It was extremely quiet. The hotel seemed to have the same jerks really, all in their rooms, everything was as usual, but Husk sensed that something was wrong.
Ah yes, Alastor was missing. But overall it wasn't surprising.
Why?
Husk leaned against the counter and lit a cigarette, leisurely exhaling the smoke. It was as simple as day. He and Alastor had had a fight, and now they were just ignoring each other. It wasn't that they'd had a falling out, it was just that they'd once again clashed in their views. How many years they had known each other, and still they sometimes fought like cats and dogs. Grinning at the unintentional pun, Husk closed her eyes, continuing to smoke strong cigarettes. It was a habit as strong as the booze itself, which the cat had brought to Hell from her earthly life. And there was no one here to reproach her for it, so she quietly enjoyed the bitter smoke, occasionally letting it out in rings. Like the silly dragon in the silly books. Except, even when Alastor, that fucking reindeer Bambi, brought her to a boil, she didn't breathe fire. She could only vindictively bite her shoulder with her fangs, get her in the head for it, and immediately lick the red bite back, purring softly out of spite, leaning her own disheveled head against the nibbled shoulder. As much as Alastor's aversion to touching was strong, she liked Husk's feline habits much better. It was only to Husk's advantage, but she didn't use it often. It was an ace up her sleeve, and abusing this trick meant accustoming her to it and indulging Bambi's whims too often. With a distracted chuckle, she let out another puff of smoke when the familiar clatter of hooves could be heard in the distance. With a snort, Husk continued smoking as if nothing had happened, punishing herself to remember to clean up after herself behind the counter later, so that Nicky wouldn't grumble. Actually, it was part of her direct duties, but she didn't want to upset the boy any more.
In the meantime, the sound was steadily approaching. Lazily twitching her ears, Husk paid no attention to the way her heart was pounding in time with those footsteps.
Alastor stopped in front of the counter just as Husk finished smoking and took a deep breath. When she noticed the deer, Husk, not knowing how she hadn't choked, pulled the corners of her lips into a tube and exhaled a white stream of smoke directly toward Ali. Noticing how her ears instinctively twitched and the corners of her eternal smile twitched, Husk smiled mentally and exhaled tornly, letting out an amused bagel of cigar smoke at the end. A spectacular ending, so to speak. Alastor instinctively waved her hand, fending off the smell of cigarettes, and smiled fiercely.
- Your usual tricks are much better, Hasker. - She chirped, making the cat grin crookedly.
- I'm not trying for you," Husk snapped lazily, putting out the rest of the cigarette butt and leaving it in the ashtray. There was still a faint trace of smoke, but it would fade soon, so it didn't really matter. - What are you fucking doing here? - The cat arched a brow at her head, staring lazily at Alastor. She sat down across from her, as if nothing had happened. Her eyes, however, narrowed in indignation.
How vulgar, Hasker.
But Alastor had the stamina to dispense with the reproach, at least for now. Especially when she was as tired as a hunted horse.
Husk could see that Ali was keeping up this contrived, reckless activity. In reality, she was just fucked up and wished she could sit in silence for a while. How ironic, considering what a pain in the ass this cute little reindeer usually was. Especially to Husk.
- Bloody Mary, Darling. - Giving the cat a more weary smile, even humble, she murmured somehow. She wasn't a fucking cat, unlike Husk, but she wouldn't have been surprised if the fawn had actually purred once.
Arching an eyebrow, Husk sensed some tension. Alastor really did look like crap. Whether it was because they weren't talking again, or because Alastor was really trying to do something about a place as dysfunctional as this hotel, Husk couldn't say for sure. Probably all at once. But that's inaccurate.
Usually Husk didn't go for words, though more often than not it was easier for her to tell the person she was talking to to fuck off. But now she only smiled mockingly, baring her fangs:
- Did you have to overcome your pride to ask me for a drink, Ali?
- Well, Honey," Alastor immediately tensed, still smiling. - You're a bartender, and now I feel the urge to drink. - She mumbled awkwardly. And Husk really wanted to ignore their quarrel and drag Alastor away, tentatively laying her lovely ass upside down on his shoulder, but it was as if Ali really wasn't in the mood for jokes. But who's to say Husk won't be lazily groping the borders?
- Am I the only bartender here? - With a theatrical raise of her eyebrows, Husk chuckled huskily. She wasn't in the mood to flirt, but she always enjoyed watching Alastor stare at her, and if it weren't for the fact that she was always smiling, she'd probably have pouted in an offended gesture by now.
