Husk was sitting on a stool behind the bar, holding some cheap booze Alastor had probably gotten him, drinking it with a frown on his face. Damari walked into the Hotel, wiping some dirt off her clothes before heading to the bar. Husk looked up at the noise and spotted her and a shimmer of happiness passed through his eyes.

"You're back!"

"Hey, Husk!" Damari greeted, sitting down on the stool and her pet landshark Jeff hops onto another stool next to her.

"Got a new pet?" Husk questioned, raising his eyebrow.

"Oh, yeah! My boss gifted me as a welcome to working in his company." she half lied, not wanting to let him know she's working for the Vees.

Husk's ears twitched when he spotted Jeff sitting down beside you. It wasn't a rare occurrence in the hotel to see a pet around, but that didn't erase the fact Husk found them a little annoying, though he didn't mention it.

"What kind of boss gives you a random pet?" His question was laced with curiosity as he took another swig of his drink.

"He's a... nice boss. But I think this little great white shark is adorable. Don't you think so, Jeff?" Damari cooed.

"GRRAAAHHH!" Jeff growled in agreement, wagging his tail while giving Husk a cute smile.

"How adorable are we talking about?"

They turned to see Vaggie, Charlie, and Niffty.

"Very. Watch what he can do." Damari said, gesturing Jeff to show them.

Jeff stuck his tongue out with a grin and jumped out of the stool and landed safely, and started singing.

https://youtu.be/FI8FMCDP7Co

As he sings, Husk and Vaggie are speechless while Charlie and Niffty are entertained. Husk's eyes widened in disbelief and he nearly choked on his drink. He managed to collect himself and let out a scoff, shaking his head in disbelief.

"That... thing can sing?" he said incredulously, eyeing the great white shark with a mix of surprise and skepticism.

Charlie and Niffty clapped their hands in delight, completely smitten with Jeff's performance. Vaggie, on the other hand, had her arms crossed, her eyes narrowed in scrutiny.

"Impressive," Vaggie admitted, her tone neutral. "But can he do anything useful?"

"He's smart. He's willing to help out. In his own adorable kind of way." Damari said, petting Jeff's head.

Jeff proceeded by heading to the vase full of roses and plucked one out with his teeth and carried it over to Vaggie. Vaggie's expression softened as Jeff presented the rose to her, a hint of a smile tugging at the corners of her mouth. She tried to maintain a composed facade, but the cute look in Jeff's eyes tugged at her heartstrings.

Charlie and Niffty let out soft "awws" witnessing the adorable scene. Husk rolled his eyes, hiding a smirk behind his drink.

"Okay, he's good. Just make sure he doesn't eat anyone." Vaggie sighed in defeat.

"BLEGGH!" Jeff barfed in disgust.

"Oh! You like to eat... sweets?" Vaggie questioned in surprise, understanding him.

"Really? Huh." Damari said, surprised at the new information.

Husk chuckled at the exchange between Vaggie and Jeff, enjoying how the tough woman was slowly melted by the shark's cuteness.

"So, you've got a singing, rose-giving, sweet-loving shark as a pet? Sounds like a real handful."

He took a sip of his drink and shot a playful grin at Damari.

"Let's just say I'm lucky." Damari smirked before yawning. "I gotta take a nap."

"Oh, yeah! Get some sleep. We'll be having dinner tonight!" Charlie reminded.

"Sure! Come on, Jeff! Let's go meet your new friends."

Jeff followed after Damari upstairs as they headed to her room.

As Damari headed upstairs, Husk watched her go, a concerned look on his face. Lately, he had a feeling she was hiding something. He wasn't sure what it was, but he knew it wasn't anything good.

Husk took a long swig of his drink, letting out a sigh. He was worried about her but didn't know how to approach the subject. Meanwhile, downstairs, Charlie turned to Vaggie and Niffty, the three of them discussing the new addition to the hotel, Jeff.

