Husk showered in his room, listening to all the shouting and he was on the second floor. All that shouting from Charlie's room. There was no way that poor woman was going to get any sleep. He sighed letting the warm water hit him.

Don't know why I bothered washing off. Alastor is gonna kill me anyways.

He sighed again.

He really needed a drink. He hadn't been sober this long in years- decades? Everything that happened made him want to pound his face off the bathroom wall. He was too old for this shit.

I need a goddamn vacation.

It took three towels to dry himself off decently and he was out of his room, heading back upstairs to check on Charlie.

After all that, he felt like he owed it to her to make sure she was ok. She did manage to make him smile a few times and that was rather hard for anyone to do. He had been dead inside for a long time now and Charlie's near death state shook some feelings loose apparently.

He had no idea why he felt like he owed it to her to make it back to the hotel with her alive at least. He did promise her…. He didn't even promise shit to Alastor and the man could kill him at anytime.

He made it onto her floor when the Radio Demon popped up in front of him. He wasn't the least bit surprised but he still jumped.

"If you're gonna kill me, can you do it outside at least? Charlie's been through enough shit for the week."

The deer demon tilted his head, grinning like a maniac.

"Do tell how you managed to find her like that."

"I found her in a building. I smelled her. I stayed with her because she couldn't bear to move. She had a fever and I decided we couldn't wait any longer."

"That's it?"

"That's it. I was so drunk I don't remember too much before that."

"I see."

Husk arched an eyebrow.

"Anything else you want you whack-a-do?"

"No."

Alastor stepped to the side.

"Are you fond of the princess?" the deer demon asked.

The cat demon stopped and glared at Alastor.

"I admire her ability to take a fucking hit. Most men would've died. I don't how she managed to make it like that but she did. She's got some fuckin' balls."

Alastor's eyebrows shot up.

"Are you done being fuckin' weird or do you have a job for me?"

"Are you visiting the princess?" he asked.

Husk sighed, "I was planning on it."

"Ah I see."

"You want to see her too?" the cat demon asked, "I thought she was gonna die and you've been stalking the halls for her for a while. You gotta care for the woman a little bit."

The Radio Demon snorted, "She's a co worker- not a friend."

"Whatever."

Husk went to Charlie's door and gave a knock. The door flung open a few seconds later. Vaggie stared at him looking real tired.

"Yea?"

"Came to see her."

"Oh, come in."

Vaggie moved out of the way and his yellow eyes landed on Charlie. She looked like a mummy laying there but she looked more alive than she was hours earlier. Charlie's eyes fluttered open a little bit. She grinned when she saw Husk come into view.

"I'll leave you two alone. I'm gonna make her some soup."

Vaggie closed the door behind her, leaving Husk standing there near Charlie's bed looking at the princess with a blank expression.

What the fuck do I say? I ain't good at this shit.

"You're alive."

Of all the things he could've said, that was the first thing that came to his head. Charlie snorted and Husk slapped his own face.

Why in the fuck did you say that?

"I've noticed," the princess said with a shit eating grin, "It's a miracle what pain killers can do though."

"That's good."

She giggled and sat up some, wincing. She patted the spot on the bed beside of her.

"Sit down!"

Husk's eyebrows shot up but he did as she asked. His eyes dropped down to see her hands wrapped up.

"So, you fucked up your hands really good?" he asked.

"They said it was the least worst of all of them actually! So that's good!"

"What about the rest of you?"

"Oh, well… They made me drink some weird stuff to make my body heal faster apparently. Vaggie bribed them not to speak of this to anyone…. She's afraid my dad might rip me away from the hotel."

"That would fuckin' suck."

She grinned again, "It definitely would. Are you ok? Did you have the doctors check you out too?"

"I'm fine. Just tired Princess. No reason to worry about me."

She placed a mummy wrapped hand on his paw.

"Thanks. I owe you so much. I can't help but worry about you."

The cat demon snorted, "I doubt that. If it's wasn't for that smiling freak, we probably wouldn't have made it back until now or later actually. One of the few times that fuck could teleport me and I wouldn't mind, he waits until the last minute."

