Helluva Boss - After the Party

Despite that... Caring

Verosika stood on the indoor terrace, overlooking the pulsating party below. The lights flashed in time with the heavy beat of the music, and the crowd swayed and danced, lost in the revelry. It was a succubus and incubus heavy crowd and as expected the flow of booze, narcotics and lust was immense. She spotted a few people who had decided that it was time to go topless and others were taking things a step further. She spotted a couple kissing passionately while their hands were getting busy with some heavy petting action. At this rate it would probably turn into an improvised orgy. Not really unexpected, as far as she was concerned. She took a deep breath, the scent of mild narcotics mingling with the sharp tang of alcohol in the air. For a moment, she closed her eyes, letting the sounds and smells wash over her, trying to find some semblance of peace.

Her thoughts were interrupted by the soft click of the door as Vortex stepped out onto the terrace. He moved with a quiet grace despite his muscular frame, his imposing figure a stark contrast to the delicacy with which he handled the small device in his hands. He approached her and took his place by her side, in his hands he was fidgeting with some device. When he was done he placed the device, her new phone onto the railing and slid it over to her without a word. She picked up the device not saying a thing. This wasn't the first time she'd thrown a fit and broken her phone so Tex, bless him, had started carrying backups, just in case.

"Thanks, Tex," she said, her voice somewhat flat. She examined the device briefly before slipping it into her pocket. Vortex watched her, his brow furrowing in concern. He knew her better than anyone else, had seen her at her highest and lowest. He'd seen her buzzed out of her mind running naked in the streets (which was followed by a quick trip to rehab) and he'd been there during those too few moments of happiness when she was enjoying her work and her fame, but tonight she seemed different. There was a vulnerability about her, a raw edge to her usually unflappable demeanor. Vortex sighed, drawing her attention. She drew out a cigarette and placed it in her mouth, then fumbled for a lighter in her pockets, coming up empty. In a moment Vortex's hand was there, a flaming zippo lighter snapped open, ready to give her a light. She drew in the flame and inhaled the sweet tobacco, her eyes darting up to see the look of concern on her bodyguard's face. The look felt uncomfortable, not one she was used to getting.

"Something bothering you, Tex?" she asked as she resumed her position watching over the party. A pair of succubuses had, as expected taken their action to the next level, drawing a few gasps of appreciation as they now wrestled naked on the floor. Tex drew in a breath.

"I've known you a long time now Verosika. Enough to know when you're ... when you're not quite..." he struggled for words. "... are you *really* ok, boss?" Verosika blew out smoke ring whose form kind of resembled the female sex organ. She blew out another that sort of resembled the male one which shot through the first. It had taken her ages to master this little trick.
She shot him a sharp glance, he wasn't supposed to intrude on her private life like this, but the expected anger didn't come. Instead, she sighed, leaning on the railing and staring out over the crowd. "I'm ok Tex, dear, just a lot on my mind." she admitted. "More than usual." Tex chose his next words carefully.

"I uh... saw the text you almost sent." She looked away embarrassed. "Fuck", she thought to herself. Vortex took a step closer, leaning against the railing beside her.

"If you need to talk, I'm here," he said quietly. "I don't mean as your bodyguard, but maybe as a ...friend?" He was such an adorable dumb, fluffy hellhound, she thought to herself. Bee's lucky to be dating him. She looked at him, her eyes searching his for any sign of deceit. Finding none, she sighed again, her shoulders slumping slightly.

"Yeah... It's about Blitzo," she said, the name a bitter pill on her tongue. "He showed up at the party last night." Vortex nodded, he knew he'd smelled him at the party last night, perhaps he should have focused on finding and ejecting him from the premises back then, these two were never a good idea in each others vicinity, but he buried these thoughts and focused on staying silent and letting her continue. "It just rekindled some some old feelings, that's all." She slumped on the railing watching the lewd action unfold below. They had spirit, she had to give them that.