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Fat Nuggets wandered the halls of the hotel. His person, Angel Dust, had been gone all day. It wasn’t uncommon, the man had a very important job and it kept him away for many hours. Knowing this, didn’t keep Fat Nuggets from being sad over his absence.
He turned his head when he saw the shadows move nearby. When they’d first arrived at the hotel, this common occurrence often spooked him, making him run for his life. But now, he’d come to appreciate the shadow man. It materialized to its complete form and smiled down at the little swine. He oinked at it a happy greeting.
The shadow’s smile widened. It reached into its ‘pocket’ and procured a little treat for him, tossing it to him. Fat Nuggets happily jumped to catch the delicious morsel. He chewed it in delight and smiled up at the shadow, oinking a pleased ‘thank you’.
It nodded in return. They made their way down the hall together in comfortable silence. Fat Nuggets went to the foyer and headed for the front door. He was hoping Angel would be home soon. “Oh, hey, Nuggets!” Charlie greeted him warmly.
Ah, yes, the sweet princess. He trotted over to her and nuzzled at her ankle. She picked him up and set him on the sofa between her and her girlfriend Vaggie. “How is our little piglet?” Charlie asked in a cutesy tone. She scratched under his chin. He closed his eyes and shimmied from side to side; chin scratches were the best.
Alastor materialized suddenly, his shadow right behind him. “Ah, I see you've captured dinner.”
“Alastor,” Vaggie warned.
“I was only kidding, Vagatha,” he told her with an overdramatic eye roll and a wave of his hand. “This premature strip of bacon would hardly make a light lunch for two.”
“But how could you eat something with such a cute little face?” Charlie asked as she scratched both of his ears.
“Very easily, my dear, the same way you eat anything, put between your teeth and chew until ready to swallow.”
“Wasn’t sure if I took you for a spitter or a swallower,” Angel commented, having walked through the front door just then. “Good information for future use,” he added with a wink.
Fat Nuggets squealed excitedly and jumped from the sofa to race to his person. He ran a couple of circles around him before settling down at his feet.
“How's my sweet baby?!” Angel asked in that usual tone he reserved for the piglet. He leaned down and scooped him up with his lower arms, using the other two to scratch his head and tummy.
“Ah, my effeminate fellow! We were just discussing what type of glaze to serve with the ham this evening.”
Alastor’s shadow gave a silent chuckle. The man amused him so. He was always joking about eating the pig, but there were times it wondered if those jokes were thinly veiled truths. Alastor preferred to eat human flesh or demon flesh as it were, but that didn’t mean he couldn’t nor didn’t supplement his diet with other foods. The man was rather fond of a recipe he called jambalaya, a dish mixed with meats and rice and more spices than the shadow had known existed.
Angel chuckled as he lifted the pig to his face and nuzzled it against his belly. “Don’t listen to him, Nuggs, he thinks you’re the best thing since sliced bread.”
“A novel idea that was,” he commented. “Why, I remember the first time I’d seen it at the grocer, absolutely brilliant!”
“See, Fat Nuggets, the guy thinks you’re the bee’s knees.” He snuggled him close to his chest.
Fat Nuggets sighed contentedly as he was pressed to Angel’s chest fluff. It was always so warm and comforting. As a piglet, he’d curl up on his chest at night, sometimes almost getting lost in the fluff.
Angel finally knelt down and set him on the floor. “Come on, baby, let’s get you some dinner.” He squealed excitedly and ran in a couple of circles before following him to the kitchen.
Alastor smiled at his shadow. “Oh, yes, let’s DO have a little fun.” He disappeared into the shadows and the shadow followed quickly behind. They rematerialized in the kitchen where Angel was pouring out some of Fat Nuggets’ food into a bowl. “How was work today, Angel Dust?”
He stood up and put the food bag away. “You know, Smiles, you can JUST call me ‘Angel’.”
“Of course, my good man,” he agreed. He paused. “I think you’ll need to give him more. Why, if he’s going to be any good for Sinsmas, we’re really going to need to fatten him up.”
Angel grinned as he turned to him. “You ever lay a hand on my pig and you’re not gonna have hands no more.”