Charlie giggled, "Ah ok. I'm glad for that."

"For once I was too."

"Husk?"

He hummed.

"Can… Can I hug you?" she asked softly.

Husk scoffed and scooted closer.

"Yea I guess."

Much to his surprise, Charlie pulled him into a tight hug. How in the hell she managed to recover that much strength in such short time was astounding! She buried her face in his shoulder and took a deep breath.

"You still smell good."

"Jesus christ you're a weird one."

Charlie laughed.

"I like when people smell good. Everyone smells different. Then when you smell it somewhere when you aren't with them, it makes you think about them."

Husk blinked.

"Less weird I suppose."

She pulled back a little and looked into his eyes.

"I can't compare what you smell like but you smell like you. It's nice."

"You smell like antiseptic and alcohol wipes."

Charlie laughed and pulled away.

"I will for a while. I prefer smelling like my pumpkin body wash but I'm stuck like this for now. For about two weeks."

"That sucks."

She pulled away slowly and looked at her lap.

"They…. they said it was bad. That it was good you brought me back when you did. Apparently the demons who attacked me weren't very clean with their claws and I got a bad infection."

Husk felt his chest tightened up.

"It could've been a lot worse. If… If I would've died it would've been bad."

"I wouldn't have just let you die."

Charlie's eyes locked with his. Her lips twitched upward into a small smile.

"T-thanks….. I wish I would've let you get me help sooner but I was so scared to be alone after that. Vaggie said I can't go out alone unless I'm willing to fight for myself."

"Why didn't you?"

The princess fell quiet.

"No, I understand if you don't want to say. We all have secrets."

"I just…. I didn't want to hurt anyone. No matter how bad people are, I didn't want to hurt anyone. Pretty stupid huh?"

The princess laughed weakly and looked down at her wrapped up hands.

"I guess I get it. I always had to fight for my shit…. To live. Killing isn't fun."

Charlie pressed her dark lips into a thin line.

"I know. I've done it before."

Husk looked dumbfounded.

"It's never been anything I've been proud of myself…. I was left alone at the castle… probably before you were born actually. Somehow there was an inside job they took down the force fields around my home. I ended murdering the intruders and destroying half of the castle. I was alone with just Razzle and Dazzle for a week with dead bodies laying around everywhere. I melted the skin off my hand and arms in places."

"Fucking christ….."

Charlie snorted softly.

"It was the smell. Even hidden in my room… I could smell it. That's why it bothers me so much…. I don't want to smell it."

That made a whole lot of sense. No one down here cared that much about dead bodies but being stuck with them for a fucking week would be enough to stop anyone from wanting to smell rotting bodies. He didn't deal with that too much since Alastor would either eat them or they just left them there. Either option worked for Husk and he had grown rather immune to Alastor's weird eating habits.

"Naw, I understand. That's some hardcore shit to deal with."

"It was- at the time. It should'n't bother me anymore but it still does. I was afraid if you left me alone, it would happen again. Stupid huh?"

"Not really. It does make more sense and we left at dawn with a lot less demons hangin' around. Maybe we should've left a lot earlier but fuck, I didn't even know what time it was. I was still kind of buzzed for a while."

She covered her mouth and giggled.

"Well, you're my hero. Drunk or not."

Husk scoffed, "Darlin, I'm no hero."

He didn't miss the blush that spread across her cheeks as she looked away with a smile on her face.

"He, maybe…. Was um… Al mad?"

"Who gives a shit, really? That freaky shit head can deal with his own issues."

"I kind of sensed he was….. It was hard to tell."

Husk arched an eyebrow at her.

"He um…. came in here and stared at me for some time. It was a little weird. He didn't say anything. He just stared."

"Jesus christ."

Husk rubbed his forehead. Charlie only smiled and scooted a little closer. His eyes met hers and she turned a little pink.

"If… you want, can you come visit me when you have free time? I have a bunch of playing cards in here and we can play to pass the time."

He sighed and nodded. Why the fuck not? Wasn't like he did much anyways.

"Sure. It sounds fun."