"I must admit, Jeff is pretty adorable. I bet he's all clean." Niffty remarked, a sly smile on her face.

Vaggie nodded, crossing her arms. "I agree, but I just hope he doesn't cause any chaos in the hotel."

Charlie chuckled at the comment. "I doubt it. Damari seems to have him well-trained."

Husk, who had been silently listening in on the conversation, interjected, "That's what I'm worried about. She's holding something back. I can feel it."

"You think so?" Charlie asked, concern etched on her face.

Husk grunted, taking another sip of his drink. "I know so. She's acting different lately. And getting a random pet as a gift from her boss? Doesn't add up. There's something she's not telling us."

Vaggie considered Husk's words, her expression reflecting his concern. "You might be right. We should keep an eye on her. Just in case."

Charlie nodded. "I trust Damari, but it's better to be cautious. Especially down here in Hell."

Husk grumbled in agreement. "Exactly. I don't want her getting into trouble, or worse."

The three of them fell silent for a moment, each lost in their own thoughts. Vaggie broke the silence.

"Should we confront her about it?"

Husk pondered on the thought, his ears twitching. "Not yet. We need to gather more information first. Don't want to jump to conclusions."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Meanwhile, in Damari's room, Damari introduced Jeff to Charlotte and KeeKee, and they immediately became good friends as they played around with each other. Damari lies down on the bed with a tired sigh, knowing tomorrow is going to be another long day. She takes out her phone and looks at the websites involving Hell. She looks at some posts and others and sees a nice restaurant. Damari could tell it's a great place to eat, seeing good stars being rated. She wonders... her mind goes to Husk, and she blushes a bit.

It's been a while since they've last talked alone or hung out alone. So maybe booking a restaurant would be good for her and Husk to bond more. Knowing she's got enough money from the Vees she worked with, she books the seats of the restaurant.

After booking the seats of the restaurant, Damari put away her phone and closed her eyes, her thoughts still on Husk. The idea of having a nice, quiet dinner with him sounded appealing to her. It had been a while since they'd spent some quality time together. Maybe this could be a chance to get to know each other better.

As if on cue, there was a knock on her door. Damari opened her eyes and sat up, wondering who it could be. She got off the bed and walked towards the door, opening it to find Husk standing there, looking a bit hesitant.

"Husk?"

"Hey," Husk greeted, shifting a bit nervously. "Mind if I come in for a sec?"

"Yeah, sure."

Damari stepped aside and let Husk enter the room. She closed the door behind him and leaned against it, eyeing him curiously.

"Something on your mind?"

Husk took a deep breath before speaking, his gaze meeting Damari's.

"I.. I wanted to talk to you about something."

He paused, seeming to struggle to find the right words.

Damari's curiosity grew as she saw the struggle in Husk's expression. Whatever it was, it seemed important.

"Go ahead. I'm listening."

Husk fidgeted with his fingers, a rare sign of vulnerability.

"It's... it's about you. You've been acting different lately. Distant. Something's been bothering you, hasn't it?"

Damari's eyes widen at this and smile a bit, showing she's fine.

"I'm good. I'm not stressed or anything. Just work, making me feel tired, you know how it goes." she assured him.

Jeff, Charlotte, and KeeKee watch their interaction with concern. Husk wasn't fooled. He could see through her attempt to brush off his concerns. He took a step closer to her, narrowing his eyes.

"Damari, don't lie to me. I know you're hiding something. You've been avoiding us, and you act differently whenever we ask what's going on. What is it?"

Damari swallowed hard, her facade faltering. She was impressed by Husk's perceptiveness.

"It's... it's nothing, Husk. I swear. I'm just tired and need some space."

She tried to maintain her composure, but her voice wavered slightly. The three animals watched their interaction closely, sensing the tension in the air. Husk's expression softened, his voice gentle but firm.

"I'm not buying it, doll. You can't hide things from me that easily. I know you well enough to tell when something's bothering you. So stop denying it and just talk to me."

