Work Text:
"I'm sorry, just… do me a favor, and forget you ever knew me.”
This was why Husk had sworn off love. This feeling, deep in his chest, aching and empty and hollow. There were thorns carving their way around his ribcage, but their rose’s last petal had wilted and fallen with Angel’s words. Hope would be too positive of a word to call what he’d felt towards he and Angel’s relationship, but the closest he could think of. He really thought that they’d gotten through to him, that he had. The late night drinks they’d shared, the nights Fat Nuggets stayed in Husk’s room while Angel was out. The few nights Husk stayed in Angel’s room with Fat Nuggets, alone. He’d leave a stupid chocolate on Angel’s pillow, a dumb inside joke between them that always made Husk smile.
This wasn’t just Angel leaving, he was removing himself from their lives. Trying to erase the memories they’d formed like they were nothing more than an accidental mark on a page, not the stories Husk recounted as he fell asleep in order to relax.
“Do you hear yourself, Angel?” he all but snarled. His ears were flat against his head, but anyone could tell it wasn’t out of real anger, but despair. An aching feeling that was swirling around his chest as he watched Angel give in to the very person who made his outlook on his afterlife so bleak. And sure, Husk was being unfair in that regard. Angel wasn’t giving in. He knew that.
But fuck, did it feel otherwise.
It felt like everything they’d done, everything they were together, meant nothing. All of their time working on redemption and helping Angel to see his worth for once, just thrown in the rearview like nothing. He didn’t care about “wasted time,” not like he might have in his past. He wasted nothing on Angel. Everything he gave was laced with care and trust and, well. Hope. Stupid fucking hope. He couldn’t help it. Something about the way Angel looked at him like he was made of flesh and blood, not a shitty card tower reinforced with booze. Like someone with a heart, despite how much he’d sworn otherwise.
“Lay off, Husk. I gotta go, c’mon.” But his words held no bite, just trepidation.
Angel turned towards him and Husk seized the opportunity with all his might. At this point, he couldn’t give less of a shit if he seemed needy or desperate, he was.
“No, Angel, I’m not- I can’t just let you leave m- us. This hotel. I thought you were better than that, kid.”
“So did I!” The laugh that escaped Angel’s mouth was nothing short of crazed. “So did fucking I! But then, then I found out that this whole fuckin’ time? I’ve been a spy. For the Vees. Telling them everything Charlie does before she even does it! And then, when you dumbasses come to rescue me? I choke Cherri out. No one can trust me, Husk! I can’t put you- the hotel- into that kinda harm’s way. I don’t got much agency left, but I can do that much.”
Husk narrowed his eyes with a scoff. “Stop being such a fuckin’ martyr, Angel. We’ve managed so far! I- we- everyone would miss you, you’re a quintessential part of the hotel! With Vox is basically incapacitated now, we’ll fucking adapt!” His grasp on Angel’s hand tightened. “Just try a week? We can go from there, yeah?”
Angel looked to their hands and then up at Cherri, and finally to Husk. “One week. And if I do even an inkling of spying I’m leavin’.” Husk nodded. “We can set somethin’ up, checking up on you and whatnot.” Husk squeezed his hand again. “Mkay, fine. But I’m expecting free drinks for the trouble.”
“When have you ever paid for your drinks?”
“Touche.”
One week went by smoothly. No spying happened and Angel seemed to be finally getting re-situated. He checked his phone near constantly, always double-checking his messages to make sure he hadn’t sent anything to the Vees. But, after 3 days, Husk had finally made him actually laugh again. He hadn’t realized how much he’d missed the sound, but the relief it gave him was immense.
Another week came and went with no problem. Cherri had been around a lot the first week, which Husk was glad for in a lot of ways. Angel needed his friend, and she provided a nice buffer for the tension between them. But then, once Angel seemed to be okay, Cherri said she and Pentious had a sort-of date? Husk didn’t completely understand, but she was gone for three days. Three days was a lot longer than he would’ve guessed.
It started off fine. Angel sitting at the bar while Husk worked, keeping their friendly banter going. But the hours passed and it quickly became the two of them, alone, at night after everyone had gone to bed. This wasn’t even close to something new, but ever since that day Husk begged Angel to stay, there was something unspoken in the air, even worse than before. Husk caught Angel looking at him funny more than a few times, and even he had to admit that he caught himself staring at Angel. Often.
