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Bad, bad boy, shiny toy with a price
You know that I bought it (oh yeah, you're right, I want it)
Killing me slow, out the window
I'm always waiting for you to be waiting below
Devils roll the dice, angels roll their eyes
What doesn't kill me makes me want you more
Rain pattered against glass, sky darkened with an acidic storm acting as a perfect juxtaposition to the warm light flickering inside, a bed tucked under the window with rumpled blankets. The shades were slightly parted to allow the bed’s occupants view of the rainy weather.
Alastor lay on his stomach on the left side of the bed, blankets draped over his waist and legs, one hoof sticking out of the corner, his hair mused and starting to curl at the tips as he leaned over a book he was enjoying. To his right Vox lay on his back, blanket halfway up his chest and cellphone held up as he read through emails, neither wanting to leave the peaceful quiet of the apartment they had decided to rent together for the nights they wanted to be entirely alone- no risk of the Vees intruding- Valentino had walked in on one too many situations that he immediately made suggestive- or Charlie calling for help over a matter that she really could handle on her own.
Now they spent most of their nights here, both heading in separate directions for work, it was domestic in a way Alastor had never imagined himself enjoying but it felt somewhat reminiscent to their friendship from decades ago, just much closer now.
Ear twitching toward Vox when he picked up the sound of his fans kicking up into a higher gear just before he uttered a aggravated groan, he couldn't help but chuckle as he looked up from his book. “What ever is the matter, Picture Box?” He asked, raising an eyebrow.
“Nothing,” Vox sighed, letting his phone drop to his chest. “Just Val making a mess online for Vel to clean up, they’re arguing in a group chat right now.” He rested one hand on his chest and looked up at Alastor, reaching up to gently rub at the drooping tip of one ear.
Humming, Alastor leaned into it and briefly closed his eyes, feeling warm and content. “Are you going to add your own two cents into it?” He asked after a moment, missing the way Vox grinned as he kept his eyes closed and let him continue petting him.
“Nah, not in the mood. I’d rather lounge here with you.”
“We ought to get up for food soon,” Alastor noted, cracking an eye open and grinning wide in amusement when Vox’s stomach voiced it’s agreement. “It would seem I’m not the only one here with such an opinion.” He shifted, starting to sit up so he could slide out of the bed and get cooking, only to suddenly feel a hand encircling his waist and pulling him back down until his back pressed against Vox’s chest. Huffing in faux annoyance, he tilted his head so he looked up at him, his hair fanning out over Vox’s blue skin as he did.
“Just five more minutes cuddling you,” Vox bargained, nuzzling his screen against his temple. “It’s been a couple weeks since we’ve had a quiet morning like this, I wanna enjoy it before tonight.” Alastor rolled his eyes, a playful smile gracing his mouth as he relaxed back against him and set his own hands overtop Vox’s where it rested just barely under his navel.
“I suppose that is acceptable, if you allow me to cook what I want for dinner tonight,” he bartered, gaze catching Vox’s as he leaned back enough to look down at him, nodding eagerly.
“Easiest deal I’ve made in months.” He chuckled and kissed Alastor’s forehead just to watch him blink in surprise before his mouth twisted in a exasperated smile. As they laid their, basking in each others warmth and comforting presence, Vox thought back on the last year- how he and Alastor had somehow defied the odds against them and had not only recovered their friendship of the past by accident, but had grown even closer and- to his immense joy- began dating. How he had helped Alastor free himself from a life threatening deal, his gaze drifting over his partner’s face as he thought. His fur and velvet felt smoother, healthier now that he wasn't stressed beyond all measures. His skin was bright, the dark circles that had been under his eyes for as long as Vox could remember gone, and he swore if he looked closely enough he could even see small fawn spots starting up along his jaw and nose. They were faint, barely half a shade lighter than his skin, but he swore they were there.
He looked happier, healthier, and Vox was so proud of him for his bravery and resilience. Butterflies batted their wings at his ribcage as he watched Alastor shift slightly, the low lighting glinting off his antlers and revealing the velvet was starting to molt off at the tips, the dust in the air shifting as he exhaled with each breath.
God, he was so in love, he thought to himself as his gaze shifted from the man atop him to the dresser drawer across the room, biting the inside of his lip anxiously as he did.