- Hasker, you're the best bartender here. - There's already a hint of irritation in her gorgeous voice.
- I'm also the only bartender. Why don't you find a replacement for me, Bambi? - The cat bowed her head in feigned laziness, her eyes flashing. Alastor opened her eyes indignantly, losing all her little humility.
- Darling. Just. Pour. Me. A drink. - pausing, the reindeer hissed. Her voice oozed radio interference, causing her sensitive feline ears to instinctively press against her skull. Damn them to hell.
- Fuck you, not Bloody Mary," Husk remarked grumpily, turning her back on her. She could feel Alastor's eyes on her poor ears all over her back. It was as if she wanted to start stroking them, but she held herself back. After all, they were in a fight.
- You're not much of a liar, Hasker. - Alastor observed Alastor quietly as she watched the cocktail being made over the cat's shoulder. Watching as she confidently and calculatedly filled a tall glass with a red cocktail, adding ice for flavor, as Husk called it in a good mood.
- Don't hask me," the cat threatened, pouring the vodka into the tomato juice with a confident motion. Alastor usually didn't drink this kind of alcohol at all, preferring old wines or good whiskeys, but this cocktail was one of her favorites, so it was a sin to complain. Pulling a bottle of scarlet liquid from behind her groove, Husk nonchalantly poured it in, refilling her glass right up to the edge, neatly sprinkled with salt. After, without mixing, she added the remaining ingredients to taste more accurately, following the recipe, and she put her paw around the glass.
Alastor, supporting her head with her fist, watched as the glass moved merrily up to her on the tray, and Husk herself, rubbing her paws with a towel, sat down in her seat, taking out a large bottle of cognac.
- And you said I wasn't likely to wait for Mary," Alastor said dryly, smiling.
- Fuck you and just drink it," the cat glared at her and sipped from the bottle as if nothing had happened, watching Alastor. After a moment of hesitation, she lifted the glass and nestled her lips against it, savoring it leisurely. The irritated wrinkles smoothed out, and Alastor even smiled more graciously. But Husk, unable to suppress the urge to grab her and drag her away to lick her pale cheeks and kiss those fucking bruises under her eyes, did nothing but wag her tail gently under the counter. But Alastor pretended not to notice anything either. Sneaky bitch.
As the glass became more and more empty, Alastor's smile grew softer and even more appreciative. But Husk still made a mental note to drag Alastor away, even if she fidgeted and denied that she was busy. Fuck this hotel, especially if it affects Alastor's mood.
Alastor finished her glass and stared pensively into a corner. Thinking about it, Husk put her paw on the counter, pad up, and noticed Alastor staring at her immediately. Well, that's a risk worth taking. She held out her other paw, and began tapping the bar with her claws, waiting for something. And it was not long in coming.
- Thank you for the wonderful blood cocktail, my dear," Alastor smiled broadly. And Husk felt two strange feelings in herself. Were they really fighting? And had she so shamefully burned herself by adding fresh blood swiped from Ali's kitchen to her drink? She had a sensitive nose, though, and could taste the same flavor in the cocktail itself. But nevertheless, Husk graced her with a smile from the corners of her lips.
- Another drink? - The barmaid arched a red eyebrow. She was about to take a glass, when suddenly Alastor grabbed her free paw.
- No, thank you. I really had enough. - She mumbled it, and Husk obediently put down her paw.
- Will you let me go? - Nodding at the hand that Ali held tenaciously with her fingers, Husk smiled crookedly. Wow, even in a fight she clung tenaciously to the old cat. Realizing this, Alastor blinked adorably, but nevertheless let go of her paw with great regret.
No, something was definitely wrong.
Putting the empty glass aside, Husk noticed Alastor's gaze. He was literally begging for the cat to put her paws back on the counter. And who was she to resist? Blinking lazily, she obediently put her paws back on the counter, slightly exposing her heart-shaped pads. Okay, fuck, this is already interesting. Her tail discreetly began to wag as Husk mentally counted down the seconds.
Three.
Two.
One.
Alastor grabbed the cat's paws and began poking her in the pads, holding her so tightly that Husk wouldn't have ripped her paws out if she'd wanted to. And she didn't hold back a silly smile. Alastor, even while resentful of her, clearly couldn't live without giving her grumpy old cat a pat on the back. And Husk let her do it, resting her paws comfortably and closing her eyes. Alastor was unabashedly relieved to start petting her, finally allowing herself something she had been deprived of most of the day. She scratched Husk behind the ears, smoothing her fluffy hair, squeezing her paws and literally glowing with happiness.
