Chapter Text
[A few weeks ago: the day of the fall.]
“What happened?” Sera’s voice echoed across the meeting room, genuine concern peaking out from behind her performed composure.
She looked at the angels around her for answers, but nobody seemed to have any. Saint Peter was mostly confused as to why he was called there, Emily wasn’t invited and Adam was waiting to leave.
“I don’t fucking know.” Adam muttered, with blatant disregard for your whereabouts. “That little bitch didn’t show up to the grand opening of that new bookshop or whatever and nobody’s seen them in a while.”
Her eyes narrowed at Adam’s inconsiderate tone, hands rising to her temples to try and calm the incoming headache.
“Angels don’t just go missing.” A mix of emotions flurried through Sera. For a moment she felt fear. You were never late to anything. “Especially high up ones. Everyone is accounted for always. Saint Peter did you see them at the gate?”
“Uhh I don’t think so?” His answer lacked conviction, as always. Sera didn’t know what she expected. She just sighed at his unhelpfulness.
“Send out your troops to look for them. Don’t leave any stone unturned.” She breathed, turning to face towards the wide window and looked out across heaven.
“Really? My top girls are preparing for the extermination. We can’t derail the plans all for some-” Sera cut Adam off before he could disrespect you once more.
“I don’t care about the extermination. We’ll have bigger issues to worry about if we don’t find them fast. The people will talk.” Her words were demanding, allowing no room for any more of Adam’s backtalk.
“Nobody besides the exorcists can know about this. We don’t need a heaven-wide panic.”
<3~~~~~~<3
Adam rolled his eyes at his new task. Always a new request, chasing after you like some babysitter and it was getting boring. Lute could handle you, he had better shit to do.
“Sir, I’ve gathered the troops as you requested.”
“Change of plans. I’ve got a new job for you, danger tits, straight from the head Seraphim herself.”
Lute awaited her orders dutifully, as he explained your irritating absence. It was only a burden to him, so much so that he failed to notice the emotion building up in Lute the more he spoke.
“Missing? How does that even happen-” Rage seethed through her. It shouldn’t have been possible. You were the picture of heaven itself, everyone adored you. This was the highest order of blasphemy to her.
“Whoa no need to be so dramatic, bitch.” He looked over his lieutenant with disgust. “I didn’t think you’d care that the pathetic star was missing. It’s not like we need them anymore now that we’ve got the exterminations.”
Using your image to inspire humans was great and all at encouraging them to aspire to heaven, but now there was no issue with overpopulation in hell, it wasn’t a priority.
Adam never cared for you. You were occasionally a passing entertainment, but he ridiculed the attention you received.
“We’d be better off with them dead.” Adam joked brutally, finding himself far more humorous than Lute did. “Actually… that’s not a bad idea. That bitch would be better as a martyr.”
<3~~~~~~<3
“Seraphim. We found the halo.”
<3~~~~~~<3
[Current timeline.]
Vox’s screen illuminated the dark room, the shadows of his wires eerily intimidating you. Static crackled from his fingertips.
You’d never seen him like this.
He’d been scary at times, but that was mostly just yelling from his office and the occasional blood stained shirt.
His eyes swirled with a glint of mania, his form caging you in.
His words rang in your ears, echoed through your mind. He’d seen you before? How did you not put the facts together? That he had access to the channels. The ones that your face lit up 7 days a week.
The realisation sent a chill through you, feathers darting uncomfortably upwards as you noticed his proximity.
“Now, it seems you haven’t been… adjusting to hell as well as you should be.” His business voice was back, ready to convince you of something, you were sure of it.
“But you didn’t like the rules in heaven either, so I think it’s time we try something new.” He grinned with all of his cyan teeth on show.
“What?” He was perplexing you now.
“You’re a fish out of water here, angel. I think it’s about time you swim with the sharks.” His cryptic shark related metaphors didn’t help you decipher it much further.
“You’re going to be spending more time getting to know the real business of hell. Hopefully then you’ll grow out of this whiny, pathetic state.”
