Impulse & Consequence [RadioDust]

Chapter 4: Terms & Conditions

Though he eventually forced himself out of his room, Alastor still found hotel work wasn't engaging enough to take his mind off other matters. But mercifully, Charlie was willing to assign him tasks regardless, simple things that didn't require much brainpower: retrieve an order from a shop in town, clear out the second floor ballroom for Niffty to clean, etc. Things he could do without being around the others, without his smile ever slipping. At least he was doing something productive.

He happened to be in the lobby when Angel returned that afternoon, but it made no difference; the doe didn't spare him a single glance and instead went straight up to his room without acknowledging anyone. Fantastic. The one person in the hotel he might have actually wanted to form a connection with, and he'd ruined it before it could even begin.

Once he'd completed his last task for the day, he decided to turn in early if for no other reason than to be alone with his frustration; he didn't even have the energy to take it out on those around him. Sometime toward midnight, as he was tossing in bed, trying without success to fall asleep, there was a soft knock at his door. He was fully prepared to ignore it, as he typically did when anyone disturbed him before he was ready to come out, but his Shadow reported gleefully that it was Angel standing outside, looking for his attention, and Alastor found he couldn't get out of bed fast enough.

When he opened the door, all the desires he'd managed to suppress for most of the day struck him at once in full force with Angel's scent, and he needed a moment to compose himself before he could replace his congenial smile. "Angel. Do you need something, shér? Er, how are you feeling?" He didn't know whether those drugs might have some sort of physical side effects, but he could only imagine, considering how invasive their intended effects were.

"I'm fine. Ya mind if I come in for a minute?" Angel asked without meeting his eyes.

Again, Alastor found himself sort of stumped. After the way their last conversation had ended, he wouldn't have imagined Angel would want to speak to him at all, much less alone, in the middle of the night. Surely he wasn't looking for a repeat performance of their last evening together. Still, the last thing Alastor wanted was to turn the doe away, so he took a step back and gestured for Angel to come inside. He did, albeit with some visible trepidation, arms crossed, eyes directed to one corner of the room.

"So?" the Radio Demon began, resisting the constant, recently-conditioned urge to pull Angel into his arms. "What can I—"

"Hang on," the doe said, still without looking up. "Didja mean what ya said earlier?"

"Could you be more specific?" Alastor asked with a hesitant laugh.

"About the kid. Uh, the fawn." Turning to look at him, clearly steeling himself against temptation, Angel reminded him, "Ya said you'd do what ya have to fa me to get through it. Ya said you'd be willin' ta try this whole, uh, thing if I was."

"I. Yes, of course; I wouldn't have said it otherwise." Realizing what that must mean, he couldn't help the sudden rush of hope and renewed desire—no. longing?—that flared up in his chest. "So you didn't...?"

"I mean, not yet. I dunno, I thought about it some more. Listen, this ain't somethin' I'm real familiar with. It scares the hell outta me if I'm honest. But even if it's only 'cause a' my stupid heat bullshit, I really, really don't wanna get rid of it," Angel confessed quietly, his crossed arms dropping a little to rest more toward his stomach. "I don't know a whole lot about ya except that you're dangerous. But I figure that means any kid a' yours is gonna be extra safe. Right?"

"Absolutely," Alastor answered without hesitation, hardly able to believe what he was hearing after having convinced himself this was a lost cause. "And the child's other parent too, of course."