Damari needs to act fast. He's already figuring her out about her whereabouts. Then her eyes land on the phone where she can see that it has been booked. She immediately looks at Husk and blurts out, face turning pink.

"Would you go out with me??"

Husk was taken aback by the sudden question, his eyes widening in surprise. He wasn't expecting that.

"Umm... What?" he replied, his voice betraying his dumbfounded state.

"Uh, you know. To hang out! I saw a good restaurant that I just booked for us. We haven't gotten to talk much, right? So I think we should go out! Like... tonight!!"

Husk's expression morphed from surprise to suspicion. Her quick change of topic didn't fool him for a second.

"Hold on. Don't change the subject. We were talking about you being secretive. I'm not leaving until you tell me what's going on."

"Come on, Husk. When was the last time we've ever hung out or talked alone?" Damari pressed on.

Husk sighed, realizing he was getting nowhere with his questioning. He knew Damari could be stubborn when she wanted to be.

"Alright, fine. But this isn't over."

He looked her in the eye, his gaze firm. "We'll go to this restaurant you've booked, but we're gonna talk once we get there. No more changing the subject."

"Great! So uh... 9 o'clock?" Damari smiled, wincing a bit that she's not off the hook.

Husk watched her intently, clearly still wary of her sudden change in topic. But he agreed to her request.

"Yeah, 9 o'clock. I'll be here." He grumbled, before turning and heading towards the door. Before leaving, he paused and looked at her one last time.

"We'll talk, Damari."

As the door shut behind Husk, Damari let out a sigh of relief. She had bought herself some time. The animals came up to her, all with questioning gazes.

KeeKee meowed, Charlotte looked at her with concern, and Jeff just let out a confused sound.

"I know, guys. I know," Damari reassured them, trying to keep her voice calm. "But hopefully, Husk won't figure out the truth..."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The evening rolled in, night falling over the hotel. Damari got ready in her room, putting on a classy dress for the occasion. She looked at herself in the mirror, brushed her short hair, and a sense of guilt settled in her stomach for keeping things from Husk.

(A/N: This is how her short hair will look like for S2 and probably for S3 and S4 while her hair slowly grows long.)

As she finished getting ready, there was a knock on her door.

Damari took a deep breath, mentally preparing herself. She walked over to the door and opened it, revealing Husk on the other side. His eyes widened slightly as he took in her appearance.

"You look... nice," he said, his gruff voice betraying a hint of a compliment.

Damari was speechless at the sight of him in his fancy suit with his hair slicked back, and he's not wearing a hat.

Husk shifted uncomfortably under her gaze, not used to receiving such open appreciation.

"Y-you don't look too bad yourself," he muttered, his cheeks tinging a light shade of pink.

"Oh, uh! Thanks! You look rather very handsome." Damari blushed.

Husk raised an eyebrow, a slight smirk appearing on his lips.

"Handsome, huh? That's a new one."

He looked her up and down, admiring her outfit. "You clean up nicely, doll."

"Hehe! Shall we?" she asked, holding out her hand while carrying her purse.

Husk chuckled, taking her hand in his.

"Lead the way, darlin'."

He gestured for her to go ahead, falling into step beside her as they walked down the hotel's hallway.

As they walked, they encountered several hotel staff and residents. Most of them were surprised to see the two. Niffty was staring at the two, Charlie had a knowing smirk, and Vaggie just raised an eyebrow in surprise.

They soon exited the hotel. Husk called the taxi as it stopped for them before opening the door for her, and he headed to the other seat after. The taxi driver started the car, and they were off to the restaurant.

The taxi ride was silent, with Husk looking out the window, and Damari fiddled with her purse in her lap, her mind swirling with thoughts. She felt the tension between them and didn't know how to break it.

Husk glanced at her every now and then, his observant eyes trying to gauge her expression. He could tell she was nervous, but he remained silent for the time being.

After a while, the taxi finally pulled up in front of the restaurant. Husk got out and walked around to open the door for Damari, offering his hand to help her out.

