#helluva boss Angst

[birdy-babe]

I’m sick to my stomach

[goeticwhorelore]

Blitz's was 100% a momma's boy

I mean, look at these photos and tell me he wasn't

And you can just tell she loves her children

That's just the look of a mother who loves her kids

And with how abusive his dad was, his mom was probably the only safe space he had, his only comfort

[amv-reset]

HELLUVA BOSS - BLITZO | Family - Part 9 for Childhood Creativity Studios

[tooshnado]

small animation. come eat this angst

[rhiandoesfandom]

HB Angst Poll

So who do we think is going to break first?

Personally, I think Blitz will get his in Ghostfuckers as it's kinda clear, and Stolas will in Mastermind. But maybe I'm wrong! They could be trolling us with everything of course.

[crack-whore-who-fuckedup-already]

Be My Witness

Part 6 - b i g f e e l i n g s

Word Count: 6885, she chonk

Fem!Reader, intimate!platonic Reader x Angel, Reader x Stolas, (eventual) intimate!platonic Reader x Alastor

TRIGGER Warning- descriptions of drug and alcohol use, drug abuse, non-sober sex, blood and descriptions of blood loss, descriptions of needles, blood drawing, MDNI please

A/N: trying something new and adding a song to fit the theme of each chapter!! lemme know what yall think :) alsooo ooohh whats thisss?? Val being sexy and attentive??? 🙈

Song: "b i g f e e l i n g s" By WILLOW

Valentino was quick to call Y/n into his office after he'd caught word that she had landed the big prince himself.

Once again, this slinky woman managed to pull her weight just at the right time. 

With the rest of his tower being built and renovated, Val needed the extra cash flow to see the project done asap. The sooner he could get the building up and running, the sooner Valentino would be able to set aside time for more personal endeavors. Something he had been putting off for far too long.

When the check signed by the Goetian King hit his account, he nearly dropped his cigarette into his lap. He had to stand to fully process the numbers he was seeing in his account. 

With that amount, Valentino actually contemplated giving Y/n a rightfully deserved break. 

But then the greed in his brain took over, and he realized he had to exploit this for as much and as long as he could. He had to make it clear to her that messing up was not an option.

So when Y/n came into his office, that's exactly what he told her. 

“Damn, mami! Looks like you made quite the impression. I don't know what you did but you better still have a few tricks up your sleeve because you are definitely seeing him again.” He brought his cigarette to his lips and inhaled deeply. “Don't fuck this up for us,” he warned sweetly, possessive fingers on her chin forcing her to meet his glare. He punctuated with a smokey kiss, then sent her on her way.

Jokes on him, letting her go without forcefully fucking her into the couch first was a break in itself.

Barely a week later, she came home from work, bleary eyes finding Angel with a letter in hand. 

He looked at her expectantly. The paper was thick and yellowed, and sealed tightly with a dollop of burgundy wax, Stolas’ emblem pressed into it. She quickly took it from Angel with a shy grin, before sitting down to read.

It started with a heartfelt message of gratitude, thanking her for her time and company, and most importantly, her patience. He signed off with a request to see her again in the upcoming week. He assured he would arrange everything, she need only give him the word. 

She wished she didn't feel so conflicted.

It's true, she already wished to see the dashing prince again and slip into the fantasy world he had provided. But after her conversation with Val, the thought of continuing to see sweet Stolas while still taking his money made her feel ill. 

But she didn't have a choice. At the end of the day Stolas was a client, and Valentino was very clear with his command. 

Don't fuck this up.

So she wrote back and told him he would be seeing her very soon. And she did.

It went on like that for a month or so, corresponding through letters to set up times and dates to see each other.

And when they were together, they talked, read, gardened... Anything and everything in between. 

Aside from a few heated make out sessions and exploratory hands here and there, they never felt the need to take it any further. Seeing his dazed, fluttering eyes upon pulling away was satisfactory to her. And for him, feeling her ribs expand in his hands, hearing her fight to find her breath, was the same.

For a month or so, they played pretend and played house, cooking and eating together, tending to the plants. Organizing the libraries, which he does a lot. 

Despite the various servants he could easily pass the job off to, Stolas insists on doing it himself. He says it's because the servants never do it correctly. Y/n knows it's because it soothes his anxiety. 

She gets it. If she had a vast library to organize and reorganize anytime she felt like she was spiraling into doom, maybe she wouldn't have turned to drugs. 

One evening, after she and Stolas spent a relaxing day in the pool, one of Valentinos cars pulled into the driveway. 

Y/n sat up in her lounge chair, nerves settling deep in her stomach as she watched it pull to a stop. She looked over at Stolas who lounged beside her, wine glass in hand. It seems he too had noticed the vehicle, and judging by the look on his face, he hadn't been the one to call on it. 

Y/n swallowed hard and looked back at the car. One of Valentino’s goons had gotten out and was stood waiting, arms crossed, watching her fixedly.

Y/n moved without thinking. Grabbing her towel and covering up, she made her way back towards the house, without so much as a word to Stolas. 

He called out her name, and when she didn't answer, he jumped up as well, leaving his drink and things by the pool.

He followed her inside, his worry rising with every silent step she took. 

Though he had called her name almost the whole way there, it wasn't until they reached his room did she finally say something, disconcerted as it was.

“I have to, uhm,” she cleared her throat quickly. “I have to get going.”

Stolas had never heard her speak so curtly. It told him that something was undoubtedly wrong.

“What's the matter?” 

She didn't respond.

“Y/n?”

He watched her slip back into her clothes, not bothering to take off her wet bathing suit. She grabbed the towel she had been using, and her bag, then turned quickly into the restroom. She didn't look at him once.

Stolas resorted to pacing ever so slowly in front of his books. He was trying not to let his worry get the best of him.

Y/n was obviously shaken by something. He knew his own anxiety thrown on top of hers would do her no good.

So he waited, hands clasped behind his back, eyes boring into the ground where he stepped. It took a few rather long minutes, and just when he contemplated calling her name again, she appeared, pushing through the washroom curtains. 

Her eyes scanned the room slowly, like she was seeing everything for the very first time. And the second her eyes landed on him, he knew something was different. Something was off.

She gave him the slightest nod, then gathered her things clumsily, nearly losing her balance while bending over to grab her shoes. 

Stolas finally stepped in. He crossed the room, grabbed the shoe from her hand and sat her down on the bed. She landed with a huff. 

He kneeled in front of her and worked the shoes onto her feet.

“I've never seen you like this before, love,” he started carefully. 

She still didn't say anything, just stared as he tied up her laces. When he finished with that, he joined her up on the bed. 

He was facing her completely while she stubbornly faced forward. He placed a hand on hers, but nothing he did seemed to be clicking.

She tried to stand, pulling her hand out from under his. But Stolas had had enough of her avoidance. His arm shot out in front of her waist, barring her from getting up. 

“Stop. Please,” he insisted, practically begging. He couldn't believe this, the way she was acting with him. What had he done to deserve this treatment from her?

Then it struck him. And regretfully so.

He's paying for her to be there. And maybe time had run out…

Like one of his hungry plants, disgust bloomed inside him. Disgust with himself.

He retracted his arm and murmured a small apology.

Y/n stood and put distance between them. It made him feel powerless and little. Where was the tender adoring demon he knew her to be? Replaced by a hardened, sullen version of her. And how could he blame her.

“I'll be alright, Stolas,” she said coolly, not meeting his gaze. 

He didn't believe her.

“I meant what I said about your safety. Do you remember?” He stood, filling the uncomfortable silence. “I don't wish to ever see you in harm's way.”

She shifted on her feet, fiddling with the hem of her shirt. 

He hesitated to continue, not wanting to aggravate her even more. But he persisted anyway, pushing through the discomfort. 

“Are they hurting you, love?”

She inhaled sharply, suddenly stepping around the bed and towards the door. “I have to go, Stolas.”

That told him everything he needed to know. His stomach sank to the floor. 

Stolas wanted to go down and tear apart that smug security guard that was waiting for her. And then he wanted to make Y/n tell him where her boss was so he could flay him alive.

He felt rage flowing through his veins, buzzing under his skin. He had to reel himself in before he let it consume him. 

Y/n had stopped in the doorway. Stolas thought she would have left while he was stewing in anger. But her small voice pulled him out of his rage quicker than anything.

“Will you walk me out…” His head snapped to look at her. “Please?” 

He was by her side in an instant, offering his arm. She took it with a small, saddened smile. He saw now just how red her eyes were. Glazed and unfocused, too.

He assumed she had been crying in the bathroom. He had no reason to believe anything else.

For the past two months, Stolas had brought a sense of peace and lucidity to Y/n that she had been missing for decades. When she was with him, that twinging, incessant need to numb her mind and body subsided just enough to tolerate being sober. 

Up until today, these two parts of her life -Stolas and Val-, hadn't mixed. At least, not any further than a wired payment. 

She just hadn’t realized how far into this fantasy she had tucked herself. And Valentino's car pulling up was her very rude awakening.

She hadn't meant to get as high as she did, truly she didn't. But when she was in the bathroom, fumbling to pop and swallow whatever little pill she had found in the bottom of her bag, she bit her cheek. Hard. She cursed herself repeatedly, trying to spit out what she could into the pearly white sink. She turned on the tap to wash it away, then tried rinsing her mouth as well. It only did so much. 

So she dealt with it. She had no choice. Valentino was waiting for her. And so was Stolas, right in the other room. So she pulled herself together, playing sober best she could. Luckily, Stolas was none the wiser.

On their way out, they passed by his study where he had them stop for a moment.

He quickly wrote something down on a scrap of paper.

“The phone number for the house,” he said, handing it to her, resolute in his gaze. “You call, anytime you need.” He placed it firmly in her hesitant hand and closed her fingers over it. 

He stroked her arm delicately before taking it again, finally exiting the mansion into the courtyard.

The guard moved to open the car door when he saw them approach. It made Y/n's breath hitch. It didn't go unnoticed by Stolas.

With a subtle squeeze to his bicep, she let go and went to climb into the car.

Stolas caught her by the hand though, dissatisfied with her goodbye. He pulled her to him quickly, wrapping her in a tight embrace, part of him scared it would be the last time. He willed himself not to let his thoughts go there.

His face pressed into the top of her head, her soft ears tickling his face. He tightened his hold on her, and she finally embraced him back, squeezing just as tightly.

“You mean so much to me,” he cooed. “I hope you know that.”

Then she pulled away with a sniffle, and ducked into the car. He moved to give her one last goodbye, and just as he met her eyes, the guard slammed the door shut. 