You winced as he used the same words as Val. Something had changed. He was loosening up the constraints of your deal that he’d upheld so carefully for the last few weeks; testing the boundaries of what he could put you through before the contract would start sparking about.
Your hopes to defend yourself were fleeting. He wasn’t exactly wrong, but you didn’t like what he was suggesting either.
You breathed, finding your footing before attempting a reply. The lack of space between you was suffocating. “What do you mean? It’s not like I’ll be here long.”
Vox’s laugh was almost sinister. There was a power lingering in it.
You tried to decipher just what it was, a chill running through you.
He knew something.
Something you didn’t.
Your expression tensed, eyebrows drawing together as your eyes glinted with a curious hue.
“Oh please. You haven’t figured it out by now?” He demeaned. “They’re not coming for you.” His words were punctuated with static.
Before you could argue against his ridiculous declaration, he continued.
“You think it’s an accident that you’re down here? That your perfect heaven would make a mistake?” He guffawed mockingly. “No. You’re down here for a reason. They tossed you out of their pearly gates. They’re never coming for you.”
Your eyes darted away from his hypnotic gaze, trying to create some distance. His words were fierce and heavy. They stung you.
You took a breath. “You’re wrong.” The conviction in your tone was reduced by the shakiness of it. “I don’t know what happened, but I do know them. They wouldn’t leave me.”
You were respected and beloved, they wouldn’t leave you. Sera wouldn’t. If nothing else, then the public outcry would prevent it. Right?
Once Vox sensed your crack of doubt, he was ready to seize the opportunity, already armed to stitch the wound he’d created.
His claws found your downturned face in an opposingly calm motion to the current running through him. You needed him. He’d teach you that.
Vox eased you towards the light of his screen.
“I knew you weren’t ready to hear it.” He said it like you’d failed a challenge. Like he pitied you with genuine concern. “Always so trusting.”
Vox soothed a claw over you, gliding over your face to wipe the silver tears from your eyes.
You stared numbly at him. “So you think I need to adjust?” Compliance. The state you’d regress to whenever emotions felt too much or situations too bewildering.
“Yes, for your own good.” His red eye swirled lightly. Vox didn’t want to hypnotise you. It would take the fun out of it all. Out of having you. All he was doing was easing your consciousness a little to make you open.
“I’ll do it.” You breathed out the agreement.
“I had no doubt that you would.”
In that moment, you relished in his closeness and the trust he had in you.
He could be intimidating, but his intentions were pure for a sinner. You smiled passively up at him, his hands still manoeuvring themselves over your skin.
You hadn’t felt so close to anyone before.
It was pleasant. Acceptable.
Without sin.
And yet your mind went to that room with Valentino. All your unanswered questions and your confusion. A part of you longed for answers and not just the exposure Vox was suggesting.
You weren’t sure why.
Vox captured your plight in your empty-headed stare. Your lips were parted, wings flapping gently as you just looked at him unaware of your zoning out.
As the light snapped back into your eyes and you blinked away the daze, he offered an innocent grin.
It was endearing.
Though you were content in your closeness, the emotions fluttering inside you frightened you into composure. You took a step back from him respectfully and optimistically missed the disdainful grimace that flickered across his expression.
He straightened his posture, no longer needing to leer over you. Instead, he regained his fearsome business tone.
“I’ll call Velvette and Valentino to tell them you’re on your way down.”
<3~~~~~~<3
Yet again, Vox had provided no notice before shipping you down to spend the day with one of the Vees. This was the 4th time that week and it was beginning to stir some frustration.
“Again! He’s put me on babysitting duty.” Velvette rolled her eyes at Vox’s audacity. Not only did she have to deal with Valentino today, but you too. “I’m stuck with the fucking whore and the preacher.”
You winced as her frustration showed itself through a sharp jab in your side by her sewing needle. She was past the point of caring.
“He’s got his experiment with you and now he’s making it my issue. I might as well make your service useful.” Her frustrated demeanour worked against her, the irritation only building once your gold blood spilled from her careless pinprick onto the white fabric. “Fucking angel blood.”
That comment caught Val’s attention. He looked up from his phone in an instant like a child to an ice cream van.
