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A Few Drinks wouldn’t Hurt
By Alex Dunne
It was like any other day in hell, survival, killings, fights, you name it. Although not every demon had to fight to survive, some demons were so feared that they were left alone completely. Some examples would be those in the higher ups like the sins and overlords. Of course, these higher ups can always take in other demons and add them to their group making them feared as well. One example would be a certain winged cat demon who works alongside a well red deer Radio Demon, Husk, the grumpy and alcoholic gambling cat demon. As any other day he walked to his favorite bar as things started to calm down in hell, of course he always remained on his toes in case someone wanted to cause some shit. Most demons would step out of his way or simply walk past him with no reaction whatsoever. Seems today was gonna be a good day for Husk as the streets were somewhat clear, of course that doesn’t always mean there isn’t someone hiding behind a corner ready to pounce on the poor guy. Just as Husk turned a corner, his favorite bar in sight, a small dog-like demon jumped at him with a ragged dagger.
“Eat shit grandpa!” Husk growled and glared at the smaller demon, swiftly swinging his body around and grabbing the dog by the face before smashing the back of his head against the brick wall of a building.
“Not today!” He let the demon go and watched as he slid down the wall leaving a trail of blood along it as he slumped at the bottom and fell to the side with a dead look in his eyes. Husk huffed and rolled his shoulders continuing his walk like nothing had happened. At the bar he was greeted by the bartender and some of the other guests, being a regular the bartender immediately gets to work on Husk’s drink…mostly just reaching over and grabbing a bottle of some strong liquor and leaving it at the bar. Husk smiles a bit and takes a seat before grabbing the drink and starting to jug it down.
“Jeez, I saw what you did back there and woof. You really don’t show any mercy.”
“Well yeah, why should I?” Husk wiped his mouth and put the bottle down. “Besides the guy had it coming to him, he tried to jump me so I just simply defended myself.”
“Yeah but…did ya have to be so brutal?”
“Tsk, you call that brutal? Buddy, you don’t know what brutal is.”
“Fair enough, I do spend most of my time here after all.”
“Exactly!” Husk laughed before hearing the doors shoot open, he looked over at them expecting to see another regular, but no, he doesn’t recognize this imp anywhere. Seems this imp came from the wrath ring judging by his cowboy attire. Husk hummed as he stared at the tall imp, he almost seemed like a snake thanks to those eyes and teeth. The imp looked around before spotting Husk, growing a grin on his face as he made his way over to the cat. His tail behind him as he snagged a bottle of beer from another demon. Once he was at the bar he took a seat next to Husk, not even looking at him as the imp started to drink the beer letting out a sigh.
“You do know you gotta pay for that right?”
“Yeah yeah don’t worry.” He puts the bottle down and looks at Husk, grinning wider showing off his golden fang. Husk rolled his eyes and took another sip of his drink.
“Can I help you with anything?”
“As a matter of fact you can. I’m out in these parts looking for someone and I was hoping a higher up demon as yourself would have some entail.”
“Tsk, and who’s asking huh? Ain’t gonna give any stranger some information.” The imp chuckled.
“The name’s Striker partner.”
“Striker huh? Pick that name yourself cause it’s kinda edgy.” The two of them laughed a bit.
“Alright, I’ll give ya that one.” Striker lifted his drink up and so did Husk, they clinked their drinks and took some big swigs completely finishing them before slamming the bottles down. “Now for some questions. Think you can answer them without slurring?”
“Please, you think I can’t handle one drink?” Husk orders another one and it quickly comes to him. “But fine, shoot.”
“Good good, you see I hunt for money and I’m having a bit of trouble finding my latest target.” Husk takes a slow sip of his beer as he keeps an eye on Striker. “Word around the street says you might know some information about him.” Husk puts his drink down and turns his body to face Striker, putting one leg over the other.
“Well whoever told you that is a liar. I have a low profile and I’d like to keep it that way.”