Stolas smiled and waved anyway, unable to see her through the windows. He watched the car disappear down the street as he vowed to find a way to make their relationship work. Based on trust and adoration- not money.

It turns out, Y/n had forgotten about one of her appointments. 

A last minute scheduling on Val’s end. Something about a new investor being interested in their product. She scolded herself for forgetting and hoped Val didn't hold it against her. 

She walked into his office, arms already crossed over her chest. 

“Mamitas! I went to your apartment and Angel told me you were out with the Goetia.” He approached her, lower arms outstretched, upper arms mimicking her crossed ones. “I would have gone all the way to go get you but I had some other things to attend to. Listen, mami," he steamrolled right into his next thought. "I admire your dedication, but,” Val grabbed her shoulders. “Don't let it interfere with our very important schedule," he lectured.

Y/n nodded stiffly, being sure to look at him.

He smiled wide. “Good. Now,” a thrilled glint lit up his eyes as he threw an arm around her waist, his hand subtly feeling up her flank. He walked her to the sofa as he spoke. “Before we get down to business, I owe you a drink.”

He set her down on the leather couch and she flinched as the cold material bit into her thighs. 

Val spun around with a soft flourish of his wings.

She noticed then the bottle of champagne sitting on his desk. The gold metallic foil wrapped around the spout stuck out from the bucket of ice it sat in. Condensation gathered and dripped down the side, and onto a black folded towel. Next to it, stood two tall glasses. 

“Oh,” she swallowed. She was conflicted between wanting the drink to soothe her nerves, and refusing the drink for the sake of keeping a clear head. Well, as clear as can be with what drugs she had already taken. “What for, exactly?” 

Val swept up the glasses and bottle and turned back around. He moved so sharply that droplets of ice cold water flung off the bottle and onto her exposed legs. 

If she had remembered this last minute appointment she would have worn longer pants or brought a jacket. Valentinos office always ran on the colder side, and with her damp bathing suit still on underneath, the chill was setting in quicker than usual.

She fought a shiver.

“Because,” he plopped down beside her, handing her a glass. “With how things are looking, the tower will be completed five months sooner than projected,” he popped the cork, foam exploding out the top. Val caught what he could with his glass, pouring to the brim. Then he moved to Y/n's, doing the same, laughing as he spilled clumsily onto her lap. A shiver finally worked its way up her legs. “And that is all thanks to you, fucking that royal freak.” He finished with a clink of his glass to hers.

She suppressed the urge to defend Stolas, and she wouldn't bother correcting his assumption either. If Val still believed that her having sex with Stolas is what was bringing in the money, so be it.

“Well, uhm…” She raised her glass, but didn't drink. “You're welcome.” 

Val nodded, bringing his glass to his lips. She didn't miss how he watched her over the rim, waiting, expecting her to drink with him.

He wasn't giving her a choice in this.

So she raised her glass and took several large sips, ignoring the sting of the carbonation going down. She pulled a half empty glass away from her lips. 

Val laughed lightly.

“Eso es, mami.” 

He filled it up again.

She and Val sat and spoke for a while, drinking until the bottle was empty. He interrogated her about her time with the blue-blood client, getting deeply invasive with his questions. What positions, which holes, how many climaxes, where and how he liked to be touched, how he sounds... so on.

It was insanely uncomfortable. 

Mostly because she had decided early on that Stolas was too special to her, and that the only person she would kiss-and-tell about him with, is Angel. And even then, she kept most of the nitty-gritty details to herself.

But also because she and Stolas had never actually had sex. She genuinely didn't have answers for most of Val's questions. She couldn't answer him honestly even if she wanted to. Which she didn't.

So she lied. She said the first things to come to mind, hoping it was risqué enough for Val's approval.

She tried to keep track of her falsities and fake stories through her high and increasing drunkenness. Another day of not eating, biting her in the ass again.

At some point during their conversation, Valentino wound an arm around her and pulled her up onto his lap. 

In any other instance, she would have resisted. But the cold was getting to be unbearable. And with the chilled champagne in her hand, and the wet strings of her swimsuit tickling her neck, she couldn't hold back her shivers anymore. So she let him pull her up, warmth from his lap seeping into her legs. 

She squirmed to get more comfortable, making him harden beneath her.

Val continued his questioning, hot hands flitting across her cool skin. He kept his eyes on her face, insisting she keep answering his questions through her quivering sighs. 

It had been a while since Val had paid her this much attention while toying with her body. Since assuming the role of an Overlord, his fuckings had turned a bit impersonal, happening more for stress relief than for just pure fun and enjoyment. It wasn't her favorite version of Val to be having sex with. 

It certainly wasn't the worst version of him though.

And lucky for her, he seemed in some kind of mood today, giving her a more proper warm up before trying to enter her.

He watched her face, brows furrowed, eyes fluttering to maintain his eye contact. Her lips pressed together, desperate to hold in her moans. 

For as good as his warmth felt, his feathery hands made a new kind of chill settle in her bones. It made her teeth click and chatter. Val's hands got heavier and more stern, which helped a bit. But he realized it simply wouldn't do when he went to kiss her and a tremble cut him short.

“You cold, mami?” 

He knew the answer, he just wanted her to say something about it. She nodded quickly. 

“You want me to warm you up?” 

She nodded again. 

Val took her chin in his fingers, stopping her from moving her head. His eyes followed his thumb as it ran over the bottom of her lips, lightly parting them, before they flicked back up to meet hers.

“Use your words.”

She rolled her eyes at him. He grinned back at her.

“Please,” she tried.

“Please, what?”

She already hated herself for allowing this. But she was just so fucking cold.

“Please, papi,” she begged. “Keep me warm.” 

The couch was even colder when he leaned her back against it.

“Claro, mami.” 

He was on her in an instant, undoing both of their pants and pushing inside her swiftly. 

She would never admit it out loud, but she missed this side of Val. Assertive and sensual. Arrogant, yes, of course. But at least he was being mindful of her pleasure again. 

He watched her as he fucked her. Her face twisted in delight each time he went deeper, her hands seeking him out. He stayed just out of her grasp, enjoying seeing her reach for him so desperately. Her nipples were hard, stimulated both by the freezing sofa she lay on and the waves of arousal sweeping up her body.

Val wanted to see her struggle before he fulfilled her request. He only let it go on for a minute or so, but it felt like eternity to her.

When he was satisfied, he leaned in, only to wrap his arms around her tightly before hoisting her back up onto his lap.

She cursed breathlessly at the sudden shift inside her, shuddering forward into his chest. Her hands slammed into him as her hips settled down further.

Another shiver ran up Y/n's spine, and it didn't stop there. It tore through her chest, working its way up her neck and over her scalp. Once it started, she couldn't stop her jaw from trembling. 

Her teeth chattered as she seized Val's shirt, crumpling it in her tight grasp. Her skull rattled with the force of her tremors and she held on for dear life. 

Where was this warmth he had promised? 

All four of his hands held her firmly, guiding her hips up and down on top of him. None of them, nor the friction at her core, brought nearly enough warmth to reverse the chill that consumed her. 

But then Val leaned forward suddenly, his chest pressing against hers. One of his hands snuck around and found the back of her head, which he took hold of to pull her into his neck. She settled gladly, her forehead nuzzling needily. 

Her shoulders still shook and she couldn't quite feel her fingers. She was settling to accept that Val had just teased her to get inside.

Suddenly, something draped over her back, thick and soft, and radiating the heat she so badly craved. The air around her stilled and the room sounded subtly muffled. Val's hands never moved from her body, so she pulled away to inspect how he had accomplished all that.

She was stunned to find his wings secured around her, concealing them both inside. 

They brushed her face as she turned her head to get a better look. With the soft fuzz grazing her skin and tickling her cheek, her chills melted away, slowly but surely.

Y/n had never seen him use his wings like this. He usually reserved them for intimidation tactics and making himself bigger than he already was. But here he was, being gentle and comforting with them. With her. 

She met his eyes, his usual smug glint ever present, paired now with pride at his success.

Maybe she was drunker than she realized, or maybe that pill she had found at the bottom of her bag had been molly instead of an oxy like she'd thought. Either way, Val looked absolutely enticing. 

With his wings engaged, certain muscles she had never noticed before activated under his skin. His neck strained deliciously as his big hands grasped her sides. His jaw pulsed lightly, making a vein in his temple jump. Y/n reached up to trace it with her thumb, entranced.

Val leaned in close, a hand slithering up between his wings and settling over her back. 

“Damn, mami. You look at him with those eyes?” He chuckled. “No wonder you've got him so wrapped around your fingers.” He pressed her chest flush against his, speaking into her ear. “Show me what else you do with that little principe.”

Y/n paid no mind to that disgusting comment. Now really wasn't the time to confront the reality of that situation, not while Val was buried to the hilt inside her.

So she forcibly shoved aside her thoughts of Stolas and worked off her present arousal for Val instead.

Y/n kissed him, hot and hard. Her hips began moving slowly, grinding steadily on his length. She leaned into him, making him fall back against the couch with a groan, muffled by her lips on his. 

And Y/n gave him what he wanted, all of it manufactured on the spot. 

Getting him off was the easy part. It was pulling away without reawakening his need that was difficult. More often than not, Val was poised for another round immediately after finishing. Over the years, she had developed a kind of technique to help avoid this as best she could. It usually was just a combination of going still and silent, so as to not stimulate him any further.

So… maybe more of a trauma response than an avoidance technique in hindsight, but it worked in some cases.

Val caught on quickly, of course. He could always tell when she reached her limit. It was really more a matter of whether or not he had reached his. Some days he'd finish and send her on her way before calling in someone else to satiate him. Other days, he'd continue on, ignoring her cries and pleas to stop. He knew she'd quit fighting eventually. She always did. 

But today, as much as he would have loved to keep her hips planted on his, they both had business to attend to. 

With two hands on her waist and the other two taking her legs, Val lifted her off of him.

Y/n shuddered at the loss. 

He tossed her onto the couch beside him and she sprung up from it, the freezing leather biting at her bum sharply. She cursed Val under her breath as she reached for her shorts, tugging them on hurriedly. Not that it did her much good. The heat in her skin was already starting to dissipate, replaced with a deep set chill.

Val cleaned himself before tugging up and securing his pants back into place. Then he got up with a grunt, gave her a lingering, sloppy kiss, and walked over to his desk. 

“Siéntate, mami.”

She obeyed annoyedly, opting for sitting on the very edge of the seat.

“Do you have any idea how exhausting it is, being an overlord?”

"No, but I'm sure you're going to tell me," she snapped quietly.

"Watch yourself," he warned, riled by the challenge.

Y/n backed down.

