Daughter Dearest

twenty-three

In the sea of demons bathed in flashing lights, Wanda, Natasha, Charlie, Venus, and Angel were dancing — or rather showing off what they knew, especially with a little bit of alcohol in their systems. 

Having memorized a less formal dance on Asgard, Natasha was attempting to recreate it with Venus, both four drinks in at that point. While Venus was far less inebriated, alcoholic beverages in Hell apparently had a different kick than the ones in the living world, so she had a slight buzz going on. 

Wanda was in the process of teaching Charlie and Angel the very same dance that had Venus and Natasha in a world of their own.

The dance was clearly made with a male lead in mind, but Natasha took the lead effortlessly, spinning Venus out and reeling her back in, both laughing as Venus dipped Natasha — rather than vice versa. 

With another spin the touching portion was done, but before Venus could return to her chosen dance partner, her hand was grabbed and she was pulled into someone's chest. 

Bewildered, she looked up and blinked before a smirk morphed onto her face. 

“And who might you be?” She purred, noting how he was putting distance between her and the rest of the group. She, of course, also knew who he was but was too curious to let the opportunity pass. How could she not know when his face was quite literally plastered almost everywhere in Pentagram City?

Vox flashed his award winning smile at her before turning her to face a rounded booth, identical to the one she had been in with her group not long before, with two other's sitting there. “A delivery service, unfortunately, Dollface.” 

Venus's slight buzz disappeared the moment she made eye contact with Valentino, an expression of annoyance slipping onto her face as she stepped out of Vox's grasp. 

Velvette looked the Asgardian Princess up and down appreciatively, mentally noting that she looked much hotter in person. They recognized each other, but not from meeting. . . From Sinstagram where they both went viral for different reasons — even liking a few of each other's posts along the way. 

“What is this?” Venus questioned, using her index finger to gesture to the surprise meeting just when Vox took a seat, leaving her standing on the outside. 

“I want my soul back, you stupid fucking bitch!” Valentino said in that whiny voice that had almost fluttery clicking noises mixed in. 

She groaned, pinching the bridge of her nose. “So that is what this is about? I'll get back to you.” Venus turned to the two other Vees. “Have you any idea how he treats those who work for him?” 

Vox and Velvette shared a look of confusion, which inadvertently gave her the answer she needed. They didn't know shit, likely keeping the innermost workings of their individual brands from the rest.

In her peripheral vision, she could see Valentino's wide eyed stare from behind his tinted heart shaped glasses.

Venus turned back to the moth overlord and a dark colored contract appeared at her side, his name visibly signed in gold ink. 

“You see this? This is the consequence of hurting someone I care for greatly. Sixteen working hours with a singular water break, allowing him to go home for two hours, only to call him back for another six hours? All because you can?” Venus laughed, the contract disappearing. 

“That's not even mentioning all of the marks that he spends hours hiding after every single shift. . . Every single system has a blind spot, and I am willing to bet that it's your studio, so that they wouldn't know that you were far more vile than Alastor. You've lost to the goddess of desire and victory, Darling. . . You won't know when or where you'll be called upon, but it will be my pleasure to make your afterlife far worse.”

Venus then made her exit to rejoin the group that had returned to the table. 

“That was hot.” Velvette stated with a smirk, leaning back in the seat. 

“Fuck off.” Valentino pouted. 

Vox only smirked, staying silent as he watched Venus's mood shift entirely as she interacted with the group she had come to the club with, a ‘demon’ that looked similar to Angel Dust speaking animatedly to her as they prepared to leave.

The moment she was no longer visible, he turned his attention to Valentino, who was failing to hide his displeasure and nervousness from his friends. Oh, he'd certainly be having a talk with his on and off lover when they got back.

★†★

After Peter's club endeavor, the group found themselves in the kitchen of the hotel along with, giggling and full on laughing over a cake that they had picked up on the way back as Steve reluctantly recounted the events of the night, with Sam cutting in to point out the missed details. 

Like how he had gotten a lapdance.

They soon turned in for the night and before they knew it, a couple weeks had passed. 

After that night, Charlie rarely came out of her room, which caused the other residents to catch on much faster than before. 

Because she wouldn't even let Venus into her room, Vaggie was practically forced to call a full on staff and resident meeting — excluding the other Avengers, who were training around back with the setup Venus provided to mimic the training room at the tower. 

“So, like where are your wings?” Niffty questioned at the end of Vaggie's explanation of what had gone on during the meeting with Heaven. 

“Niffty, I don't have—”

“Did you ever think maybe she's sensitive about her lack of wings, just like her lack of tits?” Angel Dust spoke over Vaggie. 

Niffty tugged at Vaggie's shirt. “Yeah. Where are your tits? Did Venus take them?” 

The Asgardian Princess snorted, covering her mouth when Vaggie's glare was pointed directly at her. 

“You're not helping.” The former exorcist angel sighed. “Any other questions?”

“I got one. How come every time Charlie talks to Heaven, we get in deeper and deeper shit?” Husk questioned. 

Venus rolled her eyes at the grumpy bartender. It wasn't Charlie's fault. As it seemed, any meeting where Adam was in attendance automatically made everything worse. 

She wasn't entirely sure that was a coincidence. She knew first hand that the first man was nothing but a pain in the ass. 

“It's not her fault. Angel's are just —”

“Liars?” Angel cut Vaggie off once again. 

“. . . Difficult.” Vaggie continued with a pointed look to the spider demon. “But Charlie's trying her best.” 

“Yeah, well, her best is turning out real well so far.” Husk pointed out, before walking away from the meeting with a bottle in his hand. 

“And where is miss fearless leader, anyway? Isn't it about time for another ‘doomed-to-fail’ plan?” Angel looked around the room dramatically, not seeing Charlie anywhere. 

“She's upstairs. Coming up with something, I'm sure, in our room. Alone.” Vaggie said, her tone turning sad. 

Venus stood from her seat between Angel and Sir Pentious as Alastor hummed and vanished in a wave of black smoke. She scratched the top of KeeKee's head, before joining Vaggie's side. 

“In the event she doesn't have a plan, we need to have one — Extermination Day is in less than twenty-four hours and I refuse to sit here waiting for death.” Venus spoke quietly.

“What are you suggesting?” Vaggie questioned, equally as quiet. 

“Nothing I wanted to do. My family won't turn down a fight, that's for sure. . . They won't let us fight alone.” Venus replied, standing straighter. 

“Are you sure?”

“I'm certain.”