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It was a pretty quiet night at the Drunken Cat.
Husk didn’t mind days like these when it was just the regulars staring blankly into the bottoms of their glasses. A couple here and there at the more distant tables were partaking in muted conversations, but their voices carried as nothing more than ambient and indiscernible murmurs by the time they reached the half-hung-over bartender.
As it turned out, owning a bar in Hell wasn’t all it was cracked up to be. Customer service in a world of the wretched and condemned just in general was a nightmare. Then adding alcohol to the mix? Forget about it. But on nights like tonight, when the rain was pouring on the pavement outside and the warmly lit lounge became a tiny pocket of refuge and peace, Husk didn’t regret this particular business venture at all.
He’d tried quite a few different ‘careers’ over the years. You had to if you didn’t want eternity to drive you absolutely batshit insane- but it sort of felt like this little project had run its course. Just like every hustle before it, it hadn’t managed to spark that tiny bit of inspiration that some part of him must have been secretly hoping to reignite.
As the years drew on, he wondered if it wasn’t about time to hang up the towel, give in to apathy and admit nothing ever would. Maybe he really was every bit the empty husk of a man he claimed to be after all.
…But why was this such a disappointing realization?
He thought he’d known and long since accepted this already.
Clearly, a certain energetic someone had been rubbing off on him. His languid gaze drifted to the once-gifted antique radio sitting in the corner of his counter space. It was compact in size, but its gaudy design gave it such an overbearing presence anyway.
It was just as strange and out of place in Husk’s otherwise grey life as the man who gave it to him.
He flicked it on and adjusted the knobs. Soon the grainy sounds of Sinatra began to filter out. He closed his eyes and the closest thing he ever got to a contented smile anymore crossed his thin lips. Now didn’t this take him back ? He could almost remember a time when he didn’t feel quite so old, hollow and bone-tired.
He’d actually met Sinatra in life. They were both on the same show circuits in Vegas for a spell. While he had primarily been a magician, he was a jack of many trades and, in a pinch, had once backed him up in his orchestra. Opportunities used to just fall into his lap like that. Everyday was unexpected and exciting.
Unconsciously, he mouthed along to the words of ‘My Way’ and his long claws tapped along on the countertop, conforming to the positioning for the various notes on a saxophone.
The sound slowly began to cut out and Husk wearily opened an eye. Something else was starting to hijack the radio frequency.
Well, he knew what that usually meant. There went his peaceful night.
The front doors chimed as a new customer walked in, shoes clacking like hooves across the hardwood.
He waited for the usual swing music to start invading his speakers.
It didn’t.
Well… that was new.
He glanced over to the entrance, inspecting the infamous Radio Demon from head to toe.
Nothing at first glance seemed off. (Well, everything about Alastor was off , but nothing seemed different than his usual off)
A wide grin was splashed across his face and he shook the wet from his umbrella before tossing it in the stand with the others.
“Well,” he announced to the room. “Isn’t it simply raining cats and dogs this evening? It’s quite fretful out there indeed!”
The gathered patrons mostly ignored him. They had come quite a far way from when they used to shit bricks every time he dropped by. They’d climatized, Husk supposed. People evolve to just get used to things, and his customers had to very quickly get used to the fact that if they wanted to drink here, they had to be prepared to share the space with Hell’s most powerful and deranged overlord.
Alastor strolled right up to the bar and Husk glanced back at his radio. Nothing? Really? The guy always had some sort of song playing in the back of his head. He was his own literal walking radio station and whatever was running through him, it tended to take over any nearby radios in his vicinity.
The radio-silence was kind of eerie. It gave Husk a bad feeling.
“Well, I’m a proud man, but certainly not too proud to admit my own error,” Alastor said, taking the stool right across from Husk. “I did not forecast this rain in my last weather report. It can be quite a tricky thing to predict down here in the brimstone depths off of the almanac alone. I know what it says about red skies in the morning and red skies at night but it never describes what it means when the sky is perpetually red!” He paused for his canned laugh track to play.
“I imagine some people will be feeling rather cross,” he pondered. “Then again, in all my years of forecasting, I have yet to receive a single complaint when incorrect!” Alastor laughed uproariously as if the idea of someone bringing criticism to him was the most ludicrous thing he’d ever heard.
Probably because it was.