Val yanked open his desk, pulling out a small pink and transparent bottle, before slamming the drawer closed. He flicked the lid off the container and poured out its contents. Little red pills tumbled out into his palm and he popped, not one, but two into his mouth.

With a swallow, he pressed the lid back on and smoothly tossed the container to Y/n.

She caught it and inspected it. There was no label, just the letter “V” engraved in the plastic. The little pills clattered around inside noisily.

“You keep those. We're gonna need a fresh supply anyway.” 

She set them down on the file cabinet beside her. It's not like she really needed them anyway.

“How generous,” she said under her breath. Val continued on.

“You know how I'm constantly on edge, keeping an eye over my shoulder, watching out for potential usurpers.” He lit a cigarette, sitting atop his desk, his lower arms crossed. “You're lucky I'm here to do the job, so that you don't have to, huh mami?”

“What's this about, Val?”

He exhaled a large plume of smoke that lingered in the room between them.

“I'm thinking of taking on a business partner.” He paused, evaluating his words, then shrugged. “Or two. To help lighten the load around here.” 

Y/n was surprised to hear it. Val always seemed so keen on being the big man in charge. She couldn't see him sharing that power with anybody. 

“And you want me to, what? Seduce them?”

Val's head cocked in serious contemplation before he burst out laughing. 

“I like where your head is at, I really do. But no, not this time. This matter is a bit more delicate than that.” He took another puff. “I've met with some of the other Entertainment Overlords. They're interested but apparently, I need to prove that I'm a worthy investment beyond just sex and porn,” he growled indignantly. “I almost won that flat screened fool over in the first damn thirty minutes, but that little fuck-doll of a demon kept budding in with conditions and demands.”

Flat screened fool?

If Val was talking about who she thought he was, there was a chance things could be looking up for the old movie star. Y/n felt hope bloom in her chest, warming her from the inside out. Hope that Val was really talking about the new technological upstart responsible for Voxtek. Because if anyone could get her career back on track, it was that television demon. 

“So… I'll be acting again?” She asked optimistically.

Val laughed at her.

“Yeah, you'd like that, wouldn't you?”

Her heart dropped at his sarcasm. 

“No, for now, you just sit there and look pretty,” he mused before suddenly calling out, barking for someone to hurry up. He looked at her again, smiling.

Almost immediately, a surgical cart burst into the room, followed by Val's personal physician. 

Right. Business…

The pudgy demon clattered into the room, struggling to get the cart through the door. But when he did, he quickly wheeled it towards Y/n. He wasted no time prepping her to have her blood drawn, a red elastic wrapped tightly around her bicep, a swab of alcohol swiping over the inside of her elbow. She shut her eyes as another chill set in.

Val watched as he spoke, both fascinated and aroused.

“I figure, what's one addiction over the other? Sex, drugs? They sell at the same rate down here, anyway.” 

The pinch of the needle came without warning. 

With a sharp inhale, she instinctively looked to her arm and then the doctor. It wasn't the first time this doctor had poked her harshly or without notice. And with this session happening so soon after the last one, her arm was still bruised from the last insertion. Though he couldn't see it, thanks to her masterfully crafted illusion. And she was well aware of the stiffness that formed in his pants, too, each time he made her flinch. 

She had a nasty reprimand on her tongue, ready to strike at him with her words and with her hand. But she looked away again quickly, deciding not to give him, or Val, the satisfaction of a further reaction.

“I need a fresh batch. I can't be going in for a business exchange with stale inventory. That's not a good look.” Val snuffed out his cigarette.

“I didn't realize you felt so burdened by the responsibilities of being an overlord,” she began, trying to distract herself. “And going through all this trouble to impress them, this must be really important to you.”

“Yeah, well. All smooth sailing, after this deal…” he trailed off, eyes fixed on the blood bag hanging next to her, captivated by it slowly filling.

They fell into silence then. What was ditzed and dazed for him, was incredibly uncomfortable for her. The fingers of her free hand thumped against her thigh impatiently, anxiously, waiting for this to be over. 

Her high had begun to dissipate. Her skin was crawling with restlessness, her head throbbing unpleasantly. She contemplated taking one of the pills after all, wanting a heavier dose than what biting her cheek or tongue could provide her right now. But she resisted and settled for the latter, nibbling at the inside of her lip until she broke through skin. She swished the metallic flavor back and forth over the tip of her tongue before swallowing.

A few minutes later, the physician got up and removed the full blood bag from the IV stand. Val stood to take it from him. 

Y/n started gathering herself to leave, reaching for the tape securing the needle in her arm.

“Ah-ah-ah,” Val's taunting voice halted her movement. “We're gonna need more than just one bag.”

“But you took a bunch just last week-”

He shushed her. “I expect more orders to be coming in soon. We have to be prepared.” 

“Val, I really don't think-”

“That's enough.” 

Y/n knew better than to push him. Better to just give him what he wants and get this over quick.

So she leaned back against the couch despite how cold it made her, and waited until she was given the all clear.

The second and third bag went by, making her hands clammy and sweaty and even more terribly cold. 

It was rare that Val ever took four full bags, but today was one of those days. 

As they were rounding out the fourth, she shifted so as to pull herself out of her drowsiness, her eyes suddenly terribly hard to keep open. 

But as she sat up and scooted forward on the couch, her head reeled. 

Her ears twitched, trying to flick away the vertigo. To no avail. The room around her spun and she reached out aimlessly trying to steady herself. She only found the sofa beneath her.

The doctor changed out the bag for a fifth one.

Y/n’s vision went spotty.

“Don't you think you've had plenty?” She bit through her teeth.

She fought the fuzzies in her vision, blinking them away until she could see again. She was seized by another wave of chills.

Val moved silently, storing the latest bag in a mini-fridge with the others, before turning and moving back to sit. But instead of at his desk, like he had been before, he approached the couch and plopped himself down right next to her, lounging back.

She watched him the whole time, up until he took the seat beside her. His heat radiated off of him, luring Y/n closer. 

She rolled her eyes at him before trying to stand. One would think she'd have learned after all this time not to try something like that so soon after an extraction. But as her world spun in her vision and her stomach churned, she found herself grateful to have Val's warmth to fall into as opposed to the freezing leather couch again.

He tugged her up against his side, his arms keeping her pressed snuggly to him. 

Y/n's brain was foggy now, lack of blood making it hard for her to focus. Her heart was pounding in her chest and thundering in her ears, desperately trying to keep her conscious. Just like before, Val's body heat only did so much for her. She clung to him, gripping his shirt weakly, hoping to covet some of his warmth for herself.

There was no point. 

Her vision suddenly went black, and fear gripped at her blood starved mind. 

“Something isn-...” she swallowed thickly. “Somethings not right, Val.” 

He just shushed her gently.

She stirred one last time, a last ditch effort to stand up, get away, do anything but sit by and let this happen. 

Unconsciousness claimed her in an instant. Val pulled her back to him, placing his hands wherever he so pleased on her paled skin. 

She had six pints taken from her that evening. Two more than Val had ever taken before. 

Angel almost mutilated the demon who tossed her like a rag doll onto their doorstep. If he hadn't been preoccupied with hauling her near lifeless body off the floor, he surely would have ripped him to shreds.

Plenty of times Y/n had burst through the door, eyes half closed, nearly staggering to the floor. There were even times when she only made it as far as the doorstep, only having the strength left to knock weakly But never before had she been dropped off completely motionless. Or this cold. 

He laid her down on the bed quickly, pulling a blanket over her immediately. He took her freezing hands and held them tightly, subtly kneading them between his in hopes of returning some warmth to her.

He took note of the nasty bruise on her forearm, just before her elbow, a smear of dried blood at its center.

After a minute of no reaction from her, he had to remove himself before his emotions got the better of him.

He clamped down hard on the tears that tried to burn their way out of his throat. Angel stood from the bed, and with one final look to Y/n, made his way to the kitchen, intent on keeping himself busy.

He put a pot of water to boil while he prepared something to eat, though he couldn't bring himself to stomach anything more than a measly cracker.

When the water was ready, he poured out two mugs, topping them off with tea bags and a bit of honey. Just how Y/n liked it.

He made his way back to the bedside, placing the hot mugs on the nightstand.

And when he turned back to crawl in bed with her, he finally found her eyes on him. He sat down with a relieved breath.

“I made tea,” he started simply.

Her only response was a shivering sigh.

He slipped under the cover with her, letting her find her way into his arms. She did, weakly tugging him closer until their limbs were tangled under the blanket. He rested a hand in her hair.

“Are you gonna be okay?”

She shrugged.

Angel held her tighter.

“It's been a long time since you've come home like that.”

No response.

“It wasn't that prince, was it?” He hissed. He knew the obvious perpetrator was Val, but he was being sure to cover all the bases. 

She shook her head no, insistently.

He gave up his urge to keep questioning. 

They laid there in silence, Y/n shaking in his embrace. He waited and waited for her trembles to subside but they only seemed to get worse. 

At some point, Angel got up to get more covers for her. He handed her her mug as she sat up, and fetched the blankets from the chest at the foot of her bed, tossing them over her. Finally, he grabbed his almost empty mug, gave her a loving pat between her ears, and went back into the kitchen.

He checked his phone and sighed at the time. He had work soon, and was dreading the thought of leaving Y/n alone in her state. He knew that technically nothing would happen to her, not being able to double-die and all. But paranoia blossomed in the back of his mind, scared that Val might come take her while he was gone. 

He left the mug by the sink and went back to the bed, sitting on its edge.

Y/n watched him, waiting for him to lay back down with her. And when he didn't, she nudged him with her foot. He placed his hand on her ankle and gave her a couple of quick, playful squeezes in reassurance.

“I got work,” he said, deflated.

Y/n made a noise of acknowledgement, something between a hum and a groan. Then she sat up, pulled one of the blankets around her shoulders, and shuffled forward on the bed towards him. 

“I'm going to miss you.”

“I'm not going.”

He surprised himself just as much as he did her.

“But…Val-” 

“Fuck Val. I'm not going.” It came out rushed, half trying to convince himself. “I'm staying here, with you.”

Y/n took a second to figure out what to say. She understood how he felt. Everyday she woke up and wished she could just go back to sleep and ignore her responsibilities. And the days that she did, her body would itch and ache, contract-bound soul fighting the confines of flesh to serve and fulfill her duties to Val. It was a terrible restlessness that, if left unchecked, easily turned psychologically torturous. She'd hate for Angel to have to suffer that for her.

“I understand that I've worried you, baby. But I'll be okay.” She reached up, fixing his hair. 

With her arm right in front of his face, he noted the absence of discoloration where there had been previously. Her skin was back to its normal tone, no hint of injury to be seen. 