“Oh I know, hell, you were the last person I’d consider asking. However,” Striker pulled on his jacket a bit, showing a hidden gun in the inside pocket. “Plans have changed. Now tell me, what do you know about the Radio Demon?” Striker asked bluntly with a slight chuckle. Husk glared a bit at the imp as he tapped his claws against the bar. “Heh, clearly you know something so don’t even try to deny it.”
“And so what if I do? I ain’t tellin you shit.”
“Oh but I think you will, otherwise I may have to go after that cyclops girl. She seems sweet enough to give me what I want.” This made Husk growl and form his hand into a fist.
“You stay the fuck away from her and Alastor, if you go anywhere near them I’ll rip your throat apart!” He yelled slamming his fist on the table, Striker didn’t react whatsoever other than standing up with a sigh.
“Alastor huh, good enough for me.” He started to walk out but Husk quickly grabbed him by the arm and yanked him back. Striker was quick and pulled out his gun aiming it at Husk’s head. The two of them stared at one another with hate, none of them shaking or budging a muscle.
“Oi!” The bartender yelled. “If you’re gonna fight, take it outside!” Striker huffed and put his gun away, Husk then let him go but didn’t take his eyes off of him.
“You know I shoulda just gone for the girl, at least I know she wouldn’t be so hard to deal with.”
“Don’t doubt her, she may seem innocent but she’s a killer just like me!”
“Please! You both seem harmless. All you ever deal with is smaller demons and that’s it, I bet you never dealt with someone like me before.”
“Oh you wanna bet imp?! I’ve dealt with your kind before and you’re nothing but weaklings!” This made Striker see a bit of red, he was about to get his gun out again but he remembered what the bartender told him.
“Ya know, I could help the both of you get this anger out.” The bartender spoke with a smirk. The two men looked at him with confused looks as the bartender reached down and pressed a button under the bar table. At the corner next to the bar the floor opened and something rose from it, it looked like a boxing ring. Husk’s eyes widened with surprise.
“When the hell was that there!?”
“Always, you just never stick around after dark or come here on the weekends. I use it to make more money, put two drunk assholes in the ring and watch them beat each other to a pulp.” Husk huffed and looked at Striker.
“How about I give you a taste of what you’ll deal with? Unless you’re scared you’ll lose to someone older!” Husk laughed, making Striker growl.
“You’re on, but the minute I’m done with you I’m going after Alastor!” The two of them made their way to the ring, the bartender bent down and grabbed a box with a pair of dark brown gloves and black shorts before walking over to the ring as well. The two men got in and went to opposite corners, Husk stripped away his hat, bowtie and suspenders before he was given the gloves and shorts. He hummed and slipped them on with ease as Striker stripped down as well, only leaving on his bandana around his neck as he was given gloves and shorts.
“Alright boys! I want a clean fight! Know elbow hits, no knee hits, no biting, no spitting, no using tails or any other weapons, just your fists! Understand?!” They both nod, Husk taps his gloves together as Striker leans against his corner with a cocky look on his face. The bartender motioned the two to the center. “Once you tap gloves the fight will start!” The two demons make their way to the center before standing there staring at one another. Husk was a bit taller than Striker while Striker looked a bit more fit than Husk.
“You’re going down old timer.”
“Bring it punk.” They raise their gloves and tap them together making a bell ring starting the first round. The two circle each other, eyeing one another waiting for one of them to throw the first punch. Striker smirked and made the first move, rushing in throwing a fast left jab at Husk’s face making a bang on impact. Husk grunted but stood his ground as he fought back with a left hook to Striker’s side. The imp winced with the punch and tried to get away with another to Husk’s face but the cat demon blocked it with ease and shot yet another hook this time to Striker’s cheek before throwing a left jab at his nose making the imp back away with a hiss.
