So, for the next week Husk decided to find more things he had in common with the princess of Hell. After he had some time to think about it, they did more of the things he liked than what Charlie did so he sought to change that since that didn't seem fair to her and all that.
He figured Charlie would be into super cheezy romantic shit and boy was he right.
He normally used his powers on card tricks and other shit like that so what he did wouldn't be too difficult for what he wanted to do. The princess bounced her way through the lobby with the card game Skip Bo this time. It made him grin since he was good at cheating at the other cards but this was one of the few he didn't.
She slapped the box on the counter top and grinned wickedly.
"You ready for an ass beating?"
He snorted and grabbed a bottle of chocolate milk from the cooler under the bar top. He slid it over to her and her red eyes landed on it, shining brightly. She looked pleased.
"You…. you got me chocolate milk?"
"Yea. You seem like you would like that kind of thing."
"I do!"
"Well, I got somethin' else for ya."
"Really?!"
He grinned as she bounced in her seat excitedly.
"I'm ready!"
He held up his paws for Charlie to see the heart pads turn bright yellow. He pressed them together and held them sideways. He raised his top paw slowly for the princess to see something green show up until he had his paw raised, leaving them a foot apart. The yellow light increased for a few seconds but fading off and revealing three pink lilies.
"Oh my god!" she squealed, "That's amazing!"
He handed them over to her, "For you Peaches."
Her face turned pink as she took them from his claws. She looked so amazed by the small gesture.
"R-Really?"
"Yup."
She smelled them, inhaling deeply before giving him a teary smile.
"Let me put them in water! I'll be back!"
He pulled the cards from their box and started shuffling, waiting for her to come back. It only took her five minutes to return which he guessed she ran the whole way to get back quicker.
"I'm so excited!"
She leaned over the bar and pulled him into a hug, shocking him a little bit but no one was around at the moment.
"Thank you so much," she said softly before giving him a kiss on the cheek.
"Yea, yea," he said suddenly looking bashful.
She giggled and returned her bottom to the seat.
Here goes nothing I guess.
He found out over their several games that Charlie loved cute animals- even chickens and like Angel Dust, she loved pigs too. She liked reading romance books and ironically horror books. She loved hero falls in love with the villain type cliche and it was apparently something she had in common with Niffty and Vaggie. As much as Charlie loved sweets, she was picky about chocolate cake since some of it was dry and she hated jello.
The princess loved bright colors. Her favorite color was bright orange. She favored dresses and suits over any other kind of clothing. She actually took more after her dad than her mother in personality. She loved puzzles and problem solving games. She liked playing the piano, violin and she could play the drums surprisingly.
Even though the princess grew up with older music that Alastor loved, she actually loved rock and roll and heavy metal. Her and Vaggie would actually play together while the moth demon played electric guitar. She liked getting her nails painted and taking bubble baths. Her favorite smell was actually strawberry scented stuff but Angel Dust kept stealing her stuff so she switched to peaches and pumpkin scented things.
She loved cheese and tacos were her favorite thing to eat. It made him cringe a little but she loved Hawiann pizza like Alastor but any pizza was good as long as there were no mushrooms.
Charlie loved comedy and supernatural movies since some romance movies made her cry. She favored women a little more than men only in the sense most of them weren't as up front about their emotions like a woman was but apparently he was the exception since he constantly voiced his opinion (mostly). She admitted to melting a few of her dad's things when he made her mad- even the keys to his car once.
Even after all that, he still didn't have much in common with her. It made his self confidence plummet just like that.
"Anything else you wanna know?" the princess asked, finishing off her second bottle of chocolate milk.
"I guess… explain the succubus thing to me. I met a few and you ain't nothing like them."
Charlie turned bright red, "Well um… You can ask Vaggie about that."
He arched an eyebrow.
"You can't tell me?"
She turned a darker red and covered her face.
"It's really embarrassing…. I managed to explain it to Vaggie but I was rather tipsy when I did and without censoring too much."
Husk leaned in towards her as Charlie peeked at him through his fingers with a teasing grin on his face.
"More embarrassing than the things you do now with all those sounds?" he asked in a low, husky tone.
Her face was practically throwing off heat now. Her reactions were always hilarious.
