Sorry for taking a bit. I mean, I know I'm not obliged to do this and stuff but apologies nevertheless. Went through a fuckfest of distress, a literal 'loser baby' month if you will. One that I'm… still kinda sorting through.
So ye. Enjoy :)
Disclaimer: I am not to be associated with Keith David's sweet, warmhoney voice. Even thinking about it makes this version of Husk harder to write. Not that I own any of it.
Contrary to expectations, the night was bright, free of clouds, wind or sky darkening fires. It was the kind of night that a sinner could simply watch and enjoy, had he any hopes or dreams that is.
So, the neighborhood spent the night conducting its usual free-for-all. In the midst of audio cues that said 'leave', there was a single, different note.
A ringing phone, hastily shut down and muted. As no one came to investigate, the pair continued down the gloomy, muddled alley.
"This is it."
The spattering steps ended. Husk stood, gaping up at the shabby apartment building.
"Now, I hope you realize that I don't bring just anyone here." Angel said, the back door behind him. "So… feel privileged, 'kay?"
The cat's head dropped to the spider.
"...You saying you don't usually do this? 'Cause we ain't fucking if that's what you're at."
"Ha…" The spider lit up, moving backwards. "Atleast I rubbed off on you a little bit." He then turned to unlock the door, flinging two tommies over his shoulder. "Hold these."
The metal gate drifted open, with a welcoming pitch one could say. It revealed a profoundly dark, narrow stone corridor.
Angel took the lead.
The first few steps were awkward, the guns jostling into every odd corner. A tang of moisture, of either wood or rust made itself known the further they went.
Eventually, the canal widened into a void like room, which led to the presumed lobby. The staircase could be seen through the exposed door frame.
The ringing sound returned, to silently pester them. Angel was quick to snuff it out. "It's on the third floor by the way." He thought to mention as they neared the stairs.
Husk looked around the hall. It appeared the building had something against electricity, the windows its only source of light. They made just a shade of difference too, not that it mattered to him. However, the noises, the silent 'pops' from the outside, were not ideal.
They began the climb.
"Want to take these back?" Husk asked after a total of two steps, pushing out the cradled guns.
Angel veered around.
"Nope." He said, proceeding upwards. Husk followed suit, crummy of his fate.
The first set of stairs covered, they turned to venture the floor. Walking past the unit doors, to start anew, the obnoxious buzzing was at them again.
"This bitch."
"Maybe answer it?" The cat heaved from behind. "It's not like she'd want to call you."
"Hmm… You have a point." Angel said as he declined.
They started on another flight. And Husk could swear it was steeper, every blank creaking as he set a foot on it. At the wall were the windows, small but filled with bright candles of the sky, lighting his way forward.
The guns stirred as he moved them under his armpit.
Eventually they made it to the landing. Or Husk did, the spider having done it a while ago and was now fiddling his phone.
"You good?" Angel watched the cat lean against the wall. A half-hearted thumb rose in his direction. "Sweet." He added, turning to the third set of leg work.
"Hold." Husk groaned out, making the porn star do just that. "Where are you going? This is the third floor."
With big eyes and a tight, jolly mouth, Angel went: "I'm going to the third floor."
Husk was mildly flummoxed.
The spider began with his fingers. "It goes ground floor, then first floor, second and-"
"Okay alright." The cat waved off. He rose off the tapestry, rattling the firearms as his grip reaffirmed, to follow his barely dressed guide.
The third staircase proved the hardest, turning the feline's breath shallow and excessive. It began with a poor step trying to kill him, making him vigilant. And it ended with one succeeding.
"...How come you're in this bad of a shape? We have stairs at the Hotel."
Husk's head separated from the floor tiles, to direct a frown at Angel. "Haven't been on them lately." He pushed down, to get a leg under himself. "And I usually do it without these clumps of metal."
"Ever thought of flying?" Angel probed, getting a scuff in return as the cat dusted off. "Well, if you want, I could be persuaded to carry you."