If anyone ever did, they would have to be downright suicidal.
Or Husk.
“Yeah,” Husk said, “No shit they haven’t. No one wants to get bloody eaten for pissing you off, you temperamental psychopath!”
A hand went to Alastor’s ‘affronted’ chest and a studio recording of gasps played out. Well, at the very least, on the outside , he was as loud and obnoxious as ever.
Still, Husk took the moment to carefully scan Alastor’s face. The skin around that cheek-splitting grin seemed more taut than usual. Or maybe he was just imagining it.
Alastor quickly took note of him looking. “Hmm?” He leaned forward with a delighted smirk. “Did you miss the sight of my face that badly old pal-y? It’s not like you to stare, or even hold eye contact really.”
Husk quickly glanced away after having been called out.
“Perhaps I shouldn’t have left you quite so long on your lonesome these last couple of days,” Alastor mused. “I do assure you that I have been meaning to come for a visit, but I’ve just been so terribly swamped!”
“Don’t make time on your schedule on my behalf,” Husk grunted. “In fact, feel free to stay away. You’re fucking terrible for business, you know that?”
Alastor laughed. “You old card! Always so sharp with your words!”
Why DID he always show up anyway? Husk honestly couldn’t wrap his head around it.
They’d met maybe a decade and a half ago when Husk had been cornered into a tight financial spot. He had nowhere else to turn to and so went off and made the world’s most risky gamble by putting his fate into the hands of a dealmaker.
Alastor had taken him in immediately. Of course he had. For him, it was an almost sure-fire win. Their deal had been overtly and unfairly stacked against Husk in every way. If he couldn’t pay him back with interest within a certain amount of time, Alastor would take his soul as collateral.
Against all odds, Husk had succeeded, and then some . He had made BANK at the casino, proceeding to get black-out drunk on the most top-shelf shit he could get his paws on and drop the now almost inconsequential load of cash at the stunned deer man’s door.
Or at least, he assumed he’d been stunned.
He wished with all his deflated heart that he could remember what Alastor’s face had looked like then. It had to have been priceless. Unfortunately, he doesn’t recall any of that… or the two weeks after where he went on a drunken binge-fest and used up every last dollar remaining on all the not-so-earthly delights that hell had to offer.
It should have been the end of their relationship.
Maybe Alastor just hated losing and was playing the long game, waiting for the day Husk fell into hard times once again and he could pull him into another deal which he could ENSURE this time that he’d lose.
Or maybe he really and truly thought of Husk as a friend.
Whatever his intentions, he seemed set on haunting him for the rest of his afterlife and Husk, who didn’t have enough fucks left in his arsenal to give, just sort of let him and as a result, he had gotten to know the guy pretty damned well over the years.
Enough anyway that he knew when something was wrong.
In a surprisingly generous mood, Husk decided that if he was really so distraught that there wasn’t even a song in his ever-jolly heart, he could afford to lend him a listening ear. It was sort of what bartenders do anyway.
He started with probing for a bit more information. “How was your… uh… How was your day?” He scratched the back of his head awkwardly.
Alastor just stared at him unblinkingly. “Why… Husker… I don’t believe you’ve ever asked me that before.”
“Just trying to make conversation,” Husk shrugged. “You can answer or not. I don’t care one way or another.”
“Well,” Alastor said. “I actually had quite the adventure, let me tell you-!”
And he did.
Tell him that was.
Husk swore to Satan , this guy did more things in a day than he did in a week, maybe even a month .
A grin stayed strewn across his face the whole time, but it just seemed to be getting tighter and tighter.
Forced.
Fake.
That would probably be the best descriptor. His grin was so fucking fake that he didn’t believe it for even a second.
Husk’s initial instinct was right. Something was going on with Alastor. It was too bad he always kept things so bottled up. He’d probably feel so much better if he just let himself get off that high horse of his and admit he could sometimes feel just as miserable as the rest of them.
Husk placed his chin in his paw and watched him talk, listening to exactly none of the words. What was the point? They were all lies anyway. Even if they were just the lies Alastor was telling himself.
Husk had no other recourse though than to just let him keep talking and occasionally slide him over the odd drink that he interspersedly ordered in his nattering.
He’d never really seen Alastor get drunk . He was more of a social drinker than anything else, it wasn’t like him to hammer them back and just keep going.