They climbed the steps to their rooms, shoulders bumping together more than necessary. Husk could feel Angel pause at his door with a question in his posture. He took his time unlocking his door, letting Angel come to him on his time.
Nothing came.
“Night, Husk.”
“Goodnight, angel.
Husk never slept well. He was up late every night, and when he did sleep, it was fitful and he woke up hourly.
So when he heard a soft knock at his door, he was out of his bed in seconds. He inched the door open to reveal a tired-looking and embarrassed Angel Dust.
“Heya, Husky?” he cleared his throat. “Sorry, Husk.” Since when was Angel Dust bashful? “You don’t gotta watch your words, Angel, it’s alright. What do ya need?” Angel nodded, though he clearly wasn’t paying attention. He was far too caught up in his own head.
Husk gently reached out to put his hand on one of Angel’s arms, slowly to not startle him but they’d gotten familiar enough that Angel rarely flinched from Husk’s touches anymore. Angel blinked at the touch and smiled self consciously. “Right, this is askin’ a lot so don’t feel like you’re obligated but I just… I’ve been havin’ nightmares, worse than usual. It’s dumb, I swear I can usually deal with it just fine! But… would ya mind just spendin’ one night with me? Free of charge.” He winked, but it wasn’t as confident as usual. “I promise, nothin’ fishy. No dicks, cunts, jizz, nips included, swear on my afterlife.”
“‘Course I will.” The relief on Angel’s face could’ve warmed the arctic. “Let me grab my pillow, okay? I’ll be right there.”
“Thanks, Husky. Nugs ‘n I’ll be waiting, take your time.” Husk watched Angel turn around and walk back to his room, then grabbed his own pillow and followed.
Angel’s room was one of Husk’s favorite rooms in the hotel, not that he’d ever admit it. It smelled like Angel and every inch was covered in something that was important to the demon. It was like one of those search-puzzle books, the more you looked the more you found. And he knew this was special. His room at the hotel was different from what people would expect from the porn star. He only ever really let Cherri in, and now Husk sometimes as well, and sometimes Charlie and Niffty. But it was a safe haven, and Husk knew that being allowed to be in it, especially when Angel was vulnerable like sleeping, was something to not take lightly.
For the second time that night, Angel looked sheepish. “Now, you can say no and I’ll get it, I swear. But would you mind sleeping next to me? I swear on Fat Nuggets, absolutely no funny business. Strictly professional. Well, your professional, not mine.” Husk was already sitting on the side of the bed opposite of Angel. “Hey, hey, c’mon Angel, you’re okay. Want me to sleep over the covers, would that be good?” Husk was trying so damn hard not to baby Angel but fuck, did the demon pull at his heart strings. Especially when he was like this, no innuendos or flirts. Just someone who was dealt a bad hand, too.
“Nah, that’s alright. But thank you, for offerin’.”
They both pulled back the blankets and settled in, a respectable distance away from each other. Husk could feel Angel’s presence like a livewire was tucked in beside him.
“Thank you, Husk. Really.” A pause. “‘Night. Again.”
“Goodnight, angel.”
Husk woke up entangled with limbs and fur. It took him a moment to remember where he was, but luckily his momentary confusion didn’t wake up the sinner sleeping curled around him. One set of Angel’s arms were wrapped around Husk’s shoulders, a hand on the back of his head comfortingly.
Selfishness was something Husk had gotten better about, but in this moment he could do nothing but bask in it. The safety of Angel’s arms encircled around him, his face pressed to Angel’s chest with his arm draped over Angel’s torso. He would never have described himself as touch-starved, but this was proving him incredibly wrong. Or maybe it was just Angel’s touch.
The hand on the back of Husk’s head started moving, gently coursing fingers through his fur. “‘Mornin’, Husky.” Husk could hear the smile in Angel’s voice. “Didn’t know you could purr, too.”
