Chapter 1: The Cat, The Moth, The Snake

Trigger Warning: Consensual Violence . . .? But not sexual or BDSM

Spoiler warning: Major spoilers for Hazbin Hotel Season 1 Finale episode

Cover art, idea, and $request$ by precisespace on Tumblr

Written by ViktheViking

For details on how you could request a story, click the link in my Tumblr bio viktheviking1

Husk had made himself a promise the night before the battle against the exorcists. He had been having drinks with Angel Dust at his bar.

"Charlie said we should live however we want tonight, so pour me another drink!" Angel had said with a wide smile on his face.

It was nice to see him so relaxed for once, but it made him think about what awaited Angel if he survived this. Just more cocksucking for that sick bastard Valentino. And that was if he survived. There was every chance that he would die tomorrow, still under that bastard's thumb; having his last taste of freedom long since left his mouth. He couldn't stand it. There was no hope left for him, but Angel should have his freedom. And so he swore that if neither of them died by an exorcist's blade the next day, he would find a way to get Angel out of that damn contract. And he had finally worked out a way.

The chances of success were admittedly slim, but Husk didn't have much to lose. So he took a risk. It was surprisingly easy to sneak away from the hotel. He was sure Alastor would stop him before he had made it out the door, but he didn't notice. That or he had let him walk out, but fat chance of that ever happening.

At any rate he had made it to the vees tower with no problems. Inside was one giant retail store. A map showed at least 20 floors of pure capitalism. It was hard not to walk into a sign, clothing rack, or someone wearing thick makeup spraying perfume in people's faces. He made it to a door in the back that blended almost seamlessly into the wall.

There were some perks to having once been an overlord. It was maybe 3 months after the Vees first started attending the meetings that he had lost all his damned power. But he still remembered using this door way back when Valentino and Vox had invited a few of them up for drinks. It was before Velvette joined their team and he actually had made a bet with Zeezi that they wouldn't last a year without getting into trouble they couldn't handle. The irony that they would end up outlasting him was palpable.

He noticed the security camera pinging on the moment he entered the elevator, but hopefully he wouldn't be in there long enough for that Vox fella to notice. He hit the big V button and felt the metal box be lifted fast.

The doors opened to a short hallway leading to big double doors. Two girls who wore moth antennae headbands stood outside the door. They seemed surprised to see him, as they should. Before they could say anything, he said, "Here to talk to Val." and strode right to the door.

They put their hands in front of the handles. Husk looked up at them, but they stood there silently, looking to each other, conflicted.

"Is there a problem?" He asked, but still they remained silent.

"If you're not allowed to talk, it's okay, I won't rat on ya. Just tell me why you won't let me in and we can maybe come to an understanding." Husk offered.

They looked at each other, nodded, and looked back at him. To his horror, Husk watched as they opened their mouths to show a clean cut numb where their tongues were supposed to be.

His foot forced him to take a step back, ". . . Holy shit." he shook himself out of the shock, "Look, you ladies probably know Angel Dust, right?"

They both beamed excitedly at the mention of his name. The one on the left took the other's arm, and used it to pat herself on the head, miming something.

"I see . . . he's real sweet ain't he . . ." Husk grinned, "Well, I'm trying to do him a favor. I'm here to do a trade for his soul."

One looked at him surprised, and the other, concerned.

"I know, I know. It doesn't sound great, but it's all for show, see? I'll give him his freedom after."

They looked unconvinced.

"I know it's hard to believe. I mean, you don't even know me. But I'm the bartender at the hotel he lives at and-"

The one on the left made a squeak sound and the other one had to shush her.

" . . . I take it he's talked about me?"

The one on the left began to use some sign language. It was definitely a language he didn't know, if it was any official language at all and not something they had to make up to communicate with each other. Even if it was official and he had known it, she was signing super fast. He looked to the one on the right. She smiled and gave a little gay hand gesture and kitty claws.

Husk laughed, "Yup, he's talking shit, that's Angel. So, will you let me in?"

They looked at each other unsure, and began signing.

He interrupted, "If it helps, you can just say you tried to stop me, but I slugged ya."

They didn't speak, and the right one pointed at her nub tongue again.

