Disclaimer: All Canon Hazbin Hotel characters are owned by Vivziepop!
All non-canon characters belong to me besides Cotton, who belongs to on TikTok!
For art on this story, visit my TikTok _buzzybee_
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Getting off late was sometimes such a bummer for Angel, his body ached from constantly moving and his head was pounding from the casino's blinding lights and blaring noises. He loved experiencing the casino in action just sometimes it could even be too much for the spider.
He had worked his ass off that evening, tending to almost all of the fools that emptied their pockets on the first game, got angry, and then left after throwing their drinks across the room. Which Niffty cleaned up rather quickly, and honestly Angel had to hand it to her, she was a beast with a vacuum.
Angel groaned as he walked down the long hall that led to his room, his back was aching and he found himself arching to rub his palms along his lower back.
"Shit," he spoke sharply as he let his body relax, reaching his room and then halting as soon as he was fixing to go inside. The sound of a record player filled the hall, barely audible but enough for Angel to pick it up if he was quiet enough.
Angel was rather curious and began the cautious journey down the hall, running into another hall that connected onto it, which led to many other rooms that Angel could only assume had some sort of purpose but hell there were so many rooms, he would have thought some had to have been abandoned.
He slowly walked the long hall, the music growing louder as his gaze lingered on a few paintings that hung from the walls, making it look pristine and perfect, just how Husk liked it. His gaze then landed on a slightly cracked door, an illuminating light shining ever so slightly from it. Angel could only assume someone had left a record on before leaving but as he drew closer, Angel realized the room was very much still occupied.
Inside appeared to be a small room dedicated to a variety of instruments, though there was a small lounge of sofas for people to relax on whilst listening to those that played. Although the main focus of the room was the luxurious private bar in the center of the room along the back, lights shining brightly through the countertops and illuminating the space enough that lights weren't needed. Angel couldn't imagine lights being needed anyway, if someone wanted to get hungover they definitely didn't need lights blinding them in the face. Angel then found his attention drifting to the bar's singular occupant.
Husk.
The overlord was slightly slouched, his back to Angel as he clutched his drink with a relaxed grip and only his ears seemed responsive to the music that sounded from the record player. Angel wanted to turn away, knowing he shouldn't bother him but as he pulled back, Husk's voice echoed through the room.
"You can join me you know," he said simply, as if it was something normal to say to one's soul. "I won't bite ya."
Angel gulped as he slowly entered the room, his heels clacking against the polished flooring that seemed to reflect the lighting off the bar. He slowly edged his way to a stool, rather far from Husk though the overlord didn't question it.
"Your uh- up pretty late," Angel said slowly, it was a dumb statement to make. He was the fucking owner of the place, the idea of Husk sleeping was an odd thought. Plus the guy always looked exhausted, Angel didn't even think he did sleep.
"Eh, needed a drink," he said simply and threw back a shot. Angel watched him intently, noticing the flush on the overlords cheeks and he knew it was safe to assume he was a little drunk.
An awkward silence filled the space between them, occasionally broken by the clink of ice in Husker's glass as he brought it to his lips, sipping what Angel assumed was whiskey.
Angel stared down at his hands as they nervously tapped the bar top. He didn't think the atmosphere was too awkward, especially with how Husk seemed to close his eyes and smile softly at the jazz music from time to time. Angel found himself doing it too after a moment, It was almost peaceful.
"How can ya drink that stuff?" Angel finally asked, daring to break the silence.
Husk chuckled deeply and for a moment Angel thought he might have offended the overlord with the question but once he eyed Husker, he realized the man looked at peace, genuinely calm.
Angel felt his tense body relax at that.
"Listen, it ain't half bad, ya just gotta know how to take it."
Husk then got up and rounded the bar. Angel watched him carefully as the shorter man glided his finger along the variety of whiskey, his delicate fingers stopping at one in particular and pulling it from the shelf.
