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“Gooooood morning Hazbin Hotel!!” Charlie yelled running down the stairs. Niffty was already running around killing roaches, Cherri Bomb was probably still sleeping while Husk was already at the bar preparing drinks for everyone. “For the last time, I will NOT make a Mai Tai—”
“Hello Husk! How’s it going?” Charlie interrupted him, again. “It’s okay, I guess, there’s not a lot of people today...” He replied. “Perfect! Let’s get to work, shall we?” she said enthusiastically and walked away to greet someone else. “I need a break...” Husk sighed, waiting for the afternoon.
After the “morning rush” (it was literally just Cherri ordering a thousand “Harder Daddy” rounds) Husk finally had his free time. “Hey Husk, wanna join us on our therapy session?” Vaggi walked up to him and asked. “Uhh thanks for the opportunity, but... I’ll just go for a walk” he replied, and Vaggi understood how hard therapy sessions must be hard for him after... “It’s okay, have fun” she smiled and walked away to the hall while Husk directed himself towards the exit.
As he walked down the street searching for a bar, he saw “that” one. He remembered what happened there, it was the same one where he first saved Angel. Husk wiped his face with his hand and subconsciously walked inside anyway. He walked up to the counter and asked for his Gin, then he sat down. Sip after sip, his ears started focusing more on sounds; thuds, music and voices. Actually, a really familiar voice.
“That’s what I was saying, boys!!” Yeah, he was fucked, it was definitely Angel.
Husk started looking around, searching for the source of that (beautiful, to say the least) voice. He found him in the same exact spot where he was the last time, different people around. Angel was laughing, drunk and actively doing drugs. Obviously. “Ah what the fuck...” Husk scoffed, disappointed.
He was considering walking up to him, but he would’ve probably ignored him or his “boys” would’ve hunted him down. He decided to just get wasted and not think about him.
A few minutes later, Husk saw someone walking up to the counter. It wasn’t just “someone”, it was a six legged demon with long black gloves, a crop-top with a heart shape on the chest and some really revealing pants. “Another round for me and my boys right there” Angel said, and his voice made Husk want to bury himself right there.
Husk ignored him, or at least he tried. He got his drinks and while he was walking back to the table, the door of the bar flew open and made a really loud noise.
Husk turned around and when he saw who opened the door he whispered to himself an “oh fuck”.
Angel also turned around and his face went pale when he saw Val storming in, angry and staring at him. Angel put on a little smile and said “Heyy Val what’s up-”. He got cut off by a slap; the drinks in his hands falling to the ground. Everyone was watching at this point, and Angel’s “friends” didn’t do anything.
Husk didn’t hesitate to get up, defense mode. “Where the FUCK have you been you little slut? You were supposed to be at the studio one hour ago!!” Val shouted, grabbing Angel from one of his wrists and pulling him out of the bar.
Angel started saying random stuff to try and get Val to let go: “L-listen Val I’m sorry but tonight is really not the night—”
“Let him go” Husk interrupted him, knocking Val’s hand away.
“W-what” Angel whispered watching Husk place himself in front of him and spread his wings to protect him. “Oh who do you think you are old man?! Let me do my job and bring him away” Val shouted, trying to push him out of his way.
“I’m probably younger than you, asshole” Husk said using his powers to protect Angel and as Val was distracted he grabbed his wrist and dragged him out of the bar saying “let’s get you out of here”.
When they make it out in the back, Angel says “Hey, I don’t need your help!”.
“Oh come on Angel you were in serious danger, I just wanted to make sure you were okay” Husk replied, watching Angel start to walk away. “Not even a thanks?” Husk said in a higher tone to recall Angel’s attention.
“I told you to forget about me, didn’t I?!” Angel said, peeking at Husk over his shoulder. Husk’s ears fell down, memories about that night flooding his mind.
“Why don’t you go on and do that?” Angel added, smiling bitterly as a tear fell down his face. “I have to go to work now...” he said walking away.
“Fine, if you really think I could forget about you after... all this I—I’ll try! Just know that the hotel is always open and Fat Nuggets misses you...” Husk yelled as Angel disappeared around the corner.
Husk’s walk back to the hotel after what happened was filled with sinners’s whispers.
