, the modern, the less sentimental.” He grumbled while the television felt the grip on his hand momentarily tighten. “It explains nearly all of your reckless decision making.”

Electricity sparked off Vox’s left antenna, scolding hot anger invading his veins while he was swung in the deer’s arms.

“Oh, I’m sorry I’m not constantly trapped in the past like you are. I’m sorry that a half-warned mustard yellow sweater isn’t fashionable these days and that I didn’t want to spend the rest of eternity with a giant, clunky ass TV on my shoulders.” He subconsciously raised his voice with thickening static. A black swirl seeped into his right eye.

Violently, Alastor tore away from the television, inches from colliding into another dancing sinner in the space. His sclera fell into an abyssal black that highlighted his beaming, blood red irises.

“If you never altered yourself and kept that picture box head instead of replacing it with a hideous flatscreen, I would like you!” His jaw bordered on fully unhinging by the completion of his shout.

Vox’s heart sank while his pupils evaporated into mere thin lines. A light shiver crawled up his spine while he stared down to the comfort of his cyan tipped dress shoes. He understood well how the buck truly felt towards him but that didn’t soften the coldness.

The dark in Alastor's eyes quickly pulled back as he reverted into his elegant self, recognizing the attention he had drawn from the once dancing crowd. They gawked at the overlords while not even a peep left their mouths.

The deer demon straightened his crimson hair then finally spoke. “My apologies for the disturbance. What I said to my dear friend Vox was only hyperbolic.”

The TV quietly sleuthed past the crowd as the buck frantically scrambled together an explanation for his rudeness. As he made it through Vox backed up against the nearest shiny blue wall with his arms folded, screen refusing to pull up from the sight of the floor.

He was certain the warmth he had received from Alastor would never dare to bask over him again.

The television could make out the faint outlines of themselves in the bar from years past, haunting phantoms. Outside a petite window he saw themselves wise cracking with one another while still sobered. When they’d entered, they would drink until on the brink of black out and still somehow manage to dance in perfect harmony afterwards.

A sparring few minutes went by until the Radio Demon returned with his ears threatening to flatten against his skull. His cane clinked against the polished white floors as he took to the spot to the right of Vox.

“I managed to quell the crowd’s suspicion of our bickering.” The buck said reassuringly while looking towards the television demon.

Vox didn’t care enough to simply lift his flatscreen head up for the other, let alone would he give him a reply. Did Al really expect him to after that shit? Seriously?

“I suppose neither of us were suited for dancing tonight.” He bent down in an attempt to get a peek at his screen.

Vox would avoid granting the deer such insight however as he turned his screen off to conceal his facial features. It was the many benefits of having a television for a head.

Alastor relinquished his stare and spoke again. “Is there anything you would enjoy doing while we are here or would you rather leave?” He paused to give the TV demon an opportunity to respond.

Nope. Not happening.

“You are not the most talkative at the moment, are you picture box? So be it.”

The buck’s pestering had ceased, giving room for the ambience of the bar music, chatting sinners, and pouring of liquor.

Hesitantly, Vox tilted his electronic head upwards. It was enough to get a glimpse of the deer demon’s face without alerting him. What he took note of first was the grooves that traced under his eyes, a trait of his that Vox learned to adore along with the rest of Al. Somehow, they appeared to be cutting deeper into him beyond the normal byproducts of age, eyebags of someone restless.

Maybe the TV demon recognized them because of how often he was greeted with the same in mirrors.

Alastor’s left ear then twitched as he narrowed his gaze to a different segment of the bar. Vox slowly moved to see what could have caught the other’s attention.

It appeared that he was studying a fair sized group of standing sinners who were huddled around a man, listening to whatever he had to say. The demon was familiar but it took the TV a few more seconds to realize that he was from the party at the Hazbin Hotel, the one who had bumped into the Radio Demon. It was so insignificant that if the man hadn’t wrapped himself like a mummy he would have completely vanished from Vox’s memory.

Thanks to the noise of the area and the demon’s muffled speech from under his scarf, the television demon couldn’t discern what had possibly enthralled the group. However, it seemed clear to Alastor with his greater acuteness of hearing.

“Well, my dear, I have more gossip to dispel.” The deer stated quickly before wandering over to the concealed demon and his group.

Vox walked closer while still keeping a distance, just enough to where he could properly listen in.

The concealed man spoke from under his scarf. “Obviously we can’t trust whatever the fuck Heaven has been saying to that hotel, right? The demons here are getting too comfortable with the idea that they’re just going to be peaceful from now on.” He grunted. “We’re acting like the exterminations neve happened.”

“I admit that broadcast had fooled me at first but I can never forget losing my own mother to those goddamn Exorcists.” An insectoid demon replied with a grimace.

He nodded. “We’ve suffered a fuck load because of them. I knew it was bullshit after visiting the Princess’ announcement.”

Alastor manifested a glass of alcohol into his hands before forcing his way into the group’s discussion. Some of the sinners watched him with horror while others didn’t bother to hide their irritation of the deer demon. 

“The exterminations had not been pleasant, I admit, but now that Sir Pentious has successfully reached Heaven, I find the concept of the angels revolting utterly ridiculous.” He laughed boisterously then sipped the liquor.

Though it was impossible to read the concealed man’s expressions, Vox could already sense a fury welling up in him,

“You work for those bitches! Yeah, you’re on their side.” He barked.

Vox was a professional in manipulating other demons into whatever standpoint he necessitated and maybe that was encouraging him to remove himself from his mopy stasis. Either that or he felt required to hold up his end of the bargain for helping the hotel.

With a newly found confidence in his step, Vox walked into the group of sinners to stand beside Alastor.

“Vox, CEO of Voxtek Enterprises, I couldn’t help but overhear the little discussion with my pal.” His showman voice took full hold as he spoke. “For all of you who have yet to be swayed by Heaven’s generosity, I’d like to give my peace.”

The television could tell that the concealed demon was prepared to boil over in anger at any moment yet he kept his mouth or whatever he had under the scarf shut.

It was the perfect opportunity for Vox.

From there, he went on a long, winding explanation as to why there was no reasoning for their numerous fears of the angels. First it began with relating to the sinners as deeply as he could muster (Falsely) then went on with a (Falsified) tale of how he learned to trust Heaven from the hotel.

It was a guaranteed process for selling a product that the TV demon had mastered and soon half of the group may have been lulled into it. Now for the finishing touch.

Vox winked and pointed his thumb to himself in a singular flawless move. “The Hazbin Hotel? I’d get redeemed there. Trust us.” He lied.

“What a valuable point, dear.” Alastor placed his hand on the other’s shoulder.

The TV demon with his chest puffed out waited for the applause.

A sinner with pure red eyes quirked her head. “Cool.”

“Would you consider becoming a resident of the Hazbin Hotel then? Abandon this nonsensical man’s rantings?” The buck lifted a brow.

She shrugged. “Sure, if Mr. Vox says so.”

“And anyone else?” The TV tugged on his navy blue tux anxiously.

A demon in the back of the group nervously lifted a hand. “I love your shows, Vox.” He squeaked.

The concealed man groaned while he meticulously adjusted his sunglasses to keep his eyes covered then put an arm out to shove past the other sinners.

“Fuck this shit.” He murmured.

The insectoid demon snuck over to the man’s side. “I’m with you still!” He called out.

From there, the other demons in the group dispersed, leaving the deer demon and the television to themselves. He opened and closed his mouth while trying to figure out something he could say to him but Al beat him to it.

“Good job, my Vox.”

He flushed. “It was passable. On my better days I can convince an entire crowd into buying Vee branded toilet paper.”

“Why so humble all of the sudden?” The buck chuckled. “That was the most moxie I’ve seen from you in a fair while.” Alastor nudged Vox’s arm with his cane.

“Fine. Thanks, I guess. I’m a fucking masterclass in marketing.” The TV let his pride leak in.

He began to pace towards the exit of the bar with Vox. “Now that sounds more like the picture box I know. The people were sternly stuck in their ways nonetheless. I’m surprised that demon was so effective at convincing others.” Alastor pushed against the handle of the glass door then abruptly froze. “Do you wonder if…?”

“If what?”

The deer demon bursted into a cackle. “Nevermind. The idea was ridiculous.”

 As Vox followed closely behind, they left their past hangout and stepped out onto the city streets. Citizens still roamed in the area but the amount had made a significant decrease. It still wasn’t to his liking, however.

Quickly, he searched then landed on a vacant alleyway.

The TV tapped Alastor on the shoulder then pointed to it with his thumb. “Hey, can we talk before you go?” He lowered his voice.

There was a hint of confusion on the face of the deer demon. “Yes.”

Carefully, the two sleuthed past the sights of any bystanders while guiding the other into the alleyway. Once Vox looked around to make sure no one was residing with them in the dingy, bleak space he sheepishly began to speak.

“So, about what happened during our dance.” The television placed his fists on his hips.

“I was rather rude. I’m aware, Vox. I shouldn’t have raised my voice at you.”

The TV demon winced then threw his arms out. “It’s okay, I was escalating it and you don’t have to like me. I know you don’t,” He sighed. “But let’s try not to let that happen again, even if it’s just for the sake of you fulfilling your end as an emotional support.”

Alastor reached for his fingers and grabbed his palm firmly. “Agreeable, is it not?”

Regardless of the meaning of his gentle touch, Vox’s heart melted. His screen was overwhelmed with a cyan blush that made him lean into the side of Alastor’s cheek, placing a dainty kiss there. He briefly moved his flatscreen back then shifted towards the deer’s lips but paused.

Dear God, how the fuck was he supposed to ask him this?

“Uhhh…” Came out first then he inhaled. “Should’ve asked you this earlier on… I understand you don’t want sex but is tongue like…?” Vox motioned awkwardly with his free hand. 

The question seemed to have immediately bewildered the deer. “What do you mean by that?”

Holy shit, Vox was ready to propel himself into the nearest garbage bin.

“A french kiss, Al.”

It took the buck a few more seconds to process then the realization hit him. He vigorously shook his head.

“No thank you, dear.” Alastor shot back. “I do not find those appealing either.”

The television relaxed his shoulders. “Okay.”

He neared his lips to the buck’s once more then pressed against them the same as he’d always done. They were as soft and warm as Vox recalled them being despite feeling debatably not as lovey dovey towards Al. The TV had to also admit his increasing fondness for the more gentle style of kiss he’d be given from him.

With Valentino, the average peck was replaced by getting a tongue halfway shoved down his throat most mornings. Vox would still fucking love that, it was hot, but he had been finding appreciation for Alastor’s form of affection as well. 