“Well, if I’d known you had such affection for the swine, I’d have stopped collecting ham recipes ages ago,” he joked with a flip of his hand.
Angel stood in front of him challengingly. “You know, you talk a big game, but I know you like him.” He turned to look back at Fat Nuggets and chuckled. “See! Even your shadow likes him.”
Alastor’s shadow had gone over to Fat Nuggets as they spoke and began petting him. It DID indeed like the little fellow. He was sweet. Once the pink fellow had grown used to the shadow man, when Alastor wasn’t in need of it, it would find Fat Nuggets for an afternoon of showing each other tricks or simply walking the hotel halls together. The pig never said a word to it; he was delightful company.
Alastor raised a brow as he took in the scene. He cleared his throat. The shadow looked at him as though it’d been caught doing something it wasn’t supposed to and quickly returned to Alastor’s side. “Well, I’ll leave you and your bacon bits to your evening.” He turned to walk out. “Dinner will be at five. Don’t be late.”
Alastor’s shadow followed close behind. “You’ve been bonding with the little fellow, haven’t you?” he asked as they walked the halls.
It grinned and shrugged its shoulders. It morphed into the wall, showing him a scene of Fat Nuggets doing backflips and rolling over for treats.
“Hmm,” he gave as he watched the play unfold. He turned his attention back to the hallway as he continued on. “I’m not sure how I feel about you befriending the critter.”
It turned back into its natural form and pantomimed ‘Why?’
“We have a certain reputation to uphold,” he answered plainly. “If anyone were to see you so intimate with him, they may begin to question MY fearsomeness and we certainly can’t have that, now can we?”
Its shoulders slumped. It didn’t see any harm in enjoying time with Fat Nuggets. It felt rather lonely; Alastor being its only companion. Everyone else at the hotel saw it as nothing but another creepy extension of the man and few there had any affection or affinity of any kind towards the radio demon.
Charlie adored him, of course, but the Hell spawn princess loved and trusted everyone. Her girlfriend, Vaggie, was quite the opposite and was suspicious of everyone. Husk was Alastor’s minion for all intents and purposes; though they’d once been good friends, that friendship had dwindled once Alastor took ownership of his soul. He had done the former Overlord a favor in doing so though. He had let him keep his power after all, not something anyone else would have done.
Then there was Niffty. Essentially, she was Alastor’s ward. The poor demon was insane. Alastor had taken pity on her and taken her in, knowing the life she’d likely have had had he left her on the streets where he’d found her. Though the shadow knew Alastor adored the crazed girl, it itself sometimes found her off putting; just too intense for its liking.
Then there was Sir Pentious, but considering his and Alastor’s history, it decided it best to keep him at a distance. It didn’t even associate with his fascinating egg bois, though it seemed Alastor had grown fonder of them after his adventure out with them. No, it thought it best to limit an association with the snake demon.
This, of course, left Angel Dust. Alastor’s shadow had noticed how his master seemed drawn to the spider demon. Not consciously, of course, but it seemed Alastor made an attempt to be in the man’s way. Angel was a sex icon and Alastor knew how much it bothered Angel that he couldn’t quite get a rise out of him with his sexually explicit tendencies.
The shadow had reasoned that if its master chose to seek companionship with Angel, then it could seek the same out with Angel’s pet. But it just nodded. It would let Alastor cool off for a few days until he forgot about it entirely and then it'd go back to its usual time spent with the pig.
“What are we doing for dinner?” Charlie asked excitedly as she stepped into the kitchen. “It sure smells delicious!” Alastor turned to her for a moment and then went back to the pot on the stove.
“Pulled pork sandwiches,” he answered with a grin.
Charlie rolled her eyes. She knew Alastor was poking fun at Angel and his pet Hell-hog. “Well, it’s appreciated,” she told him honestly. She stood on her tiptoes and kissed his cheek.
He glanced at his shadow as Charlie walked away; the shadow smiled at him knowingly. “I don’t know WHAT you think you’re grinning about,” he whispered to it. The shadow shrugged. It was amused by the amount of affection that Charlie showed him. Alastor would never admit it aloud, but his shadow knew how touch-starved its master was.
