Chapter 2: Deals and Dealers

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

Valentino gave a performance of thinking about the offer, before reaching for Husk's outstretched hand. Just before they made contact, the doors once again swung open dramatically.

"Husker, really, have you learned nothing about how to make a deal with other demons?" The melody of an old timey radio played through Alastor's mouth as he walked in.

Husk and Valentino stood up simultaneously, Husk shouting, "The fuck-?!" And Val making squeaky distressed Moth noises.

"How did you-?" Husk began, but stopped as Alastor swung an arm around his shoulders.

"I saw you scuttling off in secret and while I thought about ripping your fingers off one by one . . . I decided to follow you! It's been such a long time since you dared disobey direct orders like this, I wanted to know what motivated you to act with such disregard for your own well being. And, well . . ."

Alastor pinched Husk's cheek like a disobedient child, "It just goes to show how even a broken slave can act foolishly when being misguided by the whims of the heart."

He leaned down to his ear and spat, "How pitiful."

Husk brushed his hand away, "Enough of your monologuing. Your evil villain shit is getting old. What do you want?"

Alastor's ear twitched at being called out, but otherwise he remained calm, "I've come to collect my things."

Alastor unceremoniously picked up his cat around the waist with one arm and began walking back towards the doors that the twins were no longer guarding, "I'm going to make sure you remember that you are to stay on the hotel grounds."

"Wait, Alastor listen-" Husk started, hurriedly.

The doors opened for them without Alastor lifting a finger, and he walked through, "I've been listening for long enough. Your chances of winning are low, and your chances of keeping up the charade even lower." He turned down his volume, "You can't give them something you don't have. Honestly, I'm doing us both a favor."

Alastor continued walking down the empty hallway carrying Husk against his hip. Each security camera they walked past seemed to blink off until they were just out of sight, before their red recording lights turned back on.

"But-" Husk started.

"But what?" Alastor put him down and stared daggers into him, "You thought you could fool them just long enough to get your sleazy spider out of there? You thought when they came banging on the hotel's doors for Sir Pentious, I would be there to clean up the mess you made? Just like I did for Mimzy?"

Husk looked down. He hated Alastor. There was no part of him that could empathize with him, he was sure. But being compared to Mimzy did make him feel like a pathetic piece of shit. Not to mention, all the people in the hotel that he did actually give a damn about.

"I decided to only give Mimzy a warning that if she were to ever pull such a stunt again, I'd leave her to the consequences of her actions. I did this because she's earned my goodwill and at least some respect over the years." He jabbed a sharp finger in Husk's face, who flinched back, lest he be cut by it, "You, Husk, you miserable, worthless, sorry excuse for a demon, have earned nothing that you don't deserve. What shall I do to squander this childish act of rebellion, hmm? Shall I pluck off all your feathers again? How much would you miss your teeth? I could keep them in a jar for a few decades before returning them to you. Or perhaps you would like to match Miss. Vaggie? I could cut off your wings entirely, and remove one of your eyes."

Husk didn't talk, just looked at the ground. "What? Nothing to say now? I thought you were supposed to be the knight in shining armor?" Alastor tilted his chin up aggressively, "Speak."

Husk took in a deep breath, and took his greatest risk yet, "It might have been entertaining, though."

Something flashed in Alastor's eyes, "What did you say?"

Husk stepped back, and Alastor allowed him to slip out of his hand, "I mean, what could be more amusing? A pathetic shit gambling a fake soul when he doesn't even have his own? The look on those dipshits' faces when they realize they've been screwed over. Valentino, Velvette, . . . Vox. All looking at you in abject horror. While you barely have to lift a finger."

Alastor wore a face of disdain and irritation, but Husk had known this amalgamation of inhuman parts for a long, long time. And he knew that behind that annoyed grin, he was considering it.

". . . You must really enjoy pain, for you to dare try to persuade me." Alastor said. About a million innuendos came to mind to Husk, but he said none. He really was spending too much time with Angel.