He could feel the deer begin to shift as his mouth broke away, rubbing against the upper half of his screen with his forehead. Generous. After another moment or so he halted and pulled back entirely from the TV or attempted to, that is.

Something yanked on Vox’s right antenna then Alastor’s head suddenly snapped back to the top of his flatscreen like a rubber band, effectively headbutting him.

“Shit!” The television yelped. “What the Hell?!”

The deer stared blankly inches from his screen. “I believe my antler caught on your crooked antenna.” Alastor lifted his hands to the entangled area. “Shall I cut yours off?”

Vox could feel the buck’s claw grace over it. He grappled for his wrists and pulled them down before any harm could be done.

“FUCK no. Let me untangle them.”

The TV demon maneuvered his fingers around Alastor’s small, black antler and carefully began unraveling his antenna from it.

“How embarrassing.” The deer said under his breath. 

 

Notes:

Redid the title design for the fic because the older version was kind of rushed lol. I’m probably gonna replace the one in the first chapter with it.
Still debating if I want to pair this with an illustration.

Chapter 11

A month had passed with his and Alastor’s dates becoming a normalized routine. Once or twice a week they’d abide time to go out somewhere or Vox would visit the deer’s quarters in the hotel. Bars, cafes, and diners had all taken their place as favorites with the exception of V Tower.

Until now, the TV had kept it strictly off limits. Why didn’t he want his temporary kind of boyfriend who was also an emotional support to come over? Val, plain and simple.

By the moth’s standards, they were still a thing despite Vox avoiding him at every literal corner. The potentially catastrophic tantrum he would have in the discovery of their relationship was too risky.

This night, thankfully, Valentino would be at a sex club for the entirety of it so he could invite the deer over without a single worry more. His clothing reflected this calm, more laid back demeanor by excluding his hat and tuxedo jacket.

The notion was enough to make Vox be overcomed with serenity as he opened the door handle of his bedroom and stepped out for his trip to the kitchen. Taking the stairs down from his indoor balcony and into his living area, this mood was propelled straight out of his system.

Valentino was splayed over the TV demon’s modern, dark blue couch with a long cigarette in his mouth. His wings were spread open under himself, revealing the moth was in a tight, black mini dress as he aimlessly scrolled through his phone.

Val’s pure red eyes suddenly widened, noticing the television. “Baby, there you are!~” He shifted the electronic to the side. “Where have you been?”

Vox felt his gut swell with anger at the sight of the moth demon. Petite sparks bursted off from his body while black swirled into the red of his sclera.

“Why the Hell are you here, Val? Weren’t you going to be at that fucking sex club or whatever?” He questioned.

“Yes, but what’s the point if I don’t have my papito to join me?” He used a pair of arms to push himself upright on the couch. “Sorry for the way I’ve been lately, I’ve just missed you so much.”

“I told you can’t come into my area anymore.” The TV stated sternly while marching up to the moth.

Valentino removed the cigarette from his mouth and sighed. “Nor can I come into you for that matter. Aren’t you pent up, Voxy?~”

The moth demon stood up and strutted over to him then stretched an arm in an attempt to stroke the lower portion of Vox’s chest, something that once would have tempted him.

The TV demon shot a bright voltage of electricity at Val’s hand. It was enough to induce pain, not enough to cause legitimate damage.

                             

“LEAVE, Valentino.”

The moth bared his red fangs. “Bitch, you’re no fun.” He spat before stomping towards the doors exiting Vox’s living area.

“Fuck one of your whores if you want fun.” Vox crossed his arms.

Val turned his head back. “And I’m guessing the Radio Demon will do the same for you.”

How could the moth be correct yet so mistakenly wrong within a singular sentence? The television put on his best poker face, Containing the compulsion to leap backwards and shout.

Vox groaned. “Yeah, I told you I had a crush on Al in the past but we’re just friends. I have a business partnership with the hotel he works at.”

“I’ve heard about your ‘outings’ together. You’re lucky I think a threesome between us would be hot.” He replied with bitter flirtation.

“Go!” The television demon yelled while pointing to the doors. 

He could barely tolerate hearing the moth’s voice anymore. Every time it would absorb him in a flurry of animosity and revulsion.

There was a brief grimace on Valentino’s face before he returned to a seductive smirk. “Alright, baby, have it your way.”

With his wings wrapping around himself into a fluffy coat, he opened the doors and exited the TV’s domain. Val still made the effort to lock his venomous glare with the other as he closed them, a warning.

Peace was at last restored to the floor of the television demon, miraculously spared from the moth aggression for the time being. He exhaled then pulled his phone out from the pocket of his pants and in a few clicks ventured into his texts.

 

Vox: Try to keep Val off of my floor tonight. Thanks Vel.

Velvette: I can give him a cheap ass toy or something lmao

 

Vox: Im serious. 

 

Velvette: I know V. Don’t worry.

Vox reclaimed the moth demon’s previous spot on the couch. With a man spread his flatscreen head fell back onto a pillow, momentarily resting his eyelids. If the TV wanted to, he could’ve passed into a deep slumber right then and there… but no.

His date would be here any minute now and it wouldn’t be a very flattering welcome with him knocked out, regardless of any sleepless night of work he experienced prior.

The television forced his arms up for a stretch then picked up the blue cased phone resting besides his thigh. Vox knew he’d be wide awake as soon as he witnessed the sight of his deer but he could compensate with an image before then.

He tapped the screen and went into his photos, scrolling until he found the picture taken next to Alastor while they cuddled in bed. It was a bittersweet reminder of his restored naivety at the beginning of their impossible relationship, a point where he believed he wasn’t solely entertainment or a pawn to the buck. When they went on dates in the present the television had become proficient in suppressing the reality of their dynamic in an effort to mimic his oblivious former self. Vox could let himself go and adore the deer demon like he had true care. If nothing else, it worked phenomenally for minimizing most of their bickering. Most.

Coddling his phone in his hand, he mindlessly fonded over the sentimental imagery. The TV demon was as hopeless as ever with a cyan blush sitting on both sides of his screen.

Then the electronic was pinched away by two red clawed finger tips. Vox frantically tried to swipe it back but the Radio Demon was already analyzing the picture with an awkwardly dainty grip on the phone.

Alastor hummed and adjusted his monocle. “Hmmmm.”

“Holy shit! sorry, Al! You were asleep-eep and I don't know why but I took a photo and-nd… I’ll del-el-ete it right now, I swear!” His words glitched as he desperately begged.

The deer shoved the phone back into the hands of Vox. “Calm down, my picture box.” He shortly laughed. “You may keep it.”

The television blinked, then blinked again, then blinked a couple more times in a row with his mouth half agape. His vision shifted to the photo of them and back to Alastor.

“Oh, and for the record, I was not asleep.” Al teased.

His screen became warmer. “You weren’t…?” Vox uttered breathlessly. “Can I take more photos of you then?”

Alastor put a finger to his chin. “I’ll allow it. I trust that you won’t spread these, correct?” He bent down to the television demon’s level, giving him a small peck on the lips.

“Yeah.” The TV nodded dopily.

“Wonderful, dear.”

Vox slid his phone in his pocket and stood up from the couch. “Quick word of advice though, you could try knocking before entering my place.”

“No.” The deer retorted. “Now, where’s the lasagna you prepared for dinner?”

The TV demon lifted a brow. “Lasagna-?” He paused. “Fuck!”

Vox dashed past Alastor into the kitchen that rested under his balcony then to his sleek oven. He tossed on red mittens then threw the door open in seconds but that still wasn’t fast enough to prevent the travesty.

The lasagna he had talked up so much and spent painstaking hours creating was tarnished. The crispy golden top he envisioned was burnt into charcoal, barely recognizable as a food of any sort. A light smoke trail wafted off of his forsaken cuisine.

He knew his confrontation with Val had made him forget something.

“Fuck you, Valentino.” Vox whispered to himself.

Soon, the TV heard the clicks of Alastor’s dress shoes behind him. “Ah.”

“Do you like your meals scorched?” Vox unwillingly turned back to him. 

“Quite the contrary, raw.”

“Then I’m ordering some shit for us.” The TV demon took the once lasagna from the oven and slammed it onto the counter

The buck’s ears perked up as the television removed his mittens then took out his phone, searching for the cheap burger joint he always enjoyed. 

Alastor’s face scrunched in mild disgust. “Dear, that is unnecessary. I’m sure we can make due with whatever you have in that fridge. I wouldn’t mind an especially rare steak or…” He turned to the aquarium laying beyond the kitchen. “Shark fin soup.”

Vox immediately stopped and poked his screen up from the electronic. “Alastor, No. Those are my babies-” He faked a cough. “-Pets.”

“Babies? Silly.” The deer demon chuckled.

“Shut up.” He tilted his flatscreen head back down. “It would be good for you to try something modern for once in your afterlife.”

Al grumbled. “How about I take one bite of those processed abominations then decide? It was about what you did when I and Rosie offered our meal.”

“Deal.” Vox completed the order with a tap. “Anyways, that’s gonna take a little while to get here which means we have time to play a game.”

The deer’s slit pupils dilated ever so slightly. “A game you say? Will it be cards, chess, poker?” He manifested each possible item into his arms joyously.

“Follow me.” The TV cheekily smiled then took the other’s hand. 

Alastor evaporated the games out of his arms as he obliged with some intrigue painted into his ever smiling expression. Vox led him back to the couch where he sat the buck down in front of his wide screen television while he grabbed two black controllers placed under it. He tossed one into the Radio Demon’s lap and took his seat right beside him.

The TV demon pressed a button to turn the device on. “We are gonna play a video game.”

Alastor picked up the controller in his lap, baffled at its construction. Without a doubt, it was fucking adorable how removed from his habitat he was.

“A video game? I have heard of those. I believe I saw Niffty playing one but she referred to it as a visual novel.” The deer aimlessly pushed buttons.

Vox did his best to suppress a laugh but it snuck out of him anyways.

The buck’s ears flattened in annoyance. “What is it, dear?”

“Nothing.” He said while selecting a game on the television screen. “Ultra Demon Hell Destroyers: 666. It’s mine and Velvette’s favorite.”

“Ah, what an interesting name.”

The TV demon leaned over. “Okay, so this is called a fighting game and your goal is to defeat me. You press that button to jump, that to punch, that to kick, and this to shoot.” He pointed to each in order as he spoke. “There’s a lot of other shit but those are the basics. You get it?”

Alastor stared at the controller blankly, narrowing his eyes. Vox thought he did a damn good job at explaining it, didn’t he? Sure, the deer’s still an old timey prick so it’d take him longer than most but he had faith in him.

