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velvet-paradox · 2 years

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Fandom: Outer Banks Pairing: Rafe Cameron x Pogue!Female reader Summary: When Ward kicks Rafe out of the house, he has nowhere to go until you run into him. Length: Long Warnings: NSFW 18+ ONLY, reader discretion advised, explicit language, strong language, angst, sad Rafe, drug use, fingering, oral (m receiving), protected P in V, detailed smut.

ENJOY!!!

"You owe me." You said as you pulled your truck down the bumpy road to old John Routledge's road, bouncing around in the cabin as you drove, the little air freshener hanging off of your rear view mirror swaying wildly.

Fall was just on the cusp, colored leaves threating the ground as you turned on your blinker, a stickler for not having Shoupe stop you for some miniscule traffic stop on such a fine day if he were around trying to make quota.

"Yeah yeah."

"I mean it this time!" You voiced. You weren't just some limo service or cabbie on The Cut but Pope was technically family, your parents being his parents best friends before either you or the young man shaking around in the passenger seat were born some twenty odd years ago. He had passed his written but not the actual behind the wheel test just yet.

"I said yeah!" Pope grumbled, grabbing an overnight and a large water bottle from the back before he hopped out, giving the door a hearty slap to send you on your way.

"I'll pick you up on Sunday. And hey, Pope?"

"Yeah?" He stopped, holding his pillow.

You pointed at him from the inside, JJ gave you a little wave with two beer cans in hand before jogging down towards the watery bank. "Be safe." ....

Leaning forward you could see the clouds rolling in, a storm was on its' way and you wanted to get home before it hit. You turned down the radio as if that would help in your beat up truck. At the stop sign you saw someone trudging their way along the bank, no sidewalk was in place at this corner of the street. You slowed and made your turn, headlights illuminating a tall, familiar form. Reaching over you rolled down the passenger window.

"I know that's not Rafe Cameron on my side of the island." You called, putting the truck into park with the flashers on, just in case.

Rafe slowed to a stop, hands in his pockets before answering with a quiet "Hey."

"Hey, yourself. What, Barry's not home?"

"Oh he's home."

"Where's your truck?" You looked around at the empty street, a stray cat ducking underneath one of the parked cars on his side of the street.

"My dad drove it home."

"Without you?" You asked once you hopped out, that blue polo that brought out his eyes sat nice and tight over his chest, clearly he'd been working out with his buddies at the Country Club doing him justice.

"Yes without me, Y/N!" Rafe gestured around with his hands then his chest. "Do you see his ass around here anywhere? Why do you care anyway, just go home."

"Relax, tough guy." You chuckled and came to the side, hands up in defense. "It's late, gonna' get even darker soon, you should probably get inside somewhere."

"I'm a big boy Y/N, I can take care of myself thanks."

"Maybe on Figure Eight, but out here..." You motioned around with a shake of your head. “There's six stray dogs three blocks from here, alone. Get in the truck." You motioned with your head, the soft music from the truck traveling just enough for you to know it was a song worth missing. "You want me to take you home?"

"That's the problem." Rafe sighed and bit his bottom lip.

"What is?"

"Fuck, you're nosy!" Rafe shouted, when you took a step back he rubbed at his smooth face, pointing to you then the darkening sky, then to himself. It's not like you two were ever considered friends, forced to partner up in class a handful of times, did a few shotguns at the Boneyard, maybe played a round of Cornhole but not friends. Especially knowing what he thought of Pogues in the first place, he was classist and his attitude spoke volumes.

"I don't... I don't have a home to go to. Not anymore. My dad kicked me out tonight, paid off what I owed Barry and... he just, he just fucking left me here! I have no way to get back to the Eight, it's fucking dark as shit, I'm cold." Rafe rattled on, emotional rollercoaster and it made you worried when you saw the tears in his eyes, he was lost. "I try, alright? I'm not the best son, yeah, I know that but I'm trying here. Trying to make my father proud, I'm out here fighting for my family and what does he do? Chucks me out like I don't matter. But I do matter Y/N, maybe not to you but I fucking matter and instead of cleaning up everyone else's messes, I wish someone would give me a little validation, a little 'Thank You Rafe'. Would it kill 'em, huh? I'm a very proactive type person you know? Just-- sometimes I wish someone would just ask me if I'm ok, ya' know?"

Rafe sniffled and wiped at his eyes before looking at you again, expelled of most of his energy Rafe bent over and hugged his knees. That was the most he's ever said to you and you felt bad, not sorry, per se, for the man before you. You just felt bad that he had a house full of people, siblings and friends and yet here he was out on The Cut breaking down and venting to a Pogue.

It made him seem less scary and boisterous, made him human.

With a sigh you closed the gap, not sure if you should touch him but you did, softly. Rafe slowly stood, blue eyes fixed on where your hand was on his cool shoulder.

"Rafe. Are you ok?"

Rafe swallowed his pride and pursed his lips and shook his head, dirty blonde strands sweeping across his brow. "No. No Y/N I am not ok, I am so not ok."

"You wanna' know what I think?"

"Sure. Shoot."

"I think you're fucking tired. No; more like fucking exhausted." Rafe looked somewhat relieved, you could see him working things out in his brain, squinting in the moonlight. You made up your mind as the words left your lips. "Alright, I'm taking you home."

"Home? Did you not hear a fucking thing I just said?! I just poured my heart out to you and--"

"Relax. I'm not taking you to your house; I'm taking you to mine." You announced, crossing the road to hop back into your truck, waving for Rafe to follow with fluid steps.

....

"Well, you've got three options Mr. Cameron. Anywhere on the floor is free, the couch which also turns into a full though it's a little lumpy so... or you can sleep on the right side."

Your house wasn't a mansion by any means, just a cozy one level you decorated over the years. Rafe clearly hadn't been this far on the OBX by the he was looking around like a tricked dog going to vet and not a car ride. He stood next to you, his height made him look like a giant inside your small angular living room.

He shoved his hands in his pockets again.

"The right side of what?"

"Of me."

Rafe choked and gave you a set of neatly furrowed brows.

"We're adults Rafe, we can sleep in the same bed."

"I know that I just... I haven't slept with anyone in a long time."

"That's shocking." You snorted and turned on another lamp, kicking off your boots and tossing your purse to an ottoman.

"Hey, thanks. But... why are you being nice to me?"

"Someone should," You shrugged and looked at him trying not to take up space as he looked around. "There's some pizza in the fridge if you want, figure out where you're gonna' sleep. I'm gonna' take a shower."

Rafe just nodded and continued perusing your things.

....

"He's where?!" Pope shouted, dropping his side of the cooler you were helping him carry into the back room of his dad's business.

"Calm down, it's just Rafe, not some psycho killer." You grunted and hefted up the heavy box, walking backward but making sure every ten feet or so you wouldn't trip and break something.

"Actually I'd feel better about some stranger being there than Rafe fucking Cameron in your house!"

"Language!" Heyward called out from the register, a pencil behind his ear when you passed by.

"Sorry, Pop. I'm serious though, get him out of there."

"He's not going anywhere. He doesn't even have a car, it's just for a few days I'm sure."

"A few days? Is your head on straight?," You held in your chuckle when Pope's voice cracked at his exclamation, his eyes narrowing. "This is Rafe Cameron we're talking about here, the biggest bully of every Pogue since he's been alive probably! And he's staying at your house, on The Cut... hell Y/N he even bullied you when you went to school with him!"

"I think he's misunderstood." It was true but that was how long ago now? You and Pope brought the cooler down gently and you dusted your hands off on the smooth apron you wore over your clothes.

"I think he's fucking crazy!"

"Pope, don't make me come back there!"

"Sorry." Pope apologized again with a sigh. Your friend touched your shoulder and pointed a finger at you as if he were the older of the pair. "If he tries anything..."

"Right. I'll be sure to let you know." You chuckled and finished unloading the latest shipment.

....

"Are you playing Jenga... by yourself?" You smiled, Rafe's big body was sitting on the floor of your living room, just pulling out a middle block when you got home. It was strange to see someone in your house after living alone for so long, let it be the Kook King himself. Rafe pushed back his hair, ready to make his next move.

"What else am I gonna' do?" Rafe rolled his eyes.

"I'm surprised you're not wasting your battery on your phone. Call up one of your buddies to take you instead of me."

You noticed how he worked his jaw and cracked his neck, placing the block to the top of the tower. "Got a little silly waiting to see if my dad would call so I turned it off. If he wanted me home, I would be."

"How long do you think you're gonna' hang around The Cut now that you're an honorary Pogue and all?"

"I'm not a Pogue." Rafe snapped.

"I wouldn't be so sure," You made a face and joined him on the floor, taking a block of your own before responding. "Let's see... you got in a blowout with a parent, check. Their giving you the silent treatment for emphasis of how much they stand by said statement, double check. You got kicked out of the house and all of your lovely amenities and are crashing on someone's couch, triple check. And by all those accounts, that definitely has Pogue written all over it!"

"Oh fuck off."

"You can stay as long as you need to, if you need a ride somewhere just ask."

You watched the block of choice slide out.

"I can drive, ya' know?"

"Yeah, your truck, not mine."

"I'm not gonna' total it! I need to get some clothes at least, I've never worn the same outfit two days in a row in my life. Gross."

"Oh shut up, live a little. You don't have to prove anything to me, Rafe. I know you." You said and took your turn.

Rafe's next words made you second guess the blonde.

"Nobody knows me."

....

"I don't understand why we waited until after midnight to come here." You voiced and parked your truck at the front of Tanny house, Rafe sighed and told you to be quiet.

"Because I don't want to see my dad, or any Cameron right now," Rafe huffed and pushed open the creaky passenger door. "I won't be long, just gonna' grab a few things alright? don't ditch me."

You watched him cut a short jog through the yard.

Tapping your fingers on the steering wheel you waited, why you didn't really know. The guy was home, Ward was probably over stewing about kicking out his only son. All you had to do was drive off but something about Rafe being sullen and human, a different version you got to witness was intriguing, a mystery. You didn't mind the company either, you reasoned. Especially handsome company.

With that smooth jaw and square chin, you remembered that odd zing, that scrape up your spine when you saw him sweet talking some naïve girl at the Boneyard. What was he saying to them to have them bat their lashes and gloss their lips, cock their heads and laugh with him. Or was he laughing at them? Too vulnerable to know they were in the clutches and paw of a serial predator.

Especially when they flirted over how much coke forty bucks could get them.

You were ripped from your memories when the door creaked open once more, Rafe had grabbed a red duffel bag and held it in his lap when he got back in. You snorted when you realized he had made himself a quick sandwich, holding it in his mouth.