"Oh, right. I'm guessing Val hasn't taken the time to learn any of that sign language, huh? And I doubt he'd wait for you to write it down. . ." Husk trailed off as he thought.

The one on the left's eyes brightened as she had an idea. She leaned down, positioning her cheek right in front of him.

"Uh . . . what are you doing?"

The one on the right pulled her back, and clearly mouthed "No." as she signed.

The other signed and he read her lips saying "It's for anal."

He saw her mime a halo above her head. Oh, It's for Angel.

The one on the left leaned down again, and showed him her cheek, miming punching herself in the face.

"Wha- I'm not going to punch you. Are you fucking nuts?"

She shrugged, and put her body more in front of the door, seeming to imply that she wouldn't let him in until he did.

He groaned, clenching his fist, dry swallowing, "For Angel, right."

They both nodded, held hands, and leaned down to him.

He took a deep breath, and pulled his arm back.

— — —

The heavy doors swung wide open as Husk burst in. "How ya been ol' pal?" He said with a thick layer of malice in his voice. Valentino looked up from his compact mirror in surprise. He was draping himself across the couch, legs spread, not minding that his lingerie was on full display. He didn't bother closing them.

"Well, this is quite the surprise. How many decades has it been, Hussy?" He tried to regain his composure, after being caught off guard.

"It's Husk. Have you really forgotten? Ha! You must have fried your brain and your dick after sticking it into an electrical socket so many times." Husk crossed his arms and casually leaned to one side.

Val's short fuse was lit. He faked a short laugh, and sat up, "Well, as interesting as it was to see you again after all these years, I'm afraid I'm going to have to ask you to leave." He looked at the door, "Ladies!"

There was a brief pause before the tongueless twins came through the doors. One had a cheek red and already beginning to swell and the other had a slash across her face. Husk's heart panged with guilt knowing that it was his claws that did that to her, but it's what she had asked, or mimed, for him to do. They hobbled in, leaning on each other and limping. That he definitely didn't do, but they sold it well.

Valentino stood and seethed through clenched teeth, and pointed a long sharp finger at the woman with blood running down her cheek, "If that one scars, I swear to-"

"It won't. Relax, Val. I just wanted to talk to ya about overlord business, and they wouldn't let me in." Husk tried to calm him down.

Husk casually sat down on the loveseat across from the angry moth. As much as he hated the guts of this filthy scumbag, and would love to just pummel him into the ground, it wouldn't do Angel any good. So he would have to play nice . . . For now.

"Ha!" Val laughed and sat back down, "Really? Because last I checked your soul still belonged to the radio demon. Go find someone else to roleplay having some kind of power with."

Val began to light a cigarette.

"And yet I somehow have this."

Husk took a soul contract out of his pocket, and Val paused.

Squinting his red beady eyes, Val reached out his hand for it. Husk handed it over, and tried to hide behind a guise of confidence. Val skimmed the page, and when he was done, he touched his cigarette to the paper. It did not catch on fire. Husk internally breathed a sigh of relief. Soul contracts are impervious to any form of damage, and getting his hands on a regular sheet of paper that would be supposedly as strong, had been surprisingly difficult. Obviously, having one of these fakes was extremely taboo, and being caught would often mean being slaughtered by whichever overlord found you out. He had gotten his hands on 2 papers. He tested one and it had withstood a lot of abuse, but the moment it touched a flame, it had gone up and quickly turned to ash. He didn't dare test the second one against flame, and had been betting entirely on Val testing it through trying to rip it apart. Luckily, this one had been more flame retardant.

"Alright, fine. I'll entertain you for a bit. How'd you get this?" Val took a puff.

"I've been looking for loopholes in Alastor's contract with me for decades. He was very thorough, I admit. I had noticed that I could technically take another soul under contract, but I couldn't figure out how that would do me any good. . . Until now." Husk gestured.

"Sir . . . Penchus?" Val ventured.

"Pentious. He's a snake demon from 19th century England."

"Oh, I've heard of him. He mainly harasses Vox for a chance to join us in this tower. Ha!" He scoffed, "It's pathetic really. Makes sense he'd wind up under contract to someone under contract. Heh."

Husk grinned, "Yeah, he's not the brightest."