The buck cleared his throat. “I am certain I’ll be able to adapt to this. How different could it be from when we were battling?”

“Cool. I’ll go easy on you.” He vigorously readied himself.

Vox selected his go to character, a man with the head of a hammerhead shark, and Al just went with what he was on first, an imp esk demon. ‘VS.’ flashed onto the screen as a large fiery text then the duel began.

The television demon landed the first punch on Alastor’s character. He attempted to punch back but failed due to facing the wrong direction.

Vox considered helping the deer through his confusion but the urge to take the opportunity and strike overwhelmed him. He succeeded in a grand combo while the other had resorted to aimlessly jumping in the arena.

With a final kick the buck had lost.

The TV dropped his controller and excitedly threw his hands up then exclaimed. “Take that, fucker!”

Vox smuggly looked to the Radio demon beside him who was completely unemotive in return. His gaze was locked onto the game over screen, silent, then he clasped his hands together and put them to his mouth. Despite being unspoken for a solid minute, he could hear the static rising around himself.

“I don’t get it.” The deer demon announced at last.

Vox scooched closer and snuggled against Al’s side. “Eh, it was your first try. You’ll get the hang of it.”

He shook his head. “I would rather we try a different video game.”

The TV demon reluctantly obliged and they went through game after game, each as hopeless as the previous for Alastor. The moment he’d fail he would request to move on to a new one despite his encouragement. Vox could at least appreciate the deer for even participating in a modern activity with his commitment to the 1930s.

Then a knock came from his doors. The food was here. The TV demon stood up, brushed himself off a little while he could hear an exhale of relief from the other. He grasped the handles then pulled them open. A nervous employee held two bags out for his boss.

“Here’s the food you ordered, sir.” He squeaked out.

Vox snatched them and immediately slammed the door on his face. He brought the bags back to the couch and set them down on the coffee table in front of Alastor.

He eyed the television demon questioningly. “Wouldn’t you rather consume this at a dining table?”

“What’s wrong with doing something more casual?” He removed the wrapped burgers from their respective bags.

“Nothing, I suppose.” Al put his knuckles to the side of his face.

“Then let’s eat.”

He eagerly unwrapped the burger from its covering and took a large bite from it. The deer with much greater hesitance slowly peeled back the outside then gawked at his meal.

He poked the bun as if it were a dead animal. “Why does this cuisine appear to be soggy?”

“Al, it’s just grease.” Vox spoke through his mouth full of food. “You eat literal rotting carcasses. Why the fuck do you care?”

“Rot is natural unlike these over processed globs of debatable nutrition. Also for the thousandth time, may I remind you to seal your lips while you chew?” The buck scoffed with some actual level of offense it seemed.

“Whatever, It’s one bite, okay? That burger is plain too.” He swallowed.

“Fine.” The deer demon pinched the food with two claws and lifted it to his nose, sniffing it.

The TV set his half eaten burger down on the coffee table in anticipation for his date’s reaction. His yellowed fangs inched closer before he took a somewhat generous bite. He didn’t seem totally pained by it so that might’ve been a good sign.

Alastor then let out a loud hack like the sound of a cat coughing a hairball and sporadically grappled for the wrapper to spit the reminisce up into. It was as if he had been poisoned.

“Horrendous.” He uttered hoarsely.

“Well, now you know how I felt after eating a piece of that intestine.” Vox jabbed him on the upper portion of his arm. “It couldn’t have been as bad as it was for me though.”

Before the television could relish Al in any more snarkiness, he jumped up from the couch and took to his kitchen. Vox could hear the clangs of the refrigerator doors opening then frantic shuffling through the fridge. Soon it was shut and the deer came back with something in hand, raw steak pulled straight from its packaging.

He reclaimed his seat beside the TV demon then tore his teeth into the meat as casually as someone would a donut.

Inexplicably as ever, this was a peculiarly pleasant sight for Vox.

He continued on with his burger then actually swallowed before opening his mouth. “You don’t want me to put anything in the microwave for you?”

“My dear, you know the way I like my meals.” Alastor pulled a napkin from the bag and patted his face. “This still isn’t fresh enough in my opinion.” He ripped another chunk from the uncooked steak.

Vox smiled and stole away the deer’s unfinished burger as he ate. He let himself be absorbed in the fleeting comfort of the other’s presence, fully aware of his own ambivalence. Meaningless acts of reciprocation.

 

---

 

The television folded a pale blue T shirt over himself then looked into the wide mirror while straightening out any wrinkles. For some reason, his eyes landed on their reflection then to the deep bags underneath them.

Had they gotten better or worse? He couldn’t tell.

Vox chose to ignore the thoughts sleuthing back into his mind and took the handle of the bathroom door to exit instead.

Alastor was charmingly kicking his legs back and forth through the air while on his stomach upon the TV’s king sized bed. He was in the red, button up pajamas with a bathrobe neatly tucked over him as usual, reading a book.

The television walked over and sat down next to him. “So, do you just magic yourself clean? Not even a shower before or after bed?”

Al let his gaze drift from the book momentarily. “Precisely,” He snapped his fingers causing a green glow to surge over himself then dissipate. “But I am sure a degenerate such as yourself would enjoy that other concept.”

Vox groaned and flicked the buck’s ear. “I was curious, asshole.”

Vox did notice the deer demon’s refreshed scent, his cinnamony, woody notes somewhat heightened while leftovers of the raw meat’s odor were eliminated. His bob and the fur on his hands may have even gotten fluffier. Whatever he did, it worked.

He then stared back at the book before what Alastor was reading finally struck him. The words inside hadn’t been created by the perfectionism of a printer but rather Vox’s emotionally fuelled scribblings with a pen. Of all the numerous things it could have been, it was his journal.

He leaped out and snatched the priceless object from the deer. “What the fuck, Alastor? You can’t go snooping through my shit while I’m showering.”

“I only wanted something to read, picture box. Nonetheless, I have found the style of your poetry quite intriguing. I was in the midst of when you spilled that coffee on your genitalia.” Alastor sat upright then laughed aloud.

The TV demon stood up from his bed and stomped over to the journal’s sanctioned drawer in his desk. He tossed it in then sealed the compartment, shooting the other a slighted look as he reseated himself. 

It only reinforced the deer’s endless cackles. Vox quietly gave up and took out his phone, pretending to be not so flustered by him. The expected mediocre scroll through his feeds were swiftly, or rather shockingly, interrupted by something that actually grabbed his attention.

‘Group Of Sinners Riot Against Alliance With Heaven.’ Was the headline of the article. The television skimmed through the first half of the report, describing the aforementioned riot that occurred near the Doomsday District from a fair sized batch of sinner demons.

No matter what Vox or the Hazbin Hotel said, some of Hell’s population was growing skeptical of Heaven's proposed peace. 

Don’t get him wrong, he understood that after thousands of years of exterminations not all citizens are ready to turn over a new leaf for them. What was abnormal was how fast that particular opinion was spreading even with the positive reception from the initial announcement. Also, they usually just listen to him on most matters. Someone was interfering.

As Vox scrolled further, that someone was all too expected. ‘Inciter of the riot was claimed to be a sinner dressed in a long, red scarf, sunglasses, a beanie, and large coat draped over his figure’. Beside the description was a blurred photograph of the demon, clutching his scarf to cover his nose and with his face half visible as he turned away from the camera.

Despite his sparse interactions with the concealed sinner, the TV demon had already developed a firm certainty on who it really was underneath as he reminisced. The idea was ridiculous yet somehow completely obvious.

“Fucking Adam.” The television huffed.

Alastor let out one last giggle then crooked his head. “What was that?”

Vox leaned over to show the other his phone screen. “The guy we got in an argument with at the bar is obviously Adam. We both know that because wearing a fucking pair of sunglasses and attempting to put on a boston accent can only work for so damn long. I thought the idea was stupid at first too.”

“I would agree if he weren’t dead.” The deer replied with ease. “Nonetheless, with his hatred of sinners I’m doubtful he’d ever associate with them.”

The TV went into thought then snapped his fingers. “Well, if Pentious was able to be reborn in Heaven then why can’t it be the same for Adam here?”

“A fine point, my dear, but that still doesn’t answer the second half of my rebuttal.” Alastor moved downwards to rest his head on a pillow.

Vox sighed. “Whatever. When the first man has literally stood right in front of us I think it makes sense to discuss that with the Princess at some point.” He put his legs up on the shark patterned sheets of his blue bed, sitting in a loosely criss cross style.

Al nodded and shifted upwards slightly then plopped his head in the lap of the television. His shoulders jumped in surprise before his body relaxed once more, viewing the deer’s peacefully shut eyes.

With a bright cyan blush he reached out to pet the buck’s ears. Vox laid his hand on the red and black fur while methodically brushing it between his fingers. Alastor had only recently granted him permission to touch them and he couldn’t have been happier.

“Your ears are soft.” He gushed.

The deer demon did not respond but Vox didn’t mind. They stayed silent on the bed for a long period after that while he petted his ears. He witnessed as Al’s eyes progressively cracked open again, gazing up at the TV. There was something in his expression he couldn’t quite identify.

“Your skin feels odd.” He touched Vox’s hand. “What did you say yours was made of?”

The edge of his lips curved upwards. “Dermal denticles, basically small, v-shaped scales. That’s what being partially shark gives you along with gills.”

Alastor removed his hand from him. “Fascinating, my dear.” He chuckled while returning to that unidentifiable expression on his face. “I noticed a detail in your diary.”

“Journal.” Vox righteously corrected.

 The buck squinted in irritation. “As I was saying, in your ‘Journal’ I noticed an error in your timeline that I had forgotten to remedy.”

The television studied the deer in his lap curiously. “What do you mean?”

“The night I invited you to stay at the hotel, I was not made aware of Sir Pentious’ arrival to Heaven.” The words came out almost perturbed from his mouth. “Roughly a day had passed when the seraphims finally informed us. Since you and I already had somewhat of a reconciliation, I concocted the idea of getting you to date me so you would be a full ally to the Hazbin Hotel.”

Vox’s triangular pupils widened at the revelation, tugging his hand back from the other’s hair. “Then… Then why did you even invite me? Why did you help your pathetic enemy who was sulking on a bench?” He demanded as if it were the sole question the universe had to offer.

Alastor tilted his head to the side and stared at the shark tank. “The explanation I had then is the same as I have now. I don’t know. In all honesty, I do not know. For the sake of entertainment, curiosity, or,” He met the deep blue’s of Vox’s screen once more. “Who knows.”

Al suddenly pushed up from his lap and rolled over onto a pale blue pillow.

Vox put a hand on his shoulder. “Wait, you’re done talking about this already?”

