Chapter Text
“It seems I’ve been injected with an unknown substance! How peculiar.”
The day had started out like any other, but needless to say, Alastor’s morning strolls did not usually end like this. Angel lowered his magazine, blinking from his position lounging on the couch. He looked up to see Al barging through the front door, Nifty nervously trailing right behind him. Couldn’t miss that speaker-laced baritone a mile away. Never a dull moment in this joint, truly.
“I’m usually quite resistant to most venoms and toxins produced by other demons, however this one has left a bit of a sting..” Alastor held up the small vial that has been formulated into some sort of dart-like projectile.
“The slimy vermin managed to escape before I could.. inquire..”
As he rotated the small, empty glass and asked gingerly if those in the hotel would have any idea where such a product would be derived, Angel’s stomach dropped when he read the letters printed on the side in red; ‘EO’.
“Uh oh.”
He couldn’t contain the nervous exclamation that left his throat as he stared at the vial, now having garnered the attention of everyone else. Angel’s heart sped up as he realized that he was the only one who knew what that substance could be and how he would have to now explain it. Angel swallowed before clearing his throat. Just being around that stuff made him nervous, honestly. He hoped he was mistaken, that was possible, right?
“..Al, you weren’t around red light district when this occurred, were ya?” Angel inquired hesitantly. It was barely noticeable, but something changed in Alastor’s expression, hardened, like he was putting together pieces.
“Yes, just on the outskirts, I believe. Why?” The red demon asked, slightly tilting his head curiously. Everyone else was looking at him too, but Alastor’s stare was more intense, like he was staring into Angel’s soul directly through his eyes and if Angel wasn’t already filled with dread, that might have done it.
“..Was it a rat who darted ya?” Angel asked, already knowing the answer. Alastor’s smile more visibly thinned as Nifty nodded.
“Indeed it was. What do you know, Angel?” The Radio Demon asked more directly now, a serious tone to his voice that Angel could hear even if was feigning nonchalance. Angel sighed and pinched the bridge of his non-existent nose.
“Look, yer not gunna like the answer here. Maybe we should talk in private-“ Angel suggested before he was cut off.
“Out with it.” Alastor demanded, now seeming to lose his patience. Angel huffed.
“It’s Estro. A heat-inducer. It’s used in porn-“
Angel rattled off exasperatedly before he was interrupted again.
“The date-rape drug?” Everyone turned towards Vaggie who asked. Angel blinked wondering how she knew. Husk nearly spit out his drink. Meanwhile Alastor had gone a bit rigid, Angel could see it from across the room. Angel scratched the back of his head. He didn’t like being the ‘expert’ on this.
“Well, yeah. That too. The fuckin’ rats produce it for Val for-“
“If you would excuse us, I need to speak to our dear spider alone!” Alastor finally became animated again, but Angel could clearly see the horror behind his fake smile. He grabbed Angel’s arm and before he knew it everyone else was gone. Or actually, they had left everyone else. Angel stumbled a bit with dizziness, putting a hand to his head and taking in the very red room he found himself in.
“Woah. That.. that’s not pleasant. A little warning next time-“
“What does this ‘Estro’ entail?” Alastor had sat in a comfortable-looking chair on the other side of the room. If he hadn’t been hanging around the other demon as often as he was, he may not have been able to see that the Radio Demon was anxious. Maybe even nervous. Understandably.
Angel tried to start from the top.
“Well, you have a cycle, right? You rut?” Angel asked awkwardly. This was a conversation he never expected to have with this guy especially.
When Al continued to look at him blankly, Angel shook his head.
“Of course ya do. Yer a deer. Well, Estro induces it, but not only that, but it.. makes it much more powerful. It’s not.. great..” Angel tried to think of how to put this. He almost didn’t want to scare the other demon (scare the Radio Demon, ha), but Angel knew he was on thin ice here and he had to tread carefully. He had gathered that Al didn’t seem like the type that enjoyed intimacy, which was fine. But no doubt this probably was much more intimidating knowledge in that respect.
“You’ve been on this drug?” Alastor more stated than asked. There was almost an air of disappointment in his voice that made Angel want to scowl.
“Yeah, but not willingly. It’s a street drug - we’re dosed with it for initiation hazing at the studio. It’s a whole sub-genre of videos.” Angel shuddered, gesturing with two of his hands, the bottom two arms firmly crossed over his abdomen. Alastor studied him and his eyes narrowed.
“What are you not telling me, Angel? You seem rather shaken.” He asked calmly.
Angel took a breath. He just had to tell him point blank. He wouldn’t shoot the messenger, right?
