Chapter Text
Shit.
Shit, shit, shit, shit, fuck.
She knew the explosion would tip the Vees off that they'd broken in, but she'd hoped they'd have a little more time.
No such luck though. The cunt was in the doorway, and she wasn't sure if the bullet that flew between her and Husk was a warning shot or if the blind-ass moth had just missed, but either way this had just gotten a lot more difficult.
But there wasn't time to stop and think. Angie was hurting. And he was one of the strongest bitches she knew, so if he was this much of a mess then shit was fucked.
So yeah. No time to stop and think. They were staring down the barrel of one of Valentino's stupid bedazzled guns, Angie looked like hell, and they needed to get the fuck out.
"This isn't the studio, asshole. He can leave if he wants." Cherri took a step foreward, taking a bomb off her belt, tossing it in the air and back into her hands. If she could distract Valentino long enough, maybe Husk could get Angel out.
Val's eyes twitched towards her, squinting against what smoke was still in the air.
"You broke down my door, darling. He'll have to stay and work off the cost of those damages." He grinned at her, a sleazy, sharp-toothed smile. "Unless you'd like to do it, of course. Always happy to have a fresh face."
"Oh please. You can afford a fuckin door." keep him distracted, keep him distracted
For a moment she thought it might work. Valentino rolled his eyes, gun pointed at her now. "It's a matter of principle. You broke my shit."
But the moment Husk took a step, Valentino turned his gaze back.
"Put my property down, kitty."
Husk growled back. "Not a chance."
"hijo de puta, DROP IT and get your furry ass out of here before I tear you LIMB FROM LIMB and shove the parts of you that are left up—"
Valentino's voice raised to an indignant shriek as he continued ranting, until he took aim and—shit.
Cherri threw a bomb the same time that Valentino shot at Husk.
The next few minutes were confusing.
The sound of the explosion mingled with the sound of the gunshot. Smoke and shouting filled the air, and Cherri wasn't sure if Husk had been hit or not. There were more gunshots, and the wizzing of bullets and cards. Glass and furniture shattered around her. At some point Valentino's little robot joined the fight, mechanical limbs tearing at flesh-and-blood ones. She felt someone tug at her ponytail, and she swung back at them. It was chaotic and loud and her eye stung with smoke, and she could only hope that the disorientation worked in their favor. The explosion hadn't helped much, but it had at least put them all on somewhat even footing.
She was wrestling with the robot (kitty?), trying to tear it off her, as the smoke cleared. For a few moments, as sight became possible again, it was still chaos, until one shout rang out above the rest.
"NO VAL PLEASE—" Angel's voice, still broken and raspy from damage cut through the air.
Cherri glanced over towards where Angel's voice was, and that moment of distraction, let Kitty pin her down, her bombs out of reach, scattered across the room. Shit.
Then, from where she was pinned down, she looked to see what Angel was looking at. Double shit.
Val had Husk pinned to the ground, a gun to his head, and Husks various cards and rings and magic shit were littered about the room.
Angel was slumped against the wall off to the side. He was shaking. To anyone else, it would read as fear. And there was fear, definitely, but Cherri knew Angel well enough to recognize that more than fear, there was rage.
Angie was strong, and if it weren't for damn contract, if it weren't for the fact that Angel was divinely, or whatever the opposite of divinely was, bound not to attack Valentino, he'd have torn the moth to pieces for this. Summoned one of his guns and blasted the fuckers head off his shoulders.
But Angel was stuck. As much as Cherri knew he was strong, they all knew Angel couldn't do anything but beg.
"Val— Val, please, it's my fault. I— I called them, I—" Angel hacked and shook as his body struggled to remember breathing, "Please, please, Val, hurt me, not him, please—"
The moth just laughed. "Sit down Angelcakes. I'll get to you later."
"Val—"
Valentino ignored him, turning back to Husk, still pinned below him.
"You're a gambler, am I right, gatito?"
Husk didn't reply, struggling against Valentino's grip, as one of the moths hands pulled out another gun.
"There are six bullets in this. One of the bullets in this gun is angelic steel. The rest are normal."
shit, shit, shit shit shit
Cherri struggled against the robot holding her down, but the damn thing was strong, and she couldn't reach any of her weapons.
Valentino pressed the gun to Husks temple. Husk just grit his teeth, staring the overlord down with hatred.
"Val, please, no—" Angel fell silent as the chains of his deal yanked him, slamming him against the floor.
"I told you to shut the fuck up, Angel. This is the second time, and I'm not generous enough to wait and give them three strikes." Valentino huffed in frustration before continuing, turning back to Husk. "Now. I'm going to shoot this into your fucking skull three times. If you're lucky, they'll be normal bullets and you'll regenerate later. And if you aren't lucky, well—"
When the room went cold, Cherri thought it was in her head. A reaction to the dread creeping along her spine.
But then Valentino was cut off, as a shadow darted across the room, knocking the gun from his hand.
"Pardon me, but I don't believe that's yours to gamble with."