Maybe Husk should have told him to slow down but honestly, he was curious to see what would happen.
With his stick-thin frame it did not take long before he was absolutely inebriated.
Even then though, his innermost thoughts stayed locked up tight. The biggest difference was just that he kept using the wrong sound effects to back up what he was saying. It was headache-inducing.
He talked about the plans he had for the rest of the week, and how ever so excited he was: High tea with Rosie. A swing dance club with Mimzy. He told him about all the new restaurants around the city he’d just HAVE to visit. (Well, he said the restaurants that they’d have to visit. He was always inviting Husk out for some reason, even when Husk never went)
Husk, still not really listening, had folded an entire garden of roses out of paper napkins when he finally grew impatient. This was getting nowhere.
“Alright!” He called out to everyone in the room. “Bar’s closed! Get the fuck out!”
Alastor just blinked in confusion and the other patrons groaned. Several “Fuck you Husk”s were hollared back.
“It’s for your own good you louts. Don’t half of you have wives back home getting pissed?”
Another chorus of protests.
“Fine,” Husk said. “Truth is, this guy here,” he pointed at Alastor. “Is drunk as shit and claiming he’s feelin’ a little peckish .”
That cleared the room FAST. Some ran out in such a rush that they even left behind their umbrellas and wallets.
Alastor, tipsy as hell, was practically giggling at the display, splayed forward on the countertop.
He was usually so put together, it was weird as fuck to see him as anything else. As he was now, there was an almost boyish quality to him. He looked so much younger and maybe even almost human. A few strands of his perfectly quaffed hair fell down into his face as his shoulders shook in amusement.
…Still nothing from the radio though.
Red eyes coyly peered at Husk through his disheveled bangs. His chest did a flip. He took a deep breath to calm himself and only once he could manage his trademark look of indifference did he reach out and slowly comb Alastor’s hair back into place with his claws. “Get a hold of yourself Al, you're completely shitfaced.”
Alastor chuckled some more and stood up just enough to reach across the bar to lighty boop Husk on the heart-shaped nose. "You should have just told me you wanted to spend some alone time together, kitty."
Husk was utterly unimpressed.
Alastor pouted as Husk continued to scowl. “Oh Husker, don’t be so grumpy with me dearest~”
He warped to the other side of the bar and grabbed Husk’s face before he could even react, petting and scratching at his sensitive spots like he was some common housecat.
He wasn’t.
But maybe under torture, he might admit that it still felt pretty damned good all the same.
An unwilling purr ripped out from Husk and Alastor’s grin widened. “Ah there it is!” He pat the top of Husk’s head condescendingly. “Is it really that hard to be honest with your feelings, you sourpuss?”
Husk’s purring abruptly stopped.
“What about you?”
Alastor blinked. “Hm? Whatever do you mean Husker?”
“Don’t try to pull that shit on me!” He snapped. “You think I’d just watch you walk in with that fake-ass miserable grin and not know something was up? I used to read people for a living bastard!” While he was at it, he swat Alastor away with a hiss. “And get out from behind my bar you pest! Employees fuckin’ only!”
Alastor was quickly back in his seat.
“To think I actually tried to do somethin’ nice for ya too,” Husk ranted. “I asked you what was up. I cleared out the bar when I thought maybe you just couldn’t be fucking vulnerable around other people and you’re still puttin’ on this terrible community-theatre production that everything’s alright!”
Alastor was stunned silent.
Husk’s tail swished about in irritation for a few beats but he took a long and aged sigh and quickly calmed down. “Listen Al,” he said somberly. “You can’t just shovel your shit down all the time and pretend it's not there. It doesn’t work forever and that’s what we all gotta deal with: forever. It just piles up if you never address it, you know? The rot eventually spreads and your brain gets sick. Trust me, I’ve been there. I am there. You can’t become like me. If even YOU can’t keep that special zest for life, what chance is there for the rest of us sorry schmucks? Seeing you who's been here longer than me still manage to have a good time… it’s all the hope I have left for myself.”
Alastor placed his head in his crossed arms, hiding his expression. “Husker, I’m bored.”
For a moment Husk misunderstood the confession as a dismissal of the topic and became irate. “Alright, fuck me then. Sorry for trying to help, I’m never going to do that again. We can just drink in silence how about that?”