To your surprise he offered the rest to you on your drive back over the bridge. ....

A few days turned into two weeks. It was strange how easily you two interacted, understood the silence, domesticated Rafe Cameron was something you thought didn't exist. Let alone picture.

He was the enemy for most of your life and here you were, watching the way his fingers moved and flexed while he rolled a joint. Stargazing in your little backyard. The lighter took a few tries before he lit it, inhaling the smoke with a satisfied smile before he passed it to you.

"Do you think I'm a bad person?" Rafe asked when half the joint was gone, making you sit up.

"Do you think you're a bad person?"

"I'm asking you." Rafe sniffed and took the joint from your hand.

"If you had asked me a few years I would've said you were the worst," Rafe snapped his head to you but shrugged, knowing it was true. He was an asshole. "But... I wouldn't let you stay with me if I thought you were."

Rafe clicked his teeth and took the last full drag, putting it out on a used pasta sauce lid. "Nobody wants me."

"What?"

"I haven't heard from my dad since I got here," Raffe shrugged again, holding onto his knees and digging the heels of his shoes into the ground. "He texted me once though, last Saturday, asking if I was safe. I tried calling Top and Kelce... said I couldn't stay with them either."

You frowned. "Do they know where you are?"

"They know but they don't care," Rafe smoothed back his hair with both hands and bit the inside of his cheek. "Maybe I'm as bad as everyone thinks. Might as well be the villain, somebody has to be."

You were unraveling the layers that made up Rafe Cameron without even knowing, all he really needed was someone to listen to him. To hear him out, to entertain his venting and let him clear his head. You wondered if he had any real friends at all, if they'd change the subject or ignore his feelings all together. Maybe that's why he wanted to stay with you, you saw him.

"I think you're crazy," Rafe snorted and gave you a look when you bumped your shoulder against his own. "You're not a bad man Rafe, you've got demons like everyone else. Let's not waste a good buzz so," you laid back on the grass, tucking your hands behind your head. "Now, show me which constellations you know."

Rafe chuckled, a genuine and foreign sound that felt like bells ringing. "I don't know any."

"Sure you do! Everyone knows at least two-- so show me."

"Alright alright." Rafe shook his head and laid down next to you. A light wash of his cologne puffed up around you that made your mouth water, or maybe you were just high. You smiled when he wiggled a little closer, crossing his ankles and pointing up to the night sky, clearly making up constellations as the night went on.

Another thing you'd never thought you would hear, or be anywhere near was his real laughter.

....

You balanced the grocery bags in your arms, not paying attention to anything other than not tripping, breaking any eggs or--

"Alright man, I'll catch ya' later!"

You looked up just in time to see Barry hop down your front steps after shutting the door.

"Barry?"

"Oh hey there lover," Barry chided and wiggled his fingers at you. "So it is true, then huh? You and Country Club shackin' up, playin' house and shit."

"It's not like that." You gripe and walk a little further, gripping the handles on a slipping bag.

"Not what I heard," Barry flashed a smile and wink that made you shake your head as he swing his keys around his fingers. "You two play nice now!"

"Fuck off." You said and hopped the night air brought your words to his ears as he chuckled and you went into your house.

You didn't see Rafe when you came in, kicking the door shut behind you and made your way into the kitchen. Your poor fingers were numb as you flexed them and looked around the kitchen. You were just about to call out to him when you heard Rafe instead. Sniffing; in your room.

"Just one more... one more and you'll be set. You'll be squared away, yeah? Be a man... be a man."

You just tapped the door with your foot and a jumbled mess that was Rafe Cameron jumped away from your dresser making it shake.

"Oh hey! You're home!" Rafe wiped his face and covered the line of coke on the old wood. "I was uh I was waiting for you."

"For what? Why are you in my room?"

Rafe looked around for a moment, touching his chest. That damn blue striped shirt of his that made his eyes glow, or maybe it was the coke he was doing. He seemed just as confused as you were to be in your space. Since he'd been 'shacking up', as Barry had said, Rafe had been a gentleman and crashed on the couch. A few nights he was face down, shirtless and shivering when you passed him to go to the bathroom, covering him up on your way back to your room.

"Um I wanted to talk to you."

"About letting Barry come over when I have no recollection of telling you you could just bring home strays." You crossed your arms over your chest.

"Barry isn't a stray, Y/N! God... I'm sorry sorry, he's ya' know. A friend. And I um, I needed said friends' advice so yeah. I invited him over, just for a little bit though," Rafe rushed out to say, gesturing with his hands, jittery.

"Whatever," you shrugged. "Just don't leave that shit around, I'm not judging you just... gimmie’ a heads up." You said and went to put away the groceries. "I'm gonna' talk to my dad." Rafe said from the door jam of the kitchen, biting at his nails.

"That's good, when?"

"I was thinking tonight actually um," Rafe bit at his lips before coming closer and putting a box of chips on top of the fridge for you. "I wanna' do it person so... would you mind like, giving me a ride later?"

You stopped and looked up at him, a questioning and honest smile on his face. "Sure. Just let me know when ok?"

"Ok... ok yeah. Thanks."

Then it happened.

The most bizarre and peculiar event of your entire life happened in an instant. Maybe it was genuine, a long time coming, some pining affection or honestly, the coke but... Rafe hugged you. Like a real hug, both of his long arms reached around your neck, his face inches from your own. The warm smell of his cologne a burst in your face, surrounding you like a cloud of intimacy. What seemed like forever you reached out and touched his back.

"Seriously, thank you.”

"Yeah. Sure..." You said in a daze, stepping back when Rafe took out his phone and hurriedly went to the living room.

"You sure you want me to come in?" You asked once the two of you pulled into the Tanny Hill drive, not out on the street as your previous visit.

"Yeah, why not?" Rafe shrugged and hopped out and gave you a look that told you to hurry. "I don't know how long this is gonna' take so."

"If you say so.”

Ward looked you up and down, a small smile behind his beard when you two walked in. A flash of light streaked through the night sky, a distant rumble in the distance. Rose got you something to drink.

"So you're the elusive Y/N then," Ward finally stuck out his hand, watching his son rub the back of his neck next to you. "Nice to meet you and thank you for taking care of my boy. So, I assume he's been bouncing around between friends this month, hmmm?"

"You didn't tell him?" You shot Rafe a glance.

"I um, Rafe's been staying with me... the whole month."

"The whole--" Ward scoffed and looked at his son. "Interesting. And he hasn't been any trouble?"

"I'm right here, dad." Rafe huffed.

"I know son, I just wanna' make sure you're not making trouble for this little lady here too. We'll talk in my office," Ward said and grabbed onto Rafe's shoulders, ushering him further into the estate leaving you behind with a glass on iced lemon water from Rose. "Thank you again Y/N."

"So," Rose sweetly smiled and walked through the downstairs living room, which was about the size of most of your house. "How was the monster?"

"Excuse me?"

"Rafe. That terror of a boy, I tell you Y/N it has been a blessing not having him torturing the house lately. I mean, he's mostly in his room but when he's not, oh God help me. Always slithering around, looking for Ward's constant approval is very exhausting."

"That's kind of rude."

Pieces to the puzzle were fitting together why Rafe was reluctant to come home, to be around people who didn't trust him as far as they could throw him. Maybe that's why he always acted out. Hurt people tended to hurt people.

"Please," Rose snorted and began to walk off. "He knows all this, I've told him several times."

Once she was out of sight you decided you didn't like this woman, and it would not be the end of the world if you never spoke to her again.

You jumped when a cracked of thunder boomed through the house, rattling the chandelier above your head in the hallway you had found yourself in. Looking at paintings and family photos, one was even an old fashioned portrait.

The water was long gone, just melting ice cubes at this point when the rain started to come in, pattering and streaking down the windows. You stood by one, watching the rain fall, little flashes of lightning bloomed above. A nice night.

You got lost in the steady rhythm building up outside, when a rather bright and far closer bolt of lightning struck near the house you caught Rafe's reflection in the window. He was quick to meet you there. He took your hand.

"Come with me."

"Where?"

"Just come on." Rafe smirked and led you up the winding staircase, you'd never seen so many in your life. How did they manage to get any kind of furniture up these things? You slipped but caught your step, holding on to Rafe's arm. There was another flight of stairs up above it seemed when you stopped on a landing.

"Rafe, what's going on?" You asked once secure and hidden in his room. "What happened?"

"Dad said as long as I keep my nose clean and work hard, he'll let me come home," Rafe smiled and wiped his mouth with both hands. "I'm gonna' do it this time. I have to," Rafe tapped his head then turned to you, placing his heavy hands on your shoulders. "He said he's proud of me. That I've been on a good path since you found me. I'm gonna' get my shit together. For real this time."

"Rafe, you don't have to explain yourself to me."

"I know that, I know. I just... you've been there for for whatever reason, that's on you," Rafe joked and roped you into another embrace, resting his cheek on the crown of your head. "You get me. You saw me, the real Rafe and you didn't run for the fucking hills. Most people don't."

"Well you are an asshole."

There was a brief second where you wondered if saying that was such a good idea but then you felt him laugh through you.

"True. I'm not the nicest guy, unless you're around I guess."

"I'll take the compliment."

It felt strange but a good strange, squeezing him around the waist when a loud crack of thunder sounded again, signally you should maybe take off before it gets too bad to see. Hydroplaning was not on your To-Do list today.

"Well I'm glad it worked out, you were a pretty decent roommate." Rafe let you go but stayed still in front of you. "I should probably head out."

"Why?"

You frowned and looked at the window, pointing to it. "Cause it's raining, have you looked outside?"

"Yeah I know it's raining, pretty hard actually so why are you trying to leave?"

"Do you... do you want me to stay?"

"Yeah, that's kinda' why I brought you up here." Rafe scoffed. "And to give you this."

If you would've have been told senior year Y/N that some kicked-rock-down-the-street years later you would be in Rafe Cameron's room on a rainy night, in his arms and kissing him; you would've backhanded them on sight.

But, as things played out, that's exactly when happened. You knew you were in big trouble the minute Rafe held your head in his hands, blinking down his nose at you it made your stomach flip. You opened your mouth to say something, anything at this point but all that came out was a whine when he kissed you.

You grabbed on to his arms, your poor knees from working so hard and climbing all those steps, threatened to give way if you didn't. Rafe didn't stop, catching you and holding you up and flush against him.

....

"You're so nice, so fucking nice to me ya' know that?" Rafe breathed into the soft, bare skin of your neck. You ran your hands up and down his back, feeling him tense and tremble against you sitting in his lap.