The Hazbin Hotel was bustling with a quiet chaotic energy when Alastor was making his way down it’s halls, performing his daily checks to ensure nothing needed to be fixed or walls were eroding. This hall in particular was quiet- the rooms here empty save for Lucifer’s own quarters, the double doors cracked just slightly up ahead. He was sure the King had ensured that this would be happening- the hotel was doing well but not at full capacity just yet so why force neighbors upon oneself for no reason?
As he passed by the doors, his ears pricked at the sound of a hushed conversation between Lucifer and Charlie, just barely loud enough for him to pick up on it.
“Dad, I dunno… it could back fire and get bad.” Charlie sounded concerned, almost guilty, causing Alastor to fully stop and disperse into shadow, slowly pooling under the door and into the shadows of the room so he could listen in while the other two were unaware.
“Charlie, it’s needed. The Overlords are too dangerous as it is, and with the monopoly they have on the major news sources they could stage a revolution with ease. This creates a checks and balances.”
“But dad,” Charlie worried at her lip as she picked up a piece of paper, reading it over as she paused. “Having them hand over a chunk of their power to you in order to hold on to that title and territory? That could cause a revolution too. They aren’t even talking about a revolt right now.”
Lucifer nodded, arms crossed over his chest as he leaned back against his desk. “Okay, how about we change the wording then? Instead of handing that over, they sign a deal with me instead. If they betray the royal family or cause harm to those souls they own, then according to the deal they sign over their own souls. Until then, they're free as they are before the deal was struck.”
Alastor furrowed his eyebrows, briefly wondering what had brought this on until a brief flash of seeing Angel Dust entering the hotel earlier that week with two black eyes came to the forefront of his mind. It would seem Lucifer had decided to act then, he hadn't seen this coming however. Charlie was right though, the other overlords would never agree to it, the deal was far too vague. What would constitute as treason to the crown exactly? What if the soul caused harm to themselves and their contract owners had no hand in it? Would they still be forced to give up their souls merely because a clumsy soul was star gazing and fell off a roof on their night off?
As Charlie nodded, seeming more open to this version, Alastor melted back under the door and walked silently back down the hall- he needed to warn Vox and Rosie so they could work out a way around this.
When Vox came home from work that afternoon, it was to find Alastor pacing in the living room, coat folded neatly and laid overtop the couch and suspenders still hooked to his hips but hanging loose either side of his legs rather than on his shoulders. Clearly he was stressed, his hair messy from him running his hands through it.
“Hey,” Vox called softly, reaching out to grab his wrist and ceasing the passing. “What’s bothering you?”
Ears pressing back against his head, Alastor turned to him, eyes catching onto the crooked tie at his throat and reaching up to undo it- he needed something to do while he talked this through, too anxious to stand still. “I overheard Lucifer and Charlie speaking, there’s a law in the works.” He started to explain, nimble fingers tugging on the knot until it loosened. “It’s still in early stages, but it promises to require Overlords to make a deal with the royals. If one betrays the crown or harm comes to a soul under contract, they must hand their own soul over.”
Vox’s eyes widened, hand pausing where it had raised up to smooth Alastor’s hair down. “What?” He asked, mind racing as he thought through all the loopholes and ways a deal that open could go wrong. “No one will agree to that, it’s too-“
“Vague.” Alastor nodded, tugging the tie off and tossing it over his own coat. “We need to warn the ones closest to us, but it can’t make rounds. If the others all know and are prepared, they can trace it back to us far too easily.” Vox nodded in agreement, glancing over Alastor’s shoulder toward the bedroom.
“How long do we have?”
“They’re still working it out, if I had to make an assumption…perhaps a few weeks.” Alastor followed his gaze, raising a questioning eyebrow.
“Then we warn Rosie tonight, Vel and Val tomorrow. Tonight we act like nothing’s wrong and try to think of a way around it.” Vox’s gaze moved back to meet Alastor’s, smiling softly and reaching up to soothe over a small wrinkle between his eyebrows. “In the meantime, let’s get ready. We have a party to get to in Cannibal Town.” Alastor exhaled slowly, calming his racing heart and nodded, a mischievous look quirking his smile as he caught Vox’s wrist as he was starting to pull away.
“What?” Vox asked, confused for a moment before Alastor suddenly yanked him in close and pressed a fleeting kiss to his mouth, too quick for Vox to respond before he was stepping back and walking off toward the bedroom with a genuine laugh when Vox shouted after him.