Ah. Of course. He couldn’t have a second of peace without his stupid fucking cat-body to embarass him. “‘S nothin’. Just happens sometimes.” His voice was muffled by Angel’s fluff, and he was lying straight through his teeth. He could count on one hand the amount of times he’d purred, even less in front of someone. “Mm. ‘S cute, such a cute kitty.” He scratched Husk’s head, which did not feel fucking incredible, mind you, and yawned. “Hey, thanks for stayin’ with me all night. I slept.. Real good, actually. I didn’t have nightmares, like, at all.” Husk hummed his response. “Anytime, sweetheart.” The strokes stopped. Then started again. “Don’t you have a shift in ten to get to?” Husk’s only response was a groan. He could blame his behavior on still being sleepy, but the moment he lifted his head he’d have to face how… close he and Angel were. He took a deep breath. “Started ten minutes ago.”
“Husk!’ Angel gasped. “My favorite barkeep, slacking off. Who’d’ve thought?” Husk lightly swatted his shoulder. “C’mon, kitty, let’s get up.”
Husk sat up slowly, letting Angel’s hand follow. “I gotta get dressed,” he grumbled with a gentle shake of his body to right the various places his fur was sticking out. “I dunno, I think a bartender in PJs would be cute!” With a burning face, Husk swatted at Angel again. “Yeah, yeah don’t you got a pig to walk?”
It was late again. The bar would’ve closed hours ago, if not for Angel keeping Husk busy and awake. His cheeks ached from smiling so much and both of them wore a light blush, not supplied by the drinks they held but rather the company.
“Wanna play a game?”
Husk scoffed. “I dunno, it’s late, Angel.”
“Come on, just a quick one! Clothes stay on.”
He was going to regret this, he knew it. “Fine. What’s the game?”
“Truth or dare.”
The laugh spilled out of him unwillingly. “Oh Christ, we aren’t teenagers.”
“It’ll be fun! You can ask first.”
“Truth or dare?”
“Truth.”
Husk had no idea what he was going to ask. “Why do you only keep 2 sets of arms out?”
“Val has an inferiority complex whenever I got all of ‘em out. Feels weaker ‘cause he only has 4 arms.” The answer was given so readily that Husk could only look at him for a moment before saying, “Someone should put bad shrimp in his air vents.”
There was a long pause between them before Angel broke into laughter. “Oh my god, do tiny baby shrimp and he probably wouldn’t even be able to find them! That would be fuckin’ hilarious, holy shit!” Making Angel laugh like that was something Husk would treasure for the rest of his afterlife.
“Okay, okay, truth or dare.”
“Truth.”
“When was the last time somethin’ made you purr?”
Husk took back every nice thing he’d ever thought about Angel.
“I dunno. A few decades back, got real drunk and found a giant beanbag with a soft cover.”
“That’s a long ass time ago.”
Husk shrugged. This was humiliating.
“I bet… Fat Nuggets would appreciate having another body in the bed to lie on. If you ever wanted to join us again, sometime.”
He was a lot of things, but he wasn’t an idiot. Angel was reaching out an olive branch and, while everything in Husk told him to let the branch fall, it’ll end in heartbreak, he was still selfish. And he thought that maybe that inevitable heartbreak would be worth it, to allow that aching hope in his chest some sustenance for just a little bit. “Wouldn’t want to disappoint ‘im.” Husk’s hope didn’t allow for much wishful thinking, but the way Angel’s face lit up was so beautiful that he couldn’t deny it even to his darkest insecurities.
“Truth or dare?”
“Truth.”
“This is just truth or truth, neither of us are gonna pick dare.”
“Just ask me a question!”
“Yeesh, fine. Do ya like being called Angel Dust?”
He watched Angel think this over. “I don’t mind it. It helps me separate Hell from my life, if that makes sense. But sometimes I miss it when my sister would yell for ‘Anthony’ from the kitchen.”
“That your living name, or whatever you wanna call it?”
Angel nodded. “Haven’t told no one that, either. You and, well, technically Val though I doubt he remembers, so just you. Don’t go using that around the others, though. Just between the two of us.” The blush Husk was sporting was intense, now. He was struggling to keep eye contact given the intimacy of the topics.
“Alright, Anthony. Your turn.” The name felt bizarre to say, foreign but Angel’s small smile told him his small leap-of-faith was worth it.
“Have you ever been in love?”
A punch to the face might have been easier to stomach. He responded without thought or filter. “Yeah.”
The silence stretched between them. “Your turn.”