There were nights it’d seen the man curled in on himself as he slept, arms wrapped tightly around his torso and legs pulled up close to his chest. His shadow knew there was only so much physical touch it could offer, being incorporeal. It could make itself slightly more physical when needed, but it took a lot out of it and it would need time to be at full strength again; and if its master needed it in that time, there’d be nothing it could do.
The shadow cocked its head to the side in thought. It’d seen the way Charlie was with Vaggie; they were partners. Alastor didn’t have that, perhaps if he DID... But who could it possibly find that Alastor could connect with on that kind of level? His old friend Vox had that potential years ago, but Alastor had burnt that bridge years ago and for good reason too.
Obviously, Charlie and Vaggie were out of the question. And Sir Pentious wasn’t an option either. Husk could have been, once upon a time, but their friendship had deteriorated once Alastor owned his soul. Niffty was like a daughter to him... Angel Dust? It smiled to itself. If it could convince its master to form something more than friendship with the spider demon, it could continue its friendship with Fat Nuggets! Yes! It was brilliant! NOW all it needed was to enlist the help of its pig friend.
The shadow waited until Alastor was asleep. It didn’t like leaving his side if it could help it, but this was for Alastor’s sake. It slithered its way down the halls. In the dim of night with nothing but darkness, it knew it would have a difficult time appearing before its swine friend, but it needed to do this.
It slipped under the door of the spider demon; it hadn’t realized all the lights the sinner had in his room! He had neon signs and colored lights all over the place! This was going to be easier than it thought. Fat Nuggets slept soundly on the foot of the bed, curled up over the covers across where Angel’s feet were under the blankets.
The shadow concentrated and forced itself to manifest a more physical form. It reached up and tapped the piglet. It took a few more hard pokes before the pig opened his eyes. He squealed in fear and ran across the bed, running in circles. It hadn’t meant to frighten its friend.
Angel sat up, pulling his eye mask off. “What is it, Nuggs?!”
The shadow hid itself away in the existing shadows; it didn’t want Angel to know its plan. Fat Nuggets realized his friend was in the room. He also quickly realized, it was trying to stay hidden. He nuzzled against Angel’s side and oinked softly, attempting to be reassuring. Angel smiled down at him. “Bad dream?” He picked him up in his lower arms and stroked him gently with the top two. “There, there, it’s alright.” He gave him one tight squeeze before lying down again. He pulled the pig close to his chest. “Just a dream, baby, that’s all. Daddy’s right here.” He slipped his eye mask on again and got comfortable. “Night, night, sweetie.” He fell back to sleep almost instantly.
When Fat Nuggets was certain his person was soundly asleep once again, he wiggled himself out of Angel’s hold, jumped out of the bed, and went to the shadow. It pulled itself back into the light to be seen. It mouthed ‘sorry’; it hadn’t intended to scare him into the waking world. Fat Nuggets smiled and nodded; he understood and accepted the apology.
The shadow smiled, happy to know the piglet had forgiven it. Now, it was time to explain its plan. Pantomiming what it wanted to do for its master and the pig’s person wasn’t going to be easy, but seeing as voicing its thoughts wasn’t an option, it would have to do.
It took Fat Nuggets a little bit to understand what his friend was suggesting, but when he finally caught on, he squealed with delight. He quickly quieted down and looked toward the bed, worried he’d woken his person, but Angel didn’t stir. He turned back to the shadow and nodded exuberantly. This was going to be fun!
***
Angel woke with a huge yawn and an even bigger stretch. He sighed. “Just one more day and then I get a few days off. That’ll be nice.”
Fat Nuggets woke up as soon as Angel did; he always had. He knew it had started when his person was still living at the Vee tower. He was always hyper aware and vigilant of the room when they slept. Fat Nuggets knew it was because of the hatred and fear he had of Valentino. His person always seemed to be afraid of the man. It was understandable, Fat Nuggets had witnessed Val’s abuse first-hand on numerous occasions. He couldn’t do much to protect Angel, but he did what he could.
