Hazbin and Helluva Shorts III

How I Met Vortex

Verosika was well on her way to making it big. Her career as a pop star and idol had just begun. Everything in order except for one thing. She wanted a bodyguard. The best option was a Hellhound. So, that's where she went. Hellhound Adoption Foundation had many in foster care. Some were only pups. Others were dangerously close to being kicked out for one reason or another. Verosika scheduled an appointment for the following week. In the meantime, Verosika got her place ready. She didn't mind housing her bodyguard. Plus, it'd give them more opportunities to warm up to her. She cleaned her home, stocked the fridge with more than just frozens and cheap drinks, learned how to cook real meals, and got new furniture for the guestroom. Until now, it had been a conveniently closer storage room.

The day came faster than expected. Verosika dressed down. An adoption house was no place to show off and be flashy. She'd have plenty of time for that when she made it big. A simple turtleneck and sweatpants was the perfect outfit. As the case manager showed her around, one hound caught her attention. Verosika stopped and asked about him. The case manager pulled up his file on her tablet. His name was Vortex. He had been left at the adoption house by his callous parents only a few weeks ago. But Verosika didn't care about that. What she saw was the bandages covering his left eye. He had clearly been through a lot. And that wasn't all.

The tour was over. Verosika knew what she wanted. Without hesitation, she asked for Vortex to be released into her custody. After the usual boring paperwork, she was his legal guardian (and technically his parent, too). There wasn't much to pack. Vortex only had the clothes on his back and a few comfort items. Verosika drove him home and showed him his room. She instructed him to shower while she cooked lunch for him. There were already clothes in the closet. Since she didn't know what size her bodyguard would be, she bought one outfit for each. But that didn't matter. She was planning to take him shopping tomorrow.

At the mall, Verosika took Vortex to almost every store. Despite being a size medium, she could tell that that wouldn't last. So, she also bought clothes in large just in case. They had lunch at the mall too. After the shopping spree, it was time for a little driving lesson. Verosika taught him all the basics, and he caught on fast. With a fresh wardrobe, the next item of business was food. She made a list of all his favorite food, drinks, and snacks. For now, she ordered takeout for them. The fridge didn't have enough room for another grocery run today.

The days turned into weeks and then months. Gradually, Vortex grew comfortable and began talking more. When the time was right, Verosika sat him down. She told him the real reason behind being taken in. Of course, the final decision was still his in the end. Vortex thought about it. How could he refuse? So, they became a team. From that day on, he was by her side as her bodyguard and right-hand man. He was officially under her employment.

By the end of the year, Verosika had her debut as an idol. And it was a tremendous success. Pictures and videos blew up all over 666Book and Sinstagram. After the first few shows, every one was sold out within hours. Verosika had done it. But she never forgot where they started. Vortex was there by her side before every show to pump her up and drive her home after the long night.