“You’re fast, I’ll give you that.” He recovers quickly and gets back to circling Husk. The cat doesn’t say a word, wanting to keep his focus on the fight as he hops around a bit, seems he’s pretty light on his feet. Striker comes at Husk again throwing two hooks at his head but Husk was quick and backed away dodging the punches before countering back with a right uppercut to Striker’s chin, the imp however tilted his body back and watched as the fist flew up in the air. This gave him the perfect chance to pummel Husk, he started with two hooks to the cat’s belly making Husk grit his teeth before his head went flying back due to a jab to his chin. Husk stumbled a bit and was fast enough to block the incoming hook coming to his face. Striker growled with some frustration and swung a fast uppercut at Husk’s stomach. His fist sank into the feline’s white stomach as his mouth gaped open with pain. Striker’s smile grew wider as he pulled his fist back and bashed it against Husk’s nose. The older man stumbled back, almost getting to the ropes as he rubs his nose with his glove.
“Lucky shot.”
“Getting tired old man, maybe I should put you to rest!?” Striker leaps at Husk slamming down his glove on Husk’s head making him yelp. Striker goes to continue his pummeling but he stops when he hears a bell ring. The bartender gets between the two.
“Get back to your corner!” Striker huffed and stomped over to his corner, putting his arms over the ropes as Husk walked back to his. Husk rubbed his face and head to soothe it from the pain. He had to admit this imp won’t fall too easily, for some reason this excited him, it has been some time since he had a good challenge. However, he couldn’t get distracted by this, he had a mission, to protect Niffty and Alastor. Sure he found them both annoying and too pleasant for their own good, however, without them he’d probably be alone with no protection or anyone to care about him. They were the closest thing to a family and he would be damned if he let anyone hurt them. With some tightened fists he raised his arms up just as the bell rang starting round two. The men made their way towards each other, Husk having a more serious look on his face making Striker chuckle.
“What’s with the look? Did I piss off the kitty cat or something?” Striker laughed and shot a fast hook at Husk’s side, however, the punch was blocked by Husk’s fist like it was nothing. Striker looked at Husk’s face and saw the feline was huffing and growling, aside from wanting to protect his “family” there was something else he wanted to protect, his dignity. He swat Striker’s arm away and bashed his fist at Striker’s eye getting a clean hit in. The imp stumbled back with a grunt and was given no time to recover as he felt another fist bash his nose in before feeling another strike his chin from the side. Striker pushed Husk away giving him a chance to see properly, he saw the feline was still growling and huffing and much harder than before. He heard Husk could be dangerous when angered but he never thought he'd get the chance to experience it…then again it is Striker we're talking about. Without wasting any time Husk charges in aiming a hard hook to Striker’s face only for it to be blocked by Striker’s arm, the imp felt a sharp pain from the blow distracting him from the other punch coming to his stomach. He doubled over a bit as Husk pulled his fist back and threw it again at Striker’s eye making his head snap back a bit. The imp hissed at Husk as he backed away from him trying to make some distance only to find himself against the ropes. Striker makes the mistake looking back with shock giving Husk the chance to come in and throw a barrage of punches at the imp’s head and body. Striker’s head jerks left and right as some spittle flies out of his mouth, his body starts to bruise a bit as each punch makes him grunt and wince, he tried to fight back and his fist is quickly pushed away. Husk hisses in Striker’s face and grabs him by the shoulder before slamming his free glove across the imp’s face making him tumble down onto the mat below. Husk pants and backs away as the bartender comes by and starts the countdown.
“1…2…3…” Striker lays there panting hard wiping blood off of his nose as he looks up at Husk.