“Perhaps another time. I feel that it has gotten too late for the both of us.” He said whilst snuggling himself under the blankets. “Goodnight, my dear.”

He desperately wanted to know more but he was certain in how much of a fruitless effort that would be. The deer was stubborn as Hell sometimes, what could he say?

Instead of a speech, Vox put his lips to the side of his face, tenderly kissing his deer goodnight. Through the many lies of Alastor, he could at least sleep peacefully with the knowledge of there being one truth, that genuine smile he saw on the night they reconciled.

Chapter 12

Notes:

Trigger warning for gore.

Vox first checked the flash was off on his phone before lifting it above the dozing Alastor’s head. With a snap, he had a flawless image of him in this stasis. He quietly set the electronic back on his dark blue nightstand with a large grin spread evenly onto his screen.

It was a rare instance catching the deer entirely asleep within his presence, somehow managing to consistently awaken before Vox. This morning was the exception from what he could gather.

Al always did his best to maintain a classy, gentlemanly exterior when around others but his current appearance hardly paid homage to that aspect of himself. His black tipped, crimson hair had become entangled over the night along with the smearing of his eyeshadow across the upper half of his face as he slept.

What may have been the finishing touch to this improper display however was the occasional inhales that bordered into a snore. It wasn’t much but it gave the TV demon a hint on the buck’s faked sleep lacking that trait in particular. Also it was kind of cute in its own right.

In conclusion, Alastor would wake up before the television in order to not be seen unkept. Far from a surprising revelation with the newer knowledge he had acquired of him up to that point. Was it an adorable byproduct of the deer demon’s prim standards for himself? Absolutely.

Vox found himself toying with the loose strands of his hair as a cat would a ball of yarn, gentle enough to not wake the other. What had been the greater challenge was containing his girlish giggles.

His screen promptly fell into a grimace when a knock came from his door across the bedroom. If it was anyone but Valentino, the television would deem it a miracle.

“Mr. Vox?” Called the anxious voice of Papermint.

Better than Val but it’s fucking Papermint. Fuck Papermint.

Alastor let out a slight groan as he began to wake, bringing one clawed hand up to rub his eye. “What was that-?”

The TV demon grappled for a pillow then immediately smothered Al’s face with it to silence his unmistakable radio filter. He carefully lifted it while pointing his thumb to the door and mouthing ‘Someone is here.’

Though the deer demon was more than obviously annoyed, he made the effort to hide his figure under the shark patterned blanket. 

Vox begrudgingly got up from the king sized bed and went to the door, opening it as if it were the most strenuous task he had to face.

There his dorky employee stood with worry dressed over his pupils and a clipboard clasped shakenly in front of his chest. “Sir, uh, there’s something kind of urgent.” He adjusted his glasses. “The cameras caught the front doors of V Tower being vandalized by a group of sinners.”

The TV’s half awake mind barely processed it. He shook his flatscreen head. “Vandalizers? Did our security deal with them?”

“They killed most of the group but the others fled before they could be captured.”

It was just the television’s luck to be granted such a shitty morning. What bastards got the idea to even attempt that on V Tower? Either flat out idiots or the demons unhappy about Heaven.

“Okay, I’ll be outside soon to look at the damages those fuckers caused.” He said then shut the door before Papermint could squeak another word out.

He poised himself close as he awaited for the soft patter of his employee’s feet to move away from the vicinity. Vox quietly went to go sit back on the mattress, the deer popping his bedhead out from under the covers.

Alastor hushed his tone. “Has he left?”

“Yep.”

The buck shifted then sat upright on the bed and straightened his red pajamas that had awkwardly curled around his body.

“I overheard your vandalism situation.” He poofed a 1920s style bristle hairbrush into his right hand.

Vox rubbed the smooth back of his television head. “Yeah, my guess is that it’s related to those sinners who are opposing our alliance with Heaven.” He sighed. “Sorry, but you should get back to the hotel while I look into this.”

Al stroked the hair brush over his scalp. “So be it, dear.”

Before he could give him a proper goodbye, the Radio Demon had already flattened into a pool of shadows that slinked under his doorframe. The TV demon couldn’t hide his disappointment in sending him away but it was for the best. At the end of the day he was still a CEO that had to prioritize his company above all else.

 

---

 

Vox threw on his showman grin as he confidently stepped out of the now cracked glass doors of V Tower, observing the rather disoriented scene.

Some of his security team had remained in the area of the vandalism while a scrawny janitor dragged a mutilated sinner’s body over to a garbage can, tossing it in as if it were just a regular bag of trash. The TV studied the ground more and took note of the remnants of spray paint in a soup of splattered blood across the pavement.

“Took you long enough to get here, V.” Squacked the sharp tongued Velvette.

She lowered her phone while strutting up to Vox from the sidelines, sternness layered over a sneer.

The television let a tired breath out. “Sometimes I actually try not to wake up at 3 AM for work. I had to get ready and I can’t snap clothes on like you.”

“Whatever,” Vel pulled her phone back up to her face. “Just check out the graffiti they left for you.”

The TV demon wanted to give her an eye roll but stood back to take a gander at the damages anyway. The smaller logo they had above the entrance to V Tower with numerous cracked windows surrounding it were, as Velvette foretold, painted over in the multicolored lettering of spray paint.

Of course, there was a plentiful amount of ‘FUCK YOU’ and ‘BITCH’ graffitied but along with those sat more specific choices for insults. In bright red was ‘HEAVEN WILL BE THE DEATH OF US!!’ which had captured the attention of Vox the most, reconfirming his suspicion.

The fashionista harshly piped up again. “Your partnership with that hotel is costing us our reputation, Vox. We barely escaped the scandals with Valentino and yet you decided to do this.”

“I kept yours and Val’s branding off of my promotional shit for the Hazbin Hotel as asked. How was I supposed to predict some random bunch of sinners were gonna turn against them?” He threw his arms out in aggravation.

“You would’ve abandoned those imbeciles already if it weren’t for Ala-” She abruptly stopped herself. “Allining yourself with them in the first place.”

It may have been the horror that came over his screen that prevented her from continuing the original sentence or maybe simply not wanting to spill the tea. Either way, he was grateful.

The conversation had seemingly concluded there between him and Velvette as she went right back to her phone as usual.

Vox turned to his workers. “All of you, I want this entrance fully cleaned up and repaired by the end of today and if you fuck this up,” His eyes thinned with a forboeding laugh. “Well, you know what to expect.”

Before he could revel in his power any longer, his head suddenly vibrated with a ring tone. The TV demon took out his hellphone and transmitted the call to it with a zap of electricity.

Alastor was listed as the name dialing him. Speak of the devil. 

Vox tapped the screen then brought it to the side of his own. “Hey, Al. What is it?”

“Greetings, my dear. I know it is rather sudden to be calling but it appears your same predicament had occurred at the Hazbin Hotel in my absence.” His disappointment was evident as he explained. “Charloette desires for you to come over so we can discuss why this issue happened."

“Are you serious?” The television rubbed the space between his eyes.

“Very much so, I am afraid.”

He whispered a curse under his breath. “I’m behind on work as is but I guess I can shelve my meetings for tomorrow.” He paused. “I’ll be there soon.”

“Until then, picture box.” The deer's voice grew lighter.

“See you.”

The TV demon shoved the phone back into his pocket, acknowledging Velvette’s smug ass face.

 

---

 

Alastor wasn’t kidding about the vandalism. When Vox strode up to the hotel he was met with the golden statue of Charlie’s dead pet, frazzle or whatever, tarnished in toilet paper and unidentifiable markings of spray paint. It was safe to say it was likely done by the group of sinners that visited V Tower.

Moving past it, the TV came to the entrance itself, a sloppily perfect replica of his own. Smashed windows, insulting graffiti, and almost every other detail with the exception of the grounds not being drenched in blood. 

Unsurprisingly, the hotel had found a peaceful solution to dealing with the vandalizers without Al. Vox would’ve preferred the violent option if it meant they wouldn’t be coming over to his place.

A few of the Radio Demon’s minions came into view as they walked by, the larger of them carrying two buckets of red paint in their hands while the smaller ones held paint brushes. They went to a wall by the front doors as they began to use the brushes to cover up the graffiti that read, ‘EMILY WILL BETRAY US’ In yellow.

With the outside thoroughly evaluated, he raised his knuckles to the doors and knocked. A few seconds passed until there was a click and they opened up, revealing Charlie as well as her bright red eyes.

“You made it, Vox.” She cheerfully greeted him. “Follow me, I’ll show you to my office.”

“Lead the way, princess.” He replied whilst mimicking her fake-ish positivity.

Vox realized as he entered the hotel that the number of residents had managed to increase with a new assortment of unfamiliar faces that lingered in the lobby. He saw a sinner reminiscent of a hellhound and others that evoked more generic demonic appearance with a classic combination of horns, fangs, and slit pupils.

The princess brought the TV demon up two flights of stairs (Thankfully) then they went down a hallway to meet with a door. A sign hung off of it that read, ‘Charlie’s Office!’ with a rainbow sketched over the lettering.

Charlie opened it, briefly holding the door for Vox before dashing to a chair behind her desk. Four other seats were laid out, only one being vacant for the television while the others had been taken by Alastor, Emily, and Lucifer respectively.

The deer demon bowed his head as he seated himself next to him. The princess anxiously folded her hands on top of the fittingly unorganized desk, seemingly hesitant to start the conversation.

“Soo… Where do I begin?” She chuckled. “How about you, Mr. Vox, tell us what exactly happened at V Tower with the vandalizers?”

The TV demon fluffed his tie. “They did about the same to ours as they did to your entrance. You know, graffiti on how they think Heaven’s gonna betray Hell and we’re in on it.” He flatly stated. “My security team was able to execute the majority of them.”

Charlie slinked back in her chair with shock. “Hold on, you KILLED them?”

“I, myself, didn’t. My security team was just following their protocol which is to slaughter any outsider who attempts to harm the Vees or V Tower.” The TV calmly replied.

“Vox, that makes us look really bad!” She whined. “If we kill people who go against our ideas that makes us look like we’re trying to silence them.”

The television sensed his charisma beginning to slip. “And what if we are? I understand your concern but I have control over the media which means I can help our reputation stay relatively clean in that outcome.”

Emily leaned over. “If I can add onto this, murder is also bad.”

The TV threw her a scowl as he readied another retort but then Alastor put a hand on his shoulder.

                   

“I believe we’re getting off topic. Shouldn’t we be discussing why sinners are turning against us in the first place?” The buck interjected. “Oh, and, king, could you please stop toying with that rubber duck and listen to what is at hand?”