“Same question.”
The way Angel’s eyes shifted to look from his drink to Husk. Husk’s heart was in his stomach.
“Yeah.”
More silence. They were breaching uncharted territory. Husk watched Angel swallow.
“What was she like?” Husk couldn’t help his chuckle.
He had two options. He could lie. He could make someone up and lengthen the chasm between them.
Or, he could tell the truth for once in his life. Maybe Angel would pick up on it, maybe he wouldn’t. They were in Hell, what more did he have to lose?
(A lot. Losing Angel might kill him. But he also knew he wouldn’t lose Angel to something like this).
“He,” he looked to Angel for any reaction and, to his internal delight, found one. He’d tilted his head a little and sat up straighter, leaned towards Husk. He should use past tense, but fuck it. He was all in on Angel. “is beautiful. I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone as gorgeous as him. But I don’t just mean in looks, his heart… He cares so much for the people he cares about. And even for those he don’t, too. Always thinkin’ of others. He really should do things for himself sometimes, too. I think I’d give ‘im the world if he asked.” Husk risked a glance up at Angel. His eyes were wide and his mouth just slightly open.
“It sounds like you really like ‘im,” Angel said, so soft it was barely above a whisper. Husk nodded. “‘Guess I do, huh? Your bartender has turned into a sap.” He tried to chuckle, to soften his confession, but it landed flat.
“Can I… ask another question?”
Husk’s head tilted in curiosity. A sly grin spread across his face. “What if I choose dare instead?”
“Mm, well, then I dare you to kiss me.”
“What, like, on the lips?” It was out of his mouth before he could stop it and he knew the horrified look on Angel’s face was mirrored on his own.
“I-I mean- well-” Husk couldn’t remember a time Angel was stuttering over his words, it was incredibly endearing. “Fuck, I didn’t mean it like that I just meant- you surprised me! God damnit,” Words were failing him. “I’m just gonna fucking kiss you, okay?”
“I- Yeah.”
That was all Husk needed. He’d spent a lot of time imagining this moment, but what he never accounted for was Angel’s softness. Both physically, his fur was like heaven beneath his claws, as well as with the kiss itself. There was none of the hunger or need he’d always imagined would lace their first kiss, if he ever got this far. Angel was unhurried, taking his time to slide his tongue past Husk’s lips. He made a small sound of surprise, which Husk knew was due to his sandpaper-like tongue and he made to break the kiss.
But Angel was not letting him go that easily. He pulled Husk back to him with one set of arms around his neck and another around his hips, pressing them together. Husk was melting.
He also had a lot of questions.
He placed a gentle kiss to the corner of Angel’s mouth as he pulled back, keeping contact so they weren’t completely apart. “You’re a good kisser.”
Husk was a mess. Blushing, swollen lips, pupils blown. “You- I don’t-”
“I like you. Like-like you. A lot.” If it weren’t for the way Angel’s chest was heaving, Husk would’ve worried he was unaffected.
“When? What? Why?”
“Since I moved in, but I knew it was real after that time you were reading to Nugs and thought no one saw.”
That was over a year ago.
“I could go on about the ‘why’ for ages but I’d really like to get back to kissin’ so for now let’s just go with how sweet you are, mkay?” Husk only nodded before leaning back in to capture Angel’s lips in another kiss.
Husk found himself in Angel’s bed on most nights, and on nights he wasn’t, typically Angel was in his. They didn’t keep it a secret, per se, but weren’t flaunting their newfound relationship.
Charlie, apparently, was unaware until she opened Angel’s door to ask him about what shampoo he uses, only to find Husk draped over Angel’s chest. Angel looked up at her groggily. “Char?” and then the air was filled with “OHMYGODOHMYGOD Congratulations! Oh my god, I am so happy for you guys I’m gonna go so you can sleep, we need to celebrate! I’ll make a cake, chocolate or vanilla? Or both! Both is even better-” and then Vaggie’s softer voice going, “Shhh, c’mon we can talk about it when they’re awake, yeah? Let’s go start your cake.”
Angel looked at Husk. “We’re so fucked.”
“Shh, I need more sleep, c’mon. That’s somethin’ to deal with later.” Angel smiled and nestled back into the blankets, holding Husk close to him.