Charlie sat up straighter, grinning more, "Awesome! If you want to leave now you can. I know you're probably really tired and everything. Unless you wanna nap in here."

She patted the spot beside of her and he groaned before getting up. She giggled loudly as he made his way to her door.

"You're awesome Husk. Thank you so much."

He turned slightly to look at her. She looked so happy and her cheeks seemed to be a brighter pink. He gave her a small smile and a nod. He left her alone once again.

The way she looked at him…

Made him feel a little weird.

The poor cat demon went flying down the stairs, running like Alastor was on his heels and made it to the bar.

Fuck. Fuck, fuck, fuck!

He approached the bar to see Angel Dust sitting there with Niffty.

"Fucking christ, why are you here already?" Husk asked looking through the bar.

"Ya don't look too bad for someone who was out for two days with a bleeding princess."

Husk flipped Angel the bird and snagged a bottle of whiskey. He twisted the top off and started drinking.

"Fuck, are you alright?" Angel asked looking a little alarmed.

Niffty gripped the bar just watching her co worker drowning himself in liquor. He got half way through and stopped. He wiped his mouth and slammed the bottle on the bar.

"Fuck!" he growled.

Why would she look at me like that? She's just fucking grateful about what I did and here I am making it more than it is.
"Stressed out?"

"Like you wouldn't fuckin' believe!"

"Can ya give us drinks before ya fuck yer self up?"

Husk growled once again and poured out some vodka into two glasses. He dumped orange juice into them not really caring if he made a mess. Slid on oranges slices on the rim with two curly straws he knew they liked and slid the glasses towards them.

"Drink it and fucking like it."

Niffty snickered, "Thanks."

"Whatever. Yer such a fuckin' grouch."

Husk didn't say anything as he picked the wall behind the bar he stood against it and slid down it until he was on the floor. He continued to drink anyways when his mind wandered to about six months ago. He didn't like thinking about it but he did sometimes.

Husk managed to make it down to the lobby, heading for the bar. His head was aching already and he was tired as fuck. He had to do some bullshit for Alastor… A demon didn't want to keep up his end of the deal and he had to hunt the dumb mother fucker down.

He just wanted some silence. He wanted to drink alone and forget.

Well, until his eyes landed on Charlie slumped on his bar. She had her head laying down and an arm thrown over it. He stopped in his tracks and just stared. Her hair looked a little messy, she burped rather loudly and she had an empty bottle of peach schnapps on the side and a carton of orange on the floor. Her glass sat there with melting ice and a curly straw. She looked worse than he did.

Husk walked closer to her to see she had been crying too. Her black tipped nose looked a little pink and her eyes looked a little blood shot.

"What the hell are you doing girly?"

Charlie raised her head at hearing his voice. She blinked her eyes slowly and looked at him with a weird expression on her face. She was really drunk.

"Huh?" she asked like she didn't hear him right.

"What the hell are you doing? You shouldn't drink alone!"

Charlie snorted, "Dontcha do it?"

Husk rolled his eyes.

"I'm different."

She snorted loudly and sat up almost falling backwards but she saved herself.

"Let me get you some water and make you some coffee."

So he slid a bottle of water over to her and started on the coffee. He insisted she place a coffee pot in the bar area. She agreed once he explained why.

This was exactly why.

Charlie drank the water slowly. He reached under the bar and pulled out a bag of chips.

"Here."

"Yer so n-nicccceee Husk. Yer a great gay- guy I mean."

She hiccuped and giggled. Husk couldn't help but laugh. He listened to the coffee maker as the coffee pot started to fill up. He leaned on the bar and watched Charlie. He hadn't seen her drink once this whole time and here she was drunk as he would normally be.

"Can I touch yer face?" she asked, "You look so soft and cuddly."

Husk snorted, "I don't think so."

Her happy face fell.

"Ahhhh….."

She took another drink of her water.

"How do you take your coffee?"

"As as…. um… As sweet as youuuu."

"Good god Charlie."

She dissolved into a fit of drunken giggles.

"So you like your coffee black then?" Husk asked.

Charlie cut off her giggling and rolled her eyes.