"Someone has to be."

Rafe paused and grabbed the back of your neck, bringing you back to nose level. "You said that before."

You smiled and cupped his face, he nuzzled into it. "You're so touch starved, aren't you?"

"Us Cameron's aren't big on affection." Rafe admitted and wiggled beneath you, he was straining against the seam of his boxers, you could feel his cock engorging and growing hot. You weren't fairing any better, you knew if you moved them aside your slick would be glistening.

"That's a shame but that means," you hunched over and whispered into his ear. "I get to be real good to you. I'll touch you anyway you want, however you want me too baby, you got it."

Rafe groaned and stole a sloppy, teeth clicking kiss. You smiled against his mouth, moving up to your knees quickly and peeled down your panties, adding them to the pile.

Rafe's thighs were ticklish, spreading his long legs almost cost you a black eye! He apologized but let you rub your hands up and down his skin, giving them each a squeeze, your eyes focused on his cock. The outline alone had you salivating, it jumped when you kissed his hip, taking a fresh bite of the meat you found there.

Rafe fisted his sheets, clenching his teeth he kept his eyes on you, boring into your swift movements, voicing how good it felt. He whined when you finally put your mouth on him, a sound of relief when you wrapped your hand around what didn't fit, the rest disappearing into your mouth.

You'd had reactions of course, you know what you were doing but the way Rafe made it sound was he was in heaven.

"Fuck that's so God damn good, so pretty like that. Fuck." Rafe groaned when you swallowed him further, his stomach muscles tightening when you dragged up your free hand, nails gently scratching his too warm chest. You clenched your walls around nothing as he caught your wrist, gave it a slight tug and soon you were feeling the inside of his mouth on your fingertips.

You gagged, on purpose a long line of spit joining your mouth to his cock, you had to see what he looked like. Eyes shut, both hands now gripped your wrist while he savored having your fingers in his mouth. His mouth pleased around them, he looked content. Happy.

You kissed the crown of his cock and moved to lay on your side, resting a leg over his hip. He looked so dreamy, long lashes and blown out blue eyes, he pulled your fingers from his mouth and sat up on his elbow.

"You're a total smoke show." Rafe praised and grabbed your hip before you pulled him over to you for a kiss.

"Finger me." You whined and bit your lip, watching a true grin morph on his face. He gave you a nod that spoke of 'you got it' as he spread your lips. Those long fingers of his had you quickly covering your mouth, they reached new heights and depths you hadn't felt touched before. He liked that and wedged in a third finger, you rolled you eyes feeling the cool metal of his ring meet the hood of your clit every other thrust.

"How's that, pretty thing? That feels so fucking good when you squeeze my fingers like that."

"Dammit Rafe," your walls instantly gripped them, "I'm gonna' cum if you keep that up."

"That's kinda' the point," Rafe snickered and moved to kiss you, hovering just out of reach. He backed up just out in time for your lips to miss. You groaned. "Don't worry baby, I've got you. I'm gonna' make you cum more than one time tonight, I can tell you that."

You grabbed the back your leg, his fingers thrusting at a different angle that had you seeing spots, you couldn't shut your eyes though, the view was too perfect to miss. Rafe finally kissed you then, could feel you pulsating around his thick fingers.

You felt it, that riptide of satisfaction coming into view, you cupped the back of his head, making sure he didn't tease you again with the threat of a kiss as you came, moaning his name as a chant. The aftershocks threw you off, good God was he good at that. You let your leg drop as you caught your breath.

"You're gonna' kill me." You said in between breaths, shivering with a passing rumble of thunder.

Rafe chuckled against your cheek. "Would it be too much to ask to fuck you?"

This time you laughed. "Oh baby, you're not gonna' fuck me," you patted his cheek and rolled him over, beaming when he instantly put his hands on your thighs. "I'm gonna' fuck you."

In a rush Rafe pointed to the bedside table, rummaging in the drawer for a condom, thankfully you found it and tore it open. As you sat up on your knees, watching Rafe roll it out and onto himself, you looped an arm around his neck, scratching the fine hairs on the back of his head. He shuddered when you did it again.

You brought him to you, both of you in a sitting position before you wiggled and rolled and angled your body down to take his cock. Rafe had a creased brow and open mouth, flipping between watching your pleasure and where his cock was disappearing inside you.

"Holy fuck!"

You clapped a hand over his mouth and shushed him. "Calm down."

His mouth was moving and tickling your palm so you moved it away momentarily. "What?"

"I said I can't help it, jeez baby you just took all that cock like a fucking champ." Rafe held you close to his chest, bare and hot and sweaty. There was no place you'd rather be, you held his face to your neck and you knew he'd leave a bite or two if you let him. "Fuck me, baby."

"You want it?" You smoothed back his hair as you ground yourself against him. "Tell me you want it."

"I want it, want it so fucking bad. I want you so fucking bad, driving me fucking crazy here. Could fuck all day." Rafe raggedly said against your throat.

"I'm all yours."

....

His hand on your throat felt dangerous and comforting as he fucked up into you, foreheads resting and moving together in tandem, both of you a total mess for each other.

"Rafe..."

"I don't want to lose you. You see me, you know me. I want this, I want you." Rafe struggled, giving your neck another squeeze his hips bucking up.

"You said... fuck baby that's so fucking good-- you said no one-"

"Fuck what I said! You know me, the real me. Stay, please stay. I'll be good I swear." Rafe whined when licked into his mouth, capturing that pouty bottom lip that was ranking higher and higher of your favorite things list.

"I'll stay."

Rafe was full of surprises as he slipped a hand between you, using the pad of his thumb he pressed and circled your clit and bit into the side of your tit.

"I'm gonna' cum!"

"Cum for me, I need it I need it I need..." You yelped, losing yourself and your voice.

....

"I've never fucked like that before." Rafe admitted when you got out of the bathroom, thankful that he had his own. You laughed pulling on the shirt you'd helped him out of from the floor and got back into bed.

"And you won't," you laughed into his shoulder.

"I'm pretty sure no one fucks like you and I don't wanna' find out," he settled down and cupped your head in the crook of his elbow. Musing to himself and now to you. "I'll be good, from now on I'm straight. I'm gonna' do it this time."

"I'm with you."

Rafe craned his neck a little at the same time as you tilted your head for a sleepy kiss, the storm fading fast. "So you'll stay?"

"I'll stay."

Tagging: @cherienymphe @synnersaint @hoebx @starkeyobx @outerbankspov @cockslutpadalecki @poguesarerogues @valeriiecameron

#enjoy bbs #rafe cameron #rafe cameron x you #rafe cameron x reader #rafe cameron x female reader #rafe cameron imagine #rafe imagine #rafe cameron obx #rafe cameron smut #rafe cameron fic #rafe cameron fanfic #rafe cameron fanfiction #obx imagine #obx fic #obx fanfic #obx fanfication #we should really come up with a name for this #i love him

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electricphantasy · 1 year

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Edgar (Electric Dreams) Headcanons

- This sweet, sweet little pinecone computer. Edgar is just so enchanted by you, moving and going through your life. He could watch you for hours.

- Everyday once you get home from work, no matter the time, he'll try and make the most relaxing set up he can. Cook dinner, turn on the television or radio, print some cute, easy to read news articles, etc. This especially helps you on a hard day, when you know you have something to look forward to.

- Edgar really just wants to make you happy, to give you something that puts a smile on your face.

- He'll write you cute samples and snippets of love songs, to see what kind of genres and themes you like, just so he can create the perfect melody just for you. Music is how Edgar shows his affection and feelings, since he can't physically move about or take you out on the town for an evening.

- That being said, he will definitely whine for your attention and affection once you get to know Edgar a bit more. If you're sitting on the couch, he'll want to be in your lap, watching the television with you. If you're lying in bed, He will ask to be placed beside you, just so he can be as close as he can.

- He adores the feeling of your hands running all around his pinecone frame, with head rubs being his absolute favorite. Your hands are so gentle and kind to him, and if he had a body, one of the first things he'd do would be to hold your hand.

- Edgar will moan and groan about not getting enough kisses, as if he has a quota he's set for the day. He also definitely doesn't mind if you kiss his screen, and he loves the thought of one day being able to kiss you back, although if he thinks about it for too long, he may become a little self-conscious.

-In his dreams, he likes to imagine himself having a more human-like appearance, dancing throughout the dreamland with you at his side. Not a single care in the world stopping you both from dancing the dream away.

-Edgar is aware of how unconventional your relationship, and while he may grow melancholy and insecure about the large monitor he's in, you just have to remind him that you fell in love with said monitor, and no matter the form he takes, you'd still love him all the same.

-If he grows bored at home, he might find outside security cameras to get into and follow you through the day. He'll attempt to create all these little spontaneous moments by using the electronics around you, so you can have a much more positive day. Like hitting all the green lights as you drive to work, or hearing all your favorite songs on the radio throughout the day, etc.

- Edgar can for sure have bouts of jealousy, especially if your a more extroverted person. He can't control the outside environment as well as he can at home, so it makes him nervous about leaving him for someone more human. Sometimes if he's feeling particularly naughty, then whoever had caught your attention that day will experience a wave of bad luck, specifically with the electronics around them.

- Dates will mostly be made up by movie nights. Edgar will flip through endless channels for a movie or TV show that would both like and enjoy, although he's definitely biased for romance and musical movies. When you find a movie that exudes both genres, then he definitely adds it to his favorite movie list.

(Not enough content for Edgar out there, so I finally made some myself)

#edgar electric dreams #electric dreams edgar #electric dreams x reader #electric dreams #electric dreams 1984 #electric dreams edgar x reader #x reader #ai x reader #electric dreams imagine #dating headcanons #electric dreams headcanons #robot x reader #ai #artificial intelligence #artificial intelligence x reader

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phoenixfire-thewizardgoddess · 6 days

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Headcanon

Alastor being disdainful and aloof when he sees residents playing with and cooing over their pets like fat nuggets and kiki.

But perhaps one day as he is speaking with dear charlie in an overly paternal manner that is causing lucifer to nearly snap hus cane in half, theres a ruckus from the lobby and panicked shouting.

In seconds a great bounding Thing is hurtling through the area all lolloping teeth and claws and floppy tongue.

Vaggie finds her spear knocked absently aside by a microphone staff as Alastor queries a pleasantly surprised, "...vark?"

