TWs for physical and emotional abuse and mentions of child loss, take care of yourselves <3

There was a knock at the hotel's door at 6am one morning. Charlie, the early riser she was, immediately went to open the door.

"Hello, welcome to the Hazbin Hotel!" Her chirpy voice came. She looked up at the gentleman at the door, in his slacks and shirt. He flashed a charming smile.

"Why, hello there, darling." He nodded. "I'm Paul."

"Paul! Well, would you like to come in? Are you just visiting or hoping to be redeemed?"

Paul looked around. "That depends. I think a... friend of mine is hanging around here. You happen to have a Cynthia here?"

"Uh, yes, actually. She's just asleep right now, but..."

He laughed heartily. "That's just typical. Well, I'll hang around til she's up, then we'll be off."

Charlie paused and looked at him. "My apologies, but... who are you? Does she know you're coming?"

"No, it's a surprise. I'm her husband."

"Oh!" Charlie remembered the off hand comments Cynthia had made about her life and the copious amount of alcohol she drank. "...oh."

Before long and many awkward pauses, the hotel slowly started to wake up. Cynthia was amongst the last, walking downstairs with Lucille in her arms and rollers in her hair.

Paul smirked at the sight of her. "Morning, baby."

Cynthia yawned, still waking up. "Hello, sweetheart." There was a pause, and then Cynthia looked back at him with wide eyes. "Paul?!"

A smile crossed his face."Did you miss me?"

She backed away slightly. "...what are you, uh... doing here?"

"Just here for my favourite gal." He smiled, walking over. She further backed away. "Oh, come on, sweetheart. All is forgiven! Where's my hug?"

She couldn't have rejected the hug even if she had wanted, as his arms wrapped around her waist and stayed there. She stiffly hugged back, not noticing when Sir Pentious came downstairs followed by his hoards of Egg Bois. He instantly eyed the two's embrace, and, being the type to wear his emotions not only on his sleeve but his entire demeanour, seemed to completely deflate.

"Who's this?" He asked Charlie. Cynthia heard his voice and turned to him.

"Uh... Pentious, this is my, um..."

"Her husband. Nice to meet you, freaky snake man."

Sir Pentious looked like he might have burst, either into tears or into flames. "Husband?! But..."

Paul laughed. "Just here to collect the light of my life for a fun day. We have a lot to catch up on. Right, Cyn?"

Cynthia stared at the ground as he put an arm around her. She flinched away ever so slightly, and Pentious narrowed his eyes at them.

"...well, uh..." Cynthia started. "...Paul, it's been... a long time since we saw each other. Last time we did, you..."

"You stuck a knife in my neck, yes, I'm aware." There was awkward glances exchanged from Oxie and Angel. "But I forgive you, baby. Come on. Just one day with me."

"...but..." she looked away.

"But what? Come on, don't tell me you're sick of me already. It'll be fun."

She bit her lip and nodded. "...oh, alright. I suppose if it's just for the day..."

"That's my girl." His hand on her back travelled to her waist and he looked at her properly, his eyes resting on her chest. "Glad to see you're still stacked. It was always my favourite thing about you."

Cynthia's cheeks flushed. "Paul!"

"I'm just saying!" He laughed and turned to the rest of the group. "She's stacked, ain't she?"

Angel gave him a look. "Save it for the bedroom, big man."

Paul gave an awkward laugh, then looked Angel up and down, as if sizing him up. Cynthia, noticing the look, grabbed his arm.

"So, uh, where were you thinking of taking me?"

"...There's this lovely bar down the street. I know you love your rosé, so I thought we could get a bottle to share."

Cynthia nodded, seeming to perk up slightly at the mention of alcohol. "Sounds good."

"Good. Come on, I'll watch you get dressed, and we can, uh... head off."

The two headed off in the direction of Cynthia's room. Verina, who had just woken up and headed downstairs, watched them.

"Who's that?"

Pentious, still looking sad, sighed. "Her husband, apparently."

"I didn't know she had a husband." Verina said.

Husk sighed from the bar. "I've heard many a tale of that man from Cyn's drunken blathering. None of them are good. Someone should follow them and make sure he doesn't do anything stupid to her."

Angel nodded. "She did look uncomfortable."

Oxie, arms folded, nodded. "He gave me the creeps. That 'stacked' comment was not necessary."

"I'll follow them!" Pentious raised his hand.

Husk gave him a look. "I mean... maybe a couple of you should go. Just in case. You wouldn't want to get him really mad."

"I'll go." Verina offered. Alastor was away on business (chilling with Rosie), and she didn't have anything better to do. Besides, protecting a friend in need would make for excellent brownie points.

Husk nodded. "Yeah, great. I know you'd hold up in a fight."

Angel crossed his arms. "This is the most I've ever seen you care about something, Claws."

Husk shrugged. "She pisses me off the least. And even if she did, she shouldn't be getting shit off her husband. Cynthia's a nice girl."

"She stabbed him." Oxie pointed out.

Angel shrugged. "You know, that really makes me respect her more."

Cynthia emerged from her room then, Paul behind her.