“No… Husker, I mean,” Alastor looked up and there was a notable frown on his face. “I’m so very, terribly, chronically, mind-numbingly bored- almost all of the time now.”
“Oh…” Husk was honestly speechless. The radio demon without a smile, he never thought he’d see the day.
“I just feel a little as if I’m going through the motions lately,” Alastor admitted tiredly. “Everything has just gotten so repetitive. I’ve run out of new ways to slaughter the masses, my weather reports are only correct half the time. Even dancing and tea- I’ve done it every week for nearly a century and it is getting a tad bit draining!”
Husk placed his chin on the counter as well, levelling himself with Alastor. “Have you thought of trying something different? Maybe you wouldn’t be so bored if you accepted new things past the 20s. There’s new dance styles, movies, music…”
Alastor’s face screwed up in disgust.
“You’re stubborn as a fucking mule, you know that?” Husk asked dryly.
“Well, thank you darling.”
It wasn’t a compliment.
“Well fine,” Husk said, “There’s still a lot of different things to do. A million lifetimes' worth of old-timey hobbies. Maybe even the mundane things you never considered before might have some charm if you give them a try now . Pick up a sport, a craft, a new job- hell, try falling in love!”
Alastor was suddenly giving Husk the most blank of looks.
“Oh come on Al,” Husk scoffed “Don’t pretend you don’t know that you’ve got that whole fanclub in the cannibal colony. I see you purposely strutting by and riling them up. Maybe it’s about time you give one of those ladies a chance.”
Alastor sat up now and continued to look at Husk in perplexment. “I’m not following my dear fellow. Is this part of that self-deprecation thing you enjoy doing so much? You know that I’d never do that to you, don’t you?”
Husk just stared at him. Unable to compute. “…The fuck are you talking about?”
“Husker, we’ve been together for more than a decade, I’m not planning on leaving you now. Even if you have been a rather lackluster lover.”
What?
“I do hope you didn’t read my confession of boredom as me being bored with you,” Alastor continued. “Did I sometimes wish you would put some extra effort into romancing me? Perhaps. I’m not entirely immune to the cliches. If you every now and again tell me that my eyes are the colour of the wrath-ring sky or take me on the odd date somewhere pretty- I wouldn’t be opposed. Even I wish to be charmed and swept off my feet now and again.”
What?
“But make no mistake Husker! I still would rate your overall performance as a romantic partner at least as ‘satisfactory’. Even if you’re not the romantic sort- You do have your moments of redemption! For instance, you noticed today that I was feeling blue when not even Mimzy or Rosie had caught on. I do try and explain this to them- your charm I mean. You may need to do some work at winning them over, they are utterly convinced you are a waste of a man and that I should leave you… or dispose of you or something of that sort . They are none too pleased that you haven’t taken the initiative even once to take me on a date and haven’t forgotten that you didn’t remember when our ten-year anniversary had passed!”
What?
Husk broke into a light cold-sweat. While he still had no idea what Alastor was going on about, he had KNOWN Rosie and Mimzy were oddly chilly towards him! Alastor had gaslit him into thinking it was all in his head! God. Fuck. Satan! Those are two women you DON’T want to get on the bad side of!
“Ah speaking of which, I feel like it’s cheating to remind you, but our fifteen-year anniversary is coming up in a month. Rosie has put her foot down and informed me that if you don’t do anything for that or forget again, you may go missing on the next extermination and I can’t let that happen! I really would be oh-so distraught.”
“You… would?” Husk was just growing more and more dumbfounded.
“Hmm?” Alastor asked. “Ah yes, right, I suppose I may not have made my feelings clear since that day you confessed to me and I acknowledge that at the time I had been somewhat lukewarm to the idea, especially of starting a relationship… I assure you Husker, While I once had been vocal about my reservations, I have long since become entirely smitten! I really do appreciate how patient you have been with my boundaries.” Alastor pinched his cheek affectionately. “You’ve been a perfect gentleman, even! Perhaps even too courteous at times! I always knew I’d need a lot of space and time to warm up to the idea of physical affection, but I never thought I’d be the one finding things moving a little too slow. Fifteen years without even a peck Husker! My goodness, even I’d start thinking that you don’t like me very much!”