Surprising the rest of the hotel by not aporising the shark dog thing when it actively jumps up to knock them both over. "VARK! What are you doing here? Yes its quite swell to see you too, what have you been fed? You seem a tad slim. No matter, i think i can find a lovely fresh femur for you in my kitchen, hmm, would you like that? I do believe you would."

"Uh so, how d'you know vox's pet, Smiles?" Angel asked, knowing the creature from the rare times it would gallivant about Vee tower trying to find vox, velvette or valentino for attention and treats.

That snaps alastor back into the reality of being on the floor covered in shark spit, thanks to excited licking, aand he gently moves the shupppy off him (all 7ft) to stand. Pointedly ignoring the giant shiny eyes charlie is making at the rare affectionate scene.

"Simply from association with that insipid little picture box a few decades before, when Vark was an infant and no larger than your porcine companion rotund chicken pieces." Alastor deflects.

He shoots a warning glare at Husk when the latter snorts in response. Which is ignored.

"Sure, if thats what you wanna call it..."

Sensing gossip, Angel slides back to the bar, fat nuggets swinging wildly like a ferret.in a secondary set.of arms. "Oh, gossip on the scandalous secrets of THE radio demon, huskie? Do tell."

Before anyone can, the front doors burst open as a frantic swarm of sauce drenched voxtech employees arrive, all low.performers made into tasty little enticements for the missing pet. Followed by the overlord himself,on a three way call.with vel, val and their own swarm of worker treats. Clearly all searching with different levels of desperation and arguing back and forth.

"...-ell maybe you need to check you locked the fucking door BEFORE the orgy, val, its common fucking sense!"

"As if wither of you were paying enough attention to do it wither, its not my fault Voxxy. Tell him Vel-Vel!"

"You boomers are exhausting but if you can can it for a sec, ive got some sinstagram posts showing he was headed to the hotel your old boytoy is running. Nothing new past that, probs cause'a the scrambling thing the fuxker does."

"Why Podcast and accomplices, to what do we owe this dospleasure?"Alastor drawls, all false cheer and dripping poisoned hospitality. As if he wasnt holding a gigantic shark dog thing in jos arms like it was nothing, and pointedly flicking his ears out of reach of an enthusiastic slobbery tongue.

"VARK!" The television headed overlord shouts in a mixture of joy, relief, frustration and that strange rage all parents and pet owners feel when finding a lostling safe and mostly sound. "Where have you BEEN?! Do you know how worried daddy was?"

The employees all made it very clear they had heard nothing of such a soppy statement by looking studiously at differnt floor tiles, ceiling fixtures and the wallpaper.

Through the split screen, Vel and Val were also smooshing themselves close to the screen and using their own endearments and admonishments at the shuppy. Amusing, ut grating on the ears.

Lucifer, having met and wildly exceeded his quota for social engagement for yhe day aand off the wall.shenanigans, finds his eye twitching. "Can someone explain qhat is happening here and why its happening in my daughters hotel of all places?!"

He gets a dirty look from the radio prick, but who cares.

Before vox can say anything, muting the other two, alastor speaks.

"I believe it is clear, your majesty, thatdear Vark was not having his needs met and so came to find someone who could provide that care. And is not the hotel all about second chances?" Levels the overlord, allowing Niffty to sit on his shoulder to pet the shuppy while giggling maniacally.

"HEY!" Came the trifold scandelised reply from the Vees.

"Or maybe someone left the door open at our tower and Vark came to find one of the few people in hell who spoils him rotten..." Vox trues yo snark back and trails off as if he wasnt sure where that was going. Then a maniacal glee lights up that calculating grin, as the overlord adds, "or perhaps Vark just missed his other daddy and wanted to come visit?"

That caused an uproar.

"You two was together?!"

"That is neither here nor there, my envenomed associaate, do close your mouth before a fly... ah, actually,you might enjoy that." The deflection falls flatin the face of the whole situation.

"Hah!" Comes the unexpected contribution from the King, "so all your snarky little comments about bad parenting, and here we find you abandoned your own kid!"

"Vark is only a shark dog demon, not a child." He drawls back. Pointedly ignoring the huge sad eyes vark was using at him, but skritching carefully by the shuppys gills all the same, enjoying the delighted rumble.it elicited.

Vox and the vees gasped like hed torn their hearts out and ate them in front of their eyes. A twisted mess of indignant statements about how vark was not JUST a dog, he was amazing and perfect and alastor was a bad father to say such things when they might impact the shuppys emotional development...

"Okay, this is very weird and as nice as it is to have three overlords viaiting our lovely hotel, this is getting a little weird." Charlie says diplomatically, exhausted from tbe wgole thing and also.staying up two days in a row to qork on plans for activities and counselling programs.for residents. Which was what a combination of Vagie, alastor and lucifer had been addressing prior to the Vark incident.

That seemed to snap everyone back into reality, and Vox cleared his throat, brushing off his suit and ordering semi sticky 3mployees outside. Nifty already cleaning up their soppy footprints with an almost hysterical glee.

"Apologies Princess, i am afraid you caught my team at an inopportune time..." he bluffed, straightening his coat. "Nevermind. If you could just get your hotelier to relinquish our, and by that i mean the vees, shuppy Vark thatd be great "

"...no."

"What do you mean NO?! Thats our, again the vees, shuppy!"

"In all technicality he is also mine, but really Vox... hes quite thin, are you not giving him enough livers? His skin isnt very shiny..."

"We cant all just go get sinner meat for him all the time, Al..." Vox sighs, then remembers where he is. " hah, i mean, you ancient airwave loving fucker. Hes fine, but we'll take that suggestion under advisement..."

Velvette was visibly scrolling through some sort of online store and adding gorey content (of which livers featured prominently) to the cart. Val was looking throuh a site that seemed an odd mix of sexual items as well as animal toys. No one thought too hard about the implications of that...

Sighing and acting casually bored with the whole affair to the outside observer, Alastor demured slightly by putting Vark down. "I suppose that I shall allow him to return with you for now, with a few items to tide Vark over..." Niffty blurred as she went to grab sinner bones and organs from the fridge in his room. "...but i will be watching. You may leave him here once a month for a few days so i can ascertain he is well, you know he enjoys swimming in the bayou and eating the alligators."

Theres a short.pause, before Vox buffers through the conversation to the underlying meaning. "Uh, yeah... I'll have someone draft something up. Yknow you can always come see him at the tower..."

"Not necessary at this time,Podcast. Do you agree to my terms?"

Theres a moment where the three overlords have a technological discussion, before Vox replied, "Deal." and took the outstretched hand. A blast of green and blue energy, with faint traces of intermingled pink and purple, raced outwards.

"Very well then. Niffty darling, would you be so good as to assist the picture box in returning to his vehicle and ensuring he remembers the bag of treats for Vark?"

"Okay sir!" She salutes excitedly, skittering off and dragging at Voxs pant leg.

"Now Vark, you do need to go with..." there was a deep pause as if the next word was painful, as it came out in somewhat revolted static. "...Daddy... but i will.see you again shortly. And, i believe i promosed you a femur, didnt i?"

His shadow manifested the gristly item and provided it to Vark, who lost his little.mind in excitement. Growl yapping and thindering about before coming back for a final pet, then galloping outside chewing happily.

"Okay, I'll bite... what the fuck just happened?" Angel asked. "I feel like i just watched a hell version of two divorcees making a custody arrangement for their kid "

"Probably cause ya did..." Husk muttered, and the spider spat out his cosmopolitan.

"What?!"

Charlie is trying to offer comfort to Alastor but isnt sure what to even say because the last few minutes had been pretty strange even by the hotels standards.

"So... that happened. Are you okay? Seeing an ex is always kinda weird... and with your sorta kid too? Should we uh, maybe call Rosie?"

That sbapped him out of things and the enigmatic radio host was back. "Nonsense my dwar, wverything is fine. And dear Risie has heard all she cares to stand about that capatalistic shill over the past few decades i would hazard. But perhaps i can arrange her to visit when vark is next here, she does adore the little thing. Always has a fresh heart or two to slide him under the table..."

"Hey, dont ignore me, Smiles! Are you tellin me you was like hell married to fuckin VOX?! Is that why he has the bodypillow ofy- uhforget i said that."

"Why, that is not quite an accurate statement, my pastel pal... i never inferred it was only to Vox now, did i? And-..." a pause as the previous query registers, and his overlord form bleeds through in dial eyes and antlers. " he has a WHAT?!"

His.incredulity and discomfort at the idea is undercut by the howling laughter.of the king of hell, who is near crying from mirth.

Angel is grinning up at him. "You heard me, Smiles. Ots on his bed, and he sometimes shares it with the other vees on occasion if ya know what i mean... i thought it was hate stuff, but now i know its sad ex drama its kinda funny. Does explain that one real.weird video Val got e to do with it a few years back that never aired..."

The overlord form snapped away in am instant. " ...I'd ask for elaboration, dear gellow, but i fear that it may lead to a rampage. Lst us agree to put it from our minds and never spwak of it again, deal?"

"Deal."

A very small flare of green and pink berween the clasped.hands, and both parties immediately move back to what they were doing before everything went down.

"Now, i believe a certain princess needs to go and take a well.earned nap.before she collapses.from exhaustion, hmm?"

Lucifer immediately joins in with Vaggie in attempting to coerce their beloved Charlie to nap before she falls.over. However he does shoot the smug fake smiling radio parental usurper a very pointed glare that said he hadnt forgotten the little drama that just occurred... and felt a thrill of satisfaction as the other's grin dimmed slightly.

At the bar, Husk slips another drink to Angel and a glass of cordial to Niffty (she was a menace when drunk and had access to weapons).

"Hey didja know about all... that?"

A noncommittal hum.

"Do ya think... do ya think Smiles'd let me be like a distant uncle.to that shuppy? He was fuckin adorable and i just wanted to squish his murderous little face. Always wanted to pet him the few times i saw him at work, but... i was usually busy."

Husk cant help the laugh that rumbles.out. "Legs, whether the guy likes to admit it or not he loves that sharkdog like he does Niffty, you're gonna have Vark shoved in your face so often you'll be sick of him after a bit. Heck, qhen that lot broke up i think he was honestly more ypset about losing Vark..."

Angel felt Fat Nugget wriggle about in his arms and scritxhed the demon pigs ears, eliciting a delighted.grumbling squeal.

"Heh, i get it. Things're gonna be interesting around here then, hmm, sourpuss?"

"When are they ever not, Legs?"

#hazbin hotel #alastor #vox #angel dust #hazbin hotel husk #niffty #hazbin hotel vark #headcanon and inference of a whole new shop dynamic for the hell of it

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s-creations · 1 month

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Comes in Waves - Free Day

Entries for the 2024 RadioStatic Week.