“Is that all you got? Come on! Stand up and show me what you got, imp!” Husk yelled with a grin on his face. Striker growled and pushed himself up a bit before grabbing the ropes and using them to pull himself up all the way. The bartender stops and backs away from the two letting the fight continue. The two men charge at each other and both throw a straight at each other’s cheeks. Both punches land at the same time with a bang, the two stand their ground as they push their fists trying to make the other stumble. Eventually the two back let up but not before Striker lands a clean blow at Husk’s cheek causing his head to snap to the side. Another blow lands against Husk’s stomach but he stands his ground once again and counters back with a hard haymaker to Striker’s head. The imp limps back in a daze and nearly falls but Husk is quick to grab him and throw him against his corner before the bell rings. “Saved by the bell, you can thank me later.” Husk goes to his own corner and leans against it, panting harder than before and taking deep breaths. “You won’t win ya hear me! You’re weak, pathetic even, the lowest of the low!” Meanwhile, Striker came back from his dazed state and hung an arm over the ropes. He groaned and coughed as he stood there rubbing his body as he had nothing else to do but wait. He got to thinking on how he was so easily dazed like that, there’s no way Husk was this strong right? He was nothing more but an alcoholic cat so how was he beating him? Whatever it was Striker plans to end the fight in the next round, he just needs to tire Husk out, should be easy but then again. He was cut off from his thinking when the bell rang, he gasped and stumbled his way to Husk who was back to having a focused face. That little slip up allowed Husk to have the first hit again, throwing two soft jabs at Striker’s nose before a hard hook across his face. Striker stumbled to the side just as Husk rushed after him throwing a straight at his head but the imp ducked the punch and twisted his body to slam a hook on Husk’s body. Husk winced as he bent over, giving Striker the chance to slam an uppercut straight to Husk’s face, the feline shot up and stepped back away from the imp as some blood dripped from his nose and onto the mat. They both stared at each other breathing hard and sweating a bit before they rushed at one another. Husk landed some clean jabs at Striker’s body but was met with a couple of hooks to his face in retaliation. Husk then slams an uppercut at Striker’s chin making the imp limp forward and grab Husk into a clinch, wrapping his arms around Husk’s body making the feline growl. “Let go of me you western fuck!” Husk tried to pry Striker off of him but to no avail, Striker only increased his hold on Husk as he chuckled to himself. Husk was determined to get Striker off of him so he started to jab at his head making Striker grunt and press his body against Husk’s. The cat growled and looked behind him, an idea came to mind so he started to back up with Striker while continuing to jab at his head. “It would be best to let go right about now.” Husk turned around and pressed Striker against the ropes making the imp gasp. Husk took this chance to slip his arms down and start to bash at Striker’s body. Striker groaned as each punch became harder and harder to the point he was starting to get lifted off the mat. Spittle shot out of him as his arms slid off of Husk and down to his sides. Husk smiled and backed up a bit before starting to swing left and right hooks at Striker’s cheeks, making them swell up and go purple. Striker almost fell down but Husk caught him and pushed him against the ropes making his arms get tangled in them. “You think you would win just because you’re younger, but you lack experience!” He bashed a haymaker at Striker’s nose, his nose was all scrunched up and possibly broken. His head was then snapped to the side by a hook making blood and spittle fly off of him, even a tooth flew from him and landed outside the ring. “Don’t you ever doubt me again!” Husk pulled his right arm back before launching it and slammed his fist deep into Striker’s gut making the imp double over as his cheeks puffed up with air. “And don’t ever threaten my family again!!” He pulls back once more and launches an uppercut to his abs! Striker gasps for air as he is lifted off the mat before he slams down on it with a thud. He coughs and wheezes for air as the bartender comes over.
“1…2…3…4…”
“Don’t you dare think about getting up! If you do I’ll be sure to leave you hanging off the ropes as you struggle to breathe!”
“5…6…7…” Striker puts his fists on the mat and attempts to push himself up but he slips and falls again with a groan. “8…9…10! KO!” The bell rings ending the fight as Husk raises an arm in the air with a smile on his face. Striker doesn’t dare look at Husk but he could hear him coming closer. Husk gets on one knee and grabs Striker by the hair pulling it up making the imp yelp and whine.
“Look at me.” Husk growled, Striker refused only for Husk to pull tighter. “Look at me!” Striker looks at him with one eye open, looking at Husk with fear and regret. “Don’t you ever come near me again and don’t even think about coming near them again. The next time I see you it’s on sight.” He then lets the imp go, letting his head bang against the mat as he takes the gloves and shorts off and hands them over to the bartender. Once Husk is back in his usual wear he goes to grab another beer before heading out leaving Striker groaning in the ring.