“It’s bad, Al. And it’s even worse for us animal types who have heat/rut cycles already. No antidote. Picture your rut, but at least 5 times worse. It lasts days and it makes you fuckin’ desperate. They had me doin’ things I never pictured doin’. And you remember everything..” Angel curled in on himself a bit, rubbing the back of his neck as he grew quieter, his own memories sneaking into the rear view.
By this time, Alastor’s smile had tightened with something like dread. He had risen from his chair and Angel heard him mutter a few choice words under his breath. He then moved to look out the window at the far corner of the room, seeming anxious. Angel could feel the static rising in the air, like the Radio Demon would rather be pacing around the room like a caged animal. Alastor tugged at his collar and he even looked a little pink in the cheekbones. Angel could already tell he was not immune to this drug.
Angel watched him with something like.. worry. The spider wouldn’t say that the two of them were super close or anything, but.. it wasn’t as if him and Al hadn’t become more companionable over the last few months either. Enough so that Angel felt himself feel genuine concern over the situation. Call it what you want, but once they figured out that they had more in common than they realized, they had started meeting for late night chats by the fireplace. They actually ended up spending a fair amount of time together recently, a lot of nights and time simply enjoying the quiet and the sounds of the fire, but Angel almost always needed to break the silence. They would chit chat about the past, how music had changed, even a little bit about themselves. Angel found that as much as Alastor seemed like someone’s grandfather on the surface in the way he talked, he was actually a pretty decent conversationalist. Sense of humor could use some work, but corny as he was, he was sometimes funny, Angel would admit.
The man enjoyed his music and was passionate when he was talking about that era and something about his excitement was contagious. It was just easy to talk to him, is all.
The thing also was that Angel would not wish this drug on anybody. Not only had he been through it, but he’d seen other rookies at the porn studio have to go though it. And this was Al, who didn’t seem to want relations of this kind with anybody on a normal day. This was also the most nervous he’d ever seen the Radio Demon, he knew that’s what he was seeing and it was honestly starting to freak him out. The best he could do at the moment was to give him friendly advice.
“..Look, Smiles, the uh,...” He coughed. “breedin’ instincts are rough, you should lock yerself inside with someone ya trust for the next few days-“
He was cut off by the radio laugh track played almost sardonically.
“If that is all, you may leave.” Alastor said waving him off without looking Angel in the face, maintaining his carefree air and voice as much as he was capable. Sure was convincing, but not to Angel. He knew him well enough by now to know that. The other demon was not okay, his ears were a dead giveaway, how they stood completely straight up and on end. The arachnid cocked an eyebrow, he didn’t think he was being taken seriously.
“Hey, I know this is.. weird, but this ain’t somethin’ ya can get through alone, even fer ‘big, powerful overlords’. I’m serious, Al.” Angel stated firmly before he hesitated, looking off to the side before his next words. He was good at one thing after all. And Al was kinda his.. friend. One-sided attraction aside..
“..Look, if ya don’t have anyone else,.. I can, uh, help. If ya need. No strings attached, yanno..” Angel said awkwardly waving a hand with a shrug and rubbing his neck with another. He’d been through it before after all, and he knew it damn-well took a toll. He figured it wouldn’t hurt to offer.
Alastor’s eyes flashed with red as he finally looked straight at him, smile widening in a very false sort of way. Almost angry. Angel realized that he took what he said the very wrong way.
Alastor widened the space between them even more by taking a step back, away from him.
“You’d want that, wouldn’t you?” The Radio Demon said sharply, high pitched static lacing his voice, nearly sneering. Angel scoffed at the nerve of him and puffed up angrily. He had a feeling the other demon was actually afraid and talking out of his ass and taking out his insecurities on him or whatever, but this shit wasn’t called for.
“I don’t know what kinda guy you think I am, but this ain’t some master plan to get in yer pants so don’t flatter yerself, sweetheart.” Angel snapped with a snarl.
“You really think that’s why I’m still here, asshole? Ya think I ain’t been takin’ advantage of enough times that I’d do that shit to someone else? Well, fuck you.”
Angel spat, turning and storming his way toward the nearest exit.
The goddamn nerve. Radio Demon or not, Angel was pissed and he wasn’t going to hide it. He saw the other demon’s ear twitch back like he was a little taken aback at Angel’s outburst, but Angel didn’t stick around long enough to watch him any further. He wasn’t feeling as much sympathy anymore. Why was he even surprised? Even if he thought he might have known Alastor just a little bit. No one in hell thought of him as any more than just a dumb whore. It’s what he got for trying to help.