As she stepped out, Damari couldn't help but be impressed by the elegant ambiance of the restaurant. It had a fancy, yet cozy atmosphere with lights illuminating the entrance and chatter from people inside.

Husk, noticing her expression, chuckled.

"Impressed, doll?"

He offered her his arm as they approached the entrance. A valet stepped forward, opening the door for them, and they entered the restaurant. The lights were dim, giving it an intimate feel, and soft music played in the background.

They approached the front desk where the worker looked up and flinched in surprise to see a human girl Damari with Husk.

"Table for two? Under Damari?" she asked, not minding their shockness since everyone already knows about her being a human.

The worker quickly composed themselves and checked their reservations.

"Ah, yes. Right this way."

They led the pair to their table, a cozy nook that offered some privacy. Husk helped Damari into her seat before settling into his own.

The demon waitress comes over with a notepad, looking surprised to see a human girl before quickly composing herself.

"Can I start you two with drinks?" she asked.

Damari smiled politely, unperturbed by the demon's reaction.

"Yes, please. I'll have a glass of white wine, thank you."

Husk, always up for a drink, said, "I'll have a whiskey neat."

"Right away." the waitress nodded, writing it down before leaving them to look at their menu.

Once she was gone, Husk looked across the table at Damari. The dim lighting cast shadows over his face, making him look all the more attractive.

"Quite a place you've picked," he commented, his gaze flickering over the upscale setting. "You got expensive taste, doll."

"Heh. My mom always tells me that I do have expensive taste in jewelries and others." Damari giggled.

Husk chuckled, a hint of a smile playing at the corner of his mouth.

"Your mom's not too far off with that observation," he teased. "Seems like you're used to the finer things in life."

Damari shrugged nonchalantly, a smirk on her lips.

"What can I say? I enjoy the finer things. And hey, sometimes you gotta treat yourself, right?"

"Can't argue with that."

Husk chuckled, leaning back in his seat, his gaze never leaving her. He found himself drawn to her confidence and her carefree attitude, a stark contrast to his own more jaded demeanor.

The waitress then comes back with their drinks.

"You two ready to order food?"

Damari flipped open her menu, nodding.

"Yes, I'll have the lobster bisque and the roasted duck for the main."

Husk, never one to beat around the bush, simply said, "I'll have the New York strip steak, medium rare."

The waitress nodded before taking their menu and leaving. Little did they know, the VokTek drone can be seen outside the window watching the two. In the surveillance room, Vox glitches in anger and jealousy to see those two dating.

"What does she see in that cat loser?" he growled.

Back to Husk and Damari as they sip their drink after clicking their glass together.

"It's been a while since I've been on one of these. Thanks for taking me out tonight, doll." Husk said, holding his drink.

Damari noticed his shyness.

"Are you sure you're having fun? You seem a bit nervous."

"Don't wound my pride by pointing it out." Husk said, looking over to the side before smirking. "Hey, 10 bucks says that idiot trying to carry 10 trays at once is gonna fall before he gets to his third table."

Damari chuckled, following Husk's gaze over to a server stumbling under the weight of several trays precariously stacked in his arms.

"That's a bad bet, considering how that guy is shaking like a leaf," she replied with a smirk. "But sure, you're on."

They watched as the server moved closer and closer to his third table, and just as predicted, the tower of trays began to wobble. It seemed like a slow-motion train wreck as the entire pile came crashing down with a loud clatter.

Husk chuckled in satisfaction. "Well, looks like I won that bet."

Damari feigned surprise, a hand dramatically going to her chest.

"Oh, no. I can't believe that happened," she teased playfully. "How will I ever recover from this loss? Oh, wait... I know!"

She reached over and took the ten-dollar bill from Husk's hand, pocketing it with a grin.

Husk rolled his eyes, but a hint of a smile tugged at the corners of his mouth.

"You're a regular little hustler, aren't you?" he drawled, chuckling.