"Calm down. I'll ask her if it means that much to you."
He reached out and took a good chunk of her hair, touching the silkiness of it and smelling her peach shampoo.
Even after all that talking, he still felt insecure.
X
X
Vaggie arched an eyebrow at Husk as he entered the office and locked the door behind him. She had been in the middle of typing up next week's meal plans when he knocked and asked to speak to her.
"What's up?" the moth demon asked with a bored look on her face.
"She asked me to ask you about her succubus deal or whatever."
Her eye widened and she leaned back in her desk chair.
"Really?"
"Yea… she couldn't look at me without turning red so I figured I had to ask you just in case, ya know- I need to know something."
"Fine. Grab her chair."
She saved her document and closed her laptop. Husk sat down in the pink and blue office chair waiting for her to speak.
"Charlie isn't at all like her mother. She doesn't have the full succubus powers but she has some. In turn, some of those things are different. Ironically Lilith can spit acid when she wants. Apparently…. it was a defense mechanism when she fell to Hell. Charlie can't do that but she has the power to melt with her hands. With fire and acid. It's a good power to have for when people want to touch you. It has a second property too."
Vaggie scratched her head.
"It emits a smell- other than the burning and melting of someone's flesh. The smell attracts the one the succubus is attracted to. It kind of calls them to help the demon. I've seen it in action from Lilith. She was so pissed at someone for getting a drop of wine on her clothes and Lucifer came running in. No one else but them can smell it. He didn't dare kiss her but having sex with her seemed to solve the problem. They went into another room of course."
"You've had sex with Charlie already and more than likely at the club too. I'm not stupid. Charlie can go without fine as long as the act itself satisfies her. The better it is, the longer she can go without if she wants. If she's with someone she has strong feelings for, her body becomes more sensitive to their touches. She's only had it happen a few times but if she goes without for too long, she turns all demonic like. She'll grow a few feet, claws, and tail the whole nine yards."
"You've seen that?" Husk asked, looking scared, shocked and a little impressed all at once.
Vaggie gave him a tight smile, "I've seen it and experienced it. I can tell you I couldn't walk for days or even think of sex for a month after that. Her parents would casually toss guards in there but she…. might've killed a few. Charlie fills out like her mother and towers a little more than Angel. It was pure exhaustion that killed them, not her. Charlie can break a watermelon between those tiny thighs of hers. Most people think succubus are magic strong when in fact they're physically powerful too."
"Jesus fucking christ-
"Jesus had nothing to do with that."
She brushed her hair off her shoulder with a weird smile.
"I really don't think there is any secret to being with Charlie. She's been pretty thrilled and happy lately. I don't know what you're doin' but keep it up."
"I guess."
Vaggie arched an eyebrow, "Another thing is, Charlie secretes a smell for the one person she's enamored with. Once again, only that one person can smell it but it attracts the other person. I mean you don't have to go be with her just because of the smell and she can't help it. I know that I read succubus will pump the smell at higher volume in certain situations but overall it's nothing to worry about. She doesn't force herself on anyone and she isn't like the regular ones. I've told her no before but I will assist in helping her find someone if it's bad. Oh, she gets her fix from oral too. It's why Angel was bragging about it. I usually top her but when it comes to that, I hold no candle to that."
Vaggie flashed him a smug grin.
"This was insightful?"
She snorted and let out a short laugh.
"She's not big on sharing it- hell she didn't even tell Angel. I'm sure in his fucked up head he would love to see that. I don't know if it's something that can just activate in a fight but if she did, those assholes would be sorry. She would put Alastor to shame in sheer power alone."
Husk cringed at that.
"I know it's a little weird to be with someone so powerful. Charlie doesn't like other Hellborns too much. She's resigned herself to being so different but she wants to be seen like everyone else. She wants everyone to see she's just like them and in some ways, she is. Power is not one of those things. Alastor isn't even close to her before you go thinking she should have an overlord instead. Trust me- she's happy with just you as you are."
Husk felt like Vaggie had a good point. Charlie did seem happy. She pretty much shit rainbows as she was but it was something that continued to eat at his very soul. It didn't help matters when Alastor forced him and Niffty to go on a 'field trip' to take care of some business.
