Hazbin Hotel (and Helluva Boss) x Reader (Under Rewrite)

Cherri Bomb x Reader

Reader's P.O.V

I don't take most things seriously.

Really, why should I? None of my actions have any lasting consequences. This is Hell, after all, and nobody gives a damn about anything. Plus, even when I do find myself in some deep shit, I can always count on my best friend, Cherri, to help me get out of it.

My best friend Cherri. Practically everything about her is perfect. Her face. Her smile. Her hair, her body, her care-free attitude... and that's barely scratching the surface.

It's quite perplexing. Powerful demons and deadly weaponry and spooky scary Exterminators don't make me nearly as nervous as the prospect of talking to Cherri. We've been friends for years, and I still can't bring myself to tell her that I might like her, just a teeny tiny bit. Of course, that topic of discussion, thankfully, never came up.

Well, except for one time. 

We were out having lunch one day, a couple of weeks ago (No, it wasn't a date or anything... unfortunately) and she asked if there was anyone I had a crush on. Of course, I panicked and couldn't bring myself to actually tell her, so I lied and said I liked Angel.

She had this look on her face, almost like she was let down. Maybe she expected someone more interesting? (No offense to Angel or anything, he's a good friend.) When I asked her, she responded "Oh, I actually... like Angel too! But I don't think he'd want to date me, cuz' he doesn't like girls... hehe..."

Oh.

"I didn't know you liked him", I said. I tried to hide my disappointment. Of course, I didn't expect that she'd be interested in me, but I guess I just had some hope. Stupid, really. She quickly excused herself to the bathroom, leaving behind her half-eaten grilled cheese sandwiches. I waited for her for nearly an hour. She never returned.

After that, she seemed oddly unenthusiastic about everything we did. She wasn't as energetic as before, and I didn't know why. Was it something I said? Something someone else said? Did something happen to anyone we knew? I couldn't tell.

I knew I had to confront her about this sooner or later.

But maybe doing it right in the middle of a turf war wasn't the best idea.

"What's on your mind?", I yell over the sound of explosions. She pulls the pin of a hand grenade and throws it at some gun-wielding maniac. "Nothing, why?", she asks nonchalantly. 

I stab a demon through the eye with my spear and kick him in the ribs. "Oh, don't pull the 'nothing' card on me. I know something's wrong, Cherri. You haven't been talking to me for weeks. Clearly, something is upsetting you. Just spill the beans."

She jams a switchblade in this hellhound's arm. "Nothing, (Y.N), nothing's the problem. Trust me, I'm fine."

She throws one of her cherry bombs at a grey-skinned reptilian demon. I get distracted from our conversation for a second while gutting some green-striped lady and don't notice that I'm getting attacked from behind until Cherri yells "Look out!" and quickly pulls me aside. We land behind a pile of rubble, and she topples over and falls on my chest, knocking the air out of my lungs.

What follows is a series of apologies as we try to disentangle our limbs from one another. I'm barely able to breathe, partly because Cherri's on top of me, and partly because Cherri's on top of me! 

Finally, we manage to get ourselves in order. "Are you okay?", she asks, patting my arms up and down to check for any injuries. "Yeah, I'm alright."

She sighs. "Whew, that's a relief! I didn't want you to get hurt, I thought..."

She looks down, with that same concerned expression she'd been holding for the last few weeks. I don't like that face. That face means something's troubling her. Even though she doesn't feel the same way about me as I do about her, I still care about her. And because of that, I don't want to see her with that preoccupied expression. I grip her arm, gentle yet firm. 

"Cherri, what's wrong?"

She doesn't meet my eyes.

"During that lunch we had when you said... that you liked Angel..."

She looks down. Is that it? She was jealous? That's why she didn't speak to me for all those weeks? It's suddenly really obvious to me. The disappointed look. The way she left the table and didn't return. Those weeks when she avoided me. She was upset that I told her I liked Angel when she did too. I want to punch myself for being so oblivious.

"Oh, Honey, I didn't mean to hurt your feelings. I don't even like him that much. You can keep him for yourself-"

"Oh, no no no, that's not it." She takes my hand in hers. "I don't like him, (Y.N). I like you."

And just like that, my brain short-circuits.

"...What?"

She nods. "I really like you. I have for a long time. I just didn't say anything because I thought it would make you uncomfortable since I always assumed you weren't interested in me."

I nearly choke as I try to find words.

"Why did you think that?"

She shrugs. "You always looked uneasy when I was around. I don't bother you, do I?"

That's when I did something that surprised both of us. I start laughing.

"What's so funny?"

"I wasn't uneasy, I was nervous!", I manage to say. 

"Why?"

My laughing slows to a chuckle. My face is glowing as I respond. "Well, I... I also like you. A lot. I was too anxious to tell you, but it's true. I mean, Angel's fine and all, but I think he's more like a brother to me if I'm being honest."

"No way!" Her eye goes wide with excitement. "I can't believe it! I was preparing myself for a huge rejection!" She's now giggling as she squeezes me in a hug. "Oh, I could just kiss you right now!"

"You could."

She looks up at me, her face tinted with bright pink. "I... I could." 

I could smell the cherries and mint in her breath as she leaned in close.

And then, she kissed me.

It was a very soft and subtle kiss at first, then it got more passionate until we were full-on making out. The whole time, I'm internally screaming. My heart is beating so fast I can barely feel my pulse. It's a lovely feeling, this one. The feeling of my face burning up and her lips against mine and my hands on her waist.

I could've stayed there with her arms around me forever. But a loud explosion startles both of us, breaking the kiss. A figure stands over us. I recognize the silhouette right away.

"There you guys are!", Angel yells at us. "I can tell you're trying to have a moment together, but maybe now's not the time? We've got people to kill!"

I turn to Cherri, and we exchange a smirk. 

"Right", I say. "We've got people to kill."