"Right." Husk was bent down, gathering the dropped clumps. "I bet you would. Too bad it's a little late for that." Standing up, Husk went to follow Angel. Except, the spider hadn't moved but was erect and in his way, smirking like a toddler.
The cat parked in front of him. "Well?" He turned to the doors. "Which one is it?"
Silence was his answer. In which, a muffled snicker.
Husk faced Angel again, the infuriating, bit down laughter. Until, in the nightstricken corridor, it dawned on him.
"No…" The deep voice fared.
"Yeah…" The light voice replied.
"But… there is no fuckin' way this is not the third floor."
"You're right, there isn't." The spider chirped. "But it's in the fourth one."
A speculative 'F' sound gushed from the cat's mouth, with what appeared as physical difficulties.
Angel's head inched closer to it. "Still sure you don't wanna be carried?"
Gaining an even greater glare from the cat, the spider straightened up, spreading his arms out invitingly. The way a friend would.
"Come to daddy."
The grin vanished as two clattering clumps were juddered into his chest.
"You and your goddamn… fucking…" The words jumbled as Husk walked past him, the cat incapable of conveying the right praise. So it ended with: "-Fucking quit it!"
Even with the gathered gusto, the fourth staircase got the better Husk, turning into a literal climb halfway through. On his paws and knees, every step felt like an opposing hill, taking his wind and leaving him without support. Or maybe that was due to his limbs withering under him.
A particularly high scream echoed from the streets below.
"I'll second that." A light voice declared, behind Husk. The cat's head flopped down with a thud.
Angel moved past him, heels ringing with every step until stopping on the one above. "This is just painful to watch." He sat down on the planks.
"Then don't." The feline's voice was dulled by the surface it was pressed against. "I'll get up there, you just go ahead."
"Seriously? Look at yourself."
The cat did not look at himself.
"Come on." The spider adjured. "Let me atleast drag you up there. Otherwise it'll take you all night."
At a thought, Husk raised his gaze at the near naked, crossed legged Angel. "This is the last stairs, right?"
"Yeah." The porn star said, the white of him seeming to glow in the hollow light. "It is."
With that, the cat's head thumped again as his body proceeded to climb.
"For fuck's sake." Angel let out as he followed the sloth-like movement. The lethargic placement of a paw. The heavy puffs of air. The barely rising, unreliable knee. "Are you shaking?" He observed in surprise.
The feline laid back down, quiet if not for his breathing.
"Wait…" Angel exclaimed upon a sudden realization. "Are you… having a withdrawal. Like, right now?"
The paws gained a sudden vigor as the cat strained, yet unmoving. "It… ain't like your typical drug addiction stuff. I'm not gonna pass out or die." A sigh. "It just makes these stairs fucking annoying."
He continued the ascend. And, after a minute and no steps to show for it, Angel stood up and grabbed Husk by the wrist.
"Hey!" The cat berated.
"Oh shush."
The progress was immediate, the spider dragging the feline by a freshly grown, third pair of arms. At which Husk couldn't help but to ogle at.
Once past the stairs of doom, the cat was let go. Preoccupied as he was, the ground took him by an ambush.
"Whoops. You alright?"
Husk focused on scrambling back up, grim with silence.
"Fantastic." The heels started walking ahead.
Crouched, the feline raised to a knee, to push off the ground. Unsteady, the motion made him scud forward, into a door.
Soundly.
"Shit." He choked out, jolting away incase the resident was at will to fuck about.
Luckily for him, nobody came. In fact, there wasn't a noise to be heard from behind the thick entry. The cat, put off by the dark frame, took a closer look at it. At the odd, worn disc to its side. He had seen it before but hadn't given it a second thought. Since, it looked like any other unit… door.
"There was an elevator? This WHOLE time?!"
"What?" Angel spun around, to witness the reinvigoration of Husk. He then saw the door. "Oh. OH! No! Nononono..." Armed limbs going awol, he walked up to the cat. "-nono. No. Or- Yes. But no."