Damari shrugged, a sly grin on her face.

"What can I say? I see an opportunity, I take it." She took a sip of her wine, her eyes gleaming mischievously. "And you looked like you needed to lose a few bucks anyway."

Husk feigned offense, a mock look of hurt on his face.

"Hey, I'm not that bad at gambling, you know." He tried to sound serious, but the smirk on his lips betrayed him. "I've won plenty of times."

"Oh, really? I know you were an overlord once. How exactly did you even get powerful enough to be an overlord?" she asked curiously.

"You really want to know? I can be very... mischievous." he asked.

"Try me."

Husk smirks and starts singing. As Husk began his story, Damari leaned in, captivated by his tale of cunning deals, high stakes, and power struggles along with making deals with sinners. The restaurant faded into the background as he weaved a story full of intrigue and magic.

https://youtu.be/1BgfG4qEdxg

Don't you disrespect me, little man
Don't you derogate or deride
You're in my world now, not your world
And I got friends on the other side

(He's got friends on the other side)

That's an echo gentlemen.
Just a little something we have here in Louisiana
A little parlor trick. Don't worry.

Sit down at my table
Put your minds at ease
If you relax it'll enable me to do
Anything I please

I can read your future
I can change it 'round some, too
I look deep into your heart and soul
(You do have a soul, don't you, kid?)
Make your wildest dreams come true

I got voodoo, I got hoodoo,
I got things I ain't even tried
And I got friends on the other side

(He's got friends on the other side)

Husk starts playing and flipping his cards around like a pro before flipping them down on the table while facing a random sinner.

The cards, the cards, the cards will tell
The past, the present, and the future as well
The cards, the cards, just take three
Take a little trip into your future with me

(Are you ready)

He shows the past sinner a future of themselves from his cards.

Now you, young man, are from across the sea
You come from two long lines of royalty
I'm a royal myself, on my mother's side
Your lifestyle's high, but your funds are low
You need to marry a lil' hunny whose daddy got dough
Mom and Dad cut you off, huh playboy?

The sinner shrugged, not denying it.

Eh, sad but true.

Now y'all gotta get hitched but hitchin' ties you down
You just wanna be free, hop from place to place
But freedom takes green

It's the green, it's the green
It's the green you need
And when I looked into your future
It's the green that I seen

Husk turned to a second sinner and waved off while showing him future from his other cards.

On you little man, I don't want to waste much time
You've been pushed 'round all your life
You've been pushed 'round by your mother
And your sister and your brother.
And if you was married you'd be pushed around by your wife
But in your future, for you I see
Is exactly the man you always wanted to be

Shake my hand, c'mon boys
Won't you shake a poor sinner's hand

Both sinners from the past shakes Husk's hands, making him grin evilly

Yes...
Are you ready?

(Are you ready?)

Are you ready?
Transformation Central

(Transformation Central)

Reformation Central

(Reformation central!)

Transmogrification Central

Two sinners screamed in pain as they get their soul chained and taken away into the darkness. Husk's eyes glows menacingly yellow, grinning.

Can you feel it?

You're changing, you're changing,
You're changing all right
I hope you're satisfied
But if you ain't, don't blame me
You can blame my friends on the other side
Ha, ha, ha

(You got what you wanted)
(But you lost what you had)
(Ohh...Hush!)

"So, that's how I became an overlord," Husk concluded, his eyes glinting as soon as he finished singing. "Never underestimate an old cat with a few tricks up his sleeve."

Damari's eyes were wide, a mix of awe and admiration on her face.

"That's... that's impressive, Husk. I mean, you really fooled everyone into thinking you were just a regular gambler." She chuckled. "I guess I should be careful when we play cards from now on. I don't want to get hustled by a former overlord."

Husk let out gruff laugh, enjoying her reaction.

"Oh, don't worry, doll. I'd go easy on you. Wouldn't want to scare you off too quickly," he teased. He leaned back in his seat, taking a sip of his drink.

