I own nothing...and I hope everyone's ok with my little play at Husker and Alastor. I know a lot of people have bets on their relationship but this is the energy I always got from them.
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Husker felt an uncharacteristic warmth in the presence of Katherine again. She hadn't changed a bit. Such light conversation. Such quick wit. He always gave her credit for Alastor's charm. The boy had learned from the best. She hadn't been any kind of personality like him but she was a favorite cocktail waitress at the Notes of Spice jazz club in New Orleans to many a . Husker had been a kid himself when young Alastor had started staying at the bars with her despite his age. Everyone was understanding that a single mom needed to balance home and work and the kid had a joyous time watching her work the tables and the patrons. "They come for the Jazz but they stay for the staff," her boss had always said with a wink. Katherine and her son made the place something no other club in New Orleans offered. A home.
He smiled as he remembered seeing the preteen boy, sitting at the bar and eating gumbo, sipping a soda from the stream as he watched his mother work her magic. She knew everyone's order, she knew to ask about so-and-so's mother or compliment so-and-so's son for getting a new job on the wharf. She was everyone's mom and she made the run down tavern feel like a family.
And Alastor had been dazzled by the jazz. At eight he was allowed to pluck at the keys and learn to play piano here and there with the musicians during sound check, at 12 he would lend a hand in delivering orders when they were too busy to keep up, being rewarded by the boss with a few nickels and a sip of alcohol with the promise that, "He wouldn't let Kat know their little secret", and by 16 he was introducing acts, a club favorite on the microphone. The kid was a natural.
Husker had been in his early 20's when Alastor was just hitting 13 but Al had been drawn to the older boy in a kinship that both concerned his mother and made her smile. Husker was a young musician with a way with dice and women that made many jealous, but earned a gentle, good natured scoldings from Katherine. "He's a good kid," she would comment, with a shake of her head, "But if he doesn't grow up soon his world's gonna grow up without him."
Husker couldn't help but smile as he filled another drink for ol' Kat. 3/4ths orange juice with just enough gin to give a buzz and spice. Just like she preferred. He had loved her like his own mother. And although their paths had been twisted as time went on...he had used to think of Al as a little brother.
Alastor had always idolized his older friend who taught him a few notes here and there on the saxophone, let him play wingman with the pretty girls who came to see him play, and would give him sips of whisky when his mother wasn't looking. When Husker's parents kicked him out of the house, he had stayed with them for a few weeks and Katherine had helped get him back on his feet. When he knocked up a girl, Katherine helped plan the wedding and Alastor was the ring boy for the small ceremony. And when his gambling had gotten out of hand, good ol' Mama Kat was the first to give him a gentle scolding, not for his actions, but for the fact that he needed to clean himself up because he could do better. If she had stuck around longer...maybe he would have.
Husker reached for the angel's cup to refill it for the third time but she gently caught his hand and gave him a small wink. "I think that's enough for me."
Husker gave a small chuckle. "Sorry Kat, just trying to keep the hospitality going."
Everyone gave him side-long glances, not used to seeing this side of him. There was something warm about the grumpy drunk they knew sparkling with a new life that no one wanted to comment on for sake of preserving it. Charlie and Vaggie gave each other a look over what everyone perceived to be a strange spell cast by the angel.
"I apologize for earlier," she said softly, meeting his eyes with her own. Husker suddenly felt lost in them. His head feeling clearer than it had since his arrival in hell. Probably clearer since before he had died on earth. "I must admit that I'm confused. I thought quite poorly of you all before coming but...I'm shocked at how kind you've all been."
"Hey we weren't saints like you, but we weren't monsters," Husker said with a smirk. "You know me too right? Gambled away my life and family. Made a few bad deals and shook some wrong hands."
"It is curious isn't it," the angel replied thoughtfully. "One place for all regardless of their crimes? I mean, I would hardly put most of you in the category of your more...murderous companion."
Husker felt himself tense. He knew she didn't know. But his cold heart felt a pang for her son upstairs, knowing he was listening. He looked down at his claws. "You know Kat-"
"You keep calling me that." His eyes shot back up. Her head had cocked to the side in a fashion that he had seen her son mimic many a time. Not confused….inquisitive and curious. A familiar smirk on her lips. He hoped no one else noticed the similarity.
He cleared his throat nervously, the warmth fading. "Katherine. Sorry. Just...Ol' Al is more than his file. He wasn't always what he ended up being."
"Kat…" the angelic murmur fluttered from her lips.
Husker felt himself grow more anxious. "Look lady, I'm just saying, we weren't all born like this. You know."
"Why does that sound so familiar?" Her gaze was making him uncomfortable now. In life, he had melted under that gaze and confessed his sins many a time, but now in her angelic form it was even harder to keep anything from her.
"Look it's a f***king nickname. You don't like it, I won't say it."
Her eyes widened with surprise and he held his composure but felt deflated on the inside. He would never speak to her like that. And felt ashamed for doing it now. But she only smiled, an impossibly wide grin, just like Alastor's only much more reassuring. "Sorry I must confess I can't seem to get a handle on proper conversation here. I just meant that it feels like maybe someone's called me that before.
He rubbed his head sheepishly. "Sorry. It's weird. You being here and all." He felt a little lighter being able to at least say something honest.
"Ain't we supposed to be playing cards?" Angel's voice cut through the awkwardness.
The Angel and Husk finally broke their hold on each other, suddenly aware of the other people in the room. If not for the fur they would have seen him blush. Charlie was quick to follow suit, and announced that a friendly card game sounded very fun as long as no gambling was involved. Husker smirked, grabbing the pack. "Alright ante up ladies," Husker said with an impressive shuffle. This is called a two card hustle and ol' Husk is gonna show you how it's done."