With his hand on the doorknob he forced himself to simmer; to stop and say one more thing without looking back at the red-haired demon. A warning.
“..Don’t go out after dark. If that rat saw you get dosed, he’s not the only one who knows.” He grunted before slamming the door behind him.
He traveled back downstairs where he started to find most of the gang still hovering in the main room not knowing what to do. When they rushed him for answers he quickly reassured them that the asshole Radio Demon would be fine, he just needed some alone time for a few days. Nifty looked horribly guilty, looking up at him with her big eye shiny like she’d been crying. Angel knelt down and reassured her that he was glad Alastor bit the bullet for her on this one, and that Al certainly thought the same. Angel was pretty sure that despite everything, Al would agree.
Despite himself, Angel found himself.. concerned about the deer demon. He knew he shouldn’t be, that Al would figure it out, he was a grown man, older than Angel even! But because of his previous reservations, Angel could shake the thought that Al may lack.. experience with these things, and that the guy didn’t have anyone to help him through this. He didn’t know that for sure, but that’s what his gut told him, and his gut was seldom wrong.
Hours later, no one had heard from Alastor and it was assumed that he left the hotel to.. take care of things. Angel was reading on his phone in bed, Nuggets snoring at the bedside when he sensed movement to his right. Angel jumped nearly a foot, even if he was already nearly certain it was the damn Radio Demon.
“Jesus mother of fuck, Al, we’ve talked about this..” Angel swore, hand over his jackhammering heart before he took in the other demon. Al was sitting in his armchair at the side of his room with his legs crossed and Angel knew he wasn’t right.
“Angel.” The other demon greeted simply. He may have seemed unaffected to someone else, but Angel knew from all his tells that he was well on his way to a meltdown. For one, his overcoat was gone, leaving him in his red button up, no monocle. For two, he was tapping his leg - and this is a demon, from what Angel had so far gathered, that never fidgeted. He could sit stock-still like death for nearly hours, Angel had seen him do it.
Looking up at his head, Angel noticed the Radio Demon possessed larger antlers now too. Not huge, but a couple more points to them. His black-tipped ears were also darting around more than Angel had ever seen them move, some of the shifting was subtle, but restless. They reacted to every small noise with an exaggerated hypersensitivity. The guy was wound damn tight and of course Angel knew why. He could sympathize, sure, but that didn’t make him any less of an asshole. It then dawned on Angel exactly why he was here, back with him, and he couldn’t deny that part of him became a little excited and even anticipatory with the knowledge, but he didn’t forget that they did not part on great terms earlier.
“Ya look like shit.” Angel acknowledged dryly, not putting his phone down. “Not doin’ too hot, huh?”
Angel didn’t want to rub in the fact that he was right per-say, he just wanted it acknowledged. Al was stubborn as a bull, but Angel would not let him forget what he said earlier.
Alastor’s eyes narrowed and not in a playful way. Angel could see now how much his smile was strained on his face.
“..I have.. miscalculated.” Alastor said, radio echo a tad softer, as hesitantly as Angel had ever heard him speak. He almost seemed a bit puzzled, like Angel’s bedroom had not been his initial desired destination. If Angel listened closely, he could hear what sounded like rapid flicking between radio stations coming off the other demon like someone was messing with a broken tuner.
Angel crossed his legs, then his arms, and leaned back against the headboard of his bed.
“Yeah, no kiddin’.” His eyes passed up and down the Radio Demon’s form again, almost reluctantly. Wondering how desperate the deer demon had to be to come back to him after what he said. He must be taking a big hit to his pride here.
“I told ya you couldn’t do this alone. But yer fuckin’ stubborn.” Angel waited for him to say anything. He didn’t know what he was expecting; an apology maybe?
Alastor sat in silence, still looking ragged and Angel suspected that he was consciously trying to control his breathing. Al looked down at his hands folded in his lap and fiddled with his fingers. An apology apparently seemed to be asking for too much. Angel sighed and finally put his phone down, wondering when he had become such a bleeding heart. If Al didn’t look so goddamn pathetic and he didn’t know firsthand what this drug did to a demon-
“..So, you want help then?” Angel questioned. A shock of microphone feedback filled the room and Alastor cleared his throat.
“..I don’t have.. anyone else I could-” He didn’t seem able to finish his sentence. He huffed at himself frustratedly and his smile seemed more like a grimace.
“..This is unprecedented.” Alastor bit out, still not looking directly at Angel, which honestly, spoke a thousand words. Angel sighed again; this may be tougher than he thought. He wouldn’t make him say anymore, Angel was no sadist.