Lucifer glanced at the deer demon while giving the duck another squeeze then set it down in his lap. “I’ll have you know that I was already focussed but sure, Mr. Radio Demon.” He sarcastically replied.

“Good, now then,” Alastor summoned a newspaper into his hands. “I and Vox have concluded that there is an outside influence that has been shifting the public’s opinion on us and Heaven. Whoever this demon was, he must have been conducting this slowly and with care so as not to cause alarm.” He set it on Charlie’s desk.

The princess picked up the newspaper and inspected the headline. “There was a riot against the alliance? I think I heard about this in passing but I hadn’t gotten the time to look into it.” She guided her finger under the words as she read. “The image for who incited this is kind of awful though.”

The buck scooched closer to her desk and enthusiastically placed his hands on the table. “But you see, I had a run in with this demon on two previous occasions. He bumped into me at the party for your announcement and at a bar. That second encounter he had even been attempting to convince a group of sinners of his beliefs.”

“Do you know who he really is then?” Charlie plopped the newspaper back down on the desk, her eyes growing bigger.

Vox knew.

Alastor waved her off. “Not for certain. I haven’t been informed of his name and he has kept himself well concealed under clothing items.”

“Oh.” The hope on the princess’ pale face washed away.

The TV demon held near full certainty on who it was. It didn’t matter to him if Al thought it was ridiculous.

“It’s Adam.”

The other’s mopiness seemed to have evaporated then and there as their faces perked up in the television’s direction. The buck on the other hand was nothing less than as skeptical as prior.

Lucifer raised a brow. “Adam as in THE Adam?”

“Yes.” Vox affirmed. “I was with Alastor while we talked to him. He was familiar then it hit me that it was basically just the guy with a pair of sunglasses on.”

The deer demon made it blatant that he wasn’t particularly thrilled to bring the idea up, his ears tilting back ever so slightly.

“Though I may not agree, I do admit that the sinner’s demeanor showed some striking similarities. Considering that Adam has died however, I remain doubtful of it.” The buck shifted away from her desk and crossed his legs.

The TV demon furrowed his brows. “I’ve been over this with you, Al. If Pentious was reborn in Heaven then the very same thing could’ve happened to him in Hell.”

The room quieted down. Charlie appeared desperate to say something but her lips were left sealed, presumably out of sheer bewilderment.

Emily earnestly spoke up. “Alastor, Mr. Vox has a good point. I understand your reservations though, Sera didn’t believe it herself when she witnessed Sir Pentious just poof into Heaven.” She bashfully laughed.

“Hmmmm.” The deer grumbled.

The princess brushed her fingers through her blonde hair then exhaled. “We still can’t be sure if the demon spreading this distrust towards us is Adam yet, nor do I get why he would be doing that if it really was him.” She eyed Vox and Alastor. “You both should’ve told me sooner if you thought that though.”

“Well, Charchar, what do you think we should do now?” Lucifer made a nudging motion with his arm.

“Um, I don’t know.” Charlie cupped her chin. “Mr. Vox, maybe you can use your drones to keep an eye out for that demon and also do some more interviews with Emily?”

“How about both of those while hypnotizing the general population into following us?” The television connivingly offered.

She put her hands to the table and stood. “No, I said you aren’t allowed to do that when it comes to stuff related to the Hazbin Hotel. That’s wrong. It should be their own decision whether they want to get redeemed or not… or even hate the angels.” Charlie paced over to a window in the office and gazed out.

God damn it, now he made her get all sappy. Her business would actually do better if she cut more corners yet she’s too much of a goody two shoes to do so.

“Suit yourself then.” He swiftly told her, wanting to end the exchange before she would inevitably cry.

Charlie wishfully sighed. “That’s mostly everything I wanted to talk about. All of you can go now and let’s just hope no more vandalizers visit us.”

One by one, each of them stood up and exited the door of the princess’ office with the exception of Lucifer, likely staying behind to comfort his daughter.

Alastor stuck to the television’s side as he wandered down the hallway, arms folded behind his back. “Going home already, my dear?”

“Yeah, like I told you, I have work to do and luckily that discussion didn’t take as long as I thought it would.” Vox said, his exhaustion scarcely hidden.

“I could follow you for the trip back then.”

The TV demon halted. “I was planning on traveling through the power grid but if you wanna hang out I could call my chauffeur to pick us up.” He gave his flatscreen head a slight tilt.

“Splendid.” The deer spoke.

He rang up his driver and went outside of the Hazbin Hotel to wait and make small talk with the other. Soon enough, a long, Voxtek branded limousine drove in front of the gates and they entered into the vehicle.

The interior was the epitome of wealth, being primarily a combination of polished blacks and pops of fluorescent blues with the occasional reds. 

They took a seat next to one another then he reached down to wrap his hand around the buck’s. 

“Like the scenery?" The TV mentioned with a little too much pride.

“Tacky but I have learned to suspect that from you.”

Al was an asshole and that was never going to change. “Yeah, yeah, I know.” He muttered. “Anyhow, were you salty about being wrong? You were particularly defensive of your stance.”

“Picture box, saying that Adam was reborn as a sinner is quite the hefty claim, do you not realize?” The deer demon argued. “I would not be getting too cocky when we still do not hold enough evidence to support that.”

“Admit it, you are basically disgusted by the concept. Seriously, it isn't that big of a stretch so why does it bother you so much?” Vox gestured with his free hand. 

Alastor wrinkled the edges of his mouth in a strange manner. “Perhaps I found Adam to be an unpleasant figure during my duel along with your idea being absurd.”

The TV demon was fully prepared to launch another counter at the deer but instead something sympathetic overcame him. The first man defeating him was the second ever time he witnessed the Radio Demon fail in a battle besides… When Vox brutally took a victory over him. All of it had been hilarious in the fleeting midst of his blind rage but in the present he wasn’t sure what to make of it with his ambivalence.

He brushed his thumb across the top of Alastor’s fuzzy hand. “Do you just rather believe that dickhead is gone for good?”

The other’s head tilted upwards ever so slightly, possibly to nod in agreement without letting the poker face of his wide smile slip.

He frowned. “Were you scared?” The television questioned somewhat assumingly.

The buck bursted out laughing. “Now do not be so silly, my dear! I can find a battle to be rather grueling whilst not succumbing to such a horrid weakness.” His cackling began to taper. “Fear is not what brings you to the top of the food chain.”

“If you're the emotionless Radio Demon then what did you feel after taking me in when you found me on that bench? Did you enjoy dancing?” The TV prodded further.

“You’re acting as if you were performing an interrogation,” He replied with strain. “But it was entertaining, however. Is this the last of your intrusive questioning?”

Vox wanted to say no but staring outside the dimmed windows of the limousine, they were at the iconic signage that led up to V Tower. Regardless of Alastor's denial, that joyous grin he saw was still without a doubt true.

“Yes, that’s it. We’re almost at the tower anyways.” He spoke remorsefully.

The buck traced the other’s line of sight. “So it is. Well then,” He lifted the TV’s hand to his lips and gave it a kiss. “Till we meet again.” 

He let go then flattened into a shadow as he warped away from the vehicle. Near perfectly synchronized, the tires slowed with a squeak.

 

---

Vox’s skeleton felt as if it could collapse into jello at any given moment, sluggishly dragging his half alive corpse to bed after another shitty day of work.

He softly reminded himself that if he wanted to stay on top of this Hell hole it meant enervating hours of meetings, broadcasts, and answering Vmails along with it. That’s how it was always gonna be. The TV needed to regain his fierce passion from when he started Voxtek then he wouldn’t need to lean on Alastor’s mixed messages any longer.

God, he was envious of his future self just imagining it.

For now though, he could sleep. That’s pretty good. The television toppled over screen first onto the mattress, the most welcoming greeting of them all.

The sheets still smelled like Al. They fucking smelled like him.

Shamefully, he tugged them to his flatscreen and inhaled the faint cinnamony scent then tightly bundled the rest over himself.

Chapter 13

Notes:

Trigger warning for abuse, gore, and cannibalism

Another fucking drone went down. Vox was observing an area of the Doomsday District and watched as some meaningless duel occurred between demons before a crack was etched over his view. Seconds afterwards, it was engulfed by pitch black as he sat in his computer filled surveillance room.

Instead of an obnoxious setback as it had been for countless instances prior, it now signalled for him and the residents of the Hazbin Hotel to venture to roughly the location of where it had crashed.

Murder was far from an unfamiliar event for the Doomsday District but after large groups being discovered dead without explanation, the public was growing suspicious. Some fuckers were already trying make accusations of it being related to the hotel and Heaven because his nearby drone would go down right before a slaughter would occur. At least that acted as a warning to him now.

The TV demon and the residents were hoping to capture the culprit. How they would deal with them afterwards had remained debated though. Nonetheless, he texted Charlie accordingly then pointed a finger towards his monitor as he readied himself to warp over.

A hand grappled for his wrist then tugged him back.

“Hey, baby, can I ask you something?” Uttered Valentino from behind his high tech chair.

Electricity pulsed through the television demon. “No, VAL! Bad time, fucking awful time!” He bellowed as he tried to tear his arm away. “If you don’t let me go I’ll electrocute you!”

“Always with those cute, empty threats. You’d never really hurt me~” The moth purred while his blackened claws dared to peirce into him. “Now, could you answer something for me real quick?”

“NO!” The TV yelled out once more.

“You’re dating the Radio Demon yet he won’t even let you fuck him, did I get that right?”

He froze. “Who told you?-”

His heart pounding as he trembled, Vox regretted the sentence the very moment he enunciated it. Valentino released his grip on his sore wrist with a sneer of satisfaction at the reply. He had got what he wanted.

The moth’s fingers curled around the upper edge of his seat. “Velvette. If you nag a bitch enough they’ll fess up eventually. She gave me the short of it.” He put a long cigarette to his lips.

The television held in a whimper while he quaked. He didn’t have time to crumple to the ground and sob, he had to make it to the Doomsday District and this was his sole opportunity to escape.

Vox would have to worry about Val later, like it or not.

He forced his hand back to face the screen of the monitor and dematerialized into electricity. 

---

From a broken power line a spur of lights solidified back into the figure of Vox as he heaved. How could the most chaos filled portion of Pentagram City feel soothing? It was a feat only the moth could accomplish.

The Doomsday District obviously didn’t have a stable power grid traveling through it so the TV made due with as far as he could get into the area. The crumbling, dark red structures that surrounded him were hardly unfamiliar; They were his and many other demons' battle grounds over the decades, addding a peculiar flavor of nostalgia to the scenery.

A boom launched out from the left of the television that stirred his unsettled fright. Uncharacteristically, he shrunk to his knees and covered his flatscreen head.