Husk was smart enough to know that he was treading on some PRETTY FUCKING THIN ICE right now by asking this next thing but… he really really had to know:
“Say Al, remind me how our uh… courtship went again? In your perspective?” Hopefully, that wasn’t too incriminating in admitting that HE HAD NO FUCKING IDEA WHAT WAS GOING ON RIGHT NOW.
Alastor paused and tilted his head. “Oh? Are you feeling nostalgic Husker? Well alright, I’d love to reminisce, I really do remember it like it was yesterday. I’d dare say it was the most roaring few weeks of my life! I had no idea you had it in you! You showed up on the last day of our deal with a mountain of cash and not only did you pay me back, you whisked me off onto the most interesting of adventures!”
Oh boy, Husk was quite used to his blackouts coming back to haunt him, but never like this. Al was there for the whole thing??? They barely even knew each other back then and it was in the heat of Alastor’s prime massacring days! What was drunk Husk thinking?!
Alastor laughed. “Do you remember the elephant? I still chuckle to myself about it now and again!”
“Yeah,” Husk said, poker face engaged. “The elephant… that was pretty funny.”
“Or when we got all dolled up and hit the casino! I never thought I’d see the day where someone would convince me to wear a dress, but you really are the most persuasive person when you want to be Husker! And you were right! It was hilarious to watch how absolutely confused and terrified everyone was! We laughed about it all night! The best part was how no one ever believed the patrons after that when they claimed to have seen THE Radio Demon on the arm of some random fellow as his lady luck! For years it would hit the tabloids and get dismissed as a hoax!”
Husk did what now?
Alastor’s eyes softened and he gazed at Husk with an overwhelming amount of affection. Husk’s stomach flipped yet again. “I was ever so amazed by you Husker, I had no idea that grouchy old cat I’d met could be such a hoot.”
“I didn’t think I could be like that anymore either…” Husk admitted.
“Then on the last day… how did your confession go again… Hmm let me check my memory…” Alastor tapped on his temple a few times and the radio crackled to life.
“You know Al, I thought you were such a slimy bastard when I met you but you’re alright,”
That was Husk’s own VERY drunk voice coming out of the speakers.
“I always say I lost the ability to love years ago but I don’t know… This whole little trip we took… for the first time I feel like maybe I could again. You’ve really got somethin’ special. I haven’t had fun like this since my twenties.”
“Husker…”
It got too disgustingly syrupy after that for Husk to bear. He buried his face and ears between his paws, no doubt utterly scarlet under all the fur.
By the time it devolved to past-Husk practically BEGGING Alastor to stay by his side forever, present-Husk was banging his head on the table repeatedly in mortification.
Alastor meanwhile, was smiling in sappy adoration. "Really Husker~ You were so passionate! I was thrown entirely off guard!" Gaze still lidded, he ran his fingers through the fluff of Husk's cheek, effectively causing Husk to freeze. The fur along his entire body lifted from its roots to vent out the rising, pulsing heat.
He could look everywhere but at Alastor.
He needed to clear this up, right?
This isn’t the sort of misunderstanding you just let go on.
But where to even start?
Alastor’s sinful fingers slid along the length of Husk’s jaw, to a wandering path down his neck. Husk gulped.
“Listen… Al…” He said, suddenly finding the ceiling awful interesting. “I think I might need to tell you-“
Alastor’s hand fell upon Husk’s bow tie and clutched at the fabric .
Husk was pulled into a deep kiss.
Oh.
Ok.
This was…
Husk reached over and gripped his claws into the back of Alastor’s jacket. He pressed hard into the edge of the counter that separated them, almost cutting off circulation to get even the smallest bit closer.
Several of Alastor’s empty glasses were knocked over and one rolled perilously close to the bar’s edge but he didn’t really care about damaged glassware in that moment.
He kissed back. Hard.
By the time they parted, Alastor’s breath was laboured and it ruffled the fur of Husk’s face with each whisky-scented exhale.
Husk meanwhile was a short-circuited, soppy mess.
His thoughts took a second to boot back up.
Well… Maybe he was stressing too much over the finer details. There was only one thing that really needed to be said in the end. He pressed his forehead to Alastor’s. “I’ll be better to you sweetheart, You can tell Rosie to call off her goons alright?”
He thought earlier about the music on the radio, and how it made him feel something. Was it the music itself, or the warm familiarity of the grainy radio tone that muffled it?