"Explain"
The cold of the request paused Angel. "Well, you see, it's not working. Actually, I don't think it has worked for the entire time I've come here." He leaned over, to elbow the call button. "See?"
A mechanical shift pierced the air, followed by a roar of fumbling metal, coming to life. Behind the door, a steady screech of heavy lifting.
After which:
*DING*
The door popped open, revealing a rather deep space covered in a warm, gentle glow.
The gaping eyes were torn away from it, to gaze into each other.
"...That's… ah… Yeah-mean… Thah't's a miracle if I've ever seen one."
The tommies drooped at the shaking head of the cat. Their owner, Angel, soon peeped: "It's this way." -and spun around. The feline followed after, his head hung low.
They walked the length of the floor in silence, ending up on a unit like any other. It was near a new staircase, one which Husk was quick to shun away from.
A key was brought out to slink into the door. It opened without a sound to welcome them. The spider was quick to address the issue.
"Welcome." He declared, simple and dramatic as he stepped to the side. Another corridor was revealed, a shorter one with a door on the left side.
"That's the bathroom." Angel pointed before journeying inside with the slouching cat. After the opening, the apartment widened in both left and right. "And this is the kitchen." The spider revealed about the right.
And a kitchen it was indeed, with the smallest of counter spaces known to Hell. The tile of it was an eyesore, much like the cheap flooring that covered the entirety of the unit, frilly and torn in places.
"Yep," Angel began, discarding their long carried booty against the outer wall. "This is the dream." He then reached into the kitchen to flip on a light switch. To no effect.
As the switch underwent an abuse, Husk careened to inspect the rest of the area.
He pause quickly.
"What's that?"
The flicking stopped. Angel stepped next to Husker, to figure his line of sight. He found it across from the bathroom, near the ceiling line.
"Oh that? That's just an ex. And all the kitchenware."
After enlightening the cat, the spider went back to the switch. The cat stayed, head tilting at the crudely drawn image. He thought it was smiling but couldn't tell for sure due to the things sticking out of it. Only the symbols of the eyes could be recognized.
A few blinks and the feline moved on. He followed the three windows of varying views to the other side of the room. At the unexplored and truly unfair.
"There's only one bed." The day's joy was applied to the statement.
"Oh!-" Was heard, again, followed by a clearing cough. "-Oh NOO!" Emphasizing how much he meant it, Angel approached the cat once more. "How did this happen? I swear it was split in two, I SWEAR!"
A pair of lazy eyes stood witness to these claims. Unblinking.
"Okay, fiine." The spider atoned, ditching the antics. "But you will be on that bed."
Suddenly the eyes weren't so lazy. "You'll sleep on the floor then?"
"No."
A deep, gruff sigh left Husk as he pinched the bridge of his nose. "We're not sleeping together."
"Who said anything about sleeping together?"
The cat did not indulge in that bullshit.
"Look," The spider proceeded with a different tone. "You're tired, weak and possibly still hungover. Get in the fucking bed."
"What?" The cat's nose scrunched as if it smelled something bad. "Why do you care?"
"...Because I want you to not be so antagonistic and just get in my bed?" Angel's arms spread out, to present this obviousness. "And don't act like it's the worst. You said no to my snuggles so there won't be any. Just sleeping. So… relax. And stop questioning everything."
The feline's eyes were far from relaxed. The ball was in his court though. So, a little self-conscious, he gave the words some thought.
"…I'll even build an impenetrable wall of pillows," Angel offered. "-to protect your sweet innocence."
Husk was… tackled.
"An impenetrable wall of pillows?"
"I believe that was my wording, yes." Angel affirmed.
After a moment: "...You mean that?"
The simple question left Angel a little slow on the uptake. "Yeah…"
The cat's gaze dipped low, to the spider's crotch. "Your vibrating skirt is not reassuring." Looking back up, he witnessed a perplexed expression. Which, in turn, made the cat apprehensive.
"That is your phone… right?"
Angel didn't reply. He did, however, elaborate his eyebrows into a slow, upwards arch.