Angel sighed and took her arm, pulling it down into his lap. He fiddled with her fingers for a second before running the flat of his hand over her palm and up her forearm. Y/n all but confirmed that she was hiding her injury from him. The further he got, the more she stiffened, nearly pulling away when he approached the crook of her arm. He stopped before he fully got there, letting his hand rest just below the concealed bruise.

“I know you will, sugar. But I'm still stayin’.”

He motioned back to the bed behind them before standing. With a knee on the mattress, he pulled back the covers, letting Y/n climb in, him following suit. He adjusted the blankets around them, tucking them in tightly. 

Y/n fell asleep quickly as Angel held her happily. 

Though, when she woke again, she was alone in bed, the apartment dark and empty besides her. A small note on the bedside table read ‘I had to go…A.’

She exhaled sadly, and went back to sleep, hoping that when she woke again, Angel would be back by her side.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Previous < Chapter 6 > Next

A/N: im a liiiittleee nervy abt releasing a chapt this long bc its hard to keep track of everything going on, blah... hope its not too terribly disorganized! :)

[xfangheartx]

"I Trusted You" Sneak Peek

The following is a sneak peek of a Fizzarozzie angst one-shot that takes place after Season 2, Episode 11: Mastermind.

XXX

  “Ozz, I was watching the whole fucking thing!” Fizz snapped while Oliver stood behind him, blinking in concern. “I sent you, like, a million fuckin’ texts, asking you–no, BEGGING you to do something! And what did you do?! You sat there on your ass while my best friend, who I just got back after all these years, WAS ABOUT TO GET HIS FUCKING HEAD CHOPPED OFF!!!”

  “Fizz, there was nothing I could do!” Ozzie argued.

  “Bullshit!” Fizz spat. “You stood up to Mammon for me, why wouldn’t you help Blitz?! Especially when you consider the fact that he helped me escape and protected me from those mafia fuckers and that cowboy freak?! You could have at least mentioned that you gave him an Asmodean Crystal!!”

  “But then that would implicate me!” Ozzie countered. “And that would mean that Satan would have a reason to go after you, too!”

  “So what?!” Fizz asked as he stepped forward. “Why the fuck would you let that overgrown lizard cow you into submission?!”

  “Fizz, goddamn it, I am not gonna risk yours or Oliver’s safety over some imp!!” Ozzie shouted, causing Fizz to gape at him in shock, and that’s when the Sin of Lust realized what he had just said.

  “Uh… wait, that came out wrong-” Ozzie started.

  “Don’t,” Fizz interjected as he glared. “Don’t you say another word. ‘Some imp’? Asmodeus, in case you forgot, I AM AN IMP!!! No matter how famous I am or how much being with you gives me more privilege than others, it doesn’t change the fact that I’m an imp, just like Blitz, and I don’t want you treating me and Oliver like we’re exceptions!!”

  Now Ozzie knew that he fucked up. When Fizz started calling him by his name instead of his nickname, that’s when he knew that he was serious about this.

  “Fizz… I just…” he stammered.

  “I can’t believe that you would do this!” Fizz shouted. “You do anything I ask of you because that’s how devoted you are to me, but the one time I ask you to help my best friend, you don’t do anything! And don’t you give me that ‘There was nothing you could do’ shit! It was more like you were just following Satan’s lead, just like Bee and the other Sins!” He paused as he cast his eyes to the floor, then glared back at him, once again. “You know, what happened today makes me wonder… how many more of my kind have you let die at trials like these? Did any of them even do anything wrong aside from going against what they were made for?!”

  Ozzie didn’t answer, causing Fizz to bristle.

  “Well?! DID THEY?!!”

[redr0sewrites]

Helluva Boss Masterlist

Striker

Striker x reader General Hcs - sfw/nsfw

Rough Sex/Gun Kink Striker x reader smut - nsfw/smut

Mammon

Yandere!Mammon Hcs - sfw

[fandomgingerfox]

helluva boss: apology tour angsty doodles

Song reference: I want you by mitski

[rose-riot-johnson]

Hey my Tumblr Peeps😁I have decided to write another fanfic about Blitzø😃I honestly have been passionate about writing about him, as of late😈 Off topic, while Fizzarolli (who I have yet to write about) is my favorite Helluva Boss character (if he's your favorite Helluva Boss character, he's our favorite then😊), Blitzø is definitely a character I have on my mind alot😅Off topic again, while I haven't mentioned about my husby often on Tumblr (especially in the fanfics I write), he actually jokes with me about Blitzø in a loving way🤣Anyways my Tumblr Peeps, I might as well write about him now😈👍

*This fanfic contains 1 or more long paragraphs😅

📱🚪🧳Please Don't Go...I Don't Want You To Leave...🧳🚪📱(Blitzø x Female Reader)(up to the reader's imagination what species she is (humans and imps included))

Genres: Angst and Possible Comfort (Warning⚠️: Language)

When Blitzø first met you, he saw that you were looking at flyers about renting or buying a home. While he doesn't know your situation nor you in general, he would ask if everything is okay, before telling you that he notices that you were looking at flyers about renting or buying a home, while explaining it's very difficult to find a home in hell, then offers you to live with him. You were confused not knowing his motive, however you knew he was right, as he accepted your offer. You then introduced yourself to him, before he smiles and says, "Well (Female Reader Name)... Nice meeting you... The name is Blitzø... The "O" is silent... I have a feeling we're going to get along just fine...", which had you give him a light smile, knowing that he was surprisingly nice to you.

Once Blitzø introduced you to his home, he told you where his adopted daughter, Loona sleeps before he tells you that he is more than willing to let you sleep on the couch he was sleeping, as he was showing you that he will be sleeping somewhere next to the couch. You not only thought this was good to be true, however you also thought it was generous of him to let you sleep on the couch. He also has offered you to work for him as a member of the I.M.P., which you accepted his offer pertaining the job, as well. If he was being honest, he somehow secretly, developed a crush on you in first sight.

As months went by, you have also felt romantic feelings for Blitzø and not just because he was nice to you. You actually know about his likes, hobbies, and pet peeves, which you secretly find that cute. You even had a feeling he went through rough patches, even the rough patches that he doesn't know that you know about. However, unfortunately you're also afraid some things about you might hurt your friendship with him, and even fear if you try to be in a relationship with him, it would get stale very quickly and the relationship you might have with him will be very short.

One day, Blitzø noticed a missed call was from your mom, then glanced (without snooping nor touching your cellphone) at the messages your mom sent you, begging you to "come back home". He became confused on what these messages are about and why your mom called you. You finished taking a shower, before seeing a confused Blitzø, glancing at your cellphone, as you became worried about what his reaction could be, that he will kick you out of his home, that he might fire you from I.M.P, and even your thoughts about the worse case scenarios, because of your mom texting you and calling you.

You then shouted, "Blitzø! Please! I can explain! I will leave your place after I tell you what happened! Just please don't kick me out without letting me tell you why I was in a situation I was, before you met me!", as tears rolled down your face, as your body ended up shaking in distress. However instead of doing or saying anything you fear, he calmly said, "Okay then... Explain why I'm the hell your mom texted and called you... I clearly never knew your situation... And why the fuck would I kick you out over your mom's calls and messages? All I'm asking is to try your best not to hide anything about this from me and don't lie to me, (Female Reader Name)...", before giving you the most confused look (on his face) that you had ever seen in your life.

You then explained, "My mother has ruined atleast a couple... Or maybe a few relationships I had ever had in my past... Especially the previous relationship I had... I was with my previous ex for over five years, then all because my previous ex couldn't come to my mom's and stepdad's wedding, she decided to fucken tell me no matter what reason he had to not come to her wedding, my ex and I are to break up immediately! She thinks no one is good enough to date me unless the person who dates me does everything she expects them to, especially impossible things and as long as the relationships I have with them go her way...So, unfortunately she got her fucken wish! Which is why I ran away from home to live the life of the homeless, until I was able to find a place in hell... For me it was better being homeless than living with my mother, honestly... I figured the farther away I am from my mom the better... However, I'm scared that you would kick me out instantly, if you were to know anything about her and that she wanted me to come back...", before you started to sob, as you went straight to starting to pack your luggages. Before you could continue packing, he grabbed your right wrist, as he begged, "(Female Reader Name)... Please don't go... I don't want you to leave...". You then replied, "I'm sorry... I don't know how much longer, before you would stop putting up with me and start hating me, Blitzø...", as you then looked at him, noticing that he started sobbing, while he's trying to look away from you, because he hated the sight of you packing your luggages and the fact he doesn't want to see you leave.

The next thing Blitzø did was open his eyes, then started to sob, as he cried, "Don't you get it... I don't want you to leave! I may have not known your situation in the first place, but I knew there's something special about you... And it's not about looks, even tough you look pretty! I feel you did an amazing job with your position as a member of the I.M.P., considering you're very talented... However your personality just sparks me... Don't get me wrong... I did use to laugh at the homeless, because it makes me feel better, but since knowing that you were homeless, I feel bad about it and won't do it anymore... Anyways my point is that eversince I took you in, you changed my life for the better! Not that you feel the same way about me, as I do about you...". He then loosen his grip before he continued, "It's just you make hell shine brighter in so many ways... I wanted to take care of you in so many ways... I just didn't think you would leave me like this! If you think you're, so impossible to love, then look at me... I do validate how you felt with what happened to you before you became homeless and all... I'm not sure, if you knew... I also had some bad luck in my life, as well... Right now, all I'm asking for you to do is please stay...", proceeding to hug you, as he continued to sob.

You never knew that aside from Stolas, Loona, Moxxie, and Millie, and a couple others, you would be the first one he has ever cared about in a long time. You froze, fearing having to choose between leaving him or him leaving you, but at the same token, you know that now how much you mean to him. You then said, "Okay Blitzø... I will stay here, then... And besides... I never knew you liked me... Atleast in the same way as I do about you...". "Huh?!", said Blitzø, as he became shocked that you had feelings for him to, before you hugged him back. The both of you then began to hug eachother tightly, until the both of you felt much better.

After you decided you would forget about packing to leave, Blitzø decided to cook something for you, himself, and his adopted daughter, Loona. Once you, Blitzø, and Loona finished eating, ofcourse Loona would let you and Blitzø have some privacy, as she went inside her room, and you and Blitzø would snuggle together, for the first time ever. Blitzø fell asleep in your arms, then your mom tried to call or text you, however when your mom did that during your snuggle session with Blitzø, you madesure to block her phone number and if she had any social media platforms, you madesure to block her on any platform that both you and your mom have, so you can ensure, she never ruins your life ever again. You then, continued snuggle session with him, noticing he surprisingly slept through your mom calling or texting you, before blocking her number and blocking her on every social media platform that she has that you also have.