Why is he acting so freaked out still? He’d gotten away from Valentino for the time being so why can’t he just calm the fuck down?

He did his best to straighten his posture from atop of his rickety legs then brought his attention to go deeper into the Doomsday District. The TV demon had a general idea of where his drone may have crashed by the massacre and hopefully he would meet up with the hotel residents on his way there.

Vox zapped past and maneuvered his way through rubble but with little success on his hunt. It was quickly becoming clear that he was on nothing more than a wild goose chase through battling demons. He warped passed another incoming grenade and down to a different street.

The TV demon’s navy blue tux and dress pants had already grown dusty from the constant wreckage. He pinched it with a grumble then brushed himself off, slowing his pace to enter a more vacant portion of the area. Once he lifted his sights up again he finally encountered someone he recognized from a distance.

The red bow on the back of a demoness’ long white hair was enough to indicate that this was the somewhat aggrivating Vaggie. She roamed around the grounds aimlessly with an angelic spear in hand.

“Hey! Vaggie.” Vox called out to her as he ran up.

Startled, she pointed the spear in front of herself. “Oh, you’re here.” She lowered it once more.

The purplish lady was unenthused with the TV’s presence and he could confidently say he reciprocated it. “You guys got here quickly.”

“Thanks to Alastor teleporting us without warning.” Vaggie huffed. “Charlie got the text, he heard, then he used his shadow magic, and we’re here.”

Vox laughed. Wait, could she actually be funny?

“That sounds like Al. Where is he and the others though?” He inquired.

Vaggie aimed the spear. “We split up before you arrived but Charlie and him should be somewhere down the street to the right of us.”

“Thanks.”

The TV demon swiftly strode past her and walked across the cracked pavement. He then went by a couple of buildings, nearly got crushed by a chunk of falling debris, but made it through without a hitch.

In an impossibly more decayed area of the Doomsday District he was rewarded with the hymn of a transatlantic voice. In between hills of wreckage the television witnessed Alastor chatting with the princess as they searched.

“And so this place had fallen into chaos ever since.” The deer demon chuckled.

Charlie smiled awkwardly, squeezing a fake laugh out of her lungs in return. “That’s really interesting, Al.”

Vox’s heart fluttered every step closer he got to him. “Have you two found anything yet?”

Alastor’s ear flicked then he spun around. “Ah, there you are, dear. Sadly no but I was telling Charlotte of when I slaughtered the overlord who owned this district. Hilarious how a thriving area could so easily crumble.” He pridefully proclaimed.

“A classic.” The TV replied.

Right then, he wanted to do nothing other than melt in the arms of the buck. Finding the killer was still important to him but he needed a moment, wasn’t that fair?

“Anyways, I think I heard something behind that building over there.” He nudged his flatscreen head towards the direction. “It’s probably nothing but someone should go and check.”

There was a short pause from the two while Charlie’s pupils darted between him and Vox.

She cautiously opened her mouth. “I guess I could-”

“That’s great!” The television interrupted and played a jackpot sound.

He pushed the princess away from him and the deer. She gave them a brief but confused glance then quietly exited the area. 

Once she was out of sight Vox shifted back to Alastor and tightly wrapped his arms around him. He let his weight spill over him and felt as the buck nearly lost balance from the sudden force.

“Oh.” Al chirped.

The TV leaned the brim of his screen over his shoulder. “Sorry, I just wanted to hold you.”

He gently placed his hands on top of his back. “Why are you craving affection so suddenly?” He whispered the question.

“What do you think?”

Alastor brushed his head on the side of his bezel, the strands of his hair lightly tickling him. “That horrid moth again?”

Vox didn’t reply but he was certain the deer demon would take that as a yes. His soft hold progressed into a substantial hug in return as he was basked within his warmth. It was moments such as this where the television needed to remind himself this wouldn’t be permanent.

“He found out about us.” The TV uttered hesitantly.

The buck sharply inhaled and pulled back enough to face his gaze. “Pardon?”

“He got Velvette to tell him and…” Vox tilted his head downwards. “She knows because I’ve talked with her about you a lot.”

The tip of his ears poked into the air with alarm but only half because of the statement. The deer looked past him and he promptly followed to realize that Charlie had just barely stepped out from behind the building.

The television relinquished his hold then gripped his hand. Alastor appeared befuddled but obliged as he quickly guided him down a different street. They soon found themselves venturing through a crumbling sidewalk.

“Won’t Charlotte be skeptical of our disappearance?" He cocked his head to the side.

Vox kept his steadfast pace as they went deeper into the street. “She’ll probably think we just went somewhere else while searching.” He asserted.

“That’s logical, I suppose.”

After a few more steps further, the television demon at last halted and released the other’s hand while catching his breath. He rested his back against the untrustworthy wall of a building. Vox closed his eyes briefly then opened them a second or more later to see Alastor was poised directly in front of him. 

“Shit!” He jolted.

The buck didn’t react, studying him with agitation. “When you informed me that Velvette understood our dynamic before, to what degree did you mean that?”

The TV opened and closed his mouth three times before speaking. “She found my sad sack ass in my room after I rejected you and she ended up getting to hear some crap about us.” He sighed. “Just so you know I would’ve been a lot less likely to be your little helper without her.”

The deer demon tapped his claws on top of his cane. “She mustn't have been the most reliable person to spill that to, considering she would let the moth in on it.” He said accusatorily.

A swell of emotions gushed through Vox with a lump forming in his throat. “Val’s persuasive, okay? I wouldn’t be shocked if he was threatening her or something but I still didn’t ever expect that to happen in the-e fir-st-st place.” His speech grew frantic as his voice glitched. “I’m scared-ed what he’s gonna do now that he re-a-ally knows and if he’ll hurt-urt me again or tell the pu-public about us or-”

He barely processed the tears that were already ushering down his screen. His hands desperately tried and failed to quell the flow but then another river would flood down over his knuckles.

The television felt a soft silk brush up against his cheek and absorb some of his unwavering tears. For a moment the watery veil over his vision cleared, enough for him to recognize that Alastor was holding a handkerchief to his screen. The deer’s crimson eyes in all their mystique glinted with a faint empathy as he tenderly caught his sobs into the folds.

                           

Regardless of how trivial it was for the Radio Demon, another wave of cries reclosed the blinds on his sight as he collapsed into his arms. Al’s legs didn’t even teeter with their firm stance over the waste and shard covered grounds. It was safe.

 After a few minutes Vox’s tears inch by inch began to slow whilst he reared away from his hyperventilation.

“Have you calmed, Vox?”

The TV unbarried his screen from where it had snuggled against the forearm of the deer. For some reason the other’s gaze was locked onto a patch of red eyes sitting on the side of a building.

 “Yeah, mostly.” He sniffled.

A shiver traveled through Al before he pulled away while his pupils shot back to him. “Good to hear.”

The television wiped the last drops from his cheeks. “Maybe Val won’t tell anyone. I mean, he was suspecting we were together before and he wasn’t too bad about it so…” His words trailed off. “I don’t know still.”

“Unpradictable as always, isn’t he?” Alastor folded his hands behind his back and patiently began to walk. “We can either hope for the best or you could confront the moth man and sway him away from a brash decision. I don’t demand that of you however.”

“I’ll think on it.” He paused then softly smiled. “Oh, and thank you for comforting me.” Vox sheepishly said while joining the other’s side.

The deer cheekily twirled his cane in front of himself and clicked it to the pavement. “You’re welcome, dear, but I am here to be your emotional support afterall.” The reminder stung the TV ever so slightly but the teasing energy remedied any real bitterness. “Now, we must make an effort to find the culprit of these killings.”

His eyelids fluttered. “You’re right. Shit, I almost forgot.”

Once again, they were off searching for that stupid massacre. He assumed that would be easier to find but thanks to the maze of the district and the screams of other battles, it was proving to be a challenge. The television honestly wouldn’t be surprised if the demon who was conducting this had finished their murder spree and fled the scene already. Now the citizens are going to believe that they were ‘Secretly letting the angels take out the population.’

He’d like to have a talk with the smartass who came up with that idea.

Vox could give them this though; From images of the aftermath he had seen previously, it was reminiscent of the genocides. Then again, witnessing Alastor mutilate a crowd of sinners also looked pretty similar. 

“The battles we shared here were truly magnificent.” The TV demon heard from behind himself as he pushed past garbage.

He patted dust off of his sleeves and turned to Alastor. “By magnificent do you mean painful?”

“It can be both.”

Vox snickered. “Like the many times you’ve sent me hurdling into these buildings with your tentacles?” He pointed up to one of the taller structures in the area.

“Well, that and I deemed you to be quite the worthy opponent during them. You didn’t even cheat your way to victory as you’d done in our first fight.” The buck’s irritation began to impede slightly.

The television paced away from him and onto another strip of pavement. “Okay, fighting alongside a team isn’t cheating. I got the winning hit on you anyways.” He oriented his flatscreen head to Al as he continued to move. “You were bleeding out on the dirt, defeated, and I was beating the motherfucking Hell out of you.”

The imagery pricked at him from the back of his mind. On some days he’d revel in his victory over the Radio Demon while others he’d just feel empty for that being his last glimpse of him for those seven years.

The gap grew wider between them as Vox went deeper into the street. “Al, where’d you go after tha-”

There was a loud crunch from under himself as he barely avoided toppling over. The TV demon glanced, realizing that it was the fucking drone.

He bent downwards and grappled for the broken electronic and closely inspected it. The lens on it was shattered, of course, but the center was left a vacant gape of wires where something had presumably pierced through it. Vox took his phone out to snap a photo of it.

“I found my drone.” He called to Alastor.

The deer pooled into a shadow then slinked over to him. “Good job, dear.”

“Lets hope the demon who caused this is still around.” The TV analyzed the space in front of himself. “Do you think they were somewhere up ahead?”

“It wouldn’t hurt to check.”

The television put the drone to his side as he strided further down the road with Alastor, seeing no evidence of the potential massacre. That was until he was met with one bright streak of red. It was either a sign or a random sinner’s trailing blood. 

Like an arrow it guided them to a sharp turn into one of the cavernous portions of the Doomsday District. Countless fallen buildings left the place barren and heavy with mountains of plaster and metal.

Innately, it was the optimal battle grounds for demons yet it wasn’t littered with explosions and cursing but with a plethora of mutilated carcasses. It was akin to the remanence of a war without a winner. Not a peep of life skittered into the pit dug between the once city. Some of the demonic figures had missing limbs or decapitated heads while others were diced beyond recognition. Blood was sprayed in a decorative veil upon the waste.  