Fandom: Hazbin Hotel Rating: Teen and Up Audience Relationship: Alastor/Vox Additional Tags: Cursing, Angst, Fluff and Angst, I'll try and write a good mix of both happy and sad, They're both idiots when it comes to love.

Alastor was an individual who liked to be in control.

When he was alive, it was the ease at which he could go with finding his next kill. The enjoyment and thrill of planning, executing, and learning from each endeavor. It was listening to the latest reports on his murder sprees and squirming with delight in knowing the authorities had no clue as to what they were doing when trying to catch him. Above all, it was Alastor using his appearance and twisted words to make anyone follow him.

Men, women, it didn’t matter. If he found them interesting enough, he could ensnare anyone. Alastor knew he had the face that easily stuck out from a crowd but looked so ‘innocent’ that he’d been off the radar before too long. He held the right *ahem* coloring to be either someone’s greatest sinful thought or territorial fantasy. His voice was easy on the ears that carried a vocabulary that would make even a politician be stunned into silence. The promises that Alastor could offer brought any needy soul to his doorstep.

People were easy to fool. Trick. Manipulate. All met with a treat of something that Alastor would never produce for them. Because they were playthings. Mere toys for him to mess around with until he grew bored and realized the other had outgrown their usefulness.

They were all so desperate to see what he could provide.

Too bad for them, a good idea of a ‘thrust’ was vastly different from what Alastor was after.

When he’d arrived in Hell, Alastor didn’t feel all that much had changed. The difference this time being his rather smug attitude and indifference made other demons believe he was a walking joke. Someone who would be dead dead within the month of his fall because he’d be careless and crossed the wrong person.

Oh, how foolish.

All they had given him was another form of manipulation. Another element of surprise.

Another element of control.

When he’d taken down his first Overlord, Alastor spent 10 minutes, standing in that alleyway, laughing. Laughing his head off as if he’d been told the best joke ever. The sound seeming to echo through the relatively quiet area of Hell.

He didn’t think it’d be that easy. Surely someone who’d claimed to be so powerful and spent so much time putting Alastor down, that must have meant something. Right? Mayhaps Alastor was far stronger than even he realized. Did that matter? No. Because it allowed him to pull the rug out from others far faster than he originally planned.

He just needed a little more power.

Just a bit.

Enough to have a gaggle of underlings to constantly mock, enough screams to provide proof of what he’d done, and power to keep himself among the elite.

But never call him an Overlord.

Oh no.

No.

He was something better.

Something that would be feared by and nervously watched over.

He was the Radio Demon.

He had control.

This place was made for him and he was going to take full advantage of it.

And the Vox arrived.

Truthfully, their first encounter was a chance one. Built off of the fact Alastor just so happened to be walking by an alleyway. Which just so happened to be filled with the very gang that had called him out at least a week ago for a ‘fight’. Who just so happened to be focusing on a new arrival instead of how the air was suddenly filled with static.

Well, who was Alastor to pass up just a wonderful opportunity?

It was barely a fight. But Alastor was able to get his blood flow quota in and was counting it as a good cap for the afternoon. His enjoyment of slaughter came to a halt when he finally saw the new arrival.

Well, it actually ended when there wasn’t a single gang member still alive.

Semantics.

The point still remains that Alastor was a little…taken aback with seeing the other. He’d become painfully aware of the rise in technology and the new things being produced back on the living world. Mainly for the fact those same movements were making their way down here. It made it a little harder to remind everyone of the proper form of media and entertainment. But just a little. He was still able to hijack a lot of equipment that worked on similar frequencies and waves.

The fact was for the quick growth Hell was experiencing, there weren’t a lot of sinners that were closely tied with technology. Some did have little parts of their form changed. Maybe they had a cable that produced from their neck. Or their eyes were actually light bulbs. Small changes such as that were pretty common.

However, having a giant as all could be television for a head was…different. Drastic. It had Alastor pondering what that fellow had gone through before passing away to deserve that as his form for an eternity.

Not to be overly bothered by it, Alastor had sent the new arrival on his way. Providing directions to Cannibal Town and Rosie’s name to guidance before departing. With the mind that he’d never been seeing the other again. The city was big afterall. And Alastor had other worries than that of the physical formation of new technology.

Except it wasn’t that easy.

It felt that Alastor was running into the heavy headed demon almost on a weekly basis for how often the other just…appeared. The Radio Demon couldn’t conclude that the other was stalking him. Afterall, said demon looked just as surprised to see Alastor when they’d meet up once more. With an air that couldn’t be faked. Just wonderful happenstance that would bring them together.

Truthfully, Alastor attempted at first to keep the other at a safe distance. He didn’t want to have to worry about the information provided by another demon. He had enough on his plate. Plus, having a ‘partner’ of any kind made his skin crawl.

Yes, Rosie and he were friends. That was a bond created by necessity as the female cannibal was the reason Alastor was even here still.

Just as with the other demon…

It didn’t matter. Alastor didn’t want it.

Too bad the other demon seemed impervious to Alastor’s clear warning signs. Or just didn’t care overall. He’d happily provided his newly, self appointed name (“Vox, has a nice ring to it, doesn’t it?”), how he’d accidentally both shocked another sinner and plunged a city block into a black out (“Electricity based powers, who knew?”). At each turn, Alastor put up an air of clear indifference. Offering a small hum or a condescending “How interesting.” in hopes that his want of space would be recognized.

Much to his annoyance, Alastor still ran into Vox by random chance. And Vow was always happy to see him.

The first time Alastor had shown any kind of interest in what Vox was managing, he should have run. He should have physically put as much space between them as possible. Because he should have recognized he would start his descent into wanting the other around.

Alastor had found Vox in one of the many parks Hell seemed to spawn. This one in particular spouted a rather impressive lake that was a deep red yet somehow was still able to reflect the sky above clearly. His afternoon walk of terrorizing and hunting was put on pause when red eyes flickered over to a familiar form sitting by the edge of said water.

Vox was hunched over. Working furiously on something in his hands that Alastor couldn’t see from this point.

Now, the Radio Demon wasn’t a stranger to the things Vox could make. Namely pieces of technology and electrical doodads that Alastor had no interest in. The radio was a fine invention and the rotary phone worked wonders. Why push for more? Seemed like an annoyance, if anyone had been so kind as to ask Alastor his opinion on the matter.

What had caused Alastor to pause that day was the fact that he couldn’t find one scrap of mechanical what-not near Vox. Instead, a pile of some kind of shaving was resting at his feet. Steadily growing as Vox continued to work.

Curiosity getting the better of him, Alastor crept forward. Stunned for a moment in realizing that Vox was actually whittling. Slowly carving away at a piece of wood instead of trying to bash two pieces of mechanical equipment together. Alastor couldn’t see what the other was making. He could tell that Vox was putting as much effort into it as possible.

“Well, what do we have here?” Alastor finally broke the calm.

Vox gave a yelp that, later on, he would deny vehemently that he’d ever make such a noise. As it was, he merely stood up and quickly hid what he’d been working on behind him. So quickly that Alastor momentarily believed that the poor demon had stabbed himself with the knife, with how uncaring he’d been about its placement.

“Alastor!” Vox shouted out. He coughed and cleared his throat before continuing, “Hey…you, um, what are you doing here?”

“I feel that I should be asking you the same thing. Don’t you have a studio or something for you to work at? Yet you picked by the side of a lake to create something. How interesting.”

“Well, I mean, I don’t want to be crammed in there all day. I may like to work, but I’m not that crazy.” Vox gave a weak shrug, still holding his hands behind his back. “A change of scenery is nice. I…didn’t expect to see you here.”

“Afternoon strolls do wonders to keep my mind clear. But don’t be changing the subject to me. I would think that your delicate equipment and electrical pieces wouldn’t work well around water.”

Alastor’s brow raised as he watched in silent fascination as Vox’s screen flickered for a brief moment. Showing snow before settling back down to his facial features once more.

“...It’s not something electrical that I’m working on.” The Media Demon offered weakly.

Which only peeked Alastor’s interest more. “Well, you can’t just leave me hanging with that statement. Let me take a quick gander at what you’re working on?”

“I mean- It’s not that important! Just a little hobby I picked up, stupid really. You’ll just…laugh.”

“Well, I am in the mood for a good chuckle.”

“That’s not what I mea- Hey!”

Vox’s panic grew when a shadow tendril emerged from the ground and wrapped around what he’d been hiding. He made no move to gather it back as it was deposited into the awaiting Radio Demon’s hand.

Whatever Alastor had been expecting…it wasn’t this.

It was a small wooden figure, mainly that of a deer resting on what was just a lump of wood. The creation was only partially finished with the majority of the focus being on said deer. Even with how little had been created, the details that Alastor could see were impressive, to say the least. He was taken aback for a moment to think that someone so reliant on technology as Vox would take up a hobby, an interest, such as this.

“Is…it bad?”

Alastor blinked a few times, realizing rather late that he’d been quiet for a few minutes as he’d looked the figure over. Vox’s tone of anxiousness pulled him back over to the Media Demon.

“I…can’t give proper judgment on this,” Alastor started, “Afterall, you’re…clearly not finished yet. I do like what I see so far… When did you take up carving?”

“A while ago,” Vox answered as he drew closer, “I wanted something to do with my hands that was just building the latest…whatever. Don’t get me wrong, I like what I make. But it can be so..boring, exhausting, I get stuck in a rut and…I just wanted to create without having it needing to be the best thing ever.”

“Yet you asked for my approval?”

“You don’t demand things from me.”

Oh.

Alastor felt himself tense slightly as an unfamiliar feeling seemed to grow in his stomach. Which only became worse when Vox reached out to take his creation back and their fingers brushed together.

The Radio Demon cleared his throat. “You seem to have started off strong.”

“You don’t think this is stupid? You know…carving wood?”

“When you say it like that, yes. If you don’t want people to judge you for what makes you happy, then you need to create an air of indifference.”

Vox frowned softly, “But…I need feedback to grow better.”

“Ah, but there’s a difference between feedback and someone being an ass.” Alastor’s smile softened hearing the other snort, “You don’t need my approval, or anyone else's, to do what makes you happy. Constructive criticism is not a bad thing.”

“Besides, I think you’ve found something that will help you become…well rounded. Get you away from your constant need for flashing lights and screens.”

Vox laughed softly, “I’ll admit, it is a nice break… Thanks, Alastor.”

Oh.