You suppressed the pain, thinking more about Vox.
“He’ll get bored of it soon, right?” The optimism in your tone was uncertain. His experiment had gone on long enough.
Velvette only laughed abruptly at that. “Keep imagining. Once Vox has his eye on something, he doesn’t get over it quickly. That TV head never lets his belongings go.”
You frowned at that descriptor. You weren’t owned by him, it was a work contract. That was it.
Velvette noticed your disbelief and decided to stir things up. Vox had been getting on her nerves recently, dropping you off with her whenever he wished. Sure, she enjoyed your company, but she didn’t enjoy Vox thinking he was the one in charge.
“Ever heard of the radio demon?” The sly expression on the dolls face only spiked your interest more.
Val let out an abrupt sigh, unable to stay quiet from irritation. “Ugh Vox doesn’t shut up about that fucking deer.”
Deer? Radio? You had no idea what they were talking about.
“Who is he?”
Before Velvette could answer, the cold chill of electricity crackled through Vel’s floor. The security cameras in the room glitching out in frustration. The conversation had evidently caught Vox’s attention and he was not happy.
“Enough!”
“Val, call that whore Angel Dust in. Tell him he’s got a shoot in 15 minutes.” Vox grit his cyan teeth in fury. His eyes darted to Velvette with a deadly warning. Within seconds, her top model was reduced to disembodied pieces, crimson blood splattering the outfits she’d been working on - including yours.
The gruesome sight startled you, as you frantically tried to wipe the demon blood off of you.
His plan of acclimatising you to hell was still failing miserably. You felt sick to your stomach at the faintest sight of violence.
“And you.” Your eyes widened as his focus turned to you, unintentionally shuffling closer to Velvette as if it’d save you. “…Still haven’t learnt your lesson.”
“Vox, take it easy on them. It’s been a long enough week for us all without having to deal with your whiny bullshit 24/7.” She rolled her eyes typically, eager to piss Vox off, but not so joyous at you receiving the consequences of it. This was her fun, but she couldn’t help wanting to shield you from the volatility.
Over the last month or so you’d spent a lot of time together whilst Vox was busy with work. It’d given her enough time to get used to your mannerisms, however strange they were for hell. Your uniqueness was growing on her and she could understand being pushed about by Vox.
It was a small comment, but you appreciated that she’d even try.
Vox didn’t spare her a glance, her words flying past the TV demon’s rage. His stare never left you.
Val’s freakishly long tongue shot out to lick his lips at the intense sight. You caught it out of the corner of your eye, grimacing at the display.
“Ooh someone’s not happy…” Val smirked, loving Vox’s possessive wrath.
“I thought I said to call Angel. Go.” Static crackled through his tone as he snapped impatiently at Valentino. He didn’t have time for his games.
“Ugh I’m going.” Despite his whining, he was more than eager to have another reason to drag Angel Dust into work.
You recognised the name from the few times in Val’s studio, remembering all of the sinful words surrounding him. Whore, for one. You noticed that the Vees seemed to love that demeaning word.
You looked at Velvette curiously as to what the discussion was really about. Why was Vox demanding this? She couldn’t offer you much clarity. Fashion was her domain. Before she could try to answer anything further, you found yourself face to screen with Vox. He’d zapped directly in-front of you. A little over the top considering he could’ve easily taken the 3 steps to reach you.
Everything was a show for him.
You knew that by now.
So you probably shouldn’t have been surprised when you found yourself trapped in Valentino’s nefarious studio.
Vox was beside you, claws clutching at your shoulders and holding you firmly in place, ensuring your eyes were locked on the scene before you.
The spider sinner splayed out once more with sinners much bigger and more threatening surrounding him. He looked so small here. Vulnerable. Even if he was seeming to encourage it, you couldn’t help but question it.
Perhaps not for the right reasons.
You were so concerned with the purity of it. Was it moral? What was this? What was even happening?
Everything was moving so fast and you were so overstimulated by the sights and sounds and-
It was all too much!
You huffed uncomfortably, shuffling slightly in Vox’s grip. You wanted out.