The buck shoved past Vox and clapped his hands. “What a marvelous find!” He bent down and brushed a finger into a blotch of viscera, putting the delicacy to his lips. “Delicous. It is still fresh.”

“Al, you’re like a kid in a candy store,” The TV’s gaze drifted upwards to the pentagram above them. “Though there’s not really a purpose for us coming here since whoever’s been doing this already fled.”

The deer plucked a discarded hand off of the dirt. “So it seems. Well, it is still probable we’ll have another opportunity.” He bit into a finger like a carrot and swallowed. “Shall I summon the others here to discuss our findings?” 

“Go ahead.” Vox handed the smashed drone to him. “I’ll let you do the talking.”

The TV demon crossed his arms and stepped away from the other, watching impatiently as he snapped his fingers to summon the hotel residents. A concoction of shadows and vibrant green light faded from a blob and into Charlie, Vaggie, Husker, Angel, and Niffty. They wobbled around disorientedly while the maid didn’t really seem to mind. 

“Holy shit, Smiles! I fucking hate how that feels.” Angel complained as he reoriented himself.

“Now, there is no need for such attitude.” The deer motioned an arm to the numerous corpses. “I and Vox were able to locate the scene of the massacre though without a culprit.”

It may have been the television’s exhaustion that caused it but he stopped listening after that. He mindlessly studied the sheet of blood draped over the area and the towering wreckage. From the smaller and more distant of these piles though, he noticed a faint shuffling from what must have been behind it. Most likely some birds? Yeah, but it managed to draw him in nonetheless.

He removed himself from the group and Alastor progressively while his curiosity led him in proximity to the hill. When he was only a foot away from it, a loanshark sinner dashed out from behind the mass in terror.

The sinner failed to make any distance as he immediately crashed to the ground with a scream.

He clutched his bleeding lower leg and pulled out a gun with his free hand.

“LEAVE ME THE FUCK ALONE!” The loanshark wailed then barred his teeth.

Vox didn’t really care to react, his screen showing a hint of disgust at best. The others however, collectively stopped their conversation and stared at the demon with Charlie racing up to them.

She put her palms to her knees. “Are you okay sir? Do you know what happened here?” The princess asked like a worried mother.

He looked around frantically and dropped his gun. “What the Hell? Those damn exorcists were just here!”

That statement alone spread mortification upon the face of everyone there. His mind struggled to even make full sense of it.

“Exorcists?” Charlie reiterated his claim.

“Three of them at least.” The loanshark harshly affirmed. “The bitches wiped us out in seconds.”

Chapter 14

Notes:

Trigger warning for abuse.

“So far, Emily has claimed to have no knowledge of those Exorcists. Most of the others have grown wary of her regardless but Charlotte has stayed trusting." 

“Of course she would, I’m just worried about how she’s going to address all this shit to the public. I’d do it myself if she wasn’t so staunch about it.” Vox replied with irritation.

Alastor lightly chuckled. “Not so fond of her new moxie, I see?”

He leaned his flatscreen head back on his navy blue couch. “Can’t you make her shut up or something?”

“Quite possibly but, hmmmm…” His expression darkened. “I would rather conserve that power.”

The TV demon chose not to question Al’s ominous response. It was more than normal to get that from the Radio Demon.

Only a day had passed since they ran into that wounded loanshark, his tellings of what occurred leaving everyone in a panic. With the curious citizens in mind though, Charlie was dead set on making a statement today as if Vox didn’t have enough crap to stress over. He didn’t even make an attempt to sleep last night.

Alastor glanced at the wide screen television in front of them, currently playing a game show. Vox assumed the other mentally scoffed at it before picking up his respective coffee from the modern, black table. 

“You know my time is limited this morning, dear.” The buck took a sip out of his pale red mug. “Did you invite me to your quarters solely to discuss that?”

The television demon lifted his flatscreen head. “Well no, I just wanted to hang out for a bit.”

“Company is all then?”

The TV demon hesitated to answer. “Fine. There’s more to it.” He said. “I’m going to confront Val about our relationship. I don’t want him to do anything drastic but I’m worried how he’ll react if I push back against him. I’m trying to relax before then.”

The deer demon touched his shoulder. “What has the moth done since he's been aware of this?”

“Nothing, thankfully,” He reached into his pocket and took out his phone. “other than insulting us over text for not fucking.”

“Pardon?”

“Look.”

Vox put the phone screen in front of Al. “His vocabulary may be even more flavorful than yours, picture box.”

“Yeah.” He tossed it on the table. “I’d be more pissed at him for not understanding if it weren’t for how I acted.”

“I find it peculiar that it’s unusual to most.” The buck put the brim of his mug to his mouth.

The television fiddled with his hands. “How’d you figure that out about yourself anyways?”

It was a total coin flip if the deer would even reply. He would either reject explaining as a whole or at best vaguely answer. Despite his mystique being one of the things that initially enchanted Vox, it proved to be a rather inconvenient trait over the years.

Mid sip, Alastor pulled the coffee back jaggedly. “How? Well, I hadn’t realized I was abnormal for the longest time. In the 1930s, topics such as that were rarely discussed so I presumed everyone else held the same feelings towards intercourse as I.” He clicked his fingers to the side of his mug. “It was only because of the promiscuity in Hell that I noticed. Nonetheless, I believe it to be a gift.”

He actually gave a semi clear explanation. What the fuck? 

“I still can’t imagine what it’s like to not enjoy sex. I’ve been a horny bastard since puberty.” The television admitted.

Alastor went momentarily silent. “Has it bothered you, not having it then?” He questioned with unexpected sincerity.

He shook his flatscreen head. “Not as much as I thought. It was pretty difficult at first but it’s gotten easier if anything.”

Vox watched as another inquiry popped into the mind of the buck. “What made you realize your interest in men?”

“You, I guess.”

It was the most honest answer Vox could give.

Alastor’s ears poked into the air. “Oh. I suppose that isn’t surprising considering your fascination with me.”

“Whatever.” The TV crossed his arms. “I think it hit me after you invited me to your radio tower for my first extermination. I was confused as Hell too because I didn’t know it was possible to find both men and women hot.”

Al twirled a strand of his hair. “Are you saying you’d find me equally as appealing if I were a lady?”

“I bet.” Vox laughed. “What about you with men?”

The deer demon was suddenly stilted, his yellow fangs zipping closed until he made a fake cough into his fist. It was enough of a sign that the TV wasn’t gonna get an answer. Alastor was falling into his old habits like always.

Before the deer could provide one of his half assed denials, Vox interrupted. “Fine. Keep it to yourself.”

Of course on the rare occasion he actually gets to know the buck, he clams up again right after. It wouldn’t matter anyways. Why does the TV demon keep letting himself think that Alastor really likes him? Then again, why was he so selfless taking him in after Val kicked him out of V Tower. Everything about the Radio Demon was mixed messages.

Al snapped his fingers and poofed his mug away. “That was a lovely chat, my dear, but I shall be departing now.”

“Wait a second.” Vox snagged his blue cased phone back off the table.

“Yes?”

The television couldn’t believe he was still gonna do this. “I wanted to take a photo of us kissing before you go.” He stated awkwardly.

“You mustn't be so shy about it.” He took calmly to the request and scooched closer to him.

Vox angled the phone in front of themselves before the deer leaned in to give him a peck on the lips. He almost forgot to snap the photo as it happened, more tempted to continue with him.

Alastor, disappointingly, pulled away. “Did you get it?”

The TV looked at his hellphone then nodded with a flushed screen.

“Good. I shall be on my way then.” The buck fluffed his tie. “Best of luck with that moth.”

“Same to you and Charlie. I hope she doesn’t fuck this up without me for the broadcast.” The television demon commented begrudgingly.

The deer’s figure poured into a shadow across the floor and slinked out the entrance of his living area.

Vox was alone once more with a task he was dreading to complete. He got up from the couch and went to the tall glass wall of his aquarium then placed his hands upon the outside. He tilted his screen downwards and exhaled, letting his body rest against the emanating blue light. The TV demon’s mind wandered as he remained there for a few minutes.

Turning his TV head back up, he noticed a curious shark had swam in front of him. Vox smiled.

There was no point in putting it off. He walked to the doors that exited his living area. It led to a hall outside that matched with the style of his dark blue interior but with heavier sprinklings of flora like the rest of the tower.

From there, Vox marched into an elevator and pressed a button. He was going straight to Val’s penthouse, assuming he was still in the place.

It seemed like ages since the TV demon dared to enter Valentino’s domain, a stark contrast to when his floor was practically interchangeable with his own. Nonetheless, it was the Vees designated hangout where HE’D go to relax after a long day of work. Now though, visiting it was anything but.

Even with a boost of courage he noticed as his hands began to tremble from behind his back, the shiver slowly leaching its way to the entirety of his body. He shut his eyes while attempting to regain control over his quickening breaths.

Vox just had to get back into his old mindset. Confronting Valentino when he was pissed used to be routine for him. He’d never break a sweat doing so. Sure, it was annoying as all Hell but he could handle it fine… until the moth demon got worse… and worse.

A chime rang and his eyes fluttered wide, the elevator doors opening to the dark pink and gold hallway that led to Val’s penthouse. The TV stepped out from the lift and walked to Valentino’s similarly moth-like workers at the entrance. They looked at him then to one another in shock before cautiously holding the doors open for him. Vox went inside as nonchalantly as he could.

The moth demon, as usual, was scrolling through his texts on the couch. The television was on but he paid little regard to it. All in all, he was abnormally docile for their current situation. He wasn’t alone either as Velvette sat on the couch next to him, doing the same.

“Hey, Val,” The TV forced out. “Can I talk with you?”

He poked his head up from the electronic and greeted him with a scowl. “Really, Voxy? I’m surprised you’d even drag your ass up here.”

Velvette’s trance with her phone was swiftly broken. She stood up from the couch and darted to the small bar located under the balcony. It was instinctual for her to flee whenever they were on the verge of a fight. 

His legs strode forward to where the moth sat. “You know why I did.” Vox said authoritatively.

“Because you’re getting cucked by that ciervo.” His sights drifted down to his phone. “Scared that I found out?”

“This isn’t about if I’m scared of you. Tell me, do you plan on leaking this shit?” He demanded.

Valentino smiled. “You’re lucky your screen is still intact.”

“Tell me!” The TV demon shouted.

The moth demon got off the couch. Vox threw his arms out in front of himself and jumped back. It was as if his very being was repelled by him. Valentino put his hands on his knees and bent down to his level.

“I’ve considered it. I’ve considered many things because of you.” His voice held no emotion. “You’ve made me very angry but if anything… I’m confused why you’re lusting over the Radio Demon rather than me.”