Which brought the cat's ones down into the dumps. "Answer it." He ordered, turning from the insect to walk to the bed.
A moment later the spider did as told. Moving towards the kitchen, he pressed the green icon under 'vagina'.
"Vaggie, heyy!" He began even before connecting. "Could you do me a solid and feed Nuggsey?"
With the might it was pushed through the line, Husk could almost make out the answer. Instead of caring, he inspected the bed, starting with a bug search. The mattress lifted.
"...Eah…" Angel mumbled from across the room. "...Aha… No, I just didn't wanna talk to you…"
No bugs. The mattress was let go, with the sheets being the next. Husk gave them the nose test.
Angel began to pace around in frustration. "...Nothing happened. We're fine, no one's bothered us…"
The sheets were clean. Somewhat surprised, Husk then sat at the edge, to feel out the bed. He found that it was actually quite nice, not soft, hard or lumpy but firm and supportive.
"...Huh?" Angel stopped, the phone still in his ear. "...Where… is Husk?" He repeated, slowly turning to meet the person in question.
This person gave him the 'cut it' paw gesture.
An ominous, brat-like grin possessed the spider's mouth, draining the cat into a pale state.
"...He's in my bed," Angel glee'd. "Waiting for me."
The sheets underwent a storm as the furry threat scrambled over them. Or through them, onto the floor. On which he reconsidered his actions.
"In your bed?" The phone blasted. Even Husk could hear it. "What bed? You're not here, I've checked every-"
Angel's now-smirk melted away, eyes widening in distress. "GOT-ta go, nice talking, remember to feed Nuggs, okay, BYE!" The call was cut mid accusation.
Hushed curses took over instead, the white demon fussing to turn his phone off.
"If she kills you…" A deadbeat voice fluttered from somewhere low. "You have only yourself to blame."
The cursing ended.
"Heh." Angel took in the sight on the floor, the splayed wings and sheet written body. "I guess. But 'doubt I'll regret it." He approached Husker. "...Actually, I'd say it was quite worth it."
The porn star stopped over to the drunkard, his head in line with the one on the floor. Upside down, they locked eyes.
"...Help me up?"
"Oh?" Angel played. "Now you'll accept my offer?"
"How'bout you don't make this weird."
After a moment of obvious debating, the help came in the shape of a white hand. After another moment, the hand was grasped by a paw.
"For a second you almost seemed to try something there." Angel remarked, getting Husk up to a degree. "Good thing the cloth was there to save me."
The cat was busy getting the saving cloth off. "Eah. And also realized I don't really care." Tossing the sheet, he glanced at Angel. And then turned towards the bedside. "Think I'll go to bed."
"-There's a shower."
The cat halted, truly enthralled by where this might go.
"Just saying." The spider led on. "You're dirty. Greasy, to be exact. And the bedding is clean…" He ended on a higher note, divulging to the hidden point.
Husker, however, didn't react. So Angel went through with his final expośe.
"...Maybe get a shower?"
Husk faced Angel, with the expected facade. "And maybe have it with someone to scrub?"
The spider stood a little taller, silent.
"...Is that an offer?"
"Goodnight."
The cat made it readily to the bed. The entire mattress shook under the weight that was thrown on it.
"Have it your way." Said the smooth, tickling voice. A set of high heels began to move out. "Either way, I'll take one. A long one, 'cause this body needs the good scrubbin'." The heels paused. "So I'll be here, next room, lathering up with nothing to drape myself in other than bubbles and sleek, slippery soaps. Feel free to lay there and think about that while these hands run down every inch of it."
A door opened. And closed.
Husk, after a bit of inertia, rolled on his back. He stayed like that. In the silence.
Eyes poring into space.
The shower went off in the other room. The sound changed as something went under it.
The eyes were covered, blinded by the furry limb that pressed into them.
"Fuck"
The moon shone down, sharp and bright, singled out in the dark sky. Or, whatever the pale ball was that peered through the window, illuminating the netherworld.
That was to his left. On his right, the impenetrable wall of pillows, standing surprisingly tall with its four levels of softness and color.