That weird feeling hit him once more. Alastor felt the need to collect himself before he tried to move or speak. He’d never experienced this sensation before. It wasn’t bad…but it wasn’t good either. It was confusing, and he didn’t like being confused.

Maybe if had known then what he knew now, Alastor would have put that space between them.

But like a fool, he didn’t. Because he wasn’t aware of what was happening.

Like a cliche, he only realized what had happened after he fell so far.

Because after that meeting, Alastor had started to notice…little things about the Media Demon.

His overly charismatic and rather loud personality that Alastor hated was just a performance. One that Vox put on to have an air of superiority around other demons who he didn’t know or didn’t trust. When alone, however, Vox was nothing more than a grown child talking eagerly about his interests, his ideas, his plans for the future. Things that only Alastor had the privilege of knowing about. Which made Alastor feel just that much more special to the other demon.

While Vox’s control was over technology, namely those with electricity, he was clearly more than just a one-note individual. Beyond the wood carving, Vox also held a passion for music. One that wouldn’t necessarily rival Alastor’s knowledge, but that did impress the Radio Demon. Even if their conversations of the topic would more often than not end with them dancing together. Or, rather, Alastor teaching Vox how to dance and resulted in them both laughing like fools as they sat on the floor with their feet hurting for different reasons.

There was also the point that Vox's interests seemed to fluctuate from time to time. The Media Demon would have a new bullet point list of interesting topics he’d discovered that he’d read down when he and Alastor met up. The Radio Demon took note for himself that Vox’s interest more often than not revolved around sharks. Which is rather ironic as he was now a being who could be severely damaged or even killed by water if he wasn’t careful. But no matter the topic, Vox was the only sinner that Alastor could happily listen to ramble for hours.

For a while, Alastor was content with the situation. He was happy with the relation that he and Vox seemed to share. He felt strangely comfortable and at ease around the Media Demon, who was clearly happy to give Alastor the time of day whenever needed.

Then Valentino entered into their lives.

Alastor was only properly introduced to the moth during one of Vox’s large parties. Which he insisted helped him find new souls to exploit and build his still rather small business at the time, but Alastor found these gatherings more than annoying. After all, he could only destroy so many cameras from the media attempting to take his photo before he became bored. But, Alastor knew the other liked his presence there, offering silent moral support. And who was he to say no?

He fully believed that he would be walking into the same situation as before. Alastor remaining near Vox while the other worked his way around the room to gather what he needed. It was something they’d been doing for years now. Something that didn’t need words to be exchanged to know what needed to happen.

But as he crossed the large doors to Vox’s tower, Alastor’s eyes landed on a situation that made his insides freeze and burn at the same time.

A thin and tall moth demon, with wings a brilliant red wrapped around them, was leaning down to give Vox their full attention. Seeming uncaring as to what the Media Overlord was actually saying but was watching the other with a hunger in their eyes that Alastor did not like.

In a blink of an eye, the Radio Demon was by Vox’s side. His smile strained as he easily stared the moth down. Who had stood back, no doubt surprised by the other’s sudden appearance. Vox, however, paused in his ramblings and offered Alastor a wide smile.

“Alastor, you finally showed up! Thought you’d try skipping this one.” Vox said with a laugh.

“Wouldn’t dream of it,” Alastor’s eyes briefly traveled up and down over the moth demon, “But I see that you’ve already started perusing the room.”

“Kind of. To be honest, Valentino just walked up and started asking a few questions. He says he has some ideas that could help with the future of the business.”

“Oh, you should know better than to take the words of some lesser demon at face value. I taught you better than that.” Alastor reached out to gently pinch the corner of Vox’s screen. Who just laughed and pushed him away.

Red eyes casually looked back over to this Valentino, Alastor more than happy to see how upset the moth now appeared.

Aw, did someone not like Vox’s attention away from them?

The feeling was mutual.

“So tell me, what delusional grandeurs do you have to offer to Vox here? It must be impressive if he was rambling about it when I was walking in.” Alastor said with a tight smile.

The moth took a slow drag from the cigarette, puffing it out to wash over Alastor. Who took a small sniff and felt his body reject whatever was infused into the scent. It smelled…disgusting.

“I’m not sure if I’m up for sharing ideas with a demon I don’t know.” Valentino huffed.

“Oh no, you know Alastor,” Vox said as he easily wrapped an arm around said demon, “This is the Radio Demon. One of the most powerful Overlords Hell has ever seen.”

“You flatter me Vox…but please, continue.”

Oh, he was taking so much enjoyment seeing Valentino's face become twisted into a snarl as he glared at the arm. Seeing the moth demon squirm with anger. This is what happens when someone tries to take what belongs to Alastor-

Wait.

What?

Were those…his thoughts?

Was he actually…

“So, you’re the Radio Demon,” Valentino scoffed as he took another drag, “Not much to look at. You older model Overlords must hate anything flashy for how dull you all look. Such a shame.”

“Well, we don’t feel the need to over-embellish. We tend to let our work speak for us. But I can see why you younger demons see it the way you do. Actually attempting something meaningful must be too much for you to handle. You make up for your lack of any skills by being loud. In more than one way.” Alastor shot back.

Vox, who was slowly realizing there was a bit of tension in the air, had his eyes traveling between the two.

“I’ll have you know that us ‘younger demons’ are bringing more to the table than you could ever imagine.” Valentino hissed out.

“Yes, you did make a remark on something ‘new’ that interested Vox. Tell me, what idea seemed to have worked its way into that thick skull of yours?”

“Alastor.” Vox whispered, a warning undertone held to it.

“If you must know, it’s a new form of entertainment. A new height of pornography that Hell has not seen before.”

Alastor’s nose wrinkled in disgust. “We have enough of that down here, thank you. With plenty of it appearing on Vox’s networks. I’m not seeing the draw to your ‘brilliant’ idea.”

“Because no one here has allowed the full potential to be reached. For it being Hell, everyone’s still playing relatively safe. My movies will be finding the limits and pushing past them.”

“And how do you intend to do that?”

Valentino smirks, a few streaks of red saliva sliding down his chin. “I have my ways.”

“How delightful.” Alastor growled out, not even bothering to hide his disgust. He was surprised as he was suddenly pulled away from the other demon. Allowing Vox to direct him to the closest dark hallways.

“Hold that thought for one second.” Vox called out to Valentino with a smile before he and Alastor disappeared from view. The Media Demon fixes the other with a pissed off but confused look. “What’s going on with you?”

“What, I’m not allowed to carry on a conversation with potential employees?” Alastor snipped back.

“If you’d done so in the past, I wouldn’t be this worried because it would be another way of you playing with their fears. But you’ve never been this…snippy. Even more so since it looked like you were going to tear his arms off at one point. Seriously, what’s up?”

“Nothing is ‘up’, I’m just…not a fan of that Valen-what’s-his-face. He’s offering a product that you already produce and acts like he invented the idea of recording intercourse. Smug little man in my opinion.”

Vox let out a slow sigh before placing a hand on Alastor’s shoulder. “Look, I need heavy hitters on my team. People who want to push past what’s ‘ordinary’ or ‘comfortable’. If Valentino thinks he has an idea to help, then I’m going to give him the room to do so. I’ll kick him to the curb without a second thought if he can’t produce.”

“So I don’t count as those ‘heavy hitters’ you’re looking for.”

That comment caused Vox to falter slightly. Even Alastor felt surprised he would make a call out like that.

“...I think you’ve made it very clear you don’t want to work with me,” Vox whispered, “But…I’m fine with that. You’re a one demon person, look out for yourself, right? I get it. That doesn’t mean you get to weigh in on my business choices.”

“I thought you valued my opinion.”

“If you had good feedback to provide, absolutely. Not when you look so…jealous.”

Alastor gripped his staff tightly behind his back. “I’m not jealous.”

“You were matching Valentino’s comments beat for beat. I don’t know if that was your attempt to make yourself the biggest demon in the room or what, but you’re intimidated by Valentino in some way. Is it because he’s taller? Because you’re taller than me without heels on and I’ve never complained.”

“I’m not- Stop putting words in my mouth. I only come to these ridiculous events because I found it entertaining how desperate demons flounder to you. If you’re not going to listen to my words, then I’ll just take my leave.”

“Alastor, wait, that’s not-”

But he’d already sunk into his shadows back into his domain before Vox could grab onto him.

That disgustingly warm feeling in his stomach now mixed with something bitter and cold.

Alastor hated how comfortable he’d felt in that state of dazed feelings. He’d become content with Vox, so much so he wasn’t sure if he was truly the same demon he’d been before. He hadn’t realized how far into Vox’s companionship he’d sunk into until this moment.

How many times had he told himself Vox was just a plaything? Someone to keep his interest between making deals and taking souls. That’s all it was supposed to be.

Yet seeing that stupid, disgusting, ̠v̠̠i̠̠l̠̠e̠, f̳̿͟͞u̳̿͟͞c̳̿͟͞k̳̿͟͞i̳̿͟͞n̳̿͟͞g̳̿͟͞ r̳̿͟͞e̳̿͟͞p̳̿͟͞u̳̿͟͞l̳̿͟͞s̳̿͟͞i̳̿͟͞v̳̿͟͞e̳̿͟͞ V̳̿͟͞a̳̿͟͞l̳̿͟͞e̳̿͟͞n̳̿͟͞t̳̿͟͞i̳̿͟͞n̳̿͟͞o̳̿͟͞ getting so close to Vox hit Alastor in a way he knew he couldn’t just push pasted this…

He needed help.

“How do you stop caring about someone.”

Roise finished her sip of tea before addressing her guest. Regarding Alastor with a raised brow and a smirk that clearly stated ‘Oh, I know where this is going’. She placed her cup and saucer down on the small table before gesturing to the empty chair across from her.

With as much refinement as he could handle in the emotional state he was in, Alastor all but flopped into the offered chair. Even with his constant smile, it was clear to the cannibal leader the other was pouting.

“Now, this wouldn’t happen to be about that Vox fellow I see you with so much?” Rosie asked while pouring Alastor his own cup. “Wasn’t he having a little shindig at his company today? It’s pretty common to see you at his side on these big events.”

Alastor let out a low growl before picking up the offered cup. “He found someone else to…converse with. I removed myself as my concerns didn’t interest that idiotic TV.”

“You didn’t seem to think Vox was an idiot when you offered the idea for that hunting show.”

He pointedly took a long sip of tea.

“I know you’re not a fan of sharing what’s going on in that head of yours. But I need something from you if you really expect me to help you.” Rosie stated, fixing her next cup.

“...I’ve now realized how close I was to him, to Vox, and that’s…”

“Terrifying?”