"I ain't Al! I enjoy life and I don't punish myself with nasty ass drinks! Gimme sugar and creamer. Lots of it."

She placed her elbows on the bar, holding her face up and grinned at him.

"You wanna drink with me?" she asked, "It beeee so mush fuwan!"

Husk poked her nose, "I think you can just drink water. Let me get your coffee. No more alcohol for you."

He poured out her cup as she pouted and added an ungodly amount of sugar with creamer. He slid it over to her. She glanced at it for a few seconds and her eyes started watering. He stared at her flabbergasted.

"What? What the fuck did I do?" he asked looking alarmed.

"No one ever makes me coffee right," she whined, "But you did. You're the best Husk. It's like ya know me so well!"

She held onto the cup and started bawling.

"Stop the crying! Damn woman! It's just coffee!"

"I-I know but…"

He sighed and reached over to start patting her head awkwardly.

"There, there. You're ok. Calm down."

She nodded slowly and looked up at him with watery eyes.

"Drink with meeeee."

"You drink that coffee and I'll drink a beer. How's that?"

"Okie!"

Charlie bounced in her seat happily.

He snorted again and grabbed a beer from the cooler. He twisted the top off and took a drink. He pulled out a chip and handed it to Charlie but she didn't grab it. Instead, she opened her mouth wide.

"Jesus fuck, Charlie."

"Feed me!"

She opened her mouth again. He let out a huff and fed her the chip.

"Mmmmmm!"

He chuckled and took another drink. Drunk people were amusing alright.

"Can I have another?"

Husk gave in and fed Charlie the chips while he ate a few himself. It took her about thirty minutes and she seemed a little bit more coherent.

"Husk!" Charlie yelled, slapping her hand against the bar making him jump.

"What?! Are you losing your goddamn mind?!"

"Dance with me!" she demanded standing up and stumbling.

"What- no!"

Charlie stumbled a little more, tripping over her own feet.

"Oh shit-

Husk rushed out from behind the bar to catch the princess. She giggled and wrapped her arms around his neck.

"Good catch," she said with a goofy grin, batting her eyelashes.

He was lucky there was fur on his face other wise she would've seen the burning blush he had.

"Dance with me now?" she asked looking up at him, running her hands against his neck and upper back.

He pulled her back up.

"I don't dance Charlie."

She threw her head back and whined like a child. He had no idea what to do about this.

"Fuck, fine. There's no music though."

"Hold on!" Charlie reached into her back pocket and pulled out her phone, "I like this one song…. I wanted to dance to it before but haven't."

She squinted looking at the screen. Could she even concentrate long enough to type in the words?

"Okay, I think I got it."

Charlie pressed play and placed it on the bar stool.

"Ya ready?"

"God, you're making me regret this already. I'll be puking from all the spinning around."

"It's not that kind of song," the princess said with a giggle.

She slipped her hand back up to his neck and the song started playing. Husk stood there with his paws at the side as Charlie swayed slowly.

"You're just standing Husk. You gotta hold me."

She let out a soft laugh.

"Fine," he growled and placed his paws on her hips then started swaying with her.

Much to his surprise, she could still sing without sounding drunk.

"Is it far away in the
Glitter freeze
Or in our eyes
Every time they meet"

Charlie sighed and ran her fingers down the fur on his neck. He shivered slightly- it wasn't like she would remember this but it was nice. He didn't know the damn song but to just dance with someone, it was nice. He listened to Charlie's half drunk broken up singing. Then when she hit a part, it kind of hurt him and pulled her tighter against himself without meaning too.

"There's nothing you can say to her
I am without a heart
And the space has been broken"

"It's broken
Our love
Broken"

Charlie hugged him a little tighter in response and continued singing, swaying with the song. It ended another one came up he never heard of but he released her and headed back for the bar.

"You wanna do another one?" she asked.

She was still a little wobbly and her red eyes looked a little glazed over.

"I think that's enough for me."

"Aw…. ok."

She staggered to her phone and picked it up, squinting at the screen again.

"Hey Husk?"

"What?" he snapped.