Yet to be penetrated.
Paws pulled up to rub his temples.
At least an hour in and he couldn't sleep, agitated as he was. He was without a blanket as well for it had flown off, to be lost on the faraway floors.
The still remaining sheets made a scuffle as he twisted around. Yet again.
"Husk," A delicate voice spoke from behind the pillows. "You awake?"
The cat didn't speak but he did turn. Again. Towards the well-gauged ceiling.
"Eah…" He soon affirmed, sighing through it.
The spider took his time as well.
"...The day wasn't that bad was it?"
Husk blinked at that. "...I…" An exhale. "I dunno…"
He was drowsy, that was sure.
"You wind up in my bed…" Angel began, as if to himself. "...And you don't know?"
"...'Suppose it was bad then."
A chuff of a giggle left the spider. "Just don't go spreading that around. Got an image to uphold."
The cat made a vocalized 'mmm', dropping the room into its previous serenity. In which, another attempt to dream.
Staying as he was, one paw on his stomach and eyes up, Husk slowly began to wonder if he was the cause of the wear and tear above. It wouldn't make sense of course but-
"Hey." The young voice came afresh. A white limb appeared over pillows, squishing them upon settling. And then, a face to plumb on top of it.
"Can I ask you something?"
Redirected from the roof, Husk looked at Angel with sluggish intrigue.
"I mean…" He said with a ragged voice. "...Can't really stop you."
The spider, though, simply raised an eyebrow as he continued to stare.
"Yeah." The cat allowed after a moment, gaze veering off with a less peaceful bent on his lip. "Ask."
"...What's the deal with you and Al?"
The newly garnered, mildly glaring attention made Angel wave a second arm about. Leisurely at that. "Not literally, don't mean to nosey you. I'm no princess after all. Just… curious, you know."
"...Not sure I do." Husk replied, his dull glare on the demon. Until he turned it away, past the patches on the ceiling, to the sky outside. He hoped to fall asleep on the spot, though he knew that he wouldn't, not with the spider's eyes on him.
Yet he tried.
He didn't have to try long however.
The spider left, soon and without a sound other than the jostling sheets. Turning back, Husk saw the flattened pillows, now inching back up due to the freed pressure.
Now he could sleep.
Except that he couldn't.
Eyes closed or not, whichever way he faced, how much soothing he tried, he just couldn't. The sleep wouldn't take him.
And then the graying blotches would be there. Again.
His gaze coasted out the window.
The moon-like sphere had slid to the side of the frame. It wouldn't be long before it vanished behind the bland wall altogether.
Not that it mattered.
A sigh. A distinct one at that, followed by another rubbing of the cat's temples. Afterwhich, a roll around, to stare at the separating barrier.
At the moment, nothing seemed to matter.
"...He owns me." The air broke at his voice. "My soul. That's the deal."
Quiet settled. The bed, the bedding, remained undisturbed.
Husk stayed silent. And, after a bit, wondered why the spider did too. Pondered if he had fallen asleep. Or, more likely, just didn't want to talk.
The cat didn't brood for long though. For a white arm showed up. And another, crossing and pressing onto the barricade with the head emerging after them.
They locked eyes, with Angel gazing into Husker's worn, sideways laying mush.
"To be honest, kinda figured as much." The spider opened with, tilting his head for comfort. "Not exactly what I was at but I'll take it."
The cat made a notion reminiscent of a nod.
"...And thanks for not letting me hang."
Shifting onto his back, Husk rolled his eyes at the deadpan.
"-Could have been really uncomfortable…" The white demon cracked a grin.
"You're welcome." The cat bore out, staring up into nothing.
And while he stared into nothing, he could tell that the spider was definitely staring at something.
"...Wanna give me a question?"
Turns out, it was Husk.
"No" The feline said blatantly. "-Not really."
"Because… You know you could, right?"
The cat's focus was reattained. "Yes. You've made it apparent."
The white demon wasn't deterred however. "You had tons of questions in the day. And now you don't wanna know?"