As the sun dipped and night grew, Vox and Alastor arrived arm in arm at Rosie’s Emporium, twinkling fairy lights lit up the town square, the gazebo decked out in warm lighting from within as the streetlights lit the sidewalks. Both had dressed up, Vox in a deep navy blue button up tucked into his black dress pants and a scarlet red bowtie around his neck, Alastor in a deep burgundy matching outfit but had picked out a blue bowtie and matching suspenders- a small detail that, much to his amusement, had nearly caused Vox to short circuit upon first seeing it.
Opening the door for Vox, the two entered the shop and were immediately greeted with a excited shriek from Rosie. Her shop was empty for the time being as she finished setting up the food for everyone, standing up to walk over to the two men and hug both.
“It’s so good to see you both again,” she smiled as Alastor grinned in amusement, watching as she squeezed Vox a tad too hard and he tried to hide the discomfort. “And just in time too, the party is about to start! Everyone’s out in the square, I was about to open the doors.”
Chuckling, Alastor nodded and pulled her attention to him so Vox could extract himself carefully. “We noticed on the way up, but we needed to speak with you first my dear.”
“Oh? Whatever about?” Rosie asked, intrigued as she ushered them over to a few chairs so they could all sit.
“I overheard a conversation between Lucifer and Charlie,” Alastor explained as he leaned a hip against the seat, motioning for Vox to take it instead, pausing to use his shadows and pull Rosie’s chair out for her. “You mustn’t tell a soul, Rosie.” The use of her name in replacement of a endearment caught her attention as she pushed her chair in, nodding.
“I won’t utter a peep, hun.”
Nodding, Alastor sighed and looked down at Vox, squeezing his shoulder gently, a small genuine smile creeping into place as Vox reached up to squeeze his hand in return. “They intend on passing a law, Overlords will have to make a deal with the crown. If they betray the royal family or a soul under contract with them comes to harm, they forfeit their own soul to the crown.”
Rosie frowned as she listened, a hand hovering over her chin as she thought about what to do. “I appreciate the warning, how long would you suppose we have?”
“Perhaps a few weeks, at most.” Alastor shrugged one shoulder as he spoke.
“Then I have ample time to come up with a solution, thank you you two.” She smiled as she stood and set her hands on her hips. “Now, we have a party to attend.”
Chuckling, Vox stood and nodded, looking over at Alastor. “Let’s head out and have some fun,” he slid his arm into Alastor’s, hooking it at the elbow and pulling him out into the night to join the towns people. Laughing as they went, Alastor and Vox quickly joined the crowd of cannibals dancing in the town square, only stopping once they found enough room for themselves. Vox arm dropped from Alastor’s elbow to his back, pulling him in close as Alastor slid his own hand into Vox’s and they started a fast paced foxtrot. They easily stepped to the beat, both so comfortable this close together publicly now that they hardly noticed the townspeople’s attention on them, eventually turning to look away when Rosie appeared and raised her eyebrows protectively at the few still staring.
Laughing together they continued to dance, occasionally switching leads as they bounced through different dances as the songs changed, the foxtrot and lindy hop being favorites. By the time the music slowed and switched to a more slow paces song coming out of speakers attached to the gazebo, the band having taken a break to join the townspeople as they all strolled into the Emporium for food, Alastor and Vox hung back. Neither were particularly hungry at the moment, nor were they wanting to join the crowded festivities indoors where they would no doubt be coerced into a gossip session or be accosted by Susan.
Instead they slowed their dance into a waltz, Alastor leading as they spun around the gazebo. The tips of his ears drooped, his relaxed mood on clear display as he dipped Vox, grinning wide at the man’s laughter even as he straightened them both up. Suddenly, a crackling pop came from a speaker in the gazebo, pulling their attention to the gazebo steps where a bulb belonging to a string of fairy lights was flickering. Humming softly, Alastor extracted himself from Vox’s hold and climbed the steps to rest his hand on the lights, pushing static into it and soothing the fraying wires for the time being.
Watching him, Vox’s heart rate picked up speed, his hand resting in his pocket for a moment as he felt butterflies pick up their flight inside his stomach, wings beating in tandem with his heart. He almost felt nauseous, he was so nervous, but watching the relaxed expression on Alastor’s profile and the way the light lit up his hair like a twisted version of a halo encouraged him.
He wanted this.
He was fairly certain Alastor did too.