While part of the spider was still peeved at Al’s earlier behavior, another part of him also lit up at being the only person Alastor had to go to for something like this, but the guy looked miserable. Heaven knows Angel had imagined the two of them sharing sheets together, but not like this. This type of thing was kind of cruel to do to someone who prided himself on maintaining control at all times and who held that control in such a high regard. Even for a such a pompous overlord like Alastor.
Angel’s offer to help was not empty - he happened to have a particular set of skills. However, in the back of his mind there was a shade of disappointment that this activity - which Angel generally enjoyed, more-so before his current employment - was now tainted.
Honestly, Angel didn’t know how Alastor was still so composed right now knowing how long it had been since his dose of the drug. Angel sighed and rubbed his eyes, thinking, before lifting his head and looking at the other demon in the eyes seriously. This made Alastor’s ears prick up and he looked directly back at him with his eerie smile that didn’t match his eyes.
“Okay. Ground rules first - I know this is less than ideal and not normal circumstances, but I’d never force ya to do somethin’ ya didn’t wanna do. Hard stops if you want to stop, or if I do something ya don’t like, and vice versa. Got it?” Angel laid out sternly, gesturing with two hands like this was set up before a big scene, which it kind of was.
Alastor seemed a bit surprised by the authoritative tone by the way his eyebrows drew up, he blinked once and continued to look at Angel.
“Second, no biting, not with those chompers, no bonding, no crazy voodoo magic or deals in the bed. The merchandise stays relatively undamaged, capisce?” Alastor’s brows rose even more and his smile stretched anxiously. He lost color to his face, but after a minute he gave a small nod.
“Third, we gotta communicate, you look like you’d rather be doing anything else right now and while that’s not flattering, it’s fine, I just don’t want ta cross any lines. No consent is not my thing. Look, this isn’t how I imagined it goin’ either. Any hard boundaries for you in the sack?” Angel counted off, gesturing with two of his hands. Alastor’s ears flicked and his face seemed to be becoming more flushed with everything Angel said. After an uncomfortable few seconds with only silence and Alastor not moving a single muscle, he spoke.
“..You.. imagined?” Alastor asked, tilting his head stiffly, curiously despite his more rapid breathing. There was an aspect of surprise in his voice that Angel didn’t want to fixate on. Al’s head tilt was ridiculous, he looked like a bird. It was Angel’s turn to flush. He looked away and waved a hand dismissively.
“Yeah, of course. I, uh, pretty much do it with everybody. Well, guys anyway, I’m not into chicks..” Angel rubbed his chin self-consciously before looking back at the deer demon. “I guess you haven’t.”
Alastor’s smile seemed to become more strained in front of his eyes. His ears seemed to fight, but they eventually lowered a quarter as he lifted a hand to pinch the bridge of his nose agitatedly.
“Before this, I seldom had any desire for.. ‘sexual activity’ at all.” The Radio Demon grit out, flushing. Angel regarded him with a fixed look, eyes trailing over his face as understanding set in.
“..Huh. I guess that explains why you were never interested. ‘Least it’s not just me. Yer just ace.” He stated. Now Alastor looked more confused.
“I don’t know what that means.” Alastor admitted plainly in response, blinking back at him.
“Ace, asexual. It’s just what ya said; generally no or less interest in sex. There’s terms for it now a’ days, upstairs. Totally normal - it’s a spectrum. Anyway,-“ Angel discussed before shaking his head and waving his hands, now was not entirely the time for the full explanation. “-there anything you strictly don’t want me to do?”
Alastor hummed, drumming his fingers together as his eyes scanned different corners of the carpet. He looked almost bashful and it was the strangest thing to see for a demon that usually seemed like he had all the confidence in the world. It was so unusual to see him so hesitant, it made Angel a bit worried. When he seemed to be still at a loss for words, Angel reassured him.
“..S’alright, ya don’t have to know right now. Just let me know if you come up with anythin’. ..Wanna come ova here?” Angel said gently, sitting up with his long legs crossed in front of him, and patting the empty space on the bed in front of him. Alastor’s red eyes flicked from Angel to the space on the bed. Something like panic filled his expression and his ears puffed up, Angel nearly thought he was going to either pass out or back out of the arrangement completely. He took a breath, cleared his throat, and seemed to try to settle himself.
“..Angel, I-.. I’m-” The deer demon hesitated before seeming remarkably frustrated with his inability to speak, but his reluctance kept getting caught in his throat. Angel looked on at the flustered demon, confused, but patient. Now this was weird.