"...You mean you'd tell me now but not then?"
"Aah but I never said I'd answer."
The white, half lidded eyes and grin gained a dead look from the feline.
"Come on." Angel laughed once the look turned away. "I'm serious. Ask me. Throw me a curveball."
The ceiling went through another gauging as Husk considered this ball. The curve it could have.
He eventually found the spider, waiting comfortably on their makeshift border.
"You want a question?" Husk asked, to which Angel expressed an 'ye'. "Why the clean sheets?"
The white mug dissolved from its previous spirit.
"That's your question? You wanna know about the sheets? Not, you know, about what's on top of them?"
Now it was Husk's turn to raise an eyebrow. Angel, though, stayed on the 'wut'.
"-You're not much fun, you know that?"
The cat gave it no acknowledgement.
The spider pulled back. "It's Cherri." He breathed, relaxing back down behind the wall. "She spends little time here but knows I tend to drop in. So, she sets the bed."
"Huh," The cat uttered. "And leaves no food."
"None."
Neither continued from there, opting for silence to return. Not even a judder to distract the peace, the calm darkness, lit up by the hidden source from the outside.
Husk felt his body gain a certain weight. The slow pull of the mattress pressed into him, dragging him in. The sensation of his eyes, their lids wearing down.
"...What do you think is going on over there?"
The soft voice sent a surge through the cat. "Hm-What? Where?" He was drawn to the head reappearing over the wall.
"I mean the Hotel." Angel specified, with an arm to underline it.
Through the confusion, Husk's paws turned up as well. "...Who knows. But I think I'll try to actually sleep now." He turned, to face away and sent home this message.
The message appeared to be well received. The quietude settled back in the apartment, peaceful enough to sleep.
Almost.
A flash, warm and faint, coated the window frame. The sound was far off, thinned by its distance. Gone in a split second.
Just enough to wake the mind, to experience the stillness that followed.
"Do you… Do you think it's possible? The rehabilitation?"
He wished to sleep. To drift off. To keep the air at rest.
And yet…
A deep inhale and the markings greeted him once more.
"I think… that if it is possible, it would've happened already."
"...Maybe it has?" The voice was light. Easy. "How would we know?"
The cat couldn't help his crunched brow. A pressure formed on it as he rose into sitting, to glance over the pillows. "Where is this coming from?"
He caught Angel's focus, the white head pivoting on the pillow. "A random thought." He shrugged with his lips out. "Since, you seemed to have faith in her otherwise."
In the following, potent pause, Husk stared intently at the demon.
Angel set his arms behind his head, wrinkling the already casual blanket while keeping eye contact.
"...I'm not gonna talk to her." The cat's gaze broke off. "About any of this. So, sleep. Because you've got nothing to worry about."
He fell back behind the cover of pillows, shifting to find a suitable position to slumber in. He didn't care for the other movement he heard, didn't see anything above the border.
And, for some time, heard nothing either.
"It's a shame, really." The calm voice uttered. "You not being into me."
Having turned towards the stars, knees up and arms on his front, Husk stopped as he was. Not because it was comfortable.
He just wanted to.
Husk closed his eyes, to perhaps wake up with a clearer head.
The slightest shift from behind perturbed this.
"...Goodnight?"
The furry crown, the eyes, the mouth eased at the word.
"'Nite."
A/N: A slower chapter for sure, I know. Lemme know what ya think. But no worries, the next one will kick things back into gear :D
Also, I'm intending to touch up chapter 4, The Grand Opening, again. And I'm honestly sorry for continuing to fiddle with that damn thing, but I feel I have to. For example, now that the show is out, I came to realize that the Hotel is on a damn cliff. So, I need to decide if I wanna implement that here, something that chapter 4 is kinda awry about. I also had a plan for a future scene behind the Hotel, buuuut… eah. I'll let ya know what I decide.
Again though, I have no intention of doing any story changing stuff. Just fiddling, if even that. At the very precise target of chapter 4, the Slacker. :)
Last note: Thank you for reading.