Reaching into his pocket whilst also mentally carding through his own internal music files, he selected the one he knew Alastor would remember. Thankful he had been working on his own abilities whilst Alastor was unaware for this exact moment, he pushed his own signal out to the speakers, feeling a warm tingling on the other end as he connected, the song he had selected playing quietly and catching Alastor’s attention.
No more keepin' score now I just keep you warm (keep you warm). No more tug of war now I just know there's more (know there's more). No more keepin' score now
I just keep you warm (keep you warm), and my waves meet your shore ever and evermore…
When Alastor turned on that top step to question the sudden song change, he froze in place as his gaze landed on Vox, heart stuttering in his chest.
Vox was on one knee.
He had a small box in his hand, and was looking up at him.
Alastor felt his signal curling around him, a warmth settling into his bones at the familiar feeling. When his eyes met Vox’s, it seemed to be all the courage that was needed for Vox to speak.
“Al,” his voice was shaky with nerves, but a underlying certainty told of how sure he was of this decision. “I love you, early mornings or late evenings with you, the way your hair curls when it’s wet or the way you can be so ruthless to others while still being so protective of the people you care about. I love your laughter, your smile, and even though what you went through with her was fucked, I’m glad it brought us together again. I can’t imagine not having you in my afterlife.” He took a steadying breath, watching Alastor for any sign of discomfort or anger and finding none so far.
“I wanna spend it with you. Alastor,” he opened the box, holding it up so the light would glint off the ring inside, allowing Alastor to see it clearly- a golden band with delicate blue and red gems laid intricately, the middle dipping down to form a V shape but inside the shape a gem sat, carved in the shape of a radio. It was beautiful and must have been custom made, taken months to be perfected.
“Marry me?” Vox’s voice was quiet in the still of the night, his breath caught in his throat as he awaited Alastor’s response.
As he stood on the steps, looking caught in headlights while he processed the question asked of him, Alastor’s mind raced. If he said yes, not much would change except for legal terms, their contracts would merge into a joint ownership and they would essentially be the other’s contract owner whilst also being their equal. Marriage in Hell was similar to how it worked on Earth, except you gained the other’s contracts and your partner’s soul, creating a equal bond. It was a rarity for that reason, most didn't want to have a equal bond, they much preferred having control over the other, but in the few cases where it had occurred it had resulted in a very powerful partnership. Divorce was almost non existent because of the power the couple gained.
If he said no… well, he might lose Vox. He couldn’t particularly think of a downside, but the idea of saying no and hurting Vox caused his stomach to roll, a uncomfortably nauseous sensation fluttering at his throat.
He supposed that was answer enough.
Stepping silently down the stairwell until he was on the last step standing just in front of his partner, he held out his left hand with his palm up, grasping Vox’s in it and carefully pulling him up to standing. As soon as he was on both feet securely, he cupped his screen and nodded, “yes.” He said softly, watching with a genuine smile as Vox’s screen brightened in joy and he flipped Alastor’s hand over so he could slide the ring onto his finger.
Pulling his Picture Box in, he kissed him, feeling his ears puff up as the static from his screen reached the fur on the tips, Vox’s arms circling around his waist and spinning him as soon as they parted, causing both to laugh. Once he sat him firmly back on the ground, Vox leaned in to kiss his nose and forehead, peppering kisses all over his face and making Alastor chuckle and push at his shoulders. “That’s enough,” he shook his head, amused as Vox leaned back.
This was his favorite reaction so far, he mused to himself, seeing the joy brimming in his expression as Vox’s hand splayed out over the small of his back.
“Well finally,” Rosie’s voice caught their attention from the emporium steps behind them, causing both to jump and turn to face her, a shit eating grin gracing her features. “I was wondering if you two would tie the knot, and this new law is the perfect excuse anyway.” She set her hands on her hips, laughing as she watched realization dawn on both men.
If they were each others contract owners through law then… they had the perfect way to protect each other from striking a deal with the royal family. A perfect loophole.
“Well, I guess we’ll see how fast we can pull a wedding together,” Vox chuckled as he turned to grin at Alastor who only shook his head, smiling in amusement.
“We’ve done much more difficult things, I’m certain we can handle this Picture Box,” he squeezed his shoulder and stepped back, offering his hand out for Vox to grasp before leading him back inside to the party where the ring shining on his finger was no doubt going to be the gossip of the night.