Eversince then, you knew you won't have to worry about your life being ruined anymore, nor would you have to worry about Blitzø's life getting ruined. You just began to feel safe when he is in your arms. If Blitzø is being honest, he also feels very safe when it comes to being in your arms, just as much.

😈The🫂End😈

I do hope you enjoyed the fanfic, my Tumblr Peeps😃👍With this fanfic, I have decided that depending on what I come up with for this particular fanfic, that is how I will be picking the genres from there, so no matter which genre I would have picked, the genre part would have been last minute😅For anyone curious, if there are any other Helluva Boss character I will be writing about in the future, well yes there are other Helluva Boss characters I might write about someday. I was actually considering doing atleast a ship drabble pertaining atleast a couple ships from Helluva Boss. I will admit, Blitzø has been the character I have been thinking about writing about as the staring character as of late, however I might write future Blitzø fanfic in other genres considering it has caught my attention, earlier. Considering most of the fanfics I have labeled as angst, has better or happy or an ending that's not sad, I just haven't thought about labeling the fanfics I have written as "angst with happy ending" that I have labeled as angst. I don't mean to sound off topic I do end up being off topic, however I still will write anime fanfics for those who are curious of me not writing fanfics pertaining anime characters as much. I just really need ideas to pop inside of my head in order for me to start and continue a fanfic pertaining anime characters💡😃👍Anyways my Tumblr Peeps, I hope you have a good day and/or night☀️🌞🌕🌝

[birdy-babe]

Stolas' tragically captivating anguish

There's something so poetic about being so beautiful while so full of sorrow

[goeticwhorelore]

So we all know both Moxxie and Blitz have abusive dads

Whose names both start with a 'C' *cough* Name Theory *cough*

But I never see anyone talk about how they both think they killed their moms

[random-ass-fanboy]

MORE HB SCREENSHOTS LETS GO

I am so fucking stoked for the angst

I love crying at cartoons

Shit

This scene is gonna break me.

I can't wait.

This one too.

Miscellaneous ones I just got unexplainably excited about

(Fizz's rainbow pants 😭)

[maswartz]

Apologies for the angst but I can't get this scene out of my head

Basically I got "Oh Miliie" stuck in my head and I accidentally swapped it to past tense and well... The scene would be that on some mission everything hit the fan and when Blitzø finds M & M one of them is sobbing over the other sadly singing. "Of all the imps it was for them that I fell..."

[crack-whore-who-fuckedup-already]

Be My Witness

Part 8 - Consequences

Word Count: 8469

Fem!Reader, intimate!platonic Reader x Angel, Reader x Stolas, (eventual) intimate!platonic Reader x Alastor

MINORS, ~lovingly~ fUck off OUT of here please and thank you MDNI !!!

!!TRIGGER WARNINGS!!- drug use/description, sexual abuse (nonconsensual sex, sexual coercion; both Reader and Angel), weapon violence (knife), descriptions of blood, unwanted orgasm

Authors Note- please please PLEASE mind these warnings yall this is an intense one...

SONG: Murder Song (5, 4, 3, 2, 1) by AURORA

“Trust me, sugar. You're going to want to take this.”

Angel's eyes were hard with unease as they flicked anxiously to the studio doors then back to Y/n. He raised the pill pointedly, his eyes pleading with her to take it.

With one last nervous look to the door, she snatched it out of his hand and swallowed quickly. He swiftly popped one as well. Then his hand found her shoulder, being as reassuring as he could to her, as well as himself.

“See you on the other side, yeah?”

She nodded curtly before they entered the studio together.

Valentino waited alone inside the large, dimly lit room and Y/n could immediately sense the awful mood he was in. He didn't stand to greet them, he didn't smile or grin or smirk. He just sat and puffed his cigarette, glowering all the while.

A simple camcorder was set up next to him, which was angled to capture the very simple set. A queen sized bed with hot pink fitted covers and a wire headboard.

A set for later tonight… she assumed. Foolish.

The door clicked closed behind them. 

Val exhaled an enormous puff of smoke.

“Sit.” 

Y/n wasn't sure she could move, her body felt heavy with numbness. She wished it was a high induced sensation. Unfortunately it was just terror seeping into her veins. Luckily, Angel took her by the arm and pulled her along toward the bed.

A pit formed in her stomach as they approached the mattress, this starting to feel all too familiar. Angel sat quickly but she stood there next to him, memories of the beating she received all those years ago flashing behind her eyes.

Angel was looking at her cautiously, quietly hoping she did as Val said so they could get this over with. No such luck. Y/n turned to Valentino with what very little confidence she had left. 

“Val, just- can we talk about this,” she tried, hoping to weasel her way out of this like she used to all those years ago. But she was very out of practice now. 

He took another puff before sitting up in his seat.

“Strip.”

Y/n looked at Angel hastily. He wasn't looking at her though, just at Val with the same uncomfortably apprehensive look on his face. She looked back to Val, who's eyes had locked with Angel's. 

“You too.” 

Y/n's heart sank with her stomach. “Okay. I know you're angry-”

“Angry?” He took a deep puff then stood sharply, throwing his cigarette to the floor without so much as putting it out first. It smoldered, the smell of burnt carpet filling the room. “I am beyond furious,” he growled, stalking towards her. “Since when do my workers give handouts for free?”

Well, fuck…

Her knees hit the bed frame as she backed up. “Listen. Whatever you think you-”

“I have eyes and ears everywhere, Y/n. You really thought I wouldn't find out?” Smoke poured out his nostrils, spiraling around his face as he moved through it.

Y/n scrambled over the bed to the other side, her hands held up defensively. “No! No, wait! Let me explain!” 

The smoke turned red suddenly, coiling and winding until it found its way around her neck as a shackle. It burned as it dug into her skin, Val pulling her harshly to him by the chain. She grunted as her knees landed on the bed.

“You lied to me. Letting me believe you were doing your job,” he tugged her up to face him. “Only to find out, you waited until AFTER he stopped paying to go and fuck him?”

“No! I-” One of his hands grabbed her chin roughly, daring her to try him. She met his gaze as evenly as she could, lips trembling. “I don't expect you to understand, Val.”

“Why? Because you're in love with him?” A condescending smile twitched over his lips before disappearing again. “Jesus, you're more of a dumb bitch than I thought you were,” he mocked, forcefully flinging her chin away. His grip on her chain only let up a little as he turned accusingly to Angel, who had sprung up and out of the way when Val initially approached. “Did you know about this?”

Y/n cut back in, desperately trying to keep Angel as far away from this as she could. She wished she could have done a better job of it before it got to this point.

“He didn't know anything, I swear. Just leave him-”

“Shut the FUCK up,” Val snapped loudly. With a growl the chain shot from his hand to the bed's headboard, securing itself around the decorative iron. Y/n flew backward onto the bed, the force of the shackle knocking the wind right out of her. She laid there, clawing at the stinging smoke around her neck and gasping for air.

“Now. Don't you fucking lie to me, Angel Dust.”

Angel stared at Val with wide eyes, his arms crossed tightly over his chest. Y/n had offhandedly mentioned having sex with a quote-unquote special someone one evening at a club, and after several drinks. She never mentioned who this someone was but he didn't have to guess hard. The conversation was a distant, hazy memory to Angel, and he doubts she remembered any more than him. Aside from that, he had his suspicions. The way she came home with that dazed look of satisfaction on her face, similar to the way she did that very first night she met the prince, only more tired. He debated whether or not he could say he actually knew for sure: its not like they were ever in cahoots about it.

Angel was faced with a choice; tell the truth and throw his friend under the bus, or lie and risk more of Val’s rage. He followed Y/n's lead, banking on the technicality of his half-knowledge and hoping the consistency in their story would spare them some pain.

Angel shook his head vigorously no. 

But then his eyes flicked to her still chained down on the bed, and they flashed apologetically at her before he could stop himself. He quickly looked at Val again.

There was a tense moment of stillness, Y/n's ragged breath filling the space as Valentino stared Angel down, coming to his own conclusion on the matter.

“I don't believe you,” he finally said, terrifyingly cold.

Y/n's heart hammered against her sternum. She felt a simple warning rip from her chest, tearing through her throat and out her mouth. It pierced through the large, empty room. 

“Angel, RUN!” 

He didn't think, he just did, making a break for the door. And he would have made it, if not for Angel's own chain manifesting and wrapping tightly around his neck. He cursed as Val dragged him back, nearly falling on his ass. 

Val tethered Angel's chain with Y/n's on the headboard, ensuring they didn't go anywhere. Angel had much more slack on his than she did, allowing him to move and stand a bit, restricting as it was. Y/n wasn't even able to sit up with hers. 

Angel kneeled uncomfortably beside her on the bed, trying not to crush her with their awkward restraints. 

“Okay, then,” Val clapped his hands together in a brushing motion, feigning excited initiative. “Since you two are so dead set on corrupting this business,” he made his way back to the camcorder, pressing play and giving it a little adjustment. “I'm making sure you both pay your dues.” He came around to stand beside the camera and watch them, casually lighting another cigarette. “Strip.”

Angel looked to Y/n hesitantly, and found her staring straight up at the ceiling, tears threatening to spill from her eyes. He looked away quickly, that familiar feeling of numbness taking over as he prepared to do as he was told. He was relieved the buzz under his skin was starting to kick in, a tell tale sign that his high was finally coming. 

He bided his time, slowly taking off one piece of his clothing after the other. And when he was naked, he awaited his next order.

“Now, assist the lady…” Val said, his voice dripping with twisted amusement.

Y/n's face was pressed into a hard frown, a few stray tears finding their way down the side of her face. She was quiet, not a breath escaping her now.

Angel moved to lean over her, his gaze nothing but remorseful. He reached for her waist and she finally whimpered, pulling away subtly with a pleading shake of her head.

“Mami,” Val prompted, sickeningly sweetly. 

“N-no,” she choked through her tears.

“I'm not going to ask again.” 

“Fuck you, Valentino,” she spat forcefully.

His low chuckle disarmed her, only for a split second before another bout of panic sunk in for the doe. He strode back towards her slowly, calmly, puffing his cigarette deeply. 

Angel wanted to spring away as he neared, not liking the look on his face. But with the chain keeping him close, he only shifted on the side of the bed, getting on his knees as if that would help him defend himself from what was to come.

But Val wasn't after Angel. He stared down Y/n as he approached, one hand reaching into his pocket and pulling out a sizable knife. Y/n watched and fought against her restraints as he quickly flipped it open before slipping it under her shirt and pulling back sharply, effectively slicing the fabric open. He muttered angrily, insulting her ability to follow orders.