Just then, the waitress comes back with a tray of their food. She placed their meals in front of them. The lobster bisque was a creamy, delectable broth and the roasted duck dripped in flavorful juices. The New York strip steak sizzled on the plate, cooked to perfect medium-rare.

"Enjoy your meal," the waitress said with a smile before walking away to tend to other tables.

"Looks delicious," Damari said, her mouth beginning to water at the sight of the food. They both took a moment to admire the presentation before delving into their meals.

As they began to eat, there was a comfortable silence. The food was good, and the ambience was romantic. After taking a few bites of his steak, Husk looked up from his plate and observed Damari.

"You know, doll, you're different from other girls I've met," he said, his tone low but sincere.

"Really? How?" Damari asked, wiping her lips with a napkin.

Husk pondered for a moment before responding, "You're tough, independent, and you don't take crap from anyone. Most girls I've known are more... clingy, I guess. But you're different. You have that fire in you."

He took another bite of his steak, his gaze never leaving her.

Damari smiled faintly, a hint of a blush on her cheeks.

"Thanks. I'm not sure if I should take that as a compliment though," she teased.

She paused to take a sip of her wine, the warm liquid tingling on her tongue.

"You're not like most guys either," she eventually said. "You're... real. You don't sugarcoat your words, and you don't pretend to be something you're not."

Husk raised an eyebrow, a sly smirk on his face.

"You think I'm real, huh? I'm flattered."

He took a swig of his whiskey, the burn going down smoothly. "I guess I prefer to speak my mind and not waste time with bullshit. Life's too short for that."

"Agreed." she nodded, taking a drink of her wine.

As they were talking, Vox was still watching them with a frown until he spots something on screen.

"Oh! A love compatibility test." he said.

With a thoughtful hum, he starts typing his name and Damari's name on it, and boy, was he in full paradise.

"Whoa! Almost up to a 90?! Does that mean we're meant to be together?!"

He keeps on tying different names that describe himself and Damari as more percentages are either 80% or 72%. Vox couldn't stop grinning.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Back to Damari and Husk again as they were still talking until they were finished eating and paid the bill before leaving the restaurant. They laugh at something as they walk side by side.

As they exited the restaurant, the night air enveloped them, and the city lights gleamed in the distance. They continued walking along the sidewalk, their conversation flowing effortlessly.

"This has been... nice," Husk admitted, his usually gruff tone softened a little.

Damari smiled, feeling a warmth in her chest. "Yeah, it has. Who knew a night out with you could be so..." She looked at him, pausing for a moment. "Surprisingly enjoyable?"

"Hey, I can be charming when I want to be," Husk retorted, a hint of playfulness back in his voice. "I just don't waste it on everyone."

He glanced at her, studying her expression. "I'm glad you're having a good time, doll."

"It's not just that," she admitted, her eyes sparkling in the night. "It's more than just a good time. It's..." She paused, trying to find the right words.

"It's like I can be myself around you. No need to pretend or put on a show. It's refreshing, you know?"

Husk's expression softened. "Yeah, I get it." He shoved his hands into his pockets, walking a little closer to her as they strolled.

"With me, you don't have to be anything but yourself, doll. I won't expect anything less, and I won't ask anything more."

Damari smiles.

"Hey, uh... while we were getting ready for our date, I... wrote a poem for you..." she said, looking shy and embarrassed.

Husk raised an eyebrow, his expression a mix of surprise and curiosity.

"A poem, doll? For me?"

He couldn't help but feel a small flutter in his chest, something he hadn't felt in a long time. "Go on then. I'm listening."

Taking a deep breath, Damari takes out a paper and starts singing while reading it.

https://youtu.be/6VukFhXppvk

You think we're alone here

Husk was amazed by her singing voice.

That the night is ours
But there are some secrets
In our deepest nightmares

Husk stands next to her and reads the poem over her shoulder, and sings next as his wings spread out.