He didn’t make Velvette stay to watch this! It wasn’t fair- It wasn’t right-
That was when you noticed that his eyes were only locked on you. For the entire scene of such depravity. He only looked at you. Your reactions, your frowns, the uncomfortable crease forehead, the parting of your lips and the pout moments later.
Every small movement. Every shifting color of your eye.
His gaze was intense. You couldn’t decipher it.
It broke into something half-entertained and undeniably powerful.
“What, does it hurt you to see this?” Vox mocked, wires twitching as though holding themselves back. “Are you that fucking pure that this repulses you, twists your stomach up in knots, huh?” His form towered over yours once more.
“It’s pathetic.”
You exhaled sharply, trying to find your words through the wicked sounds.
“It’s- it’s not right.”
Your virtue was so very important.
He hummed at that, taunting you once more. “Not right.” A deep static chill ran through this words.
“And yet it captures your attention so well, doesn’t it?”
Every moment he saw through you. Identified your complex internal battle that even you couldn’t understand.
If there was one thing Vox knew, it was sin.
You breathed shakily.
“I just- I’ve never seen this before, okay? I’m not interested! I only want to understand it.” You weren’t allowed to see this. It was wrong. If you could understand it, you could avoid it. That was it.
That was all it could be.
He looked at you in disbelief at your dishonest. Not just to him, but to yourself.
You continued on, trying to drown out the background noises.
“I’ve just never been so clueless! I was always meant to know everything in heaven. It was my purpose! I could list every little thing that could get a soul into heaven, but sins? That’s not my domain. I know the main ones, of course, thou shalt not kill…”
Vox guffawed at the first one, muttering “Hypocrites” so low you could barely hear it.
“What was that?” You frowned.
“Oh we can discuss that another time, angel.” How he anticipated the moment he could crush your hopes of heaven, but that’d have to wait.
The understanding that you truly were so unknowing was an entertaining prospect to Vox that was enough for the day.
“If you don’t want to feel so… unknowing, then there’s always a solution for that.” His expression widened far too eagerly, grip on your shoulders tightening almost imperceptibly.
Vox was growing to want you - crave you even - and he was going to have you. There was something powerful about having an angel.
“I think you’ve seen enough.” With a snap of his fingers, he’d zapped you safely back to his floor of the tower. Home.
You let out a sigh of relief as the scene of Val’s studio was finally over.
He’d stopped your plight, if you ignored the fact that he caused it, he was almost heroic.
Vox’s hand moved from your shoulders to caress the curve of your wing comfortingly and, for once, you didn’t stop him. Didn’t flinch away, or frown at the act. You just stared up at him gratefully like he was all that mattered. Your wings fluttered at the touches, embarrassing noises leaving your lips.
You covered your face in shame, having always known they were vulnerable but not to such a degree. You’d just left Val’s studio, you didn’t need to recreate the scene.
“Holy shit.” He looked gleeful that he could drag that sound from an angel.
“Always such sensitive little things…” As his claws ran up and down the feathers, you let out a breathy whimper. Vox hummed in response. “Yeah, you like that don’t you?”
His other claw came to grasp your chin, not allowing you to avert your gaze any longer.
“C’mon don’t be shy. Answer me.”
Your lips part to speak, but all you manage is a nod. He tuts at the act, dissatisfied. “You gonna be good for me like this or do I need to turn to other means?” Left eye swirling as a threat, but without using any real force. No, if he was going to have you, he’d earn it.
It doesn’t deter you. You like his eyes. They lure you in like a siren does a sailor, and you’d happily jump to your end.
There wasn’t much in hell that could make you feel as comfortable and safe as in heaven. Except Vox.
“I like it.” You manage, voice quiet, containing the instinct to moan at his touch. You wouldn’t fall to sin.
He gleamed at your agreement. He knew it. He knew you. He could see you for what you truly were beyond the golden expectations of who you were supposed to be.
Satisfied at your reply, he lifted you up effortlessly onto his lap, granting him better access to the sensitive curves of your body. You melted into his touch, missing the innocent comfort of cuddles. Your arms wrapped around him softly.