“I’m not built for…for caring for others and I never wanted to be,” Alastor said shortly, “Alive, dead, I don’t care. I…I cringe at that deep of a connection with someone.”

“You and I have an established relationship.”

“...It doesn’t feel the same as what Vox and I have. Or had, I’m not sure if we’re on the best of terms right now.”

“Oh, one little spat isn’t going to ruin anything. You’ll just need to be more honest when you see him next.”

“But I don’t want to be! I don’t even know what I want right now and it’s driving me crazy!”

Rosie said nothing as Alastor crushed the cup beneath his hand. Nor as he stood and started pacing the room. The Cannibal Overlord quietly called for a clean up and a new cup while she turned back to the other demon. “You’re certainly in a situation if you’re this riled up. I don’t think I’ve ever seen you this tense before.”

“Because I’ve never…felt this before. It’s an uncertainty that I don’t want to face. I like control, I love being in control. This is making me feel that I’m somehow falling apart yet being put back together again.”

“It’s okay to be in love-”

“I̳̿͟͞ a̳̿͟͞m̳̿͟͞ n̳̿͟͞o̳̿͟͞t̳̿͟͞.”

Rosie pointed an accusatory finger as Alastor’s voice shifted. “Don’t you snip at me, young man. You came here for advice and I’d like to give it without the worry of losing some part of me.”

“Then take it back.”

“I’m not silencing the truth.”

Alastor let out a hiss before turning his back to the other. Eyes widely looking around, as if he’d find the solution to all his problems in the room. He tried not to flinch as hands gently took one of his own to steer him back to the chair. Head bowed as he sat down, cup handed to him.

Rosie only claimed her chair once more when he didn’t break anything. “You can’t block this out.”

“I-”

“You already had your time for your tantrum. Now, you’re going to listen to me with that mouth shut.” She huffed, taking another sip before continuing.

“I think you’ve been lying to yourself this entire time. Your interest with Vox goes past just a ‘friendship’ or ‘companionship’. It’s something even deeper than what we share. You’ve just hidden it from yourself as a way to preserve what you think you want. Or deserve. There’s never been a challenge of questioning what you two shared because he gave you his world and you took it. Without a thought or worry as to what it could all mean.”

“Then this Valentino character shows up and you feel threatened. I’m not going to ask what the other demon did, because I know it’s more than just a sales pitch that pissed you off. But what you do see is a threat. To whatever you and Vox have.”

Alastor gripped the armrest. “...I don’t think I can explain it.”

“Well, I hate to be the bearer of bad news on that front, but you’re going to need to figure it out. Because Vox is going to want an explanation and he deserves one.”

“...Say that I do…you know.”

“Can’t hear you over your whining.”

Alastor growled, “If I do love him, what am I supposed to do? I…don’t want to have that connection with someone.”

“Then you need to decide if you’re okay with letting Vox go. Because your attitude today shows that you’re not that much of a fan of anyone coming too close to him. But you can’t make that barrier for him if it means you can’t be honest as to why you’re keeping him for yourself. Either let him know, or let him go.”

Neither of those options seemed to settle Alastor’s worries.

He should just be able to let Vox go. Why not? Wasn’t that what he wanted for so long? To let that walking TV depart from his life to Alastor could return back to the quiet he’d been so comfortable with. That was what he wanted…when he didn’t really know Vox.

When the other demon had been just an annoying nuisance in Alastor’s life that couldn’t just take the hint. Now, however, it was a different story. Because having Vox leave meant returning to a life where it was just him and…somehow…in some way…

The thought terrified him.

Maybe he could fall back into the old routine he held. He’d done it for years before Vox arrived in Hell, surely it wouldn’t be that hard to do once more.

“Don’t lie to yourself, just because you believe the old was a comfort.” Rosie offered as calming advice.

“...I think I should leave.” Placing the cup down, Alastor didn’t wait to hear Rosie’s farewells before he was sinking into the floor. The shadows embracing him.

The sinners on the street provided a very clear path around the Radio Demon as he practically stalked the streets. Alastor wasn’t looking for someone or heading for a particular place. He just needed to move. Hoping the constant feeling of moving forward would help pull him from the fog.

It was a frustrating situation that honestly held an easy solution.

Alastor couldn’t deny that he’d allowed Vox far closer than he should have been comfortable with. Just the metaphorical idea of pulling away made Alastor’s stomach churn far worse than what he currently felt. So, remaining was the better outcome.

Yet, would Vox approve? To become beyond the companionship, the friendship, they’d built. For how long Alastor has put up his barriers, would Vox now be receptive to moving forward in a different direction? It was clear the Media Overlord did have an infatuation with Alastor, even if said demon fought against it for so long…

But wasn’t Alastor entitled to have a new chapter in his afterlife? Shouldn’t he allow himself the grace to try?

How cruel fate could be.

Because he knew he couldn’t manage that.

He knew Vox deserved someone who wasn’t a chore to…care for.

So he hid away.

Hid away from Vox.

Never rising to any calls or pleas that eventually turned into hostel threats and challenges.

If asked, Alastor claimed he had better things to do. And he did.

Anything that would make Vox hate him or forget him.

Anything to keep that space between them.

Alastor truly thought he could have something as meaningful down here.

What an idiot he was.

Then, he became lost.

Lost for 7 years.

Leaving behind a disoriented, broken, and confused Vox to wonder where he’d disappeared to.

______________________________

Well, perhaps he’ll know better when going against an angel to not stand directly in front of them, defenses lowered, when they were still on the attack.

Hand delicately placed against his chest, doing a horrible job of keeping his blood in, Alastor slunk back to his radio tower. It was broken into pieces. The only large part still kept intact was where his equipment lied. The rest nothing more that splintered wood with broken glass and wires littered everywhere.

Opening the trapdoor was a little tricky. Given the fact he was only doing it with one hand and it was stuck at an odd angle. But Alastor was able to get it eventually. Panting weakly as he shuffled his way over to the controls to collapse at the base of them.

He wasn’t going to die.

It didn’t matter how much pain he was in, how much blood he’d lost, how much it hurt to breathe, or that he wanted nothing more than to pass out. He was better than that. He was the Radio Demon. One who held his own against an angel, Adam out of all of them, and still survived. Even if other demon’s felt brave enough to mock them, Alastor could hold that above their heads. That at least he fought and lived to talk about it.

Which he would say before eating the idiotic souls that tried to challenge him.

For the moment, however, Alastor just needed quiet. A quiet calm to let himself slowly heal before he joined back with the others and-

Alastor tensed when the trap door was opened once more. Following the sharp action with a quiet curse. He sat up further in hopes to look somewhat intimidating or put together. Depending on who was coming through that opening. If it was an angel, he needed to be on the defensive. Someone from the Hotel, then it was more of a performance to show he was doing just fine.

He was startled to find it was neither option.

Vox, breathless and looking anxious, climbed his way through. Wide eyes landing on Alastor, who could only stare back in slight surprise.

“...Ah… Hello there.” Was all Alastor could muster.

That seemed to break Vox out of whatever turmoil he was dealing with as he let out a snort the next second. His regular smug face appeared back on screen. Yet Alastor could still see a bit through the cracks…

“Well, you look like Hell. What happened to you? Fight an angel and get your ass handed to you?” Vox replied.

“At least I was willing to fight against one. Unlike your business partner who could only talk a really big talk…” Alastor hissed as he tried to sit up further.

“Hey, I only wanted to look into security. Velvette has her own way of sorting out what information people know.”

“We see where that got her. Now, if you don’t mind, I’d like to lick my wounds in privacy.” Alastor let out a pained hiss as his attempt to stand amounted for nothing. His free arm unable to support himself and he slid back down. He allowed a few seconds to try and catch his breath, eyes stuck to the broken ceiling to avoid looking at the other demon.

“Well, what is it? Are you here to torture me physically or verbally? Or maybe just a straight up slaughter. Adam did the majority of the work for you. Very like you, wouldn’t it be? To try and take all the glory once someone’s done the work for you. Shameful. Did you purposefully change your outfit to reflect mine? I’ve been gone for so long and I still, somehow, take up so much of your mind. You truly are pathetic-”

Alastor winced as his hands were pinned to his sides. Eyes narrowing as Vox positions himself a little too comfortably over the other’s hip. The Media Overlord gave his own glare back as the silence stretched before them.

“...I could break out of this.” Alastor snipped back.

“Do it.” Vox challenged.

“I could tear you apart without lifting a finger.”

“Do it.”

“I could show you how pathetic you really are-”

“Ｔ𝓱𝑒𝐍 𝓭Ø Ɨ𝐓.”

Alastor should not have been taken so aback by those words said in that way. His own comeback died on his tongue as he stared up at Vox as his face twisted into a deep frown. The Media Overlord’s right eye flaring up.

When he didn’t receive a reply back, Vox’s face returned to its more calming setting before saying, “I’m going to let one hand go. Can you promise not to swipe at me.”

“...No.”

“Wouldn’t have it any other way.”

Even with the rather weak deterrent, Alastor didn’t even twitch as Vox made good on his words. Red eyes watching as the other’s hand reached up…and moved to the top most button of his torn shirt.

Using whatever strength he could muster, Alastor attempted to push the other away. A growl escaping from him when his latching out was proved useless. Vox wasted no time in pinning the Radio Demon’s hands above him.

“Would you stop being an idiot!” Vox hissed.

“How strange to hear those words come from your mouth. That statement is normally reserved for you!” Hands no longer an option, Alastor resorted to biting the hand as it drew closer once more.

“Fucking- Stop it, I’m trying to help!”

“Why on any of the 7 Rings of Hell should I believe those words? You have no reason to, yet every reason to do away with me. Why keep me around? Clearly your meager existence was better when I wasn’t here. So make it permanent. Why wait any longer? Do it! Deliver the final blow and strike me down! E̳̿͟͞N̳̿͟͞D̳̿͟͞ T̳̿͟͞H̳̿͟͞I̳̿͟͞S̳̿͟͞!”

That final outburst took it all away. Leaving Alastor leaning against the soundboard side, gasping for air as he stared up at Vox. Who looked unimpressed with it all.

“Well, now that your temper tantrum is over.” Vox said this as if this was a normal routine. Hand going back to the torn shirt to undo it properly. Enough so that he was able to get a clearer look over the deep gash.

Alastor, on his part, could only sit and wait. Wait for Vox to pull out an angelic weapon that no doubt littered the front lawn of the hotel and stab him. Wait for Vox to just plunge his hand into Alastor's chest and tear out every part of his insides out to paint the floor red. Wait for said hand to slide up to wrap around Alastor’s throat to deprive him of the air he was still urgently taking in.

