Chapter Text
The fluorescent lights flickered faintly above, humming in their familiar monotony. Jade pushed the cart slowly down the hardware aisle, glancing at the shelves for the tools she needed. Luna sat inside, her small wings twitching with curiosity, dark pink feathers brushing against the sides of the cart. The little girl’s taupe tail twitched behind her, and her tiny paws, with yellow-orange heart-shaped pads, gripped the edges of the cart tightly. Jade tried to focus, but the ache of anticipation weighed in her chest.
Okay… wrench set, check. Pliers, check. Everything else… maybe in the next aisle… Jade muttered internally. Her hand hovered over a set of screwdrivers, but she barely registered the numbers and sizes; her mind was elsewhere, cataloging Husk’s mood, Luna’s reactions, and the creeping anxiety that had started to nestle in her chest over the past few minutes.
Then she felt it—a shadow brushing the corner of her vision, followed by a breathy voice.
“Hey, Jade.”
Her body stiffened. Instinctively, she stepped back, gripping the cart handle harder. No. No, no, no… Her mind raced. She didn’t want to look, didn’t want to acknowledge the familiar tone that brought a cold knot to her stomach.
Slowly, she turned.
Jason.
His dark hair fell into his eyes in a calculated, almost theatrical way, his lips curling into a grin that made her stomach flip. The moment he stepped closer, she felt her cheeks heat up—not from embarrassment, but from the surge of adrenaline and anger.
“Did… did you miss me?” he asked, his tone low, flirtatious, and far too intimate for comfort. His hand rose slowly toward her face.
Jade’s eyes snapped open wide. Get off me! she thought, her pulse spiking. Her hand shot out, slapping his fingers away. “What do you think you’re doing?!” Her voice cracked like a whip, startling Luna, who squeaked and clutched the side of the cart.
Jason smirked, leaning closer, ignoring her boundaries. “Just saying hello…”
No. You don’t get to say hello like that, Jade’s internal voice snapped. Her grip on the cart tightened, knuckles turning white. “I said leave us alone! My family—my daughter—stay away from us!”
Luna’s wings fluttered nervously, her little heart thudding rapidly. She wasn’t old enough to fully understand Jason, but she knew the tension, the sharp edges in Jade’s voice, and the way Husk would hate this. She hissed quietly, her ears flicking, tail lashing slightly.
Jade pushed forward, weaving between shelves. Jason followed easily, as though every movement was choreographed, every step deliberate. Her pulse raced, adrenaline and fear mixing in a bitter cocktail in her chest.
I have to get out. I need Husk. He’ll… he’ll know what to do…
She called out, voice slightly shaking. “Husk! Husk, where are you?!”
From the back of the store, a familiar gravelly voice answered. “Jade?”
Relief flooded her chest, mixed with lingering fear. Husk emerged from behind a corner, feathers ruffling, his long tail sweeping behind him, black-sclera eyes narrowing as they took in her expression, her flushed cheeks, and the tiny figure of Luna in the cart.
“Husk,” Jade breathed, approaching him quickly. “We have to go. Now.”
Husk frowned, confusion and instinctive protectiveness warping his features. “Why? What happened?”
Jade leaned in slightly, voice dropping. “He’s here. Jason. He… tried to touch me. Tried to kiss me.”
Husk’s pupils constricted. “What?!” His claws flexed at his sides, feathers bristling along his arms. Luna, sensing the tension, let out a tiny mew and leaned closer to Jade.
Not now… not with the baby kicking… Jade thought. She could feel the movement of her son inside Husk, tiny kicks that mirrored the anxiety in the room.
“Don’t worry,” she said softly, stroking Husk’s arm to calm him. “He wasn’t even close. I got away before he could—just… let’s get the stuff we need and leave.”
Husk’s gaze swept the aisle, scanning for any sign of Jason. His tail flicked, wings brushing against the shelves instinctively, feathers prickling. “Where is he?”
“Relax,” Jade urged, pressing a hand to his shoulder. “I told him to leave. Hopefully he got the memo.”
Husk’s jaw clenched. “If he’s still here…” His tail lashed, feathers bristling.
Even Luna seemed aware of Husk’s rising tension, tilting her head and letting out a small chirp. Her tiny claws gripped the cart. Dad’s upset…
Jade’s mind raced as she scanned the aisle again. Okay… maybe if I loop through the next aisle, lose him… She pushed the cart forward, weaving around displays, hearts pounding.
Jason appeared at the end of the aisle, leaning casually as though he hadn’t just tried to cross a dangerous boundary. Jade felt the familiar spike of fear and anger.
“Yo! Leave us alone!” Jade snapped, exasperated. Luna’s wings fluttered violently, tail lashing against the side of the cart.
Husk stepped in front of them, his wings spreading slightly, tail coiling behind him, claws flexed. “Step aside,” he growled, voice low and dangerous. His eyes—black sclera, yellow slitted pupils—locked onto Jason like a predator.
Jade placed a calming hand on Husk’s arm. “Husk, it’s okay. I… I handled it.”
But Husk didn’t relax. He scanned, aisle by aisle, ensuring no trace of Jason remained. Every muscle in his body was taut, protective instinct overriding all else. Not my family. Not on my watch, he thought, the baby inside him kicking sharply, echoing his own agitation.
Finally, they reached the checkout. Husk lifted Luna gently from the cart, holding her close to his chest. Jade stood beside him, small beads of sweat on her brow. The cashier eyed Husk warily, sensing the storm contained within him, and quickly rang up their items without comment.
Outside, the fading sunlight cast long shadows over the parking lot. Husk pressed a protective arm around Jade’s waist as they walked toward the car, tail coiled protectively around both her and Luna.
Back at the Hazbin Hotel, Charlie’s eyes widened in concern. “Husk… Jade… what happened?”
Jade explained quickly, her voice steady but heavy: “Jason showed up. He… tried to touch me. Tried to kiss me.”
Husk’s claws flexed unconsciously. “I… I should’ve—”
Charlie put a gentle hand on Husk’s arm. “You both are safe now. That’s what matters.”
Vaggie’s eyes narrowed, fists clenched. “We’ll make sure he doesn’t get near you again.”
Angel Dust smirked, leaning lazily against a wall. “Well, that’s… uh… creepy as hell, bro. Good thing you two are solid.”
Cherri Bomb, arms crossed, muttered, “That guy doesn’t know who he’s messing with.”
Luna, perched in Husk’s arms, let out a soft mew, small wings fluttering slightly as if acknowledging the resolution. Husk kissed the top of her head. “It’s okay, little one. Daddy’s got you.”
Jade exhaled slowly, resting her head against Husk’s shoulder. Even with the tension fading, the adrenaline left lingering heat in her chest. Husk’s tail curled around them both, a physical barrier against any further intrusion.
For the first time since the confrontation, Jade let herself breathe. Outside, the neon lights flickered gently, and inside, the Hazbin Hotel crew rallied around them. Their little family was safe.
And Husk knew one thing for certain: nothing would threaten them again without consequences.