The princess looked ok with it and everything but he knew that tiny smile of hers meant she was worried. How could he blame her? There were more than a few times he thought was going to die thanks to that crazy fucker.
Maybe being out would clear his mind after all. A three day murdering bender would put anyone into thinking mode.
X
"You sure…. he was ok with it?" Charlie asked, picking at a loose string on her nightgown.
"Yea. He was fine. I think he still doesn't get why you like him so much though. I mean you wrote out a pros and cons list like a fucking champ to prove your point to me. I think he just needs reassurance."
The princess chewed on her bottom lip as she looked at her best friend.
"He was asking me the other day about…. well everything. I thought it was surprising but it was nice."
"Is that when he gave you the pink lilies?"
Charlie nodded eagerly with a love struck grin.
"I love his little magic tricks! I wonder if he can do something like those in the books with the sawing the lady in half and breaking through the chains and stuff!"
Vaggie snorted and rolled her eye, "I think his is more along cards and shit like that. Look at him, he looks like a walking deck of cards."
"Ah, well maybe you're right but still! It was amazing!"
Her best friend grinned.
"Douchebag said they would be gone for three days. What are you going to do?"
"Work? I have some stuff I want to think about but other than that what else can I do?"
"I guess that's true. We gotta cook too! Ugh!"
Charlie snickered at her friend's anguish. Vaggie didn't mind cooking but when you're doing it for a lot of people, it's a different story.
So, the Princess of Hell submerged herself into work.
The second night he was gone, Vaggie came and they watched a few very old horror movies that were downright awful but it caught her mind off her furry boyfriend. She had a general idea what Alastor could be making Husk and Niffty do but there was nothing that could be done about that. If they were bound to fulfill whatever bullshit the Radio Demon dragged them into they couldn't say no.
It was still frustrating to know he was bound to Alastor for reasons he hadn't told Charlie but she wouldn't push it. Everyone did something when they were desperate and she understood that. She would respect that and he would tell her in time.
By the third day, she was sulking and getting on Vaggie's nerves. A few of their clients noticed a weird drop in her happy demeanor but no one questioned it. At one point she was laying on the lobby floor just staring at the ceiling. She really was in deep thought thinking about her feelings.
I've been…. I liked Husk longer than he liked me. Maybe he did but well…. was too drunk to think about it otherwise. I think when the moment is right I will tell him I love him. Yea. I need to do that.
She closed her eyes. In her head, she had replayed the moment he had found her in that pantry hiding like a pathetic wimp. She smelled the alcohol on him but that wasn't what surprised her the most. The fact he was right there standing. She was sure she lost so much blood she was losing her mind. She wanted to cry hysterically because how could her own mind be that cruel to present her crush as the last thing she would ever see?
But he was real and shocked.
She didn't cry because she was in pain, she cried because he was the one who had been standing there. The amount of relief that washed over was so powerful she could only respond by crying.
Damnit.
She wiped her face.
I'm gonna do it-
"What the fuck are ya doin'?"
Charlie jumped and looked up to see Angel Dust standing over her with her hands on his hips.
"Huh?"
"It smells like a depressed princess in here."
She giggled as he laid down beside her.
"The ceiling is red. No shock there."
"Yea, yea I know."
"Whatcha thinking about?"
"Everything. Kind of worried about Alastor, Husk and Niffty though."
"Yea, I see ya point. I think this is the longest I have ever seen them gone."
"Yea."
The two of them laid there quietly for five minutes before Angel cleared his throat.
"Want to have a sleepover? We haven't had one in a long time."
Charlie turned her head to look at him.
"You wanna have a sleepover with me? You won't be busy?"
"I've cut down on sleeping partners Charlie. I know ya don't pay attention to that but I have. Ya even have Husk drinking a lot less. He seems a lot happier too. It's weird."
"I don't think it's that weird…."
"Ya have a gift babe. Even Vaggie has been less angry."
The princess snorted.
"I guess? My answer is yes. A sleepover sounds so nice!"
"Awesome! Let me get some shit and I'll meet ya in yer room around eight. Sound good?"
"Yup!"