“I know this may be difficult for you given your heavenly nature, so we can take it slow…” He soothed, forcing his grin into a softer more convincing smile. You felt something beneath you, unfamiliar, pushy.
“You’re gonna learn all about what Val was talking about, don’t you worry. You’re not naive and you won’t be so innocent for much longer…”
Your insecurity slipped away. He knew how much you hated not knowing things, how dumb and lost you felt down here. You didn’t understand hell yet and it only made you feel more out of place. Vox was just offering to fix that for you.
It was sweet.
You looked up at him with thanks, his claws coming to rest upon your jawline once more and hold your gaze in place. He’d be the only thing you’d see. The only thing you’d remember by the time he was done with you.
A thought crossed you impulsively.
“Can you even kiss with that screen of yours?” You frowned at the weird demon anatomy, before realising the implications of your question with a flustered squeak.
Vox laughed at the action, not missing the opportunity to tease you, his screen glitching with blue joy. “Yeah I can kiss, why, you interested?”
You were rendered useless by the blush across your face, failing to find any words except an anxious nod. You weren’t meant to interact this way with anyone before. Heaven strictly forbade you from relationships as to avoid unnecessary drama and to keep you pure. This was all so unfamiliar.
You let him guide you into an impatient, abstract kiss. His tongue darting out of his screen into a shockingly 3 dimensional entity. It almost made you jump away at first, your halo accidentally tapping his screen at the weird angle. It was moderately embarrassing.
Vox broke the kiss, deciding not to push it too far and risk scaring you away. You breathed heavier than usual, overwhelmed by the new experience.
He looked gleeful, like all of his wishes had just come true. Reciprocated desire. It had been so long since he’d gotten what he wanted. Since an obsession of his had actually amounted to something.
He wanted more. He craved it. After a taste of his dreams, he wouldn’t let them drift away now.
He ran his claws down the centre of your wings, finding the spot where they met your spine. You gasped.
“V-vox, stop it that feels funny-” You weakly protested, not even believing your own request anymore. He noticed that, of course, letting out a static chuckle.
“Oh c’mon…” He moved his claws in a circular motion, teasing you. “Tell me, has anyone seen this before? Seen you? Hm?”
Your face flushed at the forward question.
“N-not since Eden.”
A gleeful grin spread across Vox’s screen, knowing the last time you’d been seen like this was a time so holy that all of humanity could remember it. Your importance only fed his ego. Someone so powerful under his clutches, in his arms, his touch.
“I count myself special then, my angel. It’s truly an honor.” His gaze was so hungry that his words felt more as though they were functioning on autopilot than thought.
As shame flashed over you, your wings automatically wrapped around your form, their span covering you effectively much to Vox’s discontent.
“It wasn’t a sin back then, was it? Your form was god-given. It was meant to be seen. Meant to be worshipped.” Vox, for once, allowed himself to seem smaller than you. Looking up at you like the star you were meant to be.
The praise went straight to your head, leaving you both flustered and flattered.
You supposed he was correct. Clothes were a later addition from humanity. Originally they weren’t an expectation, but as time went on you were forced into so many “modest” outfits that it became natural to you. Eventually, you almost feared your raw form - it was something sinful when shared.
Your body was meant to be hidden.
You were meant to be heaven.
Sweet but not vulnerable. A leader but not demanding. Perfection but not proud.
Vox stroked your wings again, this time causing them to flare and unwrap themselves from around you, presenting yourself fully. Everything you’d kept hidden for so long.
He looked at you. Really looked at you, before speaking the words that fulfilled you most.
“You really are perfect.”
All you wanted was to be what you were meant to be, and he was affirming that you were exactly that. Telling you that the acts you were about to commit were not sin. Feeding you the apple of knowledge and giving you free will.
“You believe that?”
He trailed his claws over you to punctuate his words
You shivered at the contact.
“C’mon, you wanna learn what Val means? Stop being made fun of for that innocent naivety?”
You nodded desperately. You couldn’t handle it anymore, feeling so out of place and unknowing.
Vox’s claws found their resting place on your shoulders, applying more pressure than usual.
“Then get on your knees. Pray for me.”