"We'll see you suckers later, huh?" Paul grinned, a hand on her hip. The two left, and Verina and Pentious looked at one another.

"Let's go." hissed Sir Pentious. They followed the couple down the street to the bar, and situated themselves at a table not too far away.

"What does he even want with her?" Verina questioned quietly. "I mean, he's giving me the creeps."

Pentious looked over at them. "She looks uncomfortable. I'm going over there."

"No." Verina grabbed his arm and sat him back down. "We'll go over if he tries anything. We don't want to be getting into a baseless argument."

Pentious nodded, leaning back. "...it is nice you are trying to reform yourself."

Verina nodded. "Yeah. I know."

"You already seem different."

She blinked. "I do?"

"Yes. You seemed sort of... mean at first. I was scared of you. But now... you seem nicer."

Her brow furrowed slightly. She'd have to rectify that; she couldn't have people thinking she was going soft.

She watched as Cynthia got up their table and headed in the direction of the bathroom.

"I have a lot of concerns, you know. I know Charlie will be going up to heaven in a few days to try and reason with them, but... what about the extermination?" Pentious said. Verina looked at him.

"What about it? You survived this far, just do what you always do."

He sighed. "I get the feeling this one will be... different. And... well, things have changed a lot, and..." he looked down. "...and I... I can't help but... feel a certain way towards Cynthia."

Verina leant back in her seat. "You like Cynthia? Like-like her?"

"...yes. I like-like Cynthia and sometimes I like to imagine us getting married."

Verina held back a snort. "Aw. Well, if you're worried about the extermination, you should talk to her. Then at least you'll know and won't, like, die having never told her."

Cynthia returned to her table then. She took a few sips of her wine.

"...I suppose you're right, yes. There's just the problem of her husband."

"Oh, him? No way is he sticking around. If the thing about her stabbing him is true no doubt he has a bruised ego. But here's the thing. Once you stand up to those trying to push you down, you won't bow down to them again. Sure, she's an anxious mess right now, but push her, and she'll get rid of him like she did the first time."

Pentious blinked. "It appears you have some kind of experience with this."

Verina chuckled softly. "Yeah."

"...forgive me for asking, but how old were you when you died?"

She looked away. "18."

"...my God, that's... very young. What happened?"

"Uh..." She was about to answer when she saw Cynthia acting strangely - far too out of it for one glass of rosé. "Is she...?" She thought to the potions Velvette sold. To the many spiked people Val had brought home. "Shit, he's spiked her."

"What?!" Pentious asked, turning to look at them.

"Come on." Verina headed quickly over to the table. "Oh, Cynthia, thank God you're here. We need you back at the hotel."

Paul looked up. "What? What is this bullshit? I'm trying to enjoy a date with my wife here!"

"Watch your tone, weasel." Pentious glared at him.

"There's been a real emergency. We need all people back at the hotel. Sorry to interrupt."

Cynthia blinked slowly. "Oh, dear..." her voice was slurred slightly. "I'd better go, Pauly, dear, but bye!"

Verina pulled her to her feet and placed an arm around her.

"For fucks sake! Ugh, I'll be there tomorrow morning, Cyn, be up. Or else."

Verina and Pentious lead Cynthia outside. She was unsteady on her feet, and she blinked slowly.

"You okay?" Verina asked.

"...what's going on at the hotel?" She asked.

"Nothing." she replied. "That bastard spiked you. You need to go rest."

"Oh, dear." She mumbled.

They got back to the hotel, and Pentious helped her sit down.

"Fucking Jesus, is she okay?" Husk asked.

Angel glanced over. "Oh, that bitch has been spiked."

Husk poured out a glass of water. "Give her this. I knew we couldn't trust that bastard. Weren't you watching her?"

"I must have missed him putting it in." Verina shrugged.

"I said that the night my son was conceived." Cynthia butted in. There was stunned silence for a moment. Then, Angel snorted and laughed.

"Go on, baby, rip into him."

***
The next morning, as promised, Paul turned up at the hotel. Despite Charlie doing her best to keep him from coming in, he managed to burst in.

Cynthia froze upon seeing him. "Oh. You're back."

"Hey, sweetheart." He gave her a kiss and smiled. His hand rested on her wrist. "We should go out again today."

She blinked slowly. "Oh, uh, I've got... uh, work."

"Work?" His nose wrinkled. "You don't work."

"I do now." she didn't keep eye contact.

He glared at her. "Well, not anymore. Because... we're going to live together again."

She stared at him. "Sorry?"

Paul grabbed her waist and smiled. "We're gonna find a house. It'll be just like before, just, uh, no Peter."

Her face hardened. "No."

"...excuse me?" his smile dropped for a moment, before he plastered it on again.

"No."

"Come on, Cyn. I know you can't live without me, baby." Paul's expression remained sweet enough but his hand on her wrist tightened. She pulled it away, not making eye contact.

"No."

Paul's expression faltered for just one moment. Then, he gave a laugh. "Oh, baby, don't be stupid. Come on. We can be together again. Just the two of us."

Cynthia shook her head and pulled her wrist away. "No. I don't want to."