X
After a shared bubble bath, painting Charlie's nails and braiding out her long ass hair, they settled for a movie. It was called The Lazarus Effect. Even with the popcorn, nachos with cheese and fruity alcoholic drinks Angel made way too strong, the movie was just ok. It was kind of a let down but they popped in a movie called Ant Man and that was way, way better.
Angel was the first to crash out, taking up three of her five pillows but Charlie could only laugh and take a few pictures for later. She shut off the lights and crawled into bed next to him. She really wondered if they would be ok.
It wasn't like she would know until they came back since none of them carried phones at all.
X
Husk staggered into the lobby with a bottle in hand and without blood on him for once. Alastor was nice enough to let them stop at some hotel a day ago to wash off. At least he didn't have to be worried about being redeemed while he was doing the Radio Demon's grunt work.
He threw it away once he drained it and headed for the elevator. Common sense dictated he should've gone to his own room but he didn't want that. He wanted to hold his sweet princess while he passed the fuck out on her bed. He wanted to wake up even with a hangover to that blinding smile of hers. She always made him feel better.
Honestly, if he wasn't so plastered, he would fuck the daylights out of her because he was stressed out and just being with her had a calming effect on his nerves. He wanted to hammer all his frustrations on her tight little body but she would say no since he was drunk.
That was fine. He could cuddle her. That would be a good idea.
God he missed her. If he had any time alone, he would've rubbed one out thinking of her but Niffty needed a shower too and that didn't feel right to do that. He was covered in enough bodily fluids as it was.
He pressed the button that said '4' and rode the elevator up. Once the doors were open, he staggered out and headed for her room. Her door was unlocked and he couldn't help but make a lopsided grin. She missed him- he was sure of it.
It was a shame he was too drunk to know the difference. Angel smelled exactly like Charlie since they took a bubble bath together and they both smelled like peaches and pumpkin.
Husk didn't think much of it even when the pads of his claws touched something fuzzy instead of Charlie's warm pale skin. He inhaled deeply, smelling the peach smell he liked on her so much and was out.
X
The rude awakening he got the next morning was not something he was ready for. Not in a million years could be have prepared for that.
"Mmmm, baby I didn't think ya would find me and try ta do me in here. How naughty!"
Husk wrinkled his nose. He smelled peaches…. But the smell wasn't mixed in with Charlie and her sweet smell. The smell of arousal was there but it wasn't hers.
His yellow eyes flew open to meet the mismatched eyes of Angel Dust- the last person he would ever want to wake up next to- him and his ex fiancee. Husk shot upward and felt his stomach lurch.
"WHAT THE FUCK-
Angel snorted before he started cackling. Charlie shot up in her bed with some loose strands of hair in her mouth. Her hair looked like a wild mess, even coming out of the braids. She pushed all her hair back and blinked trying to focus her vision.
She sat there gaping at her boyfriend who was plastered against her bedroom door looking a little sick to his stomach.
"Husk you're ok!" Charlie shouted, ignoring whatever happened.
"Charlie, I think he was drunk and came into your room. He reeks of alcohol," Angel said with an evil smirk.
"O-oh-
"The fuck are you doing in here anyways?!" the cat demon shouted.
The porn star arched an eyebrow, "Charlie and I had a sleepover. We do this like once a month and we hadn't done it since she was hurt. She seemed depressed about you guys being gone so we had a movie night. I wasn't fuckin' her."
She tried smoothing down her hair but it was pointless.
"Is Al and Niffty ok too?"
Husk only nodded.
"You wanna get some coffee downstairs?" the princess asked, giving her boyfriend a sympathetic smile.
"Sure, whatever."
He left the room, slamming the door behind him.
"I'm going back to sleep," Angel said, yawning and rolled over in her bed.
"Alright."
X
X
Charlie poked her head into the kitchen area to see Husk sitting there with a cup of coffee in front of him and one sitting across from him made just the way she liked it. The princess smiled and sat down across from him.
"Sorry… I would've told you if you had a phone…."
"It's whatever."
The smile faded from her face. She fidgeted in her seat.
"If I did anything wrong, can you tell me at least?"
Husk raised his eyes to gaze at her. She really looked sorry and she looked a little upset too.
"No, I think it's just me. Shit happened to me and I can't get it out of my fuckin' head. You're nothing like her and it just plays in my head."