“Yeah obviously I’ve seen his new movie, I loved it!” “Yeah but the other one was boring as hell!”.
“Have you heard the scandal of his boss? That was crazy as fuck” “I don’t care, he’s way too hot, I can’t stop watching his movies”
“Disgusting...” Husk thought, but he kept walking until he got to the hotel.
“Husk!!” Niffty ran towards him, climbing on his wings. “Hey Niff, took good care of this place while I was gone?” he asked. “YES! Roaches fear me” she said and she giggled. “Hey Husk, Cherri, you might wanna come see this...” Charlie called out from in front of the TV.
“I’m here, what’s up?” Husk said, walking to the TV and noticing the news. “Good night sinners, we want to reassure you that NONE of the things you’re hearing about the ‘scandal’ with our beautiful Angel Dust is real. STOP SPREADING FAKE NEWS -” the news lady spoke, but the only thing Husk was focused on was the picture they had put of Angel on TV.
He knew the rumors were real so he didn’t care to hear it again, but the photo was the club one. That was the moment Husk realized he LIKED Angel, NOT only as a friend.
He had gathered the courage to tell him back then, but Angel wasn’t at the Hotel and then he left and... he never got the chance.
“It’s all real” Husk said to the others. “Today I saw him, the rumors are obviously real”, everyone stared and Cherri said “you saw him?!!” “Yeah, I did. Trust me I... didn’t want to. Especially I didn’t wanna get in the middle of his stuff about Val-” “Wait, what happened Husk?” Charlie asked looking worried.
Husk’s ears fell down once again and he explained all that happened. Vaggi had a kind of mad expression, probably for Val, and Cherri walked up to him for comfort. “I didn’t think he actually... hated me” Husk said sniffing. “Sweetie, he doesn’t hate you, Val just got in his head!!” Cherri said. “I mean he even cried! He misses you, man” Vaggi said. “I’m gonna make Val pay for this one day” Charlie added.
“Thank you all guys, I’ll go take a nap now or I won’t be ready for my shift tomorrow.” Husk said, walking to his room and waving to everyone.
The next morning he woke up very tired but still made his way to the bar (he surely didn’t want to get “scolded” by Alastor again). He made probably another thousand “Harder Daddy” rounds for Cherri and he just stayed there, staring at the door, hoping. He gave up just some minutes later when another “stranger” walked in. He didn’t even pay attention to who he could’ve been.
They walked up to the counter while Husk was turned around grabbing some bottles.
“Can I get an ‘Harder Daddy’, please?”
When he heard the voice, but he thought it must’ve been a dream. Still, he turned around as fast as he could and... there he was. Yes, it was definitely a dream.
“A-Angel?” Husk’s breath catched in his throat while saying the name.
“Hey, loser” Angel replied, smiling at him. Husk stared blankly for some seconds, then he slapped himself to wake up.
“Woah Whiskers, you okay?” Husk heard Angel say, realizing that this was actually happening.
“Angel, you—you came!” Husk exclaimed, resting his hands on the counter, smiling (his tail was also waggling). “Oh well yeah I did... many times” “Shut up, asshole!!” Husk said and both of them started laughing.
Charlie appeared some minutes later and started talking to Angel, he revealed that he had found a way to finally leave Valentino and that he was finally free. Husk still hesitated to believe that all of this was real.
“You’re back for redemption, big bro!” Cherri said while Husk was still at the counter. “Yeah” - Angel started saying, turning around to look at Husk - “maybe it’s not so bad around here after all.”
He finished saying, scratching his neck and blushing a little bit. “Oh I see” Cherri said giving him a little bump on the shoulder.
Husk smiled while cleaning glasses as Angel approached him. He leaned over the counter to reach Husk’s ear to whisper “meet me in my room once your shift’s ended, will ya?”.
Husk went completely red, but played along. “I sure will, legs. Better get that redemption I was promised!” He said as Angel leaned to look at him.
After that phrase ended, Angel quickly pressed his lips on Husk’s then he said walking away “Oh you will. See ya later, ‘loser baby’” and he disappeared on the staircase.
Husk just stared, then whispered “I’m down bad” while smiling and going back to cleaning.