prologue
Words could not describe how nervous you were.
You had been in hell for about a month. Wow did it take getting used to.
Not just the entirety that you wound up in Hell, with the life you lived that was sort of expected. But with your new form. You had stared in the mirror for hours wondering if this was real.
It was.
You had learned what that clocktower meant. Apparently a cleanse was what occurred once every year to maintain population here in Hell. After learning that you didn't bother learning about the confusing aspects of overlords and such.
You had seen a few posters strewn around about feared overlords. You were scared, obviously, but ignorance is bliss.
You went day to day in just as much pain and numbness as when you were alive. From the fateful day when you lost all you had and loved to the day you died you were numb, but hopeful.
That hope was extinguished just your first week into Hell.
But it was lit aflame once more by the broadcast you bared witness to just a week ago while at work.
/// "Is this girl for real? She thinks—HAHA—she thinks—"
You cleaned the glasses at the bar and felt interested in the princesses idea. Truth be told you considered the aspect of it. Everyone deserves a second chance right?
As you shine the crystal ware you look up at the screens once more and furrow your brows at the live broadcast.
"None other than porn actor, Angel Dust!",the blonde woman gasped then the screen statics to a live feed.
"Ahah! I'm a bad person!"///
That voice.
It seemed to good to be true but all the quotas fit. You had done research on Angel Dust as soon as you got home. But yet again...it seemed too good to be true.
Thats why it took you a week to gather up the courage to stand outside of the Happy Hotel. If it wasn't your Anthony then at least you could spark hope in the princess and her rehabilitation program.
Your eyes roamed up the large red building and your brows pinched together at the sparkling sign atop the building.
"Hazbin Hotel...",you whisper aloud and scratch your temple,"Could've sworn it was the 'Happy Hotel'."
Swallowing hard you knock on the door. You admire the beautiful different shades of red stained glass and smile a bit nervously at the apples and serpents thrown in.
The door swings open and a very short woman looks up at you with one large eye in the middle of her face. Her lips spread into a wide sharp toothed grin,"Hi! What do you want!"
You blink back and smile, deciding to conceal the main reason for now,"I'm here for the rehabilitation program..." You say in a bit of a quiet voice and she blinks rapidly before nodding and grabbing your wrist. She drags you through the lobby and to the front desk which happens to be a bar.
//A bit...counterproductive no?//
You keep your thoughts to yourself as your eyes fall on the man currently looking through the alcohol bottles. The small woman smiles and claps her hands,"I will get the princess! I'm Niffty by the way!" She speaks hurriedly and high-pitched before scurrying off.
You furrow your brows in curiosity at her strange sense of behavior but you simply dismiss it. Turning to the man behind the bar you take notice of his strong back and his muscles tensing as he cleans the sparkling glasses.
You cock your head gently as you look up to his salt and pepper hair and notice his hair up in two cowlicks, resembling cat ears.
He wears a black suit with poker card patterns stitched onto the vest he wears. Your eyes fall to his hand cleaning the glasses and notice he struggles to get a spot within the smallest crook.
You smile softly and laugh gently, catching his attention you don't notice the way his entire being tenses up.
"I usually use the end of a fork wrapped in a towel to get those hard to reach spots."
Husk swallows hard.
//That laugh...that voice...
It can't be.//
You lean against the bar with a bit of worry settling over you at his sudden quietness and the way he places down the glass and rag.
"Are you okay?",you question softly. Husk slowly turns and you both still. His golden cat-like eyes meet your red wide ones. He breathes out a breath of air as he slowly rounds the bar, your eyes never break.
"(Y/N)...?"
Husk looks over you. The tip of your nose is a rosy red and as are your round cheeks. Your white hair adorns two rabbit ears and your eyes are wide and upturned, a bright blood red.
You place your hand over your increasingly beating heart,"Husk...",you breathe out while remaining glued to your position. Husk feels his dead heart skip a beat when you utter his name. He hasn't seen you in decades. Yet he could never forget your voice.
Especially when you spoke his name.
Hearing you say his name was a confirmation and he felt his emotions boil over. You freeze when Husks arms wrap around your figure and he pulls you close. You inhale the scent of alcohol and somehow find comfort in it, tears stinging your eyes.
Melting into the embrace your eyes are wide and unblinking in disbelief.
//Husk...he's really here...//
You hadn't seen him since the night before you left for LA. You left him with a goodbye and no explanation. Yet you mailed him a letter after all that happened at Vox's ball...you never received one back.
"I can't believe you're here...",Husk says in utter disbelief as his face buries into the crook of your neck. You swallow hard and your voice is shaky,"I could say the same..."
Husk snorts and has yet to pull away from the hug,"C'mon there was no doubt I'd wind up here." He laughs and you feel that brightness in your heart ignite once more. You roll your teary eyes gently and you pull away upon hearing the sound of a soft "oh".
Husk feels his heart ache slightly when you pull away. He grows embarrassed upon seeing Charlie standing across from you two with surprised and confused expressions.
Husk clears his throat and rubs the nape of his neck with his black gloved hands. Charlie steps forward with a soft smile,"Um...Niffty mentioned a new potential client...you two know each other?" Charlie questions while concealing her immense excitement at a new client.