Angel was unsure what the overlord was doing until Husk had a glass in front of the spider, pouring him a drink.
"Try it." Husk instructed as Angel looked up at him, surprised to find the man's eyes were rather glazed over from the alcohol intake. Though he appeared calm as Angel practically stared at him before clutching the shot and shooting it down quickly.
Angel coughed aggressively then, wincing as he stuck out his tongue. "Fucking VILE."
A rumbling, velvety, deep sound escaped Husk.
He was laughing.
It caught Angel's attention, and he found his keen gaze flickering towards the Overlord. Husker's eyes were folded into small, pristine crescents as the sweet sound escaped him in a warmly manner – a sound the spider never expected to hear from him, a sound so vulnerable, so genuine.
Angel found himself joining in on the laughter, waving away Husk's jittering expression and swished the shot glass around in his grasp, "hey I'm bein serious, you are drinkin toxin!" Angel exclaimed as another laugh was choked out of the overlord, once again catching Angel off guard, though this time his features shifted to make room for the toothy grin that appeared.
Husk was shaking his head, a hand clutched to his chest as he tried to still his laughter before his poor, old heart gave out.
"Your somethin else kid," Husk slowly stilled his fit of laughter, his eyes threatening to spill tears as Angel watched in awe. The overlord then took out another glass, his hands moving around like some sort of magic trick as he whipped up another drink for Angel, this time it was far prettier and more to the spider's liking.
"Here, I'm sure you can handle this," Husk winked at him, causing Angel to practically combust right there on the stool.
The spider crossed his legs and cleared his throat, allowing his posture to straighten to knock off the ever growing feeling of need inside of him. He then took hold of what appeared to be a cocktail and took a sip. The usual sweet taste he was expecting didn't come, it was sour, just as the whiskey had been but far more tame; his eyes squeezed themselves shut and for a moment, he contemplated spitting the liquid back into the glass. But he felt Husk's eyes on him and he felt so vulnerable.
The way his yellow orbs pierced into him so easily, pinning, hunting, needingly. Angel's stomach felt queasy, and light almost as he tried his best to avoid returning the eye contact as he allowed the liquid to rest in his mouth.
Angel then swallowed the liquid, the same tingling sensation followed after as he let out a sigh. "Not bad," he finally spoke after a moment, setting the glass back on the table.
"See? Just gotta grow into it, never know what good of a feeling you're missing out on," Husk said simply as he rounded the bar again, sitting closer to Angel and admiring the spider.
It was quiet for a while, nothing but the sweet sound of jazz music bounced off of the emerald patterned walls. Husk and Angel drank away, just enjoying each other's peace and serenity.
"Your doin good," Husk said suddenly, causing the spider to jump out of his thoughts at how random it was. He licked his lips of the sour taste from his drink as he sat it down on the bar top.
"I-I am?" He questioned, confused at what Husk meant.
"Eden's at an all time high, she hasn't flourished like this in a long long time," he said slowly, gently tilting his glass to eye the ice cubes inside. "I know it's been hard for you, and I wish I could make it easier, so really if there's anything I can do. Tell me." He eyed Angel then with nothing but genuine adoration, and Angel felt himself falter under that same gaze once more.
"Well you know…" Angel said for a moment, "you've done plenty for me, got me away from Val." Husk frowned at that as his eyebrows narrowed across his forehead.
"I keep hearin how shitty he was, and I know he's shit. But I wasn't aware of all he'd done…y'know-" Husk scoffed as he searched for the words but Angel already knew what he meant. Husk had no clue what Angel had gone through but through the silence of it all, the overlord still tried to understand.
"Val he- he wasn't always bad, had his moments and shit y'know," Angel started as he clutched his eyes closed, "he'd shower me in gifts and shit, offer me a place to be myself and to do what I loved, I loved tha pleaser," he said simply as he looked over at Husk who seemed to be listening intently, "I loved him for but there too, and he used that to his advantage, took what he wanted…when he wanted," Angel shook his head, "we'd get shitfaced and he'd make sure I couldn't remember the shit we did the next mornin."