“How’d you sleep, little man?” Angel asked as he grabbed him and nuzzled his face against the pig’s belly. Then he put his lips to him and blew a raspberry. Fat Nuggets squirmed and squealed in delight. The vibrations felt strange against his tummy, but he loved the genuine affection from Angel.
Angel cuddled him to his chest. “Just gotta get through today and then we can spend some time together. Would you like that? Daddy can take you for a walk tomorrow, maybe… Well, dependin’ on what Val’s got planned for today. I might be too sore to take ya on a real good walk. But we’ll worry about that later.” He set Fat Nuggets on the floor and got out of bed. “First things first, let’s go take a shower. You comin’?”
Fat Nuggets ran to the bathroom immediately. He loved a shower.
***
Alastor’s shadow paced impatiently against the wall as its master stood at the stove making breakfast. He glanced over at it and raised a brow. “What is with you this morning?” he questioned. It gave him a quizzical look as though it had no idea what he meant. “First you insisted on dragging out my best jacket, then you tried to do my hair, and now you’re pacing like a pendulum in a grandfather clock. Out with it!”
It gave him an innocent look, as best as it could do, and shrugged.
“Hmm,” Alastor replied, not believing it, of course. He turned back to the food on the stove. His attention was pulled away when he smelled an all too familiar scent; it was a sweet lemony smell with a slight citronella undertone to it. Southern magnolias? It reminded him of home, but where could it be coming from? He looked up as Angel stepped through the door. “Good morning, Angel Dust! Care for bacon and eggs?”
“You’re lucky I’m in a good mood today, or I might finally pop my top at you and not in a fun sexy way.”
“Well, how fortunate am I that you’ve woken up on the right side of the bed,” he replied with his ever-present grin. “What has you in such good spirits this day?”
“Last day of work before I get some much-needed time off.”
“I suppose that is why you chose such a delightful perfume this morning,” he commented.
“Oh, yeah, this.” Angel smelled his shirt and shrugged. “Nuggs picked it out this morning. Fuck, he was almost insistent about it.”
Alastor raised a brow and glanced at his shadow. It stared back at him with a blank expression. “I see.” He turned back to the stove to begin serving the food he’d prepared. “Did you know that the magnolia is the official state flower of Louisiana?” He set Angel’s plate in front of him.
“No, I didn’t know that.”
“Yes, officially designated in 1900.” He plated his own food and sat at the table as well as he continued, “Some magnolias are evergreens actually. The Magnolia Grandiflora, or the southern magnolia in particular is. They’re quite magnificent trees, rather awe inspiring really.”
“Interesting,” Angel commented as he got up to pour a cup of coffee for each of them. “And just why are you tellin’ me this?” he asked as he handed Alastor his cup.
“Why, your perfume, of course,” he answered. “It bears a striking resemblance to the scent of said flowers.” He paused. “The ones found in my childhood home,” he noted.
“Huh! No kidding!” He sat down and sipped from his oen cup. “I wonder why Nuggs would have picked that one in particular today.”
Alastor looked at his shadow suspiciously. “Why indeed?” He turned his attention back to Angel. “Well, Angel Dust, I hope you have an excellent day at the studio today.” He stood up and went back to the stove to make breakfast for the rest of the hotel residents.
Angel considered him for a moment. “Hey, you okay there, Smiles?”
“Quite alright, dear,” he replied, his back still turned to him. The scent hadn’t hit him so hard at first, but the more he pondered on it, the more it brought back memories of his boyhood; summers spent under those same trees, going on picnics with his mother, climbing the branches to pick a flower so he could weave it into her hair. Happier times.
He shrugged. “If ya says so.” He went back to his food.
Alastor held his tears back. He was a hardened man now. Thoughts and memories of a time long forgotten did NOT bring him to tears; he wouldn’t allow it. It was easier to push it all aside as more of the residents came into the kitchen seeking the morning meal.
After breakfast, Alastor made his rounds of the hotel, but as soon as he knew they were alone, he summoned his shadow to him. “I don’t know what you’re doing, but you are up to something!” he accused, a finger pointed directly at it.
It looked at him in surprise. It pointed to itself in question.
