Chapter Text
It was New Year’s Eve in Hell that night, the first one since the opening of the Hazbin Hotel, and the first with the whole group celebrating together.
It was nearing midnight, and so this small found family were all up on the Hotel’s roof waiting for Charlie’s big surprise she had told them about, all except Alastor, who was with Rosie that night.
“What do ya think the surprise will be Whiskers?” Asked Angel.
”Who knows with princess sunshine, it could be anything, she better be quick though or else I’m leaving” said Husk.
”Oh c’mon Husk, don’t ya like being here with me?”
”Oh sure” Husk said sarcastically, but he gave Angel a smile to let him know he was joking.
Soon Charlie arrived up on the Hotel’s roof with her father Lucifer following close behind. It was time for the surprise!
”Ok everyone, thank you for waiting so patiently, the surprise is ready! Dad, can you do the honours?” Asked Charlie.
”Of course sweetie!” Lucifer replied.
By that point it was 10 seconds till midnight, and so everyone began counting down.
Once the clock began to ring out signalling to everyone it was the new year, Lucifer used his powers to create a magnificent fireworks display.
It was beautiful, the best fireworks Angel had ever seen! He looked around at his friends and watched their faces look up in awe. That was when he noticed it. Husk wasn’t with the group anymore.
Angel looked around and finally spotted him cowering near the stairs to the roof. Angel immediately remembered that Husk had a fear of loud noises, and that his poor cat ears must be in pain from the loud booming of the fireworks.
Angel slowly crept away from the group, not wanting to gain their attention, Husk wouldn’t want an audience.
”Hey Whiskers, I know you probably can’t stand this right now, how you doin?”
With a shaky breath Husk looked to see Angel sitting next to him, and so he answered his friend.
”Could be better. I-I tried to leave, b-but I c-can’t move.”
”Oh Husk I’m sorry, is there anything I can do? Want me to help you move to your room?”
”n-n-no, just stay here please.”
As soon as it has started the fireworks display was over, and finally the group noticed the two missing members.
They laid eyes on Husk and Angel quickly, and so unfortunately Husk couldn’t escape the attention his fear was getting.
”HUSK, ANGEL, ARE YOU OK??? WHAT HAPPENED???” Yelled Charlie, as she and the others followed her towards the two.
“Shhhhh! You don’t need to yell, look something’s happened but it’s not my place to tell. Husk it’s ok, it’s ok to tell them, they’ll understand.” Said Angel.
With that Husk’s face turned bright red with embarrassment. Looks like they’re gonna have to know now he thought. At least Alastor’s not here, he can never know.
*Sigh* “Look it’s not a big deal, I just don’t like loud noises.”
”Oh Husk, I am so so so sorry! If I had known I never would have asked my dad to create those fireworks!” Said Charlie.
”It’s ok Princess, you didn’t know.”
”If you don’t mind me asking, but Husk, could you tell us why you don’t like loud noises?”
Husk immediately tensed up, he only told Angel his reasoning, and even at that, he didn’t tell Angel the whole story. Maybe it was time. He did like these guys after all, I mean Hell they fought the exterminators together!
”It’s ok Husk, you can tell them” Angel whispered in his ear, while also squeezing Husk’s hand.
With another shaky sigh, Husk decided to tell.
”I don’t know why for sure, but I think it’s cause of these big, sensitive cat ears. They make everything seem so loud, and louder sounds tend to hurt a little, they give me headaches.”
”Hmm… were you ever afraid of loud noises in your life?” Asked the princess
Ok this is becoming to personal Husk thought.
”Maybe, I don’t really remember much of my life” Husk half-lied. He was kind of telling the truth, he did drink so much that he tended to forget things after all.
”Oh Husk thank you for telling me this, I promise we’ll try to keep loud noises to a minimum!” Charlie said.
”That was really brave of you Husk, I think we can all agree that we’re proud of you” Lucifer said, while the others agreed.
”Was there anything that would help you when you were scared Husk?” Charlie asked.
“Ha” Husk huffed/laughed. “Yeah, actually there was, but you can’t tell anyone this, I’m only telling you guys this because I feel like we’ve known each other long enough now, and I trust you all I guess.”
The others smiled at that, and so they listened.
”I loved magic shows”
”Really?” Said Vaggie.
”What, you got a problem with that?”
”No no, I just didn’t take you for the guy who knew how to lighten up is all.”
”Yeah well, I liked magic shows, I even learned magic tricks myself. It was easy since I lived in Las Vegas, that and I knew some magicians since I was a kid, and so they would sometimes show me some tricks.”
”I thought magicians were never supposed to reveal their secrets” Angel laughed.
Husk smiled, “Yeah well, I became close friends with a few.”
”OH MY GOD, HUSK YOU HAVE TO PERFORM FOR US SOMEDAY! Shouted Charlie, making Husk’s ears go back in the progress; she was still new to the whole being more quiet thing.
”Maybe someday kid”
Later that night once everyone had left to go to bed, Husk and Angel decided to have a chat.
”I’m proud of you Whiskers” said Angel
”Yeah I’m proud of myself, it wasn’t easy.”
”I bet, but hey you did it, which means you’re one step closer to redemption like me!”
Husk decided he wouldn’t crush Angel’s dreams, he knew that as long as he was tied to Alastor, that he wouldn’t be able to be redeemed. He also decided to keep one of the main reasons he’s afraid of loud noises to himself. No one needed to know he had what he later learned to be PTSD from the War.
In that moment, they both said their goodbyes and good nights to each other. Husk never felt so light hearted in his life.
Something about having people to trust made him feel better, and spending time with Angel made him just as happy.
Who knows, maybe he’ll show them all a magic trick someday.