“What do you mean by that?” The television struggled to keep a steady posture. 

Val returned to his flirtatious persona. “It was strange enough that you didn’t want to fuck me but when I heard that you might be sleeping with Al instead, I thought I had my answer. Guess what I hear from Vel though.”

Vox opted to look at the windows instead of him. “Stuff she shouldn't have told you.” He whispered.

The moth demon gripped the edges of his screen and tugged him back. “You’re dating but he won’t let you fuck him. How sad.”

The TV demon zapped out of his reach. “Alastor doesn’t like sex, he’s repulsed. It’s as simple as that, asshole.”

“You actually believe him? Most bitches don’t even know what they want, a lot like you, horny fuck.” Valentino gritted his sharp red teeth, nearing him again with the step of his high heel. “You get nothing from that old man, unlike me.”

Vox’s fright was overcome by a surge of rage. “He’s never kicked me out of my god damn home when he’s pissed at me! It’s the least I can fucking ask for!” He bellowed, his right eye swirling with black.

“Do you want me to leak your relationship with that buck? You deserve it after all this bullshit you’ve put me through!” Val raised his voice above the TV’s.

Valentino, the demon that he suffered years being with, had it the worst. What a joke. The lashes of pain stricken into him from every tantrum, the aching he’d awake to after, the never ending fear of when he would be hurt again, and crawling back to him regardless. In the eyes of the moth, Vox’s obedience held greater importance than any of it.

“Look, you know a lot already so I’ll give you this. Me and Alastor are gonna break up,” The TV frowned at the thought. “Eventually.”

The moth's poisonous glare morphed into excitement. “So you do miss your papi?~”

“Fuck no. I’m trying to say that exposing us won’t mean shit in the end.” A flare of electricity shot from the television demon.

Val appeared to be calculating something for once in his mind. “Well, if it’s just a little fling with that freak, I guess I could keep it to myself.” His tone calmed. “I’d be even more willing though if you’d come back to me when you’re all finished.” 

“Maybe we can be on speaking terms but that’s it.” He wanted to gag at the sentence. Whatever keeps Valentino from throwing a tantrum.

His smile grew wider. “That’s the most reasonable you’ve been in months.”

The moth demon shifted closer to him, stretching his limbs out with vigor laced in his every motion.

“What did I just say?”

The moth grimaced. “I was hoping that was an innuendo. Fine then.” He folded his lower set of arms then walked over to grab a photo off the table. “You left this, by the way.”

The TV demon followed and cautiously accepted the image. It was the first ever photo he had taken with the Radio Demon, now regrettably torn in half and slashed by a knife. Despite colored photography being normal at the time, Alastor only agreed to getting a photo with him if it was done in black and white. The old fashioned way. It was a fuzzy memory.

“Jerk off to that or whatever, I have some shit to film. Thank fuck if Angel is as obedient as you today.”

He heard the doors clank behind Val as he left but Vox found himself transfixed by the photo. He would’ve retrieved it sooner if it hadn’t been residing in his penthouse. The television gently folded it in half and inserted it into his pocket.

He was prepared to leave then and there but as he looked up, Velvette caught his attention from across the room. Vox had one last thing to do here.

The TV demon went under the balcony and took a seat next to her at the mini bar. Vel was resting her head on her palm, not realizing he had sat next to her for a solid minute as she scrolled.

 She briskly met his gaze. “Oh. Hey, V.” Velvette sounded almost ashamed, something truly rare from her.

“Why’d you let Val in on this?” Vox bluntly asked.

The fashionista sighed and put the electronic on her lap. “He wouldn’t shut up about it.”

“And what? You know what he might’ve done to me. What he STILL might do if he gets in a mood.” He clenched his fist with a pulse of anger.

“He’s shitty to me also.” Vel retorted. “By the time I admitted it he was threatening to shoot up my studio again.”

The TV slammed his hands onto the bar in front of them and stood. “You’re one of my closest friends. I trusted you, okay?” He snapped.

As the television demon trudged away he saw a glint of remorse on her face. That wouldn’t suffice right now. He went to the doors of Valentino’s penthouse and left the area, soon returning to his usual work for the majority of that day.

 

---

 

Vox couldn’t help to let out a yawn as he entered the Hazbin Hotel. He mostly came to check in with Charlie after her speech but staying over with Alastor was equally (If not more appealing) to him.

Only two demons resided in the lobby. Husker, half asleep as he scrubbed the bar, and the princess nervously pacing next to the couches with her hair a mess. The implication wasn’t great.

“Princess?” The TV demon called to her.

Startled, she frantically spun around and waved. “Oh, hi Vox.” Charlie squeaked.

He lifted a brow as he walked to her. “Was my film crew a pain in the ass?”

The princess waved her hands. “No, no! They were fine actually,” She sheepishly looked to the side. “Fantastic.”

Vox pulled his showman grin. “Glad to hear it.”

Charlie quickly nodded then fell right back into her own train of thought, gnawing on her black nails.

“So, how did your speech go then?” He prodded.

She didn’t reply immediately, instead wringing her hands. “I tried being as honest as possible about what we learned in the Doomsday District.”

Dear, fuck. If that didn’t set off alarm bells in his TV head. “Did you say the exorcists attacked? That’s more fuel to the fire for Adam’s conspiracy on us.”

“Not like that, I only quoted what we heard from that sinner yesterday. I clarified we still couldn’t confirm if it’s true yet.” Her eyes widened as she desperately explained.

“Isn’t much better.” The television turned his back to her with a grunt.

The princess bolted in front of him. “What did you want me to say? I’m not gonna lie to my people.”

“How did being honest go for you today? Not that fucking well guessing by the state you’re in.” The TV gestured to her.

She brushed a hand through her tangled hair. “Well, I’ve heard some talk of their ideas on us,” Charlie murmured. “But it’s barely anything right now. Besides, I won’t betray my morals for this.”

“Is this hotel important to you?”

She straightened her stance, though obviously confused.“Yes, of course.”

He quirked his screen to the side. “You’re a terrible business woman then.” Vox’s charisma was sapped.

“Excuse me…?” She uttered, agasp.

“Charlie, let me put this to you bluntly. If you want a successful business then you don’t get to have morals. Integrity, kindness, generosity, you sacrifice them.” The TV demon folded his hands behind his back. “Business and sacrifice go hand in hand.”

A small set of red horns peaked out from the scalp of the princess. “Do you even understand why I’m doing this? I don’t care about the money or fame, I want to help souls here get to Heaven!”

It was the first time Vox had ever provoked Charlie. The first time she’d ever yelled at him. It didn’t deter him, only fostering his unrelenting bitterness.

“That doesn’t matter! If your hotel does shit because of your PR no one’s coming!” He stopped to catch his breath. “It wasn’t easy for me either. It’s not just the mushy crap you sacrifice, it is yourself! All of you! Every damn moment is about your stupid company. It doesn’t matter if you're happy, it doesn’t matter if you’re sad, it doesn't matter if you don’t wanna wake up in the morning! I sacrificed everything to get where I’m at!” He screeched with static.

                               

A spur of electricity flashed out from Vox before darkness consumed the entirety of his surroundings. The only surviving light was dimly cast down from his screen, enough to illuminate Charlie. As Husker yelled out a curse, he saw her once livid face turn to something remorseful.

“Mr. Vox, are you okay?”

No.

“I am.” The television said too quickly. “My apologies.”

There was a short quiet until a voice chirped from the balcony.

“Vox?” Alastor spoke out.

He looked to where the sound came from, the Radio Demon’s piercing red pupils catching his attention immediately.

Like a wounded animal, he rushed up the closest stairs then zapped next to the deer.

The TV put his hand on his shoulder. “Could you warp me to your room?” He requested with forlorn.

In a heartbeat they were engulfed by a shadow, Vox taking indescribable comfort in it. As the darkness washed away his shoes were met with warm planks. Light was reintroduced into his vision from the green fire in Al’s room.

The TV demon went to the chair right of it and collapsed in the cushy material. He massaged the spot on his screen where his nose would’ve been.

With his spare hand hanging loose on the armrest, the buck covered it with his soft touch.

“How are you feeling?” He inquired.

The TV did his best to suppress his bite. “What do you think?”

His ears flattened, eyeing the floor rather than speak. “Did Valentino listen?”

“I mean, pretty much but-” He cut himself off. “It’s probably just stress making me act out.” He dragged his foot along the planks.

“Do you know the reason for it?”

“Not really, it’s everything...” His arms folded over himself defensively. “I DON’T wanna talk about it!” The television shouted.

The deer demon pulled back, expression blank.

He let his flatscreen fall and hushed himself. “Sorry.”

Vox was tired. Tired of worrying about the Vees, Alastor, and all of the Hazbin Hotel and Heaven’s bullshit. That and anything else that would inevitably crawl its way into his mind. He took solace in the cracking of the fire, a semi good distraction for his raving thoughts.

There was a small tap on his shoulder. The television looked back in the direction of the buck, now holding a bowl of hot jambalaya in his hand.

“Have you had dinner yet, my dear?” Al held it out to him.

The TV gently smiled. “Nah.”

Hit with its savory scent as he took the bowl, Vox instantly plucked the spoon out from the rice. The buck summoned his own bowl and sat across from him while the TV dug into his meal.

He swallowed the rice. “Is jambalaya the only thing you eat besides deer and dead people?”

Alastor chuckled. “Quite the contrary. I’m fond of gumbo as well, picture box.” He stirred the contents. “I’m nostalgic, admittedly. My mother made these dishes for me as a child. I learned all my best recipes from her.”

“I’m kind of nostalgic for this too so I can’t blame you.” Vox took another bite mid laugh. “Even if it’s your fault. Your mom must have been a great cook.”

“Oh, trust me, she was.” He took a spoonful of his own food.

In tranquil silence they ate their bowls of jambalaya, Alastor even neglecting to comment on Vox’s messy chewing habits. It was the first time in what felt like ages the tension strung throughout his mind and body had been alleviated. His bliss would most certainly be brief but that didn’t negate his appreciation for these sparing moments.

With a few scoops left the deer demon’s smile turned faint. He lifted a hand over his mouth and muttered something his hearing receptors could just barely make out.

“I’m sorry for getting you involved in this…” He whispered, radio filter absent.

The TV demon tore the spoon away from his screen but halted himself as he gazed at the other’s wide pupils. He knew Al would rather it be ignored.

 

Notes:

Art for this chapter was inspired by the season two sneak peaks. I am very hyped!

Series this work belongs to:

• Part 1 of And That’s The Heartbreaker