Val went for her pants and Y/n shouted resentfully, hands grasping and pushing at the looming moth. With Val's carelessness and Y/n's struggle, he sliced her hip with the blade as he worked the knife under the waist line. He planted a hard and heavy hand right over where he nicked her to keep her pinned beneath him. The sting of her fresh wound made her cry out painfully but she managed to plant a foot on his stomach, giving him a forceful kick off of her. It didn't do much but stun the moth, his expression darkening with murderous intent.

Angel finally jumped to action, forced out of frozen fear by his friend's courage. His hands shot out, taking Val's attention off of Y/n if only for a moment. When Val looked at him, he met fury with determination.

“Let me.”

That seemed to entertain Val. “Now we're talking, amorcito,” he smiled. 

He offered Angel the knife -which he declined tentatively-, then stalked back to the camera with another lazy puff. 

Y/n was holding her shirt to her, closing it over herself to try and hide herself away. There was a red stain starting to form on her pants from where her cut was bleeding. Blood smudged over the hem and up her hip from her tussle with Val. Angel called her name, hoping to speak some sense into her. She only cried, apologies stuttering out between sobs, apologies he couldn't decipher. He couldn't imagine they were for Val.

He tried to stop the way his eyes anxiously flitted around the room, but they briefly landed on their boss. 

The moth's brow arched with vague amusement.

Angel suppressed the urge to roll his eyes at him. Instead, he turned back to Y/n's trembling form.

“C'mon darlin’,” he pleaded quietly. “Let's just get this over with.” 

She didn't react or respond to him directly, but when one of his lower hands came to rest gently on her thigh and she didn't flinch away, he figured that was her way of saying just get on with it. 

His upper hands ghosted over the button of her jeans, gently undoing it, taking his time so as to minimize her stress. When he unzipped them, she finally let out a sound of discontentment with his actions. 

He tried not to let it deter him.

After Angel shimmied her pants down and off her legs, Val barked the all too familiar order. “Good. Now, fuck her.” 

Angel closed his eyes tightly as Y/n let out another full body sob at the command. 

He hated to admit he knew this was coming. From the moment Val had told him to go get Y/n, he had slowly been putting the pieces together. Though he hadn't fully let himself confront the reality of their situation until now. 

Angel wasn't sure if he would even be able to get his body to do what was expected of him. Aside from women not being his usual sexual partners, this was just torturous. It was a line Valentino had never crossed before, putting Y/n and Angel to work together so intimately. They had come close, of course. Kisses and even some suggestive touches for the camera. Hell, they'd even been dicked down in the same bed, at the same time, by the same guy. But not this. Never this. It was certainly uncharted waters for both of them, and the circumstance for their engagement was less than pleasant or arousing.

His mind was shying away from eroticism of any kind at the moment, only able to hear his friend crying on the bed next to him, expressing the agony he felt inside. 

Despite it, Angel reluctantly did his due diligence, forcing his mind's eye to summon images that usually aroused him. He touched himself in the ways he liked to be touched, made sexual noises that echoed obnoxiously throughout the room, posed in ways he knew looked good on camera. Nothing. 

His eyes were closed, his fingers running over his body when suddenly there were foreign hands on his hips. 

Eyes shooting open, he found Val directly in front of him. With the camcorder in his upper two hands pointed at Angel, the lower two dragged over his skin before taking and stoking him slowly.

Angel hated how sensitive he was. His reactive body got him in uncomfortably troublesome situations more times than he cared to count. Val often told him he loved how quickly he awakened at his touch, and today was no different. His rare words of praise made Angel hum while Val's infliction spread a delicious warmth throughout his body.

Angel fought a losing battle.

He stiffened in Val's hands, throat clamping down on the full sighs and moans that threatened to escape him. He didn't want Val enjoying this more than he already was, his conniving smirk half obscured by the camera.

Val murmured more half-assed attempt at dirty talk, trying to lure Angel into a deeper state of arousal, but it was getting harder for Angel to focus on him. His whole body was buzzing now, his thoughts slowly dissolving into mush as his body betrayed him at Val's touch. No need for verbal stimulation when he had drugs in his system. Angel closed his eyes, pulses of purples, blues, pinks swirling in his vision, his high having escalated. It was a welcomed distraction from his current predicament. 

Eventually Val got bored and fed up. He could tell Angel was no longer mentally there, even though he was sufficiently erect now. 

Valentino stood suddenly, and with a sharp tug of the chain, he hauled Angel up by the neck. Angel gasped, grabbing at his shackle, having been painfully forced out of his delicately relaxed state.

With a final yank of his chain, Angel was thrown on top of Y/n. His knee crashed into hers, making her exclaim painfully on impact. She stared at him, her hands instinctively grabbing his arms to steady him. Y/n's eyes were wide and red. Angel was sure it was mostly because of the crying, but her abnormally large pupils reminded him of the pill he had slipped her earlier. He hoped the high soothed her through what was to come.

Val snapped another order to get on with it. He loomed nearby, recording everything. 

Angel took a deep breath after reluctantly adjusting to be between her legs and looked her in the eyes, slowly, hesitantly, brushing a strand of her hair off her forehead. Then his hand held her cheek as he spoke lowly, hoping Val and the camera didn't hear him.

“Lemme take care of you, okay?” Her eyes welled with tears again, her brow pinching together in dismay. “I'm gonna make you feel good, alright? Just-...” He exhaled shakily. “Just lemme take care of you.” 

He dropped his forehead to hers and rested it there, their hot, ragged breaths fanning each other's faces. Angel waited, desperately not wanting to proceed without Y/n's go-ahead. 

They could feel Val's eyes on them.

They both knew what awaited them if they refused. They had seen it happen to coworkers, acquaintances, friends. They get too ballsy and stand up for themselves and get disemboweled by an angelic knife or riddled with angelic bullets. Sometimes Val liked to sit back for the show instead of performing himself, tossing them to the streets and locking the doors just before an execution and surveilling lazily until they're hunted down and slaughtered.

But Val couldn't snuff out both of his highest earners at once, so it was likely only Angel or Y/n would be killed, leaving the other to suffer on alone. And Y/n knew that with her and Val's side business going so well, he wasn't going to be sending her to an early second grave so soon. And Y/n would not be living this life without Angel in it.

After a painfully tense moment, she nodded, hesitant and stiff, the decision weighing heavily between them both.

Angel nodded curtly. Then he slowly pushed his hips forward until he was pressed fully inside her, all in one go. 

Y/n looked away quickly, seemingly refusing to associate his face with the feeling. He wished he could do the same, but knew better than to do so with a camera on him.

Y/n's face screamed discomfort, her hands still gripping his arms, but tighter now. Her whole body was tense, making her squeeze around him even tighter. She seemed like she was internally fighting herself, not having fully accepted her fate yet.

A few minutes passed uncomfortably. Val paced around them, catching different angles with the camera.

Angel's overly performative moans subsided, turning more to grunts of concentration and effort. Their excruciating circumstances mixed with the subtle pleasure of being inside someone -his best friend, no less- was an uncomfortable and devastating combination he hoped he'd soon forget.

Angel didn't think Y/n could get any more tense. He was surprised when she let out a very sudden moan, shaky and half suppressed as it was. Her chest began heaving for breath, her back arching lightly off the mattress. Angel blinked through her sudden clenching around him. Her head shot back as she clamped her mouth shut, trying to stop the sounds of arousal escaping her as her high fueled on her unwelcomed orgasm. It was no use; her mouth fell open as her climax hit. 

Val stepped towards them to capture it, hovering around them obnoxiously, intrusively.

Y/n was overstimulated and Angel could tell. The way she was twitching and shivering under him were tell tale signs her body had had enough. He hated being the one to make her that way.

Eventually Y/n's form relaxed, if only just a little. Her vice-like grip on his forearms softened and so did the painfully uncomfortable look on her face. Though it was replaced by a soft frown on an otherwise sullen face. 

Disgust and self loathing sparked in Angel's heart and brain, spreading like wildfire through his veins, mixing dangerously with the mystery drug he ingested not long ago. He oscillated between a strange combination of emotional hysteria and mental numbness, unable to pick apart how he was fully feeling about the situation. It left him slowly eating away at himself, somehow feeling guilty about the whole thing. 

Despite his inner conflict, Angel leaned down hesitantly, pressing an apologetic kiss to her forehead before he finally pulled out and away. He wasn't sure if they had fulfilled Valentinos expectations and/or punishment, but he couldn't do it anymore.

He sat on the side of the bed, his hand having found Y/n's cold one. Or maybe Y/n had found his? He couldn't remember anymore. They didn't look at each other but their fingers locked together tightly, hoping to still be able to comfort one another. It only did so much now.

The screen of the camcorder snapped shut just as the smokey chains tethering them to the bed disappeared. Val approached them calm and coolly and Y/n’s hand nearly crushed Angel's with fearful force. They tensed with anticipation as Val reached out for Y/n, his hands pulling her to sit, then to stand. Then he nudged her to the exit without so much as letting her dress first.

“I hope I've made myself clear, Y/n,” he opened the door, the bright hallway lights flooding into the dimmer room. “Disappoint me again,” he leaned in close, turning her to face Angel, who watched them with baited breath. His eyes widened with dread at Val’s next words. “And he won't ever hear the end of it,” he stated simply, far too casually for what she knew he was capable of.

Val straightened: her cue to exit.

She stayed looking at her friend. He had slouched away from them, one hand holding his head in distress, his other three clutching himself tightly. She stepped instinctively to go to him, but Val grabbed her arm sternly, stopping her. 

“No, I'm not leaving without-” 

It didn't take much for Val to fling her out the door. She tripped over herself with the force of his throw, but she straightened in record time. Turning back to fight Val on this, she called out for Angel as she rushed forward.

“I'm not going anywhere, Angel. I'm right here-” 

The door closed before she could get back in.

She slammed into it, trying to force it open. She yanked the handle viciously, cursed and yelled for the demons on the other side, pounded on it with her fists. It didn’t budge.

When one of Val's mindless servants passed by in the hallway, Y/n stopped them, demanding they bring her two actors robes immediately. These poor souls that Valentino beat fully into submission, subdued and willing to do anything they're asked, fulfilled her command almost immediately. 

She discarded her torn shirt and put one of the robes on, before setting to pace in the hallway with the other folded tightly in her hands. Then she waited for however long it took for her to see Angel again.

The moth slipped back out of the room before Angel though. Y/n froze when he did, glaring as he approached her with a smug face. 