It's my ink that stares at us

They look into one other's eyes as he takes her hand and spins her around a few times.

And my eyes are scribbling
Dwelling in the shadows
In those pages they're hiding

Husk puts his hands on each side of her hips, and Damari grabs hold of his shoulders as they dance and fly through the air. Husk's voice was rich and soulful as he sang the lyrics in perfect harmony with Damari's. Their chemistry was undeniable as they danced through the night air, their bodies close together.

And it's not so dreadful
You can see the unknown when you read through
This invisible ink that
Now lives without a breath

At the end of the melody, Husk gently pressed his face into her neck, taking in her scent and the heat of her skin. Damari's blush deepened as she felt his breath fanning her neck, sending shivers down her spine. It was an intimate moment, filled with a sense of vulnerability and affection.

An author who's... a spook

"That was... wow. You're amazing," Damari breathed out, her heart still racing from the performance.

Husk pulled back slightly to look into her eyes, his gaze intense and unwavering. "You've got a helluva voice, doll." He gave her a soft smile, his hands still resting on her hips. "And the poem... it's perfect."

Later, Husk cradled Damari in his arms as they made their way back to the hotel, his strength and warmth enveloping her. The night air was cool, but the closeness between them made the world seem quieter, more intimate.

"Comfortable there, doll?" he muttered, his voice low and gruff.

Damari nuzzled her face closer to his chest, a small smile playing on her lips.

"Mhmm," she hummed contentedly. "Very."

As they continued walking, she felt a flutter of butterflies in her stomach. Being held by him like this made her heart skip a beat. But she kept those thoughts to herself, savoring the moment.

Husk couldn't help but feel a tinge of satisfaction. Holding her like this, with her head resting against his chest, made him feel somehow whole. It was a strange sensation, foreign yet familiar, and he found himself enjoying it more than he'd like to admit.

"You're quiet," he noted, his gaze flickering down to where her head was. "Thinking too much, doll?"

"Nah, just enjoying your warmth." she whispered.

A soft chuckle rumbled in Husk's chest. Her quiet confession brought a warm feeling in his chest.

"Well, I'm glad to be your personal heater tonight," he quipped. "Don't get used to it, though." There was a hint of playfulness in his tone.

She giggles and playfully rolls her eyes.

"Too late."

Husk chuckles and carries her back to her room. As they reached her room, Husk carefully set her down on her feet. The room was the same as they had left it, the only difference being the soft glow of light in the background.

He leaned against the door frame, his wings folding partially behind him. "You had a good time tonight, doll?" he asked, his expression relaxed.

Damari ran a hand gently down his arm, her touch soft and affectionate.

"The best time," she answered, her heart still beating a little faster than normal. She looked up at him, her eyes meeting his gaze. "Thank you for tonight, Husk. It was... perfect."

Husk held her gaze, a strange mixture of emotions stirring within him. He wasn't used to this—the sincerity, the feelings that were starting to bloom.

"Don't mention it," he muttered gruffly, but his eyes betrayed a hint of tenderness. "I... I enjoyed it too, doll."

They stood in silence for a moment, the air between them thick with a strange combination of tension and affection. And Husk found himself reaching out to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear, his touch surprisingly gentle.

"You should get some sleep," he said finally, his voice softer than usual. "We've got a long day ahead of us tomorrow."

"Yeah..." she said softly, nodding.

Husk pushed away from the door frame, taking a step back.

"Goodnight, doll," he said, his gaze lingering on her for a moment before he turned and walked down the hallway, heading back to his own room.

Though Damari quickly stops him by grabbing his arm and pressed her lips against his cheek, shocking him.

"Good night, Husky." she said before closing the door.

Husk froze, his heart hammering against his chest. The feeling of her lips on his cheek sent a jolt of electricity through him, leaving him momentarily stunned.

He touched a hand to where her lips had been, feeling the lingering phantom touch. His breath hitched, and he stood there for what felt like ages, his mind racing with unspoken thoughts.