“Yes! YOU. You and that filthy pig are in cahoots over something. You think you’re quite clever, don’t you?” he asked as he as he moved toward it. The shadow moved back in fear. Why it was afraid of Alastor, it wasn’t sure, but it was. “Well, whatever it is, I order you to cease it at once! I will not fall prey to whatever tomfoolery you have going on. Is that clear?!”
The shadow nodded.
“Good.” Alastor took a step back and straightened his jacket before turning on his heel and continuing down the hall.
The shadow sighed inaudibly. This was going to be much harder than they thought.
***
Fat Nuggets paced in the foyer awaiting Angel’s return. He was getting excited to put their plan into motion further. It seemed the perfume had done the trick this morning, though every time he and Alastor crossed paths during the day he gave him a suspicious look. Fat Nuggets always took that as a sign to high-tail it out of the room.
“What are you doing out here?” he heard the low voice of the bartender, Husk. He looked up at him and oinked.
He chuckled. “Well, I don’t know all about that,” he replied as though he’d understood what the little hog had said. “Angel should be home soon though. Why don’t you come over and have a drink with me?” He started for the bar. He looked back at Fat Nuggets and added, “Just water for you.”
He oinked in laughter as he trotted along behind him. Husk got out a large bowl and filled it with water, adding a couple of ice cubes. “There, how’s that?” In answer, Fat Nuggets drank deeply from it.
Alastor appeared from the shadows. “Husker! What is that pig doing behind the bar? Is he our newest employee?”
“Easy, boss, just getting him a drink.”
Alastor eyed him from over the bar top, then turned his gaze on Husk. “Are YOU in on this as well?”
“In on what?”
“Don’t play dumb with me; I know you’re all up to something.”
Husk chuckled. “You’re one of the most paranoid people I’ve ever met, boss.”
“With good reason.” He looked down at Fat Nuggets who had stopped with his drink to pay attention to the conversation above him. “I’m onto you. I don’t know what it is you’re planning yet, but I WILL find out.” He turned, tucking his cane under his arm and walked away.
Husk shook his head. “That guy needs to unwind.” He turned his attention back to his work.
***
Angel started salivating as soon as he walked through the front doors. He knew that smell. “We seriously having spaghetti and meatballs for dinner!?” he asked pushing the doors wide open as he stepped into the kitchen.
Alastor glanced at him from his position at the stove, much like where he’d been that morning. “Evening, Angel Dust. Yes, I was instructed by our dear Charlotte to make this tonight. Gave me a specific recipe to follow as well. I hope it is to your liking, what with your Italian roots and all.”
Angel came up behind him and inhaled deeply. “God! It smells amazing.”
“I’m uncertain if the sauce is quite right. Care to try it for me?”
“Absolutely!”
Alastor grabbed the wooden spoon he was using to stir it as it simmered, scooped a small amount out, and pushed it toward Angel, cupping his hand underneath it in case it dripped. Angel let the other man feed it to him. He put his lips to the utensil and closed his eyes. He hummed in appreciation. “That is AMAZING, Alastor! Is… Is that basil fresh?!”
“It is indeed, my good man,” he answered as he returned the wooden spoon to the pot. “When Charlotte showed me the recipe, she wanted me to use, I thought it best I find the most authentic ingredients that I could. I have an old friend who makes habitual trips to Earth for his work. I asked that he might bring me some of the things I would need for tonight’s meal.”
“Well, this is fantastic! Really! I mean… Just… Wow!”
He grinned proudly. “You are too kind, Angel. I simply followed the recipe. Seems pretty standard.”
“Ain’t nothin’ standard about THAT. I’m tellin’ you, that’s my Nonna’s recipe exactly.”
Alastor raised a brow. “Is it now?”
“One small onion?” Alastor nodded. “Four cloves of garlic?”
“Only three.”
Angel smiled. “I thought so. My Nonna never liked too much garlic, so she only ever did three. Most use four. Touch of oregano?”
He nodded. “Yes, actually.”
“Yeah,” he chuckled. “My Nonna kept that a secret. Said if any other Italian saw her using it, they’d curse her and her family for generations to come.” He paused. “Where’d Charlie find this recipe?”