- Hey, does this mean you've stopped sulking at me, donkey? - Husk muttered, eyes wide, staring at Alastor with lazy curiosity. Alastor's face changed, and she hummed, but, as Hask expected, she didn't let her go.
- Not yet, Husker, but I'm close to it. Are you saying you have something against it? - She asked sarcastically when Hasker snorted, wrinkling her nose.
- Fuck you. I didn't say anything against it, so shut up and just do it. - She grumbled wearily, and the disgruntled expression on Alastor's face softened.
- Good choice, my dear," she chirped and scratched Husk's ear. Husk thought for a moment and answered her with a quiet purr. It was cut short when there was a low squeak. And it clearly wasn't a mouse. Husk opened her eyes with a grin, staring at Alastor.
- You like my purr," Husk said, stating the obvious rather than asking, bowing her head and smiling. Alastor was silent in response, not asserting anything, but she didn't deny it, either. Smiling victoriously, Husk covered her eyes, clawing lightly at the palm of her paw. Alastor tensed, but quickly got used to it, starting to stroke her fur.
They were still sulking at each other, but who the fuck said they couldn't touch each other? And Husk realized this when suddenly Alastor pulled away from her. Opening her eyes, Husk stared at her incomprehensibly and pulled away from the counter when suddenly Alastor wrapped her arms around her shoulders, pressing against her and leaning across the counter. The cat's wings flapped awkwardly, fluttering with excitement. Her tail lifted along with her fur, which stood up on end, and Husk tried to keep her balance with her eyes open while she was hugged tightly. As soon as she was in a stable position, she sighed determinedly, and before Ali could ask, she nuzzled against her lips, wrapping her paws around her face and gripping the back of her head with the soft part of her paw. Surprisingly, her cute little fawn didn't flinch so much, but simply clung tighter to her shoulders, pressing the cat against her chest and tentatively copying the movements of her lips. Husk gently stroked the back of her head, running her hair as praise, and Alastor kissed her much more confidently again, not daring to let her out of her embrace. Determined to please Alastor even more, Husk instinctively clutched at her lips and, pulling away from hers, gently touched them and murmured softly. Right into the kiss. Alastor opened her eyes rapturously while Husk, holding onto her shoulders, purred into her lips with a kind of fucked-up humility, letting her feel the vibration coming from the cat as she rumbled. Alastor, wasting no time, wrapped her arms around her head and began to scratch her ears, scratching her fluffy cheek in passing. Anything to keep Husk from stopping those delightful noises.
And Husk obediently continued purring even as she pulled away from Alastor to calm her fucking breath. Alastor didn't let her get very far, though-she had defiantly climbed over the counter, and was now sitting on a chair, resting the cat in her lap. Husk didn't even want to resist it, laying her head on her shoulder and continuing to purr quietly.
It was as if they were trying to absorb the other's presence in order to continue the imaginary fight before this pleasant warmth from the other's body was over. Although, frankly, Husk didn't even want her to leave her.
- Ali, why don't we just fuck them? - Without elaborating on exactly who to send, Husk lifted her eerily contented stag's bright eyes, which almost glowed if it weren't for the lights in the bar itself. - You'll be a fucking vampire soon enough, still being a stag with antlers," she muttered as Alastor chuckled at her words like a good joke.
- I'm so sorry, Darling," Alastor sighed sadly as she continued to stroke her ears.
- I really do need to finish my paperwork. - she mumbled, as if apologizing.
- I'll kick your ass," Husk hissed softly, pressing her ears to her head warily. - If you linger there, I'm going to fuck you for resenting me and drag you on my shoulder to my bed. So you can sleep it off, you fucking vampire.
Alastor blinked adorably again with a kind of lethargy, as if she'd been thinking a lot and suddenly giggled, hugging Husk tightly with her arms.
- You can control me if you want," she smiled playfully, to which Husk raised an eyebrow with interest. - Well, who said I'd let you go? - Ali replied with a mischievous smile, and Husk smiled back humbly, rubbing her nose in her nose and making a deep purr.
- You're fucking me, as usual, but I agree. But if you're late, I repeat, I will kick your ass and drag you back to bed by force. - She hissed threateningly, to which Alastor laughed softly, kissing her right on the nose.
- Whatever you say, Husky," she chirped, never risking to let go of Husk's hands all the way to her office.
Of course, anyone who saw them thought - what the fuck was this, they were fighting. But Husk didn't give a fuck about that, take her word for it.
And with Ali, they were already two steps away from a truce.
There was no doubt about it.