Husk winced at that, as if even imagining the shit Val put Angel through was enough to make Husk want to die. He shook his head and looked at the spider sympathetically, but there wasn't any sign of the overlord having the urge to save him from having these thoughts.
"You deserved better."
Angel scoffed and shook his head, "I don't need ya pity or remorse, or whateva." Husk shook his head and took a huge swig of his drink before setting the empty glass back on the table.
"Nah, not at all what I'm trying to give you, I just want you to know I care is all," Husk said reassuringly and Angel nodded slowly.
"Yah cause you take care of ya own, Im aware Husk'a," he chuckled as Husk eyed him for a moment, those piercing yellow eyes staring at him like he was trying to figure something out.
"Of course but- also because I just care about you," Husk said sternly.
Angel had a hard time looking away from Husk's gaze, feeling pleasantly trapped. "Yah well um- thanks-" He blushed as he finally turned away towards the bar top, his gaze stuck on the glass in front of him.
"Look, Angel, I know I hurt you sometimes with how I say things and I'm sorry, I've always had a problem with expressing how I feel about a certain situation," he said softly as he rested his chin on the palm of his hand before continuing, "All I've got is my casinos, Eden." He gestured to the building around them, "so my pride is rather large, and I sometimes tend to let that get the best of me in situations. Including situations involving my staff and people I care about."
Angel listened intently, surprised at how open the overlord was being, though he knew he could only blame it on the alcohol. Drunk Husk was a whole new breed of deep, he was far more expressive, and tended to let his gaze linger on Angel for far longer than it should have lingered.
"So if I've said anything, to make you feel inferior or bad, I'm terribly sorry."
Angel let out a small sigh as he kept his gaze on the counter, a little smile creeping on his features as he dared to let himself trust this man. "You…you don't gotta apologize for taking pride in ya work-" Angel was startled into stopping as Husk slammed his hand on the table, making Angel jump and turn to him.
Husk looked like he was fixing to faint or hurl, possibly both.
Angel blinked rapidly before launching into action, "are ya okay?!?" He exclaimed as he hesitantly put his hands on Husk, helping the man stand, though it was no use as he hurled all over the floor. "O-oh my okay- how much did you drink?!"
Angel was answered with more hurling.
—————
Entering Husk's bedroom would have been far more exciting if it was under different circumstances, but here Angel was, cradling Husk at his side into the room.
"Damn Husk, really should take me out to dinner first," Angel attempted to tease but was only rewarded with gagging noises. "Okay okay- yeah I know- just- let me at least find ya bathroom before ya ruin ya nice carpet!"
Upon finding Husk's bathroom, Angel carried him inside and sat the man down on the tile and immediately got to work on the bath. Thankfully Husk was finished vomiting by the time Angel began undressing the overlord, which was a terrifying task in itself.
"Please do not get upset with me, I promise I'm not lookin," Angel tried to reassure the barely conscious overlord as he stripped him down and then helped him into the tub. Angel sighed as he went over the man with many varieties of soaps and cleaned him off with water.
Once he was finished, Angel simply dried him off the best he could with his eyes awkwardly sealed shut, and then wrapped him in a robe.
"Sorry Husk, that's as good as it's gettin," he mumbled as he led the man to his bed, laying him upon the giant mattress that should have been a crime for one man to own. "Sleep well Husk'a," Angel whispered softly as he left the overlord to sleep peacefully in his bedroom before returning to his own.
Angel genuinely wondered if that happened often with the overlord. Did he always drink that much? Was he just left on the cold floor, bathing in his own vomit? Angel's heart hurt slightly at the thought, wondering if the overlord ever took care of himself or if he allowed anyone to take care of him.
He couldn't let the thoughts eat away with him all night, he had work the next day and Angel was persistent on attending since Husk had revealed just how proud he was of him.
