Chapter Text
There was no sound quite as powerful as the clack of high heels. Demons looked in the direction of the steps only to cower out of your path. The sidewalk ahead of you was perfectly clear, jarring compared to the bustling city. Getting in your way was a death wish. You were cute, sure, your dress swaying side to side in a taunting way. Your hands were busy, both holding full shopping bags. Regardless, the shadow that followed you was not your own. Attacking you was too much of a risk.
Neon lights buzzed and sinners chattered as they hurried to wherever they were going. Ironically, Hell was so full of life at this time of day. You marveled at the bars and brothels, mostly entranced with how everyone interacted with each other. Despite your surroundings, you kept a smile all the way up the stone stoop of the apartments. You reached for the handle but the door swung open on its own, knocking you back to the previous step.
"Eat Shit! I ain't paying for another month in this dump!" A boorish half croc with an underbite roared as he burst onto the street. He looked over at you but said nothing. He just walked off as a familiar voice from inside called out to the fleeing demon.
"Enjoy being roadkill, asshole. Just try and find another place in 12 days!" You slipped into the building amid the argument, nodding with a smile to the ornery landlord. The hulking horse demon huffed, leaning against the wall by the mailboxes. "You're back already? You just left."
"I left 2 hours ago, Donny," You sang, "If you're going to be in tonight, I'm making Étouffée-"
"Just head on up to your place... You have an empty unit beside you now if you have anyone in mind I can rent to."
"I'll keep it in mind. That is if he doesn't come back and beg for his apartment-"
"I wouldn't rent to him again if he begged... maybe if I triple his rent."
"Can't wait to see how it plays out, Donny." You said with a friendly wave, taking to the stairs and heading up to your home. He grumbled some sort of response but you didn't hear it. You were too busy thinking of how delicious dinner was going to be.
Your dusty dank apartment door opened to an immaculate home, probably the nicest unit in the entire building. The hand of your shadow reached up and closed the door behind you as you threw your bags onto the counter, happy to have the weight off your wrists. You sighed, breathing out the stress of the day and finally dropping the smile that sored your cheeks. With a bit of yawn, you turned to your shadow and it smiled at you.
"Okay, Where is he?" You asked, the shadow disappearing into the shadow of the counter. You rolled your eyes but didn't go unanswered for long.
"Over here, My Dear," The announcer crackled, leaning back in your kitchen chair with his usual devilish grin. He was a well-dressed fellow, his pinstriped red suit the inverted color scheme of your dress. You greeted those red eyes with a smile, in spite of your pained face. "I hope you don't mind, I let myself in!"
"It's at the 100th time, Alastor. If I didn't mind before, why start now? Always a pleasure to see you."
"Cooking up something savory this evening?"
"You're rubbing off on me," You bragged with a flirty flourish, emptying the bags onto the counter. "but I think you knew that since you had a shadow walk me home."
"Protecting my investment, my dear." He said. You could have sworn you heard him at your kitchen table but he was right there when you turned around. It used to scare you when you first met but now it was almost expected. "The mere sight of you can make any demon make tracks, isn't it such a powerful feeling?"
"It may be this place sinking its claws into me but I kind of like the fear that it brings, yes."
"That's the spirit!" He cheered, taking a glance out of the window to the tower a few blocks away. Despite the distance, everyone could see the bright red number on the countdown clock. "Twelve more days and they'll be back down. Another year, another genocide."
"It's awful."
"A nasty bit of business. Oh Well, can't be helped." It was impossible to tell if Alastor was morose, even bringing up the bleakest of news with a smile. You couldn't. You faltered and Alastor noticed in an instant. A Radio crack could be heard and the demon suddenly stood. "Fret not my Dead Air Doll. You'll be perfectly safe." He strode over, poking your cheek and dragging it up. "Now show me a smile! It's a tiny accessory that makes a world of difference. And you know-!"
"You're never fully dressed without one."
"Now You're gettin' it." The demon sang, looking down at your prep and practically salivating. "Just like mother used to make."
"Speaking of which... I had a few more questions to ask you." You started. Any time your smile dropped he poked your cheek, urging you to keep it up. Facing his smile in the midst of all this was intimidating, which he was well aware of. "Do you know if I would have ended up in hell? You know... naturally?"
"My dear, I don't have an answer for that," He admitted with a shrug. "I know nothing about your life. My deal was with your grandmother."
"Right-"
"Now, dear, why the long face?" He grabbed you so suddenly that you flinched, your face cupped in his hands and his claws pinching your cheeks. "Haven't I taken good care of you?"
"You have, You have."
"Then let's drop all this living business and have a hell of a time, hm?" While his other emotions were hard to pinpoint, you had learned what his genuine smile looked like. That grin he was giving you now took your breath away. You had to look away from him. He noticed in the midst of laughing at his own joke. "Hello? Anyone there? You're not laughing, my dear."
"Well, um-"
"Making Holy Water for dinner?"
"W-"
"Because you're boiling that hell out of it!"
"My water is boiling!?" You broke out of his grip to tend to your kitchen, leaving the demon to laugh. As you tried to get a handle on your kitchen to Demon returned to the kitchen table. "Oh, goodness, it's almost all out! I have to refill it- uh, then wait for it to boil again-"
"You need to pay more attention in the kitchen. This whole building could have gone up, where would that leave you?"
"If you expected me to have a pun ready for you, I don't," You conceded, still trying not to even look in his direction. He smirked, not taking his eyes off you in hopes you'd still look over. The Radio Demon balanced his cane on his finger and watched you try and salvage your neglected goods. "Dinner will be delayed."
"I'm sure it'll be well worth the wait, my dear. I'll just make myself at home."