Archive of Our Own ^beta

Husk was just pissed today. He has the itch to go play cards, play the slots, gamble to his heart’s content. He has been trapped in this house for months dealing with all this baby planning and needs a break, badly. It shouldn’t be a problem, right? Just go out to any random casino and get it out of his system, right? 

Well, he would if he could.  

Expect Alastor is preventing him by blocking the door at the moment.  

“Move Al.”  

“Never.”  

“Come on, I need this.”  

“You don’t need anything; I can provide everything.” The stubborn deer has been at this for ten minutes now and Husk’s feet are getting tired of standing. Three and a half months into pregnancy can be bad on anyone’s feet for long hours, especially when that someone is caring a small litter of kittens.  

Husk keeps trying to push his way out of the house, but Alastor refuses to move.  

“I just want to get out of the house for some fresh air.”  

“Then why are you bringing your purse?” Husk flushed, he hates that he still has this thing, but he found how easier it is to bring a bag with you for random shit like napkins or for his phone. He’d just wish that Alastor would refer to it as a tote bag than a fucking girly purse.  

“I just need it in case I have to blow my nose or something.” He tries once again to push Alaster out of the way, but he’s not moving his feet.  

Husk facepalms. “What’s it going to take to allow me to go gamble?” 

Alastor appears to be thinking it over, but he hasn’t been trained to work for him for decades to not know when that damn deer is up to his tricks.  

*** 

He shouldn’t be surprised at all by this, but at least people aren’t screaming at the sight of them. No, he’s just humiliated.  

“Did you really have to dress me up to?” He fixes the dress on him. Yes, he’s in another dress that Alastor forced him into. It’s more of a 50s look with a red and white poco dot dress that fell past his knees with a side solid red hat to match. He was even forced to wear gloves and, thankfully, slip on shoes instead of heels. His wings were solid red and his eyes had whiter tint in them, but Alastor also told him that he had more of a glamor spell casted on him that he wasn’t as seeing because that’s how the spell worked. Thus allowing him to be seen, but unrecognizable.

“Oh darling, I just couldn’t allow you to get hurt like last time! This way, I can keep a close eye on you without having to make a scene like you wanted! It’s the perfect compromise.” Alastor was also wearing a style red suit, though it fell more into his time period of the early 30s to late 40s. His hat also matches with a black and red cap. He must’ve casted the same kind of glamor spell if people aren’t screaming when they saw them both walk in through the front.  

He wants to throw a fit, but he knows he can’t complain. He does wish Angel could’ve join them, but he’s at work and won’t be back until tomorrow night. Fat Nuggets is being looked after by Molly, Angel’s twin sister, tonight at her place.  

Husk sighs as he allows Alastor to lead the way.  

This is going to be a long night out.  

*** 

Husk was dragged around, Alastor’s arm firmly fixed around him as if someone is going to grab him. He tries not to snarl that much to avoid attention to be shown Husk’s way. Alastor is showing him off like he is the deer’s arm candy wife carrying their babies.  

It bothered him to no end and he was ready to call it quits when a woman at the counter where they got their chips asked when the baby was due. Husk instead tried to ignore Al and focus on playing some slots. He wins some, he lost some, but he was starting to relax.  

That’s when Alastor used some of his magic and made him get a jackpot.  

“What the hell?” He turned towards the deer that attempted, and failed horrible, to appear innocent.  

“Is something wrong deary? You won, didn’t you? Why I’d say that’s quiet the luck you have.”   

Husk got really close to his face and softly remarked. “I can win these games on my own Al; I don’t need a cheap pity shot.” He was even more ticked off when Alastor brushed it off and even cooed at how ‘adorable’ his ‘wife’ was being to any who would listen. Husk was bright pink with embarrassment at Alastor’s coddling. He was still a grown ass man here and damn it; he didn’t need to be treated like this! 

He stomps off to a table, once again ignoring Alastor who dashed right behind him, calling him and asking to wait for him.  

*** 

It didn’t take long for Husk to find an open table and place a single round when Alastor found him and stood nearby as he played. Husk wasn’t paying much attention to anyone else around him—finally relaxing after what happened and just let his skills speak for themselves—When the cat felt someone brush their tail up against himself. Husk was about to say something when Alastor grabbed this guy by the neck and thru him off. Husk noticed that right after he did that, and the guy got off the floor and looked like he wanted to kill Alastor where he stood, Al used some of his magic behind his back and suddenly, the guy looked like he saw death in front of him and rushed off. Alastor just gave Husk a grin before sitting down and pulling me close to him.  

It didn’t take long for the table to run off when Alastor’s magic started to grow a little out of control and demons panicked. People were wary now and Husk was livid.  

The winged cat pulled Alastor aside and had a word with him where not a lot of people were around. “I told you that I can take care of things myself.”  

Alastor started to glare down with his smile tighten up. “I was just trying to protect you and our children Husker.”  

“You blow things out of proportion and keep trying to get in the way.”  

“I am a gentleman by nature, I can’t help that.”  

“Well, mister, I’m going to go get a drink”  

“Nothing with--” 

“I’m not an idiot.” With that, Husk left him there and grumble away to get a water.  