Husk tried again, "I know apologies are worthless to you, and I wouldn't mean it if I did. But you gotta admit that it would be a missed opportunity to annoy the hell out of Vox-"

"I DON'T HAVE TO ACKNOWLEDGE ANYTHING." Alastor towered over him. The lights dimmed, and Alastor blocked what little light was left with his growing body. His face contorting into grotesque shapes with a green 'x' appearing in the center of his forehead. A glowing green collar and chain appeared around Husk's neck. He shrunk into his shoulders, but stood his ground.

Alastor held the chain in his hands, but lightly, and continued, "And don't think for a second that this means you are getting out of your punishment."

Husk nodded emphatically, ears back, and Alastor appeared to calm. The hall began to return to normal.

He continued talking as he shrunk back down to normal size, "But I suppose there is some merit to your ramblings. But for you to have any chance of success, you will have to obey me directly, this time."

Husk swallowed, "Yes, Alastor."

"And I won't be helping you cheat during the game. If you lose, you lose." Alastor tugged on the chain a bit, "And if that happens, or they figure you out at any point, I will not protect you from them. I'll let them do anything to you except for actually killing you. Meaning," He leaned down to look Husk in the eyes, "You will face both their punishment and mine. Do you still want to play?"

Husk found himself unable to breath, but managed a weak, "Yes." and shakily stuck out his hand.

Alastor did not bother to hide his delight, his intense greed, as he shook it.

"Wonderful!" Alastor stood back to his full height, and let the chain visibly disappear, though it was always present, "Then, we better get back in there. We have a real deal to make."

— — —

Alastor burst through the doors a second time, to be greeted by Valentino back in the same position he had been in before he had been disturbed by Husk, "Why, hello again-"

Husk tried not to laugh as he followed behind Alastor, who put a hand up and suddenly found the wall very interesting

"Oh? Like what you see?" Val said, unphased.

"If you wouldn't mind, I'd like to talk business with someone who isn't displaying their knickers for all to see." Alastor said to the wall, ears flattened.

"Business? I thought you had just left with your business." Val said, sitting up, which covered his crotch slightly.

"Yes, well, I didn't quite understand all the details. But now that I do, I think Husk's deal is a splendid idea! Though there of course need to be some tweeks." Alastor grabbed Husk from behind him, and practically threw him onto the couch across from Valentino.

"First of all, if you win, you will get this." Alastor grabbed the fake contract out of Husk's pocket and slammed it on the coffee table, careful not to claim it was a real soul contract, "And you will have Husk for 72 hours, during which you can do anything to him, excluding harming him beyond repair. Then you are to return him, and all the parts of him, directly to me. I do need him back after you've taught him a lesson, afterall." Alastor paced, hitting his staff to his hand repeatedly, like he was going to beat someone with it, "If you lose, you will shred Anthony's contract, never speak to him again, never harm him again, never enter another contract with him again, and never get within 20 meters of him. The game will be black jack, and I will be the dealer. Any questions?"

"Yeah." Valentino said, standing up to face Alastor, "As much as I love the addition of being able to harm your toy here, how do I know you won't help him cheat?"

Alastor rolled his eyes, like the idea wasn't worth thinking about, "Alright, If I help anyone cheat during this game, you will automatically win, and Husk's contract will also be yours."

Val just raised an eyebrow and folded his arms.

Alastor sighed, "And I'll throw myself on a holy weapon. Better?"

Val clapped his hands together, "Much!"

"Alright! Finally!" Alastor grabbed Husk's hand, holding it from the outside, and stretched it out towards Valentino, "Do we have a deal?"

Val grinned menacingly, and grabbed both their hands, and shook them.

Vox strode through the doors, looking at his phone, "Hey, Val, some of the cameras are on the fritz. Did one of your bitches cut some wires agaaaaainnn . . . ?" he trailed off as he looked up to see the three making a deal.

"AL-?! WHAT THE FUCK?!" The phone shattered on the floor.

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 patience with me.

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.

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