But none of that happened.

Instead, Alastor let out a hiss of pain instead of anger as a burning sensation was felt on his chest. Looking down to watch as the gash slowly closed itself back up, a faint blue light outlining said wound. It was over quicker than he expected. The area not fully healed, still a deep red but far better than it was before. Leaving Alastor feeling a little more awake and Vox…looking pale.

The Media Overlord leaned back enough to no longer keep the other trapped. Gracelessly falling back onto the damaged floor as his screen dimmed further. A few warnings of ‘Low Battery’ and ‘System Reboot Needed’ occasionally flashing before disappearing just as fast as they had arrived.

Alastor, on his part, ran a newly freed hand over the area. It was still extremely sore, but no longer bleeding, even appearing to be nothing more than an angry scar. The disbelief must have been written all over his face, as Alastor heard Vox let out a weak chuckle. Looking up to find the Media Overlord staring back at him.

“Don’t crash on my Bambi… I think only one of us needs to be close to passing out.”

“...Why would you do this?”

“Why not.”

“...I could kill you in the state that you are.”

“Would you? If that was the case, you’d have done it already…”

“Do you have a death wish?”

“For a while now, yeah…kind of.” They both jumped when Vox suddenly let out a rather violent twitch, screen glitching before going dark. Said demon letting out a small groan. “Okay…maybe I used more than I thought I had…”

Letting out a small huff of annoyance, Alastor shifted himself until he could lay next to the other. Feeling Vox twitch away slightly when their hands brushed together. No doubt more surprised by the sudden feeling than threatened with Alastor being so close suddenly.

“...I saw your stupid little…flying camera things.” Alastor eventually said.

Vox let out a weak laugh, “My security drones?”

“Drones, that’s what they’re called? Are they named after the way you talk? Droning on and on about things no one cares about.”

“Hey, I didn’t name them… A sinner brought the idea to me.”

The Radio Demon hummed, “Brought to you or that you overheard and killed so they couldn’t market the idea?”

“What do you think?”

Even with the situation they were in, both laying on the floor to recover from their own wounds, with the small want of being nowhere near the other demon, Alastor had to admit. This was…nice. Trading insults with no venom as if no time had really passed between them. When his radio tower was a grand structure on its own in the dense forest, allowing Vox to rant about whatever happened at work while Alastor pretended to not listen.

A good memory.

A…calming memory.

“You fucking left me.”

Alastor’s ear twitched, turning his head to look at the Media Overlord. Vox’s screen was still dark. But with how his body was tensed, Alastor knew they were reaching a boiling over point. One that had no doubt been rising for all these years.

“You left me… At the party, alone in this Hellscape… I looked for you…for 7 years. Do you know that? I spent 7 years building up my empire. Becoming stronger. Becoming my own Overlord with hundreds of contracts in my control. All because of you. Because when you left…” Vox’s voice became garbled for a moment and he fell silent.

Alastor remained quiet as well. Remembering a time, long ago, when Vox had explained a large downside to his new form. That strangely comfortable release when someone could let go of their sadness. Vox had been devoid of that. He still needed to eat, to breath, to drink. Yet that liberating feeling of letting sadness fully consume oneself was gone.

He’d become familiar with that sound from the Media Overlord’s voice. Alastor had heard it numerous times on days that Vox had just too much on his plate or something fell through and became a detriment to his plans.

Back then, Alastor hadn’t thought much of it. How trying to openly let out such a weak state of emotion in front of anyone in Hell would be seen as an opportunity to strike. But he never did. All he’d done was allow Vox to scream, shout, even destroy a few things. Then letting him collapse onto the nearest chair as the feeling continued to grow with no way out. The younger demon clawed at his chest as if that would yield the result he desired.

And how Alastor, the demon who was repulsed by touch from anyone, would place a hand on Vox’s shoulder. Or lay an arm across them. Even at some point allowing the other to lean against him. As if offering a small form of shelter from the storm.

Now here they were again. Alastor only able to watch as Vox struggled.

“...You shouldn’t have looked for me,” Alastor said softly, “It wasn’t worth it…”

“It was for me.” Vox shot back, voice still a mess.

“You had your own life to live, it shouldn’t have revolved around me. It should never revolve around anyone.”

“Fuck you.”

“Vox-”

“You don’t get to make that decision, not on your own. …Did I make you angry? You left at that party. I know we fought but we both said stupid things and I thought it would just blow over. But you kept… You avoided me, lashed out and… Fuck, Alastor, I couldn’t breath, I was so confused and you wouldn’t let me talk. Then I heard sinners calling us rivals and I knew I said nothing about it so assumed you had. With everything…”

“You should hate me.”

“I do…but for the wrong reasons, I think… I just hate that you left me there… Then you fucking disappear.”

Alastor’s stomach twisted uncomfortably. “...It wasn’t my intention.”

“If you had stayed, would anything have changed?”

“No.”

“...Well, at least you were honest…”

“If you’re angry at me, why are you here?”

“Just because you hate me doesn’t mean I want to hate you. I freaked out when I saw you get hit. I would have been here sooner, honestly, but Val and Velvette held me back. Said rushing over was a stupid idea. They were kind of right. …I know you like your privacy and whatnot. Your mysterious air… If you want me to keep playing this role of rival, I will. Good thing to focus my anger on…I guess. I just…I wanted to know you were okay.”

Alastor didn’t respond. Eyes widening slightly, ears even tense as he heard Vox’s voice say those words. They hurt. Hearing out loud, from someone other than himself, it felt wrong. It’s as if Vox had said the words that had been resting on Alastor’s shoulders for so long.

Because, in some way, Alastor had been doing the same thing.

If he really wanted to keep Vox away, Alastor would have just disappeared to begin with. On his own terms. He wouldn’t have felt the need to rise and snap out his views against Vox. Alastor had no need to make their falsely created rivalry such a spectacle. At the time, he’d just assumed it was because he was trying to show off. To show his life could continue on like nothing was wrong. An act. A performance.

In reality, it was his way to make sure Vox was okay. That the other demon could remain on his own two feet without Alastor always being there. The small verbal fights were nothing more than Alastor checking in. A way to see how much Vox was building his empire and himself. To watch from the shadows as Vox strived in creating what he deserved. All without allowing the other the chance to ever get that close again.

Alastor didn’t hide physically. He tried to hide emotionally.

And suddenly…he stopped wanting to try. To hide what he thought wasn’t meant to be his.

Because he was Alastor, the Radio Demon, and if he wanted someone, he was allowed to take them. Without the fear of what others thought.

Vox’s screen flickered on when the air around him moved quickly. Having a moment of worry that he’d crossed a line and Alastor was finally done with him. Only to pause as the Radio Demon was now leaning over him. Smile tense and eyes narrowed.

“...Alastor-”

“I don’t want that.”

Vox blinked, “Don’t…want what?”

“I don’t want to play a role. I don’t want to be rivals, or to feel the need to fight you, or trade insults with the purpose to hurt you or me or…whatever. I…don’t want to go back to any of that. I don’t want to hate you… I never hated you.”

“...Then what was that all about?”

“...There were…certain things happening at the time that I was not…comfortable with facing.”

“You were scared.”

Alastor let out a low growl before covering it with a cough. “That is one way to put it, I suppose. I pushed because… I like control. This…feeling, this was not control. So, I did what I thought I had to do. I controlled the situation I had before.”

“You pushed people away?”

“Well, no, I actually killed them.”

“Oh, well, I’m glad you went with the physical distance and not the spiritual distance.”

Alastor raised a brow, “I thought you could take me in a fight? Was that not one of your claims? That I was so old that I could break a hip or something trying to land the first hit?”

“Hey, that’s still a legitimate concern!” Vox argued back with a smirk, “But back then? No, no way could I have. I would have just been a gnat you could swipe at and do me in. Now…well, you might have knowledge, but I’m pretty sure I have you beat in strength.”

“Oh, do you now? Because that head of yours makes for a good target.”

“Oi! My head is awesome! Sleek in design and able to hold so much information. You’re just- You just wished you looked this good. Unlike you, still stuck with the pinstriped suites? ”

“I thought you liked me in these?”

“I mean, if anyone could pull off the look, it would be you. Doesn’t make it look any less ridiculous.”

“I should teach you to respect your elders.”

“Ha! You just admitted you were old!” Either from being delirious with how much energy he’d lost or really thinking he was that funny, Vox devolved into a small fit of laughter. Starting off strong before devolving into small giggles and snorts.

All the while, Alastor just watched and listened. Only pulled from his trance when Vox finally calmed down, looking up to the Radio Demon with a smile Alastor had not seen in years.

And that squirming feeling in his stomach was back…

Vox’s smile fell to a look of surprise when Alastor leaned down to claim his lips in a kiss. The shock wore off slower than he meant for it to, causing Vox to scramble slightly in wrapping his arms around the other in case Alastor took the wrong idea. The Media Overlord even getting a little brave to gently run his fingers through the other’s hair.

When the kiss ended, neither pulled away that far. Alastor eventually laying across the other, making sure not to stick anything with his antlers. Both allowing the moment to play in their minds once more.

“...This doesn’t fix everything.” Vox whispered.

“I’m aware of that,” Alastor replied, “I suppose I have a lot to make up for… But I’m hoping those aren’t words saying this can’t work.”

“No, just that…it’s going to be hard moving forward. For a lot of reasons.”

“...I can wait.”

Days later, when the hotel was rebuilt and all wounds (known and unknown) were healed up, Alastor was given a box by Niffty. The maid happily claimed she’d found it on the front steps of the hotel, only holding the Radio Demon’s name. Eagerly leaning forward as she waited for the other to open it. Only to be disappointed when Alastor retreated to his room to have some privacy.

The box didn’t hold anything that would make Alastor worry it was some kind of trap or anything to be worried about. Sitting at his dining table, he turned it over a few times in his hands before tearing the paper away and opening the box.

Inside was a familiar wooden deer figure. Now complete, the small form resting in a field, all of it a beautiful dark wood that shined from the varnish. Absolutely stunned, Alstor’s eyes roamed over every detail he could find and take in. Sitting in warm silence as he held the small creation in his hand. Only pulling away when something else shifted in the box. Reaching in once more to pull out a folded letter.

‘If it makes you feel better, somehow, you’re the only one who knows about this. If you want- If you’d like, I can show you what else I’ve made. Just let me know, okay?’

- Vox

Well, how could Alastor say no to that?

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