"Will you help me back to my room? I don't think I can make it."

He whipped around to see Charlie swaying some. He sighed heavily and nodded.

How in the hell did no one come across the lobby yet?

Husk went back to her.

"Let's go-

Charlie slipped her arm around his waist and leaned some of her weight on him.

"That's what it feels like to be steady," she said before giggling loudly.

"You're killing me."

"S-sorry! I did have fun!"

"Why were you drinking anyways?"

She frowned and groaned, throwing her head back.

"Al was being a jerk. Because I didn't get anyone here yet. I'm trying though!"

"Yea, you are Princess. Just keep trying and ignore that fucker. He'll try and be a big asshole to make you down on yourself. Just do what you're doing. It'll work soon enough."

"Thanks, you're so awesome!"

She leaned her head on his shoulder as they went up the elevator.

"Husk."

"Yea?"

"What's your real name?"

He scoffed.

"I don't even remember."

"Oh, ok."

"Why do you even care?" he asked.

"I was curious. I came up with different names but none of them fit you. I guess I wouldn't know you from your old life but you as Husk is pretty nice. I like you."

He felt his heart thump hard at that.

"You're drunk. You don't know what you're saying."

They made it down the hallway and to her room. He opened it and dragged her through.

"Alright on your bed."

Charlie turned around half way and grabbed Husk's face.

"I might be a little drunk… but one day everyone will see what I see."

She blinked a few times and gave him a drunken smile.

"Stop it Charlie, you don't-

"I-I do know!" she hissed, "I see it even if no one else does. All you need is one person to see it and that's all you'll ever need."

His pissed off expression fell off. Charlie gave him a smile and pulled her hands away slowly.

"Even if you don't want to be redeemed, you're still a good person. I like you Husk, you're a great person."

She let of his face completely and turned around. She flopped down onto her bed face down, bouncing a little.

"You- you need to lay on your side."

"Aok."

Husk rolled her onto her side and started stuffing pillows around her to keep her from rolling onto her back.

"Stay like that."

"I'll try," she said then buried her face into a pillow.

"I'll get Vaggie."

Husk left her door open and went to hunt down the moth demon before Charlie could say anything else.

Husk let out a sigh as he drank a little more.

"Ya sighed like eight thousand times and ya look depressed. What's yer problem?"

"Shut the fuck up for once. Please."

Angel looked a little surprised.

"Alright."

The spider demon took out his phone and started scrolling through it.

"I'm going up to see Charlie. I'm going to take her one of my books."

Niffty drained her glass and hopped off the stool turning into a red blur.

Husk rolled his eyes and continued to drain that glass of bottle of hard liquor.

Fuck this day. Why did I agree to even go up and hang out with her?

He finished off that bottle and started on another one, not noticing Angel cringing on his bar stool.

X

Charlie looked up to Vaggie walking in. It was already ten thirteen at night. Husk hadn't come back up so he was probably already asleep.

"Hey."

The princess smiled at her friend.

"Angel is already asking when you can go dancing again. He moved to fast and I didn't get to slap him."

She giggled. She had promised Angel if he really tried, she would party with him every so often. It had been three weeks already- only because Charlie had been so busy with the five clients (plus Angel) that she forgot all about Angel.

"Yea I know. In two weeks I can."

"That is barely long enough-

"I'll be fine. Is…. is Husk busy?"

"Niffty said he looked a little worse for wear and well… He was self medicating."

Charlie looked a little crest fallen. She knew what that meant.

"Yea it was a little rough for him. I'm sure babysitting me wasn't fun."

"I'm glad he did though and I don't think he minded too much. He didn't really complain. You really need to fight back Charlie. Killing a few sinners is a lot better than me losing you."

"Vaggie-

"Don't want to hear it! Anyways, you want me to sleep with you tonight?"

"No…. I'll be fine."

"Ok…. Call me if you need anything."

"Sure," Charlie said with a smile.

Vaggie gave her one last smile and was gone again. Charlie watched as her friend closed the door. She sighed and pulled out the deck of card from under her covers.

Maybe tomorrow. He had a long day anyways.