"Why don't you tell me about it sometime."
"You don't wanna hear that shit."
Charlie leaned her elbows on the table and reached her chin on her hands.
"That's exactly what I'm supposed to do."
"What- as a fucking therapist?" he snapped.
She tilted her head, "No, as your girlfriend. I'm supposed to hear all your troubles and help you through them."
The princess went to pick up her coffee when Husk stood up from his seat. He grabbed his cup and hers, dumped them in the sink leaving Charlie baffled. He pulled her out of her seat and dragged her out of the kitchen and to the elevator.
"What are we doing-
Husk whisked her down his hallway quickly before anyone saw them and shoved her into his room. He locked the door and pulled her into his arms.
"Husk, is everything ok?"
"I missed you."
The princess smiled and buried her face into his shoulder, "I miss you too. I was worried about you."
"I'm sorry I'm an ass."
"It's ok…. You're my ass, if it makes you feel better."
Husk snorted and picked her up by her waist.
"H-hey!"
He was decent enough to actually keep up with his bed sheets thanks to Charlie being in his room more often. He dropped her down on his bed and laid down on top of her. Husk didn't care if Charlie was late for her hotel duties- she could do them later. Vaggie could just deal with it.
He threw all her clothes, mostly in the same spot on his floor this time around. The smell of her filled his room quickly and he loved it, even with her hair smelling a little like Angel Dust, he could ignore it. He loved it didn't take much to get her dripping wet, but he still peppered her neck and mouth with kisses she loved so much.
Going on the fourth round, he could hear her phone on the floor ringing repeatedly but he didn't give a shit one bit. It was probably Vaggie but he didn't give a fuck, she could yell at them later. It was his fault anyways but Charlie didn't seem to mind with her shaking and moaning underneath him.
He wasn't sure if Charlie had some type of succubus power that she wasn't aware of that kept him going but he never had this much stamina- ever.
One thing for sure, he really needed to stop cussing so much… he just couldn't help it.
"Are you ready doll-
"God yes!" she cried into his shoulder, digging her nails into his back as he slammed into her hard twice before he came again.
"Shit…. Goddamnit princess…. I missed you so much."
"I miss… I missed you too," Charlie said with a wobbly smile.
Husk sighed as she ran her fingers down his back. She pulled them back to the front of him and took his face into her hands.
"Hey, Husk? Can I tell you something?"
"Sure thing."
He leaned in and kissed her again.
"I love you."
The cat demon stiffened up in horror. His eyes were wide as saucers and he just looked shell shocked. Charlie blinked up at him innocently. She had expected a reaction like that so she decided to wait it out. Her phone started ringing again but she didn't make any move to go for it. She was still holding his face.
"Husk, are you ok?"
"What fuck are you talking about?" he asked, his voice shaking.
Her eyebrows shot up in surprise.
"What do you mean? I didn't stutter."
He blinked stupidly like he didn't get it.
"I love you Husk."
"Why?"
She frowned, "What do you mean? You give me so many reasons."
He tried to pull away but Charlie wrapped her thin legs around his waist.
"I don't think so!"
"Charlie- I already told you I lost the ability to love long ago."
"I know. I have enough love for the both of us so that's ok."
"What- it doesn't work like that!" he snapped.
"Says who?"
He opened and closed his mouth but no sound came out. Charlie let go of his waist but he was too stunned to move away from her now.
"I do and you can't change my mind."
"There's no way in hell you love me. That is impossible."
"Not really."
Husk pulled himself off of her and went to his bathroom. He showered, kind of hoping Charlie would just leave but she didn't. When he came back out, he saw she was redressed and waiting for him patiently. She really was a stubborn woman.
"Charlie, don't."
"But I do. I won't change my mind about it either."
He sighed.
"There's no way because I would be a fuckin' embarrassment to you. Can you imagine dragging my ass in front of your parents? They would laugh at you."
"Lucky for us both, their opinion doesn't matter. Besides, I wouldn't force you to meet them if you didn't want to and it would only be required if we were engaged. I would say it's a little early for that."
He rubbed his face letting out an annoyed groan.
"What I said was true though."
"Charlie, there's no way you can love me. My whole human life was proof of that."
Well, the princess would just prove him wrong.
