Daughter Dearest

five

Venus slowly began to regain consciousness, bright light hitting her eyelids. For a moment, she believed it was some odd dream and she would wake up to the familiarity of Thor's booming voice from a floor down and the aroma of stale coffee that wafted through the upper level vents. 

Though as she went to roll over, the pain in her body was a tell tale sign that she hadn't slept in her bed. Cracking open a ruby red eye, the early morning rays of light from between the boarded up windows were pinkish. 

Dust particles floated around the rays, disappearing in the darkness. She groaned in distaste as she sat up. The makeshift sleep set up made her feel all gross. 

She was beginning to understand why the apartment building she found herself in was rundown and abandoned. Mold lived on the walls and the place reeked of death and mildew. There was an infestation of some sort and the apartments were the absolute bare minimum. 

Everything fit in one room and it was disturbing to the point of hoping to find a better solution before nightfall once more. 

With a snap of her fingers, she was wearing something a bit nicer than the clothes she had worn the entire day before and slept in. Even with the skirt of her dress hovering mid thigh, fanning out stunningly as she spun around, she realized it was very similar to the very first earth outfit she wore, all the way back in 2012. 

A black dress with sheer tights and a pair of heeled boots that only went just above her mid calf, and just barely added two inches to her height. 

The only thing about her hair was that she assumed that it was presentable, feeling no knots as her fingers carefully combed through. She didn't think she'd ever get used to having her horns out, just existing in the open. She felt exposed, like a nerve, but couldn't help it. . . It was her ‘true form' as Odin called it. 

Venus shoved her charged phone in one pocket of her dress, her charger in the other, and left the rundown apartment, cringing as the hall carpet mushed under her feet as she walked with long perfected, elegant strides. 

Once she got down the stairs and to the outdoors, she wiped her feet on the concrete, not wanting to know what fluids had seeped into the carpet. 

She wouldn't be returning to that place. That was for sure. 

The street crowds in the morning seemed a lot different than the evening. There were far more demons in the streets, and even then, very few cat-called her as she began looking for a different, albeit temporary, dwelling for what was hopefully a short visit to Hell. 

An hour of aimlessly wandering and she found a little place where she could use the bathroom and grab something quick to eat. Pickings were slim, but eventually a carefully examined breakfast sandwich and a bottle of juice was in her possession. 

Venus hadn't realized how hungry she was until she took the first bite of the sandwich. She had never been that hungry in her life. 
Even on missions where the team had to go off the grid for days at a time, she managed to kill something and bring it back to camp — it was usually venison. The right herbs and no one could tell that's what it was

A sense of unease built up as she aimlessly strolled the streets of the unfamiliar place. In her peripheral vision, it was as if a shadow was slinking alongside her, and it wasn't her own. She could tell merely from the energy that she was in the presence of someone who was likely feared in this ‘realm’.

Someone who could give her answers. . . Or help her find them. 

Venus turned into a sketchy alleyway, in hopes that the demon would show themselves, rather than stalking her. She had absolutely nowhere to be, so she had time. But it wasn't unlimited. She had to get home. 

“Not many are brave enough to have their back to me.” A staticky voice proclaimed from behind her. 

“Not many are brave enough to be behind me, you know?” She retorted, slowly turning with a smirk. 

She expected a demon, yes, but there was a lot going on with this one. A cane of sorts clutched in his clawed hands. Fluffy ears. Antlers. A haircut that would have the entirety of the Avengers roasting him over brunch. And power. A lot of it. 

Venus crossed her arms and straightened her back on instinct, red eyes narrowing in the demon's direction. “Why were you following me? Surely you have better things to do.” 

“Let's call it fascination, my dear. So few exhibit behavior as you do, and I've been watching you all morning. . . So concerned about arriving home, yet unbothered within this society. Truly fascinating.”

She raised her eyebrows as he admitted that he had watched her. That was something odd to admit to someone you just met. . . How the fuck would he know? . . Unless he had been watching the previous night as well. 

Well shit. 

She stepped forward slowly. “Well, you can tell me about everything you saw while I look for a new temporary dwelling. . . I assume you know your way around this Hellish landscape?”

“Maybe.”

Without another word, Venus dropped her arms from their crossed position and began walking, the demon walking beside her easily. 
The only sound from the male demon beside her came in the form of humming a familiar tune — one Steve or Bucky would've listened to on quiet rainy nights where everyone just had time to relax. . . Even Sam would've.

He stepped ahead of her, not once losing the swing of the tune as he seemed to guide her. She barely noticed, her eyes scanning buildings that seemed like someone would live there. 

When Venus finally looked, he seemed to be leading her towards a building on a hill — the words ‘Hazbin Hotel’ sitting atop the building. 

“Why here?” She asked, falling into stride beside him once more. 
The humming ceased as if an answer was being concocted within the depths of his mind. 

She warily watched his sharp closed mouth smile begin to show his teeth. A feeling of dread ran down her spine, similar to the very one she had when she discovered that Loki was being controlled. “Consider this a favor, my dear. This is better than the hovel you resided in last evening, and besides, your answers will come in due time.” 

Venus controlled her facial expression — something she had to learn how to do at a very young age when she was supposed to be in the public eye, otherwise she would've given him her classic bitch face.

Her answers would come in due time? Ha! She only had so much time before Thor would slip up and reveal that she wasn't on Asgard. There was no telling how long it would take. Sure, Loki was the best liar of the three, but Thor was always one for the truth. 

So Venus sighed and allowed the strange deer demon to lead her up to the proclaimed Hazbin Hotel.