“She didn’t say.” He hummed in thought.
“What?”
“I am uncertain at the moment, but I will let you know once I’ve fully formed my theory on the matter.” He turned back to the stove to stir the sauce.
Alastor thought on it. The magnolia-like scented perfume Angel had this morning, reminding him of a happy time on Earth; and now a recipe for dinner by Alastor that reminded Angel of much the same thing. Was this what that piglet and his shadow were up to? But why?
While the rest of the hotel had dinner, Fat Nuggets found a quiet corner to talk with the shadow about their success. It smiled down at him, pleased with what they’d done. They’d taken note that Alastor and Angel sat next to one another during dinner; and in the shadow’s opinion, rather closely.
***
“We figured it out,” Alastor stated later that evening to Fat Nuggets and his shadow, the two sitting on the sofa like two chastised children.
“What we ain’t figured out yet, is why? What was the point of making Al think about his childhood.”
“Or Angel about his own. Spit it out!”
The shadow slumped its shoulders and reached over to Fat Nuggets and began petting him.
Alastor watched for a moment before he commented. “This was about my telling you not to associate with the pig?”
Angel turned to him in surprise. “Whadaya mean ya told him not to associate with Fat Nuggets?! Nuggs is great!”
He waved him off. “Yes, yes, we’ll deal with that later.” To his shadow he said, “I know you. There’s more to it than that, isn’t there?”
Fat Nuggets and the shadow looked at each other. Neither knew if they should say anything nor HOW they could even convey their conspiracy.
“Wait a second,” Angel said, realization dawning on him, “was you twos trying to, like, parent trap us or something?”
Alastor shook his head in confusion. “Parent what?”
“Like, trying to put us together. I mean, neither of them are our kids or nothin’ but the closest we got.” He looked at Fat Nuggets. “Is THAT what you was doin’?”
Fat Nuggets looked down as though ashamed.
“Once again,” Alastor began, “you were pushing us together in order for you to be able to spend time with the swine?”
The shadow shrugged, accepting that they’d been caught.
“You are utterly unbelievable.”
Angel chuckled. “I mean, it IS kinda cute when ya think about it?”
Alastor turned to him. “Is it?”
“Well, yeah, I mean, they’re friends and they’re our… Well, MINE is my pet, I ain’t got any clue what your thing is.”
Alastor pursed his lips. “Do continue.”
“Well, I just mean, us meaning so much to them, they just wanted to see us happy and they thought us being together might do that.”
He glanced at his shadow who smiled and nodded. He looked back at Angel. “Very well, it is, as you say, cute.” He turned back to his shadow once more. “Very well. I see your friendship with Fat Nuggets is deeply important to you, so I will allow you to continue your acquaintance.”
Fat Nuggets stood up and squealed in excitement, turning in several circles as he did.
“Aw, you really made them happy, Smiles.”
“I suppose I have. I apologize for them meddling in our affairs. I’ll be sure to keep him on a tighter leash from now on.”
Angel waved him off. “Nah, he don’t mean no harm.” They both fell awkwardly silent. “So…”
Alastor met his eyes. “Yes.”
“Well, I mean, just… Nah, forget it.”
Alastor grabbed him by the hand to stop him. “Do not turn away from me without completing that thought.” They met each other’s eyes. Gently, he continued, “I would like to know what you were thinking.”
Angel licked his lips nervously. “Well, I mean, I was just… It’s just… I don’t know about you, but between breakfast this morning and dinner tonight, I mean, well, all the meals we have and everything else, I just… Maybe you’d like to go out together sometime? Just the two of us.”
Alastor swallowed hard as he felt his heartbeat speed up. “I can’t say I would be opposed to that idea, Angel.” He looked down at where their hands were still clasped together then met his eyes once more. “You DID say you have the next few days off, correct?”
“Yeah.”
“Perhaps we can find sometime within that… Time, to spend some…” He chuckled at his idiocy for using the word three times in the same sentence, “Well, time together.”
Angel smiled. “Yeah, I think that’d be nice.”