Trapped between Val and the wall now, she put on her brave face as he grabbed her quick and kissed her hard. That kind of wet, messy kiss he only really gives when he's been sufficiently satisfied.

Then he pulled away with a deep chuckle, and strolled down the hall, leaving Y/n with a chill down her back.

The doe bounded into the room, finding Angel immediately. He laid curled up on the bed, his back to the door. She called his name and went to him but he only curled into himself more.

Murmuring apology after apology, she tried to help him as he sat up, tossing the robe over his shoulders. Angel weakly pushed her away as she fussed over the material, silently dismissing her efforts. Y/n spoke to fill the uncomfortable silence, rambling angrily about Valentino and his ‘punishments’. 

Angel grew increasingly more agitated, finally grabbing her wrists before she could touch the robe again. Y/n's gaze snapped up and found his deadly glare on her. Angel had never looked at her with such venom, making her straighten and her hands shoot back to her side.

“I think you've done enough,” he bit, finally pulling himself onto unsteady legs. He cringed slightly, hands moving to sooth his aching body.

Y/n was taken aback by his words. She wanted to be upset with him for pushing her away so harshly but she knew she couldn't. After the trouble her actions had gotten them into. Gotten him into. His anger was justified.

She went to speak again but Angel didn't want to hear it. 

“Just, leave me alone.”

She whispered another apology, her arms clinging to her stomach. 

Angel turned and stalked out of the studio without another word. Y/n trailed behind, if only to reach her own room. When Angel got to his, he didn't spare her another look before slamming the door behind him and locking it loudly. 

Y/n lingered in the empty hallway, her hand resting on her door handle. In the silence of the corridor, she deflated with the weight of the events of the evening, her shoulders heaving with quiet cries. She stared toward Angel's room for a minute, hoping he'd come back out so they didn't have to spend the night alone. So she could make sure he would be alright after he had to pay the consequences of her actions. She could never forgive herself for that. She wouldn't blame him if he never did either. 

With a final remorseful breath, she pushed through her door and settled for bed.

Y/n knew what she had to do to set things right. In the end, the ultimatum was clear. Stolas was the only one of the three who would not suffer greater consequences. No matter how much it will break his heart, he would soon have a new life to focus on and help him move on. 

He would have forgotten about me anyway… she let herself believe. 

That complicated, sticky relationship she was having trouble comprehending became dizzyingly clear. He was a demonic prince meant to be carrying on the royal bloodlines of Hell, and she was a sinner who didn't even have ownership of her own soul anymore. 

We were only ever meant to fuck and move on… She thought bitterly, just as sleep claimed her.

In the weeks that followed, Angel spoke to her less and less. She tried not to let it get to her, tried to push down the stabbing pain in her heart whenever he blatantly avoided being in her vicinity. The guilt gnawed at her.

Y/n didn't go to see Stolas since the incident. He called her up and asked her out a handful of times, which she denied almost immediately.

She knew she couldn't keep avoiding him forever. If this is how she felt about Angel ignoring her, she could only imagine what dear sensitive Stolas might be feeling about her. He was always so attuned to her and her needs, he no doubt knew she was facing inner turmoil. 

It's true, Stolas knew something was amiss, he just didn't quite know what or why. He hated seeing her on edge, and of course he addressed it carefully. But that only did so much when Y/n didn't want to talk about it. Which she didn't. 

It pained him hearing how scared she felt, knowing it likely had something to do with her boss if she was so unwilling to share. He thought that calling off the exchange would allow her more freedom of expression, to be more willing to confide in him her personal issues. Stolas believed he had fixed their problems with that letter. It hadn't even dawned on him, the very real possibility that he had only made things worse.

Stolas’ tail feathers fanned and fluttered as his mind spiraled, thinking of all the ways he screwed this up. From Y/n and his overwhelming love for her, to his deranged bride and their steadily approaching wedding.

In the midst of his panic and chaos, an idea struck him. It was an awful terrible stupid idea, but an idea no less. One that, once he worked out the legality of it, he wasn't quite sure how he would find the strength to follow through. But with Y/n by his side, he felt like he could do anything. 

Stolas, in his frenzied mental state, made arrangements and preparations for the next time he'd be seeing his love.

Y/n on the other hand, was dreading the next time she'd see the prince. Half because she was afraid Val would lash out if he found out she went again, half because she didn't want to do what she knew she had to. 

Nonetheless, the next time Stolas offered she come over again, she finally accepted with a shaky sigh, having given up trying to hide her unease. And Stolas, convinced his idea was the solution to all her woes, only assured her all would be alright.

He greeted her at the front door, pulling her in swiftly for a hug.

“I'm so happy you're here, love.” 

“Please, my prince-” She pulled away, her eyes sweeping the grand foyer cautiously. “We should-”

“It's alright. I've dismissed all the servants for the evening. There's no one here but you and me.”

She nodded hesitantly before taking a grounding breath. Stolas whisked them away through the ballroom, still dazzling, even draped in shadows. Through the hallway of carnivorous plants, not a petal or flowering bud out of place. And finally, to his study, the gloriously warm light heating Y/n's clammy cold skin as Stolas led them to his desk. 

Y/n stood under the light. She closed her eyes, letting herself feel the relief that settled over her tension wrought bones and blood starved muscles. 

Stolas rushed around the desk, quickly pulling a handful of papers from the top drawer and placing and arranging them carefully. He straightened with a satisfied hoot.

He looked to Y/n, still under the golden glow, and watched happily as the smallest of smiles crept onto her face. She held her arms out lightly, catching as much of the light as possible. Stolas waited, not daring to interrupt her moment of peace after weeks of stress. 

Eventually her soft contented smile faded into a scowl, just as miniscule as her previous expression, but still perfectly readable to Stolas. He shoved aside his hesitation to continue. He wanted to take her in his arms and help her forget about her troubles through words and through touch. But he didn't, for he knew that was only a temporary solution. And right now, he was after something more permanent.

Y/n stayed in the light as she spoke. Her arms crossed as she did, further proof of her anxiety having returned.

“My prince, I have something I need to tell you.”

Stolas fluttered back around his desk, quick to take her hands and shush her gently. He hadn't meant to be so brash. If it weren't for his obvious excitement, Y/n might have been annoyed, possibly even angry at his silencing her. She gave him some grace, knowing it had been a while since they last saw each other.

“As do I, love. As do I.” His expression was devious. Eyes narrow with subtle mischief and smile rife with a strangely cunning edge.

He looked good with this confidence.

Y/n wished she could return the look.

She let him continue on, realizing she shouldn't be so quick to get this over with. She couldn't tell when their next meeting would be. Or if they would ever meet again, period. She should stay in the moment while she was still in it.

“I've been thinking,” he kissed the back of her hand quick before side stepping her and making his way to the shelves of books behind her. “I detest seeing you so shaken, so tormented.” He raised his hand, brushing it against the spines of books before he stopped suddenly, plucking a dusty-red one from its place. “And I know I play a part in that, to some degree.” He turned around partially, shyly holding the book to his chest. Only his top eyes looked at her, his bottom ones cast to the floor regretfully.

Y/n didn't have the heart to verbally confirm that for him. 

Stolas turned fully to her then, spinning around with a hard-set face of determination. He approached her again, this time handing her the book. 

Interpersonal Relationships Between Hellborns and Sinners read the title, a simple drawn silhouette of a short imp and a snouted sinner leaning in adoringly towards one another. 

Y/n shouldn't have been surprised that a book like this existed, or that Stolas had it in his library. 

She opened it carefully, finding its table of contents. The list started with soul contracts and coworkers and went all the way to in-laws and cross species families. Somewhere down the list was the topic of romantic relationships, marriage just below that. 

Y/n looked to Stolas with suspicion, closing the book lightly. What was he trying to get at?

He had gone to the other side of his study, pulling another book -deep blue this time- from the shelves there before returning to his desk and placing it next to the papers he had set out. He turned and beckoned her closer.

Stolas took the red book from her as she approached, setting it down in the line up. He motioned to the blue one, which he held closed so as to let her read the title, his fingers holding his place in the pages. 

Demon Law, 5th Edition: Soul and Other Binding Contracts.

He opened it, then shifted away to let her have a closer look, pointing to a page header. The chapter was on soul contracts, she could tell that much. The rest was a mix of legalese jargon and some demonic language Y/n doesn't recall ever seeing before. She looked at Stolas, confusion written plainly on her face. 

It took him a second to remember that this wasn't just some light reading he was showing her. The complex words and terminology were confusing enough to the owl, not to mention the foreign language. He quickly understood how Y/n would struggle to comprehend what's on the page.

Stolas jumped forward sheepishly, leaning over to open the other book, which spoke in much simpler terms.

Y/n read over the page, slowly trying to gather what it was saying. 

Hellborns and sinners.

Soul agreements versus marriage.

Status over commitments.

Y/n's head spun, desperately trying to wrap her head around what Stolas was trying to say by showing her all this. Was he trying to leave his marriage?...

Realization crept up on her, reaching over her tense shoulders with a chilling hand and settling deep in her chest. She looked at Stolas. His eyes glowed with hope, his brow quirked with optimism. But she felt quite the opposite.

“What is this? What are you trying to-?”

“I can make an appeal to have us married.”

“What?”

“There are some obstacles here and there, mostly just matters of my duties to the Goetias…but it can be done. I'm willing to do it, for you.” 

Stolas took her hand, and, looking her in the eyes the entire time, lowered himself down to one knee. Y/n would have gasped if she remembered how to breathe.

“My dearest, Y/n. We've only known each other but a short time, it's true.” Y/n's lungs already ached for air as her stomach dropped. If it weren't for his hand in hers, she would have easily lost her balance, the force of the unexpected words toppling her spent body. But he was there, steadying her while knelt on the floor before her. “Yet, I feel like you've been in my life for eons.”

She tried to imagine the sight of them, from an outside perspective. The sinner whore and the Hellborn prince. An unlikely duo, but a match made in heaven. 

“You bring such joy and peace, I often wonder how I never noticed the stars aligning to bring us together.”

She tried to commit this moment to memory, the way his hand felt in hers, the way he looked up at her. The way the light shone down and illuminated them, casting them in glistening gold, like warm honey -though not as sticky-sweet.

Y/n suddenly pulled her hands from his, her face full of panic. She was getting better at shutting down the fantasy... though not so much the emotions that came with it.

Stolas hesitated, his hands still lingering between them for a moment, before he recovered by reaching into his pocket. He came back with a small box, velvety and cobalt blue. 

“Y/n. With this ring I commit myself to you, forever more.”

He raised the box higher, shifting awkwardly on his knee before flicking it open with a proud smile.

Y/n finally took a sharp breath in.