His expression soured. "Don't piss me off. What do these losers have that I don't?"

"They respect me." Her voice was quiet, but confident.
Paul laughed again, this time without any humour.

"Oh, honey, when have I ever disrespected you? I never did anything uncalled for." He placed an arm around her waist. "Come on. I've forgiven you for everything. You're still my number one girl. Let's go. Now."

She pulled away, more firm. "I said no."

The act seemed to disappear then. His face twisted into a scowl. "When have you ever got to say no, bitch?" he hissed, voice quiet.

Cynthia shook her head. "Never. But no time like the present. I want to stay here."

"Let me get this straight. I am offering to bust my ass every day like I was doing so we can have the life we wanted in the first place, and you're saying no? Are you fucking stupid?!"

"Watch your tone, buddy." Husk's eyes narrowed from across the bar. Pentious was visibly tensing, but Angel kept a hand on his arm.

"I'm just saying! Most girls would jump at that chance! Then again, little Cyn was never the smartest, were you, baby? Let me dumb it down for you: we will live together, and you can go back to cleaning and cooking for me. It's just how you like it." Paul patted her shoulder, his voice slow and clear. Cynthia rolled her eyes.

"I'm not a complete idiot, Paul."

"Let's not lie to ourselves, baby, you're definitely not winning any awards any time soon. You're a dumbass."

She scoffed. "The only reason for that is because I couldn't finish high school because you knocked me up!"

Angel, Cherri, and Oxie who had been watching from the bar collectively gasped. Oxie covered her mouth to suppress the giggle.

There was a moment of complete silence. When Paul spoke, his voice was low. "We're leaving. Right now."

Cynthia shook her head. "No. You can leave, but I'm not joining you."

Paul glared at her. "Why?! These people are complete idiots! Look at that one, the twink with his bimbo girlfriends! And that bartender? He looks like a whiskey dick personified! And don't get me started on the fucking noodle with a hat."

Cynthia's eyes narrowed. "They may be from the dregs of hell but they treat me a hell of a lot nicer than you ever did."

"Don't deny it, baby." He grabbed her waist again, moving some of her hair from her face. "You can't live without me. You need me."

Cynthia stared directly into his eyes. "In your dreams, cunt."

He stared back. "What the fuck did you just say to me?"

"I said, in your dreams, cunt."

He was silent for a moment. Then he raised his hand, ready to backhand her across the face. He didn't get very far, however, as Cynthia grabbed him by the wrist.

"No. You don't get to do that to me anymore."

"You enrage me. I should have never gotten involved with such a worthless, stupid little bitch."

"Well, you did. Say what you want, the knowledge of what you did to me and our son will haunt you forever."

"You brought this upon yourself, bitch. I wasn't even gonna fire that gun."

Her voice raised. "You point a gun at our four year old and you expect me to not do anything?!"

"I was just mad! I wouldn't have done anything! You're the one who was fucking the neighbour, you stupid little queer."

"Oh, come on! You fucking beat me every single day! You'd scream at me, you'd rage, and to top it all off? You NEVER made me finish. Of course I was fucking the neighbour."

"I gave you that little child you were desperate for."

"Yeah, you did. After pushing me down the stairs and making me miscarry the first one you put in me at 17. And then you shot both of us." her tone was becoming more and more intense.

"You stabbed me!" Paul yelled at her.

"You were pointing a gun at him! God, Paul, I did my best! I gave up all my dreams for you. I cleaned that house, I cooked for you, I rubbed your shoulders, I carried your baby, and all you ever did for me was cause pain!" Cynthia's eyes were shining, and she shook her head. "Just get out."

He stared at her for a moment. "But-"

"Get out. Never speak to me again."

Paul glared at her. He then looked at the rest of the hotel's residents, who were watching, mouths wide open. Charlie cleared her throat.

"You heard the woman. You're not welcome here."

He looked at Cynthia. "Cynthia, please. I'm sorry. I'll be better. Don't give this up."

"Just..." her face softened as a tear fell down her cheek. "Just go away."

He looked at her, sighed dejectedly, and turned around. "Fine. Goodbye."

Nobody said anything as he left. Cynthia broke down into tears, and Charlie placed a hand on her shoulder.

"You did good." She murmured.

There was a moment of silence, only Cynthia's sobs audible.

"...are you okay?" Sir Pentious asked, moving towards her. She threw her arms around him, and he went slightly pink. "Oh! Uh... yes, there there..."

"Thank you all, for looking out for me." She sniffled. "I... I couldn't have done that without you all present."

"Give yourself some credit, kid." Husk smiled. "Here. I got you a tequila shot. You look like you need one."

Cynthia took a seat. "Thank you."

Pentious smiled. "You know... someone very wise once told me... Once you stand up to those trying to push you down, you won't bow down to them again. I think that rings true here." He exchanged a smile with Verina.

"And like you said." Angel patted her shoulder. "We may be from the dregs of Hell, but we're your pals. And nothing can change that."

She smiled. "Well... then, let's get to living without our abusive exes." She raised her tequila shot, and downed it.