Husk looks to you and you nod with a soft smile,"Yeah we do, its a bit of a long story. But its a pleasure to meet you! I'm (Y/N)." You step forward with a smile as you blink back your happy tears. Charlie nods slowly with her smile growing.
"I hope I can learn about it later, but I'm Charlie! So are you serious...? Do you think its possible to rehabilitate a demon?",Charlie questions with hesitance and her thin black brows pinch together. A small frown is on her rosy cheeks and you nod with your usually warm smile.
"I believe everyone deserves a second chance. Which is why I wanted to come here. Um...is there like a process orr...",you trail off and let out a soft "oof" when she jumps on you with a tight hug.
"Ah! This is amazing! We've got our second client!",Charlie squeals quite loudly in your ear while rocking you. //This one has hope//, she silently thinks to herself while cheesing.
You laugh gently and return the hug with a few pats,"Happy to be of service." You realize how warm and soft the curvy princess is. She also smells of apple crumble pie.
Charlie is practically vibrating with excitement,"Okay! Husk can you get me a key for a room on the same floor as Angels, it'd be nice to have our two clients in close proximity!"
Husk has been staring at you, still in quite the amount of disbelief but he nods with a grumble while making his way back around the bar.
He watches as Charlie and you begin to converse.
//She's really here...
I can't believe she's here.//
He sighs deeply as he fumbles with the key to the cupboard.
//I feel like a jackass for being happy she's in Hell.//
His eyes look to the way your lips are tugged into that warm smile he hadn't seen in so long. Truth be told, receiving your letter and getting the gist of what Alastor had done and your reason for cutting ties ripped his heart out. You'd been through so much and he was too much of a coward to be there for you.
To admit his feelings.
His heart died that day. And even in the afterlife he lost the ability to feel anything.
But with one second of your laughter his heart began to beat again.
Now you were both here for eternity. He had more than enough time to reconnect with you and fix things.
Looking down at the cupboard full of keys he pulled one out and a realization hit him. It wasn't just him that you were now stuck with.
Charlie's phone began to ring and she pulled it from her black slacks and clapped cheerily,"Thats my mom I've got to take this I'll be right back."
You nod and smile while watching her quickly disappear down the hall towards the rooms.
You are quick to turn with a wide smile only to notice the look of utter worry and realization on Husk's sharp features. Stepping back towards the bar you lean over,"You ok—"
"Husker, my friend! Have you seen Charlie? She wanted to discuss my redesign to the marvel that is the hotels sign!"
Husk's eyes widen when yours do. Your breathing grows quick as does your heartbeat.
That loud and showman voice is filtered by radio static, but beneath it its an undeniable sound. A sound that you held in your memories and heart till you laid dying. You felt your hands shake as a presence stood aside you.
"Why the long face?",Alastor inquires while leaning against his cane. His eyes fall to you as you stare straight ahead. One brow lowers as the other raises and his cheshire grin widens.
//A new face!//
"And who might you be my dear?"
You turn to face Alastor and a tear rolls down your rosy cheek. Your red eyes meet his glowing crimson ones and looking over his figure you realize two things.
One, its really him.
Two, he's the radio demon.
"Alastor...",you choke out over the lump in your throat. Husk watches as Alastors grin falls and his eyes are wider than dinner plates.
That voice. The one he had longed to hear for decades upon decades. The one that haunted his nightmares and lit up his dreams. The one that managed to make him vulnerable and loved.
Eternity could not ever cause the memory of that voice to fade or falter.
The events that occurred that night, the scar that he had left down your heart now opened. And the way his gloved hand reached out caused you to instinctively smack it away. Both men held their breaths.
You began to feel more tears roll down your hot cheeks and the lump in your throat began to suffocate you.
Alastor flinched when you smacked away his hand. Looking into your tearful eyes he saw nothing but negative emotions. Your lips were turned down in a frown and you were shaking like a bird.
//My darling...//Alastor thought as he stepped towards you...//is it really you...?//
Alastor swallowed hard as he attempted to reach out once more,"(Y/N)...darling..." You felt salt be doused into the wound within your chest. You roughly shoved him away and looked at him,"D-Don't touch me...Don't come near me. J-Just..." You think of the selfish and completely cruel scene he made you bare witness to.
Alastors heart just about shatters at shaky and choked tone of voice. Its not fear, nor is it hate. Its betrayal and complete and utter hurt.
Husk attempts to step around the bar but you shake your head and cover your mouth and turn. Running as fast as your feet could take you you could hear the gunshots from that night.
You could see Alastor splattered with the blood of Anthony and you could see Vox's body collapse to the ground. Then Alastor with the barrel beneath his chin.
Alastor and Husk watched as you ran out of the hotel, leaving the door open behind you. Both feeling their hearts ache and break at your expression, yet both thought different things in that moment.
//He's completely ruined any possibility of being with her//, Husk thinks with guilt.
Static surrounds Alastor and his heart pulsates and crushes with guilt and disbelief.
//I completely broke her.//