What he didn’t notice was when the atmosphere changed around as someone else powerful walked in thru the front entrance.  

*** 

Husk was waiting for his water when the cat saw him. His fur was high up as He steadied himself, Husk’s eyes watching him stroll by and sit on the bar stool nearby. 

Overlord Vox. 

Also known as the TV demon, the main media demon, and Alastor’s personal rival for decades.  

And he was right there beside Husk, waiting on a drink of his own.  

Husk wasn’t trying to catch his attention, far from it, he was grateful for Alastor’s glamor spell disguise. He was waiting there on his own bar stool trying to look like his normal unapproachable self.  

Husk don’t know what caused Vox to look his way nor why the TV demon wanted to get closer, but Husk knew he wasn’t just to say hello. The cat knew the kind of look Vox was giving him, one he had seen on Angel’s face plenty of times before they started dating, but to make his stomach turn when he saw it on Vox’s TV screen face.  

“Why hello baby, you come here often?” 

Husk glared at the table in front of him and said nothing as he just hoped that Vox wouldn’t bother him after a while.  

Sadly, ignoring him outright only made Vox more interested in him apparently. The TV head scooted over, getting near him. Husk tried to scoot away, but Vox then decided to hold his chair back. “Oh, you don’t need to worry doll, I’m not going to hurt you. Far from it.” He gestures at the bartender and his drink delivered along with some wings.  

“Get the lady here something too bub, but careful, she’s got a litter of kittens inside.” Husk found his glass of water, but it had fresh ice cubes which was rare down here for lower forms of demons, along with a small plate of cheese. Husk was a little peckish, so he decided to eat the cheese and drink the water, but that was it. He kept ignoring Vox’s grinning face. 

He knew that Alastor had to be somewhere, but where was he? 

“So, babe, tell me, what’s a pretty little kitty like you doing here all by your lonesome?” 

“I’m not.” His eyes widen with surprise for a moment, the cat wondered if the Overlord recognizes his voice from the times when he saw Husk with Alastor when both Overlords had their gang wars. Yet, he doesn’t show any other signs of realization as he just pulls an arm around Husk’s waist, annoying the cat in disguise, but unable to do anything about it. Husk could fight him, but he didn’t want to harm the babies in the process. Husk mentality reasoned that Vox leave him alone soon enough once he’s bored.  

“I don’t see anyone else with you, where is this other demon then? Bathroom? Or just couldn’t part from the tables?” Vox chuckles.  

“I wanted to be alone for a while.” Vox smirks as he then starts rubbing into his body as he pulls himself closer. If he were any other sinner, Husk would’ve punched his screen in.  

“Was he bothering you that much? I hope that you don’t mind then, if I stay here for a bit.”  

“I’d rather not.”  

“Oh? Why not? I’m not terrible company if I do say so myself.” He fixes his bow tie being all smug about it. Husk groans under his breath; Vox takes it as something else much to the cat’s luck. 

“Hehe, why don’t I get us a private room? Him?”  

“I'm pregnant.” 

“I noticed,” He laughs. “I wouldn’t harm your babies, if that’s what your scared of. I happened to like kids.” Husk sucks in his breath the moment TV head reaches for his extended waist line.  

That’s when Husk feel the familiar traces of Alastor’s magic.  

Vox senses it to, and grimes. Both of them turn around to see Alastor—in his usual attire—walking right up to the bar. I suspect the glamor has been removed as demons everywhere are either hiding or quietly leaving the building; even the staff are evacuating.  

“Well, well, I do hope you're not trying to harm this poor lady Vox.”  Alastor speaks up with his demon radio eyes on full display. The cat tries to get out of the way, but Vox ends up tightening his grip to both Husk’s and Al’s frustration.  

“Mind your own business, Bambi! Can’t you see I’m in the middle of something?” 

“And can you mind your own? You’re bothering everyone.”  

Vox laughs and, thankfully, Husk feels him remove himself from his tight grip. “Me bothering people? Look around, you old relic! People are scattering at the sight of you!”  

“Yet I see there are people that rather be anywhere else but besides you. Please do go bother some other location. Why not your boyfriend’s clubs or something? Surely Valentino can take time bonking his workers to give you a few minutes!”  

Husk is given a few seconds, but is able to slip away the moment Vox is ready to bawl. The cat is also able to leave the place without being caught by anyone else as everyone else is also escaping. When Husk is several feet away from the casino, he starts to see Alastor’s magic and shadows swarm in a circle fashion above the building.  

Husk chuckles under his breath as he phones Nifty to update her on the matter at hand while he heads back to the hotel.  

*** 

It’s a few hours later, Husk is resting on his bed back home, when Alastor comes stumbling in with messy hair, a torn-up suit, and unexplained markings of electric scars all over his body.  

“Had a fun night dear?” 

Alastor puffs out circles of smoke with his crooked smile. “A blast my dear.” And then falls onto the bed. Husk wonders if maybe there’s a point to Alator’s overly protective ways sometimes as he starts to scratch into his lover’s ears. Alastor tails starts wagging under his coat hard enough that Husk laughs a little upon seeing it.  

Some night alright.