——————
Husk groaned as his eyes slowly fluttered open, causing his head to throb from the sunlight threatening to shine through his curtains. He slowly sat up then, slightly confused at his surroundings before realizing where he currently was and what he was wearing.
Husk rubbed his face and sighed as he glanced at the floor, just taking a moment to genuinely remember everything from the night before. He was used to waking up on the cold tile of one of his many private rooms, bathing in spilt booze and vomit.
The overlords' eyes slowly widened once he began to regain his memories, going over each one like a picture show in his mind. Drinking, laughter, a certain spider trusting him with certain information and Husk blabbering about his insecurities and flaws.
Husk felt himself grip the sheets of his bed, his heart racing at the idea of Angel seeing him in such a disgusting state infuriated him. How could he allow himself to get so comfortable with a soul he owned??
Husk flew from his bed and out the door, immediately searching for Angel Dust who he assumed was eating breakfast by now.
Reaching the employee lounge quicker than most, Husk flared his wings as he threw open the double doors and startled the employees inside, including Angel Dust who had just gone to make his plate of food.
Angel Dust gave him a smile then, seemingly happy to see Husk out of bed after the incident the previous night. Husk snarled, not wanting the spider to even look at him that way.
Angel eyed Husk with concern then as he watched the overlord gesture to a private room not far from the lounge and Angel dropped everything to do as he was told. And upon entering the room, Husk slammed the door shut behind them just as he did a few days prior, Angel's blood ran cold.
"Are you alright Husk? You were roughed up pretty bad last ni-" Angel began but Husk silenced him.
"How dare you speak to me in such a manner? So informally?" Husker cut sharply as Angel faltered, his breath hitching in his throat.
Angel shakingly stepped back, fear building up in the pit of his stomach but he begged it to go away. This wasn't right, he'd grown closer to Husk, he knew there must have been some mistake, something.
"I-I'm sorry I'm just confused- last night we-"
"Forget last night, forget it all." Husk interrupted once more and Angel felt anger and frustration replace the fear in his stomach.
"Oh so now ya the self-indulgent asshole who interrupts his employees breakfast??? I genuinely thought you was'a decent guy last night, turns out your just like every other fucking overlord."
Husk growled loudly, his body seeming to grow in size as black smoke emitted from his body. The lights in the room flickered aggressively as Angel practically tripped over his feet, causing him to fall back onto the ground. He watched as his overlords' golden gaze burned with a fierceness, and glowed like a fire. His hand extended out before Angel, a long chain appearing in bright, gold metal and it trailed all the way to Angel's neck, clamping tightly to him in a possessive manner.
"I hate to fucking remind you of WHO you think your talking to right now." He growled as Angel cowards before him, shaking so aggressively that the chain seemed to shake with him. "We will never have the ability to be comfortable with one another, you're nothing more than a mere soul that I own. I am your overlord, Not.Your.Friend." Husk's voice boomed loudly, the sound ringing off the walls and making the chandelier above them vibrate.
Angel was quivering from fear as he stared up at Husk with a mix of disbelief and terror. Husk allowed himself to shrink back down to his normal size after a moment, causing Angel's chain to practically disappear from existence, as if it had never been there. Angel didn't make a sound, not a peep, he didn't trust himself to keep it together if he spoke.
"Are we clear?" Husk asked with a simplicity that ran a chill down Angel's spine. The spider simply nodded quickly, Husk didn't seem pleased with that but he didn't push Angel for anything else.
"Now get up, fix yourself and go eat breakfast, can't have you passing out whilst serving patrons." Husk grumbled softly as he turned away from Angel, refusing to look at the sinner. He was afraid that if he did, he'd take back everything and he couldn't do that. No matter how much his heart broke from the pain across Angel's face.
With that, Husk took his leave, Angel remained in the room for some time, begging his legs to stop trembling and praying for the tears to stop falling.