“Spit it out, Al, ya can tell me whatever, I won’t judge ya, I promise. Trust me, I’ve heard it all..” Angel said, softening his tone. He felt like he was trying to wrangle a timid animal at this point.
After trying to start a sentence again and failing, Alastor snarled and to Angel’s surprise, he let out a few low curses, radio stations mixing until the echo in his voice turned off altogether.
“...I’m.. wet..” He cringed as he let out in a small voice that Angel had to struggle to hear. The spider blinked in response before it dawned on him.
“..Ooh, you mean like, not,.. oh..” Angel gestured to his own lower half, front then back, understanding what Alastor was trying so desperately to get across and why he seemed to upset. Meanwhile, Alastor seemed to shrink his chair and nearly growled in anxiety.
“Oh, honey. The Estro will do that, it’s okay.” He tried to explain calmly, scratching the back of his head as Al lifted a brow and his ears nearly flattened against his head in desperation.
“..But, I’m male.” Alastor strained, having trouble keeping his composure any longer. He was now visibly shaking with what seemed like both arousal and discomfort. He looked so pitiful, Angel couldn’t help feeling bad for him. And especially having to find out about this drug the hard way like he did.
“Yeah, I know. Happened to me too. Doesn’t make you any less of a man. Don’t worry. Come here, and don’t worry about the chair.” Angel reassured quietly, beckoning him again. He had the day off tomorrow, but at this rate, he may need more than a few days for this. He had a shy fella here.
Then, just like that, red-haired demon disappeared and reappeared about a foot away in front of him on the bed, only startling Angel a little bit. He was sitting cross-legged, hands in his lap, nearly panting, but still looking very uncomfortable. Teleporting was probably much easier than moving in the highly aroused state that he was in. Al was using the placement of his hands to block view of his very interested arousal, but Angel knew.
Angel looked him over before reaching out a hand to gently touch his shoulder. It didn’t make it there, as Al flinched and microphone feedback sounded as he caught Angel’s arm in a dark, clawed hand midway. Alastor himself seemed startled at his own reaction as he let Angel go immediately afterwards.
“Apologies. I’m not used to.. this.” He said, the radio echo was back and surrounding them was the soft buzz of blank, dead radio space, but to Angel it felt like anxiety. They were going to have to take this real slow.
“S’alright. We can take it slow. Ya got a thing wit touch, eh? ..Hey, uh,” Angel cleared his throat. “-how uninterested were ya in sex? Yer not a virgin, are ya?” Angel asked seriously, easing back and tilting his head. This seemed to startle the antlered demon into a more traditional response.
“Ha! No.” He said firmly, straightening himself out from his more hunched position, arms still placed stiffly in front of his crotch. Angel looked at him a bit skeptically before tilting his head with another question.
“Wit guys or gals?”
Alastor scoffed and an irritated buzzing sound from him grew louder; his smile still looking strained.
“Female. What does it matter?” He grit out exasperatedly, looking into Angel’s gaze. Angel looked to the side and backed off. He leaned back and holding two hands up in mock surrender.
“Alright, alright. I don’t mean ta offend ya, er anythin’. I think knowin’ yer experience is kinda important here; there’s a lot to be said if this was yer first time, is all.” Angel saw a strange, oddly distant look slide across Alastor’s crimson eyes that only lasted a moment, but it was there. Angel frowned when he recognized it all too well.
“..It wasn’t a great time then, huh?”
Al’s eyes darkened as his smile broadened unauthentically, almost like a snarl. The Radio Demon’s face turned a darker shade and he clenched his jaw. Angel eased back a little, he knew he probably should have kept his mouth shut, but the reaction he received was quite telling. Angel’s been in this business for a long time.
“Shall I inquire about your sexual history as well?” The Radio Demon asked irritatedly, static melding with his normal microphone echo as he tilted his head to the side with a disturbing snap.
Despite the threatening aura the deer demon gave off, at the question, Angel could not help but to huff out a small laugh at that. It was difficult to be completely intimidated by Alastor at the moment, despite knowing what he knew about him.
“Oh, sweetheart, I don’t think you wanna know. But no, that’s not my point.” Angel paused as if thinking and looked the other demon over. Despite his agitation, Al was undoubtedly uncomfortable, doing his best to play normal, but his fidgeting and ear movements were a dead giveaway. He was so on edge, Angel could feel his tension through the humming radio waves he gave off, probably subconsciously.
No sexual encounters that began with this much tension and stress ever ended well. Angel knew nothing positive would come of this if they rushed things. He hummed as an idea came to him before he casually started to take off his own night shirt.
“Maybe it would be better if I start..” Angel began.