With a dark silver band and a simple violet stone with swirling white and black fragments, it was easily the most stunning piece of jewelry she'd ever had the pleasure of seeing with her own eyes. And it was for her.

But she simply could not accept, god forbid Val sees her wearing it.

“Wait, Stolas-”

“I will protect and provide for you.”

“Stop. Stop it,”

“You will want for nothing, need for nothing, so long as I live,”

“Stolas, please-”

“Will you do me the honor of becoming my wife? Will you marry me, Y/n?”

Her voice raised, strikingly so. And it came out flustered, hoping to have stopped him before he could get those four pesky words out. But she was firm in her answer all the same. “NO, Stolas.” The tension was suffocatingly thick between them. She dared to keep speaking, afraid that if she stopped now, she wouldn't ever speak again. “We have to stop seeing each other. Permanently.”

Stolas noticed then the use of his name. It made his feathers prick and his skin crawl. Not as much as her declaration itself did, though.

“What do you mean?”

“I mean, we can't keep doing this, Stolas.”

“But.. I can fix it. I can fix all of it.” 

“No, I don't think you can.” 

They stared at each other for a moment, Y/n's eyes growing more misty by the moment.

Stolas delicately closed the ring away in the box before standing and tugging uncomfortably at his vest.

“But-”

“He's hurting Angel,” she blurted out forcefully. She intended to keep the details to herself, not knowing how she would handle reliving the moment if he dared ask her about it. But he was inching closer and closer to not giving her a choice. “He's making him do… things.”

Now it was Stolas’ turn to be confused. He hated to be insensitive, not quite seeing what Angel could be doing beyond what he already does that could be considered punishment.

“I don't think I follow…” he trailed off, struggling to find the right words to prompt her along.

Y/n's ears pressed back against her head tightly, her eyes shutting closed as she turned her head in shame. “Doing things to me.”

It took Stolas a moment to fully register what she was saying, to redirect his initial rage from Angel to Valentino. He felt it rise inside him, festering like maggots on flesh. He smothered it before he lost sight of what was most important; what was right in front of him.

“All the more reason for us to marr-”

“And then what, Stolas? Leave Angel behind? I couldn't do that; Val would kill him, I'm sure of it.”

Stolas wasn't sure where to go from there. He'd be lying if he said he had thought this far ahead. He had such confidence in their love, he was convinced she would say yes, even with what hesitation he knew she was sure to have. But he hadn't calculated outside factors. Factors like her friend being in danger. 

He scolded himself for being so foolish. After the way she had called him on the phone a couple of days ago? She had mentioned that Angel was under duress. He was so blinded by his certainty he assumed all would be well when they married.

His heart begin to race with worry, his plan slipping through his fingers.

“I can find a way! I'll free you and your friend, and then we can be happy.” He was grasping at straws now, he could feel it. “Y/n, please,” he reached for her but she jerked sharply out of his reach. There was fear in her expression now, her eyes wide, her head shaking with barely perceptible denial. He wondered if she even really heard him.

Dread seeped into Stolas’ body as step by step, Y/n began backing up towards the door. Her face was stuck displaying her terror, eyes flicking back and forth as her mind jumped from thought to thought, no longer presently with him. Her hands came up in front of her, seemingly defensive for some incoming attack that would never come. Not from Stolas, anyway.

He stood still, not wanting to startle her further. But as her panicked eyes found his, something set her off. She stared for a split second before tearing her eyes away and beginning to turn. “I have to go.” 

She was at the door before Stolas could even grasp her words. Then she was gone, out of sight down the hallway.

With her words sinking in like a knife and her surprisingly nimble get away, it took him a minute to catch up as she was several yards ahead of him. Stolas forced himself after her, long legs bounding out the study and down the hall.

He called, begged for her to wait and to stay. To just give him one more moment of her precious time.

She just kept hurrying down halls and through rooms, further away from him. 

He was rounding a corner into one of the portrait rooms when he spotted her again. In the split second that he stopped at the sight of her, he put together the details of her overwhelmed figure. 

One of her hands was against the wall, leaning heavily into it. The other was at her temple, holding her head as she swayed against the wall. Her ear swiveled back as Stolas started towards her again, then she shook off whatever ailed her before continuing on her mad dash, bursting into the ballroom.

Stolas wasn't more than three paces behind her now. He could easily lunge forward and force her to stop and look at him, but he refused his urge to do so. At least, that is until she staggered a bit, finding a nearby pillar to steady herself on, nearly crashing into it in her sudden daze.

She went to push herself off of it, aiming for the door. But Stolas intercepted, finally jumping forward and catching her swiftly against the pillar and his body. And good thing he did as her legs gave out, nearly dropping them both to the floor if it weren't for him holding them up. Even still, she pushed at his chest feebly, making a rather pathetic attempt to escape his arms. 

“Y/n, please- just, wait.”

Her breath labored, making words sputter out of her mouth. “I-I can't be here-, I have to leave.” 

Stolas looked down at her and her ears flicked wildly in his face. His concern grew by the second.

Y/n mustered her strength, and using Stolas’ chest to launch her, she lurched forward, barely slipping out of his grasp to stand on her own two feet. And when she did, she teetered with another step, before her knees fully buckled underneath her.

With one last lurch forward, Stolas scooped the doe up before she slammed to the floor. 

He stood there, his love, limp in his arms and cold to the touch. He sighed through a great big exhale, feeling the emotions of the past several minutes surfacing in his throat. 

He bounced, adjusting Y/n in his grasp, making it more comfortable for both him and the unconscious demon in his arms. He looked around, the ballroom as quiet and empty as the rest of the house. 

A chill ran down his spine. 

One of the main reasons he always had servants around; he hated being fully alone. He was lucky to have Y/n over when he did. She brought so much life and vibrancy to the mansion. 

Now she was saying she would never come again. 

His grip on her tightened as if she would vanish from his arms there and then. 

Holding her close to him, he reluctantly made his way back to his room, unsure what else to do with the sleeping doe.

Stolas understood, of course. It would be stupid and insensitive to not gather the severity of their -her- situation. He knew what was at stake and Angel was not a cost Y/n was willing to pay, she made that abundantly clear. But Stolas was almost positive he could figure out a loophole, some backdoor to get Angel out and safe, alongside her.

Stolas rested her gently on his bed, brushing her hair from her face and arranging her arms more comfortably. He only barely noticed the pallor of her skin in the dim light. Then we went around to her other side and took her hand as he laid beside her.

He should have been studying, should have been looking tirelessly for the solution to their issues and be prepared for when she wakes to make his case again. But something in Stolas compelled him to just be close to her. Maybe it was the concern he felt for her in her weakened state. Maybe it was that she had already said goodbye to him and he feared if he left her, she would sneak off into the night, never to be seen again. 

Her hand simply wasn't enough he decided, pulling her fully to him. He held her, wrapping her up tightly in his embrace as his mind wandered round and round. He was still ready to marry her, still ready to throw the life he knew out the window for her. If only she would wake and tell him to do as much. 

His eyes grew heavy, blinking through sleep until it claimed him.

Y/n wasn't sure how long she had been out. When she woke, the evening light was gone, a nighttime chill having set over the dark room. But she didn't feel cold. At least not entirely. 

She went to move and found herself weighed down, a heavy arm across her stomach, holding her firm against a warm chest. She turned her head, finding an owlish face next to hers. His eyes were closed, and she could feel his soft hot breath on her cheek, breathing slow and deep.

Stolas was asleep. 

Her initial instinct was to curse. To scold herself for still being here, despite her efforts. She was meant to be back at the tower by now, under the scrutinous eyes of Val and his Overlord buddies. 

Her second instinct came; to flee. To up and bound out of the room. And though it hadn't quite worked last time, she was fixing to do it again.

But as she went to tug his arm off of her, he inhaled sharply, making her freeze mid motion. His eyes didn't open, he only nuzzled further into her, cooing ever so slightly with an exhale. His hold on her tightened, the deep comfortable pressure to her body making Y/n relax a bit and release a small sound of contentment, though she didn't feel entirely so. 

Her chest felt hollow, terribly gaping like a black hole sucking her in from the inside out. The longer she stayed, the more it grew. And despite that, she rested her head against the pillow, and her hand atop his. 

Just another moment… one last moment… she granted herself.

She lay there in his arms, watching him breathe, memorizing his face, his smell, how he sounded, how he felt. She ran through her senses like a checklist never complete. 

Only when her own eyes started to droop with sleep did she finally stir, gently brushing his arm off of her. With one final grief-stricken glance at Stolas’ peaceful face, she sat up with a small huff, swinging her legs over the side of the bed. 

The room was deafeningly quiet. Her heartbeat easily filled her ears, followed by the rustle of the sheets below her. She gripped them tightly, nails scraping against the mattress underneath as she prepared herself to leave, emotion stuck in her throat. She had stayed far too long already, caused far too much damage. It ended now.

With her ears pressed back resolutely to her head, she push off the bed.

A hand caught her wrist, hard and firm. Though it hurt a little, there was no malintent. Just desperation. A silent plea to stay. One she simply could not answer.

Another hand worked its way into her closed fist, effectively anchoring her to the bed once more. The hole in her chest expanded, plummeting to her stomach and rising to her throat. A broken sob tore it's way out of her.

“Please,” she begged quietly, the sound of her trembling voice grating on her ears. “Don't make this harder than it already is.” Tears welled in her eyes, but she refused to let them fall.

She waited, his hold not getting any looser. And after a painfully tense moment he pulled her hand to him. She half heartedly tried to pull away until a kiss came to her knuckle. And then another, and down her fingers he went, each kiss slower and more deliberately longing than the last.

He lingered there, her hand to his mouth, only pulling back far enough so his words rang clear in the room.

“I love you, Y/n,” he whispered simply, before kissing her one last time, and then slowly letting go of her hand. 

Her ears flicked wildly, trying to put a cap on her emotions where her eyes and voice could not. She stood on shaky legs, the warmth of the bed falling away under her legs. She didn't dare turn to him.

“Goodbye, my prince.”

Then she made her way to the door and left a piece of her heart in that room without a final glance.

~~~~~~~~~

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A/N- these things just keep getting longer and lOnger WOOF. bid Stolas a loving farewell for alas this is the end of the Stolas subplot for nOw folksss, dont get it twisted the angsty bird boy WILL be back eventually.... thoughts and feedback always welcomed yall :)

[xfangheartx]

I decided I'm going to make another multichapter Helluva Boss story, this time showing Blitzø going to therapy and him learning to let go of his self-hatred, come to terms with his feelings for Stolas, and also move on from his mom's death.

I might also include the events of Ghostf**ers.