"Hang on." Val leaned forward, "Didn't one of your hotel hippies die during the fight? I thought Vox mentioned something about-"

"Different hippy." Husk said, "Couldn't have a contract of an exterminated soul, now could I?"

Val shrugged, "Yeah . . . So, I assume you want a trade of some kind? If you're looking to be free from the radio demon, you've come to the wrong place. Even Vox isn't foolish enough to start a fight on little notice for such . . ." He pinched his fingers together, staring at Husk's crotch, "meager rewards. Val laughed.

Husk closed his legs, knowing full well Val didn't know anything about what was in his pants and was just trying to make a fool of him, "I don't need any saving from Alastor. No, I'm here to trade for Angel Dust." He narrowed his eyes.

Valentino laughed, "You think I'll trade my top selling star for- for, a dumbass old snake?! Haha! Spending time as Alastor's bottom butler boy has knocked a few screws loose I see. Ha!" He twirled his finger, gesturing lunacy.

"Top seller, huh?" Husk leaned forward, "And how much is that top seller making you huh?"

Val leaned back, crossing his lower arms, "What are you trying to say?"

"Well, Angel's been in your employ for how many years now? He ain't that young new hit anymore, is he? I'm sure that his numbers aren't what they used to be. And hasn't he been acting up? Is it really worth the hassle for the numbers he's pulling? I thought you'd be smart enough to know when it's time to get some fresh meat." Husk placed his hand on the table between them.

Val looked back at the contract in his hand, "And you're telling me an 18th century dumbass reptile is the change the viewers want?" Valentino shook his head, "Hate to break it to you furry, but scalies are rare."

"Not just any reptile, he's a snake." Husk plucked the contract from Val's hands and leaned back with confidence.

"That's worse! More sinners are afraid of snakes than they are getting hard for them." Val took a sip of his drink.

"You could put a spin on it. Say he's a constrictor and has a mean choke," Husk shrugged, the grinned, "Plus, I hear he has two dicks."

Val spat out his martini in surprise, and coughed, "R-really?" He wheezed, "What do you mean you hear? You haven't seen it yourself."

Husk shrugged, "Depends. I've shown you mine. I haven't seen yours."

Valentino laughed at this old geezer trying to use his language. With a snap of his fingers, Angel's, or rather Anthony's contract appeared in his hand. He skimmed through it, though he had written the words himself. He peered over the paper and looked at the demon in front of him. It was obvious he was tricking him in some way. Maybe the snake was impotent or something, there was no way for him to know. But even something like that there were steps around. But did he really want to give up his top star? His numbers were wavering, but he just needed another rebrand, which was more Velvette's department.

"Let me talk to-" Val began.

"I can see you're hesitant." Husk interrupted, "I get it. Why don't we leave it up to a bit of luck? It's been a long time since I had a soul to gamble with. It'd be just like the good old days."

Val leaned back, thinking aloud, "So if I win, I get to keep Angel Dust and get a new, double dicked star?"

"And if I win, Angel comes back to the hotel, and never has to step foot in your sex tower ever again." He stuck out his hand for the first time in decades, "Do we have a deal?"

Author's Note:

Vik here. I was both ecstatic and a little worried when I got a notification that I had my first ever story request. Ecstatic because someone liked my writing so much they wanted me to write something for them, but worried because I didn't know what they wanted me to write. As much as some of you enjoy my writing, I definitely have weak points. In the stories I've published, I've stuck to my strengths, but there are some genres that I have very little experience in. But I read the request and I immediately knew I had nothing to worry about. Honestly, I started to wonder why I hadn't thought of it myself!

I don't have a specific release schedule for this story. I'm currently dealing with some stress in my personal life and my day job, so most everything has either slowed or come to a halt. But this story is currently my main priority. Those of you here from my Helluva Boss story, The Pompous and The Prick, sorry again about the hiatus! I'm currently trying to still write a paragraph for the next chapter everyday, so it's slow going. I promise you, it is not forgotten, but with this being a specific request, I do have an obligation to prioritize this first. I hope you can understand and have some patience.

Okay, that's it. Be sure to subscribe or follow or whatever so that when I do update this, you can be notified. Now, go forth and enjoy your lives. May the lines you wait in be short, and may your microwaved food be heated all the way through.