Either way, he was definitely feeling some kind of way right now and he found himself unwilling to let it go.
“Husker,” Alastor breathed.
“Yeah?”
“Will you ever tell me how you managed to pull off that trick with the elephant?”
Ah.
Husk pecked him on the lips and slid a claw along the collar of his jacket. “Sorry dollface, a magician never reveals his secrets.” (because he has no idea what they even are)
He backed off and Alastor straightened up as well.
While readjusting his clothes, he was quick to notice the napkin rose now attached to his lapel.
His fingers ran over the folded edges for a moment in wonder and then the look he sent Husk had the barcat melting all over again. “So tell me Husker," he finally asked, "have you learned how to love again?”
“I think I might just be getting there Al.”
When Alastor teleported himself to the other side of the bar again, this time Husk wasn't going to complain.
...
...
...
He DID however complain a week later when he was detached from reality and brought back into the middle of a hotel.
He complained a LOT.
Yes he had told Alastor to find a new ambition but he didn't expect to be dragged along into it and his timing couldn't have been worse.
Sore over the loss of an immense pot of money, Husk skulked about the empty lobby in a snit.
He loved the guy- was falling in love with the guy , but also, fuck him to double Hell.
Next time they had a moment alone together, they would be exchanging some words. And a lot of those words were going to be curses and swears on Husk's end.
That moment came very soon.
Alastor materialized and launched himself at Husk, wrapping him into a tight embrace. Husk stumbled a little back at the impact.
"Oh Husker! Isn't this going to be a grand old time chum?"
Any retort died in Husk's mouth as his bugging eyes saw it from over Alastor's shoulder:
A tail, wagging so quickly it was creating its own little wind current.
How fucking cute. Husk suddenly forgot what he was even angry about.
Did he always have a tail? Where did it come from? Why was it out now?
One would have to assume that he didn't like people seeing it if it was usually hidden.
One of the many perilously stacked dust-collecting pieces of rubbish in the lobby lost its long fight with gravity and clamoured to the floor. Thinking it was another person from the hotel, Husk quickly slapped both his paws over the fluffy thing to hide it from any prying eyes.
Alastor jolted at the touch. "My, Husker," he purred. "How daring of you. You must be a little excited too~ You're like a new man! It’s been a while since you made such a bold move!"
Husk quickly realized that with his oversized hands, he was very much also cupping Alastor's ass.
His arms rocketed up in a gesture of surrender.
"Someone's eager to retire to bed," Alastor noted.
Wait.
"Shit."
Husk looked around forlornly. "I forgot to get a room key from the princess. Where the fuck did she go?"
Alastor laughed and dangled a thick brass key between his fingers. "I have ours right here dearest! I'll take it to get replicated first thing in the morning."
Husk blinked dumbly.
"Ours?"
"I hope you don't mind. I told Charlotte we'd be sharing a room. It really is about time, no?"
Before Husk could even answer they were off walking to the elevator, Alastor had a gift of herding people along where he wanted them to go.
Well, while things may be accelerating at light speeds for Husk, on Alastor's timeline, fifteen years definitely warranted moving in together.
Oh well, Husk was getting pretty caught up in the flow anyway. He certainly wasn't going to be the one to put the brakes on the relationship now.
Husk tentatively put a hand on Alastor's waist. "Yeah, guess it is."
They stepped into the elevator and Husk only had to glance at Alastor to begin purring.
Alastor's ears twitched to the sound and an unreadable grin crossed his face.
By magic, Husk found his hand moving against his will to rest once again over the pert little mound of Alastor's behind.
He choked on the air itself. "Ah, Al," he managed out. "We are just going to sleep, right ? I thought that other stuff... wasn't your thing?"
Alastor glanced at him. "Hmm? Yes, it might not be my thing, but I figure you're being so good to me right now Husker. I know this hotel wasn't your idea of a swell time. When I see you humouring me, I think that I might just want to try being good to you too ." {Author note: risque link]
Husk was stunned stiff, paws falling limply to his slides. A ping indicated that they had reached their floor and the doors promptly opened.
Alastor stepped out and glanced back at Husk when he didn't immediately follow.
"Of course, if you aren't interested-"
Husk almost stumbled over himself in his rush to chase after him.